Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide to enhance MRA of the renal and coronary arteries: studies in human patients.

OBJECTIVE Our goal was to determine the feasibility of using an intravascular MR contrast agent to improve 3D MRA. MATERIALS AND METHODS Three-dimensional TOF MRA was performed in nine patients both prior to and following the administration of an ultrasmall particle superparamagnetic iron oxide contrast agent (AMI 227). The lengths of both renal arteries were measured from the maximum intensity projection (MIP) images as well as the individual partitions. Seven of these patients also were studied by a 3D coronary artery MRA sequence. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) measurements of the right coronary artery were determined both prior to and following the administration of AMI 227. Statistical analysis of both renal artery lengths and right coronary SNR and CNR was performed using a one tailed paired t test comparing pre- and postcontrast images. RESULTS The renal artery lengths significantly increased (right and artery: 30%, p = 0.001; left renal artery: 25%, p < 0.008) when measured from the individual axial slice partitions. No significant increase in length was observed on the MIP images following contrast. In the right coronary artery, the SNR increased by an average of 80% (p = 0.008) and CNR increased by an average of 109% (p = 0.007). Increased background signal and superimposed venous structures reduced the measurable lengths of the renal arteries from the MIP images. CONCLUSION These studies support the hypothesis that 3D MRA in the body will benefit from the use of intravascular contrast agents. Nevertheless, conventional MIP processing is unable to reveal the full advantage of the contrast improvement.
Transient action of the endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase (ecNOS) mediates the development of thermal hypersensitivity following peripheral nerve injury

Neuropathic pain is a disabling feature of peripheral nerve injury. Following injury, local inflammation and the release of mediators may contribute to ectopic mechanosensitivity of the nerve‐trunk and pain hypersensitivity. In the present study we investigated whether nitric oxide (NO) action and local nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression play a role in pain hypersensitivity and A fibre‐mediated ectopic hyperexcitability following a chronic constriction injury to a rat sciatic nerve. Using immunohistochemical methods we provide evidence for a unique endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase (ecNOS) immunoreactivity localized in early axonal endbulb‐like structures of injured peripheral nerve axons. Moreover, we show that following nerve injury there is increased ecNOS‐mRNA expression within the lumbar sympathetic ganglia, and that axoplasmic transport in sympathetic and other axons rather than local non‐neural synthesis accounts for its accumulation in nerve fibres. We also demonstrate here that local inhibition of NOS action with the broad‐spectrum inhibitor NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine‐methyl ester (l‐NAME), but not more specific inhibitors of other NOS isoforms, has stereospecific, dose‐ and time‐dependent analgesic effects that were reversed by local administration of l‐arginine, the natural precursor of NO. In further work, using a teased fibre preparation, we show that administration of l‐NAME, but not d‐NAME, to the injury site also blocks ectopic mechanosensitivity of injured A‐fibres. Our results indicate that an early and transient local ecNOS expression within early axonal endbulb‐like structures, some arising from sympathetic axons, plays a critical role in the development of neuropathic pain.
The Short and the Dead: Nutrition, Mortality, and the “Antebellum Puzzle” in the United States

Between 1830 and 1860 the United States experienced rapid economic growth but declining stature and rising mortality. Debate has centered on whether the American diet deteriorated in the mid-nineteenth century. Employing census and muster records, this article tests the hypotheses that adult height was positively correlated with local production of nutrients in early childhood and negatively correlated with local mortality conditions, urbanization, proximity to transport, and population mobility. Results indicate that antebellum economic growth was accompanied by an increasing nationalization and internationalization of the disease environment, which affected the health and longevity of the population.This article is based on two earlier papers presented at the conference “The Biological Standard of Living and Economic Development: Nutrition, Health, and Well-Being in Historical Perspective,” held at the University of Munich, Munich, Germany, 18–21 January 1997. They have been published in The Biological Standard of Living in Comparative Perspective edited by John Komlos and Jörg Baten (Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag, 1998), pp. 155–80 and 190–207. This research was funded in part by the National Institute of Aging (AG 10120) and by the National Science Foundation (#SBR-9408525). The authors wish to thank Brian A'Hearn, Markus Heintel, and Robert Fogel for data and Jörg Baten, Timothy Cuff, Richard Easterlin, Stanley Engerman, John Komlos, John Murray, Richard Steckel, Robert Whaples, and participants at the Economic History Seminar at the University of California at Berkeley, the Economics Seminar at the College of William and Mary, the NBER Summer Institute, and the Social Science Colloquium at Colgate University for valuable comments and suggestions on earlier versions. In addition two anonymous referees provided very useful suggestions. The late Robert Gallman also provided valuable comments at an early stage of the project. Part of this research was conducted by Craig while he was a German Marshall Fund Fellow at the Seminar fuer Wirtschaftsgeschichte at the University of Munich.
Stabilization, Syndication, and Pricing of IPOs

