Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lack of effect of Lactobacillus on gastrointestinal bacterial colonization in premature infants

Studies were carried out on premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit to determine the effect of feeding of lactobacilli on colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by antibiotic-resistant gram-negative enteric organisms. Thirty premature infants were matched by birth weight and gestational age, randomized and fed double blind either lactobacilli-containing formula or non-lactobacilli-containing formula within 72 hours of delivery. The two study groups were screened weekly by culture for stool lactobacilli, for gram-negative bacteria and for antibiotic resistance of these bacteria. Lactobacilli were cultured from the stools of 13 of 15 patients receiving lactobacilli and from 3 of 15 patients not receiving lactobacilli (P < 0.001). Gram-negative enteric organisms were isolated during 40 of the 86 weeks (47%) of hospitalization for patients receiving lactobacilli and during 28 of 57 weeks (49%) for patients not receiving lactobacilli. There was no significant difference between the study groups in the number of resistant organisms or in the proportion of resistant organisms per gram-negative enteric isolates (4 of 40 vs. 0 of 28). These results suggest that facultative gram-negative enteric bacterial colonization, with either total or aminoglycoside-resistant strains, is not decreased by oral feedings of Lactobacillus acidophilus in premature infants.
In vitro transesterification of cocaethylene (ethylcocaine) in the presence of ethanol. esterase-mediated ethyl ester exchange esterase-mediated ethyl ester exchange.

This study reports that cocaethylene undergoes an esterase-mediated ethyl ester exchange with ethanol, resulting in an increase in the apparent in vitro t1/2, compared with control conditions. Homogenized liver from male Sprague Dawley rats in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer was centrifuged at 9000g, and the resulting supernatant (S9) fraction was collected. Tubes containing the rat S9 fraction and 50 microM cocaethylene plus aqueous buffer (control), 50 mM ethanol, or 51. 3 mM 2H6-ethanol were incubated at 37 degrees C for 4 hr. Samples were collected from the incubation tubes at various times, extracted with a solid-phase extraction system, and assayed for cocaethylene and 2H5-cocaethylene by GC/MS. Concentration-time profiles were constructed and kinetic parameters were determined. The experiment was repeated in the presence of specific and nonspecific esterase inhibitors. Enzyme kinetic parameters were also determined. Cocaethylene underwent ethyl ester exchange, being converted to 2H5-cocaethylene in the presence of 2H6-ethanol. The average apparent in vitro t1/2 value for cocaethylene (13.0 +/- 1.4 min) incubated with the S9 fraction and buffer only was increased approximately 5-fold (67.8 +/- 0.3 min) in the presence of ethanol. Formation of 2H5-cocaethylene was totally blocked with the addition of bis-(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate but was unaffected by physostigmine. The intrinsic metabolite formation clearance of 2H5-cocaethylene from cocaethylene and 2H6-ethanol (1.92 +/- 0.03 microl/min.mg protein) was several times greater than the corresponding value for cocaethylene formation from cocaine and ethanol (0.94 +/- 0.01 microl/min.mg protein) or 2H6-ethanol (0.87 +/- 0.04 microl/min.mg protein).
Mating-Type Inheritance and Maturity Times in Crosses between Subspecies of TETRAHYMENA PIGMENTOSA.

Subspecies 6 and 8 of T. pigmentosa (formerly syngens 6 and 8 of T. pyriformis) share a mating-type system controlled by three alleles with "peck-order" dominance at a single locus. The system is apparently closed and limited to three mating types that are homologous, but not identical, in the subspecies. These relationships are reflected in new mating-type designations. -The viability in some intersyngenic crosses is excellent, and the inheritance of major mating types in first-generation hybrids and their progeny follows the pattern of subspecies 8. -The period of immaturity is shorter than that previously reported for subspecies 8, with 50% of the subclones maturing between 46 and 100 fissions after conjugation. Maturity curves are generally sigmoid, but some are apparently biphasic. The onset of maturity in triplicate sublines from the same synclone is usually highly correlated.
Determinants of recall and recall bias in studying drug and chemical exposure in pregnancy.

