Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TREATMENT OF ACUTE OCCLUSION OF THE RETINAL ARTERIES

In five patients with obstruction of the retinal arteries, three with emboli, the circulation was reestablished by bulbus massage, intravenous administered acetazolamide and theophylamine. The patients were further treated with salicyclic acid for six months. An improvement of vision was obtained and maintained over a 2‐year period. The basis of the present treatment of occlusive arterial disorders in the retina is discussed.
Protease treatment of nuclear extracts distinguishes between class II MHC X1 box DNA-binding proteins in wild-type and class II-deficient B cells.

The X box region is critical for directing the expression of class II major histocompatibility complex genes in B lymphocytes. Although several class II promoter-specific DNA binding factors have been described, only the X box region factor, RFX, shows a genetic correlation with class II expression, being deficient in some B cell lines derived from patients with class II-deficient congenital immunodeficiency. To further evaluate the role of X box DNA-binding proteins in class II gene expression, the role of the X box region was examined in both class II-positive and -negative lymphoid cells. In addition to the wild-type B cell line Raji, two class II transcriptional mutant cell lines, SJO and RJ2.2. 5, and Jurkat, a class II negative T cell line, were examined. In contrast to wild-type B cells, neither of the class II mutant cell lines could use the X box region to direct the expression of a transiently transfected reporter gene, indicating that the X box-dependent transcriptional pathway is defective in these cells. The binding activity of the X1 box DNA-binding protein RFX was examined and found to be present in wild-type B cells and the mutant RJ2.2. 5 but was absent in SJO and Jurkat. However, other X1 box-specific activities were detected in all these cell lines. To determine whether these different X1 box activities represented distinct DNA binding proteins or multimeric forms of the same factor(s), protease treatment of the crude nuclear extracts followed by DNA-binding assays were carried out and demonstrated that B cell extracts contain at least two X1-specific factors. One of these cleaved products (band 1 pk) correlates with RFX activity. A similar comparison with protease-treated extracts prepared from Jurkat cells demonstrated the presence of the band 1pk activity despite an absence of the native RFX activity. In contrast, protease treatment and analysis of SJO extracts showed no detectable levels of the band 1pk activity. These results demonstrate that multiple X1 box-specific DNA-binding activities exist in all lymphoid cells, but the presence of an actively binding RFX species correlates with class II transcription.
Management of Incidental Findings in Clinical Genomic Sequencing

Genomic sequencing is becoming accurate, fast, and increasingly inexpensive, and is rapidly being incorporated into clinical practice. Incidental or secondary findings, which can occur in large numbers from genomic sequencing, are a potential barrier to the utility of this new technology due to their relatively high prevalence and the lack of evidence or guidelines available to guide their clinical interpretation. This unit reviews the definition, classification, and management of incidental findings from genomic sequencing. The unit focuses on the clinical aspects of handling incidental findings, with an emphasis on the key role of clinical context in defining incidental findings and determining their clinical relevance and utility. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Court Politics: The Political Economy of Tort Awards*

We investigate the forces that explain why trial awards differ across the United States. In 23 states judges are elected and in 10 they are elected via partisan elections. Elections have two important effects. First, defendants are often out‐of‐state nonvoters while plaintiffs are typically in‐state voters. We predict, therefore, that elected judges will redistribute wealth from out‐of‐state businesses to in‐state plaintiffs. Second, the realities of campaign financing require judges to seek and accept campaign funding from trial lawyers, who uniformly are interested in larger awards. We hypothesize that these two forces cause awards to be larger in states where the judiciary is elected rather than appointed. We also hypothesize that the demand for redistribution will increase as poverty increases and, thus, that awards will be larger in states with greater poverty. Using a sample of over 7,000 cases across 48 of the 50 states, we find significant evidence in support of these hypotheses.
Dividend changes and information about future profitability: an application of difference GMM

This research examines whether dividend changes convey information about future profitability. The difference GMM approach is employed to overcome the heterogeneity and endogeneity problems inherent in dynamic panel data models. Our evidence shows that previous abnormal earnings are a good predictor for subsequent abnormal earnings. Other than previous abnormal earnings, only dividend increases are strongly related to future profitability. Subsequent to dividend increases, profitability can last for four years. On the other hand, dividend decreases, initiations and omissions tend to reflect only concurrent profit performance. It is possible that previous abnormal earnings convey the most information about subsequent profitability, undermining the signalling of the dividend changes.
Relationship of triple dose contrast enhanced lesions with clinical measures and brain atrophy in early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a two-year longitudinal study

