Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ultrasonography of plantar soft tissues thickness in young people with diabetes

Aims The aims of this study were to examine soft tissue changes in the skin and plantar aponeurosis of young people with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and to evaluate any relationship between any soft tissue changes, arch length, limited joint mobility (LJM) and plantar pressure.
Assessing Trade Agendas in the US Presidential Campaign

Republican candidate Donald J. Trump’s sweeping proposals on international trade, if implemented, could unleash a trade war that would plunge the US economy into recession and cost more than 4 million private sector American jobs, according to an empirical analysis of the two candidates’ trade agendas by the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Trump has proclaimed that he would “rip up” existing trade agreements, renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and impose a 35 percent tariff on imports from Mexico and a 45 percent tariff on imports from China. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate, has expressed skepticism about trade but in effect represents stasis. Both candidates have come out against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) between the United States and 11 Pacific Rim countries, which President Barack Obama signed earlier in 2016. The authors of the empirical assessment, Marcus Noland, Tyler Moran, and Sherman Robinson, extend a macroeconomic model from Moody’s Analytics and find that if Trump raises tariffs sharply on China, Mexico, and other trading partners, export-dependent US industries that manufacture machinery used to create capital goods in the information technology, aerospace, and engineering sectors would be the most severely affected. But the shock resulting from Trump’s proposed trade sanctions would also damage sectors not engaged directly in trade, such as wholesale and retail distribution, restaurants, and temporary employment agencies, particularly in regions where the most heavily affected goods are produced. Millions of American jobs that appear unconnected to international trade—disproportionately lower-skilled and lower-wage jobs—would be at risk, according to the empirical study. In a legal analysis, Gary Clyde Hufbauer argues that there is ample precedent and scope for a US president to unilaterally raise tariffs as Trump has vowed to do as a centerpiece of his trade policy. Any effort to block Trump’s actions through the courts, or amend the authorizing statutes in Congress, would be difficult and time-consuming. In a separate chapter Noland analyzes the impact of trade policies advocated by both Trump and Clinton on the United States’ foreign policy interests. Pulling out of the TPP, as both candidates promise to do, would weaken US alliances in Asia and embolden its rivals, thus eroding US national security. Noland also warns that abrogation of NAFTA, as Trump threatens, would deliver a severe blow to Mexico’s economic and political development that could increase, not decrease, the flow of illegal migrants and drugs into the United States.
A complex political economy of the global banking system

WILLIAM KINDRED WINECOFF: A Complex Political Economy of the Global Banking System. (Under the direction of Thomas Oatley) The global financial crisis which began in 2007 is the most severe economic event since the 1930s. The profound political and economic consequences of the crisis have clarified the need to better understand the financial system at both micro and macro levels. This dissertation advances research on both fronts. First, it utilizes network prominence measures to look at the preand post-crisis organization of the global banking system, finding that American prestige has increased as a result of the crisis. Second, it employs complex network theory and inferential statistical models to explain why the global banking system is organized as it is, finding that endogenous processes interact with monadic and dyadic political economy variables to produce a global structure. Third, it examines bank behaviors at the firm level, demonstrates that representative agent models are insufficient for explaining the patterns observed, proposes an alternative approach drawing from ecological finance theory, tests the model using Bayesian regression, and finds support for the new approach. In sum, this dissertation demonstrates the need for further quantitative political economy work at both the micro and macro levels of the global financial system and provides several possible pathways forward.
Quantification of Immunosuppression by Flow Cytometry in Stable Renal Transplant Recipients

The current standard of monitoring transplant patients by drug levels is not optimal because it does not take into account the different and individual effects of immunosuppressive drugs on each patient. In this study, the authors tested immune function assays for monitoring transplant patients. Blood was collected from stable renal transplant patients treated with cyclosporin, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisone (n = 8), and from healthy volunteers (n = 12). Lymphocyte proliferation, expression of T-cell surface activation antigens (CD25, CD71, CD11a, CD95, CD154), production of intracellular cytokines (IL-2, INF&ggr;, TNF&agr;), and lymphocyte subsets (CD4, CD8, CD16, CD20) were assessed by flow cytometry. Lymphocyte proliferation, expression of T-cell surface activation antigens, and production of intracellular cytokines were significantly decreased in transplant recipients compared with healthy control volunteers. The combined effects of several immunosuppressive drugs in renal transplant recipients can be quantitated with immune function assays in whole blood. This new method may be helpful to achieve an optimal level of immunosuppression for each patient.
[Ophthalmological evaluation of patients with AIDS and neurotoxoplasmosis].

