Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Capital Reversals and Exchange Market Pressure: Evidence from the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Bounds Tests

Abstract This article examines the relationship between capital reversals and exchange market pressure in Turkey within an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing and Granger causality framework using monthly data from 1991:12 to 2006:08. The results suggest that capital reversals are in a long-run equilibrium relationship with exchange market pressure. Granger causality tests indicate that there exists short-run and long-run causality running from capital reversals to exchange market pressure, but not vice versa. These findings lend empirical support to the Sudden Stop theory.
Immunization of rats with synthetic peptide constructs from the glucan-binding or catalytic region of mutans streptococcal glucosyltransferase protects against dental caries

Previously, we have described peptide constructs from two regions of glucosyltransferase (GTF) of mutans streptococci. A putative catalytic site in the amino-terminal half of the molecule and a repeated glucan-binding site in the carboxyl-terminal half of GTF were the regions upon which sequences were based. The present study explored the effects of immunization with these peptide constructs (called CAT or GLU) and with streptococcal GTFs from Streptococcus sobrinus and S. mutans on immunological, microbiological, and disease parameters. Groups of immunized Sprague-Dawley rats were infected with either 10(8) S. sobrinus 6715 or 10(8) S. mutans SJ32 organisms. Serum immunoglobulin G antibody levels, determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, to the respective peptide constructs and to the appropriate streptococcal GTF were significantly increased (after immunization) prior to infection and at the end of the experiment. Also, serum antibody from CAT-, GLU-, and S. sobrinus GTF-immunized rats inhibited S. sobrinus GTF-mediated insoluble glucan synthesis (all) and S. mutans GTF-mediated soluble glucan synthesis (all except anti-GLU) from sucrose. Immunization with the CAT or GLU peptide construct resulted in significantly reduced smooth surface and sulcal caries after infection with S. sobrinus. Sulcal dental caries after infection with S. mutans SJ32 were also significantly reduced in CAT- and GLU-immunized rats. Thus, immunization with peptides whose sequences are based on putative functional domains of mutans streptococcal GTF are protective toward a cariogenic S. sobrinus or S. mutans infection.
How much of a topical agent should be prescribed for children of different sizes?

Background: Compared with guidelines for the quantity of topical corticosteroids to apply in adults, standards for the use of topical corticosteroids in children are not well described. Objective: To devise simple‐to‐use guidelines for topical corticosteroid quantities needed in infants, children, pre‐teens, and adults. Methods: We determined body surface area (BSA) using mean heights and weights in order to calculate the appropriate quantities of medication to be prescribed. Results: As a rough estimate, infants require one‐fifth of adult doses, children two‐fifths of adult doses, and adolescents two‐thirds of adult doses. However, the assessment of BSA may vary considerably between clinicians. Patients may also vary in how thickly they apply topical medication. Conclusions: A simple guideline for how much topical corticosteroid to prescribe may facilitate the treatment of young children with skin disease.
Noninvasive Quantitative Assessment of Pulmonary Blood Flow with 18F-FDG PET

