Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Model of Migration and Use of Platforms: Role of Hierarchy, Current Generation, and Complementarities in Consumer Settings

We develop and test a model of migration and use of platforms to explain consumers' reactions to the newest generation of an information and communication technology platform. We draw from information systems and consumer behavior research on adoption and use of technologies, and adapt and incorporate the construct of complementarity from macrolevel research on platform leadership, network effects, and innovation ecosystems. We conceptualize complementarities between the hardware and software platforms, software platform and applications, and applications and services. The complementarities are theorized to influence migration intention, with current generation of the consumer's platform being a key moderator. We empirically validated our model with data collected using two waves of surveys from 4,412 consumers (2,333 consumers in the second wave) before and after the introduction of the third generation (3G) mobile data services platform in Hong Kong. We explained 60% of the variance in migration intention that in turn was strongly correlated with migration to and use of 3G.
Pair housing of rabbits reduces variances in growth rates and serum alkaline phosphatase levels

New Council of Europe regulations mandate housing of two rabbits in the same cage space currently used to house one, provided the animals are socially compatible. This study was designed to assess changes in growth and selected serum chemistry parameters due to pair housing or single housing of rabbits. Six sets of four female siblings of Crl:KBL(NZW)BR rabbits were used. The animals were seven weeks old on arrival. Two siblings of each set were allocated to pair housing, two to single housing. The animals were housed in stainless steel cages (120 cm × 60 cm × 60 cm) with a perforated floor, including a shelf (60 cm × 30 cm) at 30 cm height from the floor. The rabbits were provided with an aspen cube (5 cm × 5 cm × 5 cm), one item per animal. The rabbits were weighed and blood samples were taken from the auricular central artery at four different times during the study. Blood sera were assayed for a set of routinely assayed clinical chemistry parameters: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (APHOS), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), cholesterol (CHOL) and protein (PROT). Mean and variance profiles over the study period were statistically analysed by multivariate analysis of variance. No differences in mean profiles were detected; however, weight (P = 0.0002) and APHOS (P = 0.017) variances were significantly lower in pair-housed animals. The reduction in variance on growth and APHOS attributable to pair housing appears to be rather large. During the 21-week study, occasional fighting was seen between the pair-housed rabbits. After sexual maturity, further major fighting bouts resulted in significant trauma that necessitated the cessation of the study. In conclusion, pair housing appears to have a decreasing effect on growth and APHOS variance, but antisocial behaviour such as fighting remains a serious problem.
Disease Associations with Complotypes, Supratypes and Haplotypes

We have used the term supratype to describe combinations of alleles and have examined associations with disease. In RA and insulin-dependent diabetes one or more supratypes appear to be important but their functional significance remains obscure. In MG and SLE the HLA supratype may contain loci involved in immunoregulation, complement synthesis and hormone metabolism. MG induced by D-Pen is associated with Bw35/DR1 rather than A1, B8, DR3. In contrast there is no evidence of a supratype in AS. We have proposed a model for the pathogenesis of sacroiliitis and AS and have postulated two non-linked genes which act stepwise upon HLA-B27. There are cogent reasons for examining the functional effects of known loci within the MHC and particularly those involved in the expression of complement components.
Integration of cytokinin and gibberellin signalling by Arabidopsis transcription factors GIS, ZFP8 and GIS2 in the regulation of epidermal cell fate

The effective integration of hormone signals is essential to normal plant growth and development. Gibberellins (GA) and cytokinins act antagonistically in leaf formation and meristem maintenance and GA counteract some of the effects of cytokinins on epidermal differentiation. However, both can stimulate the initiation of defensive epidermal structures called trichomes. To understand how their relative influence on epidermal cell fate is modulated, we investigated the molecular mechanisms through which they regulate trichome initiation in Arabidopsis. The control by cytokinins of trichome production requires two genes expressed in late inflorescence organs, ZFP8 and GIS2, which encode C2H2 transcription factors related to GLABROUS INFLORESCENCE STEMS (GIS). Cytokinin-inducible GIS2 plays a prominent role in the cytokinin response, in which it acts downstream of SPINDLY and upstream of GLABROUS1. In addition, GIS2 and ZFP8 mediate, like GIS, the regulation of trichome initiation by gibberellins. By contrast, GIS does not play a significant role in the cytokinin response. Collectively, GIS, ZFP8 and GIS2, which encode proteins that are largely equivalent in function, play partially redundant and essential roles in inflorescence trichome initiation and in its regulation by GA and cytokinins. These roles are consistent with their pattern of expression and with the regional influence of GA and cytokinins on epidermal differentiation. Our findings show that functional specialization within a transcription factor gene family can facilitate the integration of different developmental cues in the regulation of plant cell differentiation.
Phenotypic markers in human skin fibroblasts as possible diagnostic indices of hereditary adenomatosis of the colon and rectum

