Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Osteocalcin: characterization and regulated expression of the rat gene.

An osteocalcin gene was isolated from a rat genomic DNA library, and sequence analysis indicated that the mRNA is represented in 953 nucleotide segment of DNA consisting of 4 exons and 3 introns. Although the introns in the rat gene are larger, its overall organization is similar to the human gene. Analysis of the 5' flanking sequences of the rat gene shows a modular organization of the promotor as reflected by the the presence of at least 3 classes of regulatory elements. These include (1) typical sequences associated with most genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II (e.g. TATA, CAAT, AP1, AP2), (2) a series of consensus sequences for cyclic nucleotide responsive elements and several hormone receptor binding-sites (estrogen, thyroid and clusters of AG-rich putative Vitamin D responsive elements); and (3) a 24 nucleotide highly conserved sequence between the rat and human gene having a CAAT motif as a central element, designated as an "osteocalcin box. " Two regulatory factors of osteocalcin gene expression have been identified. First, contained within the 600 nucleotides immediately upstream from the transcription initiation site are sequences which support Vitamin D dependent transcription of the rat osteocalcin gene. 1,25(OH)2D3 increases osteocalcin mRNA by 6-20 fold increases. In contrast, up to a 200 fold increase in osteocalcin gene expression occurs with mineralization of the extracellular matrix produced by osteoblasts. We propose osteocalcin is a bone-specific marker protein of the mature osteoblast in a mineralizing matrix.
The Determinants of Fair Value Measurements: International Evidence

The purpose of this study is to investigate the accounting choice decisions of banks to employ Level 3 inputs in estimating the value of their financial assets and liabilities. Using a sample of 146 bank-year observations from 18 countries over 2009-2012, this study finds banks’ incentives to use Level 3 valuation inputs are associated with both firm-level and country-level determinants. At the firm-level, leverage, profitability (in term of net income), Tier 1 capital ratio, size and audit committee independence are associated with the percentage of Level 3 valuation inputs. At the country-level, economy development, legal region, legal enforcement and investor rights are also associated with the Level 3 classification choice. Lastly, ‘secrecy’, the proxy for culture dimensions and values, is found to be positively associated with the use of Level 3 valuation inputs. Altogether, these findings suggest that banks use the discretion available under Level 3 inputs opportunistically to avoid violating debt covenants limits, to increase earnings and manage their capital ratios. Results of this study also highlight that corporate governance quality at the firm-level (e.g. audit committee independence) and institutional features can constrain banks’ opportunistic behaviors in using the discretion available under Level 3 inputs. The results of this study have important implications for standard setters and contribute to the debate on the use of fair value accounting in an international context. companies should be adopting, Watts and Zimmerman (1978) developed Positive Accounting Theory (PAT) in an attempt to explain why certain companies choose specific accounting choices over others. Positive accounting theory assumes that management’s incentives are the main determinants of accounting choices. Under the opportunistic perspective of positive accounting theory, management is expected to choose an accounting option that will meet their wealth maximisation objectives. Thus, certain firm characteristics could possibly determine management’s decisions, such as a bonus plan, leverage and company size. It is hypothesised that management will choose an income increasing choice that could positively affect their compensation and avoid the violation of debt covenants, whereas in order to avoid political costs and political visibility, management is expected to choose income decreasing accounting methods. Following the discussions above, this study develops the firm-level determinants hypotheses based on positive accounting theory:
Conditions of Dynamical Stability for the HD 160691 Planetary System

