Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the subchondral microarchitecture of the distopalmar aspect of the third metacarpal bone in racing Thoroughbreds.

OBJECTIVE To determine the anisotropic characteristics of the microarchitecture of the subchondral bone (SCB) plate and trabecular bone (TBB) of the distopalmar aspect of the metacarpal condyles in horses with different stages of SCB disease. SAMPLE POPULATION 12 third metacarpal bone pairs from racing Thoroughbreds euthanized for diverse reasons. PROCEDURES Both metacarpi were collected from horses with SCB changes that were mild (sclerosis and focal radiolucencies; n=6) or severe (multifocal radiolucencies and articular surface defects; 6). Sample blocks of SCB plate and TBB were collected from the distopalmar aspect of both condyles and the sagittal ridge and examined via 3-D micro-computed tomography at 45-? m isotropic voxel resolution. For each sample, the angle between the principal orientation of trabeculae and the sagittal plane and the degree of anisotropy (DA) were calculated from mean intercept length measurements. RESULTS Condylar samples had significantly lower angle (mean, 8.9°; range, 73° to 10.9°) than sagittal ridge samples (mean, 40.7°; range, 33.6° to 49.2°), TBB had significantly higher DA (mean±SE, 1.75±0.04) than SCB plate (1.29±0.04), and mildly diseased TBB had higher DA (1.85±0.06) than severely diseased TBB (1.65±0.06). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The highly ordered appearance of trabeculae within the condyles supports the concept that joint loading is primarily transmitted through the condyles and not the sagittal ridge. The sharp changes in the trajectories of the SCB trabeculae at the condylar grooves may be indicative of hypothetical tensile forces at this location contributing to the pathogenesis of condylar fractures.
Influenza prophylaxis for children.

During the last ten years most communities in the United States have experienced at least 11 outbreaks of influenza virus infections. Beginning with the last influenza A virus epidemic of the H2N2 (designates the major surface antigens of influenza A viruses, H for hemagglutinin and N for neuraminidase) (Asian) era in the winter of 1967-1968, we have been assaulted during almost every respiratory disease season with either influenza A or B viruses and on one or two occasions, depending on location, both viruses. Viruses of the influenza A/Hong Kong family (H3N2) first appeared in late 1968 and have produced epidemics with excess mortality on six occasions through the winter of 1976. Influenza B viruses have caused outbreaks in most localities during four different years, including the current one (1977). All of these epidemics produced notable morbidity in the pediatric age group and resulted in hospitalization of many children.
An Analysis of the United States Employment Immigration System in Attracting and Retaining Skilled Workers and the Effects of its Dichotomous Objectives - Competitiveness versus Protectionism: A Case for Reform?

Over the years, two diametric objectives have emerged within the U.S. employment immigration system: protectionist measures to safeguard or protect the interests of the U.S. workers (which have a corollary purpose of protecting the interest of international workers) and competitive measures to attract and retain highly skilled workers. Currently, the system is out of sync in meeting the needs of the (1) U.S. as a global competitor; (2) domestic industry; (3) U.S. workers; and (4) international workers. The quantitative restraints have led to a decade or more wait for legal permanent residence, which is impeding the U.S. from attracting and retaining highly skilled workers. On the other hand, the U.S.’s global competitors are in the position to offer immediate permanent residency or at least permanent residency within a relatively short period of time. The burgeoning new economies, such as in India and China, have an impact on the flow of immigrants. Already there is evidence of reverse brain drain from the U.S. to these countries, although that flow, at present, may have been exacerbated by the deepening worldwide recession. Further compounding these changes is the looming threat of the world’s aging population. All these developments may heighten the competition for highly skilled workers. Moreover, on the domestic level, dissatisfaction with the competitiveness of the immigration system, which has prevented employers from hiring the necessary skilled workers, has caused some of the leading information technology companies to relocate or outsource their work. This, in turn, has serious repercussion to the U.S. economy, as much needed job creation opportunities are lost at the time when they are most needed. Further, the very mechanism utilized to protect the U.S. workers against wage suppression and adverse working conditions may have the potential to be misused and may adversely affect the interest of the U.S. worker. For instance, even though the hiring of overqualified international workers may be in compliance with the law, it still does have the potential to suppress wages in the long run. As for the international worker, any immigration destination country or home country that can offer long term career and personal advancement, as well as an opportunity to be with family, will likely be attractive.In view of the above, any corrective measure that is undertaken should focus on these two aspects: (1) leveling the playing field between the U.S. workers and international workers by tightening the protectionist measures against wage suppression and adverse working conditions, and (2) liberalizing the quantitative limitation. These would have the effect of ensuring optimal protection for the U.S. workers and the international workers, as well as improving the competitiveness in attracting and retaining highly skilled workers to meet the needs of the domestic industry.
Equal Votes, Equal Money: Court-Ordered Redistricting and Public Expenditures in the American States

