Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anatomical Society core regional anatomy syllabus for undergraduate medicine: the Delphi process

A modified Delphi method was employed to seek consensus when revising the UK and Ireland's core syllabus for regional anatomy in undergraduate medicine. A Delphi panel was constructed involving ‘expert’ (individuals with at least 5 years’ experience in teaching medical students anatomy at the level required for graduation). The panel (n = 39) was selected and nominated by members of Council and/or the Education Committee of the Anatomical Society and included a range of specialists including surgeons, radiologists and anatomists. The experts were asked in two stages to ‘accept’, ‘reject’ or ‘modify’ (first stage only) each learning outcome. A third stage, which was not part of the Delphi method, then allowed the original authors of the syllabus to make changes either to correct any anatomical errors or to make minor syntax changes. From the original syllabus of 182 learning outcomes, removing the neuroanatomy component (163), 23 learning outcomes (15%) remained unchanged, seven learning outcomes were removed and two new learning outcomes added. The remaining 133 learning outcomes were modified. All learning outcomes on the new core syllabus achieved over 90% acceptance by the panel.
Helicobacter pylori eradication may induce de novo, but transient and mild, reflux esophagitis: Prospective endoscopic evaluation

Backgrounds and Aim: The effect on reflux esophagitis of eradicating Helicobacter pylori is variable and not fully defined. We previously reported that in patients who have reflux esophagitis associated with duodenal ulcer, a significant improvement in the pre‐existing reflux esophagitis occurred after H. pylori was eradicated. In the present study, we asked whether H. pylori eradication leads to de novo development of reflux esophagitis in peptic ulcer patients.
Significance of wall thickness in solitary cavities of the lung: a follow-up study.

In the differential diagnosis of solitary cavities of the lung, the major concern is the differentiation of a cavitated malignancy from an abscess or other benign disorder. Because of wide variations, many authors believe that differentiation by wall thickness is unreliable, if not impossible [1 -4]. In a recent retrospective study [5], we indicated that wall thickness of a solitary cavity could be indicative of the benignancy or malignancy of the cavitary lesion (fig. 1). To verify the results of this initial study, we undertook a prospective analysis of 61 additional patients with solitary cavities of the lung.
Erectile dysfunction among hypertensive men in a rapidly developing country

Background: Previous studies have supported the association between hypertension and erectile dysfunction (ED). In addition, a significant correlation between hypertension in men and ED has been well established. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of ED, its severity and other sexual function domains in hypertensive patients in Qatar. Design and Setting: Cross-sectional study conducted between January and December 2006 at the Hamad General Hospital. Subjects: Qatari and nonQatari nationals 25 to 75 years of age were approached to participate in this study, 642 (75.5%) gave their consent. Materials and Methods: Qatari and nonQatari men aged 25 to 75 years who gave consent were interviewed face-to-face. Sexual function was evaluated with the International index of erectile function. Results: A total of 642 (75.5%) men responded, mean age of subjects was 57.1 ± 11.9 years. The prevalence of ED in hypertensive patients was 58.3%. 21.2% of hypertensive men reported severe ED, 20.7% moderate ED and 16.4% mild ED. The comorbidities and risk factors were significantly more prominent in ED patients than in those with normal ED for hypercholesterolemia (P=0.009), diabetes (P=0.022) for hypertriglyceridemia (P=0.033) and myocardial ischemia (P=0.042). Conclusions: Our results have shown a greater prevalence of ED in the hypertensive men in the population of Qatar. The presence of another risk factor in addition to elevated blood pressure can increase the likelihood of ED.
A Cooperative Species: Human Reciprocity and Its Evolution

