Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thyrotropin Secretion in Starved Rats is Enhanced by Somatostatin Antiserum

Previous studies have demonstrated that serum TSH and GH decrease during fasting. Taking advantage of the fact that somatostatin antiserum administration is an effective, specific method of blocking endogenous somatostatin activity, we performed the present investigation to explore whether known fasting-induced increases in somatostatin might underlie the mechanism(s) of this decrement. After a 48 hour fast, two groups of male rats were anesthetized and an indwelling right atrial catheter inserted. The control rats (n = 11) were injected with normal sheep serum and the experimental rats (n = 9) were injected with a specific antiserum to cyclic somatostatin; one and one-half hours later, blood was collected in a basal state after which 200 ng TRH was injected. The basal mean (+/- SE) T3 and T4 concentrations were 23 +/- 3 ng/dl and 1.9 +/- 0.1 ug/dl, respectively, in the fasted control group and 30 +/- 2 ng/dl and 2.3 +/- 0.2 ug/dl in the fasted somatostatin antiserum injected rats. While serum T4 and T3 levels were statistically unchanged between these two groups, basal TSH increased from 537 +/- 81 ng/ml in the control rats to 2913 +/- 742 ng/ml in the somatostatin antiserum-treated rats (P less than 0.05). Basal growth hormone levels were also higher in the somatostatin antiserum-injected rats (196 +/- 19 ng/ml vs 72 +/- 7 ng/ml (P less than 0.0025). TSH peak values following TRH injection were not different in the two study groups. In summary, the present study indicates that: (1) somatostatin antiserum increases both basal GH and TSH values in fasting rats; and (2) somatostatin and TRH may act through different pathways to modulate TSH secretion. By implication, therefore, it is suggested that enhanced somatostatin-like activity may represent one mechanism mediating the fasting-induced decrement observed in serum TSH and GH.
Battle Hymn of the Model Minority Myth

“War stories matter,” declared Drew Gilpin Faust, president of Harvard University, because they are not just passive accounts of conflict but have the power to “send men into battle and to shape the wars they fight. ” According to Faust in her Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities delivered in May 2011, war stories “are not just modeled from war; they become models for war. ” Despite their societal significance, she added, those narratives all suffer from a “fundamental untellability and unintelligibility,” leading them to distort our understanding of each successive war.
The Effect of Grades on the Preference Effect: Grading Reduces Consideration of Disconfirming Evidence

The tendency to look for evidence that supports, rather than questions, one's viewpoint (preference effect) is a pervasive phenomenon. Although one important goal of education is developing critical thinking, the widespread practice of grading might discourage students in appreciating disconfirming evidence. We hypothesized that individual grading increases the preference effect. In Experiment 1, participants who expected to be graded exhibited a higher preference effect compared to participants who expected their work to be merely visible. Experiment 2 replicated this effect and further showed that grading increased participants' perception of a competitive social comparison. Implications for educational policies are discussed.
On the Boundedness and Symmetry Properties of the Fractal Sets Generated from Alternated Complex Map

A complex map can give rise to two kinds of fractal sets: the Julia sets and the parameters sets (or the connectivity loci) which represent different connectivity properties of the corresponding Julia sets. In the significative results of (Int. J. Bifurc. Chaos, 2009, 19:2123–2129) and (Nonlinear. Dyn. 2013, 73:1155–1163), the authors presented the two kinds of fractal sets of a class of alternated complex map and left some visually observations to be proved about the boundedness and symmetry properties of these fractal sets. In this paper, we improve the previous results by giving the strictly mathematical proofs of the two properties. Some simulations that verify the theoretical proofs are also included.
Systems Analysis of the NCI-60 Cancer Cell Lines by Alignment of Protein Pathway Activation Modules with “-OMIC” Data Fields and Therapeutic Response Signatures

The NCI-60 cell line set is likely the most molecularly profiled set of human tumor cell lines in the world. However, a critical missing component of previous analyses has been the inability to place the massive amounts of “-omic” data in the context of functional protein signaling networks, which often contain many of the drug targets for new targeted therapeutics. We used reverse-phase protein array (RPPA) analysis to measure the activation/phosphorylation state of 135 proteins, with a total analysis of nearly 200 key protein isoforms involved in cell proliferation, survival, migration, adhesion, etc., in all 60 cell lines. We aggregated the signaling data into biochemical modules of interconnected kinase substrates for 6 key cancer signaling pathways: AKT, mTOR, EGF receptor (EGFR), insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R), integrin, and apoptosis signaling. The net activation state of these protein network modules was correlated to available individual protein, phosphoprotein, mutational, metabolomic, miRNA, transcriptional, and drug sensitivity data. Pathway activation mapping identified reproducible and distinct signaling cohorts that transcended organ-type distinctions. Direct correlations with the protein network modules involved largely protein phosphorylation data but we also identified direct correlations of signaling networks with metabolites, miRNA, and DNA data. The integration of protein activation measurements into biochemically interconnected modules provided a novel means to align the functional protein architecture with multiple “-omic” data sets and therapeutic response correlations. This approach may provide a deeper understanding of how cellular biochemistry defines therapeutic response. Such “-omic” portraits could inform rational anticancer agent screenings and drive personalized therapeutic approaches. Mol Cancer Res; 11(6); 676–85. ©2013 AACR.
A STUDY OF BEGGARS CHARACTERISTICS AND ATTITUDE OF PEOPLE TOWARDS THE PHENOMENON OF BEGGING IN THE CITY OF SHIRAZ

