Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
c‐jun expression and growth stimulation in human ovarian carcinoma cell lines following exposure to cytokines

We evaluated the effects of recombinant human G‐CSF, rhGM‐CSF, rhM‐CSF and rhIL‐1α on proliferation and regulation of c‐jun gene expression in 4 human ovarian‐carcinoma (HOC) cell lines, NIH:OVCAR‐3, SK‐OV‐3, HEY and BG‐I, and in one primary ovarian tumor in vitro. The cytokines were administered in concentrations of 0.1 U/ml to 1000 U/ml. Cell growth was measured by crystal‐violet‐ and thiazolyl‐blue(MTT)‐based cell counts, c‐jun transcripts were measured by the solution hybridization/RNAse protection assay. RhM‐CSF and rhGM‐CSF showed no growth stimulation of any of the 5 cell lines tested. Results from exposure to rhG‐CSF were different. The cell lines NIH:OVCAR‐3, SK‐OV‐3, BG‐I and the primary ovarian tumor showed no proliferative response. A 2‐ to 3‐fold increase in proliferation was observed in the HEY HOC cell line. rhIL‐lα led to growth stimulation in the BG‐I cell line, but showed an inhibitory effect in the NIH:OVCAR‐3 cells. No effects of rhIL‐1α were observed in the remaining 2 cell lines nor in the primary ovarian tumor. Growth stimulation was accompanied by an increase in c‐jun expression in the HEY cell line, and the BG‐I cell line. No alterations in c‐jun expression were observed in the remaining 3 cell lines. Our results indicate that rhG‐CSF or rhIL‐1α influence cell proliferation in 2 out of 5 human ovarian‐tumor cell lines, accompanied by an increase in c‐jun expression.
Do Labor Unions Affect Firm Payout Policy?: Operating Leverage and Rent Extraction Effects

While previous literature documents weak effects of unionization on payout policy on average, we find that this average relationship hides significant heterogeneous effects of unionization on payouts across firms that depend on firm profitability. The effect of unionization on payouts is negative for low-profitability firms but positive for high-profitability firms. We posit that labor unions (i) increase operating risk, which negatively affects payouts, but (ii) increase potential for rent extraction from unions, which could induce shareholders to demand positive payouts. Higher profitability mitigates the negative effect while strengthening the positive effect, making the relation between unionization and payouts less negative or more positive. We provide evidence consistent with both the negative and positive effects of unionization on payouts. Our empirical design mitigates endogeneity concerns. Further, an instrumental variable analysis and a cross-sectional test using right-to-work laws confirm that endogeneity is unlikely to drive our results.
The double-edged sword: effects of pregabalin on experimentally induced sciatic nerve transection and crush injury in rats

Aim: The aim of this study was to research the effects of pregabalin on experimentally induced peripheral nerve crush injuries in rats. Material and method: Forty-two adult female Wistar albino rats were divided into seven groups: 1st group: healthy; 2nd group: axonotmesis control; 3rd group: anastomosis control; 4th group: axonotmesis+30 mg/kg of pregabalin; 5th group: axonotmesis+60 mg/kg of pregabalin; 6th group: anastomosis+30 mg/kg of pregabalin; 7th group: anastomosis+60 mg/kg of pregabalin. Evaluation of the sciatic functional index (SFI) was performed one day before and on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 following surgery. The right sciatic nerves of all animals were examined histopathologically and molecularly. Results: After 28 days post-injury, the histopathological regeneration in peripheral nerve injuries for pregabalin 30 mg/kg treated groups was significantly better than that of the control groups. Also the SFI increases and TGF-β gene expression up-regulation were significantly better in pregabalin 30 mg/kg treated groups. Conclusion: The histopathological, functional and molecular data suggest that pregabalin 30 mg/kg treatment in axonotmesis and anostomosis groups improves nerve regeneration and increases SFI in peripheral nerve injuries by activating antiinflammatory cytokine TGF-β1.
The rationales of practices in executive search - A discourse analytic perspective

