Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bolus versus steady‐state infusion for determination of CSF outflow resistance

For rapid changes in cerebrospinal fluid volume an exponential relationship was demonstrated between CSF pressure and CSF volume in 15 cats. This relationship was valid over a CSF pressure range from 7 to 50 mm Hg and for acute increases of up to 9% of total CSF volume (∼ 13 ml for humans). Our data agree well with previous reports for the cat. A similar relationship has been shown in the dog and in humans. It has been claimed that, given the equations for CSF bulk flow and the exponential relationship between CSF pressure and CSF volume, one can calculate CSF outflow resistance by observing the decay of CSF pressure after a bolus injection into the CSF space. This claim was evaluated in an additional 18 cats. In these animals CSF outflow resistance calculated by the bolus method was compared with resistance calculated by a steady‐state infusion method over the CSF outflow resistance range of 74 to 293 mm Hg/ml min−1. Resistance calculated by the bolus method underestimated resistance calculated by the steady‐state method, and this underestimate grew larger with increasing resistance. The bolus technique is therefore not a valid method for determining CSF outflow resistance. The explanation offered for these results is that the decay of CSF pressure after a bolus injection into the CSF space occurs not only because of runoff of the injected volume of CSF but also because of “pressure relaxation” of the brain parenchyma around the CSF space. The phenomenon of pressure relaxation was not considered in developing the equation for calculation of CSF outflow resistance by the bolus technique. The time dependency of pressure relaxation allows for a fundamental element of hysteresis within the CSF space. A method of quantifying this element of hysteresis is suggested.
Pairs trading with partial cointegration

Partial cointegration is a weakening of cointegration that allows for the ‘cointegrating’ residual to contain a random walk and a mean-reverting component. We derive its representation in state space, provide a maximum likelihood-based estimation routine, and a suitable likelihood ratio test. Then, we explore the use of partial cointegration as a means for identifying promising pairs and for generating buy and sell signals. Specifically, we benchmark partial cointegration against several classical pairs trading variants from 1990 until 2015, on a survivor bias free data-set of the S&P 500 constituents. We find annualized returns of more than 12% after transaction costs. These results can only partially be explained by common sources of systematic risk and are well superior to classical distance-based or cointegration-based pairs trading variants on our data-set.
Acute predictors for mortality after severe TBI in Spain: Gender differences and clinical data

Abstract Objective: The main objective of this study is to determine whether gender affects global mortality and functional outcome after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 629 patients with severe TBI (14.9% female) admitted to the ICU of a university hospital. Patients were split into gender groups to study potential differences in global mortality and functional outcome at ICU discharge and 6 months post-trauma using the GOS. The following variables were analysed: age, intracranial injury, injury mechanism, injury severity, factors contributing to secondary brain injury, monitoring level, treatment, complications, length of stay in the ICU and cause of death. Results: No differences were found between gender groups in neuromonitoring level or surgical procedures. Women had higher APACHE II scores, a higher incidence of pre-hospital hypotension, anaemia and transfusion and higher mortality rates in the ICU (OR = 1.74; 95% CI = 1.09–2.77) and 6 months post-trauma (OR = 1.65; 95% CI = 1.02–2.67). There were no significant differences in functional outcome at ICU discharge or 6 months post-injury. The multivariate analysis did not show gender as an independent predictive factor in mortality after severe TBI. Conclusion: In this study, gender was not found to be an independent predictor for poorer outcome after severe TBI.
Disappointing sensitivity of endoscopic markers for villous atrophy in a high-risk population: implications for celiac disease diagnosis during routine endoscopy

OBJECTIVE:Endoscopic markers of duodenal villous atrophy (VA) can facilitate diagnosis of celiac disease during routine upper GI endoscopy. We studied their sensitivity for VA in a large series of patients undergoing GI endoscopy specifically for duodenal biopsy. Poor sensitivity in this setting would have significant and adverse implications for their performance during routine endoscopy.METHODS:All patients with VA on duodenal biopsy performed for positive serum endomysial antibody (EmA) and/or clinical features suggestive of celiac disease were included. The second part of duodenum was inspected carefully for endoscopic markers using videogastroscopes.RESULTS:Of 129 patients studied, 99 (77%) had at least one endoscopic markers. The most commonly seen marker were a mosaic pattern mucosa (68 patients, 53%) and scalloping of duodenal folds (74 patients, 57%). The prevalence of markers was significantly lower for partial VA (15 of 26 patients, 58%) than for subtotal or total VA (84 of 103 patients, 82%) (p < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS:Endoscopic markers have disappointing sensitivity even in a population at high risk of celiac disease, particularly for partial VA. Their performance may be even poorer in an unselected dyspeptic population. Although they may help improve diagnosis rates among patients with nonspecific dyspeptic symptoms, many patients, particularly those with milder enteropathy, will be missed. As celiac disease is an important cause of dyspepsia, consideration should be given to serological screening to further improve diagnosis rates, as few centers will have the resources to routinely biopsy all patients.
Selective Retransplant After Graft Loss to Nonadherence: Success with a Second Chance

