Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Odontocete suction feeding: Experimental analysis of water flow and head shape

The role of cranial morphology in the generation of intraoral and oropharyngeal suction pressures in odontocetes was investigated by manipulating the jaw and hyolingual apparatus of submerged heads of three species presenting varied shapes. Hyoid and gular muscles were manually employed to depress and retract the tongue. Pressures were recorded at three locations in the oral cavity, as gape and site, speed, and force of pull were varied. A biomechanical model was also developed to evaluate pressure data. The species with the shortest, bluntest head and smallest mouth opening generated greater negative pressures. Suction generation diminished sharply as gape increased. Greatest negative pressures attained were around −45 mmHg (−6,000 Pa), a magnitude deemed suitable for capture of small live prey. Odontocetes utilizing this bidirectional flow system should profit by evolution of a rounder mouth opening through progressive shortening and widening of the rostrum and jaws, a trend evident in cranial measurements from fossil and recent odontocetes. Blunt heads correlate with anatomical, ecological, and behavioral traits associated with suction feeding. Small‐gape suction (with minimally opened jaws) could be used by odontocetes of all head and oral shapes to draw prey sufficiently close to the mouth for suction ingestion or grasping via dentition. Principal limitations of the experimental and mathematical simulations include assumption of a stationary odontocete with static (open or closed) jaws and potential scaling issues with differently sized heads and gapes. J. Morphol. , 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A systematic review of the public's knowledge and beliefs about antibiotic resistance.

OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to systematically review quantitative and qualitative studies on the public's knowledge and beliefs about antibiotic resistance. METHODS We searched four databases to July 2014, with no language or study design restrictions. Two reviewers independently extracted data. We calculated the median (IQR) of the proportion of participants who agreed with each statement and synthesized qualitative data by identifying emergent themes. RESULTS Of 3537 articles screened, 54 studies (41 quantitative, 3 mixed methods and 10 qualitative) were included (55 225 participants). Most studied adults (50; 93% studies) and were conducted in Europe (23; 43%), Asia (14; 26%) or North America (12; 22%). Some participants [median 70% (IQR 50%-84%); n = 8 studies] had heard of antibiotic resistance, but most [median 88% (IQR 86%-89%); n = 2 studies] believed it referred to changes in the human body. Many believed excessive antibiotic use [median 70% (IQR 59%-77%); n = 11 studies] and not completing antibiotic courses [median 62% (IQR 47%-77%); n = 8 studies] caused resistance. Most participants nominated reducing antibiotic use [median 74% (IQR 72%-85%); n = 4 studies] and discussing antibiotic resistance with their clinician (84%, n = 1 study) as strategies to reduce resistance. Qualitative data supported these findings and additionally identified that: participants believed they were at low risk from antibiotic resistance participants; largely attributed its development to the actions of others; and strategies to minimize resistance should be primarily aimed at clinicians. CONCLUSIONS The public have an incomplete understanding of antibiotic resistance and misperceptions about it and its causes and do not believe they contribute to its development. These data can be used to inform interventions to change the public's beliefs about how they can contribute to tackling this global issue.
Toda-Yamamoto Granger No-causality Analysis of Stock Market Growth and Economic Growth in Ghana

The paper aims at examining the causal nexus between stock market growth and economic growth in the context of Ghana for a sample period covering 1990 to 2016. Toda-Yamamoto (1995) Granger no-causality test which permits Granger causality test irrespective of the order of integration of the variables involved is employed in this study. Data used for the study is annual time series data covering the sample period. The study finds that GDP growth Granger causes stock price index (SPI) and stock value traded (SVT) but does not granger causes market capitalisation (MC). However, none of the stock market growth indicators (MC, STV, and SPI) Granger causes economic growth. Thus the findings of this study support economic growth-driven stock market growth. It is recommended that, in other to enhance the effect of stock market growth on economy, firms in the sectors of the economy that contribute significantly to GDP growth in the stock market should be encouraged, motivated and supported to participate in the stock market by listing on the stock market. Also, government should ensure stable macroeconomic and microeconomic environment for businesses that are listed on the stock market to flourish since stock market growth is found to be economy-driven.
Pathologic findings in prospectively ascertained essential tremor subjects

