Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fine Subdivisions of the Semantic Network Supporting Social and Sensory–Motor Semantic Processing

Neuroimaging studies have consistently indicated that semantic processing involves a brain network consisting of multimodal cortical regions distributed in the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes. However, little is known about how semantic information is organized and processed within the network. Some recent studies have indicated that sensory-motor semantic information modulates the activation of this network. Other studies have indicated that this network responds more to social semantic information than to other information. Using fMRI, we collectively investigated the brain activations evoked by social and sensory-motor semantic information by manipulating the sociality and imageability of verbs in a word comprehension task. We detected 2 subgroups of brain regions within the network showing sociality and imageability effects, respectively. The 2 subgroups of regions are distinct but overlap in bilateral angular gyri and adjacent middle temporal gyri. A follow-up analysis of resting-state functional connectivity showed that dissociation of the 2 subgroups of regions is partially associated with their intrinsic functional connectivity differences. Additionally, an interaction effect of sociality and imageability was observed in the left anterior temporal lobe. Our findings indicate that the multimodal cortical semantic network has fine subdivisions that process and integrate social and sensory-motor semantic information.
The genetic control of IgA activity against Teladorsagia circumcincta and its association with parasite resistance in naturally infected sheep

Previous studies in deliberately infected sheep have shown an association between IgA activity against 4th-stage larvae of Teladorsagia circumcincta and parasite growth, development and fecundity. The purpose of this research was to determine if these results could be confirmed in naturally infected sheep and to explore the hypothesis that plasma IgA activity could help to identify resistant lambs with shorter adult nematodes. Plasma IgA activity was skewed with most animals having relatively low levels of IgA activity. Plasma IgA activity was repeatable and highly heritable. Animals with increased IgA activity had lower egg counts and shorter adult female T. circumcincta. Therefore, under conditions of natural parasite challenge, plasma IgA activity may help to identify lambs resistant to T. circumcincta.
Incidence of herpes zoster, 1997–2002

We estimated age-specific herpes zoster (HZ) incidence rates in the Kaiser Permanente Northwest Health Plan (KPNW) during 1997–2002 and tested for secular trends and differences between residents of two states with different varicella vaccine coverage rates. The cumulative proportions of 2-year-olds vaccinated increased from 35% in 1997 to 85% in 2002 in Oregon, and from 25% in 1997 to 82% in 2002 in Washington. Age-specific HZ incidence rates in KPNW during 1997–2002 were compared with published rates in the Harvard Community Health Plan (HCHP) during 1990–1992. The overall HZ incidence rate in KPNW during 1997–2002 (369/100000 person-years) was slightly higher than HCHP's 1990–1992 rate when adjusted for age differences. For children 0–14 years old, KPNW's rates (182 for females, 123 for males) were more than three times HCHP's rates (54 for females, 39 for males). This increase appears to be associated with increased exposure of children to oral corticosteroids. The percentage of KPNW children exposed to oral corticosteroids increased from 2·2% in 1991 to 3·6% in 2002. Oregon residents had slightly higher steroid exposure rates during 1997–2002 than Washington residents. There were significant increases in HZ incidence rates in Oregon and Washington during 1997–2002 among children aged 10–17 years, associated with increased exposure to oral steroids.
Effect of Poling Voltage on the Room-Temperature Stability of the Second-Order Nonlinearity in Thermally Poled Fused Silica

The effect of poling voltages on the room-temperature stability of the second-order nonlinearity in thermally poled fused silica was investigated. The nonlinearity induced in samples poled with higher voltages was found to be more stable than that induced with lower poling voltages. A charge recombination process through electrons hopping via transition metal ions has been proposed
Dying back type axonal degeneration of sensory nerve terminals in muscle spindles of the gracile axonal dystrophy (GAD) mutant mouse

