Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endovascular treatment in diseases of the descending thoracic aorta: 6-year results of a single center.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate endovascular treatment in diseases of the descending thoracic aorta. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study was designed as a single center's (university hospital) experience. Over a 6-year period (1995 to 2001), thoracic endografts were placed in 74 patients with a diseased descending thoracic aorta who were at high risk for conventional open surgical repair: 34 had atherosclerotic aneurysms, six had posttraumatic aneurysms, 14 had type B dissection with aneurysmal dilatation of the false lumen, 12 had isthmic transections from blunt trauma, five had thoracoabdominal aneurysms (treated with a combined procedure), two had aortic coarctation, and one had an aortobronchial fistula. Twenty-six procedures (35.1%) were conducted as emergencies, and 48 (64.9%) were elective. The feasibility of endovascular treatment and sizing of stent grafts were determined with preoperative spiral computed tomography and intraoperative angiography. RESULTS Endovascular operations were completed successfully in all 74 patients; postprocedural conversion to open repair was necessary in three cases. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 9.5% (seven deaths). Temporary neurologic deficits developed in two patients; not one patient had permanent paraplegia. The primary endoleak rate was 20.3% (15 patients). The mean follow-up period was 22 months (range, 3 to 72 months). Five deaths occurred in the follow-up period, and three patients needed secondary conversion to open repair 2, 3, and 14 months after initial endografting. CONCLUSION Endoluminal treatment in diseases of the thoracic descending aorta is feasible and may offer results as good as the open method.
Sequence‐based screening for self‐sufficient P450 monooxygenase from a metagenome library

Aims: Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs) are useful catalysts for oxidation reactions. Self‐sufficient CYPs harbour a reductive domain covalently connected to a P450 domain and are known for their robust catalytic activity with great potential as biocatalysts. In an effort to expand genetic sources of self‐sufficient CYPs, we devised a sequence‐based screening system to identify them in a soil metagenome.
The influence of corporate financial events on selected JSE-listed companies

Abstract In South Africa, corporate finance events receive extensive coverage in the media. However, there are only a few studies examining the behaviour of share prices in response to such events. Using the event study methodology commonly used in corporate finance research, the reaction of a sample of large- and small-cap stocks to selected corporate finance events (such as dividend and earnings announcements, stock splits and accounting policy changes) was analysed. Results show that there is a rapid stock price adjustment immediately post-announcement, but the time taken varies depending on the nature of the event and company size. This may have profound implications on discretionary portfolio management: fund managers should find it beneficial from a diversification standpoint. Exiting from heavy concentrations in large-cap stocks and diversifying into smaller cap stocks could offer the stability of portfolio returns against adverse events like Steinhoff’s accounting fraud.
The democratic anchorage of governance networks in smart cities: an empirical assessment

ABSTRACT The paper addresses the problem of democratic legitimacy of smart cities as a system of governance networks. Using data collected during a 2-year research project, such as the qualitative analysis of reports and documents and semi-structured interviews with key informants, the paper elaborates an Index of Democratic Smart Governance and applies it to four European smart cities: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Turin, and Vienna. Results show that smart cities are anchored in principles of democratic representation, but the link between political institutions and the general public is not entirely developed due to the lack of mechanisms truly fostering citizens’ participation and voicing.
Targeting endogenous nuclear antigens by electrotransfer of monoclonal antibodies in living cells

Antibodies are valuable tools for functional studies in vitro, but their use in living cells remains challenging because they do not naturally cross the cell membrane. Here, we present a simple and highly efficient method for the intracytoplasmic delivery of any antibody into cultured cells. By following the fate of monoclonal antibodies that bind to nuclear antigens, it was possible to image endogenous targets and to show that inhibitory antibodies are able to induce cell growth suppression or cell death. Our electrotransfer system allowed the cancer cells we studied to be transduced without loss of viability and may have applications for a variety of intracellular immuno-interventions.
Cleavage of Ig-Hepta at a “SEA” Module and at a Conserved G Protein-coupled Receptor Proteolytic Site*

