Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Politics of Authoritarian Rule

1. Introduction: the anatomy of dictatorship 2. The world of authoritarian politics Part I. The Problem of Authoritarian Power-Sharing: 3. And then there was one! : Authoritarian power-sharing and the path to personal dictatorship 4. Institutions, collective action, and the success of authoritarian power-sharing Part II. The Problem of Authoritarian Control: 5. Moral hazard in authoritarian repression and the origins of military dictatorships 6. Why authoritarian parties? : The regime party as an instrument of co-optation and control 7. Conclusion: incentives and institutions in authoritarian politics.
Forward-time simulations of non-random mating populations using simuPOP

UNLABELLED Computer simulations play an important role in studies of non-random mating populations. Because of implementation difficulties, only very limited types of non-random mating schemes are provided in the currently available simulation programs. Starting with version 0.8. 5, simuPOP provides a few mating schemes that can be used to simulate arbitrary non-random mating models. This article describes the concepts and methods behind these mating schemes and demonstrates their uses in a few examples, including partial self-mating, positive assortative mating, non-random outbreeding, and simulation of overlapping generations in age-structured populations. AVAILABILITY simuPOP is freely available at http://simupop.sourceforge. net, distributed under a GPL license. Cited examples are in the doc/cookbook directory of a simuPOP distribution.
Decoupling Hypothesis and the Financial Crisis

The purpose of this paper was to present the decoupling hypothesis which says that the performance of emerging economies becomes relatively independent of the changes in advanced economies, and to empirically verify this hypothesis. The Christiano-Fitzgerald band- pass filter and spectral analyses have been applied to examine the hypothesis. On the basis of obtained results, comparing the deviations of GDPs from their long-term trend, it seems that the synchronization of cycles between emerging and advanced economies was already high before the crisis. The last global crisis, especially if time shifts between the countries are taken into account, even increased the synchronization of the economies. Therefore, this paper presents evidence against the decoupling hypothesis, and at the same time it raises doubts whether the high GDP growth rates in emerging economies can be sustainable in the presence of the slow-down in the advanced economies. The paper analyzes the situation from the Poland's point of view as the country which is on the verge of joining the ERM2 system and adopting the euro (synchronization divagations are important for this decision) and because Poland is a good example of an emerging economy.
Mobile visitors to the Eastern Frontier Pueblos: An archaeological example from Tabirá

Abstract For some time archaeologists have sought evidence of interactions noted in Spanish documents between mobile groups and the Eastern Frontier Pueblos specifically at the Salinas Pueblos. Most effort has focused on the examination and excavation of the pueblos themselves, either under the assumption that visitors routinely lived within the pueblos or because evidence of mobile visitors around and outside the pueblo has not been forthcoming. Surveys over the past decade have revealed evidence of mobile group encampments at the perimeter of these pueblos, consistent with mobile group signatures defined elsewhere in the region. One example described in this article, site LA 152447 is located near and within the influence zone of the pueblo inferred to be the historically referenced Tabirá. This site is a large mobile group encampment with numerous structures. Site LA 152447 is described and discussed with reference to documentary and ethnographic data. Implications for recognizing these types of mobile group sites are discussed.
Characterizing Regulatory and Functional Differentiation between Maize Mesophyll and Bundle Sheath Cells by Transcriptomic Analysis1[W][OA]

To study the regulatory and functional differentiation between the mesophyll (M) and bundle sheath (BS) cells of maize (Zea mays), we isolated large quantities of highly homogeneous M and BS cells from newly matured second leaves for transcriptome profiling by RNA sequencing. A total of 52,421 annotated genes with at least one read were found in the two transcriptomes. Defining a gene with more than one read per kilobase per million mapped reads as expressed, we identified 18,482 expressed genes; 14,972 were expressed in M cells, including 53 M-enriched transcription factor (TF) genes, whereas 17,269 were expressed in BS cells, including 214 BS-enriched TF genes. Interestingly, many TF gene families show a conspicuous BS preference in expression. Pathway analyses reveal differentiation between the two cell types in various functional categories, with the M cells playing more important roles in light reaction, protein synthesis and folding, tetrapyrrole synthesis, and RNA binding, while the BS cells specialize in transport, signaling, protein degradation and posttranslational modification, major carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen metabolism, cell division and organization, and development. Genes coding for several transporters involved in the shuttle of C4 metabolites and BS cell wall development have been identified, to our knowledge, for the first time. This comprehensive data set will be useful for studying M/BS differentiation in regulation and function.
Opioid peptides and opioid receptors in cells of the immune system.