Pulmonary blood flow (PBF) is a critical determinant of oxygenation during acute lung injury (ALI). PET/CT with 18F-FDG allows the assessment of both lung aeration and neutrophil inflammation as well as an estimation of the regional fraction of blood (FB) if compartmental modeling is used to quantify 18F-FDG pulmonary uptake. The aim of this study was to validate the use of FB to assess PBF, with PET and compartmental modeling of 15O-H2O kinetics as a reference method, in both control animals and animals with ALI. For the purpose of studying a wide range of PBF values, supine and prone positions and various positive end-expiratory pressures (PEEPs) and tidal volumes (VTs) were selected. Methods: Pigs were randomized into 3 groups in which ALI was induced by HCl inhalation: pigs studied in the supine position with a low PEEP (5 ± 3 [mean ± SD] cm of H2O; n = 9) or a high PEEP (12 ± 1 cm of H2O; n = 8) and pigs studied in the prone position with a low PEEP (6 ± 3 cm of H2O; n = 9). Also included were a control group that did not have ALI (n = 6) and 2 additional groups (n = 6 each) that had a high VT to maintain a transpulmonary pressure of greater than or equal to 35 cm of H2O and that either received HCl inhalation or did not receive HCl inhalation. PBF and FB were measured with PET and compartmental modeling of 15O-H2O and 18F-FDG kinetics in 10 lung regions along the anterior-to-posterior lung dimension, and both were expressed in each region as a fraction of their values in the whole lung. Results: PBF and FB were strongly correlated (R2 = 0.9), with a slope of the regression line close to unity and a negligible intercept. The mean difference between PBF and FB was 0, and the 95% limits of agreement were −0.035 to 0.035. This good agreement between methods was obtained in both normal and injured lungs and under a wide range of VT, PEEP, and regional PBF values (7–71 mL/kg, 0–15 cm of H2O, and 24–603 mL⋅ min−1⋅100 mL of lung−1, respectively). Conclusion: FB assessed with 18F-FDG is a good surrogate for PBF in both normal animals and animals with ALI. PET/CT has the potential to be used to study ventilation, perfusion, and lung inflammation with a single tracer.
DRE-i and self-enforcing e-voting

This chapter1 describes a research experience of designing, implementing and trialling a new e-voting system called Direct Recording Electronic with Integrity (DRE-i). DRE-i is an example of a new category of voting systems that are end-to-end (E2E) verifiable without involving any tallying authorities. Such voting systems are termed “self-enforcing e-voting”.
Intermediate and long-term followup of percutaneous device closure of fossa ovalis atrial septal defect by the Amplatzer septal occluder in a cohort of 529 patients

Objectives: The aim of present study is to analyze the intermediate and long-term follow up results of percutaneous closure of fossa ovalis atrial septal defect (ASD) with Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) in a large cohort of patients including children and adults. Methods: Between May 1998 and July 2008, 529 patients (age group 2-77 years, median 28 years) underwent successful device closure with an ASO at single tertiary referral cardiac center in India. This was out of an attempted 543 cases. The procedure was carried out in catheterization laboratory under transesophageal echocardiographic and fluoroscopy guidance. The mean size of ASD was 20 mm (7-40 mm) while size of septal occluder was 10-40 mm (mean 24 mm). Two devices were deployed in four patients. Three patients developed transitory pulmonary edema in immediate postprocedure period requiring ICU care for 48 hrs. All patients were advised for Aspirin (3-5 mg/kg, maximum 150 mg) once daily for 6 months. In patients with device 30 mm or larger, Clopidogril ( 75 mg once daily) was given for 3 months in addition to Aspirin. Clinical evaluation, echocardiogram were done on 3 months, 6 months and then at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 years of follow up. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed in case of any doubt on clinical evaluation or on transthoracic echocardiography (n=10). Results: Followup data is available for 496 patients (93.7%). Followup period is from 12 months to 120 months (median 56 months). On followup, device was in position in all patients, no residual shunt and no evidence of thrombosis. Interventricular septal motion normalized on day of procedure in 89% patients, in 6% over 3 months while flat septal motion persisted in 5% (n=25, all in age group > 40 years) of cases, though right ventricular dilatation persisted in 10% (n=50, age more than 40 years) of patients. Symptom-free survival was 96.7 % (480/496) in patients who came for followup. Only one 68 year old patient with preexistent tricuspid regurgitation developed congestive heart failure, and one patient (58 years old) had a history of hemiparesis after 1 year of device on telephonic interview. Ten patients were in atrial fibrillation (AF) before the procedure and remained in AF on followup. Conclusions: Our study showed that percutaneous closure of fossa ovalis ASD is a safe and effective procedure on intermediate and long-term followup in both the children as well as adults.both. Technical factors during the procedure and proper follow up are important. Our single centre intermediate and long term experience in a large number of patients support the use of device closure as an alternative to surgery.
Market Returns, Transfers and Demand for Schooling in Malaysia, 1976-89

