Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Exposure of Lead Acetate on Rabbit Renal Tissue

Background: Lead has been widely used in different industries for ages. It is one of the heavy metals, highly poisonous even at low doses, and has biochemical, physiological and behavioral side effects on human and animals. It has been shown that lead has toxic effects on different tissues such as neural and genitourinary tissues, cardiovascular systems and blood. Therefore, high attention has been paid to its environmental pollutions. Objectives: Although many histological and biochemical studies have reported about the effects of lead on the renal tissue, there are a few studies about the ultrastructure and morphometric effects of lead on the kidney. Hence, the aim of this study was the evaluation of morphology and morphometrics of rabbit renal urinary barrier ultrastructure following long-term exposure to lead acetate. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 20 male New Zealand rabbits were divided into control and test groups (10 in each). The test group was injected intraperitoneally with chronic dose (8.5 mg/kg of body weight) of lead acetate and for the control group the same volume of normal saline was used, every other day for 10 weeks. After anesthetizing, the biopsies of renal tissues were taken for light and electron microscopic morphometric and morphologic analyses. Results: Long-term exposure to lead acetate caused histopathology effects including dilatation, congestion, nuclei heterochromatic effects, increase in diameter of renal tubules and urinary barrier thickness in rabbit renal tissue. Conclusions: Quantitative and qualitative results of long-term lead acetate exposure showed many histopathology side-effects, especially in the urinary barrier.
Taking Stock: Farmers' reflections on the deregulation of Australian dairying

On 1 July 2000 significant changes to the regulation of Australian dairying came into effect. These changes eliminated subsidies to milk producers and removed barriers to the inter-State trade of dairy products. Victoria's dairy industry group was a powerful proponent of deregulation, because of the comparative advantage that the State's farmers have in production relative to Australia's other milk producers. However, the deregulation of the dairy industry was contested stridently by many stakeholders, particularly farmers and their representative groups in States other than Victoria. Even within Victoria some farmers were equivocal and some were opposed to the regulatory changes. This paper draws on interviews with informants in the Victorian dairy sector to reveal responses to the regulatory changes. The interviews indicate that opinion was divided before deregulation and remains so. The debate was largely between those who saw the regulatory changes as 'inevitable', some of whom thought it would be a 'good thing' and others who accepted, grudgingly, that it was simply going to happen, and those who thought there had to be alternatives that would avoid the expected adverse consequences.
Reaching Out and Reaching Within: A Study of the Relationship between Innovation Collaboration and Innovation Performance

A large body of research has thoroughly discussed and examined agglomeration advantages for innovation of geographically concentrated firms. However, there is an increasing awareness that this intellectual tradition tends to overemphasize the role of geographic proximity in the transfer of knowledge between firms and to under-theorize the contribution of nonlocal knowledge flows. With a sample of 143 manufacturing firms from Singapore, this research attempts to answer three interrelated questions: (1) Does local networking effort provide firms with added value above and beyond what is available to them by just “being there? ” (2) Does local collaboration contribute more to innovation performance than nonlocal collaboration? (3) What is the joint impact of local and nonlocal collaborations on innovation performance? We find that while local and nonlocal collaborations are statistically indistinguishable from each other in terms of their relative importance, they represent complementary spurs to innovation. Despite the unique research setting of Singapore as a city state, we argue that our findings may be generalizable to geographic systems in other parts of the world.
EXPORT‐LINKED EMPLOYMENT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

"This paper examines relevant data sources and develops a methodology based on available data in order to estimate the level of employment for a region that is linked to exports of goods and services. The methodology allows for the estimation of direct and indirect export-related employment at the 2-digit SIC industry level. In addition, the paper describes how the direction of regional trade can be estimated, and how regional employment linked to exports to major trading partners can be calculated. This methodology is then applied using data from the Southern California region. Tables with estimates of total regional export-linked employment (by industry) and the regional employment associated with exports to each of the region's top 10 export trading partners are included. The usefulness of this type of database with regard to economic policy is discussed, as well as regional economic implications of the current economic crisis in Asia. " ("JEL" F16, R15, R58, R23) Copyright 1999 Western Economic Association International.
Is There Too Much Hype about Index-based Agricultural Insurance?