In our previous paper we showed that the currently determined orbital parameters placed four recently announced planetary systems (HD 12661, HD 38529, HD 37124, and HD 160691) in very different situations from the point of view of dynamical stability. In the present paper we deal with the last of these systems, whose orbital parameters of the outer planet are yet uncertain. We discover a stabilizing mechanism that could be the key to its existence. The paper is devoted to the study of this mechanism by a global dynamics analysis in the orbital parameter space related to the HD 160691 system. We obtained our results using a new technique called the mean exponential growth factor of nearby orbits (MEGNO), and verified them with the fast Lyapunov indicator technique (FLI). In order to be dynamically stable, the HD 160691 planetary system has to satisfy the following conditions: (1) it should have a 2 : 1 mean motion resonance, (2) combined with an apsidal secular resonance, (3) in a configuration Pc(ap)-S-Pb(ap) (which means that the planets c and b may be considered as initially located at their apoastron around the central star S), and (4) it must satisfy specific conditions for the respective sizes of the eccentricities. High eccentricity for the outer orbit (ec > 0.52) is the most probable necessary condition, while the eccentricity of the inner orbit eb becomes relatively unimportant when ec > 0.7. We also show that there is an upper limit for planetary masses (in the interval permitted by the undetermined line-of-sight inclination factor sin il) due to the dynamical stability mechanism. More generally, in this original orbital topology, where the resonance variables θ1 and θ3 librate about 180° while θ2 librates about 0°, the HD 160691 system and its mechanism have revealed aspects of the 2 : 1 orbital resonances that have not been observed nor analyzed before. The present topology with antialigned apsidal lines, combined with the 2 : 1 resonance, is indeed more wide-ranging than the particular case of the HD 160691 planetary system. It is a new theoretical possibility that is suitable for a stable regime despite relatively small semimajor axes with respect to the important masses in interactions.
Differential Mechanisms of Morphine Antinociceptive Tolerance Revealed in βArrestin-2 Knock-Out Mice

Morphine induces antinociception by activating μ opioid receptors (μORs) in spinal and supraspinal regions of the CNS. βarrestin-2 (βarr2), a G-protein-coupled receptor-regulating protein, regulates the μOR in vivo. We have shown previously that mice lacking βarr2 experience enhanced morphine-induced analgesia and do not become tolerant to morphine as determined in the hot-plate test, a paradigm that primarily assesses supraspinal pain responsiveness. To determine the general applicability of the βarr2-μOR interaction in other neuronal systems, we have, in the present study, tested βarr2 knock-out (βarr2-KO) mice using the warm water tail-immersion paradigm, which primarily assesses spinal reflexes to painful thermal stimuli. In this test, the βarr2-KO mice have greater basal nociceptive thresholds and markedly enhanced sensitivity to morphine. Interestingly, however, after a delayed onset, they do ultimately develop morphine tolerance, although to a lesser degree than the wild-type (WT) controls. In the βarr2-KO but not WT mice, morphine tolerance can be completely reversed with a low dose of the classical protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor chelerythrine. These findings providein vivo evidence that the μOR is differentially regulated in diverse regions of the CNS. Furthermore, although βarr2 appears to be the most prominent and proximal determinant of μOR desensitization and morphine tolerance, in the absence of this mechanism, the contributions of a PKC-dependent regulatory system become readily apparent.
Comparative assessment of the effects of alfentanil, esmolol or clonidine when used as adjuvants during induction of general anaesthesia