Gadolinium (Gd) enhancement of lesions indicates inflammatory lesion activity in multiple sclerosis (MS). The question arises whether early inflammatory lesion activity – measured sensitively using triple dose Gd – is related to the future clinical course, or to the development of brain atrophy that is thought to reflect the underlying pathological progression of the disease. In this study, 26 patients with early relapsing-remitting (RR) MS (median disease duration: 1.7 years) were followed up over two years. Associations were explored between their levels of Gd-lesion enhancement in the first six months and later clinical (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and MS Functional Composite Score (MSFC)) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (brain volume, T2 and T1 lesion volumes) measures. The extent of Gd-enhancement in the first six months correlated weakly with concurrent relapses (P = 0.041), but there was no consistent correlation with clinical and MRI outcomes at two years. More prolonged follow-up is warranted to clarify the relationship between early inflammatory lesions and long-term clinical course. Multiple Sclerosis 2007; 13: 178–185. http://msj.sagepub. com
Rental price and sustainability ratings: which sustainability criteria are really paying back?

Given the centrality of the price mechanism to resource allocation in market economies, the effect of sustainable construction on real estate prices has become an increasingly important empirical issue for market participants and policy makers in the real estate sector. Drawing upon a sample of approximately 2500 residential building units in Switzerland, this study assesses the effects of buildings’ sustainability on their rental prices. In contrast to the vast majority of previous studies that have focused on the price effects of eco-labels, this study investigates the effects of individual sustainability attributes. Overall, we find a positive relationship between the environmental performance of residential buildings and their rental levels. Sustainable building characteristics, especially those which enhance the water efficiency, the health and comfort level and the building’s safety and security, have significant positive price effects. It is argued that the unexpected negative relationship between energy performance and rental prices is attributed to the bundling of energy costs and rents in Swiss lease structures.
Spinal cord injury‐induced attenuation of GABAergic inhibition in spinal dorsal horn circuits is associated with down‐regulation of the chloride transporter KCC2 in rat

Most spinal cord injury (SCI) patients suffer from chronic pain. Effective therapy for this pain is lacking, and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. The spinal superficial dorsal horn (SDH) contains neuronal circuits capable of modulating primary afferent information involved in pain processing. KCC2 is an isoform of the K+–Cl− cotransporter that contributes to the regulation of transmembrane anion gradient which plays a key role in shaping GABAA receptor‐mediated signalling in the CNS. We tested the hypothesis that SCI causes down‐regulation of KCC2 distal to the injury and contributes to the neuronal hyperresponsiveness and pain‐related behaviours. SCI was a hemisection at T13 level of adult Sprague–Dawley rats. Spinal sagittal slices with attached dorsal roots (DR) were prepared from L4 to L6 level. The reversal potentials of GABA responses (EGABA) and DR‐evoked IPSPs and EPSPs of L4‐6 SDH neurones in sham‐operated and SCI rats were compared using gramicidin‐perforated patch‐clamp recordings. Here we report that thoracic SCI‐induced down‐regulation of KCC2 in the lumbar SDH parallels the development of allodynia. The subsequent changes of EGABA in SDH neurones attenuate the GABAA receptor‐mediated inhibitory synaptic transmission. These changes cause certain normally subthreshold primary A and C fibre inputs to evoke action potential output in SDH neurones. We conclude that SCI induces KCC2 down‐regulation and subsequent changes of EGABA in the SDH below the injury site. The resulting disinhibition unmasks normally ineffective SDH neuronal circuits and may contribute to the below‐level central pain‐related behaviours after incomplete SCI.
On Geometry and Scale of a Stochastic Chemostat

A chemostat is a fixed volume bioreactor in which micro–organisms are grown in a continuously renewed liquid medium. We propose a stochastic model for the evolution of the concentrations in the single species and single substrate case. It is obtained as a diffusion approximation of a pure jump Markov process, whose increments are comparable in mean with the deterministic model. A specific time scale, related to the noise intensity, is considered for each source of variation. The geometric structure of the problem, usable by identification procedures, is preserved both in the drift and diffusion term. We study the properties of this model by numerical experiments.
Introduction of TQM in Eurostat, a supranational statistical service

Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, describes its experiences on its long journey to quality. Its TQM project, which started some eight years back, has been a typical story of hope and frustration, success and failure. The study shows how Eurostat evolved its own way of dealing with TQM in a multinational public administration environment, the specific tools it developed (and applied) and the current status. It also shows how this project has helped the Office to cope with the more general reform of the European Commission, to which Eurostat belongs. The study concludes with some thoughts about the additional efforts that will be needed to ensure the complete success of Eurostat's approach at an international level.
A New Approach to Assessing Performance of State Human Resource Management Systems

