Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plantar cellulitis.

An unusual case of acute cellulitis of the foot in a child is reported. The child failed to respond to standard treatment even after removal of an occult foreign body. Wound cultures revealed Klebsiella oxytoca and Citrobacter freundii. This is the first documented report on Klebsiella oxytoca in cellulitis. The cellulitis resolved after being treated with the appropriate antibiotics.
Rational Expectations under Conditions of Costly Information

THIS PAPER ANALYZES optimal formation of rational expectations where information is costly to obtain to utilize. Under these conditions, expectations normally formed by an estimator will be intermediate between those based on all available information and those which are optimal extrapolative predictors. ' Since the costs of information are likely to vary less than the value of information, this model can explain systematic differences in expectations in markets, such as, labor, for which the value of accuracy of expectations differs between or among buyers and sellers. Similarly, expectations about the same variable may differ between markets where arbitrage is also costly. Section I extends a model due to Theil to analyze the effects of costly information. Illustrative applications are discussed in Section II.
Progressive expression of trophoblast‐specific genes during formation of mouse trophoblast giant cells in vitro

The expression of a battery of trophoblast‐specific mRNAs was studied during trophectoderm development in vivo and in vitro to assess the use of these mRNAs as markers of trophoblast differentiation and to examine lineage relationships between various trophectoderm derivatives. In situ hybridization of sectioned day 6.5–18.5 mouse embryos localized mRNAs for mouse placental lactogens I and II and mouse proliferin (PLF) to trophoblast giant cells and proliferin‐related protein mRNA to the spongiotrophoblast and giant cell layers. A fifth marker, cDNA 4311, was found only in spongiotrophoblast. Day 3.5 blastocyst outgrowths and day 7.5 diploid extraembryonic ectoderm (EX) and ectoplacental cone (EPC) were then cultured to produce polyploid giant cells in vitro. Cultures were processed for in situ hybridization after 2, 4, or 6 days. EX and EPC both formed secondary giant cells, which expressed all markers in the same sequence as was observed in vivo, and primary giant cells in blastocyst outgrowths expressed the early giant cell markers PLF and PL‐I on days 4 and 6 of culture. EPC progressed through the sequence 2 days ahead of EX, indicating commitment of EPC to giant cell formation. These results suggest that EX, EPC, and primary and secondary giant cells all share in a common pathway of differentiation and that the highly ordered sequence of gene expression characteristic of this pathway occurs similarly in vivo and in vitro. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Assessing the Validity of Brand Equity Constructs: A Comparison of Two Approaches

This paper tests both the internal and external validity of the Erdem and Swait (1998) brand equity framework using two measurement modelling approaches, namely the relatively new Best-Worst Scaling (BWS) method (Finn and Louviere, 1992; Marley and Louviere, 2005) and the more traditional Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) method. Data were collected from the Australian banking services sector. We find the measurement models derived from BWS outperformed the models based on CFA of the rating data in predicting both stated and real brand choices. The findings have implications for both academics and practitioners in brand equity measurement and management.
Governments of the Left and Openness to Imports

Developed countries have provided different levels of protection to domestic economic sectors facing competition from imports. An analysis of the effective levels of protection in place in 19 developed, democratic countries found that from the 1970s to the beginning of the 21st century, higher levels of protection were present in countries where parties of the left had a greater proportion of the seats in the national legislature. These results indicate that parties of the left were more likely to guard against import competition. After 2004, however, this link disappeared, perhaps reflecting the disruptive effects of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the global recession that began a few years later.
How do single cell C4 species form dimorphic chloroplasts?