Nonadherence (NA) is a difficult posttransplant problem that can lead to graft loss. A retransplant is controversial because of a fear of recurrent NA. We reviewed our center's data base and identified 114 kidney recipients who lost their graft to overt NA; of this group, 35 (31%) underwent a retransplant after a thorough reevaluation. We compared this NA retransplant group to a control group of second transplant recipients who did not lose their first graft to overt NA (non‐NA) (n = 552). After 8 years of follow‐up, we found no significant differences between the groups in actuarial graft or patient survival rates, renal function, or the incidence of biopsy‐proven chronic rejection. However, 5 of 35 (14%) NA recipients versus 10 of 552 (2%) non‐NA recipients lost their retransplant to NA (p = 0.0001). Twenty of 35 (57%) of the NA group exhibited repeat NA behavior after retransplant. We conclude that prior graft loss to NA is associated with increased graft loss to NA after retransplant. However, the majority of NA retransplant recipients did well—with overall long‐term outcomes similar to those of the non‐NA group. With careful patient selection and aggressive intervention, prior overt NA should not be an absolute contraindication to retransplantation.
A comparison of visual responses of cat lateral geniculate nucleus neurones with those of ganglion cells afferent to them.

We compared visual responses of cat lateral geniculate nucleus (l.g.n.) neurones with those of retinal ganglion cells providing their afferent inputs. Quantitative studies were made on twenty such pairs; eight X on‐centre, seven Y on‐centre, two X off‐centre and three Y off‐centre pairs. Receptive field centre locations of cell pairs with correlated activities were very closely superimposed, having a mean centre displacement of 1.6 minutes of arc for X cells and 11 minutes of arc for Y cells. With flashed spots and annuli, responses of l.g. n. cells were almost always smaller than those of their retinal afferents, with peaks and troughs in ganglion cell responses being faithfully followed in the geniculate neurones. This is consistent with almost all impulses from the l.g. n. cell being triggered by the afferent feeding its centre. With spots of different sizes and contrasts, modulation of responses by l.g. n. inhibition was obvious, but effects were complex. With moving bright‐bar stimuli, although response histograms were clearly reshaped to some extent in the l.g. n. , peak firing rates under different stimulus conditions were often merely attenuated by a constant factor for most l.g. n. cells in comparison with their retinal inputs. For velocity tuning curves, a few cell pairs showed selective attenuation at high speeds, while others showed it at low speeds. All the latter group appeared to have more than one major excitatory afferent. These changes in velocity tuning occurred across the X/Y classification, so that differences in velocity preference of the X and Y systems is more blurred in the l.g. n. than in the retina.
DSGEs and PVARs: applications to macroeconomics

This thesis adopts DSGE and PVAR models to examine three questions in macroeconomics. The first chapter singles out some pitfalls that DSGE models face when a fraction of rule-of-thumb consumers is assumed in order to replicate the positive response of consumption to government spending shocks observed in SVAR models. The second chapter quantifies the importance of the tourism channel for the international transmission of cyclical fluctuations to the Mediterranean basin. We show that, absent tourism flows, the output effects in a typical destination country would be one-fourth smaller. The third chapter examines the impact of austerity shocks on labor markets in the euro area. We find that the cross-country responses of labor market variables differ, notwithstanding similar output multipliers, as institutional reforms and dedicated policy plans foster the link between fiscal impulses and the domestic labor market. Esta tesis adopta modelos DSGE y PVAR para examinar tres preguntas de macroeconomia. El primer capitulo identifica algunas dificultades que enfrentan los modelos DSGE cuando se supone que una fraccion de consumidores sea de tipo rule-of-thumb con el fin de replicar la respuesta positiva del consumo a los shocks de gasto publico que se observa en los modelos SVAR. El segundo capitulo cuantifica la importancia del canal de turismo para la transmision internacional de las fluctuaciones ciclicas en la cuenca mediterranea. Se demuestra que, ausentes los flujos de turismo, los efectos sobre el producto en un pais mediterraneo seria un cuarto menor. El tercer capitulo examina el impacto de los shocks de austeridad en los mercados laborales de la zona Euro. Encontramos que las respuestas de las variables del mercado laboral difieren entre los paises, no obstante multiplicadores de produccion similares. Las cuasas parecen estar relacionadas con reformas institucionales y planes de politica economica dedicados que fomentan el vinculo entre los impulsos fiscales y del mercado laboral nacional.
Decreased Stimulated GM-CSF Production and GM-CSF Gene Expression but Normal Numbers of GM-CSF Receptors in Human Term Newborns Compared with Adults