Case-control studies on effects of drugs in pregnancy rely heavily on maternal recall. At the Motherisk Program in Toronto we counsel women during early pregnancy on the risk of drug and chemical exposure; subsequently, we follow up the outcome of pregnancy after birth. This cohort has given us an opportunity to assess the magnitude of recall of early pregnancy exposure and determinants likely to affect it in 145 consecutive cases. The mean recall of exposure identity was 62%, while accurate recall of timing of exposure was 37% and of dosage 24%. Exposures that prompted the clinic visit, chronic therapeutic exposures, environmental agents, and known teratogens were recalled significantly better than were other exposures. Accurate report of smoking was significantly higher than of alcohol use (79.4% vs. 59%, respectively, P = .0002). The number of agents consumed by the pregnant woman negatively correlated with her recall; mean recall of 1 agent was 85% vs. only 40% recall of 4 agents. Women greater than or equal to 30 years of age recalled significantly worse (mean +/- SEM, 52 +/- 4%) than women younger than 30 (70 +/- 4%), P = . 002) despite a similar mean number of exposures. No difference in mean recall was found between women having normal (n = 112) or adverse pregnancy outcome (n = 33). There was a recall bias in reporting alcohol consumption; postnatally, women with adverse outcome tended to report significantly less than the amount initially reported by them.
Innovative Originality, Profitability, and Stock Returns

We propose that owing to limited investor attention and skepticism of complexity, firms with greater innovative originality (IO) will be undervalued, especially for firms with higher valuation uncertainty, lower attention, and greater sensitivity of future profitability to IO. We find that IO strongly positively predicts firms’ profitability and abnormal stock returns, especially among those firms suggested by the model. The return predictive power of IO is robust to extensive asset pricing controls, to an alternative IO measure, and across sample periods. Although we do not rule out risk-based explanations, the most plausible interpretation of the evidence is that the market undervalues IO.
Limulus amebocyte lysate assay for detection of endotoxin in patients with sepsis syndrome. AMCC Sepsis Project Working Group.

Clinical predictions alone are insufficiently accurate to identify patients with specific types of bloodstream infection; laboratory assays might improve such predictions. Therefore, we performed a prospective cohort study of 356 episodes of sepsis syndrome and did Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assays for endotoxin. The main outcome measures were bacteremia and infection due to gram-negative organisms; other types of infection were secondary outcomes. Assays were defined as positive if the result was > or = 0.4 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay units per milliliter. There were positive assays in 119 (33%) of 356 episodes. Assay positivity correlated with the presence of fungal bloodstream infection (P < .003) but correlated negatively with the presence of gram-negative organisms in the bloodstream (P = .04). A trend toward higher rates of mortality in the LAL assay-positive episodes was no longer present after adjusting for severity. Thus, results of LAL assay did not correlate with the presence of bacteremia due to gram-negative organisms or with mortality after adjusting for severity but did correlate with the presence of fungal bloodstream infection.
Sequence learning in individuals with behavioural limitations.

