Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Duration of glutamate release after acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE High levels of glutamate in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have been demonstrated in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The duration of this excitatory amino acid release has not been studied, and therefore the window of opportunity of treatment with glutamate antagonists is unknown. The aim of this investigation was to study the duration of the glutamate increase in patients with stable and progressing ischemic stroke. METHODS Glutamate in CSF was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography in 184 patients with an acute cerebral infarction of less than 24 hours' duration and in 43 control subjects. RESULTS Among the 120 patients with stable ischemic stroke, median glutamate levels were significantly lower- and within the reference range of control subjects-in those patients studied 6 to 24 hours from onset of symptoms than in patients studied in the first 6 hours (3 [range, 2 to 10] versus 5 mumol/L [range, 2 to 17]; P < .0001). In 64 patients with progressing ischemic stroke, glutamate concentrations measured at any time interval during the first 24 hours from onset were significantly higher than in the stable stroke and control groups. CONCLUSIONS The presence of glutamate increase in the CSF cannot be documented for greater than 6 hours in stable ischemic stroke. The sustained elevation of glutamate observed in progressing stroke suggests that the window to prevent neurological deterioration may be wider.
Effect of family history on disclosure patterns of cystic fibrosis carrier status

As general population screening becomes more common, an increasing number of cystic fibrosis (CF) carriers will be identified who do not have a family history of CF. Whether these carriers inform their relatives of their carrier status and whether their relatives are motivated to pursue carrier screening is unknown. We surveyed CF carriers with and without a family history of CF to understand whether and how information dissemination patterns differ, why information is or is not shared, and to what extent relatives are known to undergo testing. CF carriers were identified from a general population carrier screening clinic (group B = 18) or were parents of affected children followed at a CF clinic (group A = 30). CF carriers with a family history told essentially 100% of their living parents, siblings, and half‐siblings, while those without a family history told 84% of living parents and 56% of siblings (P < 0.05). Despite the high rate of information dissemination in both groups, few siblings were known to have undergone carrier screening (14/74). Significantly fewer second‐ and third‐degree relatives were informed about carrier status or were known to have undergone carrier screening. Group A was more likely to inform second‐ and third‐degree relatives about carrier status. Our study documents that the frequency and reasons for disclosing CF carrier status differ between individuals with and without a family history of CF despite the fact that the reproductive risks for their relatives are the same. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Altered Expression of Human Leukocyte Antigen G (HLA‐G) on Extravillous Trophoblasts in Preeclampsia: Immunohistological Demonstration With Anti‐HLA‐G Specific Antibody “87G” and Anti‐cytokeratin Antibody “CAM5.2”

PROBLEM: Human leukocyte antigen‐G (HLA‐G) is suggested to be at play in the materno‐fetal immune relationship during pregnancy. In the light of current concept that disruption of the materno‐fetal immune relationship could account for several complications of pregnancy, including preeclampsia, we asked whether the expression of HLA‐G protein on the trophoblasts is altered in preeclampsia.
Corporate Governance and Neoclassical Economics

Abstract Although the term “corporate governance” is relatively new in the economist’s lexicon, the issues with which it is concerned are as old as the profession itself. In this article, first I try to illustrate this, and then I trace the development of the literature, including discussions of the so-called managerial discretion literature and the principal–agent literature. Following a discussion of asset bubbles, I illustrate the tension between concerns about corporate governance and neoclassical economics by examining the literature on managerial compensation and mergers. This literature reveals a wide gap between traditional neoclassical economics and more recent developments in behavioral economics.
Helmsman Is Expressed in Both Trachea and Photoreceptor Development: Partial Inactivation Alters Tracheal Morphology and Visually Guided Behavior

