Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Capital Scarcity and Industrial Decline: Evidence from 172 Real Estate Booms in China

In geographically segmented credit markets, local real estate booms can divert capital away from manufacturing firms, create capital scarcity, increase local real interest rates, lower real wages, and cause underinvestment and relative decline in the industrial sector. Using exogenous variation in the administrative land supply across 172 Chinese cities, we show that the predicted variation in real estate prices does indeed cause substantially higher capital costs for manufactoring firms, reduce their bank lending, lower their capital intensity and labor productivity, weaken firms’ financial performance, and reduce their TFP growth by economically significant magnitudes. This evidence highlights macroeconomic stability concerns associated with real estate booms.
Perirhinal cortex input to the hippocampus in the rat: evidence for parallel pathways, both direct and indirect. A combined physiological and anatomical study

The possibility of a direct projection from the perirhinal cortex (PER) to areas CA1 and subiculum (SUB) in the hippocampus has been suggested on the basis of tracer studies, but this projection has not unequivocally been supported by physiological studies. The demonstration of such a functional pathway might be important to understand the functioning of the hippocampal memory system. Here we present physiological and further anatomical evidence for such a connection between PER and the hippocampus. Electrical stimulation of PER in vivo evoked field potentials (EFPs) at the border area of CA1/SUB, consisting of a short latency and a longer latency component. Current source density analysis revealed that the sink of the short latency component was situated in the molecular layer of area CA1/SUB, while the longer latency component had its sink in the outer molecular layer of the dentate gyrus (DG). Anterograde tracer injections in PER showed labelled fibres in the border area of CA1/SUB, but anatomical evidence for a projection of PER to DG was not found. When synaptic transmission in the entorhinal cortex was partly blocked, the amplitude of the longer latency component of the recorded EFPs in the hippocampus was decreased while the short latency component was not affected, which suggests that the indirect pathway originating in PER is mediated through a synaptic relay in the entorhinal cortex. From the present results we conclude that information originating in PER reaches area CA1/SUB by parallel, direct and indirect, routes. The existence of this parallel organization appears to form an essential feature for the proper function of the medial temporal lobe memory system.
Alteration of ethanol drinking in mice via modulation of the GABA(A) receptor with ganaxolone, finasteride, and gaboxadol.

BACKGROUND Neurosteroids and other γ-aminobutyric acid(A) (GABA(A) ) receptor-modulating compounds have been shown to affect ethanol intake, although their mechanism remains unclear. This study examined how patterns of 24-hour ethanol drinking in mice were altered with the synthetic GABAergic neurosteroid ganaxolone (GAN), with an inhibitor of neurosteroid synthesis (finasteride [FIN]), or a GABA(A) receptor agonist with some selectivity at extrasynaptic receptors (gaboxadol HCL [THIP]). METHODS Male C57BL/6J mice had continuous access to a 10% v/v ethanol solution (10E) or water. Using lickometer chambers, drinking patterns were analyzed among mice treated in succession to GAN (0, 5, and 10 mg/kg), FIN (0 or 100 mg/kg), and THIP (0, 2, 4, 8, and 16 mg/kg). RESULTS GAN shifted drinking in a similar but extended manner to previous reports using low doses of the neurosteroid allopregnanolone (ALLO); drinking was increased in hour 1, decreased in hours 2 and 3, and increased in hours 4 and 5 postinjection. THIP (8 mg/kg) and FIN both decreased 10E drinking during the first 5 hours postinjection by 30 and 53%, respectively, while having no effect on or increasing water drinking, respectively. All 3 drugs altered the initiation of drinking sessions in a dose-dependent fashion. FIN increased and GAN decreased time to first lick and first bout. THIP (8 mg/kg) decreased time to first lick but increased time to first bout and attenuated first bout size. CONCLUSIONS The present findings support a role for the modulation of ethanol intake by neurosteroids and GABA(A) receptor-acting compounds and provide hints as to how drinking patterns are shifted. The ability of THIP to alter 10E drinking suggests that extrasynaptic GABA(A) receptors may be involved in the modulation of ethanol intake. Further, the consistent results with THIP to that seen previously with high doses of ALLO suggest that future studies should further examine the relationship between neurosteroids and extrasynaptic GABA(A) receptors, which could provide a better understanding of the mechanism by which neurosteroids influence ethanol intake.
Topology‐dependent transcription in linear and circular plasmids of the segmented genome of Borrelia burgdorferi

