Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physiological Assessment of Active Middle Ear Implant Coupling to the Round Window in Chinchilla lanigera

Objective. To study the effects of various active middle ear implant loading parameters on round window stimulation in an animal model. Study Design. Physiological measurements of the cochlear microphonic and stapes velocity were made from active middle ear implant–generated sinusoidal stimuli with controlled changes in loading parameters. Setting. Prospective study at an academic research institution. Subjects and Methods. Cochlear microphonic and stapes velocities (H EV ) were measured in 6 study subjects (Chinchilla lanigera) in response to active middle ear implant (Otologics MET, Boulder, Colorado) round window stimulation with assessment of effects of varying parameters of loading pressure, interposed connective tissue, and angle of stimulation with respect to the round window membrane. Results. The measured performance variabilities in repeated applications of the active middle ear implant to the round window were 2.5 dB and 5.0 dB for H EV and cochlear microphonic thresholds, respectively. Loading pressure applied to the round window (51-574 dynes) and angle of approach (±30° with respect to coronal plane) did not have a significant effect on cochlear microphonic thresholds or H EV . Significant improvements in cochlear microphonic thresholds and H EV were observed for interposed connective tissue regardless of tissue type. Conclusion. Variability in performance due to repeated couplings of the active middle ear implant to the round window is small and reproducible. Interposition of connective tissue significantly improves vibration energy transfer to the cochlea. Neither changes in loading pressure nor angle of stimulation of the round window affected active middle ear implant performance.
Heparin-induced capacitation but not intracellular alkalinization of bovine sperm is inhibited by Rp-adenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate.

The objective of this study was to investigate the importance of cAMP during capacitation of bovine sperm. The competitive antagonist of cAMP, Rp-adenosine-3'5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate (Rp-cAMP), blocked heparin-induced capacitation (p < 0.05). The effect of Rp-cAMP on heparin-induced capacitation was reversed by 8-bromo-cAMP. The maximal inhibitory effect on capacitation occuroff when Rp-cAMP was added at the start of sperm incubation. These results support an important role for cAMP-dependent protein kinases during heparin-induced capacitation of bovine sperm. Further support for a role for protein phosphorylation during capacitation came from the use of the protein phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid. Okadaic acid had no affect on heparin-induced capacitation of bovine sperm (p > 0.05); however, bovine sperm were capacitated by okadaic acid in the absence of heparin (p < 0.05). The relationship of cAMP to capacitation-associated changes in sperm intracellular pH (pHi) was investigated using image analysis of bovine sperm. The pHi of sperm increased during capacitation, and Rp-cAMP did not affect the change in pHi. We conclude that heparin-induced capacitation of bovine sperm involves an increase in cAMP and a protein phosphorylation event but that these do not induce the increase in pHi associated with capacitation.
Lotto, How to Win? Skew Timing Strategies

In this paper, we investigate whether the “lotto investor” can benefit from the time-varying skewness of market portfolio and how to capture the gain using skew timing strategies. We find that empirically applying the mean-variance-skewness (M-V-S) rule of Mitton and Vorkink (2007) generates similar performance as that of traditional mean-variance rule, because the optimal weight of M-V-S still mainly depends on the mean and variance unless the forecasted skewness is extremely large. To improve the M-V-S, we suggest combining two constrained versions of M-V-S, namely the mean-variance (M-V) and mean-skewness (M-S). Discarding the variance, the M-S fully considers the usefulness of skewness and the optimal weight solely depends on mean and skewness. However, M-S investor probably suffers huge loss due to forecasting errors. Combining the M-V with M-S should theoretically perform better than individual rules, and hence better than the M-V-S rule. Empirically, we find that the combination rule indeed generates superior performance, in terms of certainty equivalent returns, Sharpe ratios, and skewness of portfolio returns distribution.
Early activation or a more protective regime after arthroscopic subacromial decompression — a description of clinical changes with two different physiotherapy treatment protocols — a prospective, randomized pilot study with a two-year follow-up