We have identified helmsman (hlm), which is expressed in the fruit fly photoreceptor cells during neural network development. Hlm is also expressed in the elongating cells of the embryonic trachea. Both photoreceptor neurons and embryonic trachea cells elongate in precise, targeted growth for cell-to-cell specific recognition. Expression of antisense hlm-interfering RNA during embryogenesis arrests elongation of the developing tracheal cells and blocks maturation. Expression of hlm-interfering RNA during visual system formation results in reduced visual acuity and poor performance in optomotor response, indicative of abnormal neural network development. Hlm is a unique cell surface protein with complement-like protein interaction motifs. We have also cloned hlm from Lucilia cuprina (Australian blowfly), which is approximately 100 million years divergent from Drosophila, and find a remarkable 90% protein identity over the entire 558 amino acid protein. Analysis of the hlm sequence found in other species indicates a significant evolutionary pressure to maintain the hlm protein sequence. Our interpretation is that hlm is involved in cell maturation in both the elongating trachea and elongating photoreceptor cells. Cell adhesion and cell signaling, which are known to use immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules, may use molecular systems analogous to complement to create protein complexes to regulate growth.
Sex determination in marsupials: evidence for a marsupial-eutherian dichotomy.

In this paper, we review briefly the current state of knowledge about sexual differentiation in eutherian mammals, and then describe the situation in detail in two marsupial species: the North American opossum and the tammar wallaby. The conventional explanation for the genesis of all male somatic sexual dimorphisms in mammals is that they are a consequence of the systemic action of testicular hormones. In the absence of testes, the embryo will develop a female phenotype. We present evidence for the tammar wallaby that calls into question the universal applicability of this hormonal theory of mammalian sexual differentiation. We have shown that extensive somatic sexual dimorphisms precede by many days the first morphological evidence of testicular formation, which does not occur until around the third day of pouch life. Male foetuses, and pouch young on the day of birth, already have a well-developed gubernaculum and processus vaginalis, paired scrotal anlagen, and a complete absence of mammary anlagen, whereas female foetuses and newborn pouch young have a poorly developed gubernaculum and processus vaginalis, no scrotal anlagen, and well-developed mammary anlagen. Because it seems unlikely that the male gonad could begin hormone secretion until after the Sertoli and Leydig cells are developed, our results strongly suggest that some sexually dimorphic somatic characteristics develop autonomously, depending on their genotype rather than the hormonal environment to which they are exposed. We have been able to confirm the hormonal independence of the scrotum, pouch and mammary gland by administering testosterone propionate daily by mouth to female pouch young from the day of birth; although the Wolffian duct was hyperstimulated, there was no sign of scrotal development, or pouch or mammary inhibition. When male pouch young were treated with oestradiol benzoate in a similar fashion, there was hyperstimulation of the Müllerian duct and inhibition of testicular migration and development, but no sign of scrotal inhibition or pouch or mammary development. Our results in the tammar wallaby are consistent with the earlier studies on the opossum, whose significance was not appreciated at the time. Further evidence in support of this hormonal independence comes from earlier studies of spontaneously occurring intersexes in several species of marsupial, including the opossum and the tammar wallaby. An XXY individual had intra-abdominal testes and complete masculinization of the male reproductive tract internally, but externally there was a pouch and mammary glands and no scrotum. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Arbeitsbeziehungen in der Zerreißprobe? Reformen in Italien und Spanien während der Großen Rezession

Trotz der breiten Debatte über den Globalisierungsprozess bleibt der Einfluss interna­ tionaler Organisationen auf die Arbeitsbeziehungen in der wissenschaftlichen Literatur weitgehend unbeachtet: Die Analyse industrieller Beziehungen konzentrierte sich lange Zeit auf nationale Institutionen, während sich die Literatur zum Arbeitsprozess auf die Unternehmensebene oder auf das kapitalistische System im Allgemeinen bezieht. Ange­ sichts der drastischen Reformen in Ländern Südeuropas, die seit 2010 unter direktem Druck der Europäischen Kommission, der Europäischen Zentralbank (EZB) und des Internationalen Währungsfonds (IWF) sowie unter indirektem Einfluss der deutschen Regierung verabschiedet wurden, drängen sich interessante Fragen zu den Wechsel­ beziehungen zwischen staatlichen und überstaatlichen Akteuren auf.
Policy and system change and community coalitions: outcomes from allies against asthma.

