Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Verbal memory in left temporal lobe epilepsy: Evidence for task‐related localization

We explored the hypothesis that components of verbal memory are subserved by separate temporal lobe structures in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Uptake of 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) measured by positron emission tomography, hippocampal volume, and memory for arbitrarily and semantically related verbal paired associates were examined in 27 patients with left temporary lobe epilepsy. Scores from memory tests performed outside the scanner were regressed against normalized resting FDG uptake at each voxel. Significant regression was seen in the left perirhinal cortex (Talaraich coordinates x, y, z: −29, 10, −34; p < 0.05) for arbitrarily related word pairs. For semantically related paired associates, significant regression was present in the left inferior temporal gyrus (x, y, z: −48, −18, −24; p < 0.05). In subsequent analyses, mean FDG uptake within a spherical region of interest centered on the perirhinal peak predicted performance on both tasks. Mean FDG uptake in a region of interest centered on the inferior temporal peak made an additional, independent contribution to memory for semantically related pairs. Hippocampal volumes did not explain any additional variance in memory scores. Our findings indicate that heterogeneity in the left temporal lobe structures mediating verbal memory function, and support the view that the perirhinal cortex is an important mnemonic substrate.
Resource dependence or monitoring: a governance perspective on political connections

ABSTRACT This paper empirically investigates the resource versus monitoring roles of independent directors with political connections using a sample of privately controlled firms listed on the Chinese stock markets during the 2003–2013 period. We examine how political connections affect firms’ financing decisions and discount rate. Our results show that having politically connected independent directors facilitates firms’ access to external debt financing, indicating a broader resource base. However, having politically connected independent directors does not help connected firms reduce the cost of capital, probably because these directors are unable to perform their monitoring role effectively. The above results are robust to various model specifications and are more pronounced when we consider the appointment of politicians as independent directors instead of non-independent directors.
Gemfibrozil Concentrations Are Significantly Decreased in the Presence of Lopinavir-Ritonavir

Objective:The objective of this study was to determine the influence of a 2-week course of lopinavir-ritonavir on the pharmacokinetics of the triglyceride-lowering agent, gemfibrozil. Methods:The study was conducted as an open label, single-sequence pharmacokinetic study in healthy human volunteers. Gemfibrozil pharmacokinetic parameter values were compared using a Student t test after a single 600-mg dose was administered to healthy volunteers before and after 2 weeks of lopinavir-ritonavir (400/100 mg) twice daily. Results:Fifteen healthy volunteers (eight males) completed the study. All study drugs were generally well tolerated and no subjects withdrew participation. The geometric mean ratio (90% confidence interval) for gemfibrozil area under the plasma concentration-time curve after 14 days of lopinavir-ritonavir compared with baseline was 0.59 (0.52, 0.67) (P < 0.001). All 15 study subjects experienced a reduction in gemfibrozil area under the plasma concentration-time curve after lopinavir-ritonavir (range, -6% to -74%). The geometric mean ratios for gemfibrozil apparent oral clearance and maximum concentration were 1.69 (1.41, 1.97) and 0.67 (0.49, 0.86) after 14 days of lopinavir-ritonavir versus baseline, respectively (P < 0.0001 and 0.01, respectively). Gemfibrozil elimination half-life did not change after lopinavir-ritonavir administration (P = 0.60). Conclusion:Lopinavir-ritonavir significantly reduced the systemic exposure of gemfibrozil by reducing gemfibrozil absorption. Clinicians treating HIV-infected patients with hypertriglyceridemia should be aware of this drug interaction.
A multi-method assessment of bone maintenance and loss in an Imperial Roman population: Implications for future studies of age-related bone loss in the past.

