Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
“Truly free consent”? Clarifying the nature of police legitimacy using causal mediation analysis

Objectives To test whether normative and non-normative forms of obligation to obey the police are empirically distinct and to assess whether they exhibit different dynamics in terms of the downstream effects of police-citizen contact. Methods Analysing data from the Scottish Community Engagement Trial of procedurally just policing, we use natural effect modelling for causally ordered mediators to assess causal pathways that include—but also extend beyond—the experimental treatment to procedural justice. Results Normative and non-normative forms of obligation are empirically distinct. Normative obligation to obey the police is sensitive to procedurally just or unjust police behaviour, and influences cooperation with the police and traffic law compliance in a way that is consistent with procedural justice theory. Non-normative obligation to obey the police is ‘sticky’ and unresponsive. Conclusions Legitimacy can resonably be defined partly as normative obligation with its expected beneficial downstream effects, so long as it is measured properly.
What things make people with a learning disability happy and satisfied with their lives: an inclusive research project.

BACKGROUND We looked at the research that other people have done about what makes people with a learning disability happy and satisfied with their lives. Researchers call being happy and satisfied with your life 'subjective well-being'. They found out that having things like money and good health does not always mean people are happy. They also found that some people are really happy, even if there are things in their lives they would like to change. None of the people who have done research about 'subjective well-being' have interviewed people with a learning disability about what makes them happy with their lives. MATERIALS AND METHODS We have carried out a study about what makes people with a learning disability happy and satisfied with their lives. This report talks about the research that we did, and what we found out. We interviewed 20 people with a learning disability who said they were very happy and satisfied. We asked them about what things helped them feel like this. RESULTS The people we spoke to said things like relationships, choice and independence, activities and valuable social roles made them feel satisfied with their lives. They told us about the things that enable them to lead happy lives, and the things that disable them. We also found out about the importance of personal characteristics. These are things like looking on the bright side of life or having ways to manage difficult emotions like sadness or anger. CONCLUSIONS We found out that it is important for people with a learning disability to have good things in their lives, but it is also important to be enabled to access these good things.
Increased Prevalence of Regulatory T Cells (Treg) is Induced by Pancreas Adenocarcinoma

We reported earlier that patients with breast or pancreas cancer have an increased prevalence of regulatory T cells (Treg) in the blood and tumor draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) compared with healthy individuals. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that tumor cells promote the prevalence of Treg. The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) secreting murine pancreas adenocarcinoma, Pan02 cell line was injected into syngeneic C57BL/6 mice and the prevalence of Treg in the TDLNs and tumor spleen was measured weekly. Compared with control mice, the prevalence of CD25+CD4+ cells in TDLNs and in tumor spleen increased with tumor growth. Analysis of these CD25+CD4+ T cells in vitro confirmed expression of the Treg marker, Foxp3. In addition, their functional activity resembled that of Treg, as evidenced by a poor proliferative capacity; suppression of proliferation of CD25−CD4 or CD8T cells and inhibition of interferon-γ release by CD25−CD4+ T cells. Reconstitution of Pan02-bearing Rag−/− mice with naive syngeneic CD25−CD4+ T cells induced CD25+CD4+Foxp3+ T cells in TDLNs, but not in the spleen. In contrast, Foxp3 was not detected in unreconstituted Pan02-bearing Rag−/− mice, or reconstituted mice bearing a TGF-β–negative esophageal tumor. Furthermore, administration of neutralizing anti–TGF-β antibody blocked the induction of Foxp3 in reconstituted Pan02-bearing Rag−/− mice. These results mimic earlier in vitro studies showing induction of Foxp3 through CD3 plus CD28 stimulation in the presence of TGF-β. We conclude that Pan02 tumor promotes the prevalence of Treg, in part through the secretion of TGF-β, which may result in immune evasion.
A Continuous Cryogenic Diffusion Pump For Fusion Reactors

