Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
INNOVATION, IMITATION, AND THE NATURE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH

Bu calisma, bir ekonomideki butuncul verimliligin Birlesik Devletler gibi bir teknoloji ucsinirina goreli olarak evriminin, o ekonomi icin iktisadi buyumenin dogasini belirledigini gostermektedir, yani buyumenin birincil olarak yenilik ile mi yoksa taklit ile mi gerceklestigini. Tahmin eden denklem otoregresiftir ve bir ekonomi icin yenilik ve taklit katsayilarini belirlemesi bakimindan yapisaldir. 85 ulke icin UNIDO’nun 1960-2000 donemine ait goreli verimlilik verisini kullanan tahminler, daha iyi verimlilik buyumesi performansi gosteren ulkelerin, bir yenilik-taklit egrisi tanimladigini ortaya koymaktadir, yani bir buyume ucsiniri. Bu buyume ucsinirina olan uzaklik, bir ulkenin verimlilik buyumesi bakimindan ne denli zayif bir performans gosterdiginin iki boyutlu bir olcusudur. Ilginc bicimde, her iki gruptaki ulkeler, yani buyume ucsinirinda yerlesmis ve onu tanimlamis olanlar ile buradan uzaktakiler, yenilik ve taklit parametreleri bakimindan, dikkate deger grup-ici degiskenlik gostermektedirler.
Topical steroids versus systemic antifungals in the treatment of chronic paronychia: an open, randomized double-blind and double dummy study.

BACKGROUND The involvement of Candida in the pathogenesis of chronic paronychia (CP) has never been proven, even though this condition is commonly considered a type of Candida onychomycosis. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of systemic antifungals (itraconazole or terbinafine) with a topical corticosteroid (methylprednisolone aceponate) in the treatment of patients with CP. METHODS The study involved 45 adult patients with CP. Medication was given in a randomized, double-blind and double dummy manner over 3 weeks. Patients were then followed for 6 weeks. Clinical and mycologic evaluations were performed at baseline, and at weeks 3 and 9. The efficacy measures included clinical and photographic evaluation. RESULTS Of 48 nails treated with methylprednisolone aceponate, 41 were improved or cured at the end of the follow-up period. The statistical analysis showed a significant difference between the number of nails improved or cured by methylprednisolone aceponate and that of nails improved or cured with terbinafine (30 out of 57) or itraconazole (29 out of 64). Presence of Candida was not strictly linked to disease activity, and Candida eradication was associated with clinical cure in only 2 of the 18 patients who carried Candida at the beginning of the study. CONCLUSION This study shows that topical steroids are more effective than systemic antifungals in the treatment of CP, and supports the view that CP is not a type of onychomycosis but a variety of hand dermatitis caused by environmental exposure.
Antipsychotic polypharmacy in patients with schizophrenia: a multicentre comparative study in East Asia.

AIMS Previous studies of the prescription patterns of psychotropic medications in patients with schizophrenia have highlighted a high rate of antipsychotic polypharmacy, but data in Asia are sparse. This study seeks to examine the prevalence of antipsychotic polypharmacy in patients with schizophrenia and compare the differences between patients receiving one vs. those receiving more than one antipsychotic. METHODS Antipsychotic prescription for a sample of 2399 patients with schizophrenia from six countries and territories was evaluated. Daily doses of antipsychotic medications were converted to standard chlorpromazine equivalents (CPZ). RESULTS Antipsychotic polypharmacy was found in 45.7% (n = 1097) of the patients with wide intercountry variations. Polypharmacy was associated with male gender [odds ratio (OR) 1.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06, 1.46, P < 0.01], advanced age (t = -7.81, d.f. = 2396, P < 0.001), psychiatric hospital setting (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.11, 1.62) as well as higher daily CPZeq doses (411.47 vs. 983.10 CPZeq day(-1), z = -25.94, P < 0.001), anticholinergic use (OR 3.17, 95% CI 2.65, 3.79, P < 0.001) and less use of an atypical antipsychotic drug (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.71, 0.98, P < 0.05). On multivariate analysis, country, age and duration of illness were significantly associated with antipsychotic polypharmacy. CONCLUSION This study highlighted the wide intercountry variations of antipsychotic polypharmacy which are likely to be influenced by a complex combination of clinical, setting, cultural and personal practice factors, requiring more research.
New midwifery? A qualitative analysis of midwives' decision-making strategies.