Abstract Individual crop insurance has been largely abandoned in developing countries and replaced by insurance pilots based on weather indices. These pilot schemes have encountered low demand. Research suggests that better-off farmers may already be insured via income diversification, their assets and social networks, and may achieve profit-maximising portfolios without formal insurance contracts. They would be interested in such contracts only if they reliably reduced their exposure to risk at lower costs than their self-insurance mechanisms. Conversely, poor farmers are not able to self-insure adequately, have to trade-off returns for reduced risk and could, therefore, benefit from a well-designed insurance. But they are cash/credit constrained and, therefore, cannot advance the money before sowing time to buy insurance that pays out only after the harvest. Index insurance, therefore, cannot be scaled up. Even if a few farmers purchase it, governments still will need to run relief programmes for the uninsured. Standard ways suggested to improve the index insurance, such as reducing basis risks, educating farmers and improving weather data, do not improve the ability of small farmers to purchase insurance and may not improve product design sufficiently to be competitive with self-insurance of the better-off farmers.
Associations of three erythrocyte cation transport systems with plasma lipids in Utah subjects.

To investigate the pathophysiology of essential hypertension, detailed biochemical and clinical variables were collected and analyzed for 2091 Utah subjects aged 3 to 83 years. Three different measurements of erythrocyte cation transport were obtained: Na+-Li+ countertransport, Li+-K+ cotransport, and furosemide-insensitive Li+ efflux into MgCl2. Total plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were obtained from fasting subjects. Levels of high density lipoprotein subfractions 2 and 3 were also obtained from 350 subjects. Standardized data collection also included blood pressure, height, weight, and presence or absence of a diagnosis or treatment of essential hypertension. In univariate analyses of all 1420 adults, each of the three transport systems showed the same significant correlations with triglyceride levels (r = 0.33-0.35, p less than 0.0001), high density lipoprotein concentration (r = -0.19 to -0.21, p less than 0.001), and weight (r = 0.22-0.28, p less than 0.0001). In multivariate regression analyses, values for each transport system were significantly higher in hypertensive subjects; values for triglycerides, high density lipoprotein, and usually, the high density lipoprotein subfractions continued to have strong significant independent associations with all three transport systems; and weight remained significantly related only to Na+-Li+ countertransport. In separate logistic regressions, plasma triglyceride levels (positively, p less than 0.001) and high density lipoprotein subfraction 3 levels (inversely, p less than 0.03) were associated with hypertension itself. In multivariate analyses among 671 children, high density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein subfraction 3 levels showed significant (p less than 0.05) inverse correlations with Na+-Li+ countertransport and furosemide-insensitive Li+ efflux. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Immigrants in Risky Occupations

This chapter reviews the economics literature on immigrant-native differentials in occupational risk. It begins by briefly explaining the theory of compensating wage differentials. It then provides a more detailed discussion of the empirical evidence on the subject, which reaches several conclusions. First, immigrants are overrepresented in occupations and industries with higher injury and fatality rates. Second, immigrants have higher work-related injury and fatality rates in some advanced economies, but not all. Finally, most, but not all, immigrants appear to earn risk premiums similar to natives for working in risky jobs. The chapter closes with a discussion of areas where additional research is needed.
Market Efficiency, Thin Trading and Non‐linear Behaviour: Evidence from an Emerging Market

Emerging markets efficiency has been widely investigated, with mixed results. However such evidence is only reliable if the methodology adopted accounts for the institutional features of the market. Unlike previous studies this paper corrects for thin trading and incorporates possible non‐linear behaviour and regulatory changes. Using Istanbul Stock Exchange data we show that in its early years the exchange was characterised by non‐linear behaviour and inefficient pricing. However, regulatory changes encouraged participation, improved information quality and led to prices impounding information more rapidly, suggesting markets become efficient with high trading volume, reliable information and an appropriate institutional framework.
Cooperatives in the balance between retail and member interests: the challenges of the German cooperative sector

Wine cooperatives have a long tradition and still account for roughly a third of the German wine market. Based on cooperative values and seven cooperative principles, the legally manifested business goal of cooperatives is to patronize their members' business activities. As the members are grape growers, member-orientation leads to a business policy of production-orientation which stands in strong contrast to the customer orientation which is associated with saturated competitive markets. The aim of this article is to analyse this area of conflict. Based on the results of this analysis, we intend to shed some light on the relation between the wines produced by cooperatives and their origin as a means of marketing.
Profiling of N-Acetylated Protein Termini Provides In-depth Insights into the N-terminal Nature of the Proteome*

