Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plus ça change…: The Effects of Nationalism and Electoral Competition on Immigration and Integration Policy Proposals in Quebec, 1976-2014

This work is a comprehensive study of immigration and integration policy proposals made by the Parti Liberal du Quebec (PLQ) and the Parti Quebecois (PQ) through the 11 elections that took place from 1976-2016. Where the PLQ is a federalist provincial party, the PQ is the PLQ’s primary opponent and represents the province’s sovereignist ambitions. However, this work posits that the PLQ and PQ propose similar immigration and integration policy proposals. Where one might expect to see a stark contrast between the parties’ proposed ethnocultural diversity management policies, we see periods of significant convergence—both parties, in fact, propose similar policies as a whole. Furthermore, this work examines the impact that nationalism and electoral competition maintained over the parties’ policy proposals. Simply put, this work argues that nationalism is incredibly important for both parties but both parties largely proposed inclusive and pluralist ethnocultural diversity management proposals. The theory of brokerage politics has been applied in order to explain this convergence, in effect demonstrating that the parties converge on this policy area in order to appeal to the greatest number of voters as possible by fundamentally limiting the ideological differences between the two parties.
Cardiophrenic lymph node resection in advanced ovarian cancer: surgical outcomes, pre- and postoperative imaging

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of preoperative imaging in the diagnosis of cardiophrenic lymph node (CPLN) metastases and to report perioperative outcomes after resection of CPLN at the time of cytoreductive surgery for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Furthermore, to assess clearance of CPLN by postoperative imaging. Methods: All women with stage IIIC/IV EOC subjected to surgery at our institution from January 2014 to October 2016 were retrospectively identified from a database. Among these, women subjected to CPLN resection during surgery were identified. Pre- and postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans, pathology reports, surgical approach and outcomes were reviewed. Results: One hundred and eighty women with stage IIIC/IV EOC subjected to surgery with curative intent were identified. Twenty-four (13%) of these women underwent CPLN resection. All had CT imaging suggestive of CPLN metastases. 20/24 (83%) had confirmed metastases upon final pathology. CPLN resection was associated with longer operation time, more often advanced upper abdominal surgery and more postoperative complications but there was no difference in days from surgery to initiation of chemotherapy. Postoperative CT was still indicative of CPLN metastases in 13/22 (59%) women despite resection with confirmative pathology. Conclusions: Resection of CPLN metastases is highly feasible without considerable added morbidity. Concern regarding surgical clearance is raised since postoperative imaging was indicative of metastases in the majority of women. The prognostic significance of stage IV disease based exclusively on CPLN metastases is unclear and any survival benefit from the procedure is yet to be determined.
Value of 3D Reconstructions of CT Scans for Calcaneal Fracture Assessment

Background: The interpretation of CT scans for the evaluation of calcaneal fractures is difficult. Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction (volume rendering technique [VRT]) has been valuable in the evaluation of irregularly shaped bones. However, their value for the analysis of calcaneal fractures is still debated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the effect of additional use of 3D CTs in calcaneal fractures. Methods: In a prospective multicenter study, the CT data set of 5 different fractures was presented to 57 evaluators. First, the participating surgeons were asked to assess the fractures on the basis of axial, coronal, and sagittal reconstructions using a multiple-choice questionnaire. Second, 3D reconstructions (VRT) were presented. The CT scans were validated by the intraoperative findings and the results were compared to the model solution of 3 foot and ankle surgeons. Intra- and interrater reliabilities were calculated. Results: The proportion of intraobserver agreement was 82%, with Cohen kappa of κ = 0.748 (P < .001). Interrater agreement varied between 0.772 (P = .006) for the assessment of concomitant fractures and 0.987 (P < .001) for the suggested approach. The evaluation of several items improved after presentation of the 3D CTs (Cochrane Q test, P < .001). The benefit of 3D imaging was higher in inexperienced surgeons and complex fractures (Friedman test P < .001). Conclusion: The evaluation of CT scans of calcaneal fractures was improved by the additional use of 3D images (VRT). Level of Evidence: Level II, prospective comparative study.
Why Some Leaders Die Hard (and Others Don’t): Party Goals, Party Institutions, and How They Interact