Bienertia sinuspersici is one of only three higher land plant species known to perform C4 photosynthesis without Kranz anatomy through partitioning of photosynthetic functions between dimorphic chloroplasts in a single photosynthetic cell. We recently reported the successful separation of the two chloroplast types, and biochemical and functional analyses revealed differences in protein composition and specialization of photosynthetic functions. In Kranz type C4 species, spatial (or cell-specific) control of transcription of nuclear genes contributes to development of dimorphic chloroplasts, but obviously this cannot be involved in formation of dimorphic chloroplasts within individual photosynthetic cells. Therefore, we address here the question of how nuclear encoded proteins could be selectively targeted to plastids within a cell to form two types of chloroplasts. We discuss current knowledge of chloroplast differentiation in single cell C4 species and present three hypothetical mechanisms for how this could occur.
Dynamic power and sub-carrier assignment in a multi-user OFDM system

It is well known that independent time variations in channel fading across multiple users can be exploited by channel aware scheduling to obtain multiuser diversity gains. In a wideband orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system with frequency-selective fading it is possible to schedule different users in different subcarriers in a given scheduling interval and obtain additional multiuser diversity gain from frequency selectivity. In this paper we present the optimum algorithm for scheduling multiple users across subcarriers assuming each user's channel is known as in the case of a time-division duplexing (TDD) system. We present the optimal algorithm for bandwidth and power allocation across users that is used for scheduling. We also present a simple suboptimal algorithm with performance close to the optimum algorithm. We present several numerical results for both delay-tolerant and delay-sensitive packet data and show that 50-90% improvement in capacity can be achieved under idealized conditions.
Cloning and immunocytochemical localization of a cyclic nucleotide–gated channel α‐subunit to all cone photoreceptors in the mouse retina

Cyclic nucleotide–gated channels (CNGC) are ligand‐gated ion channels that open and close in response to changes in the intracellular concentration of the second messengers, 3`,5`‐cyclic adenosine monophosphate and 3`,5`‐cyclic guanosine monophosphate. Most notably, they transduce the chemical signal produced by the absorption of light in photoreceptors into a membrane potential change, which is then transmitted to the ascending visual pathway. CNGCs have also been implicated in the signal transduction of other neurons downstream of the photoreceptors, in particular the ON‐bipolar cells, as well as in other areas of the central nervous system. We therefore undertook a search for additional cyclic nucleotide–gated channels expressed in the retina. Following a degenerate reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction approach to amplify low‐copy number messages, a cDNA encoding a new splice variant of CNGC α‐subunit was isolated from mouse retina and classified as mCNG3. An antiserum raised against the carboxy‐terminal sequence identified the retinal cell type expressing mCNG3 as cone photoreceptors. Preembedding immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated its membrane localization in the outer segments, consistent with its role in phototransduction. Double‐labeling experiments with cone‐specific markers indicated that all cone photoreceptors in the murid retina use the same or a highly conserved cyclic nucleotide–gated channel. Therefore, defects in this channel would be predicted to severely impair photopic vision. J. Comp. Neurol. 421:80–94, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Telomerase recruitment to telomeres

The ability of most cancer cells to grow indefinitely relies on the presence of functional telomerase to maintain telomeres, thus circumventing normal cellular senescence. A key feature of telomerase functionality is the localization of the enzyme complex to telomeres, a process which is highly regulated. A number of recent studies have reported data with significant implications for our understanding of telomerase recruitment to telomeres. A picture is emerging that this process is governed by a number of factors including telomeric binding proteins, structural features of the enzyme complex, cell cycle regulated processes such as DNA replication, and components of the DNA damage response pathway. In this review we summarize recent findings relating to this fundamental process in eukaryotes.
Impediments to the Growth of Islamic Banking and Financial Systems

Interest-free banking system is as old as the recorded history of mankind. It is, therefore, of utmost importance that we explore the reasons as to why the Islamic financial system had to wait for almost fourteen centuries to take shape. The long-term success of this fastest growing financial segment depends on the potential of this system to emerge from the status of a “segment” to become holistic, capable of serving all the perceivable needs of people and nations. The success of the very concept of interest-free system poses a threat of creative destruction to a huge market. This paper attempts to investigate whether the Islamic Financial System has the potential to replace the conventional systems. We restrict our study to bringing to light the impediments that restrict the growth of this system, taming of which would be essential for this system to pose any real challenge to its deeply entrenched conventional counterpart. The study supports its analysis by comparing the status of Islamic countries vis-a-vis some of the developed nations. We begin with providing a short insight into the Islamic Financial System highlighting briefly the major differences between the two concepts before initiating the main analysis. In conclusion, we provide some recommendations for dealing with the factors that threaten to impede the growth of the system and how it can take its conventional counterpart head-on, if at all they pose a competition.
Vanilloid (capsaicin) receptors influence inflammatory sensitivity in response to particulate matter.

