Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synaptic complexes formed by functionally defined primary afferent units with fine myelinated fibers

The individual fine myelinated fibers of cutaneous mechanical nociceptors and “D‐hair” receptors were identified by electrophysiological recording with micropipette electrodes in cats and monkeys. Their intraspinal terminations were labeled by iontophoresing horseradish peroxidase intracellularly and subsequent diaminobenzidine histochemistry. These terminations were examined with light and electron microscopy to determine the nature and organization of their synaptic contacts.
Altered free radical metabolism in acute mountain sickness: implications for dynamic cerebral autoregulation and blood–brain barrier function

We tested the hypothesis that dynamic cerebral autoregulation (CA) and blood–brain barrier (BBB) function would be compromised in acute mountain sickness (AMS) subsequent to a hypoxia‐mediated alteration in systemic free radical metabolism. Eighteen male lowlanders were examined in normoxia (21% O2) and following 6 h passive exposure to hypoxia (12% O2). Blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MCAv) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) were measured for determination of CA following calculation of transfer function analysis and rate of regulation (RoR). Nine subjects developed clinical AMS (AMS+) and were more hypoxaemic relative to subjects without AMS (AMS–). A more marked increase in the venous concentration of the ascorbate radical (A•−), lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) and increased susceptibility of low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) to oxidation was observed during hypoxia in AMS+ (P < 0.05 versus AMS–). Despite a general decline in total nitric oxide (NO) in hypoxia (P < 0.05 versus normoxia), the normoxic baseline plasma and red blood cell (RBC) NO metabolite pool was lower in AMS+ with normalization observed during hypoxia (P < 0.05 versus AMS–). CA was selectively impaired in AMS+ as indicated both by an increase in the low‐frequency (0.07–0.20Hz) transfer function gain and decrease in RoR (P < 0.05 versus AMS–). However, there was no evidence for cerebral hyper‐perfusion, BBB disruption or neuronal–parenchymal damage as indicated by a lack of change in MCAv, S100β and neuron‐specific enolase. In conclusion, these findings suggest that AMS is associated with altered redox homeostasis and disordered CA independent of barrier disruption.
Estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure and sickle cell disease: a meta‐analysis and systematic review

Many studies report estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure (ePASP) in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) screened by echocardiography. To better understand the prevalence and outcomes of elevated ePASP in clinically stable SCD patients, we conducted a random‐effects meta‐analysis. A total of 45 studies, representing 15 countries and including 6109 individuals, met our inclusion criteria. In most (70%) studies, elevated ePASP was defined by a tricuspid regurgitant velocity of 2·5 m/s. The prevalence of elevated ePASP was 21% (17–26%) in children and 30% (26–35%) in adults. After adjustment for sex, SCD genotype, haemoglobin, hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea) treatment, country and publication year, age remained associated with elevated ePASP, yielding a 12% (0·4–23%) higher adjusted prevalence in adults. Few studies reported 6‐min walk tests or mortality outcomes, and estimates were highly heterogeneous. In random effects meta‐analyses, patients with elevated ePASP walked an estimated 30·4 (6·9–53·9) metres less than those without elevated ePASP and had an associated mortality hazard ratio of 4·9 (2·4–9·7).
Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator and Flow Improvement in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients with Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion

Background and Purpose. It has been suggested that intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) would not lyse the large thrombus associated with internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion and, therefore, would be ineffective in this setting. Vascular imaging, safety, and outcome of TPA therapy for ICA occlusion is not well described. Our goal was to determine the site of occlusion, early recanalization after TPA infusion, and its relationship to outcome. Methods. We reviewed our database of all stroke patients treated with IV TPA between July 1997 and July 1999. We identified all cases with carotid occlusion suggested by transcranial Doppler (TCD) and angiography. Occlusion and recanalization were assessed by site including proximal ICA (prICA), terminal ICA (tICA), and middle cerebral artery (MCA). Baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and follow‐up Rankin scores were obtained. Results. We treated 20 patients with carotid occlusion (age 63.9 ± 10.8 years, 11 males, 9 females). Time to TPA infusion after stroke onset was 128 ± 66 minutes. Baseline NIHSS scores were 16.4 ± 5.4. Time to follow‐up was 3.5 ± 4.9 months (2 patients were lost to follow‐up). Occlusion sites were prICA 40%, tICA 70%, and concurrent MCA 45%. Multiple sites were involved in 10/20 patients (50%). Among patients with pretreatment and posttreatment vascular imaging studies (n= 18), recanalization in the prICA and tICA was complete in 10%, partial in 16%, and none in 74%. MCA recanalization was complete in 35%, partial in 24%, and none in 41%. At follow‐up, Rankin 0–1 was found in 8 patients (44%), Rankin 2–3 in 3 (17%), and Rankin 4–5 in 3 (17%). Mortality was 22% (n= 4) including 1 fatal intracerebral hemorrhage. Improvement was closely related to resumption of MCA flow (P < .01). Conclusions. Most patients did not recanalize their ICA occlusion after intravenous TPA therapy. However, recanalization of associated proximal MCA clot, found in 45% of our patients, or improved MCA collateral flow was strongly associated with good outcome.
Projection patterns of single mossy fiber axons originating from the dorsal column nuclei mapped on the aldolase C compartments in the rat cerebellar cortex

Although cerebellar mossy fibers are the most abundant cerebellar afferents and are deeply involved in cerebellar function, the organization of their projection has remained obscure, particularly in relation to cerebellar compartmentalization. The dorsal column nuclei (DCN) are a major source of cerebellar mossy fibers and possess distinct somatotopic representations of specific somatosensory submodalities. We reconstructed individual dextran‐labeled DCN axons completely from serial sections and mapped their terminals on the longitudinal cerebellar compartments that were visualized by aldolase C immunostaining to clarify their projection pattern. Individual axons branched and formed about 100 rosette terminals in the cerebellar cortex, but infrequently projected to the cerebellar nuclei (1 out of 15 axons). Cortical terminals were clustered in multiple areas in the vermis and pars intermedia mostly, but not exclusively, ipsilateral to the origin of the axon. The gracile, cuneate, and external cuneate nuclei (ECuN) mainly projected to the copula pyramidis and lobule V, paramedian and simple lobules, and lobules I–V and VIII–IX, respectively, although there was some overlap. The majority of terminals were located within aldolase C negative or lightly positive compartments. However, terminals of a single axon can be located on aldolase C‐negative as well as on aldolase C‐positive compartments. In particular, the rostral ECuN, which is responsive to shoulder movements, projected consistently to lobule IX, which were mostly aldolase C‐positive. In sum, DCN‐cerebellar axons project to multiple compartments with terminals clustered mainly in the conventional spinocerebellar region with a coarse topography, which shows some relationship to the cortical compartments defined by aldolase C. J. Comp. Neurol. 519:874–899, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Empirical Research on Trade Liberalization with Imperfect Competition: a Survey

This paper attempts a synthetic census of the calibration/counterfactual style of empirical research on the benefits of trade liberalization with imperfect competition and scale economies. Computable-general-equilibrium studies are surveyed, as are a large number of partial-equilibrium studies in the same style. Microeconomic foundations common to almost all of the studies are discussed algebraically, and the corresponding general-equilibrium structure is discussed graphically. The first typical conclusion from the studies surveyed is that calculated gains in national purchasing power are usually two to three times the size of those estimated in traditional frameworks with perfect competition. Only occasionally are welfare losses calculated from trade liberalization, although such losses are quite possible in theory, as a large recent literature has shown. The second typical conclusion is that calculated adjustment pressures from trade liberalization are considerably higher than implied in most commentary, and higher also than estimates from traditional models. Adjustment pressures describe stimuli for workers to shift activities, for firms to grow or die, for industries to expand or contract, and for trading-partner shares to be altered.
Halo-vest immobilization increases early morbidity and mortality in elderly odontoid fractures.

