Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Peptidase Inhibitors on Dynorphin A (1-17) or (1-13)-Induced Antinociception and Toxicity at Spinal Level

Our group has earlier demonstrated that three enzymes sensitive to peptidase inhibitors (PIs), amastatin (A)-, captopril (C)-, and phosphoramidon (P), played an important role in inactivation of enkephalins at the spinal level. Dynorphin-converting enzyme (DCE) hydrolyzes dynorphin (Dyn) A (1-17) or Dyn A (1-13) mainly at the Arg6-Arg7 bond. Dynorphin A and its derived peptides interact with opioid and glutamate receptors at their N- and C-terminals, respectively. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the antinociceptive potency and toxicity of intrathecal administered Dyn A (1-17), Dyn A (1-13), or Dyn A (1-6) under pretreatment with ACP and/or the DCE inhibitor p-hydroxymercuribenzoate (PHMB). The effect of these PIs on Dyn A (1-17)-induced inhibition of electrically-evoked contractions in mouse vas deferens was also investigated. The inhibitory potency of Dyn A (1-17) on electrically-evoked contractions in mouse vas deferens under pretreatment with ACP was higher than that with AC, AP, or CP. Pretreatment with ACP augmented Dyn A (1-17) or (1-13)-induced antinociception by approximately 50- or 30-fold with no sign of allodynia when administered intrathecally at low doses. Pretreatment with ACP and PHMB induced neuropathy. These findings showed that intrathecal administration of low-dose Dyn A (1-17) or DynA (1-13) increased antinociception under pretreatment with ACP, but without signs of allodynia in rat.
Early identification of patients at risk for symptomatic vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Objective: To develop a scheme for early identification of individuals at risk for symptomatic vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Design: Analysis of prospectively collected data from the placebo‐treated group in a multicenter clinical trial. Settings: Fifty‐four neurosurgical centers in North America. Measurements and Main Results: We identified independent predictors of symptomatic vasospasm using stepwise logistic regression analysis from demographic, clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging characteristics of the participants. We developed a scoring system (symptomatic vasospasm risk index) based on a combination of these predictors. Out of 283 patients in the analysis (all treated with oral nimodipine), 93 (33%) developed symptomatic vasospasm within 14 days after SAH. There were four independent predictors of symptomatic vasospasm: thickness of subarachnoid clot on computed tomographic scan (odds ratio [OR], 4.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8‐10.0); early rise in middle cerebral artery mean flow velocity (MCA‐MFV), defined as a value ≥110 cm/sec recorded on or before post‐SAH day 5 (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1‐3.3), Glasgow Coma Scale score <14 (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1‐3.1); and rupture of anterior cerebral or internal carotid artery aneurysm (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.0‐3.4). The probability of identifying patients who would develop symptomatic vasospasm (percentage of area under receiver operating characteristics curve ± SEM) was higher with symptomatic vasospasm risk index (68% ± 8%) compared with thickness of clot (62% ± 8%; p = .08) or MCA‐MFV (45% ± 7%, p < .05) criteria alone. Conclusions: Patients at high risk for symptomatic vasospasm can be identified early in the course of SAH using a risk index. A risk index based on a combination of variables may represent a predictive paradigm superior to conventionally used criteria based on clot thickness or MCA‐MFV criteria.
A Numerical Vortex Approach to Aerodynamic Modeling of SUAV/VTOL Aircraft

A NUMERICAL VORTEX APPROACH TO AERODYNAMIC MODELING OF SUAV/VTOL AIRCRAFT Douglas F. Hunsaker Department of Mechanical Engineering Master of Science A combined wing and propeller model is presented as a low-cost approach to preliminary modeling of slipstream effects on a finite wing. The wing aerodynamic model employs a numerical lifting-line method utilizing the 3D vortex lifting law along with known 2D airfoil data to predict the lift distribution across a wing for a prescribed upstream flowfield. The propeller/slipstream model uses blade element theory combined with momentum conservation equations. This model is expected to be of significant importance in the design of tail-sitter vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, where the propeller slipstream is the primary source of air flow past the wings in some flight conditions. The algorithm is presented, and results compared with published experimental data.
How Do Strategic Alliances Affect Suppliers, Customers and Rivals?

