Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cognitive Cues are More Compelling than Facial Cues in Determining Adults' Reactions towards Young Children

Previous research has demonstrated the significant influence that both children's facial features (Lorenz, 1943) and children's cognitive expressions (Bjorklund, Hernández Blasi, and Periss, 2010) have on adults' perception of young children. However, until now, these two types of cues have been studied independently. The present study contrasted these two types of cues simultaneously in a group of college students. To this purpose, we designed five experimental conditions (Consistent, Inconsistent, Mature-Face, Immature-Face, and Faces-Only) in which we varied the presentation of a series of mature and immature vignettes (including two previously studied types of thinking: natural thinking and supernatural thinking) associated with a series of more mature and less mature children's faces. Performance in these conditions was contrasted with data from a Vignettes-Only condition taken from Bjorklund et al. (2010). Results indicated that cognitive cues were more powerful than facial cues in determining adults' perceptions of young children. From an evolutionary developmental perspective, we suggest that facial cues are more relevant to adults during infancy than during the preschool period, when, with the development of spoken language, the verbalized expressions of children's thoughts become the principal cues influencing adults' perceptions, with facial cues playing a more secondary role.
Molecular gradient along the axon pathway is not required for directional axon growth

We show that axon guidance of embryonic hippocampal neurons is promoted by pathways of a decapeptide (RDIAEIIKDI) derived from a neurite outgrowth domain of the γ1 chain of laminin‐1. This guidance is directly dependent on: (1) a concentration difference of the decapeptide between the peptide pathway and its surrounding areas, and (2) the optimal surface geometry of the decapeptide pathway. These results indicate that axon guidance of central neurons may proceed along a preferred substratum pathway without a concentration gradient of the guiding molecule along this pathway, or without a repulsive molecule next to the axon pathway. J. Neurosci. Res. 53:114–124, 1998. Published 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. This article was prepared by a group consisting of both United States government employees and non‐United States government employees, and as such is subject to 17 U.S.C. Sec.105.
Monoclonal antibody-directed effector cells selectively lyse human melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo.

Monoclonal antibody 9.2. 27 (mAb 9.2.27) directed to a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan on human melanoma cells was able to suppress tumor growth in athymic (nu/nu) mice more effectively when bound with polyethylene glycol to murine effector cells than when injected alone. These "armed" effector cells also proved more effective than the monoclonal antibody in eliciting antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against human melanoma target cells in vitro.
Suicide and prescription rates of intranasal corticosteroids and nonsedating antihistamines for allergic rhinitis: an ecological study.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the relationship between antiallergy drug prescription rates and suicide across the United States and over time. The relationship between allergy, allergens, and suicidal behavior and suggestions of a possible immune mediation led us to hypothesize that intranasal corticosteroids, known to reduce local airway production of T-helper cell type 2 cytokines, may be associated with reduced risk of suicide relative to antihistamines, which only secondarily affect cytokine production. METHOD The authors evaluated the relationship of suicide rates at the county level in the United States (N = 120,076 suicides) with prescriptions for intranasal corticosteroids and nonsedating antihistamines, in interaction with antidepressant prescriptions and other socioeconomic variables, for the period from 1999 to 2002. Suicide rate data were derived from state vital record systems based on local death certificate registries, and county-level allergy and antidepressant prescription data were obtained from IMS Health Incorporated (Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania). RESULTS The prescription volume of intranasal corticosteroids was associated with a lower suicide risk (P = .0004), while that of antihistamines was associated with a modestly greater suicide risk (P = .0001). Adjustment for antidepressant prescriptions did not affect these relationships. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study, to our knowledge, to find a possible association between completed suicide and medications for allergic rhinitis and also the first report of an association of intranasal corticosteroid use with a lower suicide rate. This association should be considered preliminary and deserving of further investigation.
A matched patient‐sibling study on the usage of paracetamol and the subsequent development of allergy and asthma