However, the lack of being up-to-date is easily outweighed by the depth of the referenced material and the thoroughness of its treatment. Despite his critique, Dunn is careful not simply to dismiss the explanatory value of orthodox economic accounts. Instead, he recognizes the distinct but complementary ways in which different authors have studied the relationship between firms and employees. In addition to Dunn’s key influences, Herbert Simon and Harvey Leibenstein, and his discussion of the new institutional economics literature, the book draws extensively upon sociological, political and psychological research. As present debates about the inner workings of the firm continue to be strongly shaped by the issues addressed in Dunn’s book, Inside the Capitalist Firm provides an indispensable background for future research.
A Case Follow-Up Report: Possible Health Benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

In the course of a case study, a number of issues regarding the dynamics of blood cholesterol levels were identified. In this follow-up report, these issues are addressed. For example, issues of past behaviour and seasonality, intraindividual variation, and nonstationarity appear important over and above controllable variables such as diet and exercise. In this report, we conceptualise an alternative protective role for the dynamic blood cholesterol levels in a healthy population. Furthermore, regular consumption of extra virgin olive oil as produced in this case study may interact with the dynamics of cholesterol naturally. We recommend that future studies of this kind ought to include a time series of blood cholesterol based on daily measurements or intervals much shorter than the bimonthly measurements and to include measures of overall well being as covariates.
Analysis of Sub-Band Allocation in Multi-Service Cognitive Radio Access Networks

This letter addresses the sub-band allocation problem in dynamic spectrum access (DSA) scheme in a multi-service cognitive radio network (CRN) built over a multi-service primary network (PRN). Both access networks support connection-level and packet-level services, where the Poisson process and the Markov modulated Poisson process are used to describe the connection-level and packet-level services, respectively. By means of a multi-dimensional continuous-time Markov chain model, the DSA scheme is assessed under various traffic load profiles. Numerical results show that the connection-level secondary users's quality of service may be significantly deteriorated by the packet-level primary user service.
A New Sulfur-Reducing, Extremely Thermophilic Eubacterium from a Submarine Thermal Vent

A newly described bacterial isolate, designated strain NS-E, differs from presently known extremely thermophilic bacteria in various characteristics. It is a strictly heterotrophic eubacterium of marine origin and has a temperature range for growth of 50 to 95°C with an optimum at 77°C and a pH of 7.5. Its DNA base composition is 41.3 mol% guanine + cytosine. It is obligately anaerobic, utilizes various sugars as well as yeast extract, and reduces elemental sulfur facultatively to hydrogen sulfide. In 24-h cultures cell densities are up to fourfold higher in the presence than in the absence of elemental sulfur. Sulfide concentrations of 1.0 and 10.0 mM limit growth by 65 and 95%, respectively. Oxygen sensitivity is apparent only at or above that range of temperature at which growth occurs.
Morphometrical comparison of human spermatozoa obtained from semen and swim‐up methodology

Summary. Because morphology is regularly established in semen smears, but not in swim‐up spermatozoa, we were interested in comparing some morphological parameters of semen and swim‐up spermatozoa to establish if the cells selected by the swim‐up method were morphologically similar to those considered normal in semen. Normal human semen samples were divided into two aliquots. One of these aliquots was washed by centrifugation with B2 medium and sperm smears were prepared with the resulting pellet as a control. The other aliquot was used to perform swim‐up separation and the spermatozoa from the supernatant were used as experimental smears. Both groups were stained according to the triple stain technique and spontaneous acrosome reaction and viability were determined. Video microscopy and computer‐assisted image processing of live and non‐reacted sperm cells were used to establish morphometrical parameters of the sperm head in both populations. The following set of morphometrical parameters were considered: width, length, width/length ratio, acrosome area, head area, and acrosome area/head area ratio. An increase in head width, a decrease in head length and a subsequent increase of width/length ratio were found in swim‐up cells compared with the control group. A slight increase in acrosome area/head area ratio was also observed in swim‐up spermatozoa. Through the swim‐up methodology we were able to select a subpopulation of oval shaped heads with spermatozoa having a bigger acrosome area in comparison to semen.
Queuing Analysis Based PEV Load Modeling Considering Battery Charging Behavior and Their Impact on Distribution System Operation

