Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The need for head computed tomography in patients sustaining loss of consciousness after mild head injury.

BACKGROUND Many management schemes have incorporated mandatory head computed tomography (HCT) to evaluate a patient sustaining blunt head trauma with a history of loss of consciousness (LOC). Commonly, this is despite physical examination findings warranting such a workup. This study is intended to better identify the significance of selective criteria, a set of constitutional signs and symptoms (CSS) for head injury, to screen patients sustaining blunt head trauma and LOC. METHODS Over a 141/2-month period, data were prospectively collected on adults with a history of LOC and a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 14 to 15. Patients were screened for the presence of 10 typical CSS for head injury at admission before undergoing computed tomography of the head. Data collected also included mechanism of injury and alcohol intoxication. RESULTS Three hundred thirty-one patients met criteria, of which 195 showed no CSS for head injury. Eleven (5.6%) of these patients were found to have HCT evidence of intracranial injury but resulted in no acute medical intervention. One hundred thirty-six patients had CSS, of which 29 (21.3%) had HCT evidence of injury and resulted in a lengthier hospital stay. CONCLUSION The liberal use of HCT in patients without CSS for head injury did not influence patient care, with no increase in morbidity or mortality. These results suggest that LOC alone is not predictive of significant head injury and is not an absolute indications for HCT. More objective criteria, such as CSS, should be used before initiating a costly workup where further diagnostic and therapeutic intervention is unlikely after mild head injury.
Bacterial GtfB Augments Candida albicans Accumulation in Cross-Kingdom Biofilms

Streptococcus mutans is a biofilm-forming oral pathogen commonly associated with dental caries. Clinical studies have shown that S. mutans is often detected with Candida albicans in early childhood caries. Although the C. albicans presence has been shown to enhance bacterial accumulation in biofilms, the influence of S. mutans on fungal biology in this mixed-species relationship remains largely uncharacterized. Therefore, we aimed to investigate how the presence of S. mutans influences C. albicans biofilm development and coexistence. Using a newly established haploid biofilm model of C. albicans, we found that S. mutans augmented haploid C. albicans accumulation in mixed-species biofilms. Similarly, diploid C. albicans also showed enhanced biofilm formation in the presence of S. mutans. Surprisingly, the presence of S. mutans restored the biofilm-forming ability of C. albicans bcr1Δ mutant and bcr1Δ/Δ mutant, which is known to be severely defective in biofilm formation when grown as single species. Moreover, C. albicans hyphal growth factor HWP1 as well as ALS1 and ALS3, which are also involved in fungal biofilm formation, were upregulated in the presence of S. mutans. Subsequently, we found that S. mutans–derived glucosyltransferase B (GtfB) itself can promote C. albicans biofilm development. Interestingly, GtfB was able to increase the expression of HWP1, ALS1, and ALS3 genes in the C. albicans diploid wild-type SC5314 and bcr1Δ/Δ, leading to enhanced fungal biofilms. Hence, the present study demonstrates that a bacterial exoenzyme (GtfB) augments the C. albicans counterpart in mixed-species biofilms through a BCR1-independent mechanism. This novel finding may explain the mutualistic role of S. mutans and C. albicans in cariogenic biofilms.
Opportunity structures then and now

This paper argues that we have a theory – namely, opportunity structure theory – which can account for how school‐to‐work transitions were accomplished ‘then’ and ‘now’, and also why ‘now’ is different from ‘then’. Opportunity structures are formed primarily by the inter‐relationships between family backgrounds, education, labour market processes and employers' recruitment practices. The paper describes how each of these structuring agents has changed over time, while emphasising that their combined predictive power is undiminished. Individualisation, together with the requirement that young people make more choices and exhibit reflexivity, are shown to be features of the current structure of opportunities rather than evidence of a weakening of these structures. The paper concludes that ‘poverty of aspiration’ and young people making the ‘wrong choices’ cannot explain current imbalances in youth labour markets. Rather, it is argued that the root sources of the imbalances lie in the opportunities within which different groups of young people are required to be reflexive and to make successive choices.
The effects of IFRS adoption: A review of the early evidence

This review documents the conceptual, methodological and policy issues that relate to the domain of financial reporting research that attempts to examine whether there are measurable gains, (if any) stemming from the adoption of international financial reporting standards, (IFRS). It selects and reviews four recent papers from conceptual, research design and policy perspectives. Information content, uncertainty-disclosure, value relevance, and earnings and accounting quality studies have all attempted to show the benefits of finer and increased information environments. Notwithstanding the early evidence, this review argues that the papers face both epistemological and research design problems, in that IFRS adoption effect studies do not take cognizance of the contributions of the literature on behavioral finance, financial integration, project analysis, regulation, earnings sustainability and market microstructure. In addition, the studies ignore the possibility that the greater percentage of the benefits and costs may not be directly observable. The review is done against the backdrop of the recent financial crisis.
The p85 Regulatory Subunit of PI3K Mediates cAMP-PKA and Insulin Biological Effects on MCF-7 Cell Growth and Motility

