Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Causes and Consequences of Third-Party Intervention in Disputes over History: Recognition of the Armenian Massacre as Genocide and Relations with Turkey

Abstract In the post-Cold War international society, third-party intervention has become increasingly common across various spheres. What were previously assumed to be domestic or bilateral issues have become of great interest to foreign governments and international organizations. Disputes over history, whose intensification in many parts of the world is also a recent political phenomenon, are no exception. Regarding past atrocities by one country upon another, the “victim” side seeks recognition and redress from third parties, while the “perpetrator” side tries to prevent such interference. This paper investigates the causes of such intervention and the consequences of it for bilateral relations between the intervenor and the “perpetrator” country, using the conflict between Armenia and Turkey over the recognition of the 1915–1916 Armenian Massacre as genocide as a case study. The results reveal that countries with a Christian majority and a large Armenian population typically conduct such intervention, and that although third-party intervention affects bilateral relations negatively, the effect is only temporary.
Visual and refractive outcomes of laser cataract surgery

Purpose of review Femtosecond laser is a promising new technology for the field of cataract surgery. Early studies have investigated many factors including visual outcomes, complication rates, and financial overhead costs. This review analyzes the most recent clinical studies of visual and refractive outcomes in laser cataract surgery, including those that make comparisons to outcomes found in conventional phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Recent findings As femtosecond laser cataract surgery has only emerged recently, there is limited literature available regarding visual outcomes. Most but not all existing studies showed no statistically significant difference in visual acuity and mean absolute refractive error between laser and conventional cataract surgery cases. Summary The majority of studies examined found visual acuity or refractive outcomes of femtosecond laser to be statistically equivalent to those of conventional phacoemulsification cataract surgery. However, the learning curve involved with laser use may account for these early results, which could potentially improve as better technology and surgical techniques are developed. Further long-term outcomes studies are necessary to more accurately evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of femtosecond laser cataract surgery.
Upregulated expression of PDGF receptor beta in endocrine pancreatic tumors and metastases compared to normal endocrine pancreas

Platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) beta signaling is involved in autocrine growth stimulation of tumor cells, tumor angiogenesis and regulation of tumor interstitial fluid pressure. Development of PDGFR antagonists has further increased the interest for PDGFR as targets for anticancer treatments. Malignant endocrine pancreatic tumors (EPTs) express PDGFR beta both in stroma and on tumor cells. To investigate the role of PDGFR beta signaling in EPTs we compared PDGFR beta expression in normal endocrine pancreas to malignant EPTs and metastases. PDGFR beta expression was examined by immunohistochemistry using specific polyclonal antibodies in ten tissue samples from normal endocrine pancreas, 21 from primary EPTs and 19 from metastases. In eight patients we compared the expression in normal endocrine pancreas to the corresponding primary tumor and metastases, in two patients normal tissue to the primary tumor and in 11 patients primary tumors to the corresponding metastases. Six of ten tissues containing normal pancreas stained negative for PDGFR beta on endocrine cells, while seven of ten stained positive in the stroma. Eighteen of 21 (86%) primary tumors stained positive for PDGFR beta on tumor cells and all had positive stroma stainings. All 19 metastases stained positive for PDGFR beta on tumor cells and in evaluable stroma (n=16). We have found that PDGFR beta is more frequently expressed in primary EPTs and metastases as compared to normal endocrine pancreatic tissue. This is also true for PDGFR beta expression in the corresponding stroma. We suggest that new therapeutic options to inhibit the growth and spread of EPTs could include targeting of PDGFR beta.
Galanin‐Induced Growth Hormone Secretion in Conscious Rats: Evidence for a Possible Involvement of Somatostatin