We investigated cord and adult production of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), expression of GM-CSF mRNA from unstimulated and activated mononuclear cells, and the affinity and presence of GM-CSF receptors on mature effector cells in an attempt to better understand the underlying pathophysiology of altered neonatal host defense. Utilizing 125I-GM-CSF as a ligand, Scatchard analysis revealed the presence of a single class affinity GM-CSF receptor with similar binding characteristics on both cord and adult peripheral PMN (kd = 44 and 39 pM) for adult and cord, respectively. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the number of GM-CSF receptors on cord versus adult neutrophils. Using a sandwich ELISA for measuring GM-CSF levels, we found nondetectable levels from supernatants of unstimulated cord and adult mononuclear cells and serum from cord and adult peripheral blood. However, there was a significant difference between cord and adult GM-CSF production from stimulated phytohemagglutinin and phorbol-12-myristate-6-acetate mononuclear cells (p < 0.02). Additionally, GM-CSF mRNA expression from activated cord mononuclear cells was significantly reduced after 6 h of stimulation compared with adults. Nuclear run-on experiments revealed no difference in transcriptional activation from activated cord and adult mononuclear cells. Actinomycin D transcriptional decay studies, however, demonstrated reduced GM-CSF half-life from activated cord versus adult mononuclear cells (t1/2 30 versus 100 min). These results suggest normal affinity and numbers of GM-CSF receptors on peripheral mature effector cells but decreased GM-CSF production and GM-CSF mRNA expression from activated cord versus adult mononuclear cells. Reduced GM-CSF mRNA expression and production may explain in part the difference in host defense between the newborn and the adult during states of increased demand.
Brucellosis in San Diego: Epidemiology and Species-Related Differences in Acute Clinical Presentations

Abstract: Although aggressive public health measures have greatly reduced the number of brucellosis cases in the United States, there is a resurgence of interest in this worldwide zoonosis because of its potential as a bioweapon and its 8-fold higher incidence in California, Texas, and the other borderlands between the United States and Mexico compared with the national rate. Accordingly, we reviewed the clinical records of 28 patients diagnosed at a university hospital in San Diego, CA, between 1979 and 2002 to look for new epidemiologic trends and to test the hypothesis that there are species-specific differences in clinical presentations. In contrast to the latest California-wide study completed in 1992, Brucella abortus infections were more common (73%) than Brucella melitensis after 1992, and women were more commonly infected (77% compared with 39%) than men. Major risk factors remained Hispanic ethnicity, travel to Mexico, and ingestion of nonpasteurized dairy products. Analysis of diagnostic procedures suggested that the traditional practice of prolonged incubation of blood cultures increased their sensitivity for Brucella, even in automated radiometric systems. Direct comparison of the clinical manifestations of infections with B. abortus and B. melitensis strongly supported differences in acute presentations. B. melitensis presented more acutely as fevers of unknown origin with statistically significant higher rates of abdominal tenderness, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia, and hepatic dysfunction. These results suggest that the epidemiology of brucellosis in California may be evolving, and they show, to our knowledge for the first time in a single series, that species-specific differences in presentations may account for some of the protean manifestations of brucellosis. Familiarity with manifestations of brucellosis and the optimal laboratory techniques for its diagnosis could help physicians protect the public against this reemerging, under-recognized zoonosis. Abbreviations: FUO = fever of unknown origin, SAT = slide agglutination test.
HOUSEHOLD SAVINGS IN TURKEY: EVIDENCE FROM MICRODATA

Since 2000 in Turkey, there has been a great growth the share of the household savings in private savings. Although there are exist huge literature related to determinants of saving rate rely on macro level data, these studies have limitation on reflect of household saving behavior because of ommiting heterogenities among households. For this reason, determining the effect of heterogenity of households on saving behaviour has great importance for representing main factors behind on households? saving behaviour.The main purpose of this study is to investigate the demographic determinants of household savings and examine the effect of these differences on saving rates in Turkey the period between 2003-2012 using Household Budget Surveys (HBS) providing by TURKSTAT. In this context, the research methodology consist of two-stage (i) modeling and analysis the determinants of savings using OLS method, (ii) examining the year effects via pooled OLS which allows to control for heteroscedasticity. According the findings revealed that method, demographics differences such as householder? s age , gender and education level, household size have notable role for explaining saving behavior of households.
Profitability - Capital Structure Trade Off: Case Of Publicly Romanian Companies

