Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aberrant Reduction of MiR-141 Increased CD47/CUL3 in Hirschsprung's Disease

Background: MiR-141 has been confirmed to be associated with various human diseases. However, whether miR-141 is involved in the pathogenesis of Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) remains unknown. Here, we design the experiment to reveal the relationship between miR-141 and HSCR. Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression levels of miR-141 and its potential genes in 70 tissues of HSCR compared with 60 controls. Bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) assay was applied to explain the possible mechanism of the aberrant expression level of miR-141. We employed a dual-luciferase reporter assay to validate the regulation relation between miR-141 and CD47/CUL3. Cell migration, proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle progression were examined by transwell assay, MTT assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. Results: MiR-141 was down-regulated whereas CD47 and CUL3 expression was increased in colon tissues from patients with HSCR compared with control group, The increased level of CD47 and CUL3 induced by miR-141 reduced proliferation and migration of 293T and SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, this suppression was reversed by reducing of CD47 and CUL3. Hypermethylation of a CpG Island in the promoter region of miR-141 gene was confirmed in HSCR tissues. Conclusion: Aberrant reduction of miR-141 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of HSCR with the inhibiting affection on cell migration and proliferation abilities. The present study demonstrates for the first time the role of miR-141 and its target genes in the occurrence of HSCR, and provides us a new direction for the study of the pathogenesis of Hirschsprung's disease.
Ultrastructural study of Helicobacter pylori adherence properties in gnotobiotic piglets

Ultrastructural examination of gastric mucosa from Helicobacter pylori-infected gnotobiotic piglets identified four general adherence patterns comparable to those observed in human patients. Intimate associations between the bacterial and mucosal cell membranes, including cuplike invaginations and adherence pedestals, were present and were accompanied by alterations to microvilli and cell membrane morphology.
Oxygen Uptake of Canine Whole Body and Hind Limb with Hypocapnic Alkalosis

The effect of hypocapnic alkalosis induced by hyperventilation on whole-body and hind-limb oxygen uptake (&OV0312;o2) was studied in dogs anesthetized with pentobarbital. In the intact dog with a self-perfused hind limb, increasing pHa from 7.41 to 7.58 increased whole-body &OV0312;o2 8 per cent and decreased hind-limb &OV0312;o2 6 per cent. Isolated hind limbs perfused with heparinized whole blood had similar decreases in &OV0312;o2 with increases in arterial blood pH (pHa). However, isolated hind limbs perfused with whole blood containing citrate, phosphate, and dextrose (CPD) showed muscle twitches, had larger &OV0312;o2, values at identical pHa's, and had an increase in &OV0312;o2 with increase in pHa. These changes with a CPD perfusate were associated with low levels of ionized calcium (< 0.5 mEq/l), disappeared when calcium ion spontaneously increased to 1.0 mEq/l, and could be prevented or abolished by the addition of calcium chloride, dantrolene, d-tubocurarine, or succinylcholine. These results are in accord with the findings of others regarding an increase in whole-body &OV0312;o2 with hypocapnic alkalosis, but do not support a contributory role of skeletal muscle to the overall increase
Severe Pediatric Midface Trauma: A Prospective Study of Growth and Development

AbstractSevere pediatric facial trauma is characterized by multiple, comminuted, and unstable fractures, frequently necessitating operative intervention. Disruption of facial growth is a primary concern in the long-term sequelae of such conditions. Children suffering from midface fractures were followed over time in a long-term growth and development study. Lateral cephalograms at longest-term follow-up were traced, digitized, and averaged. Seven landmarks of the midface (A point, ANS, orbitale, bridge of nose, distal U6, upper lip, stomion superius) were identified for comparative measurements with age and sex-matched superimposed Bolton norms as controls. Differences in x and y axes between test and control metrics were measured. Clinical significance was defined as a 2-mm discrepancy from the norm. Statistical significance for each patient was determined using t tests of the x and y arrays of patient values versus normal controls. Seven patients met the inclusion criteria with mean age of 8.9 years at the time of injury. Mean cephalometric follow-up was 4.6 years (range 2–10 years). Six out of 7 patients (86%) showed clinically significant impairment in growth in horizontal (29%), vertical (29%), or both planes (29%). T Tests confirmed statistical significance (P ⩽ 0.05) for all clinically significant differences. Mean deficiency in growth for all landmarks was 3.7 mm (range −4.0 to 13.7 mm) in the x axis and 2.9 mm (range −1.1 to 8.8 mm) in the y axis. Severe pediatric midface trauma often results in compromised bone growth and permanent facial deformity. New methodologies of management that better allow for growth are needed.
Size and Density Economies in Refuse Collection

