Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
René Couteaux (1909–1999) and the morphological identification of synapses

During a historical research, we realized that René Couteaux (1909–1999) was the first histologist who stained the postsynaptic structure of the neuromuscular junction. By means of Janus Green B dye, he revealed the membranous ‘subneural apparatus’ related to the ‘synaptic gutter’. Hence, he justified the use of the physiological term ‘synapse’ in histology. A few years later, Couteaux localized acetylcholinesterase activity on this subneural apparatus with a histo‐enzymatic method. The histochemical staining confirmed his histological observations that the subneural apparatus of the muscle cells was distinct from the nerve terminal. Thus Couteaux not only supported Cajal's neuron theory, but also gave decisive morphological basis to the concept of the synapse, thought to be up to that time a physiological entity. These observations were performed several years before the first electron microscopic data obtained in the U.S.A. When the electron microscopy became available in Europe, Couteaux studied the ultrastructural details of the myoneural synapse. He found evidence for the presynaptic ‘active zone’ as a restricted zone of the thickened presynaptic membrane flanked on both sides with synaptic vesicles, some of which were observed to be opening into the synaptic cleft by exocytosis. Furthermore, the synaptic vesicles were shown to be displayed in two rows along the linearly prolonged active zone which is situated just above the ‘trench‐like’ junctional folds of the muscle membrane. The discontinuity of the synaptic structure was confirmed by the three‐dimensional observation of the intraneuronal network of neurofibrils with the first prototype of high‐voltage electron microscope.
Prevalence of Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B Virus, and Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Refugees to Minnesota

Objective. The purpose of this study was to define the prevalence of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, hepatitis B virus, and various intestinal parasites among different groups of primary refugees immigrating to Minnesota. Methods. 2,545 refugees arriving in Minnesota during 1999 received a domestic health examination that included tuberculin skin testing, hepatitis B virus serologic testing, and stool ova and parasite examinations. The Refugee Health Assessment form asked specifically about screening results for amebiasis, ascariasis, clonorchiasis, giardiasis, hookworm, schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis, and trichuriasis. Results. Forty-nine percent of refugees had a reactive tuberculin test of ≥10 mm induration, with a higher prevalence in males (54%) and refugees ≥18 years of age (63%) (p<0.001). Seven percent had a positive hepatitis B surface antigen, with the highest prevalence in those people from sub-Saharan Africa (8%) (p=0.002) and those refugees ≥18 years of age (9%) (p=0.006). Twenty-two percent had one or more intestinal parasites asked about, including 30% of those refugees <18 years of age (p<0.001). The most commonly reported parasitic infections were trichuriasis (8%) and giardiasis (7%). Conclusions. Evidence of infection with M. tuberculosis, hepatitis B virus, or one of eight intestinal parasites was present in a substantial proportion of refugees receiving the domestic health assessment. Screening for such infections gives new immigrants the opportunity to receive important medical evaluation and treatment, provides valuable surveillance data, and allows appropriate public health measures to be taken.
Incidence and predictors of advance care planning among persons with cognitive impairment.

OBJECTIVE Persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer disease (AD) are at heightened risk for future decisional incapacity. We sought to characterize advance care planning (ACP) rates over time in individuals who had no advance directives (living will or durable power of attorney) in place when they initially presented for a cognitive evaluation. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of data that had been prospectively collected. SETTING Alzheimer's Disease Research Center memory disorders clinic. PARTICIPANTS Persons (N = 127) with a diagnosis of MCI or early AD (n = 72) or moderate to severe AD (n = 55) and no advance directives upon initial presentation for a cognitive evaluation. MEASUREMENTS Extraction of responses to items pertaining to ACP assessed during annual semistructured interviews. RESULTS By 5 years of follow-up, 39% of the sample had initiated ACP, with little difference by baseline diagnosis. Younger subjects (younger than 65 years) were significantly more likely to initiate advance directives (43%) than older subjects (37%). This age effect was more pronounced in men than in women as well as in married subjects, those with a family history of dementia, those with no depressive disorder, and subjects with moderate to severe AD (versus those with MCI or early AD) at baseline. CONCLUSION Only a minority of subjects initiated ACP. The findings suggest the need for interventions aimed at enhancing ACP completion rates, particularly among older adults with cognitive impairment, since these individuals may have a time-limited opportunity to plan for future medical, financial, and other major life decisions.
Corporate governance quality and premature revenue recognition: evidence from the UK