The production of sequences by two mentally retarded adults and a normally capable preschooler was assessed after each was trained to touch five physically dissimilar and nonrepresentative forms in an experimenter-specified order (denoted A1-->A2-->A3-->A4-->A5). Performance on the 10 constituent two-term sequences was examined (e.g. A-->A2, A2-->A3, A1-->A3 and A2-->A4). The probe data were largely consistent with the five-term sequence performance trained explicitly and suggest the formation of stimulus relations based on relative position rather than a rote stimulus-response chain. The procedures and results were replicated with a second five-term sequence (B1-->B2-->B3-->B4-->B5). The subjects' performances were also assessed on trials in which mixtures of the two sets of stimuli were presented as either two-term probes (e.g. A2-->B4 and B2-->A4; with all three subjects) or five-term probes (e.g. A1-->B2-->A3-->B4-->A5; with the two adult subjects). Again, the subjects' performances were consistent with their baseline training. The mixed-probe data extend prior research on sequence production and suggest the formation of classes of mutually substitutable sequence stimuli. The overall findings highlight the importance of experiential variables in the formation of ordinal relations in developmentally limited individuals.
An Asia-Pacific, double blind, placebo controlled, randomised study to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of tegaserod in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Background: Tegaserod has been shown to be an effective therapy for the multiple symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in Western populations. However, little information is available regarding the use of tegaserod in the Asia-Pacific population. Aims: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of tegaserod versus placebo in patients with IBS from the Asia-Pacific region. Patients: A total of 520 patients from the Asia-Pacific region with IBS, excluding those with diarrhoea predominant IBS. Methods: Patients were randomised to receive either tegaserod 6 mg twice daily (n=259) or placebo (n=261) for a 12 week treatment period. The primary efficacy variable (over weeks 1–4) was the response to the question: “Over the past week do you consider that you have had satisfactory relief from your IBS symptoms? ” Secondary efficacy variables assessed overall satisfactory relief over 12 weeks and individual symptoms of IBS. Results: The mean proportion of patients with overall satisfactory relief was greater in the tegaserod group than in the placebo group over weeks 1–4 (56% v 35%, respectively; p<0.0001) and weeks 1–12 (62% v 44%, respectively; p<0.0001). A clinically relevant effect was observed as early as week 1 and was maintained throughout the treatment period. Reductions in the number of days with at least moderate abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating, no bowel movements, and hard/lumpy stools were greater in the tegaserod group compared with the placebo group. Headache was the most commonly reported adverse event (12.0% tegaserod v 11.1% placebo). Diarrhoea led to discontinuation in 2.3% of tegaserod patients. Serious adverse events were infrequent (1.5% tegaserod v 3.4% placebo). Conclusions: Tegaserod 6 mg twice daily is an effective, safe, and well tolerated treatment for patients in the Asia-Pacific region suffering from IBS and whose main bowel symptom is not diarrhoea.
Dynamic asymmetry of phosphocreatine concentration and O2 uptake between the on‐ and off‐transients of moderate‐ and high‐intensity exercise in humans

The on‐ and off‐transient (i.e. phase II) responses of pulmonary oxygen uptake (V̇O2) to moderate‐intensity exercise (i.e. below the lactate threshold, θL) in humans has been shown to conform to both mono‐exponentiality and ‘on‐off’ symmetry, consistent with a system manifesting linear control dynamics. However above θL the V̇O2 kinetics have been shown to be more complex: during high‐intensity exercise neither mono‐exponentiality nor ‘on‐off’ symmetry have been shown to appropriately characterise the V̇O2 response. Muscle [phosphocreatine] ([PCr]) responses to exercise, however, have been proposed to be dynamically linear with respect to work rate, and to demonstrate ‘on‐off’ symmetry at all work intenisties. We were therefore interested in examining the kinetic characteristics of the V̇O2 and [PCr] responses to moderate‐ and high‐intensity knee‐extensor exercise in order to improve our understanding of the factors involved in the putative phosphate‐linked control of muscle oxygen consumption. We estimated the dynamics of intramuscular [PCr] simultaneously with those of V̇O2 in nine healthy males who performed repeated bouts of both moderate‐ and high‐intensity square‐wave, knee‐extension exercise for 6 min, inside a whole‐body magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) system. A transmit‐receive surface coil placed under the right quadriceps muscle allowed estimation of intramuscular [PCr]; V̇O2 was measured breath‐by‐breath using a custom‐designed turbine and a mass spectrometer system. For moderate exercise, the kinetics were well described by a simple mono‐exponential function (following a short cardiodynamic phase for V̇O2,), with time constants (τ) averaging: τV̇O2,on 35 ± 14 s (±s.d.), τ[PCr]on 33 ± 12 s, τV̇O2,off 50 ± 13 s and τ[PCr]off 51 ± 13 s. The kinetics for both V̇O2 and [PCr] were more complex for high‐intensity exercise. The fundamental phase expressing average τ values of τV̇O2,on 39 ± 4 s, τ[PCr]on 38 ± 11 s, τV̇O2,off 51 ± 6 s and τ[PCr]off 47 ± 11 s. An associated slow component was expressed in the on‐transient only for both V̇O2 and [PCr], and averaged 15.3 ± 5.4 and 13.9 ± 9.1 % of the fundamental amplitudes for V̇O2 and [PCr], respectively. In conclusion, the τ values of the fundamental component of [PCr] and V̇O2 dynamics cohere to within 10 %, during both the on‐ and off‐transients to a constant‐load work rate of both moderate‐ and high‐intensity exercise. On average, ≈90 % of the magnitude of the V̇O2 slow component during high‐intensity exercise is reflected within the exercising muscle by its [PCr] response.
Inequality of Opportunity in Income and Consumption: the Middle East and North Africa Region in Comparative Perspective

