Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Less Impairment of Hemostasis and Reduced Blood Loss in Pigs After Resuscitation from Hemorrhagic Shock Using the Small-Volume Concept with Hypertonic Saline/Hydroxyethyl Starch as Compared to Administration of 4% Gelatin or 6% Hydroxyethyl Starch Solution

BACKGROUND: Small-volume resuscitation using hypertonic saline/hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.62 (HS-HES) has been shown to be an effective alternative to the administration of crystalloids or colloids in trauma patients. All IV fluids cause dose-related dilutional coagulopathy and show intrinsic effects on the hemostatic system, but only few data refer to functional consequences after small-volume resuscitation. METHODS: Using thrombelastometry (ROTEM®), we studied 30 pigs (weighing 35–45 kg) after withdrawal of 60% of blood volume [1484 mL (1369–1624 mL)] and receiving 4 mL/kg HS-HES for compensation of blood loss or 4% gelatin or 6% HES 130/0.4 in a 1:1 ratio to lost blood volume. To compare the ROTEM variables (coagulation time, clot formation time, α angle, clot firmness, and fibrinogen polymerization) with bleeding tendency, a hepatic incision was made and blood loss was measured. RESULTS: Median (25th, 75th percentile) fibrinogen polymerization was significantly higher after HS-HES infusion [11 mm (10, 11), P = 0.0034] when compared with administration of 4% gelatin [4.5 mm (3.0, 5.8)] or HES 130/0.4 [3.5 mm (2.3, 4.0)]. Median blood loss after liver incision was 725 mL (900, 375) after HS-HES, 1625 mL (1275, 1950) after 4% gelatin, and 1600 mL (1500, 1800) after 6% HES 130/0.4 (P = 0.004). Hemodynamic stabilization was traceable in all groups but showed differences regarding filling pressures. CONCLUSIONS: Resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock with HS-HES 200/0.62 results in less impairment of clot formation when compared with compensation of blood loss by administering 6% HES 130/0.4 or 4% gelatin.
Suppression of hath1 gene expression directly regulated by hes1 via notch signaling is associated with goblet cell depletion in ulcerative colitis

Background: The transcription factor Atoh1/Hath1 plays crucial roles in the differentiation program of human intestinal epithelium cells (IECs). Although previous studies have indicated that the Notch signal suppresses the differentiation program of IEC, the mechanism by which it does so remains unknown. This study shows that the undifferentiated state is maintained by the suppression of the Hath1 gene in human intestine. Methods: To assess the effect of Notch signaling, doxycycline‐induced expression of Notch intracellular domain (NICD) and Hes1 cells were generated in LS174T. Hath1 gene expression was analyzed by quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). Hath1 promoter region targeted by HES1 was determined by both reporter analysis and ChIP assay. Expression of Hath1 protein in ulcerative colitis (UC) was examined by immunohistochemistry. Results: Hath1 mRNA expression was increased by Notch signal inhibition. However, Hath1 expression was suppressed by ectopic HES1 expression alone even under Notch signal inhibition. Suppression of the Hath1 gene by Hes1, which binds to the 5′ promoter region of Hath1, resulted in suppression of the phenotypic gene expression for goblet cells. In UC, the cooperation of aberrant expression of HES1 and the disappearance of caudal type homeobox 2 (CDX2) caused Hath1 suppression, resulting in goblet cell depletion. Conclusions: The present study suggests that Hes1 is essential for Hath1 gene suppression via Notch signaling. Moreover, the suppression of Hath1 is associated with goblet cell depletion in UC. Understanding the regulation of goblet cell depletion may lead to the development of new therapy for UC. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;)
Weapons of the dissatisfied? Perceptions of socioeconomic inequality, redistributive preference, and political protest: Evidence from South Korea

This paper explores how perceptions of socioeconomic inequality, attitudes about redistribution, and experiences of social upward mobility shape the level of participation in political protests. The dramatic widening of income inequality in Korean society since the 2007 financial breakdown and the new surge of political protests has continued to attract attention. However, scholars have not clearly examined how Korean views about socioeconomic inequality and redistribution affect political activism in protests. This study reflects on the hypotheses of the grievance theory and the resource theory, and investigates survey data to explore whether dissatisfaction with inequality and attitudes about redistribution have a systematic impact on the level of political activism in protests. Using data from the 2009 South Korea Social Survey Program, this study concludes that dissatisfaction with income disparity, dissatisfaction with educational inequality, and redistributive preferences, have a systematic impact in fostering active political engagement in protests.
European Union's Standards and Food Exports from Africa: Implications of the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme for Coffee and Fish

