Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Middle ear function in the cleft palate patient

THE object of this study was to see what proportion of cleft palate patients are left with permanent conductive disabilities and whether the serous otitis in these individuals is self-limiting. The subjects were grouped by age and divided into those with normal and those with abnormal middle ear function. This distinction was based on audiometric and otologic observations. In differentiating between normal and pathological middle ear function, the degree of hearing loss did not necessarily reflect the severity of the middle ear disease because pathological middle ear function may be associated with either minimal or maximal conductive hearing loss (Jordan and Eagles, 1961). For instance, serious disease such as cholesteatoma may cause a minimal loss whereas a transient middle ear effusion may result in a temporary 40 decibel conductive hearing loss. A perforation may abolish the conductive loss in cases of middle ear effusion and for this reason patients with myringotomies were excluded from the study until the myringotomy incision had healed. The audiometric differentiation between 'normal' and 'abnormal' middle ears was based on elevation of threshold from normal. In the first part of the study various parameters were tried before arriving at a 10 db hearing loss over the frequencies 500, 1000, 2000 Hertz and 20 db at 4000 Hertz as the cut-off point between audiometric 'normals' and 'abnormals'. Otoscopic distinction between 'normal' and 'abnormal' categories was based on the differentiation of serious disease (e.g. cholesteatoma, gross scarring, perforation and fluid) which could be expected to interfere with functional hearing, and minor tympanosclerosis and scarring which was not considered severe enough to cause conductive hearing loss. We hoped this would avoid the discrepancies found by others in correlating audiometric findings (Roberts, 1976).
Democracy, Autocracy, and Tax Incentives to Foreign Direct Investors: A Cross-National Analysis

While offering tax incentives to attract foreign direct investment has become a global phenomenon and part of economic globalization in the 1990s, it also is political and controversial. But the political determinants of tax incentive policies have rarely been analyzed. This article fills this gap by making two contributions. First, I offer a theory that explains how political regime type influences tax incentive policy in the cross-national setting. Second, I evaluate the theory with a statistical analysis of 52 developing countries. The findings support my main theoretical expectations. Countries with better rule of law offer lower levels of tax incentives, and the effect is stronger for more democratic countries. In democracies, FDI inflows are negatively associated with the level of incentives. Autocratic regimes maintaining restrictions on foreign entry adopt lower levels of incentives than those without restrictions. I discuss the policy implications of these findings.
Bluebirds Perceive Prey Switching by Cooper's Hawks Across an Urban Gradient and Adjust Reproductive Effort

ABSTRACT Urban-adapting carnivorous predators such as the Cooper's hawk appear to be adjusting their diet in urban areas to mostly include larger-bodied adult birds rather than nest contents, compared to Cooper's hawks in natural areas. If adult prey in urban areas are relatively more threatened by predation relative to their offspring and non-urban adults, then life-history theory predicts contrasting shifts in urban vs. non-urban reproductive behavior and effort. We tested whether urban and non-urban Eastern bluebirds exhibited contrasting reproductive effort consistent with shifts in the relative risk perception of adult vs. nest predation. At urban sites, Eastern bluebirds using nest boxes exposed to broadcasts of Cooper's hawk vocalizations exhibited enhanced reproductive parameters compared to controls, whereas the opposite trend occurred in box-nesting bluebirds at non-urban sites. As predicted by theory, given prey life-stage switching by a dominant predator, increased perception of predation risk from hawks led to opposing reproductive strategies in urban vs. non-urban habitats. Results align with increasing evidence that urban predation pressures, prey risk perception, and reproductive investment patterns are distinct from those of natural habitats.
Lack of benefit of a single dose of synthetic human secretin in the treatment of autism and pervasive developmental disorder.