Recent studies have shown that hyperinsulinemia may increase the cancer risk. Moreover, many tumors demonstrate an increased activation of IR signaling pathways. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) is necessary for insulin action. In epithelial cells, which do not express GLUT4 and gluconeogenic enzymes, insulin-mediated PI3K activation regulates cell survival, growth, and motility. Although the involvement of the regulatory subunit of PI3K (p85α PI3K) in insulin signal transduction has been extensively studied, the function of its N-terminus remains elusive. It has been identified as a serine (S83) in the p85α PI3K that is phosphorylated by protein kinase A (PKA). To determine the molecular mechanism linking PKA to insulin-mediated PI3K activation, we used p85α PI3K mutated forms to prevent phosphorylation (p85A) or to mimic the phosphorylated residue (p85D). We demonstrated that phosphorylation of p85α PI3KS83 modulates the formation of the p85α PI3K/IRS-1 complex and its subcellular localization influencing the kinetics of the insulin signaling both on MAPK-ERK and AKT pathways. Furthermore, the p85α PI3KS83 phosphorylation plays a central role in the control of insulin-mediated cell proliferation, cell migration, and adhesion. This study highlights the p85α PI3KS83 role as a key regulator of cell proliferation and motility induced by insulin in MCF-7 cells breast cancer model.
Viewpoint: Towards a Solution to the Puzzles in Exchange Rate Economics: Where Do We Stand?

This paper provides a selective overview of puzzles in exchange rate economics. We begin with the forward bias puzzle: high interest rate currencies appreciate when one might guess that investors would demand higher interest rates on currencies expected to fall in value. We then analyse the purchasing power parity puzzle: the real exchange rate displays no (strong) reversion to a stable long-run equilibrium level. Finally, we cover the exchange rate disconnect puzzle: the lack of a link between the nominal exchange rate and economic fundamentals. For each puzzle, we critically review the literature and speculate on potential solutions.
Key competitiveness indicators for new real estate developers

Purpose – The paper aims to explore the key competitiveness indicators (KCIs) that provide the guidelines for helping new real estate developers (REDs) achieve competitiveness during their inception stage in which the organisations start their business.Design/methodology/approach – The research was conducted using a combination of various methods. A literature review was undertaken to provide a proper theoretical understanding of organisational competitiveness within RED's activities and developed a framework of competitiveness indicators (CIs) for REDs. The Delphi forecasting method is employed to investigate a group of 20 experts' perception on the relative importance between CIs.Findings – The results show that the KCIs of new REDs are capital operation capability, entrepreneurship, land reserve capability, high sales revenue from the first real estate development project, and innovation capability.Originality/value – The five KCIs of new REDs are new. In practical terms, the examination of these KCIs .
ECM‐stimulated actin bundle formation in embryonic corneal epithelia is tyrosine phosphorylation dependent

Previous studies demonstrated that corneal epithelial cells isolated without basal lamina respond to extracellular matrix (ECM) in an actin dependent manner; the basal cell surface flattens and the actin cortical mat reorganizes. We hypothesize that the actin reorganization is initiated by intracellular signaling mechanisms that includes tyrosine phoshporylation and activation of the Rho, MAP kinase, and PI3 kinase signal transduction pathways. Our goals were to develop a morphological assay to test this hypothesis by answering the following questions: 1) Do the actin bundle formations in the cortical mat have the same configuration in response to different ECM molecules? 2) What is the minimum time ECM molecules need to be in contact with the tissue for the actin to reorganize? 3) Will blocking tyrosine phosphorylation inhibit reorganization of the actin? 4) Are known signal transduction proteins phosphorylated in response to soluble matrix molecules? The actin cortical mat demonstrated distinct bundle configurations in the presence of different ECM molecules. Soluble fibronectin accumulated at the basal cell surfaces 75‐fold over 30 min in a clustered pattern. The cells need contact with ECM for a minimum of 10 min to reform the actin bundles at 2 hr. In contrast, two substances that bind to heptahelical receptors to stimulate the Rho pathway, bombesin and lysophosphatidic acid, reorganized the actin bundles in 15–30 min. Focal adhesion kinase, p190 Rho‐GAP, tensin, and paxillin were tyrosine phosphorylated in response to soluble fibronectin, type I collagen, or laminin 1. Erk‐1, erk‐2, and PI3 kinase were activated after 1 hr stimulation by type I collagen. Herbimycin A blocked actin reorganization induced by ECM molecules. In conclusion, we have developed two morphological assays to examine the response of corneal epithelial cells to ECM molecules. In addition, actin bundle reorganization involved tyrosine phosphorylation, MAP kinase, and PI3 kinase activation. Anat Rec 254:348–359, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Chorioamnionitis, Postnatal Factors and Proinflammatory Response in the Pathogenetic Sequence of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Pulmonary inflammation has a central role in the multifactorial and complex pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Pre- and postnatal factors such as chorioamnionitis, oxygen toxicity, mechanical ventilation and postnatal infections can induce and perpetuate an injurious and complex inflammatory response in the airways and lung tissue of very immature infants. This inflammatory process is characterized by the accumulation of inflammatory cells and an arsenal of proinflammatory mediators such as cytokines, toxic oxygen radicals, lipid mediators and potent proteases. An imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory factors favoring the proinflammatory process can be considered as a hallmark of lung injury. In addition, impaired mechanisms of tissue remodeling and repair together with a subnormal generation of growth factors could affect alveolarization and vascular development with lifelong consequences for the infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Group Effects on Party Identification and Party Coalitions across the United States