I Abbreviations used: ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone; ADCC, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity; Bma . total number of binding sites; BREM, bremazocine, an agonist with modest selectivity for K sites; CCK, cholecystokinin; ConA, concanavalin A; DADLE, [D-Ala2,D-LeuS]enkephalin, an agonist somewhat selective for /j �ites; DEX, dextrorphan, inert enantiomer of LEV; DHM, dihydromorphine, a Jl-selective agonist; DIP, dipre­ norphine, a relatively nonselective antagonist; DYN, dynorphin, a peptide product of the dynorphin gene, selective for K sites; EKC, ethylketazocine, a benzomorphan agonist with modest selectivity for K sites; END, endorphin; a peptide product of the pro-opio­ melanocortin gene; <Xand y-endorphin are fragments of fJ-endorphin; fJ-endorphin is selective for e sites; ETO, etorphine, a relatively nonselective agonist; fMLP, formyl-methio­ nyl-leucinyl-phenylalanine; granulo, granulocyte(s); h, human; ICso, concentration of a com­ peting ligand that reduces specific binding of radioligand by 50%; icv, intracerebro­ ventricular; IFN, interferon; ir-, immunoreactive; Kd, K;, equilibrium dissociation con­ stants, determined by binding isotherm or by competition, respectively; LENK, [Leu]en­ kephalin, a minor product of the pro-enkephalin gene, an agonist somewhat selective for {) sites; leuko, leukocyte(s); LEV, levorphanol, a Jl-selective agonist; Iympho, Iymphocyte(s); m, mouse; M.p, macrophage(s); MENK, [Met]enkephalin, major product of the pro-enkephalin gene, a /j-selective agonist; MNC, mononuclear cell(s); mono, monocyte(s); MOR, morphine, a Jl-selective agonist; NA, not applicable; NAL, naloxone, a moderately jl-selective antag­ onist; NK, natural killer; NR, not reported; NTX, naltrexone, a long-lasting Jl-selective antagonist closely related to naloxone; PBL, peripheral blood Iymphocyte(s); PBMNC, peripheral blood mononuclear cell(s); PHA, phytohemagglutinin; PMNL, polymorpho­ nuclear leukocyte(s); r, rat; RIA, radioimmunoassay; spleno, splenocyte; SRBC, sheep red blood cells; VIP, vasoactive intestinal peptide.
Lactational amenorrhea for family planning.

BACKGROUND 50 % of pregnancies are unwanted. For several reasons including difficulty in obtaining contraceptives, no or ineffective contraception is used to prevent these unwanted pregnancies. The Lactational Amenorrhoea Method(LAM) however is a contraceptive method available and accessible for many women. OBJECTIVES To assess in fully breastfeeding women, staying amenorrheic, the efficacy of the Lactational Amenorrhoea Method as a contraceptive method. The efficacy of LAM, as defined in 1988 in Bellagio, was compared with alternative definitions of LAM; the outcomes were measured using pregnancy and menstruation life tables. SEARCH STRATEGY DATA SOURCES MEDLINE searches from 1966 until 2002 and EMBASE from 1988 until 2002; reference lists of studies and review articles; books related to LAM; published abstracts from breastfeeding, reproductive health, contraceptive conferences; and e-mail communication with coordinators of such studies. SELECTION CRITERIA From 454 potentially relevant studies 154 investigated the risk of pregnancy during LAM or lactational amenorrhea. Two reviewers applied the following inclusion criteria: prospective study, cases and -if available- controls had to be sexually active, pregnancy had to be confirmed by physical examination or a pregnancy test. Life table menstruation rates and life table pregnancy rates were taken as endpoints. Thirteen publications, reporting on 9 intervention groups and 2 control groups, met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. Their quality was assessed. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two reviewers independently extracted data, disagreements were resolved through discussion. Because of the heterogeneity of the included studies, the studies were analyzed using narrative methods. MAIN RESULTS For the outcome two controlled studies of LAM users reported life table pregnancy rates at 6 months of 0.45 and 2.45 percent and 5 uncontrolled studies of LAM users reported 0-7.5 percent. Life table pregnancy rates of women fully breastfeeding and amenorrheic but not using any contraceptive method were 0.88 in one study and 0.9-1.2 percent (95% CI 0. 0-2.4 ) in a second study, depending on the definition of menstruation used. The life table menstruation rate at 6 months in all studies varied between 11.1-39.4 percent. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS No clear difference in life table pregnancy rates was found between women using LAM and supported in doing so, and fully breastfeeding, amenorroic women not using any method. Because the length of lactation amenorrhoea of women using LAM is too different between populations studied, and population specific, it is uncertain whether LAM extends lactational amenorrhoea.
Medical Students' Personal Knowledge, Searching Proficiency, and Database Use in Problem Solving

