Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The mechanism of action and pharmacological specificity of the anticonvulsant NMDA antagonist MK‐801: a voltage clamp study on neuronal cells in culture

1 Some possible molecular mechanisms of action of the anxiolytic, anticonvulsant and neuroprotective agent MK‐801 have been examined in ‘whole‐cell’ voltage clamp recordings performed on rat hippocampal and cortical neurones, bovine adrenomedullary chromaffin cells and N1E‐115 neuroblastoma cells maintained in cell culture. 2 Transmembrane currents recorded from rat hippocampal and cortical neurones in response to locally applied N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) were antagonized by MK‐801 (0.1–3.0 μm). Blockade was use‐dependent, and little influenced by transmembrane potential. MK‐801 (3 μm) had no effect on currents evoked by kainate (100 μm). 3 The antagonism of NMDA‐induced currents by MK‐801 was only slowly and incompletely reversed when the cell membrane potential was clamped at −60mV during washout. Prolonged applications of NMDA at +40, but not −60 mV during washout, markedly accelerated recovery from block. 4 In contrast to MK‐801, ketamine (10 μm) blocked NMDA‐induced currents in a voltage‐dependent manner. Blockade increased with membrane hyperpolarization and was completely reversible upon washout. 5 MK‐801 (1–10 μm) produced a voltage‐ and concentration‐dependent block of membrane currents elicited by ionophoretically applied acetylcholine (ACh) recorded from bovine chromaffin cells. The block was readily reversible upon washout. 6 γ‐Aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptor‐mediated chloride currents of chromaffin cells were unaffected by MK‐801 (1–100 μm). In contrast, such currents were potentiated by diazepam (1 μm). MK‐801 (100 μmm) had no effect on currents evoked by GABA on hippocampal neurones. 7 MK‐801 (10 μm) had little effect on membrane currents recorded from N1E‐115 neuroblastoma cells in response to ionophoretically applied 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT). Such currents were antagonized by the 5‐HT3 receptor antagonist GR 38032F (1 nm) and also by MK‐801 at high concentration (100 μm). 8 Voltage‐activated, tetrodotoxin‐sensitive, sodium currents of chromaffin cells were unaffected by 10 μm MK‐801. However, at a relatively high concentration (100 μm), MK‐801 reduced the amplitude of such currents to approximately 77% of control. 9 The relevance of the present results to the central actions of MK‐801 is discussed.
Later stage at diagnosis and worse survival in cutaneous malignant melanoma among men living alone: a nationwide population-based study from Sweden.

PURPOSE To investigate the association between cohabitation status, clinical stage at diagnosis, and disease-specific survival in cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). METHODS This nationwide population-based study included 27,235 patients from the Swedish Melanoma Register diagnosed with a primary invasive CMM between 1990 and 2007 and linked data to nationwide, population-based registers followed up through 2012. RESULTS After adjustment for age at diagnosis, level of education, living area, period of diagnosis, and tumor site, the odds ratios (ORs) of higher stage at diagnosis were significantly increased among men living alone versus men living with a partner (stage II v stage I: OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.29 to 1.57; stage III or IV v stage I: OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.79). The OR for stage II versus stage I disease was also increased among women living alone (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.28). After adjustments for the factors listed earlier, the CMM-specific survival was significantly decreased among men living alone (hazard ratio [HR] for death, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.33 to 1.65; P < .001). After additional adjustments for all potential and established prognostic factors, CMM-specific survival among men living alone versus men living with a partner remained significantly decreased (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.18 to 1.46; P < .001), suggesting a residual adverse effect on survival not accounted for by these parameters. CONCLUSION In all age groups among men, living alone is significantly associated with reduced CMM-specific survival, partially attributed to a more advanced stage at diagnosis. This emphasizes the need for improved prevention and early detection strategies for this group.
Evaluation of Corneal Microstructure in Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome and Glaucoma: In Vivo Scanning Laser Confocal Microscopic Study