Previous research found that strategic alliances are generally beneficial to partnering firms. However, none of the research discussed the influence of strategic alliances on the rivals, suppliers and customers of partnering firms. This study examines the stock price reaction of partnering firms' rivals, suppliers and customers to the announcement of strategic alliances. We find that the technological alliances on average create positive effect on partners' suppliers and customers' stock prices, and negative effect on rivals'. In contrast, the influence of non-technological alliances is insignificant. The evidence further indicates R&D alliances significantly and positively influence the stock returns of suppliers, while licensing alliances has an important effect on the share price of customers. Finally, the results shows that for partners operating in more concentrated industries, strategic alliances create stronger negative effect on stock price reaction of customers that rely more on the partnering firms, but have a positive influence on the stock price reaction of customers that are the main buyers of the partnering firms. Similar evidence is found for suppliers.
A social cognitive model for health education/health promotion practice.

AIM To investigate the place and validity of contemporary social cognitive models for health education practice in nursing settings and, in doing so, develop and put forward a specific model for this purpose. BACKGROUND/RATIONALE The last decade or so has seen a marked increase in the amount of health educational/health promotional activities that nurses are expected to undertake. This has followed on from concerted calls to make health education a familiar and recognized part of nursing practice. Despite this, past and current evidence identifies that nurses have been, and continue to be, ineffective and inconsistent health education practitioners. Where health education activity does take place it tends to centre specifically on social cognitive behavioural change strategies. Subsequently, it is argued here that any failure on the part of nurses successfully to apply health educational initiatives into practice has been compounded by the lack of any nursing-specific social cognitive model process. This paper seeks to redress this imbalance by putting forward the case for such a model, developing it, and demonstrating how it can be incorporated into the practice setting. METHOD A systematic review of the literature has been conducted and the article draws upon this in order to develop an evolving theoretical perspective for health education practice. The proposed model has evolved from this new perspective. Development of this model has drawn on contemporary social cognitive behavioural models--using them as a means to develop a further conceptual framework for nursing. CONCLUSION Social cognitive behavioural models are valuable tools that nurses can incorporate routinely into existing frameworks of practice. The proposed model is designed to make the adoption of health-related behavioural change in clients easier and more realistic. If the current situation continues whereby social cognitive behavioural models are not adopted as a concerted and routine part of nursing practice, then nursing may well continue to fall behind other health professions in the discipline of health education.
Quality of Accounting Disclosures by Family Firms in Japan

We investigate the quality of the accounting disclosures of publicly traded family firms in Japan. Family firms have strong incentives to create a long-term orientation and to bequeath their businesses to their descendants. This long-term orientation eliminates opportunistic earnings management and protects the firm’s reputation. These characteristics of family firms increase the effectiveness of monitoring and thus improve earnings quality. We find that, compared with non-family firms, family firms have high earnings quality on average. This finding is consistent with family firms’ effective monitoring, which stems from their above-described long-term orientation. We also find that the earnings quality of family firms in which the founder has executive authority over the firm is almost the same as it is for non-family firms. However, the long-term orientation of the founder could be different to that of the second generation.
Cash Holdings, Precautionary Motives, and Systematic Uncertainty

Prior literature has shown that U.S. firms hold large amounts of cash for precautionary reasons: faced by heightened uncertainty regarding future cash needs, firms choose to hold more cash. We decompose firm-level uncertainty into systematic and idiosyncratic components, and find that the systematic component, rather than the idiosyncratic component, explains firms’ cash holding decisions. We further decompose systematic uncertainty and find that uncertainty regarding macroeconomic policy, interest rates, and the market risk premium are important determinants of cash holdings. The results stem from the effect of macroeconomic level uncertainty on both the need for and the cost of external financing.
Research on organizational coordination forms in China from middle-line managers' perspectives

