Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Dipeptidyl-Peptidase-IV Inhibitor, Vildagliptin, on the Exocrine Pancreas in Spontaneously Diabetic Goto-Kakizaki Rats

Objectives The risk of adverse effects of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors on the exocrine pancreas, particularly the high risk of pancreatitis, is controversial. In this study, we examined the exocrine pancreatic function and structure in spontaneously diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats treated with a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor. Methods Male GK rats and normal Wistar rats 4 weeks of age were treated with vildagliptin (VG; 30 mg/kg/d) for 18 weeks. Subsequently, exocrine pancreatic pathology and function in treated animals were compared to those in untreated animals. Results In GK rats, VG treatment suppressed elevated serum concentrations of amylase and lipase, reduced lymphocytic infiltration around ducts, around vessels, and in acinar areas, and reduced the frequency of apoptotic acinar cells and ductule formation (both of which occurred more frequently in GK rats than Wistar rats). However, VG treatment had no effect on the proliferation rate of pancreatic duct glandular cells (which was low in GK rats) and of cells in the main ducts, peripheral ducts, and acini (which was similar in all groups). Conclusions Perturbations of exocrine pancreatic function and structure in GK rats are ameliorated by long-term VG treatment.
An Iterative Solution for Electrically Large Problems Combining the Characteristic Basis Function Method and the Multilevel Fast Multipole Algorithm

An iterative scheme for the rigorous computation of electrically large problems is presented. The approach is based on a combination of the characteristic basis function method (CBFM) and the multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA) that can deal with very large problems that require an iterative solution process, even considering that the application of the CBFM entails an important reduction of the number of unknowns when compared to Method of Moments approaches based on subdomain functions. This reduction is due to the fact that the number of macro-basis functions, called characteristic basis functions (CBFs), is lesser than the number of low-level subsectional functions used to sample the geometry. In addition, the use of the MLFMA avoids the need to calculate and store the coupling terms in the reduced matrix that are not on or close to the diagonal, thereby optimizing the CPU time and the memory storage requirements. non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS) surfaces are employed for the representation of the geometry and the CBFs are described in terms of curved rooftops generated in the parametric space. The associated macro-testing functions are defined as aggregations of curved razor-blade functions.
NotiMind: Utilizing Responses to Smart Phone Notifications as Affective Sensors

Today’s mobile phone users are faced with large numbers of notifications on social media, ranging from new followers on Twitter and emails to messages received from WhatsApp and Facebook. These digital alerts continuously disrupt activities through instant calls for attention. This paper examines closely the way everyday users interact with notifications and their impact on users’ emotion. Fifty users were recruited to download our application NotiMind and use it over a five-week period. Users’ phones collected thousands of social and system notifications along with affect data collected via self-reported Positive and Negative Affect Schedule tests three times a day. Results showed a noticeable correlation between positive affective measures and keyboard activities. When large numbers of post and remove notifications occur, a corresponding increase in negative affective measures is detected. Our predictive model has achieved a good accuracy level using three different ”in the wild” classifiers (F-measure 74%–78% within-subject model, 72%–76% global model). Our findings show that it is possible to automatically predict when people are experiencing positive, neutral, or negative affective states based on interactions with notifications. We also show how our findings open the door to a wide range of applications in relation to emotion awareness on social and mobile communication.
Dental practitioners' knowledge and implementation of the 2007 International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines for management of dental trauma.

AIM To evaluate the knowledge, adoption, and diffusion rate of the 2007 International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines among practicing military dental professionals, 1 year after publication. METHODS Fifty-four military dental professionals in the Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Forces participated in the study and completed a questionnaire, consisting of demographic questions, and multiple choice questions that presented critical points that a military dentist should know when treating a tooth injury. RESULTS Seven dentists (13%) graduated in the summer of 2007 after publication of the current guidelines. Military instructions (37%) and the official guidelines published in Dental Traumatology (25.9%) were the most common sources of updating the current guidelines. Twenty-six percentage of the participants were not updated with the new guidelines at all. Based on the current guidelines, the overall correct answer response rate for the 10 questions was 71.7%. Tetracycline, as an antimicrobial agent of choice in avulsion, yielded the lowest percentage of correct answers (20.4%), with duration of splinting after root fracture, the next most incorrectly answered question (50.0%). CONCLUSIONS High level of knowledge regarding the 2007 guidelines was found among Israeli military dentists, 1 year after publication. However, knowledge regarding several issues (e.g., medication, splinting) should be reinforced.
Sexual selection: an evolutionary force in plants?

