Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MRI of the Swallow Tail Sign: A Useful Marker in the Diagnosis of Lewy Body Dementia?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There are, to date, no MR imaging diagnostic markers for Lewy body dementia. Nigrosome 1, containing dopaminergic cells, in the substantia nigra pars compacta is hyperintense on SWI and has been called the swallow tail sign, disappearing with Parkinson disease. We aimed to study the swallow tail sign and its clinical applicability in Lewy body dementia and hypothesized that the sign would be likewise applicable in Lewy body dementia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional multicenter study including 97 patients (mean age, 65 ± 10 years; 46% women), consisting of the following: controls (n = 21) and those with Lewy body dementia (n = 19), Alzheimer disease (n = 20), frontotemporal lobe dementia (n = 20), and mild cognitive impairment (n = 17). All patients underwent brain MR imaging, with susceptibility-weighted imaging at 1.5T (n = 46) and 3T (n = 51). The swallow tail sign was assessed independently by 2 neuroradiologists. RESULTS: Interrater agreement was moderate (κ = 0.4) between raters. An abnormal swallow tail sign was most common in Lewy body dementia (63%; 95% CI, 41%–85%; P < .001) and had a predictive value only in Lewy body dementia with an odds ratio of 9 (95% CI, 3–28; P < .001). The consensus rating for Lewy body dementia showed a sensitivity of 63%, a specificity of 79%, a negative predictive value of 89%, and an accuracy of 76%; values were higher on 3T compared with 1.5T. The usefulness of the swallow tail sign was rater-dependent with the highest sensitivity equaling 100%. CONCLUSIONS: The swallow tail sign has diagnostic potential in Lewy body dementia and may be a complement in the diagnostic work-up of this condition.
Occupational Exposure to Formaldehyde: Genotoxic Risk Evaluation By Comet Assay And Micronucleus Test Using Human Peripheral Lymphocytes

Formaldehyde (FA) is a world high-production compound with numerous applications ranging from production of resins to medicines. Due to its sensitizing properties, irritating effects and potential cancer hazard FA is of great environmental health concern. Numerous studies in humans and experimental animals demonstrated that inhaled FA produced toxicity, genotoxicity, and cancer at distal sites. IARC, based on sufficient data, reclassified FA as a human carcinogen. The highest level of human exposure to this aldehyde occurs in occupational settings, namely, in pathology and anatomy laboratories, where FA is commonly used as a fixative and tissue preservative. Several studies consistently showed that the levels of airborne FA in anatomy laboratories exceeded recommended exposure criteria. In order to assess the genotoxic effects of chronic occupational exposure to FA, a group of pathology/anatomy workers was assessed using a micronucleus (MN) test and comet assay. The level of exposure to FA was also determined and the time-weighted average (TWA) of exposure was calculated for each subject. The TWA mean value for FA exposed workers was 0.43 ± 0.06 ppm, exceeding national and international recommended limit levels of 0.3 ppm. Both MN frequency and comet assay parameters were significantly higher in exposed subjects. Data obtained confirm a correlation between genetic damage and occupational exposure to FA. These data, along with recent implications of human carcinogenicity, point out the need for close monitoring of occupational exposure to FA. Implementation of security and hygiene measures as well as good practices campaigns may be crucial to decrease risk.
Conjugated linoleic acid reduces parathyroid hormone in health and in polycystic kidney disease in rats.

BACKGROUND Feeding conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is reported to reduce prostaglandin E(2) synthesis, which is required for parathyroid hormone (PTH) release. OBJECTIVE This study was undertaken to determine whether CLA would suppress hyperparathyroidism and the resulting high-turnover bone disease in a rat model of polycystic kidney disease (PKD). DESIGN Outcome measurements were conducted after 8 wk of feeding diets supplemented with and without CLA (1% of dietary fat) to Han:SPRD-cy male rats (n = 52). PTH, bone formation, and resorption were assessed in addition to femur bone mass with use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS CLA feeding resulted in attenuation of PTH concentrations in both PKD-affected and nonaffected rats (by 60%) but did not significantly alter bone formation and resorption. CONCLUSION Reduction in PTH may open possibilities for CLA as an adjunctive therapy in secondary hyperparathyroidism.
Earnings Management: A Methodological Review of the Distribution of Reported Earnings Approach

Hayn (1995) first introduced the concept of the pooled, cross-sectional distribution of reported earnings approach to assess whether there is any evidence of earnings management. This approach was further developed by Burgstahler and Dichev (1997) and since then, a substantial volume of new research has applied this methodology to alternative earnings thresholds and in different operational settings. This paper evaluates some aspects of the methodology and its applicability to different settings and contexts. This paper shows that the choice of interval width is a critical consideration in the distribution of reported earnings approach and, therefore, results should include a variety of interval widths to illustrate the robustness of findings. It also demonstrates that when the peak of the distribution falls adjacent to a threshold, the distribution of reported earnings approach will not provide statistically reliable and robust results. Finally, it concludes that the assumption of symmetry used by Burgstahler and Dichev (1997) to test for the prevalence of earnings management can only be justified where there is a known symmetrical distribution for the data in question.
Active Learning Strategies...Not for the Birds!

