Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Horseshoe characteristics as possible risk factors for fatal musculoskeletal injury of thoroughbred racehorses.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate selected shoe characteristics as risk factors for fatal musculoskeletal injury (FMI) and specifically for suspensory apparatus failure (SAF) and cannon bone condylar fracture (CDY) of Thoroughbred racehorses in California. DESIGN Case-control study. ANIMALS Thoroughbred racehorses (n = 201) that died of were euthanatized at California racetracks between August 1992 and July 1994. PROCEDURE Shoe characteristics were compared between case horses affected by FMI (155), SAF (79), and CDY (41) and control horses that died for reasons unrelated to the appendicular musculoskeletal system (non-FMI; 46). Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios for FMI, SAF, and CDY. RESULTS Toe grabs were identified as possible risk factors for FMI, SAF, and CDY. The odds of FMI, SAF, and CDY were 1.8, 6.5, and 7.0, respectively, times greater for horses shod with low toe grabs than for horses shod without toe grabs on front shoes. Horses shod with regular toe grabs on front shoes had odds 3.5, 15.6, and 17.1 times greater (P < 0.05) for FMI, SAF, and CDY, respectively, compared with horses shod without toe grabs. The odds of horses shod with rim shoes were a third (P < 0.05) of those shod without rim shoes for either FMI or SAF. The apparent association between toe grab type and CDY may, in part, be attributable to concurrent SAF and CDY injuries in many horses. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Avoiding the use of toe grabs should decrease the incidence of FMI, especially SAF, in Thoroughbred racehorses. The use of rim shoes that are more consistent with natural hoof shape may decrease injury risk.
Clonal Analysis of Staphylococcus epidermidis Isolates Carrying or Lacking Biofilm-Mediating Genes by Multilocus Sequence Typing

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus epidermidis is part of the normal microflora of the human skin but is also a leading cause of device-associated infections in critically ill patients. Commensal and clinical S. epidermidis isolates differ in their ability to form biofilms on medical devices; the synthesis of biofilms is mediated by the icaADBC operon. Currently, the epidemiological relatedness between ica-positive and -negative isolates is not known; neither is it known whether the ica genes can spread to biofilm-negative strains through horizontal gene transfer. In this study, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was employed for the clonal analysis of 118 S. epidermidis ica-positive and -negative strains. MLST revealed that the majority of ica-positive and -negative strains were closely related and formed a single clonal complex. Within this complex one sequence type (ST27) was identified which contained exclusively ica-positive isolates and represented the majority of clinical strains tested. ST27 and related ica-positive clones carried different SCCmec cassettes (conferring methicillin resistance) and the insertion sequence IS256. The findings suggest that the S. epidermidis infections analyzed in this report are mainly caused by a single clone (ST27) which occurs preferentially in hospitals and differs from clones in the community. It is hypothesized that the successful establishment of ST27 within nosocomial environments has been facilitated by the presence of genes encoding biofilm and resistance traits.
Functional integration across a gradient of corticostriatal channels controls UP state transitions in the dorsal striatum

Coordinated near-threshold depolarized states in cortical and striatal neurons may contribute to form functionally segregated channels of information processing. Recent anatomical studies have identified pathways that could support spiraling interactions across corticostriatal channels, but a functional outcome of such spiraling remains to be identified. Here, we examined whether plateau depolarizations (UP states) in striatal neurons relate better to active epochs in local field potentials recorded from closely related cortical areas than to those recorded in less-related cortical areas. Our results show that, in anesthetized rats, the coordination between cortical areas and striatal regions obeys a mediolateral gradient and keeps track of slow wave trajectory across the neocortex. Moreover, activity in one cortical area induced phase advances in UP state onset and phase delays in UP state termination in nonmatching striatal regions, reflecting the existence of functional connections that could encode large-scale interactions between corticostriatal channels as subthreshold influences on striatal projection neurons.
A TSHR-LH/CGR chimera that measures functional thyroid-stimulating autoantibodies (TSAb) can predict remission or recurrence in Graves' patients undergoing antithyroid drug (ATD) treatment.