A growing body of research has focused on evaluating the effectiveness of human resource management systems, yet few efforts have been made to develop a set of criteria and a method for evaluating human resource management systems in the public sector As part of the Government Performance Project, the present study offers a framework and methodology to fill this gap The Government Performance Project worked with a panel of experts to identify relevant criteria to evaluate pubhc sector human resource systems and to construct a survey instrument aligned with the identified criteria After discussing the criteria and survey construction, the article introduces a method of evaluating human resource management systems, fuzzy logic, that models expert judgments and takes into account measurement imprecision
Correlation of Pathologic Q Waves on the Standard Electrocardiogram and the Epicardial Electrogram of the Human Heart

SUMMARY To evaluate the relationship between abnormal Q waves on the standard ECG and localized ventricular excitation, unipolar epicardial electrograms were recorded over the left ventricle during aortocoronary bypass surgery in 36 patients. Of 20 without standard ECG Q waves, six had abnormal epicardial Q waves, three anteriorly and three inferiorly. Of 16 patients with standard ECG Q waves, four had both precordial and anterior epicardial Q waves while seven had Q waves in leads III and aVF and inferior epicardial Q waves. Three of the 14 had Q waves in both precordial and inferior leads of the ECG but epicardial Q waves only from the antero-apical region in two and only from the inferior wall in one. Two patients with Q waves in both III and aVF had no epicardial Q waves. Thus, the standard electrocardiogram underestimates epicardial Q waves. If Q waves are present in the standard ECG, they correlate with the presence, although not invariably the location of Q waves on the epicardial electrogram.
Public–Private Partnerships in Urban Infrastructures: Reconciling Private Sector Participation and Sustainability

The speed and scale of urbanization provide serious challenges for governments all over the world with regard to the realization, maintenance, and operation of public urban infrastructures. These infrastructures are needed to keep up with living standards and to create conditions for sustainable development. The lack of public funds and the inefficiencies of public service provision have given rise to initiatives to stimulate private parties to invest their resources in public urban infrastructures. However, private sector participation creates a whole range of new challenges. The potential benefits are countered by concerns about the compatibility of the private sector‘s focus on short-term return on investment with the long-term perspective needed to realize sustainability targets. On the basis of a review of literature on experiences with private sector participation in urban infrastructure projects, this article identifies governance practices that help or hinder the reconciliation of private sector participation in urban infrastructure projects with the objective to increase the sustainability of the urban environment.
Fetal atrioventricular flow-velocity waveforms and their relation to arterial and venous flow-velocity waveforms at 8 to 20 weeks of gestation.

BACKGROUND Doppler ultrasonography was used to determine the nature and gestational age-related changes of human fetal AV flow-velocity waveforms and to establish their relationship with arterial impedance indexes and venous flow velocities in normal human fetuses between 8 and 20 weeks of gestation. METHODS AND RESULTS Flow-velocity waveform recordings were attempted in 318 singleton pregnancies. After the exclusion criteria were applied, data on 214 women were available for further analysis. Differentiation between E wave and A wave became possible at 9 weeks, whereas distinction between transmittal and transtricuspid valve flow velocities was first achieved at 10 to 11 weeks. A statistically significant nonlinear gestational age-dependent increase was established for all AV waveform parameters, which became linear when related to logarithmically estimated fetal crown-to-rump length. Transtricuspid valve flow velocities were significantly higher than transmittal valve flow velocities. Transmittal valve time-averaged flow velocities were positively correlated with peak diastolic velocities and time-velocity integral of late-diastolic reverse flow in the inferior vena cava. No correlation existed between AV time-averaged velocities and arterial impedance indexes. CONCLUSIONS Monophasic AV flow-velocity waveforms can be recorded as early as 8 weeks of gestation and become biphasic as early as 8 weeks. They demonstrate a linear increase relative to logarithmically estimated fetal crown-to-rump length, suggesting that fetal growth-related increase in volume flow plays a role in this velocity rise. Transtricuspid valve A-wave and E-wave velocities suggest right ventricular predominance as early as the late first trimester of pregnancy. AV flow velocities are not related to arterial downstream impedance.
Managing Visitor Impacts at Visitor Attractions: An International Assessment

This paper presents the findings of a study designed to extend and develop a previous study conducted by the authors on the management of visitor impacts at visitor attractions in Scotland. This follow-up study sets out to discover the extent to which attractions in other countries experience similar impacts, with comparable management challenges to those already identified in the Scottish visitor attraction sector. In order to provide a direct comparison to the Scottish study, a replication of the research methodology employed in that study was considered necessary. A self-completion survey was thus mailed to managers of paid-admission attractions in Canada, Australia and New Zealand: three ‘leading-edge’ destinations selected for comparison. Findings suggest that although many impacts are perceived to be similar across the four countries, a number of important differences are evident. Given that the reasons for such differences vary, the paper concludes that the development of a generic strategy for the management of visitor impacts internationally remains something for the future. In the meantime, the sector should rely on the identification and adoption of best practice on a case-by-case basis. The sector’s diversity and fragmentation suggest that qualitative research holds the key to identifying appropriate techniques for managing visitor impacts.
Extracção de Informação de Relatórios Médicos