The purpose of this study is to examine how executive search consultants make sense of the features and motives of their work practices. The study focuses on assessing the meanings attributed to the practices in the consultants’ discourse. The research material comprises of the interview accounts of five executive search consultants, primarily active in the German and the Nordic labour markets, on their work in executive recruitment. A critical discourse analytic methodology is applied to the accounts in order to connect linguistic analysis with theory on social practices. As a result of the analysis, four distinctive discourses, signifying specific ways of talking and reasoning about practices, were identified as characteristic for the executive search consultants included in the research sample. The consultants’ efforts in mediating between their clients and prospective job candidates, realising established executive search processes, offering critical and principled recruitment advisory, and providing strategic input on recruitment practices could be indicated as general themes on the features of practices in the respective discourses. In addition, the discourses, denoted as “entrepreneurial”, “functional”, “professional” and “conceptual” with the aim of reflecting their typical characteristics, point towards that the consultants attribute a variety of motives to their work practices, among others including fairly pragmatic, technical, ethical and theoretical considerations respectively. The discourses were generally found to be complementary to one another, representing a range of ways for making sense of the features and motives of practices in executive search. However, some contradictions between them were also noted. This could be seen to reflect both diversity and tensions in the ways in which the executive search consultants relate to their work practices.
Comparison of direct and indirect methods of intra-abdominal pressure measurement in normal horses.

OBJECTIVES To develop a direct method for measuring intra-abdominal pressures in the standing horse, identify a reference interval for direct intra-abdominal pressures, compare these pressures to indirect intra-abdominal pressures measured from the bladder, and determine the optimal bladder infusion volume for indirect pressure measurement. DESIGN Prospective, experimental study. SETTING A university-based equine research facility. ANIMALS Ten healthy adult horses, 5 males and 5 females. INTERVENTIONS Direct intra-abdominal pressures were measured through an intraperitoneal cannula and zeroed at the height midway between the height of the tuber ishii and point of the shoulder. Indirect measurements of intra-abdominal pressure were performed by measuring intravesicular pressures through a transurethral catheter zeroed at the tuber ishii. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Direct pressure measurements obtained in the standing horse were subatmospheric (mean, -1.80 cm H(2)O; SD, 1.61 cm H(2)O; 95% CI, -2.80 to -0.80) and were shown to decrease as the horse's weight increased (Pearson's r=-0.67, P=0.04), with no effect of head position (P=0.15). Mean baseline indirect pressure measurements (mean, -8.63 cm H(2)O; SD, 4.37 cm H(2)O; 95% CI, -13.05 to -4.21) were significantly different from the pressures measured directly from the abdomen (P<0.001). Indirect pressure measurements were noted to increase with increasing volumes infused into the bladder, and were statistically different at a volume of 100 mL (P=0.004). There was low to moderate correlation between direct and indirect pressure measurements of intra-abdominal pressure over a range of fluid volumes infused into the bladder (Pearson's correlation range -0.38 to 0.58). CONCLUSION Pressures measured directly in the standing horse were subatmospheric, and increased as the horse's weight increased. Indirect pressures measured were altered by increasing volumes infused in the bladder. There was no significant correlation between the 2 methods of intra-abdominal pressure measurement.
The added value of the registration of home accidents in general practice

Objectives - To determine the number, the nature and the circumstances of home accidents managed in general practices, and to compare the results with the European Home and Leisure Accidents Surveillance System (EHLASS) data. Design - A prospective population survey of all domestic accidents managed in 138 sentinel general practices during 1995/96. Setting - Primary health care. Subjects - In total, 4481 patients were included, of which 58% were female. Main outcome measures - The incidence of domestic accidents managed in general practices; the nature and place of the accident; the nature of the injury; the predisposing factors and related products. Results - The highest incidence of home accidents was measured among children and the elderly. The median age was significantly lower for men (36 years) than for women (54 years). Among women, 74% of all home accidents were the result of a fall. The lesion is often a contusion or wound. Fractures were recorded in 20% of all home accidents. Three-quarters of all fractures involved women, especially older women. Most accidents among women (80%) occurred during motion and housework. Among men, 65% of all home injuries occurred during motion and do-it-yourself jobs. Conclusion - Because of the close relation with most patients and a knowledge of their living conditions, the GP is able to provide more reliable information on the circumstances of accidents than are health care providers in hospitals. The prevention of home accidents should at least partly be based on the results provided by general practitioners.
Sticks, Stones, and Molotov Cocktails: Unarmed Collective Violence and Democratization

