Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Age-Dependent Effects of UCP2 Deficiency on Experimental Acute Pancreatitis in Mice

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP) for many years but experimental evidence is still limited. Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2)-deficient mice are an accepted model of age-related oxidative stress. Here, we have analysed how UCP2 deficiency affects the severity of experimental AP in young and older mice (3 and 12 months old, respectively) triggered by up to 7 injections of the secretagogue cerulein (50 μg/kg body weight) at hourly intervals. Disease severity was assessed at time points from 3 hours to 7 days based on pancreatic histopathology, serum levels of alpha-amylase, intrapancreatic trypsin activation and levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in lung and pancreatic tissue. Furthermore, in vitro studies with pancreatic acini were performed. At an age of 3 months, UCP2-/- mice and wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice were virtually indistinguishable with respect to disease severity. In contrast, 12 months old UCP2-/- mice developed a more severe pancreatic damage than WT mice at late time points after the induction of AP (24 h and 7 days, respectively), suggesting retarded regeneration. Furthermore, a higher peak level of alpha-amylase activity and gradually increased MPO levels in pancreatic and lung tissue were observed in UCP2-/- mice. Interestingly, intrapancreatic trypsin activities (in vivo studies) and intraacinar trypsin and elastase activation in response to cerulein treatment (in vitro studies) were not enhanced but even diminished in the knockout strain. Finally, UCP2-/- mice displayed a diminished ratio of reduced and oxidized glutathione in serum but no increased ROS levels in pancreatic acini. Together, our data indicate an aggravating effect of UCP2 deficiency on the severity of experimental AP in older but not in young mice. We suggest that increased severity of AP in 12 months old UCP2-/- is caused by an imbalanced inflammatory response but is unrelated to acinar cell functions.
Comparison of the Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Effects in Rats of Diclofenac-Sodium, Felbinac and Indomethacin Patches

Background: Topically applied nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used widely for the treatment of pain and inflammation in musculoskeletal disorders. This study compared the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of patches of 1% diclofenac-sodium, 3.5% and 0.5% felbinac and 3.75% indomethacin in rats using the carrageenan-induced paw pad edema model and the brewer’s yeast-induced hyper algesia model. Two studies were conducted: in the preliminary study, the patch was removed at 2 or 24 hrs after application, and in the main study the patch was removed at 2 hrs. The volume of the right hind paw and the pain threshold were assessed at 1, 3, 5, and 7 hrs after induction of inflammation in both studies. Results: In the main study, the edema ratio in the 1% diclofenac group at 5 hrs after induction of inflammation and the AUEC (Area Under the Effect Curve) were significantly lower than in the control animals (p=0.009). The edema suppression rate in the 1% diclofenac group (12.1–33.2%) was higher than in the 3.5% and 0.5% felbinac and 3.75% indomethacin groups. The pain threshold ratio did not decrease in the 1% diclofenac group and it was significantly higher than in the control group at 3 (p=0.0004) and 5 hrs (p=0.029). The 1/AUEC was significantly lower than that in the control group (p=0.004) and the lowest among all the NSAID groups. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the 1% diclofenac sodium patch in a rat model may be exerted more promptly and persistently than with the 3.5% and 0.5% felbinac and 3.75% indomethacin patches.
Poor pre-dialysis glycaemic control is a predictor of mortality in type II diabetic patients on maintenance haemodialysis.

BACKGROUND In type II diabetic patients, a better glycaemic control has been reported to slow down the progression of nephropathy. The effect of pre-dialysis glycaemic control on the long term prognosis in type II diabetics on haemodialysis is still uncertain. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of glycaemic control before starting maintenance haemodialysis on the clinical outcome in type II diabetic haemodialysis patients. METHODS One hundred and thirty-seven type II diabetics receiving regular haemodialysis in a single university hospital were enrolled. The patients were classified as either good or poor glycaemic control group according to their glycaemic control within 6 months before starting haemodialysis. Serum albumin, haematocrit, cholesterol, triglyceride, residual renal function, diabetic complications, and patient survival were analysed in both groups. RESULTS There was no significant difference in age, gender, predialysis albumin level, cholesterol level, triglyceride level, and residual renal function between the two groups. The 1-year (94.5% vs 80.0%), 3-year (82.9% vs 58.1%), and 5-year (75.8% vs 21.8%) cumulative survival rates were lower in the poor glycaemic control group than in the good glycaemic control group (P < 0.001). The poor glycaemic control group also had more cardiovascular morbidity during the period of dialysis (P < 0.001). The increase in cardiovascular complications also accounted for the increased mortality during the course of haemodialysis. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that poor glycaemic control before starting dialysis is a strong predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and survival for type II diabetics on haemodialysis. These results imply that better glycaemic control before dialysis might be important in improving the long-term prognosis in type II diabetics on haemodialysis.
Efficient redistribution policy: an analysis focused on the quality of institutions and public education