Court-ordered redistricting in the mid-1960s eradicated severe disparities in the populations of U.S. state legislative districts. We examine the geographic distribution of money by states to counties. Cross-sectional analysis shows that counties with relatively more legislativeseats per person prior to redistricting received relatively more transfers from the state per person. Over time, counties that lost legislative seats subsequently received a smaller share of state funds per capita. We calculate that population equalization significantly altered the flow of state transfers to counties, diverting approximately $7 billion annually from formerly overrepresented to formerly underrepresented counties, an effect missed by past studies. For those concerned with the design of democratic institutions around the world today, the American experience provides clear evidence of the political consequences of unequal representation.
An Assessment of Fiscal Rules in the United Kingdom

The paper assesses the United Kingdom`s golden rule and debt rule against ideal characteristics of fiscal rules. It concludes that they are clearly defined; transparent in institutional arrangements and measurement; adequate to ensure sustainability; and strike a good balance between flexibility and enforceability. The rules could be strengthened by clarifying the benchmark embodied in the debt rule and the modalities of the value for money criterion for investment. Overall, the fiscal framework establishes the necessary preconditions for a credible fiscal policy, but the credibility of the rules could be undermined by the large gap between them and actual medium-term fiscal plans.
Anti-inflammatory components isolated from Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz

The petroleum ether–ether (1 : 1) extract of Atractylodis macrocephalae was screened by cell membrane chromatography (CMC) and subsequently separated by column chromatography (CC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Five components were isolated and identified as atractylenolide III 1, atractylenolide I 2, 14-acetoxy-12-senecioyloxytetradeca-2E,8E,10E-trien-4,6-diyn-1-ol 3, 14-acetoxy-12-α-methylbutyl-2E,8E,10E-trien-4,6-diyn-1-ol 4 and 14-acetoxy-12-β-methylbutyl-2E,8E,10E-trien-4,6-diyn-1-ol 5 by routine spectrometric methods. The data of 5 and 13C-NMR data of 3 and 4 were reported for the first time. Further in vivo experiments showed that the five components exhibited significant inhibiting effects both on the ear edema induced by xylene and on the peritoneal capillary permeability induced by acetic acid in mice.
Molecular imaging to guide clinical decisions on targeted treatment of solid tumors

