Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous Pancreatitis in Genetically Modified Animal Strains

Dysregulation of multiple signaling pathways in the pancreas is proposed to be involved the initiation of pancreatitis. Genetic manipulation in experimental animals has been used to understand the critical roles of these pathways during the pathogenesis of pancreatitis. In general, the genetic approaches that specifically target these specific molecules are superior to pharmacological methods. Additionally, genetic modification of the initiator genes observed in human pancreatitis can help create clinically relevant animal models. These models will be valuable for studying the mechanisms of pancreatitis and testing preclinical therapeutic and preventive interventions. In this review, we will focus on the impact of trypsin, NF-B, ER stress, Ras, autophagy, Cox-2 and several others on pancreatitis. We will also discuss efforts to create animal models for human hereditary pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, and autoimmune pancreatitis.
Evaluation of Studentsâ€™ Achievement in Mathematics through Systematic and Explicit Instruction, Self-Instruction, Peer-Tutoring and Visual Representation

The study evaluated studentsâ€™ achievement in mathematics using four methods of instruction. Sample of the study was 130 Junior Secondary School students from 4 schools in Taraba State, Nigeria. Quasi-experimental design was adopted. Data was generated using Terminal Mathematics Achievement Tests whose reliability indices were computed using Kuderâ€“Richardson (KR â€“ 20) formula. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research question while one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to explore the impact of the instructional strategies at . 05 level of significance. Finding revealed no significant difference in the mean achievement scores of students exposed to the four instructional strategies. The study recommended that classroom teachers implement any of these instructional methods in their daily classroom instruction.
Gamma-Tocotrienol Stimulates the Proliferation, Differentiation, and Mineralization in Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 Cells

Gamma-tocotrienol, a major component of tocotrienol-rich fraction of palm oil, has been suggested to exhibit bone protective effects in vivo. However, the effects of γ-tocotrienol on osteoblast cells are still unclear. In this study, the effects of γ-tocotrienol on the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were investigated. Our results showed that γ-tocotrienol (2–8 μmol/L) significantly improved the cell proliferation ( ), but it did not affect cell cycle progression. γ-Tocotrienol significantly increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity ( ), secretion levels of osteocalcin (OC) and osteonectin (ON), and mRNA levels of collagen type I (Col I) of MC3T3-E1 cells. Meanwhile, we found that γ-tocotrienol is promoted in differentiation MC3T3-E1 cells by upregulation of the expression of Runx2 protein. Moreover, the number of bone nodules increased over 2.5-fold in cells treated with γ-tocotrienol (2–8 μmol/L) for 24 d compared to control group. These results indicated that γ-tocotrienol at low dose levels, especially 4 μmol/L, could markedly enhance the osteoblastic function by increasing the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. Moreover, our data also indicated that Runx2 protein may be involved in these effects. Further studies are needed to determine the potential of γ-tocotrienol as an antiosteoporotic agent.
Fine structure of the Mackey machine for actions of abelian groups with constant Mackey obstruction.

Let G be a locally compact group, ω G Z(G,T) a (measurable) multiplier on G, and denote by C*(G,ω) the twisted group G*-algebra of G defined by ω. We are only interested in multipliers up to equivalence, so we always tacitly assume that one is free to vary a multiplier within its cohomology class in iί(G,T). In this paper we are basically concerned with the following two problems: the first is to determine the structure of C*(G,ω), where ω is a type I multiplier on the locally compact abelian group G, and the second is to describe the crossed product A >\a G of a continuous-trace G*-algebra A by an action of an abelian group G, such that the corresponding action of G on A has constant stabilizer iV, and the Mackey obstruction to extending an irreducible representation p of A to a covariant representation (p,U) of (A,N,α/v) is equal to a constant multiplier ω € H(N,T) for all p E A. The second of these problems is the obvious starting point for the study of the "fine structure of the Mackey machine", for actions of abelian groups on continuous-trace algebras with "continuously varying" stabilizers and Mackey obstructions.
Deep CO(1–0) Observations of z = 1.62 Cluster Galaxies with Substantial Molecular Gas Reservoirs and Normal Star Formation Efficiencies