The focus of the paper is to analyze the costs of solid waste collection by applying a well-behaved multiproduct cost function model to a sample of more than 500 Italian municipalities. Beyond shedding light on the presence and on the extent of size (or scale) economies, our aim is to investigate in depth the issue of economies of density, which is still an underexplored topic in the literature. Our cost function specification, by being able to estimate several measures of density economies (such as output density economies, vertical density economies and horizontal density economies), allows to capture the impact of different urbanization models on the costs of refuse collection and disposal. The results of the estimates highlight the presence of output density economies as well as horizontal density economies. Conversely, there is significant and robust evidence of the existence of vertical density diseconomies, which suggests that congestion problems in densely populated councils are severely affecting garbage collection costs. Finally, there is evidence of diseconomies of size, which suggests that aggregating the refusal collection operations of several municipalities would not bring savings in the average costs.
Preservice Second-Career Teachers in a Blended Online-Residential Preparation Program: Profiling Characteristics and Motivations

This study examines preservice second-career teachers (SCTs), their motivations for switching careers, and their perceptions of the profession. Participants were graduate students in a blended online-residential Master of Arts in Teaching program (n=311). Profiles, characteristics, motivations, and perceptions were explored using the FITChoice (Factors Influencing Teaching Choice) Scale and focus groups.
A hybrid approach based on neural networks and genetic algorithms to the study of profitability in the Spanish Stock Market

This paper studies predictability and profitability of using neural networks (NN) in the Spanish security market. This is carried out through a hybrid approximation which entails evolving a genetic algorithm in order to obtain an optimal NN's architecture. To that end, (NNs) forecasts are transformed into a simple trading strategy, whose profitability is evaluated against a simple buy-and-hold strategy.
Multivariate regimeswitching GARCH with an application to international stock markets

We develop a multivariate generalization of the Markov-switching GARCH model introduced by Haas, Mittnik, and Paolella (2004b) and derive its fourth-moment structure. An application to international stock markets illustrates the relevance of accounting for volatility regimes from both a statistical and economic perspective, including out-of-sample portfolio selection and computation of Value-at-Risk.
Age‐Dependent Effects on Functional Aspects in Human Satellite Cells

Abstract: In humans aging is a complex process that determines many physical and metabolic alterations correlated to the accumulation of oxidative damage in different tissues. Sarcopenia is an age‐related nonpathological condition that includes a progressive loss of mass and strength in skeletal muscle, associated with a decline in the fibers' functional capability. This condition could be correlated to abnormal reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation with consequent fiber oxidative damage. This complex situation is not only evident in mature muscle fibers but also in muscle resident satellite cells (involved in fiber damage repairing) in which some functional parameters, at least for that concerns the Ca2+ homeostasis, seem to be modified. In fact, our data show that there is an age‐dependent increase of lipid peroxidation, in cultured myotubes (differentiated and fused satellite cells) after 7 days of in vitro differentiation. In these substrates also the capacity of these cells to produce Ca2+ transient in response to various stimuli (ATP, caffeine, nicotine, KCl) is, sometimes, drastically modified. In particular, the presence of an age‐dependent defective status of excitation–contraction (EC) coupling apparatus is supported by a single cell Ca2+ analysis obtained from myotubes (derived from aged muscles) in the presence of 40 mM caffeine or 40 mM KCl. The alkaloid presence induces a complete emptying of ryanodine‐dependent calcium stores indicating a probable integrity both of SR‐terminal cisternae and/or the specific Ca2+ channel known as RyR1. However, if a sarcolemmal depolarization is induced by the addition of 40 mM KCl in the experimental medium then Ca2+ release RyR1‐dependent can be observed only if Ca2+ is present in the experimental solution. These results suggest that the EC uncoupling status could be due to the alteration of the interaction between RyR and DHPR. The two receptors are present and functionally active in myotubes from aged donors but they are probably still not in the right localization. These results suggest that during donor's life the satellite cells undergo an aging process similar to the one observed in skeletal muscle tissue, even if they are in a quiescence status for most of the time.
Beneficial Effects of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles in Development of Chondrocyte-Seeded Hydrogel Constructs and Cellular Response to Interleukin Insults

The harsh inflammatory environment associated with injured and arthritic joints represents a major challenge to articular cartilage repair. In this study, we report the effect of cerium oxide nanoparticles, or nanoceria, in modulating development of engineered cartilage and in combating the deleterious effects of interleukin-1a. Nanoceria was found to be biocompatible with bovine chondrocytes up to a concentration of 1000mg/mL (60,000 cells/mg of nanoceria), and its presence significantly improved compressive mechanical properties and biochemical composition (i.e., glycosaminoglycans) of engineered cartilage. Raman microspectroscopy revealed that individual chondrocytes with internalized nanoceria have increased concentrations of proline, procollagen, and glycogen as compared with cells without the nanoparticles in their vicinity. The inflammatory response due to physiologically relevant quantities of interluekin-1a (0.5 ng/mL) is partially inhibited by nanoceria. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, these results are the first to demonstrate a high potential for nanoceria to improve articular cartilage tissue properties and for their long-term treatment against an inflammatory reaction.
From Shop Floor to Boardroom: The Historical Evolution of Australian Management Consulting, 1940s to 1980s