This paper presents a queuing analysis-based method for modeling the 24-h charging load profile of a plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) charging station. The queuing model considers the arrival of PEVs as a non-homogeneous Poisson process with different arrival rates over the day. The first PEV charging load profile assumes customer convenience as the factor that influences the hourly arrival rate of vehicles at the station, while the second profile is developed assuming that customers would respond to PEV charging prices and arrival rates are accordingly affected. One of the main contributions of this paper is to model the PEV service time considering different factors such as the state-of-charge of the vehicle battery, as well as the effect of the battery charging behavior. The impact of PEV load models on distribution systems is studied for a deterministic case, and the impact of uncertainties is examined and compared using the stochastic optimal power flow and the model predictive control approaches.
Diminishing Returns of Population Size in the Rate of RNA Virus Adaptation

ABSTRACT Whenever an asexual viral population evolves by adapting to new environmental conditions, beneficial mutations, the ultimate cause of adaptation, are randomly produced and then fixed in the population. The larger the population size and the higher the mutation rate, the more beneficial mutations can be produced per unit time. With the usually high mutation rate of RNA viruses and in a large enough population, several beneficial mutations could arise at the same time but in different genetic backgrounds, and if the virus is asexual, they will never be brought together through recombination. Thus, the best of these genotypes must outcompete each other on their way to fixation. This competition among beneficial mutations has the effect of slowing the overall rate of adaptation. This phenomenon is known as clonal interference. Clonal interference predicts a speed limit for adaptation as the population size increases. In the present report, by varying the size of evolving vesicular stomatitis virus populations, we found evidence clearly demonstrating this speed limit and thus indicating that clonal interference might be an important factor modulating the rate of adaptation to an in vitro cell system. Several evolutionary and epidemiological implications of the clonal interference model applied to RNA viruses are discussed.
Presence of CD4+CD8+ double-positive T cells with very high interleukin-4 production potential in lesional skin of patients with systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE Fibrotic skin changes in systemic sclerosis (SSc) are preceded by the appearance of an inflammatory infiltrate rich in T cells. Since no direct comparison with T cells in normal skin has been performed previously, this study was undertaken to functionally characterize T cells in the skin of patients with early active SSc and in normal skin. METHODS We characterized coreceptor expression, T cell receptor (TCR) usage, cytokine production, and helper and cytolytic activity of T cell lines and clones established from skin biopsy specimens from 6 SSc patients and 4 healthy individuals. Immunofluorescence analysis of skin biopsy and peripheral blood samples was performed to confirm the presence of specific subsets in vivo. RESULTS A distinct subset expressing both CD4 and CD8alpha/beta coreceptors at high levels (double-positive [DP]) was present in T cell lines from SSc and normal skin. DP T cells actively transcribed both accessory molecules, exerted clonally distributed cytolytic and helper activity, and expressed TCR clonotypes distinct from those in CD4+ or CD8+ single-positive (SP) T cells. In SSc skin, DP T cells produced very high levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) compared with CD4+ SP T cells. Furthermore, DP T cells were directly identified in SSc skin, thus providing evidence that they are a distinct subset in vivo. CONCLUSION The present findings show that T cells with the unusual CD4+CD8+ DP phenotype are present in the skin. Their very high level of IL-4 production in early active SSc may contribute to enhanced extracellular matrix deposition by fibroblasts.
Neurotransmitter specificity of cells and fibers in the medial preoptic nucleus: An immunohistochentical study in the rat

