Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Visual responses of single neurons in the caudal lateral pulvinar of the macaque monkey

Single unit recordings were made in the portion of the lateral pulvinar which forms the lateral aspect of the caudal pole of the thalamus, i.e., PL gamma (Rezak, M., and L. A. Benevento (1977) Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 3:573; Rezak, M. (1978) Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 4: 642), of macaque monkeys. PL gamma receives convergent inputs from the occipital cortex and has strong reciprocal interconnections with the visual association cortex, including the inferotemporal cortex (areas 20 and 21). It was found the that PL gamma has a poor or nonexistent retinotopic organization. Many of the neurons had large, unflanked, overlapping receptive fields which often included the fovea. A few neurons could be influenced by a visual stimulus placed anywhere in the visual field described by a tangent screen. The receptive fields could be bilateral or located entirely within the contralateral or ipsilateral hemifields. The majority of units were binocular and exhibited various types of binocular interaction which could be quite complex. The binocular response was not predictable from the algebraic sum of the monocular responses and could be of the opposite sign (e.g., excitatory when the monocular response was inhibitory). Neurons which were also sensitive to the direction of movement of stimuli projected upon the tangent screen formed a major group. Of the units sensitive to tangentially moving stimuli, two special subgroups were found. One group of neurons gave sustained responses to static levels of luminance, while the other group was sensitive to simuli which moved toward or away from the eyes. The nonlinear rate of change of the apparent size of approaching or receding stimuli was described by a mathematical function which also describes the response of the neurons to the same stimuli. For many of these units which were sensitive to tangentially moving stimuli and one other class of stimuli, such as luminance levels of movement in depth, the responses to one class were seemingly unrelated to the responses to the other class. The same statement may be made for monocular and binocular responses. It may be, then, that different wiring diagrams describe these different types of inputs. These physiological results are discussed in terms of the inputs to PL gamma as well as its cortical targets.
A Simulator for Maxillofacial Surgery Integrating 3D Cephalometry and Orthodontia

Objectives: This paper presents a new simulator for maxillofacial surgery that gathers the dental and maxillofacial analyses together into a single computer-assisted procedure. The idea is to first propose a repositioning of the maxilla via the introduction of 3D cephalometry applied to a 3D virtual model of the patient's skull. Orthodontic data are then integrated into this model, using optical measurements of plaster casts of the teeth. Materials and Methods: The feasibility of the maxillofacial demonstrator was first evaluated on a dry skull. To simulate malformations (and thus simulate a “real” patient), the skull was modified and manually cut by the surgeon to generate a given maxillofacial malformation (with asymmetries in the sagittal, frontal, and axial planes). Results: The validation of our simulator consisted of evaluating its ability to propose a bone repositioning diagnosis that would restore the skull to its original configuration. An initial qualitative validation is provided in this paper, with a 1.5-mm error in the repositioning diagnosis. Conclusions: These results mainly validate the concept of a maxillofacial numerical simulator that integrates 3D cephalometry and guarantees a correct dental occlusion.
The Internet as an Information Conduit

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can use the internet to establish direct customer contact, thereby reducing reliance on channel intermediaries for customer support. Based on transaction cost analysis, this study examined whether SMEs facing high asset specificity in product information transmitted to and received from customers employed the internet to a greater degree than those facing lower information specificity. Results based on a survey of 42 US SMEs generally supported this relationship. Moreover, results were generally stronger for firm- than industry-level factors impacting information specificity. Overall, these findings highlight the important benefit that internet use can provide in reducing an SME's transaction costs.
Methadyl acetate and methadone. An open comparison.

Heroin addicts were recruited for a 14-week open clinical comparison of methadone hydrochloride and methadyl acetate. Patients were randomly assigned to a methadyl acetate clinic in which methadyl acetate was dispensed to patients three times per week or to a methadone clinic in which methadone was dispensed six days per week. No statistically significant differences were observed between groups in retention rates, illicit drug use, employment rates, or arrest rates. The group treated with methadyl acetate had more dropouts in the first seven weeks than the second seven weeks: this pattern was reversed for the methadone-treated group. The differences were significant (P = .01). Spontaneously reported symptoms suggest that induction with methadyl acetate may be a more clinically variable phenomenon than induction with methadone. The reduction of number of clinic visits in the group treated with methadyl acetate was not a source of variance in treatment effectiveness.
Loss of Skill During Unemployment and the Persistence of Employment Shocks

This paper shows that when unemployed workers lose some of their skills, the effects of a temporary shock to employment can persist for a long time. The key mechanism is a thin market externality that reduces the supply of jobs when the duration of unemployment increases. The paper develops an overlapping-generations model of search equilibrium and shows that different patterns of persistence and multiple equilibria are possible even with constant returns production and matching technologies.
Wildfire Policy and Fire Use on Public Lands in the United States