Objectives: To describe clinical changes with two protocols of physiotherapy following arthroscopic subacromial decompression (ASD) over two years. Reliability of Functional Index of the Shoulder was performed. Design: A prospective, randomized pilot study, within-subject design. Subjects: Thirty-four shoulders (13 women), mean age 46 (SD 7) years with primary shoulder impingement, listed for arthroscopic subacromial decompression. Interventions: The traditional group (n = 20) started with active assisted range of motion exercises on the day of surgery, dynamic exercises for the rotator cuff after six weeks and strengthening exercises after eight weeks. The progressive group (n = 14) started active assisted range of motion and dynamic exercises for the rotator cuff on the day of surgery. Strengthening exercises started after six weeks. Main measures: A clinical evaluation was made preoperatively, six weeks, three, six, 12 and 24 months after surgery. Pain, patient satisfaction, active range of motion and muscular strength were evaluated. Shoulder function was evaluated using Constant score, Hand in neck, Pour out of a pot and Functional Index of the Shoulder. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in pain during activity and at rest, in range of motion in extension and abduction, in strength of external rotation and in function. There were no clinical differences in changes between groups. Most patients were pain-free from six months. After two years, the majority of patients achieved ≥160° in flexion, ≥175° in abduction and 80° in external rotation, the traditional achieved 67 and the progressive group 87 with Constant score. Conclusions: Early activation using a comprehensive, well-defined and controlled physiotherapy protocol can be used safely after arthroscopic subacromial decompression.
The Rubber Tail Illusion as Evidence of Body Ownership in Mice

The ownership of one's body parts represents a fundamental aspect of self-consciousness. Accumulating empirical evidence supports the existence of this concept in humans and nonhuman primates, but it is unclear whether nonprimate mammals experience similar feelings. Therefore, the present study used rubber tails to investigate body ownership in rodents. When the real tails and rubber tails were synchronously stroked, the mice responded as if their own tails were touched when the rubber tails were grasped. In contrast, when the stimuli were delivered asynchronously, there was a significantly lower mean response rate when the rubber tail was grasped. These findings suggest that mice may experience body ownership of their tails, suggestive of the rubber hand illusion in humans. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT To explore the manner in which the ownership of body parts is experienced, this study specifically used the rubber hand illusion (RHI), in which self-consciousness can be extended out of one's own body. Accumulating empirical evidence supports the existence of this concept in humans and nonhuman primates, but it remains unclear whether nonprimate mammals experience similar feelings. This study demonstrated for the first time that mice may experience body ownership of their tails, which is suggestive of the RHI in humans and provides evidence that may highlight how humans experience the ownership of body parts.
Option-Implied Intra-Horizon Risk and First-Passage Disentanglement

We study the intra-horizon value at risk (iVaR) in a general jump diffusion setup and propose a new model of asset returns called displaced mixed-exponential model, which can arbitrarily closely approximate finite-activity jump-diffusions and completely monotone Levy processes. We derive analytical results for the iVaR and disentangle the risk contribution of jumps from diffusion. Estimating the iVaR for several popular jump models using on S&P 100 option data, we find that option-implied estimates are much more responsive to market changes relative to their historical counterparts. Moreover, disentangling jumps from diffusion, jump account for about 90 percent of iVaR on average.
Individual and Social Factors Associated With Participation in Treatment Programs for Drug Users

Since only about one third of people who are dependent on drugs are in treatment, there is a need to promote both treatment entry and retention. Previous research has described the role of individual and social characteristics in drug user treatment participation, but little is known about the interaction of individual and social factors. Injecting and noninjecting drug users (2002–2004; N = 581) were recruited, as part of Self-Help in Eliminating Life-Threatening Diseases (SHIELD) study, in Baltimore, MD, and were administered a structured questionnaire. The mean age of participants was 43.6 years, out of which 41% were female, 50% had high school education, and 16% self-reported being HIV infected. Logistic regression analyses of interaction terms revealed that compared to those with no plans to stop and no friends encouraging them to enter treatment those who planned to cease drug use or whose friends encouraged treatment were more likely to attend a 12-step program. Furthermore, compared to those with no problems with drug use and no friends encouraging them to enter treatment those with greater perceived drug problem severity or with friends encouraging treatment were more likely to attend methadone maintenance, as were those who did not receive free drugs from others. The influence of friends may have a crucial modifying effect by getting into treatment less addicted individuals who have higher chances of successful recovery.
THREE DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF UNMYELINATED FIBERS IN NORMAL AND PATHOLOGIC AUTONOMIC NERVES

The technique of serial-section electron microscopy and diagrammatic three dimensional reconstructions has been used to assess normal and pathological unmyelinated nerve fibers from a peripheral autonomic nerve: the rat cervical sympathetic trunk. Within this predominantly unmyelinated nerve, there is a complex arrangement of axons into longitudinally oriented bundles brought together by chains of Schwann cells. Each bundle is subdivided into smaller components by the cytoplasmic processes of Schwann cells; such subdivisions, which are basal lamina-enclosed masses of Schwann cell cytoplasm, when viewed on cross-sectional electron micrographs, are termed Schwann cell units. The size and shape of each Schwann cell unit varies along the length of fibres, but the diameter of individual axons shows little variation over the segments studied. Axonal branching was not observed in normal unmyelinated nerves. Crush injury and x-irradiation produces different patterns of alteration in the axon-Schwann cell relationships of unmyelinated nerves. Following crush injury, Schwann cell processes increase in diameter and contain numerous small diameter axonal sprouts. Many of the regenerating axons remain thin while others reacquire a normal diameter. X-irradiation affects Schwann cells leading to retraction of their processes and the appearance of naked axonal segments.
The evolution of the management of regional lymph nodes in melanoma

