Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Suprameatal extension of the retrosigmoid approach: microsurgical anatomy.

OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to determine whether removing the bony prominence located above the porus of the internal acoustic meatus, called the suprameatal tubercle, and surrounding bone using the retrosigmoid approach would aid in the exposure of tumors that are located predominantly in the cerebellopontine angle but that also extend into the middle cranial fossa in the region of Meckel's cave and thus avoid the need for a supratentorial craniotomy. METHODS Thirty cerebellopontine angles from 15 cadaveric heads examined using 3 to 40x magnification provided the material for this study. A retrosigmoid craniotomy was completed and the exposure obtained before and after removing the suprameatal tubercle, and the surrounding bone was examined. In some cases, Meckel's cave and the tentorium lateral to the porus of Meckel's cave was opened to aid in the exposure. RESULTS Removing the suprameatal tubercle and surrounding bone increased the exposure an average of 10.3 mm (range, 8.0-13.0 mm) forward of the exposure, which could be obtained without suprameatal drilling. The extent of bone removal was limited on the lateral side by the posterior and superior semicircular canals and their common crus. CONCLUSION The suprameatal extension of the retrosigmoid approach will permit removal of some tumors that are located mainly in the posterior fossa but that extend into the middle fossa in the region of Meckel's cave. The exposure can be increased by opening the superior petrosal sinus as it crosses in the upper margin of the porus of Meckel's cave and by opening the tentorium lateral to Meckel's cave.
Enzymatic kinetic rate and end-point analyses of substrate, by use of a GeMSAEC fast analyzer.

Enzymatic substrate analysis is an attractive means of analysis in clinical chemistry because of its sensitivity and specificity. The GeMSAEC Fast Analyzer, in conjunction with a small computer, provides a means of performing routine enzymatic substrate analysis and offers the following advantages: ( a ) selectivity of approaches to enzymatic analysis, i.e., end-point or kinetic; ( b ) essentially parallel analyses of multiple samples, yielding a unique method for performing kinetic fixed-time analysis; ( c ) on-line data reduction, resulting in rapid calculation and output of results and the minimization of data handling errors; and ( d ) a small reagent volume per test (400 µl), which reduces the cost of analysis. The analysis of substrate with enzymatic end-point and kinetic procedures is examined by use of a computer-interfaced Fast Analyzer. Computer programs were written to facilitate this study. Glucose (hexokinase/GPD), urea (urease/GMD), and uric acid (uricase) have been used as examples in evaluating both end-point and kinetic analyses. The advantages and limitations of each type of analysis are presented, with the emphasis being placed on enzymatic substrate analysis and means by which the computer-interfaced Fast Analyzer can facilitate both end-point and kinetic analyses.
General Purpose Technology and Within-Group Inequality

This paper develops a theoretical model to analyse how a General Purpose Technology (GPT) shapes within-group wage inequality when workers are ex-ante equal, but their adaptability to new technologies is subject to stochastic factors that are history dependent. It is argued that the diffusion of a GPT leverages the importance of these stochastic factors in three ways. First, a rise in the speed of embodied technological progress raises the market premium to workers adaptable to the leading-edge technology. Second, the generality of the technology raises the ability of adaptable workers to transfer recently acquired knowledge to new machines. Third, the generality of the technology reduces the cost of retooling old machines, which increases the demand for adaptable workers. In the model the rise in within-group inequality is mainly transitory, and is mirrored by a rise in wage instability. The key predictions of the model are shown to be in line with some of the existing empirical evidence.
Pharmacokinetics of Gemcitabine and 2′,2′‐Difluorodeoxyuridine in a Patient with Ascites