This research was based on the culture of poverty and social disorganization theories, using a survey method. The sample of the study included 330 beggars and 1000 non-beggars shiraz. The research findings revealed that 64/4 percent of the beggars aged lower than 20 years and most of them were mentally and physically healthy. Most of them live in the suburbs of the city where the culture of poverty is prevalent. The results of multiple regression implied that there is meaningful relationship between the factors of "being religious," marital status", "levels of education", "being rural or urban", "occupation" and "social class" of the participants and their attitudes toward the phenomenon of begging. It also shows that the factor of "degree of religion" explained the maximum amount of the dependent variable (tendency to help the beggars). variance
Early versus delayed initiation of adjuvant treatment for pancreatic cancer

Background Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive tumor showing a tendency for early recurrence, even after curative resection. Although adjuvant treatment improves survival, it is unclear whether early adjuvant treatment initiation yields better outcomes in patients with PDAC. Methods We retrospectively enrolled 113 patients who underwent chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy after curative resection of PDAC: Fifty-six and 57 patients were in the early and delayed groups, respectively based on the median time of treatment initiation (35 days [range, 20–83 days]). Results Patient baseline characteristics were comparable in both groups, except for grade III or IV postoperative complications (5.4% in the early group vs. 22.8% in the delayed group). With a median 20.3-month follow-up, the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) times were 29.5 and 14.7 months, respectively. The early group had significantly prolonged OS (39.1 vs. 21.1 months, p = 0.018) and DFS (18.8 vs. 10.0 months, p = 0.034), compared to the delayed group. Among 71 patients who completed planned adjuvant treatment, patients in the early group tended to have longer, though not statistically significant, OS and DFS times than those in the delayed group. In 67 patients without postoperative complications, patients in the early group had longer OS (42.8 vs. 20.5 months, p = 0.002) and DFS (19.6 vs. 9.1 months, p = 0.005) than those in the delayed group. By multivariate analysis, incompletion of treatment (hazard ratio [HR]: 4.039, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.334–6.992), delayed treatment initiation (HR: 1.822, 95% CI: 1.081–3.070), and positive angiolymphatic invasion (HR: 2.116, 95% CI: 1.160–3.862) were significantly associated with shorter OS. Conclusions Adjuvant treatment should be delivered earlier and completed for better outcomes in resected PDAC patients, especially without postoperative complications.
Stromal Fibroblast in Age-Related Cancer: Role in Tumorigenesis and Potential as Novel Therapeutic Target

Incidence of most common cancers increases with age due to accumulation of damage to cells and tissues. Stroma, the structure close to the basement membrane, is gaining increased attention from clinicians and researchers due to its increasingly, yet incompletely understood role in the development of age-related cancer. With advanced age, stroma generates a pro-tumorigenic microenvironment, exemplified by the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Components of the SASP, such as cytokines, chemokines, and high energy metabolites are main drivers of age-related cancer initiation and sustain its progression. Our purpose is to provide insight into the mechanistic role of the stroma, with particular emphasis on stromal fibroblasts, on the development of age-related tumors. We also present evidence of the potential of the stroma as target for tumor therapy. Likewise, a rationale for age-related antitumor therapy targeting the stroma is presented. We expect to foster debate on the underlining basis of age-related cancer pathobiology. We also would like to promote discussion on novel stroma-based anticancer therapeutic strategies tailored to treat the elderly.
Evaluating the Dynamic Employment Effects of Training Programs in East Germany Using Conditional Difference-in-Differences Annette Bergemann

Evaluating the Dynamic Employment Effects of Training Programs in East Germany Using Conditional Difference-in-Differences This study analyzes the employment effects of training in East Germany. We propose and apply an extension of the widely used conditional difference-in-differences evaluation method. Focusing on transition rates between nonemployment and employment we take into account that employment is a state dependent process. Our results indicate that using transition rates is more appropriate and informative than using unconditional employment rates as commonly done in the literature. Training as a first participation in a program of Active Labor Market Policies shows zero to small positive effects both on reemployment probabilities and on probabilities of remaining employed with notable variation over the different start dates of the program. JEL Classification: C14, C23, H43, J64, J68
A Note on the Complexity of Restricted Attribute-Value Grammars

The recognition problem for attribute-value grammars (AVGs) was shown to be undecidable by Johnson in 1988. Therefore, the general form of AVGs is of no practical use. In this paper we study a very restricted form of AVG, for which the recognition problem is decidable (though still NP-complete), the R-AVG. We show that the R-AVG formalism captures all of the context free languages and more, and introduce a variation on the so-called `off-line parsability constraint', the `honest parsability constraint', which lets different types of R-AVG coincide precisely with well-known time complexity classes.
Stoichiometry and kinetics of poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate metabolism in aerobic, slow growing, activated sludge cultures.