CONTEXT A functional thyroid-stimulating autoantibodies (TSAb) assay using a thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor chimera (Mc4) appears to be clinically more useful than the commonly used assay, a binding assay that measures all the antibodies binding to the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor without functional discrimination, in diagnosing patient with Graves' disease (GD). OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to investigate whether an Mc4 assay can predict relapse/remission of hyperthyroidism after antithyroid drug (ATD) treatment in patients with GD. DESIGN An Mc4 assay was used to prospectively track TSAb activity in GD patients treated with ATD over a 5-yr period. SETTING AND PATIENTS GD patients from the Chieti University participated in this study. INTERVENTIONS Interventions included the assessment of patients' sera using the Mc4 assay, the Mc4-derivative assay (Thyretain), and a human monoclonal thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody, M22 assay. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The Mc4 assay, a sensitive index of remission and recurrence, was used in this study. RESULTS The TSAb levels significantly decreased only in the remitting group as evidenced by Mc4 assay values at the end of ATD (0.96 ± 1.47, 10.9 ± 26.6. and 24.7 ± 37.5 arbitrary units for the remitting, relapsing, and unsuspended therapy groups, respectively). Additional prognostic help was obtained by thyroid volume measurements at the end of treatment. Although not statistically significant, the Mc4 assay has a trend toward improved positive predictive value (95.4 vs. 84.2 or 87.5%), specificity (96.4 vs. 86.4 and 90.9%), and accuracy (87.3 vs. 83.3 and 80.9%) comparing the Mc4, Thyretain, and M22 assays, respectively. Thyretain has a trend toward improved negative predictive value (82.6 vs. 81.8 and 76.9%) and sensitivity (80 vs. 77.8 and 70%) comparing Thyretain, Mc4, and M22 assays, respectively. CONCLUSION The Mc4 assay is a clinically useful index of remission and relapse in patients with GD. Larger studies are required to confirm these findings.
Are Offshore Firms Less Conservative in Financial Reporting? International Evidence

Using a large sample of multinational firms operating in offshore financial centers (offshore firms) from 1998 to 2014, this study investigates the financial reporting implications of economic activities involving offshore financial centers (OFCs). We find that offshore firms have a greater tendency to report less conservatively than non-offshore firms. Moreover, we find that financial reporting is less conservative for firms operating in OFCs with more pronounced OFC attributes than for those with less pronounced OFC attributes. Finally, we also find that firms with their headquarters registered in OFCs (type I offshore firms) tend to adopt less conservative accounting practices than those with subsidiaries operating in OFCs (type II offshore firms). Our findings provide useful insights into how a multinational firm's operation in OFCs is associated with financial reporting practices.
ROLE OF CYP2C9 AND ITS VARIANTS (CYP2C9*3 AND CYP2C9*13) IN THE METABOLISM OF LORNOXICAM IN HUMANS

