Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatial relationships between the terminations of somatic sensory motor pathways in the rostral brainstem of cats and monkeys. II. Cerebellar projections compared with those of the ascending somatic sensory pathways in lateral diencephalon

Previous studies have shown that ascending somatic sensory pathways arising from the dorsal column nuclei, lateral cervical nucleus and spinotha‐lamic tract terminate in parts of the thalamus adjacent to those which receive cerebellar terminations. This termination pattern creates a border between the ventroposterolateral nucleus (VPL) and the ventrolateral nucleus (VL) in the cat and between the caudal and oral parts of VPL (VPLc and VPLo, respectively) in the monkey. Since it is not clear how sharp these borders are, a double orthograde labeling strategy was used in the present study to make direct comparisons of the projections to the thalamus from these sources of input.
Corporate Governance and Accounting Ethics in Nigeria

Corporate managers have being in recent times exploiting the loop holes in accounting standards to manipulate earnings. Earnings management/creative accounting/financial engineering as its being called is considered to be a deliberate attempt to arrive at a desired level of earnings using different means. Through whatever means this is an unethical practice. The study examines the relationship between Corporate Governance mechanisms and accounting ethics in Nigeria. Data for the study were obtained from Nigerian Stock Exchange fact books and Companies financial reports. The extent of influence of corporate governance mechanisms was estimated by probit analysis. Firms under study were dichotomized into two: those involved in earnings management and those with less evidence of management. The probit regression results reveal significance positive influence of Board size, board composition and negative influence of board composition on ethical accounting practices. The findings is a clear testimony that enforcing corporate governance code will reduce significantly unethical accounting practices there by improving quality of accounting information.
Traffic-Generated Air Pollution and Myocardial Infarction

Background: Although long-term air pollution exposure has been linked to cardiovascular mortality, data on incidence and nonfatal coronary disease are limited and inconclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between long-term residential exposure to air pollution from traffic and the risk of nonfatal and fatal myocardial infarction. Methods: The records of all individuals aged 15 to 79 with a first event of myocardial infarction in Stockholm County during 1985 to 1996 were retrieved from a registry. Population controls were randomly selected from the study base stratified by age, sex, and calendar year. Individual socioeconomic data and home addresses were obtained from population censuses 1970 to 1995. Annual air pollution exposure was assessed by dispersion modeling at the home addresses of 24,347 cases and 276,926 controls. Results: Five-year average traffic-generated air pollution exposure corresponding to a difference in nitrogen dioxide from the fifth to the 95th percentile (31 &mgr;g/m3) was associated with an odds ratio for fatal myocardial infarction adjusted for age, sex, calendar year, and socioeconomic status of 1.23 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15–1.32). The corresponding odds ratio was 2.54 (1.96–3.29) among those with least expected misclassification of true individual exposure (those who did not move between censuses). Different time-windows and analyses of other pollutants including carbon monoxide and particles less than 10 &mgr;m in diameter (PM10) produced weaker associations. There was no increased risk for nonfatal myocardial infarction (ORs 0.94–0.98). Conclusions: Long-term exposure to traffic-generated air pollution is associated with fatal myocardial infarction but not with nonfatal infarction.
In vivo expansion of naive and activated CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cell populations in interleukin-2–treated HIV patients

