Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increased hippocampal, thalamic, and prefrontal hemodynamic response to an urban noise stimulus in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE People with schizophrenia often have difficulty ignoring unimportant noises in the environment. While experimental measures of sensory gating have yielded insight into neurobiological mechanisms related to this deficit, the degree to which these measures reflect the real-world experience of people with schizophrenia is unknown. The goal of this study was to develop a clinically relevant sensory gating paradigm and to assess differences in brain hemodynamic responses during the task in schizophrenia. METHOD Thirty-five participants, including 18 outpatients with schizophrenia and 17 healthy comparison subjects, underwent scanning on a 3-T MR system while passively listening to an "urban white noise" stimulus, a mixture of common sounds simulating a busy urban setting, including multiple conversations and events recorded from a neighborhood gathering, music, and talk radio. P50 evoked responses from a typical paired-click sensory gating task also were measured. RESULTS Listening to the urban white noise stimulus produced robust activation of the auditory pathway in all participants. Activation was observed in the bilateral primary and secondary auditory cortices, medial geniculate nuclei, and inferior colliculus. Greater activation was observed in the schizophrenia patients relative to the comparison subjects in the hippocampus, thalamus, and prefrontal cortex. Higher P50 test/conditioning ratios also were observed in the schizophrenia patients. These evoked responses correlated with hemodynamic responses in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex. CONCLUSIONS The finding of greater activation of the hippocampus, thalamus, and prefrontal cortex during a sensory gating task with high face validity further supports the involvement of these brain regions in gating deficits in schizophrenia. This link is strengthened by the observed correlation between evoked responses in the paired-click paradigm and hemodynamic responses in a functional MRI sensory gating paradigm.
Exercise in a hot environment: the skin circulation

The combined metabolic and thermoregulatory demands of exercise in the heat place an exceptional burden on the circulation, more than can be met through cardiac output and blood flow redistribution. Blood flow to muscle is not reduced by heat stress in exercise and cardiac output is insufficient to meet competing demands from skin and muscle. Skin blood flow during exercise in the heat is limited in several ways. Dynamic exercise causes a cutaneous vasoconstriction at exercise onset through increased vasoconstrictor activity, both in cool and warm conditions. As exercise continues, internal temperature reaches a threshold for increased active vasodilator activity that is elevated by exercise, but reduced by high skin temperature. Beyond that threshold, skin blood flow is limited well below what would be achieved at rest with the same thermal drive through a limit to the active vasodilator system. This combination of restraints on cutaneous vasodilator function compromises temperature regulation. Internal temperature rises to levels that limit exercise through central thermal effects, rather than loss of blood pressure or a reduction in blood flow to active muscle.
Surface trawl survey for U.S. origin Atlantic salmon Salmo salar.

A surface trawl survey (2001-2005) in Penobscot Bay, Maine, U.S.A. , and the nearshore Gulf of Maine waters was conducted to investigate early marine dynamics of a hatchery-dependent Atlantic salmon Salmo salar population from a severely modified river system. Data generated were used to evaluate the effect of stocking location and time on migration success and to describe the migratory pathways and environments that post-smolts traverse. Significant differences in early migration success were detected among different stocking groups, but subsequent marine survival was independent of stocking group. While the post-smolt population was primarily composed of hatchery origin smolt-stocked fish, other life-stage stocking strategies (i.e. parr stocking) represented a higher proportion of the population than previously assumed. Catch distribution suggests evidence of an initial marine migratory pathway out of the dynamic Penobscot Bay environment. The hypothesized benefits of a predator refuge based on the co-occurring species complex is considered minimal for emigrating post-smolts given a mismatch in the size overlap among species and low abundance of other co-occurring diadromous populations. These data can be used to modify current management actions to optimize S. salar recovery and inform future research agendas.
Alterations in vascular matrix metalloproteinase due to ageing and chronic hypertension: effects of endothelin receptor blockade

