Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MRI findings of 26 patients with Parsonage-Turner syndrome.

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to describe the MRI features of patients with Parsonage-Turner syndrome. Familiarity with the MRI features associated with this entity is important because radiologists may be the first to suggest the diagnosis. Twenty-six patients with Parsonage-Turner syndrome were treated at our institution between 1997 and 2005. We retrospectively reviewed the MR images of patients with clinical or electromyographic evidence (or both) of acute brachial neuritis without a definable cause. CONCLUSION MRI of the brachial plexus and shoulder in patients with Parsonage-Turner syndrome showed intramuscular denervation changes involving one or more muscle groups of the shoulder girdle. The supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles were the most commonly involved. MRI is sensitive for detecting signal abnormalities in the muscles of the shoulder girdle of patients with Parsonage-Turner syndrome. MRI may be instrumental in accurately diagnosing the syndrome.
Hierarchy of supramolecular synthons: persistent hydroxyl...pyridine hydrogen bonds in cocrystals that contain a cyano acceptor.

An analysis of the Cambridge Structural Database reveals >99% occurrence of the hydroxyl.pyridine supramolecular heterosynthon in crystal structures that contain hydroxyl and pyridine moieties in the absence of other hydrogen-bonding moieties. The occurrence of the hydroxyl.cyano supramolecular heterosynthon in crystal structures that contain hydroxyl and cyano moieties is ca. 77%. Such high frequencies indicate that these heterosynthons are strongly favored over the competing hydroxyl.hydroxyl supramolecular homosynthon. However, the CSD does not contain enough information to evaluate which supramolecular heterosynthon prevails when only OH, pyridine, and CN moieties are present in a crystal structure. We have addressed the competition between the hydroxyl.pyridine and the hydroxyl.cyano supramolecular heterosynthons by characterizing a series of 17 cocrystals that are composed of cocrystal formers which contain a permutation of OH, pyridine, and CN functional groups. Structural analysis reveals that all cocrystals are sustained by the hydroxyl.pyridine heterosynthon.
An analysis of biomass consumption and economic growth in transition countries

Abstract In this paper, the relationship between biomass energy consumption and economic growth was analysed for some European Transition Countries. Two econometrical methods, which are time series (Autoregressive Distributed Lag (A.R.D.L.) bounds testing approach and Granger Causality) and Panel data methods (Pedroni test, Panel Johansen test and Panel Causality test) were used to determine the cointegration relationship between the variables. A.R. D.L. and Granger Causality methods were practiced for Albania, Bulgaria and Romania for the 1981–2014 period. Panel Cointegration and Causality methods were applied for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia and Slovak Republic for the 1991–2014 period; and Croatia, Estonia, Latvia and Slovenia for the 1995–2014 period. According to the results, while short-run and long-run causality results demonstrate that the conservation hypothesis is valid for Albania and the countries in group 1, evidence of the growth hypothesis is supported for Bulgaria, Romania and the countries in group 2. In strong causality results, evidence of bidirectional causality for all countries is found.
Spontaneous Platelet Aggregation in Cerebrovascular Disease

Summary 50 patients from a group of 130 patients with transient ischaemic attacks or cerebral infarction were found to demonstrate in vitro spontaneous platelet aggregation (SPA) while 80 normal subjects tested never showed this phenomenon. The following additional findings point towards a possible platelet abnormality: 1. Platelets from 10 patients with SPA when isolated and resuspended in normal plasma still demonstrated SPA while isolated normal platelets resuspended in patient’s plasma did not. 2. Platelets demonstrating SPA showed an increased aggregation tendency upon incubation with ADP while normal platelets developed the expected refractory state. SPA was found to be dependant upon the presence of divalent cations and could further be inhibited by phentolamine and adenosine. Aspirin effectively abolished SPA in 50 patients and relieved the clinical symptoms of patients with recurrent complaints of transient blindness and paraesthesia.
Multifunctional Onboard Battery Charger for Plug-in Electric Vehicles

This paper presents a multifunctional onboard battery charger for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). The proposed battery charger consists of three H-bridge modules including a selective switch, a high-frequency transformer, and inductors. The first duty of the proposed charger is to charge the propulsion battery when PEV connects to the ac grid [onboard charger (OBC)]. In this case, the proposed charger plays a role in ac-to-dc converting with power factor correction. Occasionally, the propulsion battery can supply surplus energy to the grid [vehicle to grid (V2G)]. In this second task, the proposed charger acts as an inverter. The third role is to charge the auxiliary battery via the propulsion battery when PEV is in a driving state [low-voltage dc-to-dc converter (LDC)]. In this case, the proposed charger acts as a step-down converter. In conventional PEVs, the aforementioned functions are done by an OBC and an LDC separately. The proposed charger can implement the three tasks by sharing switches and inductors in an all-in-one system. Thus, the proposed approach can realize a small and light design of the EV battery charger, resulting in the improvement of fuel efficiency. After theoretical analysis, we carry out simulations and experiments using a prototype to verify the validity of the proposed approach.
The Signals and Noise: Actionable Information in Improvised Social Media Channels During a Disaster

