Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spinal Prostaglandins Facilitate Exaggerated A- and C-fiber-mediated Reflex Responses and Are Critical to the Development of Allodynia Early after L5-L6 Spinal Nerve Ligation

Background:Spinal prostaglandins are important in the early pathogenesis of spinal nerve ligation (SNL)–induced allodynia. This study examined the effect of SNL on the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2, and prostaglandin E2 receptors in the rat lumbar spinal cord, and the temporal and pharmacologic relation of these changes to the exaggerated A- and C-fiber-mediated reflex responses and allodynia, 24 h after injury. Methods:Male Sprague-Dawley rats, fitted with intrathecal catheters, underwent SNL or sham surgery. Paw withdrawal threshold, electromyographic analysis of the biceps femoris flexor reflex, and immunoblotting of the spinal cord were used. Results:Both allodynia (paw withdrawal threshold of ≤ 4 g) and exaggerated A- and C-fiber-mediated reflex responses (i.e., decrease in activation threshold, increase in evoked activity, including windup; P < 0.05) were evident 24 h after SNL but not sham surgery. Allodynic animals exhibited significant increases in prostaglandin E2 receptor (subtypes 1–3) and COX-1 (but not COX-2) expression in the ipsilateral lumbar dorsal horn. The corresponding ventral horns and contralateral dorsal horn were unchanged from sham controls. Exaggerated A- and C-fiber-mediated reflex responses were significantly attenuated by intrathecal SC-560 or SC-51322, but not SC-236, given 24 h after SNL. Conclusion:These results provide further evidence that spinal prostaglandins, derived primarily from COX-1, are critical in the exaggeration of A- and C-fiber input and allodynia, 24 h after SNL.
Optimum Power and Rate Adaptation for MQAM in Rayleigh Flat Fading With Imperfect Channel Estimation

We derive an optimum power and rate adaptation for maximizing the spectral efficiency based on an imperfect channel estimate and subject to average power and instantaneous bit error rate (BER) constraints for multilevel quadrature amplitude modulation (MQAM) over Rayleigh flat-fading channels. The optimal solution is derived for continuous- and discrete-rate adaptation and is expressed in terms of a specific bounded function that is the solution of a nonlinear equation and cannot be expressed in a closed mathematical form. The optimum power adaptation for the continuous rate is shown to be a generalization of water pouring for that function. It is also shown that the conventional water-pouring (with bias) strategy for power adaptation in the continuous-rate condition is a suboptimum solution of the general optimization problem, and it tends to the optimal solution as the correlation coefficient between the true channel gain and its estimate tends to one. We also show that less than 1 dB power is lost by using discrete-rate MQAM with only six different signal constellations compared to the continuous-rate adaptation with an unconstrained constellation size.
Context-based location clustering and prediction using conditional random fields

The embrace of pervasive devices accounts for the production of a massive amount of location data. While multitudes of algorithms have been used for location clustering, most of them focus on the proximity clustering of locations rather than on their location contexts. In this work, we propose a novel context-based location clustering technique that clusters locations with similar context by solely using raw GPS data from multi-user trajectories. We introduce a new similarity measure that infers the location context and utilize the inferred contexts during clustering. In addition, we propose a predictive model that employs Conditional Random Fields (CRF), context-based location clusters and social ties for future location prediction. We show the strength and efficiency of our techniques through numerous experiments on two real datasets. Our empirical evaluations demonstrate that our approach performs better than a state-of-the-art work.
State Academic Standards

Standards-based reform has been America’s premier education strategy for more than a decade. Its many backers seek stronger school and student performance and more equal opportunities for children, especially disadvantaged youngsters. Every state in the union claims to be engaged in this challenging and high-minded quest. Under both Republicans and Democrats, Congress and the White House have recast federal policy to support standards-based reform. Business leaders, school officials, newspaper editors, and teacher unionists all pledge their allegiance to this ambitious approach to educational renewal. Hopeful signs abound. Some states are boosting their scores, children are learning more, teachers are using surer methods of instruction. Education is attracting more high-level attention and political energy than ever before. Yet standards-based reform also faces genuine peril. Its enemies’ ranks are growing. Its allies sometimes falter. Careless implementation has produced snafus. The future for standards-based reform is uncertain. But the price of failure would be high.
Sustainable performance increase and strategic turnaround management: current corporate restructuring experiences in the Romanian market

Purpose – Assuming that “change” is an ongoing, ordinary business condition, this paper seeks to introduce turnaround management as an ongoing management task to secure competitive advantage.Design/methodology/approach – The paper briefly reviews the impact of market turmoil on successful corporate management with particular reference to the Romanian market. It includes key learning based on structured, qualitative interviews of executives (corporate CEOs and leading corporate banking managers). Building on it, the paper comments pitfalls out of several emprical case studies at Eastern European companies, lost in a deemed “ever‐lasting growth” trap while losing grip over their true roots of competitive advantage. It assumes that turnaround management and sustainability are not mutually exclusive corporate paradigms during times of incisive economic recession.Findings – Ongoing turnaround management can be a successful key to achieve sustainable corporate performance improvement.Research limitations/implic.
Understanding recovery of small enterprises from natural disaster