CYP2C9 is an important member of the cytochrome P450 enzyme superfamily with some 12 CYP2C9 alleles (*1-*12) being previously reported. Recently, we identified a new CYP2C9 allele with a Leu90Pro mutation in a Chinese poor metabolizer of lornoxicam [Si D, Guo Y, Zhang Y, Yang L, Zhou H, and Zhong D (2004) Pharmacogenetics 14:465–469]. The new allele, designated CYP2C9*13, was found to occur in approximately 2% of the Chinese population. To examine enzymatic activity of the CYP2C9*13 allele, kinetic parameters for lornoxicam 5′-hydroxylation were determined in COS-7 cells transiently transfected with pcDNA3.1 plasmids carrying wild-type CYP2C9*1, variant CYP2C9*3, and CYP2C9*13 cDNA. The protein levels of cDNA-expressed CYP2C9*3 and *13 in postmitochondrial supernatant (S9) from transfected cells were lower than those from wild-type CYP2C9*1. Mean values of Km and Vmax for CYP2C9*1, *3, and *13 were 1.24, 1.61, and 2.79 μM and 0.83, 0.28, and 0.22 pmol/min/pmol, respectively. Intrinsic clearance values (Vmax/Km) for variant CYP2C9*3 and CYP2C9*13 on the basis of CYP2C9 protein levels were separately decreased to 28% and 12% compared with wild type. In a subsequent clinical study, the AUC of lornoxicam was increased by 1.9-fold and its oral clearance (CL/F) decreased by 44% in three CYP2C9*1/*13 subjects, compared with CYP2C9*1/*1 individuals. This suggests that the CYP2C9*13 allele is associated with decreased enzymatic activity both in vitro and in vivo.
In Vivo Differentiation of Human Amniotic Epithelial Cells into Cardiomyocyte-Like Cells and Cell Transplantation Effect on Myocardial Infarction in Rats: Comparison with Cord Blood and Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Human amniotic epithelial cells (h-AECs), which have various merits as a cell source for cell therapy, are known to differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vitro. However, the ability of h-AECs to differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vivo and their cell transplantation effects on myocardial infarction are still unknown. In this study, we assessed whether h-AECs could differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vivo and whether h-AECs transplantation can decrease infarct size and improve cardiac function, in comparison to transplantation of cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or adipose tissue-derived MSCs. For our study, we injected h-AECs, cord blood-derived MSCs, adipose tissue-derived MSCs, and saline into areas of myocardial infarction in athymic nude rats. After 4 weeks, 3% of the surviving h-AECs expressed myosin heavy chain, a marker specific to the myocardium. Compared with the saline group, all cell-implanted groups showed a higher ejection fraction, lower infarct area by positron emission tomography and histology, and more abundant myocardial gene and protein expression in the infarct area. We showed that h-AECs can differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells, decrease infarct size, and improve cardiac function in vivo. The beneficial effects of h-AECs were comparable to those of cord blood and adipose tissue-derived MSCs. These results support the need for further studies of h-AECs as a cell source for myocardial regeneration due to their plentiful availability, low immunity, and lack of ethical issues related to their use.
Effect of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Combination Therapy on Efficacy of Posaconazole (SCH56592) in an Inhalation Model of Murine Pulmonary Aspergillosis

ABSTRACT Using an inhalation model of pulmonary aspergillosis, we observed modest differences in the survival rates of mice treated with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and posaconazole (POS) and those treated with POS alone. This finding is in contrast to a previous report that suggested that G-CSF had a significant antagonistic effect on the antifungal activity of POS.
Monoclonal lymphocyte population in human plasma cell myeloma.

To identify monoclonal bone marrow-derived (B) lymphocytes in human myelomatosis specific rabbit antisera were produced against idiotypic specificities on IgG-κ myeloma proteins from three patients. The antisera neither cross-reacted nor reacted with normal immunoglobulins. By indirect immunofluorescence surface immunoglobulins were demonstrated on 20–47% of peripheral blood lymphocytes from untreated patients after staining with idiotypic antiserum against the patient's own myeloma protein, but not after staining with other idiotypic antisera. The antisera also stained autologous plasma cells. The monoclonal surface Ig on myeloma lymphocytes was removed by trypsin and regenerated after incubation in serum-free medium. Myeloma protein was not adsorbed onto lymphocytes. It is concluded that monoclonal B lymphocytes belonging to the plasma cell myeloma clone are present in myeloma patients. There were few normal B lymphocytes in untreated patients. During treatment the monoclonal lymphocyte population and the plasma cells content in bone marrow, as well as the concentration of monoclonal immunoglobulin in serum, decreased simultaneously. These findings were associated with other signs of clinical improvement.
System Dynamics of Polysilicon for Solar Photovoltaics: A Framework for Investigating the Energy Security of Renewable Energy Supply Chains