The preponderance and stringency of product standards have implications for global trade, especially for developing countries. Despite the importance of this issue to Africa, only a few empirical studies exist in the area. It is on this basis that this study draws its objective, which is to investigate the impact of EU standards on Africa's exports in relation to the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme. A two-step Heckman model is adopted using mostly unexploited standards data from Perinorm International. A high-value commodity (fish) and traditional cash crop (coffee) are selected. The findings show that at the extensive margin of export, standards are trade-inhibiting for fish and coffee. At the intensive margin, the standards are trade-inhibiting in coffee exports while trade-enhancing in fish exports.
Quality of life of women with recurrent breast cancer and their family members.

PURPOSE Little information is available about the effects of recurrent breast cancer on the quality of life of women and their family members. The present study assessed patients' and family members' quality of life within 1 month after recurrence, and effects of multiple factors on quality-of-life scores. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patient/family member dyads (N = 189) participated in this study. A stress-appraisal model guided selection of person factors, social/family factors, illness-related factors, appraisal factors, and quality of life, measured with psychometrically sound instruments. Quality of life was measured with both generic (Medical Outcomes Study SF-36) and cancer-specific (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy) scales. RESULTS Patients reported significant impairments in physical, functional, and emotional well-being. Family members reported significant impairments in their own emotional well-being. Structural equation modeling revealed that self-efficacy, social support, and family hardiness had positive effects on quality of life, whereas symptom distress, concerns, hopelessness, and negative appraisal of illness or caregiving had detrimental effects. Study variables accounted for a sizable amount of variance in patients' and family members' physical and mental dimensions of quality of life (72% to 81%). Contrary to findings observed in studies of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and spouses, little relationship was found between recurrent patients' and family members' quality of life. CONCLUSION Women with recurrent breast cancer are in need of programs to assist them with the severe effects of the disease on their quality of life. Programs need to include family members to help counteract the negative effects of the recurrent disease on their mental health, and to enable them to continue as effective caregivers.
t Traveling Slow Waves of Neural Activity: A Novel Form of Network Activity in Developing Neocortex

Spontaneous neuronal firing during development has the potential to shape many aspects of neuronal wiring throughout the brain. Bursts of electrical activity coordinated among large numbers of neurons, occurring during a brief developmental window, have been described in many regions of the CNS, including retina, hippocampus, and spinal cord, but evidence for this type of activity in developing neocortex has so far been lacking. To identify conditions that may give rise to patterned spontaneous electrical activity in developing neocortex, cholinergic agonists were applied to immature rat cortical slices while large-scale activity was imaged optically with fura-2 AM. Here I show that activation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors results in waves of correlated neural activity. Waves recruit large numbers of neurons, are slowly propagating, regenerative events involving depolarization and associated calcium transients, and advance for many millimeters as a sharp wave front perpendicular to the pial surface, at speeds ranging between 50 and 300 m/sec. The expression of waves is restricted temporally to a brief period in postnatal development, until postnatal day 6, and spatially to some neocortical areas. The ability of isolated neocortical networks to generate large-scale patterned activity endogenously during a period of massive neurite extension and synaptogenesis raises the possibility that at least in some cortical areas these processes might be influenced by patterned neuronal firing generated independently of thalamocortical input.
Predicting serious bacterial infection in young children with fever without apparent source

The aim of this study was to design a clinical rule to predict the presence of a serious bacterial infection in children with fever without apparent source. Information was collected from the records of children aged 1‐36 mo who attended the paediatric emergency department because of fever without source (temperature ≥38°C and no apparent source found after evaluation by a general practitioner or history by a paediatrician). Serious bacterial infection included bacterial meningitis, sepsis, bacteraemia, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, bacterial gastroenteritis, osteomyelitis and ethmoiditis. Using multivariate logistic regression and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC area), the diagnostic value of predictors for serious bacterial infection was judged, resulting in a risk stratification. Twenty‐five percent of the 231 patients enrolled in the study (mean age 1.1 y) had a serious bacterial infection. Independent predictors from history and examination included duration of fever, poor micturition, vomiting, age, temperature <36.7°C or ≥40°C at examination, chest‐wall retractions and poor peripheral circulation (ROC area: 0.75). Independent predictors from laboratory tests were white blood cell count, serum C‐reactive protein and the presence of ≥70 white blood cells in urinalysis (ROC area: 0.83). The risk stratification for serious bacterial infection ranged from 6% to 92%.
Golgi tendon organs in the proximal tendon of sheep extraocular muscles