A pumping system designed to pump magnetic fusion reactors has been operated pumping deuterium, hydrogen and hydrogen-helium mixtures. A 500 mm bore liquid helium cooled "snail" cryocondensation pump was used to pump the hydrogen species. The snail pump is equipped with a unique regeneration head which continuously removes the hydrogen ice from the cryocondensation surfaces while the pump is in operation. The hydrogen ice is evaporated inside the snail head and pumped with a 500 m 3/h roots blower. The snail cryopump is attached to a 500 mm boretimes3 m long liquid nitrogen cooled entrance duct. The "cold duct" provides several important functions of the pumping system, it: 1) provides the conduit between the diverter and the cryopump, 2) pre-cools the gases allowing the elimination of a restrictive entrance baffle, 3) reduces the molecular mean free path allowing the duct to operate in the fluid flow regime. The fluid flow regime increases conductance and allows compression of the helium stream by diffusive drag. With the large compression of the helium, it can be pumped with a conventional turbomolecular pump. The cryopump effectively strips the hydrogen species from the helium stream before it enters the turbomolecular pump. The pumping system thereby separates the hydrogen and helium streams. Mass flow controllers were used to inject the hydrogen (deuterium) and helium into a standard AVS test dome fitted with a capacitance manometer. Pure hydrogen was pumped at flow rates from 1.7 to 67.4 Pam 3/s (the limit of the flow system) with the test dome pressure varying from 0.1 to 0.52 Pa, the effective pumping speed varied from 17 to 129 m3/s which is in good agreement with Poiseuille flow. Deuterium was pumped at rates up to 33.6 Pam3/s, at 0.39 Pa, pumping speed 86 m3/s. Pure helium was pumped to0.32 Pam3/s at . 49 Pa, pumping speed 0.67 mVs. Hydrogen with 1% helium was pumped to 32.7 Pam3/s at 0.52 Pa, effective pumping speed of both species was 63 m3/s. The helium compression varied from 31 up to 93 at the maximum flow. The flow was limited by the pumping capacity of the turbomolecular pumps. The design of the pumping systems, the test results and comparisons to fluid flow theory is presented
Effect of U-995, a potent shark cartilage-derived angiogenesis inhibitor, on anti-angiogenesis and anti-tumor activities.

BACKGROUND A potent angiogenesis inhibitor, U-995, has been purified from the cartilage of the blue shark (Prionace glauca). U-995 is composed of two single peptides with molecular mass of 10 and 14 kDa, respectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS U-995 was designed to study human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) migration and proliferation in vitro and angiogenesis induced by TNF alpha in chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). Furthermore, we determined the ability of U-995 to inhibiting tumor cell growth and metastasis. RESULTS U-995 (15 and 30 micrograms/ml) markedly inhibited HUVEC migration and, at 15-50 micrograms/ml produced a dose-dependent decline in [3H]-thymidine incorporation. 30 and 50 micrograms/ml of U-995, when added to TNF alpha-induced angiogenesis caused discontinuous and disrupted blood vessels. Moreover, U-995 (30 micrograms/ml) markedly prevented collagenase-induced collagenolysis. In addition, when 200 micrograms U-995 was injected i.p. into mice it suppressed sarcoma-180 cell growth and B16-F10 mouse melanoma cell metastasis in vivo. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the anti-angiogenic effects of U-995 may be be due to interference with the proliferation and migration of HUVECs as well as inhibition of collagenolysis, thereby leading to inhibition of both angiogenesis and tumor cell growth.
Evaluating local government performance in times of crisis