The literature on civil resistance finds that nonviolent campaigns are more likely to succeed than violent insurgencies. A parallel literature on democratization poses mass mobilization as exogenous to political liberalization. Contributing to both literatures, we propose the category of unarmed collective violence to capture an empirically recurring form of unruly collective action used by civilians and then use a mixed methods research design to examine its impact on democratization. An event history analysis finds that riots are positively associated with political liberalization in 103 nondemocracies from 1990 to 2004. Attacks by civilians on police stations during the January 25 Egyptian Revolution illustrate one way in which unarmed collective violence can bring about a democratic breakthrough. A qualitative examination of all 80 democratic transitions held between 1980 and 2010 also reveals the salience of unarmed collective violence by civilian forces. These findings contribute to research on the dynamics of contentious democratization and suggest that remaining unarmed may be more consequential for a democracy campaign than adhering to nonviolence.
A methodology for the economic evaluation of power storage technologies in the UK market

In this thesis, we present a methodology for assessing the economic impact of power storage technologies. The methodology is founded on classical approaches to the optimal stopping of stochastic processes. Power storage is regarded as a complement to the intermittent output of renewable energy generators, and is important in contributing to the reduction of carbon intensive power generation. Therefore, the recommendations to study the future economic storage assessment have been increased. Our aim is to present a methodology suitable for use by policy makers that is simple to maintain, adapt to different technologies and is easy to interpret. The thesis start by giving an overview of the UK power market and an introduction to storage technologies in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 summarize the mathematical tools, that the methodology is based on, more precisely the discretionary stopping theory based on dynamic programming techniques. An algorithm to assess the storage is presented in Chapter 4, where the storage problem is formulated as an entry, exit problem, which allow the investigation of different optimal strategies to fill and empty a storage facility. An analysis of power demand, and an approximation of power prices through the merit order curve of the UK power market presented in Chapter 5. Based on a theoretical study, the methodology is applied to a Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) in Chapter 6. Chapter 7 present an empirical study that applied the methodology directly on the observed data, this approach is shown to have benefits over current techniques and is able to value, by identifying a viable optimal operational strategy for a CAES operating in the UK market. Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge and express my special appreciation to my first supervisor Dr. Timothy Johnson, for his excellent supervision during my three years as a PhD student: his careful attention, insightful suggestions and patience helped me to make the very most of my postgraduate education. I would also like to thank my second supervisor Dr. Stan Zachary for helping me getting the financial support from the Maxwell Institute, his help is very much appreciated. I must also mention the varied community of students and staff in the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences who have contributed to the fantastic time I have had in Edinburgh over the years. Finally, a special thanks to my family. Words cannot express how grateful I am to my mother, and father for all of the sacrifices that you’ve made on my behalf. Your prayer for me was what sustained me thus far.
Stepwise hydration of ionized aromatics. Energies, structures of the hydrated benzene cation, and the mechanism of deprotonation reactions.

