Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Failure of liver cirrhosis induction by thioacetamide in Nagase analbuminaemic rats

Repeated administration of thioacetamide (TA), either intraperitoneally or in drinking water, produced liver cirrhosis in normal Sprague-Dawley rats (SDR) with significant histological alterations similar to those observed in human cirrhosis. In the present study, we evaluated the ability of TA to induce liver cirrhosis in mutant Nagase analbuminaemic SDR. Thioacetamide was administered either intraperitoneally up to 4 months or in drinking water up to 6 months to normal and to Nagase analbuminaemic SDR. Nagase analbuminaemic rats (NAR) were also administered TA in drinking water up to 10 months. Liver cirrhosis development was determined by macroscopic and microscopic analysis. In contrast to normal SDR, no histological characteristics of cirrhosis could be observed in NAR submitted to a 4 or 6 months treatment with TA. Such failure to induce cirrhosis in Nagase rats was confirmed even after prolonged TA administration in drinking water for up to 10 months. In contrast, fibrosis and cholangiolar proliferation occurred in the 10-month TA-treated analbuminaemic rats, suggesting that the mechanisms involved in cirrhosis induction are different from those involved in fibrosis development and carcinogenesis. It is unlikely that the protective effect against TA-induced cirrhosis observed in analbuminaemic rats is related to the absence of albumin in this rat strain, since a co-administration of TA with albumin in analbuminaemic rats did not restore the potential for TA to induce cirrhosis in this rat strain. In conclusion, the fact that induction of cirrhosis by TA is prevented in the inherently hyperlipidaemic and hypercholesterolaemic analbuminaemic rats could be considered for potential application in the treatment of clinical cirrhosis.
Maternal PUFA ω-3 Supplementation Prevents Neonatal Lung Injuries Induced by Hyperoxia in Newborn Rats

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is one of the most common complications of prematurity, occurring in 30% of very low birth weight infants. The benefits of dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids ω-3 (PUFA ω-3) during pregnancy or the perinatal period have been reported. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of maternal PUFA ω-3 supplementation on lung injuries in newborn rats exposed to prolonged hyperoxia. Pregnant female Wistar rats (n = 14) were fed a control diet (n = 2), a PUFA ω-6 diet (n = 6), or a PUFA ω-3 diet (n = 6), starting with the 14th gestation day. At Day 1, female and newborn rats (10 per female) were exposed to hyperoxia (O2, n = 70) or to the ambient air (Air, n = 70). Six groups of newborns rats were obtained: PUFA ω-6/O2 (n = 30), PUFA ω-6/air (n = 30), PUFA ω-3/O2 (n = 30), PUFA ω-3/air (n = 30), control/O2 (n = 10), and control/air (n = 10). After 10 days, lungs were removed for analysis of alveolarization and pulmonary vascular development. Survival rate was 100%. Hyperoxia reduced alveolarization and increased pulmonary vascular wall thickness in both control (n = 20) and PUFA ω-6 groups (n = 60). Maternal PUFA ω-3 supplementation prevented the decrease in alveolarization caused by hyperoxia (n = 30) compared to PUFA ω-6/O2 (n = 30) or to the control/O2 (n = 10), but did not significantly increase the thickness of the lung vascular wall. Therefore, maternal PUFA ω-3 supplementation may protect newborn rats from lung injuries induced by hyperoxia. In clinical settings, maternal PUFA ω-3 supplementation during pregnancy and during lactation may prevent BPD development after premature birth.
An evaluation of planar-adaptive routing (PAR)

Network performance can be improved by allowing adaptive routing, but doing so introduces new possibilities of deadlock which can overwhelm the flexibility advantages. Planar-adaptive routing resolves this tension by limiting adaptive routing to a series of two-dimensional planes, reducing hardware requirements for deadlock prevention. The authors explore the performance of planar-adaptive routers for two, three, and four-dimensional networks. Under nonuniform traffic loads, the planar-adaptive router significantly outperforms the dimension-order router, while giving comparable performance under uniform loads. With equal resources, the planar-adaptive router provides performance superior to fully adaptive routers because it requires less resources for deadlock prevention, freeing resources to increase the number of virtual lanes. <<ETX>>
Interferon-τ (IFNτ) Regulation of IFN-Stimulated Gene Expression in Cell Lines Lacking Specific IFN-Signaling Components.