We present an extremely deep CO(1–0) observation of a confirmed z = 1.62 galaxy cluster. We detect two spectroscopically confirmed cluster members in CO(1–0) with signal-to-noise ratio . Both galaxies have log( / ) > 11 and are gas rich, with /( + ) ∼ 0.17–0.45. One of these galaxies lies on the star formation rate (SFR)– sequence, while the other lies an order of magnitude below. We compare the cluster galaxies to other SFR-selected galaxies with CO measurements and find that they have CO luminosities consistent with expectations given their infrared luminosities. We also find that they have gas fractions and star formation efficiencies (SFE) comparable to what is expected from published field galaxy scaling relations. The galaxies are compact in their stellar light distribution, at the extreme end for all high-redshift star-forming galaxies. However, their SFE is consistent with other field galaxies at comparable compactness. This is similar to two other sources selected in a blind CO survey of the HDF-N. Despite living in a highly quenched protocluster core, the molecular gas properties of these two galaxies, one of which may be in the process of quenching, appear entirely consistent with field scaling relations between the molecular gas content, stellar mass, star formation rate, and redshift. We speculate that these cluster galaxies cannot have any further substantive gas accretion if they are to become members of the dominant passive population in clusters.
Effects of Cambial Age and Stem Height on Wood Density and Growth of Jack Pine Grown in Boreal Stands

Jack pine specimens were examined for longitudinal and radial variations in selected wood quality parameters. Wood density and ring width of cross-sections were measured systematically from pith to bark along the merchantable stem using X-ray densitometry. Effects of cambial age and stem height were analyzed using a linear mixed model with two levels of nesting. A strong interaction between the two factors was found in corewood. Tree individual variation increased with cambial age for all studied wood properties and was larger in earlywood than in latewood. Radial patterns in the studied parameters closely approximated published ones in the lower stem but lessened considerably with in- creasing stem height. By contrast, longitudinal patterns reversed with cambial age in earlywood. High coordination was found between longitudinal patterns in corewood and radial patterns in the stem base, indicating a similar maturation pattern in the apical meristem and cambia. However, with increasing cambial age, this high coordination disappeared rapidly.
Effects of sucrose, formic acid and lactic acid bacteria inoculant on quality, in vitro rumen digestibility and fermentability of drooping wild ryegrass ( Elymus nutans Griseb.) silage

Drooping wild ryegrass (Elymus nutans Griseb.), an important alpine forage grass, is a perennial, caespitose and self-pollinating species in the genus Elymus L. (Poaceae: Triticeae). It is native to temperate and tropical Asia – from western and central Asia in the west to China and Mongolia in the east, from Russia in the north to India and the Himalayas area in the south (Chen et al., 2009). It grows in grassland, along river banks, among bushes, on mountain slopes and in swales, at altitudes from 1000 m up to 5000 m (Lu, 1993). In China, it is distributed in north, northwest and southwest part of the country, particularly on Qinghai Tibet Plateau (Miao et al., 2011). Drooping wild ryegrass is the valuable forage grass in the alpine regions due to its high adaptability, good tolerance to cold, drought ABSTRACT. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of sucrose, formic acid and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) inoculant on chemical composition and in vitro rumen digestibility of drooping wild ryegrass (Elymus nutans Griseb.) silage. Fresh drooping wild ryegrass was harvested at boot stage and ensiled with: 1. control (untreated), 2. 20 g · kg−1 sucrose (S), 3. 3 g · kg−1 formic acid (FA) and 4. 0.005 g · kg−1 commercial LAB inoculant (LP). The addition of all three additives increased the Flieg point, and decreased pH and butyric acid content (P < 0.05). There was lower ammonia N content in silages treated with S and FA. On the other hand, LP addition elevated lactic acid content with simultaneous increase of the lactic to acetic acid ratio (P < 0.001). The silages were further anaerobically incubated at 39 °C for 48 h with buffered rumen fluid of lactating cows. All three additives increased volatile fatty acid production (P = 0.008). Addition of LP increased average gas production rate and ammonia N content (P < 0.001). In brief, well fermented drooping wild ryegrass silages were obtained by adding LP or S in comparison to FA. LP can be recommended as a silage additive for preparing well fermented silage, and FA could be applied as a regulator additive to control the level of lactic acid produced during drooping wild ryegrass ensiling. Received: 15 May 2015 Revised: 7 November 2016 Accepted: 22 February 2017
Investigating Predictive Role of 2x2 Achievement Goal Orientations on Math Attitudes with Structural Equation Modeling

The purpose of this research is to examine the relationships between 2x2 achievement goal orientations and math attitudes with structural equation modeling. Participants were 517 university students. The 2X2 Achievement Goal Orientations Scale and Mathematics Attitudes Scale were used as measures. Results from structural equation model showed that negative attitudes were predicted positively by learning-avoidance and performance-approach/avoidance goal orientations. Further positive attitudes were predicted positively by learning-approach/avoidance goal orientations and negatively by performance-approach/avoidance goal orientations. The results were discussed in the light of the related literature and dependent recommendations to the area were given.
The low-mass end of the baryonic Tully-Fisher relation