Web-based social and communication technologies enable citizens to self-organize relief efforts in response to crises. This work focuses on a question fundamental to the concept of collective intelligence: how effective are such self-organized channels, ungoverned by any central authority, in conforming to their intended function? In this study we examine the hashtag #PorteOuverte ("#OpenDoor") introduced during the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks, as an "improvised logistical channel" (ILC) to help individuals to find a safe shelter near the attack sites. We analyze the dynamics and effectiveness of #PorteOuverte by comparing its proportion of relevant logistical messages - individuals requesting or offering shelter - to other messages such as those offering emotional consolation or commenting on the hashtag itself. Our results reveal that the vast majority of messages are not relevant, however the crowd senses and spreads relevant messages more than others. We further demonstrate that relevant messages can be automatically detected and thus algorithmic promotion may be possible.
The Importance of IRS Enforcement to Stock Price Crash Risk: The Role of CEO Power and Incentives

We analyze whether tough IRS monitoring generates a positive externality by constraining managers' bad news hoarding activities. Supporting this prediction, we find a negative relation between the threat of an IRS audit and stock price crash risk. Our evidence is consistent with recent theory that outside investors learn more about firms when tax enforcement is stricter. Additionally, path analysis suggests that the monitoring channel (direct path) plays a critical role in shaping crash risk relative to information asymmetry channels of tax planning and accruals manipulation (indirect paths). Consistent with other predictions, we find that the monitoring role of IRS audits intensifies when firms experience worse agency conflicts stemming from CEO power and incentives. Collectively, our research implies that external monitoring by tax authorities protects shareholders against managers suppressing negative firm-specific information that engenders stock price crash risk, particularly when CEOs have wider scope and stronger incentives to hoard bad news.
Estimation of Disaggregated Impacts of Education Expansion on Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Underpinned by evidence from the theories of endogenous growth which stress the role of human capital accumulation in enhancing growth, this paper investigates the disaggregated impact of school enrolment on economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for the period 1995-2016. The analysis is based on the augmented Solow, and Mankiw models and employs the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) technique that takes care of endogeneity in a dynamic panel environment. The results point to a significant but differential impact of educational expansion in facilitating economic performance in the SSA region. Essentially, the growth enhancing impact of education depends on the type of education with secondary education yielding the largest impacts. The gender disaggregated model results show that and secondary school and primary enrolment yield higher growth effects relative to tertiary enrolment. Most interestingly and contrary to existing literature on the gender disaggregated impact of education on growth, the education of girls is seen to yield higher growth effects relative to boys. Based on evidence of the positive impact of girl-child education, policy interventions to support and sustain girl child education in Sub-Saharan Africa ought to be encouraged.
The European Union Online

Revision with unchanged content. The issues of European Union (EU) citizenship, democratic legitimacy, social dialogue and trans-European communication of socio-economic actors have been ever present in the academic and political debates regarding the role of the EU institutions and the future of the Union. These issues have also defined the conceptual frame of the EU's information and communication strategy and feature at the core of the debates on the EU Constitutional Treaty (2002-2005) and the Reform Treaty (2007). This book is an innovative and timely interdisciplinary piece of research within the European political communication field: It assesses the potential democratising impact of the Internet on European Union (EU) institutions and its contribution to the emerging European public sphere, focusing on the 'top-down' process of direct online communication initiated at the supranational level by the European Commission to address the general public. The findings highlight significant disparities between the Commission's public communication strategy, its online implementation and the institution's operating culture.
DIURNAL PATTERNS OF ACTIVITY OF THE ORIENTING AND EXECUTIVE ATTENTION NEURONAL NETWORKS IN SUBJECTS PERFORMING A STROOP-LIKE TASK: A FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING STUDY