In this work we intend to study how the quality of the institutional factor may influence the efficiency of redistribution policy specifically associated with human capital accumulation. We develop a conceptual discussion building on the importance of income redistribution for economic growth and the key role of political institutions in securing growth-enhancing redistribution policies. We introduce endogenous growth theory elements into our analysis by considering as a fundamental source of economic growth human capital accumulation, motivated by tax-financed education secured through efficient redistribution policies. We outline crucial insights on the underlying mechanisms, emphasizing however that extensive research on the subject is undoubtedly still required. In particular, we identify the main factors negatively affecting the decisive role of political institutions and, consequently, distorting efficient redistribution policy. We then define a political-economic equilibrium as a combination of intermediately strong state and efficient control-rights institutions, implying simultaneous protection from expropriation and implementation of efficient redistribution policy, conducive to sustained economic growth.
Price and Volatility Co-Jumps

The nature of the dependence between discontinuities in prices and contemporaneous discontinuities in volatility (co-jumps) has been reported by many as being elusive, in terms of sign, magnitude, and statistical significance. Using a novel identification strategy in continuous time relying on trade-level information for spot variance estimation, as well as infinitesimal cross-moments, we document that a sizeable proportion of discontinuous changes in prices are associated with strongly anti-correlated, contemporaneous, discontinuous changes in volatility. Assuming a possibly nonmonotonic pricing kernel, we illustrate the equilibrium implications of price and volatility co-jumps for return and variance risk premia.
Deep Phylogenetic Divergence and Lack of Taxonomic Concordance in Species of Astronotus (Cichlidae)

The neotropical cichlid genus Astronotus currently comprises two valid species: A. ocellatus Agassiz, 1831 and A. crassipinnis Heckel, 1840. The diagnosis is based on color pattern and meristics counts. However, body color pattern is highly variable between regions and the meristic counts show a considerable overlap between populations differing in color patterning. They do not represent true synapomorphies that diagnose species. Purportedly the only truly diagnostic character is the presence or absence of one or more ocelli at the base of the dorsal fin, diagnosing A. ocellatus and A. crassipinnis, respectively. Using the 5′ portion of the mitochondrial COI gene and EPIC nuclear markers, the validity of the dorsal ocelli as diagnostic character was tested in individuals sampled from ten localities in the Amazon basin. Analyses rejected the hypothesis that dorsal ocelli are diagnostic at the species level. However, they revealed the existence of five hypothetical, largely allopatrically distributed morphologically cryptic species. The phylogeographic structure is not necessarily surprising, since species of the genus Astronotus have sedentary and territorial habits with low dispersal potential. The distribution of these hypothetical species is coincident with patterns observed in other Amazonian aquatic fauna, suggesting the role of common historical processes in generating current biodiversity patterns.
A Complexity-Efficient Sphere Decoder for MIMO Systems

It is well known that although the conventional sphere decoder (SD) achieves optimal maximum likelihood (ML) performance at a reduced complexity compared to the naive ML detector, the SD computational complexity varies with signal noise ratio (SNR) and is high in the low SNR region. This paper proposes a new idea to overcome these drawback that reduces the complexity significantly at a negligible performance loss. The main idea is to scale the search radius of the original SD by a factor that depends on the SNR. This factor tends to unity for high SNR, which means there is no performance loss for high SNRs. The resulting SD performs nearly-optimal ML detection over the whole range of SNRs, while keeping its complexity roughly constant. We give simulation results and theoretical analysis to confirm the advantages of the proposed SD. It is suitable practical implementation because of its effectively-reduced and almost-fixed complexity.
Planning for advanced manufacturing technology

While some reports on successes of advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT) have been glowing, many companies have tossed millions of dollars worth of fancy equipment into their factories and wound up with little to show for it. It is becoming clear that many of the AMT failures today can be attributed to an inadequate planning process. Proposes a four‐stage research framework that addresses issues in: planning the manufacturing system; planning for an appropriate infrastructure; planning for new relationships with the external environment; and justifying investment in AMT. Assesses the strengths and weaknesses of selected contributions in each stage, and identifies gaps in knowledge where research is needed. The framework devised should help tomorrow’s research build on the past and increase the research’s acceptance by industry, since it draws on both research‐ and practitioner‐based literature along with findings of the field study.
The Mediate Effect of Trust on Organizational Online Knowledge Sharing: an Empirical Study