Background and objective: This randomized, double-blinded, prospective study compared the effects of clonidine, esmolol or alfentanil on the level of hypnosis and haemodynamic responses to intravenous induction of anaesthesia and endotracheal intubation. Methods: Forty-five patients scheduled for elective surgery were allotted to one of three groups. They were given either alfentanil 3 μg kg−1 min−1 (n = 15); esmolol 1 mg kg−1 min−1 (n = 16) or clonidine 3 μg kg−1 (n = 14) as a 10 min infusion. The infusions of alfentanil and esmolol, but not of clonidine, were maintained during endotracheal intubation. Anaesthesia was induced with midazolam (2 mg) and thiopental as required to suppress the eyelash reflex. Atracurium (0.5 mg kg−1) was given to produce neuromuscular block. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and bispectral index were recorded on arrival (baseline), after study drug infusion, after injecting midazolam and thiopental, as well as after endotracheal intubation. ANOVA and χ2-test were used for analysis. Results: Blood pressure, heart rate and the bispectral index were unaltered by the study drugs, but thiopental requirements were reduced by alfentanil and clonidine (P < 0.014). Mean arterial pressure values (mean ± standard error of mean) in the alfentanil, esmolol and clonidine groups were: baseline: 107.8 ± 3.8; 106.6 ± 3.9; 103.4 ± 3.7 mmHg; after thiopental: 74.0 ± 4.2; 85.6 ± 4.3; 94.2 ± 4.1 mmHg and after endotracheal intubation: 91.7 ± 5.3; 114.1 ± 6.9; 123.6 ± 5.6 mmHg, respectively (two-way ANOVA, P < 0.001). Mean arterial pressure changed significantly after intubation from baseline (P < 0.001) after alfentanil (− 15%) and clonidine (+ 20%) but not after esmolol (+ 7%), while the changes between pre- and postintubation values were similar in all groups (24-33% increase). The bispectral index indicated that all patients had an adequate level of hypnosis, but the variability was higher in the esmolol group (P < 0.002). Conclusions: None of the study drugs blocked the increase in mean arterial pressure induced by endotracheal intubation, but esmolol provided better overall haemodynamic stability. All groups had an adequate level of hypnosis.
Increased pain sensitivity in chronic pain subjects on opioid therapy: a cross-sectional study using quantitative sensory testing.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity to experimental pain of chronic pain patients on opioid therapy vs chronic pain patients on non-opioid therapy and healthy subjects by quantitative sensory testing (QST). SETTING There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating that chronic use of opioid drugs may alter pain sensitivity. Identifying the characteristic changes in thermal pain sensitivity in chronic opioid users will be helpful in diagnosing pain sensitivity alterations associated with chronic opioid use. METHODS Utilizing an office-based QST technique, we examined thermal pain threshold, tolerance, and temporal summation in 172 chronic pain subjects receiving opioid therapy, 121 chronic pain subjects receiving non-opioid therapy, and 129 healthy subjects. RESULTS In chronic pain subjects receiving opioid therapy, there were detectable differences in QST characteristics compared with both chronic pain subjects receiving non-opioid therapy and healthy subjects. Specifically, in chronic pain subjects receiving opioid therapy, 1) sensitivity to heat pain was increased; threshold to heat pain was significantly lower; 2) tolerance to supra-threshold heat pain was significantly decreased; and 3) temporal pain summation was exacerbated, as compared with chronic pain subjects receiving non-opioid therapy. In a subgroup of chronic pain subjects receiving opioid therapy with increased heat pain sensitivity, their average opioid medication dosage was significantly higher than those who had an above-average heat pain threshold. Moreover, a subset of chronic pain subjects on opioid therapy exhibited a significant decrease in diffuse noxious inhibitory control (DNIC) compared with chronic pain subjects on non-opioid therapy. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that a subset of QST parameters can reflect opioid-associated thermal pain sensitivity alteration, including decreased heat pain threshold, decreased cold and heat pain tolerance, diminished DNIC, and/or exacerbated temporal summation.
Predictors of Perfectionism in Latter-day Saint Students

Predictors of Perfectionism in Latter-day Saint Students Preston V. Tenney Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education, BYU Educational Specialist in School Psychology The purpose of the present study was to seek to gain insight into the prevalence, nature and etiology of perfectionism in a sample of devout Latter-day Saint college students at Brigham Young University. A number of variables—including self-conscious emotions, mental health, interpersonal/cognitive style, and religious—were entered into multiple regression models to determine the strongest predictors of perfectionism. Participants were 245 students studying at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT in the spring of 1995. The self-conscious construct of shame demonstrated to be the strongest predictor of perfectionism followed by depression and religious fundamentalism. In addition to these findings, it was found that students in our sample were not more susceptible to perfectionism than other samples of religious students.
Trans-Fatty Acid Consumption and Heart Rate Variability in 2 Separate Cohorts of Older and Younger Adults