Interferon-τ (IFNτ) is a unique type I IFN secreted by the ruminant conceptus that acts in a paracrine manner on the endometrial epithelium to signal pregnancy recognition. In the ovine endometrium, IFNτ suppresses estrogen receptor α and oxytocin receptor gene expression, but increases or induces expression of IFN-simulated genes (ISGs), including signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 (STAT1), STAT2, ISG factor-3γ (ISGF3γ)/p48/IFN regulatory factor-9, and 2′,5′-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS). Human fibroblast cell lines lacking specific IFN signaling components were employed to determine the roles of STAT1, STAT2, and ISGF3γ in the effects of IFNτ on ISG protein expression. Results indicated that STAT1α or STAT1β is required for IFNτ effects on STAT2, ISGF3γ, and OAS (40/46, 69/71, and 100 kDa). STAT2 is required for effects on STAT1, ISGF3γ, and all OAS forms. ISGF3γ is required for effects of IFNτ on STAT2 and 40/46- and 69/71-kDa OAS and plays a role in the effects of IFNτ on 100-kDa OAS.
New bounds on the total squared correlation and optimum design of DS-CDMA binary signature sets

The Welch lower bound (see Welch, R.L., IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory, vol.IT-20, p.397-9, 1974) on the total squared correlation (TSC) of signature sets is known to be tight for real-valued signatures and loose for binary signatures whose number is not a multiple of four. We derive new bounds on the TSC of binary signature sets for any number of signatures K and any signature length L. Then, for almost all K, L in {1,2,. ,256}, we design optimum binary signature sets that achieve the new bounds. The design procedure is based on simple transformations of Hadamard matrices.
Internet-Mediated Technologies and Mixed Methods Research

This article provides an examination of a range of mixed methods research projects that employ Internet-mediated technologies (IMT) for data collection. Using a case study approach, this article allows for the uncovering of a process by which IMT are used as a data collection medium in mixed methods praxis. Under the theoretical position of medium theory, the impact of how going online and changing the “mode” of traditional research will be explored. Advantages, drawbacks, as well as ethical issues that emerge for mixed methods using the online medium are highlighted throughout the article. Finally, implications and directions for future research using IMT are discussed.
Land Sector Reforms in Ghana, Kenya and Vietnam: A Comparative Analysis of Their Effectiveness

The notion that the formal titling and individualization of land rights in developing countries lead to higher investments in land and agricultural productivity holds sway in academic and development circles. In this paper, this notion is analyzed based on a comparative study of land reform programs and their implications for access to land, credit, and agricultural investments in Ghana, Kenya, and Vietnam. It focuses on how different access routes to land influence access to credit, and the transaction costs of land reform programs for agricultural investments. The paper concludes that in developing countries, the transaction costs of land reforms for investments can significantly increase if the influence of power is not addressed in order to reduce unequal access to land. The practical implementation of land reform is influenced by many factors, including the control on political power. Thus, measures must accompany implementation to check the use of power to derail land reform objectives. Moreover, the paper supports the argument that land reforms should be implemented in their local contexts so as to have positive effects on agriculture.
Recent trends and clinical features of childhood vitamin D deficiency presenting to a children's hospital in Glasgow

