Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
State-dependent intrinsic predictability of cortical network dynamics

The information encoded in cortical circuit dynamics is fleeting, changing from moment to moment as new input arrives and ongoing intracortical interactions progress. A combination of deterministic and stochastic biophysical mechanisms governs how cortical dynamics at one moment evolve from cortical dynamics in recently preceding moments. Such temporal continuity of cortical dynamics is fundamental to many aspects of cortex function but is not well understood. Here we study temporal continuity by attempting to predict cortical population dynamics (multisite local field potential) based on its own recent history in somatosensory cortex of anesthetized rats and in a computational network-level model. We found that the intrinsic predictability of cortical dynamics was dependent on multiple factors including cortical state, synaptic inhibition, and how far into the future the prediction extends. By pharmacologically tuning synaptic inhibition, we obtained a continuum of cortical states with asynchronous population activity at one extreme and stronger, spatially extended synchrony at the other extreme. Intermediate between these extremes we observed evidence for a special regime of population dynamics called criticality. Predictability of the near future (10–100 ms) increased as the cortical state was tuned from asynchronous to synchronous. Predictability of the more distant future (>1 s) was generally poor, but, surprisingly, was higher for asynchronous states compared to synchronous states. These experimental results were confirmed in a computational network model of spiking excitatory and inhibitory neurons. Our findings demonstrate that determinism and predictability of network dynamics depend on cortical state and the time-scale of the dynamics.
Specificities of the fecal microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease

Background: Abnormalities have been described in the fecal microbiota of patients with IBD, but it is not known whether they are specific for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or to some extent common to other forms of colitis. The aim of this study was to compare the bacterial composition of the dominant fecal microbiota in patients with Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), infectious colitis (IC), and in healthy subjects (HS). Methods: Fluorescent in situ hybridization adapted to flow cytometry was used to analyze the bacterial composition of fecal samples from 13 patients with active CD, 13 patients with active UC, 5 patients with IC, and 13 HS. We used 6 group‐specific probes targeting 16S rRNA and spanning the main phylogenetic groups of the fecal microbiota. Results: A significantly higher proportion of the total fecal bacteria were recognized by the 6 probes in HS (86.6% ± 12.7) and in IC (84.0% ± 11.7) than in patients with IBD (70.9% ± 15 in CD and 60.1% ± 25.7 in UC). The Clostridium coccoides group was reduced in UC (20.0% ± 13.3 versus 42.0% ± 12.0 in HS; P < .001), whereas the C leptum group was reduced in CD (13.1% ± 11.9 versus 25.2% ± 14.2 in HS; P = .002). The Bacteroides group was more abundant in IC (36.4% ± 22.9) than in the other 3 groups (13.8% ± 11.8 in CD, 11.7% ± 11.7 in UC, 12.1% ± 7.0 in HS; P < .001 for all 3 comparisons). Conclusions: In IBD the dominant fecal microbiota comprises unusual bacterial species. Moreover, CD and UC fecal microbiota harbor specific discrepancies and differ from that of IC and healthy subjects.
Blast cell proliferative activity and sensitivity to GM-CSF in vitro are associated with early response to TAD-9 induction therapy in acute myeloid leukemia.