Objective To determine the effects of age and dual endothelin (ET)A/ETB receptor antagonism (bosentan) on aortic matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) abundance and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) expression in normotensive Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Methods Male SHR and control WKY rats were randomly assigned to receive placebo or bosentan (100 mg/kg per day) for 3 months. Animals were killed under terminal anaesthesia at either 20 weeks (adult) or 17–20 months (senescent). Aortic gelatinase activity was determined by zymography, whereas MT-1 MMP and TIMP-1 expression were assessed by immunoblotting. Results In WKY rats, aortic MMP-2 but not proMMP-2 activity was 3.6-fold higher (P < 0.02) in the senescent compared with the adult group. TIMP-1 (twofold) and MT-1 MMP (3.8-fold) expression increased (P < 0.05) with age in the WKY groups. Short-term hypertension (adult SHR versus adult WKY) increased MMP-2 to 74.7 ± 14.1 from 18.9 ± 3.5 arbitrary units (AU) (P = 0.0012), but did not alter proMMP-2 activity. This increased further on progression to chronic hypertension (117.4 ± 12.2 versus 74.7 ± 14.1 AU; P < 0.02). Bosentan decreased MMP-2 (78.9 ± 3.8 versus 117.4 ± 12.2 AU; P = 0.014) and proMMP-2 activity (P < 0.006) in the senescent SHR group. Conclusion Ageing and the development/progression of hypertension are associated with increased MMP-2 activity in the aorta, which is consistent with ongoing remodelling of the vasculature. However, the underlying mechanisms regulating MMP-2 abundance in ageing and hypertension appear to be divergent, as MT-1 MMP expression is differentially altered. Dual ETA/ETB receptor antagonism did not alter the age-dependent increase in aortic MMP activity in normotensive rats. However, bosentan decreased pro and active MMP-2 activity in senescent SHR rats, indicating that ET modulates late events in vascular remodelling in hypertension.
Accounting System Management by Hospitals Operating in a Changing Regulatory Environment

Under hospital accounting guidelines, contractual adjustments are an allowable deduction from revenue that reflect the difference between gross charges and reimbursement amounts. This study explores the use of contractual adjust- ments to shift costs among payors and increase revenues within a regulatory environment that attempted to limit cost shifting and set revenue constraints. Throughout the regulatory period, we find that hospitals overestimated budgeted contractual adjustments in a systematic manner which allowed cost shifting among payors and increased revenues. In addition, budgeted patient volumes and variable costs were manipulated in an attempt to relax the revenue constraint. After deregulation, we find that volume and cost biasing behavior decreased while overestimation of contractual adjustmentss increased. Further, we examine the interaction of this regulation with cost-containment regulation at the federal level.
Environmental and Individual Influences on Australian Students' Likelihood of Staying in School

Abstract In this longitudinal study, the author examined environmental and individual influences on the likelihood of Australian adolescents staying in school. Participants were 6,778 Anglo Australian, 350 Asian, and 472 European students (mean age = 14.7 years) who were in Year 9 when the study began. The analyses indicated that adolescents from middle social status backgrounds and Asian families were more likely to stay in school than were those from lower social status backgrounds and Anglo Australian families; academic self-concept, achievement, perceptions of environments, and aspirations had a large independent association with staying in school; and there were significant differences in relationships among the aforementioned variables for adolescents from different ethnic groups and among those who decided to stay in or drop out of school.
Is MELD score sufficient to predict not only death on waiting list, but also post‐transplant survival?