A number of studies have suggested that intake of paracetamol during pregnancy and during the first months of life is associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma. We aimed to determine the association between paracetamol usage during pregnancy and the first 6 months of life, and childhood allergy (i.e. positive skin prick tests), allergic asthma, and asthma, using a matched patient‐sibling study comparing patients with allergic asthma with their healthy siblings without any symptoms of allergic diseases. Allergy in patients and their siblings was determined by skin prick tests. Children having at least one positive skin prick test were considered to be allergic. Intake of paracetamol was assessed by standardized, interviewer‐administered, questionnaire. Nineteen pairs of allergic asthma patients vs. non‐allergic siblings were compared to determine the risk factors for allergic asthma, while 15 pairs of allergic asthma patients vs. allergic siblings were compared to determine the risk factors for asthma. Moreover, 33 pairs of allergic asthma patients vs. non‐asthmatic siblings (with and without allergy) were compared to determine the risk factors for asthma. In addition, 17 allergic siblings (without asthma) were compared with 19 non‐allergic siblings (without asthma) to determine the risk factors for allergy. Usage of paracetamol during pregnancy was associated with allergic asthma (p = 0.03). Furthermore, usage of paracetamol between birth and 6 months of age, and between 4 and 6 months of age, was also found to be associated with non‐allergic asthma (p = 0.008 and p = 0.03 respectively). Usage of paracetamol during pregnancy and during the early months of life may play a role in the development of allergic and non‐allergic asthma in children. However, due to obvious ethical reasons, direct evidence for this association (i.e. a double‐blind, prospective study) is not available.
Real Options, Idiosyncratic Skewness, and Diversification

We show how firm-level real options lead to idiosyncratic skewness in stock returns. We then document empirically that growth option variables are positive and significant determinants of idiosyncratic skewness. The real option impact on skewness is more significant in firms with lottery-type features, small size, high volatility, distressed, low return on assets, and low book-to-market ratio. We also find that expectation on idiosyncratic skewness is associated with lower Sharpe ratios. This suggests investors are willing to sacrifice mean-variance portfolio efficiency for greater skewness deriving from real options. Furthermore, financial flexibility has a positive incremental effect, enhancing the beneficial role of asset flexibility on idiosyncratic skewness.
The association between precancerous‐columnar and squamous lesions of the cervix: a morphometric study

A histological study of 208 cases found a strong association between the occurrence of precancerous cervical columnar and squamous lesions. This was not, however, directly related to cellular abnormalities. The criteria for adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and its precursor lesions were defined morphometrically. With increasing abnormalities of the columnar cells, changes of the glandular and epithelial architecture were more frequently observed. Of the 20 cases morphometrically classified as AIS, only four were initially diagnosed as such, of which three were cases of ‘pure’ AIS lacking squamous cell abnormalities. Quantifying abnormalities of columnar epithelium is an important aid in the identification and classification of AIS.
Contributions of Nitric Oxide and Prostanoids and Their Signaling Pathways to the Renal Medullary Vasodilator Effect of U46619 (9-11-Dideoxy-11α,9a-Epoxymethano-Prostaglandin F2a) in the Rat

We recently demonstrated that U46619 (9-11-dideoxy-11α,9a-epoxymethano-prostaglandin F2a) evoked a medullary vasodilation and a reduction in blood pressure despite a potent cortical vasoconstriction in the anesthetized rat. The present study tested the hypothesis that nitric oxide (NO) and prostanoids contribute to U46619-induced increase in medullary blood flow (MBF). U46619 at 1, 3, and 5 μg/kg increased MBF (above basal values) by 16 ± 3, 45 ± 10, and 58 ± 8 perfusion units, respectively, and increased NO current in the medulla by 17 ± 4, 34 ± 7, and 60 ± 12 pA, respectively.N ω-l-Nitro-arginine methyl ester (5 mg/kg), the inhibitor of NO production, attenuated the increase in MBF (75 ± 8%, p < 0.05) as did indomethacin (10 mg/kg), the inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (38 ± 5%, p < 0.05), suggesting the involvement of NO and dilator prostanoids. H-Arg-Lys-Arg-Ala-Arg-Lys-Glu-OH, a synthetic peptide and selective inhibitor of cGMP-dependent protein kinase, attenuated U46619-induced medullary perfusion (52 ± 6%,p < 0.05), but H-89 ((N-[2-((p-bromocinnamyl)aminoethyl)]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide hydrochloride), a cell-permeable, selective, and potent inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A, was without effect. Glybenclamide, a KATP channel blocker, also blunted the increase by U46619 in MBF (58 ± 7%, p < 0.05). These data suggest that NO and prostanoids contribute to U46619-induced medullary perfusion and that the effects of these mediators are coupled to activation of protein kinase G and KATP channels but not protein kinase A.
Noninvasive Assessment of Liver Fibrosis Using Ultrasound‐Based Shear Wave Measurement and Comparison to Magnetic Resonance Elastography