Ig-Hepta is a member of a new subfamily of the heptahelical receptors and has an unusually long N terminus extending toward the extracellular side of the plasma membrane. Pulse-chase experiments in 293T cells using antisera specifically recognizing its N- and C-terminal regions demonstrated that Ig-Hepta is core-glycosylated cotranslationally and proteolytically processed into a two-chain form in the endoplasmic reticulum, followed by maturation of oligosaccharide chains and dimerization. The cleavage occurs at two highly conserved sites: one in a “SEA” module (a module first identified in sperm protein, enterokinase, andagrin) near the N terminus and the other in the stalk region preceding the first transmembrane span, generating ∼20-, 130-, and 32-kDa fragments. The latter two remain tightly associated non-covalently even after cleavage as revealed by immunoprecipitation of native and myc-tagged Ig-Hepta constructs that were transiently expressed in 293T cells. The dimer consisting of four chains, (130 kDa + 32 kDa)2, is linked by disulfide bonds. A fusion protein of the extracellular domain of Ig-Hepta and the Fc domain of immunoglobulin was found to be a good substrate of the processing enzymes and used for determining the exact cleavage sites in the SEA module and juxtamembrane stalk region.
Managing a Mission-driven Franchise Organization: An Empirical Investigation of Organizational Practice and Individual Outcomes

The purpose of this research is to investigate the interplay among organizational practice, the adoption of a management philosophy and individual outcomes in a mission-driven multinational education franchise system. A sample of 1,700 potential survey participants throughout the focal organization in both Canada and the United States was used, including 1,282 franchisees and 418 employees. A total of 152 responses were received, including 83 responses from franchisees and 69 responses from corporate employees. The findings of the study provide evidence that the adoption of a management philosophy will mediate the relationships between a philosophy-oriented organizational practice and the individual outcomes in the context of a mission-driven education industry franchise–franchisor setup in North America. One obvious limitation is that the data collection was conducted from within a single organization. The findings of the study are specific to the North American region. Hence, the generalizability is limited. The article builds upon Wang’s ( Journal of Business, 2011, Ethics, 101(1), 111–126) study by adding new measures. The empirical evidence of the study confirms that it is possible for a franchise organization to utilize corporate mission and management philosophy to govern a high level of unity between all stakeholders in a franchise system.
Adenosine: Direct and Indirect Actions on Gastric Acid Secretion

Composed by a molecule of adenine and a molecule of ribose, adenosine is a paradigm of recyclable nucleoside with a multiplicity of functions that occupies a privileged position in the metabolic and regulatory contexts. Adenosine is formed continuously in intracellular and extracellular locations of all tissues. Extracellular adenosine is a signaling molecule, able to modulate a vast range of physiologic responses in many cells and organs, including digestive organs. The adenosine A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 receptors are P1 purinergic receptors, G protein-coupled proteins implicated in tissue protection. This review is focused on gastric acid secretion, a process centered on the parietal cell of the stomach, which contains large amounts of H+/K+-ATPase, the proton pump responsible for proton extrusion during acid secretion. Gastric acid secretion is regulated by an extensive collection of neural stimuli and endocrine and paracrine agents, which act either directly at membrane receptors of the parietal cell or indirectly through other regulatory cells of the gastric mucosa, as well as mechanic and chemic stimuli. In this review, after briefly introducing these points, we condense the current body of knowledge about the modulating action of adenosine on the pathophysiology of gastric acid secretion and update its significance based on recent findings in gastric mucosa and parietal cells in humans and animal models.
What is the lowest threshold to make a diagnosis of concussion?

