Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Correlation Risk

Investors hold portfolios of assets with different risk-reward profiles for diversification benefits. Conditional on the volatility of assets, diversification benefits can vary over time depending on the correlation structure among asset returns. The correlation of returns between assets has varied substantially over time. To insure against future "low diversification" states, investors might demand securities that offer higher payouts in these states. If this is the case, then investors would pay a premium for securities that perform well in regimes in which the correlation is high. We empirically test this hypothesis and find that correlation carries a significantly negative price of risk, after controlling for asset volatility and other risk factors.
Mapping of functional regions of murine retrovirus long terminal repeat enhancers: enhancer domains interact and are not independent in their contributions to enhancer activity

We have used deletion and recombinant long terminal repeat (LTR) mutants to examine enhancer activity differences between LTRs of the nonpathogenic Akv and the thymus lymphomagenic MCF13 murine retroviruses. Deletion mutant analysis revealed that major control regions for MCF13 and Akv LTR enhancer activity were similar but not identical. For both LTRs, major control regions were distinctly different in a murine T-cell and a fibroblast cell line. Recombinant enhancer analysis showed that LTRs could be divided into three regions capable of altering the level of enhancer activity through cooperative or antagonistic interaction. The contribution of each region to enhancer activity was dependent on its context with respect to the other regions. LTR enhancer function in different cell types appears to be the result of the interaction of enhancer modular elements.
Wild dogma II: The role and implications of wild dogma for wild dog management in Australia

The studies of Allen (2011) and Allen et al. (2011) recently examined the methodology underpinning claims that dingoes provide net benefits to biodiversity by suppressing foxes and cats. They found most studies to have design flaws and/or observational methods that preclude valid interpretations from the data, describing most of the current literature as ‘wild dogma’. In this short supplement, we briefly highlight the roles and implications of wild dogma for wild dog management in Australia. We discuss nomenclature, and the influence that unreliable science can have on policy and practice changes related to apex predator management.
Premenstrual symptoms in fertile age are associated with impaired quality of life, but not hot flashes, in recently postmenopausal women

ObjectiveBecause premenstrual symptoms in fertile age resemble menopausal symptoms, many women with premenstrual symptoms fear that they have an increased risk for developing vasomotor symptoms in menopause. We investigated the impact of premenstrual symptoms on the occurrence and severity of menopausal vasomotor symptoms and quality of life. MethodsOne hundred fifty recently postmenopausal healthy women recorded hot flashes prospectively (23, none; 34, mild; 30, moderate; 63, severe), and their quality of life was assessed using the Women’s Health Questionnaire. We measured the occurrence of premenstrual symptoms in fertile age using the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool and calculated a premenstrual score reflecting symptom severity. ResultsOne hundred seven women (89.2%) reported premenstrual symptoms (median score, 7.0; range, 0-38), which had impaired work efficiency or social relations in 64 women (53.3%). The occurrence of premenstrual symptoms was similar in women with and without hot flashes of different magnitudes, as the mean (SEM) premenstrual score was 7.8 (1.4) for no hot flashes, 5.0 (1.0) for mild hot flashes, 7.7 (1.3) for moderate hot flashes, and 9.4 (1.2) for severe hot flashes (P = 0.10). The severity of premenstrual symptoms failed to correlate with the severity of postmenopausal hot flashes (r = 0.087, P = 0.346). A history of premenstrual symptoms was associated with impaired memory and concentration capacity (r = −0.448, P < 0.001), depressive mood (r = −0.263, P = 0.02), sleep problems (r = −0.282, P = 0.01), and feeling less attractive (r = −0.260, P = 0.02) during the first menopausal years. ConclusionsThe occurrence of premenstrual symptoms in fertile age is associated with impaired quality of life, but not hot flashes, in recently postmenopausal women.
Stability Constraints Define the Minimum Subthreshold Swing of a Negative Capacitance Field-Effect Transistor

The current-voltage characteristics of a classical field-effect transistor (FET) is dictated by thermal injection of charge carriers over a gate-controlled energy barrier. It is well known that the subthreshold swing (S) associated with these transistors cannot be reduced below the Boltzmann limit of 60 mV/decade, which in turn defines the lower limit of power dissipation. Therefore, a number of groups have recently proposed to use negative capacitance (NC) gate insulators in FETs to reduce S below the Boltzmann limit. The ferroelectric-FET (FE-FET) and suspended-gate FET (SG-FET) are two examples. It is now well accepted that NC-FETs can lower S, but given a specific device architecture, the question of whether there is a lower limit of S (and if so, the conditions that define the limit) has not been answered. In this paper, we: 1) demonstrate that the fundamental constraints of stability and hysteresis-free operation dictate that there is a lower limit of S associated with each NC-FET technology; 2) provide a general algorithm to calculate the minimum subthreshold swing (Smin); and 3) illustrate the concept using SG-FET and FE-FET for two different channel configurations, namely, a bulk FET and an FET with constant channel capacitance. Our results broaden the understanding of field-effect action in NC-FETs and should inform research on these devices.
The Accidental Profession