There is an increasing number of empirical works that test what drives firm profitability, since it is an objective and at the same time a frame of how a company is performing. The main aim of this paper is to test capital structure, noncurrent assets ratio and tax rate as determinants for profitability, with capital structure as main focus. Using a sample of 62 publicly Romanian for period 2001-2011 and panel data model the results suggest that financial statement variables considered are significant in gauging profitability. It was concluded that there is evidence for pecking order theory and firms with large amounts of noncurrent assets are under performing.
Tuning Parameters of the QoS-Aware Routing Protocol for Smart Grids Using Genetic Algorithm

ABSTRACT Smart Grid (SG) incorporates various data communication networks to cover the complicated power systems in an intelligent and efficient way. This network utilizes the mutual flows of the data and electricity to facilitate the relations among the network components. One of the most attractive areas in the SG is the routing optimization, by which the data transmission is accompanied by Quality of Service (QoS) assurance. In this article, we tune the suggested parameters of the genetic-algorithm-inspired QoS-aware routing protocol, namely Genetic Algorithm Stable Optimization Multiconstrained Routing (GASOMCR) protocol. The QoS requirements are extracted to monitor the degree of user satisfaction of the services as well as ensure the QoS existence in the routing approach. Different sets of parameters, i.e., packet loss, path loss, effective throughput, network criticality, network availability, packet transmission delay, and connection outage probability are used to assess the QoS of the SG. These parameters are analyzed and the behavior of the network cost function is determined for each of these parameters. Appropriate parameterization of the proposed GA is very effective in the performance convergence of the network. The results obtained by GASOMCR protocol show that the performance improvement, which is obtained from minimizing the network cost function as well as having the trade-off among the various proposed parameters, is obviously achieved.
Enalapril Normalizes Endothelium-Derived Hyperpolarizing Factor-Mediated Relaxation in Mesenteric Artery of Adult Hypertensive Rats Prenatally Exposed to Testosterone1

ABSTRACT Prenatal exposure to elevated testosterone levels induces adult life hypertension associated with selective impairments in endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF)-mediated relaxation in mesenteric arteries. We tested whether the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril restores EDHF function through regulating the activities of small (Kcnn3) and intermediate (Kcnn4) conductance calcium-activated potassium channels in mesenteric arteries. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were injected subcutaneously with vehicle or testosterone propionate (0.5 mg/kg/day from Gestation Day 15 to 19), and their 6-mo-old adult male offspring were examined. A subset of rats in these two groups was given enalapril (40 mg/kg/day) for 2 wk through drinking water. Blood pressures were assessed through carotid arterial catheter and endothelium-dependent mesenteric arterial EDHF relaxation, using wire myography. Ace and Kcnn3 and Kcnn4 channel expression levels were also examined. Renal and vascular Ace expression and plasma angiotensin II levels were increased in testosterone offspring. Blood pressure levels were significantly higher in testosterone offspring than in controls, and treatment with enalapril significantly attenuated blood pressure in testosterone offspring. EDHF relaxation in testosterone offspring was reduced compared to that in controls, and it was significantly restored by enalapril treatment. Kcnn4 channel expression and function were similar between control and testosterone rats, but it was not affected by enalapril treatment. Relaxation mediated by Kcnn3 was impaired in testosterone offspring, and it was normalized by enalapril treatment. Furthermore, enalapril treatment restored expression levels of Kcnn3 channels. These findings suggest that enalapril has a positive influence on endothelial function with improvement in EDHF relaxation through normalization of Kcnn3 expression and activity.
Tamale Lesson: A case study of a narrative health communication intervention

Abstract Cervical cancer is the third most common type of cancer in women globally. Latinas carry a disproportionate burden of this disease. In the United States, when compared with non-Hispanic Whites, Latinas endure much higher incidence rates (13.86 vs. 7.70 per 100 000) with mortality rates 1.5 times greater than for non-Hispanic White women. In order to address this disparity, a multidisciplinary team engaged in a study to test the effectiveness of a narrative, developed in culturally specific ways as a behavioral change communication tool. This case study presents lessons learned from Tamale Lesson, a narrative health communication intervention aimed at Mexican-American women that promotes cervical cancer screening (via Pap test) and prevention (via use of the Human Papillomavirus vaccine). Mexican American women who viewed Tamale Lesson showed a significant increase in cervical cancer screening, reducing a disparities in cancer screening found at baseline. This case study highlights the benefits of creating a culturally grounded narrative intervention, and underscores the powerful potential of narrative/storytelling in eliminating health disparities in the United States and around the world.