Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Slow excitatory synaptic transmission mediated by P2Y1 receptors in the guinea‐pig enteric nervous system

Electrophysiological recording was used to study a type of slow excitatory postsynaptic potential (slow EPSP) that was mediated by release of ATP and its action at P2Y1 receptors on morphologically identified neurones in the submucosal plexus of guinea‐pig small intestine. MRS2179, a selective P2Y1 purinergic receptor antagonist, blocked both the slow EPSP and mimicry of the EPSP by exogenously applied ATP. Increased conductance accounted for the depolarization phase of the EPSP, which occurred exclusively in neurones with S‐type electrophysiological behaviour and uniaxonal morphology. The purinergic excitatory input to the submucosal neurones came from neighbouring neurones in the same plexus, from neurones in the myenteric plexus and from sympathetic postganglionic neurones. ATP‐mediated EPSPs occurred coincident with fast nicotinic synaptic potentials evoked by the myenteric projections and with noradrenergic IPSPs evoked by sympathetic fibres that innervated the same neurones. The P2Y1 receptor on the neurones was identified as a metabotropic receptor linked to activation of phospholipase C, synthesis of inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate and mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular stores.
Learning to Trust the Crowd: Some Lessons from Wikipedia

Inspired by the open source software (OSS) movement, Wikipedia has gone further than any OSS project in decentralizing its quality control task. This is seen by many as a fatal flaw. In this short paper, the author try to show that it is rather a shrewd and fertile design choice. First, the author describes the precise way in which Wikipedia is more decentralized than OSS projects. Secondly, the author explains why Wikipedia's quality control can be and must be decentralized. Thirdly, the author show why it is wise for Wikipedia to welcome anonymous amateurs. Finally, the author argue that concerns about Wikipedia's quality and sustainable success have to be tempered by the fact that, as disruptive innovations tend to do, Wikipedia is in the process of redefining the pertinent dimensions of quality and value for general encyclopedias.
Policy Research Using Agent-Based Modeling to Assess Future Impacts of Urban Expansion into Farmlands and Forests

The expansion of urban land uses into farmlands and forests requires an assessment of future ecological impacts. Spatially explicit agent-based models can represent the changes in resilience and ecological services that result from different land-use policies. When modeling complex adaptive systems, both the methods used to interpret results and the standards of rigor used to judge adequacy are complicated and require additional research. Recent studies suggest that it would be appropriate to use these models as an extension of exploratory analysis. This type of analysis generates ensembles of alternate plausible representations of future system conditions. User expertise steers interactive, stepwise system exploration toward inductive reasoning about potential changes to the system. In this study, we develop understanding of the potential alternative futures for a social-ecological system by way of successive simulations that test variations in the types and numbers of policies. The model addresses the agricultural- urban interface and the preservation of ecosystem services. The landscape analyzed is at the junction of the McKenzie and Willamette Rivers adjacent to the cities of Eugene and Springfield in Lane County, Oregon. Our exploration of alternative future scenarios suggests that policies that constrain urban growth and create incentives for farming and forest enterprises to preserve and enhance habitat can protect ecosystem resilience and services.
How Wise Are Crowd? A Comparative Study of Crowd and Institutions in Peer-to-Business Online Lending Markets

Funding small businesses used to be the exclusive domain of angel investors, venture capitalists, and banks. Crowd have only recently been recognized as an alternative source of financing. Whereas some have attributed great potential to the funding provided by crowd (“crowdfunding”), others have clearly been more skeptical. We join this debate by examining the performance of crowd to screen the creditworthiness of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) compared with institutions in the context of new online peer-to- business lending markets. Exploiting the randomized assignment of originated loans to institutions and the crowd in the online peer-to-business platform of FundingCircle, we find that crowd underperform institutions in screening SMEs, thereby failing to lend at interest rates that adjust for the likelihood of defaulting on a loan. Moreover, the underperformance gap of crowd compared with institutions widens with risky and small loans, suggesting that crowd lack the expertise to assess the risks or the incentive to expend resources to perform due diligence. Overall, our findings highlight when crowd face limitations in screening SMEs.
Pricing Corporate Bonds with Interest Rates Following Double Square-Root Process

This paper develops a corporate bond pricing model following the structural approach in which the dynamics of the instantaneous risk-free interest rate is governed by the double square-root (DSR) process. Credit spreads generated from the pricing model depend explicitly upon the levels of interest rates via the non-linear effect arising from the DSR process. Given a positive correlation between the interest rates and leverage ratios, the credit spreads generated by the pricing model have negative relationship with the interest rates, that is consistent with empirical findings using bond market data during 2008–2013 when interest rates were low.
Factors affecting contractor performance : a comparative study of non value-adding activities in Nigeria and Indonesia