This chapter examines the impact of intra-party institutions, electoral and office performance on party leader survival. On the performance side, we find that losing elections and losing government office significantly diminish a leader’s chances to remain in his or her job. Interestingly, there is evidence that suggests that, for both performance indicators, the negative impact of losing is larger than the positive impact of winning. In addition, we demonstrate that inclusive mechanisms of leadership selection and de-selection (i.e. membership votes) reduce the average tenure of party leaders. We also test whether the impact of electoral and office performance varies across selection and de-selection mechanisms, yet we find no evidence that this is the case.
Isolation and Molecular Characterization of the Transformer Gene From Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae)

transformer (tra) is a switch gene of sex determination in many insects, particularly in Dipterans. However, the sex determination pathway in Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett), a very destructive pest on earth, remains largely uncharacterized. In this study, we have isolated and characterized one female-specific and two male-specific transcripts of the tra gene (Bcutra) of B. cucurbitae. The genomic structure of Bcutra has been determined and the presence of multiple conserved Transformer (TRA)/TRA-2 binding sites in Bcutra has been found. BcuTRA is highly conservative with its homologues in other tephritid fruit flies. Gene expression analysis of Bcutra at different developmental stages demonstrates that the female transcript of Bcutra appears earlier than the male counterparts, indicating that the maternal TRA is inherited in eggs and might play a role in the regulation of TRA expression. The conservation of protein sequence and sex-specific splicing of Bcutra and its expression patterns during development suggest that Bcutra is probably the master gene of sex determination of B. cucurbitae. Isolation of Bcutra will facilitate the development of a genetic sexing strain for its biological control.
Olfactory bedside test. A simple approach to identify temporo-orbitofrontal dysfunction.

BACKGROUND Olfactory memory and discrimination are processed by the anteromesial temporal cortex and the orbitofrontal cortex. Both functions may therefore be impaired in limbic epilepsy. METHODS Twenty-seven patients with mesial temporal lobe seizures (MTLS), 10 patients with neocortical seizures (NS), and 10 matched healthy control subjects underwent evaluation for olfactory quality discrimination (OD) and delayed recognition memory (OM). All patients were referred for presurgical evaluation. The olfactory tests were performed in a same-different paradigm with 10 seconds (OD) and 60 minutes (OM) between presentations of the odors, using the standardized University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test. The presentations were monorhinal in the OD and birhinal in the OM tests. The results were related to regional glucose metabolism measured with fludeoxyglucose F 18 positron emission tomography. RESULTS Patients with MTLS had an impaired OD ipsilateral to the epileptogenic region (P < .001) and a higher total number of errors (including both tests) (P = .002). They also had lower OM scores, but not significantly lower than those of patients with NS (P = .05). The combined OM and OD tests correctly identified patients with MTLS with a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 90%, offering a correct lateralization in 74% of patients. Patients with MTLS whose OD was more impaired than OM differed from those with more impaired OM by having a significant hypometabolism not only over the neocortex of the epileptogenic temporal lobe (P = .02) but also in the ipsilateral anterior (P = .008) and orbitofrontal cortex (P = .007) (2-way analysis of variance). CONCLUSIONS Tests of olfactory function are useful in distinguishing between NS and MTLS. The impairments of OM and OD can be dissociated in pathological states and therefore mediated by different structures.
Integrative Genomics Revealed RAI3 Is a Cell Growth-promoting Gene and a Novel P53 Transcriptional Target*