INTRODUCTION To describe fundoscopic findings among patients with AIDS and active-phase neurotoxoplasmosis. METHODS A prospective study of case series type was developed, including 70 patients of both sexes and ages ranging from 20 to 63 years who were admitted to the wards of three public hospitals in the city of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, from January to October 2008, with diagnoses of AIDS and neurotoxoplasmosis determined according to the criteria of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1992). The patients were characterized by a first episode of neurotoxoplasmosis (65; 92.9%) or recurrence (5; 7.1%), unawareness of having AIDS (23; 32.9%), mean T CD4+ count of 139.8 + or - 3.04 lymphocytes/mm(3) and mean viral load of 137,080 + or - 39,380 copies/ml. All patients underwent ophthalmological examination consisting of ocular inspection, gauging of visual acuity, investigation of ocular extrinsic muscle function and fundoscopy using a binocular indirect ophthalmoscope (model OHM 3.5 Eyetec) and external lens of 20 diopters (Volk). RESULTS The findings consisted of retinal cotton-wool spot exudates (8.6%), slight diffuse arteriolar constriction (8.6%), retinochoroiditis scars characteristic of ocular toxoplasmosis (5.7%), atrophy of retinal pigment epithelium (2.9%), retinal detachment (2.9%), increased papillary excavation (1.4%), retinal peripheral degeneration (1,4%), macroaneurysm (1.4%), bilateral papilledema (1.4%) and vitreous-retinal traction (1.4%). CONCLUSIONS Patients with AIDS and neurotoxoplasmosis may present fundoscopic abnormalities characteristic of ocular toxoplasmosis, either in active or in scar form, related to HIV or even to other opportunist or systemic diseases, which can be of great aid for integral treatment of patients by a multiprofessional team.
Threshold and rate sensitivity of low‐threshold thermal nociception

Previous studies have shown that sensations of burning, stinging or pricking can be evoked by warming or cooling the skin to innocuous temperatures [low‐threshold thermal nociception (LTN)] below the thresholds of cold‐ and heat‐sensitive nociceptors. LTN implies that some primary afferent fibers classically defined as warm and cold fibers relay stimulation to the nociceptive system. We addressed this question in humans by determining if different adaptation temperatures (ATs) and rates of temperature change would affect thermal sensation and LTN similarly. In Experiment 1 subjects rated the intensity of warmth, cold and nociceptive sensations produced by increasing steps in temperature (±0.5°C increments) from ATs of 35, 33 and 31°C for cooling, and 30, 32 and 34°C for heating. Depending upon the AT, thresholds for nociceptive and thermal sensations estimated from the rating data differed by as little as −1.0°C for cooling and +1.5°C for heating. Thresholds of thermal and nociceptive sensations shifted by similar amounts across the three ATs during cooling, whereas during heating the nociceptive threshold was significantly affected only between ATs of 32 and 34°C. In Experiment 2, increasing the rate of temperature change from 0.5 to 4.0°C/s increased the intensity of thermal and nociceptive sensations significantly but the effect was greatest for nociceptive sensations during heating. The results of both experiments are consistent with the mediation of LTN by low‐threshold thermoreceptors, although LTN caused by heating may depend on a subset of fibers that express less sensitive TRP channels than those that serve sensations of warmth at the mildest temperatures.
The Distally Based Sural Artery Flap

