Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Topographical thickness of the epithelium and total cornea after overnight wear of reverse-geometry rigid contact lenses for myopia reduction.

PURPOSE To investigate topographical thickness changes of the epithelium and total cornea measured with optical coherence tomography (OCT) after overnight wear of rigid gas-permeable lenses. METHODS Reverse geometry design CRT (Dk=100) rigid (test) lenses (Paragon Vision Sciences, Mesa, AZ) were randomly fitted on one eye of each of 20 neophyte subjects (mean age, 24.6 +/- 2.7 years) and the other eye was fitted with an alignment tricurve rigid lens of the same material (control). Epithelial and total corneal thickness was measured at intervals of 10 degrees across a 10-mm zone of the horizontal meridian of the cornea, before and after overnight wear. Refractive error was measured with an autorefractor. These measurements were repeated 20 and 60 minutes and 3, 6, and 12 hours after lens removal. RESULTS After one night of lens wear, myopia decreased in the test eye by 1.18 +/- 0.81 D, which was significantly different from baseline (P<0.001). No significant change was found in the control eye. Twelve hours after removal, two thirds of the myopic reduction was still present. Different topographical swelling patterns were induced by the two lens designs, with greatest swelling occurring in the center with the control lens and in the midperiphery with the test lenses (polynomial regression: P<0.005). Significantly greater central corneal swelling was found with the control lens than the test lens (6.9% +/- 3.1% vs. 4.9% +/- 2.0%, respectively, P=0.006). The effect on epithelial thickness differed between lenses and depended on both position and time (F(48,912)=2.3; P=0.000). Immediately after removal of the test lens, the central epithelium was 5.1% +/- 4.5% thinner than baseline, and all other locations (P<0.005 post hoc tests) and the epithelium in the midperiphery showed significant thickening (1.9% on the temporal side and 2.4% on the nasal side, both P<0.006 compared with the baseline). There were no significant changes in epithelial thickness with the control lens during the study period (post hoc tests: P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS The optical coherence tomograph is a sensitive instrument that can detect small changes in epithelial and corneal thickness across the entire cornea. Topographical thickness changes of the epithelium and total cornea induced by one night of reverse-geometry lens wear appear to be associated with the decrease of myopia.
The Rise of Hermeneutics

Note from the translator: In the "existential historicism" of Wilhelm Dilthey (1833-1911) we seem to touch the very fons et origo of that great German historiography, with its accompanying developments in philology and art history, with which his work was contemporaneous: 1 there can indeed be no history worthy of the name that does not breathe something like his spiritual enthusiasm for the traces that life has left behind it, something of his visionary instinct for all the forms of living activity preserved and still instinct within the monuments of the past. Dilthey's own voluminous and often fragmentary writings turn almost exclusively around the supreme mystery of the historiographical act: that Verstehen or understanding which, far from being a subjective or purely intuitive leap, implies a whole complex procedure of intellectual reconstruction (Nachbildung, Nachfiihlung, Nacherleben, Nachverstdindnis, to use his characteristic terminology) . 2 In his life-long effort, not only to solve, but also and essentially to define, the problem, Dilthey counted among his predecessors and precursors the forgotten theoreticians of the ancient traditions of classical and Biblical hermeneutics, as well as the practitioners of that modem philology that reached its climax in the system of Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768-I834). "The Rise of Hermeneutics" (1900), originating largely from Dilthey's research into the life and work of Schleiermacher, still constitutes one of the most satisfactory brief accounts of the history and significance of hermeneutic theory.3 It may also be read as an introduction to Dilthey's own concept of Verstehen, now seen as the unification of the two main rival tendencies-grammatical and psychological-that dominated the historical development of that theory. Dilthey's thought, for all its suggestive power and subsequent influence, cannot be said to have achieved ultimate philosophical coherence
Area selection for the conservation of butterflies in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands

