Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temporal pattern of cochlear nerve degeneration following compression injury: a quantitative experimental observation.

OBJECT It has been empirically recognized that the cochlear nerve is highly vulnerable to traumatic stress resulting from surgical procedures; therefore, careful manipulation of the cochlear nerve is mandatory in preventing trauma-induced hearing loss during cerebellopontine angle (CPA) surgery. There is, however, no precise knowledge about the temporal pattern of cochlear nerve degeneration following trauma. This study was performed to determine the temporal pattern of injury that occurs after cochlear nerve trauma, knowledge of which is indispensable not only to neurosurgeons but also to all those who manage lesions involving the cochlear nerve. METHODS Right suboccipital craniectomies were performed in groups of rats with the aid of a surgical microscope, and the seventh and eighth cranial nerve trunks were identified at the internal auditory meatus. The cochlear nerve was quantifiably compressed while compound action potentials of the cochlear nerve were monitored and recorded. Following injury, one group of rats was killed for histological examination at the end of each week for 4 weeks. Data from this study disclosed that the degeneration of the compressed cochlear nerve progressed in a relatively rapid manner and was complete within 1 week after the insult. The main pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for cochlear neuronal death in this experimental setting appeared to be necrosis, and an apoptotic mechanism seemed to play a subsidiary role. CONCLUSIONS Accurate knowledge about the temporal profile of trauma-induced cochlear nerve degeneration is closely linked with the problem of the therapeutic time window. The results of the present study indicated that any measures to ameliorate cochlear nerve degeneration following trauma should be started as early as possible (within 1 week) after an injury.
Microdiscectomy Improves Pain-Associated Depression, Somatic Anxiety, and Mental Well-Being in Patients With Herniated Lumbar Disc

BACKGROUND: Emotional distress and depression are common psychological disturbances associated with low-back and leg pain. The effects of lumbar discectomy on pain, disability, and physical quality of life are well described. The effects of discectomy on emotional distress and mental well-being are less well understood. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of microdiscectomy on depression, somatization, and mental well-being in patients with herniated lumbar discs. METHODS: Patients undergoing surgical discectomy for single-level, herniated lumbar disc were prospectively evaluated preoperatively, and at 6 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Back and leg pain, depression, somatic perception, and mental well-being were assessed. RESULTS: One hundred patients were enrolled. All were available for 1-year follow-up. Preoperatively, the visual analog scale for low-back pain (BP-VAS), visual analog scale for leg pain (LP-VAS), Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZUNG), Modified Somatic Perception Questionnaire (MSPQ), and Medical Outcomes Short Form-36 mental component summary scale (SF-36-MCS) were 6.3 ± 2.5, 6.3 ± 2.5, 19 ± 11, 9 ± 7, and 4 ± 14. BP-VAS and LP-VAS significantly improved by 6 weeks. Significant improvement in SF-36-MCS was observed by 6 weeks postoperatively, improvement in MSPQ score was observed 3 months postoperatively, and improvement in the ZUNG depression score was observed 12 months postoperatively. No statistical difference occurred during the remainder of follow-up for any outcome measured once improvement reached statistical significance. Eighteen patients were somatized preoperatively, 67% of which were nonsomatized 1 year postoperatively. Ten patients were clinically depressed preoperatively, 70% of which were nondepressed 1 year postoperatively. Improvement in SF-36-MCS, ZUNG, and MSPQ correlated (P < .001) with improvement in BP-VAS and LP-VAS. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients somatized or depressed preoperatively returned to good mental well-being postoperatively. Improvement in pain and overall mental well-being was seen immediately after discectomy. Improvement in somatic anxiety and depression occurred months later. Microdiscectomy significantly improves pain-associated depression, somatic anxiety, and mental well-being in patients with herniated lumbar disc.
A Bayesian Analysis of the Stock Price Decomposition * *

This paper employs the state-space model to reexamine the fundamental issue in finance about whether it is the expected returns or the expected dividends growth that is primarily responsible for the stock price variations. We use Bayesian methods to conduct inference and show that there is a substantial uncertainty about the contributions of expected returns and expected dividends to the fluctuation in the price-dividend ratio when using the aggregate returns and dividends data. The substantial uncertainty of the contributions results from the model being weakly identified, in the sense of Nelson and Startz (2007). Our finding challenges the long held notion in the existing literature that it is the expected returns that contribute most to the price-dividend variations and calls for further investigations using more disaggregated data.
The management of primary hyperparathyroidism

Recent improvements in parathyroid imaging have led to renewed interest in the criteria for, and the surgical approach to, parathyroidectomy. It therefore seemed appropriate to review current evidence relating to the evaluation and management of primary hyperparathyroidism for those working within a general endocrine service. The recommendations are based on an electronic search spanning the past decade using the search terms hyperparathyroidism, management and parathyroidectomy/surgery, but we have also included key publications outside this period. The findings have been graded systematically (Appendix), according to the quality of the information available, to indicate the level of evidence on which they are based.
Failed intubation

Between 1978 and 1983, the tracheas of eight patients could not be intubated in the maternity unit of St James' University Hospital, Leeds. The incidence of failed intubation on our labour ward is approximately one for every 300 general anaesthetics given. The results of postoperative investigations in these patients are reported.
The development of prosociality from adolescence to early adulthood: the role of effortful control.