HIV-1 infection is characterized by a progressive decline in CD4+ T cells leading to a state of profound immunodeficiency. IL-2 therapy has been shown to improve CD4+ counts beyond that observed with antiretroviral therapy. Recent phase III trials revealed that despite a sustained increase in CD4+ counts, IL-2-treated patients did not experience a better clinical outcome [Abrams D, et al. (2009) N Engl J Med 361(16):1548–1559]. To explain these disappointing results, we have studied phenotypic, functional, and molecular characteristics of CD4+ T cell populations in IL-2-treated patients. We found that the principal effect of long-term IL-2 therapy was the expansion of two distinct CD4+CD25+ T cell populations (CD4+CD25loCD127loFOXP3+ and CD4+CD25hiCD127loFOXP3hi) that shared phenotypic markers of Treg but could be distinguished by the levels of CD25 and FOXP3 expression. IL-2-expanded CD4+CD25+ T cells suppressed proliferation of effector cells in vitro and had gene expression profiles similar to those of natural regulatory CD4+CD25hiFOXP3+ T cells (Treg) from healthy donors, an immunosuppressive T cell subset critically important for the maintenance of self-tolerance. We propose that the sustained increase of the peripheral Treg pool in IL-2-treated HIV patients may account for the unexpected clinical observation that patients with the greatest expansion of CD4+ T cells had a higher relative risk of clinical progression to AIDS.
Relationship between human sperm lipid peroxidation, comprehensive quality parameters and IVF outcome

Summary. The membranes of human spermatozoa contain an extremely high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids and are therefore susceptible to lipid peroxidation damage. The aim of this study was to retrospectively determine the association between the lipid peroxidation levels of washed spermatozoa, as indicated by thiobarbituric‐acid‐reactive substance concentration, and: (a) semen quality evaluated by basic routine, biochemical, cytological and quantitative ultra‐morphological analyses; (b) IVF fertilization rate. Semen samples from 45 male partners of couples who had been referred for IVF treatment due to a female infertility factor were evaluated for quality as well as for thiobarbituric‐acid‐reactive substance concentrations. The latter were found to have a negative correlation with total sperm count, semen volume, zinc/fructose ratio, and the integrity of sperm acrosome and axonema. It was suggested that lipid peroxidation has a deleterious effect on the ultramorphological status of the sperm cells and, thereby, on the male fertilization potential. The content of the seminal fluid, about 30% of which is produced by the prostate, may protect spermatozoa from this destructive process. A negative correlation was also found between thiobarbituric‐acid‐reactive substance concentrations and IVF fertilization rate. When the patients were subdivided into fertilizing (fertilization rate >0%) and nonfertilizing (fertilization rate = 0%) subgroups (n= 33 and n= 12, respectively), the former exhibited significantly lower thiobarbituric‐acid‐reactive substance concentrations than the latter. A new IVF fertilization index based on the lipid peroxidation level was established. This index had a predictive power of 93% (94% sensitivity and 92% specificity). The clinical value of this index should be further verified.
Borderlands Theory: Producing Border Epistemologies with Gloria Anzaldúa

This study is dedicated to examine the concept of borders, geographical and otherwise, as instruments that are socially produced. It utilizes Gloria Anzalduas theoretical framework of Borderlands theory as a set of processes that seek to attain the de-colonization of the inner self. The historical and spatial dynamics of the geographical border between Mexico and United States, largely shaped by the U.S. expansionist agenda, resulted in the Mexican lost of more than half of its territory and the subsequent stigmatization of Mexican-Americans/Chicanos as foreign others, since they did not share with predominant Anglo-Saxons the same values, culture, religion, traditions and skin color. I argue that the later exploitation, exclusion, marginalization, and racism against Mexican-Americans/Chicanos informed Anzalduas development of her Borderlands theory that seeks to attain liberation for any colonized identity. However, it is also my argument that the borderlands theory fails to account for meaningful political freedom since the processes that compose the theory are principally worked at the inner level, restricting the possibilities for a direct confrontation in the public sphere.
Preparation and Evaluation of Taste Masked Famotidine Formulation Using Drug/β-cyclodextrin/Polymer Ternary Complexation Approach