The scaling of disc galaxy rotation velocity with baryonic mass (the ‘baryonic Tully–Fisher’ relation, BTF) has long confounded galaxy formation models. It is steeper than the M ∝ V3 scaling relating halo virial masses and circular velocities and its zero-point implies that galaxies comprise a very small fraction of available baryons. Such low galaxy formation efficiencies may, in principle, be explained by winds driven by evolving stars, but the tightness of the BTF relation argues against the substantial scatter expected from such a vigorous feedback mechanism. We use the APOSTLE/EAGLE simulations to show that the BTF relation is well reproduced in _cold dark matter (CDM) simulations that match the size and number of galaxies as a function of stellarmass. In such models, galaxy rotation velocities are proportional to halo virial velocity and the steep velocity-mass dependence results from the decline in galaxy formation efficiency with decreasing halo mass needed to reconcile the CDM halo mass function with the galaxy luminosity function. The scatter in the simulated BTF is smaller than observed, even when considering all simulated galaxies and not just rotationally supported ones. The simulations predict that the BTF should become increasingly steep at the faint end, although the velocity scatter at fixed mass should remain small. Observed galaxies with rotation speeds below ∼40 km s−1 seem to deviate from this prediction. We discuss observational biases and modelling uncertainties that may help to explain this disagreement in the context of _CDM models of dwarf galaxy formation.
Competition between a native mussel and a non-indigenous invader for primary space on intertidal rocky shores in Chile.

Non-indigenous marine species have significant effects on rocky intertidal native biota and ecological processes. The tunicate Pyura praeputialis, a recent invader in the Bay of Antofagasta, Chile, has monopolized the low and mid-low rocky intertidal fringe and apparently constrained the native mussel Perumytilus purpuratus to the mid-upper fringe. We performed field experiments to determine interspecific competitive strengths and quantify survival and growth rates between these species at 2 intertidal heights: mid-low and mid-upper intertidal fringes. Our results showed that at the mid-low fringe P. praeputialis had greater competitive strength than P. purpuratus. In fact, the survival and growth rates of P. praeputialis were not significantly affected by the presence of P. pur- puratus. Further, while the survival of P. purpuratus was not significantly affected by the presence of P. praeputialis, its growth rate was affected by the degree of encroachment by the tunicate. Mussels encroached by P. praeputialis grew significantly less than non-encroached ones. At the mid-upper intertidal fringe, the survival of P. praeputialis was significantly decreased by the presence of P. pur- puratus: the tunicate is unable to grow at this intertidal fringe. At the low-intertidal fringe mussel growth rates were significantly greater than at the mid-upper fringe, while survival rates were simi- lar. Our results support the hypothesis that in the Bay of Antofagasta the invading tunicate P. praeputialis is responsible for a major rocky intertidal ecological impact, outcompeting the native mussel from the mid-low fringe and thereby substantially modifying the zonation pattern.
In vitro transformation of pearl millet ( Pennisetum glaucum (L). R. BR.): Selection of chlorsulfuron-resistant plants and long term expression of the gus gene under the control of the emu promoter

The plasmids pULGU1 and pEmuGN were introduced by biolistics in embryogenic cell suspensions of pearl millet, Pennisetum glaucum . The plasmid pULGU1 contained the mutant acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene of Arabidopsis thaliana , responsible for resistance to the chlorsulfuron herbicide. The plasmid pEmuGN carried the reporter β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene of Escherichia coli . Two months after bombardment of the cells, transformed calli were selected on Murashige and Skoog medium containing 30 nM chlorsulfruron, a completely concentration inhibitory for non-transformed cells. A concentration of 200 nM chlorsufuron did not affect the growth of these selected resistant calli. Genomic DNA of resistant cells presented an electrophoretic pattern revealing the integration of the mutant ALS gene into the genome of Pennisetum glaucum . Expression of the GUS reporter gene was revealed by histochemical assay of the blue coloration of the calli in the presence of the substrate Xgluc (5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-D-Glucuronic acid). The presence of GUS gene was furthermore confirmed, by southern blot hybridization of non-radioactive probes, labelled with digoxigenin, on genomic DNA extracted from selected chlorsulfuron-resistant calli. GUS gene activity observed in all selected calli was high during the first 6 months after bombardment and then decreased. Pearl millet plants were regenerated from cell lines derived from chlorsulfuron resistant calli. Southern blot hybridization of non-radioactive probes with genomic DNA extracted from these regenerated plants showed the presence of the GUS and ALS transgenes, confirming the stable transformation of these plants. Key words : Pennisetum glaucum , stable transformation, chlorsulfuron (ALS), β-glucuronidase (GUS), CaMV35S and Emu promoters.
Winter Time-Activity Budgets of Diving Ducks on Eastern Texas Reservoirs