Objective: To assess pathologic changes in prospectively characterized subjects with essential tremor (ET). Methods: Subjects enrolled in the Sun Health Research Institute Brain and Body Donation Program were examined annually by a movement disorders neurologist, and semiannually by a behavioral neurologist and neuropsychologist. Twenty-four subjects without a prior diagnosis of dementia or other major movement disorder met clinical criteria for ET and came to autopsy. Subjects with mild cognitive impairment (n = 3) were included. These subjects were compared with 21 controls. Brains were examined postmortem according to standardized protocols for assessment of age-related changes and specific pathologic conditions (e.g., Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease). Results: Subjects had a mean age of 86.2 years and a mean duration of tremor of 11.1 years. Seven subjects had evidence for cerebellar pathology (Purkinje cell loss, cerebellar cortical sclerosis, and proliferation of Bergmann glia). Pigmented neurons were qualitatively depleted in the locus ceruleus in eight subjects and in the substantia nigra in five subjects. Of these, three had Lewy bodies, one subject had brainstem predominant disease, and two had limbic stage. Three subjects had a nonspecific cerebral tauopathy and another met pathologic criteria for progressive supranuclear palsy. However, when compared with controls, only changes in the locus ceruleus and gliosis of the cerebellum remained significant findings. Conclusions: This study supports previous findings of heterogenous pathology in essential tremor (ET). There is an increased frequency of cerebellar gliosis and locus ceruleus depletion. We did not find an increased incidence of Lewy bodies in subjects with ET. GLOSSARY: ET = essential tremor; LB = Lewy body; MCI = mild cognitive impairment; NA = not available; PD = Parkinson disease; PSP = progressive supranuclear palsy; SHRI = Sun Health Research Institute; SN = substantia nigra; WMR = white matter rarefaction.
Current Concepts in the Diagnosis and Management of Acromioclavicular Dislocations

Not all complete dislocations of the acromioclavicular joint should be treated by one method alone. A classification of acromioclavicular dislocation is presented and is based upon the pathology of the injury. Grade I sprain results from a mild force that causes tearing of only a few fibers of the acromioclavicular joint. Grade II sprains are caused by a moderate force with a rupture of the capsule and acromioclavicular ligament. Grade III sprains result from a severe force that ruptures both the acromioclavicular and coracoclavicular ligaments and causes a dislocation of the joint. Grade IV dislocation may be associated with an avulsion fracture of the coracoclavicular ligament from the inferior lateral clavicle, severe tearing or other injury to the soft tissue envelope about the lateral clavicle, or a buttonhole injury of the lateral clavicle. Grade V dislocation refers to a posterior displacement of the lateral clavicle from any cause, while Grade VI relates to an inferior lateral clavicle displacement. Grades I, II, and most Grade III injuries can be treated conservatively. The indications for open treatment of Grade III injuries are reviewed. It is recommended that Grade IV and most Grade V and VI dislocations be managed with open methods.
Scleroderma overlap syndrome.