The main aim of the present study was to evaluate potential of ternary complexation (comprising of drug, cyclodextrin and polymer) as an approach for taste masking. For this purpose famotidine with property of bitter taste was selected as a model drug. Improvement in taste masking capability of cyclodextrin towards famotidine was evaluated by formulating a ternary complex including hydrophilic polymer hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC 5 cps) as the third component. Phase solubility analysis at 25 °C was carried out for both the binary systems (viz. drug–cyclodextrin and drug–polymer) and the ternary system (drug–cyclodextrin–polymer). Ternary complex was prepared using solution method and was further characterized using XRD, DSC, FT-IR and microscopic studies. In vitro dissolution study was carried out to see the effect of ternary complexation on drug release. Taste perception study was carried out on human volunteers to evaluate the taste masking ability of ternary complexation. Results obtained from phase solubility analysis showed that the combined use of polymer and cyclodextrin effectively increased the stability constant of the complex [from 538 M−1 for binary system to 15,096 M−1 for ternary system]. Ternary system showed effective taste masking as compared to binary complex and at the same time showed no limiting effect on the drug release (D.E15min = 90%). The effective taste masking was attributed to the enhanced complexation of famotidine in ternary system compared to binary system and the same was confirmed from the characterization studies. In conclusion, the study confirmed that ternary complexation can be utilized as an alternative approach for effective taste masking.
Optimal Point Location in a Monotone Subdivision

Point location, often known in graphics as “hit detection,” is one of the fundamental problems of computational geometry. In a point location query we want to identify which of a given collection of geometric objects contains a particular point. Let $\mathcal{S}$ denote a subdivision of the Euclidean plane into monotone regions by a straight-line graph of m edges. In this paper we exhibit a substantial refinement of the technique of Lee and Preparata [SIAM J. Comput. , 6 (1977), pp. 594–606] for locating a point in $\mathcal{S}$ based on separating chains. The new data structure, called a layered dag, can be built in $O(m)$ time, uses $O(m)$ storage, and makes possible point location in $O(\log m)$ time. Unlike previous structures that attain these optimal bounds, the layered dag can be implemented in a simple and practical way, and is extensible to subdivisions with edges more general than straight-line segments.
Self-Harm, Affective Traits, and Psychosocial Functioning in Adults With Depressive and Bipolar Disorders

Abstract Self-harm refers to the purposeful destruction of bodily tissue without suicidal intention and for purposes that are not socially sanctioned. Little is known about the associations between a history of self-harm, mood symptoms, and functioning in adults with different types of mood disorders. Lifetime histories of self-harm, current mood symptoms, global functioning, and affective traits were collected on 142 adults with mood disorders. The prevalence of lifetime self-harm was higher in patients with bipolar disorder compared with patients with a unipolar depressive disorder. Self-harm was also more strongly linked to impulsivity in individuals with bipolar disorder compared with unipolar depressive disorder. Across both diagnoses, histories of self-harm were related to lower levels of current global functioning, more severe depressive symptoms, and high self-reported emotional dysregulation and neuroticism. Findings indicate that self-harm is a potent prognostic variable for symptoms, global functioning, and personality functioning in individuals with mood disorders.
Radiologic surveillance of acoustic neuromas.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to define the incidence and rate of tumor growth of acoustic neuromas (ANs) in patients who have undergone radiologic surveillance. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE literature searches covering the period of January 1966-June 1997 were performed as well as a review of the bibliographies of the studies that were found. STUDY SELECTION Criteria for inclusion of a study in this metaanalysis were: a defined group of patients diagnosed with an AN for whom radiologic surveillance was the selected strategy of management, limited inclusion of patients with neurofibromatosis type II (NF II) ANs, no recurrent ANs, data that could be extracted and pooled with other studies, and no duplication of patient populations between studies. Thirteen studies were selected. DATA EXTRACTION Quality of the studies was determined by the design of each study and the ability to combine the data with the results of other studies. All of the studies were biased by their retrospective, nonrandomized nature. DATA SYNTHESIS Paired t-tests (p < 0.05) and correlation coefficients were used to assess pooled data. CONCLUSIONS A total of 571 ANs were studied, with an average patient age of 64 years. Given an average follow-up period of 3 years, 54% of patients showed evidence of radiologic growth. No reliable predictors of tumor growth have been identified. The authors suggest that radiologic surveillance may best be applied to those patients who refuse treatment, who have a tumor in the only-hearing ear, or who are medically unable to undergo treatment. Small tumor size and advanced age should not be viewed as absolute contraindications for treatment.
Wertorientierte Unternehmensführung : Konzeption und empirische Untersuchung zur Ausrichtung der Unternehmung auf den Kapitalmarkt