Sexual selection has traditionally been used to explain exaggerated sexual traits in male animals. Today the concept has been developed and various other sexually related traits have been suggested to evolve in the same manner. In nearly all new areas where the theory of sexual selection has been applied, there has been an intense debate as to whether the application is justified. Is it the case that some scientists are all too ready to employ fashionable ideas? Or are there too many dogmatic researchers refusing to accept that science develops and old ideas are transformed? Maybe the controversies are simply a reflection of the difficulty of defining a theory under constant re‐evaluation. Thus, we begin by summarizing the theory of sexual selection in order to assess the influence of sexual selection on the evolution of plant morphology. We discuss empirical findings concerning potentially affected traits. Although we have tried to address criticisms fairly, we still conclude that sexual selection can be a useful tool when studying the evolution of reproductive traits in plants. Furthermore, by including the evidence from an additional kingdom, a fuller understanding of the processes involved in sexual selection can be gained.
The Expression of LEC/CCL16, a Powerful Inflammatory Chemokine, is Upregulated in Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown aetiology and pathogenesis. The presence in the colonic mucosa of reactive cells expressing proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines is associated with high levels of IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine. Our aim was to investigate the role of IL-10 and the β chemokine LEC/CCL16 selectively up-regulated by IL-10 in inflammatory cell recruitment and cytokine and chemokine production during UC. We studied histologically, immunohistochemically and ultrastructurally colonic biopsies from 20 active UC patients and 10 control specimens taken far from any macroscopically detectable lesion in age and sex-matched patients with noninflammatory bowel disease. In active UC, immature dendritic cells (DCs) in the LP are associated with IL-10 in the T cell rich area. Furthermore, most of the LP-infiltrating macrophages strongly expressed LEC/CCL16, a chemokine upregulated by IL-10. To evaluate if LEC/CCL16 plays a role in the inflammatory reaction present in UC, we performed morphological studies in mice injected s.c. with syngeneic tumor cells engineered to produce LEC/CCL16. We found that the LEC protein locally released by LEC-gene-transfected tumor cells is a potent proinflammatory chemokine that induces the recruitment of a reactive infiltrate, and an angiogenic process mirroring that in human UC. In conclusion our data indicate that: 1) LEC is endowed with a powerful inflammatory activity and 2) upregulated in active UC, when IL-10 expression is elevated in a T cell rich area, 3) this upregulation can be seen as a pro-inflammatory pathway triggered by IL-10 in UC.
The effect of CEO-specific heterogeneity on firm’s policies: Empirical evidence from Norwegian companies

4 1.INTRODUCTION. 5 2. LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL BACKGROUND.10 2.1. WHY CEOs MATTER? 10 2.2. CEO’s AGE.12 2.3. CEO’s TENURE.13 2.4. CEO’s GENDER.14 2.5. CEO’s OWNERSHIP.15 2.6. ENDOGENEITY.16 3. RESEARCH QUESTION AND HYPOTHESES. 18 4.SAMPLE CONSTRUCTION . 19 5. SAMPLE DESCRIPTION . 21 6. EMPIRICAL METHODOLOGY.25 6.1. BY INDUSTRY ANALYSIS.28 6.2. ROBUSTNESS OF RESULTS.30 6.2.1. Robustness Check 1 . 30 6.2.2. Robustness Check 2 . 30 7. COMPENSATION.33 8. OBSERVABLE MANAGERIAL CHARACTERISTICS.38 9. CONCLUSION . 43 REFERENCES . 46 APPENDIX 1: DATA APPENDIX . 50 APPENDIX 2: PRELIMINARY REPORT.52 0998023 0961384 GRA 19502
Fertility Potential in Adult Hypospadias.