The signs of airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness that occur in animals exposed to air pollutants are often strain- and species-specific. To investigate the underlying causes of this phenomenon, BALB/c and C57bl/6 mice were exposed intratracheally to residual oil fly ash (ROFA, 3 mg/kg) and examined after 24 h for signs of airway inflammation. BALB/c showed significantly higher numbers of neutrophils and increased airway hyperresponsiveness in response to methacholine challenge, whereas B6 mice showed no significant change in either inflammatory endpoint. To determine the underlying cause of this strain specificity, cultures of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory neurons, which innervate the upper airways in situ, were explanted from both BALB/c and B6 fetal mice. After 5-7 days in culture, they were exposed to ROFA, other urban and industrial particulate matter (PM; e.g., oil fly ash, woodstove, Mt. St. Helen, St. Louis, Ottawa, coal fly ash) or to prototype irritants (e.g., capsaicin 3-10 microM, pH 5.0 and 6.5). In all instances (except for woodstove), DRG neurons from BALB/c mice released significantly higher levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 into their nutrient media relative to neurons from B6 mice. This cytokine release could be significantly reduced for all PM treated cultures (except woodstove) by pretreatment of cultures with capsazepine (CPZ), a competitive antagonist of vanilloid receptors. DRG neurons, cultured from BALB/c and B6 neonates, were loaded with Fluo-3 AM and exposed to the prototype irritants, acid pH (5.0, 6.5), or capsaicin (3, 10 microM). Analysis of their increases in intracellular calcium showed that significantly higher numbers of BALB/c neurons responded to these prototype irritants, relative to B6 neurons. Morphometric analysis of BALB/c neurons, histochemically stained with cobalt to label neurons bearing capsaicin-sensitive receptors, showed a significantly higher level of stained neurons relative to B6 neurons. Finally, semiquantitative RT-PCR showed a higher expression of VR1 receptor mRNA in DRG and spinal cord taken from neonatal BALB/c mice relative to B6 mice. Taken together, these data suggest that capsaicin and acid-sensitive irritant receptors, located on somatosensory cell bodies and their nerve fiber terminals, subserve PM-induced airway inflammation and are quantitatively different in responsive and nonresponsive mouse strains.
Localised drug release using MRI-controlled focused ultrasound hyperthermia

Purpose: Thermosensitive liposomes provide a mechanism for triggering the local release of anticancer drugs, but this technology requires precise temperature control in targeted regions with minimal heating of surrounding tissue. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using MRI-controlled focused ultrasound (FUS) and thermosensitive liposomes to achieve thermally mediated localised drug delivery in vivo. Materials and methods: Results are reported from ten rabbits, where a FUS beam was scanned in a circular trajectory to heat 10–15 mm diameter regions in normal thigh to 43°C for 20–30 min. MRI thermometry was used for closed-loop feedback control to achieve temporally and spatially uniform heating. Lyso-thermosensitive liposomal doxorubicin was infused intravenously during hyperthermia. Unabsorbed liposomes were flushed from the vasculature by saline perfusion 2 h later, and tissue samples were harvested from heated and unheated thigh regions. The fluorescence intensity of the homogenised samples was used to calculate the concentration of doxorubicin in tissue. Results: Closed-loop control of FUS heating using MRI thermometry achieved temperature distributions with mean, T90 and T10 of 42.9°C, 41.0°C and 44.8°C, respectively, over a period of 20 min. Doxorubicin concentrations were significantly higher in tissues sampled from heated than unheated regions of normal thigh muscle (8.3 versus 0.5 ng/mg, mean per-animal difference = 7.8 ng/mg, P < 0.05, Wilcoxon matched pairs signed rank test). Conclusions: The results show the potential of MRI-controlled focused ultrasound hyperthermia for enhanced local drug delivery with temperature-sensitive drug carriers.
Roles of substance P and somatostatin on transmission of nociceptive information induced by formalin in spinal cord.