OBJECTIVES One of the hallmarks of contemporary osteoporosis and bone loss is dramatically higher prevalence of loss and fragility in females post-menopause. In contrast, bioarchaeological studies of bone loss have found a greater diversity of age- and sex-related patterns of bone loss in past populations. We argue that the differing findings may relate to the fact that most studies use only a single methodology to quantify bone loss and do not account for the heterogeneity and complexity of bone maintenance across the skeleton and over the life course. METHODS We test the hypothesis that bone mass and maintenance in trabecular bone sites versus cortical bone sites will show differing patterns of age-related bone loss, with cortical bone sites showing sex difference in bone loss that are similar to contemporary Western populations, and trabecular bone loss at earlier ages. We investigated this hypothesis in the Imperial Roman population of Velia using three methods: radiogrammetry of the second metacarpal (N = 71), bone histology of ribs (N = 70), and computerized tomography of trabecular bone architecture (N = 47). All three methods were used to explore sex and age differences in patterns of bone loss. RESULTS The suite of methods utilized reveal differences in the timing of bone loss with age, but all methods found no statistically significant differences in age-related bone loss. DISCUSSION We argue that a multi-method approach reduces the influence of confounding factors by building a reconstruction of bone turnover over the life cycle that a limited single-method project cannot provide. The implications of using multiple methods beyond studies of bone loss are also discussed.
Agreement of Tracing and Direct Viewing Techniques for Cervical Vertebral Maturation Assessment.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate agreement among three methods for cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) assessment, comprising direct viewing, tracing only, and tracing with digitized points. MATERIAL AND METHOD Two examiners received training and tests of reliability with each CVM method before evaluation of agreement among methods. The subjects were 96 female-cleft lateral cephalometric radiographs (films of eight subjects for each age ranged from seven to 18 years). The examiners interpreted CVM stages of the subjects with four-week interval between uses of each method. RESULTS The range of weighted kappa values for paired comparisons among the three methods were: 0.96-0.98 for direct viewing and tracing only comparison; 0.93-0.94 for direct viewing and tracing with digitized points comparison; and 0.96-0.97 for tracing only and tracing with digitized points comparison. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) value among the three methods was 0.95. These results indicated very good agreement among methods. CONCLUSION Use of direct viewing is suitable for CVM assessment without spending more time for tracing. However, the three methods might be used interchangeably.
Endothelin Receptor Blockade Ameliorates Vascular Fragility in Endothelial Cell–Specific Fli‐1–Knockout Mice by Increasing Fli‐1 DNA Binding Ability

It is generally accepted that blockade of endothelin receptors has potentially beneficial effects on vasculopathy associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The aim of this study was to clarify the molecular mechanism underlying these effects using endothelial cell–specific Fli‐1–knockout (Fli‐1 ECKO) mice, an animal model of SSc vasculopathy.
Mitigation of the haemolytic effect of primaquine and enhancement of its action against exoerythrocytic forms of the Chesson strain of Piasmodium vivax by intermittent regimens of drug administration: a preliminary report.

Primaquine-an 8-aminoquinoline derivative-is one of the most effective drugs for use against the tissue stages of the malaria parasite. Unfortunately certain persons suffer from an inherited defect of metabolism which renders them susceptible to haemolysis after ingestion of the 8-aminoquinolines, certain other drugs and some vegetables. Susceptibility appears to be inherited by a partially dominant sex-linked gene of variable expression. In persons with full expression of this defect, intravascular haemolysis may be of such severity as to mimic blackwater fever.It has been shown that the haemolysis caused by daily doses of primaquine is self-limited, provided that such doses are not excessive, by virtue of the fact that the younger erythrocytes are relatively resistant to destruction by the drug.Therapeutic studies reported in the present paper indicate that the toxicity is markedly diminished by regimens requiring administration in weekly doses (together with the standard suppressive dose of chloroquine or one of its congeners) while its therapeutic effectiveness in the radical cure of Chesson vivax malaria is increased.A weekly dose of 45 mg primaquine proved highly effective against severe Chesson vivax infections when administered for eight weeks. It cured 90% of infections, yet did not produce clinically demonstrable haemolysis in primaquine-sensitive adult males with major expression of the haemolytic trait.
Assessment of fetal atrioventricular time intervals by tissue Doppler and pulse Doppler echocardiography: normal values and correlation with fetal electrocardiography