Coverage provided by the network of protected areas in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands was tested by measuring the coincidence between the squares protected by the network and the butterfly species recorded for such UTM grid squares. Five species were found to be absent in the network. The protected areas with the highest numbers of butterfly species were Ordesa National Park and Monte Perdido and the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park. Priority areas were selected using WORLDMAP software and showed that the all species of butterflies in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands can be found within 16 squares of 10×10 km (nine of them not within the network of protected areas). More specific area selections were also carried out: eight squares supported the total number of threatened species, five hosted all the Iberian endemisms and 13 harboured the rare butterfly species. This study detected 16 squares that are not currently protected but are important for butterfly conservation in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands.
Transient Elastography Is a Useful Noninvasive Tool for the Evaluation of Fibrosis in Paediatric Chronic Liver Disease

Background: Outcome of liver disease in children is mainly determined by severity and progression of liver fibrosis. Liver biopsy is the accepted standard for evaluating fibrosis but is limited by the need for sedation in children, sampling error, and risks including bleeding. The aim of the present study was to compare tools for noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis in a paediatric cohort. Methods: Children undergoing liver biopsy for chronic liver disease were recruited and underwent transient elastography (TE). Liver biopsies were scored by a hepatohistopathologist from F0 (no fibrosis) to F4 (cirrhosis). TE was compared with biopsy score. Results: During the study period, 104 children (62 boys) were enrolled (median age 13.6 years). Diagnosis was autoimmune liver disease in 27; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in 37; posttransplant in 16; hepatitis B/C in 8; Wilson disease in 5; and the remainder, miscellaneous. TE was successful in all but 7 patients and was a good discriminator of significant fibrosis (≥F2) (P < 0.001), severe fibrosis (≥F3) (P < 0.001), and cirrhosis (F4) (P = 0.003). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the prediction of ≥F2, ≥F3, and F4 using TE was 0.78, 0.79, and 0.96, respectively. TE performed best in children with autoimmune liver disease and in those posttransplant. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that TE is a reliable tool in distinguishing different stages of liver fibrosis in paediatric patients. Thus, TE may serve as a useful adjunct to liver biopsy for diagnostic purposes providing a reliable method of noninvasively monitoring liver disease progression in children.
Tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine transporter expression in residual dopaminergic neurons: Potential contributors to spontaneous recovery from experimental Parkinsonism

1‐Methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahyrdropyridine (MPTP)‐exposed cats develop severe Parkinsonism that spontaneously resolves in 4–6 weeks. The present study examined the extent to which compensatory changes in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine transporter (DAT) gene and protein expression may underlie this behavioral recovery. In normal cats, TH and DAT protein levels were higher in the dorsal vs. ventral striatum. Expression of DAT and TH mRNA was higher in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) than in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). In symptomatic parkinsonian animals, DAT and TH protein levels were significantly decreased in all striatal areas studied. TH and DAT mRNA expression in residual SNc neurons were decreased a mean 32% and 38%, respectively. DAT gene expression in residual VTA neurons in symptomatic animals was decreased 30% whereas TH gene expression was unaffected. In spontaneously recovered cats, TH protein levels were significantly higher than the levels in symptomatic cats only in the ventral striatum, whereas no increase in DAT protein levels were observed in any striatal area. Residual neurons in most ventral mesencephalic regions of recovered cats had increased TH mRNA expression but not increased DAT gene expression, compared with symptomatic animals. Thus, increased TH protein and mRNA and suppression of DAT protein and mRNA expression in the striatum and ventral mesencephalon were associated with functional recovery from MPTP‐induced parkinsonism. J. Neurosci. Res. 65:254–266, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Exonuclease and Host Shutoff Functions of the SOX Protein of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Are Genetically Separable