Nociceptive response induced by 0.5% Formalin in the hindpaw of mice had two peaks, 0-5 min (first phase) and 15-20 min (second phase). By using the distinct biphasic response, the nature of the transmitter systems activated by Formalin in the spinal cord was studied for the purpose of determining the difference of the role of substance P (SP) and somatostatin (SST). The injection of (D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9)SP, (D-Arg1, D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9, Leu11)SP and SP antiserum inhibited only the first phase response. The i.t. injection of -Aminoheptanoyl-Phe-D-Trp-Lys-(OBz)-Thr- (an SST antagonist), SST antiserum and cysteamine (an SST depletor) inhibited only the second phase. This result indicates that SP is involved in the transmission of the first phase, and SST is involved in the transmission of the second phase of the Formalin-induced nociceptive response. With regard to other nociceptive stimuli, two i.t. SP antagonists produced a significant analgesia in the hot plate and tail pinch tests but had no effect in the acetic acid writhing test. However, i.t. SST antagonist and cysteamine produced a significant analgesia in the writhing test but had no effect in the hot plate and tail pinch test. These results suggest that SP participates in the transient pain induced by such acute stimuli as hot plate, tail pinch and the first phase of Formalin response and that SST participates in the prolonged and inflammatory pain induced by stimuli such as acetic acid and the second phase response.
Combination of gonadal steroid treatment and peripheral nerve grafting results in a peripheral motoneuron‐like pattern of BII‐tubulin mRNA expression in axotomized hamster rubrospinal motoneurons

Rubrospinal motoneurons (RSMN) represent a population of androgen receptor‐containing central motoneurons in rodents. In this study, the ability of testosterone propionate (TP), alone or in conjunction with a peripheral nerve graft (PNG), to alter the molecular program of injured RSMN was accomplished using βII‐tubulin cDNA probes and quantitative in situ hybridization (ISH). Initial fluoro‐gold labeling experiments following a T1 hemisection established that, as in the rat, the hamster rubrospinal system is essentially crossed and that injured RSMN concentrate in the ventrolateral region of the red nucleus. In the second experimental series, adult gonadectomized male hamsters were subjected to a right T1 hemisection, with half of the operated animals immediately subcutaneously implanted with 1 10 mm TP Silastic capsule and the other half sham implanted. In a third experimental series, animals were subjected to T1 hemisection, followed by transplantation of a predegenerated autologous segment of peripheral nerve. Half of the animals in each group received TP implants at the time of spinal cord injury and PNG. Postoperative times were 2, 7, and 14 days (dpo). Quantitative ISH was performed using a βII‐tubulin‐specific 33P‐labeled cDNA probe, emulsion autoradiography, and computerized image analysis for grain counting. Injury alone resulted in a short‐lived increase in βII‐tubulin mRNA expression in the RSMN at 2 dpo, with a significant decline to well below control values at 7 and 14 dpo. TP treatment or PNG alone attenuated, but did not prevent, the down‐regulation of βII‐tubulin mRNA. In contrast, the combination of TP with a PNG sustained the injury‐induced increase in βII‐tubulin mRNA levels throughout the postoperative period of 2, 7, and 14 dpo. The synergistic effects of the two treatment strategies confirm the importance of targeting multiple aspects of the injury response for therapeutic intervention. J. Comp. Neurol. 449:364–373, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Simple Linear Programming Approach to Gain, Loss and Asset Pricing