Purpose Since 2005, wide-ranging concerns have been raised about misleading revenue recognition practices, especially during and after the 2008–2009 global financial crisis. There is a lack of research into the relationship between corporate governance (CG) mechanisms and premature revenue recognition (PRR). The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a generalised least squares regression analysis of a sample of 854 FTSE 350 firm–year observations. Stubben (2010) discretionary revenue (DR) model is used to measure PRR as it is considered less biased, better specified and more likely to reduce measurement error than accrual models. Findings The results suggest that the size of audit committees plays an effective role in constraining PRR. Moreover, PRR is more likely to be curbed in the presence of small boards comprising a higher proportion of non-executive directors. Additional tests reveal that the relationship between board size and PRR is non-linear. Research limitations/implications The findings address the concerns of corporate firms, capital providers, UK regulators and standard-setters regarding misleading revenue recognition practices and should be considered while setting new governance reform recommendations in response to changing economic conditions. Originality/value This is the first study that adopts the DR model of Stubben (2010) to capture PRR and examines its association with CG internal mechanisms. Moreover, the paper considers an important time period – from 2005 to 2013 – in which many significant developments took place.
Transient Receptor Potential Channel and Interleukin-17A Involvement in LTTL Gel Inhibition of Bone Cancer Pain in a Rat Model

Cancer pain management is a challenge for which Chinese herbal medicine might be useful. To study the spinal mechanisms of the Chinese medicated gel Long-Teng-Tong-Luo (LTTL), a 7-herb compound, on bone cancer pain, a bone cancer pain model was made by inoculating the tibias of female rats with Walker 256 cells. LTTL gel or inert gel, 0.5 g/cm2/d, was applied to the skin of tumor-bearing tibias for 21 days beginning a day after the inoculation. Mechanical threshold and paw withdrawal latency to thermal stimulation was measured. Transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channels in lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were immunostained and counted, and lumbar spinal cord interleukin-17A (IL-17A) was measured with real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. TRP antagonists and interleukin (IL)-17A antibodies were intrathecally administered to determine their effects on bone cancer pain. The gel significantly (P < .05) alleviated cancer-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia and inhibited cancer-enhanced expression of IL-17A in spinal astrocytes and the TRP subfamily members V1, A1, and V4 in lumbar DRG. Intrathecal TRP antagonists at 10 µg significantly (P < .05) attenuated mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia, and IL-17A expression, indicating that TRP channels facilitate spinal IL-17 expression and cancer pain. IL-17A antibodies inhibited cancer pain, suggesting that IL-17A promotes such pain. The data show that LTTL gel inhibits cancer pain, and this might be accounted for by the decrease in expression of DRG TRP channels and spinal astrocyte IL-17A.
Three-dimensional cellular spheroid formation provides human prostate tumor cells with tissue-like features.

BACKGROUND Alterations in the cellular biological responses were examined in a series of LNCaP human prostate tumor cells growing under different conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS LNCaP cells were grown in two-dimensional monolayer cultures, three-dimensional spheroids, or as solid tumors in immune-deprived mice. RESULTS As compared with the growth in the monolayers, cell growth in the spheroids was reduced, while VEGF production was increased. Immunohistochemical analysis of the spheroids revealed that cells showing Ki-67 up-regulation were localized in the peripheral layer, and that the central core was necrotic. The gene expression profile in the solid tumor tissue was obviously different from that in the monolayers; however, it was similar to that in the spheroids. The prostate-specific antigen levels in the culture supernatants of spheroids increased with time and decreased with anticancer agent treatment. CONCLUSION Spheroid formation from human prostate tumor cells exhibits tissue-like features.
Surgical Dislocation of the Femoral Head for Joint Debridement and Accurate Reduction of Fractures of the Acetabulum

Objectives To evaluate fracture reduction, femoral head viability, and outcome of selected acetabular fractures treated operatively using a modified Kocher–Langenbeck approach with a trochanteric flip osteotomy and surgical dislocation of the femoral head. Design Prospective. Patients Twelve patients predominantly with combined transverse and posterior wall fractures or multifragmentary posterior wall fractures. Outcome Evaluation Clinical and radiographic analysis after a minimum 2-year follow-up. Methods A single modified approach, including anterior (n = 8) or posterior (n = 4) surgical dislocation of the femoral head, was done in 12 patients for one or more of following reasons: intra-articular assessment of reduction in fractures with comminution, marginal impaction and involvement of the anterior column, removal of intra-articular fragments, and confirmation of extra-articular screw placement. Results At a mean follow-up of 35 months (24–48 months), the 12 patients presented with a good to excellent clinical result according to the D'Aubigné score. One patient developed postoperative osteoarthritic changes after an imperfect reduction. No heterotopic ossification interfering with hip function was found. None of the hip joints developed signs of avascular necrosis of the femoral head, even though seven patients sustained a posterior dislocation at time of the injury. Conclusion This study indicates that this technique for surgical dislocation of the femoral head is safe and facilitates assessment of fracture reduction in selected acetabular fractures.
Physiological variability in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath and released from faeces due to nutrition and somatic growth in a standardized caprine animal model