ABSTRACT The Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) SOX protein, encoded by ORF37, promotes shutoff of host cell gene expression during lytic viral replication by dramatically impairing mRNA accumulation. SOX is the KSHV homolog of the alkaline exonuclease of other herpesviruses, which has been shown to function as a DNase involved in processing and packaging the viral genome. Although the exonuclease activity of these proteins is widely conserved across all herpesviruses, the host shutoff activity observed for KSHV SOX is not. We show here that SOX expression sharply reduces the half-life of target mRNAs. Extensive mutational analysis reveals that the DNase and host shutoff activities of SOX are genetically separable. Lesions affecting the DNase activity cluster in conserved regions of the protein, but residues critical for mRNA degradation are not conserved across the viral family. Additionally, we present evidence suggesting that the two different functions of SOX occur within distinct cellular compartments—DNase activity in the nucleus and host shutoff activity in the cytoplasm.
Structure of Human Prostasin, a Target for the Regulation of Hypertension*

Prostasin (also called channel activating protease-1 (CAP1)) is an extracellular serine protease implicated in the modulation of fluid and electrolyte regulation via proteolysis of the epithelial sodium channel. Several disease states, particularly hypertension, can be affected by modulation of epithelial sodium channel activity. Thus, understanding the biochemical function of prostasin and developing specific agents to inhibit its activity could have a significant impact on a widespread disease. We report the expression of the prostasin proenzyme in Escherichia coli as insoluble inclusion bodies, refolding and activating via proteolytic removal of the N-terminal propeptide. The refolded and activated enzyme was shown to be pure and monomeric, with kinetic characteristics very similar to prostasin expressed from eukaryotic systems. Active prostasin was crystallized, and the structure was determined to 1.45Å resolution. These apoprotein crystals were soaked with nafamostat, allowing the structure of the inhibited acyl-enzyme intermediate structure to be determined to 2.0Å resolution. Comparison of the inhibited and apoprotein forms of prostasin suggest a mechanism of regulation through stabilization of a loop which interferes with substrate recognition.
Hendiadys in the Hebrew Bible. An Investigation of the Applications of the Term

symbols or letters to signify real objects that we see or hear about, or some abstract ideas that we cherish. In that sense, every word is a figurative speech. 16 Matthews, “Things,” 207; Kuntz, “Agent,” 114, see also pp. 115, 120, 122, 123; Fokkelman, Poetry, 226; Fields, Sodom, 139 n. 12. 17 Perelman, “Rhetoric,” 804. Bialostosky, Wordsworth, 219. Note also the awareness by Knowles/Moon on the matter and they discuss and exemplify the difficulties of categorizations, “tropes, or changes or conversions in meaning, and schemes or figures (figures of speech or rhetorical figures). ” Knowles/Moon, Metaphor, 123. 18 Kennedy, History, 91-92. Kennedy explains on p. 91 that “A trope is a single word used in a novel way, either because the idea to be expressed has no name of its own (no ‘proper’ word) or for the sake of imagery or embellishment. ” 19 Lanham, Handlist, 78-79. 20 Mahanta, “Speech,” 336. Mahanta’s definition of figurative language is “the creative manipulation of the phonological, syntactic, semantic, pragmatic structures of texts, or associations of normal language use, producing ‘extra’ patternings to arrive at vivid expressions and innovative ideas. ” Idem, 335.
Antidepressants for depression in Parkinson’s disease: systematic review and meta-analysis

Depression is common in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and is associated with several poor outcomes. However the literature regarding treatment with antidepressants in this population is controversial. The aim of this paper was to systematically review all randomized controlled trials that studied the efficacy of antidepressants for depression in PD (dPD). Studies were retrieved from PubMed (1966–July 2012), Cochrane Library (–July 2012, issue 7), Embase (1980–July 2012), PsycINFO (1980–July 2012), Lilacs (1982–July 2012), secondary references, clinical trials registries and a thesis database. Only double-blind, randomized controlled trials in which an antidepressant was given as the main treatment and compared with placebo and/or another antidepressant were included. Out of the 1438 studies retrieved, only six could be included. Taking into account the five placebo-controlled trials, the overall risk ratio (RR) for response was 1.36 (0.98, 1.87), indicating no statistically significant superiority of antidepressants over placebo. However, in the sensitivity analysis, the RR for response was 1.41 (1.01, 1.96) and 1.48 (1.05, 2.10) after exclusion of one study with questionable results, and when only studies with low risk of bias were considered, respectively. No specific antidepressant class was superior to placebo. In general antidepressant medications were well tolerated. The results suggest antidepressants may be efficacious in the treatment of dPD. However, the results were unstable. In fact, the small number of trials and methodological drawbacks preclude definitive conclusions about their efficacy and tolerability in dPD.
Catching Action: Visuomotor Adaptations in Children