Abstract. Wintering diving duck (Aythya spp.) time-activity budgets have been developed for many species in different regions. As such, direct comparisons can be made among studies where substantial deviations in “normal” activity budgets can provide insight as to how location, food resources, habitat, weather and human disturbance may differentially influence behavior (s) during winter. To examine how diving ducks use large reservoirs in eastern Texas, 1,275 individual time-activity budgets were quantified for Canvasback (Aythya valisineria), Lesser Scaup (A. affinis) and Ring-necked Duck (A. collaris) wintering on B.A. Steinhagen, Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend Reservoirs during winter 2003/2004 and 2004/2005. Behaviors varied among species (P< 0.001), where food acquisition, locomotion and resting-related behaviors dominated time-activity budgets. All three species spent similar time feeding compared to other studies in the southeastern United States, but spent substantially more time locomoting than previously reported. Human disturbances from boat traffic were associated with time spent locomoting, but no species dramatically increased time feeding to compensate for increased time locomoting. Wintering diving duck activity budgets on these large eastern Texas reservoirs were generally similar to previous studies in the southeast. However, the (in) direct impacts of boat disturbances warrants closer investigation, specifically related to wintering waterfowl responses and the potential utility or value of voluntary avoidance areas during winter.
The Dynamics of Competition in the Internet Search Engine Market

:Search engines hold the key to helping consumers access the wealth of information on the web. In this paper I examine the evolution of and competition in the internet search engine market. The goal of my analysis is to examine whether early entrants benefit in the long-run from their first-mover position in internet markets. I find that while early entrants (Yahoo, Lycos, Excite, Infoseek, and Altavista) still have an advantage, the pure "brand effect" advantage has been declining over time. Yahoo has maintained its leadership position by providing a superior product. The success of a wave of recent new entrants suggests that entry barriers are still quite low in the internet search engine market. Abstract Search engines hold the key to helping consumers access the wealth of information on the web. In this paper I examine the evolution of and competition in the internet search engine market. The goal of my analysis is to examine whether early entrants bene(cid:12)t in the long-run from their (cid:12)rst-mover position in internet markets. I (cid:12)nd that while early entrants (Yahoo, Lycos, Excite, Infoseek, and Altavista) still have an advantage, the pure \brand e(cid:11)ect" advantage has been declining over time. Yahoo has maintained its leadership position by providing a superior product. The success of a wave of recent new entrants suggests that entry barriers are still quite low in the internet search engine market. I am grateful to Paul Geroski, Shane Greenstein, Jose Mata for many helpful suggestions and comments.
The effects of perceived organizational support and social comparison on work attitudes

This study is based on the results of a survey research conducted by JobStreet Indonesia on its members, which has surprisingly found that more than 70% of employees lack clarity on the goals of their career. Drawing from the social exchange theory, employees tend to show positive work attitudes when they perceive that their organization paid attention to them. The objective of this study is to assess how significant the influence of Perceived Organizational Support (POS) is on career satisfaction, organi- zational commitment, and turnover intention. Besides organizational perspective, as stated by the social comparison theory, the way individuals perform both upward and downward comparisons could be expected to affect career satisfaction. Also, this research uses career commitment as a moderator variable that can strengthen or weaken the influence among variables, which is the employee’s commitment towards their organization and competitiveness within their respective work group. The research has found some interesting results. It was shown that there is no significant relationship between POS and career satisfaction, career satisfaction and turnover intention, organizational support and turnover intention, and both upward and downward social comparison and turnover intention. The moderating effects of career commitment were not proven. In comparison, all of the moderating effects of a competitive work group were proven together with the relationship between upward social comparison and turnover intention.
Service quality in a higher education context: an integrated model

Purpose – The aim of this study is to develop and empirically test an integrated model incorporating the antecedents and consequences of service quality in a higher education context.Design/methodology/approach – This research employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The data from three focus groups, conducted at the Central Queensland University (CQU), Rockhampton, Australia, generated key themes and their interrelationships. The theoretical model was then tested using structural equation modelling technique on a sample of 528 university students.Findings – The findings show that information (marketing communications) is more statistically significant than past experience as the antecedents of service quality. The consequences of service quality are composed of trust, satisfaction, and image. Overall, the results suggest a good validity of the theoretical model and the key paths in the model are found statistically significant, except past experience affecting service quality.Original.