Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Welfare-Maximizing Assignment of Agents to Hierarchical Positions

We allocate agents to three kinds of hierarchical positions: top, medium, and low. No monetary transfers are allowed. We solve for the incentive-compatible (IC) mechanisms that maximize a family of weighted social welfares that includes utilitarian and Rawlsian welfares. When the market is tough (all agents bear positive risk of obtaining a low position in any IC and feasible mechanism), then the pseudomarket mechanism with equal budgets (PM) and the Boston mechanism without priorities (BM) yield identical assignments which are always optimal. Otherwise, when the market is mild, PM and BM differ and each one implements the optimal rule under different assumptions on the curvature of virtual valuations. We also establish that both BM and PM mechanisms guarantee IC Pareto-optimal assignments for a domain of preference distributions satisfying weak assumptions.
Rates of Electroconvulsive Therapy Use in Hungary in 2002

Objective: In Hungary there has been no systematic evaluation of ECT use since 1992. Nine years ago, the legal regulation of ECT practice changed. Since 1994, the collaboration of a specialist in anesthesiology is a legal obligation. However, the introduction of the new antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs expanded the possibilities in psychopharmacological treatment. These events basically influenced ECT use. The aim of this study was to obtain an overview of ECT practice in Hungary after these changes. Methods: A 13-item containing questionnaire was sent to all psychiatric departments. Results: All departments except 1 replied by mail, by phone, or by e-mail. Forty-three departments indicated the use of ECT, but in clinical practice only 34 departments applied ECT in 2002. The average number of treated inpatients was 9 on ECT using departments. Altogether 0,6% of all hospitalized psychiatric inpatients received ECT in 2002. The indication for ECT was schizophrenia in 55.6% of the patients and affective disorder in 40% of the cases. Mostly bitemporal electrode placement was used usually thrice weekly. Most commonly used sleep induction agents were thiopental and propofol. Conclusion: The rate of ECT use in Hungary is significantly lower than in the United States, in the United Kingdom, or in the Scandinavian countries and similar than in Hong Kong. The indication of ECT was schizophrenia in 55.6% of the cases.
CaMKII Is Essential for the Proasthmatic Effects of Oxidation

Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII) transduces oxidative stress into asthma-related diseases. A Breath of Fresh Air for Asthma Patients Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have a bad reputation, and rightly so. They’ve been implicated in contributing to a wide swath of diseases, including coronary heart disease, cancer, and asthma. Indeed, asthma is an increasing public health burden—affecting 8.5% of the population in the United States alone. Now Sanders et al. find that oxidative activation of the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (ox-CaMKII) may respond to ROS in lung epithelium and contribute to asthma pathogenesis. The authors observed that asthma patients have enhanced activation of ox-CaMKII in bronchial epithelium, which increases in response to inhaled antigen. Then they looked in two different mouse models of allergic asthma to examine the mechanistic connection. They found that blocking CaMKII either genetically or with a small-molecule inhibitor could alleviate ROS-mediated asthma progression. These data suggest that blocking CaMKII could be a new therapeutic strategy for asthma patients. Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to asthma, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms connecting increased ROS with characteristic features of asthma. We show that enhanced oxidative activation of the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (ox-CaMKII) in bronchial epithelium positively correlates with asthma severity and that epithelial ox-CaMKII increases in response to inhaled allergens in patients. We used mouse models of allergic airway disease induced by ovalbumin (OVA) or Aspergillus fumigatus (Asp) and found that bronchial epithelial ox-CaMKII was required to increase a ROS- and picrotoxin-sensitive Cl− current (ICl) and MUC5AC expression, upstream events in asthma progression. Allergen challenge increased epithelial ROS by activating NADPH oxidases. Mice lacking functional NADPH oxidases due to knockout of p47 and mice with epithelial-targeted transgenic expression of a CaMKII inhibitory peptide or wild-type mice treated with inhaled KN-93, an experimental small-molecule CaMKII antagonist, were protected against increases in ICl, MUC5AC expression, and airway hyperreactivity to inhaled methacholine. Our findings support the view that CaMKII is a ROS-responsive, pluripotent proasthmatic signal and provide proof-of-concept evidence that CaMKII is a therapeutic target in asthma.
Laryngeal and Laryngotracheoesophageal Clefts: Role of Early Surgical Repair

An uncommon congenital anomaly of the developing aerodigestive tract is the congenital laryngeal cleft and its extension, the congenital laryngotracheoesophageal (LTE) cleft. Because of the subtle findings sometimes seen with clefts confined to the larynx, the diagnosis may be difficult. The potential problems of airway obstruction and repeated aspiration frequently associated with laryngeal and LTE clefts mandate early surgical repair. Over the past 3 years, 14 patients with congenital laryngeal or LTE clefts have been managed at Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. This report details our experience and philosophy regarding the diagnosis and management of the condition, and presents the histopathologic findings of a case of complete LTE cleft in which surgical repair was delayed and death resulted.
An unconventional ameloblastic fibro-odontoma with compound odontoma like features

