Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spermatogonia of rainbow trout: I. morphological characterization, mitotic activity, and survival in primary cultures of testicular cells

Prerequisites of developing in vitro studies for a better understanding of the control mechanisms underlying the proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonia (Go) in the teleost testis are: (1) to be able to identify the different types of Go; (2) to maintain in culture the structural relationships occurring in situ between the various testicular cell types, as intact as possible; and (3) to know how the Go survive and proliferate in culture for several days. After very gentle homogenization of trout testes treated with collagenase, a cell suspension containing mainly spermatocysts (one or several Sertoli cells enclosing one Go or a clone of germ cells) and clusters of myoid cells and Leydig cells was seeded in culture onto a laminin plus fibronectin coating. After 4.5–6 days in culture, then staining with May‐Grünwald and Giemsa reagents, the determination of the nuclear and cellular size of the various Go and of the number of Go present in clones has enabled the identification of two types of large Go, in pairs or alone (Go A) and six successive types of smaller Go (Go B). Cell viability determination by staining with Rhodamine 123/propidium iodide (PI)/Hoechst 33342 and with FITC‐Annexin V/PI indicated that after 5–7 days in culture, all the somatic cells and most of the Go were viable. Only some of the Go, mainly among the most differentiated ones, underwent apoptosis, as it was the case for a number of spermatocytes and spermatids increasing with the time in culture. Brdu labelling and 3H‐Thymidine (3H‐Tdr) incorporation indicated that the proliferative activity of Go was at a maximum after 4.5 days in culture and that the response to at least two molecules (QAYL‐IGF‐I and GTH‐I) remained unchanged between 3 and 6 days. As only very scarce somatic cells from immature/spermatogenetic testes synthesized DNA up to 6 days in culture, the measurement of 3H‐Tdr incorporation by cells from such testes reliably reflected synthesis of DNA by only the Go (and eventually also by primary spermatocytes when they are present). In conclusion, this study provides information allowing a detailed analysis of the events related with the mitotic phase of spermatogenesis in the trout and it establishes that primary cultures of testicular cells carried out in the reported conditions represent a useful tool to develop an analysis of the mechanisms participating in the control of this phase. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 53:422–433, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cultural context and its influence on managerial leadership in Thailand

In this paper, we explore excellence in leadership in Thailand, a nation that has strong roots in Theravada Buddhism. Summated scales and a structural model were constructed to explain the relationships between the excellences in leadership constructs. A sample frame of 401 Thai managers employed in organizations in Bangkok, North Thailand, and East Thailand participated in this research. The findings suggest that there are strong cultural factors such as non-confrontation, respect, and deference for authority mediating the perceptions of Thai managers with regards to perceptions of an excellent leader. Age and gender are also demonstrated as key differentiating factors in the perceptions of Thai managers.
Street Gangs, Organized Crime Groups, and Terrorists: Differentiating Criminal Organizations

Individually street gangs, organized crime (OC) groups, and terrorists all present serious problems for national and international law enforcement agencies. Imagine though if these three were connected or linked in substantive ways. Whether we want to accept this or not, the lines between these structures are often blurred and ill-defined. Each of these groups often takes on the characteristics of the other group, if not in motive then in technique. Additionally, these groups sometimes form alliances with one another further complicating law enforcement efforts to combat their criminal activity. Distinguishing these groups from one another, as well as outlining areas in which they overlap will help direct law enforcement toward a more successful pursuit of these groups.
Cu/SiO2 hybrid bonding: Finite element modeling and experimental characterization

Among the numerous ways to address 3D stacking of integrated circuits, a promising method is Cu/SiO2 hybrid bonding, which is the simultaneous metallic bonding of the interconnection pads and direct bonding of the dielectric surfaces. Prior to bonding, a chemical-mechanical polishing step is necessary, resulting in copper pads being slightly overpolished compared to the surrounding oxide regions (dishing effect). This effect, if too important, can prevent bonding and thereby lead to electrical connection failure between top and bottom parts. In order to better understand the involved phenomena and to perform virtual prototyping, a 3D finite element model for the thermal annealing of Cu/SiO2 hybrid bonded pads is presented, taking into account the dishing effect. In this work, the contributions to bonding of thermoelastic deformation and cohesive interactions are investigated, and the impact of pad shape on Cu-Cu interface closure during thermal annealing studied. In addition, a parametric study is conducted, in order to identify the most efficient design and process parameters to improve bonding quality.
Fiscal Multipliers in Bulgaria: Low But Still Relevant