OBJECTIVES We assessed policy and system changes and health outcomes produced by the Allies Against Asthma program, a 5-year collaborative effort by 7 community coalitions to address childhood asthma. We also explored associations between community engagement and outcomes. METHODS We interviewed a sample of 1477 parents of children with asthma in coalition target areas and comparison areas at baseline and 1 year to assess quality-of-life and symptom changes. An extensive tracking and documentation procedure and a survey of 284 participating individuals and organizations were used to ascertain policy and system changes and community engagement levels. RESULTS A total of 89 policy and system changes were achieved, ranging from changes in interinstitutional and intrainstitutional practices to statewide legislation. Allies children experienced fewer daytime (P = .008) and nighttime (P = .004) asthma symptoms than comparison children. In addition, Allies parents felt less helpless, frightened, and angry (P = .01) about their child's asthma. Type of community engagement was associated with number of policy and system changes. CONCLUSIONS Community coalitions can successfully achieve asthma policy and system changes and improve health outcomes. Increased core and ongoing community stakeholder participation rather than a higher overall number of participants was associated with more change.
Spike-based analog-digital neuromorphic information processing system for sensor applications

A spiking-neuron-based system that combines analog and digital multi-processor implementations for the bio-inspired processing of sensors is reported. This combination allows creating a powerful bio-inspired multiple-input sensor processing system for environment perception applications. The analog front-end encodes the input signal in a signed spike representation, which is further processed by means of a digital Spiking Neural Network (SNN) on a Single-Instruction Multiple-Data (SIMD) multiprocessor. The spike distribution for both systems is based on Address-Event Representation (AER) scheme, asynchronous for the Analog Pre-Processor (APP) and synchronous for the Digital Multi-Processor (DMP), synchronized by means of an AER transceiver. A proof-of-concept application of the system being able to process sensory information has been demonstrated. The system utilizes 30-neurons emulated by the DMP to process spike-encoded information provided by its analog counterpart, enabling the feature extraction of the input signal. The frequency detection capability of the system is experimentally reported.
Mechanical and metabolic profile of locomotion in adults with childhood-onset GH deficiency.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to evaluate the energy cost and the mechanical work of locomotion in a group of adults with childhood-onset GH deficiency (GHD). SUBJECTS Eight males with childhood-onset GHD (mean age+/-s.d.: 31.7+/-3.6 years; mean height: 145.1+/-6.7cm) and six age-, sex- and exercise-matched normal subjects were studied. DESIGN GHD patients and healthy controls were requested to walk and run in the speed range of 2-11km h(-1). For each condition, simultaneous mechanical and metabolic measurements were taken. METHODS Oxygen consumption, and mechanical internal and external work of locomotion were evaluated with standard open-circuit respirometry and three-dimensional motion analysis respectively. RESULTS External work was not significantly different between GHD patients and healthy controls, while internal work was higher for patients at all speeds. In walking, the relationships between both the mechanical energy recovery and the metabolic cost with speed were shifted towards lower speeds in patients. As a consequence, the optimal speed of walking, i.e. the speed at which the cost of locomotion is minimum, was lower for GHD patients. Stride frequency was significantly higher (11.2-11.3%) for GHD patients at all speeds of walking and running. GHD patients were unable to run at speeds higher than 8km h(-1) for the time needed to reach a metabolic steady state. CONCLUSION It appears that both the mechanics and energetics of locomotion in short-statured adults with childhood-onset GHD are not strikingly different from those of healthy controls, thus demonstrating a substantial 'normality' in this group of GHD patients at metabolically attainable speeds. The 'harmonic' body structure and the adherence to allometric transformations in these patients do not exclude the possibility of a different metabolic role of GH in normally statured adults with childhood-onset GHD and in those with acquired GHD, taking into account the well recognized heterogeneity of the adult GHD syndrome.
Constructing the Model of Enterprise Financial Crisis with Principal Component Analysis and ANN

The paper studies the application of principal component analysis and ANN (Artificial Neural Networks) for pre-warning of enterprise financial crisis, analyzes the factors of financial crisis, and constructs the model of the enterprise financial crisis with principal component analysis and ANN. It integrates simplifying of enterprise financial crisis index, dynamic learning of financial crisis knowledge by neural network and forecasting of financial crisis, and examples in financial crisis predicting are given to validate the model. The results show the feasibility and validity of the model. The research work supplies a new way for dynamic prediction for Enterprise financial crisis.
Ischemic preconditioning: effects on pH, Na and Ca in newborn rabbit hearts during Ischemia/Reperfusion.