Renewable energy, produced with widely available low-cost energy resources, is often included as a component of national strategies to address energy security and sustainability. Market and political forces cannot disrupt the sun or wind, unlike oil and gas supplies. However, the cost of renewable energy is highly dependent on technologies manufactured through global supply chains in leading manufacturing countries. The countries that contribute to the global supply chains may take actions that, directly or indirectly, influence global access to materials and components. For example, high-purity polysilicon, a key material in solar photovoltaics, has experienced significant price fluctuations, affecting the manufacturing capacity and cost of both polysilicon and solar panels. This study developed and validated an initial system dynamics framework to gain insights into global trade in polysilicon. The model represents an initial framework for exploration. Three regions were modeled—China, the United States, and the rest of the world—for a range of trade scenarios to understand the impacts of import duties and non-price drivers on the relative volumes of imports and domestic supply. The model was validated with the historical case of China imposing an import duty on polysilicon from the United States, the European Union, and South Korea, which altered the regional flows of polysilicon—in terms of imports, exports, and domestic production—to varying degrees. As expected, the model tracked how regional demand shares and influx volumes decrease as a duty on a region increases. Using 2016 as a reference point, in the scenarios examined for U.S. exports to China, each 10% increase in the import duty results in a 40% decrease in import volume. The model also indicates that, under the scenarios investigated, once a duty has been imposed on a region, the demand share from that region declines and does not achieve pre-duty levels, even as global demand increases. Adding additional countries and other components in the photovoltaic supply chain (panels, cells, wafers) to this model could enable policymakers to better understand the relative impact of trade measures across the entire photovoltaic module manufacturing supply chain and the conditions that encourage industry evolution and competitiveness.
Grouping of Salmonella enterica serotype Montevideo strains by ribotyping and IS200 profiling

One-hundred and twenty-one isolates of Salmonella enterica serotype Montevideo, representing different biotypes and incidents of infection detected in the UK between 1977 and 1995, were analysed by EcoRI ribotyping, PvuII ribotyping and IS200 fingerprinting. Among the isolates examined, 7 EcoRI ribotypes, 5 PvuII ribotypes and 55 IS200 profile types were recognized and 4 arbitrary groups defined. All 33 isolates of biotype 2d belonged to EcoRI/PvuII ribotype 1/1 and IS200 lineage A and comprised Group I. The other 88 isolates of biotype 10di and its variants were assigned to Groups II–IV. All 27 isolates in Group II were of EcoRI/PvuII ribotype 2/2 and IS200 lineage B. Among the 43 isolates in Group III, 42 of which were of EcoRI/PvuII ribotype 3/3, IS200 analysis identified 38 profiles in lineages C–I. Six EcoRI/PvuII ribotypes and 8 IS200 profiles, mostly in lineages C–E, were recognized among the 18 isolates in Group IV. The combined use of biotyping and ribotyping, and to some extent IS200 profiling, has enhanced our understanding of the clonal structure of serotype Montevideo and provides a basis for further study.
Aboveground biomass and carbon of the highly diverse Atlantic Forest in Brazil: comparison of alternative individual tree modeling and prediction strategies

Abstract The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is a biologically and structurally diverse biome which covers a large area; however, few tree-level biomass models exist for this region. The objective of this study was to evaluate alternative individual tree biomass models for the Atlantic Forest using contrasting prediction approaches, and evaluate their implications for stand-level biomass and carbon. The data comprised 106 destructively sampled trees (dbh; 5.4 – 68.5 cm) from the 16 most abundant species. Different approaches, namely species-specific, functional-trait based, generalized, and previously developed equations, as well as alternative model forms using differing variables including diameter at breast height (dbh), wood specific gravity (wsg), and height to crown base (hcb) were examined. Species-specific models were developed using both ordinary least squares and linear mixed effects with species as a random effect. The various approaches resulted in statistically different estimates of biomass and carbon at both the individual tree- and stand-levels. Compared to a generalized biomass equation for Pan-tropical forests, our results indicate differences of over 46% and 52% for biomass and carbon, respectively. Overall, if no species-specific model is available, we suggest the functional plant trait based on dbh and wsg.
Comparative Study of Grade 3/4 Toxicity Associated With Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Administered After Primary Versus Interval Surgical Debulking in Ovarian Cancer