The segmented genome of Borrelia burgdorferi, a causative agent of Lyme disease, contains a mixture of over 20 linear and circular plasmids. Genes encoding five paralogous families of plasmid replication proteins are located on both circular and linear DNA molecules. The effect of DNA topology on the transcription of replication proteins from two B. burgdorferi plasmids, cp9 and lp17, was examined using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Circular to linear conversion of a cp9‐derived plasmid resulted in a 160‐fold decrease in transcript levels of bbc01, believed to encode the replication initiator. A 14.9‐fold reduction in plasmid copy number was also observed, resulting in a net 10.7‐fold lower transcription level per gene copy on a linear versus a circular plasmid. In contrast, expression of the bbd14 replication initiator for the linear plasmid lp17 was 7.2 times higher per gene copy on a linear versus a circular plasmid. Topology‐dependent transcription of these genes may help to block topological interconversions during genome evolution, offers a new avenue for global gene regulation and also has important implications for the design of genetic complementation experiments in B. burgdorferi.
Decreased glutamate release correlates with elevated dynorphin content in the hippocampus of aged rats with spatial learning deficits

The effects of aging on extracellular glutamate and tissue dynorphin content in the hippocampus were examined in Fischer‐344 rats. Young adult (4‐month‐old) and aged (24‐month‐old) rats were trained to find a hidden platform in the Morris water task. Aged rats were unable to acquire the spatial learning task as rapidly as young controls. Following behavioral testing, an in vivo microdialysis perfusion method was used to determine extracellular glutamate levels in the hippocampus. There was a 25–35% reduction in extracellular glutamate concentration in both dorsal and ventral hippocampus of aged rats compared to young rats, in the absence of any change in tissue glutamate levels. Radioimmunoassay showed an increase in dynorphin A(1–8)‐like immunoreactivity [DYN‐A(1–8)LI] in both dorsal and ventral hippocampus, but not striatum, of aged rats. Immunocytochemistry indicated that this increase was localized to the dentate granule cells and mossy fibers. Furthermore, among the aged rats the increase in DYN‐A(1–8)LI was inversely correlated with the decrease in extracellular glutamate. These results suggest that the disregulation of dynorphin observed in cognitively impaired aged rats is related to reduced excitatory transmission within the hippocampal formation.
Relationships between results of the Ortolani method of hip joint palpation and distraction index, Norberg angle, and hip score in dogs.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether results of the Ortolani method of hip joint palpation in dogs were related to distraction index (DI), Norberg angle, or radiographic hip score. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. ANIMALS 459 clinically normal dogs. PROCEDURE Dogs were sedated for radiography and palpation of the hip joints. Results of hip joint palpation were classified as negative, mild positive, moderate positive, or severe positive. Distraction indices were measured for all dogs. Norberg angles were measured for 380 dogs for which ventrodorsal hip-extended radiographic projections were available. Hip scores assigned by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) were available for 95 dogs. RESULTS Age, weight, and sex were not significantly associated with results of hip joint palpation. There was moderate correlation between results of hip joint palpation and DI (r = 0.636), low-moderate correlation between results of hip joint palpation and OFA hip scores (rs = 0.437), and weak negative correlation (r = -0.236) between results of hip joint palpation and Norberg angle. For joints without degenerative joint disease (DJD), there was a significant linear relationship between results of hip palpation and DI; however, for joint with DJD, there was not. Results of hip joint palpation were 5.3-fold as likely to be negative for dogs with DJD as for dogs without. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Results of hip joint palpation were at best moderately correlated with radiographic measures of hip joint laxity. Therefore, hip joint palpation should be combined with hip-extended and stress radiography when assessing hip joint quality.
Ultrasound versus the landmark technique: a prospective randomized comparative study of internal jugular vein cannulation in an intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to find out if an ultrasound technique has advantages over the conventional landmark technique. METHODS This is a prospective randomized comparative study on 120 patients requiring central venous cannulation of the right internal jugular vein. The study comprised of two groups: ultrasound and landmark groups, each consisting of 60 patients. The outcome measures were compared between the groups. RESULTS Cannulation of the internal jugular vein was successful in 58 patients in the ultrasound group and in 53 in the landmark group. The number of attempts was 1.5 (1 - 3) and 2 (1 - 3) in the ultrasound and landmark group respectively (p = 0.001). The time taken for the successful cannulation was 4.9 +/- 1.7 minutes in the ultrasound approach and 8.0 +/- 2.8 minutes in the landmark approach (p = 0.00). The internal jugular vein diameter in the supine position was 11.2 +/- 1.5 mm which increased to 15.04 +/- 1.5 mm with a 15 degrees head-down position in the USG group (p = 0.001). The first attempt success rate was 39/60 (63%) in the ultrasound group and 19/60 (32%) with the landmark technique. The seven (12%) failure cases in the landmark group were rescued by the ultrasound technique. Inadvertent carotid artery puncture occurred in 2/60 (3%) and 6/60 (10%) of patients in the ultrasound and land mark group respectively. CONCLUSIONS Ultrasound improves success rate, minimizes cannulation time and complications during internal jugular vein cannulation. It can be employed as a rescue technique in cases of a failed landmark technique.
The YSIRK-G/S Motif of Staphylococcal Protein A and Its Role in Efficiency of Signal Peptide Processing