Videotapes of the catching action of 28 children aged 4 to 10 years were carefully observed from simultaneous frontal and lateral perspectives. For both one- and two-handed ball catching, three discernible modes of visual attention and limb movement spaced along a maturity continuum were determined. Only for the ten-year-olds catching two-handed did strategies of visual attention (predicting where the ball would be) and limb usage (grasping with the fingers) couple exclusively as in skilled, adult catching. Success in two-handed catching improved exponentially with age from 77% to 96%. For one-handed catching the success rate was 40% at ages 4, 5, and 6 years, 7.5 and 30% at 7 and 8 years, improving steadily to 92% at 10 years. In the middle of age range the drop in performance coincided with the highest incidence of mixed strategies. No gender differences on either strategy or performance were evident.
Comparison of Peripheral and Central Effects of Single and Repeated Oral Dose Administrations of Bilastine, a New H1 Antihistamine: A Dose-Range Study in Healthy Volunteers With Hydroxyzine and Placebo as Control Treatments

Peripheral anti-H1 and central nervous system (CNS) activities after single (day 1) and repeated (day 7) administrations of increasing doses of bilastine (BIL) were assessed in 20 healthy volunteers throughout a crossover, randomized, double-blind, placebo (PLA)-controlled study. Repeated doses of BIL 20, 40, or 80 mg and hydroxyzine 25 mg (HYD) as positive standard were administered on 7 consecutive days. Before and at several time points after drug intake, skin reactivity to the intradermal injection of histamine, objective tests of psychomotor performance, and subjective mood scales were evaluated. All active treatments led to a significant and similar reduction in the wheal reaction in relation to PLA after both the single (P < 0.001) and repeated administrations (P < 0.001). No delay was observed in the onset of its peripheral activity after the first dose of BIL as compared with HYD. No tolerance or sensitization was seen when comparing acute and repetitive assessments. Central nervous system effects showed that HYD induced the greatest psychomotor impairment (P < 0.05). Repeated HYD intake showed a lower number of significant alterations in comparison to acute administration. Bilastine 80 mg also showed some impairment (P < 0.05). Subjectively, the only active treatment that could not be differentiated from PLA was BIL 20 mg. Hydroxyzine 25 mg showed the greatest differentiation (P < 0.01). A clear dissociation between peripheral anti-H1 and CNS activity was found after BIL treatment. Significant and sustained peripheral H1-blocking effects were observed after both single and repeated administrations of the therapeutic dose of 20 mg BIL. The 40-mg dose of BIL produced subjective report of sedation, whereas unwanted objective CNS side effects were observed only with the 80-mg dose.
Sequential or Simultaneous, Same‐Day Anterior Decompression and Posterior Stabilization in the Management of Vertebral Osteomyelitis of the Lumbar Spine

