Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of starter feeding and early weaning on GHR mRNA expression in liver and rumen of lambs from birth to 84 days of age

ABSTRACT The growth hormone receptor (GHR) is associated with animal growth and development. To investigate such effects on GHR gene expression, a total of 102 Hu lambs were randomly allocated to one of three groups (Group 1: starter diet from 7 d of age, weaning at 56 d of age; Group 2: starter diet from 42 d of age, weaning at 56 d of age; Group 3: starter diet from 7 d of age; weaning at 28 d of age). Six lambs from each group were sacrificed every 14 d to investigate the effects of starter feeding and weaning age on GHR mRNA expression in the liver and rumen. The results revealed that GHR mRNA expression was significantly higher in the liver and rumen (p < 0.05) than in other tissues. Early starter feeding up-regulated hepatic GHR mRNA expression on days 14, 28, 42 and 56 and ruminal GHR mRNA expression on days 28, 42, 70, and 84 (p < 0.05). Early weaning up-regulated hepatic GHR mRNA expression on days 56, 70 and 84 and ruminal GHR mRNA expression on days 42, 56, 70 and 84 (p < 0.05). Dietary and weaning regimes and age affected the hepatic and ruminal GHR mRNA expression.
Glycerol dissimilation in Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides

Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides followed a diauxic growth curve when grown on a malate-glycerol medium, the first phase of growth being supported by malate and the second by glycerol. A soluble glycerokinase and a particulate, pyridine nucleotide-independent glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, were induced by the presence of glycerol in the medium, but neither was fully expressed nor functional until all malate had been consumed.
Angiogenic Cytokines in Cartilage Tumors

Pathologic neovascularization has been described in numerous types of cancers. The angiogenic cytokines vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor are thought to be the primary inducers of angiogenesis in these tumors. Hypoxia-inducible transcription factor is a nuclear transcription factor that promotes vascular endothelial growth factor expression. Prior studies have shown pathologic neovascularization in chondrosarcoma, which correlates with pathologic grade of the tumor. Angiogenic and nonangiogenic cartilage tumors were studied for expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor and hypoxia-inducible transcription factors by immunohistochemistry and Northern blot analysis. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and hypoxia-inducible transcription factor were increased significantly in angiogenic tumors. Fibroblast growth factor expression was similar in angiogenic and nonangiogenic specimens. This may have implications for tumor grading and surgical decision-making, and potential treatment with antiangiogenesis chemotherapeutic agents.
GRIM-19-mediated translocation of STAT3 to mitochondria is necessary for TNF-induced necroptosis

Summary Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) can induce necroptosis, wherein inhibition of caspase activity prevents apoptosis but initiates an alternative programmed necrosis. The activity of receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK-1) is required for necroptosis to proceed, with suppression of RIPK-1 expression or inhibition of RIPK-1 activity with necrostatin-1 preventing TNF-induced necroptosis. Downstream from the TNF receptor, the generation of reactive oxygen species at the mitochondria has been identified as necessary for the execution of necroptosis; with antioxidants and inhibitors of mitochondrial complex I preventing TNF-induced cytotoxicity. However, components of the signaling pathway that lie between activated RIPK-1 and the mitochondria are unknown. In the study reported here we demonstrate that during TNF-induced necroptosis, STAT3 is phosphorylated on serine 727, which is dependent on RIPK-1 expression or activity. The phosphorylation of STAT3 induces interaction with GRIM-19, a subunit of mitochondrial complex I, with a resultant translocation of STAT3 to the mitochondria, where it induces an increase in reactive oxygen species production and cell death.
Earnings Management and Goodwill Accounting: Implications on Dividend Policy in Italian Listed Companies