Sheep extraocular muscles were prepared for light and electron microscopy and their proximal tendons searched for Golgi tendon organs (GTO). An extensive aponeurotic lamina on the orbital surfaces contained numerous GTO 250–1350 μm in length with characteristic terminal form and relationship with collagen. They differed from usual GTO structure in containing large fluid‐filled spaces dividing collagen into several well separated compartments and a muscle fiber entered and terminated in about one third of the receptors. The fibers, Felderstruktur in type, often penetrated deep within tendon organs, and in a few instances two or more fibers entered. This feature is shared by the rare GTO of monkey extraocular muscles.
Population structure of brush‐tailed rock‐wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) colonies inferred from analysis of faecal DNA

Genetic data obtained using faecal DNA were used to elucidate the population structure of four brush‐tailed rock‐wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) colonies located in Wollemi National Park, New South Wales. The results suggested that the four sampled colonies are genetically differentiated and do not form a panmictic unit. Based on assignment tests, approximately 5% of sampled individuals were inferred to be dispersers and both male and female migrants were detected. Multilocus spatial autocorrelation analyses provided evidence for increased philopatry among females compared to males within the largest colony in the valley. Females in close spatial proximity were more genetically similar than expected under a random distribution of females, and females separated by more than 400 m were less genetically similar than expected. In contrast, there was no evidence of a significant clustering of related males. This suggests that within‐colony dispersal is male biased. We also investigated the best strategies for conserving genetic diversity in this population. All of the four sampled colonies were found to contain distinct components of the genetic diversity of the Wolgan Valley P. penicillata population and loss of any colony is likely to result in the loss of unique alleles. Conservation and management plans should take into account that these colonies represent genetically differentiated discrete subpopulations. This approach is also the best strategy for maintaining the genetic diversity of the populations in this valley.
Wnt signaling is a key mediator of Cdx1 expression in vivo

In the mouse, Cdx1 is essential for normal anteroposterior vertebral patterning through regulation of a subset of Hox genes. Retinoic acid (RA) and certain Wnts have also been implicated in vertebral patterning, although the relationship between these signaling pathways and the regulation of mesodermal Hox gene expression is not fully understood. Prior work has shown that Cdx1 is a direct target of both Wnt and retinoid signaling pathways, and might therefore act to relay these signals to the Hox genes. Wnt and RA are believed to impact on Cdx1 through an atypical RA-response element (RARE) and Lef/Tcf-response elements (LRE), respectively, in the proximal promoter. To address the roles of these regulatory motifs and pathways, we derived mice mutated for the LRE or the LRE plus the RARE. In contrast to RARE-null mutants, which exhibit limited vertebral defects, LRE-null and LRE+RARE-null mutants exhibited vertebral malformations affecting the entire cervical region that closely phenocopied the malformations seen in Cdx1-null mutants. Mutation of the LRE also greatly reduced induction of Cdx1 by RA, demonstrating a requirement for Wnt signaling in the regulation of this gene by retinoids. LRE and LRE+RARE mutants also exhibited vertebral fusions, suggesting a defect in somitogenesis. As Wnt signaling is implicated in somitogenesis upstream of the Notch pathway, it is conceivable that Cdx1 might play a role in this process. However, none of the Notch pathway genes assessed was overtly affected.
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D measurement in a large population survey with statistical harmonization of assay variation to an international standard.

CONTEXT An automated application of Immunodiagnostic Systems Limited (IDS) OCTEIA 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] enzyme immunoassay was developed for analyses of 25(OH)D in more than 7000 participants of the 1958 cohort. Variation between 25(OH)D assays hampers between-study comparisons and the definition of relevant cutoffs for hypovitaminosis D. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to evaluate the importance of assay variation on the estimated prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and assess the use of statistical harmonization to overcome the observed differences. DESIGN Agreement analyses were performed between two commercial 25(OH)D assays (IDS enzyme immunoassay and Diasorin RIA), with validation using performance data from Vitamin D External Quality Assessment Scheme (DEQAS). SETTING The study was conducted in England, Scotland, and Wales. PARTICIPANTS Members of the 1958 British birth cohort participated in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES 25(OH)D was measured both by IDS and Diasorin RIA in 781 samples. Additional quality control data were obtained through participation in DEQAS (five distributions throughout the survey). RESULTS Average 25(OH)D concentrations by IDS were -15.7 and -13.7 nmol/liter lower, compared with Diasorin or DEQAS mean, respectively (both P < 0.0001). Graphical examination demonstrated a dose-related bias between IDS with Diasorin and DEQAS mean, but log transformation removed the bias. After using the log difference between the measurements as an adjustment factor, there were no differences in average 25(OH)D concentrations (P >or= 0.21 for comparison of IDS with Diasorin or DEQAS) and estimates for hypovitaminosis D obtained by IDS were similar to Diasorin. CONCLUSIONS Differences between assays have implications for public health messages about hypovitaminosis D. Harmonization of results with DEQAS enabled the use of previously determined cutoffs for hypovitaminosis D.
Analysing the Efficiency of the Turkish Stock Market with Multiple Structural Breaks