Abstract We argue that in the after-market trading of an IPO, the underwriting syndicate, by standing ready to buy back shares at the offer price (“price stabilization”), compensates uninformed investors ex post for the adverse selection cost they face in bidding for IPOs. This dominates ex ante compensation by underpricing. The reason is that stabilization exploits ex post information about investor demand whereas underpricing must be based on ex ante information. However, liquidity and syndication costs constrain the use of stabilization which, in equilibrium, generates some underpricing as well. We develop a model that formalizes this intuition and generates several empirical implications.
Dose-Intense Ifosfamide/Doxorubicin/Cisplatin Based Chemotherapy for Osteosarcoma in Adults

The efficacy of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy has been clearly established in the treatment of osteosarcoma; however, the most active regimen remains to be identified. This prospective study evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of a dose-intense ifosfamide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin-based neoadjuvant regimen in adults with osteosarcoma. We prospectively treated 20 patients with osteogenic sarcoma with two cycles of ifosfamide/doxorubicin followed by two cycles of doxorubicin/cisplatin every 2 weeks. Surgical specimens were analyzed for percent tumor necrosis. Patients who demonstrated a “good response” (GR) to chemotherapy received the same combination postoperatively at a lower dose rate. Patients who demonstrated a “poor response” (PR) received four cycles of high-dose methotrexate alternating with two cycles of ifosfamide/etoposide and two cycles of cisplatin/etoposide after the surgery. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was well tolerated with moderate hematologic toxicity. Twelve of 19 evaluable patients (63%) were treated according to the GR arm and 7 according to the PR arm. At median follow-up of 5.5 years, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) are 68% and 74%, respectively. Patients treated on the GR arm had DFS and OS of 75% and 83%, respectively, whereas patients on the PR arm had DFS and OS of 57%. Intensive neoadjuvant chemotherapy is effective and moderately well tolerated in patients with de novo osteosarcoma. The outcome data suggest that lack of a near complete response to preoperative chemotherapy reflects inherent biologic resistance to chemotherapy and hence a poor prognosis.
Risk and Ex Ante Cost of Equity Estimates of Emerging Market Firms

We examine the empirical relationship between estimates of ex ante cost of equity and risk for a sample of individual emerging market equities for the period 1990-2000. The ex ante cost of equity estimates are obtained using the residual income valuation model. As in studies that use mean realized returns on emerging market indexes, a measure of total risk (return volatility) is the most significant risk factor in explaining ex ante expected return estimates. For emerging market equities with substantial investability to global investors, global beta adds some explanatory power.
A complex regulatory DNA element associated with a major histocompatibility complex class I gene consists of both a silencer and an enhancer

A novel regulatory element which contributes to the regulation of quantitative, tissue-specific differences in gene expression has been found between -771 and -676 bp upstream of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I gene, PD1. Molecular dissection of this element reveals the presence of two overlapping functional activities: an enhancer and a silencer. Distinct nuclear factors bind to the overlapping enhancer and silencer DNA sequence elements within the regulatory domain. The levels of factors binding the silencer DNA sequence in different cell types are inversely related to levels of class I expression; in contrast, factors binding the enhancer DNA sequence can be detected in all cells. In cultured cell lines, inhibition of protein synthesis leads to the rapid loss of silencer complexes, with a concomitant increase in both enhancer complexes and MHC class I RNA. From these data, we conclude that a labile silencer factor competes with a constitutively expressed, stable enhancer factor for overlapping DNA-binding sites; the relative abundance of the silencer factor contributes to establishing steady-state levels of MHC class I gene expression.
The demanding citizen: driven by policy, self‐interest or ideology?

A number of the basic assumptions made by economic theories of democracy are tested by means of a general model of the formation of citizens’ attitudes towards changes in public spending. The test is performed on Danish individual-level data in combination with city-level data. The results generally confirm the validity of some of the assumptions of economic theories of democracy: that people have some knowledge of public policies, that they react accordingly, and that some sort of cost benefit calculus is at work because attitudes to some extent are a function of individual self-interest. On the other hand, the model also points towards mechanisms which are indicative of the limitations of narrow self-interest-oriented economic reasoning because people's ideologies seem to be more important than self-interest measures. One can hardly conceive of a theory of representative democracy-normative or positive-which is not based on specific assumption about the relationship between public policies and voter attitudes. This relationship is a two-way relationship. On the one hand, voter attitudes are assumed to influence public policies either through the voting process or through more direct processes such as, for example, organized pressure. Second, public policies are assumed to affect voter attitudes. If, for instance, public policies change in a direction favoured by voters, it is expected that voters become more satisfied. The purpose of this article is to test the latter relation. The proposition to be tested is: Preferences for higher public spending are negatively related to the level of services, the level of taxation, the increases in services, and the increases in taxation. The test is based on individual level data and on aggregated measures of local spending, service levels and taxation. In order to perform the test a general model explaining voter attitudes will be formulated. The model comprises four major explanatory categories: public policies, private benefit indicators, ideology and political culture indicators.
Rho GTPases as Targets of Bacterial Protein Toxins