The sural artery flap is a distally based fasciocutaneous flap. It is based on a reverse flow through anastomoses between the peroneal artery and the communicating vascular network of the medial sural nerve. In the difficult area of defects in the lower leg and the ankle and heel region, it has a wide variety of indications, even in vascularly compromised patients. It has the largest arc of rotation of all flaps that have been described in this region. The most important advantage is that it does not compromise a major artery. Furthermore, it is simple to dissect and has a low donor morbidity. A series of 15 patients is described in which we covered defects in the lower leg, malleolar, and heel regions. Seven patients were vascularly compromised seriously. Twelve flaps survived completely, two survived partially, and one flap failed.
The use of laryngeal mask airway in dental treatment during sevoflurane deep sedation

Background General anesthesia is frequently considered for pediatric patients, as they often find it difficult to cooperate and stay calm during administration of potentially painful treatments. Sedation can overcome these adversities; however, this is challenging while maintaining unobstructed airways. Methods The study involved 11 pediatric dental patients treated with LMA under deep sedation with sevoflurane, from 2011 through 2015. LMA size, sevoflurane concentration, and the vital signs of patients were assessed through a chart review. Results The age distribution of the patients ranged from 6 to 10 years old. A total of 3 patients underwent mesiodens extraction, while the remaining 8 underwent an surgically assisted orthodontic forced tooth eruption The average sedation period was approximately 45 minutes and the LMA size was 2½. The sevoflurane concentration was maintained at 2% on average, and overall, the measurements of vital signs were within the normal range; the patients had an average blood pressure of 98/49 mmHg, breathing rate of 26 times/min, pulse frequency of 95 times/min, SpO2s level of 99 mmHg, and ETCO2 level of 41.2 mmHg. Conclusions Deep sedation with sevoflurane coupled with LMA may be applied successfully in pediatric patients who undergo mesiodens extraction or a surgically assisted orthodontic forced tooth eruption.
Essays on Volatility Drivers, Transmissions and Equity Market Correlations in a Global Setting

OF THE DISSERTATION ESSAYS ON VOLATILITY DRIVERS, TRANSMISSIONS AND EQUITY MARKET CORRELATIONS IN A GLOBAL SETTING by Antonio M. Figueiredo Florida International University, 2016 Miami, Florida Professor Ali M. Parhizgari, Major Professor Volatility is a major topic in financial markets in general, and probably the single most intriguing factor in financial risk management. Although volatility itself is not synonymous with risk, it is closely associated with it in the realm of risk management. In this study, I focus on the volatility in the foreign exchange markets and investigate the spillover of volatility from this market to equity correlations and its impact on global equity markets’ bid-ask spreads as a proxy for market quality. I also explore the role that accounting earnings quality play in subsequent volatility in the U.S. equity markets. I provide a theoretical base and its associated empirics for the link between exchange rate volatilities and global equity correlations. I test this theory using multiple techniques that end with the application of autoregressive error correction analysis, wherein, I demonstrate the predictive power of options implied exchange rate volatilities against ex-ante global equity correlations. My findings indicate that exchange rate implied volatilities, coupled with one-period ex-post correlations, are more predictive of subsequent equity market correlations than other models. I then examine the impact of currency volatilities on the average monthly spreads in ADRs and their underlying local shares. I employ dynamic panel data estimation to show
Robust erythrophagocytosis leads to macrophage apoptosis via a hemin‐mediated redox imbalance: role in hemolytic disorders

MP from the RES are responsible for the clearance of senescent RBC. Although the frequency of senescent RBC is low under steady‐state conditions, it increases dramatically during hemolytic disorders, resulting in enhanced erythrophagocytosis. As erythrophagocytosis has been involved in MP dysfunction and as certain hemolytic disorders associate to MP apoptosis, a possible link between erythrophagocytosis and the viability of phagocytes was investigated herein. To mimic hemolytic disorders, two distinct in vitro models, artificially oxidized RBC and DSRBC, were chosen to study the erythrophagocytosis impact on the viability of J774A.1 MP. Although CRBC were weakly phagocytosed and did not affect MP viability significantly, erythrophagocytosis of oxidized RBC and DSRBC was robust and resulted in a sharp decrease of MP viability via apoptosis. Under these conditions, Hb‐derived HE was shown to be involved in the induction of apoptosis. Moreover, oxidized RBC, DSRBC, and HE generated ROS species, which were responsible for the apoptosis of MP. Furthermore, HO‐1, strongly induced in response to treatment with oxidized RBC, DSRBC, or HE, was shown to protect MP partially against apoptosis, suggesting that robust erythro‐phagocytosis may exceed the detoxification capabilities of MP. Taken together, these results suggest that enhanced erythrophagocytosis associated to hemolytic disorders leads to MP apoptosis in vitro and may have critical implications for the control of malaria infection and for the exacerbated susceptibility to bacterial infections during hemolytic disorders.
Asymmetry of the height of the ethmoid roof in relationship to handedness