Voor behandeling van kankerpatienten zijn veel doelgerichte behandelingen beschikbaar gekomen maar het is nog een grote uitdaging om patienten die daarvan kunnen profiteren te selecteren. Moleculaire beeldvorming van een specifieke biologische eigenschap van de tumor met PET scans, zou als predictieve of prognostische marker geschikt kunnen zijn om klinische beslissingen over doelgerichte behandelingen ondersteunen. Wij onderzochten of een vroege verandering in glucose opname in gastrointestinale tumoren, gemeten met 18F-FDG PET scans, primaire imatinib resistentie kan voorspellen. Daarnaast hebben we afbeelding van de vasculaire endotheliale groeifactor A (VEGF-A) onderzocht in muizenmodellen en in patienten met vaatrijke tumoren. VEGF-A speelt een grote rol bij aanmaak van nieuwe bloedvaten, hetgeen een belangrijk kenmerk en aangrijpingspunt voor behandeling is bij verschillende tumortypen. Bij patienten met de ziekte van Von Hippel-Lindau, die een grote kans hebben op het ontwikkelen van goedaardige en kwaadaardige vaatrijke tumoren, hebben wij onderzocht of ziektemanifestaties met deze PET scans af te beelden zijn en of deze scans geschikt zouden kunnen zijn om progressie van laesies te voorspellen. In muizenmodellen en bij patienten met uitgezaaid niercelcarcinoom hebben we voor, tijdens en na behandeling met medicijnen die de aanmaak van nieuwe bloedvaten blokkeren, PET scans verricht die VEGF-A afbeelden. Bij patienten met uitgezaaide neuro-endocriene tumoren hebben we deze PET scans verricht voor en tijdens behandeling met everolimus, een medicijn dat, onder andere, de aanmaak van VEGF-A blokkeert. PET scans van patienten werden vergeleken met CT scans en VEGF-A spiegels in het bloed.
An Overview of Privacy Law

Chapter 2 of PRIVACY LAW FUNDAMENTALS provides a brief overview of information privacy law – the scope and types of law. The chapter contains an historical timeline of major developments in the law of privacy and data security. PRIVACY LAW FUNDAMENTALS is a distilled guide to the essential elements of U.S. data privacy law. In an easily-digestible format, the book covers core concepts, key laws, and leading cases. Professors Daniel Solove and Paul Schwartz clearly and concisely distill all relevant information about privacy law into this short volume. PRIVACY LAW FUNDAMENTALS is designed to be like Strunk and White’s Elements of Style for the privacy field – the essential handy reference guide that cuts right to the heart of each topic. The book covers the key provisions of all of the major privacy statutes and regulations: COPPA, DPPA, ECPA, FCRA, FERPA, FISA, FTC Act, GLBA, HIPAA, Privacy Act, VPPA, and more. In addition, it summarizes key state privacy laws such as data security breach notification statutes and provides an overview of FTC enforcement actions. The authors provide numerous charts and tables summarizing the privacy statutes (i.e. statutes with private rights of action, preemption, and liquidated damages, among other things). Topics areas covered include: the media, domestic law enforcement, national security, government records, health and genetic data, financial information, consumer data, data security, education privacy, employment privacy, and international privacy law.
Implementation of a statewide system for coronary reperfusion for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

CONTEXT Despite 2 decades of evidence demonstrating benefits from prompt coronary reperfusion, registries continue to show that many patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are treated too slowly or not at all. OBJECTIVE To establish a statewide system for reperfusion, as exists for trauma care, to overcome systematic barriers. DESIGN AND SETTING A quality improvement study that examined the change in speed and rate of coronary reperfusion after system implementation in 5 regions in North Carolina involving 65 hospitals and associated emergency medical systems (10 percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] hospitals and 55 non-PCI hospitals). PATIENTS A total of 1164 patients with STEMI (579 preintervention and 585 postintervention) eligible for reperfusion were treated at PCI hospitals (median age 61 years, 31% women, 4% Killip class III or IV). A total of 925 patients with STEMI (518 preintervention and 407 postintervention) were treated at non-PCI hospitals (median age 62 years, 32% women, 4% Killip class III or IV). INTERVENTIONS Early diagnosis and the most expedient coronary reperfusion method at each point of care: emergency medical systems, emergency department, catheterization laboratory, and transfer. Within 5 regions, PCI hospitals agreed to provide single-call catheterization laboratory activation by emergency medical personnel, accept patients regardless of bed availability, and improve STEMI care for the entire region regardless of hospital affiliation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Reperfusion times and rates 3 months before (July to September 2005) and 3 months after (January to March 2007) a year-long implementation. RESULTS Median reperfusion times significantly improved according to first door-to-device (presenting to PCI hospital 85 to 74 minutes, P < .001; transferred to PCI hospital 165 to 128 minutes, P < .001), door-to-needle in non-PCI hospitals (35 to 29 minutes, P = .002), and door-in to door-out for patients transferred from non-PCI hospitals (120 to 71 minutes, P < .001). Nonreperfusion rates were unchanged (15%) in non-PCI hospitals and decreased from 23% to 11% in the PCI hospitals. For patients presenting to or transferred to PCI hospitals, clinical outcomes including death, cardiac arrest, and cardiogenic shock did not significantly change following the intervention. CONCLUSIONS A statewide program focused on regional systems for reperfusion for STEMI can significantly improve quality of care. Further research is needed to ensure that programs that result in improved application of reperfusion treatments will lead to reductions in mortality and morbidity from STEMI.
Determination of Open-green Space's Effect on Around House Prices by Means of Hedonic Price Model; in Example of Ankara/Botanik Park