The current study was undertaken to determine the relevance of leukemic blast cell proliferative activity, cellular parameters of Ara-C metabolism and the in vitro sensitivity to GM-CSF in association with the clinical response to TAD-9 induction therapy in 66 patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Proliferative activity was assessed by 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR) incorporation and thymidine kinase (TK) activity, parameters of Ara-C metabolism comprised the activities of deoxycytidine kinase (DCK) and DNA polymerase alpha (poly alpha) as well as Ara-CTP concentrations and 3H-Ara-C uptake into DNA. GM-CSF sensitivity was determined by in vitro incubation of blasts for 48 h with or without GM-CSF (100 U/ml) followed by an additional 4 h concurrent exposure to GM-CSF and 3H-TdR (0.5 microCi/ml). The following results were obtained as expressed by median values and ranges: 3H-TdR incorporation: 1.07 pmol/10(5) cells (0.0-10.1), TK: 7.3 pmol/min/mg protein (1.3-56.0), DCK: 9.3 pmol/min/mg protein (0.77-47.1), poly alpha: 1.7 pmol/min/mg protein (0.00-28.9), Ara-CTP: 53.3 ng/10(7) cells (13.3-211.0), 3H-Ara-C uptake: 0.06 pmol/10(5) cells (0.0-0.57). 3H-Ara-C uptake was correlated with 3H-TdR incorporation (r = 0.74) and with the (S-phase dependent) activities of TK (r = 0.73) and poly alpha (r = 0.71, but not with DCK activity or intracellular Ara-CTP content. Blast cells of 37 from 55 analyzed patients were found to be sensitive to GM-CSF stimulation as defined by an increase in 3H-TdR incorporation > or = 1.5-fold over control values after the 48 h GM-CSF exposure. In vitro data were related with clinical response to TAD-9 induction therapy in 43 patients with newly diagnosed AML, taking the blast cell reduction at day 10 or 16 to < 5% or > or = 5% residual blasts as early parameter for adequate or inadequate response, respectively. While neither 3H-Ara-C uptake, nor intracellular Ara-CTP concentration, TK nor DCK activity were predictive for response, a high 3H-TdR incorporation and a high poly alpha activity were associated with adequate blast cell reduction. Median values of 3H-TdR incorporation were 2.26 pmol/10(5) cells for patients with adequate blast cell clearance and 0.80 pmol/10(5) cells for patients with inadequate blast cell clearance (P = 0.11), the respective values for poly alpha were 3.22 pmol/min/mg protein for responders and 1.1 pmol/min/mg protein for non-responders (P = 0.0085). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Cluster randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of primary care mental health workers.

BACKGROUND Mental health issues are a core part of the work of primary care and are the second most common reason for consultations. There is some evidence that the quality of primary care mental health provision is variable. AIM To evaluate the effectiveness of primary care mental health workers with regards to satisfaction with care, mental health symptoms, use of the voluntary sector, and cost effectiveness of care. DESIGN OF STUDY Cluster randomised controlled trial. SETTING Practices in the Heart of Birmingham Primary Care Trust, Birmingham, England. METHOD Nineteen practices and 368 patients (18 to 65 years of age) with a diagnosis of a new or ongoing common mental health problem were recruited. Sixteen practices and 284 patients completed the trial. RESULTS Patients in intervention practices had a higher mean level of general satisfaction than those in control practices (difference between group scores of 8.3, 95% confidence interval = 1.3 to 15.3, P = 0.023). The two groups did not differ in mental health symptom scores or use of the voluntary sector. CONCLUSION For patients with common mental health problems, primary care mental health workers may be effective at increasing satisfaction with an episode of care.
Composite Cartilage Island Grafts in Type 1 Tympanoplasty: Audiological and Otological Outcomes

Tympanoplasty is a surgical procedure used for eradicating chronic middle ear infection and for reconstructing hearing in infected ears. Independent from the graft placing technique, the atrophy and the insufficiency of the graft material would be seen. For cases at high risk for failure, such as recurrent perforations, total perforations, and severely atelectatic tympanic membranes, many surgeons have used cartilage as a grafting material because of its increased stability and resistance to negative middle ear pressure. Various cartilage grafting techniques have been described, including the palisade, cartilage island, and cartilage shield. In our study, we investigated audiological and otological outcomes of tympanoplasty type 1 with composite cartilage island grafts. Between 2004 and 2008, 100 cases of composite cartilage island tympanoplasty were identified. A total of 74 patients were attended to in this study. Graft take was evaluated in all patients, and postoperative complications were noted. Hearing results were analyzed by comparing the preoperative and postoperative pure-tone average air-bone gap. Graft take was accomplished in 72 patients (97.29%). There was no graft lateralization or displacement in the middle ear. The mean postoperative pure-tone average air-bone gap improvement was 20.2 dB at 500 Hz, 23.58 dB at 1000 Hz, 22.23 dB at 2000 Hz, and 24.79 at 4000 Hz. Our study indicates that composite cartilage island tympanoplasty has a high degree of reliability and excellent hearing improvement especially in patients at high risk for graft failure.
Insulin resistance in obese Zucker rat (fa/fa) skeletal muscle is associated with a failure of glucose transporter translocation.