AIM This paper is a report of a study to explore the reasons why midwives decided to adopt observed decision-making strategies relating to the use of technology. BACKGROUND Literature on the development of midwifery and nursing has suggested that they are developing more egalitarian relationships with clients in decision-making processes. METHODS A qualitative approach was adopted, using participant observation with a convenience sample of midwives (n=16), and a focus group of midwives (n=8). Data collection took place over 9 months in 2004. FINDINGS The dominant mode of decision-making was bureaucratic decision-making, which involved adherence to written policies and procedures. The least frequently used was 'new professional' decision-making, which involved collaboration with clients. The reasons for midwives' approaches could be categorized under three main headings: first, context, including possible litigation, management strategies, workload pressures, and medical dominance; second, midwives' characteristics, including both lack of experience and the reliance on tradition of some experienced midwives; and third, women's perceived characteristics, some of whom were seen by midwives as either unwilling or unable to participate in decision-making. There was also implicit evidence that some midwives were uncomfortable with the new professional rebalancing of power relations between professionals and the laity. CONCLUSION Managers need to question whether the strategies they adopt hinder or support clinicians in their efforts to involve women in decisions. Clinicians need to consider whether they wish to be selective or universal in their use of new professional strategies.
A Deeper Understanding of Hypnosis: Its Secrets, Its Nature, Its Essence

Numerous research projects converge on the conclusion that there are three major types of very good or highly responsive hypnotic subjects: (a) fantasy-prone individuals who have secretly spent much of their time since childhood fantasizing vividly and realistically; (b) amnesia-prone individuals who have developed special abilities for mentally repressing or compartmentalizing undesired memories, thoughts, and emotions; and (c) positively-set individuals who are maximally ready to cooperate, think-with, and imagine what is suggested to the best of their ability while letting go of contrary thoughts. The major principle that provides a deep understanding of hypnosis and hypnotic phenomena is that all hypnotic subjects are affected, albeit in different ways for different types of subjects, by four powerful behavior-determining factors that can be potentially maximized in hypnotic situations: (a) socialfactors that obligate the socialized subject to cooperate and try to actualize or realize the hypnotist's expectations and explicit suggestions; (b) the hypnotist's unique skills and personal characteristics (including creative ideas, communicative ability, and interpersonal efficacy) and the nature of the hypnotist-subject interpersonal relationship; (c) the effectiveness of the induction procedure in guiding the subject to think-with the suggestions; and (d) the depth of meaning, creativity, and “force” or “power” of the suggested ideas.
Adipose Tissue in the Filum Terminale: A Computed Tomographic Finding That May Indicate Tethering of the Spinal Cord

&NA; Adipose tissue in the filum terminale is frequently associated with tethering of the spinal cord in patients with spina bifida occulta (3, 8). We recently saw a patient with low back pain and no spina bifida occulta, in whom adipose tissue was noted in the area of the filum on an unenhanced computed tomographic (CT) scan. The patient had a tethered cord. This case suggested that, when CT scanning is done as the first imaging study in the evaluation of low back pain, fatty tissue in the area of the filum may be an indicator for tethering of the spinal cord. The present study was undertaken to determine the validity of using CT scan‐detectable filal fat in the identification of possible tethered spinal cords among a group of patients experiencing low back pain. The presence of fat in the fila of 12 patients with the radiologically and histologically tethered cord syndrome was evaluated and the fila of 47 autopsied patients whose clinical history showed no back pain were examined histologically. There were accumulations of adipose tissue in the fila of 11 of the 12 (91%) patients with the tethered cord syndrome and in the fila of 9 of the 47 patients (17%) in the autopsy series. Of the 9 autopsy patients with fat in their fila, however only 3 patients (6%) exhibited collections of adipose tissue in the CT detection range (2 mm). These results demonstrate that, although CT scan‐detectable adipose tissue can be found in the filum of an occasional patient without tethered cord, CT detectable fat in the filum of a patient with low back pain should prompt an evaluation for a tethered spinal cord. CT scanning has potential as a noninvasive tool in such a work‐up.
Seventh Cologne Twente Workshop on Graphs and Combinatorial Optimization, gargano, Italy, 13-15 May, 2008