Objective The purpose of this review is to examine the evidence for determining the lowest threshold for diagnosing a sport-related concussion. Data Sources MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Mosby's Index, PsycEXTRA, PsycINFO and Scopus. Key words included sports concussion, concussion assessment, diagnosis, concussion symptoms, onfield assessment and sports-related traumatic brain injury. Results The majority of concussions in sport occur without loss of consciousness or frank neurological signs. Some of the hallmark signs of acute concussion include mental confusion, memory and balance disturbance. Over the course of the first 24 h, the most common symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness and balance problems, blurred vision or other visual disturbance, confusion, memory loss and ‘fatigue’. Symptoms such as tiredness, irritability, nervousness or anxiety, sleep disturbance and sensitivity to light or noise may be noticed in the days after injury. The pathophysiology of sports concussion remains poorly understood. There appears to be a period of vulnerability following concussion in which an overlapping injury might cause magnified pathophysiology. Conclusions Sport-related concussions can be difficult to diagnose. Concussion produces an evolving constellation of somatic, cognitive and neurobehavioral symptoms that are typically most severe during the earliest acute postinjury period (ie, within the first 24–48 h) and diminish over a matter of several days to weeks in the majority of athletes. Athletes suspected of concussion should be removed from play and evaluated thoroughly.
Investigating exchange rate shocks on agricultural trade balance: The case of Tunisia

ABSTRACT The paper studies the impact of changes in Tunisia's exchange rate on the net external position of the agricultural sector. It shows that substitutability on production and consumption among domestically produced goods leads to an ambiguous impact for reasons that go beyond the Marshall-Lerner condition. Using cointegration techniques to disentangle the long and short-run impact of changes in the exchange rate on the net agricultural trade balance, we find that the depreciation of the domestic currency leads to a deterioration of the net external position of Tunisia's agricultural sector in the long-run.
Evaluation of Simplified Kinetic Analyses for Measurement of Brain Acetylcholinesterase Activity Using N-[11C]Methylpiperidin-4-yl Propionate and Positron Emission Tomography

The applicability of two reference tissue-based analyses without arterial blood sampling for the measurement of brain regional acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity using N-[11C]methylpiperidin-4-yl propionate ([11C]MP4P) was evaluated in 12 healthy subjects. One was a linear least squares analysis derived from Blomqvist's equation, and the other was the analysis of the ratio of target-tissue radioactivity relative to reference-tissue radioactivity proposed by Herholz and coworkers. The standard compartment analysis using arterial input function provided reliable quantification of k3 (an index of AChE activity) estimates in regions with low (neocortex and hippocampus), moderate (thalamus), and high (cerebellum) AChE activity with a coefficient of variation (COV) of 12% to 19%. However, the precise k3 value in the striatum, where AChE activity is the highest, was not obtained. The striatum was used as a reference because its time-radioactivity curve was proportional to the time integral of the arterial input function. Reliable k3 estimates were also obtained in regions with low-to-moderate AChE activity with a COV of less than 21% by striatal reference analyses, though not obtained in the cerebellum. Shape analysis, the previous method of direct k3 estimation from the shape of time-radioactivity data, gave k3 estimates in the cortex and thalamus with a somewhat larger COV. In comparison with the standard analysis, a moderate overestimation of k3 by 9% to 18% in the linear analysis and a moderate underestimation by 2% to 13% in the Herholz method were observed, which were appropriately explained by the results of computer simulation. In conclusion, simplified kinetic analyses are practical and useful for the routine analysis of clinical [11C]MP4P studies and are nearly as effective as the standard analysis for detecting regions with abnormal AChE activity.
Further delineation of the 15q13 microdeletion and duplication syndromes: a clinical spectrum varying from non-pathogenic to a severe outcome