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) has excellent performance in detecting liver fibrosis and is becoming an alternative to liver biopsy in clinical practice. Ultrasound techniques based on measuring the propagation speed of the shear waves induced by acoustic radiation force also have shown promising results for liver fibrosis staging. The objective of this study was to compare ultrasound‐based shear wave measurement to MRE.
Calibration of a micro-traffic simulation model with respect to the spatial-temporal evolution of expressway on-ramp bottlenecks

On-ramp bottlenecks are usually the direct cause of traffic breakdowns on expressways, affecting the overall traffic operation of the expressway. A high-precision simulation model is the basis of an on-ramp bottleneck active traffic management strategy design and evaluation. This paper presents a practical and effective calibration method with respect to the congestion spatial-temporal evolution and two-capacity phenomenon of bottlenecks. An integrated criterion is proposed to evaluate how well the micro-simulation model can replicate the breakdown process. The widely used micro-traffic simulation model VISSIM is selected to simulate two on-ramp bottlenecks on an expressway in Shanghai, China. Firstly, 28 parameters of car-following and lane-changing behaviors are analyzed, and nine significant parameters of the operation at on-ramp bottlenecks are selected using sensitive analysis. Then, an orthogonal experiment is conducted to seek the best parameter combination. Finally, the calibrated simulation model is validated using a dataset of other days. Moreover, the transferability of the calibrated model is tested at Wuning bottleneck. The results show that the calibrated model can not only replicate the congestion evolution process and the special early onset breakdown phenomenon, but it can also apply to other similar on-ramp bottlenecks directly. The proposed calibration procedure, the integrated criterion for precision evaluation, and the selected significant parameters are meaningful to inspire rapid and effective calibration for other simulators.
Restorative effects of zinc and selenium on cadmium-induced kidney oxidative damage in rats.

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether cadmium-induced oxidative stress in the kidney is influenced by zinc and selenium. METHODS Five groups of rats were maintained: (A) Cd (CdCl2, 400 micrograms.kg-1.day-1 intraperitoneal injection); (B) Cd + Zn (ZnCl2, 20 mg.kg-1.day-1 hypodermic injection); (C) Cd + Se (Na2SeO3, 350 micrograms.kg-1.day-1 via a stomach tube); (D) Cd + Zn + Se; (E) treated with physiological saline as a sham-handled control. The rats were given treatment for a period of 4 weeks. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GH-Px), catalase (CAT), and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the kidney tissue were measured to assess the oxidative stress. Urinary lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was used as an indicator of tubular cell damage caused by lipid peroxidation. RESULTS In group C and D, activities of SOD (110.5 +/- 5.2, 126.8 +/- 7.0; P < 0.05) and GSH-Px (85.7 +/- 4.9, 94.6 +/- 7.3; P < 0.05) were higher than those in group A (84.7 +/- 3.3; 56.9 +/- 3.8); and in group B, only the activity of GSH-Px (80.0 +/- 4.3, P < 0.01) increased in comparison with that in group A (56.9 +/- 3.8). Significant increase of MDA (P < 0.05) was seen in group B (31.1 +/- 4.7) and C (35.0 +/- 4.1) when compared with control values (17.2 +/- 1.8). No difference was found in the level of MDA between group D (18.9 +/- 2.6) and control. The activity of LDH in urine of control group (0.06 +/- 0.02) was lower than that of group A (0.46 +/- 0.19, P < 0.05), B (0.10 +/- 0.05, P < 0.05) and C (0.14 +/- 0.07, P < 0.05), and there was no significant change between control (0.06 +/- 0.02) and group D (0.08 +/- 0.02). CONCLUSION Zinc or selenium could partially alleviate the oxidative stress induced by cadmium in kidney, but administration cadmium in combination with zinc and selenium efficiently protects kidney from cadmium-induced oxidative damage.
Sirolimus and mycophenolate mofetil after liver transplantation