Model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) score has emerged as a useful tool in predicting mortality in patients awaiting liver transplantation. There is still, however, discussion as to whether further parameters could improve the sensitivity and specificity of the MELD score. From 1997 to 2003, 621 adult patients with end‐stage liver disease were listed for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Patients suffering from hepatoma were excluded from analysis (113 patients). The MELD score was investigated at the time of listing (MELD ON) and of coming off the list (MELD OFF). Patients who died while on the waiting list showed a significant increase in their MELD score during the waiting time (MELD ON: 21 ± 7 vs. MELD OFF: 28 ± 9) as well as a significantly higher MELD ON compared with patients who were transplanted (MELD ON: 16 ± 5 vs. MELD OFF: 17 ± 7) or removed from the waiting list (MELD ON: 16 ± 6 vs. MELD OFF: 12 ± 3). Multivariate analysis identified MELD ON, ascites and recurrent infection as independent risk factors for death on the waiting list (P < 0.01). MELD score was not identified as a predictor for the post‐transplant survival rate. MELD score is a strong predictor for death on the waiting list, but refractory ascites and recurrent infection are independent risk factors, too.
Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of circulating tumor cells in patients with gastric cancer: A meta‐analysis

The prognostic significance of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in patients with gastric cancer (GC) is controversial. The aims of our meta‐analysis are to assess its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic significance in GC. PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane database, the Science citation index, the CNKI database and the references of relevant studies were systematically searched (up to November, 2013). Using the random‐effect model, the meta‐analysis was completed with odds ratio (OR), risk ratio, hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) as effect values. Twenty‐six studies containing 2,566 patients with GC were analyzed. The overall analysis showed that the incidence difference of tumor cells (CTCs/DTCs) was significant when comparing the stage I/II group to the stage III/IV group (OR = 0.36, CI [0.23, 0.56]), the Lauren diffuse group to the intestinal group (OR = 2.06, CI [1.06, 4.00]), the poorly differentiated group to the well/moderate group (OR = 1.65, CI [1.10, 2.50]), the lymphatic involvement positive group to the positive group (OR = 2.92, CI [1.00, 8.55]). The detection of CTCs/DTCs was significantly related with the disease‐free survival of patients (HR = 3.42, CI [2.39, 4.91]) and the detection of CTCs in peripheral blood was significantly related with the overall survival of patients (HR = 2.13, CI [1.13, 4.03]). Our meta‐analysis indicates that detection of CTCs/DTCs is associated with prognosis for patients with GC and thus could act as a basis for GC staging.
On Equilibrium Uniqueness in Multi-Asset Noisy Rational Expectations Economies

This paper studies equilibrium uniqueness in multi-asset noisy rational expectations economies with asymmetric information, an extension of Grossman and Stiglitz (1980). We show the existence of a linear equilibrium, and prove its uniqueness among equilibria with any continuous price function. Finally, we provide several other examples of multi-asset, asymmetric information economies that admit unique continuous equilibria.
Business English Translation Strategies in the Perspective of Skopos: In the Case of Advertisement Translation

Skopos theory for a long time remains the core of Functional School of translation. The major principle of Skopos theory is that translation should be processed from the perspective of the intended audiences. Its major theory structure makes it as the guiding principle of business English translation which requires communicative and social textual equivalence. Based on the analysis of Skopos theory and business English translation features, this paper focuses on developing business English translation strategies, particularly in the case of advertisement translation. It aims to play a positive role in promoting the research and practice of business English translation.
An application of VAR and Almon Polynomial Distributed Lag models to insurance stocks: Evidence from KSE

In the time series data, a regressand may respond to regressors with a time lag. This study employs dynamic methodology of Almon Polynomial Distributed-Lag (PDL) model as an application to the stocks of 13 selected insurance companies, using daily data for the period from 1996 to 2008. Realizing the importance of causality in economics and finance, this study focuses on the causal relationship between investment, growth in returns and market uncertainty. The study also employs VAR which is of non-structural approaches amongst the a-theoretic models. In this study I have constrained the coefficients on the distributed lag to lie on a third degree polynomial with the satisfactory test results of near and the far end points of the lag distribution. Generating the series of risk variable through GARCH (p, q) is also an academic contribution of this study. The Almon PDL model may also be considered as an alternative to the lagged regression models. For the PDL avoids the estimation problems associated with the autoregressive models. This study is in a way an attempt to invite researchers and practitioners for the maximum application of these very important dynamic models in economics, business and finance. The results of this study reveal mixed causality among the three variables. The Almon Polynomial Distributed Lag results support the theory of adaptive expectations.
Novel nutritional substrates in surgery