Social justice has been a central theme in the political turmoil affecting the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Perplexingly, standard measures of inequality are not particularly high for MENA countries. One possible explanation for this apparent contradiction is that observed inequality may be masking a large share of inequality of opportunity, the unjustifiable type of inequality associated with social class or other circumstances over which an individual has no control. In this paper we extend the literature on inequality of opportunity in the MENA region by providing estimates of inequality of opportunity in incomes and consumption for Egypt, Jordan and Tunisia. Our results show low levels of inequality of opportunity, as well as inequality, in income measures in the countries examined.
The Impact of Social Capital on Crowdfunding Performance

This study aims to analyze the effects of social capitalmnamely structural,relational, and cognitive dimensionsmon crowdfunding performance usingKitabisa.com as a case study for 2013-2015. Using robust ordinary leastnsquares methods, we find two important results. Structural dimension, which isnmeasured by Facebook friends owned by an entrepreneur, affects crowdfundingsuccess. The cognitive dimension, which is measured by the number of wordsthat are written by entrepreneurs in the platform, also affects crowdfundingopportunities in order to wage a successful campaign. Using logistic regressiontechnique, this study finds the same result, namely that the structural dimensionand cognitive dimension have a positive relationship to the performance ofcrowdfunding. From a logistic regression, we can conclude that the number ofFacebook friends and the amount of words to describe the project significantlypositively influence the chances of success of the project; the more the number offriends and the number of words on a project, the greater chance of a project toachieve success. This study concludes Facebook friends owned by entrepreneurand number of words affect positively crowdfunding opportunities toward asuccessful campaign.
Use of a New Device, the MicroWick™, to Deliver Medication to the Inner Ear

A new procedure for delivering medication directly to the inner ear has been developed. This delivery system, called the MicroWick™, involves the use of a small wick that is inserted through a tympanic membrane vent tube into the round window niche. Once the wick has been inserted, the patient can self-administer eardrops into the ear canal, where they are absorbed by the wick and transported to the round window membrane and to the inner ear fluids. Inserting the wick is a minor procedure that is performed in the office. This paper describes the indications for and use of the MicroWick.
Pretreatment, ultrasound-guided cutting needle biopsies in childhood renal tumors.

BACKGROUND The current International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP)-10 protocol does not allow pretreatment histological classification of low-stage renal tumors in children for fear of needle tract recurrences. The aims of this retrospective study were to evaluate the safety, sensitivity, and specificity of ultrasound-guided cutting needle biopsies (UCNB) performed at our institution in pediatric patients with renal tumors. PROCEDURE Of 28 pediatric patients presenting with a renal tumor between 1988 and 1996, 25 underwent biopsy with the Biopty biopsy instrument (needle diameter 1.2 mm). The preoperative biopsy and nephrectomy slides were reviewed by a SIOP reference pathologist. The patients' hospital records were reviewed and biopsy complications were noted. RESULTS At review of the nephrectomy slides, the diagnoses were: Wilms tumor (16 patients), with anaplasia in one case, rhabdoid tumor (2 patients), neuroblastoma (2 patients), mesoblastic nephroma (2 patients), clear cell sarcoma (1 patient), malignant teratoma (1 patient), and renal cell carcinoma (1 patient). No needle tract recurrence or other major complication was observed. The only complication was local pain at the biopsy site, which occurred in 24% (6/25) of the cases. The sensitivity of UCNB was 76% (19/25); five biopsies did not yield diagnostic material and one was not concordant. All cases of Wilms tumor were correctly diagnosed by UCNB, but only 33% (3/9) of the other tumors. CONCLUSIONS In all cases of Wilms tumor a correct diagnosis was made. The overall sensitivity was 76%. UCNB proved to be a safe procedure that was not associated with needle tract recurrence or other serious complications.
The use of simple image analysers in lung morphometry

