Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kids’ TV Programming in India: A Comparison of Gender Representation in Imports versus Locally Produced Programmes

Kids’ television channels in India air a mix of foreign and domestic programming. Comparisons between the two types of programming have been made on a variety of issues. A less talked about aspect though, is the differences or similarities in how both types of productions represent gender. This study aims to identify whether both genders are presented equally in domestic and foreign productions that airs in India. A content analysis of evening prime time programming on various kids’ channels showed that the average ratio of male to female characters in an individual programme was 3:1. Males also outnumbered females in the programming of the majority of the countries. The gender ratio of almost all countries’ productions (including India) did not reflect the gender ratio of their own population as well as that of India’s census population. All three countries (USA, India and Japan) with the highest number of programmes in this sample had more titles with the names of male characters than females. Among the character roles, the role of the protagonist’s ally/friend/co-worker was the most common role which all countries allotted to both genders. In terms of gender representation, American productions were the most similar to Indian productions.
Six-Degree-of-Freedom Hovering Control of an Underwater Robotic Platform With Four Tilting Thrusters via Selective Switching Control

We introduce a new underwater robotic platform with a tilting thruster mechanism for hovering motion. The tilting thruster mechanism can implement six-degree-of-freedom (DOF) motion with only four thrusters, but tilting motion makes the system nonlinear. We designed a selective switching controller in order to solve the nonlinear problem, and applied it to the robot system. The selective switching controller divides the six-DOF system into two three-DOF subsystems, and switches between subcontrollers according to the error in real time. Dynamic models of a robotic platform and a disturbance model of an attached manipulator are derived for the control design. Using simulation, the stability condition of control is determined, and the validity of the derived dynamic model of the robotic platform and manipulator is verified through comparison between simulation and experiment. A hovering experiment under a disturbance from the manipulator is performed to verify the robustness of the controller. The experimental results validate the successful hovering ability of the proposed robot.
Pulmonary , gastrointestinal and urogenital pharmacology Simvastatin requires activation in accessory cells to modulate T-cell responses in asthma and COPD

T-cell-dependent airway and systemic inflammation triggers the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Retrospective studies suggest that simvastatin has anti-inflammatory effects in both diseases but it is unclear, which cell types are targeted. We hypothesized that simvastatin modulates T-cell activity. Circulating CD4þ and CD8þ T-cells, either pure, co-cultured with monocytes or alveolar macrophages (AM) or in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), were ex vivo activated towards Th1/Tc1 or Th2/Tc2 and incubated with simvastatin. Markers for Th1/Tc1 (IFNγ) and Th2/Tc2 (IL-5, IL-13) were measured by ELISA; with PBMCs this was done comparative between 11 healthy never-smokers, 11 current smokers without airflow limitation, 14 smokers with COPD and 11 never-smokers with atopic asthma. T-cell activation induced IFNγ, IL-5 and IL-13 in the presence and absence of accessory cells. Simvastatin did not modulate cytokine expression in pure T-cell fractions. β-hydroxy-simvastatin acid (activated simvastatin) suppressed IL-5 and IL-13 in pure Th2and Tc2-cells. Simvastatin suppressed IL-5 and IL-13 in Th2-cells co-cultivated with monocytes or AM, which was partially reversed by the carboxylesterase inhibitor benzil. Simvastatin suppressed IL-5 production of Th2/Tc2-cells in PBMCs without differences between cohorts and IL-13 stronger in never-smokers and asthma compared to COPD. Simvastatin induced IFNγ in Th1/Tc1-cells in PBMCs of all cohorts except asthmatics. Simvastatin requires activation in accessory cells likely by carboxylesterase to suppress IL-5 and IL-13 in Th2/Tc2-cells. The effects on Il-13 are partially reduced in COPD. Asthma pathogenesis prevents simvastatin-induced IFNγ up-regulation. Simvastatin has anti-inflammatory effects that could be of interest for asthma therapy. & 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Prostate‐specific antigen levels from completely sectioned, clinically benign, whole prostates

Clinically benign whole, untrimmed prostates and pelvic lymph nodes were obtained from 105 patients at autopsy. All 105 patients had premortem serum from which prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels were obtained. Sixty‐eight did not have carcinoma of the prostate (CAP), 28 had CAP less than 1 ml and 9 had CAP larger than 1 ml. Eleven untrimmed prostates weighed 80 g or more and eight had elevated PSA levels (more than 4.0 ng/ml): five of eight without CAP, two of two with CAP less than 1 ml, and one of one with CAP larger than 1 ml. Ninety‐four whole untrimmed prostates weighed less than 80 g and 20 had elevated PSA levels: ten of 60 without CAP, two of 26 with CAP less than 1 ml, and eight of eight with CAP larger than 1 ml. This study suggests that PSA levels from patients with untrimmed prostates weighing 80 g or more (equivalent to a 60‐g trimmed prostate) are usually elevated regardless whether CAP is present. However, CAP less than 1 ml, in untrimmed prostates less than 80 g, usually does not elevate PSA levels whereas CAP larger than 1 ml usually does (P less than 0.0001). The likelihood that elevated PSA levels, from patients with untrimmed prostates less than 80 g, are due to CAP larger than 1 ml increases as the PSA level increases.
Hyperthermia engages the intrinsic apoptotic pathway by enhancing upstream caspase activation to overcome apoptotic resistance in MCF‐7 breast adenocarcinoma cells