Middle-line managers (MLMs) are becoming increasingly important for an organization. Coordination forms (immediate coordination and in-advance coordination) are used in the organization. In this thesis, four variables: organizational type, the degree of decentralization of organization, qualification and uncertainty are analyzed for investigating what are main factors influencing the use of coordination forms in Chinese organizations from MLM’s perspective.The empirical data for the study was gathered by a survey questionnaire, which involved a quota sampling of 158 MLMs in Chinese organizations. The interesting results justify the tendency to use in-advance coordination is greater for organizations that are characterized by a high level of uncertainty, especially learning and goal-setting; and the tendency to use in-advance coordination is greater for organizations that are characterized by a high level of decentralization.
Corporate Cash Holdings and Credit Line Usage

We investigate the factors driving the unprecedented rise in corporate liquidities since the 1970s. We find that an economy‐wide reduction in the cost of holding liquidities and an increase in risk best explain the rise in cash holdings and the widespread use of credit lines. The structural estimation results shed light on two widely acknowledged motives for holding cash. The precautionary motive and the liquidity motive translate risk exposure into cash holdings. Our results, however, do not suggest that firms have become more prudent over time. It is higher liquidity needs that has forced firms to hold more cash and use more credit lines.
Work Preferences as Moderators of the Effects of Paced and Unpaced Work on Mood and Cognitive Performance: A Laboratory Simulation of Mechanized Letter Sorting

This article describes a laboratory study of work preferences (ideal job demand and discretion levels) as moderators of the effects of paced and unpaced work on cognitive and affective responses. Posttest measures of cognitive performance and self-reported stress and arousal were used as outcome measures with covariance control for the corresponding pretest values. The experimental design allowed within-subjects contrasts of fast versus slow pacing and of machine-paced versus self-paced conditions. Self-paced performance compared favorably with machine-paced performance; however, individual differences in ideal demand influenced the relative speed of work under the two conditions. Work preferences also moderated relationships between pacing and outcome measures; ideal discretion moderated machine-pacing versus self-pacing effects in relation to cognitive performance and stress, and ideal demand moderated fast versus slow pacing effects in relation to arousal. These findings are discussed in relation to existing literature on pacing and on person-environment fit.
Explaining Failures of Microfinance Institutions

We empirically study the determinants of failures of microfinance institutions based on the CAMELS rating components and microfinance-specific measures by applying probit regression techniques. Our findings confirm the capital adequacy (C), the asset quality (A), the management capability (M), the earnings (E), and the sensitivity to market risk (S) as explaining factors of failures of microfinance institutions.Regarding microfinance-specific effects, there is a positive influence of the percentage of female borrowers on the likelihood of failure. Moreover, we find evidence that regulation, the presence of donations, and the rapid growth of an MFI affect the probability of failure.
Stereotactic radiotherapy for treatment of juxtapapillary choroidal melanoma: 3-year follow-up

Aims: To report the treatment outcomes and complication rates of stereotactic radiotherapy in the management of patients with juxtapapillary choroidal melanoma. Methods: A retrospective review of 64 consecutive patients with juxtapapillary choroidal melanoma, located within 2 mm of the optic disc, treated with stereotactic radiotherapy at Princess Margaret Hospital between October 1998 and January 2006. Results: The median age was 63 years. The median tumour height was 4.2 mm, and median largest basal diameter was 9.8 mm. The prescribed radiation dose was 70 Gy in five fractions over 10 days, and the median follow-up was 37 months. Post-treatment, the actuarial rates of local tumour control, metastases and survival at 37 months were 94%, 15% and 90%, respectively. Actuarial rates of radiation-induced complications at 37 months were neovascular glaucoma 42%, cataract 53%, retinopathy 81% and optic neuropathy 64%. Secondary enucleation was necessary for 10 patients (16%), in four patients for tumour recurrence and in six for painful neovascular glaucoma. Conclusions: Stereotactic radiotherapy offers a non-invasive alternative to enucleation and brachytherapy in the management of juxtapapillary choroidal melanoma with a high tumour control rate, however, at the expense of a significant rate of long-term ocular complications.
Genetic variability in LMP2 and LMP7 is associated with the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in the Kazakh population but is not associated with HPV infection