The stepwise binding energies (DeltaHdegree(n-1,n)) of 1-8 water molecules to benzene(.+) [Bz(.+)(H2O)n] were determined by equilibrium measurements using an ion mobility cell. The stepwise hydration energies, DeltaHdegree(n-1,n), are nearly constant at 8.5 +/- 1 kcal mol-1 from n = 1-6. Calculations show that in the n = 1-4 clusters, the benzene(.+) ion retains over 90% of the charge, and it is extremely solvated, that is, hydrogen bonded to an (H2O)n cluster. The binding energies and entropies are larger in the n = 7 and 8 clusters, suggesting cyclic or cage-like water structures. The concentration of the n = 3 cluster is always small, suggesting that deprotonation depletes this ion, consistent with the thermochemistry since associative deprotonation Bz(.+)(H2O)(n-1) + H2O-->C6H5. + (H2O)nH+ is thermoneutral or exothermic for n > or = 4. Associative intracluster proton transfer Bz(.+)(H2O)(n+1) + H2O-->C6H5. (H2O)nH+ would also be exothermic for n > or = 4, but lack of H/D exchange with D2O shows that the proton remains on C6H6(.+) in the observed Bz(.+)(H2O)n clusters. This suggests a barrier to intracluster proton transfer, and as a result, the [Bz(.+)(H2O)n]* activated complexes either undergo dissociative proton transfer, resulting in deprotonation and generation of (H2O)nH+, or become stabilized. The rate constant for the deprotonation reaction shows a uniquely large negative temperature coefficient of K = cT(-67+/-4) (or activation energy of -34+/- 1 kcal mol-1), caused by a multibody mechanism in which five or more components need to be assembled for the reaction.
A Failsafe for Sensing Chromatid Tension in Mitosis with the Histone H3 Tail in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The yeast protein Shugoshin 1 (Sgo1p) senses tension between sister chromatids during mitotic chromosome alignment. A regulatory region on histone. Mitotic fidelity is ensured by achieving biorientation on all paired chromosomes. The key signal for proper chromosome alignment is the tension between sister chromatids created by opposing poleward force from the spindles. In the budding yeast, the tension-sensing function requires that the Shugoshin protein, Shugoshin 1, be recruited to the centromeres and the neighboring pericentric regions. Concerted actions integrating proteins at centromeres and pericentromeres create highly specific Shugoshin 1 domains on mitotic chromosomes. We have previously reported that an important regulatory region on histone H3, termed the tension-sensing motif (TSM), is responsible for retaining Shugoshin 1 at pericentromeres. The TSM is negatively regulated by the acetyltransferase Gcn5p, but the underlying mechanism was elusive. In this work, we provide evidence that, when the TSM function is impaired, the histone H3 tail adopts a role that complements the damaged TSM to ensure faithful mitosis. This novel function of the H3 tail is controlled by Gcn5p, which targets selective lysine residues. Mutations to K14 and K23 ameliorate the mitotic defects resulting from TSM mutations. The restoration of faithful segregation is accompanied by regaining Shugoshin 1 access to the pericentric regions. Our data reveal a novel pathway for mitotic Shugoshin 1 recruitment and further reinforce the active role played by chromatins during their segregation in mitosis.
Study of tryptophan metabolism via serotonin in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with noncommunicating hydrocephalus using a new endoscopic technique

By a recent minimally invasive neuroendoscopic technique, the cerebral ventricles have been reached in a quick, reliable, and harmless way, making possible the study of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the lateral ventricles and, above all, the CSF adjacent to the walls of the third ventricle. Tryptophan, 5‐hydroxytryptophan, serotonin (5‐HT), and 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5‐HIAA) were measured in CSF by HPLC equipment. Twenty‐six patients affected with noncommunicating hydrocephalus were enrolled in the study and, as controls, 28 subjects not suffering from any neurological disease. The concentrations of tryptophan were higher in right ventricular CSF than in lumbar CSF (P < 0.01). 5‐HT was detectable in the CSF of the right ventricle of hydrocephalic patients. 5‐HIAA was higher in right ventricular CSF than in cisternal and lumbar CSF (P < 0.01), both in controls and in hydrocephalic patients. However, there was a higher concentration of 5‐HIAA in right ventricular (P < 0.05) and cisternal (P < 0.01) CSF in hydrocephalic patients in comparison with controls. In the CSF samples withdrawn during neuroendoscopy, 5‐HT presented the highest concentrations in the pineal recess. The highest amounts of 5‐HIAA were found in the choroid plexus, third and right ventricles, pituitary recess, and aqueduct, and the lowest in pineal recess, subarachnoid space, infundibulum, and interpeduncolar cistern. These results provide new insight into the fate of tryptophan and its metabolites via serotonin in the CSF and suggest the feasibility of the new neuroendoscopic technique for brain metabolic studies. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccines: Considerations for vaccination schedules and implications for developing countries