W profession hile professions are usually entered intentionally, that is not always the case. This writer, whose profession is teaching, has discovered-in retrospect-that long ago he fell into another quite by accident. I am talking about editing. As I conclude twenty years editing this journal, I am highly aware of how editing has become a large part of my professional life. The work of teaching, research, and writing has taken a turn that many others have experienced as well: engagement in teaching and theology through recruitment and direction of the work of other persons in the process of editing books and journals. This particular moment prompts some self-reflection on what one has been about. There are certain implicit but important assumptions underlying the enterprise of editing. In this case, they belong to the larger work of teaching, scholarship, and interpretation, but they have their particular nuance from the perspective of editing. Those assumptions include:
Toxic effects of methamidophos on paraoxonase 1 activity and on rat kidney and liver and ameliorating effects of alpha‐tocopherol

The role of alpha‐tocopherol on nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity induced by methamidophos (MT) was investigated in wistar rats. Animals were given via gavage, for four weeks, a low dose of MT (MT1), a high dose of MT (MT2), vitamin E (200 mg/kg of bw) or both MT2 plus vitamin E (Vit E) and control group was given distillate water. MT treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the body weight of MT2‐treated group. Moreover, MT‐treated groups had significantly lower butyrylcholinesterase (p < 0.01) and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activities compared with the control group (p < 0.05). However, MT2‐treated group had significantly higher alkaline phosphatase activity compared with untreated rats (p < 0.05). Both MT‐treated groups had significantly higher urea (p < 0.01) and uric acid levels (p < 0.05) compared with the control group. However, significant low uric acid level (p < 0.05) was noted in MT2 plus vit E‐treated rats compared with MT2‐treated group. Histopathological changes in organ tissues were observed in both MT‐treated groups and MT2 plus vit E‐treated rats. However, the damage was reduced in MT2 plus vit E‐treated rats. Therefore, this study deduces that alpha‐tocopherol administration may ameliorate the adverse effects of subacute exposure to MT on rat liver and kidney and this antioxidant can protect PON1 from oxidative stress induced by this organophosphorus pesticide. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 842–854, 2016.
Examining the Structure of Convolutional Neural Networks

Machine learning, in conjunction with large data sets, has seen many success stories in recent years, leading to increased interest in the ﬁeld. One popular class of machine learning models is deep neural networks, where stacked layers of “neurons” are used to learn approximate representations of data. One particular model, the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), is notable in that it’s become the standard in most computer vision tasks. However, there is little to no theory surrounding how to best build these CNNs. The aim of this thesis is two-fold. The ﬁrst aim is to provide a brief introduction to the ﬁeld of supervised machine learning, neural networks, and CNNs. The second aim is to explore how to best build CNNs, through an examination of structural properties related to the width, depth, and receptive ﬁeld of networks.
Multivariate Classification of Blood Oxygen Level–Dependent fMRI Data with Diagnostic Intention: A Clinical Perspective

SUMMARY: There has been a recent upsurge of reports about applications of pattern-recognition techniques from the field of machine learning to functional MR imaging data as a diagnostic tool for systemic brain disease or psychiatric disorders. Entities studied include depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer dementia. We review these recent studies which—despite the optimism from some articles—predominantly constitute explorative efforts at the proof-of-concept level. There is some evidence that, in particular, support vector machines seem to be promising. However, the field is still far from real clinical application, and much work has to be done regarding data preprocessing, model optimization, and validation. Reporting standards are proposed to facilitate future meta-analyses or systematic reviews.
A quantitative assessment of a medicinal chemistry problem-based learning sequence.

OBJECTIVES To establish an aggressive problem-based learning (PBL) format for the medicinal chemistry course and assess the outcomes of student learning. METHODS To assess learning in the new format, precourse and postcourse examinations were given to students enrolled before and after problem-based learning was implemented, and appropriate statistical analyses were conducted. RESULTS The PBL cohort did not learn the same amount of factual content yet performed the same on higher-order thought questions as the non-PBL cohort. CONCLUSIONS Problem-based learning may not be the ideal method for teaching medicinal chemistry. This may be due to several factors including: student learning type, the lack of a cognitive framework for learning in the basic sciences, and time constraints.
Are Consumers More Likely to Contribute Online Reviews for Hit or Niche Products?