Background: Recurrent 15q13.3 microdeletions were recently identified with identical proximal (BP4) and distal (BP5) breakpoints and associated with mild to moderate mental retardation and epilepsy. Methods: To assess further the clinical implications of this novel 15q13.3 microdeletion syndrome, 18 new probands with a deletion were molecularly and clinically characterised. In addition, we evaluated the characteristics of a family with a more proximal deletion between BP3 and BP4. Finally, four patients with a duplication in the BP3–BP4–BP5 region were included in this study to ascertain the clinical significance of duplications in this region. Results: The 15q13.3 microdeletion in our series was associated with a highly variable intra- and inter-familial phenotype. At least 11 of the 18 deletions identified were inherited. Moreover, 7 of 10 siblings from four different families also had this deletion: one had a mild developmental delay, four had only learning problems during childhood, but functioned well in daily life as adults, whereas the other two had no learning problems at all. In contrast to previous findings, seizures were not a common feature in our series (only 2 of 17 living probands). Three patients with deletions had cardiac defects and deletion of the KLF13 gene, located in the critical region, may contribute to these abnormalities. The limited data from the single family with the more proximal BP3–BP4 deletion suggest this deletion may have little clinical significance. Patients with duplications of the BP3–BP4–BP5 region did not share a recognisable phenotype, but psychiatric disease was noted in 2 of 4 patients. Conclusions: Overall, our findings broaden the phenotypic spectrum associated with 15q13.3 deletions and suggest that, in some individuals, deletion of 15q13.3 is not sufficient to cause disease. The existence of microdeletion syndromes, associated with an unpredictable and variable phenotypic outcome, will pose the clinician with diagnostic difficulties and challenge the commonly used paradigm in the diagnostic setting that aberrations inherited from a phenotypically normal parent are usually without clinical consequences.
Crohn's disease incidence evolution in North-western Greece is not associated with alteration of NOD2/CARD15 variants.

AIM To assess the trends in the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) over 23 years in the same area and to identify genetic factors related to incidence evolution. METHODS Patients with IBD arising from North-western Greece were systematically recorded through the 1983-2005 period. Trends in disease incidence and genetic patterns related to CARD15 variants were documented and correlated. RESULTS A total of 447 patients with IBD were recorded (23.5% Crohn's disease, 72.7% Ulcerative colitis and 3.8% indeterminate colitis). Mean annual incidence rates of CD and UC were 0.9/100,000 (95% CI 0.1-1.7) and 2.7/100,000 (95% CI 1.7-4.1) inhabitants, respectively. There was a statistically significant increase of CD incidence (P<0.01) during the study period, in contrast to the UC incidence. There were no statistical differences in CARD15 variants over the study period. CONCLUSION The incidence of CD in North-western Greece has risen disproportionately to that of UC in the 21st century. This is not related to alterations of genetic background though.
Historical roots of entrepreneurship-facilitating culture and innovation activity: an analysis for German regions

ABSTRACT There is a research gap with respect to understanding the role of cultural attitudes in favour of entrepreneurial activity for actual start-up behaviour. The paper combines historical self-employment data with a psychological measure for entrepreneurial attitudes. The results reveal a positive relationship between the historical level of self-employment in a region and the presence of people with an entrepreneurial personality structure today. This measure is positively related not only to the level of new business formation but also to the amount of innovation activity.
Antibodies to oat prolamines (avenins) in children with coeliac disease.