In this study, differential gene expression between normal human mammary epithelial cells and their malignant counterparts (eight well established breast cancer cell lines) was studied using Incyte GeneAlbum 1–6, which contains 65,873 cDNA clones representing 33,515 individual genes. 3,152 cDNAs showed a ≥3.0-fold expression level change in at least one of the human breast cancer cell lines as compared with normal human mammary epithelial cells. Integration of breast tumor gene expression data with the genes in the tumor suppressor p53 signaling pathway yielded 128 genes whose expression is altered in breast tumor cell lines and in response to p53 expression. A hierarchical cluster analysis of the 128 genes revealed that a significant portion of genes demonstrate an opposing expression pattern, i.e. p53-activated genes are down-regulated in the breast tumor lines, whereas p53-repressed genes are up-regulated. Most of these genes are involved in cell cycle regulation and/or apoptosis, consistent with the tumor suppressor function of p53. Follow-up studies on one gene, RAI3, suggested that p53 interacts with the promoter of RAI3 and repressed its expression at the onset of apoptosis. The expression of RAI3 is elevated in most tumor cell lines expressing mutant p53, whereas RAI3 mRNA is relatively repressed in the tumor cell lines expressing wild-type p53. Furthermore, ectopic expression of RAI3 in 293 cells promotes anchorage-independent growth and small interfering RNA-mediated depletion of RAI3 in AsPc-1 pancreatic tumor cells induces cell morphological change. Taken together, these data suggest a role for RAI3 in tumor growth and demonstrate the predictive power of integrative genomics.
Assessment of Thiopurine Methyltransferase and Metabolite Formation During Thiopurine Therapy: Results from a Large Swedish Patient Population

This study examined thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) and the relationship to thioguanine nucleotides (TGN) and methylthioinosine monophosphate (meTIMP) in a large Swedish patient population. The current hypothesis is that the cytotoxic effects of thiopurine drugs are mediated by the incorporation of TGN into DNA. The authors assayed the TPMT activity in red blood cells from 1151 subjects and the concentrations of TGN (n = 602) and meTIMP (n = 593) from patients treated with thiopurine drugs. The TPMT frequency distribution in both adults and children showed some differences from what had been found in unselected general populations. Children had lower median TPMT activity than adults (12.0 versus 12.9 U/mL RBC; P < 0.001). Relative differences in both TGN formation [medians: normal TPMT, 1.3; intermediate TPMT, 3.3; low TPMT, 47.9 pmol/8 × 108 RBC per mg azathioprine (AZA); P < 0.001] and meTIMP formation (medians: normal TPMT, 13; intermediate TPMT, 7.3; low TPMT, 0 pmol/8 × 108 RBC per mg AZA; P = 0.001) per 1 mg administered drug were noted among the 3 TPMT activity groups. Women formed higher concentrations of both TGN (1.5 versus 1.3 pmol/8 × 108 RBC per mg AZA; P = 0.01) and meTIMP (14.4 versus 10.7 pmol/8 × 108 RBC per mg AZA; P = 0.01) than men did. There was a significant correlation between the AZA dose and the meTIMP concentrations (r = 0.45; P < 0.001). Furthermore, dose alterations made in subjects with normal TPMT (n = 84) and intermediate TPMT (n = 22) activity resulted in more pronounced increases in TGN concentrations (170 versus 30 pmol/8 × 108 RBC; P < 0.001) in intermediate TPMT activity, whereas in normal TPMT activity changes in meTIMP concentrations were more pronounced (1.3 versus 0 nmol/8 × 108 RBC; P < 0.001). In normal TPMT activity both metabolites increased in a dose-dependent fashion, whereas in intermediate TPMT activity only TGN concentrations increased. The results of this study demonstrate the dynamic nature of thiopurine metabolism and its importance for thiopurine dosing.
Melatonin synergizes with citalopram to induce antidepressant‐like behavior and to promote hippocampal neurogenesis in adult mice