Background— Trans-fatty acid (TFA) consumption is associated with risk of coronary heart disease, and trans-18:2, but not trans-18:1, in red blood cell membranes has been associated with sudden cardiac arrest. Abnormal heart rate variability (HRV) reflects autonomic dysfunction and predicts cardiac death. Relationships between TFA consumption and HRV remain understudied. We determined whether total TFA consumption, as well as trans-18:1 and trans-18:2 TFA consumption, was independently associated with HRV in 2 independent cohorts in the United States and Portugal. Methods and Results— In 2 independent cohorts of older US adults (Cardiovascular Health Study [CHS], age 72±5 years, 1989/1995) and young Portuguese adults (Porto, age 19±2 years, 2008/2010), we assessed habitual TFA intake by food frequency questionnaires in CHS (separately estimating trans-18:1 and trans-18:2) and multiple 24-hour recalls in Porto (estimating total TFA only, which in a subset correlated with circulating trans-18:2 but not trans-18:1, suggesting that we captured the former). HRV was assessed using 24-hour Holters in CHS (n=1076) and repeated short-term (5-minute) ECGs in Porto (n=160). We used multivariate-adjusted linear regression to relate TFA consumption to HRV cross-sectionally (CHS, Porto) and longitudinally (CHS). In CHS, higher trans-18:2 consumption was associated with lower 24-hour SD of all normal-to-normal intervals both cross-sectionally (−12%; 95% CI, –19% to –6%; P=0.001) and longitudinally (−15%; 95% CI, –25% to –4%; P= 0.009) and lower 24-hour SD of 5-minute average N-N intervals and mean of the 5-minute SD of N-N intervals calculated over 24 hours (P<0.05 each). Higher trans-18:1 consumption in CHS was associated with more favorable 24-hour HRV in particular time-domain indices (24-hour SD of all normal-to-normal intervals, SD of 5-minute average N-N intervals, mean of the 5-minute SD of N-N intervals calculated over 24 hours; P<0.05 each). In Porto, each higher SD TFA consumption was associated with 4% lower 5-minute 24-hour SD of all normal-to-normal intervals (95% CI, –8% to –1%; P=0.04) and 7% lower 5-minute square root of the mean of the squares of successive N-N differences (95% CI, –13% to –1%; P=0.04). Conclusions— Trans-18:2 consumption is associated with specific, less favorable indices of HRV in both older and young adults. Trans-18:1 consumption is associated with more favorable HRV indices in older adults. Our results support the need to investigate potential HRV-related mechanisms, whereby trans-18:2 may increase arrhythmic risk.
The Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Dissolved Organic Carbon Exported from Three Chinese Rivers to the China Sea

The lateral transport of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) plays an important role in linking the carbon cycles of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Neglecting the lateral flow of dissolved organic carbon can lead to an underestimation of the organic carbon budget of terrestrial ecosystems. It is thus necessary to integrate DOC concentrations and flux into carbon cycle models, particularly with regard to the development of models that are intended to directly link terrestrial and ocean carbon cycles. However, to achieve this goal, more accurate information is needed to better understand and predict DOC dynamics. In this study, we compiled an inclusive database of available data collected from the Yangtze River, Yellow River and Pearl River in China. The database is collected based on online literature survey and analysed by statistic method. Overall, our results revealed a positive correlation between DOC flux and discharge in all three rivers, whereas the DOC concentration was more strongly correlated with the regional net primary productivity (NPP). We estimated the total DOC flux exported by the three rivers into the China Sea to be approximately 2.73 Tg yr-1. Specifically, the annual flux of DOC from the Yangtze River, Yellow River and Pearl River was estimated to be 1.85 Tg yr-1, 0.06 Tg yr-1 and 0.82 Tg yr-1, respectively, and the average annual DOC concentrations were estimated to be 2.24 ± 0.53 mg L-1, 2.70 ± 0.38 mg L-1 and 1.51 ± 0.09 mg L-1, respectively. Seasonal variations in DOC concentrations are greatly influenced by the interaction between temperature and precipitation. NPP is significantly and positively related to the DOC concentration in the Yangtze River and the Pearl River. In addition, differences in climate and the productivity of the vegetation may influence both the flux and concentrations of DOC transported by the rivers and thus potentially affect estuarine geochemistry.
A Coordinate-Dependent Local Resolution of Singularities with Applications