The relationship between personal knowledge in a domain and searching proficiency in that domain, and the relationship between searching proficiency and database‐assisted problem‐solving performance were the foci of this study. On four assessment occasions over a 2‐year period, 36 medical students solved problems in three biomedical domains (bacteriology, pharmacology, and toxicology) with and without assistance from a factual database in the relevant domain. There was little evidence of any relationship between personal domain knowledge and searching proficiency (i.e., search results, selection of search terms, improvement in selection of search terms over the course of the search, and efficiency). Search results, selection of search terms, and efficiency were found to be related to database‐assisted problem‐solving performance. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Microbial influences on epithelial integrity and immune function as a basis for inflammatory diseases

Summary: Certain autoimmune diseases as well as asthma have increased in recent decades, particularly in developed countries. The hygiene hypothesis has been the prevailing model to account for this increase; however, epidemiology studies also support the contribution of diet and obesity to inflammatory diseases. Diet affects the composition of the gut microbiota, and recent studies have identified various molecules and mechanisms that connect diet, the gut microbiota, and immune responses. Herein, we discuss the effects of microbial metabolites, such as short chain fatty acids, on epithelial integrity as well as immune cell function. We propose that dysbiosis contributes to compromised epithelial integrity and disrupted immune tolerance. In addition, dietary molecules affect the function of immune cells directly, particularly through lipid G‐protein coupled receptors such as GPR43.
In Vivo radioprotective effect of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer and identification of active ginsenosides

This study evaluated the effect of water extracts of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (PG), panaxadiol (PD), panaxatriol (PT), ginsenoside Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re and Rg1 on jejunal crypt survival, endogenous spleen colony formation and apoptosis in jejunal crypt cells in gamma‐irradiated mice. Jejunal crypts were protected by pretreatment with PG, Rc and Rd. Administration of PG, PD, Rd and Re prior to irradiation resulted in an increase in the formation of endogenous spleen colonies. The frequency of radiation‐induced apoptosis in intestinal crypt cells was also reduced by pretreatment with PG, PD, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re and Rg1. In experiments on the effects of the individual ginsenosides, the rank order of activity was Rc > Rd > Rg1 > Rb2 > Re > Rb1 on intestinal crypt survival assay, Re > Rb2 > Rd > Rg1 > Rb1 > Rc on the spleen colony formation assay, and Rg1 > Re > Rd > Rc > Rb2 > Rb1 on inhibiting the death of cells caused by apoptosis. The results indicated that Rc, Rd and Re may have a major radioprotective effect in mice irradiated with high and low doses of radiation. When the same experiments were performed using PD and PT, it was observed that most of the inhibitory effects came from PD rather than PT. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mycotoxins in breakfast cereals from the Canadian retail market: A 3-year survey

One hundred and fifty-six samples of breakfast cereals were collected from the Canadian retail marketplace over a 3-year period. The samples were analysed for the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, HT-2 toxin, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, and fumonisins B1 and B2 to contribute to dietary exposure estimates in support of the development of Canadian guidelines for selected mycotoxins in foods. The samples included corn-, oat-, wheat- and rice-based cereals, as well as mixed-grain cereals, and were primarily from North American processors. Overall, deoxynivalenol was the most frequently detected mycotoxin — it was detected in over 40% of all samples analysed. Fumonisins and ochratoxin A were each detected in over 30% of all samples. Zearalenone was detected in over 20% of all samples. Nivalenol and HT-2 toxin were each detected in only one sample. The survey clearly demonstrated regular occurrence of low levels of multiple mycotoxins in breakfast cereals on the Canadian market.
Secretion of matrix metalloproteinase‐9 by the proinflammatory cytokine, IL‐1β: a role for the dual signalling pathways, Akt and Erk