If parents expect higher market returns to schooling or additional transfers from their children, they invest more in their children's schooling. Results from models of schooling demand using data from the Malaysian Family Life Surveys of 1976 and 1989 suggest that market returns of mothers but not fathers positively affected schooling. The propensity for parents to spend time with their parents had a small positive effect on education of daughters, but other transfers had a weak negative effect. The results suggest that if one generation perceives a low return to schooling, then the next generation - especially daughters - pays the price of lower schooling.
Design and Implementation of Human Computer Interaction Using Brain Waves Electric Signals

Human brain mainly works on electric signals transmitting all over the body to send the information in order to operate the body parts. Even while rotating eye ball body increases or decreases the resistance near eye area. This variation in electric signals can be measured using electrodes or the myoelectric sensors. By implementing these signals processor we can interface different devices to control on demand. Hence proposed system is designed to control computer and hardware system using brain waves electric signals. Proposed systems will detection the variations in electric signal strength through voltage level near the eye area and generates a wireless radio frequency signals in order to control the robotic prototype model. By implementing this system we can further extend it to bio enabled human body parts to control through brain waves.
Emerging drugs for hyperphosphatemia

Cardiovascular mortality is the leading cause of death in the uremic patient. Hyperphosphatemia is considered an independent risk factor associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients. As phosphate control is not efficient with diet or dialysis, phosphate binders are commonly prescribed in patients with chronic renal failure. Aluminum salts, the first phosphate binders, even if effective, have several side effects due to their deposition in CNS, bone and hematopoietic cells. Calcium-containing phosphate binders, used in the last 15 years, increase total body calcium load and may exacerbate metastatic calcification, thus, increasing the risk of cardiovascular mortality. Recently two new compounds non-aluminum and non-calcium phosphate binders, sevelamer hydrochloride and lanthanum carbonate, have been introduced. Sevelamer, besides the effect on phosphate, has been associated with reduction of coronary and aortic calcification and with other pleiotropic effects especially on lipid metabolism. Lanthanum carbonate has similar phosphate control to calcium-based binders with less incidence of hypercalcemia but long-term clinical studies are needed for testing long-term exposure. Recently the authors found in dialysis patients, that salivary phosphorus correlated with serum phosphorus. Therefore, they supposed that the use of salivary phosphate binders could reduce its absorption and represent a chance for reducing the serum phosphate concentration in uremic patients.
A short screening test for visual neglect in stroke patients.

OBJECTIVE to extend a preliminary study of the internal structure of six measures comprising the 'conventional' subtests of the Behavioural Inattention Test (BIT) in order to develop a short screening test for visual neglect. DESIGN discriminant function analysis of the 15 tests constituting BIT. SETTING rehabilitation centre. PATIENTS 59 selected from consecutive stroke patients entering the centre. SELECTION CRITERIA absent prior history of major CNS disorder, at least 1 week post-stroke, right-handed for writing, absent significant visual impairment other than visual field deficit, no psychiatric overlay or generalized intellectual deterioration, and ability to comprehend and respond to the visuomotor tasks administered. COMPARISON GROUP: 50 non-brain-damaged subjects (hospital employees, members of University subject panel, and local community volunteers). ASSESSMENTS the 15 tests constituting the BIT. RESULTS two subtests, letter cancellation and star cancellation, were the most sensitive measure, identifying 74% of neglect patients with no false positives. CONCLUSIONS letter and star cancellation offer an adequate yet brief screening test for determining which patients might benefit from administration of the complete neglect test battery.
Evaluating corpora documentation with regards to the Ethics and Big Data Charter

The authors have written the Ethic and Big Data Charter in collaboration with various agencies, private bodies and associations. This Charter aims at describing any large or complex resources, and in particular language resources, from a legal and ethical viewpoint and ensuring the transparency of the process of creating and distributing such resources. We propose in this article an analysis of the documentation coverage of the most frequently mentioned language resources with regards to the Charter, in order to show the benefit it offers.
Cortactin is a scaffolding platform for the E-cadherin adhesion complex and is regulated by protein kinase D1 phosphorylation