Bernardo and Ledoit (2000) develop a very appealing framework to compute pricing bounds based on what they call gain-loss ratio. Their method has many advantages and very interesting properties and so far one important drawback: the complexity of the numerical computation of the pricing bounds. In this note we provide a simple procedure for their computation which only entails solving a linear optimization program.
Determinants of Premiums Received by Organic Field Crop Producers

According to shipment records of an organic marketing cooperative from 2003 to 2005, organic corn and soybean premiums exceeded 100% of the conventional prices, while organic premiums for wheat varieties averaged 85%. For all organic crops included in this study, except soybeans, the premiums varied by idiosyncratic differences in shipment characteristics. On average, crops contracted during the quarters following harvest received smaller premiums than those contracted during the harvest quarter, and longer contract horizons were associated with higher premiums. The findings support the growing demands for organic field crops over the sample period, particularly for corn and soybeans. Copyright 2008, Oxford University Press.
Developing an epidemic forecasting model for influenza a in Brisbane, Australia, based on climate and Hong Kong influenza a surveillance data.

Influenza is associated with substantial disease burden [ 1]. Development of a climate-based early warning system for in fluenza epidemics has been recommended given the signi fi - cant association between climate variability and influenza activity [2]. Brisbane is a subtropical city in Australia and offers free in fluenza vaccines to residents aged ≥65 years considering their high risks in developing life-threatening complications, especially for in fluenza A predominant seasons. Hong Kong is an international subtropical city in Eastern Asia and plays a crucial role in global infectious diseases transmission dynamics via the international air transportation network [3, 4]. We hypothesized that Hong Kong in fluenza surveillance data could provide a signal for in fluenza epidemics in Brisbane [ 4]. This study aims to develop an epidemic forecasting model for influenza A in Brisbane elders, by combining climate variability and Hong Kong in fluenza A surveillance data. Weekly numbers of laboratoryconfirmed influenza A positive isolates for people aged ≥65 years from 2004 to 2009 were obtained for Brisbane from Queensland Health, Australia, and for Hong Kong from Queen Mary Hospital (QMH). QMH is the largest public hospital located in Hong Kong Island, and in fluenza surveillance data from this hospital have been demonstrated to be representative for influenza circulation in the entirety of Hong Kong [ 5]. The Brisbane in fluenza A epidemics occurred during July –September, whereas the Hong Kong in fluenza A epidemics occurred during February –March and May –August.
Identification of a potent antidiuretic factor acting on beetle Malpighian tubules

Beetles, like other insects, depend on diuretic and antidiuretic hormones to control water balance. We have isolated, using head extracts from the beetle Tenebrio molitor, a peptide that strongly inhibits fluid secretion by the Malpighian tubules of this insect. This antidiuretic factor (ADF) appears to elicit its effect via cGMP as a second messenger but does not stimulate NO production. It has primary structure: Val-Val-Asn-Thr-Pro-Gly-His-Ala-Val-Ser-Tyr-His-Val-Tyr-OH. The ADF inhibits tubule secretion with high potency: the EC50 is around 10 fM. It bears no significant resemblance to other biologically active neuropeptides. To our knowledge this is the only endogenous insect ADF acting on Malpighian tubules to be sequenced, and the first coleopteran (beetle) antidiuretic factor fully characterized to date.
A Conflict Treatment Model for Uncertainty Rule-based Knowledge

This study proposes an uncertainty rule-based knowledge conflict treatment model by integrating the conditional probability knowledge similarity algorithm and the uncertainty rule-based knowledge conflict treatment algorithm. In the model, a "reliability factor" refers to the reliability level of the knowledge containing conflicts, redundancies or inconsistencies in values, while the "certainty factor" indicates the existence of the knowledge itself. A "certainty reliability index" is used to show both the existence of the knowledge itself and its reliability. For conflicting knowledge, it is suggested that the knowledge with a higher certainty reliability factor be chosen. Among users, 92% reported that the algorithm is helpful to knowledge application and an aid to the decision-making process.