Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Algorithmic Approach Using Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Pediatric Nasal Bone Fracture

Background: Ultrasonography (US) was recently reported as a reliable modality for diagnosing nasal bone fractures. However, whether US is reliable as a screening tool in the pediatric emergency department (ED) remains unknown. This prospective cohort study had a 2-fold aim: to assess the utility of US in the diagnosis of pediatric nasal bone fracture, and to evaluate the validity of our protocol for managing pediatric nasal bone fractures (Fuchu-Kids algorithm). Patients and Methods: Among the patients who presented at the ED with facial trauma, those with a suspected nasal bone fracture were enrolled in the study. Patients were treated according to Fuchu-Kids algorithm, and the validity of the protocol using US imaging was evaluated. Results: Among 81 patients who were enrolled during the 1-year study period, 63 patients were able to complete the process described in our protocol for further examination. The diagnostic power of the Fuchu-Kids algorithm had a sensitivity of 91.7%, a specificity of 92.3%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 88%, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 94.7%. However, when the performance of US was assessed as a single examination, its sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 75%, 92.3%, 85.7%, and 85.7%, respectively. Conclusion: Using our algorithm, the majority of patients with nasal bone fracture were successfully diagnosed and screened out successfully. Repeated US imaging is effective when clinical symptoms persist even if the first US imaging was negative for nasal bone fracture. However, a detailed medical interview and clinical examination are mandatory, regardless of the use of US.
Management Behaviour in Vietnamese Commercial Banks

This framework is built on the interrelationships between efficiency, risk, capital and diversification. This study uses the Z-score to measure insolvency risk, the SFA to estimate cost efficiency, the ratio of total equity to total assets to capture bank capital and the HHI index to measure the diversification of revenue and earning assets. The results from the 3SLS estimator indicate that revenue diversification has an insignificant impact on insolvency risk, capital ratio and cost efficiency, but earning assets diversification has a negative effect on these three variables, supporting 'classical diversification', 'economic capital' and 'monitoring' behaviours. Moreover, a decline in cost efficiency leads to a rise in insolvency risk, implying 'bad management' behaviour; an increase in risk results in a reduction in cost efficiency, indicating 'bad luck' behaviour; and a reduction in capital ratio in the poorly capitalised banks leads to a growth in risk, suggesting 'moral hazard' behaviour. The results remain strongly robust when using an alternative risk measurement (the loan loss provision ratio) and an alternative SFA model.
Increased plasma concentrations of interleukin 35 in patients with coronary artery disease

Introduction Atherosclerosis leading to coronary artery disease (CAD) is a chronic inflammatory condition. Interleukin 35 (IL-35) released by regulatory T cells (Tregs) has been found to be associated with CAD in the Chinese population. However, nothing is known about the relation between IL-35 concentrations and cholesterol levels. The aim of the study was to assess the levels of IL-35 in CAD patients and healthy subjects from a Caucasian population, and to analyze the relationship between IL-35 and the levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), sex and postmenopausal status. Material and methods Thirty-one patients with CAD and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. Levels of plasma IL-35 were analyzed by ELISA. The LVEF was assessed by transthoracic echocardiographic examination. Plasma levels of cholesterol fractions and C-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed by immunoenzymatic methods. Results The CAD patients had higher levels of IL-35 as compared to healthy controls (58.1 ±16.6 pg/ml vs. 5.35 ±3.35 pg/ml; p < 0.001). IL-35 levels negatively correlated with total and LDL cholesterol concentrations (R = –0.31, p < 0.01) and positively correlated with HDL cholesterol in men (R = 0.53, p < 0.01). In women, IL-35 levels negatively correlated with LVEF (R = –0.29, p < 0.05) and positively with the duration of postmenopausal status (R = 0.55, p < 0.01). Conclusions These results suggest a possible association between high levels of IL-35 and CAD.
Unraveling the molecular targets pertinent to junction restructuring events during spermatogenesis using the Adjudin-induced germ cell depletion model.