ABSTRACT Dynamic regulation of cell–cell adhesion by the coordinated formation and dissolution of E-cadherin-based adherens junctions is crucial for tissue homeostasis. The actin-binding protein cortactin interacts with E-cadherin and enables F-actin accumulation at adherens junctions. Here, we were interested to study the broader functional interactions of cortactin in adhesion complexes. In line with literature, we demonstrate that cortactin binds to E-cadherin, and that a posttranslational modification of cortactin, RhoA-induced phosphorylation by protein kinase D1 (PKD1; also known as PRKD1) at S298, impairs adherens junction assembly and supports their dissolution. Two new S298-phosphorylation-dependent interactions were also identified, namely, that phosphorylation of cortactin decreases its interaction with β-catenin and the actin-binding protein vinculin. In addition, binding of vinculin to β-catenin, as well as linkage of vinculin to F-actin, are also significantly compromised upon phosphorylation of cortactin. Accordingly, we found that regulation of cell–cell adhesion by phosphorylation of cortactin downstream of RhoA and PKD1 is vitally dependent on vinculin-mediated protein interactions. Thus, cortactin, unexpectedly, is an important integration node for the dynamic regulation of protein complexes during breakdown and formation of adherens junctions. Summary: Cortactin and its phosphorylation by protein kinase D1 at S298 modulate E-cadherin adhesion complex composition and F-actin linkage during ligation and dissolution of adherence junctions.
A near-optimal multiuser detector for CDMA channels using semidefinite programming relaxation

A semidefinite-programming based multiuser detector is proposed. It is shown that maximum likelihood (ML) detection can be carried out by 'relaxing' the associated integer programming problem to a semidetinite-programming problem, which leads to a detector of polynomial complexity. Computer simulations presented demonstrate that the proposed detector offers near-optimal performance with much reduced computational complexity compared with that of the ML detector.
Développement d'une démarche d’aide à la connaissance pour la conception de bâtis performants

Les demandes des usagers conjuguees a la reglementation necessitent de concevoir des bâtiments de plus en plus confortables et economes en energie. En parallele de ces exigences, les reglementations concernant les bâtiments sont renforcees dans differents domaines (acoustique, securite incendie, risque sismique,…) afin d’obtenir des bâtiments plus surs et correspondant aux demandes des usagers. Les impacts conjugues de ces deux facteurs engendrent une complexification de la conception des bâtiments. Cette these presente une demarche d’aide a la connaissance pour la conception de bâtis performants se basant sur une methode d’optimisation. Cette demarche vise a ce que les architectes et les bureaux d’etudes aient une connaissance claire du potentiel de leur projet (exploration de solutions) en phase amont de conception, pour concevoir des bâtiments les plus performants possibles. Ce potentiel est evalue via des parametres de la geometrie exterieure et interieure ainsi que des caracteristiques energetiques du bâti. La demarche leur permet egalement d’evaluer les avantages et inconvenients de differentes geometries et solutions de conception qu’ils envisagent pour repondre a leurs projets. Cette demarche est appliquee a un immeuble de bureaux a Lyon.Pour le cas teste, la demarche permet d’obtenir rapidement des solutions performantes et de definir pour certains des parametres etudies, des valeurs conduisant aux solutions performantes dans une partie de l’espace des solutions ou dans l’ensemble de cet espace.Cette application de la demarche montre egalement qu’il peut exister des solutions ayant des besoins energetiques et des couts de construction proches mais etant tres differentes en termes de parametres de conception. Bien que remettant en cause l'applicabilite directe de la demarche, ce resultat met en exergue un probleme nouveau. Cette these pose alors les bases pour une nouvelle etude.
Refractory hypoxemia in inferior myocardial infarction from right‐to‐left shunting through a patent foramen ovale: A case report and review of the literature

Right ventricular (RV) infarction is a well‐recognized complication of some acute inferior myocardial infarctions. Recently, there have been numerous case reports of RV infarctions complicated by severe refractory hypoxemia secondary to right‐to‐left shunting through a patent foramen ovale. An additional case missed by transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac catheterization is reported and the English literature on the subject is reviewed.
Diagnostic value of OCT3/4 for pre‐invasive and invasive testicular germ cell tumours