The last two decades have seen sweeping changes in the surgical approach to melanoma. Traditionally, patients without evidence of nodal metastases were considered for elective lymph node dissection. This approach placed many patients at risk of morbidity while many derived no benefit. As investigators gained a deeper understanding of melanoma and lymphatic biology, newer methods of managing regional lymph nodes were sought. The advent of sentinel node biopsy has radically changed the approach to melanoma. J. Surg. Oncol. 2007;96:316–321. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An institutional analysis of the growth of executive remuneration

This article develops a framework for understanding growth in executive remuneration and its increasing divergence from average earnings since a 1980s turning point, drawing on studies from a range of countries but with a special focus on Australian evidence. This framework emphasises the central roles played by company size, to which power is intrinsically related; the distinct, asymmetric nature of the ‘bargaining’ relationship in executive labour markets; and institutions that reflect seven rules. A corporation’s status depends in part on its chief executive officer’s status and pay. Chief executive officers’ ability to extract rents is influenced by their social capital. Chief executive officer pay is heavily influenced by relative pay deprivation. Institutions emerge to facilitate dual-asymmetric pattern bargaining. The incentive structure of executive pay adjusts over time to minimise downside risk, justify high growth and deflect shareholder concerns. Different norms shape pay in different segments, though cross-segment references will be made to justify increases. Finally, chief executive officers’ ability to ratchet pay upwards is contested, leading to cycles of asymmetries reflecting the social, political and economic climate and balance of power.
Generalized Linear Observables for Ocean Wind Retrieval From Calibrated GNSS-R Delay–Doppler Maps

The Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) mission will use Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry to measure ocean surface winds in and near the hurricane inner core, including regions beneath the eye wall, which could not previously be measured from space due to intense precipitation. The CYGNSS constellation will consist of eight small satellite observatories in 500-km circular orbits at an inclination of ~35°. CYGNSS observatories will receive both direct and reflected signals from Global Positioning System satellites. Direct signals will be used both for conventional navigation of the observatory positions and for calibration of the incident signal power. Reflected signals respond to ocean surface roughness, from which wind speed is retrieved. This is observed as changes in a delay-Doppler map (DDM). A generalized observable, which is defined as a linear combination of the DDM samples, is optimized using three different methods: maximum signal-to-noise ratio, minimum variance of the wind speed, and principal component analysis (PCA). Performance of each of these three approaches is compared with each other and with that of the baseline Level-2 retrievals defined for CYGNSS: DDM average, leading edge slope, and the minimum variance combination of both. PCA is found to have the best performance.
Development of AFM tensile test technique for evaluating mechanical properties of sub-micron thick DLC films

This paper describes mechanical properties of submicron thick diamond-like carbon (DLC) films used for surface modification in MEMS devices. A new compact tensile tester operating under an atomic force microscope (AFM) is developed to measure Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio and fracture strength of single crystal silicon (SCS) and DLC coated SCS (DLC/SCS) specimens. DLC films with a thickness ranging from 0.11 /spl mu/m to 0.58 /spl mu/m are deposited on 19-/spl mu/m-thick SCS substrate by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition using a hot cathode penning ionization gauge discharge. Young's moduli of the DLC films deposited at bias voltages of -100 V and -300 V are found to be constant at 102 GPa and 121 GPa, respectively, regardless of film thickness. Poisson's ratio of DLC film is also independent of film thickness, whereas fracture strength of DLC/SCS specimens is inversely proportional to thickness. Raman spectroscopy analyses are performed to examine the effect of hydrogen content in DLC films on elastic properties. Raman spectra reveal that a reduction in hydrogen content in the films leads to better elastic properties. Finally, the proposed evaluation techniques are shown to be applicable to sub-micron thick DLC films by finite element analyses.
Telehealth Stroke Dysphagia Evaluation Is Safe and Effective