Let H andG be graph classes. We say that H has the Erd̋ os-Pósa property for G if for any graphG ∈ G, the minimum vertex covering of all H-subgraphs of G is bounded by a functionf of the maximum packing of H-subgraphs inG (by H-subgraph ofG we mean any subgraph of G that belongs toH). In his monograph “Graph Theory”, R. Diestel proves that ifH is the class of all graphs that can be contracted to a fixed planar graph H, thenH has the Erdös-Pósa property for the class of all graphs (with an expon ntial bounding function). In this note, we give an alternative proof of this res ult with a better (still exponential) bounding function. Our proof, for the case when G is some non-trivial minor-closed graph class, yields a low degree polynomial bounding functio nf . In particular f(k) = O(k1.5).
The oxidation of As(III) in groundwater using biological manganese removal filtration columns

Arsenic is known as a toxic element to humans, and has been reported to co-exist with iron and manganese in groundwater worldwide. The typical method for arsenic removal from groundwater is to oxidize trivalent (As(III)) to pentavalent (As(V)) followed by the As(V) removal. This study aims to evaluate the oxidization efficiency of As(III) in a mature biological manganese (Mn2+) removal filtration system with different elevated influent As(III) concentrations. The effects of influent Mn2+ concentrations, influent As(III) concentrations, filtration rates and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels on the efficiency of As(III) oxidation were assessed. The results showed that As(III) oxidation can be simultaneously achieved with removing Mn2+ in the filtration system. The oxidation efficiency was not impacted by increasing the influent As(III) concentration up to nearly 2500 µg L−1, but the filtration rate was limited at 11 m h−1 for maintaining the effluent As(III) concentration below 10 µg L−1. The oxidation process followed first-order kinetics with the constant reaching 0.56–0.61 min−1. The As(III) oxidation process was most likely to be mediated by the bacterial community initially developed for Mn2+ removal in the filtration system, which performed the catalytic oxidation for As(III). GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
In vitro biological effects of sodium titanate materials.

UNLABELLED Monosodium titanate (MST) particles effectively bind specific metals and are therefore promising compounds for delivery or sequestration of metals in biological contexts. Yet, the biological properties of MST are largely unexplored. Our previous study showed that the cytotoxicity of these compounds was mild, but the nature of the dose response curves suggested that residual titanates in culture may have interfered with the assay. In the current study, we assessed the importance of these artifacts, and extended our previous results using fibroblasts for biological evaluation. We also assessed the biological response to a new type of titanate (referred to as amorphous peroxo-titanate or APT) that shows more promising metal binding properties than MST. METHODS The degree of titanate-induced interference in the MTT (mitochondrial activity assay) was estimated by means of cell-free assays with and without a final centrifugation step to remove residual titanate particulate. Cytotoxic responses to titanates were assessed by measuring succinate dehydrogenase activity (by MTT) in THP1 monocytes or L929 fibroblasts after 24-72 h exposures. Monocytic activation by APT was assessed by TNFalpha secretion (ELISA) from monocytes with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation. RESULTS We confirmed that residual titanate particulates may alter the SDH activity assay, but that this effect is eliminated by adding a final centrifugation step to the standard MTT procedure. Addition of MST or APT at concentrations up to 100 mg/L altered succinate dehydrogenase activity by < 25% in both monocytes and fibroblasts. Fibroblasts displayed time-dependent adaptation to the MST. APT did not trigger TNFalpha secretion or modulate LPS-induced TNFalpha secretion from monocytes. CONCLUSIONS Although further in vitro and in vivo assessment is needed, MST and APT exhibit biological properties that are promising for their use as agents to sequester or deliver metals in biological systems.
[Clinical significance of serum HBsAg levels, HBsAg/HBV DNA ratio, and association with liver inflammation activity in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B].