This study aims to investigate the incidence of non value-adding activities as it affect business performance of the construction industry in Nigeria. Non value-adding activity is used to differentiate between physical waste found on site during construction and other waste which occurs during construction process. The purpose of the paper focuses on the severity of waste and waste causes variables, deepening the awareness of contractors in order to pay close attention to them thus reducing the incidences and offering better performance. Data was collected through questionnaire targeting 100 organisations consisting of contracting organisation, project managers, client organisations and consultants. The Indonesian study used data collected from 99 respondents from 46 different contracting organisations. Statistical analysis were used to rank the importance of waste variables and waste causes variables from different stakeholders in the industry. The findings suggest that repairs on finishing works, waiting for instruction, waiting for materials and materials not meeting specifications were identified as the key waste variables, while site condition, weather and lack of subcontractors' skill were identified as key waste causing variables. These findings contribute substantial detrimental effect to project performance, thus affecting the integrity of the construction industry.
Creating and capturing value in KAM relationships

Questions have recently been raised about whether key account management (KAM) pays off for suppliers. Previous research has been equivocal on this issue. Yet suppliers are increasingly adopting (or being forced by their customers to adopt) KAM, which could be problematic if the supplier is unable to capture value from the relationship. This research examines how suppliers capture value from KAM. First, supplier‐influenceable aspects of the value of the customer are explored through an elucidation of the drivers of customer revenues and costs. Then, value capture in KAM relationships is examined through the lens of five research propositions. The first result of the research contributes to theory with a detailed model of the drivers of customer lifetime value. The second result contributes to KAM practice through a confirmation of the five propositions and an exploration of how ten good practice companies capture value from their KAM relationships.
Use of dental care and effective preventive services in preventing tooth decay among U.S. Children and adolescents--Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, United States, 2003-2009 and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, United States, 2005-2010.

Introduction Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic conditions among children. Approximately 23% of children aged 2–11 years have at least one primary tooth with untreated decay and 20% of adolescents aged 12–19 years have at least one permanent tooth with untreated decay (1). Tooth decay, if left untreated, can cause pain and infection, and can lead to problems with eating, speaking, and learning (2). Risk factors for tooth decay include recent history of cavities, low fluoride exposure, and living in a low-income household (3). Prevalence of untreated decay in primary or permanent teeth among children from lower-income households is more than twice that among children from higher-income households (1). Prevalence of untreated tooth decay is also higher among Mexican-American children and non-Hispanic black children than among Use of Dental Care and Effective Preventive Services in Preventin. https://www.cdc. gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/su6302a9.htm
Estimation of age by Kvaal's technique in sample Indian population to establish the need for local Indian-based formulae

Context: Age estimation using radiographs by Kvaal and coauthors has shown to be reliable method, possible variation in ethnicity restricts its use in sample Indian population. Aims: Thus this study was aimed at evaluating the accuracy of age estimation formula of Kvaal and coauthors developed for Norwegian population. Materials and Methods: From the subjects (1-100) between the age group 20 and 50 years digitized intraoral periapical (IOPA) radiograph of maxillary central incisors was taken and length and width of the teeth were measured and their ratios were calculated and applied to Kvaal and coauthors formula. The estimated age and chronological age were compared, less accurate results were found in sample Indian population. Modified Kvaal's formula was then developed by using regression analysis of the ratios and to evaluate the accuracy of this formula, the study was repeated using same criteria and methodology on another subjects (101-200). Results: Using Kvaal's formula standard error of estimated age was more in sample Indian population when compared with Norwegian population. Then modified Kvaal's formula was developed and applied to sample Indian population, which showed accurate results. Conclusion: This study concludes that formula which was derived from Norwegian population is not applicable to sample Indian population.
Lymphoid Subpopulation Changes after Thermal Injury and Thermal Injury with Infection in an Experimental Model

Subpopulation analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes is a frequently used measure of immunocompetence. Yet, little is known about the lymphocyte subpopulations in the circulation and lymphoid organs after severe trauma. Blood, spleen, and lymph node (LN) subpopulations were compared in a rat model of burn injury (B) and burn injury with infection (BI). B and BI rats received 30% total body surface scald burns. Infection was induced by seeding wounds with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Subpopulations were identified by flow cytometry 48 hours after burn. Helper lymphocytes were selectively depleted from the circulation of BI but not B animals, which caused the ratio of helper to suppressor cells (HSR) in BI animals to decrease significantly compared with the unburned controls. Both LN helper and suppressor cells were decreased in BI animals and the HSR was unchanged, but a selective reduction in suppressor cells in B LN increased the HSR relative to unburned controls. Spleen subpopulations were unchanged for both B and BI groups. Subpopulation changes after trauma and infection were different for each tissue examined.
The role of HRM practices on employee’s commitment to organization in private sector Banks of Pakistan A case study of District Abbottabad