The medial preoptic nucleus (MPN) is a sexually dimorphic complex with three major subdivisions. The cell‐dense central (MPNc) and medial (MPNm) subdivisions are larger in male rats, while the cell‐sparse lateral subdivision (MPNl) occupies a majority of the nucleus in females. In the present study we evaluated the distribution of possible monoaminergic and peptidergic cells and fibers within the MPN, as well as in adjacent regions of the medial preoptic area of the adult male rat. For this, we used an indirect immunohistochemical method with antisera to serotonin (5HT), dopamine β‐hydroxylase (DBH), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), neuropeptide Y (NPY), cholecystokinin (CCK), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), substance P (SP), neurotensin (NT), corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF), luteotropin‐releasing hormone (LRH), somatostatin (SS), thyrotropin‐releasing hormone (TRH), oxytocin (OXY), vasopressin (VAS), adrenocorticotropic hormone (1‐24; ACTH), alpha‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (c:‐MSH), leucine‐enkephalin (L‐ENK), and calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP).
Monetary Policy Rule: A Broad Monetary Conditions Index for Nigeria

To determine the relative importance of both the domestic and external influences on monetary policy formulation, this paper constructs a broad monetary conditions index for Nigeria. It brings together the three key channels of monetary transmission, namely interest rate, exchange rate and credit channels. The result gives dominance to exchange rate channel, followed by credit channel and interest rate channel. The resultant monetary conditions index traces fairly well the policy direction of the Central Bank of Nigeria for the studied period, hence can serve as an adequate gauge of monetary policy stance of the Bank.
Foreign Currency Debt Financing, Firm Value, and Risk: Evidence from Korea Surrounding the Global Financial Crisis

We examine the valuation effect of foreign currency (FC) debt financing, relative to local currency (LC) debt financing. Employing extensive data from Korean firms during 2002–2012, we document strong evidence that firms using FC debt financing have significantly lower values than firms using LC debt financing. Even during the pre-global financial crisis period when the LC value appreciated, we find no evidence of a higher firm value associated with FC debt financing. Further analyses on the possible causes of the negative association of FC debt and firm value reject the conjecture of higher firm risk resulting from the usage of FC debt but lend empirical support for the inefficiency in hedging by Korean firms. While the heavy usages of currency derivatives by Korean firms with FC debt financing lead to lower firm risk, such usages fail to generate higher firm values mainly due to their inefficient and improper hedging with currency derivatives. Our empirical results remain robust to different model and sample specifications.
Increased affective empathy in bipolar patients during a manic episode

Objective: To assess both cognitive and affective empathy in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) during an acute manic or depressive episode. Methods: The study included 25 patients with BD (aged 35±14 years) during an acute manic episode, 25 bipolar patients (aged 41±14 years) during a depressive episode, and 25 healthy control subjects (aged 36±11 years). Cognitive and affective empathy were assessed using the Multifaceted Empathy Test. Results: In both manic and depressive patients, a significant deficit in cognitive empathy was demonstrated. However, indices of affective empathy were significantly higher in the manic group than in depressed and control subjects. In the depressed patients, indices did not differ from those of healthy controls. For affective empathy, a significant positive correlation was found with intensity of manic symptoms and a negative correlation was found with intensity of depressive symptoms. No such correlations were observed with cognitive empathy. Conclusion: We found evidence of increased affective empathy (overempathizing) during a manic episode in bipolar patients. This phenomenon may be connected with disturbances in emotion inhibition related to anastrophic thinking and associated with increased activity of mirror neurons, all of which occur during a manic episode.
Broadband Dielectric Characterization of Sapphire/TiOx/Ba0.3Sr0.7TiO3 (111)-Oriented Thin Films for the Realization of a Tunable Interdigitated Capacitor

A complete microwave characterization up to 67 GHz using specific coplanar waveguides was performed to determine the dielectric properties (permittivity, losses, and tunability) of sapphire/TiOx/Ba0.3Sr0. 7TiO3 (BST) (111)-oriented thin films. To that end, BaxSr1-xTiO3 thin films were deposited by RF magnetron sputtering on sapphire (0001) substrate. To control the preferred (111) orientation, a TiOx buffer layer was deposited on sapphire. According to the detailed knowledge of the material properties, it has been possible to conceive, fabricate, and test interdigitated capacitors, the basic element for future microwave tunable applications. Retention of capacitive behavior up to 67 GHz and a tunability of 32% at 67 GHz at an applied voltage of 30 V (150 kV/cm) were observed. The Q-factor remains greater than 30 over the entire frequency band. The possibility of a complete characterization of the material for the realization of high-performance interdigitated capacitors opens the door to microwave device fabrication.
Neurological and Survival Outcomes After Surgical Management of Subaxial Cervical Spine Metastases