The aim of this work was to study the handedness differences in the height of the right and left ethmoid roofs. Hand preference was assessed using the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory. The height of the right and left ethmoid roofs was measured with computerised tomography (CT). The incidence of persons who had a lower ethmoid roof on the right side was significantly greater among right-handers than among left-handers; the incidence of persons who had a lower ethmoid roof on the left side was significantly greater among left-handers than among right-handers; and right and left ethmoid roofs were equal in all ambidextrous subjects. The relationship between the asymmetric ethmoid roofs and handedness may result from the right or left embryonic craniofacial region being smaller in the right- or left-handed subjects. This is particularly important in the light of the high degree of variability in the ethmoid roof, and even between the right and left sides in a given individual. Preoperative awareness of a patient's unique sinus anatomy may help prevent iatrogenic injury to the surrounding vital structures during ethmoid sinus surgery (ESS).
Cord blood

Screening of total IgE in 2814 cord blood samples was analysed by Phadebas IgE PRIST in 2 1‐year birth cohorts (1983‐1984 and 1985–1986) in Denmark (n=1189+ 1625). 48.6% of the sera contained less IgE than the detection limit 0.1 kU/1. Cord blood IgE values > 0.5 kU/1 were regarded as elevated. 13.2% of the sera contained at least 0.5 kU/1 of IgE, with a significant preponderance in boys. Geometric mean cord blood IgE was 0.13 kU/1 and 0.12 kU/1, respectively. Geometric mean cord blood IgE was significantly higher in boys. A significant seasonal variation with lowest IgE values in the autumn was found. No correlation between cord blood IgE and birth weight or gestational age was demonstrated. Only few newborns had cord blood igA values > 0.014 g/l, calculated as geometric mean cord blood IgA + 2 SD among children with no detectable cord blood IgE, indicating infrequent contamination with maternal blood.
Long-term effect of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate on vaginal microbiota, epithelial thickness and HIV target cells.

BACKGROUND Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) has been linked to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) acquisition. METHODS Vaginal microbiota of women using DMPA for up to 2 years were cultured. Mucosal immune cell populations were measured by immunohistological staining. RESULTS Over 12 months, the proportion with H2O2-positive lactobacilli decreased (n = 32; 53% vs 27%; P = .03). Median vaginal CD3(+) cells also decreased (n = 15; 355 vs 237 cells/mm(2); P = . 03), as did CD3(+)CCR5(+) cells (195 vs 128 cells/mm(2); P = . 04), HLA-DR(+) cells (130 vs 96 cells/mm(2); P = . 27), and HLA-DR(+)CCR5(+) cells (18 vs 10 cells/mm(2); P = . 33). CONCLUSIONS DMPA contraception does not increase vaginal mucosal CCR5(+) HIV target cells but does decrease CD3(+) T lymphocytes and vaginal H2O2-producing lactobacilli.
Development of a method for detection of human rotavirus in water and sewage