Urban open green spaces which are an important component of urban area’s uses provide physical and social development for a city and they also collect communal and cultural activities within their. Open green spaces, in addition to be associated with natural life are those spaces that create social and economic values. The aim of this study as an empirical study is to query the economic values created by Ankara/Botanik park. In this study, taking into account the house selling prices nearby the Botanik Park, the impact of distance to the Botanik Park has been evaluated on house prices. Hedonic price model has been employed to examine the relationship between the rate of proximity to the park and the house prices and as a result, increase the price of houses that are close to the Ankara/Botanik Park has been determined. Key Words: Open-Green Space, Hedonic Price Model, Economic Value, Park, Turkey.
Effect of Diet Change on the Behavior of Chicks of an Egg-Laying Strain

Injurious pecking has serious welfare consequences in flocks of hens kept for egg laying, especially when loose-housed. Frequent diet change is a significant risk for injurious pecking; how the mechanics of diet change influence pecking behavior is unknown. This study investigated the effect of diet change on the behavior of chicks from a laying strain. The study included a 3-week familiarity phase: 18 chick pairs received unflavored feed (Experiment 1); 18 pairs received orange oil-flavored (Experiment 2). All chicks participated in a dietary preference test (P); a diet change (DC); or a control group (C), 6 scenarios. All P chicks preferred unflavored feed. In Experiment 1, DC involved change from unflavored to orange-flavored; Experiment 2, orange- flavored to unflavored. Compared with controls, Experiment 2 DC chicks exhibited few behavioral differences; Experiment 1 DC chicks exhibited increased behavioral event rates on Days 1 and 7. They pecked significantly longer at their environment; by Day 7, they showed significantly more beak activity. There was little evidence of dietary neophobia. Change from more preferred to less preferred feed led to increased activity and redirected pecking behavior.
The Persistence of Current Account Balances and its Determinants: The Implications for Global Rebalancing

This paper examines the statistical nature of the persistency of current account balances and its determinants. With the assumption that stationary current account series ensures the long-run budget constraint while countries may experience â€œlocal non-stationarityâ€ in current account balances, we examine the dynamics of current account balances across a panel of 70 countries. We find that once we allow current account series to take regime shifts by applying a Markovswitching (MS) process, we are able not only to reject the unit root null hypothesis for a much increased number of countries than with standard linear unit root tests, but also to identify notable cross-country differences in the timing and duration of stationary and locally nonstationary regimes. Armed with the structural break dates the MS-ADF testing provides, we investigate the determinants of the different degrees of current account persistence. We find that emerging market countries with fixed exchange rate regime or countries with greater financial openness are more likely to enter a random walk regime, which is more evident among countries with current account deficits. For countries with all levels of income, trade openness decreases the likelihood of entering the random walk regime, presumably reducing the cost of current account adjustments. Also, countries with budget deficits tend to stay in stationary regimes, so do those with current account deficits, implying that markets force these countries to rebalance their current account imbalances. When we examine the determinants of various degrees of current account persistence, the type of exchange rate regimes no longer affects the extent of current account persistence. However, countries with greater trade or financial openness, or those with mounting pressure from real exchange rate misalignment tend to have a smaller degree of current account persistence while international reserves holding seems to contribute to a larger degree of persistence.
The representation of American options prices under stochastic volatility and jump-diffusion dynamics