Objective: To determine the prevalence of grade 3 or 4 toxicity associated with intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy subsequent to primary surgical debulking compared to post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy and interval debulking in advanced ovarian cancer. Methods: Patients receiving IP chemotherapy from 2006 to 2010 were reviewed. Study cohort was stratified by initial treatment (upfront surgery vs neoadjuvant chemotherapy). The National Cancer Institute toxicity grading scale was used to assess treatment-related toxicities immediately before each cycle. The &khgr;2 test was used to check for association between categorical variables. Results: Thirty-three patients received IP chemotherapy after optimal debulking. Sixteen patients had upfront surgery. The total number of IP chemotherapy cycles administered was 134. Significantly, more patients treated with IP chemotherapy after intravenous neoadjuvant chemotherapy experienced fatigue (P = 0.038) compared to those treated after upfront surgery. During the course of IP regimen, the patients having upfront surgery tended to experience more grade 3/4 hematologic toxicities (P = 0.06) and abdominal pain (P = 0.08). Twenty-four (73%) of 33 patients completed all prescribed IP chemotherapy cycles. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in need for dose reduction or delays, use of paclitaxel on day 8, neurologic/gastrointestinal/metabolic toxicities, and IP port complications. Conclusions: Intraperitoneal chemotherapy can be given after optimal primary surgery or interval surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with similar toxicity profile. Toxicity data can be used to plan for optimal IP chemotherapy delivery, patient counseling, and ongoing supportive care.
How Quality Management System Components Lead to Improvement in Service Organizations: A System Practitioner Perspective

Service organizations use quality management systems as a part of their overall strategies to improve business processes and operations management. Nevertheless, how quality management components lead to improvement and whether task conflicts influence quality management components have not yet been identified clearly. This paper examines the mechanisms that link different quality management components to improvement and the role of task conflict in the mechanisms. Data were collected from 495 employees responsible for quality management in Macao’s service organizations. Results from structural equation modeling showed that leadership i.e., the supportive behaviors of top management towards quality management has direct, significant effects on quality management components such as process approach, engagement of people, relationship management, and evidence-based decision making while customer focus has the largest total effect on improvement. On the other hand, task conflict was weakly but significantly related to relationship management. The study provides a deeper understanding of how quality management works in service contexts.
Gatekeepers and Referrals in Services

This paper examines services in which customers encounter a gatekeeper who makes an initial diagnosis of the customer's problem and then may refer the customer to a specialist. The gatekeeper may also attempt to solve the problem, but the probability of treatment success decreases as the problem's complexity increases. Given the costs of treatment by the gatekeeper and the specialist, we find the firm's optimal referral rate from a particular gatekeeper to the specialists. We then consider the principal-agent problem that arises when the gatekeeper, but not the firm, observes the gatekeeper's treatment ability as well as the complexity of each customer's problem. We examine the relative benefits of compensation systems designed to overcome the effects of this information asymmetry and show that bonuses based solely on referral rates do not always ensure first-best system performance and that an appropriate bonus based on customer volume may be necessary as well. We also consider the value of such output-based contracts when gatekeepers are heterogeneous in ability, so that two gatekeeper types face different probabilities of treatment success when given the same problem. We show that the firm may achieve first-best performance by either offering two contracts that separate the gatekeeper types or by offering a single contract that coordinates the treatment decisions of both gatekeepers.