The simian rotavirus SA11 was used to develop a simple, reliable, and efficient method to concentrate rotavirus from tap water, treated sewage, and raw sewage by absorption to and elution from Filterite fiberglass-epoxy filters. SA11 adsorbed optimally to Filterite filters from water containing 0.5 mM AlCl3 at pH 3.5. Filter-bound virus was eluted with 0.05 M glycine-NaOH supplemented with 10% tryptose phosphate broth at pH 10. SA11 was quantitated by plaque assay, whereas human rotavirus was detected by immunofluorescence. The method was applied to detect rotavirus in raw and treated sewage at two Houston, Tex. , sewage treatment plants. The sewage isolates were identified as rotavirus, probably a human strain, based on several criteria. The sewage isolates were detectable by an immunofluorescence test, using anti-SA11 serum which would detect the simian, human bovine, and porcine rotaviruses. No reaction was noted by immunofluorescence with the reoviruses or several common enteroviruses. The sewage isolates were neutralized by convalescent sera from a human adult and infant who had been infected by rotavirus as well as by a hyperimmune serum prepared in guinea pigs against purified human rotavirus. Preimmune or preillness sera did not react with the isolates by neutralization or immunofluorescence. The natural isolates were sensitive to pH 11 and other inactivating agents, similar to SA11. The buoyant density of the sewage isolates in CsCl gradients was 1.36 g/cm3, which is the value usually reported for complete, infectious rotavirus particles. The double-shelled particle diameter was 67.1 +/- 2.4 nm. Finally, electron micrographs of cell lysates inoculated with the sewage isolate showed particles displaying characteristic rotavirus morphology.
Estimation of economic value of recreational private and charter boat fishing in southeast Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico using the mean/median of coordinate of recreational sites

by MOHAMMAD REZA ZAREI (Under the Direction of Craig Elliot Landry) ABSTRACT Travel cost is used as an auxiliary variable for the price of non-market goods and services. A major issue with this approach is how to calculate the travel distance accurately and decrease the measurement errors. In this study, we use the mean and median of the coordinates of fishing sites in the coastal counties along the Southeast Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, to measure the travel distance of alternative fishing sites and compare it to the conventional method using the mid-point of county-level sites. The willingness-to-pay (WTP) of charter and private/rental boat anglers for one additional catch on a day-trip for Dolphinfish, King Mackerel, and Red Snapper is estimated by nested logit model. Our results indicate that the conventional method overestimates the WTP of charter boat anglers for Dolphinfish and King Mackerel, and underestimates the WTP of private boat anglers for these species.
The Effects of Hydroxyethyl Starch on Lung Capillary Permeability in Endotoxic Rats and Possible Mechanisms

In this study we examined the effects of hydroxyethyl starch (HES 200/0.5) on lung capillary permeability in endotoxic rats and explored the possible mechanisms. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven groups treated with saline, lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 6 mg/kg), LPS plus HES (3.75, 7.5, 15, or 30 mL/kg), or HES (30 mL/kg) alone for 4 or 2 h. Lung capillary permeability, lung neutrophil accumulation, expression of CD11b on the blood neutrophil cell surface, lung cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant protein level, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-&kgr;B) activation in blood neutrophils and lungs were measured. HES at doses of 3.75 and 7.5 mL/kg significantly reduced LPS-induced increases of lung capillary permeability. HES was found to inhibit lung neutrophil accumulation, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant protein, and NF-&kgr;B activation in parallel and to inhibit CD11b expression in a dose-dependent manner. These findings demonstrate that HES has beneficial effects on capillary leak in acute lung injury and that the mechanisms underlying this action involve an antiinflammatory effect of HES, including inhibition of NF-&kgr;B activation.
The health and well-being impacts of protected areas in Finland

ABSTRACT Following the growth of nature-based tourism, national parks and other protected areas have become important tourist attractions and tools for regional development. Meanwhile, research on the impact of nature on human health and well-being is increasing and taken into account in park management. This study examines health and well-being benefits perceived by visitors to Finland's protected areas. It is based on survey data from five national parks and one strict nature reserve in 2013–2015: an on-site visitor survey (N = 3152) and an Internet-based health and well-being survey (N = 1054). The study indicates that visitors’ perceived benefits to their well-being were highly positive. Visits to protected areas promoted psychological, physical, and social benefits. In particular, park visits were found to provide strong and multi-faceted, long-lasting, embodied and sensory well-being experiences as well as escape from everyday life and work. Overnight visitors reported more well-being benefits than day visitors, and different types of park had different well-being benefits. The study suggests that the potential benefits of protected areas for public health are significant, emphasizing the need to integrate health and well-being arguments into the neoliberalist politics assessing the economic benefits of protected areas and their role in regional development.