Most examinations of the sociodemographic group foundations of political party identification and party coalitions in the United States rely on national samples (e.g., the National Election Studies). Therefore, they fail to consider (a) state-to-state variation in the group components of party identification and party coalitions and (b) how state context structures this variation. We rely on media exit polls from the 1988, 1992, and 1996 elections to examine group influences on party identification and party coalitions across the large states. Although there are common threads across the nation in Democratic and Republican support, we find significant state-to-state variation in the nature of group influences on party identification. For many sociodemographic characteristics, group size conditions the importance of the characteristic for party identification, a finding consistent with a contextual theory of political behavior. A group’s size and the partisan loyalty of its members interact to determine a group’s importance to coalition building in a state.
Integrated phase II/III clinical trials in oncology: A case study

Background Integrated phase II/III trial designs implement the phase II and phase III aspects of oncology studies into a single trial. Despite a body of literature discussing the merits of integrated phase II/III clinical trial designs within the past two decades, implementation of this design has been limited in oncology studies. Purpose We provide a brief discussion of the potential advantages and disadvantages of integrated phase II/III clinical trial designs in oncology and provide an example of the operating characteristics of a Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) trial. Methods We review the differences among proposed integrated phase II/III designs. Then, we illustrate the use of the design in a brain tumor trial to be conducted by the RTOG and examine the impact of association between endpoints on design performance in terms of type I error, power, study duration, and expected sample size. Results Although integrated phase II/III designs should not be used in all situations, under appropriate conditions, significant gains can be achieved when using integrated phase II/III designs, including smaller sample size, time and resources savings, and shorter study duration. Limitations Data submission without delay and sufficient evaluation of intermediate endpoints are assumed. Conclusions Although there are potential benefits in using phase II/III designs, there also may be disadvantages. We recommend running design simulations incorporating theoretical and practical issues before implementing an integrated phase II/III design.
Complex fuzzy sets

The objective of this paper is to investigate the innovative concept of complex fuzzy sets. The novelty of the complex fuzzy set lies in the range of values its membership function may attain. In contrast to a traditional fuzzy membership function, this range is not limited to [0, 1], but extended to the unit circle in the complex plane. Thus, the complex fuzzy set provides a mathematical framework for describing membership in a set in terms of a complex number. The inherent difficulty in acquiring intuition for the concept of complex-valued membership presents a significant obstacle to the realization of its full potential. Consequently, a major part of this work is dedicated to a discussion of the intuitive interpretation of complex-valued grades of membership. Examples of possible applications, which demonstrate the new concept, include a complex fuzzy representation of solar activity (via measurements of the sunspot number), and a signal processing application. A comprehensive study of the mathematical properties of the complex fuzzy set is presented. Basic set theoretic operations on complex fuzzy sets, such as complex fuzzy complement, union, and intersection, are discussed at length. Two novel operations, namely set rotation and set reflection, are introduced. Complex fuzzy relations are also considered. Index Terms-Complex fuzzy intersection, complex fuzzy relations, complex fuzzy sets, complex fuzzy union, complex-valued grades of membership, fuzzy complex numbers.
Metabolic suppression during protracted exposure to hypoxia in the jumbo squid, Dosidicus gigas, living in an oxygen minimum zone