OBJECTIVE To study the clinical significance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels and HBsAg/hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA ratio in relation to liver inflammation in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB). METHODS One hundred and fifty-three Chinese patients with chronic HBV infection with HBeAg-positive status were enrolled in the study.Quantitative measurements were made for HBsAg levels by immunoassay (Architect HBsAg QT by Abbott Diagnostic) and HBV DNA by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.Levels of liver function markers were measured by standard methods.Liver biopsy specimens were obtained from all patients and used to score the histology (liver inflammation) activity index (HAI) and grade (G) the extent of necroinflammation.Statistical correlation analysis was performed to determine the association of HBsAg titre or HBsAg/HBV DNA ratio with the various parameters of liver injury. RESULTS HBsAg titre and HBsAg/HBV DNA ratio were significantly correlated (r =0.578, P less than 0.0001). A significant positive correlation (r =0.642, P less than 0.0001) was found between HBsAg titre and HBV DNA load, and a significant negative correlation was found between the HAI and HBsAg (r =-0.389, P less than 0.0001) and HBsAg/HBV DNA ratio (r =-0.307, P=0.000l). A significant positive correlation was found between alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level and the HAI (r =0.480, P less than 0.0001). Patients with G less than 2 necroinflammation had significantly higher HBsAg titre and HBsAg/HBV DNA ratio than patients with G more than or equal to 2 necroinflammation (both P less than 0.01) but similar levels ofHBV DNA.Generation of a receiver operating characteristic curve using G more than or equal to 2 as the positive index provided the following area under the curve (AUC) values:HBsAg titre, 0.700; HBsAg/HBV DNA ratio, 0.672; ALT level, 0.713. When the random chance AUC was 0.5, all levels of AUC were statistically significant (Pless than 0.001). HBsAg titre (sensitivity =76.92%) was more sensitive than ALT level (sensitivity =76.92%), and HBsAg/HBV DNA ratio (specificity =81.33%) was more specific than ALT level (specificity =81.33%). Youden's index for comprehensive evaluation using ALT was higher than those for HBsAg titre or HBsAg/HBV DNA ratio.When HBsAg and ALT were considered in parallel, the sensitivity increased to 94.08% and specificity rose to 85.60%. CONCLUSION HBsAg titre, HBsAg/HBV DNA ratio and ALT levels can be used as the index for judging the degree of liver inflammation in HBeAg-positive CHB patients.Higher sensitivity and specificity are attained when HBsAg and ALT are used in series or parallel.
Raptors and primate evolution

Most scholars agree that avoiding predators is a central concern of lemurs, monkeys, and apes. However, given uncertainties about the frequency with which primates actually become prey, the selective importance of predation in primate evolution continues to be debated. Some argue that primates are often killed by predators, while others maintain that such events are relatively rare. Some authors have contended that predation's influence on primate sociality has been trivial ; others counter that predation need not occur often to be a powerful selective force. Given the challenges of documenting events that can be ephemeral and irregular, we are unlikely ever to amass the volume of systematic, comparative data we have on such topics as feeding, social dynamics, or locomotor behavior. Nevertheless, a steady accumulation of field observations, insight gained from natural experiments, and novel taphonomic analyses have enhanced understanding of how primates interact with several predators, especially raptors, the subject of this review.
Postnatal pre‐ and postexposure passive immunization strategies: protection of neonatal macaques against oral simian–human immunodeficiency virus challenge