This study proposes a conceptual structural equation model to investigate the relationships among knowledge management system quality, employee computer attitude, trust at workplace and online knowledge sharing. We demonstrate the direct and indirect effect of trust on online knowledge sharing from the perspectives of system quality and computer attitude. An empirical study is conducted in three technological companies (n = 451) in Taiwan and the collected survey data are used to test the relationships among the four dimensions expressed in the proposed structural equation model. The results show that trust at workplace has a mediating effect on online knowledge sharing within organizations. It is also discovered that there is significant correlation between IT quality, employees' computer attitude and online trust at workplace. The conceptual model provides useful information for managers to enhance knowledge sharing through the promotion of trust at workplaces.
A survey of quality control practices for high dose rate (HDR) and pulsed dose rate (PDR) brachytherapy in the United Kingdom

Purpose A survey of quality control (QC) currently undertaken in UK radiotherapy centres for high dose rate (HDR) and pulsed dose rate (PDR) brachytherapy has been conducted. The purpose was to benchmark current accepted practice of tests, frequencies and tolerances to assure acceptable HDR/PDR equipment performance. It is 20 years since a similar survey was conducted in the UK and the current review is timed to coincide with a revision of the IPEM Report 81 guidelines for quality control in radiotherapy. Material and methods All radiotherapy centres in the UK were invited by email to complete a comprehensive questionnaire on their current brachytherapy QC practice, including: equipment type, patient workload, source calibration method, level of image guidance for planning, prescribing practices, QC tests, method used, staff involved, test frequencies, and acceptable tolerance limits. Results Survey data was acquired between June and August 2012. Of the 64 centres invited, 47 (73%) responded, with 31 centres having brachytherapy equipment (3 PDR) and fully completing the survey, 13 reporting no HDR/PDR brachytherapy, and 3 intending to commence HDR brachytherapy in the near future. All centres had comprehensive QC schedules in place and there was general agreement on key test frequencies and tolerances. Greatest discord was whether source strength for treatment planning should be derived from measurement, as at 58% of centres, or from the certified value, at 42%. IPEM Report 81 continues to be the most frequently cited source of QC guidance, followed by ESTRO Booklet No. 8. Conclusions A comprehensive survey of QC practices for HDR/PDR brachytherapy in UK has been conducted. This is a useful reference to which centres may benchmark their own practice. However, individuals should take a risk-assessment based approach, employing full knowledge of local equipment, clinical procedures and available test equipment in order to determine individual QC needs.
Cytological and Pathological Correlation of FNAC in Assessing Breast Lumps and Axillary Lymph Node Swellings in a Public Sector Hospital in India

Background. Breast lumps have varied pathology, and there are different techniques to prove the diagnosis. The aim of the present study is to analyze the role of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the breast lesions at our center. Methods. We had retrospectively analysed 854 patients who underwent FNAC for primary breast lumps and 190 patients who underwent FNAC for an axillary lymph node in the year 2010. Results. Of 854 patients, histological correlation was available in 723 patients. The analysis was done for 812 patients as medical records were not available for 42 patients. FNAC was false negative in seven cases; 2 cases of phyllodes were reported as fibroadenoma, and 5 cases of carcinoma were diagnosed as atypical hyperplasia. The sensitivity, specificity, and false negative value of FNAC in diagnosing breast lumps were 99% (715/723), 100%, and 1%, respectively. Of 190 patients for whom FNAC was performed for axilla, 170 had proven to have axillary lymph node metastases, and the rest had reactive hyperplasia or inflammatory cells. Conclusions. FNAC is rapid, accurate, outpatient based, and less complicated procedure and helps in diagnosis of breast cancer, benign diseases, and axillary involvement in experienced hands with less chance of false results.
A Contagious Concept: Explaining the Spread of Privatization in the Telecommunications Sector

Qualitative studies suggest that the spread of privatization of public utilities is due to a change of the economic paradigm and institutional isomorphism pressures. However, current quantitative studies mostly account for domestic factors. These factors can explain differences in national privatization trajectories but cannot explain the large trend. Based on a quantitative analysis of privatizations in the telecommunications sector in 21 OECD countries, the article argues that emulation pressures can explain the trend toward privatization. The analysis suggests that privatization gained legitimacy as more and more governments emulated privatization policies they observed in countries they perceived as similar. However, the article finds no evidence of cross-sectoral diffusion. Thus, according to the analysis, telecommunications privatization diffused within the same sector between countries, but not within the same country between different sectors.
The Impact of Overconfidence on Capital Structure in Turkey

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the overconfidence and capital structure in Turkish manufacturing firms. In addition to management confidence, the impact of the fundamental factors on the market leverage is analyzed. The annual data of 115 manufacturing firms on the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE) for the period between 2002 and 2011 is used for the analysis by means of the ordinary least squares regression model. The results show that the relationship between confidence and leverage is ambiguous. There isn’t enough evidence for the idea of overconfident managers tends to use more debt level. However, this study provides some evidence for firm specific factors like size and profitability effects on leverage.
Psychological models of female teachers'functioning in their professional role.

