Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Winter Age Ratios and the Assessment of Recruitment of Harlequin Ducks

-Recruitment is the process by which young birds are added to the breeding population. The two most commonly used methods to estimate recruitment in ducks are pair/brood counts, and fall age ratios based on wings returned by hunters. Direct counts on the wintering area to determine the proportion of young males to adult males (age ratios), can be used for species with delayed plumage maturation. This is useful for species that are difficult to study on the breeding grounds and are seldom hunted, such as Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus). Such an approach is only valid if age classes are equally sampled. Between 1994 and 1999, the proportion of male Harlequin Ducks that were immatures in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, was estimated at 0.068. The proportions differed across years. Little difference occurred through the winter months until spring, when there was a significant increase in proportions in March. If these age ratios are accurate, then recruitment would not be compensating for annual adult mortality and the population could have been declining during the period of our study. However, if immature males are not distributed evenly among the population, then our assessment may underestimate or overestimate proportions. Delayed breeding means that immature birds experience several additional seasons of mortality prior to breeding, and thus the actual recruitment rate into the breeding population would be lower than that presented here. Received 11 April 2000, accepted 18July 2000.
Indian English An Emerging Epicentre? A Pilot Study on Light Verbs in Web-derived Corpora of South Asian Englishes

Abstract In research into New Englishes, it has been suggested that English has turned into a genuinely pluricentric language in the late 20th century and that various regionally relevant norm-developing centres have emerged that exert an influence on the formation and development of the English language in neighbouring areas. In the present paper, we focus on Indian English (IndE), the largest institutionalised second-language variety of English, and its potential role as an emerging epicentre in South Asia. Specifically, we are interested in determining to what extent IndE as the dominant variety in the region shapes the norms in Standard(ising) Englishes in the neighbouring countries. The data for a case study on light verb constructions were retrieved from large web-derived corpora with texts from national English-medium newspapers in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka countries that all once formed part of the British colonial empire in South Asia and that have retained the English language as a communicative vehicle, albeit to different extents. Our insights from web-derived corpora open up new perspectives for the description of the closeness and distance between Indian English on the one hand and English in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on the other.
El cambio de veredicto en el jurado: influencia de variables psicosociales

EN EL AMBITO DE LA TOMA DE DECISION EN JURADOS EXISTEN UNA SERIE DE SESGOS QUE EJERCEN UNA MARCADA INFLUENCIA EN LA EMISION DE UN VEREDICTO DETERMINADO, ESTOS SESGOS PUEDEN AGRUPARSE EN: FACTORES LEGALES (REGLA DE DECISION, TAMANO Y COMPOSICION DEL JURADO) Y EXTRALEGALES (CARACTERISTICAS DEMOGRAFICAS Y RASGOS DE PERSONALIDAD). EL OBJETIVO DE NUESTRA INVESTIGACION HA SIDO EXTRAER NUEVA INFORMACION RESPECTO AL COMPORTAMIENTO DE LOS MIEMBROS DE UN JURADO EN LA ETAPA DELIBERATIVA A PARTIR DE UNA VARIABLE NO CONSIDERADA EN NINGUN TRABAJO PREVIO: EL TIEMPO TRANSCURRIDO DESDE EL INICIO DE LA DELIBERACION HASTA LA OCURRENCIA DEL CAMBIO DE VEREDICTO INDIVIDUAL. PARA ELLO SE FORMARON 32 JURADOS (17 PUROS Y 15 MIXTOS) QUE DEBIAN EVALUAR TRES CASOS DE DIFERENTE NATURALEZA: ATRACO A MANO ARMADA, VIOLACION Y HOMICIDIO. PARA REALIZAR EL ANALISIS SE HA UTILIZADO UNA METODOLOGIA TOTALMENTE NOVEDOSA EN SU APLICACION EN ESTE CAMPO, COMO ES EL ANALISIS HISTORICO DEL CAMBIO (EVENT HISTORY ANALYSIS), LO CUAL NOS HA PERMITIDO OBTENER LA FUNCION DE MANTENIMIENTO DEL VEREDICTO ASI COMO LA FUNCION DE RIESGO DE CAMBIO. EL MODELO DE REGRESION DE COX NOS HA PERMITIDO VERIFICAR LA INCIDENCIA DE UN CONJUNTO DE VARIABLES PSICOSOCIALES EN EL TIEMPO DE CAMBIO DEL VEREDICTO INICIAL, OBTENIENDO UN MODELO DIFERENTE PARA CADA CASO Y DIRECCION DEL CAMBIO: CAMBIO GLOBAL, CAMBIO HACIA LA CULPABILIDAD Y CAMBIO HACIA LA INOCENCIA. LOS RESULTADOS MUESTRAN UNA INCIDENCIA DIFERENCIAL DE DICHAS VARIABLES EXPLICATIVAS EN FUNCION DEL TIPO Y LA DIRECCION DEL CAMBIO.
Financial Misstatements and Contracting in the Equity Market : Evidence from Seasoned Equity Offerings