In adult hearts, ischemic preconditioning (PC) has been shown to decrease ischemia-induced changes in intracellular pH (pHi) and [Ca] ([Ca]i) and decrease associated injury. These results are consistent with the interpretation that PC decreases the stimulus for Na uptake via Na/H exchange, thereby decreasing intracellular Na (Nai) accumulation, and thus decreasing the change in force driving Na/Ca exchange, which otherwise contributes to ischemia-induced increases in [Ca]i. Given documented age-related differences in myocardial responses to ischemia, we tested the hypothesis that in newborn hearts, PC will diminish intracellular [H], Nai, and [Ca]i during ischemia/reperfusion. NMR was used to measure pHi, Nai, [Ca]i, ATP, and PCr in isolated newborn (4-7 days) rabbit hearts Langendorff-perfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution equilibrated with 95% O2/5% CO2 at 36+/-1 degrees C. Control hearts were perfused 30 min before initiating 40 min global ischemia followed by 40 min reperfusion. PC hearts were treated the same except four 5-min intervals of ischemia each followed by 10 min of perfusion which preceded global ischemia. At end ischemia, pHi was higher in PC than control hearts (6.31+/-0.03 v 5.83+/-0.05; P<0.05). Similarly, PC diminished Nai-accumulation during ischemia and reperfusion (P<0.05). Control Nai rose from 16.2+/-2.6 to 108.8+/-10.3 (mEq/kg dry weight) and recovered to 55.2+/-10.1 and the corresponding values for PC hearts were 25.6+/-6.2, 70.0+/-7.9 and 21.9+/-5.2. PC also improved [Ca]i recovery during reperfusion (P<0.05). Control [Ca]i rose from 418+/-43 to 1100+/-78 (nm/l) and recovered to 773+/-63, whereas in PC hearts the values were 382+/-40, 852+/-136 and 371+/-45, respectively. In addition, PC decreased coronary resistance during reperfusion (P<0.05) as reflected by lower perfusion pressures under constant flow conditions (65.9+/-1.5 v 56. 1+/-4.1 mmHg at end of reperfusion). Finally, PC improved recovery of left-ventricular developed pressure (LVDP-43.8+/-12.0 v 17.2+/-3. 0% of control; P<0.05) and diminished CK release (607+/-245 v 2432+/-639 IU/g dry weight; P<0.05) during reperfusion. The results are consistent with the hypothesis.
Sedentary behaviors of adults in relation to neighborhood walkability and income.

OBJECTIVE Sedentary (sitting) time is a newly identified risk factor for obesity and chronic diseases, which is behaviorally and physiologically distinct from lack of physical activity. To inform public health approaches to influencing sedentary behaviors, an understanding of correlates is required. METHODS Participants were 2,199 adults aged 20-66 years living in King County/Seattle, WA, and Baltimore, MD, regions, recruited from neighborhoods high or low on a "walkability index" (derived from objective built environment indicators) and having high or low median incomes. Cross-sectional associations of walkability and income with total sedentary time (measured by accelerometers and by self-report) and with self-reported time in seven specific sitting-related behaviors were examined. RESULTS Neighborhood walkability and income were unrelated to measures of total sitting time. Lower neighborhood walkability was significantly associated with more driving time (difference of 18.2 min/day, p < .001) and more self-reported TV viewing (difference of 14.5 min/day, p < .001). Residents of higher income neighborhoods reported more computer/Internet and reading time, and they had more objectively measured sedentary time. CONCLUSIONS Neighborhood walkability was not related to total sedentary time but was related to two specific sedentary behaviors associated with risk for obesity-driving time and TV viewing time. Future research could examine how these prevalent and often prolonged sedentary behaviors mediate relationships between neighborhood walkability and overweight/obesity. Initiatives to reduce chronic disease risk among residents of both higher-and lower-income low-walkable neighborhoods should include a focus on reducing TV viewing time and other sedentary behaviors and enacting policies that can lead to the development or redevelopment of more-walkable neighborhoods. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved).
Phase III evaluation of fluoxetine for treatment of hot flashes.