Hereditary adenomatosis of the colon and rectum (ACR) and its Gardner's syndrome variant, an autosomal dominant trait, indicate a propensity for neoplasia. The present study describes the growth abnormalitites of cultured human skin fibroblasts derived from normal‐appearing cutaneous biopsies of ACR genotypes and a portion of the clinically asymptomatic ACR progeny, first filial generation, and their differential susceptibility to transformation by Kirsten murine sarcoma virus. These skin fibroblasts, but not cells derived from unaffected individuals, showed lack of contact inhibition, decreased serum requirement for growth, elevated levels of plasminogen activator, and alterations in the intracellular distribution of actin cables; they did not, however, grow in the absence of anchorage, nor did they form palpable tumors in congenitally athymic BALB/c nu/nu mice, and they were normal with regard to cholesterol feedback regulation. Skin fibroblasts from ACR subjects were 100‐to 1000‐fold more susceptible to tranformation by the Kirsten murine sarcoma virus than were normal cells. The virally transformed skin fibroblasts were anchorage‐independent and formed tumors in athymic mice. These growth abnormalitites represent steps in the changing phenotypic expression of cells undergoing neoplastic transformation. Identification of abnormal expressions associated with oncogenesis may facilitate their use as diagnostic indices for the detection of latent forms of colon cancer in man.
Adesão a um grupo educativo de pessoas portadoras de diabetes mellitus: porcentagem e causas

Este estudo descritivo teve como objetivo identificar o perfil de pessoas diabeticas e analisar suas dificuldades em participar de um grupo de educacao para diabeticos. Foram entrevistados 66 diabeticos, atendidos num hospital de grande porte, no periodo de maio a junho de 2000. Os resultados apontam que, dos 66 (100%) sujeitos investigados, 60,6% sabiam da existencia de atividade educativa no hospital, mas apenas 21,2% participam das atividades educativas oferecidas. Dos que sabiam da existencia de atividade educativa, as principais causas mencionadas para a nao participacao foram: a falta de interesse, horario inadequado e dificuldades de transporte. Com isso, fica demonstrada a necessidade de fortalecimento e ampliacao do grupo de educacao para diabeticos.
The Unkel Symposia: The Beginnings of a Debate in West German Archaeology?

FERNANDEZ, JAMES W. I983. Consciousness and class in southern Spain. American Ethnologist IO:I65-73. FRIEDL, ERNESTINE. i962. Vasilika: A village in modern Greece. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. G I L M O R E, D AV I D D. I 98 2. Anthropology of the Mediterranean area. Annual Review of Anthropology I I:I75-205. I987a. "Introduction: The shame of dishonor," in Honor and shame and the unity of the Mediterranean. Edited by David D. Gilmore, pp. 2-2 I. Washington, D.C.: American Anthropological Association. I987b. "Honor, honesty, shame: Male status in contemporary Andalusia," in Honor and shame and the unity of the Mediterranean. Edited by David D. Gilmore, pp. 90-I03. Washington, D.C.: American Anthropological Association. GIOVANNINI, MAUREEN J. I987. "Female chastity codes in the Circum-Mediterranean: Comparative perspectives," in Honor and shame and the unity of the Mediterranean. Edited by David D. Gilmore, pp. 6 I-74. Washington, D.C: American Anthropological Association. GOODY, JACK. I973. "Bridewealth and dowry in Africa nd Eurasia," in Bridewealth and dowry, by Jack Goody and S. J. Tambiah. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Mother‐to‐child transmission of HIV: implications of variation in maternal infectivity

Objectives:To examine the implications of variation in maternal infectivity on the timing of mother-to-child HIV transmission through breastfeeding. Design and methods:A mathematical model of mother-to-child HIV transmission was developed that incorporates two main features: (i) the fetus/child potentially experiences a series of exposures (in utero, intrapartum, and via breastmilk) to HIV; and (ii) variation in maternal infectivity. The model was estimated from different sources of epidemiological data: a retrospective cohort study of children born to HIV-1-infected women in Sao Paulo State, Brazil, the International Registry of HIV-Exposed Twins, and the AIDS Clinical Trials Group 076 trial, which assessed the effectiveness of zidovudine in preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission. Results:Variation in maternal infectivity results in higher average risk of breastfeeding-related transmission in the early stages of breastfeeding than in the late stages, even in the absence of a direct relationship between transmission risk and the age of the child. However, the available data were unable to resolve the quantitative importance of this mechanism. Conclusions:Our model has helped identify a previously unrecognized determinant of the timing of breastfeeding-related HIV transmission, which may have adverse implications for the effectiveness of certain interventions to reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission such as maternal antiretroviral therapy in breastfeeding populations and the early cessation of breastfeeding.
Testing a Two-Component Model of Face Identification: Effects of Inversion, Contrast Reversal, and Direction of Lighting