The genetically obese Zucker rat (fa/fa) is characterized by a severe resistance to the action of insulin to stimulate skeletal muscle glucose transport. The goal of the present study was to identify whether the defect associated with this insulin resistance involves an alteration of transporter translocation and/or transporter activity. Various components of the muscle glucose transport system were investigated in plasma membranes isolated from basal or maximally insulin-treated skeletal muscle of lean and obese Zucker rats. Measurements of D- and L-glucose uptake by membrane vesicles under equilibrium exchange conditions indicated that insulin treatment resulted in a four-fold increase in the Vmax for carrier-mediated transport for lean animals [from 4.5 to 17.5 nmol/(mg.s)] but only a 2.5-fold increase for obese rats [from 3.6 to 9.1 nmol/(mg.s)]. In the lean animals, this increase in glucose transport function was associated with a 1.8-fold increase in the transporter number as indicated by cytochalasin B binding, a 1.4-fold increase in plasma membrane GLUT4 protein, and a doubling of the average carrier turnover number (intrinsic activity). In the obese animals, there was no change in plasma membrane transporter number measured by cytochalasin B binding, or in GLUT4 or GLUT1 protein. However, there was an increase in carrier turnover number similar to that seen in the lean litter mates. Measurements of GLUT4 mRNA in red gastrocnemius muscle showed no difference between lean and obese rats. We conclude that the insulin resistance of the obese rats involves the failure of translocation of transporters, while the action of insulin to increase the average carrier turnover number is normal.
Debt Maturity, Leverage, and Political Uncertainty

Abstract This study investigates the effects of political uncertainty (PU) on corporate debt maturity and leverage using a novel measure of firm-specific PU. We find that PU is negatively associated with debt maturity and leverage. Furthermore, the negative effects of PU on debt maturity and leverage are more pronounced for firms with greater investment reversibility and a lower credit rating. PU affects debt maturity and leverage at least five quarters into the future. Both domestic PU and global PU have negative effects on debt maturity and leverage, but domestic PU’s effect is greater. Overall, our results suggest that PU deteriorates the external financing environment, leading to firms using more short-term debt and having lower leverage.
Development of a murine model to evaluate the effect of vernix caseosa on skin barrier recovery

Abstract: The aim of this study was twofold, that is the generation of a reliable model for skin barrier disruption and repair and to evaluate recovery of damaged skin after application of vernix caseosa (VC). VC was selected as its wound healing properties were suggested previously, but never clearly demonstrated. Five different levels of barrier disruption in mice, accomplished by tape‐stripping, were evaluated. Disruption models such as moderate, severe #1 and #2 (transepidermal water loss (TEWL) of 31 ± 2, 59 ± 4 and 66 ± 3 g/m2/h, respectively) showed complete recovery within 72 h. However, not all corneocytes were removed after tape‐stripping. Additionally, models such as severe #3 and #4 (TEWL of 73 ± 5 and 79 ± 6 g/m2/h, respectively) with a more severe disruption were evaluated. After tape‐stripping, all corneocytes were removed and the remaining epidermis was intact. However, model #3 still showed complete recovery within 72 h. With model #4, a crust was formed and almost complete recovery (approximately 90%) was obtained within only 8 days. The effect of VC application on recovery of disrupted skin was evaluated with model #3 and #4. Model #3 showed that application of VC predominantly influenced initial recovery and is therefore merely appropriate to study the effect of formulations in the initial recovery period. Topical application of VC on model #4 considerably increased initial and long‐term recovery. Moreover, VC application promoted rapid formation of stratum corneum and prevented epidermal thickening. These observations not only confirm the ability of VC to enhance barrier recovery, but also suggest potential use of this treatment clinically.
Essays in public economics and empirical banking