Abstract Purpose: To quantitatively evaluate corneas of patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXS) and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG) using in vivo scanning laser confocal microscopy (IVCM). Materials and Methods: The study population comprised 30 patients with PXS, 30 patients with PXG, and 30 normal control subjects. IVCM of the cornea was performed on all participants using the Rostock Cornea Module of the Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph (HRT). Mean outcome measures included density of basal epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and anterior and posterior keratocytes; and tortuosity and density of subbasal plexus nerves. Results: Mean densities of basal epithelial cells, endothelial cells, anterior and posterior keratocytes, and subbasal nerves differed significantly among the three groups. Subbasal nerve densities were significantly diminished in PXS and PXG patients (12.36 ± 2.89 and 6.8 ± 3.42 mm/mm2, respectively) compared with that of control subjects (16.13 ± 3.42 mm/mm2) (p < 0.05). Mean densities of anterior and posterior stromal keratocytes were significantly lower in PXS and PXG patients compared with control subjects (p < 0.05). Endothelial cell densities were 3073.63 ± 654.49, 2592.60 ± 276.36, and 2110.20 ± 620.53 cells/mm2 for control, PXS, and PXG groups, respectively (p < 0.05). The percentages of endothelial cell polymegathism and pleomorphism were higher in PXS and PXG patients compared with control subjects. Endothelial cell polymegathism and pleomorphism were more frequently associated with PXG. Conclusions: Results of this study demonstrate the existence of alterations in the (i) density of cells in the various layers of the cornea, (ii) cellular configuration of corneal endothelial cells, and (iii) density/diameter of the subbasal nerve plexus in patients with PXS, and that such alterations are common in patients with PXG. It would be beneficial to employ IVCM to assess the severity of pseudoexfoliation keratopathy (PXK).
Comparison Study and Review on Object-Oriented Metrics

The best elucidations to software development problems are regularly touted as object-oriented processes. The popularity of object-oriented design metrics is essential in software engineering for measuring the software complexity, estimating size, quality and project efforts. There are various approaches through which we can find the software cost estimation and predicates on various kinds of deliverable items. Object-oriented metrics assures to reduce cost and the maintenance effort by serving as early predictors to estimate software faults. Such an early quantification augments the quality of the final software. This paper reviews object-oriented metrics. A comparison table is maintained via which we can analyze the difference between all the object-oriented metrics
Photoreceptors and regulation of flowering time.

One of the most important environmental factors affecting flowering time is the daily duration of light, the photoperiod, which was first discovered by Garner and Allard in the 1920s ([Thomas and Vince-Prue, 1997][1], and refs. therein). Plants in which flowering occurs or is accelerated in short
Immediate loading of implants with 3-unit fixed partial dentures: a 12-month clinical study.

PURPOSE The aim of the present clinical trial was to evaluate the 12-month success rate of titanium dental implants placed in the posterior mandible and immediately loaded with 3-unit fixed partial dentures. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients with missing mandibular premolars and molars were enrolled in this study. To be included in the study, the implants had to show good primary stability. Implant stability was measured with resonance frequency analysis using the Osstell device (Integration Diagnostics). Implants were included in the study when the stability quotient (ISQ) exceeded 62. Clinical measurements, such as width of keratinized tissue, ISQ, and radiographic assessment of peri-implant bone crest levels, were performed at baseline and at the 12-month follow-up. The comparison between the baseline and the 12-month visits was performed with the Student t test for paired data (statistically significant at a level of alpha = 0.05). RESULTS Forty implants with a sandblasted, large grit, acid-etched (SLA) surface (Straumann) were placed in 20 patients. At 12 months, only 1 implant had been lost because of an acute infection. The remaining 39 implants were successful, resulting in a 1-year success rate of 97.5%. Neither peri-implant bone levels, measured radiographically, nor implant stability changed significantly from baseline to the 12-month follow-up (P > .05). DISCUSSION The immediate functional loading of implants placed in this case series study resulted in a satisfactory success rate. CONCLUSION The findings from this clinical study showed that the placement of SLA transmucosal implants in the mandibular area and their immediate loading with 3-unit fixed partial dentures may be a safe and successful procedure.
The Internet and Local Wages: A Puzzle †

How did the diffusion of the internet affect regional wage inequality? We examine the relationship between business investment in advanced internet technology and local variation in US wage growth between 1995 and 2000. We identify a puzzle. The internet is widespread, but the economic payoffs are not. Advanced internet technology is only associated with substantial wage growth in the 6 percent of counties that were already highly wealthy, educated, and populated and had IT-intensive industry. Advanced internet and wage growth appear unrelated elsewhere. Overall, advanced internet explains over half the difference in wage growth between already well-off counties and all others. (JEL J31, L86, O33, R11, R23)
Top Management Conservatism and Corporate Risk Strategies: Evidence from Managers' Personal Political Orientation and Corporate Tax Avoidance

We investigate whether managers' personal political orientation helps explain tax avoidance at the firms they manage. Results reveal the intriguing finding that, on average, firms with top executives who lean toward the Republican Party actually engage in less tax avoidance than firms whose executives lean toward the Democratic Party. We also examine changes in tax avoidance around CEO turnovers and find corroborating evidence. Additionally, we find that political orientation is helpful in explaining top management team composition and CEO succession. Our paper extends theory and research by (1) illustrating how tax avoidance can serve as another measure of corporate risk taking and (2) using political orientation as a proxy for managerial conservatism, which is an ex ante measure of a manager's propensity toward risk.
YLF rods thermal lens astigmatism