BACKGROUND Overlap syndrome is an entity that satisfies the criteria of at least two connective tissue diseases (CTD). These conditions include systemic sclerosis (SSc), dermatomyositis or polymyositis, Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. A combined pathology has impact on the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment. OBJECTIVES To analyze the features of SSc patients with overlap syndrome registered in the European (EUSTAR) database at our center and to review the literature focusing on clinical and diagnostic issues and new treatments. METHODS We studied the medical records of 165 consecutive SSc patients and reviewed cases with scleroderma overlap syndrome. A PubMed search for the period 1977 to 2009 was conducted using the key words "overlap syndrome", "systemic sclerosis", "connective tissue disease" and "biological agents. " RESULTS Forty patients satisfied the criteria for scleroderma overlap syndrome. The incidence of additional connective tissue diseases in the whole group and in the overlap syndrome group respectively was: dermatomyositis or polymyositis 11.5% and 47.5%, Sjogren's syndrome 10.3% and 42.5%, rheumatoid arthritis 3.6% and 15.4%, and systemic lupus erythematosus 1.2% and 5.0%. Coexistence of SSc and another CTD aggravated the clinical course, especially lung, kidney, digestive, vascular and articular involvement. Coexisting non-rheumatic complications mimicked SSc complications. An additional rheumatic or non-rheumatic disease affected treatment choice. CONCLUSIONS The definition of scleroderma overlap syndrome is important, especially in patients who need high-dose corticosteroids for complications of a CTD. The use of novel biological therapies may be advocated in these patients to avoid the hazardous influences of high-dose steroids, especially renal crisis. In some overlap syndrome cases, biological agents serve both conditions; in others one of the conditions may limit their use. In the absence of formal clinical trials in these patients a cautious approach is preferred.
“Taking Occam’s Razor to the Endogeneity Problem in Economic Voting”

Conventional economic voting models are increasingly being challenged by the problem of endogeneity – that is, causality may not run, as they suggest, in one direction from economics to politics. Rather, causality may run in the other direction, from politics to economics, or be bi-directional. While a small, but growing, number of studies are highlighting the endogeneity problem in economic voting models, there is a tendency to identify and then attempt to manage, rather than eliminate, the distortions caused by endogeneity in economic voting models. At least worst, economic voting models which do not deal with endogeneity are vulnerable to producing biased results; at worst, the results may be spurious. Rather than just attempting to manage the endogeneity problem in, this study proposes a strategy to purge it from, economic voting models. However, in doing so, it further brings into question the fulcrum idea of economic voting models, finding instead ‘politics drives economics’ rather than the other way around.
Practice Patterns and Outcomes Associated With Choice of Initial Vasopressor Therapy for Septic Shock*

Objectives:Clinical guidelines recommend norepinephrine as initial vasopressor of choice for septic shock, with dopamine suggested as an alternative vasopressor in selected patients with low risk of tachyarrhythmias and absolute or relative bradycardia. We sought to determine practice patterns and outcomes associated with vasopressor selection in a large, population-based cohort of patients with septic shock that allows for assessment of outcomes in clinically important subgroups. Design:We performed a retrospective cohort study to determine factors associated with choice of dopamine as compared with norepinephrine as initial vasopressor for patients with septic shock. We used propensity score matching to compare risk of hospital mortality based on initial vasopressor. We performed multiple sensitivity analyses using alternative methods to address confounding and hospital-level clustering. We investigated interaction between vasopressor selection and mortality in clinical subgroups based on arrhythmia and cardiovascular risk. Setting:Enhanced administrative data (Premier, Charlotte, NC) from 502 U.S. hospitals during the years 2010–2013. Subjects:A total of 61,122 patients admitted with septic shock who received dopamine or norepinephrine as initial vasopressor during the first 2 days of hospitalization. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:Norepinephrine (77.6%) was the most frequently used initial vasopressor during septic shock. Dopamine was preferentially selected by cardiologists, in the Southern United States, at nonteaching hospitals, for older patients with more cardiovascular comorbidities and was used less frequently over time. Patients receiving dopamine experienced greater hospital mortality (propensity-matched cohort: n = 38,788; 25% vs 23.7%; odds ratio, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.02–1.14). Sensitivity analyses showed similar results. Subgroup analyses showed no evidence for effect modification based on arrhythmia risk or underlying cardiovascular disease. Conclusions:In a large population-based sample of patients with septic shock in the United States, use of dopamine as initial vasopressor was associated with increased mortality among multiple clinical subgroups. Areas where use of dopamine as initial vasopressor is more common represent potential targets for quality improvement intervention.
Domestic violence in patients visiting general practitioners--prevalence, phenomenology, and association with psychopathology.