We have used several commercially available image analysers to measure the inter‐alveolar wall distance on histologic sections of animal and human lungs. Inter‐ and intra‐observer variations using these machines are small, and very similar results are obtained using different machines. The recorded result depends on the magnification used since higher resolution produces more intercepts. The plane in which the measurement is made affects the result, representing the difference in shrinkage from fixed tissue to stained slides in the horizontal and vertical planes. Machine‐measured inter‐alveolar wall distances are smaller than those measured by humans because of the spurious intercepts made by the image analysers. However, the measurements are highly correlated and human‐measured inter‐alveolar wall distances can be closely predicted from the machine‐measured ones. The number of alveoli per unit volume is less well predicted from the average inter‐alveolar wall distance. Image analysers may possibly play a useful role in making similar simple measurements in other organs.
Stock Liquidity and Second Blockholder as Drivers of Corporate Value: Evidence from Latin America

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between firm value and blockholders in Latin America. Econometric results for a comprehensive data set of more than 550 firms listed in the six largest stock markets of the region support a positive effect of variables measuring the existence, contestability, dispersion and identity of blockholder on performance (Tobin's Q) only for highly liquid stocks. The identity of the second largest blockholder (family, foreign, financial or the State) emerges as critical for such effects. The study supports that the voice and exit models are complementary rather than substitute mechanisms for firm corporate governance.
A Robust and Accurate Two-Stage Approach for Automatic Recovery of Distal Locking Holes in Computer-Assisted Intramedullary Nailing of Femoral Shaft Fractures

It has been recognized that one of the most difficult steps in intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fractures is the distal locking- the insertion of distal transverse interlocking screws, for which it is necessary to know the positions and orientations of the distal locking holes (DLHs) of the intramedullary nail (IMN). This paper presents a robust and accurate approach for solving this problem based on two calibrated and registered fluoroscopic images. The problem is formulated as a two-stage model-based optimal fitting process. The first stage, nail detection, automatically estimates the axis of the distal part of the IMN (DP-IMN) by iteratively fitting a cylindrical model to the images. The second stage, pose recovery, resolves the translations and the rotations of the DLHs around the estimated axis by iteratively fitting the geometrical models of the DLHs to the images. An iterative best matched projection point (IBMPP) algorithm is combined with random sample strategies to effectively and robustly solve the fitting problems in both stages. We designed and conducted comprehensive experiments to validate the robustness and the accuracy of the present approach. Our in vitro experiments show on average less than 14 s execution time on a Linux machine, a mean angular error of 0.48deg (std = 0.25deg), and a mean translational error of 0.09 mm (std = 0.04 mm). We conclude that the present approach is fast, robust, and accurate for distal locking applications.
Effectiveness of Synthetic Polyurethane Foam as a Nasal Packing Material in Endoscopic Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy

Purpose:To compare the effects of 2 nasal packing materials, synthetic polyurethane foam (absorbable) and expandable polyvinyl acetate (nonabsorbable), on the surgical success rate and postoperative complications after endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (EDCR). Methods:A retrospective medical review of 459 patients (580 eyes) who underwent EDCR for primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction at Korea University Guro Hospitals from January 2009 to February 2014. Surgical success rate (anatomical, functional), postoperative complications (granuloma, synechia, bleeding, and infection) were compared between the 2 groups, absorbable (318 eyes) and nonabsorbable (262 eyes). Results:The absorbable group showed better results in surgical success rate regarding anatomical (90.5% versus 76.3%, P = 0.00) and functional (89.3% versus 75.9%, P = 0.00). Granulomas developed less frequently in the absorbable group (24.5% versus 38.9%, P = 0.00). Also, bleeding and crust were less frequent in the absorbable group (P = 0.00). Infections were less frequent in the nonabsorbable group (1.52%) compared with the absorbable group (7.86%, P = 0.00). The rate of revision surgery was lower in the absorbable group (7.86% versus 20.9%, P = 0.00). As for the influence of secondary outcomes to the surgical success by multiple logistic regression, granulomas had the largest effect on surgical success either anatomical or functional (odds ratio = 82.393 to anatomical and 44.058 to functional). Synechia had the second largest effect on surgical success (odds ratio = 11.897 to anatomical and 9.605 to functional). Conclusions:The authors suggest that using a synthetic polyurethane foam as a nasal packing material is not only a surgical option, but also a crucial and essential procedure in EDCR.