Strategisches Management und Unternehmensfuhrung Anlasse und Grunde einer wertorientierten Unternehmensfuhrung Ermittlung des Unternehmenswertes Gestaltung eines wertorientierten Managementkonzeptes Empirische Untersuchung der ATX Prime-Unternehmungen Entwicklungsstand des Shareholder Value-Ansatzes
Nonrigid Matching of Undersampled Shapes via Medial Diffusion

We introduce medial diffusion for the matching of undersampled shapes undergoing a nonrigid deformation. We construct a diffusion process with respect to the medial axis of a shape, and use the quantity of heat diffusion as a measure which is both tolerant of missing data and approximately invariant to nonrigid deformations. A notable aspect of our approach is that we do not define the diffusion on the shape's medial axis, or similar medial representation. Instead, we construct the diffusion process directly on the shape. This permits the diffusion process to better capture surface features, such as varying spherical and cylindrical parts, as well as combine with other surface‐based diffusion processes. We show how to use medial diffusion to detect intrinsic symmetries, and for computing correspondences between pairs of shapes, wherein shapes contain substantial missing data.
Central mechanisms during fatiguing muscle exercise in muscular dystrophy and fibromyalgia syndrome: A study with transcranial magnetic stimulation

Introduction: The aim of this study was to apply paired‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to assess intracortical inhibition (ICI) during fatiguing muscle exercise in healthy humans and patients with muscular dystrophy (MD) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) to obtain insight into differential central mechanisms. Methods: We studied 23 patients with MD, 16 patients with FMS, and 23 healthy controls. All participants performed a fatiguing motor task. TMS recordings were taken pre‐exercise, immediately post‐exercise, and 40 minutes post‐exercise. Results: ICI was already reduced pre‐exercise in MD and FMS, whereas ICI decreased significantly during fatiguing muscle exercise only in healthy subjects. Discussion: Reduced baseline ICI in patients might prevent further utilization of this presumably compensatory mechanism during fatiguing muscle exercise. Although reduced baseline to be ICI in MD can be explained as compensatory due to peripheral weakness, in FMS reduced ICI must be considered an indicator of primary central disinhibition. Muscle Nerve, 2011
Naturally occurring and inducible T-regulatory cells modulating immune response in allergic asthma.

RATIONALE T-regulatory cells (Tregs) are potent immunomodulators in allergic asthma. OBJECTIVES We evaluated the functional effects of Tregs by adoptively transferring naturally occurring CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs (NTregs) and CD4(+)CD25(-) inducible Tregs (iTregs) from lung and spleens of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-transgenic Balb/c mice into cockroach-sensitized and -challenged mice. METHODS GFP-labeled NTregs and iTregs were adoptively transferred into cockroach-sensitized and -challenged mice. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to methacholine was examined using a single-chamber, whole-body plethysmograph and invasive tracheostomy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Adoptive transfer of either NTregs or iTregs from lung or spleen reversed airway inflammation and AHR to methacholine, and the effect lasted for at least 4 weeks. GFP-labeled iTregs up-regulated CD25 and forkhead-winged transcriptional factor box protein 3 and migrated to lymph node and lung. Lung CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells isolated from each group of recipient mice were inducible costimulatory molecule-high and programmed death (PD)-1-positive; however, higher expression of PD-1 was found in the spleen iTregs (S25(-)) and lung iTregs (L25(-)) groups. Higher levels of transforming growth factor-beta and IL-10 mRNA transcripts and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid IL-10 and INF-gamma levels were observed in lung CD4(+)CD25(+) cells from the L25(-) and S25(-) cell-recipient mice than from lung NTregs (L25(+)) and spleen NTregs (S25(+)) cell-recipient mice. Adoptive transfer of either cell type significantly reduced bronchoalveolar lavage fluid IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels. CONCLUSIONS Tregs reverse AHR and airway inflammation; however iTregs that differentiated into IL-10-producing CD4(+) type 1 cells in the lung exert their suppressive activity likely by higher levels of transforming growth factor-beta, IL-10, IFN-gamma, and elevated levels of PD-1 compared with NTregs. Hence, PD-1 may be a conduit for reversing AHR by Tregs and a plausible target for treating asthma.
School burnout and engagement in the context of demands-resources model.