OBJECTIVE The present longitudinal study examined the development of self-reported prosociality (i.e., the tendency to enact prosocial behaviors) from adolescence to early adulthood and its prediction from teacher-reported effortful control (i.e., dispositional regulation) at age 13. METHOD Participants were 573 (276 girls) Italian adolescents aged approximately 13 (M = 12.98, SD = 0.80) at the first assessment and 21 (M = 21.23, SD = 0.67) at the last assessment. The study used three different cohorts recruited across ten years (from 1994 to 2004) from a larger longitudinal project with a multiple-cohort design. RESULTS Latent growth curve modeling indicated that the overall level of prosociality declined until approximately age 17 with a subsequent slight rebound until age 21. Significant inter-individual variability in developmental trends of prosociality in males and females was observed. Youths' effortful control was related to a lesser decline of prosociality in adolescence. CONCLUSIONS Being able to regulate one's own emotions and behaviors in early adolescence may not only affect the tendency to behave prosocially, but also counter the self-centered tendencies observed across this phase of development.
CONDITIONS FOR THE SPREAD OF CONSPICUOUS WARNING SIGNALS: A NUMERICAL MODEL WITH NOVEL INSIGHTS

Abstract The initial evolution of conspicuous warning signals presents an evolutionary problem because selection against rare conspicuous signals is presumed to be strong, and new signals are rare when they first arise. Several possible solutions have been offered to solve this apparent evolutionary paradox, but disagreement persists over the plausibility of some of the proposed mechanisms. In this paper, we construct a deterministic numerical simulation model that allows us to derive the strength of selection on novel warning signals in a wide range of biologically relevant situations. We study the effects of predator psychology (learning, rate of mistaken attacks, and neophobia) on selection. We also study the how prey escape, predation intensity, number of predators, and abundance of different prey types affects selection. The model provides several important results. Selection on novel warning signals is number rather than frequency dependent. In most cases, there exists a threshold number of aposematic individuals below which aposematism is selected against and above which aposematism is selected for. Signal conspicuousness (which increases detection rate) and distinctiveness (which allows predator to distinguish defended from nondefended prey) have opposing effects on evolution of warning signals. A more conspicuous warning signal cannot evolve unless it makes the prey more distinctive from palatable prey, reducing mistaken attacks by predators. A novel warning signal that is learned quickly can spread from lower abundance more easily than a signal that is learned more slowly. However, the relative rate at which the resident signal and the novel signal are learned is irrelevant for the spread of the novel signal. Long-lasting neophobia can facilitate the spread of novel warning signals. Individual selection via the ability of defended prey to escape from predator is not likely to facilitate evolution of conspicuous warning signals if both the resident (cryptic) morph and the novel morph have the same escape probability. Predation intensity (defined as the proportion of palatable prey eaten by the predator) has a strong effect on selection. More intense predation results in strong selection against rare signals, but also strong selective advantage to common signals. The threshold number of aposematic individuals is lower when predation is intense. Thus, the evolution of warning signals may be more likely in environments where predation is intense. The effect of numbers of predators depends on whether predation intensity also changes. When predation intensity is constant, increasing numbers of predators raises the threshold number of aposematic individuals, and thus makes evolution of aposematism more difficult. If predation intensity increases in parallel with number of predators, the threshold number of aposematic individuals does not change much, but selection becomes more intense on both sides of the threshold.
Clinical Nurse Specialists as Leaders in Rapid Response

The purposes of this article were to provide background information about rapid response teams (RRTs), to describe the actual and potential outcomes of RRTs, to define the potential role of the clinical nurse specialist in leading RRTs, and to provide recommendations for implementation of RRTs. Rapid response teams provide the opportunity for early intervention for patients demonstrating clinical decline before they reach a point of no return. The long-standing practice of waiting for intensive intervention (code blue) until the patient experiences cardiopulmonary arrest has shown poor outcomes, bringing this practice into question. Although research results are mixed, there is evidence to suggest that the successful use of RRTs results in clinically significant patient outcomes as evidenced by decreased cardiopulmonary arrests and decreased rates in mortality. Other positive patient, nursing, and organizational outcomes can result from RRTs and are discussed. Clinical nurse specialists are uniquely qualified to provide leadership in the development and implementation of RRTs and the monitoring of outcomes. As RRTs become a more common standard practice, further research is needed to examine their benefits and to further refine effective early intervention for high-risk patients.
Localization and Suppression of a Kinetic Defect in Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Folding*