The Kazakh population in Xinjiang Province in northwestern China exhibits a high incidence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Although the etiology of esophageal carcinoma (EC) has not been elucidated, there are reports of the involvement of an immunologic mechanism. In the current study, 268 Kazakh ESCC patients and 500 age- and sex-matched control subjects were recruited. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tumor specimens from the patients and peripheral blood lymphocytes from the controls and used for LMP2/LMP7 genotyping. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis was performed to detect LMP2/LMP7 gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We found a clear increased risk of ESCC in the Kazakh population for the heterozygous LMP2 R/C genotype and the homozygous C/C genotype (OR = 1.470, 95%CI = 1.076–2.008, p = 0.015 forLMP2R/C; OR = 2.048, 95% CI = 1.168–3.591, p = 0.011 for LMP2 C/C). Conversely, the heterozygous LMP7 Q/K polymorphism was found to decrease the risk of ESCC in this population (OR = 0.421, 95% CI = 0.286–0.621, p = 8.83×10−6). Moreover, LMP2 R/C+C/C genotype was associated with increased tumor invasion depth (p = 0.041). Haplotype analysis showed that haplotype A, which includes wild-type homozygous LMP2/TAP1 and mutant LMP7, decreases susceptibility to ESCC in the Kazakh population; in contrast, haplotype E, which includes wild-type homozygous LMP2/LMP7/TAP1, acts as a risk factor for increased susceptibility to ESCC. This is the first study to report that the heterozygous LMP2 R/C and homozygous C/C genotypes increase susceptibility to ESCC in the Kazakh population and that the heterozygous LMP7 Q/K genotype decreases susceptibility to ESCC in this population. Nevertheless, neither LMP2 nor LMP7 was associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Understanding LMP2/LMP7 genetic variability will provide a new therapeutic perspective for Kazakh patients with ESCC.
Minimally Invasive Myotomy for the Treatment of Esophageal Achalasia: Evolution of the Surgical Procedure and the Therapeutic Algorithm

Achalasia is a rare disease of the esophagus, characterized by the absence of peristalsis in the esophageal body and incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, which may be hypertensive. The cause of this disease is unknown; therefore, the aim of the therapy is to improve esophageal emptying by eliminating the outflow resistance caused by the lower esophageal sphincter. This goal can be accomplished either by pneumatic dilatation or surgical myotomy, which are the only long-term effective therapies for achalasia. Historically, pneumatic dilatation was preferred over surgical myotomy because of the morbidity associated with a thoracotomy or a laparotomy. However, with the development of minimally invasive techniques, the surgical approach has gained widespread acceptance among patients and gastroenterologists and, consequently, the role of surgery has changed. The aim of this study was to review the changes occurred in the surgical treatment of achalasia over the last 2 decades; specifically, the development of minimally invasive techniques with the evolution from a thoracoscopic approach without an antireflux procedure to a laparoscopic myotomy with a partial fundoplication, the changes in the length of the myotomy, and the modification of the therapeutic algorithm.
Rural America at a Glance

The decline in rural population, which began in 2010 and reached its lowest level in 2011-12 with a loss of nearly 62,000 residents, has since begun to reverse.1 In 2016-17, rural counties added population for the first time this decade. The recent upturn in rural population comes from increasing rates of net migration as opposed to natural change (births minus deaths). Increased net migration has coincided with declining rural unemployment, rising incomes, and declining poverty since 2013. However, national population trends mask variation at the local level, where changing population directly impacts rural well-being and economic development prospects. Rural population trends between 2012-13 and 2016-17 also varied considerably by race/ethnicity.
I-124 pre-therapy dosimetry for the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer: A single center experience