With fiscal adjustment proceeding quickly in Bulgaria and given the weak economic growth environment, there is keen interest in making the budget composition more growth friendly. This paper quantifies the short-term impact of fiscal policy on economic activity in Bulgaria using econometric and model-based approaches. While fiscal multipliers have been modest in the past, as can be expected in a small open emerging economy, the effect on output is not independent of the speed of adjustment and the specific consolidation measures used. The impact of fiscal policy on economic activity is larger in downturns than in expansions and capital spending and direct taxes are associated with the largest effects on output, while non-targeted government transfers and indirect taxes are associated with a smaller impact. The results suggest that increased capital spending financed by higher indirect tax revenue collections through base broadening has sizeable growth effects over the medium and long-term.
Economic growth and government expenditure: evidence from a new test specification

A new test specification of Wagner's Law of Public Expenditure has been formulated. The aim is to disentangle the effects of accelerating and decelerating economic growth on growth in government expenditure. Two alternative proxies for the state of the economy are experimented with. The first defines the current state of the economy by relating it to its historical mean growth rate, while the second defines it relative to a pooled time-series/cross-sectional mean growth rate. This distinction is then explicitly incorporated into an error correction model that parameterizes the bivariate relation between government expenditure and economic growth for alternative OECD country groupings. The results suggest that government expenditure increases less than proportionately with accelerating economic growth and decreases more than proportionately with decelerating economic growth. There is only a limited support for Wagner's Law.
The efficiency of the Spanish police service: an application of the multiactivity DEA model

In this paper the efficiency of the Spanish Police Service is analysed using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The analysis concentrates on the police activities related to the solving of crimes. The theoretical and empirical study of the police production function under this dimension leads to a consideration of the units analysed as centres which carry out their activities with nonidentical technologies and using common inputs. Accordingly, the multiactivity DEA model developed by Mar Molinero (Journal of the Operational Research Society, 47, 1996, 1273-9) is applied, one that is designed to estimate the efficiency of institutions which face several production functions using shared inputs. The results demonstrate the important differences that exist between the centres with respect to the distinct activities analysed, both as regards the efficiency rates and the factors which determine them.
3-Phosphoinositide-dependent Kinase 1 Deficiency Perturbs Toll-like Receptor Signaling Events and Actin Cytoskeleton Dynamics in Dendritic Cells*

The adaptive immune response depends on dendritic cell (DC) activation by microbial products that signal via pattern recognition receptors and activate mitogen-activated protein kinases, NFκB and PI3K. The contribution of the AGC kinase family, including protein kinase B, protein kinase C, p90kDa ribosomal S6 kinase, and S6 kinase, has been little investigated because the probable redundancy among their isoforms makes their study difficult. We took advantage of the fact that all these kinases are regulated by the upstream master kinase 3-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK1). Here we analyze various properties of DC from mice expressing ∼10% of normal PDK1 (PDK1fl/–). DC populations in lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues appeared normal in PDK1fl/– mice, and some in vitro responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) such as cytokine production were normal in cultured bone marrow DC. However, LPS-induced expression of class II major histocompatibility complex and CD86 were elevated in PDK1fl/– BMDC and PDK1fl/– spleen DC produced more interleukin-10 and -12, implying an attenuating role for PDK1. Unexpectedly, PDK1fl/– DC had a significantly reduced capacity for LPS-stimulated macropinocytosis and phagocytosis that correlated with a lowered F-actin/G-actin ratio, apparently because of increased actin depolymerization. Several PDK1-regulated kinases, some of which feed into actin regulators, showed reduced activation in PDK1fl/– DC. Reintroduction of PDK1 restored S6 kinase activity, increased levels of F-actin, and boosted macropinocytosis thus linking PDK1 and its downstream effectors to the unusual phenotype of PDK1fl/– DC.
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) Future energy system challenges for Africa: insights from Integrated Assessment Models