Nursing students historically have struggled to learn a large amount of content in a short period of time. Reliance on intense memorization of endless facts from multiple textbook chapters is ineffective, exhausting, and generally does not result in knowledge retention. Nursing educators face the challenge of facilitating learning that promotes critical thinking through the use of strategies that actively engage the students. Creating an environment of learning where students come prepared to class and use the textbook material to enhance understanding and knowledge acquisition is imperative. This article presents active learning strategies that are flexible for varying class sizes, time availability, and topics. Classroom assessment techniques support the value of this teaching-learning approach.
Fibrous Dysplasia and Ossifying Fibroma -an advent in their diagnosis

Objectives: Fibro-osseous lesions of the craniofacial complex comprise of a diverse, interesting and challenging group of conditions that pose difficulties in classification and treatment. The two most confused benign fibro-osseous lesions are fibrous dysplasia and ossifying fibroma. Sometimes, the classic clinical, radiologic or pathologic features of fibrous dysplasia or ossifying fibroma may not be evident, but overlapping features of both may be seen. The dilemma in diagnosis of these lesions rests in the bony trabeculae as well as in the fibrous stroma. Cases of fibrous dysplasia showing lamellated bony trabeculae and osteoblastic rimming have been reported which may confound diagnosis because of resemblance with ossifying fibroma. In the present study, an attempt has been made to demonstrate the fibrous element of these two lesions using histochemical stains. Study design: The sections of fibrous dysplasia & ossifying fibroma were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin, Trichrome stain and Peracetic acid-aldehyde fuschin-modified Halmi stain. Result: The study revealed that the oxytalan fibers were more numerous in ossifying fibroma (seen with both Trichrome and modified Halmi stains). Conclusion: Although the ultimate diagnosis of fibrous dysplasia and ossifying fibroma is arrived at by correlating clinical, radiographic and routine histopathologic examination, the differences in the configuration of the stroma using histochemical stains may help in the diagnosis of these two lesions.
Topical ethosomal capsaicin attenuates edema and nociception in arthritic rats

Abstract In this study, topical ethosomal formulation of capsaicin was prepared and evaluated for bio-efficacy in arthritic rats. Physical and biological characterizations of prepared capsaicin-loaded nano vesicular systems were also carried out. Ethosomal capsaicin showed significant reduction of rat paw edema along with promising antinociceptive action. The topical antiarthritic efficacy of prepared formulation of capsaicin was found more than that of Thermagel, a marketed gel of capsaicin. From toxicological study, no predictable signs of toxicity such as skin irritation (of experimental rats) were observed. Based on this finding, ethosomal capsaicin could be proposed as an effective as well as a safe topical delivery system for the long-term treatment of arthritis and associated inflammo-musculoskeletal disorders. Such exciting result would eventually enlighten the analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential of capsaicin for topical remedy.
Quality of Life in 807 Patients with Vestibular Schwannoma: Comparing Treatment Modalities

Objective In vestibular schwannoma treatment, the choice among treatment modalities is controversial. The first aim of this study was to examine the quality of life of patients with vestibular schwannoma having undergone observation, radiation therapy, or microsurgical resection. The second aim was to examine the relationship between perceived symptoms and quality of life. Last, the association between quality of life and time since treatment was studied. Study Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Tertiary referral center. Subjects and Methods A total of 1208 patients treated for sporadic vestibular schwannoma between 2004 and 2014 were mailed the disease-specific Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality of Life (PANQOL) questionnaire and additional questions on symptoms associated with vestibular schwannoma. Total and domain scores were calculated and compared among treatment groups. Propensity scores were used, and results were stratified according to tumor size to control for potential confounders. Correlations were calculated to examine the relationship between self-reported symptoms and quality of life, as well as between quality of life and time since treatment. Results Patients with small tumors (≤10 mm) under observation showed a higher PANQOL score when compared with the radiation therapy and microsurgical resection groups. A strong negative correlation was found between self-reported symptoms and quality of life, with balance problems and vertigo having the largest impact. No correlation was found between PANQOL score and time since treatment. Conclusion This study suggests that patients with small vestibular schwannomas experience better quality of life when managed with observation than do patients who have undergone active treatment.
Stock Price Effects Associated with Index Replacements in Germany