BACKGROUND Odontoid fractures are the most common cervical spine fractures in elderly patients. Treatment options included operative fixation (OP) or nonoperative management with either a halo-vest (HV) or rigid cervical orthosis (CO). Our previous study suggested increased morbidity and mortality with the use of HV in the treatment of elderly patients with cervical spine fractures. We review a series of odontoid fractures in elderly patients and evaluate for predictors for in-hospital morbidity and mortality. METHODS There were 78 patients >65 years of age who sustained a type II or III odontoid fracture from January 1997 to June 2004 identified from the Rhode Island Hospital Trauma registry. Demographic, mechanism, injury pattern, treatment, and outcome data were recorded. Patients were analyzed according to treatment method. RESULTS The mean age was 80.7 +/- 0.9 years. There were 50 type II, 17 type III, and 11 combined fractures. There were 38 (49%) patients treated with HV: 34 with halo alone, and 4 after OP; 40 (51%) patients were treated without HV: 27 with CO, and 13 with OP. There was no difference in injury severity or baseline medical condition between HV and non-HV patients. There were 24 (31%) patients who died during their hospital stay. Of the HV patients, 42% died compared with 20% in the non-HV group (p = 0.03). Major complications occurred in 66% of HV patients compared with 36% of non-HV patients (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION Odontoid fractures are associated with significant morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. Outcomes after treatment with HV appear inferior to those achieved with CO or OP.
Clonal anergy is induced in vitro by T cell receptor occupancy in the absence of proliferation.

Murine Th1 clones that receive signals through their TCR in the absence of APC-derived co-stimulatory signals do not produce IL-2 and instead become anergic, i.e., they are subsequently unable to produce IL-2 in response to Ag and normal APC. The critical cellular event required to prevent the induction of this anergic state appears to be T cell proliferation. Anergy was induced when T cell clones were stimulated under conditions where both TCR occupancy and costimulatory signals were provided but where proliferation in response to the IL-2 produced was prevented. Once induced, anergy could be reversed if the T cells were allowed to undergo multiple rounds of cell division. These results show that anergy is induced as a consequence of TCR occupancy in the absence of cell division; this can be achieved either by limiting IL-2 production because of deficient provision of co-stimulatory signals or by preventing response to IL-2.
Blunt and penetrating trauma of the thoracic aorta and aortic arch branches: an autopsy study.

BACKGROUND Due to the highly lethal nature of trauma of the thoracic aorta and aortic arch branches (TA-AAB), autopsy studies are essential for the investigation of its epidemiologic characteristics. METHODS The reports of 11,446 consecutive medicolegal autopsies were reviewed. Among 1,980 injury-related fatalities, 251 victims (12.7%) with 302 TA-AAB injuries were found. Several trauma variables were recorded and their relations were examined. RESULTS Blunt TA-AAB injuries were recorded in 86.4% of the victims. They were located mainly at the aortic isthmus and distal descending thoracic aorta and were accompanied to a great extent by extrathoracic trauma. The vast majority of penetrating lacerations were located at the ascending aorta, arch, and arch branches and were mostly associated with other lethal intrathoracic injuries. All penetrating trauma victims died before reaching the hospital, whereas 5.5% of the blunt trauma victims were admitted to the hospital alive. CONCLUSION Major differences between blunt and penetrating TA-AAB injuries were revealed, regarding their location, patterns of concomitant injuries, and victims' survival time. Patients injured in motor vehicle crashes, as opposed to various other causes of trauma, were found to have the best chances of reaching the hospital alive.
Evidence of The Importance of Philosophy of Science Course On Undergraduate Level