In this paper, we investigate the effects of goodwill accounting under IAS 36 on dividend policy in Italian Listed Companies. The technical areas of discretion in impairment test accounting enable pursuing three typical forms of earnings management: earnings smoothing, earnings increasing and earnings decreasing. Possible earnings manipulations could be concealed in the five phases of the impairment test: identification of cash generating units, allocation of goodwill to each CGU, determination of carrying amount, estimation of fair value less cost to sell and measurement of value in use. We develop and test some hypotheses that allow us to demonstrate the existence of earnings management practices in relation to the goodwill impairment test. The evidence suggests that the economic and equity effects of goodwill accounting under IAS 36 can be observed - as we demonstrate - in the distribution of dividends determined on the basis of earnings that are "inflated" by the failure to write-down goodwill.
Optimal Corporate Pension Policy: A Unified Framework

This paper develops a general continuous-time framework for defining optimal corporate pension policy. Interactions between the firm's optimal investment and financing policies and the defined benefit pension plan optimal portfolio strategy are studied. We prove that the three decision rules are driven by speculation and hedging motives, the latter concerning in each case both the pension plan and firm variables. We emphasize that in normal times the optimal pension portfolio rule from the equity holders' perspective is acceptable to both the participants and PBGC. Yet it is no longer the case when the firm approaches financial distress. The PBGC should then exert a much stronger control than today exerted on the sponsoring company to prevent the further deterioration of the Corporation's financial status.
Physiologic Aspects of Aging: Impact on Cancer Management and Decision Making, Part II

In this second article of our two-part review, we focus on age-associated physiologic changes involving the nervous, endocrine, hematologic, immune, and musculoskeletal systems, with close attention to the interconnected nature of these systems. There is a well-known connection between the neuroendocrine and immune systems via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and via interaction by means of cytokines, hormones, and neurotransmitters. These changes may lead to a loss of integration and resiliency with age, thus decreasing the ability of the elderly patient with cancer to adapt to stressful circumstances. Prominent changes include decline in memory and cognition, and increased susceptibility to peripheral neuropathy. Hematologic and immune changes like reduced bone marrow reserve and increased susceptibility to infections have far reaching implications for cancer care in the elderly. Gradual decline in hormone levels, and changes in muscle and body composition, can lead to functional decline and frailty. Use of the clinical interventions suggested in this article, along with an appreciation of the interplay of these age-related physiologic changes and their consequences, allows oncology professionals to customize therapy and minimize side effects in the geriatric oncology patient.
The Relationship between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and GDP Per Capita in Rwanda

Foreign direct investments have been identified as an important source of financing for developing countries. In this regard, Rwanda has actively attracted FDI by creating and sustaining a high conducive investment climate through important reforms which make it easier for businesses to get started, get loans, pay taxes, etc. The package for investment promotion includes among others: regulatory framework, registration facilities and requirements, change of registered businesses, closing businesses, disclosure requirements, and other facilities such as working permit, government’s protection of investments, settlement of disputes, transfer of funds, special economic zone facilitations, public private partnership, etc. This paper investigated the relationship between the attracted FDI and the GDP per capita in Rwanda. The findings revealed that there is a strong positive relationship between the FDI inflows and the GDP per capita for the studied period which covers 2008 to 2012, thus a positive effect on the economic growth.
Short-term Memory for Word Sequences as a Function of Acoustic, Semantic and Formal Similarity

Experiment I studied short-term memory (STM) for auditorily presented five word sequences as a function of acoustic and semantic similarity. There was a large adverse effect of acoustic similarity on STM (72·5 per cent.) which was significantly greater (p < 0·001) than the small (6·3 per cent.) but reliable effect (p < 0·05) of semantic similarity. Experiment II compared STM for sequences of words which had a similar letter structure (formal similarity) but were pronounced differently, with acoustically similar but formally dissimilar words and with control sequences. There was a significant effect of acoustic but not of formal similarity. Experiment III replicated the acoustic similarity effect found in Experiment I using visual instead of auditory presentation. Again a large and significant effect of acoustic similarity was shown.
Bone mineral density in Australian children, adolescents and adults with cystic fibrosis: a controlled cross sectional study