During spermatogenesis, extensive restructuring takes place at the Sertoli-Sertoli and Sertoli-germ cell interface, which is regulated via intriguing interactions among cytokines, proteases, protease inhibitors, kinases, phosphatases, and transcription factors. This in turn determines the steady-state levels of integral membrane proteins at the cell junctions. We sought to further expand these observations using the Adjudin model. Adjudin is a potential male contraceptive that targets Sertoli-germ cell adhesion, causing exfoliation of spermatids and spermatocytes, but not spermatogonia, from the seminiferous epithelium. This model thus provides the means to identify crucial regulatory molecules and signaling pathways pertinent to junction restructuring events during spermatogenesis. In this study, genome-wide expression profiling of rat testes after treatment with Adjudin at the time of extensive junction restructuring was performed. Differentially regulated genes, such as cytokines, proteases, protease inhibitors, cell junction-associated proteins, and transcription factors pertinent to junction restructuring were identified. These data were consistent with earlier findings; however, much new information was obtained which has been deposited at the Gene Expression Omnibus data repository website: http://www.ncbi. nih.gov/geo/ with Accession number: GSE5131. The primary signaling events pertinent to junction restructuring in the testis induced by Adjudin were also delineated using bioinformatics. These findings were also consistent with recently published reports. The identified molecular signatures or targets pertinent to junction dynamics in the testis as reported herein, many of which have not been investigated, thus offer a framework upon which the regulation of junction restructuring events at the Sertoli-Sertoli and Sertoli-germ cell interface pertinent to spermatogenesis can be further studied.
Expression of coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor and its cellular localization in myocardial tissues of dilated cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND Myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) are common causes of morbidity and mortality in children and adults. Recently, the human coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR), a common receptor for coxsackieviruses and adenoviruses, was discovered and its increased expression has been reported in patients with DCM and myocarditis. OBJECTIVE To measure the expression of CAR in myocardial tissues of patients with DCM and its cellular localization in DCM cases. METHODS Formalin-fixed myocardial tissues collected during autopsy from 26 cases of DCM, and 20 cases each of noncardiac disease and cardiac disease other than DCM were included as the test group, and control groups A and B, respectively. Expression of CAR was studied using immunohistochemical staining of myocardial tissue with a CAR-specific rabbit polyclonal antibody. CAR messenger RNA was semiquantified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction followed by agarose gel analysis and measurement of band intensity. RESULTS CAR positivity in DCM cases was found to be 96% (25 of 26) compared with 30% in control group A and 40% in control group B. CAR was found to be expressed in myocytes, endothelial and interstitial cells; however, positivity in myocytes was significantly higher than in other cells in all groups. The site of CAR expression was predominantly the sarcolemma along with cytoplasm in cardiomyocytes. CONCLUSIONS The present study highlighted the increased expression of CAR in DCM cases, with localization in myocytes and endothelial cells.
Abnormal skeletal muscle bioenergetics in familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the skeletal muscle metabolic manifestations of familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. DESIGN: A case-control study. SETTING: 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the calf muscle was performed on volunteers from a centre specialising in familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. PATIENTS: Five patients with abnormal beta myosin heavy chain protein in cardiac and skeletal muscle and five patients with a troponin T abnormality in cardiac muscle were compared with healthy controls. RESULTS: High energy phosphate metabolism in vivo was examined in a non-invasive manner. In resting muscle, the beta myosin heavy chain group had a higher ratio of phosphocreatine to ATP concentration (4.51 (SD 0.17)) than either the troponin T group (3.88 (0.42)) or controls (n = 16; 4.04 (0.40)). Exercise duration was reduced compared to controls, and during the fourth minute of exercise phosphocreatine depletion and muscle acidification were greater in both patient groups. After exercise, the recovery of phosphocreatine-an index of oxidative metabolic capacity of the muscle-was slower in the beta myosin heavy chain group (mean half time 0.65 (0.08) minutes) than in the troponin T group (0.60 (0.17) minutes) or controls (0.48 (0.14) minutes). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise metabolism was abnormal in both groups of subjects, and the affected contractile protein determined the metabolic changes in muscle at rest and during recovery. In patients with abnormal beta myosin heavy chain protein, there was a decrease in oxidative capacity consistent with the reduction in mitochondria reported in muscle biopsy studies of similar patients.
Effect of Endothelin Blockade on Early Cardiovascular Remodeling in the One-Clip-Two-Kidney Hypertension of the Rat