Introduction: Odontogenictumours cover a wide and diverse spectrum of tumours. Some odontogenictumours have a varied etiopathogenesis and share a presentation very similar to hybrid odontogenictumours. Ameloblastic fibroodontoma is one such Radhika Manoj Bavle1, Makarla Soumya2, K. Paremala2, Hosthor Sreelatha S.3, M. Sudhakara2, Venugopal Reshma3 Affiliations: 1M.D. S, Professor & Head, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Krishnadevaraya College of Dental Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India; 2M.D. S, Reader, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Krishnadevaraya College of Dental Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India; 3M.D. S, Sr Lecturer, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Krishnadevaraya College of Dental Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India. Corresponding Author: Dr. Soumya Makarla, M.D.S, Reader, Department of Oral Pathology, Krishnadevaraya College of Dental Sciences, Sir MVIT Campus, Hunasemaranahalli, Bangalore, Karnataka, India, 562157; Email: soumyamakarla@gmail.com Received: 12 May 2017 Accepted: 12 July 2017 Published: 01 November 2017 tumor. Though the WHO 2017 Classification of Head and Neck tumors continues to support this hypothesis, it is clear, with more than 215 case reports, that it is a tumour that does not feature in the continuum of the spectrum of ameloblastic fibroma ending with ameloblastic fibroodontoma and odontoma. It therefore deems recognition as an independent entity. The ameloblastic fibroodontoma irrespective of central or peripheral location will show an ameloblastic fibroma like presentation along with a compound or complex composite odontome histologically. It has also been conjectured whether it is a true neoplasm or hamartoma. Case Report: We report a case of an ameloblastic fibroodontoma in an eight year old male patient with a diffuse swelling extraorally in the infraorbitalzygomatic area. Intraoral examination revealed a large 4.5x3 cm soft tissue mass on the right maxillary alveolar area involving primary molars and permanent 1st and 2nd molar region. Radiologic examination revealed a lesion with 32 denticles and destruction of alveolar bone, which showed a histopathologic picture of ameloblastic fibroodontoma with a composite compound odontoma like pattern. Conclusion: Our case describes an ameloblastic fibroodontoma, which presented as a painful mass of the maxilla with compound composite odontome like features supporting the tumour concept and as an independent entity not belonging to the continuum spectrum.
Auditory Pitch Perception in Autism Spectrum Disorder Is Associated With Nonverbal Abilities

Atypical sensory perception and heterogeneous cognitive profiles are common features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, previous findings on auditory sensory processing in ASD are mixed. Accordingly, auditory perception and its relation to cognitive abilities in ASD remain poorly understood. Here, children with ASD, and age- and intelligence quotient (IQ)-matched typically developing children, were tested on a low- and a higher level pitch processing task. Verbal and nonverbal cognitive abilities were measured using the Wechsler’s Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence. There were no group differences in performance on either auditory task or IQ measure. However, there was significant variability in performance on the auditory tasks in both groups that was predicted by nonverbal, not verbal skills. These results suggest that auditory perception is related to nonverbal reasoning rather than verbal abilities in ASD and typically developing children. In addition, these findings provide evidence for preserved pitch processing in school-age children with ASD with average IQ, supporting the idea that there may be a subgroup of individuals with ASD that do not present perceptual or cognitive difficulties. Future directions involve examining whether similar perceptual-cognitive relationships might be observed in a broader sample of individuals with ASD, such as those with language impairment or lower IQ.
The relationship of pro-inflammatory markers to vascular endothelial function after acute stroke

Purpose/Aim: Data from chronic stroke studies have reported reduced blood flow and vascular endothelial function in the stroke-affected limb. It is unclear whether these differences are present early after stroke. First, we investigated whether vascular endothelial function in the stroke-affected limb would be different from healthy adults. Second, we examined whether between-limb differences in vascular endothelial function existed in the stroke-affected arm compared to the non-affected arm. Last, we tested whether reduced vascular endothelial function was related to pro-inflammatory markers that are present early after stroke. Materials and Methods: Vascular endothelial function was assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in the brachial artery within 72 h post-stroke. All participants withheld medications from midnight until after the procedure. Ultrasound scans and blood draws for pro-inflammatory markers occurred on the same day between 7:30 am and 9:00 am. Results: People with acute stroke had significantly lower FMD (4.2% ± 4.6%) than control participants (8.5% ± 5.2%, p = 0.037). Stroke participants had between-limb differences in FMD (4.2% ± 4.6% stroke-affected vs. 5.3% ± 4.4% non-affected, p = 0.02), whereas, the control participants did not. Of the pro-inflammatory markers, only vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1) had a significant relationship to FMD (stroke-affected limb, r = −0.62, p = 0.03; non-affected limb, r = −0.75, p = 0.005), but not tumor necrosis factor alpha nor interleukin-6. Conclusions: Vascular endothelial function is reduced starting in the early stage of stroke recovery. People with higher levels of VCAM-1 had a lower FMD response.
Surface Morphology of Pocket Epithelium