This paper presents the first steps given to develop an information extraction system for portuguese texts. The system intends the extraction of information from medical reports and is based on the GATE system developed in the University of Sheffield. We present the changes made to this system in order to adapt it to the information extraction in Portuguese and some examples of results already gotten.
The Lipid Composition of Urodele Myelin Which Lacks Hydroxycerebroside and Hydroxysulfatide

Abstract: The concentrations of cerebrosides and sul‐fatides were measured in the nervous systems of urodeles and related orders with a high performance liquid chro‐matographic technique. The peripheral and central nervous systems of all three urodele species, Necturus ma‐culosis (mud puppy, a salamander), Notophthalmus viri‐descens (eastern red spot newt), and Desmognathus ochropheus (mountain salamander), were found to be completely devoid of γ‐hydroxy fatty acid‐containing cerebrosides and sulfatides. All species of reptiles and fish classes close to urodeles contain these galactolipids. The levels of nonhydroxy fatty acid‐containing cerebrosides and sulfatides are essentially similar in both urodeles and reptiles. Myelin isolated from Necturus spinal cord had a specific density of 1.07, lighter than mammalian myelin. Except for the absence of hydroxycerebrosides and hydroxysulfatides, the lipid composition of Necturus spinal cord myelin is essentially similar to that of frog and rat myelin. The fatty acids of nonhydroxycerebrosides are rich in monounsaturated homologs of C22‐C25, and the sphingoid base consists of both sphinganine and sphin‐gosine. Electron microscopic examination of the sciatic nerve showed that the general structure and interlamellar distances of salamander and newt myelin are identical to those of frog, chameleon, and rat. Necturus myelin, therefore, can be used as a model for the study of the functional and structural role of hydroxygalactolipids.
Information Search Strategies B y Destination-Naive Tourists

First-time visitors to a novel destination who are not visitingfriends or relatives may be viewed as being destination-naive. This article examined the information search strategies used by destination-naive vacationers to Alaska and their associated vacation-specific behaviors. Three distinct information search strategies were identified, with the travel agent playing a pivotal rolefor two of the information search strategies. The third strategy involved using information sources other than a travel agent. Marketing implications of the differences between the segments are discussed.
Health Messages on Television Commercials

Background and Purpose. Television is an important source of health information in the United States, yet little research has focused on the presentation of general health issues on television. This preliminary study reports on the health-related content of television commercials found on a typical television day. Methods. We conducted a content analysis of a composite day of television comprising 20 hours randomly selected over a three week period (April-May 1989). Findings are presented regarding health messages found in commercial time — advertisements, public service announcements (PSAs), editorials, and promotions for upcoming programs. Results. Overall, 31 % of the 654 commercial spots contained health messages. Most health messages were claims of good nutrition in food and beverage advertisements. PSAs comprise 1.4% of the 20-hour sample and 5.8% of the commercial time. Health messages appeared in 38% of PSAs, accounting for less than seven minutes. Not one PSA addressed tobacco, alcohol, or diet — the three leading behavioral risk factors for poor health. Discussion. PSAs are usually seen as a mechanism by which the public health community can alert the public to important health issues. Given the declining pool of PSA time, public health educators will need to seek alternative strategies for influencing television content, such as media advocacy. In addition, further research on audience interpretation and response to commercial messages is suggested.
Effect of lead intoxication on calcium homeostasis and calcium-mediated cell function: a review.

The interaction between lead and essential metals is a complex, well recognized, but poorly understood phenomenon. Dietary deficiencies or excesses of certain essential metals may alter the absorption, elimination, or dose response of lead. Lead, in turn, may alter the homeostasis and function of essential metals. This review will be limited to the effect of lead on calcium, an essential metal with elaborate systemic and cellular homeostatic mechanisms and innumerable second messenger and coupling-factor functions. Lead may ultimately perturb calcium-regulated or calcium-mediated functions (a) directly by interfering with calcium transport or storage processes, e.g., Ca2+ transport proteins, calcium gates, etc.; (b) indirectly by altering cell functions required for calcium homeostasis, e.g., energy production, plasma membrane permeability, etc.; (c) by substitution of Pb2+ for Ca2+ at functionally important calcium binding sites, e.g., calmodulin. While any individual study may not provide adequate experimental verification of the causal role of perturbations of calcium metabolism and function as the primary toxic lesion of lead intoxication, the collective observations of many studies do strongly support lead-calcium interactions as an important functional lesion in lead intoxicated organelles, cells, tissues, and organ systems.