Gemcitabine (dFdC) is a prodrug that undergoes metabolism by cytidine deaminase to form an inactive metabolite, 2′,2′‐difluorodeoxyuridine (dFdU). The pharmacokinetics of dFdC and dFdU have been studied; however, their disposition has never been evaluated in a patient with ascites. A patient with pancreatic cancer and malignant ascites was treated with dFdC 1500 mg/m2 over 150 minutes weekly for 3 weeks, repeated every 4 weeks. Serial plasma and ascites samples were obtained on weeks 1 and 2 of cycle 2. High‐pressure liquid chromatography was used to quantify dFdC and dFdU in plasma and ascites. The systemic dispositions of dFdC and dFdU were similar to those reported in patients without ascites. The concentration of dFdC in ascites approached 1 mg/ml. Ascitic fluid did not serve as a depot for dFdC, and the agent's concentration in ascites approached that at which its phosphorylation is saturated.
The Molecular Mechanism of Thermostable α-Galactosidases AgaA and AgaB Explained by X-ray Crystallography and Mutational Studies*

Background: The thermostable α-galactosidases AgaA and AgaB are of industrial interest and have different catalytic properties despite having a high sequence identity. Results: The crystal structures helped to explain the specificities of these two isoenzymes. Conclusion: The A355E substitution modulates the induced fit mechanism. Significance: Transglycosylation is increased by a single substitution that is located away from the active site. The α-galactosidase AgaA from the thermophilic microorganism Geobacillus stearothermophilus has great industrial potential because it is fully active at 338 K against raffinose and can increase the yield of manufactured sucrose. AgaB has lower affinity for its natural substrates but is a powerful tool for the enzymatic synthesis of disaccharides by transglycosylation. These two enzymes have 97% identity and belong to the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family GH36 for which few structures are available. To understand the structural basis underlying the differences between these two enzymes, we determined the crystal structures of AgaA and AgaB by molecular replacement at 3.2- and 1.8 Å-resolution, respectively. We also solved a 2.8-Å structure of the AgaAA355E mutant, which has enzymatic properties similar to those of AgaB. We observe that residue 355 is located 20 Å away from the active site and that the A355E substitution causes structural rearrangements resulting in a significant displacement of the invariant Trp336 at catalytic subsite −1. Hence, the active cleft of AgaA is narrowed in comparison with AgaB, and AgaA is more efficient than AgaB against its natural substrates. The structure of AgaAA355E complexed with 1-deoxygalactonojirimycin reveals an induced fit movement; there is a rupture of the electrostatic interaction between Glu355 and Asn335 and a return of Trp336 to an optimal position for ligand stacking. The structures of two catalytic mutants of AgaAA355E complexed with raffinose and stachyose show that the binding interactions are stronger at subsite −1 to enable the binding of various α-galactosides.
Reinforcement learning algorithms for DASH video streaming

DASH is a video streaming standard developed in 2011; the servers have several copies of every video at different bitrates, leaving the clients complete freedom to adapt to the available bandwidth. This thesis presents two reinforcement learning algorithms to optimize this adaptation: Offline and Online. The Offline algorithm relies on a training phase to learn its environment, while the Online algorithm has a slimmer model and focuses on learning as quickly as possible, with no training phase
Myoglobin cavities provide interior ligand pathway

The myoglobin protein binds oxygen and catalyzes NO oxidation. As a key model protein, its dynamics have been well studied by spectroscopy and by crystallography as well as by simulation. Nonetheless, visualization of the mechanism of movement of ligands within myoglobin has been difficult. Coordinates of the A1 and A3 taxonomic spectral states of myoglobin from the 1 Å crystal structure (1a6g) are generated as consistent sets of correlated clusters of residues with A or B crystal alternates. Analysis of cavities in these A1 and A3 conformations clarifies the pathway of ligand motion from distal entry through interior movement to the proximal side of the heme. Cavities opened up by buried alternate conformations link the distal to the proximal side of the heme. Structural conservation highlights the relevance of this pathway to human neuroglobin. Cavity migration via myoglobin crystal alternates provides a specific link of protein structure to protein dynamics and protein function and demonstrates the relevance of substates (discrete disorder) to function for all proteins.
A Growth Rate for a Sustainable Economy