This study, carried out among 251 small-scale firm owners by means of a cross-sectional survey, attempted to identify the factors affecting business recovery from disaster in a flood-prone area of Bangladesh. We selected the participants by using a convenience sampling technique, taking into consideration the characteristics of the firms, and the various enabling- and disaster-impact factors needed to identify those factors significant to business recovery from natural disaster. Results demonstrated that more than three-quarters (87.3%) of owners recovered their firms after disaster. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that a total of six variables had a significant impact on business recovery: two variables pertaining to the firms’ characteristics, namely, retail firms (OR = 0.147, P < 0.05) and the number of employees >4 (OR = 0.094, P < 0.01); two variables pertaining to enabling factors, namely, receiving loans (OR = 0.232, P < 0.01) and the perception of recovery (OR = 16.178, P < 0.01); and two variables pertaining to disaster-impact factors, namely, an income loss amounting to >BDT 2000 (OR = 7.395, P < 0.05) and permanent or temporary relocation of the market (OR = 9.252, P < 0.001). Results further demonstrated that almost equally half of the owners recovered their firms immediately or within 7 days after disaster (50.9%); the remaining 49.1% took longer. Multivariate analyses, on the other hand, significantly identified three characteristics, namely, 6–10 years of business operation (OR = 0.267, P < 0.01), 2–4 employees (OR = 0.1.822, P < 0.01), and a monthly income of BDT 5001–7500 (OR = 4.167, P < 0.01); two enabling factors, namely, institutional education (OR = 0.400, P < 0.05) and awareness of disaster assistance (OR = 0.607, P < 0.05); and two disaster-impact factors, namely, loss of human resources (OR = 6.293, P < 0.05) and interrupted supply of raw materials (OR = 4.741, P < 0.05). We concluded the study with discussions of a few policy implications.
Output Growth Volatility and Remittances

Since output growth volatility has negative effects on growth, poverty and welfare, especially in poorer countries, it is crucial to identify the country-specific factors that affect it. The empirical literature has focused mostly on financial development, policy distortions and globalization variables. Among the latter, attention has been directed in particular to trade and financial openness. We contribute to this literature by adding what we see as the missing globalization variable, the one related to the increasingly important phenomenon of international migrations, namely emigrants' remittances. Remittances can help reduce output growth volatility thanks to their considerable magnitude, stability and low pro-cyclicality. Applying an empirical framework taken from the existing literature to a sample of about 60 emerging and developing economies over the period 1980-2003, we provide robust evidence that remittances are negatively correlated to output growth volatility. Instrumental variable estimation supports our intuition about the direction of causality.
The pathology of slipped upper femoral epiphysis. A new concept.

1. Epiphysial tilt commonly precedes slipping. 2. This tilt is due to a diminished or arrested growth from compression of the back of the epiphysial plate. 3. The stresses on the upper end of the femur are such that the upper femoral epiphysial plate is peculiarly liable to compression. 4. A primary abnormality of the cartilage of the epiphysial plate renders it susceptible to the effect of compression. 5. Because this abnormality is diffuse, deformities due to a similar pathology may be found elsewhere, notably in the spine.
The Pricing of Assurance Services in Secondary Equity Offerings

This paper examines the pricing of assurance services in secondary equity offerings (SEOs). Our empirical model extends initial public offering (IPO) fee specifications to include variables that are unique to, or more relevant for, secondary offerings. We document an inverse relationship between SEO fees and a client's ability to delay its secondary offering, suggesting that auditors do not charge as much for SEOs made by relatively mature firms. The relationship reverses, however, when the client is required to use more comprehensive types of filings (i.e., when assurance effort is higher). We also show that fees are higher when the SEO comes to market during the client's annual audit period. This finding is consistent with the shifting of year-end audit fees to SEO engagements in an effort to boost earnings for both clients and auditors (at the expense of shareholders). We cannot, however, unambiguously conclude that fee shifting exists, as the observed fee premium could be explained by other factors.
Synchronized path following control for multiple underactuated AUVs