The jumbo squid, Dosidicus gigas, can survive extended forays into the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) of the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Previous studies have demonstrated reduced oxygen consumption and a limited anaerobic contribution to ATP production, suggesting the capacity for substantial metabolic suppression during hypoxic exposure. Here, we provide a more complete description of energy metabolism and explore the expression of proteins indicative of transcriptional and translational arrest that may contribute to metabolic suppression. We demonstrate a suppression of total ATP demand under hypoxic conditions (1% oxygen, PO2=0.8 kPa) in both juveniles (52%) and adults (35%) of the jumbo squid. Oxygen consumption rates are reduced to 20% under hypoxia relative to air-saturated controls. Concentrations of arginine phosphate (Arg-P) and ATP declined initially, reaching a new steady state (~30% of controls) after the first hour of hypoxic exposure. Octopine began accumulating after the first hour of hypoxic exposure, once Arg-P breakdown resulted in sufficient free arginine for substrate. Octopine reached levels near 30 mmol g−1 after 3.4 h of hypoxic exposure. Succinate did increase through hypoxia but contributed minimally to total ATP production. Glycogenolysis in mantle muscle presumably serves to maintain muscle functionality and balance energetics during hypoxia. We provide evidence that post-translational modifications on histone proteins and translation factors serve as a primary means of energy conservation and that select components of the stress response are altered in hypoxic squids. Reduced ATP consumption under hypoxia serves to maintain ATP levels, prolong fuel store use and minimize the accumulation of acidic intermediates of anaerobic ATP-generating pathways during prolonged diel forays into the OMZ. Metabolic suppression likely limits active, daytime foraging at depth in the core of the OMZ, but confers an energetic advantage over competitors that must remain in warm, oxygenated surface waters. Moreover, the capacity for metabolic suppression provides habitat flexibility as OMZs expand as a result of climate change.
GHG emission estimates for road transport in national GHG inventories

The annual reporting procedures of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have now produced greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventories from 40 so-called Annex I countries for 18 years. This article analyses a subset of these data: emissions from road transport. The article compares the reported data with the technical guidance on GHG emission inventories provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The analysis suggests that some countries use the IPCC's default emission factors, whereas other countries use country-specific values. In the case of diesel-fuelled road transport, the estimated emissions appear to be generally comparable between all countries for all years. For CO2 emissions from gasoline-fuelled road transport, the picture is less clear. The results suggest that the default emission factor for CO2 from motor gasoline as provided by the IPCC is about 3–5% too low. Countries that seem to apply this default value might therefore underestimate their emissions by the same percentage. The effect of this possible underestimate on trends is, however, very small. Despite the possible problem with the default emission factor, the quantification of the trend in emissions is only slightly influenced by this.
The Seniority Principle in Japanese Companies: A Relic of the Past?

The seniority principle has often been described as a key ingredient in the traditional Japanese HRM model. However, increasing numbers of testimonials in the literature report that this practice is dramatically declining in significance. Results of this empirical study indicate that: 1) compared to the past, the seniority principle is significantly losing importance for promotion and compensation decisions; 2) this is a trend likely to continue into the future; 3) the seniority principle is declining more than any other Japanese HRM practice; 4) the American model serves as an important source of inspiration in introducing a more performance-oriented system; 5) when compared to western countries, however, seniority is likely to remain of importance. Suggestions are put forward as to how a performance based promotion and compensation system might suit the specific Japanese context better than western practices do.
The Cost and Analysis of Nonuse of Cochlear Implants

Objective: Analysis of the cost implications and reasons for nonuse of cochlear implants in an established cochlear implant unit. Study Design: Clinical data were analyzed retrospectively to construct a table of cochlear implant use over time to identify nonuse and to suggest the reasons for this. Setting: Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Service is a tertiary referral center. Patients: Three hundred forty consecutively implanted patients from 1990 to 2005. Main Outcome Measures: Life table analysis showed that most children used their implant (p = 0.7 during 11 yr). However, 11 of 155 children and 2 of 185 adults became nonusers during the period of study. The 11 children stopped because of age at implant, educational placement, and family support. Two adults stopped because of psychological issues and inability to adapt to the signal. Surgical and implant costs have initial impact, with subsequent years' costs reflecting programming issues and maintenance. When considering nonuse, there are 2 effects: first, no more costs are incurred, and second, no more years of use are accumulated. Thus, nonuse reduces both costs and years. Costs of gaining a year of use as a function of time showed that there was little financial impact from the 11 children nonusers. As a ratio of "no nonuse" and observed "nonuse" in children, the ratio is 1.07 by 13 years of implantation (7%). The adult group was too few to analyze. Conclusion: The nonuse added 7% to the average cost. Retrospective audit identifies that patient selection by a multidisciplinary team is crucial to reducing nonuse.