BACKGROUND Secretin is a peptide hormone that stimulates pancreatic secretion. After recent publicity about a child with autism whose condition markedly improved after a single dose of secretin, thousands of children with autistic disorders may have received secretin injections. METHODS We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a single intravenous dose of synthetic human secretin in 60 children (age, 3 to 14 years) with autism or pervasive developmental disorder. The children were randomly assigned to treatment with an intravenous infusion of synthetic human secretin (0.4 microg per kilogram of body weight) or saline placebo. We used standardized behavioral measures of the primary and secondary features of autism, including the Autism Behavior Checklist, to assess the degree of impairment at base line and over the course of a four-week period after treatment. RESULTS Of the 60 children, 4 could not be evaluated - 2 received secretin outside the study, and 2 did not return for follow-up. Thus, 56 children (28 in each group) completed the study. As compared with placebo, secretin treatment was not associated with significant improvements in any of the outcome measures. Among the children in the secretin group, the mean total score on the Autism Behavior Checklist at base line was 59.0 (range of possible values, 0 to 158, with a larger value corresponding to greater impairment), and among those in the placebo group it was 63.2. The mean decreases in scores over the four-week period were 8.9 in the secretin group and 17.8 in the placebo group (mean difference, -8.9; 95 percent confidence interval, -19.4 to 1.6; P=0.11). None of the children had treatment-limiting adverse effects. After they were told the results, 69 percent of the parents of the children in this study said they remained interested in secretin as a treatment for their children. CONCLUSIONS A single dose of synthetic human secretin is not an effective treatment for autism or pervasive developmental disorder.
NÍVEIS DE RUÍDO EMITIDOS POR TRATORES AGRÍCOLAS / LEVELS OF NOISE EMITTED BY AGRICULTURAL TRACTORS

A exposicao do operador ao ruido emitido pelos tratores agricolas pode ser prejudicial a saude. Este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar os niveis de ruido emitidos por tratores agricolas de diferentes marcas, potencias e ano de fabricacao, comparando-se os resultados com as normas vigentes no Brasil. O trabalho, realizado com 22 tratores, foi desenvolvido em propriedades rurais localizadas no municipio de Pirassununga, SP, e na Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA) da Universidade de Sao Paulo (USP), situada no municipio de Pirassununga, em area cedida pela Prefeitura Administrativa do Campus USP Fernando Costa de Pirassununga. Os niveis de ruido foram determinados por um medidor de pressao sonora digital, marca ICEL, modelo DL-4020. O Decibelimetro foi ajustado para medir os resultados expressos em dB (A) nos circuitos de resposta lenta. Observou-se nivel de ruido acima do maximo permitido para uma jornada de trabalho de 8 horas em todos os tratores estudados.
Inducible lineage tracing of Pax7‐descendant cells reveals embryonic origin of adult satellite cells

We have generated a mouse strain carrying a Cre‐ERT2 knock‐in allele at the Pax7 locus, the Pax7CE allele (Lepper et al., 2009 , Nature 460:627–631). Combining Pax7CE and the R26RLacZ Cre reporter allele, here we describe temporal‐specific tamoxifen (tmx)‐inducible lineage tracing of embryonic Pax7‐expressing cells. In particular, we focus on the somitic lineage. Tmx‐inducible Cre activity directed by the Pax7CE allele is similar to the endogenous Pax7 expression pattern. The somitic Pax7‐expressing cells selectively marked at embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5) give rise to dorsal dermis and brown adipose tissue, in addition to dorsal aspects of trunk muscles and the diaphragm muscle. However, they do not contribute to ventral body wall and limb muscles. After E12.5, marked Pax7‐expressing cells become lineage restricted to muscles. Descendants of these early marked Pax7‐expressing cells begin to occupy sublaminal positions associated with the myofibers around E16.5, characteristic of embryonic satellite cells. Furthermore, they contribute to adult myofibers and regeneration competent satellite cells in the tibialis anterior muscle, providing evidence that some adult satellite cells are of embryonic origin. genesis 48:424–436, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Effect of Carbohydrate Diet on Intermittent Exercise Performance