ABSTRACT In recent years, Spanish local governments have come under increasing pressure to accommodate severe economic restrictions while maintaining their provision of local public services. We analyse overall cost efficiency in Spanish local governments during the period of the economic crisis (2008–2013), under four different non-parametric methodologies. Moreover, given how problematic it is to precisely define what municipalities do, we compare three different output models with various measures of quantity as well as quality. Results suggest that Spanish local government efficiency improved over the period 2008–2013 since budget expenditures (inputs) fell while local public services and facilities (outputs) were maintained. We also find evidence of the possible implications of service quality when measuring municipalities’ efficiency, and of structural differences in the average efficiency between municipalities located in different Spanish regions. Finally, our results confirm that the level and variation of efficiency scores are affected by the approach taken.
Optimization of Surge Arrester Locations in Overhead Distribution Networks

Lightning is considered one of the main causes of faults in overhead distribution networks. Direct strokes usually lead to flashovers due to the insulation levels that are used. Induced overvoltages caused by indirect lightning are usually lower and can be efficiently reduced by metal-oxide surge arresters. Hence, its associated flashover rate can be reduced. In this paper, a heuristic method is proposed to optimize the number of surge arresters as well as their locations. The method presented is based on genetic algorithms and an economic approach is taken into account by means of evaluating the cost of insulation flashover.
A market consistent gas storage modelling framework: valuation, calibration, & model risk

A typical natural gas derivatives book within an energy trading business, bank, or even large utility will generally be exposed to two broad categories of market risk. The first being outright price volatility, where contracts such as caps/floors, options and swing, will have a non-linear exposure to the variability of the gas price level. The second, although equally as prominent, is time-spread volatility where gas storage, take-or-pay contracts, and calendar spread options will be exposed to the realized variability of different time-spreads. Developing a market consistent valuation framework capable of capturing both risk exposures, and thus allowing for risk diversification within a natural gas trading book, is the primary goal of this thesis. To accomplish this, we present a valuation methodology which is capable of pricing the two most actively traded natural gas derivative contracts, namely monthly options and storage, in a consistent manner. The valuation of the former is of course trivial as the prices are set by the market, therefore the primary focus of this thesis is in obtaining market-based pricing measures for the purpose of storage valuation. A consistent pricing and risk management framework will, by definition, accurately reflect the cost of hedging both outright and spread volatility and thus our work can be viewed as a basis capable of incorporating the other less actively traded contracts listed above. Further, we develop a
Potential clinical applications of chelating drugs in diseases targeting transferrin-bound iron and other metals

Introduction: Iron is essential for normal, neoplasmic and microbial cells. Transferrin (Tf) is responsible for iron transport and its interactions with chelators are of physiological and toxicological importance and could lead to new therapeutic applications. Areas covered: Differential interactions of Tf with chelators such as deferiprone (L1) could be used to modify toxicity and disease pathways in relation to iron and other metal metabolism. Iron mobilization by L1 could achieve normal body iron stores in thalassemia patients. Iron mobilization from the reticuloendothelial system by L1 and exchange with Tf could be used to increase the production of hemoglobin in the anemia of chronic disease. Iron accumulation is pathogenic in neurodegenerative, acute kidney and other diseases and could be removed by L1 with therapeutic implications. Deprivation of iron from neoplasmic and microbial cells by chelators could increase the prospect of improved treatments in cancer and infectious diseases. Other applications include metal detoxification and inhibition of oxidative stress-related conditions. Expert opinion: Specific mechanisms apply in the interactions of chelators with Tf, which could be used in the design of targeted therapeutic strategies in many conditions. In each case specific chelator protocols have to be designed for achieving optimum therapeutic activity
A survey of nurses' beliefs about the medical emergency team system in a canadian tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND Nurses are the primary activators of the medical emergency team (MET). Although the MET system can empower nurses to seek help in managing acutely ill patients, few data on nurses' beliefs about the system are available. OBJECTIVE To evaluate nurses' beliefs and behaviors about the MET system. METHODS Nurses from a large academic hospital in Canada were surveyed (2 demography-related questions and 17 Likert-scale questions). RESULTS Of 614 nurses employed on units participating in the MET system, 293 (47.7%) were approached and 275 completed the survey (response rate, 93.9%). Most respondents (84.2%) believed that the MET could prevent cardiopulmonary arrest in acutely ill patients, and 94% believed that the MET allowed them to seek help for patients they were worried about. Most nurses (75.9%) would call the responsible physician before activating the MET. Fifteen percent indicated reluctance to activate the MET because of fear of criticism, but only 2.2% considered the MET overused. Most (81.3%) believed that the MET did not increase their workload, and 91.3% did not believe that the MET reduced their skills. Forty-eight percent of nurses indicated that they would activate the MET for a patient they were worried about, even if the patient had normal vital signs. CONCLUSION Nurses value the MET system. Nurses believe that the MET can help them care for acutely ill patients and improve outcomes. However, barriers to MET activation exist, including a fear of criticism and an adherence to a more traditional model of first contacting the responsible physician before activating the MET.
Transitional expression of neural cell adhesion molecule isoforms during chicken embryonic myogenesis.