We examine whether a firm’s previous financial misrepresentation affects the design of underwriting contracts in seasoned equity offerings (SEOs). We find that firms that restate earnings due to accounting irregularities subsequently pay higher underwriting fees (about 1020% in relative terms or 50-100 basis points in absolute terms). The effect of restatements on underwriting fees is more pronounced for larger offerings and offerings in the first few years after restatements, and lessens as restatement firms make corporate governance improvements. We also find that restatement firms employ more lead underwriters and larger syndicates and are less likely to use the faster and cheaper accelerated underwriting method than the traditional book building process. Overall, our evidence supports the hypothesis that financial misrepresentation undermines a firm’s financial reporting integrity and increases its contracting costs when accessing the equity market, and subsequent corporate governance improvements can mitigate this adverse consequence.
Humoral Autoimmune Manifestation in Subacute Thyroiditis

To study the autoimmune manifestations in subacute thyroiditis (SAT), the patterns of thyroid antibodies, thyroglobulin and circulating immune complexes were investigated in 10 patients during the course of the disease. Eight patients were thyrotoxic at diagnosis, and became euthyroid during recovery with a median observation of 8 months (4–30 months). Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins were measured as TSH binding inhibiting immunoglobulins (TBII) and as thyroid stimulating antibodies (TSAb). TBII were present in all patients at least once during the observation period and remained detectable in six patients after recovery. TSAb were detected in three patients without relation to the hyperthyroid state. Thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) were present in four patients and persisted in three, while microsomal antibodies (MAb) were negative. Thyroglobulin (Tg) in the TgAb negative patients (n = 6) was high at diagnosis (median 229 μg/1, range 55–375) and fell rapidly during the course of SAT. Circulating immune complexes (CIC), which were found in all patients, reached maximal levels shortly after the onset of the disease and persisted after recovery. No correlation could be demonstrated between the different thyroid antibodies, and there was no clear relation between the levels of CIC and presence of the autoantibodies. However, the changes in CIC paralleled the changes in TBII, and it is suggested that immune complex formation is a major feature of the regulatory mechanisms controlling the immune responses in SAT.
PPARS and Obesity