A disorder of the gracile axonal dystrophy (GAD) mutant mouse is characterized by a neuro‐muscular disease with sensory ataxia (detectable 30 days after birth) and paresis of the hind‐limbs (detectable at 80 days). In the sensory ataxia stage, histological study of the primary sensory system shows that, in addition to the lesions in the central nervous system, peripherally projecting axons have also started to degenerate at their distal ends in muscle spindles. Although the structure of Ia fibre endings appear normal until 15 days after birth, initial changes in the annulo‐spiral structure are detected around the 20th day by a degeneration of the terminal axons. Degeneration then progressed proximally and the secondary endings also start to degenerate. Neuron cell bodies located in the dorsal root ganglia are morphologically intact until the later stages. Chronological studies indicate that, although axonal degeneration progresses throughout life, it is accentuated during the rapid somatic growth period. Around 50 days of age, transient regeneration takes place at axonal endings when somatic growth has attained a plateau. Such primary sensory endings tend to be restored by fine, multiple axons which gain access to the intrafusal fibres through the original endoneurial tubes. Ultrastructural observations at the fully affected stage show intrafusal muscle fibres lying scattered within spindles due to loss of the fine network of inner capsule layers and an almost complete loss of sensory endings from the surface of intrafusal muscle fibres. These results indicate that this mutant mouse is a useful model for naturally occurring ‘dying back’ type axonal degeneration or ‘central and peripheral distal axonopathies', and would provide significant information about the complete evolution of the pathological processes involved.
The management of gestational trophoblastic tumors with etoposide, methotrexate, and actinomycin D.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of etoposide, methotrexate, and actinomycin D (EMA) as primary and secondary therapy for gestational trophoblastic tumor (GTT). METHODS In a retrospective study, the medical records of all patients with middle-risk metastatic GTT or nonmetastatic choriocarcinoma receiving primary EMA and patients with GTT resistant to single-agent regimens treated with secondary EMA were reviewed. Hematologic toxicity was graded using WHO criteria. RESULTS Seven patients received primary EMA with 5 (67%) achieving remission. Twenty-two patients with resistance to single-agent regimens received secondary EMA with 21 (95%) achieving remission. The most acute hematologic toxicity was grade 1 or 2. Only 2 of 90 EMA cycles were associated with grade 4 toxicity requiring hospital admission. CONCLUSION Although EMA effectively induces remission with minimal acute hematologic toxicity in the primary and secondary therapy of GTT, recently published data regarding secondary tumors associated with etoposide exposure should restrict its use to patients who absolutely require etoposide to achieve remission.
Detection of reduction in population size using data from microsatellite loci

We demonstrate that the mean ratio of the number of alleles to the range in allele size, which we term M, calculated from a population sample of microsatellite loci, can be used to detect reductions in population size. Using simulations, we show that, for a general class of mutation models, the value of M decreases when a population is reduced in size. The magnitude of the decrease is positively correlated with the severity and duration of the reduction in size. We also find that the rate of recovery of M following a reduction in size is positively correlated with post‐reduction population size, but that recovery occurs in both small and large populations. This indicates that M can distinguish between populations that have been recently reduced in size and those which have been small for a long time. We employ M to develop a statistical test for recent reductions in population size that can detect such changes for more than 100 generations with the post‐reduction demographic scenarios we examine. We also compute M for a variety of populations and species using microsatellite data collected from the literature. We find that the value of M consistently predicts the reported demographic history for these populations. This method, and others like it, promises to be an important tool for the conservation and management of populations that are in need of intervention or recovery.
Upside down: Reframing European Defence Studies

Since the end of the Cold War, the study of European defence has been dominated by a ‘Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)-centric’ approach, while largely neglecting the comparative analysis of national defence policies. This article makes a conceptual and empirical case for turning the dominant research prism of European defence studies upside down by returning the analytical precedence to the national level. This approach privileges the comparative analysis of national defence policies and armed forces, before focusing on the trans-/supra-national level. The case for this analytical turn is made in three steps. Firstly, it addresses the different historical stages in European defence integration and the transformation of national armed forces and thereby brings to light the recent renationalization of defence in Europe. Secondly, it questions the predominance of the CSDP in the scholarly literature on European defence. Finally, it seeks to demonstrate the fruitfulness of such a démarche by empirically substantiating common patterns and intra-European divergences in the evolution of national defence policies and armed forces since the end of the Cold War. After having shown the need and added benefit of turning the analytical lense of European defence studies on its head, the conclusion suggests future avenues of research on national defence policies and armed forces in Europe.
Hemoglobin Solutions Coupled with Polyethylene Glycol 1900: Preparation, Purification, Quality Control and Pharmacological Trials by Hemorrhagic Shock

The usefulness of hemoglobin solutions as oxygen transporters is limited by their high affinity for oxygen and rapid elimination from the circulation. Various chemical modifications of hemoglobin aimed at overcoming these two handicaps have been suggested. We have developed a conjugate of pyridoxylated human hemoglobin with monomethoxypolyoxyethylene 1900, whose preparation and properties are described. We present comparative results on short-term or definitive survival of Wistar rats which, during hemorrhagic shock due to the loss of 60 or 80% of their blood mass, were given a solution of native or modified hemoglobin, in some cases purified by ion-exchange chromatography to remove non-heme proteins, lipids, and some endotoxins. The more complex the treatment used to improve the properties and the purity of the hemoglobin solutions, the longer the animals survived. The loss of hemoglobin in the urine was greatly reduced after conjugation: after 20 h, less than 6% of the total infused.
Rural Business Programs and Business Performance: The Impact of the Usda's Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program