Attentional processes are fundamental to good cognitive functioning of human operators. The purpose of this study was to analyze the activity of neuronal networks involved in the orienting attention and executive control processes from the perspective of diurnal variability. Twenty-three healthy male volunteers meeting magnetic resonance (MR) inclusion criteria performed the Stroop Color-Word task (block design) in the MR scanner five times/day (06:00, 10:00, 14:00, 18:00, 22:00 h). The first scanning session was scheduled 1–1.5 h after waking. Between MR sessions, subjects performed simulated driving tasks in stable environmental conditions, with controlled physical activity and diet. Significant activation was found in brain regions related to the orienting attentional system: the parietal lobe (BA40) and frontal eye-fields (FEFs). There were also activations in areas of the executive control system: the fronto-insular cortex (FIC), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), presupplementary motor area (preSMA), supplementary motor area (SMA), basal ganglia, middle temporal (MT; BA21), and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), as a part of the central executive network. Significant deactivations were observed in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), superior frontal gyrus (SF), parietal lobe (BA39), and parahippocampal that are thought to comprise the default mode network (DMN). Additionally, the activated regions included bilaterally lingual gyrus and fusiform gyrus. The insula was bilaterally deactivated. Visual attention controlled by the goal-oriented attention system and comprising top-down and bottom-up mechanisms, activated by Stroop-like task, turned out to be prone to diurnal changes. The study results show the occurrence of time-of-day–related variations in neural activity of brain regions linked to the orienting attentional system (left parietal lobe—BA40, left and right FEFs), simultaneously providing arguments for temporal stability of the executive system and default mode network. These results also seem to suggest that the involuntary, exogenous (bottom-up) mechanism of attention is more vulnerable to circadian and fatigue factors than the voluntary (top-down) mechanism, which appear to be maintained at the same functional level during the day. The above phenomena were observed at the neural level. (Author correspondence: marek@uj.edu.pl)
Oral malodorous compound causes caspase-8 and -9 mediated programmed cell death in osteoblasts.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Hydrogen sulfide (H(2) S) is one of two volatile sulfur compounds that are known to be the main cause of oral malodor; the other is methyl mercaptan. Other known volatiles existing in mouth air do not contribute significantly to oral malodor originating in the oral cavity. Hydrogen sulfide is also known to be an etiological factor in periodontal disease. However, the effects of H(2) S on alveolar bone remain unclear. The objectives of this study were to determine the apoptotic effects of H(2) S on osteoblasts and to verify the apoptotic molecular pathways. MATERIAL AND METHODS A clonal murine calvaria cell line was incubated with 50 ng/mL of H(2) S. To detect apoptosis, the cells were analysed by flow cytometry and ELISA. Mitochondrial membrane depolarization was assessed using flow cytometry as well. ELISA was used to evaluate the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol and to assess Fas ligand, p53, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin IL1-α IL-β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, interferon-γ, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor. Caspase-3, -8 and -9 activities were estimated. Expression of BAX and Bcl-2 was assessed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. DNA fragmentation was detected by single-cell gel electrophoresis. Fas receptors were evaluated by western blotting. RESULTS After H(2) S incubation, apoptotic levels increased significantly in a time-dependent manner. Mitochondrial membrane depolarization, the release of cytochrome c, p53 and caspase-3, -8 and -9 and DNA fragmentation were all significantly greater. BAX gene activity was upregulated, whereas Bcl-2 remained low. Fas ligand/Fas receptor, tumor necrosis factor α and other cytokines were not increased to a significant degree. CONCLUSION At less-than-pathological concentrations in gingival crevicular fluid, H(2) S induces apoptosis in osteoblasts. The molecular mechanisms underlying the apoptotic process include p53, a mitochondrial pathway and caspase-8 activation.
An online survey of specialists’ opinion on first line management options for unexplained subfertility

Abstract The recent National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline on Fertility (2012) suggests that IVF should be offered to couples with unexplained subfertility after 2 years of expectant management. The evidence on which these recommendations are based is not robust and there is a lack of agreement among specialists regarding the management of unexplained subfertility. We conducted an online survey among fertility specialists to find out the general consensus regarding the management of these couples. An e-mail questionnaire was sent to 420 reproductive medicine clinicians and 136 (32.38%) replied. Only 16% said they would always recommend IVF as the first line management for these couples, irrespective of age and duration of infertility. Of those surveyed, 39% agreed to the new NICE proposal, 33% agreed partly and 25% did not agree at all. A total of 27% of the respondents said they would definitely change their practice according to the NICE proposal but 30% said they would not; 29% said they might change their policy while the rest were unsure. This survey confirms the ongoing clinical uncertainty among fertility specialists in managing couples with unexplained subfertility.
Effects of Wind Velocity on Contamination of HV Insulators in Winter Conditions

An experimental setup has been developed to simulate the road salt deposit process on energized high voltage insulators under one set of winter conditions. The variation in accumulation rate of salt deposit density (SDD) with wind speed was established through systematic laboratory investigations. Tests were made with and without normal ac line voltage stress to explore the combined effect of wind and dielectrophoresis.
Targeted Disruption of the Interaction between WD-40 Repeat Protein 5 (WDR5) and Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL)/SET1 Family Proteins Specifically Inhibits MLL1 and SETd1A Methyltransferase Complexes*