Background: In models of hypertension and of renal failure, pharmacological blockade of the ETA receptor has been shown to cause some inconsistent lowering of blood pressure (BP) and lesser left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The effects of ETA receptor blockade (ETA-RB) on vascular remodeling and their potential relation to BP lowering, have not been clarified. Design: The experimental study in male Sprague-Dawley rats was designed to compare four experimental groups: (1) sham-operated controls (sham); (2) untreated rats with one-clip-two-kidney (1C-2K) renovascular hypertension; (3) 1C-2K rats treated with the ACE inhibitor (ACE-i) trandolapril (0.3 mg/kg b.w./day), and (4) 1C-2K rats treated with the ETA-RB LU-135252 (50 mg/kg b.w./day). BP was measured weekly by tail plethysmography. After 3 weeks, animals were sacrificed and cardiac, aortic and mesenteric artery morphology was evaluated using morphometric and stereological techniques. Results: Systolic BP was significantly higher in 1C-2K rats compared to sham. BP was not significantly affected by ETA-RB, but was significantly lowered by the ACE-i. Despite no significant change in BP, ETA-RB treatment led to a significantly less volume density of the cardiac interstitium (sham 1.40 ± 0.18, 1C-2K 2.66 ± 0.56, 1C-2K + ACE-i 1.88 ± 0.38, 1C-2K + ETA-RB 2.15 ± 0.37%). In contrast, ETA-RB had no significant effect on left ventricular/body weight ratio (sham 2.85 ± 0.26, 1C-2K 2.96 ± 0.33, 1C-2K + ACE-i 2.54 ± 0.22 and 1C-2K + ETA-RB 3.15 ± 0.44 mg/g) or on wall thickness of intramyocardial arteries. Conclusions: The ETA-RB LU-135252 ameliorated the development of myocardial fibrosis in a short-term hyperreninemic normal salt model of experimental hypertension nearly as effectively as an ACE-i. This effect of LU-135252 is independent of systemic BP. In contrast to findings in other models, ETA receptor blockade had no significant effect on LVH or vascular remodeling. Only the ACE-i but not the ETA-RB prevented structural changes of small intramyocardial arteries and of the aorta.
Evolution and plasticity: Divergence of song discrimination is faster in birds with innate song than in song learners in Neotropical passerine birds

Plasticity is often thought to accelerate trait evolution and speciation. For example, plasticity in birdsong may partially explain why clades of song learners are more diverse than related clades with innate song. This “song learning” hypothesis predicts that (1) differences in song traits evolve faster in song learners, and (2) behavioral discrimination against allopatric song (a proxy for premating reproductive isolation) evolves faster in song learners. We tested these predictions by analyzing acoustic traits and conducting playback experiments in allopatric Central American sister pairs of song learning oscines (N = 42) and nonlearning suboscines (N = 27). We found that nonlearners evolved mean acoustic differences slightly faster than did leaners, and that the mean evolutionary rate of song discrimination was 4.3 times faster in nonlearners than in learners. These unexpected results may be a consequence of significantly greater variability in song traits in song learners (by 54–79%) that requires song‐learning oscines to evolve greater absolute differences in song before achieving the same level of behavioral song discrimination as nonlearning suboscines. This points to “a downside of learning” for the evolution of species discrimination, and represents an important example of plasticity reducing the rate of evolution and diversification by increasing variability.
Changes of the Secondary Structure of the 5′ End of the Sindbis Virus Genome Inhibit Virus Growth in Mosquito Cells and Lead to Accumulation of Adaptive Mutations