Analysing the structural changes in the economy is important. Cruical financial, economic and social events may cause structural breaks. Not taking into account the existing structural breaks causes reduction in the ability to reject the null hypothesis of unit root equal to zero. In the previous studies, usually structural breaks are either not taken into account or in more recent studies one or two structural breaks are included. This study investigates the informational efficiency of the Turkish market in weak form considering multiple structural breaks and taking into account the effect of financial structural changes for the period of 1988- 2011. The results indicated that BIST 100 National Index is informationally efficient in the weak form. With Clemao2 and Clemio2 analyses, the structural breaks in 1988:01-2011:11 period are 2007:11 and 2009:1; 2007:12 and 2009:2 respectively. When 1988:01-2011:11 period is separated into two subperiods as 1988-1996 and 1997-2011, in 1988-1996 period with clemao2 analysis 1995:9 and 1996:5, with clemio2 analysis 1995:10 and 1996:6 are the structural break dates. In 1997-2011 period, with clemao2 2007:11 and 2008:12, with clemio2 2007:12 and 2008:9 are the structural break dates. These structural breaks reflect the effects of 1994 national crisis and 2008 global crisis.
Male infertility in a private Kenyan hospital.

OBJECTIVE To study the incidence and aetiology of male infertility in Mombasa, Kenya. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING The Mombasa Hospital Private Clinics, from January 1996 to 2001. SUBJECTS Forty three men, aged between 21 and 55 years, referred to me with the chief complaint of infertility of unknown cause. INTERVENTION Patients were managed conservatively and operatively. MEASUREMENT Histological and laboratory evaluations. RESULTS Of the 43 patients observed, ten (23%) presented with signs of hypogonadism, fifteen (35%) with signs of acute and sub-acute inflammatory process (pain and swelling), four (9%) and prolactinaemia, two (5%) had signs of gonadotropin insufficiency and another two (5%) patients had varicocoeles. We did not establish the cause in ten (23%) patients. CONCLUSION Male infertility in Mombasa appears to be primarily due to hypogonadism (23%), although in an equal proportion the cause is not obvious (idiopathic). A significant number of the infertility cases can be attributed to easily treatable conditions such as infections and infestations (16%). The sample available is however not big enough to warrant any major conclusions as to the overall male infertility status in establishing possible avenues for future research.
Techniques of sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Axillary node status is the single most important prognostic factor for patients with primary breast carcinoma. During the last decade, one of the major advances in breast cancer has been the development of techniques that make axillary staging less morbid and more conservative. The sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy technique has received much attention as a possible alternative to axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). The SLN is defined as the first node in the regional lymphatic basin that receives drainage of the primary tumor. We will review the different techniques of lymphatic mapping for breast carcinoma, including radioactive and/or blue dye indicators, timing and site of injection, and preoperative lymphoscintigraphy. The SLN technique involves a multidisciplinary team. It is therefore important that each surgeon validate the technique in his or her own institution to ensure the successful and accurate assessment of the axilla. The SLN technique has modified the surgical management of breast cancer patients, although questions as to its safety have yet to be answered.
Did the 2003 Tax Act Increase Capital Investments by Corporations

ABSTRACT: On May 28, 2003, the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (2003 Tax Act) reduced shareholder-level taxes on dividends and capital gains. One of the goals of the 2003 Tax Act was to encourage capital investment by corporations. We investigate whether firms increased investment in response to the Act. We first document that capital expenditures increase after the 2003 Tax Act. We then use a difference-in-differences research design to show that this increase in capital expenditures varies predictably with two shareholder-level tax-motivated hypotheses. First, we find that the increase in investment is smaller for firms largely held by investors that are less sensitive to shareholder-level taxes. Second, we find that the increase in investment is larger for firms most likely to fund investment from new equity issuances rather than internal funds. Additional analysis suggests that while the majority of firms increase investment after the tax cut, a small subset of larger, older, and.