Objective: To establish gestational age-specific reference values of normal fetal atrioventricular (AV) time interval by spectral tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and pulse-wave Doppler (PD) methods, and to assess their correlation with signal-averaged fetal PR intervals (ECG). Design: Cohort study. Setting: Tertiary centre for fetal cardiology. Patients and measures: 131 pregnant women between 14 and 42 weeks’ gestation underwent 196 fetal echocardiograms and 158 fetal ECG studies. TDI-derived AV intervals were measured as the intervals from atrial contraction (Aa) to isovolumic contraction (IV) and from Aa to ventricular systole (Sa) at the right ventricular free wall. PD-derived AV intervals were measured from simultaneous left ventricular inflow/outflow (in/out) and superior vena cava/aorta (V/AO) recordings. Results: Measurements were possible by ECG in 61%, by TDI in 100%, by in/out in 100% and by V/AO in 97% of examinations. Aa-IV correlated significantly better with PR intervals (y = 0.67x + 38.29, R2 = 0.15, p < 0.0001, mean bias 8.0 ms) than did in/out (R2 = 0.10, p = 0.002, bias 18.7 ms) and V/AO (R2 = 0.06, p = 0.02, bias 12.4 ms). Gestational age and AV intervals were positively correlated with all imaging modalities (R2 = 0.19–0.31, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: This study showed the feasibility of fetal AV interval measurements by TDI, and established gestational age-specific reference data. TDI-derived Aa-IV intervals track ECG PR intervals more closely than PD-derived AV intervals and thus should be used as the ultrasound method of choice in assessing fetal AV conduction.
Smell and taste of chewing gum affect frequency domain EEG source localizations.

We investigated brain electric field signatures of subjective feelings after chewing regular gum or gum base without flavor. 19-channel eyes-closed EEG from 20 healthy males before and after 5 minutes of chewing the two gum types in random sequence was source modeled in the frequency domain using the FFT-Dipole-Approximation. 3-dimensional brain locations and strengths (Global Field Power, GFP) of the equivalent sources of five frequency bands were computed as changes from pre-chewing baseline. Gum types differed (ANOVA) in pre-post changes of source locations for the alpha-2 band (to anterior and right after regular gum, opposite after gum base) and beta-2 band (to anterior and inferior after regular gum, opposite after gum base), and of GFP for delta-theta, alpha-2 and beta-1 (regular gum: increase. gum base: decrease). Subjective feeling changed to more positive values after regular gum than gum base (ANOVA). --Thus, chewing gum with and without taste-smell activates different brain neuronal populations.
Perspective: Transformative Learning: A Framework Using Critical Reflection to Link the Improvement Competencies in Graduate Medical Education

Quality improvement (QI) in health care involves activities ranging from enhancing personal practice to reforming the larger health care system. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education recognizes this broad definition of QI in its requirement that physicians-in-training demonstrate competence in practice-based learning and improvement (PBLI) and systems-based practice (SBP). Creative metaphors have been used to teach the PBLI and SBP competencies, but conceptual frameworks describing the relationship between these competencies are needed. Transformative learning is an adult education theory that states individuals must critically reflect on life events in order to change their beliefs or behaviors. The authors propose that critical reflection during transformative learning can conceptually link PBLI and SBP. Reflection on personal experience with suboptimal patient care leads to recognizing personal or system limitations. Addressing personal limitations improves individual practice (PBLI), whereas applying QI methodologies leads to large-scale improvements (SBP). Educators who adopt the transformative learning framework should be able to design meaningful QI curricula that encourage residents to be reflective and empower them with QI skills.
An Analysis of Codified Corporate Governance Practices in the Banking Industry: The Case Study of Bangladesh

