Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of cerebral cortex in the generation of voluntary saccades: a positron emission tomographic study.

The purpose of this study was to define the location and behavior of cerebral structures within the normal human brain that participate in the generation of voluntary saccadic eye movements. Changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during task performance were assumed to reflect like changes in regional neuronal activity induced by the task. The locations of all rCBF changes were described in stereotaxic coordinates. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured with positron emission tomography (PET) and bolus intravenous injection of H2(15)O. The use of H2(15)O with PET allowed six, seven-slice measurements of brain blood flow to be made in rapid sequence for each subject, without removing the subject from the tomograph between scans. Nine paid normal volunteers were studied. The paradigm included three saccadic eye-movement (SEM) conditions, one finger-movement condition and two control conditions (initial and final). The three SEM conditions allowed comparisons to be drawn between targeted versus untargeted SEMs, auditorily cued versus visually cued SEMs, and stochastic versus rhythmic SEMs. All tasks were simple and deterministic in that each movement exactly mirrored the preceding movement: finger flexion then extension, saccade-left then saccade-right. Saccadic eye movements were associated with rCBF increases within the frontal eye fields, the supplementary motor area, and the cerebellum. Finger movements were associated with rCBF changes within the sensorimotor hand areas, the supplementary motor area, and the cerebellum. The frontal eye fields were discrete cortical regions consistently active during the generation of voluntary SEMs and uninfluenced by target presence, type of cue, or task complexity, indicating a predominantly motor function. The supplementary motor area (SMA) was consistently active during all motor tasks and was uninfluenced by the degree of task complexity or stochasticity. A role for SMA in establishing "motor set" during both simple and complex motor tasks is suggested. An anterior-posterior somatotopy was found for SMA-eye (anterior) versus SMA-hand (posterior). Lateral occipital visual association cortex activation was present only during targeted saccadic conditions. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Parental involvement and kangaroo care in European neonatal intensive care units: A policy survey in eight countries

Objective: To compare, in a large representative sample of European neonatal intensive care units, the policies and practices regarding parental involvement and holding babies in the kangaroo care position as well as differences in the tasks mothers and fathers are allowed to carry out. Design: Prospective multicenter survey. Setting: Neonatal intensive care units in eight European countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom). Patients: Patients were not involved in this study. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: A structured questionnaire was mailed to 362 units (response rate 78%); only units with ≥50 very-low-birth-weight annual admissions were considered for this study. Facilities for parents such as reclining chairs near the babies’ cots, beds, and a dedicated room were common, but less so in Italy and Spain. All units in Sweden, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Belgium reported encouraging parental participation in the care of the babies, whereas policies were more restrictive in Italy (80% of units), France (73%), and Spain (41%). Holding babies in the kangaroo care position was widespread. However, in the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Spain, many units applied restrictions regarding its frequency (sometimes or on parents request only, rather than routinely), method (conventional rather than skin-to-skin), and clinical conditions (especially mechanical ventilation and presence of umbilical lines) that would prevent its practice. In these countries, fathers were routinely offered kangaroo care less frequently than mothers (p < .001) and less often it was skin-to-skin (p < .0001). Conclusions: This study showed that, although the majority of units in all countries reported a policy of encouraging both parents to take part in the care of their babies, the intensity and ways of involvement as well as the role played by mothers and fathers varied within and between countries.
Kinetics and In Vivo Induction of Genetic Variation of vlsE in Borrelia burgdorferi