Thermal effects in optical mediums became more and more important in applied optics because of quick and steady grow of average power of modern lasers. Radiation power is so high that phase distortions caused by thermal lensing effects became important for achieving lasers resonators stability. In this paper we discuss interesting experimental results for YLF crystal: high anisotropy and high astigmatism of thermal lens in acutted YLF rods. The first effect is more or less predictable because YLF is uniaxial crystal. But high astigmatism of thermal lense is unexpected and is not explained in literature so far. Astigmatism is so high that phase distortions profile for perpendicular directions can change its sign [1–3]. Unfortunately in most papers the reason of thermal lens astigmatism is not discussed. At some papers there is a try to explain this by thermal conductivity anisotropy and as a result - non-symmetric temperature distribution but this effect is unable to change the sign of the lens.
The inter-relationship between housing and health outcomes

It is widely acknowledged that a strong relationship exists between environment and human physical condition, with living conditions in particular contributing to the health and well being of particular population groups. More specifically, various research conducted throughout Australia and elsewhere has concluded that there are strong linkages between housing and health. For example, Currie and Carapetis (2000) infer that poor health is directly linked to poor housing and housing infrastructure. People with unmet housing needs tend to be socio-economically disadvantaged, and experience higher death rates, poor health, and are more likely to have serious chronic illnesses . Evidence suggests strong linkages between poor housing and infrastructure, and subsequent impact on health. However, whilst much of the research conducted has found statistical associations existing between housing aspects (tenure, dwelling quality and type, home and location) and health outcomes, there has been little investigation into determining how the various aspects relate to one another for particular population groups. Further, commonalities that may exist between both indigenous and non-indigenous communities have implications for improved planning especially in the area of public housing assistance. This paper provides an in depth commentary on the literature and in particular the key health issues related to housing. More importantly, it endeavours to research specifically in an Australian context enabling a comparison and determination of the real drivers and relationships that exist between several groups – the indigenous community, and selected sectors of the non-indigenous population. It will therefore cut across several disciplines including property economics, town planning, engineering and medicine.
The execution of arbitrary procedures by children with autism

Executive tasks typically contain a prepotent lure. In addition, they require individuals either to (a) follow arbitrary procedures or (b) update their model of the physical world. Recent research suggests that children with autism may be challenged only by executive tasks of the former kind (containing arbitrary rules). We asked whether this continues to be true when there is no prepotent lure, comparing performance on (a) a task with arbitrariness but without prepotency with (b) a task with both features and (c) a task with neither. The participants with autism performed at a lower level than comparison groups on the first and second task but not on the third task. This outcome is consistent with the view that autism is associated with difficulties in following arbitrary procedures per se. We try to locate difficulties with acting on the basis arbitrary rules in relation to more mainstream ideas about autistic executive dysfunction.
Pharmacokinetics of Continuous‐Infusion Meropenem in a Pediatric Patient Receiving Extracorporeal Life Support

Meropenem, a broad‐spectrum carbapenem, is commonly used for empirical and definitive therapy in the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU). Pharmacokinetic data to guide dosing in children, however, are limited to healthy volunteers or patients who are not in the ICU. Adult data demonstrate that pharmacokinetic parameters such as the volume of distribution and clearance can be significantly altered in individuals receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Alterations in the volume of distribution and clearance of antimicrobials in patients with sepsis and septic shock have also been documented, and these patients have demonstrated lower than expected antimicrobial serum concentrations based on standard dosing regimens. Therefore, an understanding of the pharmacokinetic changes in critically ill children receiving ECMO is crucial to determining the most appropriate dose and dosing interval selection for any antimicrobial therapy. In this case report, we describe the pharmacokinetics of a continuous infusion of meropenem in a pediatric cardiac ICU patient who was receiving concurrent extracorporeal life support. The patient was an 8‐month‐old male infant who underwent a Glenn procedure and pulmonary artery reconstruction. Postoperatively, he required ECMO with a total run of 21 days. On day 11 of ECMO, a bronchoalveolar lavage was performed, and blood cultures from days 11 and 12 of ECMO grew Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with a meropenem minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.5 μg/ml. On ECMO day 13, meropenem was initiated with a loading dose of 40 mg/kg and infused over 30 minutes, followed by a continuous infusion of 200 mg/kg/day. A meropenem serum concentration measured 8 hours after the start of the infusion was 46 μg/ml. Repeat levels were measured on days 3 and 9 of meropenem therapy and were 39 and 42 μg/ml, respectively. Repeat blood and respiratory cultures remained negative. This meropenem regimen (40‐mg/kg bolus followed by a continuous infusion of 200 mg/kg/day) was successful in providing a target attainment of 100% for serum and lung concentrations above the MIC for at least 40% of the dosing interval and was associated with a successful clinical outcome.
The Influence of Feeding Regimen on the Composition of the Fat Pads in the Bovine Digital Cushion