This article traces the historical development of management consulting in Australia. While some observers have argued the origins of management consulting involved primarily executive and board-level advice over corporate strategy and structure, as was the case in the United Kingdom, Australian management consulting began with a dominantly Taylorist focus on shop-floor productivity before diversifying into the broader range of general management services. It is argued that while economic and technological changes have played a role in such diversification, of equal importance has been the ability of consultancies to reinvent themselves and create demand amongst clinet organisations for an ever increasing range of services. The article concludes by arguing that modern management consulting is a diverse and segmented industry that has been involved as much in the provision of advice and expertise over shop-floor efficiencies, as it has in boardroom strategy.
Corporate reputation versus corporate branding: the realist debate

Studies in the fields of marketing and corporate identity are at a crossroads. Changes in the structure of organisations and their operating environments have led to the emergence of the concept of corporate branding and possibly even the development of a new domain of management science. This paper traces the development of brand thinking from both a marketing (customer market) perspective and a multi‐disciplinary (organisation) perspective. Argues that the current transitional period is, in fact, caused by a congruence of thinking in these two fields and that much of the current debate has stemmed from their alternative starting points; a “top down” organisational perspective versus a “bottom up” customer market perspective. Adopts a realist perspective to build a conceptual framework that combines elements of both approaches and describes the application of this framework and a new marketing model to an initial pilot study.
Coexpression of FAS and FAS-Ligand in Chronic Pancreatitis: Correlation with Apoptosis

Activation of the Fas receptor by Fas-ligand (FasL) results in apoptosis, and dysregulation of this pathway may contribute to abnormal cell proliferation and cell death. The aim of this study was to compare the expression of Fas and FasL in the normal pancreas and chronic pancreatitis (CP). By Northern blotting, Fas messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were increased in CP in comparison to the normal pancreas. Immunostaining revealed that faint Fas and FasL immunoreactivity was present in ductal and islet cells of the normal pancreas. In CP, there was faint Fas and strong FasL immunoreactivity in the proliferating ductal cells. Additionally, many of these ductal cells in the CP samples exhibited an apoptotic signal, as determined by DNA 3´-OH end labeling. These findings suggest that activation of apoptosis through the Fas receptor may contribute to the pathobiology of CP.
A Model of Organizational Innovation Implementation Effectiveness in Small to Medium Firms

The present study aims to validate the current best-practice model of implementation effectiveness in small and mid-size businesses. Data from 135 organizations largely confirm the original model across various types of innovation. In addition, we extended this work by highlighting the importance of human resources in implementation effectiveness and the consequences of innovation effectiveness on future adoption attitudes. We found that the availability of skilled employees was positively related to implementation effectiveness. Furthermore, organizations that perceived a high level of benefits from implemented innovations were likely to have a positive attitude towards future innovation adoption. The implications of our improvements to the original model of implementation effectiveness are discussed.
Does Modernization Breed Ethnic Political Conflict?

Until the early 1970s many scholars believed that the process of economic modernization would result in the decline of ethnic political activity throughout the world. This melting pot modernization perspective failed on both theoretical and empirical grounds. After its collapse, scholars promoted a new conflictual modernization approach, which argued that modernization brought previously isolated ethnic groups into conflict. Although this approach accounted for the origins of ethnic conflict, it relied too heavily on elite motivations and could not account for the behavior of ethnic political movements. In the last five years, scholars have tried to develop a psychological approach to ethnic conflict. These scholars see conflict as stemming from stereotyped perceptions of differences among ethnic groups. This approach fails to analyze the tangible group disparities that reinforce these identifications and that may serve as the actual catalysts for ethnic political conflict. The conflictual modernization approach is reinvigorated by applying it to the cases of ethnic conflict in Canada and Belgium. In both of these countries the twin processes of economic modernization and political centralization intensified ethnic conflict while stripping ethnic movements of the romantic cultural ideologies and institutional frameworks that could provide these movements with some long-term stability. Thus, by integrating the modernization approach with a resource mobilization perspective we can develop theories that can account for ethnic conflict throughout the world.
Evidence of the Diminishing Return in Macro Bet Strategies When Using Chinese Equities as a Stand-Alone Asset Class