The neural cell adhesion molecule, NCAM, is known to be expressed in chicken muscle as at least three principal molecular forms (molecular masses of 155 kDa, 145 kDa, and 120 kDa). They are generated from a single gene by alternative splicing. To distinguish these molecular species and to investigate their expressions in muscle differentiation during chicken embryonic development, we prepared antipeptide antibodies against three different domains of the NCAM. The antibody named MSD<+> was designed to detect muscle-specific domain (MSD) which was inserted into a muscle-specific NCAM by alternative splicing. The locus encompassing the MSD insertion site was detected with the antibody named MSD<->, and cytoplasmic sites near the transmembrane region were detected with the antibody named CYT. Immunoblot analysis utilizing the peptide antibodies prepared here revealed that, of three NCAMs, two isoforms, 155 kDa and 120 kDa, were recognized with the antibody MSD<+> and the same 155-kDa and the other 145-kDa molecule were recognized with the antibody CYT. The antibody MSD<-> was capable of detecting all three isoforms of the NCAM. Expression of the 120-kDa form with MSD but lacking a cytoplasmic tail increased but that of the 145-kDa form with cytoplasmic tail but lacking MSD declined during embryonic day 5 to day 18. The 155-kDa form NCAM with both MSD and cytoplasmic tail was expressed specifically and transiently during embryonic day 11 to day 14 in chick muscle; this period coincides with the period of extensive myotube formation. Thus, this largest isotype seems to play an important role in muscle differentiation.
Therapeutic outcomes of laryngeal cancer at Kyoto University Hospital for 10 years

Conclusion: It is important to prevent regional lymph node recurrence and distant metastasis to achieve better survival of laryngeal cancer. Objective: Therapeutic outcomes of 130 cases with laryngeal cancer treated at Kyoto University Hospital between 1995 and 2004 were reviewed. Patients and methods: In all, 121 males and 9 females were involved. Their ages ranged from 40 years to 92 years (average 66 years). All tumors were squamous cell carcinoma – arising at the glottis in 111 cases, the supraglottis in 18, and the subglottis in 1 case. Most glottic cancers (77.5%) were classified as stage I or II, while most supraglottic cancers (77.8%) were at stage III or IV. Stage I/II cancers were basically treated by conventional radiotherapy (60–66 Gy) and twice-daily hyperfractionated radiotherapy (70–74 Gy), respectively, attempting to preserve the larynx. Total laryngectomy with neck dissection was performed in the treatment of stage III/IV cases. Results: Five-year disease-specific survival rates were 100%, 96%, 100%, and 68% for stage I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Five-year laryngeal preservation rates were 98%, 100%, 86%, 0%, and 0% for T1a, T1b, T2, T3, and T4 of glottic cancer, respectively. Local recurrence occurred in five cases of stage I/II glottic cancer, which was successfully salvaged. Regional lymph node recurrence occurred in five cases including four patients with glottic cancer and one with supraglottic cancer. Two of them died of disease despite undergoing salvage therapy. Distant metastasis occurred in the lung in four cases including one glottic and three supraglottic cancer patients after initial treatment.
D1 dopamine receptor regulates alcohol‐motivated behaviors in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in alcohol‐preferring (P) rats