Enns and Shore (1997 Perception & Psychophysics 59 23 – 31) found additive effects of test orientation (upright or inverted) and direction of lighting (brow or chin lit) when they studied the inversion effect on face identification. A two-stage model was inferred in which inversion was processed by an orientation-sensitive component after which chin-lighting was processed by a lighting-sensitive component. Face identification is also strongly influenced by contrast reversal. A study is reported which aimed to (i) determine if contrast reversal interacts with lighting direction or orientation, findings that would support Enns and Shore's model; and (ii) to test their assumption that holistic encoding is prerequisite for their model by inducing featural encoding through training names to inverted faces. Names for unfamiliar brow-lit positive-contrast faces were trained with the faces upright or inverted. Identification accuracy was measured with combinations of orientation, lighting, and contrast. Consistent with their model, test orientation and direction of lighting were additive after training on upright faces and lighting and contrast reversal interacted. When holistic encoding was prevented following training on inverted faces, test orientation and lighting direction interacted for positive-contrast faces. Negative faces showed only an effect of direction of lighting. These results support Enns and Shore's two-stage model and their interpretation that orientation and direction of lighting interact following featural encoding of faces.
Comparative Analysis and Implementation of Verifiable Secret Sharing Over a Single Path in VoIP Security with Reliable Time Delay

------------------------------------------------------------------- ABSTRACT ---------------------------------------------------- Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a new fancy and up growing technology. A major change in telecommunication industry in VoIP. The transmission of Real time voice data is not as easy as ordinary text data. The real time voice transmission faces lot of difficulties. It suffers from packet loss, delay, quality and security. These factors will affects and degrade the performance and quality of a VoIP. This paper addresses the security and network delay of a VoIP Verifiable Secret Sharing algorithm over a single path with reduced time delay. The simulation results show that higher security and reduced packet delay is achieved in terms of end – to – end delay. In this work, suggests that the homomorphism of commitments is not a necessity for computational VSS in the synchronous or in the asynchronous communication setting. A new VSS schemes based merely on the definitional possessions of obligations that are approximately as good as existing VSS schemes based homomorphism commitments. Furthermore, this work has significantly lower communication complexities than their (statistical or perfect) unconditional counterparts. Thus, this proposed technique can be an excellent alternative to unconditional VSS in the future.
A Mindfulness Program Adapted for Adolescents With Chronic Pain: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Initial Outcomes

Objectives: Pediatric chronic pain is a major health issue that can lead to significant interference in daily functioning. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI’s), which emphasize acceptance rather than control of pain, have gained increasing attention as a viable treatment option among adults with chronic pain. The effectiveness of MBIs for chronic pain in pediatric populations remains largely unknown. This prospective pre-post interventional study was conducted to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and initial effectiveness of an 8-week group MBI adapted for adolescents (MBI-A) with chronic pain. Materials and Methods: Self-report measures assessing pain characteristics, anxiety, depression, disability, pain catastrophizing, perceived social support, mindfulness, and pain acceptance were administered at baseline, postintervention, and at a 3-month follow-up. In addition, session data were collected to assess each session’s impact on patients’ coping with pain and stress, body awareness, and sense of feeling less alone. Results: In total, 42 consecutive patients in a tertiary care chronic pain clinic met eligibility criteria to participate in the MBI-A group. Of these, 21 participated. A treatment completion rate of 90.5% was observed. Between session mindfulness practice was reported by 77% of participants. Participants were highly satisfied with the MBI-A and all participants reported they would recommend the group to a friend. Improvements in pain acceptance were observed between baseline and the 3-month follow-up, in domains of Pain Willingness and Activity Engagement. Session data revealed improved body awareness and improved ability to cope with stress across sessions. Discussion: The MBI-A is a feasible, well-received intervention for adolescents with chronic pain conditions. Findings support the need for further investigation of the efficacy of MBI-A through randomized-controlled trials.
BALLOON ANGIOPLASTY FOR NATIVE COARCTATION OF THE AORTA IN CHILDREN: IMMEDIATE OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP FOR HEART FUNCTION

Background: The effect of balloon angioplasty in treatment of coarctation of the aorta (COA) in pediatric patients is very important. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of balloon angioplasty for coarctation of the aorta (CoA) and its effects on heart function in children above 3
Mitral clip–looking back and moving forward