This paper addresses the problem of synchronized path following of multiple under-actuated autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). The dedicated control laws are categorized into two envelopes, one is steering individual vehicle to trace along predefined paths, and the other is ensuring tracked paths of multiple vehicles to be synchronized, by means of decentralized speed adaption under the constraints of multi-vehicle communication topology. With these two tasks formulation, geometric paths following are built on Lyapunov theory and backstepping techniques, while injecting helmsman like behavior into classic individual path following control. Synchronization of path parameters are obtained by using a mixture of tools from linear algebra, graph theory and control theory. A simple but effective control design on direct inter-vehicle speed adaption with minimized communication variables, enables the multi-AUV system to be synchronized and stabilized into an invariant manifold, and all speeds converge to desired assignments as a byproduct. Rigorous proof warrants the synchronized path following control laws proposed.
Tourists to Amboseli National Park: A factor-cluster segmentation analysis

This study, although exploratory by nature, uses benefit segmentation in order to understand how tourists differ in what they look for in Amboseli National Park, Kenya. The survey reveals that the sample studied can be grouped into three clusters according to their needs. These clusters can further be divided into two broad segments based on their attitudes to the environment: ecocentric and anthropocentric. The results show that these segments have differing profiles in terms of preferences and their behavioural characteristics. Thus, the analyses provide information beneficial to the appropriate allocation of limited resources by protected area's managers because the use of simple averages or majority opinions would conceal the heterogeneity of tourists' preferences.
The long-term effects of active entrepreneurial training on business school students' and graduates' attitudes towards entrepreneurship

At Laurentian University (Ontario, Canada), all second-year Business students complete an entrepreneurial active learning experience by preparing a comprehensive business plan over six months. Students develop an original business idea, perform a market research, and prepare a detailed business plan. This activity involves active, collaborative, and small group learning, and 'learning by doing'. This research verified whether Personal Objectives, Attitude towards Risk, Internality and Perceptions on Tutoring variables were associated with a high Entrepreneurial Orientation and whether highly entrepreneurial students had attitudes similar to those of self-employed graduates. Results showed that personal attitudes of students towards the business plan project related to the strength of their entrepreneurial orientation. Laurentian graduates high rate of self-employment was over 20%.
Patient‐reported symptoms in acute myocardial infarction: differences related to ST‐segment elevation

Kirchberger I, Meisinger C, Heier M, Kling B, Wende R, Greschik C, von Scheidt W, Kuch B. (Central Hospital of Augsburg, Augsburg; and Institute of Epidemiology, Neuherberg; Germany). Patient‐reported symptoms in acute myocardial infarction: differences related to ST‐segment elevation. J Intern Med 2011; 270: 58–64.
Role of type 1 versus type 2 immune responses in liver during the onset of chronic woodchuck hepatitis virus infection

Immune response messenger RNAs (mRNA) were compared in liver during self‐limited (resolved) and chronic neonatal woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) infection. At week 14 postinfection (mid‐acute phase), mRNAs for leukocyte markers (CD3, CD4, CD8), type 1 cytokines and related transcription factors (IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, STAT4, T‐bet), and IL‐10 were increased in livers from resolving infections, but mRNAs of other type 1 (IL‐2) and type 2 (IL‐4, STAT6, and GATA3 markers remained at baseline levels. Increased coexpression of IFN‐γ and TNF‐α mRNAs correlated in most cases with lower levels of intrahepatic WHV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). At the same time point postinfection, livers from woodchucks that eventually progressed to chronic infection had baseline or slightly elevated levels of CD and type 1 mRNAs, which were significantly lower (or elevated less frequently) compared with resolving woodchucks. Earlier, at week 8, there were no differences between the two outcome settings. During these early time points and at a later stage in chronic infection (15 months), type 2 mRNAs in carrier liver remained at baseline levels or, when elevated, were never in excess of those in resolving woodchucks. In conclusion, the onset and maintenance of neonatal chronic WHV infection are not associated with antagonistic type 2 immunoregulation of type 1 responses in liver. Accordingly, chronicity develops in association with a primary deficiency in the intrahepatic CD responses, especially involving CD8+ T lymphocytes, and in both extracellular (cytokine) and intracellular (transcriptional) type 1 response mediators. This has relevant implications for future treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in humans. (Hepatology 2003;37:771‐780.)
Integrating resource selection into spatial capture-recapture models for large carnivores

Wildlife managers need reliable methods to estimate large carnivore densities and population trends; yet large carnivores are elusive, difficult to detect, and occur at low densities making traditional approaches intractable. Recent advances in spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models have provided new approaches for monitoring trends in wildlife abundance and these methods are particularly applicable to large carnivores. We applied SCR models in a Bayesian framework to estimate mountain lion densities in the Bitterroot Mountains of west central Montana. We incorporate an existing resource selection function (RSF) as a density covariate to account for heterogeneity in habitat use across the study area and include data collected from harvested lions. We identify individuals through DNA samples collected by (1) biopsy darting mountain lions detected in systematic surveys of the study area, (2) opportunistically collecting hair and scat samples, and (3) sampling all harvested mountain lions. We included 80 DNA.
Strategic human resource management and its linkage with HRM effectiveness and organizational performance: evidence from India