ABSTRACT Current wildfire management policy succeeds in suppressing 99% of all fires on public lands. Indirect costs of this achievement include the development of dense vegetation in the absence of fire, and increasingly more intense fires when they do erupt. The result is a fire management system with rising costs and fire-dependent forests that are frequently characterized by declining health. Wildland fire use (WFU), the use of fire to accomplish specific pre-stated resource management objectives, is considered appropriate in many remote wildlands where a naturally ignited fire may safely be used to improve forest health. Ecological benefits associated with WFU include improved watershed conditions, enhanced wildlife habitat, and more resilient forested ecosystems. Economic benefits include reduced suppression and fuels treatment costs over the long term. Policy challenges are complex, however; land management agencies face increased planning requirements as well as the need to develop both institutional and public support before the full potential of wildland fire use can be realized.
Multivariate predictive models for group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis in children.

OBJECTIVES To create predictive models for the clinical diagnosis of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) pharyngitis in children. METHODS Patients aged 6 months to 18 years presenting to a pediatric ED with suspected GABHS pharyngitis were prospectively enrolled in the study. Clinicians recorded pertinent clinical information using a standardized form and obtained a throat swab to culture GABHS using a reference standard method. Twelve demographic and clinical features of patients with positive throat cultures were compared with the features of patients with negative throat cultures. Significantly different features were entered in a stepwise logistic regression analysis to create predictive models for the diagnosis. RESULTS Eighty-five patients (29%) were culture-positive and 212 (71%) were culture-negative for GABHS. Respective mean ages were 6.2 years and 6.1 years in the two groups. Univariate chi-square analysis of the 12 features identified six variables that were significantly associated with GABHS. All significant features were initially included in a stepwise logistic regression analysis. In model I, four independent variables were identified: moderate to severe presentation of tonsillar swelling, moderate to severe tenderness and enlargement of cervical lymph nodes, the presence of scarlatiniform rash, and the absence of moderate to severe coryza, yielding a 95% probability for GABHS. Excluding the rare scarlatiniform rash, the remaining variables were used in the second regression analysis. In model II, three independent variables were identified: moderate to severe tonsillar swelling, moderate to severe tenderness and enlargement of cervical lymph nodes, and absence of moderate to severe coryza, yielding a probability of 65% for the diagnosis. A probability of <15% was observed in the absence of scarlatiniform rash, the absence of moderate to severe tenderness and enlargement of cervical lymph nodes, and the presence of moderate to severe coryza. CONCLUSIONS In children with moderate to severe presentation of tonsillar swelling, tenderness and enlargement of cervical lymph nodes, and the absence of coryza, the probability of a positive throat culture is >65%. Conversely, in the absence of a moderate to severe presentation of tonsillar swelling, enlargement of cervical nodes, and the presence of coryza, the probability of a positive throat culture is <15%. If prospectively validated, these models could be integrated into a consistent treat, test, and no treatment/no testing approach to the clinical management of childhood pharyngitis.
Urinary schistosomiasis in the Danjarima community in Kano, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND Studies in northern Nigeria have suggested a linear relationship between urinary schistosomiasis and individual water-related activities. Knowledge of the perceptions of the local populace about schistosomoasis and of gender and cultural restrictions could be beneficial to control programmes. We studied the prevalence of urinary schistosomoasis and the socio-demographic factors associated with the disease in Danjarima community of Kano, northern Nigeria. METHODOLOGY A cross-sectional survey involving 890 subjects was conducted in the community. Urine samples were collected and examined for ova of Schistosoma haematobium using sedimentation technique. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to the subjects in order to determine their knowledge and perceptions about urinary schistosomiasis in relation to their cultures. RESULTS Eggs of S. haematobium were demonstrated in 370 (41.6%) of the urine sampled examined. The highest prevalence rate of 54.4% infection with S. haematobium was recorded in Zaura sub-village while the lowest rate of 6.4% was observed in Sabon-Fegi. More males (55.9%) were infected than females (3.7%) and the difference between the infection rate in males and females was statistically significant (P <or= 0.01). The age group 10 to 14 years recorded the highest rate of infection (P <or= 0.05) in both males (80.9%) and females (10.3%). CONCLUSION The lack of adequate perception on the cause of urinary schistosomiasis and exposure to water bodies were responsible for the high prevalence of infection in Danjarima.
Age and race related changes in mammographic parenchymal patterns