This paper discusses the poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) metabolism in aerobic, slow growing, activated sludge cultures, based on experimental data and on a metabolic model. The dynamic conditions which occur in activated sludge processes were simulated in a 2-L sequencing batch reactor (SBR) by subjecting a mixed microbial population to successive periods of external substrate availability (feast period) and no external substrate availability (famine period). Under these conditions intracellular storage and consumption of PHB was observed. It appeared that in the feast period, 66% to almost 100% of the substrate consumed is used for storage of PHB, the remainder is used for growth and maintenance processes. Furthermore, it appeared that at high sludge retention time (SRT) the growth rate in the feast and famine periods was the same. With decreasing SRT the growth rate in the feast period increased relative to the growth rate in the famine period. Acetate consumption and PHB production in the feast period both proceeded with a zero-order rate in acetate and PHB concentration respectively. PHB consumption in the famine period could best be described kinetically with a nth-order degradation equation in PHB concentration. The obtained results are discussed in the context of the general activated sludge models.
Integrated Poultry-Fish Farming Systems for Sustainable Rural Livelihood Security in Kumaon Hills of Uttarakhand

The study has analyzed socio-economic impact of poultry based farming system on farmers for their livelihood security and women empowerment. The analysis is based on the data collected from 95 poultry farmers selected from three hill districts of Kumaon region for two production years, 2011-12 and 2012- 13. It has been observed that the farmersâ€™ access to day-old chicks (DOCs)/fish seed/fingerlings plays the key role in popularization of integrated poultry-fish farming. The economics of prevailing poultry production systems has been worked out and it has been found that cost on rearing of chicks up to 3-5 weeks is nearly ` 46 per chick and a small unit of 10-15 birds in backyard poultry gives a net income of ` 11470/ annum. The chicken broilers could be reared successfully by farmers in the remote hills villages. The feed cost has a lionâ€™s share (72%), followed by DOCs cost in the total cost. The study has revealed that poultry could be successfully reared in backyard as well as intensive broiler farming. The adoption of integrated poultry-fish farming provides fetch additional income of ` 4000-5000 and employment opportunities for 45-50 human days. Additionally, the consumption of eggs/fish and meat adds to food quality and livelihood security of the resource-poor family. High costs of feed and chicks have been identified as the major constraints of integrated poultry farming. The study has concluded that the integrated poultry-fish system could address issues of sustainability, women empowerment and livelihood security effectively. The government should offer subsidy on feed and other inputs as incentives to the BPL families for adoption of integrated poultry-cum-fish farming which would lead to women empowerment and livelihood security in the region.
Dopamine D2 receptor density and personal detachment in healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the personality trait involving personal detachment and dopamine D2 receptor specific binding in healthy subjects. METHOD Eighteen adult subjects completed the Karolinska Scales of Personality and the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire and participated in a study that used [11C]raclopride positron emission tomography (PET) to quantify striatal D2 receptor binding. RESULTS A significant relationship was found between D2 receptor specific binding and detachment scores on the Karolinska Scales of Personality but not between D2 receptor specific binding and attachment scores on the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire. In an exploratory analysis, the authors found a significant relationship between binding and the sentimentality cluster on the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire but on no other personality clusters scores on the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire or Karolinska Scales of Personality. CONCLUSIONS These findings replicate those of a recent report that personal detachment scores on the Karolinska Scales of Personality are related to dopamine D2 receptor density and extends this finding by suggesting that the relationship is relatively specific to the trait defined by the Karolinska Scales of Personality and does not generalize to other forms of detachment.
The Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus in Ovarian Cancer: A Systematic Review