Background The incidence of vitamin D deficiency is unclear in the context of continuing demographic changes and the introduction of new public health measures. Methods All cases in which vitamin D deficiency was suspected as the primary cause of the clinical presentation were studied. Results Between 2002 and 2008, 160 cases of symptomatic vitamin D deficiency were identified with twice as many cases in 2008 (n, 42) as in the previous years. The median age of the cohort was 24 months (range 2 weeks-14 years). Three cases were recorded in children of European background, whereas the rest were in children of South Asian, Middle Eastern or sub-Saharan ethnic background. Presenting features included bowed legs in 64 (40%) and a fit in 19 (12%). In one infant, concerns were raised following a presentation with cardiac failure and hypocalcaemia. Summary Symptomatic vitamin D deficiency remains prevalent in the West of Scotland. There is a need for effective public health education, action and surveillance.
Activity of neurons in anterior inferior temporal cortex during a short- term memory task

Inferior temporal (IT) cortex of primates is known to play an important role in visual memory. Previous studies of IT neurons during performance of working memory tasks have found modulation of responses when a current stimulus matched an item in memory; however, this effect was lost if other stimuli intervened in the retention interval. To examine how IT cortex retains memories while new stimuli are activating the cells, we recorded from IT neurons while monkeys performed a delayed matching-to-sample task, with multiple intervening items between the sample and matching test stimulus. About half of the cells responded differently to a test stimulus if it matched the sample, and this difference was maintained following intervening stimuli. For most of the affected cells, the responses to matching stimuli were suppressed; however, for a few cells the opposite effect was seen. Temporal contiguity alone could not explain the results, as there was no modulation of responses when a stimulus on one trial was repeated on the next trial. Thus, an active reset mechanism appears to restrict the memory comparison to just the stimuli presented within a trial. The suppressive effects appear to be generated within or before IT cortex since the suppression of response to matching stimuli began almost immediately with the onset of the visual response. The memory of the sample stimulus affected not only the responses to matching stimuli but also those to nonmatching stimuli. There was suggestive evidence that the more similar a nonmatching stimulus to the sample, the more the response was suppressed. About a quarter of the cells showed stimulus- selective activity in the delay interval following the sample. However, this activity appeared to be eliminated by intervening stimuli. Thus, it is unlikely that delay-interval activity in IT contributed to the performance of this particular version of delayed matching to sample. To determine how much information about the match-nonmatch status of the stimulus was conveyed by individual neurons, we analyzed the responses with discriminant analysis. The responses of an individual IT neuron could be used to classify a stimulus as matching or nonmatching on about 60% of the trials. To achieve the same performance as the animal would require averaging the responses of a minimum of 25 IT neurons. There was no evidence that mnemonic information was carried by temporal variations in the spike trains. By contrast, there was a modest amount of temporal variation in sensory responses to different visual stimuli. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Bone Morphogenetic Protein-9 Induces Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer Cells, the Role of Prostate Apoptosis Response-4

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) have been implicated in the development of bone metastases in prostate cancer. In this study, we investigated the role which BMP-9 played in prostate cancer and found that the expression of BMP-9 was decreased or absent in prostate cancer, particularly in the foci of higher grade disease. We further investigated the influence of BMP-9 on the biological behaviors of prostate cancer cells. The forced overexpression of BMP-9 prevented the in vitro growth, cell-matrix adhesion, invasion, and migration of prostate cancer cells. We also elucidated that BMP-9 induced apoptosis in PC-3 cells through the up-regulation of prostate apoptosis response-4. Among the receptors which have been implicated in the signaling of BMP-9, BMPR-IB and BMPR-II have also been implicated in the development and progression of prostate cancer. Knockdown of BMPR-IB or BMPR-II using respective hammerhead ribozyme transgenes could promote cell growth in vitro. We also found that BMPR-II is indispensable for the Smad-dependent signal transduction by BMP-9 in PC-3 cells, in which Smad-1 was phosphorylated and translocated from the cytoplasm into the nuclei. Taken together, BMP-9 inhibits the growth of prostate cancer cells due to the induced apoptosis, which is related to an up-regulation of prostate apoptosis response-4 through a Smad-dependent pathway. BMP-9 could also prevent the migration and invasiveness of prostate cancer. This suggests that BMP-9 may function as a tumor suppressor and apoptosis regulator in prostate cancer. (Mol Cancer Res 2008;6(10):1594–1606)
The Validity of the Detroit Test of learning Aptitude