Pharmaco-nutrients have beneficial effects on protective and immunological mechanisms in patients undergoing surgery, which are important for recovery after injury and in combating infectious agents. The aim of this review article was to outline the potential of the administration of nutritional substrates to surgical patients and the underlying mechanisms that make them particularly important in peri-operative care. Surgery causes a stress response, which has catabolic effects on the body's substrate stores. The amino acid glutamine is a stimulating agent for immune cells. It activates protective mechanisms through its role as a precursor for antioxidants and it improves the barrier function of the gut. Arginine also enhances the function of the immune system, since it is the substrate for T-lymphocytes. Furthermore, n-3 PUFA stabilise surgery-induced hyper-inflammation. Taurine is another substrate that may counteract the negative effects of surgical injury on acid–base balance and osmotic balance. These pharmaco-nutrients rapidly become deficient under the influence of surgical stress. Supplementation of these nutrients in surgical patients may restore their protective and immune-enhancing actions and improve clinical outcome. Moreover, pre-operative fasting is still common practice in the Western world, although fasting has a negative effect on the patient's condition and the recovery after surgery. This may be counteracted by a simple intervention such as administering a carbohydrate-rich supplement just before surgery. In conclusion, there are various nutritional substrates that may be of great value in improving the condition of the surgical patient, which may be beneficial for post-operative recovery.
Radon and other natural radionuclides in drinking water and risk of stomach cancer: A case‐cohort study in Finland

Very high concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides are encountered in Finnish groundwaters and wells. Radon ingested through drinking water can cause considerable radiation to the stomach. We assessed the effect of natural uranium and other radionuclides in drinking water on the risk of stomach cancer. Subjects (n = 144,627) in the base cohort had lived outside the municipal tap water system during 1967–1980. A subcohort of 4,590 subjects was formed for use as a reference group by random sampling of the base cohort, with stratification by age and sex. Within the subcohort, 371 subjects had used drinking water from drilled wells prior to 1981. Stomach cancer cases within the subcohort were identified through a cancer registry, and cases using water from drilled wells were selected. Activity concentrations of radon, radium‐226 and natural uranium in the drinking water were analyzed using radiochemical and alpha spectrometric methods. The median activity concentration of radon in well water was 130 Bq/l for both the 88 stomach cancer cases and the 274 subjects in the subcohort. Median radium concentrations were 0.007 Bq/l for cases and 0.010 Bq/l for the subcohort, with a median uranium concentration of 0.07 Bq/l for both groups. Risk of stomach cancer was not associated with exposure to radon or other radionuclides. The hazard ratio of stomach cancer was 0.68 for radon (95% CI 0.29–1.59 at 100 Bq/l water), 0.69 per Bq/1 for radium‐226 (95% CI 0.33–1.47) and 0.76 per Bq/1 for uranium (95% CI 0.48–1.21). Our results do not indicate an increased risk of stomach cancer from ingestion of radon or other natural radionuclides through drinking water at these exposure levels. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bacterial Community Dynamics and Biocement Formation during Stimulation and Augmentation: Implications for Soil Consolidation