The presented paper addresses the question whether there is a stock price reaction to index replacements on the German stock market. Although it is well known from the empirical literature, which is predominantly related to the US stock market, that an index replacement has a strong impact on stock prices, it is still an open question, whether this stock price adjustment is only transitory or persistent. In order to shed new light on this issue, this paper analysed inclusions into and deletions from the two most important German stock indexes, namely the blue-chip index DAX and the mid-cap index MDAX. Unfortunately, also our evidence seems to be rather mixed with respect to the above mentioned hypotheses. We found a strong abnormal price impact on the day of the announcement of the index replacement. Stocks included in the index rose by 1.72 percent on the announcement date, while stocks deleted form the index fall by 1.19 percent on that day and by a further significant 8.76 percent up to the replacement day. Both reactions were statistically significant and they seem to be persistent, as we found no indication for a reversion in the stock price movement during the following weeks. This evidence does not fit into the price pressure hypothesis. The same is true for our finding that although absolute price reactions on the announcement date are very similar for both type of index replacements abnormal trading volume reactions are larger and more significant for index inclusions. We also found some evidence against the liquidity hypothesis. Especially, an index replacement seems not to have an impact on stock price volatility and price reactions on the announcement date are not correlated with long run volume reactions. Therefore, our evidence may support the imperfect substitute hypothesis, although we found a weakly significant correlation of price and volume reactions on the announcement date only for inclusions. Of course, the economically interesting question remains why investors and fund managers are willing to pay a premium for stocks included in an index.
International Organization: Polity, Politics And Policies

PART I: THEORY AND HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Introduction Theories of International Organizations History of International Organizations PART II: POLICY-MAKING IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS International Organizations as Political Systems Actors' Demands and Support: The Input Dimension Decision-Making in International Organizations: The Conversion Process What International Organizations Produce: The Output Dimension PART III: THE ACTIVITIES OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Security Welfare The Environment Human Rights
A new proposal for the primary and secondary structure of the glycan moiety of pseudomurein. Conformational energy calculations on the glycan strands with talosaminuronic acid in 1C conformation and comparison with murein.

Using the method of conformational energy calculations, favoured conformations of a pseudomurein sugar strand built up from beta 1,3-linked N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-L-talosaminuronic acid were obtained. Such a completely beta 1,3-linked polysaccharide primary structure, although contrasting with the originally proposed alternating beta 1,3-alpha 1,3-linked structure [König, H. , Kandler, O. , Jensen, M. and Rietschel, E. Th. (1983) Hoppe-Seyler's Z. Physiol. Chem. 364, 627-636] would be in agreement with all experimental data hitherto known. Starting from an analysis of favoured conformations of the monosaccharide building blocks and those obtained for disaccharide parts, the favoured helical conformations of the complete polysaccharide chains could be explored. Our completely beta 1,3-linked chain could adopt two types of conformation: extended and hollow; the latter was discarded as unsuitable for cell wall assembly. The extended conformation type was shown to exhibit a remarkable similarity if compared to the secondary structures accessible to murein-type polysaccharide chains. In contrast to the conformations accessible for the beta 1,3-alpha 1,3-linked primary structure, the new hypothetical pseudomurein structure was found to be more extended, possessed a flexible peptide attachment site at every second sugar residue and led to an orientation of consecutive peptide attachment sites analogous to the data known for murein-type chains. From the two possibilities compatible with the experimental data available, the completely beta 1,3-linked sugar strand structure could well be realized in the native pseudomurein network of methanobacteria. In this case the hypothesis for a similar three-dimensional architecture for murein and pseudomurein would be supported.
How product scarcity impacts on choice: Snob and bandwagon effects

EXTENDED ABSTRACT The value of products is not only determined by the utility that consumers derive from the products' attributes and their functional consequences, but has an important social component as well. Specifically, scarce products are generally deemed valuable, independent of the utility that their intrinsic attributes deliver. This effect has been found in several studies and appears robust (Lynn 1991). This paper identifies two distinct routes through which scarcity can increase product choice. These routes are expected to have distinct effects in the product valuation process, which have until now not been examined in detail.
EFFECTS OF US QUANTITATIVE EASING ON LATIN AMERICAN ECONOMIES