ABSTRACT Many surface proteins of pathogenic gram-positive bacteria are linked to the cell wall envelope by a mechanism requiring a C-terminal sorting signal with an LPXTG motif. Surface proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae harbor another motif, YSIRK-G/S, which is positioned within signal peptides. The signal peptides of some, but not all, of the 20 surface proteins of Staphylococcus aureus carry a YSIRK-G/S motif, whereas those of surface proteins of Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus anthracis do not. To determine whether the YSIRK-G/S motif is required for the secretion or cell wall anchoring of surface proteins, we analyzed variants of staphylococcal protein A, an immunoglobulin binding protein with an LPXTG sorting signal. Deletion of the YSIR sequence or replacement of G or S significantly reduced the rate of signal peptide processing of protein A precursors. In contrast, cell wall anchoring or the functional display of protein A was not affected. The fusion of cell wall sorting signals to reporter proteins bearing N-terminal signal peptides with or without the YSIRK-G/S motif resulted in hybrid proteins that were anchored in a manner similar to that of wild-type protein A. The requirement of the YSIRK-G/S motif for efficient secretion implies the existence of a specialized mode of substrate recognition by the secretion pathway of gram-positive cocci. It seems, however, that this mechanism is not essential for surface protein anchoring to the cell wall envelope.
Validation of [11C]ORM‐13070 as a PET tracer for alpha2c‐adrenoceptors in the human brain