Physiological effects may change volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations and may therefore act as confounding factors in the definition of VOCs as disease biomarkers. To evaluate the extent of physiological background variability, this study assessed the effects of feed composition and somatic growth on VOC patterns in a standardized large animal model. Fifteen clinically healthy goats were followed during their first year of life. VOCs present in the headspace over faeces, exhaled breath and ambient air inside the stable were repeatedly assessed in parallel with the concentrations of glucose, protein, and albumin in venous blood. VOCs were collected and analysed using solid-phase or needle-trap microextraction and gas chromatograpy together with mass spectroscopy. The concentrations of VOCs in exhaled breath and above faeces varied significantly with increasing age of the animals. The largest variations in volatiles detected in the headspace over faeces occurred with the change from milk feeding to plant-based diet. VOCs above faeces and in exhaled breath correlated significantly with blood components. Among VOCs exhaled, the strongest correlations were found between exhaled nonanal concentrations and blood concentrations of glucose and albumin. Results stress the importance of a profound knowledge of the physiological backgrounds of VOC composition before defining reliable and accurate marker sets for diagnostic purposes.
Thyroid Cancer Epidemiology in Iran: a Time Trend Study.

BACKGROUND Considering the rising incidence of thyroid cancer worldwide, the aim of our study was to investigate the temporal trends in the incidence of this cancer in a large population of Iranian patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS We used the Iran Cancer Data System (ICDS) Registry to assess the thyroid cancer trend from 2004 to 2010 with regard to different genders, age groups, and morphologies. To do this we analyzed the data of 10,913 new cases of thyroid cancer that occurred during these years. RESULTS The incidence rate (per one year) of thyroid cancer was 2.20 per 100,000 persons between 2004 and 2010 in Iran. Papillary thyroid cancer was the most common histology type, with an annual rate of 0.29 in Iran. The highest rate of prevalence in thyroid cancer was observed at the age of 45 years at the time of diagnosis. We found a female-to-male ratio of 2 in Iran. A significant decrease was detected in the trend of thyroid cancer in children <19y, which was not correlated to the trend of older patients. CONCLUSIONS As expected, the trend of thyroid cancer increased over the 7 years, primarily contributed by papillary thyroid cancer. A rising pattern of incidence was seen in all the age groups except patients aged under 19 years.
Analysis of Systemic Endothelin-1, Matrix Metalloproteinase-9, Macrophage Chemoattractant Protein-1, and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein in Normal-Tension Glaucoma

Purpose: To investigate the roles of vascular dysregulation and inflammation in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), we determined the plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Materials and methods: Forty-five patients with NTG and age-matched 35 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Blood samples from all subjects were assayed for ET-1, MMP-9, MCP-1, and hs-CRP concentrations and other systemic factors. Results: There were no significant differences in hemoglobin, hematocrit, RBC count, WBC count, platelet count, fasting glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, and HDL between the NTG and control groups. The systemic levels of ET-1 and MCP-1 were significantly higher in the NTG group than in the control group (p = 0.05 and 0.02, respectively). The MMP-9 and hs-CRP levels were not significantly different between the NTG and control groups. Conclusions: After excluding patients with cardiovascular and other systemic diseases, plasma ET-1 and MCP-1 levels were elevated in patients with NTG. The MMP-9 and hs-CRP levels were not significantly different in NTG. Increased ET-1 and MCP-1 levels suggest that ischemia/inflammation may play a role in the pathogenesis of NTG.
Can Credit Rating Agencies Play a Greater Role in Corporate Governance Disclosure?

Purpose The European Commission (EC) is currently examining methods to increase the effectiveness of corporate governance disclosures. This paper aims to examine whether the credit rating agencies (CRAs), both on account of their influence within the marketplace and also their methodological approach to rating Governance, may have a greater role to play in the EC achieving those particular objectives. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based upon a normative methodology, upon which the issue is contextualised and a proposal is put forward regarding a methodological alteration that can be instituted by the CRAs. Findings The paper finds that the CRAs may have a much greater role to play in meeting the objectives of the EC. Whilst the EC is focusing upon regulatory monitoring, the paper finds that there is a potential for a more efficient model within which the CRAs adapt their methodologies to include corporate governance disclosure into their rating processes. Originality/value In presenting the idea that the comply or explain principles put forward by the EC are proving to be somewhat ineffective, the paper contributes to the field by suggesting there are private endeavours which may add a sense of impact to disclosure proceedings, rather than the purely public regime being envisioned.
Definitive radiochemotherapy versus surgery within multimodality treatment in stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) - a cumulative meta-analysis of the randomized evidence