INTRODUCTION Hypospadias is a congenital anomaly of the urogenital tract characterized by abnormal location of the external urethral meatus over ventral aspect of penis. The ideal time to correct primary hypospadias is when aged 6-12 months. However, in some developing countries, such as ours, this anomaly may be left untreated until adulthood. There are multiple risk factors responsible for development of this anomaly, out of which paternal sub fertility is one of them. As the child grows into adulthood, fertility status becomes an important issue, frequently raised by patients. AIM To evaluate the fertility potential of adult hypospadiac patients and to rule out the effect of age of surgical correction over fertility potential. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventy three adult patients of hypospadias were prospectively evaluated, out of which 43 were operated during adulthood. All patients underwent measurement of penile length and circumference in both flaccid and erect positions along with testicular volume, serum LH, FSH and testosterone and semen analysis. A set of questionnaire was given to all the patients which included assessment of erectile function (IIEF-5), ejaculatory function, strength of libido and level of satisfaction after sexual intercourse. Results were compared with an age matched control group of 70 healthy person. RESULTS Out of 73 patients with a mean age of 23.73 years, 14(19.17%) had proximal and rest 59(80.82%) had distal type of hypospadias. Mean penile length in both type of hypospadiac patients under both flaccid and erect conditions (7.92±1.33 and 9.62±1.31cm) were significantly shorter than those of control (10.78±0.94 and 13.15±1.15 cm) (p<0.001). In spite of short penile length, the level of satisfaction of all patients and their partner after penetrating intercourse were comparable to control (p>0.05). The strength of libido (p>0.05) was comparable with control in both type of hypospadiac patients; however IIEF-5 scores was poor in the proximal type of hypospadias. Semen volume (ml), sperm concentration (mill/ml), active sperm motility (%), and normal sperm morphology were comparable between distal hypospadiac group and control (p>0.05), however these parameters were poor in proximal type. The serum FSH and LH levels were significantly higher and serum testosterone level was significantly lower in hypospadiac patients than control (p <0.001). However, no difference in testicular size was found. The patients who were operated during childhood had shorter penile length compared to patients operated during adulthood. CONCLUSION Fertility potential parameters in distal type of hypospadias were comparable with control. However the proximal type had poor erectile function and semen quality. Patients operated in either childhood or in adulthood, there was no significant difference in fertility potential.
ASCORBATE PEROXIDASE6 Protects Arabidopsis Desiccating and Germinating Seeds from Stress and Mediates Cross Talk between Reactive Oxygen Species, Abscisic Acid, and Auxin1[C][W][OPEN]

An ascorbate peroxidase functions to protect maturing and early germinating seeds from stress and modulate the seed’s cellular metabolism and signaling. A seed’s ability to properly germinate largely depends on its oxidative poise. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) is controlled by a large gene network, which includes the gene coding for the hydrogen peroxide-scavenging enzyme, cytosolic ASCORBATE PEROXIDASE6 (APX6), yet its specific function has remained unknown. In this study, we show that seeds lacking APX6 accumulate higher levels of ROS, exhibit increased oxidative damage, and display reduced germination on soil under control conditions and that these effects are further exacerbated under osmotic, salt, or heat stress. In addition, ripening APX6-deficient seeds exposed to heat stress displayed reduced germination vigor. This, together with the increased abundance of APX6 during late stages of maturation, indicates that APX6 activity is critical for the maturation-drying phase. Metabolic profiling revealed an altered activity of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, changes in amino acid levels, and elevated metabolism of abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin in drying apx6 mutant seeds. Further germination assays showed an impaired response of the apx6 mutants to ABA and to indole-3-acetic acid. Relative suppression of abscisic acid insensitive3 (ABI3) and ABI5 expression, two of the major ABA signaling downstream components controlling dormancy, suggested that an alternative signaling route inhibiting germination was activated. Thus, our study uncovered a new role for APX6, in protecting mature desiccating and germinating seeds from excessive oxidative damage, and suggested that APX6 modulate the ROS signal cross talk with hormone signals to properly execute the germination program in Arabidopsis.
Migration and Meritocracy:

Abstract The belief that hard work can lead to advancement in a society stands as a key motivation for migrating. The literature on migration, however, has viewed meritocratic attitudes in a different light, arguing that a belief in a meritocratic society can cause migrants to be more accepting of inequalities and blind them to structural explanations of it. To add to this debate, I therefore study whether migrants generally perceive their recipient countries to be meritocracies or not, as well as what can explain these attitudes. I answer these questions using a survey collected among nine migrant groups in Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany. The results show that all the migrant groups perceive the three recipient countries as meritocratic, though there are differences among the groups. The article further studies what these variations in the belief in the meritocratic society can be explained by.
Uncertainty quantification for radio interferometric imaging: II. MAP estimation

Uncertainty quantification is a critical missing component in radio interferometric imaging that will only become increasingly important as the big-data era of radio interferometry emerges. Statistical sampling approaches to perform Bayesian inference, like Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling, can in principle recover the full posterior distribution of the image, from which uncertainties can then be quantified. However, for massive data sizes, like those anticipated from the Square Kilometre Array, it will be difficult if not impossible to apply any MCMC technique due to its inherent computational cost. We formulate Bayesian inference problems with sparsity-promoting priors (motivated by compressive sensing), for which we recover maximum a posteriori (MAP) point estimators of radio interferometric images by convex optimization. Exploiting recent developments in the theory of probability concentration, we quantify uncertainties by post-processing the recovered MAP estimate. Three strategies to quantify uncertainties are developed: (i) highest posterior density credible regions, (ii) local credible intervals (cf. error bars) for individual pixels and superpixels, and (iii) hypothesis testing of image structure. These forms of uncertainty quantification provide rich information for analysing radio interferometric observations in a statistically robust manner. OurMAP-based methods are approximately 105 times faster computationally than state-of-theart MCMC methods and, in addition, support highly distributed and parallelized algorithmic structures. For the first time, our MAP-based techniques provide a means of quantifying uncertainties for radio interferometric imaging for realistic data volumes and practical use, and scale to the emerging big data era of radio astronomy.
Population Pharmacokinetics of Allopurinol in Full-Term Neonates With Perinatal Asphyxia

In newborn infants, allopurinol is being tested as a free radical scavenger to prevent brain damage caused by reperfusion and oxygenation after perinatal hypoxia and ischemia (birth asphyxia). To develop rational dosing schemes for future studies, knowledge of the pharmacokinetics in this patient group is essential. In the present study, a population pharmacokinetic model was designed and validated for allopurinol in this specific patient group. One-compartment and 2-compartment models were fitted to plasma concentration time data of 24 newborns entered in 2 clinical trials using nonlinear mixed effects modeling. A bootstrap procedure was performed to check the robustness of the model. The data were best described using a 1-compartment model with linear elimination. Estimated pharmacokinetic parameters were volume of the central compartment (V, 0.79 L/kg) and total body clearance (CL, 0.078 L/h/kg), with 42% and 60% interindividual variability, respectively. The median values for these parameters of 1000 bootstrap replicates were very similar (95% confidence intervals were 0.67 to 0.96 and 0.054 to 0.10 for V and CL, respectively), indicating the robustness of the model. A population pharmacokinetic model has been designed and validated which adequately describes the data of 2 clinical studies in critically ill newborn infants. The model will be used to design dosing strategies for future evaluation of the benefits of allopurinol in these patients.
Gendered Paths to Asset Accumulation? Markets, Savings, and Credit in Developing Countries