The relationship between breast parenchymal patterns and age was examined in a nonselected, nonreferred group. The three major racial‐ethnic subgroups represented have markedly different incidences of breast cancer, with Anglos (nonHispanic caucasians), Hispanics, and American Indians having higher to lower incidence rates of breast cancer, respectively. Mammograms were performed in 519 victims of nonhospital, nonnatural or unexplained deaths in New Mexico. The percentage of dense breast patterns (DY + P2) decreased with age for all groups. American Indian women showed a much earlier shift to a lower density parenchymal pattern than Anglo or Hispanic women. At older ages Indian women continued to have a slightly lower percentage of dense breast patterns than the other groups. The changes in breast parenchymal pattern with age and ethnic groups may reflect factors related to risk of breast cancer.
Effects of Single-Dose Preemptive Pregabalin and Intravenous Ibuprofen on Postoperative Opioid Consumption and Acute Pain after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

ABSTRACT Purpose: Non-opioid medications as a part of multimodal analgesia has been increasingly suggested in the management of acute post-surgical pain. The present study was planned to compare the efficacy of the combination of pregabalin plus ıv ibuprofen. Methods: 58 patients were included in this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study. The pregabalin group (Group P, n = 29) received 150 mg pregabalin, the pregabalin plus ibuprofen group (Gropu PI, n = 29) received 150 mg pregabalin and 400mg ıv ibuprofen before surgery. Postoperative fentanyl consumption, additional analgesia requirements and PACU stay were recorded. Postoperative analgesia was performed with patient-controlled IV fentanyl. Results: VAS scores in the group PI were statistically lower at PACU, 1and 2 hours at rest, at PACU, 1, 2, 4, 12 and 24 hours on movement compared to the group P (P < 0.05). Opioid consumption was statistically significantly higher in the group P compared to the group PI (130.17 ± 60.27 vs 78.45 ± 60.40 μq, respectively, P < 0.001) and reduced in the 4th 24 hours by 55% in group PI. Rescue analgesia usage was statistically significantly higher in the group P than in the group PI (16/29 vs 7/29, respectively, P < 0.001). Four patient in the group PI did not need any opioid drug. Besides, PACU stay was shorter in the group PI than the group P (10.62 ± 2.38 vs 15.59 ± 2.11 min, respectively, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Preemptive pregabalin plus ıv ibuprofen in laparoscopic cholecystectomy reduced postoperative opioid consumption. This multimodal analgesic aproach generated lower pain scores in the postoperative period.
Insulin growth factor-1 protects against excitotoxicity in the rat striatum

Recent findings demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in a cultured cell model of Huntington's disease. In the present study, we examined the potential neuroprotective effect of IGF-1 in vivo, in a rat model of Huntington's disease using the NMDA receptor agonist quinolinate. Continuous intracerebroventricular infusion of recombinant IGF-1 (0.25 μg/h for 2 days) in the rat brain, produced a significant 8-fold increase in striatal levels of the growth factor. Histological evaluation after intrastriatal injection of quinolinate showed that IGF-1 treatment significantly attenuated striatal degeneration. These results further support the therapeutic interest of IGF-1 in Huntington's disease.
Consociationalism and Accommodation in Switzerland

IN MY BRIEF REPLY, I would like to deal first with criticism made in Henderson's "Comments: Consociational Democracy and the Case of Switzerland,' and then review the implications of recent modifications in the theory of consociational democracy for Switzerland. To begin with, Henderson unwittingly confirms my thesis in showing that Arend Lijphart has modified his earlier position that Switzerland is a contemporary example of consociational democracy. In an important work only generally available in university libraries after the submission of my article for publication, Lijphart argues that Switzerland is one of a number of European countries which ". reached their apogee of sharp plural divisions and close elite cooperation in the late 1950s and have been declining since then. 2 Henderson seems to feel that such was
Corporate Taxes, Choice among Accounting Alternatives, and Information Content of Earnings

A model is developed to study managerial strategies vis-à-vis choice of accounting alternatives and earnings reports where the manager is better informed than the market about firm prospects. How corporate taxation affects these strategies is a focal aspect of this study. In the information equilibrium identified, managers of firms with higher future cash flows choose income-increasing accounting alternatives and report higher earnings in spite of the potential corporate tax consequences. The optimal earnings reports are shown to involve some intertemporal smoothing. The announcement effects and the comparative statics properties derived provide a rich menu of testable implications.
Regulation of gonadotropin mRNA levels in cultured rat pituitary cells by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH): role for Ca2+ and protein kinase C.