Purpose of review Guidelines indicate surgical intervention for patients with symptomatic severe mitral regurgitation or signs of left ventricular dilatation or dysfunction. However, many patients do not receive surgery because of age or comorbidities, and have poor outcomes with conservative therapy. Transcatheter mitral repair with MitraClip (Abbott Vascular, IL, USA) has recently emerged as a viable treatment option for high-risk patients with heart failure. This article will review current evidence supporting the use of MitraClip across the spectrum of patient risk and discuss future directions for this technology. Recent findings Both randomized and registry studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of MitraClip for mitral regurgitation reduction, with significant improvements in functional class and reductions in heart failure hospitalizations. With increasing global experience, a broader scope of patients and diseases can now be successfully treated, ranging from patients with failed surgical annuloplasty rings to those in cardiogenic shock. Ongoing randomized trials will further define the role of MitraClip in the management of heart failure patients with secondary mitral regurgitation. Summary MitraClip is a useful therapeutic tool for nonsurgical patients with advanced heart failure and severe mitral regurgitation. Further developments in device design and procedural technique will continue to expand the range of patients who can be treated, with a goal of reducing heart failure hospitalizations and improving quality of life.
Eight Indicators of Unilateral Pregnancy

Unintended pregnancy often leads to undesirable outcomes for both mothers and children. However, the definition of unintended pregnancy in the sociology of family formation has been restricted to the intentions of mothers. The intentions of fathers—and, with them, the possible role of disagreement about pregnancy intention—remain outside most conceptual frameworks and research programs. This article draws together a number of indicators of unilateral pregnancy in research on contemporary family formation in the United States. Studies of pregnancy intendedness and contraceptive use consistently provide evidence suggesting a significant role for unilateral pregnancy in family formation. Working on the assumption that unilateral pregnancy presents great potential for social dislocation, this article argues for the integration of the concept of unilateral pregnancy into the theoretical framework informing research on family formation.
The evolutionary ecology of testicular function: size isn't everything

Larger testes are considered the quintessential adaptation to sperm competition. However, the strong focus on testis size in evolutionary research risks ignoring other potentially adaptive features of testicular function, many of which will also be shaped by post‐mating sexual selection. Here we advocate a more integrated research programme that simultaneously takes into account the developmental machinery of spermatogenesis and the various selection pressures that act on this machinery and its products. The testis is a complex organ, and so we begin by outlining how we can think about the evolution of testicular function both in terms of the composition and spatial organisation of the testis (‘testicular histology’), as well as in terms of the logical organisation of cell division during spermatogenesis (‘testicular architecture’). We then apply these concepts to ask which aspects of testicular function we can expect to be shaped by post‐mating sexual selection. We first assess the impact of selection on those traits most strongly associated with sperm competition, namely the number and kind of sperm produced. A broad range of studies now support our contention that post‐mating sexual selection affects many aspects of testicular function besides gross testis size, for example, to maximise spermatogenic efficiency or to enable the production of particular sperm morphologies. We then broaden our focus to ask how testicular function is affected by fluctuation in sperm demand. Such fluctuation can occur over an individual's lifetime (for example due to seasonality in reproduction) and may select for particular types of testicular histology and architecture depending on the particular reproductive ecology of the species in question. Fluctuation in sperm demand also occurs over evolutionary time, due to shifts in the mating system, and this may have various consequences for testicular function, for example on rates of proliferation‐induced mutation and for dealing with intragenomic conflict. We end by suggesting additional approaches that could be applied to study testicular function, and conclude that simultaneously considering the machinery, products and scheduling of spermatogenesis will be crucial as we seek to understand more fully the evolution of this most fundamental of male reproductive traits.
Autocrine/paracrine mechanism of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 secretion, and the effect of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 on proteoglycan synthesis in bovine intervertebral discs

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 on proteoglycan synthesis and the autocrine/paracrine mechanisms involving insulin‐like growth factor‐1 in the bovine coccygeal intervertebral disc. Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 stimulated proteoglycan synthesis in cultured cells of the nucleus pulposus of bovine intervertebral discs in a dose‐dependent manner, and the effect was inhibited by an anti‐insulin‐like growth factor‐1 monoclonal antibody. In situ hybridization histochemistry revealed the expression of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 mRNA in the cultured cells, and its production in these cells was demonstrated by radioimmunoassay. Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 receptor in the cultured cells was also demonstrated immunohistochemically. Scatchard analysis using an [125I]insulin‐like growth factor‐1 binding assay showed that the cells cultured in monolayer had a single type of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 receptor, whose affinity and number were estimated to be 7.38 × 108/M and 9.27 × 104/cell, respectively. These results suggest that insulin‐like growth factor‐1 stimulates proteoglycan synthesis in cells of the nucleus pulposus and that these cells in culture have an insulin‐like growth factor‐1 autocrine/paracrine mechanism. The expressions of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 mRNA and insulin‐like growth factor‐1 receptor in disc tissue were greater in cells of the nucleus pulposus of fetal bovine intervertebral discs than in those of the adult discs. These findings suggest that the action of autocrine/paracrine insulin‐like growth factor‐1 is more active in cells of the young nucleus pulposus than in cells of mature subjects.