To determine the effect of a carbohydrate-(CHO) enriched diet on long-term, intermittent exercise performance, seven professional soccer players (mean maximum oxygen uptake: 60.6 (range: 56.0-65.1) ml.min-1.kg-1) were tested twice. The standardized test consisted initially of a field part (6856 m) followed by treadmill running to exhaustion. The relative work rates were 65, 57 and 81% of maximum oxygen uptake during the field test, and during the first and last part of the treadmill running, respectively. The players ingested a diet containing either 39% (C-diet) or 65% carbohydrate (CHO-diet) during the two days prior to each test. The order of the diets was assigned randomly. Neither blood lactate nor glucose concentrations at exhaustion differed after the two diets. The total mean running distance after the CHO-diet was 17.1 km, which was 0.9 km longer (p less than 0.05) than after the C-diet. Nevertheless, three subjects had a difference in running distance of less than 420 m. In contrast to the remaining players, these players had a higher RER-value during treadmill running in association with the CHO-diet. The mean CHO intake of 46% in the normal diet of the players was below the Nordic Nutritional Recommendation. In conclusion, performance during intermittent running was enhanced following the ingestion of a CHO enriched diet for two days. However, not all players benefited from the CHO-diet perhaps because they, in contrast to the other players, responded with a higher utilization of CHO after the CHO-diet.
Les territoires de montagne face aux changements globaux : une étude rétrospective autour de la station de ski des Deux Alpes

Ce travail de these vise a reconstituer les conditions paleo-environnementales ayant eu lieu dans la vallee de l’Oisans a partir des archives naturelles representees par les sediments lacustres. Par une approche multi-marqueurs, nous visons a reconstituer tout a la fois : i) les fluctuations glaciaires en Oisans; ii) les modifications des activites humaines en montagne et leurs influence sur les flux de matiere lors d’evenements extremes ; iii) comprendre la relation entre changements climatiques, changements d’usage et evolution des aleas en haute montagne. Cette etude a permis de mettre en evidence les changements globaux, regroupant la variabilite climatique et les pratiques humaines, ayant influences l’erosion autour des lacs de La Muzelle et du lac du Lauvitel durant les derniers millenaires.Les resultats principaux ont montres que l’erosion du lac de la Muzelle a ete largement domine par l’activite glaciaire notamment avec la presence a certaines epoques de fines particules detritiques liees a l’abrasion sous glaciaire. Ces dernieres ont revelees une relation aux pluies torrentielles encore jamais observees auparavant, leur presence en periode d’extension glaciaire etant synonyme d’une augmentation du nombre de depots lacustres de crues. Les activites humaines, en majeure partie representees par l’utilisation agro-pastorale de l’espace avoisinant les lacs, ne sont clairement identifiables que lors des 300 dernieres annees au lac de la Muzelle. Le lac de Lauvitel est situe a une altitude moindre, dont la majorite du bassin versant est maintenant une reserve integrale. Les etudes palynologiques ont mis en evidence certaines periodes d’activites humaines plus marquees. Les evenements extremes enregistres dans les sediments dulac regroupent d’une part les crues, dont l’enregistrement permet une comparaison regionale de l’occurrence de ces evenements et de mettre en evidence les changements de circulations atmospheriques a l’echelle des Alpes. D’autre part, les avalanches de neige lourde, dont peu d’enregistrements sont disponibles dans la bibliographie. Nous les avons identifies grâce a l’utilisation du CT scan l’elaboration d’une nouvelle methodologie basee sur la difference de densite relative des sediments. Le comptage et la quantification des apports de materiel detritique grossier aux seins d’une matrice de sediment lacustre fin, a permis d’identifier les apports lies a cet alea au cours du temps. Nous avons ensuite reconstitue les evenements d’avalanche de neige lourde deposes dans le lac de Lauvitel sur les derniers 3500 ans, dont l’occurrence intervient preferentiellement lors des periodes de retraits glaciaires.
Characterization and Purification from Human Brain of a Hyaluronic Acid‐Binding Glycoprotein, Hyaluronectin