Incubation of cultured rat pituitary cells with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH, 1 nM) resulted in a rapid elevation of gonadotropin subunit steady-state mRNA levels(alpha, 2.2-fold, LH beta, 2.1-fold, and FSH beta 2.2-fold increases at 30 min). Addition of actinomycin D abolished the stimulatory effect of GnRH upon alpha and LH beta and reduced the effect upon FSH beta mRNA levels. The effect of GnRH is biphasic, where the early phase is being observed at 30-60 min, while the late phase is noticed between 12-24 h. A significant decrease in FSH beta mRNA levels was found after 6 h of incubation when using a stable GnRH analog. The unique profile of the time response enabled us to attempt to dissect the signal transduction cascade involved in the neurohormone action. Addition of the protein kinase C (PKC) activator, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), or the Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin, mimicked the profile of GnRH-induced alpha and LH beta mRNA elevation. The two phases of FSH beta mRNA elevation induced by GnRH could be mimicked by TPA, while the decrease at 6 h was mimicked by ionomycin. The rapid stimulatory effect of GnRH on gonadotropin subunit mRNA levels was abolished by the PKC inhibitors, staurosporine and GF 109203X. Similarly, the rapid stimulatory effect of GnRH on alpha and LH beta, but not FSH beta, was abolished in Ca(2+)-free medium. While additivity in LH release is obtained upon the combined addition of TPA and ionomycin for 30 min of incubation, LH beta and FSH beta gene expression is inhibited. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Clinical decision‐making in the context of chronic illness

This paper develops a framework to compare clinical decision making in relation to chronic and acute medical conditions. Much of the literature on patient‐physician decision making has focused on acute and often life‐threatening medical situations in which the patient is highly dependent upon the expertise of the physician in providing the therapeutic options. Decision making is often constrained and driven by the overwhelming impact of the acute medical problem on all aspects of the individual’s life. With chronic conditions, patients are increasingly knowledgeable, not only about their medical conditions, but also about traditional, complementary, and alternative therapeutic options. They must make multiple and repetitive decisions, with variable outcomes, about how they will live with their chronic condition. Consequently, they often know more than attending treatment personnel about their own situations, including symptoms, responses to previous treatment, and lifestyle preferences. This paper compares the nature of the illness, the characteristics of the decisions themselves, the role of the patient, the decision‐making relationship, and the decision‐making environment in acute and chronic illnesses. The author argues for a different understanding of the decision‐making relationships and processes characteristic in chronic conditions that take into account the role of trade‐offs between medical regimens and lifestyle choices in shaping both the process and outcomes of clinical decision‐making. The paper addresses the concerns of a range of professional providers and consumers.
How Training and Innovation Link to Farm Performance: A Structural Equation Analysis

type="main" xml:id="ajar12116-abs-0001"> The complexity of modern farm management places great demands on the skill, knowledge and capability of farm managers and their families. Keeping abreast of emerging technologies and innovations that can affect each key farm enterprise, and knowing how best to marshal the resources required for profitable farm production, are key tasks of farm management. This study draws on a longitudinal data set of 240 broadacre farmers to compare and analyse their farm performance over a decade. Using structural equation modelling, we examine relationships between the farm family's involvement in training, their human capital, their use of various innovations and ultimately the linkages of these factors to farm financial and productivity performance. Several statistically significant inter-relationships are found, and some factors are shown to have significant positive links to farm performance. We find that training undertaken by the farm family, the farm family's human capital and their use of innovations, particularly key cropping innovations, have significant beneficial impacts on farm performance. The farmer's skills in time and organisational management, their engagement in business planning and the unique environmental characteristics of the farm also significantly and positively influence farm performance.
The usefulness of derivative-related disclosure: evidence from major Australian banks

In recent years, there has been an increasing public demand for firms, especially financial institutions, to disclose more information related to derivatives due to a series of high profile financial scandals. A number of countries have established accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments. Limited research on the usefulness and quality of derivative related disclosures are mostly based on the US. This paper examines the usefulness of derivative related disclosure in the Australian banking sector. We first review the policy and requirements for derivative related disclosures in the Australian banking sector. Then we investigate the usefulness of derivative related disclosures based on a sample from major Australian banks. Our preliminary empirical results reveal that the disclosure of principal amounts and credit disclosure appear to be insignificant to stock returns. However, the disclosures of fair gains and losses for both trading and non-trading derivatives are significant to the stock returns.
Resource Management Under Production and Output Price Uncertainty: Implications for Environmental Policy

Various environmental policies have been proposed to control agricultural runoff of nutrients and pesticides. The impacts of these policies on input use are complicated because of the various sources of uncertainty farmers face and the precise nature of farmers' risk attitude. A risk-averse farmer's response to changed profit, input, and output taxes under output price and production uncertainty is examined. The impact of these policies on input use depends on the form of production uncertainty, risk-input relationships, risk attitudes, and degrees of output price and production uncertainty. These results have implications for the design and implementation of environmental and other production-related policies. Copyright 2002, Oxford University Press.