BACKGROUND A four-wave longitudinal study tested the demands-resources model in the school context. AIM To examine the applicability of the demands-resources to the school context. METHOD Data of 1,709 adolescents were gathered, once during the transition from comprehensive to post-comprehensive education, twice during post-comprehensive education, and once 2 years later. RESULTS The hypotheses were supported, path analysis showing that study demands were related to school burnout a year later, while study resources were related to schoolwork engagement. Self-efficacy was positively related to engagement and negatively to burnout. School burnout predicted schoolwork engagement negatively 1 year later. Engagement was positively related to life satisfaction 2 years later, while burnout was related to depressive symptoms. Finally, burnout mediated the relationship between study demands and mental health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The demands-resources model can usefully be applied to the school context, including the associations between school-related burnout and engagement among adolescents. The model comprises two processes, the energy-depleting process and the motivational process.
Haploid male germ cell‐ and oocyte‐specific Mbd3l1 and Mbd3l2 genes are dispensable for early development, fertility, and zygotic DNA demethylation in the mouse

Genome‐wide erasure of CpG methylation occurs along the paternal pronucleus in fertilized oocytes. This process involves an active, replication‐independent enzymatic step, which has remained enigmatic. MBD3L1 and MBD3L2 are two mammalian homologues of the methyl‐CpG‐binding protein genes MBD2 and MBD3 that arose from recent gene duplication events. Expression of Mbd3l1 occurs specifically in haploid male germ cells. Mbd3l2 expression is restricted to metaphase II oocytes and zygotes making both proteins candidates for the zygotic demethylation process. Neither of these genes was able to promote reactivation of a methylation‐silenced reporter gene. We created Mbd3l1 and Mbd3l2 knockout mice, which were viable and fertile. We show that demethylation of the paternal pronucleus in Mbd3l1−/− and Mbd3l2−/− mice is identical to that in wild‐type controls. These data suggest that Mbd3l1 and Mbd3l2 are not involved in genome‐wide demethylation of paternal genomes in mouse zygotes and are dispensable for normal development. Developmental Dynamics 237:3435–3443, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK

Enclosed is a copy of the Board of Governors’ Semiannual Agenda of Regulations for the period August 1, 1980 through February 1, 1981. The Semiannual Agenda provides you with information on those regulatory matters that the Board now has under consideration or anticipates considering over the next six months, and is divided into three parts: (1) regulatory matters that the Board had considered during the previous six months on which final action has been taken; (2) regulatory matters that have been proposed for public comment and that require further Board consideration; and (3) regulatory matters that the Board may consider over the next six months.
The Relationship between IPO Underpricing Phenomenon & the Underwriter’s Reputation

The primary focus is on studying the under pricing phenomenon in Indian IPO markets. The paper examines the link between the reputation of underwriters to an IPO issue & the level of under pricing of that issue. The underwriters of high reputation have a pricing behavior which is distinct from underwriters in other markets. The investment banks are compared on the basis of the number of issues managed; deal value, syndicate size etc & the top banks were found to under price less as compared to their lower ranked counterparts. The post listing returns are directly related to the number of times the IPO issue is oversubscribed. The study is based on Indian IPO offerings.