N-terminal processing of proteins is a process affecting a large part of the eukaryotic proteome. Although N-terminal processing is an essential process, not many large inventories are available, in particular not for human proteins. Here we show that by using dedicated mass spectrometry-based proteomics techniques it is possible to unravel N-terminal processing in a semicomprehensive way. Our multiprotease approach led to the identification of 1391 acetylated human protein N termini in HEK293 cells and revealed that the role of the penultimate position on the cleavage efficiency by the methionine aminopeptidases is essentially conserved from Escherichia coli to human. Sequence analysis and comparisons of amino acid frequencies in the data sets of experimentally derived N-acetylated peptides from Drosophila melanogaster, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Halobacterium salinarum showed an exceptionally higher frequency of alanine residues at the penultimate position of human proteins, whereas the penultimate position in S. cerevisiae and H. salinarum is predominantly a serine. Genome-wide comparisons revealed that this effect is not related to protein N-terminal processing but can be traced back to characteristics of the genome.
Highly selective membranes in protein ultrafiltration

A new ultrafiltration technique based on a multimembrane stack has been developed to fractionate solutes closer in size than conventionally possible. The technique is illustrated here by obtaining a pure protein product from a binary protein mixture. By employing membranes in series without any gaskets or spacers in‐between, ultrafiltration is carried out to separate two proteins relatively close in molecular weight or size. Flat YM30 regenerated cellulose membranes, all of the same molecular weight cut‐off (MWCO) 30,000, are stacked together in the desired number, and ultrafiltration takes place. The membrane rejection of a protein is amplified with each additional membrane, ultimately resulting in a completely rejected species. Complete purification of the more permeable protein may be achieved regardless of the physicochemical condition that may be optimal or suboptimal for selective separation by a single membrane. Two systems, myoglobin and β‐lactoglobulin, as well as myoglobin and α‐lactalbumin were studied, under various operating conditions. The solvent flux reduction encountered when each membrane is added may also be avoided, by operating at increased pressure, while still achieving the desired purification. Cleaning in situ is achievable with reproducible experimental results before and after on‐line cleaning. The results clearly demonstrate that multimembrane stacks can be used for fractionation of proteins that are quite close in molecular weight/size. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Going Wild: Lessons from Naturally Occurring T-Lymphotropic Lentiviruses

SUMMARY Over 40 nonhuman primate (NHP) species harbor species-specific simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs). Similarly, more than 20 species of nondomestic felids and African hyenids demonstrate seroreactivity against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antigens. While it has been challenging to study the biological implications of nonfatal infections in natural populations, epidemiologic and clinical studies performed thus far have only rarely detected increased morbidity or impaired fecundity/survival of naturally infected SIV- or FIV-seropositive versus -seronegative animals. Cross-species transmissions of these agents are rare in nature but have been used to develop experimental systems to evaluate mechanisms of pathogenicity and to develop animal models of HIV/AIDS. Given that felids and primates are substantially evolutionarily removed yet demonstrate the same pattern of apparently nonpathogenic lentiviral infections, comparison of the biological behaviors of these viruses can yield important implications for host-lentiviral adaptation which are relevant to human HIV/AIDS infection. This review therefore evaluates similarities in epidemiology, lentiviral genotyping, pathogenicity, host immune responses, and cross-species transmission of FIVs and factors associated with the establishment of lentiviral infections in new species. This comparison of consistent patterns in lentivirus biology will expose new directions for scientific inquiry for understanding the basis for virulence versus avirulence.
Achievement goal profiles in school physical education: differences in self-determination, sport ability beliefs, and physical activity.

BACKGROUND Physical activity is a major public health issue as trends show inadequate levels of physical activity for health and rising levels of obesity. Understanding motivation for physical activity in youth by assessing their motivational profiles associated with school physical education could inform future interventions. AIMS To investigate goal orientation and perceived competence profiles in young adolescents and to test the nature of differences between clusters on motivational and physical activity measures. SAMPLE Boys (N = 427) and girls (N = 391), aged 11-14 years, from two comprehensive schools in England. METHOD Cross-sectional survey using cluster analysis. RESULTS Clusters reflecting 'highly', 'moderately', and 'lowly' motivated youth were found. Physical activity, incremental sport ability beliefs, and self-determined motivation were highest in the highly motivated cluster. Girls were under-represented in this cluster. CONCLUSIONS High motivation towards physical activity is characterised by high task and high ego orientation, and high perceived competence. With only 38% of this group being girls, interventions are required to boost motivation for girls based on goal and self-determination approaches.
Family and community factors encouraging study persistence among Tasmanial rural high school students : an exploration of social capital