PURPOSE Hot flashes can be a prominent problem in women with a history of breast cancer. Given concerns regarding the use of hormonal therapies in such patients, other nonhormonal means for treating hot flashes are required. Based on anecdotal information regarding the efficacy of fluoxetine and other newer antidepressants for treating hot flashes, the present trial was developed. PATIENTS AND METHODS This trial used a double-blinded, randomized, two-period (4 weeks per period), cross-over methodology to study the efficacy of fluoxetine (20 mg/d) for treating hot flashes in women with a history of breast cancer or a concern regarding the use of estrogen (because of breast cancer risk). Eligible patients had to have reported that they averaged at least 14 hot flashes per week; they could have received tamoxifen or raloxifene as long as they were on a stable dose. The major outcome measure was a bivariate construct representing hot flash frequency and hot flash score, analyzed by a classic sums and differences cross-over analysis. RESULTS Eighty-one randomized women began protocol therapy. By the end of the first treatment period, hot flash scores (frequency x average severity) decreased 50% in the fluoxetine arm versus 36% in the placebo arm. Cross-over analysis demonstrated a significantly greater marked hot flash score improvement with fluoxetine than placebo (P =.02). The results were not adjusted for potential confounding influences, including age and tamoxifen use. The fluoxetine was well tolerated. CONCLUSION This dose of fluoxetine resulted in a modest improvement in hot flashes.
A Multichip Phase-Leg IGBT Module Bonded by Pressureless Sintering of Nanosilver Paste

This paper presents the design, development, and optimization of large-area die attachment by pressureless sintering of nanosilver paste. With the proposed die attachment, a high power 1200 V/150 A insulated-gate-bipolar-transistor (IGBT) module is fabricated using large-area IGBT (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${12.56 \times 12.56}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> mm<sup>2</sup>) and diode (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${6.3 \times 6.3}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> mm<sup>2</sup>) chips. The average die-shear strength of higher than 30 MPa can be obtained with the low void ratio of 1.8%. The electrical characteristics of the IGBT module using pressureless sintered nanosilver paste have been measured and compared with the commercial one using soldered Sn5Pb92.5Ag2. 5. Test result shows that this IGBT module has identical static and dynamic characteristics as the commercial one. Therefore, the pressureless sintered nanosilver could be used as an alternative to high-lead solder in power module manufacturing, especially in assembling SiC- or GaN-based devices for high temperature applications.
Elevated AF1q expression is a poor prognostic marker for adult acute myeloid leukemia patients with normal cytogenetics

Nearly half of the patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia have normal cytogenetics (NC‐AML) and are classified as intermediate risk, but their 5‐year overall survival (OS) ranges from 24 to 42%. Therefore, molecular biomarkers to identify poor‐risk patients are needed. Elevated AF1q expression in the absence of specific poor cytogenetics is associated with poor outcomes in pediatric patients with AML and adult patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. We examined AF1q expression in 290 patients with NC‐AML. We found that patients with low AF1q (n = 73) expression (AF1qlow) have better OS (P = 0.026), disease‐free survival (P = 0.1), and complete remission rate (P = 0.06) when compared with patients with high AF1q expression (AF1qhigh n = 217). The patients with AF1qhigh had significantly greater incidence of concurrent tyrosine kinase3 internal tandem duplication. A subgroup of the patients with AF1qhigh who received allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) had a significant better relapse‐free survival when compared with patients who received chemotherapy/autologous SCT (P = 0.04). This study suggests that high AF1q expression is a poor prognostic marker for adult patients with NC‐AML.