A sustainable growth rate â€“ i.e. a growth rate which allows economy to expand without compromising the equilibrium of the natural system â€“ is one of the most important and stimulating topics in growth literature. In this paper two findings will be presented. First of all, a brief discussion of both concepts â€“ growth and development â€“ is presented. A new sight for their relationship is suggested. The usual distinction between quantitative and qualitative variables is shown to be unsatisfactory. Growth and development must fit in a sustainability framework and therefore, progress should be based on steps of sustainable economic growth in order to have higher development levels. Secondly, a two-sector-closed-economy model is presented to demonstrate the existence of a positive sustainable growth rate for the GDP.
In-vitro development of in-vivo produced rhesus monkey morulae and blastocysts to hatched, attached, and post-attached blastocyst stages: morphology and early secretion of chorionic gonadotrophin.

The earliest time of secretion of chorionic gonadotrophin (CG) by primate embryos and its role during preimplantation development and implantation are not clearly determined. We cultured in-vivo fertilized/developed zona-intact, morphologically normal morulae (n = 11) and early blastocysts (n = 11), freshly recovered (by non-surgical uterine flushing) on days 5 and 6 of pregnancy, respectively (day 0 = the day following LH surge), from non-superovulated naturally bred rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Embryos were cultured for a minimum of 24 days in dishes containing 1 ml of CMRL-1066 supplemented with 20% bovine fetal serum in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air at 37 degrees C. The culture medium was changed every 48 h. The percentage of hatched blastocysts, developed from morulae and early blastocysts, was 90.9; elapsed times (mean +/- SEM) were 67.8 +/- 4.4 h (morula) and 37.8 +/- 3.6 h (blastocyst). The minimum number of Hoechst-stained cells/hatched blastocyst was 531. The mean diameter (+/- SEM) of cultured embryos increased from 180 microns at the beginning of culture to 374 +/- 28 and 450 +/- 19 microns at the fully expanded and hatched blastocyst stages, respectively. Hatched blastocysts continued to expand (maximum diameter: 1125 +/- 25 microns); after an additional 94-96 h they attached firmly to the serum-coated dishes and produced highly proliferating multinucleate trophectodermal cells, extending to a maximum diameter of 2-6 mm by 11-21 days of culture. Biologically active CG in embryo-grown, serial spent media samples was measured in a mouse Leydig cell bioassay. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A researcher’s guide to the Swedish compulsory school reform

This paper demonstrates how a natural experiment in education can be used to estimate causal effects. The Swedish compulsory school reform extended basic education gradually across cohorts and municipalities, allowing for a difference-in-differences analysis. The paper summarizes the literature using this reform and shows that it provided individuals from low socio-economic backgrounds with better opportunities in life. Not only did they attain higher levels of education – they also earned higher earnings, were less likely to participate in crime, and more likely to run for office.
Applications of the Polymerase Chain Reaction to HLA Class II Typing

Of fundamental importance in the immune response are the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genes, situated on chromosome 6 within the major histocompatibility complex (fig. la , b), HLA class I and class I1 genes encode transmembrane glycoproteins which present foreign antigenic peptides to T cells via T cell antigen receptor molecules. This cell-cell interaction triggers the immune response, resulting in proliferation of cytotoxic T cells, and antibody production and release by B cells. Apart from their role in peptide presentation, HLA antigens may trigger alloreactive immune responses following organ transplantation. Thus, mismatched HLA allotypes are a significant factor in allograft failure or rejection, in graft-versus-host and in host-versus-graft disease. For this reason, accurate HLA matching is usually a prerequisite in allogeneic transplantation. Until recently, HLA typing was dominated by serological and cellular techniques. Within the last 10 years, however, the analytical power of molecular biology has been applied with phenomenal success to the HLA system. As a result, allelic differences between HLA genes have been clearly defined at the nucleotide sequence level. At the same time, molecular probing techniques have enabled the rapid typing of these alleles. In particular, the HLA class I1 (DR, DQ and DP) genes have been the subject of'most interest, since DNA-based typing has proven considerably more accurate and reproducible than conventional serological or cellular typing. Concerted studies have revealed that most alloreactive epitopes of HLA class I1 antigens are located within membrane-distal protein domains, encoded by the second exon of the corresponding genes (fig. lc).
Evaluating the Potential of a Web-based Portal to Support the Leverage of Professional Expertise across Local Authority Boundaries