Intracerebroventricular administration of galanin (GAL) potently evoked growth hormone (GH) secretion in conscious male rats. Pretreatments with neostigmine and cysteamine blunted the GAL‐induced GH secretion. Pretreatment of animals with a specific anti‐somatostatin serum significantly inhibited the GAL‐induced GH secretion. On the contrary, GH‐releasing hormone‐induced GH secretion was significantly enhanced with cysteamine and anti‐somatostatin serum. These results suggest that somatostatin is involved in GAL‐induced GH secretion in rats.
Dynamic respiratory endoscopy in 67 Thoroughbred racehorses training under normal ridden exercise conditions.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY There are potential advantages to imaging the upper portion of the respiratory tract (URT) of horses during ridden exercise. With the advent of a wireless endoscope, this is now possible. However, there has been no detailed validation of the technique and findings have not been compared to ridden speed. OBJECTIVES To assess the combined use of a Dynamic Respiratory Scope (DRS) and global positioning system (GPS) receiver for examining the URT of a group of Thoroughbred racehorses randomly selected from a single flat racehorse training establishment. METHODS Horses were selected randomly from a population of Thoroughbred horses in training at the same training yard. Endoscopic images of the URT were recorded during a ridden exercise test on an 'all-weather-gallop' and were reviewed post testing. Speed was measured using a wrist mounted GPS receiver. RESULTS A total of 67 (34%) of the 195 horses in training were examined. Endoscopic findings included: normal URT function (44 cases); dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) (13 cases); laryngeal asymmetry (4 cases); and axial deviation of the aryepiglottic folds (3 cases). Maximum speed obtained by individual horses ranged from 41.8-56.3 km/h. Ridden speed was variably affected by DDSP. CONCLUSIONS The DRS provides a safe effective system for imaging the equine URT during ridden exercise at speed. The abnormalities of the URT identified were similar to those observed during treadmill endoscopy studies reported in the literature. The effect of URT abnormalities on ridden speed requires further investigation. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE This technique can be used to diagnose common causes of URT associated with poor performance in horses during normal training. This has substantial implications for future clinical diagnosis and treatment of URT pathology.
The Issue Takes It All?

Social network sites (SNS) like Facebook have become an integral part of accessing news. However, as most users come across news on Facebook when using the site for other reasons (incidental news exposure), they will not necessarily engage with the content they encounter. Although there already is some evidence on the role of single factors that can inform news engagement decisions on Facebook, integrated findings—considering the highly personalized information environment—are still missing. Addressing this, the following study adopts a qualitative approach and relies on self-confrontation interviews with German Facebook users (N = 16). Results of the observations/interviews show that engagement decisions (i.e. the decision to attentively read an encountered news article) are mostly guided by users’ perception of the news content and whether they are (already) interested or invested in the issue of the linked article. Yet, in some situations, this “Matthew effect” can be overshadowed by users’ perceptions of the recommending friend, leaving at least some room for social influence.
A Systematic Review of Treatment Strategies for Lumbar Spine Fusion Surgery in Osteoporotic Patients

Results: The review of the literature yielded 15 studies on the effect of treatment options for osteoporosis on lumbar fusion rates. One study demonstrated an association between low bone mass as measured by Hounsfield Units and lower fusion rates. Six studies evaluated perioperative medical treatment of osteoporosis and showed higher fusion rates in patients treated with alendronate and teriparatide. The strongest evidence was for perioperative teriparatide. Eight studies evaluated surgical treatment strategies in osteoporosis patients and showed that cement augmentation of pedicle screws and expandable pedicle screws demonstrated improved fusion rates over traditional pedicle screws. The strongest evidence was for expandable pedicle screws.
Optimal design of a three-phase AFPM for in-wheel electrical traction

Sinusoidally fed permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) fulfill the special features required for traction motors to be applied in electric vehicles (EV). Among them, axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) synchronous motors are especially suited for in-wheel applications. Electric motors used in such applications must meet two main requirements, i.e. high power density and fault tolerance. This paper deals with the optimal design of an AFPM for in-wheel applications used to drive an electrical scooter. The single-objective optimization process carried out in this paper is based on designing the AFPM to obtain an optimized power density while ensuring appropriate fault tolerance requirements. For this purpose a set of analytical equations are applied to obtain the geometrical, electric and mechanical parameters of the optimized AFPM and several design restrictions are applied to ensure fault tolerance capability. The optimization process is based on a genetic algorithm and two more constrained nonlinear optimization algorithms in which the objective function is the power density. Comparisons with available data found in the technical bibliography show the appropriateness of the approach developed in this work.
Impact of GICs on Power Transformers: Overheating is not the real issue.

There has been some misconception in the electric power industry that geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) can cause significant overheating damage to the majority of medium and large power transformers. Because of the nature of GICs, the majority of power transformers would not experience damaging overheating because of them. This article presents the real issue with GICs, which is that the combination of the increase of reactive power absorption and injected current harmonics into the power system could result in compromised grid stability.
The different roles of proximity in multiple informal network relationships: evidence from the cluster of high technology applied to cultural goods in Tuscany

Abstract The role of proximity in innovation and inter-organisational networks has received increasing attention over the past decade. Despite the rich literature, most contributions principally focus on only one type of relationship and mainly consider formal relationships such as R&D partnerships, EU projects or patents. The aim of the study is to investigate the role of various forms of proximity in multiple informal inter-organisational relationships. The article focuses on two research questions: (i) How do the various forms of proximity influence the formation of different informal relationships? and (ii) What is the impact of social ties on relationships for innovation? ERGM is applied to measure the different impact of the proximities on three network relationships operating in the cluster of High Technology applied to Cultural Goods. The results underline the heterogeneous impact of various forms of proximity on the different relationships and the strong impact of social ties on innovation.
A Review of the Return–Illiquidity Relationship

