Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional morphology of anal sphincter complex unveiled by high definition anal manometery and three dimensional ultrasound imaging

Background Anal sphincter complex consists of anatomically overlapping internal anal sphincter (IAS), external anal sphincter (EAS) and puborectalis muscle (PRM). We determined the functional morphology of anal sphincter muscles using high definition anal manometery (HDAM), three dimensional (3D)‐ultrasound (US) and Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.
Equilibria and stability in partially relaxed plasma–vacuum systems

We develop a multiple interface variational model, comprising multiple Taylor-relaxed plasma regions separated by ideal MHD barriers. The magnetic field in each region is Beltrami, ∇ × B = μB, and the pressure constant. Between regions the pressure, field strength, and rotational transform may have step changes at the ideal barrier. A principle motivation is the development of a mathematically rigorous ideal MHD model to describe intrinsically 3D equilibria, with nonzero internal pressure, using robust KAM surfaces as the barriers. This article chiefly addresses whether the stability of two interface configurations with continuous rotational transform, but vanishing interface separation, is different from the stability of a single interface configuration with jump in the rotational transform. To make the problem analytically tractable, we derive the equilibria and stability of a multi-interface plasma in a periodic cylinder, generalizing the cylindrical treatment of Kaiser and Uecker (2004 Q. J. Mech. Appl. Math. 57 1–17). For two interfaces with no jump in rotational transform, we show that one eigenmode has in-phase interface displacements, and an eigenvalue that converges to the single barrier case in the limit of vanishing interface width. The complementary eigenmode is out-of-phase, and highly unstable. Physically, the unstable eigenmode is driven by the parallel current, and caused by the high shear required to match the different rotational transform on each interface. In the limit that the interface separation vanishes, the shear and parallel current density become infinite, and the parallel current between the interfaces nonzero. Surfaces with out-of-phase displacements will then collide, unless the amplitude goes to zero as the interface separation goes to zero. These results suggest the hypothesis that KAM barriers with different irrational rotational transform on either side may be allowable without violating nonlinear stability.
Weak Criticisms and Selective Evidence: Reply to Blanton et al. (2009)

We respond to a critique by H. Blanton et al. (2009), challenging our previous work demonstrating that an Implicit Association Test designed to assess implicit prejudice reliably predicts intergroup discrimination (A. R. McConnell & J. M. Leibold, 2001). We outline 3 flawed aspects of the critique. First, we note that claims that an outlier should be eliminated from the original data set are unfounded, and even with the elimination of this outlier, the conclusions of our original work are still strongly supported by the data. Second, we explain that concerns about interjudge reliability are specious and that considerable data support the validity of the judges' observations reported in our original study. Third, we note that claims of a disconnect between Implicit Association Test scores (argued to show negative bias against Blacks) and behavioral measures (argued to show pro-Black bias) are inappropriate because they neglect the relativistic nature of the key measures. Implications for the relation between implicit attitudes and behavior, for the law, and for future work on implicit attitudes are discussed.
Local remapping of place cell firing in the Tolman detour task

The existence of place cells, whose discharge is strongly related to a rat’s location in its environment, has led to the proposal that they form part of an integrated neural system dedicated to spatial navigation. It has been suggested that this system could represent space as a cognitive map, which is flexibly used by animals to plan new shortcuts or efficient detours. To further understand the relationships between hippocampal place cell firing and cognitive maps, we examined the discharge of place cells as rats were exposed to a Tolman‐type detour problem. In specific sessions, a transparent barrier was placed onto the maze so as to block the shortest central path between the two rewarded end locations of a familiar three‐way maze. We found that rats rapidly and consistently chose the shortest alternative detour. Furthermore, both CA1 and CA3 place cells that had a field in the vicinity of the barrier displayed local remapping. In contrast, neither CA1 nor CA3 cells that had a field away from the barrier were affected. This finding, at odds with our previous report of altered CA3 discharge for distant fields in a shortcut task, suggests that the availability of a novel path and the blocking of a familiar path are not equivalent and could lead to different responses of the CA3 place cell population. Together, the two studies point to a specific role of CA3 in the representation of spatial connectivity and sequences.
Single‐dose evaluation of safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of newly formulated hydromorphone immediate‐release and hydrophilic matrix extended‐release tablets in healthy Japanese subjects without co‐administration of an opioid antagonist