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is affected in some neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression. Numerous evidence indicates that plasma levels of melatonin are decreased in depressed patients. Also, melatonin exerts positive effects on the hippocampal neurogenic process and on depressive‐like behavior. In addition, antidepressants revert alterations of hippocampal neurogenesis present in models of depression following a similar time course to the improvement of behavior. In this study, we analyzed the effects of both, citalopram, a widely used antidepressant, and melatonin in the Porsolt forced swim test. In addition, we investigated the potential antidepressant role of the combination of melatonin and citalopram (MLTCITAL), its type of pharmacological interaction on depressive behavior, and its effect on hippocampal neurogenesis. Here, we found decreased immobility behavior in mice treated with melatonin (<14–33%) and citalopram (<17–30%). Additionally, the MLTCITAL combination also decreased immobility (<22–35%) in comparison with control mice, reflecting an antidepressant‐like effect after 14 days of treatment. Moreover, MLTCITAL decreased plasma corticosterone levels (≤13%) and increased cell proliferation (>29%), survival (>39%), and the absolute number of ‐associated new neurons (>53%) in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. These results indicate that the MLTCITAL combination exerts synergism to induce an antidepressant‐like action that could be related to the modulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis. This outcome opens the opportunity of using melatonin to promote behavioral benefits and hippocampal neurogenesis in depression and also supports the use of the MLTCITAL combination as an alternative to treat depression.
Pulsed Radio Emission from the Fermi-LAT Pulsar J1732-3131: Search and A Possible Detection at 34.5 MHz

We report our search for and a possible detection of periodic radio pulses at 34.5 MHz from the Fermi Large Area Telescope pulsar J1732-3131. The candidate detection has been possible in only one of the many sessions of observations made with the low-frequency array at Gauribidanur, India, when the otherwise radio weak pulsar may have apparently brightened many folds. The candidate dispersion measure along the sight line, based on the broad periodic profiles from â�¼20min of data, is estimated to be 15.44 Â± 0.32 pccc -1. We present the details of our periodic and single-pulse search, and discuss the results and their implications relevant to both, the pulsar and the intervening medium. Â© 2012 RAS.
#Republic: Divided Democracy in the Age of Social Media

From the New York Times bestselling author of Nudge and The World According to Star Wars, a revealing account of how today's Internet threatens democracy--and what can be done about it As the Internet grows more sophisticated, it is creating new threats to democracy. Social media companies such as Facebook can sort us ever more efficiently into groups of the like-minded, creating echo chambers that amplify our views. It's no accident that on some occasions, people of different political views cannot even understand one another. It's also no surprise that terrorist groups have been able to exploit social media to deadly effect. Welcome to the age of #Republic. In this revealing book, New York Times bestselling author Cass Sunstein shows how today's Internet is driving political fragmentation, polarization, and even extremism--and what can be done about it. He proposes practical and legal changes to make the Internet friendlier to democratic deliberation, showing that #Republic need not be an ironic term. Rather, it can be a rallying cry for the kind of democracy that citizens of diverse societies need most.
Miconazole Induces Fungistasis and Increases Killing of Candida albicans Subjected to Photodynamic Therapy †

Cutaneous and mucocutaneous Candida infections are considered to be important targets for antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (PDT). Clinical application of antimicrobial PDT will require strategies that enhance microbial killing while minimizing damage to host tissue. Increasing the sensitivity of infectious agents to PDT will help achieve this goal. Our previous studies demonstrated that raising the level of oxidative stress in Candida by interfering with fungal respiration increased the efficiency of PDT. Therefore, we sought to identify compounds in clinical use that would augment the oxidative stress caused by PDT by contributing to reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation themselves. Based on the ability of the antifungal miconazole to induce ROS in Candida, we tested several azole antifungals for their ability to augment PDT in vitro. Although miconazole and ketoconazole both stimulated ROS production in Candida albicans, only miconazole enhanced the killing of C. albicans and induced prolonged fungistasis in organisms that survived PDT using the porphyrin TMP‐1363 and the phenothiazine methylene blue as photosensitizers. The data suggest that miconazole could be used to increase the efficacy of PDT against C. albicans, and its mechanism of action is likely to be multifactorial.
Comparative chemical evaluation of two commercially available derivatives of hyaluronic acid (Hylaform® from rooster combs and Restylane® from streptococcus) used for soft tissue augmentation