Background: Low bone mineral density (BMD) is recognised in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) although the pathogenesis remains unclear. The aims of this study were to compare BMD over a broad continuum of Australian individuals with CF with healthy controls and to examine the relationship between BMD and clinical parameters including physical activity, nutrition, and vitamin D levels. Methods: BMD of the lumbar spine (LS), total body (TB), femoral neck (FN), cortical wrist (R33%), and distal wrist (RUD) was examined in 153 individuals with CF aged 5.3–55.8 years (84 males) and in 149 local controls aged 5.6–48.3 years (66 males) using dual energy x ray absorptiometry. Anthropometric variables, body cell mass, markers of disease severity, corticosteroid usage, measures of physical activity, dietary calcium and caloric intake and serum vitamin D were assessed and related to BMD. Results: Compared with controls, mean BMD was not significantly different in children aged 5–10 years with CF. Adolescents (females 11–18 years, males 11–20 years) had reduced TB and R33% BMD when adjusted for age, sex, and height (difference in BMD (g/cm2) adjusted means between control and CF: TB = 0.04 (95% CI 0.01 to 0.07); R33% = 0.03 (95% CI 0.01 to 0.06)). BMD was reduced at all sites except R33% in adults (difference in BMD (g/cm2) adjusted means between control and CF: TB = 0.05 (95% CI 0.02 to 0.09); LS = 0.08 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.14); FN = 0.09 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.15); RUD = 0.03 (95% CI 0.01 to 0.05)). In children/adolescents BMD was weakly associated with nutritional status and disease severity. Conclusions: BMD was normal in a well nourished group of prepubertal children with CF. A BMD deficit appears to evolve during adolescence and becomes more marked in adults. Individuals with CF should optimise nutrition, partake in physical activity, and maximise lung health in order to optimise BMD. Further longitudinal studies are required to understand the evolution of reduced BMD in young people and adults with CF.
Unexpected endocrine features and normal pigmentation in a young adult patient carrying a novel homozygous mutation in the POMC gene.

CONTEXT Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) is the precursor to five biologically active peptides, including ACTH produced in the anterior pituitary and alpha-MSH produced in the hypothalamus. Mutations that inactivate the POMC gene have been described in children, causing a pleiotropic syndrome that includes secondary hypocortisolism, severe obesity, and variable changes in skin and hair pigmentation. OBJECTIVE We describe a female patient of North African ancestry, homozygous for a frameshift mutation in the POMC gene (6922InsC) that impairs the production of all melanocortin peptides, and that is associated with novel clinical features. Repeated clinical investigations from birth to age 18 yr are presented. RESULT ACTH deficiency was diagnosed at birth. Hyperphagia and obesity became apparent before 2 yr of age and rapidly progressed [body mass index (BMI) Z-score, +7 sd at 2 yr, +9.7 sd at 13 yr; BMI, 50 kg/m(2) at 18 yr). At puberty, the patient developed alterations in the somatotropic, gonadotropic, and thyroid axes necessitating hormonal replacement. Surprisingly, there were no obvious pigmentary features; neither the hair color nor measurements of skin reflectance distinguished between the patient and unaffected family members. However, chemical analysis of hair pigment revealed increased production of both pheomelanin and eumelanin. CONCLUSION Molecular genetic abnormalities of POMC should always be considered in patients with early onset adrenal insufficiency and obesity, even in the presence of normal pigmentation and multiple pituitary hormone anomalies.
Making the Same Mistake All Over Again: CEO Overconfidence and Corporate Resistance to Corrective Feedback

Firms often make mistakes, from simple manufacturing overruns all the way to catastrophic blunders. However, there is considerable heterogeneity in the nature of corporate responses when faced with evidence that an error has taken place, and, therefore, in the likelihood that such errors will reoccur in the future. In this paper, we explore an important but understudied influence on firms’ responses to corrective feedback – a CEO’s level of overconfidence. Using multiple distinct measures of overconfidence and the empirical context of voluntary corporate earnings forecasts, we find strong, robust evidence that firms led by overconfident CEOs are less responsive to corrective feedback in improving management forecast accuracy. We further show that this relationship is moderated by prior forecast error valence, time horizon, and managerial discretion.
Expectancy Violation Theory and Sexual Resistance in Close, Cross-Sex Relationships