The pocket epithelium in periodontitis differs from the clinically healthy epithelium in its increase in sulcular depth. However, closer surface morphological distinctions have not been described. To study the surface characteristics of pocket gingiva, the authors analyzed pocket and sulcular epithelium biopsies by scanning and transmission electron microscopy using cytochemical staining for visualization of bacterial adhesion. The clinically healthy and the marginal pocket epithelium were characterized by squamous epithelial cells joined by tight junctions and an inconspicuous surface lacking a distinctive papillary formation. The large quantity of bacteria that adhered to the clinically healthy and marginal pocket epithelium did not appear to elicit any significant defense response. The deeper part of the pocket epithelium revealed a wrinkled papillary relief, increased exfoliation of epithelial cells, leukocyte transmigration, and bacterial internalization, as well as internalization-induced epithelial apoptosis. The alteration of the deep pocket epithelium surface might be either genuine or due to environmental changes of the crevice, or both. Therefore, the periodontitis recovery after removing the deep pocket epithelium might now be related to the pathological alterations of the deep pocket epithelium.
Image edge detection algorithm based onwavelet fractional differential theory

In view of the traditional edge detection operator is sensitive to noise, the detection results are not satisfactory, a new edge detection method based on soft threshold wavelet de-noising and fractional differential theory is proposed in this paper. In the case of processing the image with Gauss white noise, first of all, the image is filtered by soft threshold, and then using fractional mask template. According to the classical fractional order differential G-L definition, the differential definition equation is derived, and the fractional mask operator is constructed. Compared with the traditional edge detection operator, the operator can effectively extract the edge information of the image, and have good performance of the signal to noise ratio and good positioning performance.
Relative influences of historical and contemporary forces shaping the distribution of genetic variation in the Atlantic killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus

A major goal of population genetics research is to identify the relative influences of historical and contemporary processes that serve to structure genetic variation. Most population genetic models assume that populations exist in a state of migration‐drift equilibrium. However, in the past this assumption has rarely been verified, and is likely rarely achieved in natural populations. We assessed the equilibrium status at both local and regional scales of the Atlantic killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus. This species is a model organism for the study of adaptive clinal variation, but has also experienced a complicated history of range expansion and secondary contact following allopatric divergence, potentially obscuring the influence of contemporary evolutionary processes. Presumptively neutral genetic markers (microsatellites) demonstrated zones of secondary intergradation among coastal populations centred around northern New Jersey and the Chesapeake Bay region. Analysis of genetic variation indicated isolation by distance among some populations and provided supporting evidence that the Delaware Bay, but not the Chesapeake Bay, has acted as a barrier to dispersal among coastal populations. Bayesian estimates indicated large effective population sizes and low migration rates, and were in good agreement with empirically derived estimates of population and neighbourhood size from mark–recapture studies. These data indicate that populations are not in migration‐drift equilibrium at a regional scale, and suggest that contributing factors include large population size combined with relatively low migration rates. These conditions should be considered when interpreting the evolutionary significance of the distribution of genetic variation among F. heteroclitus populations.
Therapeutic alliance in depression treatment: controlling for prior change and patient characteristics.

Although many studies report that the therapeutic alliance predicts psychotherapy outcome, few exclude the possibility that this association is accounted for by 3rd variables, such as prior improvement and prognostically relevant patient characteristics. The authors treated 367 chronically depressed patients with the cognitive-behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy (CBASP), alone or with medication. Using mixed effects growth-curve analyses, they found the early alliance significantly predicted subsequent improvement in depressive symptoms after controlling for prior improvement and 8 prognostically relevant patient characteristics. In contrast, neither early level nor change in symptoms predicted the subsequent level or course of the alliance. Patients receiving combination treatment reported stronger alliances with their psychotherapists than patients receiving CBASP alone. However, the impact of the alliance on outcome was similar for both treatment conditions.
The Anti-Influenza Virus Agent 4-GU-DANA (Zanamivir) Inhibits Cell Fusion Mediated by Human Parainfluenza Virus and Influenza Virus HA