ABSTRACT Both the 5′ end of the Sindbis virus (SIN) genome and its complement in the 3′ end of the minus-strand RNA synthesized during virus replication serve as parts of the promoters recognized by the enzymes that comprise the replication complex (RdRp). In addition to the 5′ untranslated region (UTR), which was shown to be critical for the initiation of replication, another 5′ sequence element, the 51-nucleotide (nt) conserved sequence element (CSE), was postulated to be important for virus replication. It is located in the nsP1-encoding sequence and is highly conserved among all members of the Alphavirus genus. Studies with viruses containing clustered mutations in this sequence demonstrated that this RNA element is dispensable for SIN replication in cells of vertebrate origin, but its integrity can enhance the replication of SIN-specific RNAs. However, we showed that the same mutations had a deleterious effect on virus replication in mosquito cells. SIN with a mutated 51-nt CSE rapidly accumulated adaptive mutations in the nonstructural proteins nsP2 and nsP3 and the 5′ UTR. These mutations functioned synergistically in a cell-specific manner and had a stimulatory effect only on the replication of viruses with a mutated 51-nt CSE. Taken together, the results suggest the complex nature of interactions between nsP2, nsP3, the 5′ UTR, and host-specific protein factors binding to the 51-nt CSE and involved in RdRp formation. The data also demonstrate an outstanding potential of alphaviruses for adaptation. Within one passage, SIN can adapt to replication in cells of a vertebrate or invertebrate origin.
The effect of aging on the (mis)perception of intentionality - an ERP study

ABSTRACT Despite the accumulated knowledge on moral decision-making in the early stages of development, empirical evidence is still limited in the old-aged adults. The current study contributes to unveil the neural correlates of judgments of moral transgressions as a function of aging, by examining the temporal dynamics of neural activation elicited by intentional and accidental harmful actions in three groups of healthy participants: young adults (18–35), adults (40–55), and older adults (60–75). Older adults were slower and less accurate in rating intentionality, compared to the younger groups. In ERP analysis, the older group showed increased P2 amplitude, which was predicted by poorer performance on neuropsychological tests. Reduced amplitudes were found on critical ERP components to moral cognition (N2 and LPP), namely while processing intentional harmful scenarios. Older adults seem to allocate more attentional resources (P2) to the task, probably to compensate the age-related decline in executive functioning, while younger groups show a pronounced negativity while detecting harm (N2) and increased neural activation to encode the intentions behind the acts (LPP).
Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Their Differentiated Derivatives Are Less Susceptible to Immune Rejection Than Adult Cells

Differentiated cell types derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) may serve in the future to treat various human diseases. A crucial step toward their successful clinical application is to examine the immune response that might be launched against them after transplantation. We used two experimental platforms to examine the in vivo leukocyte response toward hESCs. First, immunocompetent and immunodeficient mouse strains were used to identify T cells as the major component that causes xenorejection of hESCs. Second, mice that were conditioned to carry peripheral blood leukocytes from human origin were used to test the human leukocyte alloresponse toward undifferentiated and differentiated hESCs. Using this model, we have detected only a minute immune response toward undifferentiated as well as differentiated hESCs over the course of 1 month, although control adult grafts were repeatedly infiltrated with lymphocytes and destroyed. Our data show that the cells evade immune destruction due to a low immunostimulatory potential. Nevertheless, a human cytotoxic T lymphocyte clone that was specifically prepared to recognize two hESC lines could lyse the cells after major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC‐I) induction. Although MHC‐I levels in hESCs are sufficient for rejection by cytotoxic T cells, our data suggest that the immunostimulatory capacity of the cells is very low. Thus, immunosuppressive regimens for hESC‐based therapeutics could be highly reduced compared with conventional organ transplantation because direct allorejection processes of hESCs and their derivatives are considerably weaker.
Multiple molecular mechanisms for a single GABAA mutation in epilepsy