Recent studies have implicated the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) as a potential brain substrate for mediating drug‐related behaviors. Neuroanatomical studies have demonstrated that reciprocal projections exist from the BST to the ventral tegmental area (VTA), a dopamine reward substrate proposed to play a role in alcohol abuse. In the present study, we evaluated the role of the D1 and D2 dopamine receptors of the BST in regulating alcohol and sucrose‐motivated behaviors. Alcohol‐preferring (P) rats were trained under an FR4 operant schedule to self‐administer either EtOH (10% v/v) or sucrose (2% w/v). Following training, we evaluated the capacity of a competitive D1 (SCH 23390; 0.5–20.0 μg) and a D2 (eticlopride; 0.5–20.0 μg) dopamine antagonist to selectively reduce EtOH‐maintained responding. Naltrexone, (5–30.0 μg), the nonselective opioid antagonist, was used as a reference agent. The results showed that SCH 23390 dose‐dependently reduced alcohol‐motivated responding. Responding was reduced with the 20.0 μg dose to about 97% of control levels. SCH 23390 also reduced sucrose responding; however, the magnitude of effects was substantially lower with the highest doses (2.5, 20.0 μg) (68–79% of control levels). In contrast, eticlopride failed to significantly alter alcohol responding and reduced sucrose responding only with the 10.0 μg dose. Unlike the dopamine antagonists, all naltrexone doses failed to alter EtOH or sucrose‐maintained responding. The results suggest a salient role for the D1, but not the D2 and opioid receptors in selectively modulating EtOH‐motivated behaviors in the BST. Synapse 48:45–56, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Impact of Team Work Traits on Organizational Citizenship Behavior from the Viewpoint of the Employees in the Education Directorates in North Region of Jordan

This study aims at investigating the impact of team work traits on organizational citizenship behavior viewpoint of the employees in the education directorates in north region of Jordan. Five dimensions of work team traits were included in the study: clear goals, open communications, conflict management, clearly defined role, and participating leadership, on the other hand, organizational citizenship behavior was measured by five dimensions: altruism, courtesy, sportsmanship, civic virtue, conscientiousness. The study population consists of all employees in the education directorates centers in Jordan north region. A random sample included four directorates (the First Irbid, Mafraq, Jerash, Ajloun) was chosen, The researcher used the descriptive and analytical methods, and (300) questionnaires were distributed to the study sample to collect data.
In Vitro Analysis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Minus-Strand Strong-Stop DNA Synthesis and Genomic RNA Processing

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT), nucleocapsid protein (NC), genomic RNA, and the growing DNA strand all influence the copying of the HIV-1 RNA genome into DNA. A detailed understanding of these activities is required to understand the process of reverse transcription. HIV-1 viral DNA is initiated from a tRNA3 Lys primer bound to the viral genome at the primer binding site. The U3 and R regions of the RNA genome are the first sequences to be copied. The TAR hairpin, a structure found within the R region of the viral genome, is the site of increased RT pausing, RNase H activity, and RT dissociation. Template RNA was digested approximately 17 bases behind the site where polymerase paused at the base of TAR. In most template RNAs, this was the only cleavage made by the RT responsible for initiating polymerization. If the RT that initiated DNA synthesis dissociated from the base of the TAR hairpin and an RT rebound at the end of the primer, there was competition between the polymerase and RNase H activities. After the complete heteroduplex was formed, there were additional RNase H cleavages that did not involve polymerization. Levels of NC that prevented TAR DNA self-priming did not protect genomic RNA from RNase H digestion. RNase H digestion of the 100-bp heteroduplex produced a 14-base RNA from the 5′ end of the RNA that remained annealed to the 3′ end of the minus-strand strong-stop DNA only if NC was present in the reaction.