MLL1 belongs to the SET1 family of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methyltransferases, composed of MLL1–4 and SETd1A/B. MLL1 translocations are present in acute leukemias, and mutations in several family members are associated with cancer and developmental disorders. MLL1 associates with a subcomplex containing WDR5, RbBP5, ASH2L, and DPY-30 (WRAD), forming the MLL1 core complex required for H3K4 mono- and dimethylation and transcriptional activation. Core complex assembly requires interaction of WDR5 with the MLL1 Win (WDR5 interaction) motif, which is conserved across the SET1 family. Agents that mimic the SET1 family Win motif inhibit the MLL1 core complex and have become an attractive approach for targeting MLL1 in cancers. Like MLL1, other SET1 family members interact with WRAD, but the roles of the Win motif in complex assembly and enzymatic activity remain unexplored. Here, we show that the Win motif is necessary for interaction of WDR5 with all members of the human SET1 family. Mutation of the Win motif-WDR5 interface severely disrupts assembly and activity of MLL1 and SETd1A complexes but only modestly disrupts MLL2/4 and SETd1B complexes without significantly altering enzymatic activity in vitro. Notably, in the absence of WDR5, MLL3 interacts with RAD and shows enhanced activity. To further probe the role of the Win motif-WDR5 interaction, we designed a peptidomimetic that binds WDR5 (Kd ∼3 nm) and selectively inhibits activity of MLL1 and SETd1A core complexes within the SET1 family. Our results reveal that SET1 family complexes with the weakest Win motif-WDR5 interaction are more susceptible to Win motif-based inhibitors.
Contracting Institutions, Agro‐food Trade and Product Quality

The agro‐food sector has experienced a profound transformation of contractual arrangements along the value chain, coinciding with important technological innovations and product quality upgrading. Our understanding of the impact that this transformation has had on trade flows in the agricultural sector is very limited. In particular, we have limited knowledge about the extent to which the patterns in agro‐food trade have been driven by the quality of contractual institutions. Using existing measures which capture the sensitivity of agro‐food products to contractual imperfections, we show that countries with better contract enforcement specialise in the production of food which requires higher level of relationship‐specific investments. We also find that countries with better contracting institutions and producing contract‐intensive goods specialise in exporting high quality foods. In addition, we show that the quality of contracting institutions might importantly affect the process of product quality upgrading.
FGF9 and SHH signaling coordinate lung growth and development through regulation of distinct mesenchymal domains

Morphogenesis of the lung is regulated by reciprocal signaling between epithelium and mesenchyme. In previous studies, we have shown that FGF9 signals are essential for lung mesenchyme development. Using Fgf9 loss-of-function and inducible gain-of-function mouse models, we show that lung mesenchyme can be divided into two distinct regions: the sub-mesothelial and sub-epithelial compartments, which proliferate in response to unique growth factor signals. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 9 signals from the mesothelium (the future pleura) to sub-mesothelial mesenchyme through both FGF receptor (FGFR) 1 and FGFR2 to induce proliferation. FGF9 also signals from the epithelium to the sub-epithelial mesenchyme to maintain SHH signaling, which regulates cell proliferation, survival and the expression of mesenchymal to epithelial signals. We further show that FGF9 represses peribronchiolar smooth muscle differentiation and stimulates vascular development in vivo. We propose a model in which FGF9 and SHH signals cooperate to regulate mesenchymal proliferation in distinct submesothelial and subepithelial regions. These data provide a molecular mechanism by which mesothelial and epithelial FGF9 directs lung development by regulating mesenchymal growth, and the pattern and expression levels of mesenchymal growth factors that signal back to the epithelium.
Diffuse and Focal Nesidioblastosis: A Clinicopathological Study of 24 Patients with Persistent Neonatal Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia

The morphological abnormalities of the endocrine pancreas that underlie persistent neonatal hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (PNHH) and are included under the heading “nesidioblastosis” appear to be heterogeneous. We studied pancreatic specimens of 24 patients by light microscopy and immunocytochemistry in order to classify the changes of the endocrine pancreas and relate them to the therapy applied. Two main forms of nesidioblastosis were recognized: a focal and a diffuse type. Both types occurred with equal frequency. Focal nesidioblastosis was characterized by nodular hyperplasia of islet-like cell clusters, including ductuloinsular complexes and hyper-trophied insulin cells with giant nuclei. In nine patients, this lesion was unifocal (including an adenoma-like nodule), while two patients each had two separate foci, and one patient had at least three foci. Diffuse nesidioblastosis involved the entire pancreas; it was distinguished by irregularly sized islets and ductulo-insular complexes, both of which contained distinctly hypertrophied insulin cells. Three pancreases lacked these diagnostic features and thus posed difficult diagnostic problems. From the follow-up data, we conclude that partial pancreatectomy with excision of the diseased focus is the treatment of choice for most patients with focal nesidioblastosis whereas diffuse nesidioblastosis requires near-total pancreatectomy. In two patients who had multifocal and diffuse nesidioblastosis and were treated at the age of 6 and 8 years, respectively, the changes of the endocrine pancreas were comparable with those of the young age group and failed to reveal any signs of maturation.