This single dose, open‐label study investigated the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of single oral doses of newly formulated immediate‐release (IR) and hydrophilic matrix extended‐release (ER) hydromorphone tablets in healthy Japanese subjects without co‐administration of an opioid antagonist under fasting and fed conditions. Plasma and urinary concentrations of hydromorphone and metabolites were measured by liquid‐chromatography tandem mass‐spectroscopy. Following administration of the ER tablet, plasma concentrations of hydromorphone slowly increased with a median tmax of 5.0 h and the Cmax decreased to 37% of the IR tablet, while the AUC0‐inf was comparable with that of the IR tablet when administered at the same dose. The degree of fluctuation in the plasma concentration for the ER tablet was much lower than that of the IR tablet and certain levels of plasma concentrations were maintained after 24 h of ER dosing. The AUC0‐inf and Cmax increased with food for both IR and ER tablets. The AUC0‐inf of hydromorphone‐3‐glucoside was one‐tenth of that of hydromorphone‐3‐glucuronide. A single oral administration of the hydromorphone tablets would be well‐tolerated in healthy Japanese subjects despite a lack of co‐administration of an opioid antagonist and the newly developed ER hydromorphone tablets may have the appropriate PK characteristics for once‐daily dosing.
Decentralization in Government : Career Concerns and Yardstick Competition

This paper applies the career-concerns model of policy-making to a political economy of fiscal federalism and examines the effect of decentralization on policy-makers’ effort incentives and its relative efficiency over centralization. In the single-task case, decentralization induces larger effort than centralization owing to the effect of focus and yardstick competition, though it is not necessarily more efficient and in some cases partial integration is the most efficient. In the two-task case, three modes of federalism, i.e., full centralization, full decentralization, and partial (de)centralization are considered and it is shown that there occurs a trade-off on effort incentives via the effects of focus and noise. The number of regions in a nation turns out to play a key role for partial (de)centralization to induce larger effort on each task than full centralization and full decentralization.
Non‐Thermal Plasma in Contact with Water: The Origin of Species

Abstract Non‐thermal atmospheric pressure plasma has attracted considerable attention in recent years due to its potential for biomedical applications. Determining the mechanism of the formation of reactive species in liquid treated with plasma is thus of paramount importance for both fundamental and applied research. In this work, the origin of reactive species in plasma‐treated aqueous solutions was investigated by using spin‐trapping, hydrogen and oxygen isotopic labelling and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The species originating from molecules in the liquid phase and those introduced with the feed gas were differentiated by EPR and 1H NMR analysis of liquid samples. The effects of water vapour and oxygen admixtures in the feed gas were investigated. All the reactive species detected in the liquid samples were shown to be formed largely in the plasma gas phase. It is suggested that hydrogen peroxide (determined by UV/Vis analysis) is formed primarily in the plasma tube, whereas the radical species ⋅OOH, ⋅OH and ⋅H are proposed to originate from the region between the plasma nozzle and the liquid sample.
The use of oxybutynin for treating facial hyperhidrosis.

BACKGROUND Facial hyperhidrosis is a disease that may lead patients to serious emotional disturbances. Video-assisted thoracic sympathectomy provides excellent resolution of facial hyperhidrosis, but is associated with certain complications. The most frequent and important complication is compensatory hyperhidrosis. Especially in patients who have undergone resection of the second thoracic ganglion, the risk of severe compensatory hyperhidrosis is higher, which may cause dissatisfaction with the procedure. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the use of low doses of oxybutynin in treating facial hyperhidrosis as well as the level of patient satisfaction with its use. METHODS 25 patients with facial hyperhidrosis were treated with oxybutynin. The patients underwent 2 evaluations: before and after treatment. These evaluations were used to assess the patients' clinical improvement and quality of life. RESULTS We observed that more than 75% of the patients evolved with an improvement in facial hyperhidrosis, and 52% of them presented a great improvement. CONCLUSION Treatment of facial hyperhidrosis with oxybutynin is a good alternative to sympathectomy, since it presents good results and improves quality of life, in addition to not exposing patients to the risk of experiencing the side effects of sympathectomy.
Explicit temperature treatment in Monte Carlo neutron tracking routines - First results

This article discusses the preliminary implementation of the new explicit temperature treatment method to the development version Monte Carlo reactor physics code Serpent 2 and presents the first practical results calculated using the method. The explicit temperature treatment method, as introduced in [1], is a stochastic method for taking the effect of thermal motion into account on-the-fly in a Monte Carlo neutron transport calculation. The method is based on explicit treatment of the motion of target nuclei at collision sites and requires cross sections at 0 K temperature only, regardless of the number of temperatures in the problem geometry. The method includes a novel capability of modelling continuous temperature distributions. Test calculations are performed for two test cases, a PWR pin-cell and a HTGR system. The resulting k{sub eff} and flux spectra are compared to a reference solution calculated using Serpent 1.1. 16 with Doppler-broadening rejection correction [2]. The results are in very good agreement with the reference and also the increase in calculation time due to the new method is on acceptable level although not fully insignificant. On the basis of the current study, the explicit treatment method can be considered feasible for practical calculations. (authors)
Effect of Z1/2, EH5, and Ci1 deep defects on the performance of n-type 4H-SiC epitaxial layers Schottky detectors: Alpha spectroscopy and deep level transient spectroscopy studies