Abstract: Using affinity chromatography and enzyme‐labelled immunological assays combined with aftinity adsorption, we have obtained evidence for the binding of a brain glycoprotein to hyaluronic acid, and on this basis named it hyaluronectin. This binding was inhibited by hyaluronic acid and by the products of its hydrolysis by hyaluronidase from bovine testis, but was not inhibited by other glycosaminoglycans or by monosaccharides. Preparative affinity chromatography of brain acid‐soluble proteins produced hyaluronectin in a good degree of purity. Contamination by albumin was less than 1% and the yield was as high as 80%.
Mammographic Changes after Fat Transfer to the Breast Compared with Changes after Breast Reduction: A Blinded Study

Background: One issue in the adoption of autologous fat transfer to the breast is concern over mammographic changes that may obscure cancer detection. The authors compared mammographic changes following fat grafting to the breast with changes seen after breast reduction. Methods: Twenty-seven women who had normal preoperative mammograms were treated with fat grafting to the breast, including admixing of autologous adipose stem cells with the fat graft, for cosmetic augmentation. Repeated mammograms were performed 12 months after surgery. As a control group, postsurgical mammograms from 23 reduction mammaplasty patients were compared. Eight academic breast imaging radiologists reviewed each mammogram in a blinded fashion. Outcomes analysis accounting for individual radiologist's tendencies was performed using generalized estimating equations. Results: The average volume of fat injected per patient was 526.5 cc. Fifty mammograms (27 lipotransfer, 23 breast reduction) were assessed. Differences in interpretation among individual radiologists were consistently observed (p < 0.10). Differences in abnormality rates were nonsignificant for oil cysts, benign calcifications, and calcifications warranting biopsy. Scarring (p < 0.001) and masses requiring biopsy (p < 0.001) were more common in the reduction cohort. Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System scores were higher after breast reduction (p < 0.001). Significant differences in the recommended follow-up time were also seen (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Compared with reduction mammaplasty, a widely accepted procedure, fat grafting to the breast produces fewer radiographic abnormalities with a more favorable Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System score and less aggressive follow-up recommendations by breast radiologists. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.
Prognostic Impact of Implementation of QRS Characteristics in the Seattle Heart Failure Model in ICD and CRT‐D Recipients

The Seattle Heart Failure Model (SHFM) provides accurate estimates of survival in heart failure (HF) patients. The model is, however, not developed for HF patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of SHFM combined with QRS morphology and CRT‐related change in QRS duration in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and CRT defibrillator (CRT‐D) recipients.
Understanding mobile shopping consumers' continuance intention

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate and examine the factors contributing to consumers’ mobile shopping continuance intention (CI) of food and non-food items via smartphones and other mobile terminals. Design/methodology/approach An integrated model was proposed on the basis of the technology acceptance model (TAM) and expectation confirmation model (ECM), focussing on perceived value (PV). The survey responses of 203 Chinese mobile shoppers (m-shoppers) were analysed using structural equation modelling with the partial least squares approach. Findings The results indicated that perceived usefulness does not motivate all user groups. Furthermore, satisfaction and perceived ease of use significantly impacted different user groups. For online food m-shoppers, value for money (VM) was the most important factor influencing satisfaction and CI. However, perceived usefulness only affected CI for non-food m-shoppers. Practical implications Marketers can improve users’ CI by enhancing VM and maximising effectiveness and enjoyment while minimising prices. Moreover, in determining strategies for different users, marketers should identify the behavioural differences among all groups and those between the two classified groups. Originality/value This is one of the studies attempting to explain Chinese mobile shopping consumers’ CI, but especially through an integrated model based on TAM and ECM with PV on food and non-food m-commerce perspective. It offers several implications for researchers and practitioners and contributes to the literature of technology acceptance and post-adoption behaviour in m-commerce.
Spondyloperipheral Dysplasia