ABSTRACT 4-GU-DANA (zanamivir) (as well as DANA and 4-AM-DANA) was found to inhibit the neuraminidase activity of human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPF3). The viral neuraminidase activity is attributable to hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN), an envelope protein essential for viral attachment and for fusion mediated by the other envelope protein, F. While there is no evidence that HN's neuraminidase activity is essential for receptor binding and syncytium formation, we found that 4-GU-DANA prevented hemadsorption and fusion of persistently infected cells with uninfected cells. In plaque assays, 4-GU-DANA reduced the number (but not the area) of plaques if present only during the adsorption period and reduced plaque area (but not number) if added only after the 90-min adsorption period. 4-GU-DANA also reduced the area of plaques formed by a neuraminidase-deficient variant, confirming that its interference with cell-cell fusion is unrelated to inhibition of neuraminidase activity. The order-of-magnitude lower 50% inhibitory concentrations of 4-GU-DANA (and also DANA and 4-AM-DANA) for plaque area reduction and for inhibition in the fusion assay than for reducing plaque number or blocking hemadsorption indicate the particular efficacy of these sialic acid analogs in interfering with cell-cell fusion. In cell lines expressing influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) as the only viral protein, we found that 4-GU-DANA had no effect on hemadsorption but did inhibit HA2b-red blood cell fusion, as judged by both lipid mixing and content mixing. Thus, 4-GU-DANA can interfere with both influenza virus- and HPF3-mediated fusion. The results indicate that (i) in HPF3, 4-GU-DANA and its analogs have an affinity not only for the neuraminidase active site of HN but also for sites important for receptor binding and cell fusion and (ii) sialic acid-based inhibitors of influenza virus neuraminidase can also exert a direct, negative effect on the fusogenic function of the other envelope protein, HA.
The use of the McCoy laryngoscope in patients with simulated cervical spine injuries

We studied the laryngoscopic view in 167 patients with their head and necks held in the neutral position with manual in‐line stabilisation and cricoid pressure to simulate the patient with a suspected cervical spine injury. Each patient underwent laryngoscopy using both a McCoy and a Macintosh laryngoscope. The best view obtained by each laryngoscope was graded according to standard guidelines. The results showed that the McCoy was never worse than the Macintosh. It improved the Macintosh grade by 1 grade in 41% and by 2 grades in 8% (p < 0.001). Difficult laryngoscopy, defined as the inability to see the glottis (grade 3 or 4), was found in 56 (33%) with the Macintosh laryngoscope and only eight (5%) (p < 0.001) with the McCoy laryngoscope. We suggest that patients with a suspected cervical spine injury and a full stomach should be intubated using a McCoy in preference to a Macintosh laryngoscope.
Treatment Changes among Users of Non‐Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants in Atrial Fibrillation

Patients with atrial fibrillation discontinuing anticoagulant therapy are left unprotected against ischaemic stroke. Further, switching between oral anticoagulants may be associated with a transiently increased risk of bleeding or thromboembolism. However, there is a paucity of real‐life data on pattern of switching and discontinuation of oral anticoagulants. To address this, we conducted a nationwide drug utilization study including all registered Danish atrial fibrillation patients initiating a non‐VKA oral anticoagulant (NOAC) between August 2011 and February 2016. We assessed changes in anticoagulant treatment, including switching between oral anticoagulants and discontinuation of NOACs, and explored patient characteristics predicting these changes. We identified 50,632 patients with atrial fibrillation initiating NOAC therapy within the study period. The majority initiated dabigatran (49.9%) and one‐third had previously used VKA. Within 1 year, 10.1% switched to VKA, 4.8% switched to another NOAC and 14.4% discontinued treatment. The frequencies of switching to VKA and discontinuation were highest among NOAC users of young age (<55 years) and with low CHA2DS2‐VASc score (=0). However, the majority of patients (87.3%) stopping NOAC treatment had a CHA2DS2‐VASc score ≥1. We conclude that switching from VKA to NOAC, and to a lesser extent from NOAC to VKA, is common, as is early treatment discontinuation. The majority of treatment changes are observed in patients at increased risk of stroke. More research is warranted on the risks of bleeding and thromboembolism associated with switching and discontinuation of NOACs as well as the underlying reasons why these treatment changes occur.
The use of quality of life data at the organization and systems level.

BACKGROUND To date researchers have given little attention to the use of quality of life (QOL) data for organization and systems-level change. This article presents two state-level examples of how QOL data are currently used in the USA. METHOD Individuals with intellectual disability (ID) were assessed on an ongoing basis using two multidimensional QOL instruments. Data were analysed at the individual and organizational level. RESULTS Examples of statewide data utilization include: (1) determining significant predictors of quality outcomes; (2) developing provider profiles; (3) comparing individuals with ID with those without ID; (4) developing state-level performance standards; and (5) implementing continuous programme improvement. CONCLUSIONS The availability of this type of data allows service delivery systems to: (1) significantly alter the relationship between individual consumers and service providers; (2) open the system to scrutiny by citizens with and without ID; (3) improve responsiveness and quality outcomes; and (4) shape future directions of the service delivery system for people with ID.