The effect of an intensive/extensive feeding regimen on lipid content and fatty acid composition of the bovine digital cushion was investigated in 32 beef cattle of both genders, divided in 2 groups (16 per intensive/extensive feeding). The beef cattle were calves of different suckler cow husbandries. After the separation from their mothers at the age of 10 months, they were differently fed for 5 months. The animals were slaughtered at the age of 15 months with a mean body weight of 450 kg. The macroscopic claw examination of all beef cattle was made at two defined claws at the beginning of the trial and after slaughter. For applicatory reasons, the fat pads of the claws could only be prepared after slaughter. Samples from fat pads at defined locations of the digital cushion were analysed for lipid content and fatty acid composition determination. Additionally, samples from the digital cushions and few samples of subcutaneous tissue of 9 dairy cows served as comparison. These slaughterhouse cows were mainly fed with hay and grass; further data however were not available. The digital fat pads and the subcutaneous fat of both groups showed obvious differences in the fat content and the fatty acid composition. The fat pads of the intensive fed animals contained fewer lipids and more omega-6-fatty acids. The extensive fed animals had distinctly more omega-3-fatty acids. In the subcutaneous fat of the intensive fed animals, more omega-6-fatty could be found and more omega-3-fatty acids in the extensive fed animals. These results indicate that the feeding can influence the lipid content and the fatty acid composition. The macroscopic hoof horn quality grade of the intensive fed group was better than the extensive fed group. The digital pads of the dairy cows contained more lipids, more monounsaturated fatty acids and less omega-6-fatty acids.
Agglomeration and firm-level productivity: A Bayesian spatial approach

This paper estimates the impact of industrial agglomeration on firm-level productivity in Chinese manufacturing sectors. To account for spatial autocorrelation across regions, we formulate a hierarchical spatial model at the firm level and develop a Bayesian estimation algorithm. A Bayesian instrumental-variables approach is used to address endogeneity bias of agglomeration. Robust to these potential biases, we find that agglomeration of the same industry (i.e. localization) has a productivity-boosting effect, but agglomeration of urban population (i.e. urbanization) has no such effects. Additionally, the localization effects increase with educational levels of employees and the share of intermediate inputs in gross output. These results may suggest that agglomeration externalities occur through knowledge spillovers and input sharing among firms producing similar manufactures.
Performance and Control of International Non- Profit Organizations

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to investigate the performance and control practices of an International Non-Profit Organization (INPO). This paper therefore aims to increase the awareness of the importance and relevance of INPOs. Design/methodology/approach – The research adopts an exploratory approach in the form of a single case study. Document analysis, convergent interviews and observations are employed as data collection methods. Document analysis provides insight into the management perspective on performance and identifies how control is designed. Interviews were undertaken to identify the perspectives of staff and donors about performance and control practices. Observational data was used to corroborate the findings. Findings – This research demonstrates that INPO performance needs to be determined for each INPO individually, due to the different perspectives of INPO stakeholders and performance dimensions, which are partially linked to the organization’s cause. In regards to management control, this study describes the appropriate combination of different formal and informal control mechanisms which is a strong indicator for increased INPO performance that can balance out the availability of suitable systems. The research revealed the optimum framework for the investigated INPO; however, future research needs to explore whether this combination is appropriate for other INPOs as well. Originality/value – Due to the dependence on multiple stakeholder groups, this research proposes a multi-dimensional framework, derived from the extant literature. The study further addresses the topic performance by identifying different forms of control aimed at improving the performance of an INPO and their interrelationships. The ultimate value of this study is to assist INPOs with becoming more successful.
Cash conversion cycle in smes

This paper examines the determinats of Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) for small and medium-sized firms. It is found that these firms have a target CCC level to which they attempt to converge, and they try to adjust to their target level quickly. The results also show that this level is higher for older firms and companies with greater cash flows. In contrast with this, firms with more growth opportunities, and firms with higher leverage, investment in fixed assets and return on assets have lower CCC levels.