The world has become a global village. Every organization needs new innovation to meet the current scenario of the international market. Human resource management practices have a significant role to enhance the employees and organization productivity. Actually the main aim of this study was to know the relationship between the HRM practices and employees’ commitment to the organization in the private sector Banks of Pakistan. A case study of district Abbottbad 30 private banks was taken as a population.
Research trends in student response systems: a literature review

In recent years, the use of student response systems SRS, also known as clickers in the classroom setting has increased considerably, and researchers have developed a growing interest in their effect on learning and student engagement. This review analyses trends in SRS research by providing a brief history of SRS technology and usage as well as a detailed review of research in this field. In addition, this review focuses on the pedagogical implications of SRSs for education and analyses common criticisms of this emerging educational technology. Finally, research identifying common trends in SRS development is compiled and areas for future research are identified. The outcome of this leads to an understanding of best practices for this technology in a university setting.
The Effects of Locus of Control and Method of Goal Setting on Task Motivation

3 Acknowledgments 4 Index of Tables . 6 Introduction and Review of Literature 7 Goal setting and motivation. 7 Locus of control 12 Teaching internal locus of control 13 Methodology 17 Sub j ects 17 Instruments 17 Procedure. 21 Results 23 Discussion 26 References. 30 Appendices A— Internal-External Scale 34 B— Motivation Scale. 39
National survey of the prevalence, incidence, primary care burden, and treatment of heart failure in Scotland

Objective: To examine the epidemiology, primary care burden, and treatment of heart failure in Scotland, UK. Design: Cross sectional data from primary care practices participating in the Scottish continuous morbidity recording scheme between 1 April 1999 and 31 March 2000. Setting: 53 primary care practices (307 741 patients). Subjects: 2186 adult patients with heart failure. Results: The prevalence of heart failure in Scotland was 7.1 in 1000, increasing with age to 90.1 in 1000 among patients ⩾ 85 years. The incidence of heart failure was 2.0 in 1000, increasing with age to 22.4 in 1000 among patients ⩾ 85 years. For older patients, consultation rates for heart failure equalled or exceeded those for angina and hypertension. Respiratory tract infection was the most common co-morbidity leading to consultation. Among men, 23% were prescribed a β blocker, 11% spironolactone, and 46% an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor. The corresponding figures for women were 20% (p = 0.29 versus men), 7% (p = 0.02), and 34% (p < 0.001). Among patients < 75 years 26% were prescribed a β blocker, 11% spironolactone, and 50% an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor. The corresponding figures for patients ⩾ 75 years were 19% (p = 0.04 versus patients < 75), 7% (p = 0.04), and 33% (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Heart failure is a common condition, especially with advancing age. In the elderly, the community burden of heart failure is at least as great as that of angina or hypertension. The high rate of concomitant respiratory tract infection emphasises the need for strategies to immunise patients with heart failure against influenza and pneumococcal infection. Drugs proven to improve survival in heart failure are used less frequently for elderly patients and women.
Relationships between metabolic profile, hypertension and uric acid with cardiometabolic risk in adolescents with abdominal obesity: impact of geodemographic factors on the prevalence of abdominal obesity

Abstract Background Association of hyperuricemia, dyslipidemia and high blood pressure (BP) among adolescents with high waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) remains not fully addressed and could represent a new way to diagnose adolescents early with cardiometabolic risk. Objective We aimed to determine abdominal obesity (AO) prevalence and investigate relations between AO, uric acid (UA), lipid profiles, BP and geographical patterns in adolescents. Subjects 577 and 204 Algerian students aged between 10 and 19 years were included in our epidemiological and biochemical studies, respectively. Methods Height, weight, waist circumference (Wc) and hip circumferences, body mass index (BMI) and BP were measured. Fasting blood sampling was performed to measure glycemia, lipid profile, uricemia, insulinemia and leptinemia. The WHtR ≥0.50 was applied for the diagnosis of AO and geodemographics was evaluated. Results The prevalence of AO was 12.13% among all students, 19.17% and 16.39% among students living in urban and plain areas, respectively. The risk of AO may be reduced in rural and mountainous areas. Lipid parameters, UA, insulin and leptin serum concentrations were significantly increased in adolescents with WHtR ≥0.50 compared to those with WHtR <0.50. Cardiometabolic risk was increased with WHtR ≥0.50 and BMI >26. Means of BMI, Wc, BP, and lipid parameters were significantly increased in the fourth quartiles compared to the first quartile of UA. Conclusion Urban areas and plains represent factors contributing to AO and WHtR ≥0.50 may be used as a cut-off point to define risks of high BP, lipid abnormalities and UA serum level in Algerian adolescents.
Synergies between regulatory elements of the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus and its palindromic 3 ′ locus control region