In this paper, a geometric resolution of singularities algorithm is developed. This method is elementary in its statement and proof, using explicit coordinate systems as much as possible. Each coordinate change used in the resolution procedure is one-to-one on its domain, and is of one of a few explicit canonical forms. As applications of these methods to classical analysis, two theorems are proven. First and foremost, a general theorem regarding the existence of critical integrability exponents is established. Secondly, a new proof of a well-known inequality of Lojasiewicz is given.
Forming Impressions of Personality A Replication and Review of Asch's (1946) Evidence for a Primacy-of-Warmth Effect in Impression Formation

Asch's seminal research on ''Forming Impressions of Personality'' (1946) has widely been cited as providing evidence for a primacy-of-warmth effect, suggesting that warmth-related judgments have a stronger influence on impressions of personality than competence- related judgments (e.g., Fiske, Cuddy, & Glick, 2007; Wojciszke, 2005). Because this effect does not fit with Asch's Gestalt-view on impression formation and does not readily follow from the data presented in his original paper, the goal of the present study was to critically examine and replicate the studies of Asch's paper that are most relevant to the primacy-of-warmth effect. We found no evidence for a primacy- of-warmth effect. Instead, the role of warmth was highly context-dependent, and competence was at least as important in shaping impressions as warmth.
Dispersion of swimming algae in laminar and turbulent channel flows: consequences for photobioreactors

Shear flow significantly affects the transport of swimming algae in suspension. For example, viscous and gravitational torques bias bottom-heavy cells to swim towards regions of downwelling fluid (gyrotaxis). It is necessary to understand how such biases affect algal dispersion in natural and industrial flows, especially in view of growing interest in algal photobioreactors. Motivated by this, we here study the dispersion of gyrotactic algae in laminar and turbulent channel flows using direct numerical simulation (DNS) and a previously published analytical swimming dispersion theory. Time-resolved dispersion measures are evaluated as functions of the Péclet and Reynolds numbers in upwelling and downwelling flows. For laminar flows, DNS results are compared with theory using competing descriptions of biased swimming cells in shear flow. Excellent agreement is found for predictions that employ generalized Taylor dispersion. The results highlight peculiarities of gyrotactic swimmer dispersion relative to passive tracers. In laminar downwelling flow the cell distribution drifts in excess of the mean flow, increasing in magnitude with Péclet number. The cell effective axial diffusivity increases and decreases with Péclet number (for tracers it merely increases). In turbulent flows, gyrotactic effects are weaker, but discernable and manifested as non-zero drift. These results should have a significant impact on photobioreactor design.
Global Justice Reform: A Comparative Methodology

ContentsPreface part i: In Search of Methodology1 Introduction 2 The Comparative Method: Which Method? 3 Comparing Comparisons part ii: In Search of Justice Reform4 The Most Neglected Branch 5 Between Rocks and Hard Places 6 Emergence from the Dilemmas 7 Conclusion: The Prospects for a Comparative Methodology in Global Justice Reform Notes Bibliography Index About the Author
The positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia reflect impairments in the perception and initiation of action

Synopsis The CNS maintains a fundamental distinction between actions elicited by external stimuli and actions elicited by internal goals (acts of will). As a result the intact organism can monitor centrally three aspects of its own actions: (1) the action appropriate to current external stimulation (stimulus intention or meaning); (2) the action appropriate to current goals (willed intention); and (3) the action which was actually selected (corollary discharge). In Type I (acute) schizophrenic patients, intentions of will lead to actions, but these willed intentions are not monitored correctly. This apparent discrepancy between will and action gives rise to experiential (1st rank) positive symptoms (e.g. delusions of control and passivity). In Type II (chronic) patients, intentions of will are no longer properly formed and so actions are rarely elicited via this route. This gives rise to behavioural negative signs (e.g. poverty of speech). The behaviour of Type II schizophrenics has surface similarities to that shown by patients with Parkinson's disease and patients with frontal lobe lesions in that all three types of patient show a relative deficit of actions elicited by willed intentions. Dopamine blocking drugs reduce positive symptoms in Type I patients precisely because they induce Parkinsonism, i.e. reduce the likelihood of actions being initiated by willed intentions. This in turn reduces the likelihood that actions will occur for which the patient had no awareness of his intention to act.