Although Africa's share in the global energy system is only small today, ongoing population growth and economic development imply that this can change significantly. Here, we discuss long-term energysystem developments in Africa using results of a recent model inter-comparison study on global climate policy. We focus on Africa's role in the wider global energy system and in global climate mitigation. The results show a considerable spread in model outcomes, emphasizing the large uncertainty regarding Africa's energy future. Without climate policy, Africa's share in global energy-related CO2 emissions is projected to increase to 3–23% by 2100. Emissions become significant on a global scale only after 2050. In none of the model projections the international ambition to provide universal modern energy access by 2030 is achieved. Furthermore, although the continent is currently a large net exporter of oil and natural gas, towards 2050 the model projections emphasize that Africa needs most of its resources for its rapidly growing domestic demand. However, the projected rapid expansion of their energy system also implies that Africa gains importance in global mitigation action. An important challenge is to align the increasing investments in the energy system with climate policy and potential revenues from international carbon trading. & 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. ns.jielsen@pbl.nl (J. Nielsen), a.ac. at (D. L. McCollum), pik-potsdam.de (J. Strefler),
A subpopulation of efferent neurons in the mouse suprachiasmatic nucleus is also light responsive

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the site of a circadian clock with input (afferent) pathways for photic entrainment and output (efferent) pathways for expression of overt, measurable rhythms. To determine whether there are individual neurons in the mouse SCN that might be part of both pathways, we performed double-label immunohistochemistry for light-induced c-Fos and the retrograde tracer cholera toxin subunit B (CtB), 2 weeks after CtB was iontophoresed into the subparaventricular area (subPVA). A minority of neurons was found that were both efferent to the subPVA and responsive to light. This cellular subset may function as a direct channel through the SCN for photic inputs to influence neural outputs, and its existence highlights the topographical heterogeneity of SCN tissue.
Dipeptidyl Peptidase‐4 Inhibition With Saxagliptin Ameliorates Angiotensin II‐Induced Cardiac Diastolic Dysfunction in Male Mice

&NA; Activation of the renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system is common in hypertension and obesity and contributes to cardiac diastolic dysfunction, a condition for which no treatment currently exists. In light of recent reports that antihyperglycemia incretin enhancing dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)‐4 inhibitors exert cardioprotective effects, we examined the hypothesis that DPP‐4 inhibition with saxagliptin (Saxa) attenuates angiotensin II (Ang II)‐induced cardiac diastolic dysfunction. Male C57BL/6J mice were infused with either Ang II (500 ng/kg/min) or vehicle for 3 weeks receiving either Saxa (10 mg/kg/d) or placebo during the final 2 weeks. Echocardiography revealed Ang II‐induced diastolic dysfunction, evidenced by impaired septal wall motion and prolonged isovolumic relaxation, coincident with aortic stiffening. Ang II induced cardiac hypertrophy, coronary periarterial fibrosis, TRAF3‐interacting protein 2 (TRAF3IP2)‐dependent proinflammatory signaling [p‐p65, p‐c‐Jun, interleukin (IL)‐17, IL‐18] associated with increased cardiac macrophage, but not T cell, gene expression. Flow cytometry revealed Ang II‐induced increases of cardiac CD45+F4/80+CD11b+ and CD45+F4/80+CD11c+ macrophages and CD45+CD4+ lymphocytes. Treatment with Saxa reduced plasma DPP‐4 activity and abrogated Ang II‐induced cardiac diastolic dysfunction independent of aortic stiffening or blood pressure. Furthermore, Saxa attenuated Ang II‐induced periarterial fibrosis and cardiac inflammation, but not hypertrophy or cardiac macrophage infiltration. Analysis of Saxa‐induced changes in cardiac leukocytes revealed Saxa‐dependent reduction of the Ang II‐mediated increase of cardiac CD11c messenger RNA and increased cardiac CD8 gene expression and memory CD45+CD8+CD44+ lymphocytes. In summary, these results demonstrate that DPP‐4 inhibition with Saxa prevents Ang II‐induced cardiac diastolic dysfunction, fibrosis, and inflammation associated with unique shifts in CD11c‐expressing leukocytes and CD8+ lymphocytes.
Nuclear Orphan Receptor Nurr1 Directly Transactivates the Osteocalcin Gene in Osteoblasts*