Microbially-induced CaCO3 precipitation (MICP) is a naturally occurring process wherein durable carbonates are formed as a result of microbial metabolic activities. In recent years, MICP technology has been widely harnessed for applications in civil engineering wherein synthesis of calcium carbonate crystals occurs at ambient temperature paving way for low energy biocement. MICP using pure urease (UA) and carbonic anhydrase (CA) producing bacteria has been promising in laboratory conditions. In the current study we enriched ureolytic and carbonic anhydrase communities in calcareous soil under biostimulation and bioaugmentation conditions and investigated the effect of microbial dynamics on carbonate precipitation, calcium carbonate polymorph selection and consolidation of biological sand column under nutrient limited and rich conditions. All treatments for stimulation and augmentation led to significant changes in the composition of indigenous bacterial population. Biostimulation as well as augmentation through the UA route was found to be faster and more effective compared to the CA route in terms of extracellular enzyme production and carbonate precipitation. Synergistic role of augmented cultures along with indigenous communities was recorded via both the routes of UA and CA as more effective calcification was seen in case of augmentation compared to stimulation. The survival of supplemented isolates in presence of indigenous bacterial communities was confirmed through sequencing of total diversity and it was seen that both UA and CA isolate had the potential to survive along with native communities under high nutrient conditions. Nutrient conditions played significant role in determining calcium carbonate polymorph fate as calcitic crystals dominated under high carbon supplementation. Finally, the consolidation of sand columns via stimulation and augmentation was successfully achieved through both UA and CA route under high nutrient conditions but higher consolidation in short time period was noticed in UA route. The study reports that based upon the organic carbon content in native soils, stimulation can be favored at sites with high organic carbon content while augmentation with repeated injections of nutrients can be applied on poor nutrient soils via different enrichment routes of microbial metabolism.
Physiological effects of the fructose-1,6-diphosphate aldolase ts8 mutation on stable RNA synthesis in Escherichia coli

The conditional lethal mutations ts8 and h8 are located in fda, the gene encoding aldolase, and they inhibit RNA synthesis upon shift to the nonpermissive temperature. We demonstrate that both mutations preferentially inhibit stable RNA synthesis and that this inhibition occurs at the level of transcription initiation. The susceptibility of a promoter to the inhibitory effects of ts8 is correlated with the ability of the promoter to be growth rate regulated. This effect is independent of relA and spoT function. Inhibition is dependent upon glucose metabolism past the generation of glucose-6-phosphate; however, the mechanism of this effect is unknown.
Is there a relevant effect of noise and smoking on hearing? A population-based aging study ¿Existe un efecto relevante del ruido y el tabaquismo en la audición? Un estudio de envejecimiento de base poblacional

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate both the respective and combined effects of occupational noise exposure and smoking on hearing, taking age into consideration. The evaluation was conducted using 1478 subjects without a history of ear disease out of a population-based sample of 2267 adults, aged 40–79 years. Pure-tone audiometry and a questionnaire were administered. A deleterious effect of noise exposure on hearing was significantly observed in both genders at many frequencies after adjustment for age, income, and education. The smoking habit alone significantly affected hearing deterioration at 4000 Hz in noise-unexposed males. The combined effect of noise and smoking was not interactive but additive. A dose-response effect of smoking on hearing loss was observed in middle-aged males without noise exposure. Smoking and noise exposure were associated with hearing loss respectively.This result is noteworthy for the preservation of good hearing especially at the beginning of aging.
Effect of Sequence Length on the Execution of Familiar Keying Sequences: Lasting Segmentation and Preparation?

Abstract The author assessed the mechanisms underlying skilled production of keying sequences in the discrete sequence-production task by examining the effect of sequence length on mean element execution rate (i.e., the rate effect). To that end, participants (N = 9) practiced fixed movement sequences consisting of 2, 4, and 6 key presses for a total of 588 trials per sequence. In the subsequent test phase, the sequences were executed with and without a verbal short-term memory task in both simple and choice reaction time (RT) paradigms. The rate effect was obtained in the discrete sequence-production task—including the typical quadratic increase in sequence execution time (SET, which excludes RT) with sequence length. The rate effect resulted primarily from 6-key sequences that included 1 or 2 relatively slow elements at individually different serial positions. Slowing of the depression of the 2nd response key (R2) in the 2-key sequence reduced the rate effect in the memory task condition, and faster execution of the 1st few elements in each sequence amplified the rate effect in simple RT. Last, the time to respond to random cues increased with position, suggesting that the mechanisms that underlie the rate effect in new sequences and in familiar sequences are different. The data were in line with the notion that coding of longer keying sequences involves motor chunks for the individual sequence segments and information on how those motor chunks are to be concatenated.