Abstract The national strategy for local e-government identifies joining up services and the sharing of information as key components in improving the quality and efficiency of public services. A project to design and evaluate a web-based portal to support leverage of professional health and safety enforcement expertise across local authority (LA) boundaries was undertaken. The project clearly demonstrated that there was support by operational officers for the concept of knowledge sharing but there was limited uptake of the portal, particularly those functions that were designed to facilitate collaborative working. The research identified the significance of management commitment to knowledge sharing and the importance of users understanding the rationale for, and benefits of, engagement with IT systems which are not developed in-house. It also indicated that whilst web-based systems can provide a means by which profession knowledge can be levered across LAs, the complexity of linking over 400 LAs with their pluralistic structures and cultures should not be under-estimated.
Cross-sectional relationship of reported fatigue to obesity, diet, and physical activity: results from the third national health and nutrition examination survey.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Reported daytime fatigue may be influenced by modifiable risk factors. We hypothesized that daytime fatigue is associated with less-favorable lifestyle factors, including high body mass index, higher intake of dietary fat, and limited physical activity. DESIGN Cross-sectional analysis. SETTING Population-based survey. PARTICIPANTS Participants aged 20 to 59 years in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS We examined relationships between responses to the question, "Right now would you say you are feeling energetic, fresh, average, tired or exhausted? " and body mass index, waist circumference, leisure time physical activity, and macronutrient intake. Analyses included only people who reported getting their usual amount of sleep the night before the evaluation and controlled for age, sex, and ethnicity; 5.6%, 14.6%, 58.3%, 19.5%, and 2.0% reported that they felt "energetic," "fresh," "average," "tire d," and "ex hausted" respectively. There was a U-shaped association across the categories of fatigue for physical activity, body mass index, and waist circumference, with the healthiest lifestyle factors being associated with reporting feeling "fresh. " Relative to the fresh group, average, tired and exhausted participants were 1.6, 1.9, and 3.8 times more likely to report insufficient physical activity, all statistically different from the fresh group. This pattern was also observed for body mass index and waist circumference and persisted after adjustment for covariates and exclusion of individuals with depression. CONCLUSIONS In adults aged 20 to 59 years in the United States, self-reported fatigue is associated with higher body mass index, higher waist circumference, and a reduced likelihood of getting recommended levels of physical activity.
Sex pheromone desaturase functioning in a primitive Ostrinia moth is cryptically conserved in congeners’ genomes

(E)-11- and (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate are the most common female sex pheromone components in Ostrinia moths. The Δ11-desaturase expressed in the pheromone gland (PG) of female moths is a key enzyme that introduces a double bond into pheromone molecules. A single Δ11-desaturase of Ostrinia nubilalis, OnubZ/E11, has been shown to produce an ∼7:3 mixture of (E)-11- and (Z)-11-tetradecenoate from the substrate tetradecanoate. In contrast, the sex pheromone of Ostrinia latipennis, a primitive species of Ostrinia, is (E)-11-tetradecenol. This pheromone is unique in that it is not acetylated, and includes no Z isomer. In the present study, through the cloning and functional analysis of a PG-specific Δ11-desaturase in O. latipennis, we showed that the absence of the Z isomer in the pheromone is attributable to the strict product specificity of the Δ11-desaturase in this species, LATPG1. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that LATPG1 was not closely related to OnubZ/E11. Rather, it was closely related to retroposon-linked cryptic Δ11-desaturases (ezi-Δ11) found in the genomes of O. nubilalis and Ostrinia furnacalis. Taken together, the results showed that an unusual Δ11-desaturase is functionally expressed in O. latipennis, although the genes encoding this enzyme appear to be cryptic in congeners.
Planning and Development in Film Tourism: Insights into the Experience of Lord of the Rings Film Guides