Objective: To understand the molecular basis and differential penetrance of febrile seizures and absence seizures in patients with the γ2(R43Q) GABAA receptor mutation. Methods: Spike-and-wave discharges and thermal seizure susceptibility were measured in heterozygous GABAA γ2 knock-out and GABAA γ2(R43Q) knock-in mice models crossed to different mouse strains. Results: By comparing the GABAA γ2 knock-out with the GABAA γ2(R43Q) knock-in mouse model we show that haploinsufficiency underlies the genesis of absence seizures but cannot account for the thermal seizure susceptibility. Additionally, while the expression of the absence seizure phenotype was very sensitive to mouse background genetics, the thermal seizure phenotype was not. Conclusions: Our results show that a single gene mutation can cause distinct seizure phenotypes through independent molecular mechanisms. A lack of effect of genetic background on thermal seizure susceptibility is consistent with the higher penetrance of febrile seizures compared to absence seizures seen in family members with the mutation. These mouse studies help to provide a conceptual framework within which clinical heterogeneity seen in genetic epilepsy can be explained.
Smooth pursuit deficits in schizophrenia, affective disorder and obsessive–compulsive disorder

Background. In schizophrenia, affective disorders, and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) dysfunction of frontal neuronal circuits has been suggested. Such impairments imply corresponding oculomotor deficits. Method. Eye movement response to foveofugal and foveopetal step–ramp stimuli was recorded within the same study design in patients with schizophrenia (N=16), affective disorder (N=15), and OCD (N=18) and compared with controls (N=23) using infra-red reflection oculography. Results. In the foveofugal task steady-state velocity was lower in all patient groups compared with controls. Post-saccadic eye velocity was also decreased in patients with schizophrenia and affective disorder. In the foveopetal stimulus steady-state velocity was reduced in schizophrenic patients, only. Changes of saccadic latencies or position errors were not found in any of the patient groups. Also, pursuit latency was unchanged and initial eye acceleration was not decreased. Conclusions. Unaltered saccadic parameters indicate intact motion perception in cortical visual area V5. Therefore, the observed deficit of pursuit maintenance implies a dysfunction of frontal networks in all patient groups including the pursuit region of the frontal eye field (FEF). In patients with schizophrenia and affective disorder reduced post-saccadic pursuit initiation may indicate an impaired interaction between the pursuit and the saccadic system.
직업훈련의 임금효과 분석: ｢경제활동인구조사｣를 중심으로 (The Impacts of Vocational Training on Earnings in Korea: Evidence from the Economically Active Population Survey)

Korean Abstract: 본 논문은 우리나라에서 직업능력 향상을 위한 교육훈련이 개인의 임금에 어떤 영향을 미치는지를 『경제활동인구조사』 자료를 통해 분석한다. 교육훈련의 내생성을 통제하기 위하여 실증분석 방법으로 (1) 고정효과 추정법과 (2) 성향점수 매칭법을 적용한다. 고정효과 추정법(매칭법)의 결과에 따르면, 지난 1년 동안에 이수한 교육훈련으로 인하여 개인의 월평균 임금 수준은 평균 2.6～4.7%(7.5～9.8%) 정도 상승한다. 상이한 두 가지 추정방법의 분 석 결과를 종합하면, 우리나라에서 직업능력 향상을 위한 교육훈련의 임금 상승효과는 평균 2.6～9.8% 수준인 것으로 추정 된다. English Abstract: This paper examines whether and how much vocational training raises an individual's earnings in Korea, using the Economically Active Population Survey. To overcome endogeneity of training, we apply fixed-effects and propensity-score matching (PSM) methods. Fixed-effects (PSM) results suggest that work-related training received in the previous one year increases a worker's monthly earnings by 2.6 to 4.7 (7.5 to 9.8) percent. Taken altogether, work-related training enhances a worker's earnings by a minimum of 2.6 and a maximum of 9.8 percent in Korea.
In Good Company: When Small and Medium‐Sized Enterprises Acquire Multiplex Knowledge from Key Commercial Partners*1

This study explores the specific conditions under which key strategic alliances of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) with commercial partners can become multiplex in knowledge exchange. Using survey data from a sample of 150 Spanish SMEs in the information and communication technology (ICT) industry, we find that trust creates an appropriate context for the concurrent acquisition of technological, market, and managerial knowledge. When the SME and its key commercial partner exhibit significant strategic, technological, and market differences, however, the SME's ability to acquire different types of knowledge diminishes considerably, reducing the positive impact of trust on knowledge multiplexity.