Febrile hyperthermia enhanced TNF‐stimulated apoptosis of MCF‐7 cells and overcame resistance in a TNF‐resistant, MCF‐7 variant (3E9), increasing their TNF‐sensitivity by 10‐ and 100‐fold, respectively. In either cell line, the hyperthermic potentiation was attributable to increased apoptosis that was totally quenched by caspase inhibition. In MCF‐7 cells, hyperthermic potentiation of apoptosis was associated with sustained activation of upstream caspases in response to TNF and more prominent engagement of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Apoptotic enhancement by hyperthermia was primarily mediated by caspase‐8 activation, as the specific inhibitor, Z‐IETD, blocked cell death, whereas direct engagement of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway (with doxorubicin) was not affected. In 3E9 cells, hyperthermia alone induced activation of caspase‐8, and was further enhanced by TNF. In 3E9 cells, hyperthermia caused TNF‐dependent loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and activation of capspase‐9 that was initiated and dependent on upstream caspases. MCF‐7 and 3E9 cells were equally sensitive to exogenous C6‐ceramide, but mass spectroscopic analysis of ceramide species indicated that total ceramide content was not enhanced by TNF and/or hyperthermia treatment, and that the combination of TNF and hyperthermia caused only modest elevation of one species (dihydro‐palmitoyl ceramide). We conclude that febrile hyperthermia potentiates apoptosis of MCF‐7 cells and overcomes TNF‐resistance by sustained activation of caspase‐8 and engagement of the intrinsic pathway that is independent of ceramide flux. This report provides the first evidence for regulation of caspase‐dependent apoptosis by febrile hyperthermia. J. Cell. Biochem. 98: 356–369, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Does the Source of Foreign Direct Investment Matter to Economic Growth in Malaysia?

Abstract Foreign direct investment (FDI) is often viewed as a potential contributor to a country’s economic growth and development. However, the extent of the contribution may depend upon the source of such investment inflows. This paper assesses the contribution of inward FDI to Malaysia’s economic growth using investment data disaggregated by source over the period, 2008:Q1–2016:Q3. Due to the mixed orders of integration of the series involved, the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) framework is employed to conduct the assessment. The econometric results indicate that the source of the FDI does matter greatly when considering the extent of its spin-off for the local economy. Specifically, FDI flows from North America and Southeast Asia contribute more significantly to Malaysia’s economic growth than FDI flows from Central and South America, Northeast Asia and Oceania.
von Willebrand's disease in Dobermann dogs in Australia.

Over a 5-year period (1988-92), von Willebrand factor antigen (vWf:Ag) concentrations were determined on plasma samples from 614 Dobermanns. The vWf:Ag concentration was < 50 canine units (CU)/dL in 373 dogs (61%); these dogs were classified as carriers of the von Willebrand's disease (vWD) gene. In order to identify which dogs were at risk of haemorrhage due to vWD, we determined a cut-off vWf:Ag concentration below which dogs could be considered at risk. This cut-off was chosen in order to minimise the number of dogs genuinely at risk of haemorrhage, being wrongly classified as not at risk. This was done without sacrificing the specificity of the cut-off to any great extent. A vWf:Ag concentration of < 36 CU/dL was empirically chosen as the optimum cut-off concentration. In 282 dogs (76% of the carriers), the vWf:Ag concentration was below this cut-off and these dogs were, thus, classified as being at risk of haemorrhage due to vWD. Haemorrhage attributable to vWD was seen in 107 dogs (29% of the carriers, or 17% of all the dogs). Haemorrhage mostly followed trauma or surgery, but spontaneous genito-urinary and gastrointestinal haemorrhages were also frequent. Of these dogs, 92 were of known age, with a median of 3 years, and 102 were of known sex, with 61% being female. In 89 dogs in which the severity of haemorrhage was subjectively assessed, mild and moderate bleeding occurred with similar frequency (48% and 43%, respectively). There were 8 cases of severe haemorrhage, with two deaths. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Biodegradable and biocompatible poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres as an adjuvant for staphylococcal enterotoxin B toxoid which enhances the level of toxin-neutralizing antibodies