This thesis studies questions from the fields of public economics and empirical banking. The first chapter studies the question of how the design of pension system affects household labour supply incentives. The effective marginal tax rate of the pension system is derived directly from the households’ optimality conditions and decomposed into five components driven by interand intra-generational redistribution, demographics, borrowing constraints, and insurance. I provide quantitative results for the US, demonstrating that the effective tax rate lies significantly below the statutory rate. Eliminating progressivity from the US pension schedule significantly reduces effective marginal rates as it equalizes average and marginal replacement rates. The second chapter considers the introduction of a Vickrey-style lifetime income tax in a heterogeneous agent model with idiosyncratic risk. In a model with perfect foresight, lifetime income taxation leads to unambiguous welfare gains as it redistributes resources from highconsumption to low-consumption households. A similar argument does not hold for the case with idiosyncratic risk. In a lifecycle model calibrated to the US economy, a transition to a tax on lifetime income leads to small welfare losses as workers increase their savings early in life in order to insure against uncertain future tax liabilities. In the third chapter, we study the question how risk taking by banks responds to an exogenous change in leverage. We employ heterogeneity in the geographic distribution of banks’ offices in order to introduce an exogenous variation in deposit supply based on local economic shocks. This variation is used to instrument banks’ leverage. We measure bank risk taking by directly observing lending decisions on all residential mortgages in the US. In response to an exogenous decrease in their leverage, banks become more responsive to risk characteristics of residential mortgage loans, and the median predicted probability of default for issued loans decreases.
Does colonoscopy cause increased ulcerative colitis symptoms?

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) patients often report symptom flares after colonoscopy. However, this has not been documented in the literature. Objectives: 1. Determine whether colonoscopy is associated with increased UC symptoms. 2. Determine whether there is a need for escalation of UC medications after colonoscopy. 3. Identify baseline variables associated with increased symptoms after colonoscopy. Methods: Firty‐five outpatients with a history of UC, intact colon, and quiescent disease were enrolled in a prospective case‐crossover study. Subjects were evaluated with the Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI) before colonoscopy, 1 week and 4 weeks after colonoscopy. A mixed model analysis was used to accommodate nonindependence of repeated measurements on the same patients. Results: Fifty‐one (91%) subjects completed the study. Six subjects had clinical relapse defined by a score of 5 or greater on the SCCAI during the week after colonoscopy. Five subjects increased their 5‐aminosalicylic acid (5‐ASA) medications immediately postcolonoscopy, two of whom had a SCCAI 5 or greater. Multivariate modeling demonstrated a clear association between the week immediately after colonoscopy preparation and increased disease activity, with the time period being predictive of increased SCCAI (week 1 vs. week 4, P = 0.0127). The baseline SCCAI (P value < 0.0001) and prednisone use (P = 0.0120) were predictive of increased SCCAI postcolonoscopy. Thiopurines (P < 0.001) were protective against increased symptoms. Conclusions: In our study, 1 in 8 subjects had UC relapse by SCCAI immediately postcolonoscopy, and 1 in 10 subjects required an increase in their 5‐ASA medications. Clinicians should be cognizant of this effect of colonoscopy in patients with UC.
Impact of Monetary Policy on GDP of India

Monetary policy is a measure which is decided by the Apex bank to regulate currency supply and credit control in the Indian economy where as gross domestic product (GDP) is an indicator of growth and development of the economy. Monetary policy and its components i.e. CRR, SLR, BR, RR, RRR and MSF (Marginal Standing Facility) have impact on the inflation, credit supply in market and GDP of the country. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of various financial components of monetary policy on the GDP, which is an index of economic growth and development of the economy. It has been observed during the study that monetary policy of the nation has positive impact on the GDP by applying the various tools and techniques with the help of Econometrics. In this study, GDP is used as dependent variable while components of monetary policy are used as independent variable to examine the impact.
Econometric analysis of the effects of economic conditions on the health of newborns

We examine whether economic downturns are beneficial to health outcomes of newborn infants in developed countries. For this we use merged populationwide registers on health and economic and demographic variables, including the national medical birth register and intergenerational link registers from Sweden covering 1992–2004. We take a rigorous econometric approach that exploits regional variation in unemployment and compares babies born to the same parents so as to deal with possible selective fertility based on labor market conditions. We find that downturns are beneficial; an increase in the unemployment rate during pregnancy reduces the probability of having a birth weight less than 1,500 grams or of dying within 28 days of birth. Effects are larger in low socio-economic status households. Health improvements cannot be attributed to the parents’ own employment status. Instead, the results suggest a pathway through air pollution.
High expression of PKC-MAPK pathway mRNAs correlates with glomerular lesions in human diabetic nephropathy.