Background: Rapid evaluation of dysphagia poststroke significantly lowers rates of aspiration pneumonia. Logistical barriers often significantly delay in-person dysphagia evaluation by speech language pathologists (SLPs) in remote and rural hospitals. Clinical swallow evaluations delivered via telehealth have been validated in a number of clinical contexts, yet no one has specifically validated a teleswallow evaluation for in-hospital post-stroke dysphagia assessment. Methods: A team of 6 SLPs experienced in stroke care and a telestroke neurologist designed, implemented, and tested a teleswallow evaluation for acute stroke patients, in which 100 patients across 2 affiliated, urban certified stroke centers were sequentially evaluated by a bedside and telehealth SLP. Inter-rater reliability was analyzed using percent agreement, Cohen's kappa, Kendall's tau-b, and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank tests. Logistic regression models accounting for age and gender were used to test the impact of stroke severity and stroke location on agreement. Results: We found excellent agreement for both liquid (91% agreement; kappa = 0.808; Kendall's tau-b = 0.813, p < 0.001; Wilcoxon signed rank = -0.818, p = 0.417) and solid (87% agreement; kappa = 0.792; Kendall's tau-b = 0.844, p < 0.001; Wilcoxon signed rank = 0.243, p = 0.808) dietary textures. From regression modeling, there is suggestive but inconclusive evidence that higher National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores correlate with lower levels of agreement for liquid diet recommendations (OR [95% CI] 0.895 [0.793-1.01]; p = 0.07). There was no impact of NIHSS score for solid diet recommendations and no impact of stroke location on solid or liquid diet recommendations. Qualitatively, we identified professional, logistical, technical, and patient barriers to implementation, many of which resolved with experience over time. Conclusions: Dysphagia evaluation by a remote SLP via telehealth is safe and effective following stroke. We plan to implement teleswallow across our multistate telestroke network as standard practice for poststroke dysphagia evaluation.
HIV-1 gp120-Induced Injury to the Blood-Brain Barrier: Role of Metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and Relationship to Oxidative Stress

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption occurs during human immunodeficiency virus encephalopathy, but the mechanisms involved are not understood. We studied how acute and ongoing exposure to human immunodeficiency virus 1 envelope gp120 alters BBB structure and permeability. Intravenous Evans blue, given before stereotaxic gp120 injection into the caudate putamen of rats, was rapidly extravasated. Gelatinolytic activity, studied by in situ zymography, was increased after gp120 administration and was localized within cerebralvessel walls. The gp120 increased the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9. Laminin and claudin-5, key BBB components and targets of both MMPs, were greatly reduced upon gp120 administration. The gp120 increased lipid peroxidation in the vascular endothelium and in neurons. Prior administration of rSV40 vectors carrying the antioxidant enzymes Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase or glutathione peroxidase protected from gp120-induced BBB damage. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor activation upregulated pro-MMP-9 and increased MMP-9 gelatinase activity, and memantine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor blocker, mitigated gp120-induced BBB abnormalities. Using intra-caudate putamen SV(gp120) to test the effects of chronic exposure to expressed gp120, we determined that oxidant stress and increased BBB permeability occurred as in acute exposure. These data indicate that both direct administration and cellular expression of gp120 lead to disruption of the BBB by increasing MMPs and reducing vascular tight junction proteins via mechanisms involving reactive oxygen species generation and oxidant injury.
Plume Dynamics of Laser-Produced Swine Muscle Tissue Plasma

We report on the plume dynamics of the plasma induced by laser ablation of a swine skeletal muscle tissue sample in different vacuum conditions. Pulses from a transversely excited atmospheric CO2 laser were focused onto a target sample and the induced plasma was allowed to expand in different air pressures. The expansion features were studied using fast photography of the overall visible emission by using a gated intensified charged coupled device. Free expansion and plume splitting were observed at different pressure levels. The expansion of the plasma plume front was analyzed using various expansion models and the velocity of the plume front was estimated. The effect of the number of accumulated laser shots on the crater volume at different ambient air pressures and an elemental analysis of the sample were performed using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis. The surface morphology of the irradiated surface showed that increasing the pressure of the ambient gas decreased the ablated mass, or in other words it reduced significantly the laser-target coupling.
The Market Response to Beating After‐Tax Earnings Targets Revisited Using Analysts’ Pre‐Tax Earnings Forecasts and Concurrent Tax Note Disclosures

We investigate whether the premium for achieving after-tax earnings targets is informed by the availability of pre-tax and after-tax earnings forecasts. We find evidence the premium is discounted for firms achieving only after-tax earnings forecasts compared with firms achieving both forecast targets. This is likely due to the uncertainty about future profitability and earnings quality created by failing to attain pre-tax earnings targets. For firms achieving only pre-tax earnings forecasts, no premium is documented. Taken together, our results indicate that while pre-tax earnings forecasts may not move the market, they have an informational role in providing a context for assessing the achievement of after-tax earnings targets. We also consider the usefulness of the tax note disclosures of deferred tax assets from carry-forward losses for assessing the premium for achieving after-tax earnings targets. Reflecting the duality of this tax deferral, we find evidence that recognition of these tax assets conveys information about lower earnings quality when recognition is likely to be opportunistic (in the case of firms achieving only after-tax forecasts), and provides a signal of future profitability (in the case of firms achieving only pre-tax forecasts).