BACKGROUND The use of oats in a gluten-free diet for children with coeliac disease is presently under investigation. In this study we measured the content of antibodies to oat prolamines (avenin) in sera from coeliac children and reference children. METHODS Crude avenin was prepared by extraction with ethanol and salt-solution and used as antigen in a three-step ELISA. Sera from 81 children, including 34 children with verified coeliac disease, were analysed for both IgA and IgG antibodies to avenin and gliadin. Sera were also incubated with gliadin before exposure to avenin, and vice versa, to assess a possible cross-reaction between the species. Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) was used as a negative control. RESULTS Children with coeliac disease on a normal diet had significantly higher levels of antibodies to avenin, both IgG and IgA, than reference children (P < 0.001) and the levels correlated positively with gliadin antibodies, especially of IgA-type (r = 0.798). Both anti-avenin and anti-gliadin antibodies were only absorbed by the corresponding protein. CONCLUSIONS Children with coeliac disease have antibodies to oat proteins at significantly higher levels than reference children. The absorption test did not indicate a cross-reactivity between the prolamines of wheat and oats. The method will be employed for repeated sampling of anti-avenin antibodies during a prospective interventional study with a gluten-free diet supplemented with oats.
Intelligibility of American English vowels and consonants spoken by international students in the United States.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the intelligibility of English consonants and vowels produced by Chinese-native (CN), and Korean-native (KN) students enrolled in American universities. METHOD 16 English-native (EN), 32 CN, and 32 KN speakers participated in this study. The intelligibility of 16 American English consonants and 16 vowels spoken by native and nonnative speakers of English was evaluated by EN listeners. All nonnative speakers also completed a survey of their language backgrounds. RESULTS Although the intelligibility of consonants and diphthongs for nonnative speakers was comparable to that of native speakers, the intelligibility of monophthongs was significantly lower for CN and KN speakers than for EN speakers. Sociolinguistic factors such as the age of arrival in the United States and daily use of English, as well as a linguistic factor, difference in vowel space between native (L1) and nonnative (L2) language, partially contributed to vowel intelligibility for CN and KN groups. There was no significant correlation between the length of U.S. residency and phoneme intelligibility. CONCLUSION Results indicated that the major difficulty in phonemic production in English for Chinese and Korean speakers is with vowels rather than consonants. This might be useful for developing training methods to improve English intelligibility for foreign students in the United States.
Ten Years after the Financial Crisis: What Have We Learned from the Renaissance in Fiscal Research?

This paper takes stock of what we have learned from the “Renaissance” in fiscal research in the ten years since the financial crisis. I first discuss the new innovations in methodology and various strengths and weaknesses of the main approaches to estimating fiscal multipliers. Reviewing the estimates, I come to the surprising conclusion that the bulk of the estimates for average spending and tax change multipliers lie in a fairly narrow range, 0.6 to 1 for spending multipliers and -2 to -3 for tax change multipliers. However, I identify economic circumstances in which multipliers lie outside those ranges. Finally, I review the debate on whether multipliers were higher for the 2009 Obama stimulus spending in the United States or for fiscal consolidations in Europe.
Surgery for atrial fibrillation with radiofrequency ablation: four years experience.

OBJECTIVES Atrial fibrillation (AF) is very common in patients undergoing open heart surgery. AF ablation with different sources of energy, enables the surgeon to create linear lesions rapidly and safely. However, results of these technologies need examination. We report the clinical results obtained in a 4-year experience using mono- and bipolar radiofrequency (RF) ablation of AF in a heterogeneous group of 183 patients. METHODS From May 2001 until December 2005 a total of 183 patients underwent pulmonary vein isolation using RF energy. In 73 cases, monopolar RF was used. Energy was applied in the endocardium in 40 cases (Group A) and in the epicardium in 33 cases (Group B). From May 2003, bipolar RF was used in a total of 110 patients (Group C). Duration of AF, left atrial dimensions, age or reoperations, were not considered contraindications to ablation. Ablation procedure for AF ablation was associated with a variety of cardiac procedures, from isolated mitral valve procedure to complex ascending aorta operations. RESULTS In-hospital mortality was 3.8% in the whole group (range 2.7-6.1%). Mortality and morbidity were not related with the ablation procedure. At the follow-up time of 50.9+/-3.3, 48.2+/-3.1, 32.7+/-0.9 months (Group A, B and C, respectively), sinus rhythm (SR) is present in a percentage of 75%, 67.7%, 79.4% of patients. Higher incidence of AF recurrence occurred in the first six months after surgery in all three groups. Late recurrence was higher in the epicardial group and overall freedom of AF was 64% in Group A, 46% in Group B and 71.1% in Group C (P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that the epicardial monopolar RF ablation obtains worse results than the endocardial monopolar RF and the bipolar RF ablation. Bipolar RF theoretically grants transmurality and is easy and safe, and a complete ablation setting lines can be achieved. Bipolar RF enables extension of ablation to every patient on AF undergoing a cardiac operation.