The human resource management (HRM), once responsible for record keeping and maintenance, has evolved into a strategic partner. This has led to the emergence of the concept of strategic human resource management (SHRM). Despite the increasing importance of SHRM, there is still a paucity of empirical evidences from the emerging nations. Keeping in mind the fact that India is one of the fastest growing markets today, a need was felt to explore the SHRM terrain in the Indian context. On the basis of an extensive literature review, four types of fit vis-à-vis SHRM were identified. Collectively called the SHRM Inventory, these were empirically tested to establish unidimensionality, reliability, and validity. Thereafter, the four types of fit were linked to effectiveness of HRM function and organizational performance using Structural Equation Modeling capabilities of LISREL. Mixed support was found for the hypothesized relationships. This study has implications for both academicians and practitioners. The contributions of this study include the development of a reliable and valid instrument, namely, the SHRM Inventory, which is expected to aid researchers in the analysis of SHRM in other countries. The study is expected to serve as a guide in understanding the status of SHRM in India, as opposed to studies in traditional HR areas that have been the focus of research in India till now.
Intrinsic structural disorder of mouse proNGF

The unprocessed precursor of the Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), proNGF, has additional functions, besides its initially described role as a chaperone for NGF folding. The precursor protein endows apoptotic and/or neurotrophic properties, in contrast to the mature part. The structural and molecular basis for such distinct activities are presently unknown. Aiming to gain insights into the specific molecular interactions that govern rm‐proNGF biological activities versus those of its mature counterpart, a structural study by synchrotron small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) in solution was carried out. The different binding properties of the two proteins were investigated by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using, as structural probes, a panel of anti‐NGF antibodies and the soluble forms of TrkA and p75NTR receptors. SAXS measurements revealed the rm‐proNGF to be dimeric and anisometric, with the propeptide domain being intrinsically unstructured. Ab initio reconstructions assuming twofold symmetry generated two types of structural models, a globular “crab‐like” and an elongated shape that resulted in equally good fits of the scattering data. A novel method accounting for possible coexistence of different conformations contributing to the experimental scattering pattern, with no symmetry constraints, suggests the “crab‐like” to be a more likely proNGF conformation. To exploit the potential of chemical stabilizers affecting the existing conformational protein populations, SAXS data were also collected in the presence of ammonium sulphate. An increase of the proNGF compactness was observed. SPR data pinpoints that the propeptide of proNGF may act as an intrinsically unstructured protein domain, characterized by a molecular promiscuity in the interaction/binding to multiple partners (TrkA and p75NTR receptors and a panel of neutralizing anti‐NGF antibodies) depending on the physiological conditions of the cell. These data provide a first insight into the structural basis for the selectivity of mouse short proNGF, versus NGF, towards its binding partners. Proteins 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Globalization and Productivity: A Survey of Firm‐Level Analysis

Recent empirical studies which utilize plant- or establishment-level data to examine globalization's impact on productivity have discovered many causal mechanisms involved in globalization's impact on firms' productivity. Since these pathways have been broad, there have been few attempts to summarize the several and detailed mechanisms of self-selection and learning at the same time. This paper examines seven pathways so that the clear-cut consequences of the broad picture of globalization become visible. This strategy is useful for detecting missing links within and across the existing studies as well as for finding possible synergy effects among different mechanisms. Insightful policy implications may be derived from the comprehensive comparisons between the seven different pathways of globalization.
Short-term implantation-related complications of cardiac rhythm management device therapy: a retrospective single-centre 1-year survey.

AIMS The aim of this study was to evaluate the current short-term (<3 months) complication rate related to cardiac rhythm management (CRM) device implantations. METHODS AND RESULTS We analysed data of the complications related to all CRM device implantations during 1 year (2006) in a tertiary referral university hospital. In 567 device implantations, pacing system upgrade procedures, or lead revisions, 78 complications occurred in 69 (12.2%) patients. Lead dislodgement, pocket haematoma or bleeding, pneumothorax, and infection were the most common accounting for >80% of all complications. The complication rate was more than twice as high in bradycardia pacemaker (PM) implantations performed by cardiology trainees (17.4%) than by experienced cardiologists (7.7%, P = 0.001). When performed by experienced cardiologists, the complication rate was not higher in implantations of more complex devices compared with that of bradycardia PMs. Fifty-two of the 69 patients needed additional surgical procedures. Altogether, the complications required 504 additional treatment days in hospital. CONCLUSION In conclusion, our retrospective 1-year single-centre survey shows that short-term implantation-related complications of contemporary device therapy are still frequent, occur much more frequently by trainees than by cardiologists, require a large number of additional surgical procedures, and substantially prolong the hospital stay.