Human testicular germ cell tumours of adolescents and adults (TGCTs), the seminomatous and non‐seminomatous germ cell tumours, show morphological and biological similarities to normal embryonic development, presumably determined by their supposed cell of origin, the primordial germ cell/gonocyte. Based on this knowledge, OCT3/4, also known as POU5F1, was recently defined as a diagnostic marker for these tumour types. In the adult testis, positive immunohistochemistry for OCT3/4 is an absolute indicator for the presence of the TGCT precursor carcinoma in situ/intratubular germ cell neoplasia undifferentiated (CIS/ITGCNU), seminoma, and/or embryonal carcinoma. Several studies have confirmed this observation, using the same polyclonal antibody. The present study demonstrates the usefulness of OCT3/4 immunohistochemistry in a diagnostic setting of a consecutively collected series of more than 200 testicular tumours and over 80 testicular biopsies. Moreover, it is shown that a monoclonal antibody directed against OCT3/4 is as informative as the polyclonal antibody, both in immunohistochemistry and in western blot analysis. The antibodies are robust and applicable with different methods of pretreatment and storage of tissue. This allows routine application of this diagnostic marker. Copyright © 2005 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fc-Dependent Polyclonal Antibodies and Antibodies to Outer Membrane Proteins A and B, but Not to Lipopolysaccharide, Protect SCID Mice against Fatal Rickettsia conorii Infection

ABSTRACT An emphasis on cellular immunity against Rickettsia has led to neglect of analysis of the role of antibody. The availability of an excellent mouse model of spotted fever rickettsiosis enabled investigation of a potential role of antibody in immunity to Rickettsia conorii. C3H severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice were passively transfused with monoclonal antibodies against rickettsial outer membrane protein A (OmpA), OmpB, or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), polyclonal anti-R. conorii serum, Fab fragments of polyclonal antiserum, or no antibodies and then challenged 48 h later with 10 50% lethal doses (LD50) of R. conorii. All mice that received monoclonal antibodies against OmpA and two of four mice that received monoclonal antibodies against OmpB or polyclonal antisera were completely protected, but the recipients of anti-LPS antibodies or the Fab fragments were not protected. Polyclonal antibody treatment of C3H SCID mice that had been infected with 10 LD50 of R. conorii 4 or 5 days earlier prolonged the life of the infected mice from 10.4 to 22.5 days and resulted in decreased levels of infectious rickettsiae in the spleen and liver 24 and 48 h later. Treatment with protective antibodies resulted in the development of large aggregates of R. conorii antigens in splenic macrophages and intraphagolysosomal rickettsial death and digestion. The kinetics of development of antibodies to R. conorii determined by immunoblotting revealed antibodies to LPS on day 6 and antibodies to OmpA and OmpB on day 12, when recovery from the infection had already occurred. Antibodies to particular epitopes of OmpA and OmpB may protect against reinfection, but they may not play a key role in immunity against primary infection. Antibodies might be useful for treating infections with antibiotic-resistant organisms, and some B-cell epitopes should be included in a subunit vaccine.
Streptococcus pneumoniae Upper Respiratory Carriage in Costa Rican Children with Otitis Media before the Introduction of the Heptavalent Conjugated Vaccine in the National Immunization Program

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the NP/OP S. pneumoniae serotype distribution and potential vaccine coverage in Costa Rican children with Otitis Media (OM) before the introduction of PCV-7 in the National Immunization Program (NIP). Methods: Between 2002 and 2006, NP and OP samples were obtained from 641 children from 6 to 79 months of age, at the time of OM diagnosis. S. pneumoniae serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility were performed. Results: 386 S. pneumoniae isolates were recovered. The most common S. pneumoniae serotypes (ST) were: ST 6B, ST 14, ST 19F. Penicillin non-susceptibility was observed among 57% of the isolates obtained from children Conclusions: S. pneumoniae was isolated from the NP and/or OP in the majority (59%) of studied children with OM. At a statistical significant level, only serotype 3 was more frequently isolated among children >24 months of age. Antibiotic non-susceptibility and MDR were significantly higher in children