ABSTRACT The Lyme disease agent, Borrelia burgdorferi, is able to persistently infect humans and animals for months or years in the presence of an active immune response. It is not known how the organisms survive immune attack in the mammalian host.vlsE, a gene localized near one end of linear plasmid lp28-1 and encoding a surface-exposed lipoprotein in B. burgdorferi B31, was shown recently to undergo extensive genetic and antigenic variation within 28 days of initial infection in C3H/HeN mice. In this study, we examined the kinetics of vlsEsequence variation in C3H/HeN mice at 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days and at 7 and 12 months postinfection. Sequence changes were detected by PCR amplification and sequence analysis as early as 4 days postinfection and accumulated progressively in both C3H/HeN and CB-17 severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice throughout the course of infection. The sequence changes were consistent with sequential recombination of segments from multiple silent vls cassette sites into thevlsE expression site. No vlsE sequence changes were detected in organisms cultured in vitro for up to 84 days. These results indicate that vlsE recombination is induced by a factor(s) present in the mammalian host, independent of adaptive immune responses. The possible inducing conditions appear to be present in various tissue sites because isolates from multiple tissues showed similar degrees of sequence variation. The rate of accumulation of predicted amino acid changes was higher in the immunologically intact C3H/HeN mice than in SCID mice, a finding consistent with immune selection of VlsE variants.
Prevalence and pattern of congenital heart disease in school children of eastern Uttar Pradesh.

BACKGROUND AND AIM The prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD) is not known in our country. The aim of present study was to find out the prevalence of CHD in school children of eastern Uttar Pradesh. METHOD A team consisting of a cardiologist, physicians and junior residents visited schools in the area. All the children were examined for presence of cardiac murmur or history of heart disease or any intervention. Those with murmurs or previous history of heart disease were called to the Medical College Hospital for evaluation by ECG, chest X-ray and echocardiography for confirmation of the lesion. RESULTS Out of 118,212 children examined, 142 were found to have CHD. The prevalence was 1.3 per 1000 children and the commonest lesions were ventricular and atrial septal defects, aortic stenosis with or without regurgitation, and pulmonary stenosis. CONCLUSION CHD prevalence is 1.3 per 1000 school children that is nearly two and a half times more than that of RHD. Knowing it is important for development of facilities for CHD care in our setup.
When is Onuf’s nucleus involved in multiple system atrophy? A sphincter electromyography study

Background: External anal sphincter (EAS) electromyography (EMG) abnormalities can distinguish multiple system atrophy (MSA) from Parkinson’s disease in the first five years after disease onset. However, the prevalence of the abnormalities in the early stages of MSA is unknown. Objectives: To present EAS-EMG data in the various stages of MSA. Methods: 84 patients with “probable” MSA were recruited (42 men, 42 women; mean age 62 years (range 47 to 78); mean disease duration 3.2 years (0.5 to 8.0; <1 year in 25%); 50 cerebellar form (MSA-C), 34 parkinsonian form (MSA-P)). EAS motor unit potential (MUP) analysis and EMG cystometry were carried out in all patients. Results: The overall prevalence of neurogenic change of the EAS MUP was 62%—52% in the first year after disease onset, increasing to 83% by the fifth year (p<0.05); it also increased with severity of gait disturbance (p<0.05), storage and voiding disorders, and detrusor sphincter dyssynergy (NS). The neurogenic change was not correlated with sex, age, MSA-P/C, postural hypotension, constipation, erectile dysfunction in men, underactive or acontractile detrusor, or detrusor overactivity. In 17 incontinent patients without detrusor overactivity or low compliance, urinary incontinence was more severe in those with neurogenic change than in those without (p<0.05). Conclusions: Involvement of Onuf’s nucleus in MSA is time dependent. Before the fifth year of illness, the prevalence of neurogenic change does not seem to be high, so a negative result cannot exclude the diagnosis of MSA.
Inability of the activated partial thromboplastin time to predict heparin levels. Time to reassess guidelines for heparin assays.