User-generated content has been hailed by some as a democratizing force that enables consumers to discuss niche products that were previously ignored by mainstream media. Nevertheless, the extent to which consumers truly prefer to use these new outlets to discuss lesser-known products as opposed to spending most of their energies on discussing widely marketed or already successful products has so far remained an open question. We explore this question by investigating how a population's propensity to contribute postconsumption online reviews for different products of the same category (motion pictures) relates to various indicators of those products' popularity. We discover that, ceteris paribus, consumers prefer to post reviews for products that are less available and less successful in the market. At the same time, however, they are also more likely to contribute reviews for products that many other people have already commented on online. The presence of these two opposite forces leads to a U-shaped relationship between a population's average propensity to review a movie postconsumption and that movie's box office revenues: moviegoers appear to be more likely to contribute reviews for very obscure movies but also for very high-grossing movies. Our findings suggest that online forum designers who wish to increase the contribution of user reviews for lesser-known products should make information about the volume of previously posted reviews a less-prominent feature of their sites.
Differential diagnosis of myelofibrosis based on WHO 2008 criteria: Acute panmyelosis with myelofibrosis, acute megakaryoblastic leukemia with myelofibrosis, primary myelofibrosis and myelodysplastic syndrome with myelofibrosis

The aim of this study was to characterize clinicopathological features of acute panmyelosis with myelofibrosis (APMF), acute megakaryoblastic leukemia with myelofibrosis (AMKL‐MF), primary myelofibrosis (PMF) and myelodysplastic syndrome with myelofibrosis (MDS‐MF) in order to provide the keys to the differential diagnosis of bone marrow (BM) fibrosis.
A γ‐secretase inhibitor decreases amyloid‐β production in the central nervous system

Accumulation of amyloid‐β (Aβ) by overproduction or underclearance in the central nervous system (CNS) is hypothesized to be a necessary event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. However, previously, there has not been a method to determine drug effects on Aβ production or clearance in the human CNS. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a γ‐secretase inhibitor on the production of Aβ in the human CNS.
Role of Helix 8 of the Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor in Phosphorylation by G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase

The thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) receptor undergoes rapid and extensive agonist-dependent phosphorylation attributable to G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) kinases (GRKs), particularly GRK2. Like many GPCRs, the TRH receptor is predicted to form an amphipathic helix, helix 8, between the NPXXY motif at the cytoplasmic end of the seventh transmembrane domain and palmitoylation sites at Cys335 and Cys337. Mutation of all six lysine and arginine residues between the NPXXY and residue 340 to glutamine (6Q receptor) did not prevent the receptor from stimulating inositol phosphate turnover but almost completely prevented receptor phosphorylation in response to TRH. Phosphorylation at all sites in the cytoplasmic tail was inhibited. The phosphorylation defect was not reversed by long incubation times or high TRH concentrations. As expected for a phosphorylation-defective receptor, the 6Q-TRH receptor did not recruit arrestin, undergo the typical arrestin-dependent increase in agonist affinity, or internalize well. Lys326, directly before phenylalanine in the common GPCR motif NPXXY(X)5–6F(R/K), was critical for phosphorylation. The 6Q-TRH receptor was not phosphorylated effectively in cells overexpressing GRK2 or in in vitro kinase assays containing purified GRK2. Phosphorylation of the 6Q receptor was partially restored by coexpression of a receptor with an intact helix 8 but without phosphorylation sites. Phosphorylation was inhibited but not completely prevented by alanine substitution for cysteine palmitoylation sites. Positively charged amino acids in the proximal tail of the β2-adrenergic receptor were also important for GRK-dependent phosphorylation. The results indicate that positive residues in helix 8 of GPCRs are important for GRK-dependent phosphorylation.
Suction-irrigation drainage: an underestimated therapeutic option for surgical treatment of deep sternal wound infections.