Spectroscopic performance of Schottky barrier alpha particle detectors fabricated on 50 μm thick n-type 4H-SiC epitaxial layers containing Z1/2, EH5, and Ci1 deep levels were investigated. The device performance was evaluated on the basis of junction current/capacitance characterization and alpha pulse-height spectroscopy. Capacitance mode deep level transient spectroscopy revealed the presence of the above-mentioned deep levels along with two shallow level defects related to titanium impurities (Ti(h) and Ti(c)) and an unidentified deep electron trap located at 2.4 eV below the conduction band minimum, which is being reported for the first time. The concentration of the lifetime killer Z1/2 defects was found to be 1.7 × 1013 cm−3. The charge transport and collection efficiency results obtained from the alpha particle pulse-height spectroscopy were interpreted using a drift-diffusion charge transport model. Based on these investigations, the physics behind the correlation of the detector properties viz., .
Real-Time PCR as a Versatile Tool for Investigating the Susceptibility of Human Herpesvirus 6 to Antiviral Agents

ABSTRACT A quantitative real-time PCR assay was developed for the determination of antiviral drug susceptibility and growth kinetics of human herpesvirus 6. The susceptibility and fitness of a sensitive strain, HST, and its ganciclovir-resistant derivative, GCVR1, were then characterized, leading us to conclude that the mutations of this latter virus did not alter its fitness significantly.
Laterality of Oral Clefts and Academic Achievement

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Children with isolated oral clefts have lower academic performance when compared with unaffected peers, yet few studies have examined specific attributes of clefts that may modify this risk. Oral clefts have nonrandom laterality, with left-sided clefts being more common than right-sided clefts, a pattern that may be genetically or environmentally influenced. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between cleft laterality and academic achievement in a population-based sample of children with and without isolated oral clefts. METHODS: The study included 292 children with isolated unilateral cleft lip with or without cleft palate identified by using the Iowa Registry for Congenital and Inherited Disorders matched with 908 unaffected classmates. This group provided 1953 child-grade observations for cases and 6829 for classmates. Academic achievement was evaluated by using high-quality standardized test data on multiple academic domains as well as use of special education. RESULTS: We found that children with right-sided clefts had similar achievement scores and usage of special education services compared with their unaffected classmates. Children with left-sided clefts had lower reading scores than children with right-sided clefts by nearly 7 percentiles (P < .05). They also had lower scores on all evaluated domains by 4 to 6 percentiles and greater use of special education services by 6 percentage points than their classmates. CONCLUSIONS: Children with left-sided clefts had poorer academic performance than their classmates or children with right-sided clefts, who showed similar academic achievement compared with their unaffected classmates.
Spindle and epithelioid cell nevi in children and adults. A review of 211 cases of the spitz nevus

A large series of 211 Spitz nevi is reviewed. 30% of the lesions were from patients 20 years of age and over. The trunk and lower extremity were most commonly involved. There were no significant histologic differences between cases from adults and children. Features which may help in differentiating atypical Spitz nevi from malignant melanoma include the presence of some nevus cell maturity at the base, an absence of atypical mitoses, no significant upward epidermal spread and the nuclear chromatin pattern. Cancer 40:217–225, 1977.
First episode of acute low back pain – an exploratory cluster analysis approach for early detection of unfavorable recovery

Abstract Purpose: To identify recovery patterns in patients with a first episode of acute low back pain (LBP) and to define risk factors for unfavorable outcome. Methods: One hundred and eight patients (55 male, 53 female; mean age = 40.8, SD 14.2 years) rated pain (NRS) and disability [Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)] before the first treatment and 1 week, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months later. Hierarchical cluster analysis identified recovery patterns based on NRS data. Clusters were compared for age, NRS and ODI at baseline, pain reduction in the first week, gender, radicular signs and traumatic onset using one-way ANOVA (post hoc Bonferroni) and χ2 tests. Results: The cluster analysis revealed four clusters: moderate baseline pain/fast recovery; high baseline pain/fast recovery; high baseline pain/persistent mild pain; high baseline pain/persistent high pain. These clusters differed in baseline NRS [F(3,104) = 39.61, p < 0.001], baseline ODI [F(3,104) = 12.17, p < 0.001], pain reduction in the first week [F(3,104) = 11.51, p < 0.001] and in radicular signs [χ2(3) = 9.20, p = 0.027]. Conclusions: These results suggest that an initial and regularly repeated assessment of pain intensity and functional disability is important. Initial pain intensity does not seem to be a prognostic factor per se, as it did not negatively affect recovery provided that it decreased early in treatment. Implications for Rehabilitation Prediction of outcome is particularly important in patients with a first episode of acute LBP as one third did not completely recover. Pain intensity and functional disability should be initially assessed and regularly repeated in the first phase of treatment. High initial pain intensity and disability combined with small pain reduction during the first week might predict unfavorable outcome and require adequate treatment.
Theory of Anode Region of Short High-Current Vacuum Arc