Welcome to this special issue of PPAR Research dedicated to “PPARs and Obesity. ” Obesity and the interrelated disorders of the metabolic syndrome are a global health epidemic. To address this major problem, it is essential to understand the mechanisms regulating energy metabolism, and it has been known for years that PPARs play an important role in many facets of energy homeostasis. This is a very active and exciting field of research that, without a doubt, justifies a special issue. The genetic, molecular, and physiological aspects of PPARs as well as the metabolic effects of recently developed PPAR and RXR agonists are among the topics discussed. The issue begins with a review of key observations made in human subjects harboring genetic variations in PPARγ and a thorough overview of the metabolic effects of PPARs in genetically modified animal models. Over the last five years, the knowledge on PPAR delta biology has literally exploded and the potential therapeutic usefulness of this receptor in metabolic syndrome is now recognized. The interaction of PPARs with uncoupling proteins regulating energy expenditure is reviewed as are recent developments with RXR agonists. A closely related topic addresses the molecular and physiological functions of PPAR coactivators and corepressors in relationship to adipocyte energy metabolism. The selective PPAR modulator concept has attracted the attention of the field for over a decade; however the molecular bases underlying their differential mode of action have only begun to emerge recently. In addition to selective PPAR agonists, compounds that simultaneously activate two (dual agonists) or three (pan agonists) PPAR isoforms are in development. The potential advantages of these new combinations are discussed. The intriguing possibility that PPARs may mediate effects of caloric restriction on longevity is also considered. Finally, a growing body of evidence indicates that inflammation is a key feature of the obese state and that PPARs display strong anti-inflammatory properties. The evidence that PPARs may be interesting therapeutic targets to modulate obesity-induced inflammation is also reviewed. While these reviews just scratch the surface of PPAR/RXR interactions and regulation of energy balance, this special issue is packed with exciting, high quality reports from recognized experts in the field. We hope that the ideas presented here will generate further interest from the scientific community in this rapidly expanding area of research. Francine M. Gregoire Sander Kersten Wallace Harrington
Neonatal streptozotocin-induced rat model of Type 2 diabetes mellitus: A glance

Diabetes mellitus is a group of syndromes characterized by hyperglycemia, altered metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates and protein and an increased risk of complication of vascular diseases. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by derangement of insulin secretion and an inability of the peripheral tissues to respond to insulin. In spite of the availability of many animal models for Type 2 diabetes mellitus including genetic and chemically induced, none of them simulate human Type 2 diabetes mellitus. An attempt has been made in the present review, to evaluate the neonatal streptozotocin-induced rat (n-STZ rats) model of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, for its potential advantages as a suitable model over the others. The n-STZ model (with alteration of dose and day of STZ injection) exhibits various stages of Type 2 diabetes mellitus such as impaired glucose tolerance, and mild, moderate and severe glycemia. The cells in n-STZ rats bear a resemblance to insulin secretory characteristics found in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Thus the n-STZ model can be considered as one of the suitable animal models of Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Visualizing Drug Efficacy In Vivo

Many enzymes are therapeutic targets for drug discovery, whereas other enzymes are important for understanding drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics during compound testing in animals. Testing of drug efficacy and metabolism in an animal model requires the measurement of disease endpoints as well as assays of enzyme activity in specific tissues at selected time points during treatment. This requires the removal of tissue and biochemical assays. Techniques to noninvasively assess drug effects on enzyme activity using imaging technology would facilitate understanding of drug efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and drug metabolism. Using a commercially available cytochrome P−450 3A substrate whose oxidized product is a luciferase substrate, we show for the first time that cytochrome P−450 enzyme activity can be measured in vivo in real time by bioluminescent imaging. This imaging approach could be applicable to study drug effects on therapeutic target enzymes, as well as drug metabolism enzymes.
Semantic relatedness among objects promotes the activation of multiple phonological codes during object naming

In a picture–word interference experiment the authors demonstrate that a semantic–categorical relation between a to-be-named target picture and a context picture promotes the phonological activation of the to-be-ignored context picture. No such phonological activation is observed if the objects are semantically unrelated. This finding gives further insight into the mechanisms that modulate the activation flow in the conceptual-lexical system during speech planning. In contrast to recent picture–picture interference studies, the results provide direct evidence that the phonological activation of a context object is dependent on its semantic processing.
Deterrent activity of hops flavonoids and their derivatives against stored product pests

Abstract Five flavonoids from hops, two of their derivatives, along with naringenin used as a model compound, were tested for their antifeedant activity against three coleopteran stored product pests: Sitophilus granarius L. , Tribolium confusum Duv. and Trogoderma granarium Everts. The introduction, into the tested flavonoid molecules, of additional structural fragments such as prenyl or dimethylpyran moiety, is proposed to significantly alter the deterrent activity of the compounds. The prenyl moiety in flavonoids increased the deterrent activity of these compounds in all three of the grain feeding species used in the tests. It is also concluded that the introduction of dimethylpyran moiety to the flavonoid structure increases its deterrent activity in S. granarius and T. confusum, but in one of the test insects, T. granarium, an increased feeding was observed in response to the introduction of dimethylpyran moiety to the flavonoid structure.
Radioulnar Load-Sharing in the Forearm. A Study in Cadavera*