BACKGROUND In treating venous thromboembolic disorders, patient outcomes appear to correlate with heparin levels. Due to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variations, a relationship between heparin dose and level cannot be reliably predicted in individual patients. Some patients have low heparin levels despite therapeutic activated partial thromboplastin times (aPTTs), which may increase their risk for recurrent thromboembolism. Patients with high heparin requirements appear to have fewer bleeding episodes with heparin level-guided therapy. The aPTT does not reliably correlate with heparin blood concentrations or antithrombotic effects. Consequently, heparin therapy monitored with heparin levels may be more effective and safer. OBJECTIVES To prospectively determine whether (1) the aPTT therapeutic range adequately predicts heparin levels in 38 patients used to establish the therapeutic aPTT range as is currently recommended and (2) whether 3 paired sets of aPTT-antifactor Xa levels provide the basis for using aPTTs to predict subsequent heparin levels in individual patients (n = 27) receiving intravenous heparin for coronary artery disease or venous thromboembolic disease. RESULTS In the therapeutic aPTT range established, the R2 value for the relationship was 0.4. Prediction intervals were wide. For an aPTT of 60 seconds, the 95% prediction interval estimates were heparin levels of 0.05 to 1.0 U/mL. In individual patients, the aPTT-antifactor Xa relationship had an average R2 value of 0.75. There was no consistent relationship between the aPTT and anti-factor Xa level in a significant number of patients. CONCLUSIONS The aPTT does not appear to be a useful surrogate for heparin levels. These findings suggest that the current recommendations on the use of heparin levels should be expanded.
Pressure-dependent renin release : effects of sodium intake and changes of total body sodium

Seeliger, Erdmann, Katrin Lohmann, Benno Nafz, Pontus B. Persson, and H. Wolfgang Reinhardt. Pressuredependent renin release: effects of sodium intake and changes of total body sodium. Am. J. Physiol. 277 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 46): R548–R555, 1999. —The impact of sodium intake and changes in total body sodium (TBS) for the setting of pressure-dependent renin release (PDRR) was studied in freely moving dogs. An aortic cuff allowed servo control of renal perfusion pressure (RPP) at preset values. Protocols were 1) high sodium intake (HSI), 2) low sodium intake (LSI), 3) TBS moderately increased (13.1 mmol Na/kg body wt) by 20% reduction of RPP for 2–4 days, 4) large increase of TBS (18.2) by combining protocol 3 with aldosterone infusion, and 5) TBS reduced (23.1) by peritoneal dialyses. Twenty-four-hour time courses of arterial plasma renin activity (PRA) revealed that LSI increased PRA for the first 10 h only; afterward PRA did not differ between LSI and HSI. Reduced TBS increased PRA constantly, and the large increase of TBS constantly reduced PRA. PDRR stimulusresponse curves (assessed 20 h after last sodium intake) revealed an exponential relationship in each protocol. PDRR was not changed by different sodium intake. Conversely, reduced TBS increased PDRR markedly, whereas the large increase of TBS suppressed it. Thus an inverse relationship between TBS and PRA, i.e., a TBS-dependent renin release, was found. This relationship was enhanced by decreasing RPP. This interplay between TBS-dependent renin release and PDRR allows the organism a differentiated reaction to changes in TBS and arterial pressure.
Islamic ethical values of corporate top leadership and real earnings management

Purpose This paper aims to study the roles of Muslim CEO, Muslim Chairman and Muslim board of directors in mitigating earnings management via real activities manipulation. Design/methodology/approach In total, 656 firm year-observations from 2007 to 2014 of Malaysian Top 100 firms listed on Bursa Malaysia is used to examine the relationship between real earnings management (REM) and the religious ethical values of Muslim top leadership of the firms. Findings The study provides evidence that there was no significant relationship between ethical values and REM measures among Muslim top corporate leaders. However, through additional analysis on sub-sample firms, this study finds that Muslim CEO and Muslim Chairman have a significant and negative association with proxies of REM: RCFO and RPC. Research limitations/implications The results show that Muslim CEO and Muslim Chairman are the actors that contribute more control in limiting REM especially in family-owned firms in Malaysia. Originality/value This is the first published paper that focuses on Islamic ethical values of corporate top leadership and REM in Malaysia, as previous studies have focused more on accruals earnings management.
Detection of human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 mRNA in peripheral blood of advanced cervical cancer patients and its association with prognosis.