To examine the validity of the Detroit Test of Learning Aptitude for the evaluation of students with learning disabilities, the records of 163 referred children were reviewed. Each child had been administered the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT), the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R), and the Verbal Opposites, Motor Speed, Unrelated Words, Memory for Objects, and Memory for Designs subtests of the Detroit Test of Learning Aptitude (Detroit). A series of hierarchical multiple regression analyses were computed to determine the relationship among WRAT, WISC-R, and Detroit scores. It was concluded that once a student's age and WISC-R Full Scale IQ ere known, the Detroit subtest scores contributed minimally to an understanding of the student's academic achievement. Additional analyses revealed that the inter correlations between the Detroit subtests and the WISC-R were not strong.
Academics’ Responses to the Implementation of a Quality Agenda

ABSTRACT This paper proposes a new implementation model that bases implementation outcomes on the responses of academics to a new policy. The model is derived from a review of policy and organisational behaviour literature. The model was tested within the context of the implementation of significant reforms aimed at changing the work practices of academics operating in the Australian higher education sector, in particular reforms resulting from the implementation of a quality initiative in the early 1990s, at approximately the same time as the advent of managerialism. The findings were used to modify the original model. The major finding is that the long‐established organisational culture is maintained and reinforced by the actions of senior academics undertaking management responsibilities. As such, the factors organisational culture and leadership combine to form a strong force that acts to mediate proposed organisational changes according to established values and beliefs. The revised model contributes to a better understanding of how academics respond during the implementation of change. The revised model may have relevance for similar types of professionals in public institutions, such as public research institutions, hospitals, schools and some welfare agencies.
Reconnecting With the Spirit of Workplace Ethnography

We chronicle the early history of organizational research in which ethnography was an important methodological tool used to study workers’ experiences. Early applied psychologists and management researchers were conversant with leading ethnographies and cited their work, occasionally even doing ethnography themselves. Although there is currently a vibrant niche of organizational researchers who use ethnography, the vast majority of organizational researchers have relied less on workplace ethnographies, citing them infrequently. We outline benefits of ethnography and explain reasons why organizational researchers should reconnect with the spirit of ethnography, even if practical constraints keep them from conducting ethnographical work themselves. In addition, we provide a list of recommended workplace ethnographies that have been cited most frequently by organizational researchers.
On (Re-Scaled) Multi-Attempt Approximation of Customer Choice Model and its Application to Assortment Optimization

Motivated by the classic exogenous demand model and the recently developed Markov chain model, we propose a new approximation to the general customer choice model based on random utility called multi-attempt model, in which a customer may consider several substitutes before finally deciding to not purchase anything. We show that the approximation error of multi-attempt model decreases exponentially in the number of attempts. However, despite its strong theoretical performance, the empirical performance of multi-attempt model is not satisfactory. This motivates us to construct a modification of multi-attempt model called re-scaled multi-attempt model. We show that re-scaled 2-attempt model is exact when the underlying true choice model is Multinomial Logit (MNL); if, however, the underlying true choice model is not MNL, we show numerically that the approximation quality of re-scaled 2-attempt model is very close to that of Markov chain model. The key feature of our proposed approach is that the resulting approximate choice probability can be explicitly written. From a practical perspective, this allows the decision maker to use off-the-shelf solvers, or borrow existing algorithms from literature, to solve a general assortment optimization problem with a variety of real-world constraints.
Role of actin filaments in the hatching process of mouse blastocyst