Amihud (2002) shows that expected market illiquidity has a positive impact on ex ante stock returns, while the reverse relation exists between unexpected illiquidity and contemporaneous returns, suggesting the presence of a priced risk factor. We replicate these findings in-sample, but the out-of-sample results largely lose their significance and monotonic properties in the time-series. This points to a decline in the sensitivity of investors to illiquidity risk over the last two decades, a period during which technological innovations and decimalization have markedly reduced transaction costs and increased stock liquidity. Altering the measurement frequency, refining the data filters and considering alternative test specifications leads to similar results. A cross-validation approach confirms a change point in liquidity occurring post publication of the seminal study. We also show that the findings pertaining to the employed illiquidity measure are driven by scaling the numerator of the ratio by the dollar-traded volume.
VGluT2 immunochemistry identifies thalamocortical terminals in layer 4 of adult and developing visual cortex

A vesicular glutamate transporter, VGluT2, has been suggested to be the transporter utilized in the thalamocortical pathway. We examined the reliability of this marker in identifying and discriminating thalamic terminals in adult and developing ferret visual cortex. We studied brain sections stained for the transporter protein and/or anterogradely filled thalamocortical or intracortical axons, by using light, confocal, and electron microscopy. Under light microscopy, VGluT2 immunoreactivity (ir) in adult animals [past postnatal day (P)90] and in neonatal animals as early as P27 formed a dense band in layer 4 and appeared as scattered puncta in layers 6 and 1. Confocal dual‐labeling analyses of P46 and adult striate cortices indicated that VGluT2 was present in thalamocortical axons, suggesting that thalamic projections utilize this transporter during postnatal development as well as adulthood. In contrast, extracellularly filled intracortical axons failed to colocalize with VGluT2‐ir, suggesting that no significant terminal population originating in cortex contained VGluT2 in layer 4. Electron microscopic analysis revealed that, in adult layer 4, VGluT2‐ir was present in large terminals, forming asymmetric synapses. Similar to anterogradely labeled thalamocortical terminals, VGluT2‐ir synaptic terminals were different from their unlabeled counterparts in terms of terminal area (0.6 vs. 0.3 μm), synaptic length (486 vs. 353 nm), and preference for synapsing on spines (77% vs. 59%). Moreover, no significant differences were found between VGluT2‐ir and anterogradely labeled thalamocortical terminals. Comparable similarities were also demonstrated at P46. These results indicate that thalamocortical terminals in layer 4 of visual cortex utilize VGluT2 and suggest that this marker can be used to identify thalamic axons specifically in adult and developing animals. J. Comp. Neurol. 484:458–473, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A simple slice culture system for the imaging of nerve development in embryonic mouse

Newborn neurons elaborate an axon that undertakes a complicated journey to find its ultimate target in the brain or periphery. Although major progress in the study of this process has been made by analysis of dissociated neurons in vitro, one would like to observe and manipulate axonal outgrowth and pathfinding as it occurs in situ, as fasciculated nerves growing within the tissue itself. Here, we present a simple technique to do this, through cultivation of embryonic mouse slices expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) specifically in newborn neurons. This system allows for imaging of outgrowth of peripheral nerves into structures such as the developing limb. We demonstrate a reproduction of normal innervation patterns by spinal nerves derived from spinal cord motor neurons and sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia. The slices can be manipulated pharmacologically as well as genetically, by crossing the EGFP‐expressing line with lines containing targeted mutations in genes of interest. Developmental Dynamics 236:3514–3523, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Welfare State and Taxation. The Critical Point of Freedom Between Gift and Corruption

Can taxation and the redistribution of wealth through the welfare state be conceived as a modern system of circulation of the gift? But once such a gift is institutionalized, regulated and sanctioned through legal mechanisms, does it not risk being perverted or corrupted, and/or not leaving room for genuinely altruistic motives? In this paper I will develop two interrelated arguments. 1) The way these problems are posed as well as the standard answers to them are: a) subject to fallacies: the dichotomy fallacy and the fallacy of composition; b) too reductive and simplistic: we should at least try to clarify what kind of ‘gift’ or ‘corruption’ we are thinking about, and who or what the ‘giver’, the ‘corrupter’, the ‘receiver’ and/or the ‘corrupted’ party are. 2) The answers to these problems cannot be found by merely following a theoretical approach, nor can they be merely based on empirical evidence; instead, they need to take into account the forever troublesome, ambiguous and unpredictable matter of human freedom. To explain the standard answers to the abovementioned questions as well as their implications I will first re-examine two opposing positions assumed here as paradigmatic examples of other similar positions: on the one hand, Titmuss’ work and the never-ending debate about it; on the other, Godbout’s position, in-so-far as it shows how Titmuss’ arguments can easily be turned upside down. I will then introduce and reinterpret Einaudi’s “critical point” theory as a more complex and richer anthropological explanation of the problems and answers considered herein.
Clinical outcomes following treatment of human intrabony defects with GTR/bone replacement material or access flap alone. A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial.