Although previous research has suggested a link between sexual resistance and the violation of the resisted partner's expectations, communication scholars have yet to utilize expectancy violation theory in a sexual resistance context. As such, the current study examines the resisted individual's perception of sexual resistance message directness and relational context in terms of three aspects of expectancy violations: violation valence, violation importance, and violation expectedness (Afifi & Metts, 1998). Findings indicate that participants view hypothetical sexual resistance from a long-term dating partner as a more negative and more unexpected expectancy violation compared with hypothetical rejection from a cross-sex friend. Further, when a participant is hypothetically rejected by way of direct communication of sexual resistance from his or her close relational partner, such a violation was perceived as more relationally important than indirect sexual resistance. These findings broaden the scope of expectancy violation theory to include sexual resistance in close relationships, replicate and validate the study of three separate expectancy violation aspects, and highlight sexual resistance as a potentially important relational event in close relationships.
Best Friendships, Group Relationships, and Antisocial Behavior in Early Adolescence

Correlations between adolescents’ own antisocial behavior and adolescents’ perceptions of the antisocial behavior of their best friends and friendship groups were examined in this study. The strength of those correlations was expected to vary as a function of the qualities of the dyadic friendships and group relationships. Perceptions of peers’antisocial behavior and dyadic friendship and group relationship qualities were collected through interviews with 431, 12- through 13-year-old adolescents. Measures of adolescents’ concurrent and subsequent antisocial behaviors were obtained from the adolescents and their teachers. Adolescents who perceived their friends and groups as participating in antisocial behavior had higher self-reported and teacher-reported antisocial behavior ratings. Perceptions of best friend antisocial behavior were correlated more strongly with adolescents’own concurrent, but not subsequent, antisocial behavior when high levels of help, companionship, and security characterized dyadic friendships. The results are discussed in terms of peer influence and friendship selection processes.
The Macroeconomics of Knowledge Management: Internal Hold-Up Versus Technological Competition

This Paper investigates the links between the nature of contractual relationships within firms, the strength of information flows spreading between firms and the dynamics of technological competition. At the firm level, we focus on the corporate incentives to design Knowledge Management policies based on soft versus hard information flows. At the aggregate level, knowledge spillovers are endogenous and feedback effects on macroeconomic growth are investigated.
Mortality among Three Puerto Rican Populations: Residents of Puerto Rico and Migrants in New York City and in the Balance of the United States, 1979–81 1

This study attempts to explain similarities and differences in the mortality experience of three population groups: Puerto Ricans on the island commonwealth, Puerto Rican born persons in New York City and Puerto Rican born persons in the rest of mainland United States. Mortality is much higher among Puerto Ricans in New York City than among those residing elsewhere. Much of the difference is due to excess mortality caused by cirrhosis of the liver and homicide. Puerto Rican born persons living on the mainland but outside New York City generally have low mortality, even when compared with U.S. whites.
Eagle's syndrome: a report of 4 patients treated using a modified extraoral approach.

PURPOSE This study evaluated a slightly modified extraoral approach to removing the symptomatic elongated styloid process. A brief description of this surgical technique and its comparison to the intraoral approach is provided. PATIENTS AND METHODS Four patients in whom an extraoral approach was used to expose and remove the elongated calcified stylohyoid complex were evaluated. Five sides were treated and reviewed individually. All patients were interviewed preoperatively and postoperatively, and their records were thoroughly examined. Patients were objectively evaluated for pain, function, sensory and motor nerve deficits, and aesthetics. RESULTS Follow-up time ranged from 6 to 39 months with an average of 21 months. Improvement in the original symptoms was reported for 4 of the 5 operated sides. Three of 5 procedures resulted in more than an 80% reduction in pain and improvement in function. All patients had a satisfactory cosmetic result and no paresthesia. CONCLUSIONS The advantages of the extraoral approach are reflected in this small retrospective study by the absence of perioperative complications and the minimal blood loss, surgical morbidity, and hospital stay.
'Going Public with Good Governance': Board Selection and Share Ownership in UK IPO Firms