The USDA's Rural Development (RD) has implemented several loan and grant programs to support businesses located in rural areas and the Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program is the largest among them. The focus of the present study is to estimate the impact of B&I program participation and the amount of loans received on the probability of survival and employment growth of recipient businesses over the period of 1990–2013. Using administrative data on B&I loans from RD and business‐level data from the National Establishment Time‐Series (NETS), we utilize a matched difference‐in‐difference estimation strategy to assess the impact of the B&I program on establishment‐level outcomes. We find that the receipt of a B&I loan helps recipient businesses to reduce the risk of failure and grow slightly faster, compared with a similar control group of businesses. We also test if the impacts vary with the loan size and find that while increasing the size of loans has an increasing effect to reduce the risk of failure, it shows no statistically significant effect on employment growth.
Mastery Learning: It Is Time for Medical Education to Join the 21st Century

Clinical medical education in the 21st century is grounded in a 19th-century model that relies on longitudinal exposure to patients as the curriculum focus. The assumption is that medical students and postgraduate residents will learn from experience, that vicarious or direct involvement in patient care is the best teacher. The weight of evidence shows, however, that results from such traditional clinical education are uneven at best. Educational inertia endorsed until recently by medical school accreditation policies has maintained the clinical medical education status quo for decades. Mastery learning is a new paradigm for medical education. Basic principles of mastery learning are that educational excellence is expected and can be achieved by all learners and that little or no variation in measured outcomes will result. This Commentary describes the origins of mastery learning and presents its essential features. The Commentary then introduces the eight reports that comprise the mastery learning cluster for this issue of Academic Medicine. The reports are intended to help medical educators recognize advantages of the mastery model and begin to implement mastery learning at their own institutions. The Commentary concludes with brief statements about future directions for mastery learning program development and research in medical education.
Experimental confirmation of milliwatt power source concept

The results of development and tests of mini RTG, milliwatt power source (PS) are presented. The development of PS model is based on the standard Light Weight Radioisotope Heater Unit (RHU) of 1.0 W thermal power, fueled by Plutonium-238. This RHU was successfully used on the spacecraft Galileo, Cassini, Mars Pathfinder etc. The computations were carried out and the optimum parameters of PS, for which maximum power can be achieved, were determined. Experimental samples of two PS modifications, equipped with electrical equivalents of RHU and thermoelectric batteries (TEB) made of Bi-Te-Sb-Se alloys, were fabricated: PS-1 (with one RPIU) and PS-2 (with two RI-IUs). The results of experimental tests have confirmed that an electrical power level of 25 mW can be achieved in PS-I and of 53 mW-in PS-2. The analysis of the calculations and experiments shows that the electrical power of PS-2 can be increased up to 70 mW at 5 V.
Entrepreneurship and regional economic growth in Antioquia: An empirical analysis

Drawing on the concept of entrepreneurship capital, which links collective entrepreneurial action with growth, this paper aims to explore the effect that entrepreneurship has had on the economic growth of Antioquia (Colombia). We estimate a growth model using unbalanced panel data with fixed effects for the period 2001-2012. In this study, entrepreneurship is measured as the number of new businesses and the ratio of new and discontinued companies, which have a positive impact on the economic growth of Antioquia. These results motivate a discussion about the importance of public policy in creating an environment that stimulates entrepreneurship and productive expansion; this should be maintained over time under the same social and economic purposes.
Koilocytosis; an indication for conservative management

The management of women with mild dyskaryosis continues to be the subject of debate. The management of cases with such smears could be improved if additional morphological features were found to be indicative of low/high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Our own experience in the routine audit of the diagnostic accuracy of cervical smears had suggested that cases of dyskaryosis with koilocytosis were associated with a low risk of CINIII. Two hundred and forty‐four cervical smears reported as showing evidence of wart virus infection were reviewed and their subsequent histories noted. Of these smears, 173 demonstrated clear evidence of koilocytosis. Irrespective of the initial grade of dyskaryosis, only 28 cases (16.2%) had underlying CIN or had progressed to CIN over a minimum follow‐up period of 21 months. Only two cases (1.2%) showed evidence of CINIII. Koilocytosis is associated with a low risk of CIN and an especially low risk of CINIII. The management of women with koilocytic smears should be modified accordingly.
Changing board behaviour: The role of the ‘Two Strikes’ rule in improving the efficacy of Australian Say‐on‐Pay