This thesis investigates family and community factors encouraging Tasmanian rural high school students to continue with post- compulsory (or post-Year 10) education and training at urban senior secondary colleges. The research is based on a purposive and positive sample of 24 students who had successfully completed Year 11 studies and intended completing Year 12 then proceeding to post-Year 12 education and training. They had previously attended rural high schools that had a) a good record of retention to Year 11 in urban senior secondary colleges, b) student achievement levels comparable to urban schools and c) good community links. Students' experiences of the initial three years of post-compulsory education and training were explored in interviews conducted in 2003 during Year 12, and approximately one year later. A further perspective on students' experiences was drawn from 55 interviews conducted later in 2003 with people students nominated as important in encouraging them. Thematic analysis revealed three student participation profiles — a straightforward and successful experience, a problematic but successful experience and a limited experience. The concept of social capital provided a means of accounting for and integrating the range of family and community factors that influenced development and realisation of the students' post-compulsory education and training aspirations. It was useful in understanding students' post-compulsory education and training careers, particularly in terms of their awareness of, willingness to use, and use of available family and community resources and in explaining the benefits of students' personal networks. The concept was most useful in understanding development of post-compulsory education and training aspirations of students expected to participate at that level, of students exposed to family regret over non-participation, and the realisation or nonrealisation of students' aspirations. The concept was less helpful in understanding the post-compulsory education and training careers of a minority of the students who were highly intrinsically-motivated and self-reliant, had been less influenced by family and community when developing and realising their aspirations, and had grown up in families where post-compulsory education and training was not valued above other activities in which students may engage after completing school. The significance of the research lies in its investigation of continuing rural underrepresentation in post-compulsory education and training from the student perspective. The thesis explores the application of different Concepts of social capital found in the literature. Using a social constructivist approach, and ethnographic and phenomenological methods, several indicators of social capital in rural students' family and community networks are examined to assess their usefulness in understanding rural students' post-compulsory education and training careers.
Explaining variability in parasite aggregation levels among host samples

SUMMARY Aggregated distributions among individual hosts are a defining feature of metazoan parasite populations. Heterogeneity among host individuals in exposure to parasites or in susceptibility to infection is thought to be the main factor generating aggregation, with properties of parasites themselves explaining some of the variability in aggregation levels observed among species. Here, using data from 410 samples of helminth parasites on fish hosts, I tested the contribution of (i) within-sample variation in host body size, taken as a proxy for variability in host susceptibility, and (ii) parasite taxon and developmental stage, to the aggregated distribution of parasites. Log-transformed variance in numbers of parasites per host was regressed against log mean number across all samples; the strong relationship (r2 = 0·88) indicated that aggregation levels are tightly constrained by mean infection levels, and that only a small proportion of the observed variability in parasite aggregation levels remains to be accounted for by other factors. Using the residuals of this regression as measures of ‘unexplained’ aggregation, a mixed effects model revealed no significant effect of within-sample variation in host body size or of parasite taxon or stage (i.e. juvenile versus adult) on parasite aggregation level within a sample. However, much of the remaining variability in parasite aggregation levels among samples was accounted for by the number of individual hosts examined per sample, and species-specific and study-specific effects reflecting idiosyncrasies of particular systems. This suggests that with most differences in aggregation among samples already explained, there may be little point in seeking universal causes for the remaining variation.
Ethnicity, Politics and Economic Performance

The paper investigates the effects of ethnic diversity on economic performance. Previous studies have found that diversity has various detrimental microeconomic effects, tending to reduce public sector performance, and has large detrimental effects on the overall growth rate. I develop a simple model of the effect of ethnic diversity on a government decision problem in which there is a tradeoff between growth and distribution, in the contexts of democracy and dictatorship. I find that in democracy ethnic diversity has no effect upon the decision, whereas in dictatorship ethnic diversity leads to a government choice which reduces the growth rate. I then test these propositions on two data sets. The first is for 94 countries over the period 1960-1990. I find that whether diversity adversely affects overall economic growth depends upon the political environment. Diversity is highly damaging to growth in the context of limited political rights, but is not damaging in democracies. The second is for World Bank projects in 89 countries. I find that the same relationship between diversity and democracy affects the proportion of projects which are successful. Copyright 2000 Royal Statistical Society.
Understanding the Role of Cognitive Ability in Accounting for the Recent Rise in the Economic Return to Education

This paper examines the contribution of the rise in the return to ability to the rise in the economic return to education. All of the evidence on this question comes from panel data sets in which a small collection of adjacent birth cohorts is followed over time. The structure of the data creates an identification problem that makes it impossible to identify main age and time effects and to isolate all possible age-time interactions. In addition, many education-ability cells are empty due to the stratification of ability with educational attainment. These empty cells or identification problems are literature and produce a variety of different estimates. We test and reject widely used linearity assumptions invoked to identify the contribution of the return to ability on the return to schooling. Using nonparametric methods find little evidence that the rise in the return to education is centered among the most able.