Combining the agency perspective, entrepreneurship and upper echelon research, this paper examines inter-links between executive power, board selection strategy and share ownership in a sample of initial public offerings (IPOs). It argues that the IPO process presents a unique combination of agency relationships between the firm's executive and non-executive directors, and outside investors. It shows that, in line with the predictions of a proposed theoretical model, board independence, diversity and share ownership of non-executive directors are negatively associated with the experience and power of executive directors. Large-block share ownership is positively associated with board diversity. However, external investors, including venture capitalists, do not affect board independence and non-executives' interests.
Individual variations in aging of the male urethral rhabdosphincter in Japanese

Although the degenerative changes with aging of the male urethral rhabdosphincter (URS) have been investigated, its individual morphological variations are still unclear. To provide an anatomical basis for clinical evaluation of the individual URS function in the aged, we investigated the structural differences in the URS of 25 elderly Japanese men using semiserial sections stained immunohistochemically and by hematoxylin‐eosin. Before removal of the histological specimens, we dissected the ischioanal fossa and labeled several structures by carbon particles to allow proper orientation during the histological observations. In addition, macroscopic slices (10 mm thickness) made from five other male pelves were examined and, when necessary, followed by routine histological procedure to confirm the gross observations. An extended circular URS (over ½ circumferential configuration) was found in 15/25 cadavers, but showed very limited height (proximal‐distal length) and thickness. A more restricted URS, including even a thin, arc‐like pattern, was observed in the remaining cadavers. The attachment of the URS to the smooth muscle layer was loose and usually clearly separated. Continuation between the URS and deep transverse perineal muscle was sometimes observed. The thick fascia of the levetor ani, with high content of smooth muscles, usually provided the lateral or dorsal insertions of the URS. Our results in elderly Japanese subjects suggest that the sphincteric action is weak or incomplete. We suggest that the elderly URS maintains continence by retracting the urethra backward and upward with the aid of the levator sling, rather than the real sphincteric action expected in younger men. Clin. Anat. 15:241–252, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Capital Structure Management in Nepalese Enterprises

This study attempts to explain the capital structure pattern and its determinants for a penal set of 20 non-financial firms listed in NEPSE for 1992-2004. By using decompositional analysis, properties of portfolio analysis, econometric analysis and opinion survey of managers, it is found that Nepalese firms are highly levered, however the long-term debt ratio is significantly low. Assets structure and size are observed positively related to leverage where as liquidity, risk, growth, non-debt tax shield are negatively related to leverage. The signs of estimates suggest that both pecking order and tradeoff theories are at work in explaining capital structure of Nepalese companies. Also, the macroeconomic factors GDP, inflation and capital market influence in firm's capital structure decisions. Opinion survey analysis shows that Nepalese managers prefer internal financing first followed bank loan financing.
Reactivation of polyoma virus in kidneys of persistently infected mice during pregnancy

Female mice infected at birth with 10(7) 50% tissue culture infective doses of polyoma virus were mated when at least 6 weeks old. Polyoma was not detected in any tissues of 27 female mice before mating except for trace amounts in the kidneys of 2 mice, but late in gestation polyoma virus could be found in the kidneys of 21 of 38 mice with titers of 10(3.7) to 10(6.2) 50% tissue culture infective doses per gram of kidney. The virus was not detected in the brain, salivary gland, lung, liver, spleen, ovaries, placenta, or fetuses during gestation. Nonpregnant females were injected with female sex hormones over a period of 17 days, and polyoma was then detected in kidneys of 4 of 18 mice. Treatment of cultures of mouse embryo fibroblasts with either sexhormones or a glucocorticosteroid resulted in approximately a threefold increase in the rate of infection of cells with polyoma virus.