Abstract Introducing a well-designed system of corporate governance is considered an effective tool to ensure the stability and resilience of a banking system. It was in 2006 when Bangladesh initiated its first corporate governance code (CG code). Despite trying to meet the code of enhancing the internal monitoring mechanisms and transparency in governance, it is apparent that the quality in bank credit portfolios continuously deteriorated. This paper aims to empirically analyze the impact of adopting the CG code on performance for eight years (2010–2017) of 21 major commercial banks of Bangladesh. In this case study, we suggest that the CG code may have given the Bangladeshi commercial banks an ill-incentive for the reduction of executive directors under the pressure of meeting a guideline to increase the ratio of independent directors. This incentive structure had a negative impact on bank performance during the period. Another finding is that the fundamental structure of ownership and control by sponsor directors remained unchanged during the period. This structure of maintaining the control of power by a group with its vested interest may have hindered the effectiveness of the CG code in Bangladesh. We suggest that the agenda of CG practices should go together with a policy for mitigating a potential bias under the ownership concentration because any attempt of adopting codified CG practices would be futile under the fundamental structure in Bangladesh.
To lead and to be led in municipal elderly care in Sweden as perceived by registered nurses.

AIM To describe registered nurses' (RNs) perceptions of their own leadership and of their immediate line management, as well as leadership's organizational prerequisites in municipal elderly care. BACKGROUND Nursing leadership is a main factor influencing care quality. In spite of this, there is a leadership crisis in municipal elderly care. METHOD A descriptive design utilizing a questionnaire. The setting was 60 residential care homes in Sweden with 213 participating nurses. The response rate was 62%. RESULTS Most nurses (59%) viewed themselves as leaders of a smaller group, whereas 28% did not consider themselves as leaders at all. Few nurses had the will to develop their leadership competence. In all, 25% of the nurses had unresolved serious conflicts with their immediate line management. Half perceived receiving no or little feedback from their immediate line management. A majority had no organized supervision. They perceived, on average, organizational prerequisites as unclear, with few possibilities for leadership competence development. CONCLUSIONS Nurses need to be more willing to develop their leadership skills. Nurses need managers to support them in their leadership roles. They need distinct and supportive organizational prerequisites for leadership. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT It is crucial to provide distinct and supportive organizational prerequisites for nursing leadership.
The effects of psychotherapy for adult depression are overestimated: a meta-analysis of study quality and effect size

Background No meta-analytical study has examined whether the quality of the studies examining psychotherapy for adult depression is associated with the effect sizes found. This study assesses this association. Method We used a database of 115 randomized controlled trials in which 178 psychotherapies for adult depression were compared to a control condition. Eight quality criteria were assessed by two independent coders: participants met diagnostic criteria for a depressive disorder, a treatment manual was used, the therapists were trained, treatment integrity was checked, intention-to-treat analyses were used, N⩾50, randomization was conducted by an independent party, and assessors of outcome were blinded. Results Only 11 studies (16 comparisons) met the eight quality criteria. The standardized mean effect size found for the high-quality studies (d=0.22) was significantly smaller than in the other studies (d=0.74, p<0.001), even after restricting the sample to the subset of other studies that used the kind of care-as-usual or non-specific controls that tended to be used in the high-quality studies. Heterogeneity was zero in the group of high-quality studies. The numbers needed to be treated in the high-quality studies was 8, while it was 2 in the lower-quality studies. Conclusions We found strong evidence that the effects of psychotherapy for adult depression have been overestimated in meta-analytical studies. Although the effects of psychotherapy are significant, they are much smaller than was assumed until now, even after controlling for the type of control condition used.
Cost and schedule overruns in large hydropower dams: an assessment of projects completed since 2000