Nurr1, an NGFI-B nuclear orphan receptor, which transactivates promoters through an NGFI-B response element (NBRE), is strongly induced by parathyroid hormone through the cAMP-protein kinase A signaling pathway in osteoblasts. Here, we demonstrate that multiple agents activating diverse signaling pathways in osteoblasts induce Nurr1. The strongest Nurr1 inducers were activators of cAMP-protein kinase A-coupled signaling, followed by protein kinase C- and calcium-coupled signaling activators. Receptor tyrosine kinase activators had minimal effect, whereas serine/threonine kinase activators had no effect on basal Nurr1 mRNA levels. Computer analysis of osteoblastic promoters indicated two potential NBREs in the rat osteocalcin (Ocn) promoter. Intriguingly, the proximal site maps to the cAMP-responsive cis-element. We tested whether Nurr1 induces Ocn expression through the NBRE-like site. Recombinant and endogenous Nurr1 protein from primary mouse osteoblasts bound to a consensus NBRE in EMSAs. Nurr1 induced a consensus 3×NBRE-luciferase reporter construct in mouse osteoblasts. Recombinant and endogenous Nurr1 protein bound to the proximal NBRE-like site in the Ocn promoter in EMSAs. Endogenous Nurr1 protein bound to this site as a monomer, because neither retinoid X receptor α nor retinoid X receptor β antibody supershifted the protein-DNA complex. Ocn promoter-luciferase constructs lacking or containing a mutated proximal NBRE-like site had markedly blunted responses to Nurr1 overexpression. Finally, adenovirally expressed Nurr1 protein bound to the proximal NBRE-like site in chromatin immunoprecipitation assays and induced Ocn mRNA in primary rat osteoblasts. We conclude that Ocn is a Nurr1 target gene, which positions Nurr1 in the core of transcriptional factors regulating osteoblastic gene expression.
Leaning into the Wind: A Structural VAR Investigation of UK Monetary Policy

This paper adapts Uhlig's [Journal of Monetary Economics (2005) forthcoming] sign restriction identification methodology to investigate the effects of UK monetary policy using a structural vector autoregression (VAR). It shows that shocks which can reasonably be described as monetary policy shocks have played only a small role in the total variation of UK monetary and macroeconomic variables. Most of the variation in UK monetary variables has been due to their systematic reaction to other macroeconomic shocks, namely non-monetary aggregate demand, aggregate supply, and oil price shocks. We also find, without imposing any long run identifying restrictions, that aggregate supply shocks have permanent effects on output.
Managing resources for economic value creation in the family firm

This study examines the financing choices of family firms in relation to leverage and economic value creation, taking into account the family firm life cycle. Firm ownership, control and the generation that is managing the family firm are other attributes of these firms. Additional factors, such as the exploitation of intangible assets (innovation capacity), and the ability to detect growth opportunities may also prove important in contributing towards successful economic value creation strategies. Using a panel of 738 Spanish firms, including 338 family-run businesses, we show that ownership structure, along with other variables, such as the firm’s use of intangible assets, its growth capacity, the generation running the firm and the stage it has reached in its life cycle, provide the foundational pillars for economic value creation and leverage in the family firm. We also find a higher proportion of family businesses in cyclical growth industries.
Revealing species‐specific trophic links in soil food webs: molecular identification of scarab predators