Simian–human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIV) allow the evaluation of antiviral strategies that target the envelope glycoproteins of the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV‐1) in macaques. We previously protected neonates from oral challenge with cell‐free SHIV‐vpu+ by passive immunization with synergistic human neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) (Baba et al., Nat Med 6:200–206, 2000). mAbs were administered prenatally to pregnant dams and postnatally to the neonates. Here, we used solely postnatal or postexposure mAb treatment, thus significantly reducing the amount of mAbs necessary. All neonatal monkeys were also protected with these abbreviated mAb regimens. Our results are directly relevant for humans because we used mAbs that target HIV‐1 envelope glycoproteins. Thus, the large‐scale use of passive immunization with neutralizing mAbs may be feasible in human neonates. The mAbs, being natural human proteins, can be expected to have low toxicity. Passive immunization has promise to prevent intrapartum as well as milk‐borne virus transmission from HIV‐1‐infected women to their infants.
AMPA glutamate receptor subunits in the guinea pig hypothalamus: Distribution and colocalization with progesterone receptor

Excitatory amino acids (EAAs), particularly glutamate, have been implicated in the control of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion through facilitation of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone release. The effects of EAAs are mediated by means of ionotropic glutamate receptors, which are divided into N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) and non‐NMDA (kainate and AMPA) subtypes. Moreover, ovarian steroids are responsible for inducing the preovulatory surge of LH and are involved in the actions of EAAs on LH release. Progesterone is directly involved in the potentiating effect of ovarian steroids on the stimulating effect of AMPA neurotransmission on gonadotropin secretion. To broaden our understanding of the role of hypothalamic AMPA receptors in the steroid‐induced LH surge, we determined the cellular localization of AMPA receptors in the hypothalamus of guinea pigs by using antibodies that recognize the GluR1, GluR2, GluR2/3, or GluR4 subunits, and then we examined the neuroanatomic relationships between these receptors and the progesterone receptor (PR). Different patterns of immunostaining within the preoptic area and hypothalamus were evident with the antibodies to the four subunits with marked contrasts between moderate staining for GluR1, intensely stained structures for GluR2 and GluR2/3, and little specific staining for GluR4. Immunoreactive (IR) neurons were visualized in many regions, including the two regions known to contain a dense population of estradiol‐induced PR‐IR cells: the preoptic periventricular and ventrolateral hypothalamic nuclei. Approximately 60% of GluR1‐IR and 39% of GluR2‐IR cells in the preoptic region possessed PR, whereas 46% of GluR1‐IR and 54% of GluR2‐IR cells in the ventrolateral nucleus expressed PR. These neuroanatomic results suggest that the coordinated actions of progesterone and glutamatergic inputs on mammalian reproductive functions are integrated at the cellular level. J. Comp. Neurol. 453:305–321, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Output from a Josephson stimulated terahertz amplified radiation emitter

The angular dependence of the radiation-zone output power and electric polarization of stimulated terahertz amplified radiation (STAR) emitted from a dc voltage applied across cylindrical and rectangular stacks of intrinsic Josephson junctions is calculated. The boundary conditions are obtained from Love’s equivalence principles. During coherent emission, a spatially uniform ac Josephson current density in the stack acts as a surface electric current density antenna source, leading to a harmonic radiation frequency spectrum, as in experiment, but absent in all cavity models of cylindrical mesas. Spatial fluctuations of the ac Josephson current allow its fundamental mode to lock onto the lowest finite energy cylindrical cavity mode, causing it to resonate, leading to a non-uniform magnetic surface current density radiation source, and a non-trivial combined fundamental frequency output power with linear polarization for general radiation directions, which may be fully or partially coherent. The higher ac Josephson harmonics do not excite other cylindrical cavity modes. For rectangular mesas, the lowest energy modes are empirically not excited, but the non-uniform ac Josephson current can excite the harmonic sequence of modes with spatial variation across the rectangular widths, leading to combined radiation outputs both for the fundamental and the higher harmonics, which combinations also may be either fully or partially coherent. The superconducting substrate is modeled as a perfect magnetic conductor, greatly reducing the STAR emitter power and modifying its angular dependence, especially parallel to the substrate. Based upon this substrate model, existing Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 + δ crystals atop perfect electric conductors could have STAR emitter power in excess of 5 mW, acceptable for many device applications.