This study aimed to describe academic impact of Philosophy of Science course in change of students’ conceptions on the Nature of science (NOS) before and after attending the course. This study followed one group pretest-posttest design. Treatment in this study was Philosophy of Science course for one semester. Misconception diagnostic tests of the NOS had been developed by Suyono et al. (2015) equipped with Certainty of Response Index (CRI). It consists of 15 concept questions about the NOS. The number of students who were tested on Chemistry Education Program (CEP) and Chemistry Program (CP) respectively 42 and 45 students. This study shows that after the learning of Philosophy of Science course happened: (1) the decrease of the number of misconception students on the NOS from 47.47 to 19.20% in CEP and from 47.47 to 18.18% in CP and (2) the decrease in the number of concepts that understood as misconception by the large number of students from 11 to 2 concepts on the CEP and from 10 to 2 concepts on CP. Therefore, the existence of Philosophy of Science course has a positive academic impact on students from both programs on undergraduate level.
Endogenous Environmental Regulation, FDI and Environmental Quality in Chinese Cities

The Study of the influence of FDI on environmental quality under the backdrop of openness concerns the sustainability of Chinese green development. This paper introduces endogenous environmental regulation into the theoretical model established by Copeland and Taylor. Then it decomposes and studies the heterogeneous effects of FDI on local environmental quality. Theoretical analysis shows as follows:firstly, the effects of FDI on local environmental quality can be decomposed into scale, structure, technology and income effects; secondly, the technology and income effects of FDI on the improvement of environmental quality are positive, and the scale & structure effects are negative; and there is theoretically a threshold value of FDI in terms of the improvement of environmental quality. Furthermore, this paper takes sulfur dioxide concentration rather than pollutant discharge commonly used in previous literature as the indicator of urban environmental quality and makes an empirical test at prefecture level. It arrives at the following empirical results:firstly, at present, as a whole, FDI improves environmental quality in China through scale, structure, technology and income effects; secondly, there is a threshold value in terms of the effect of FDI on environmental improvement, namely when the proportion of FDI is more than 0.12, FDI increase will lead to the deterioration of environmental quality. This paper provides enlightenment for how to exert the role of FDI in environmental improvement and formulate more flexible policies in purpose of attracting investment and differentiated environmental policies.
Safety Data of Injectable Nonanimal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid Gel for Soft Tissue Augmentation

BACKGROUND Nonanimal hyaluronic acid gel was recently developed for soft tissue augmentation and volume expansion and has been shown to offer several advantages in comparison to other augmentation materials. There are rare reports of adverse events believed to be secondary to trace amounts of proteins in the hyaluronic acid raw material. OBJECTIVE To determine the safety profile of nonanimal stabilized hyaluronic acid gel (Restylane, Perlane, Restylane Fine Lines, Q-Med AB, Uppsala, Sweden) for soft tissue augmentation using a retrospective review of all adverse events data from Europe, Canada, Australia, South American, and Asia from 1999 and 2000. RESULTS Data from an estimated 144,000 patients treated in 1999 indicated the major reaction to injectable hyaluronic acid was localized hypersensitivity reactions, occurring in approximately 1 of every 1400 patients treated. In 1999 there was an adverse event reported for 1 of every 650 patients (0.15%) treated. These were temporary events that included redness, swelling, localized granulomatous reactions, bacterial infection, as well as acneiform and cystic lesions. For 2000 there was an estimated 262,000 patients treated with hyaluronic acid gel. The total number of adverse events was 144, corresponding to one adverse event for every 1800 patients (0.06%) treated. The major adverse event was again hypersensitivity, occurring in 1 of every 5000 patients treated. CONCLUSION According to the reported worldwide adverse events data, hypersensitivity to nonanimal hyaluronic acid gel is the major adverse event and is most likely secondary to impurities of bacterial fermentation. According to data from 2000, the incidence of hypersensitivity appears to be declining after the introduction of a more purified hyaluronic acid raw material.
Voxel-based assessment of spinal tap test-induced regional cerebral blood flow changes in normal pressure hydrocephalus