This paper considers the problem of pricing American options when the dynamics of the underlying are driven by both stochastic volatility following a square-root process as used by Heston [Rev. Financial Stud. , 1993, 6, 327–343], and by a Poisson jump process as introduced by Merton [J. Financial Econ., 1976, 3, 125–144]. Probability arguments are invoked to find a representation of the solution in terms of expectations over the joint distribution of the underlying process. A combination of Fourier transform in the log stock price and Laplace transform in the volatility is then applied to find the transition probability density function of the underlying process. It turns out that the price is given by an integral dependent upon the early exercise surface, for which a corresponding integral equation is obtained. The solution generalizes in an intuitive way the structure of the solution to the corresponding European option pricing problem obtained by Scott [Math. Finance, 1997, 7(4), 413–426], but here in the case of a call option and constant interest rates.
Autoimmune regulator and self‐tolerance – molecular and clinical aspects

The establishment of central tolerance in the thymus is critical for avoiding deleterious autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune regulator (AIRE), the causative gene in autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type‐1 (APS‐1), is crucial for the establishment of self‐tolerance in the thymus by promoting promiscuous expression of a wide array of tissue‐restricted self‐antigens. This step is critical for elimination of high‐affinity self‐reactive T cells from the immunological repertoire, and for the induction of a specific subset of Foxp3+ T‐regulatory (Treg) cells. In this review, we discuss the most recent advances in our understanding of how AIRE operates on molecular and cellular levels, as well as of how its loss of function results in breakdown of self‐tolerance mechanisms characterized by a broad and heterogeneous repertoire of autoimmune phenotypes.
Residual generation for fault diagnosis in linear time-varying systems

A residual generation method for fault diagnosis in deterministic and stochastic linear time-varying systems is proposed in this note. Based on appropriate assumptions on the monitored faults and on some persistent excitation condition, it enables complete diagnosis of any number of faults, regardless of the number of output sensors. In order to generate residuals for fault diagnosis, part of the possible faults are estimated with a recently developed technique of adaptive observer. The sensitivity of the residuals to the monitored faults is rigorously analyzed, as well as their insensitivity to the faults to be ignored.
Critical and interpretive accounting, auditing and governance research in South Africa

The role of non-positivist research styles has been well documented by a number of leading accounting and auditing academics such as Humphrey (2008), Power (2003), and Fogarty et al (2006). In Europe in particular, high quality journals are dedicated to interpretive and critical research in the interest of promoting social change. In contrast, a simple archival analysis of the research published in South Africa's main accounting journals suggests that this country remains steadfast in its use of primarily quantitative methods for studying accounting, auditing, and other governance systems. Whether because of the time required to carry out qualitative studies, the inherent limitations of interpretive research, or an assumption that sophisticated statistical analysis is synonymous with high quality research, the end result is that there is very little critical and interpretive research in South Africa. To address this shortcoming, more needs to be done to highlight the invaluable contribution of 'alternate research' styles. In particular, local journals need to acknowledge the need for methodological and theoretical eclecticism in South African accounting, auditing and accountability research.
Molecular Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates Collected in Asunción, Paraguay

ABSTRACT We characterized 34 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated in Paraguay in 2005. The strains belonged to two clones. The major clone (sequence type 5 [ST5] or ST221, spa type t149, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec [SCCmec] type I) was similar to the Cordobes/Chilean clone spreading through South America, and the minor clone (ST239 or ST889, spa type t037, SCCmec type IIIA) was related to the Brazilian clone.