ABSTRACT This paper presents novel data on cost and schedule overruns in recent dam projects started and completed since 2000 and compares them with pre-existing data sets on projects started before 2000. Combining these data, a meta-data set was created of 184 cost overrun and 191 time overrun data points. For post-2000 projects, the average cost overrun was 33% and schedule overrun was 18% as compared with 46% and 37% respectively for pre-2000 projects. While a decrease in the averages was observed, the change in cost overruns is not statistically significant, whereas the change in time overruns is significant.
Serotonin transporter and tryptophan hydroxylase gene polymorphisms in Chinese patients with generalized anxiety disorder

Background The serotonin transporter (5-HTT) and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) gene are important candidate genes for the psychiatric disorders. Many studies of patients with anxiety disorders have found abnormalities of serotonin metabolism and dysfunction of regulation in the transporter itself. In this study, we hypothesize that genetic variation in the 5-HTT and TPH gene may have an effect on the etiology of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Methods Using a polymerase chain reaction-based technique, the allele and genotype frequencies of three polymorphisms in the serotonin transporter gene (a deletion/insertion polymorphism in the transcriptional control region and a variable number of tandem repeats in intron 2) and TPH gene (A218C in intron 7) were analyzed in 138 patients with GAD and 90 healthy controls. These two groups were matched for ethnic and geographic origin. Results The frequencies of 5-HTT gene-linked functional polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) SS (short/short) genotype were significantly higher in GAD patients than in control subjects (68% versus 49%, χ2=12.274, df=2, P=0.002), and the frequencies of S (short) allele observed in the GAD patients were higher than those in healthy subjects (79 versus 71%, χ2=4.063, df=1, P=0.044). The odds ratio for the SS genotype versus the other two genotypes was 2.33 (95% confidence interval, 1.29–3.86). Similarly, the odds ratio for the S allele versus L allele was 1.56 (95% confidence interval, 1.01–2.41). The genotypic and allelic distribution of 5-HTT VNTR and TPH A218C polymorphisms did not show statistically significant differences between patients and controls. Conclusion Our findings support that the presence of 5-HTTLPR–SS genotype may increase the risk of GAD.
In Vivo Pharmacodynamic Activity of Tomopenem (formerly CS-023) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Murine Thigh Infection Model

ABSTRACT Tomopenem (formerly CS-023) is a novel carbapenem with broad-spectrum activities against diverse hospital pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). We examined the in vivo pharmacodynamic characteristics of tomopenem against P. aeruginosa and MRSA by using a neutropenic murine thigh infection model with P. aeruginosa 12467 (MIC, 1 μg/ml) and MRSA 12372 (MIC, 2 μg/ml). The mice had 106 to 107 CFU/thigh of each strain 2 h after inoculation and were treated for 24 h with a fractionated administration of tomopenem given at intervals of 3, 6, 12, and 24 h. The serum protein binding of tomopenem was 17.4%. The efficacy of tomopenem in both infection models was enhanced by frequent dosing, which indicates that the efficacy is driven by the time above MIC (TMIC). In a sigmoid model, the cumulative percentages of the 24-h period that the concentrations of free, unbound fractions of the drug exceeded the MIC under steady-state pharmacokinetic conditions (f%TMICs) were best correlated with efficacy when R2 was 0.79 and 0.86 against P. aeruginosa and MRSA, respectively. Other pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) indexes for the free, unbound fractions, the area under the concentration-time curve over 24 h in the steady state divided by the MIC (AUC/MIC) and the maximum concentration of the drug in serum divided by the MIC (Cmax/MIC), showed poor correlation with efficacy when R2 was ≤0.42. The f%TMIC values required for a static effect, 1-log kill, and 2-log kill against P. aeruginosa were 29, 39, and 51, respectively, which were similar to those for meropenem, for which the values were 24, 33, and 45, respectively. Against MRSA, the values for tomopenem were 27, 35, and 47. In conclusion, the pharmacodynamic characteristics of tomopenem were similar to those of meropenem against P. aeruginosa, and there was no difference between the target values for P. aeruginosa and MRSA required for efficacy in this study.