Randomized trials were analyzed comparing surgery with definitive radiotherapy as local curative treatment options within the framework of different multimodality treatments for patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Endpoints for comparison of treatment results were overall survival, progression-free survival, and toxicity. Hazard ratios (HR) were taken to measure treatment effects and pooled using a random effects model. Overall survival was not significantly different between surgical and definitive radiotherapy arms (HR=0.92 [95%CI 0.82-1.04], p=0.19, χ2-test). There was heterogeneity with respect to survival at 2 years (p<0.0001, Cochran Mantel Haenszel (CMH)-test). Latter trials using concurrent radiochemotherapy (ccRT/CT) showed better survival at 2 years (risk ratio of death=0.80 [95%CI 0.73-0.88], p<0.0001, CMH-test). In the ccRT/CT trials, survival in the surgical arms tended to have an excess early mortality before 6 months of follow-up and a lesser hazard rate in comparison to definitive ccRT/CT thereafter (HR=0.78 [95%CI 0.63-0.98]). Over all trials, treatment associated mortality was higher in the surgical arms (risk ratio=3.56 [95% CI: 1.65-7.72], p=0.0005, CMH test). With respect to progression-free survival, no significant differences were found (HR=0.91 [95%CI: 0.73 - 1.13]), although the largest conducted trial found an advantage for the surgical arm (HR=0.77 [95%CI: 0.62-0.96]). Induction therapy followed by resection or definitive radiochemotherapy represent valuable curative treatment options for patients with stage III NSCLC, the individual treatment choice deserves careful interdisciplinary evaluation and counseling. Based on the broad heterogeneity of patient groups in these stages further research on predictive factors supporting individual therapy selection is necessary.
Amphiphilic block copolymer/poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) blends and nanocomposites for improved fouling-release

Amphiphilic diblock copolymers, Sz6 and Sz12, consisting of a poly(dimethylsiloxane) block (average degree of polymerisation = 132) and a PEGylated-fluoroalkyl modified polystyrene block (Sz, average degree of polymerisation = 6, 12) were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Coatings were obtained from blends of either block copolymer (1–10 wt%) with a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) matrix. The coating surface presented a simultaneous hydrophobic and lipophobic character, owing to the strong surface segregation of the lowest surface energy fluoroalkyl chains of the block copolymer. Surface chemical composition and wettability of the films were affected by exposure to water. Block copolymer Sz6 was also blended with PDMS and a 0.1 wt% amount of multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNT). The excellent fouling-release (FR) properties of these new coatings against the macroalga Ulva linza essentially resulted from the inclusion of the amphiphilic block copolymer, while the addition of CNT did not appear to improve the FR properties.
Intestinal transport and metabolism of bile acids

In addition to their classical roles as detergents to aid in the process of digestion, bile acids have been identified as important signaling molecules that function through various nuclear and G protein-coupled receptors to regulate a myriad of cellular and molecular functions across both metabolic and nonmetabolic pathways. Signaling via these pathways will vary depending on the tissue and the concentration and chemical structure of the bile acid species. Important determinants of the size and composition of the bile acid pool are their efficient enterohepatic recirculation, their host and microbial metabolism, and the homeostatic feedback mechanisms connecting hepatocytes, enterocytes, and the luminal microbiota. This review focuses on the mammalian intestine, discussing the physiology of bile acid transport, the metabolism of bile acids in the gut, and new developments in our understanding of how intestinal metabolism, particularly by the gut microbiota, affects bile acid signaling.
Comparative proteome analyses of maize (Zea mays L.) primary roots prior to lateral root initiation reveal differential protein expression in the lateral root initiation mutant rum1

The embryonically preformed primary root is the first root type of maize that emerges after germination. In this study the abundant soluble proteins of 2.5‐day‐old primary roots of wild‐type and lateral root mutant rum1 seedlings were compared before the initiation of lateral roots. In CBB‐stained 2‐D gels, among 350 detected proteins 14 were identified as differentially accumulated (>twofold change; t‐test: 95% significance) in wild‐type versus rum1 primary roots. These proteins which were identified via ESI MS/MS are encoded by 12 different genes. Functionally, these proteins are involved in lignin biosynthesis, defense, and the citrate cycle. Nine of these genes were further analyzed at the RNA expression level. This study represents the first comparative proteomic analysis of maize primary roots prior to lateral root initiation and will contribute to a better understanding of the molecular basis of root development in cereals.
Financial equilibrium with non-linear valuations

Classical Arrow Debreu equilibria employ budget feasibility to require individuals to ensure excess supplies to be nonnegative in value using the single equilibrium price system for valuation purposes. Yet by the selection of state contingent prices, they seek excess supplies that are nonnegative in each component, and not just the value. A financial equilibrium, on the other hand, defines acceptable economic risks as excess supplies that are nonnegative in value for a number of prespecified valuation price systems. The collection of prespecified valuation price systems may be referred to as features for which clearing is sought. The number of features will generally be less than the number of states. It is then shown that by also defining budget feasibility nonlinearly one may construct a financial equilibrium with fewer securities than there are features to be cleared.