Hyaluronic acid (HA) derivatives have been developed to try to enhance Theological properties of this molecule to make it suitable for various medical applications. The main dermatological application of HA derivatives is the augmentation of soft tissues, via injection into the dermis. HA derivatives are indicated for the correction of cutaneous contour deficiencies of the skin, particularly in cases of ageing or degenerative lesions or to increase lips. Two HA derivatives have been evaluated: Hylaform® Viscoelastic Gel (Hylan B), derived from rooster combs and subjected to cross‐linking, and Restylane®, produced through bacterial fermentation (streptococci) and stabilized, as declared by the producer. In both cases the purpose is to improve HA rheological characteristics and slow down its degradation once it is in contact with biological structures. Distribution of particle dimensions, pH, protein concentration and rheological properties have been investigated in order to evaluate their reliability as fillers for soft tissue augmentation. The results of the analyses showed that there are differences between Restylane® and Hylaform®. Especially as far as rheological characteristics are concerned, the results outline different structures of the products: Hylaform® behaves as a strong hydrogel, Restylane® as a weak hydrogel; theologically Hylaform® is clearly superior to Restylane®. Hylaform® contains a definitely minor quantity (about a quarter) of cross‐linked hyaluronic acid than Restylane®. Furthermore, although not declared by the manufacturer, Restylane® contains protein, resulting from bacterial fermentation or added to enable cross‐linking reaction; the quantity of proteins contained by Restylane® can be as much as four times the quantity contained by Hylaform®, for the same volume (1 ml). It is evident that Hylaform® offers higher safety margin than Restylane®. Furthermore, wide literature and 20 years of clinical experience on hyaluronan derived from rooster combs confirm the reliability of this derivative while we did not find evidence regarding about the safety of HA obtained from streptococcus.
Muslims in Public and Media Discourse in Western Europe: The Reproduction of Aporia and Exclusion

This chapter scrutinizes the dominant public discourse in Western Europe. Drawing on examples from the UK, Germany, and France but also from the Netherlands, Denmark and Spain it illustrates the gradual transformation of discourse from an “exotic Islam” to a “threatening Islam” that endangers European values and safety and suggests that the combination of this “securitization” of Islam and the monopoly of the “Muslim voice” by radical Muslim activists leads to a vicious circle of misrecognition and enhancing the aporia of Europe's Muslims.
Posterior component separation and transversus abdominis muscle release for complex incisional hernia repair in patients with a history of an open abdomen

BACKGROUND The best reconstructive approach for large fascial defects precipitated from a previous open abdomen has not been elucidated to date. We use a posterior component separation with transversus abdominis muscle release (TAR) in this scenario. METHODS Patients with a history of an open abdomen who ultimately underwent complex hernia repair with TAR from 2010 to 2013 at Case Medical Center were identified in our prospective database and analyzed. RESULTS Of 34 patients (mean [SD] age, 54 [11.3] years; mean [SD] body mass index, 32.5 [7.2]) with a history of an open abdomen, the fascia was closed primarily in 11 and skin alone closed primarily in 4 patients after a mean (SD) of 5.9 (6.7) days. Those unable to achieve primary closure either received a skin graft (n = 16) or healed by secondary intention (n = 3). Patients presented to our institution a mean (SD) of 25.1 (26.5) months after their initial operation, eight having already undergone at least one hernia repair, including four anterior component separations. Operations consisted of 21 (61.8%) contaminated cases, including 7 enterocutaneous fistula takedowns, 2 stoma revisions, 2 stoma reversals, and 3 excisions of infected mesh. Wound morbidity consisted of 12 (35%) surgical site occurrences: 1 wound dehiscence, 2 hematomas, 1 seroma, 8 surgical site infections (23.5%; 3 superficial, 3 deep, and 2 organ space), and no enterocutaneous fistulas or chronic mesh infections. One reoperation was necessary for debridement of a hematoma and deep surgical site infection. With a mean follow-up of 18 months (range, 3–42 months), two (5.9%) new parastomal hernias and three (8.8%) midline recurrences have been documented. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the use of TAR in patients with a history of an open abdomen for definitive abdominal wall reconstruction. We have demonstrated that this approach is associated with low significant perioperative morbidity and recurrence. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, level V.