Custom-designed miniature load-cells were inserted into the distal end of the ulna and the proximal end of the radius in ten fresh-frozen forearms from cadavera. The forces transmitted through the bones at these sites were measured under 134 newtons of constant axial load that was applied through the metacarpals as the forearm was rotated from 60 degrees of supination to 60 degrees of pronation. The simultaneous measurements of these forces allowed the calculation of radioulnar load-sharing at the wrist and the elbow as well as the calculation of the amount of force that was transferred from the radius to the ulna through the interosseous membrane. With the elbow in valgus alignment (that is, with contact between the radial head and the capitellum), the main pathway for load transmission through the forearm was direct axial loading of the radius; measurements from both load-cells were unaffected by the angle of elbow flexion. When the forearm was in neutral rotation, the mean force in the distal end of the ulna averaged 2.8 per cent of the load applied to the wrist and the mean force in the proximal end of the ulna averaged 11.8 per cent; this indicated that only a small amount of tension developed in the interosseous membrane. With the elbow in varus alignment (that is, with no contact between the radial head and the capitellum), load was transmitted through the forearm by a transfer of force from the radius to the ulna through the interosseous membrane. When the forearm was in neutral rotation, the force in the distal end of the ulna averaged 7.0 per cent of the load applied to the wrist and the force in the proximal end of the ulna averaged 93.0 per cent; the force through the interosseous membrane decreased with supination of the forearm. Testing with the elbow in valgus alignment and shortening of the distal end of the radius in two-millimeter increments produced corresponding increases in force in the distal end of the ulna and decreases in force in the radial head. The forces through the interosseous membrane remained low after each amount of radial shortening. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Transfer of load from the wrist, through the radius and the ulna, to the elbow is a complex event that depends on the position of the forearm, anatomy of the wrist, and soft-tissue linkages between the radius and the ulna. Varus-valgus alignment of the elbow influences the basic mechanism of force transmission through the forearm. The interosseous membrane plays a minimum role in load transmission with the elbow in valgus alignment. Dynamic gripping activities that include varus stress to the elbow would be expected to develop force in the interosseous membrane. Radioulnar load-sharing at the wrist and the elbow changed significantly when the distal end of the radius was shortened by as little as two millimeters (p < 0.05). With the elbow in valgus alignment, four millimeters of shortening was required to approximately balance the radioulnar loads at the wrist.
Quickprop Neural Network Ensemble Forecasting Framework for a Database Intrusion Prediction System

This paper describes a framework for a statistical anomaly prediction system using ensemble Quickprop neural network forecasting model, which predicts unauthorized invasions of user based on previous observations and takes further action before intrusion occurs. This paper focuses on detecting significant changes of transaction intensity for intrusion prevention. The experimental study is performed using real data provided by a major Corporate Bank. A comparative evaluation of the two ensemble networks over the individual networks was carried out using mean absolute percentage error on a prediction data set and a better prediction accuracy has been observed. Keywords—Database Security Database Anomaly Intrusion Prediction Quickprop Prediction Technique Intrusion Prevention Artificial Neural Networks – Uncertainty
Egg consumption and risk of incident type 2 diabetes in men: the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study.