Transcriptional enhancers of the IgH locus include Eμ and four 3 ′ elements (Cα3 ′ , hs1‐2, hs3 and hs4 ), some of which are by themselves weak. We show that these weak elements behave as strong “co‐enhancers” when combined, and display a stage‐dependent activity which differs from that obtained when they are alone. Combinations mimicking the palindromic structure of the 3 ′ IgH region are particularly efficient. Noticeably in pre‐B cells, hs4 is boosted by the addition of elements previously considered inactive at this stage, hs1‐2 and hs3. Combinations of 3 ′ elements also strongly boost Eμ at all maturation stages, but inhibitory interactions occasionally occur between Eμ and incomplete 3 ′ combinations, indicating that full transcriptional activity is mainly achieved when all 5 ′ and 3 ′ partners play their respective roles.
Interdependency and Spillover during the Financial Crisis of 2007 to 2009 – Evidence from High Frequency Intraday Data

The paper examines the intraday dynamics and volatility transmission among three European stock markets, namely Germany, France, and United Kingdom during the global financial crisis (2007-2009). After estimating the structural break date using Bai-Perron (1998, 2003), we analyze separately the pre-crisis and crisis period using high frequency 5 minute intraday data under the VAR-EGARCH frame work. The empirical findings reveal that the interdependence among European markets increased substantially during the crisis period pointing towards shift contagion. In addition, considering the role of the German stock market, the results show that it strongly influences stock returns and volatility in France and U.K – for all periods, while the reverse hold true but relatively irrelevant. These findings have important implications for both policymakers and investors.
Kinetoplast DNA of Bodo caudatus: a noncatenated structure

The kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) of trypanosomes and other parasitic members of the order Kinetoplastida is organized as a complex network containing thousands of catenated circular DNA molecules. We found that the kDNA of a free-living kinetoplastida, Bodo caudatus, exists as a noncatenated structure. The kDNA of B. caudatus represents about 40% of the total cellular DNA, and the major components of this DNA are large circles of 10 and 12 kilobases (kb). Our results indicate that these circles are analogous to trypanosome kDNA minicircles despite their large size and noncatenated form. The kDNA of B. caudatus also contains a minor component of 19 kb which is transcribed. The 19-kb molecules are probably analogous to the maxicircles of trypanosomes. The properties of the B. caudatus kDNA suggest that the catenated network structure of trypanosome kDNA is not required for maxicircle segregation during kinetoplast division or for the expression of the maxicircle genome.
The use of marketing communication tools in less developed countries with specific reference to the Eritrean manufacturing industry

Marketing communications, the "promotions" component of the marketing mix, is a systematic relationship between a business and its market. Its importance in the over all business success has increased dramatically in recent decades. In today' s cluttered and complex market place, marketing communications allows products/brands to stand out and help consumers appreciate their comparative advantages. Marketers have various communication tools at their disposal including advertising, sales promotions, personal selling, direct marketing, public relations, sponsorship, exhibitions, point-of-sale, and the Internet to achieve their specific objectives. These communication tools are further grouped into broad media types. The conventional media advertising, which involve ' renting' space on television, newspaper, poster, radio etc are referred to as ' above-the-line advertising,' whereas all non-media promotions, including personal selling, sales promotion, direct marketing, public relations, and sponsorship are commonly termed as ' below-the-line promotions. ' The proper use and mix of these elements is fundamental for marketers to ensure that they obtain the most for their communication budgets. Though there is no optimum mixture of expenditures between the two broad categories, the appropriate mixture involves spending enough on promotions to ensure sufficient sales volume in the short-term while simultaneously spending enough on advertising to ensure the development of new brand and preservation of a product/brand 's equity position in the long-run. Furthermore, each element of the communication mix should be integrated with other tools of the communication mix so that better results are achieved for a unified message consistently reinforced. The increasing importance of marketing communications should benefit all firms around the world, no studies have been undertaken to analyse their applications in least developed countries. The purpose of this study is therefore, to investigate the overall awareness, use and integration of marketing communication tools by manufacturing firms in a least developed sub-Saharan country, Eritrea. Accordingly, empirical data from 41 randomly selected firms has been analysed. The finding showed that, although it seems marketers in this emerging nation are aware of the role of marketing communications, a tendency for relatively less emphasis on marketing communications amongst most manufacturing firms was observed. The most commonly used marketing communication tools include sales promotions and personal selling, according to their importance, both from below-the-line, followed by TV advertising. Manufacturing firms in Eritrea tend to spend less on marketing communication II Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za