PURPOSE To evaluate the feasibility of detecting human papillomavirus E6 (HPVE6) gene mRNA in the peripheral blood of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer, and the relationship of the circulating HPV viral-specific mRNA with clinicopathologic factors and prognosis of locally advanced cervical cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS The presence of types 16 and 18 HPVE6 gene mRNA was determined by reverse transcription followed by nested polymerase chain reaction. Thirty-five patients with locally advanced cervical cancer who were positive for HPV type 16 or 18 DNA were included in the study. All patients received external-beam radiation therapy followed by intracavitary brachytherapy. RESULTS Eighteen (51.4%) of 35 HPV DNA-positive cervical cancer patients had HPV-specific mRNA in their peripheral blood cells, compared with none of 17 HPV DNA-negative cervical cancer patients and none of 12 control volunteers. The presence of HPVE6 gene mRNA in peripheral blood was associated with bulky tumor volume (> 4 cm) and pelvic lymph node metastasis (tumor volume, P = .03; lymph node status, P = .03). After a median follow-up of 22 months, patients who were positive for peripheral-blood HPVE6 gene mRNA had a significantly higher risk of recurrence than those who were negative (10 of 18 v three of 17, P = .02; mean recurrent time, 20.7 months v 12.6 months, P = .02). There was also a statistically significant association of peripheral-blood HPVE6 gene mRNA positivity with distant metastasis (eight of 18 vone of 17; P = .01). CONCLUSION Results of this study seem to suggest that the presence of HPVE6 gene mRNA in peripheral blood may provide an early marker that identifies patients who are at risk for metastasis.
Experimental verification of a 77-GHz synthetic aperture radar system for automotive applications

We present measurement results collected with an experimental 77-GHz synthetic aperture radar, which is suitable for automotive applications. The presented approach relies on a simplified signal processing algorithm, which is derived by exploiting several approximations valid for typical automotive measurement settings. This leads to an image generation approach which requires only limited computational power. The presented results show that, despite the simplified approach, meaningful radar images can be generated. The experimental data was collected during various test drives without requiring highly precise position information.
Fetuin‐A negatively correlates with liver and vascular fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease subjects

Fetuin‐A (α2HS‐glycoprotein), a liver secretory glycoprotein, is known as a transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 signalling inhibitor. Serum fetuin‐A concentration is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease. However, the usefulness of serum fetuin‐A as a predictive fibrosis biomarker in NAFLD patients remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between circulating fetuin‐A levels and fibrosis‐related markers [platelet count, NAFLD fibrosis score and carotid intima media thickness (IMT)] in subjects with NAFLD.
Young Adults and Political Conversation: Engagement and Avoidance

This study investigated how young adults engage in or avoid political conversation and the influences behind that. I interviewed twenty-one undergraduate students at the University of Michigan who had not yet voted in a Presidential election. I asked them about their early political memories, their home, family, and hometown environments, and influences on their ideology and worldview. I asked how often and with whom they discuss political issues, which communities they consider themselves to be part of, what it has been like to come to college, and how they have changed politically since coming to college. Finally, I asked about their thoughts on the 2016 election and whether they intended to vote, and why or why not that was the case. Findings showed that the home environment is a critical influence in determining how one engages or avoids, people consciously select with whom they discuss politics, many avoid political conversation because they see themselves as non-confrontational, engagement at a young age often is unintentional and is understood later, voting is an important ideal and privilege to uphold, and religion plays a role in how people develop their approach to political conversation.
The influence of platform switching in dental implants. A literature review.