BACKGROUND The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing around the world. Eggs are a major source of cholesterol, which has been associated with elevated blood glucose and an increased risk of T2D. However, there are limited and conflicting data from prospective population studies on the association between egg consumption and risk of T2D. OBJECTIVE We investigated the association between egg consumption and risk of incident T2D in middle-aged and older men from eastern Finland. DESIGN The study included 2332 men aged 42-60 y in 1984-1989 at the baseline examinations of the prospective, population-based Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. Dietary intakes were assessed with 4-d food records at baseline. Incident T2D was assessed by self-administered questionnaires; by fasting and 2-h oral-glucose-tolerance-test blood glucose measurement at re-examination rounds 4, 11, and 20 y after baseline; and by record linkage to a hospital discharge registry and reimbursement register of diabetes medication expenses. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to estimate associations with the risk of incident T2D. Associations with the metabolic risk markers at baseline and at the 4-y examinations were analyzed by ANCOVA. RESULTS During an average follow-up of 19.3 y, 432 men developed T2D. After adjustment for potential confounders, those in the highest compared with the lowest egg intake quartile had a 38% (95% CI: 18%, 53%; P-trend across quartiles <0.001) lower risk of incident T2D. Analyses with metabolic risk markers also suggested an inverse association with fasting plasma glucose and serum C-reactive protein but not with serum insulin. The associations between cholesterol intake and risk of T2D, plasma glucose, serum insulin, and C-reactive protein were mainly nonsignificant, especially after accounting for egg consumption. CONCLUSION Higher egg intake was associated with a lower risk of T2D in this cohort of middle-aged and older men.
Maximising Neumann eigenvalues on rectangles

We obtain results for the spectral optimisation of Neumann eigenvalues on rectangles in R2 with a measure or perimeter constraint. We show that the rectangle with measure 1 that maximises the k th Neumann eigenvalue converges to the unit square in the Hausdorff metric as k→∞ . Furthermore, we determine the unique maximiser of the k th Neumann eigenvalue on a rectangle with given perimeter.
1,1-Bis(3′-indolyl)-1-(p-substitutedphenyl)methanes Are Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ Agonists but Decrease HCT-116 Colon Cancer Cell Survival through Receptor-Independent Activation of Early Growth Response-1 and Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug-Activated Gene-1

1,1-Bis-(3′-indolyl)-1-(p-substitutedphenyl)methanes containing p-trifluoromethyl (DIM-C-pPhCF3), p-t-butyl (DIM-C-pPhtBu), and phenyl (DIM-C-pPhC6H5) substituents decrease survival of HCT-116 colon cancer cells and activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ in this and other cancer cell lines. These PPARγ-active compounds had minimal effects on expression of cell cycle proteins and did not induce caveolin-1 in HCT-116 cells. However, these compounds induced nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene-1 (NAG-1) and apoptosis in HCT-116 cells, and in time-course studies, the PPARγ agonists maximally induced early growth response-1 (Egr-1) protein within 2 h, whereas a longer time course was observed for induction of NAG-1 protein. These data, coupled with deletion and mutation analysis of both the Egr-1 and NAG-1 gene promoters, indicate that activation of NAG-1 by these compounds was dependent on prior induction of Egr-1, and induction of these responses was PPARγ-independent. Results of kinase inhibitor studies also demonstrated that activation of Egr-1/NAG-1 by methylene-substituted diindolylmethanes (C-DIMs) was phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent, and this represents a novel receptor-independent pathway for C-DIM-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in colon cancer cells.
Quality of Life for Children with Persistent Sinonasal Symptoms

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to validate the SN-5 survey as a measure of longitudinal change in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for children with persistent sinonasal symptoms. DESIGN AND SETTING: We conducted a before and after study of 85 children aged 2 to 12 years in a metropolitan pediatric otolaryngology practice. Caregivers completed the SN-5 survey at entry and at least 4 weeks later. The survey included 5 symptom-cluster items covering the domains of sinus infection, nasal obstruction, allergy symptoms, emotional distress, and activity limitations. RESULTS: Good test-retest reliability (R = 0.70) was obtained for the overall SN-5 score and the individual survey items (R ≥ 0.58). The mean baseline SN-5 score was 3.8 (SD, 1.0) of a maximum of 7.0, with higher scores indicating poorer HRQoL. All SN-5 items had adequate correlation (R ≥ 0.36) with external constructs. The mean change in SN-5 score after routine clinical care was 0.88 (SD, 1.19) with an effect size of 0.74 indicating good responsiveness to longitudinal change. The change scores correlated appropriately with changes in related external constructs (R ≥ 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: The SN-5 is a valid, reliable, and responsive measure of HRQoL for children with persistent sinonasal symptoms, suitable for use in outcomes studies and routine clinical care.