A growing body of evidence indicates that the most common cystic fibrosis-causing mutation, ΔF508, alters the ability of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein to fold and transit to the plasma membrane. Here we present evidence that the ΔF508 mutation affects a step on the folding pathway prior to formation of the ATP binding site in the nucleotide binding domain (NBD). Notably, stabilization of the native state with 4 mm ATP does not alter the temperature-dependent folding yield of the mutant ΔF508 NBD1 in vitro. In contrast, glycerol, which promotes ΔF508-CFTR maturation in vivo, increases the folding yield of NBD1ΔF and reduces the off pathway rate in vitro, although it does not significantly alter the free energy of stability. Likewise a second site mutation, R553M, which corrects the maturation defect in vivo, is a superfolder which counters the effects of ΔF508 on the temperature-dependent folding yield in vitro, but does not significantly alter the free energy of stability. A disease-causing mutation, G551D, which does not alter the maturation of CFTR in vivo but rather its function as a chloride channel, and the S549R maturation mutation have no discernible effect on the folding of the domain. These results demonstrate that ΔF508 is a kinetic folding mutation that affects a step early in the process, and that there is a significant energy barrier between the native state and the step affected by the mutation precluding the use of native state ligands to promote folding. The implications for protein folding in general are that the primary sequence may not necessarily simply define the most stable native structure, but rather a stable structure that is kinetically accessible.
Episodic Psychic Symptoms in the General Population

Summary: The frequency of some episodic psychic symptoms (dysmnesic, perceptual, and experiential) was determined in a 2,500‐subject general population sample. Correlations with some risk factors eventually associated with nervous system dysfunctions (seizure history, head injury, car accident, hospitalization, febrile illness, and birth injury) were calculated. Subjects with one or several risk factors were more likely to report episodic psychic phenomena in daily life. Significant correlations of episodic psychic phenomena with sleep disorders, headache, allergies, and a history of learning disabilities were observed. We propose that some subclinical dysfunctions can be associated with the appearance of episodic psychic phenomena in otherwise normal subjects.
Experience and Latency to Achieve Stereopsis

This study assessed perceptual learning effects with complex random-dot stereograms. Observers were shown the same complex anaglyph five times daily, for four consecutive days, and latencies to achieve stereopsis were recorded. Two-factor repeated-measures analysis of variance yielded significant effects of days, trials, and days-by-trials interaction. Latency to achieve stereopsis decreases over trials each day, but this decrease is not completely transferred across days. It is concluded that observers must, in some sense, “re-learn” how to perceive complex stereograms if subsequent presentations occur over more than one day.
A retrospective study of cardiotoxicities induced by 5-fluouracil (5-FU) and 5-FU based chemotherapy regimens in Pakistani adult cancer patients at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Center.

OBJECTIVE To study cardiotoxicities, especially bradycardia in cancer patients treated with 5-Fluouracil and 5-Fluouracil based chemotherapy regimens in Pakistani population. METHODS Data was extracted from the medical records of all diagnosed cancer patients at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center registered between January 2002 and December 2004 receiving 5- Fluouracil based chemotherapy regimens. The data was analysed retrospectively, including electrocardiogram and cardiac markers. Pearson's Correlation coefficient was calculated to see any possible correlation between 5-Fluouracil alone and 5-Fluouracil based regimens and cardiotoxicity, and other variables. RESULTS Symptomatic cardiotoxicity was observed in 60 (19.93%) out of 301 patients whose cases were part of the study. Bradycardia was the most common cardiotoxicity and was observed in 36 (11.96%) patients. Nine (2.99%) mortalities were also observed. The incidence of cardiotoxicity was not significantly different between the patients with and without pre-existing cardiovascular disease (p = 0.095) and having negative correlation - 0.305. Cardiotoxicities were more common with Continuous Infusion (CI) of 5-Fluouracil, radiotherapy concurrent with 5-Fluouracil and when 5-Fluouracil was used in combination with Cisplatinum (CDDP). CONCLUSION Cardiotoxicities were more prevalent when 5-Fluouracil was used along with concurrent radiotherapy and with Cisplatinum and when administered in continuous infusion pattern. Hence, 5-Fluouracil and 5-Fluouracil based chemotherapy regimens cause cardiotoxicities, especially bradycardia, in a significant number of cancer patients in Pakistani population.
Common Errors: How to (and Not to) Control for Unobserved Heterogeneity

Controlling for unobserved heterogeneity (or "common errors"), such as industry-specific shocks, is a fundamental challenge in empirical research.This paper discusses the limitations of two approaches widely used in corporate finance and asset pricing research: demeaning the dependent variable with respect to the group (e.g., "industry-adjusting") and adding the mean of the group's dependent variable as a control. We show that these methods produce inconsistent estimates and can distort inference. In contrast, the fixed effects estimator is consistent and should be used instead. We also explain how to estimate the fixed effects model when traditional methods are computationally infeasible.
WAIS-IV Digit Span Variables: Are They Valuable for Use in Predicting TOMM and MSVT Failure?