This study investigates whether Chinese equity markets can be considered as a standalone asset class in a well diversified global strategic allocation portfolio. Examining the evolution of the differences in return, risk, and correlation between China and other markets, we find that Chinese stock markets have steadily been providing fewer diversification benefits from 1992 to 2013. Further, we find that global risk factors— global economic and financial risk factors-- have become increasingly important in explaining Chinese stock returns, largely dominating local risk factors by a margin of three to one. We conclude that while Chinese equities provides some diversification benefits, portfolio managers should not look at Chinese equity markets as a distinct asset class, but rather include Chinese stocks within a global sector/industry allocation investment policy.
Work Status and Work Performance of People With Disabilities

As the U.S. economy is thrust into the global economy and meets global economic competition, the country needs to mobilize people with disabilities to participate in the labor force and enable them to work and earn money optimally. Therefore, it is important to investigate the extent to which disability affects the employment rate and the levels of hourly wages and monthly earnings. This article presents the results of a study that investigated the net effect of disability on the work performance of adults. The specific areas of investigation were employment rate, monthly earnings, hourly wages, and hours of work per week. The major findings were that both statistically and substantively, the rate of employment and the level of monthly earnings of people with disabilities are significantly lower, controlling for other variables. Policy implications are discussed.
Strategic Moves and Organizational Survival in Turbulent Environments: The Case of Spanish Banks (1983-1997)

The main purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of 'strategic moves' (or strategic change) on the likelihood of organizational survival in a population of firms which has undergone radical transformations in its environment. To this end, we propose and test two competitive hypotheses which are the result of two other theoretical perspectives about the consequences of strategic change: the adaptation view (classic strategic management and dynamic capabilities) and the ecological approach. While from the former, in general, it is assumed that strategic change has a positive effect on the likelihood of organizational survival, from the ecological approach, it is frequently argued that attempts at reorganization in general and strategic change in particular tend to be associated with an increase in the likelihood of organizational extinction. The sample used to test the two proposed hypotheses is the Spanish bank population over the period 1983-97. The results confirm the positive and significant effect of strategic moves (or strategic change) on the likelihood of organizational survival, in line with the conclusions of the adaptive perspective and other empirical research carried out in different settings. This paper introduces two important methodological innovations: (a) the definition and measurement of 'strategic moves' (or strategic change) by using a new cluster algorithm, the MCLUST; and (b) the control of the non-observable heterogeneity using panel data models for 'probit' regression. Copyright Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2006.
CRH-induced electrical activity and calcium signalling in pituitary corticotrophs.

Pituitary corticotroph cells generate repetitive action potentials and associated Ca2+ transients in response to the agonist corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH). There is indirect evidence suggesting that the agonist, by way of complex intracellular mechanisms, modulates the voltage sensitivity of the L-type Ca2+ channels embedded in the plasma membrane. We have previously constructed a Hodgkin-Huxley-type model of this process, which indicated that an increase in the L-type Ca2+ current is sufficient to generate repetitive action potentials (LeBeau et al. (1997). Biophys. J.73, 1263-1275). CRH is also believed to inhibit an inwardly rectifying K+ current. In this paper, we have found that a CRH-induced inhibition of the inwardly rectifying K+ current increases the model action potential firing frequency, [Ca2+]i transients and membrane excitability. This dual modulatory action of CRH on inward rectifier and voltage-gated Ca2+ channels better describes the observed CRH-induced effects. This structural alteration to the model along with parameter changes bring the model firing frequency in line with experimental data. We also show that the model exhibits experimentally observed bursting behaviour, where the depolarization spike is followed by small oscillations in the membrane potential.
Value-at-risk forecasts under scrutiny—the German experience

We present an analysis of the VaR forecasts and the P&L series of all 12 German banks that used internal models for regulatory purposes throughout the period from the beginning of 2001 to the end of 2004. One task of a supervisor is to estimate the ‘recalibration factor’, i.e. by how much a bank over- or underestimates its VaR. The Basel traffic light approach to backtesting, which maps the count of exceptions in the trailing year to a multiplicative penalty factor, can be viewed as a way to estimate the ‘recalibration factor’. We introduce techniques that provide a much more powerful inference on the recalibration factor than the Basel approach based on the count of exceptions. The notions ‘return on VaR (RoVaR)’ and ‘well-behaved forecast system’ are keys to linking the problem at hand to the established literature on the evaluation of density forecasts. We perform extensive bootstrapping analyses allowing (1) an assessment of the accuracy of our estimates of the recalibration factor and (2) a comparison of the estimation error of different scale and quantile estimators. Certain robust estimators turn out to outperform the more popular estimators used in the literature. Empirical results for the non-public data are compared to the corresponding results for hypothetical portfolios based on publicly available market data. While these comparisons have to be interpreted with care since the banks' P&L data tend to be more contaminated with errors than the major market indices, they shed light on the similarities and differences between banks' RoVaRs and market index returns.