OBJECTIVES The research was aimed at searching for diversified models of female teachers' functioning that could be determined by their individual traits, psychological variables, and professional adaptation factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS Three hundred eleven female teachers aged from 26 to 60 were examined. The following tools were used in the research: The Hope Scale, NEO-FFI Inventory, IPSA Inventory, Work Description Inventory and Maslach Burnout Inventory. RESULTS Models of psychological functioning of female teachers were distinguished by means of cluster analysis. The classification was based upon similarities and differences in the obtained results. Three groups of female teachers characterised by distinct traits were identified and named according to the research results: 'passive teachers', 'frustrated teachers', and 'adapted teachers'. The first group (93 persons) included women who were not distinctive in any way. The second group (74 persons) comprised women characterised by very unfavourable traits. The third group consisted of women with favourable characteristics, women who are full of energy and enthusiasm for work, those who are satisfied with their job. CONCLUSIONS Psychological models of female teachers' functioning are determined by their individual psychological traits. These traits constitute their important personal resources that influence their professional adaptation and the levels of job and life satisfaction.
Multiple large ownership structure, audit committee activity and audit fees: Evidence from the UK

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of multiple large ownership structure (MLS) and audit committee activity (ACA) on audit pricing for a sample of UK listed companies. Design/methodology/approach - One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and cross sectional multiple regression analysis of a sample of UK listed companies showed statistically significant differences in the audit fees, firm size and audit committee activities of these firms when they are categorised based on the number of MLS. Findings - The study finds a significant negative relationship between audit fees and number of MLS, but a surprising positive relationship with ACA. The findings confirm the beneficial effects of more active institutional investors’ monitoring, but also show that increasing monitoring by audit committees is associated with increase in audit fees. Research limitations/implications - The results reported in this research are based on cross sectional data. It is likely that the result may be different if the issue is examined over a relatively longer period. Practical implications - The study showed that monitoring intensity of the large shareholders can be captured through their number and not simply through their shareholding. It also confirms the suggestion in previous studies that audit committees’ members protect themselves from depletion in human capital, litigation and reputational risk by buying more audit related services from their auditors. Originality/value - The study empirically examined the impact of multiple large ownership structure on audit pricing and thereby extends the practical and theoretical understanding on the monitoring roles of large shareholders as well as the audit committees.
Multicriteria Decision Analysis to Develop Effective Sustainable Development Strategies for Enhancing Competitive Advantages: Case of the TFT-LCD Industry in Taiwan

In the Internet of Things era, panel displays play a major role in human life, because humans frequently use liquid crystal displays to monitor their electrical devices. The display industry creates remarkable economic output, but every manufacturing process inevitably has some undesirable effects on the environment. With the increasing awareness of environmental protection, balanced development is necessary to address the emerging market trends. However, short-sighted manufacturing corporations that focus solely on financial performance can achieve only short-term profits. The purpose of this study was to develop the most effective sustainable improvement strategies that can enhance competitive advantages in real-world situations. The proposed method combines the balanced scorecard and a new hybrid modified multiple attribute decision-making model which together adopt the DEMATEL technique to construct the influential network relation map and develop the DEMATEL-based ANP with the VIKOR method to deliver strategies that integrate environmental sustainability and competitive advantage. Finally, a real-world case study applying the proposed method to the cases of liquid crystal display manufacturers was conducted. Then, this paper discusses the effective use of natural resources, development of enterprises, and sustainable competitive advantage in this context. Various manufacturers, communities, and stakeholders can benefit from the coopetition solutions explained by the proposed method.
Impact of Financial Literacy on Saving-Investment Behavior of Working Women in the Developing Countries

Financial literacy is a combination of the awareness, attitude and behavior necessary to make sound financial decisions and achieve individual financial well –being. A number of countries have now carried out financial literacy surveys of their adult populations, which provide insights into savings –related knowledge, attitudes and behavior. These surveys suggest that people are ill -equipped to take complex financial decisions, do not plan ahead sufficiently, and have a poor understanding of investment concepts. In Pakistan, individuals and especially the working women only know that they deposit money in various financial institutions just to get profit. They don’t know what exactly they are doing and they are ignorant about the functions and existence of financial markets. This scenario generates the need to study and measure financial literacy in Pakistan. This study explore the financial literacy of working women in developing countries as an important factor which affects the saving-investment behavior of female workforce in developing countries like Pakistan. Keywords : Financial Literacy, saving –investment Behavior