A model of the anode region of a high-current vacuum arc is developed, which explicitly takes into consideration the ratio of the drift velocity of the electrons in plasma <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$v_{0}$ </tex></formula> to their thermal velocity <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$v_{T}$</tex></formula> as a parameter of the electron velocity distribution function in the anode sheath. A transcendental equation for determining the value of the negative anode drop (AD) as a function of ratio <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$v_{0}/v_{T}$</tex> </formula> is obtained. It is shown that, in contrast to the well-known Langmuir formula in a 1-D model of a collisionless sheath, the AD remains negative for any value of <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$v_{0}/v_{T}$</tex> </formula> relation. For small values of <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$v_{0}/v_{T} \ll 1$</tex></formula>, the expression obtained asymptotically passes into the Langmuir formula. The dependence of the AD value on the current density is used as a boundary condition at the anode in solving the 2-D problems in the theory of short vacuum arc. In accordance with the Langmuir formula, a region with a positive AD is formed at the anode when the current density increases. The results of this paper show that the region with a positive AD is absent.
Parental Sexual Attitudes, Family Sexual Communication, and Adolescent Sexual Behavior.

Some researchers have reported that when parents are the main source of sex education, their adolescent chilaren are less likely to engage in premarital sexual activity and are more likely to use effective contraception. This study used the variables of gender and parental sexual attitudes (liberal or conservative) to categorize 349 college students and one of their parents into four groups. The relationship between family communication about sexuality and adolescent sexual behavior, attitudes, knowledge, and contraceptive use was examined. This relationship differed as a function of gender, parental sexual attitudes, and source of information about communication. Based on student communication reports, only the sexual behavior of girls with liberal parents was related to parent-child communication about sex, but the sexual knowledge and contraceptive use of boys with liberal parents were positively related to sexual communication with parents. Based on parent communication reports, daughters of liberal and conservative parents were more likely to be sexually active if they had talked to their parents about sex. In both cases, there was a significant positive correlation between family sexual communication and conservative sexual attitudes for males with conservative parents. (Author /NB) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. 4 t
3-D conformal treatment of prostate cancer to 74 Gy vs. high-dose-rate brachytherapy boost: A cross-sectional quality-of-life survey

The effects of two modalities of dose-escalated radiotherapy on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) were compared. Forty-one consecutive patients were treated with a 3-D conformal (3-DC) boost to 74 Gy, and 43 with high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy boost (2×9 Gy), following 3-D conformal treatment to 46 Gy. Median age was 70 years in both groups, median initial PSA was 7.9 µg/l in 3-DC boost patients and 8.1 µg/l in HDR boost patients. Stage was ≤T2 in 66% and 67% and Gleason score was ≥7 in 52% and 47%, respectively. HRQOL was assessed cross-sectionally using EORTC QLQ-C30 and organ-specific PR25 modules 3 – 32 (median 19) and 4 – 25 (median 14) months after treatment, respectively. Questionnaires were completed by 93% and 97% of patients, respectively. Diarrhea and insomnia scores were significantly increased in both groups. In the PR25 module, scores of 3-DC boost and HDR boost patients for urinary, bowel and treatment-related symptoms were similar. Among responders, 34% of 3-DC boost patients and 86% of HDR boost patients had severe erectile problems. Dose escalation in prostate cancer by either 3-DC boost to 74 Gy or HDR brachytherapy boost appears to result in similar HRQOL profiles.
Pancreatic stellate cells and fibrosis

Pancreatic cancer is characterised by a prominent desmoplastic/stromal reaction. It is now known that pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are the principal source of fibrosis in the stroma and interact closely with cancer cells to create a tumor facilitatory environment that stimulates local tumor growth and distant metastasis. Pancreatic fibrosis is initiated when PSCs become activated and undergo morphological and, more importantly, functional changes so that the rate of extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition exceeds the rate of ECM degradation in the gland. It is now well established that pancreatic cancer cells activate PSCs leading to increased fibrosis. This chapter summarises recent advances in our understanding of the role of fibrosis in pancreatic cancer, with particular reference to the central role played by pancreatic stellate cells. An improved knowledge of PSC biology has the potential to provide an insight into pathways that may be therapeutically targeted to inhibit PSC activation, thereby inhibiting the development of fibrosis in pancreatic cancer and interrupting stellate cell cancer cell interactions so as to retard cancer progression. Correspondence/Reprint request: Dr. Phoebe Phillips, Pancreatic Cancer Translational Research Group, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. E-mail: p.phillips@unsw.edu. au