INTRODUCTION The platform switching concept involves the reduction of the restoration abutment diameter with respect to the diameter of the dental implant. In 1991, dental implants of 5 and 6 mm diameter platforms were introduced. However, matching-diameter prosthetic abutments were not available. These implants were restored with "standard"-diameter prosthetic components (4.1 mm). Long-term follow up around these wide-platforms showed higher levels of bone preservation. In time, it has been called platform switching. The first case report applying this concept was indexed in MedLine in 2005. MATERIALS AND METHODS The aim of this article is to carry out a literature review of articles which deal with the influence of this modified platform in hard and soft oral tissues. All papers involving "platform switching" that are indexed in MedLine and published in English were used. Clinical cases, experimental and non-experimental studies were included, as well as literature reviews. RESULTS In our search, we found: 16 clinical series or single clinical cases, 10 test and control studies, 9 experimental studies and 3 reviews. CONCLUSION All papers written by different researchers show an improvement in perimplant bone preservation. Further long-term studies are necessary to confirm these results. The articles consulted refer to the biomechanical behavior of the abutment-implant complex in response to occlusal loading, the maintenance of crestal bone height and the peculiar repositioning of the biological space.
The exotic and the everyday, regional Victorian pantomime in Birmingham and the Black Country 1813-1914

Until recently, major theatrical discussions excluded regional pantomime. This new research adds to the regional perspective, through the analysis of Aladdin pantomimes in Birmingham and the Black Country. from 1813 to 1914. Originally from the Arabian Nights' Stories, Aladdin positioned within local contexts. reveals relationships between the exotic and theatrical Chinese locations and the everyday products and trade that informed the lives of local theatre audiences. Even though Aladdin had its origins in the Arabic tales, authors and audiences approached the pantomime through their existing knowledge of China. Later Aladdin productions continued to mirror the oriental undercurrents and societal synergy surrounding the dissemination of ideas concerning Chineseness. My critical analysis of Aladdin establishes the depiction of China through locally manufactured goods, the willow pattern plate, the tea trade and the art of Japanning. The interaction of pantomime and product was an affirmation of the association between the exotic and the everyday. and the connection that regional audiences made with the real China and the topsy-turvy unreal world of pantomime. The critical coexistence of these opposing elements enables a reassessment of the regional role of pantomime in local political. social and cultural development.
Corticosteroid Therapy Benefits Septic Mice With Adrenal Insufficiency But Harms Septic Mice Without Adrenal Insufficiency*

Objectives: Corticosteroid therapy is frequently used in septic patients given the rationale that there is an increased demand for corticosteroid in sepsis, and up to 60% of severe septic patients experience adrenal insufficiency. However, the efficacy of corticosteroid therapy and whether the therapy should be based on the results of adrenal function testing are highly controversial. The lack of an adrenal insufficiency animal model and our poor understanding of the pathogenesis caused by adrenal insufficiency present significant barriers to address this long-standing clinical issue. Design: Prospective experimental study. Setting: University laboratory. Subjects: Scavenger receptor BI null and adrenal-specific scavenger receptor BI null mice. Interventions: Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture. Measurements and Main Results: Using scavenger receptor BI–/– mice as the first relative adrenal insufficiency animal model, we found that corticosteroid therapy significantly improved the survival in cecal ligation and puncture–treated scavenger receptor BI–/– mice but causes more septic death in wild-type mice. We identified a corticosteroid cocktail that provides effective protection 18 hours post cecal ligation and puncture; using adrenal-specific scavenger receptor BI–/– mice as an inducible corticosteroid–deficient animal model, we found that inducible corticosteroid specifically suppresses interleukin-6 production without affecting tumor necrosis factor-&agr;, nitric oxide, and interleukin-10 production. We further found that inducible corticosteroid does not induce peripheral lymphocyte apoptosis but promotes phagocytic activity of macrophages and neutrophils. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that corticosteroid treatment benefits mice with adrenal insufficiency but harms mice without adrenal insufficiency. This study also reveals that inducible corticosteroid has both immunosuppressive and immunopermissive properties, suppressing interleukin-6 production, promoting phagocytosis of immune effector cells, but not inducing peripheral lymphocyte apoptosis. These findings support our hypothesis that corticosteroid is an effective therapy for a subgroup of septic patients with adrenal insufficiency but harms septic patients without adrenal insufficiency and encourage further efforts to test this hypothesis in clinic.