Microspheres composed of biocompatible, biodegradable poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (DL-PLG) and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) toxoid were evaluated as a vaccine delivery system when subcutaneously injected into mice. As measured by circulating immunoglobulin G (IgG) antitoxin titers, the delivery of SEB toxoid via DL-PLG microspheres, 1 to 10 microns in diameter, induced an immune response which was approximately 500 times that seen with nonencapsulated toxoid. The kinetics, magnitude, and duration of the antitoxin response induced with microencapsulated toxoid were similar to those obtained when an equal toxoid dose was administered as an emulsion with complete Freund adjuvant. However, the microspheres did not induce the inflammation and granulomata formation seen with complete Freund adjuvant. The adjuvant activity of the microspheres was not dependent on the superantigenicity of SEB toxin and was equally effective at potentiating circulating IgG antitrinitrophenyl levels in response to microencapsulated trinitrophenyl-keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Empty DL-PLG microspheres were not mitogenic, and SEB toxoid injected as a mixture with empty DL-PLG microspheres was no more effective as an immunogen than toxoid alone. Antigen-containing microspheres 1 to 10 microns in diameter exhibited stronger adjuvant activity than those greater than 10 microns, which correlated with the delivery of the 1- to 10-microns, but not the greater than 10-microns, microspheres into the draining lymph nodes within macrophages. The antibody response induced through immunization with microencapsulated SEB toxoid was protective against the weight loss and splenic V beta 8+ T-cell expansion induced by intravenous toxin administration. These results show that DL-PLG microsphere vaccine delivery systems, which are composed of pharmaceutically acceptable components, possess a strong adjuvant activity for their encapsulated antigens.
Genome‐wide examination of myoblast cell cycle withdrawal during differentiation

Skeletal and cardiac myocytes cease division within weeks of birth. Although skeletal muscle retains limited capacity for regeneration through recruitment of satellite cells, resident populations of adult myocardial stem cells have not been identified. Because cell cycle withdrawal accompanies myocyte differentiation, we hypothesized that C2C12 cells, a mouse myoblast cell line previously used to characterize myocyte differentiation, also would provide a model for studying cell cycle withdrawal during differentiation. C2C12 cells were differentiated in culture medium containing horse serum and harvested at various time points to characterize the expression profiles of known cell cycle and myogenic regulatory factors by immunoblot analysis. BrdU incorporation decreased dramatically in confluent cultures 48 hr after addition of horse serum, as cells started to form myotubes. This finding was preceded by up‐regulation of MyoD, followed by myogenin, and activation of Bcl‐2. Cyclin D1 was expressed in proliferating cultures and became undetectable in cultures containing 40% fused myotubes, as levels of p21WAF1/Cip1 increased and α‐actin became detectable. Because C2C12 myoblasts withdraw from the cell cycle during myocyte differentiation following a course that recapitulates this process in vivo, we performed a genome‐wide screen to identify other gene products involved in this process. Using microarrays containing ∼10,000 minimally redundant mouse sequences that map to the UniGene database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information, we compared gene expression profiles between proliferating, differentiating, and differentiated C2C12 cells and verified candidate genes demonstrating differential expression by RT‐PCR. Cluster analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed groups of gene products involved in cell cycle withdrawal, muscle differentiation, and apoptosis. In addition, we identified several genes, including DDAH2 and Ly‐6A, whose expression specifically was up‐regulated during cell cycle withdrawal coincident with early myoblast differentiation. 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The French Way of St. James as an Engine in the Invigoration of Rural Municipalities in Galicia

Abstract: The aim of this study is to analyze the invigorating effect of the Way of St. James in the Galician rural areas. To do so, we have chosen as a territorial scope the 14 rural municipalities that the “French Way” crosses in this Autonomous Community. The utilized data come from the Bank of Municipal Data of Instituto Galego de Estatística (IGE). A double approximation on the impact of this route has been made: on one hand, we analyze the behavior of different socioeconomic variables during the last two decades in the selected municipalities. On the other hand, we examine to what extent a more favorable dynamic has been witnessed in similar rural territories that do not have access to this product. Although the results of the analysis should be taken as a first approximation, data point to the existence of a very moderate impact of the Way of St. James, in the sense that the development of tourism activities linked to the Way are not sufficient to reverse the demographic and economic decline of these rural areas.
Higher Education Input, Technological Innovation, and Economic Growth in China

Based on the theoretical analysis of the relationship between China’s higher education input, technological innovation, and economic growth, this paper chooses the 1997–2015 sample data of China, and uses a vector auto regression (VAR) model to test the relationship between the three. The results show that educational input, technological innovation, and economic growth form an interaction mechanism featuring dynamic circulation. Higher education input and technological innovation are two important factors influencing economic growth. In the meantime, higher education input is an important source and driving force of technological innovation, and technological innovation will further promote economic growth. However, technological innovation has a delayed positive effect on economic growth, so higher education input demands a long-term view and thinking for quick success, and instant benefits should be avoided.
Bringing Meaning into Making: How Do Visitors Tag an Exhibit as Social when Visiting a Museum