BACKGROUND It has been suggested that domestic violence is not only highly prevalent and associated with significant morbidity, but that it is also overlooked by medical practitioners. Despite this, few studies have focused on domestic violence in the South African setting, so that there is a paucity of data here on its prevalence, phenomenology, and associated psychopathology. METHODS Sixteen general practitioners from the South African Sentinel Practitioner Research Network (SASPREN) screened all their female patients aged 18 years or older for a 3-month period (N = 1,050). A sociodemographic questionnaire was completed, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression were assessed, both in subjects with a history of domestic violence and in a control group without such a history. RESULTS 21.5% of patients reported a history of domestic violence at screening. Patients and controls did not differ significantly in terms of age or race. However, patients with a history of domestic violence were significantly more likely to be married, not to have begun a high-school education, and to be working outside the home. Both PTSD and major depression were significantly more common in patients with a history of domestic violence (35.3% and 48.2%, respectively) than in controls (2.6% and 11.4%, respectively). Compared with other patients reporting domestic violence, those with either PTSD or major depression were subjected to more violence and were more likely to report a suicide attempt. CONCLUSION In a large, diverse population of adult female patients presenting to a range of general practitioners in South Africa, there was a high prevalence of reported domestic violence. A significant association was found between domestic violence and both PTSD and major depression, with these diagnoses indicative of increased severity of abuse and increased morbidity. Routine screening by medical practitioners of all female patients for a history of domestic violence seems warranted, and patients with a history of domestic violence should be assessed for PTSD and depression.
Momentum and Crash Sensitivity

This paper proposes a risk-based explanation of the momentum anomaly on equity markets. Regressing the momentum strategy return on the return of a self-financing portfolio going long (short) in stocks with high (low) crash sensitivity in the USA from 1963 to 2012 reduces the momentum effect from a highly statistically significant 11.94% to an insignificant 1.84%. We find additional supportive out-of sample evidence for our risk-based momentum explanation in a sample of 23 international equity markets.
Serum antibodies to Porphyromonas gingivalis in children.

Serum samples from 41 periodontally healthy children aged 1 to 16 years were examined by ELISA for the presence of antibodies against a glass bead-EDTA cell surface extract (GBE) and LPS of Porphyromonas gingivalis strain ATCC 33277. P. gingivalis was detected by immunofluorescence, using a species-specific monoclonal antibody, in 41% (17/41) of the children, and isolated from a single subject (2.4%). IgM, IgG, and IgA against GBE were detected in respectively 39/41 (95%), 41/41 (100%), and 27/41 (66%) of the sera. In 22/39 sera, the IgG titer was below 50% that of a reference pool of adult sera (RP). In 13/41, the IgM titer was higher than that of the RP, mostly in the deciduous dentition group. Detectable IgA titers were always below 67% that of the RP. A polarized distribution of the children appeared, separating 21 non- and low IgA responders (IgA titer below 10% that of the RP) from the remaining 20 subjects. Anti-LPS IgG, IgM, and IgA were detected in 41/41 (100%), 39/41 (95%), and 23/38 (61%) respectively of the children. In 32/41 sera, the anti-LPS IgG titer was below 50% that of the RP, while in 20/39 sera, IgM titers were higher. A clearcut dichotomy in IgA response was observed, allowing us to distinguish non-IgA responders (39%) and IgA responders to LPS (61%). Our results indicate that serum antibodies to P. gingivalis are highly prevalent in children, suggesting that an active primary immune response and a secondary immune response are well underway. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Are football managers as efficient as coaches? Performance analysis with ex ante and ex post inputs in the Premier league