Since the approval of sirolimus (SRL) as an immunosuppressive agent in renal transplantation, several liver transplant centres have introduced this agent to the immunosuppression regimen. We present here a retrospective follow-up study of late conversion to sirolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as immunosuppressive agents after liver transplantation (LTX). From July 2001 to March 2002, seven liver transplant recipients (three female, 59 (41–66) years old) were enrolled in this study. Indications for liver transplantation were hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C (three), alcohol-induced cirrhosis (three) and Wilson's syndrome (hepatolenticular degeneration) (one). LTX was performed by standard (four) or piggy-back (three) technique. The switch to SRL was performed 62 (37–118) months after LTX; the reasons for the switch from cyclosporine or tacrolimus to SRL were renal (six) or neurological (one) impairment. As immunosuppressive therapy, SRL at trough levels of 4–10 ng/ml and MMF at trough levels of approximately 1 µg/ml were administered. Mean follow-up time under SRL per patient was 137 (26–258 days). Patient and graft survival was 100% during SRL therapy, and there were neither rejection episodes nor infections. Renal function improved in five of the six patients (83.3%) whom we had switched to SRL due to renal impairment. In the patient whom we switched to SRL due to neurological impairment, the neurological symptoms abated, and renal function improved. Side effects (hypertriglyceridaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, exanthema) became manifest in three patients (42.8%). Cessation of therapy due to side effects was necessary in two patients (exanthema: one, hypertriglyceridaemia: one). One patient refused to continue the therapy with SRL because he wanted tablets, and we only had SRL in fluid form. The data of our study suggest that SRL is a potent immunosuppressive agent of potential benefit in clinical LTX. SRL in combination with MMF provided sufficient immunosuppression of liver allografts in the late course after LTX. Side effects were reversible with dose reduction or cessation of therapy. We can thus conclude that SRL might offer an immunosuppressive therapy for patients with renal or neurological impairment after LTX.
Activation of liver X receptor improves glucose tolerance through coordinate regulation of glucose metabolism in liver and adipose tissue

The control of lipid and glucose metabolism is closely linked. The nuclear receptors liver X receptor (LXR)α and LXRβ have been implicated in gene expression linked to lipid homeostasis; however, their role in glucose metabolism is not clear. We demonstrate here that the synthetic LXR agonist GW3965 improves glucose tolerance in a murine model of diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. Analysis of gene expression in LXR agonist-treated mice reveals coordinate regulation of genes involved in glucose metabolism in liver and adipose tissue. In the liver, activation of LXR led to the suppression of the gluconeogenic program including down-regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), and glucose-6-phosphatase expression. Inhibition of gluconeogenic genes was accompanied by an induction in expression of glucokinase, which promotes hepatic glucose utilization. In adipose tissue, activation of LXR led to the transcriptional induction of the insulin-sensitive glucose transporter, GLUT4. We show that the GLUT4 promoter is a direct transcriptional target for the LXR/retinoid X receptor heterodimer and that the ability of LXR ligands to induce GLUT4 expression is abolished in LXR null cells and animals. Consistent with their effects on GLUT4 expression, LXR agonists promote glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in vitro. Thus, activation of LXR alters the expression of genes in liver and adipose tissue that collectively would be expected to limit hepatic glucose output and improve peripheral glucose uptake. These results outline a role for LXRs in the coordination of lipid and glucose metabolism.
Prospective cohort study of mild cervical spondylotic myelopathy without surgical treatment.