It has been 20 years since the adoption of the 'meaning-making' paradigm as a lens for reaching a better understanding of the museum experience. My paper presents parts of my doctoral research which micro-analyzed visitors' encounters in order to explore the ways and means they use to shape and share their meaning-making. It argues on the nature of meaning-making as a social activity by exploring the process of making rather than evaluating the depth or validity of meaning. Towards this direction, I conducted qualitative research across three non-national museums in London, UK, and collected data by implementing audio and video-based research that successfully captured visitors' interactions in their context. Ethnomethodology and Conversation Analysis provided the key concepts of the analysis which revealed three major patterns, all highlighting the performative, social and sequential character of the meaningmaking process. By bringing together theory and practice, my paper invites museums to consider meaning-making as a process as well as the product of this process through which visitors socially make meaning about themselves, others, the exhibits as well as the institution in which their interaction occurs.
Genetic Diversity within a Global Panel of Durum Wheat (Triticum durum) Landraces and Modern Germplasm Reveals the History of Alleles Exchange

Durum wheat is the 10th most important crop in the world, and its use traces back to the origin of agriculture. Unfortunately, in the last century only part of the genetic diversity available for this species has been captured in modern varieties through breeding. Here, the population structure and genetic diversity shared among elites and landraces collected from 32 countries was investigated. A total of 370 entries were genotyped with Axiom 35K array to identify 8,173 segregating single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Of these, 500 were selected as highly informative with a PIC value above 0.32 and used to test population structure via DAPC, STRUCTURE, and neighbor joining tree. A total of 10 sub-populations could be identified, six constituted by modern germplasm and four by landraces of different geographical origin. Interestingly, genomic comparison among groups indicated that Middle East and Ethiopia had the lowest level of allelic diversity, while breeding programs and landraces collected outside these regions were the richest in rare alleles. Further, phylogenetic analysis among landraces indicated that Ethiopia might represent a second center of origin of durum wheat, rather than a second domestication site as previously believed. Together, the analyses carried here provide a global picture of the available genetic diversity for this crop and shall guide its targeted use by breeders.
Reliability and validity of the Italian self‐evaluation of communication experiences after laryngeal cancer questionnaire

The Self‐Evaluation of Communication Experiences after Laryngeal Cancer (SECEL) questionnaire assesses the impact of total laryngectomy on communication‐related quality of life (QOL). This study evaluates the Italian version of the SECEL (I‐SECEL), including reliability, concurrent validity, and differences in scores between patients who undergo either total laryngectomy or partial laryngectomy.
Youth Issues in Globalized Societies: Social Change, Neoliberalism, Political Participation. A Critical Overview

This paper seeks to address a specific aspect of the condition of youth today which results from the link between the impact of neoliberal policies and the critical reaction of young people to them. Starting from an awareness that the life experiences of young people in contemporary societies have changed significantly, we will attempt to analyze some aspects of this great transformation. The most influential changes that impact on the everyday life of young people are the transition from education to work, which forges their life experience. The paper focuses on a specific analytical approach which highlights a “structural ecology of youth” which is determined by the intertwining of macro (structural), meso and micro policies, that is the relationship between economics and politics, State and Market, public services and a private quasi-market, all of which define the framework of opportunities available to young people that can influence their lives and transition to adulthood. These conditions also affect both the constraints and opportunities for youth participation in politics. Neoliberal policies on the one hand, the mobilization protest and response on the other define the analytical structure of the paper. Some observations on the last global wave of social movements protest as a reaction to the global economic crisis in 2008-2011 are developed here, highlighting the involvement of youth in this mobilization and describing the main features of youth political participation.
Relationship between abnormal TOX3 gene methylation and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this work was to examine the relationship between abnormal TOX3 gene methylation and the occurrence of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PATIENTS AND METHODS We selected 30 patients with PCOS and 30 control volunteers. Serum luteinizing hormone, estradiol, testosterone, and thyroid stimulating hormone were detected, methylation, mRNA and protein level of TOX3 were measured. RESULTS Serum luteinizing hormone, estradiol, testosterone, and thyroid stimulating hormone were significantly higher and follicle stimulating hormone and prolactin were significantly lower in PCOS patients than in the control group. Methylation of the promoter of TOX3 in serum and granular cells was significantly lower in PCOS than in the control group. The mRNA levels of TOX3 in serum were lower in the PCOS group. The levels of TOX3 protein in serum and granular cells was significantly lower in PCOS group than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS Overall, abnormal TOX3 methylation possibly resulting in changes in TOX3 protein expression is closely related to the occurrence of PCOS and may play a role the development of the pathology.