Study Design. A retrospective clinical study of patients with vertebral osteomyelitis of the lumbar spine necessitating surgical treatment. All patients underwent sequential(same‐day) or simultaneous anterior decompression and posterior stabilization of the involved vertebrae. Objective. To evaluate the efficacy and clinical outcome of sequential or simultaneous anterior and posterior surgical approaches in the management of vertebral osteomyelitis of the lumbar spine. Summary of Background Data. Anterior approach alone and staged anterior decompression and posterior stabilization have been advocated as the surgical treatment methods of choice for patients with vertebral osteomyelitis of the lumbar spine. The drawbacks of the latter management plan are the necessity to use external support or the delayed patient mobilization and the need for additional anesthesia and surgical trauma. Sequential (same‐day) anterior and posterior approaches are used regularly in the surgical management of scoliosis and other spinal deformities. It would appear advantageous to also use the same strategy (i.e., combined same‐day double approaches) in the management of vertebral osteomyelitis of the lumbar spine. Methods. Ten consecutive patients who had a diagnosis of vertebral osteomyelitis of the lumbar spine underwent combined (same‐day) anterior and posterior approaches either in a sequential or simultaneous manner. Indications for surgery included neurologic deficit, abscess formation, instability with localized kyphosis formation, and failure of nonoperative treatment. Patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically after surgery. Results. All 10 patients had uneventful surgery. Only one patient required a second surgical procedure because of expulsion of the anterior bone graft and pullout of instrumentation. All patients were mobilized within the 2 days immediately after surgery. At the mean follow‐up examination 30 months after surgery, all patients had regained their motor function and prior ambulatory status. Conclusions. Patients with lumbar osteomyelitis necessitating surgery can undergo combined, same‐day surgery either in a sequential or simultaneous manner. This is a safe and efficient way to control the infection and stabilize the affected segments, allowing for early mobilization of these sick elderly patients.
Gestational and Pregnane X Receptor-Mediated Regulation of Placental ATP-Binding Cassette Drug Transporters in Mice

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) drug transporters in the placenta are involved in controlling the exchange of endogenous and exogenous moieties. Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a nuclear receptor that regulates the hepatic expression of several key ABC transporters, but it is unclear whether PXR is involved in the regulation of these transporters in the placenta. This study explores the role of PXR in the regulation of placental drug transporters. The placental mRNA expression of Mdr1a, Bcrp, and Mrp1, 2, and 3 was examined in PXR knockout (−/−), heterozygote (+/−), and wild-type (+/+) mice by quantitative PCR. The impact of PXR activation was examined in pregnant pregnane-16α-carbonitrile (PCN)-treated mice. Compared with that in controls, the basal expression of Mdr1a, Bcrp, Mrp1, and Mrp2 was significantly higher in (+/−) and (−/−) mice. Alterations in the expression of mdr1a, bcrp, and mrp1, 2, and 3 between gestational day (GD) 10 and GD 17 was dissimilar between (+/+) and (−/−) mice. Although PCN treatment induced maternal and fetal hepatic expression of Cyp3a11; placental expression of transporters were not significantly changed. Overall, our results suggest a repressive role of PXR in the basal expression of several placental transporters and a tissue-specific induction of these target genes after PXR activation.
Computationally efficient approaches for evaluation of rotor eddy current loss in permanent magnet brushless machines

The paper describes a number of computationally efficient techniques for predicting rotor eddy current loss in permanent-magnet brushless machines. In particular, a correction factor which takes into account the finite length effect of magnets is employed to adjust analytically predicted losses for each harmonic. The results are compared with 3-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) calculations. A simplified 3D FE model, in which the stator magneto-motive force (MMF) is distributed as current sheets in the slots of a highly permeable, thin-walled cylinder, is employed to quantify the 3D eddy current distribution in magnets and their associated losses. Appropriate boundary conditions are set to reduce model complexity and size, and hence computation time. The utility and accuracy of these approaches are discussed and compared, and their relative merits are assessed.
Variable Pay, Industrial Relations and Foreign Ownership: Evidence from Germany

We use a representative sample of German establishments to show that those with foreign ownership are more likely to use performance appraisal, profit-sharing and employee share ownership than those with domestic ownership. Moreover, we show that works councils are associated with an increased probability of using each of the three practices when under domestic ownership but not when under foreign ownership. These results inform the ongoing debate over institutional duality, the extent to which foreign firms adopt uniform practices independent of local institutions, and the extent to which they adapt and participate in those local institutions.