This paper is part of a larger study into the expectations and experiences of guided Lord of the Rings film tourists during their visits to more than 80 locations/settings that were featured in the films, and here discusses the demands towards and developments of the supply side of the thriving Lord of the Rings film tourism industry in Aotearoa, New Zealand. The challenges of guiding film tourists through their confrontation of anticipated fantastical landscape and geographical reality is discussed, leading to the identification of a typical film tour guide performance and its commonly used sign makers. This includes screen shots from selected film scenes as well as further printed materials and individual story telling depending on the guide's familiarity with the film and its making. Furthermore, the significance of emotions and especially emotional bonding with the guide(s) is identified as a considerable influence on the overall tour satisfaction. And while film tourists are varied, the experience of closeness and sincerity in the relationship with the guide seems often more important than “finding the exact spot”.
Building a Culture of Innovation: A Case Study in Digital Integration

This case study dissertation examines the implementation of digital technology in a mid-sized public school district in southern Minnesota. The methodology involved unstructured interviews and close observation of several teachers, administrators and related staff in the junior-senior high building. These observations were presented in informative vignettes that help to tell the story of the culture of innovation in this school, as well as highlight some of the implementation strategies that aid this school and district in meeting its goal to meet all learners in a 21 century society. The study identifies common barriers such as staff resistance, funding, and technology equity among students, as well as identifying some positive strategies that have met these challenges in an effective way. The resulting information paints the picture of a district that uses digital technology to build an innovative culture.
Human Monocytic U937 Cells KillSalmonella In Vitro by NO-Independent Mechanisms

ABSTRACT Nitric oxide (NO) has a central role in host defense against intracellular microbes. HLA-B27 has been shown to directly modulate host-microbe interaction in vitro, leading to the impaired elimination of Salmonella in human monocytic U937 cells. Here, we studied whether impaired elimination of Salmonella would result from differences in NO production between HLA-B27- and HLA-A2-transfected U937 cells. Both human monocytic transfectants produced NO equally well and killed Salmonella via NO-independent mechanisms.
Changes in the Standard and Poor's 500 List

L. Harris and E. Gurel (1986) and A. Shleifer (1986) examined changes in the Standard and Poor's list. Both studies presented evidence inconsistent with efficient markets. Looking at newer data and at bond and option prices, the authors find that case against market efficiency is not compelling. Copyright 1991 by University of Chicago Press.
Scene-Specific Pedestrian Detection Based on Parallel Vision

As a special type of object detection, pedestrian detection in generic scenes has made a significant progress trained with large amounts of labeled training data manually. While the models trained with generic dataset work bad when they are directly used in specific scenes. With special viewpoints, flow light and backgrounds, datasets from specific scenes are much different from the datasets from generic scenes. In order to make the generic scene pedestrian detectors work well in specific scenes, the labeled data from specific scenes are needed to adapt the models to the specific scenes. While labeling the data manually spends much time and money, especially for specific scenes, each time with a new specific scene, large amounts of images must be labeled. What's more, the labeling information is not so accurate in the pixels manually and different people make different labeling information. In this paper, we propose an ACP-based method, with augmented reality's help, we build the virtual world of specific scenes, and make people walking in the virtual scenes where it is possible for them to appear to solve this problem of lacking labeled data and the results show that data from virtual world is helpful to adapt generic pedestrian detectors to specific scenes.
Stability of microwave and electronic devices: an approach from dynamical systems theory

The general problem of stability of microwave and RF devices and circuits in the presence of multifrequency or broadband signals is addressed. The problem is formulated in terms of the system of nonlinear nonautonomous differential equations for generalized coordinates in the phase space that can be attributed to, e.g., amplitudes of electric currents in circuits with lumped elements or mode amplitudes of the electromagnetic field in the distributed systems. An approach to the stability analysis is proposed that allows predicting the appearance of various kinds of instabilities including the deterministically chaotic motion. The new criterion based on the analysis of Lyapunov exponents is discussed that establishes the relation between maximal stable amplitude of oscillations and the levels of nonlinearity and damping in the system. The examples of one- and two-mode oscillators are considered in detail.