OBJECT Because the main pathology of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is spinal cord damage due to compression, surgical treatment is usually recommended to improve patient symptoms and prevent exacerbation. However, lack of clarity of prognosis in cases that present with insignificant symptoms, particularly those of mild CSM, lead one to question the veracity of this course of action. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the prognosis of mild CSM without surgical intervention by evaluation of clinical symptoms and MR imaging findings. METHODS Sixty cases of mild CSM (42 males and 18 females, average age 57.2 years) presenting with scores of 13 or higher on the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scale were treated initially by in-bed Good Samaritan cervical traction without surgery. These patients were enrolled between 1995 and 2003 and followed up periodically until the date of myelopathy deterioration or until the end of March 2009. The deterioration of myelopathy was defined as a decline in JOA score to less than 13 with a decrease of at least 2 points. As a prognostic factor, the authors used their classification of spinal cord shapes at their lateral sides on axial T1-weighted MR imaging. "Ovoid deformity" was classified as a situation in which both sides were round and convex, and "angular-edged deformity" where one or both sides exhibited an acute-angled lateral corner. The duration of follow-up was assessed as the tolerance rate of mild CSM using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and compared between 2 groups classified by MR imaging findings. Furthermore, differences between groups were analyzed by various applications of the log-rank test. RESULTS Of the initial 60 cases, follow-up records existed for 55, giving a follow-up rate of 91.7% (38 males and 17 females, average age 56.1 years). The mean JOA score at end point was 14.1, which was not statistically different from the mean of 14.5 at the initial visit. Deterioration in myelopathy was observed in 14 (25.5%) of 55 cases, whereas 41 (74.5%) of 55 cases maintained mild extent myelopathy without deterioration through the follow-up period (mean 94.3 months). The total tolerance rate of mild CSM was 70%. However, there was a significant difference in the tolerance rate between the cases with angular-edged deformity (58%) and cases with ovoid deformity (95%; p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS The tolerance rate of mild CSM was 70% in this study, which proved that the prognosis of mild CSM without surgical treatment was relatively good. However, the tolerance rate of the cases with angular-edged deformity was 58%. Therefore, surgical treatment should be considered when mild CSM cases show angular-edged deformity on axial MR imaging, even if patients lack significant symptoms.
Technetium-99m-tetrofosmin for parathyroid scintigraphy: a comparison with sestamibi.

UNLABELLED Parathyroid scintigraphy with the new myocardial perfusion radiopharmaceutical 99mTc-tetrofosmin was compared with 99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy using early and delayed imaging. METHODS The two preparations were administered on different days to the same 16 patients suffering from primary hyperparathyroidism. Anterior view gamma camera planar imaging (10-min acquisition) was performed in the period between 5 min and 3 hr after administration of the radiopharmaceutical. For most of the patients, a pertechnetate image of the thyroid was available for eyeball comparison when reading the tetrofosmin and sestamibi images. Imaging results were compared with those from histopathological examination after surgery. RESULTS On early images, all the adenomas visualized with sestamibi were equally well seen with tetrofosmin and vice versa. In 6 of 11 scintigraphically detected neck adenomas, delayed imaging improved the adenoma visualization with sestamibi. In contrast, this differential washout was never seen with tetrofosmin. Histopathological examination of excised tissue specimens after neck exploration (15 patients) or thoracotomy (one patient) revealed a parathyroid adenoma in all 16 patients. Our 12 scintigraphic findings were true-positives, while the remaining four scintigraphies were false-negatives, giving a diagnostic sensitivity of 75% with both preparations. The mediastinal adenoma was detected in a patient with a history of two unsuccessful neck explorations and one unsuccessful thoracotomy. CONCLUSION Tetrofosmin has the same success rate as sestamibi for detection of parathyroid adenomas on scintigrams acquired immediately after injection. In contrast to sestamibi, delayed imaging has no diagnostic impact. Moreover, the thyroid/ parathyroid differential washout of sestamibi failed in 5 of 11 neck adenomas here detected, indicating that delayed sestamibi washout is an unreliable diagnostic criterion. Therefore, whether sestamibi or tetrofosmin is preferred for parathyroid scintigraphy, thyroid scintigraphy seems mandatory.