Prior to widespread vaccination, Haemophilus influenzae type b was a leading cause of severe childhood bacterial infection, including meningitis, worldwide. Over the last decade the world has taken great strides towards controlling Hib disease through routine use of conjugate vaccines in developed and developing countries. Currently there is no consensus on the appropriate schedule by which to use Hib vaccine. Vaccination schedules around the world vary greatly, particularly between high and low income countries. Questions remain as to the most effective and efficient schedule of primary doses, the need for a booster dose, and the implications of using combination vaccines. Here, we present a synthesis of data supporting various Hib vaccine schedules, with a focus on the implications for developing countries.
A play-based intervention for children with ADHD: a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION Many children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have serious social and peer difficulties that can lead to adverse outcomes in adolescence and adulthood. To date, psychosocial treatments have produced poor outcomes in reducing social impairments commonly associated with ADHD. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of a new intervention designed to improve the play and social skills of children with ADHD and their playmates within the natural context of play. METHODS Participants included children (aged 5-11 years) diagnosed with ADHD, age-matched typically developing playmates (n=14/group) and parents of children with ADHD. The intervention involved seven weekly video-recorded free-play sessions; video feed-forward/feedback and therapist- and peer-modelling were used to promote social play. The Test of Playfulness was used as a pre-/post-test measure. Data were subjected to Rasch analysis to calculate measure scores on interval level; dependant sample t-test and Cohen-d calculations were used to measure effect. RESULTS A dependant samples t-test revealed that both children with ADHD (t=8.1; d.f.=13; P<0.01) and their playmates (t=6.9; d.f.=13; P<0.01) improved in their social play. Results demonstrated a large effect in improving the social play of children with ADHD (d=1.5) and their playmates (d=1.3). DISCUSSION Results support the use of play, video feed-forward/feedback techniques, therapist- and peer-modelling and parent involvement as an effective means to develop the social play skills of children with ADHD. Further larger-scale research is required.
The Modified Dmax Method is Reliable to Predict the Second Ventilatory Threshold in Elite Cross-Country Skiers

Fabre, N, Balestreri, F, Pellegrini, B, and Schena, F. The modified Dmax method is reliable to predict the second ventilatory threshold in elite cross-country skiers. J Strength Cond Res 24(6): 1546-1552, 2010-This study was designed to evaluate, in elite cross-country skiers, the capacity of the DMAX lactate threshold method and its modified version (DMAX MOD) to accurately predict the second ventilatory threshold (VT2). Twenty-three elite cross-country skiers carried out an incremental roller-ski test on a motorized treadmill. Ventilation, heart rate (HR), and gas exchanges were continuously recorded during the test. Blood was sampled at the end of each 3-minute work stage for lactate concentration measurements. The VT2 was individually determined by visual analysis. The DMAX, DMAX MOD points also with the 4 mmol·L−1 fixed lactate concentration value (4 mM) were determined by a computerized program. Paired t tests showed nonsignificant differences between HR at VT2 and HR at DMAX MOD, between HR at VT2 and HR at 4 mM, and between HR at DMAX MOD and HR at 4 mM. HR at DMAX was significantly lower than HR at VT2, DMAX MOD, and at 4 mM (p < 0.001). HR at VT2 was strongly correlated with HR at 4 mM (r = 0.93, p < 0.001), HR at DMAX (r = 0.97, p < 0.001) and especially with HR at DMAX MOD (r = 0.99, p < 0.001). Bland-Altman plots showed that HR at DMAX underestimated HR at VT2 and permitted to observe that the DMAX method and particularly the DMAX MOD method had smaller limits of agreement as compared with the 4 mM method. Our results showed that the DMAX MOD lactate threshold measurement is extremely accurate to predict VT2 in elite cross-country skiers.
Sonographic size of uterus and ovaries in pre‐ and postmenopausal women

Uterine and ovarian size were measured in 765 pre‐ and postmenopausal women by transvaginal ultrasound. Of these, 263 (premenopausal, n = 155; postmenopausal, n = 108) were found to have neither uterine nor ovarian pathological findings. According to parity, premenopausal women were separated into three groups: nullipara, primipara and multipara. Postmenopausal women were separated into two groups according to years since menopause: ≤ 5 years and > 5 years since menopause.