Objective We performed a systematic review and a meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in ovarian cancer. Methods A comprehensive search of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, CANCERLIT, LILACS, Grey literature and EMBASE was performed for articles published from January 1990 to March 2012. The following MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms were searched: “ovarian tumor” or “ovarian cancers” and “HPV” or “human papillomavirus. ” Included were case-control and cross-sectional studies, prospective or retrospective, that evaluated clinical ovarian cancer and provided a clear description of the use of in situ hybridization, Southern blot hybridization, and polymerase chain reaction. The statistical analysis was performed using REVMAN 5.0. Results In total, 24 primary studies were included in this meta-analysis. Studies from 11 countries on 3 continents contained data on HPV and ovarian cancer, including 889 subjects. Overall, the HPV prevalence in patients with ovarian cancer was 17.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 15.0%–20.0%). Human papillomavirus prevalence ranged from 4.0% (95% CI, 1.7%–6.3%) in Europe to 31.4% (95% CI, 26.9%–35.9%) in Asia. An aggregate of 4 case-control studies from Asia showed an odds ratio of 2.48 (95% CI, 0.64–9.57). Conclusions We found a high prevalence of HPV-positive DNA in ovarian cancer cases, but the role of HPV in ovarian cancer remains inconclusive. Further studies are needed to control case to answer this question.
A Modelling Study of the Impact of On-Road Diesel Emissions on Arctic Black Carbon and Solar Radiation Transfer

Market strategies have greatly incentivized the use of diesel engines for land transportation. These engines are responsible for a large fraction of black carbon (BC) emissions in the extra-tropical Northern Hemisphere, with significant effects on both air quality and global climate. In addition to direct radiative forcing, planetary-scale transport of BC to the Arctic region may significantly impact the surface albedo of this region through wet and dry deposition on ice and snow. A sensitivity study is made with the University of L’Aquila climate-chemistry-aerosol model by eliminating on-road diesel emissions of BC (which represent approximately 50% of BC emissions from land transportation). According to the model and using emission scenarios for the year 2000, this would imply an average change in tropopause direct radiative forcing (RF) of −0.054 W∙m−2 (globally) and −0.074 W∙m−2 over the Arctic region, with a peak of −0.22 W∙m−2 during Arctic springtime months. These RF values increase to −0.064, −0.16 and −0.50 W∙m−2, respectively, when also taking into account the BC snow-albedo forcing. The calculated BC optical thickness decrease (at λ = 0.55 µm) is 0.48 × 10−3 (globally) and 0.74 × 10−3 over the Arctic (i.e., 10.5% and 16.5%, respectively), with a peak of 1.3 × 10−3 during the Arctic springtime.
Indoor Environmental Quality in Mechanically Ventilated, Energy-Efficient Buildings vs. Conventional Buildings

Energy-efficient buildings need mechanical ventilation. However, there are concerns that inadequate mechanical ventilation may lead to impaired indoor air quality. Using a semi-experimental field study, we investigated if exposure of occupants of two types of buildings (mechanical vs. natural ventilation) differs with regard to indoor air pollutants and climate factors. We investigated living and bedrooms in 123 buildings (62 highly energy-efficient and 61 conventional buildings) built in the years 2010 to 2012 in Austria (mainly Vienna and Lower Austria). Measurements of indoor parameters (climate, chemical pollutants and biological contaminants) were conducted twice. In total, more than 3000 measurements were performed. Almost all indoor air quality and room climate parameters showed significantly better results in mechanically ventilated homes compared to those relying on ventilation from open windows and/or doors. This study does not support the hypothesis that occupants in mechanically ventilated low energy houses are exposed to lower indoor air quality.
Some noises with I/f spectrum, a bridge between direct current and white noise

Noises in thin metallic fills, semiconductors, nerve tissues, and many other media, have measured spectral densities proportional to f^\theta - 2} withfthe frequency and \theta a constant 0 \leq \theta . The energy of these " f^{\theta-2} noises" behaves more "erratically" in time, than expected from functions subject to the Wiener-Khinchin spectral theory. Moreover, blind extrapolation of the " f^{\theta -2} law" to f=0 incorrectly suggests, when 0 \leq 1 , that the total energy is infinite ("infrared catastrophe"). The problems thus raised are of the greatest theoretical interest, and of the greatest practical importance in the design of electronic devices. The present paper reinterprets these spectral measurements without paradox, by introducing a concept to be called "conditional spectrum. " Examples are given of functions ruled by chance, that have the observed "erratic" behavior and conditional spectral density. A conditional spectrum is obtained when a procedure, meant to measure a sample Wiener-Khinchin spectrum, is applied to a sample conditioned to be nonconstant. The conditional spectrum is defined, not only for nonconstant samples from all random functions of the Wiener-Khinchin theory, but also for nonconstant samples from certain nonstationary random functions, and for nonconstant samples from a new generalization of random functions, called "sporadic functions. " The simplest sporadic functions, having a f^{-2} conditional spectral density, is a "direct current" with a single discontinuity uniformly distributed over - \infty . The other f^{\theta -2} noises to be described partake both of direct current and of white noise (the \theta =2 limit of f^{\theta - 2} noise), and continuously span the gap between these limits. In many cases, their noise energy can be said to be proportional to the square of their "dc" component. Empirical studies will be suggested, and the descriptive value of the concepts of dc component and of spectrum will be discussed.