OBJECTIVES Deep sternal wound infections are significant and severe complications following cardiac surgery and substantially influence perioperative morbidity and mortality. We present the experience of our department using two different surgical treatments over a three-year period. METHODS Between January 2009 and December 2011, a total of 3274 cardiac procedures with complete median sternotomy were performed in our department. In 94 patients (3%), a deep sternal wound infection occurred, including sternal instability with consecutive surgical treatment. The patients either received wound debridement with sternum refixation and suction-irrigation drainage (SID; n = 72) or sternum refixation only (RF; n = 22) if there was sternal instability with limited signs of infection. SID was routinely installed for 7 days: the irrigation solution contained neomycin. In all cases, swabs were taken and analysed. The different methods were evaluated in respect of their clinical outcomes. RESULTS The success rate-defined as single, uncomplicated procedure-of the SID treatment was 74%, compared with 59% of the isolated sternum refixation. Complications included continuous infection, recurrence of sternal instability and wound necrosis. Eighty-eight percent of the swabs in the SID group were positive, compared with 32% in the sternal refixation only group. The dominating pathogenic germs were coagulase-negative staphylococci and staphylococcus aureus. Mortality was 10% for the SID group and 5% for the RF group. CONCLUSIONS Contrary to accepted opinion, the suction-irrigation drainage is an appropriate therapy for deep sternal wound infections. Nevertheless, deep sternal wound infections after cardiac surgery remain severe complications and are related to increased morbidity and mortality.
Masseteric Nerve Transfer for Facial Nerve Paralysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Importance A review of the role of masseteric nerve transfer is needed to guide its use in facial reanimation. Objective To systematically review the available literature, and, when applicable, analyze the combined outcomes of masseteric nerve transfer to better define its role in reanimation and to guide further research. Data Sources Two independent researchers conducted the review using PubMed-NCBI and Scopus literature databases for studies on masseteric nerve transfer for facial nerve paralysis. Study Selection Studies that examined masseter nerve transfer with additional cranial nerve transposition/coaptation or muscle flap were excluded. Data Extraction and Synthesis Literature review and data extraction followed established PRISMA guidelines. Two researchers extracted data independently. Main Outcomes and Measures The main planned outcomes for the study were quantitative results of facial nerve movement after nerve transfer including oral commissure movement and time to nerve recovery. Results A total of 13 articles met inclusion criteria with a total of 183 patients undergoing masseteric nerve transfer. From those studies, there were a total of 183 patients who underwent masseteric nerve transfer. There were 85 men and 98 women with a mean (SD) age of 43 (12.2) years and mean (SD) follow up examination after surgery of 22 (7.6) months. Mean (SD) duration of nerve paralysis was 14 (6) months. Most common cause of paralysis was cerebellopontine angle tumors (81%). Six studies coapted the masseteric nerve to the main facial nerve trunk, whereas 7 used distal branches (buccal or zygomatic). Four studies used interposition nerve grafts with great auricular nerve. Two measures, improvement in oral commissure excursion and length from reanimation to facial movement, were measured consistently across the studies. Pooled analysis showed time from surgery to first facial movement, described in 10 studies, to be 4.95 months (95% CI, 3.66 to 6.24). Distal branch coaptation improved time to recovery vs main branch coaptation, 3.76 vs 5.76 months (95% CI, −0.33 to 4.32), but mean difference was not significant. The use of interposition graft significantly delayed time of nerve recovery, 6.24 vs 4.06 months (95% CI, 0.20 to 4.16). When controlled for main trunk coaptation only, interposition nerve graft delayed recovery but difference was no longer statistically significant, 6.24 vs 4.75 months (95% CI, −0.94 to 3.92). Reported complications were minor and rare occurring in only 6.5% (12 of 183) of patients. Conclusions and Relevance The masseteric nerve was found to be a good option for nerve transfer in this patient population, and showed favorable results in both time to nerve recovery and improvement in oral commissure excursion. Level of Evidence NA
Brownian Dynamics: A powerful computational tool of Ion permeation in Bio-Nanotubes

A. Ionic channels in lipid membranes play a crucial role in the existence of living organisms. All electrical activities in the nervous system, including communication between cells and the influence of hormones and drugs on cell function, are regulated by the opening and closing of these membrane proteins. Because these channels are elementary building blocks of brain function, understanding their mechanisms at a molecular level is a fundamental problem in biophysics. Moreover, the elucidation of how single channels work will ultimately help us find the causes of, and potentially cures for, a number of neurological and muscular disorders. In the past few years, there have been enormous strides in our understanding of the structure‐function relationships in biological ion channels. This sudden
Propofol formulated with long‐/medium‐chain triglycerides reduces the pain of injection by target controlled infusion

Background: Propofol is a widely used intravenous anesthetic although its injection pain is a common and unpleasant problem. Long‐/medium‐chain triglyceride (LCT/MCT) propofol has been introduced, as its low free propofol content is expected to reduce injection pain compared with LCT propofol. Target controlled infusion (TCI) differs from conventional induction in the initial infusion pattern. During induction using TCI, we investigated injection pain caused by two propofol solutions with different triglyceride compositions.
Application of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Ameliorated Liver Parenchyma Damage After Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in an Animal Model

Topical Application of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Ameliorated Liver Parenchyma Damage After Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in an Animal Model Ping Kuen Lam, PhD, Charing Ching Ning Chong, FRCS, Anthony Wing Ip Lo, FHKCPath, Anthony Wing Hung Chan, FRCPA, Cindy See Wai Tong, MSc, Don Wai Ching Chin, BSc, Kenneth Hoi Kin Wong, MPhil, Richard Kwong Wai Choy, PhD, Andrew Kai-Yip Fung, FRCS, Yi Xiang Wang, MD, Ka Fai To, MD, Paul Bo San Lai, MD