Most emerging economies have been affected to some degree by the Fed’s quantitative easing (QE) policies. This paper assesses the impact of these measures in terms of key macroeconomic variables for four inflation-targeting small open economies in Latin America. We identify a QE policy shock in a structural vector autoregressive with block exogeneity and a mixture of zero and sign restrictions. Overall, we find that these QE policies have significant effects on financial variables such as the exchange rate, and these effects are larger with respect to those in output and prices. Furthermore, the effects vary across countries, and these are more significant in Chile and Mexico than in Peru and Colombia.
There's no place like home: 35‐year patient survival on home hemodialysis

The vast majority of maintenance dialysis patients suffer from poor long‐term survival rates and lower levels of health‐related quality of life. However, home hemodialysis is a historically significant dialysis modality that has been associated with favorable outcomes as well as greater patient autonomy and control, yet only represents a small minority of the total dialysis performed in the United States. Some potential disadvantages of home hemodialysis include vascular access complications, infection‐related hospitalizations, patient fatigue, and attrition. In addition, current barriers and challenges in expanding the utilization of this modality include limited patient and provider education and technical expertise. Here we report a 65‐year old male with end‐stage renal disease due to Alport's syndrome who has undergone 35 years of uninterrupted thrice‐weekly home hemodialysis (ie, every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday evening, each session lasting 3 to 3¼ hours in length) using a conventional hemodialysis machine who has maintained a high functional status allowing him to work 6‐8 hours per day. The patient has been able to liberalize his dietary and fluid intake while only requiring 3‐4 liters of ultrafiltration per treatment, despite having absence of residual kidney function. Through this case of extraordinary longevity and outcomes after 35 years of dialysis and a review of the literature, we illustrate the history of home hemodialysis, its significant clinical and psychosocial advantages, as well as the barriers that hinder its widespread adaptation.
Revealing the absolute configuration of the CO and CN- ligands at the active site of a [NiFe] hydrogenase.

Combined molecular dynamics (MD) and quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) calculations were performed on the crystal structure of the reduced membrane-bound [NiFe] hydrogenase (MBH) from Ralstonia eutropha to determine the absolute configuration of the CO and the two CN(-) ligands bound to the active-site iron of the enzyme. For three models that include the CO ligand at different positions, often indistinguishable on the basis of the crystallographic data, we optimized the structures and calculated the ligand stretching frequencies. Comparison with the experimental IR data reveals that the CO ligand is in trans position to the substrate-binding site of the bimetallic [NiFe] cluster.
The Impact of Technological and Market Uncertainty on Innovative Development Processes

Innovations in products, new services and infrastructure have become a necessity for the survival and sustainability of modern organizations. In this study the impact of technological and market uncertainty on the success of new ventures is investigated. The effect of some personal characteristics of entrepreneurs on their choice of the new venture is treated as well. The study uses a two dimensional framework to assess the level of uncertainty new ventures are facing. The novelty dimension that reflects market uncertainty, mainly affects the way information about the customers' needs and desires is collected and incorporated into the product design. The technology dimension, deals mainly with the way the development process should be managed. Higher levels of technological uncertainty require longer development periods, more design cycles and later design freeze. The impact of technological and market uncertainty on the performance of 160 innovations is analyzed. For example, we found that there is no contradiction between high levels of uncertainty and business success. Moreover, high levels of uncertainty may yield business opportunities that may not be available for low level technological uncertainty innovations. We also found that older and more educated entrepreneurs are likely to be engaged in more novel initiatives than younger, less experienced ones.
Prognostic indicators of childhood acute viral encephalitis.

OBJECTIVE To devise a set of clinical signs and laboratory parameters that would help clinicians assess prognosis in patients and plan appropriate management. METHODS Medical records of 147 paediatric cases (with a discharge diagnosis of acute viral encephalitis) admitted over a ten year period from 1987 to 1997 were reviewed and relevant information collected on a data extraction form. RESULTS Of 147 patients, 24 (16.3%) died and 48 (32.7%) were left with severe neurological deficits. A GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) score between 6-10 had an association with poor outcome (OR = 2.62, Chi-square = 5.57, p-value = 0.018) and that a GCS score of > or = 5 was even more strongly suggestive of poor outcome (OR = 5.49, Chi-square = 12.08, p-value = 0.0005). A history of having seizures, for more than 3 days, also showed a strong association with poor outcome (OR = 3.66, Chi-square = 5.46, p-value = 0.019). CONCLUSION Patients with an increased risk of death and severe disability can be identified using a few guidelines. Of these, a history of seizures of > 3 days and/or impaired consciousness (GCS < or = 10), at the time of presentation to the hospital, constitute high risk. These cases must be identified promptly and aggressive therapy initiated in order to improve long term outcome.