Introduction: The maximum tolerable activity (MTA) of I-131 in radioiodine therapy is an established surrogate quantity to ensure that the therapeutic activity does not produce severe damages to the bone marrow and lung. The aim of this study was to estimate the MTAs for high-risk patients using I-124 pre-therapy dosimetry and to compare the results with published literature. Methods: A total of 15 thyroid cancer patients, who received I-124 pre-therapy dosimetry procedure, had underwent serial blood sampling and whole-body external measurements at approximately 1–2, 4, 24, 48, and 96 h or longer after I-124 administration. The blood sampling and whole-body external measurements were used to calculate the MTA for each individual using published dosimetry procedures. Results: The estimated MTAs ranged from 14 to 34 GBq. The range of blood residence and whole-body residence times were 2.6 h and 22.4 h, respectively; the 48-h whole-body retention value ranged from 2% 14%. An overall good MTA agreement can be found between our centre and the results of the well-established centre (Essen, Germany) that included 108 patients. Conclusion: I-124 pre-therapy dosimetry provides toxicity levels similar to published values. Further prospective studies are warranted to assess the benefits of I-124 pre-therapy dosimetry for the individual patient and, in particular, the patient outcome.
Production and operations management : strategic and tactical decisions

Combining a quantitative approach with a managerial issues approach, this introduction to productions and operations management provides coverage of every P/OM topic - from re-engineering to teams, to total quality management ideas, to layout, to finite scheduling to technology. It focuses on eleven critical decisions - both strategic and tactical - that managers must make for meeting customer needs and increasing productivity in a dynamic, global economy.
appendix of the article : Mortality risk attributable to high and low ambient temperature : a multi-country study

Gasparrini, Antonio; Guo, Yuming; Hashizume, Masahiro; Lavigne, Eric; Zanobetti, Antonella; Schwartz, Joel; Tobias, Aurelio; Tong, Shilu; Rocklöv, Joacim; Forsberg, Bertil; +12 more. Leone, Michela; De Sario, Manuela; Bell, Michelle L; Guo, Yue-Liang Leon; Wu, Chang-fu; Kan, Haidong; Yi, Seung-Muk; de Sousa Zanotti Stagliorio Coelho, Micheline; Saldiva, Paulo Hilario Nascimento; Honda, Yasushi; Kim, Ho; Armstrong, Ben; (2015) Mortality risk attributable to high and low ambient temperature: a multicountry observational study. Lancet, 386 (9991). pp. 369-375. ISSN 0140-6736 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)62114-0 Downloaded from: http://researchonline.lshtm. ac.uk/id/eprint/2173667/
Calibration of paired watersheds: Utility of moving sums in presence of externalities

Historically, paired watershed studies have been used to quantify the hydrological effects of land use and management practices by concurrently monitoring 2 similar watersheds during calibration (pretreatment) and post‐treatment periods. This study characterizes seasonal water table and flow response to rainfall during the calibration period and tests a change detection technique of moving sums of recursive residuals (MOSUM) to select calibration periods for each control–treatment watershed pair when the regression coefficients for daily water table elevation were most stable to minimize regression model uncertainty. The control and treatment watersheds were 1 watershed of 3–4‐year‐old intensely managed loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) with natural understory, 1 watershed of 3–4‐year‐old loblolly pine intercropped with switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), 1 watershed of 14–15‐year‐old thinned loblolly pine with natural understory (control), and 1 watershed of switchgrass only. The study period spanned from 2009 to 2012. Silvicultural operational practices during this period acted as external factors, potentially shifting hydrologic calibration relationships between control and treatment watersheds. MOSUM results indicated significant changes in regression parameters due to silvicultural operations and were used to identify stable relationships for water table elevation. None of the calibration relationships developed using this method were significantly different from the classical calibration relationship based on published historical data. We attribute that to the similarity of historical and 2010–2012 leaf area index on control and treatment watersheds as moderated by the emergent vegetation. Although the MOSUM approach does not eliminate the need for true calibration data or replace the classic paired watershed approach, our results show that it may be an effective alternative approach when true data are unavailable, as it minimizes the impacts of external disturbances other than the treatment of interest.