Abstract Several bacterial toxins target Rho GTPases, which constitute molecular switches in several signaling processes and master regulators of the actin cytoskeleton. The biological activities of Rho GTPases are blocked by C3-like transferases, which ADP-ribosylate Rho at Asn41, but not Rac or Cdc42. Large clostridial cytotoxins (e. g., Clostridium difficile toxin A and B) glucosylate Rho GTPases at Thr37 (Rho) or Thr35 (Rac/Cdc42), thereby inhibiting Rho functions by preventing effector coupling. The ‘injected’ toxins ExoS, YopE and SptP from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Yersinia and Salmonella ssp. , respectively, which are transferred into the eukaryotic target cells by the type-III secretion system, inhibit Rho functions by acting as Rho GAP proteins. Rho GTPases are activated by the cytotoxic necrotizing factors CNF1 and CNF2 from Escherichia coli and by the dermonecrotizing toxin DNT from B. bronchiseptica. These toxins deamidate/ transglutaminate Gln63 of Rho to block the intrinsic and GAP-stimulated GTP hydrolysis, thereby constitutively activating the GTPases. Rho GTPases are also activated by SopE, a type-III system injected protein from Salmonella ssp. , that acts as a GEF protein.
Savings and economic growth in neoclassical theory

In neoclassical economics economic growth depends upon savings. The paper discusses problems with this conventional view, and how these have been tackled, from pre-Solowian authors up to the recent New or Endogenous Growth Theory (EGT). These difficulties became particularly clear with the Solow-Swan model of growth in which the savings rate did not affect the rate of growth. In the absence of exogenous circumstances, savings would only depress the marginal productivity of capital forcing the economy towards a stationary state. The paper interprets EGT as an attempt to react to this gloomy theoretical prospect. The paper examines various difficulties with this attempt. Copyright 1999 by Oxford University Press.
Destination image and choice intention of university student travellers to Mauritius

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the influences of information sources, namely organic sources and induced sources, on perceived destination image and destination choice intention of university student travellers to Mauritius.Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected using a convenience sample in a large university in Western Australia. A self‐administered questionnaire was designed using established scales. In total, 388 usable responses were collected and analyzed using a variety of statistical techniques.Findings – The perceived attractiveness of Mauritius as a vacation destination is based on the fact that tourists picture the island as one which offers good value for money and cheap travel. Both information sources are found to have an influence on perceived destination image and destination choice intention. Perceived destination image is found to predict destination choice intention.Research limitations/implications – The sample is limited to potential tourists in Western A.
Function of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and expression of its Ca2(+)-ATPase gene in pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in the rat.

The reduction in Ca2+ concentration during diastole and relaxation occurs differently in normal hearts and in hypertrophied hearts secondary to pressure overload. We have studied some possible molecular mechanisms underlying these differences by examining the function of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the expression of the gene encoding its Ca2(+)-ATPase in rat hearts with mild and severe compensatory hypertrophy induced by abdominal aortic constriction. Twelve sham-operated rats and 31 operated rats were studied 1 month after surgery. Eighteen animals exhibited mild hypertrophy (left ventricular wt/body wt less than 2.6) and 13 animals severe hypertrophy (left ventricular wt/body wt greater than 2.6). During hypertrophy we observed a decline in the function of the sarcoplasmic reticulum as assessed by the oxalate-stimulated Ca2+ uptake of homogenates of the left ventricle. Values decreased from 12.1 +/- 1.2 nmol Ca2+/mg protein/min in sham-operated rats to 9.1 +/- 1.5 and 6.7 +/- 1.1 in rats with mild and severe hypertrophy, respectively (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.001, respectively, vs. shams). This decrease was accompanied by a parallel reduction in the number of functionally active CA2(+)-ATPase molecules, as determined by the level of Ca2(+)-dependent phosphorylated intermediate: 58.8 +/- 7.4 and 48.1 +/- 13.5 pmol P/mg protein in mild and severe hypertrophy, respectively, compared with 69.7 +/- 8.2 in shams (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.01, respectively, vs. shams). Using S1 nuclease mapping, we observed that the Ca2(+)-ATPase messenger RNA (mRNA) from sham-operated and hypertrophied hearts was identical. Finally, the relative level of expression of the Ca2(+)-ATPase gene was studied by dot blot analysis at both the mRNA and protein levels using complementary DNA clones and a monoclonal antibody specific to the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2(+)-ATPase. In mild hypertrophy, the concentrations of Ca2(+)-ATPase mRNA and protein in the left ventricle were unchanged when compared with shams (mRNA, 93.8 +/- 10.6% vs. sham, NS; protein, 105.5 +/- 14% vs. sham, NS). in severe hypertrophy, the concentration of Ca2(+)-ATPase mRNA decreased to 68.7 +/- 12.9% and that of protein to 80.1 +/- 15.5% (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.05, respectively), whereas the total amount of mRNA and enzyme per left ventricle was either unchanged or slightly increased. The slow velocity of relaxation of severely hypertrophied heart can be at least partially explained by the absence of an increase in the expression of the Ca2(+)-ATPase gene and by the relative diminution in the density of the Ca2+ pumps. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Bureaucrats as Public Policy-Makers and Their Self-Interests