Study Design. A clinical retrospective study. Objective. To investigate the clinical outcomes of surgery for cervical spine metastasis and identify factors affecting survival and neurological result. Summary of Background Data. Metastatic disease in the cervical spine is known to be a poorer prognosis than in thoracic and lumbar regions. Few reports focused on cervical spine metastasis are available. Methods. A retrospective analysis of medical records and radiological data was performed on 46 patients who underwent surgical treatment due to cervical spine metastasis from 2000 to 2010. The incidence of cervical metastasis, overall survival, progression-free survival, and neurological and pain outcomes were analyzed. In addition, factors affecting survival, local recurrence, and neurological and pain outcomes among the 46 study subjects were analyzed. These factors included; age, sex, primary tumor growth rate, preoperative disease-progression status (expressed with Tomita score), irradiation, timing of irradiation, postoperative adjuvant therapy, time of diagnosis of spinal metastasis, cord compression or foraminal invasion on magnetic resonance image, preoperative neurological status, and preoperative pain level. Results. The incidence of cervical metastasis was 17.3%. Mean postoperative overall survival was 16.89 months, the recurrence rate was 39.1%, and mean progression free survival was 11.82 months. Factors related to prolonged survival were slow primary tumor growth, low Tomita score, irradiation of the lesion, and postoperative adjuvant therapy. Postoperative adjuvant therapy was also found to be effective for preventing recurrence. Patients with high preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association Score achieved better neurological outcomes. Foraminal invasion was found to be negatively correlated with postoperative pain outcome. Conclusion. Surgical management for subaxial cervical spinal metastasis was found to be effective in terms of neurological recovery and pain control. Furthermore, surgical treatment plus adjuvant therapy was found to achieve sufficient local control during postoperative follow-up.
Recent Developments in Fuzzy Sets Approach in Option Pricing

Recently there has been growing interest in fuzzy option pricing. Carlsson and Fuller [1] were the first to study the fuzzy real options and Thavaneswaran et al. [2] demonstrated the superiority of the fuzzy forecasts and then derived the membership function for the European call price by fuzzifying the interest rate, volatility and the initial value of the stock price. In this paper, we discuss recent developments in fuzzy option pricing based on Black-Scholes models. Fuzzy coefficient Black-Scholes partial differential equations (PDE) are derived. Membership function of the call price is given. The asset-or-nothing option by fuzzifying the maturity value of the stock price using adaptive fuzzy numbers is also discussed in some detail.
A multi-level perspective on the legitimacy of collaborative water governance in Québec

Collaborative governance entails a shift in emphasis from government control toward voluntary arrangements directly involving non-state stakeholders in decision-making. However, the sources of legitimacy for novel institutions such as collaborative water governance remain unclear. Three levels of decision-making that are highly relevant to understanding legitimacy in these contexts are identified and used to assess the legitimacy of collaborative water governance in Québec, Canada. Using Beetham’s dimensions of legitimacy – legality, justification and consent – the sources and deficits of legitimacy are identified through 35 in-person interviews with local stakeholders, watershed organization staff and provincial policy-makers. Findings illustrate the diverse sources of legitimacy, but also a disconnect between what constitutes legitimacy according to local stakeholders and the provincial government. Deficits in legitimacy include lack of implementation, misfit between collaborative governance and existing representative government, and lack of consent from the Québec government. However, although collaborative governance may not be appropriate for all contexts, it addresses important social needs that government cannot and therefore has high potential to complement the roles of existing institutions. Providing several novel insights, this multi-level perspective illustrates how legitimacy can be used to understand the challenges of complex sociological phenomena such as collaborative governance.