SUMMARY Skeletal dysplasia with autosomal dominant inheritance was found in four members of one family and in one sporadic case. The syndrome comprises brachydactyly E, platyspondyly, abnormality of the sacroiliac joint, disturbance of metaphyseal modelling, epiphyseal dysplasia, and short stature. This study deals with a particular type of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia and compares it with similar cases in two previously published papers. In 1977 Kelly et all described the occurrence of platyspondyly, bi achydactyly, and epiphyseal dysplasia in three members of a family. The syndrome was classified as a special type of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia and was termed spondyloperipheral dysplasia. Two years later Sybert et a12 published a report of a family similarly affected, with brachydactyly and alteration of the vertebral bodies as well, but without epiphyseal dysplasia. As five persons were affected, autosomal dominant inheritance was proven. The great variability of individual symptoms in the family members and the relatively few persons in both the families made Sybert et a12
Simple questions in salt intake behavior assessment: comparison with urinary sodium excretion in Japanese adults.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES To clarify whether six conventional 'high-risk' behaviors toward excess salt intake captured by simple questions such as frequency of salty food consumption are related to actual salt intake. Also, to examine the relationship of nutrition knowledge, food label use, and food preparation with actual salt intake. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN Study participants were 742 subjects (370 men and 372 women) aged 20-69 years from 20 areas of Japan. Salt intake and dietary knowledge/behavior were evaluated with two 24-hour urine collections and a questionnaire, respectively. Multivariable linear regression analyses by sex included sodium excretion as a dependent variable, each knowledge/behavior item as an independent variable, and with age, body mass index, education, and smoking as covariates. RESULTS Four 'high-risk' behaviors (frequency of miso soup and salty foods consumption, proportion of consumed noodle soup, and amount of seasoning/condiment use) were associated with higher sodium excretion in men (p for trend <=0.04) and were marginally associated in women (p for trend <=0.06). Combination of these behaviors elevated the odds ratios for excess salt intake (sodium excretion: >136 mmol/day). Most of the other nine dietary factors were not associated with sodium excretion. Interestingly, women who decided to purchase foods after referring to the salt/sodium content information on food label, had significant lower sodium excretion than other women (p for trend=0.03). CONCLUSIONS High-risk behaviors toward excess salt intake captured by simple questions were actually related to excess salt intake. Specific and practical advice based on answers to these questions might contribute to salt reduction in Japanese population.
THE VALIDITY OF ADULT ARRESTEE SELF-REPORTS OF CRACK COCAINE USE*

Despite the many problems associated with crack use, little validated empirical evidence about the prevalence of crack cocaine exists. Researchers that track crack cocaine use have relied on self-reports to differentiate crack and powder cocaine. Prior research suggests that the accuracy of self-reports for the use of a variety of illicit substances is relatively low. To examine the validity of self-reports of crack use, this article employs a newly developed technology to detect specifically the presence of markers of crack cocaine in urine specimens. With a sample of 2327 arrestees from six cities that participate in the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) Program, both face-to-face interview and urinalysis data were examined. Using a positive urinalysis result as the validity standard, we assessed the extent to which arrestees underreport crack cocaine use as compared to the use of marijuana, opiates, and methamphetamine. Logistic regression models were also developed to predict the factors that relate to underreporting. The results showed a considerable amount of underreporting for all the drug measures. In most cases, only about half the people who had a positive urinalysis test for drugs admitted using drugs. Overall, the least amount of underreporting occurred for the use of marijuana (63.6% told the “truth”), followed by methamphetamine (56.1% told the truth), crack (48.2% told the truth), and opiate (45.9% told the truth). Female crack users, as compared to male crack users, were more likely to admit using crack. Black arrestees were more likely to admit using crack than white or Hispanic arrestees. Arrestees with a history of prior drug treatment or a prior arrest, as compared to those without such histories, were more likely to admit using crack. The older the arrestee was, the more likely the arrestee would admit using crack. The more money an arrestee spent on drugs, the more likely the arrestee would admit using crack. Differences in underreporting were also observed across the six cities in this study. The implications of these findings for the monitoring of crack use are discussed.