ABSTRACT An extensive literature shows how property inheritance is biased against women in many developing countries, yet relatively little attention has been given to gender bias in other means of acquiring physical assets, such as the market. Using individual-level data from Ecuador, Ghana, and Karnataka, India, this study analyzes modes of acquisition and financing of housing, agricultural land, other real estate, and businesses. The findings show that women acquire fewer of their assets through the market than men, and that in asset markets, both men and women are more likely to use their own savings than to use credit. The study also analyzes current loans for asset acquisition and finds that, in general, women tend to be somewhat disadvantaged in securing formal bank loans. The results suggest that financial inclusion to promote more gender equal access to accumulation of assets should focus on both savings and credit, with priority to savings.
Effects of food quality on trade‐offs among growth, immunity and survival in the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella

The resources available to an individual in any given environment are finite, and variation in life history traits reflect differential allocation of these resources to competing life functions. Nutritional quality of food is of particular importance in these life history decisions. In this study, we tested trade‐offs among growth, immunity and survival in 3 groups of greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) larvae fed on diets of high and average nutritional quality. We found rapid growth and weak immunity (as measured by encapsulation response) in the larvae of the high‐energy food group. It took longer to develop on food of average nutritional quality. However, encapsulation response was stronger in this group. The larvae grew longer in the low‐energy food group, and had the strongest encapsulation response. We observed the highest survival rates in larvae of the low‐energy food group, while the highest mortality rates were observed in the high‐energy food group. A significant negative correlation between body mass and the strength of encapsulation response was found only in the high‐energy food group revealing significant competition between growth and immunity only at the highest rates of growth. The results of this study help to establish relationships between types of food, its nutritional value and life history traits of G. mellonella larvae.
Cold liver ischemia‐reperfusion injury critically depends on liver T cells and is improved by donor pretreatment with interleukin 10 in mice

Kupffer cells are thought to mediate most of the deleterious effects of liver ischemia‐reperfusion injury. The role of liver T cells and the impact of resident cell deactivation by interleukin 10 (IL‐10) have never been addressed. Using a model of ex vivo liver cold ischemia and reperfusion, we assessed liver injury, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interferon gamma (IFN‐γ) release from livers of balb/c mice, nude mice, nude mice reconstituted with T cells, and gadolinium balb/c pretreated mice. The anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐10 was then used to define the best strategy of administration potentially able to modulate ischemia‐reperfusion injury. For this purpose IL‐10 was administered to the donor before liver harvesting, in the preservation medium during cold ischemia or during reperfusion. TNF and IFN‐γ were released time dependently and paralleled liver injury after reperfusion of cold preserved livers. Reperfused livers from nude or gadolinium pretreated mice disclosed a dramatic decrease in TNF and IFN‐γ release. Tissue injury was reduced by 51% in the absence of T cells and by 88% when Kupffer cells were deactivated. This effect was reverted by T‐cell transfer to nude mice. Only donor pretreatment with IL‐10 or IL‐10 infusion during reperfusion led to a significant decrease in liver injury, TNF, and IFN‐γ release (−66% or −41%, −95% or −94%, and −70% or −70%, respectively). In conclusion, liver resident T cells are critically involved in cold ischemia‐reperfusion injury and pretreatment of the donor with IL‐10 decreases liver injury and the release of T‐cell– and macrophage‐dependent cytokines.
Sexual willingness with same- and other-sex prospective partners: Experimental evidence from the bar scene

ABSTRACT Sex is ubiquitous in the media, but only a fraction depicts sexual interactions between same-sex partners. This field study, conducted outside of bars in the Midwestern United States, examined 83 heterosexuals’ sexual willingness with a same- or other-sex partner. Participants viewed a randomly assigned video vignette of a same- or other-sex partner. Alcohol intake, partner attractiveness, and sexual willingness were measured. Using moderated regression analysis, we found that alcohol intake predicted sexual willingness with the male target for both men and women, but not with the female target. The attractiveness of same-sex partners was related to sexual willingness. Sexual willingness was only influenced by alcohol intake and perceived attractiveness of a same-sex prospective partner. Most notably, alcohol intake was related to increased sexual willingness of men with a same-sex partner, suggesting a potential shift in normative casual sexual behavior among heterosexual men.