That public bureaucrats, like most other people, might pursue their private interests as voters, job applicants and union members is hardly surprising. It is the postulate that bureaucrats' self-interested behavior penetrates their role as public decision-makers that represents a challenge, empirical-theoretically as well as normatively. To assess the assumption that bureaucrats' self-interests affect bureaucrats' decisions in their capacity as officials (the self-interest hypothesis), two main points are made. First, the probability that self-interests are conceived and made operational in different issue areas is considered. Second, it is argued that the explanatory power of bureaucrats' self-interests has to depend on characteristics of the self-interest phenomenon itself, for instance whether it is dealt with as a variable or a constant. Moreover, it has to depend on the relative importance of other explanations.
Market Discipline by Thrift Depositors

This paper tests for the presence of depositor discipline by examining the effect of depository institutions' risk on the pricing and growth of uninsured deposits. The study analyzes a large panel of thrifts that includes detailed information on interest rate schedules. This information allows the authors to develop a time-consistent risk profile for thrifts. Their empirical findings support the presence of market discipline. Riskier banks are found to pay higher interest rates but attract smaller amounts of uninsured deposits. The authors also find that qualitative results are similar for fully insured deposits, although statistical significance is substantially lower.
Adjunctive Local Delivery of Aloe Vera Gel in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Periodontitis: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND Herbal agents such as Aloe vera (AV) have been used in medical and dental therapy for thousands of years. AV has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, hypoglycemic, healing-promoting, and immune-boosting properties. This study aims to investigate the clinical effectiveness of locally delivered AV gel used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic periodontitis (CP). METHODS Sixty patients with probing depth (PD) ≥ 5 mm and clinical attachment level (CAL) ≥ 3 mm were randomly divided into two groups. All patients underwent SRP. Placebo gel was locally delivered to group 1 and AV gel to group 2. Full-mouth plaque index (PI), modified sulcus bleeding index (mSBI), PD, and CAL were recorded at baseline and 3 and 6 months. RESULTS Patients in group 2 showed significantly greater mean reductions in PI, mSBI, and PD and mean gain in CAL compared with those in group 1 from baseline to 3 months. Gain in CAL was significantly greater in group 2 at all time intervals versus group 1. CONCLUSION Adjunctive use of locally delivered AV gel, in comparison to locally delivered placebo gel, is associated with greater reduction in PI, mSBI, and PD as well as more gain in CAL in patients with T2DM and CP.
What Does the Taxable Income Elasticity Say About Dynamic Responses to Tax Changes

The taxable income elasticity is relevant to dynamic scoring because it broadly encompasses many ways taxpayers respond to changes in tax rates. The elasticity includes, for example, changes in labor supply and participation, savings and portfolio allocation, the form of compensation, the timing of income and deductions, and tax evasion and avoidance on the tax base, all subsumed in this one statistic. This one statistic summarizes how the tax base expands or contracts in response to changes in tax rates and, consequently, the extent taxpayer behavior offsets the static revenue loss (gain) of tax rate reductions (increases). In contrast to conventional revenues estimates, which assume that output and other key macroeconomic aggregates remain fixed when considering changes in the tax law, the taxable income elasticity imposes no such constraint. Nevertheless, some macro-dynamic responses, such as investment and savings-related supplyside effects and crowding out, are only partially captured in the taxable income elasticity, and demand effects are generally not reflected at all. Also, the taxable income elasticity generally does not account for shifting between the individual and corporate tax bases and is primarily useful to only evaluate policies that involve changes in tax rates. While large is in the eye of the beholder, the taxable income literature has generally found evidence of at least a modest behavioral response with some of the more recent studies suggesting a taxable income elasticity of about 0.4. This paper uses a 0.4 elasticity to simulate the revenue effect of repealing the recent reduction in the top two tax rates to 35 percent and to motivate a discussion of what the this elasticity can tell us about the dynamic response to changes in tax policy.