ObjectiveNormal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a cause of dementia that may be amended by medical intervention. Its diagnosis is therefore of major importance and the establishment of response criteria to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting is essential. One of these criteria is the clinical response to spinal tap. The accuracy of the spinal tap test could potentially be improved by adding neuroimaging of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) changes to the response criteria. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) is a voxel-based method of image analysis that may be used to statistically assess the significance of rCBF changes. The objective of this study was to evaluate, by SPM, spinal tap test-induced rCBF changes in patients with NPH syndrome. MethodsForty patients with NPH syndrome underwent hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO) brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) before and after a spinal tap test (1-day split-dose protocol). The differences in rCBF between these pairs of scans were analysed by SPM in the whole group and between subgroups divided according to gait improvement at the spinal tap test. ResultsIn the whole group of patients, there was no statistical difference between pre- and post-spinal tap SPECT images. SPM analysis of patients grouped as a function of their clinical response to the spinal tap test revealed a significant post-spinal tap rCBF increase in the bilateral dorsolateral frontal and left mesiotemporal cortex in clinically responding compared with non-responding patients. ConclusionAccording to SPM analysis, gait improvement at the spinal tap test in patients with NPH syndrome is associated with an rCBF increase localized in the bilateral dorsolateral frontal and left mesiotemporal cortex.
An improved PCA-SIFT algorithm application in light small UAV image registration

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) represent a quickly evolving technology, broadening the availability of remote sensing tools to small-scale research groups in a variety of scientific fields. Light small UAV remote sensing is a main way to obtain centimeter-level high resolution and hour-lever response data. Many technical skills are involved widely in the development of UAV platform covering platform development, data post-processing, and image analysis. Image registration is the key problem among them. In order to improve the performance of remote sensing images matching from Light small UAV, an improved PCA-SIFT algorithm is proposed based on the SIFT algorithm. To demonstrate the performance of the proposed method, images from DJI Phantom 4 are used for the registration experiment. The result shows that the proposed algorithm performs better in feature matching accuracy and keeps time complexity, compared with PCA-SIFT algorithm.
[Portable coagulometers: a systematic review of the evidence on self-management of oral anticoagulant treatment].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE We aimed to systematically review the scientific evidence about the use of portable coagulometers for patient's self-management of oral anticoagulant treatment. MATERIAL AND METHOD Systematic review of scientific evidence available from MEDLINE'S, DARE's, HTA-Database's, NHS-EED's and The Cochrane Library' s bibliographic databases, from their origin to March 2003. Randomized control trials (RCT) and Quasi-Experimental trials were selected provided that they compared patients in self-management with patients under usual care. The quality of scientific evidence was elicited using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN) recommendations, whilst efficacy and security were descriptively summarized. RESULTS Twelve (7 RCT and 5 quasi-experimental trials) articles were found, and only two of them provided grade A recommendation. Patients under self-management remained the same or more time in the therapeutic range. The incidence of adverse effects in self-management patients was the same or less than that in patients under usual care. CONCLUSIONS The quality of the scientific evidence is heterogeneous. For selected patients, patient's self-management is at least as effective and safe as usual care. New oral anticaogulants, which have shown promising results, should be scrutinized for future changes in service provision.
Diffusion of the Adoption of Online Retailing in Saudi Arabia

Despite the fact that Saudi Arabia is a leading producer of oil and natural gas, a member of G-20, has the largest and fastest growth of ICT marketplaces in the Arab region, and is very wealthy, online retailing activities are not progressing at the same speed as its growing ICT marketplace. For this reason, the attitudes of retailers in companies at different stages of e-commerce maturity were investigated to determine what factors are causing this problem. The data collection included two stages: first, interviews with 16 retailers and, then, based on the outcomes of the interviews, a quantitative study designed to test and further explore the qualitative interview findings with a sample of 153 retailers in companies at different stages of e-commerce maturity. The results showed striking differences between retailers as a function of the stage of growth of their companies in regard to factors relating to their perceptions of consumers and to organizational factors. At the same time, the results showed agreement between retailers in companies at different stages in relation to environmental factors. The investigation helped to identify the incentives and barriers for each stage of maturity and makes recommendations of what could be done to help companies move from one stage to the next.