AIM This prospective multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial was designed to compare the clinical outcomes of papilla preservation flap surgery with or without the application of a guided tissue regeneration (GTR)/bone replacement material. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred and twenty-four patients with advanced chronic periodontitis were recruited in 10 centers in seven countries. All patients had at least one intrabony defect of > or = 3 mm. The surgical procedures included access for root instrumentation using either the simplified or the modified papilla preservation flap in order to obtain optimal tissue adaptation and primary closure. After debridement, the regenerative material was applied in the test subjects, and omitted in the controls. At baseline and 1 year following the interventions, clinical attachment levels (CALs), probing pocket depths (PPDs), recession, full-mouth plaque scores and full-mouth bleeding scores (FMBS) were assessed. RESULTS One year after treatment, the test defects gained 3.3 +/- 1.7 mm of CAL, while the control defects yielded a significantly lower CAL gain of 2.5 +/- 1.5 mm. Pocket reduction was also significantly higher in the test group (3.7 +/- 1.8 mm) when compared with the controls (3.2 +/- 1.5 mm). A multivariate analysis indicated that the treatment, the clinical centers, baseline PPD and baseline FMBS significantly influenced CAL gains. Odds ratios (ORs) of achieving above-median CAL gains were significantly improved by the test procedure (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.2-5.4) and by starting with deeper PPD (OR = 1.7, 1.3-2.2) but were decreased by receiving treatment at the worst-performing clinical center (OR = 0.9, 0.76-0.99). CONCLUSIONS The results of this trial indicated that regenerative periodontal surgery with a GTR/bone replacement material offers an additional benefit in terms of CAL gains, PPD reductions and predictability of outcomes with respect to papilla preservation flaps alone.
The Board Value Protection Function in Young, Mature and Family Firms

Next to value creation, the value protection function of the Board of Directors is a widely accepted fact. Nevertheless, the current literature struggles to show a positive impact of the Board Value Protection (BVP) on firm performance. We use the decision rights model of board functions and argue the difference between board member roles (insider vs independent) and functions, to isolate the BVP from other director functions. By using the German context as a natural setting, we can isolate the BVP and show how it evolves with the firm lifecycle and owner motivations. Based on a sample of 446 initial public offerings (IPOs) from 1995 to 2015, our results show that the importance of BVP in young firms decreases with age, increases in mature firms and that this effect is stronger in family firms.
Fractional Brownian Motion: A Maximum Likelihood Estimator and Its Application to Image Texture

Fractals have been shown to be useful in characterizing texture in a variety of contexts. Use of this methodology normally involves measurement of a parameter H, which is directly related to fractal dimension. In this work the basic theory of fractional Brownian motion is extended to the discrete case. It is shown that the power spectral density of such a discrete process is only approximately proportional to |f|a instead of in direct proportion as in the continuous case. An asymptotic Cramer-Rao bound is derived for the variance of an estimate of H. Subsequently, a maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) is developed to estimate H. It is shown that the variance of this estimator nearly achieves the minimum bound. A generation algorithm for discrete fractional motion is presented and used to demonstrate the capabilities of the MLE when the discrete fractional Brownian process is contaminated with additive Gaussian noise. The results show that even at signal-to-noise ratios of 30 dB, significant errors in estimation of H can result when noise is present. The MLE is then applied to X-ray images of the human calcaneus to demonstrate how the line-to-line formulation can be applied to the two-dimensional case. These results indicate that it has strong potential for quantifying texture.
Does Counter-Attitudinal Information Cause Backlash? Results from Three Large Survey Experiments

Abstract Several theoretical perspectives suggest that when individuals are exposed to counter-attitudinal evidence or arguments, their pre-existing opinions and beliefs are reinforced, resulting in a phenomenon sometimes known as ‘backlash’. This article formalizes the concept of backlash and specifies how it can be measured. It then presents the results from three survey experiments – two on Mechanical Turk and one on a nationally representative sample – that find no evidence of backlash, even under theoretically favorable conditions. While a casual reading of the literature on information processing suggests that backlash is rampant, these results indicate that it is much rarer than commonly supposed.