This study explored the use of the α2C‐adrenoceptor PET tracer [11C]ORM‐13070 to monitor α2C‐AR occupancy in the human brain. The subtype‐nonselective α2‐AR antagonist atipamezole was administered to eight healthy volunteer subjects to determine its efficacy and potency (Emax and EC50) at inhibiting tracer uptake. We also explored whether the tracer could reveal changes in the synaptic concentrations of endogenous noradrenaline in the brain, in response to several pharmacological and sensory challenge conditions. We assessed occupancy from the bound‐to‐free ratio measured during 5–30 min post injection. Based on extrapolation of one‐site binding, the maximal extent of inhibition of striatal [11C]ORM‐13070 uptake (Emax) achievable by atipamezole was 78% (95% CI 69–87%) in the caudate nucleus and 65% (53–77%) in the putamen. The EC50 estimates of atipamezole (1.6 and 2.5 ng/ml, respectively) were in agreement with the drug's affinity to α2C‐ARs. These findings represent clear support for the use of [11C]ORM‐13070 for monitoring drug occupancy of α2C‐ARs in the living human brain. Three of the employed noradrenaline challenges were associated with small, approximately 10–16% average reductions in tracer uptake in the dorsal striatum (atomoxetine, ketamine, and the cold pressor test; P < 0.05 for all), but insulin‐induced hypoglycemia did not affect tracer uptake. The tracer is suitable for studying central nervous system receptor occupancy by α2C‐AR ligands in human subjects. [11C]ORM‐13070 also holds potential as a tool for in vivo monitoring of synaptic concentrations of noradrenaline, but this remains to be further evaluated in future studies. Synapse 69:172–181, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The study of relationship between reported temporomandibular symptoms and clinical dysfunction index among university students in Shiraz

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the correlation between subjective data obtained from a questionnaire and clinical examination among students in Shiraz university of medical sciences. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional prospective study, the samples consisted of 200 subjects, with equal distribution between males and females. Subjects’ ages ranged from 18 to 30 years (24.07±2.93). A functional evaluation was performed using the Helkimo clinical dysfunction (Di) and anamnestic (Ai) indices. Data were evaluated by the Chi-square test between gender and clinical dysfunction index (Di) and correlation coefficient between Di and Ai (the level of significance was set at P<0.05). Results: Among the total study population, 30% reported mild symptoms (Ai I) while 2% had severe (Ai II). In the clinical examination, 71% showed some degree of dysfunction. These degrees were as follows: 50% were classified as mild (Di I), 13% moderate (Di II) and 8% severe signs and symptoms (Di III). With respect to gender, women (80%) were more affected than men (62%). A significant relationship was found between gender and the occurrence of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) (P<0.05). The correlation coefficient (r) between the reported symptoms (Ai) and recorded signs (Di) was 0.53. There were positive correlation coefficient between Di and Ai. They were statistically significant (P<0.001). Conclusions: A high prevalence of signs and symptoms of TMD among students in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences was seen, which was greater in women. Despite suffering from TMD, students were not aware of their disorders.
Toward an Optimal Block Motion Estimation Algorithm for H.264/AVC

A merging procedure joining search pattern and variable block size motion estimation for H.264/AVC is proposed in this paper. The principal purpose of the proposed methods is the reduction of the computational complexity for block matching module. In fact, there are numerous contributions in the literature aiming the reduction of the computational cost needed for motion estimation. The best solution from a qualitative point of view is the full search that considers every possible detail. The computational effort required is enormous and this makes motion estimation by far the most important computational bottleneck in video coding systems. Our approach invests and exploits the center-biased characteristics of the real world video sequences, aiming to achieve an acceptable image quality while independently targeting the reduction of the computational complexity. The simulations results demonstrated that the proposal performs well.
Prospective validation of the intensive care unit admission Mortality Probability Model (MPM0-III)*