Soil food webs are particularly important in terrestrial systems, but studying them is difficult. Here we report on the first study to apply a molecular approach to identify species‐specific trophic interactions in below‐ground food webs. To identify the invertebrate predator guild of the garden chafer Phyllopertha horticola (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) whose root‐feeding larvae can be highly abundant in grasslands, a specific DNA marker was developed. It allowed detection of P. horticola egg and white grub meals within the gut content of Poecilus versicolor (Coleoptera, Carabidae) larvae for up to 24 h post‐feeding. Soil samples from an alpine grassland revealed a diverse below‐ground macro‐invertebrate community with earthworms, P. horticola larvae, and centipedes as well as beetle larvae as the most abundant detritivores, herbivores, and predators, respectively. Garden chafer DNA was detected in 18.6%, 4.1%, and 4.4% of field‐collected Geophilidae (n = 124), beetle larvae (n = 159), and Lithobiidae (n = 49), respectively. We conclude that most of the investigated predators actively preyed on P. horticola, as secondary predation is unlikely to be detected in below‐ground systems. Moreover, scavenging most likely contributes only to a small percentage of the revealed trophic links due to the low availability of carrion. Sampling date did not influence prey detection rates, indicating that both P. horticola eggs and larvae were preyed on. Only 2.7% of the below‐ground predators tested positive for earthworms, an alternative, highly abundant prey, suggesting that P. horticola represents an important prey source for centipedes and predatory beetle larvae during summer within the soil food web.
The EC bioethanol blend mandate policy: its effect on ACP sugar trade and potential interaction with EPA policies

The study aim was to determine effects of the EC bioethanol blend mandate policy and its potential interaction with the EPA policies on EU/ACP countries. The research analysis focussed on welfare outcomes, changes in trade balance and output of bioethanol crops commodities due to these policies. Emphasis of our analysis was placed on sugar given the economic importance of this commodity to many ACP member states. Absence of an EU bioethanol partial equilbrium model means we had to design one from certain assumptions. One of the assumptions was that subsidies support EU bioethanol production such that just enough is produced to meet the 5.75% and 10% EC blend mandate requirements. For this reason, EU bioethanol production did not affect transport fuel demand and prices. Using the GTAP model, the study has found that the EC bioethanol blend mandate policy increases bioethanol crops commodities prices resulting in global welfare loss that is highest in the EU region. However, the EC bioethanol blend mandate policy also increases bioethanol crops commodities production in ACP countries and promote ACP export of these commodities to the EU. The EU is able to produce all bioethanol requirements from local sugar beet production. Increasing the amount of sugar beet in bioethanol production minimizes the effect on global food prices and offers greatest benefits to ACP countries through promotion of their sugar industries. Trade liberalising EPA policies result in welfare gain for regions engaged in them. However, the EC bioethanol blend mandate policy’s interaction with the EPA policies result in welfare loss, which is again highest in the EU. Combination of the EC bioethanol blend mandate/EPA policies also promotes ACP bioethanol crops production and export. Overall, the study has contributed to our understanding of biofuel policies and their potential global effects on food markets especially in ACP countries.
When one brain needs to learn from another: the case of observational facilitation of list learning in macaques

Given a neural system that equips an agent to attempt to carry out some learning task based on its own interaction with the “non-social” world, what extra neural machinery is required to enable learning to be facilitated by (repeated) observation of successful completion of that task by another agent? We provide one answer by exploiting an understanding of data and models on mirror neurons to extend a prior neurocomputational model of list learning by macaques, SCP1, which addressed results of the simultaneous chaining paradigm (SCP) to yield a new model, SCP2, that addresses social facilitation (observational learning) effects based on the SCP. SCP2 extends SCP1 by adding action-recognition elements and (vicarious) reward-processing elements to facilitate performance following observation of a demonstrator. Our simulations suggest prior experience is important for the observed facilitation and serves to bridge the (separately collected) neurophysiological and behavioral data. Crucially, the inner workings of SCP1, as distinct from its successful performance on the SCP dataset, are irrelevant. What is crucial is the “wrapping” of the “do it alone” model to support social facilitation. This study provides an example of dyadic brain modeling, simulating brain models of interacting agents, in the case in which the behavior of only one member of the dyad is affected by the behavior of the other.