ABSTRACT There is a controversy on sport performance literature about what type of inputs might explain more deeply the performance of sports clubs (inputs specification controversy). By one side, several papers have analysed sports teams’ performance using the match-related statistics or wages as inputs, well-known as ex post inputs. By other side, some authors have criticized the use of these ex post inputs, and recommend the use of ex ante inputs, as the market value of the players. We have analysed the performance of football teams estimating technical efficiency with three different inputs specification. The methodologies employed were data envelopment analysis (DEA) and a bootstrapped DEA. Our sample is composed by English Premier League football clubs, during three seasons (2012/13–2014/15). The DEA results indicate that the correlation between the three models is positive and significant. The DEA-bootstrapped results help to restate the robustness of the estimations and endorsed the inputs choices. The correlations of the estimations with market value and match-related statistics are the most striking (90% and 94%, DEA and bootstrapped DEA), which indicate that the existent discussion related to the use of match-related statistics as input is unjustified, because it does not affect significantly the efficiency estimations.
An Ecosystem‐Level Process Model of Business Model Disruption: The Disruptor's Gambit

Based on a longitudinal case study, this paper presents an ecosystem‐level process model of the interlocking key activities of the business model disruptor, other ecosystem participants (customers, partners, media, analysts), and the incumbent. Together these constitute a strategic process of ecosystem evolution from incumbent‐centred to disruptor‐centred. We identify the phenomenon of a ‘disruptor's gambit’, where the disruptor reveals its intentions early on through effective framing, followed by rapid adaptation of its business model to satisfy ecosystem needs. These processes generate a virtuous framing‐adaptation cycle, where feed‐forward and feedback enable rapid response to customers and partners, while engaging them as force multipliers during new ecosystem creation. Our findings suggest that framing constitutes a dynamic strategic process enabling disruptors to reduce uncertainty, dislodge powerful incumbents, and shape new ecosystems through business model innovation.
[Behcet's disease in France. Apropos of 60 autochtonous subjects].

Based on a retrospective study of a series of 196 patients followed up from 1974, to 1986, 60 cases of Behcet's disease are reviewed in autochthonous French patients, defined as born of French parents in Metropolitan France. The group included 36 men and 27 women (sex ratio 1.45) age range 32 +/- 7 years at time of diagnosis. Semeiology and outcome were compared with those of North African patients, the bias related to their female under-representation being eliminated by analysis of findings in males only. No significant difference was noted between the two groups, particularly with respect to ocular, neurological and vascular lesions. Neither the sex nor the existence of HLA B5 (28/40 tests) had any influence on semeiology. Three deaths related to the disease were reported two pregnancies were conducted to term without neonatal effects despite maternal acute ocular episodes. Treatment was with corticoids (n = 33), immunodeppressants (n = 15), colchicine (n = 29) and anticoagulant and/or anti-aggregant therapy (n = 31). Lasting disappearance of aphthosis was obtained in 34 cases, of cutaneous signs in 27, articular signs in 26 and vascular signs in 16. The ocular lesions present initially in 41 patients had disappeared over long periods in 29 cases, and presented a satisfactory prognosis since less than 39 p. 100 of the patients had any significant handicap at 5 years. Among the relapses, 5 appeared after too hasty withdrawal of colchicine. The diagnosis of Behcet's disease should be evoked in autochthonous subjects if necessary, and confirmed on the basis of usual clinical criteria alone. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin Alleviates Infection-Associated Thrombocytopenia

Objective: To examine the efficacy and adverse events of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) in the treatment of infection-associated thrombocytopenia in senile patients. Methods: The current study is a retrospective analysis of the patients receiving rhTPO for infection-associated thrombocytopenia in our hospital. Results: Forty-nine cases were included in the analysis as rhTPO group. The absolute platelet count after treatment, increase in platelet count, and the overall response rate were considerably higher in the rhTPO group than that in the control group. Improvement in bleeding score was higher in the rhTPO treatment group than that in the control group (2.1 ± 5.4 vs 0.4 ± 1.7). Bleeding event was stopped in 68.2% of the patients after rhTPO treatment and in 35% of the patients in the control group (P = .032). A stratified analysis indicated that the therapeutic efficacy is much better in patients without organ failure. Conclusion: Recombinant human TPO is effective in alleviating infection-associated thrombocytopenia and hemorrhage in senile patients, particularly if given prior to the emergence of organ failure.