Objective:To validate performance characteristics of the intensive care unit (ICU) admission mortality probability model, version III (MPM0-III) on Project IMPACT data submitted in 2004 and 2005. This data set was external from the MPM0-III developmental and internal validation data collected between 2001 and 2004. Design:Retrospective analysis of clinical data collected concurrently with care. Setting:One hundred three (103) adult ICUs in North America that voluntarily collect and submit data to Project IMPACT. Subjects:A total of 55,459 patients who were eligible for MPM scoring (age ≥18; first ICU admission for hospitalization, excludes burns, coronary care, and cardiac surgical patients). Interventions:None. Measurements:Prevalence of MPM risk factors and their relationship to hospital mortality; calibration and discrimination of MPM0-III model applied to new data. Main Results:Seventy-eight ICUs contributed data to both this study and the original development set. Fifty-six ICUs from the original MPM0-III study were replaced by 25 new ICUs in this external validation set. Patient characteristics (type of patient, risk factors, and resuscitation status) were similar to the original 2001–2004 cohort, except for slightly more patients on mechanical ventilation at admission (32% vs. 27%, p < 0.01) and the percentage of patients having no MPM0-III risk factors except age (11% vs. 14%, p < 0.01). Observed deaths were 7331 (13.2%) vs. 7456 predicted, yielding a standardized mortality ratio of 0.983, 95% CI (0.963–1.001). Conclusions:MPM0-III calibrates on a new population of 55,459 North American patients who include many patients from new ICUs, which helps confirm that the model is robust and was not overfitted to the development sample. Although Project IMPACT participants change over time, 2004–2005 patient risk factors and their relationship to hospital mortality have not significantly changed. The increase in mechanically ventilated patients and reduction in admissions with no risk factors are trends worth following.
Comparison of the Immunogenicity of Various Booster Doses of Inactivated Polio Vaccine Delivered Intradermally Versus Intramuscularly to HIV-Infected Adults.

BACKGROUND Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is necessary for global polio eradication because oral polio vaccine can rarely cause poliomyelitis as it mutates and may fail to provide adequate immunity in immunocompromised populations. However, IPV is unaffordable for many developing countries. Intradermal IPV shows promise as a means to decrease the effective dose and cost of IPV, but prior studies, all using 20% of the standard dose used in intramuscular IPV, resulted in inferior antibody titers. METHODS We randomly assigned 231 adults with well-controlled human immunodeficiency virus infection at a ratio of 2:2:2:1 to receive 40% of the standard dose of IPV intradermally, 20% of the standard dose intradermally, the full standard dose intramuscularly, or 40% of the standard dose intramuscularly. Intradermal vaccination was done using the NanoPass MicronJet600 microneedle device. RESULTS Baseline immunity was 87%, 90%, and 66% against poliovirus serotypes 1, 2, and 3, respectively. After vaccination, antibody titers increased a median of 64-fold. Vaccine response to 40% of the standard dose administered intradermally was comparable to that of the standard dose of IPV administered intramuscularly and resulted in higher (although not significantly) antibody titers. Intradermal administration had higher a incidence of local side effects (redness and itching) but a similar incidence of systemic side effects and was preferred by study participants over intramuscular administration. CONCLUSIONS A 60% reduction in the standard IPV dose without reduction in antibody titers is possible through intradermal administration.
An investigation into how two Grade 11 Physical Science teachers mediate learning of the topic chemical equilibrium : a case study

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . iii DEDICATION . iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS . xiii LIST OF FIGURES, GRAPHS AND TABLES . xiv LIST OF APPENDICES . xv Chapter 1 . 1 Situating the study. 1 1.
Emerging Leadership Practices for the Implementation of Professional Practice Standards

This qualitative exploratory case study, situated in a Canadian community college, was designed to characterize the leadership practices that have emerged during the implementation of national curriculum standards in a Denturism program. The program has recently adopted the curriculum standards outlined in the National Competency Profile for Denturists (NCPD). This research focused on the implementation of the NCPD standards in the program, with special emphasis on the field placement course. The purpose was to investigate the organizational structures that support the implementation of the NCPD standards, as well as the leadership practices that have emerged, as different stakeholders collaborate to support the implementation of this policy. Several approaches to educational policy implementation, educational leadership, and organizational learning guided this study. Theoretical models, such as Bolman and Deal’s (2013) Four Frame model and Eddy’s (2012) Holistic Competencies model, informed the framework for this research. Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews and from documents relevant to the Denturism program. The data was analyzed, and the following analytical themes were identified: (1) Organizational roles and processes undertaken by the actors within the community college inform the implementation of national curriculum standards; (2) Significant educational leadership practices inform and support instruction and curriculum initiatives across the Denturism program, including the field placement course; and (3) Organizational learning within the community college and the community of practice contribute to knowledge about the national curriculum standards. Based on these findings, this study offers recommendations for the implementation of the NCPD in the Denturism program and the field placement course.