This article analyses whether the transition from the 2004 CLERP 9 advisory Say-on-Pay regime to the 'Two Strikes' rule in 2012 influenced CEO pay in Australian firms. Analysing a panel of 2,074 firm-years (2005-2015), we find that (i) CEO pay is a positive predictor of shareholder dissent; (ii) firm performance has a reducing effect on shareholder dissent; (iii) excessive shareholder dissent moderated CEO pay under the 'Two Strikes' rule relative to the CLERP 9 regime, and (iv) the market responded favourably to the introduction of the 'Two Strikes' rule and negatively to 'strike' instances after its introduction. Disciplines Business Publication Details Borthwick, J., Jun, A. & Ma, S. (2018). Changing board behaviour: The role of the 'Two Strikes' rule in improving the efficacy of Australian Say-on-Pay. Accounting and Finance, Online First 1-50. This journal article is available at Research Online: http://ro.uow. edu.au/buspapers/1453
Transparency in the presentation of trial results may not increase patients’ trust in medical researchers

Background One of the expected benefits of sharing trial results with participants is that it may enhance trust in medical researchers (TMRs). Purpose In a prospective study on a sample of clinical trial participants, we investigated the effect on the participants’ TMRs of providing final trial results to participants via the Internet. Methods Participants in the FNCLCC-PACS04 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00054587) were surveyed on average 6 years after enrollment, when the trial results were available. In the current study, they were randomized to receive (experimental group) or not to receive (control group) a letter informing them that the results of the trial could be consulted on a specific website. TMRs was measured before randomization and 6 months later using mailed self-administered questionnaires. Results The response rate was 93% (N = 107). TMRs remained unchanged in the control group (mean effect size = −0.06, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.28 to 0.17, p = 0.617) but decreased in the experimental group (−0.30, 95% CI: −0.53 to −0.06, p = 0.015). However, the difference between the two effect sizes was not statistically significant (p = 0.144). Limitations The results obtained here on the disclosure of final trial results to breast cancer patients via the Internet cannot be generalized to all situations involving the disclosure of phase III randomized controlled trial results. Conclusions Transparency is an ethical research requirement, but it may not enhance participants’ TMRs.
Depression but not seizure frequency predicts quality of life in treatment-resistant epilepsy

Background: The two-thirds of patients with epilepsy who become seizure-free have a quality of life (QOL) similar to the general population. The major treatment challenge is patients with refractory epilepsy. Whereas neurologists typically focus on seizure reduction in the treatment of these patients, results of studies relating seizure frequency to QOL are conflicting. As depression is associated with reduced QOL in epilepsy and antiepileptic medications (AEDs) can cause depression, it is important to determine the relative roles of depression and seizure frequency in QOL in refractory epilepsy. Methods: Prospective evaluation was conducted of patients with refractory epilepsy being admitted to an inpatient video-EEG monitoring unit. The impact of clinical variables (age, sex, marital status, seizure frequency, duration and type of seizure disorder, seizure localization, number of AEDs, depression) on QOL was analyzed. Results: Depression was a powerful predictor of QOL (n = 122, β = −35.8, p < 0.0001). No other variable predicted QOL. Depression was common (54%), severe (19% with suicidal thoughts), underdiagnosed (37%), and largely untreated (17% on antidepressants). Conclusions: Treatment of depression may be inadequately prioritized in the management of intractable epilepsy.
On the Likes and Dislikes of YouTube's Educational Videos: A Quantitative Study

As major product of information technology, YouTube is a ubiquitous source for education, also in the field of information technology. Learners, however, are facing the increasing problem of finding appropriate videos on YouTube efficiently. Users' rating in terms of Likes and Dislikes could provide a starting point. However, it is unclear what the number of Likes and Dislikes reveal about the video. This paper tries to create links between different video features and users' rating of YouTube's educational content. For this purpose, 300 educational videos were collected and analyzed and regression models were established that describe the number of Likes per view and the number of Dislikes per view as functions of different video features and production styles. Results show that the number of Likes per view can be predicted more reliably than the number of Dislikes per view. The number of Likes per view increases with higher video resolution and higher talking rate (words per second), and when the instructor or tutor speaks English as a native language. Videos using explanations on paper or whiteboard as well as videos that use more than one style attract more Likes per view. In contrast, the model that describes the number of Dislikes per view has a low adjusted R-squared and the contribution of its significant variables is rather difficult to interpret. This suggests that further research is required to understand users' behavior in terms of disliking an educational video.