The Digit Span (DS) task in the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition differs substantially from earlier versions of the measure, with one of the major changes being the addition of a sequencing component. In the present investigation, the usefulness of the new sequencing task and other DS variables (i.e., DS Age-Scaled Score, DS Forward Total, DS Backward Total, and Reliable DS) was investigated with regard to the ability of these variables to predict negative response bias. Negative response bias was first defined and examined using below-cutoff performance on the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) (N = 99). Then, for comparison purposes, negative response bias was examined using below-cutoff performance on the Medical Symptom Validity Test (MSVT; N = 95). Study participants included primarily middle-aged outpatients at a Veterans Affairs medical center. Findings from this retrospective analysis showed that, regardless of whether the TOMM or the MSVT was used as the negative response bias criterion, of all the DS variables examined, DS Sequencing Total showed the best classification accuracy. Yet, due to its relatively low positive and negative predictive power, DS Sequencing Total is not recommended for use in isolation to identify negative response bias.
Reflections on the attainment of puberty in the rat: have circadian signals a role to play in its onset?

The control of the onset of puberty, or the ability to procreate successfully, is as little understood today as it was 10 or 20 years ago. However, with respect to the development of mechanisms subserving the production and regulation of sex cells in the rat, much new information has accrued over the past few years. Since puberty is characterized by the integration and synchronization of such mechanisms it may be profitable, as a start to this symposium, to collate and attempt to resynthesize some of the available data. and the stricted oestrus. various events on which adult reproductive activity depends may be different
The Effect of the Shiverer Mutation on Myelin Basic Protein Expression in Homozygous and Heterozygous Mouse Brain

We report (a) that the shiverer mutation has pleiotropic phenotypic effects on myelin basic protein expression in the CNS of homozygous (shi/shi) mice and (b) that each of the effects of the shiverer allele is expressed co‐dominantly with the wild‐type allele in heterozygous (+/shi) animals. First, the total amount of myelin basic protein, as determined by radioimmunoassay, that accumulates in the CNS is approximately 0.1% of the wildtype amount in shi/shi animals and approximately 50% in +/shi animals. Second, the four major forms of myelin basic protein, with molecular weights of 21,500, 18,500, 17,000, and 14,000, that are present in wild‐type mouse CNS are undetectable in either whole brain or purified myelin of shi/shi animals, and each of the four proteins is reduced commensurately in brain and myelin of +shi animals. Third, the small amount of myelin basic protein‐related material that does accumulate in the shi/shi brain consists of several polypeptides, with molecular weights ranging from 25,000 to 100,000, the pattern of which is different from that found in wild‐type brain. The pattern of myelin basic protein‐related polypeptides in +lshi brain is a composite of the wild type and the shiverer mutant. Fourth, messenger RNA from shi/shi brain, when translated in vitro, encodes a set of myelin basic protein‐related polypeptides qualitatively similar to that encoded by wild‐type messenger RNA, except that the 18,500 and 14,000 translation products are greatly reduced, while other myelin basic protein‐related translation products are spared. The pattern of myelin basic protein‐related translation products for +/shi messenger RNA is intermediate between the patterns for +/+ and shi/shi messenger RNAs. The results suggest that the genetic lesion in the shiverer mutation impinges on the structural gene (or genes) encoding myelin basic protein or on a cis‐acting regulatory element controlling that gene (or genes).
Hybrid 3D Rendering of Large Map Data for Crisis Management

In this paper we investigate the use of games technologies for the research and the development of 3D representations of real environments captured from GIS information and open source map data. Challenges involved in this area concern the large data-sets to be dealt with. Some existing map data include errors and are not complete, which makes the generation of realistic and accurate 3D environments problematic. The domain of application of our work is crisis management which requires very accurate GIS or map information. We believe the use of creating a 3D virtual environment using real map data whilst correcting and completing the missing data, improves the quality and performance of crisis management decision support system to provide a more natural and intuitive interface for crisis managers. Consequently, we present a case study into issues related to combining multiple large datasets to create an accurate representation of a novel, multi-layered, hybrid real-world maps. The hybrid map generation combines LiDAR, Ordnance Survey, and OpenStreetMap data to generate 3D cities spanning 1 km2. Evaluation of initial visualised scenes is presented. Initial tests consist of a 1 km2 landscape map containing up to 16 million vertices’ and run at an optimal 51.66 frames per-second.