BACKGROUND Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) is a major signaling pathway for transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta to induce extracellular matrix (ECM) production in diabetic nephropathy (DN). PKC also activates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), which is called the PKC-MAPK pathway. The PKC-MAPK pathway is probably responsible for PKC-related abnormalities in diabetic glomeruli. To confirm the involvement of this pathway, we determined the localization and expression of mRNAs in glomeruli by in situ hybridization method. METHODS In the present study, we examined expression of PKCbeta1, MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK) 1, MEK2, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1, ERK2, and TGF-beta1 mRNAs using renal tissue samples from kidneys affected by DN (N= 21) and from normal human kidney (NHK; N= 6). We also performed an immunohistochemical study using anti-phosphorylated MEK1/2 (P-MEK) and ERK1/2 (P-ERK) antibodies. The glomerular severity of DN was classified into three groups according to mesangial expansion: D1 (N= 4), D2 (N= 13), and D3 (N= 4). We analyzed differences and correlations between variables. RESULTS In the glomeruli, the number of cells that stained for these mRNAs in DN was significantly higher than in NHK. The expression of PKC-MAPK pathway mRNAs tended to be inversely proportional to the degree of mesangial expansion. The P-MEK and P-ERK signal intensity were parallel to its mRNA expression pattern. Furthermore, there were significant correlations among the P-MEK, P-ERK signal intensity, PKCbeta1 mRNA expression. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that high expression of PKC-MAPK pathway mRNAs plays an important role in the development and/or progression of early tissue damage in DN.
One-year epidemiology of fever at the Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND Although fever is recognised as a major presentation symptom at Emergency Departments (EDs) and is often used as a rationale for the institution of antibiotics, few studies describing patients with fever as the sole inclusion criterion at the ED of a general hospital have been performed. The objective of this study is to describe epidemiology of non-surgical febrile patients at the ED and to identify risk factors for adverse outcome. METHODS Blood, sputum, urine and faeces cultures, urine sediments and throat swaps for viral diagnostics were obtained from febrile ED patients. Outcome parameters were bacterial/viral infection, non-bacterial/non-viral infection, non-infectious febrile disease; mortality, hospital admission, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and length of hospital stay. RESULTS 213 Patients were included (87.8% were hospitalised, 8.5% were admitted to ICU, 4.2% died). In 75 patients (35.2%), bacterial infection was confirmed; in 78 patients (36.6%) bacterial infection was suspected. In nine patients (4.2%), viral diagnosis was confirmed; in six patients (2.8%), a viral condition was suspected. The most frequently encountered infection was bacterial pneumonia (58 patients, 27.2%). Only older age was correlated with mortality (ρ=0.176, p=0.01). CONCLUSION A majority of the febrile patients were admitted to the hospital, mostly for bacterial infection. An overall mortality rate of 4.2% was registered. Only a few risk factors for adverse outcome could be identified in this cohort. Overall, the outcome of patients presenting with fever at the ED is rather benign.
Freedom of Choice in Pension Plans: Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment

Employee pension plans in most countries limit participants' choice to a pre-selected 'menu' of funds. How would funds react if participants were allowed to choose funds from outside of such a limited menu? This paper exploits a pension policy reform in Hong Kong to study funds' reaction using a difference-in-difference approach. The findings indicate that funds, catering to participants' preferences, started charging lower fees after the reform. In the meantime, they adopted a less active investment strategy and gross return deteriorated. The findings suggest that the freedom of choice affects participants' wealth indirectly through the endogenous response of funds.