Hatching has been suggested to occur as a result of protease-mediated lysis and the blastocoele tension. However, even if rupturing is initiated at multiple sites, interestingly only a single site is used for escape. This implies that there are several mechanisms involved in hatching. In this study, the involvement of actin filaments in mouse embryo hatching was examined. We treated mouse embryos with cytochalasin B for 12 h or 24 h at the morula, middle blastocyst, expanded blastocyst, lobe-formed blastocyst and hatching blastocyst stages, and measured the amount and distribution of actin filaments using a confocal microscope. At morula, middle blastocyst, lobe-formed blastocyst and hatching blastocyst stages embryonic development was completely arrested by cytochalasin B. However, when transferred to cytochalasin-B-free medium, the embryos resumed development and escaped the zona pellucida. In the expanded blastocysts development was almost completely inhibited by cytochalasin B, but rupturing occurred in some embryos. However, development stopped completely at the ruptured stage. Distribution of actin filaments was prominent at rupturing and hatching sites regardless of cytochalasin B treatment. The amount of actin filaments was prominent at hatching embryos compared with other developmental stages of embryos. These actin filaments were distributed intensively between the trophectodermal cells, and formed locomotion patterns. Taken together, these results suggest that not only tension and lytic enzymes are required to rupture, but the activity of actin filaments may have a crucial role in the process of hatching.
Territories in action, territories for action: the territorial dimension of Italian local development policies

Current changes in territorial organization are interpreted by focusing on two main aspects that are different yet closely interrelated. The first aspect concerns relationships between unfolding processes of territorial redefinition and changes imposed by globalization processes and by European integration, and by the loss of centrality and of part of the power of nation-state government. The second aspect concerns the change in forms and procedures of collective action in urban and territorial policies, recognizing, in particular, the consolidation — including in practices — of forms of partnership, inter-institutional cooperation, strategic planning and governance. Within this general context, this article aims to present and discuss changes, both ongoing and recent, by (1) presenting the changes that are emerging in the framework of Italian urban and territorial policies; and (2) discussing critically, with reference to the Italian case, the relationship between change in the idea of local territories and change in urban and territorial policies. Our aim is to verify whether, within what limits and from what point of view, the innovations introduced in the Italian context may be interpreted as changes that are moving towards more place-focused forms of urban and territorial governance. On interprete les evolutions actuelles de l'organisation territoriale a travers deux aspects dominants, differents quoique etroitement lies. Le premier concerne les relations entre les processus d'explication de la redefinition territoriale et les changements imposes par les processus de mondialisation et l'integration europeenne, et par la disparition de la centralite et d'une partie de la puissance gouvernementale de l'Enation. Le second porte sur la transformation des formes et procedures d'action collective dans les politiques publiques urbaines et territoriales, celles-ci reconnaissant notamment la fusion — y compris dans les pratiques — de formes de partenariat, cooperation inter-institutions, planification strategique et gouvernance. Dans ce contexte general, l'article cherche a exposer et etudier les evolutions actuelles et recentes, d'une part en presentant les changements qui apparaissent dans le cadre des politiques urbaines et territoriales italiennes, d'autre part en abordant de facon critique, par rapport au cas italien, le lien entre un changement d'idee sur les territoires locaux et une transformation des politiques urbaines et territoriales. Il s'agit de verifier si les innovations introduites dans le contexte italien peuvent s'interpreter comme des changements tendant a des formes de gouvernance urbaine et territoriale plus soucieuses des lieux, et ce dans quelle mesure et de quel point de vue.
Global democracy and the democratic minimum: Why a procedural account alone is insufficient

In this critical comment on the global democracy debate, I take stock of contemporary proposals for democratizing global governance. In the first part of the article, I show that, empirically, many international institutions are now evaluated in terms of their democratic credentials. At the same time, the notions of democracy that underpin such evaluations are often very formalistic. They focus on granting access to civil society organizations, making policy-relevant documents available online or establishing global parliamentary assemblies to give citizens a voice in the decision-making of international organizations. In the second part, I challenge this focus on formal procedures and argue that a normatively persuasive conception of global democracy would shift our focus to areas such as health, education and subsistence. Contrary to much contemporary thinking about global democracy, I thus defend the view that the institutions we have are sufficiently democratic. What is needed are not better procedures, but investments that help the weaker members of global society to make effective use of the democracy-relevant institutions that exist in contemporary international politics.