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases including MMP‐9 mediate matrix destruction during chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and atherosclerosis. MMP‐9 up‐regulation by inflammatory cytokines involve interactions between several transcription factors including activator protein‐1 and NFκB. The upstream regulatory pathways are less well understood.
Intervention to promote appropriate blood use in India

Summary The decision to transfuse should be guided by information on the risks and benefits of transfusion. Safer alternatives should be considered. Properly screened blood or components from a reputable source should be used. In this study, a simple, self‐educating transfusion request form was developed, and its effects on transfusion practice were assessed, using a cluster‐randomized trial. Transfusions at six study hospitals and six control hospitals at four locations in India (Delhi, Bangalore, Nasik and Imphal) were monitored over a 4‐month pre‐intervention period and a 5‐month post‐intervention period. During the trial, 56 171 units were transfused to in‐patients at the participating hospitals. Among the six intervention hospitals, there was some evidence of a nonsignificant post‐intervention reduction in all the three main outcome measures: number of transfusion requests per admission (P = 0·09), number of units transfused per admission (P = 0·11) and number of crossmatches per admission (P = 0·06). No such changes were seen at control sites over the same period.
'Closure' and the urban Great Rebuilding in early modern Norwich

Abstract Urban buildings have been largely ignored in the debate over the 'Great Rebuilding' of vernacular houses in 16th- and 17th-century England and in Matthew Johnson's influential thesis of 'closure'. This paper reviews the extensive archaeological evidence (from both standing buildings and excavations) for houses in post-medieval Norwich, focusing on the dwellings of the prosperous 'middling sort'. Norwich experienced a significant period of housing development between the late 15th and mid-16th centuries, with rebuilding continuing through the later 16th and 17th centuries. Accordingly, the concept of 'closure' must be adapted to incorporate the distinctive character and chronology of urban buildings.
Mapping CD55 Function

Decay-accelerating factor (CD55), a regulator of the alternative and classical pathways of complement activation, is expressed on all serum-exposed cells. It is used by pathogens, including many enteroviruses and uropathogenicEscherichia coli, as a receptor prior to infection. We describe the x-ray structure of a pathogen-binding fragment of human CD55 at 1.7 Å resolution containing two of the three domains required for regulation of human complement. We have used mutagenesis to map biological functions onto the molecule; decay-accelerating activity maps to a single face of the molecule, whereas bacterial and viral pathogens recognize a variety of different sites on CD55.
Time course of frontal somatosensory evoked potentials. Relation to L-dopa plasma levels and motor performance in PD.

OBJECTIVE To verify whether the change in L-dopa plasma levels after a single dose of carbidopa/L-dopa 50/200 (controlled-release) transiently modifies frontal components of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) in patients with PD in parallel with improvement of motor performance. BACKGROUND Apomorphine, a potent dopamine-agonist drug, transiently increases frontal SEP components, which may be depressed in PD; however, relationships between clinical status, frontal SEPs, and therapy are still unclear. METHODS Nineteen PD patients (mean age 65.9 years, range 52 to 77, responders to L-dopa therapy, were studied in the same day at times T0 (baseline predose level), T1 (presumed L-dopa peak time), and T2 (end of dose-induced motor response). The following were monitored: L-dopa plasma concentration, tapping test, reaction times, peak latency (with central conduction times), and amplitude of cervical, subcortical, as well as cortical parietal and frontal SEP components elicited by median nerve stimulation of the more clinically affected arm. RESULTS The average amplitude of frontal components of PD patients was significantly reduced at T0 with respect to control subjects. A significant and transient amplitude increase of frontal SEPs was found at T1, in parallel with the L-dopa peak concentration and improvement in motor performance (tapping and reaction times), without significant changes in amplitude of parietal SEP waves. No latency shifts were observed in brain and spinal waves. CONCLUSIONS L-Dopa may influence the responsiveness of the parkinsonian brain as assessed by frontal somatosensory evoked potentials. The time course of these modifications coincides with that of the clinical response in the motor performance.
Ropivacaine and dexamethasone: a potentially dangerous combination for therapeutic pain injections

Targeted spinal steroid injections are effective in reducing back pain in selected patient populations and carry a small risk of significant adverse neurological outcomes. Recent recommendations are for the use of non‐particulate steroid agents for all spinal injections to reduce the risk of neurovascular embolic adverse events. Many injections have used a combination of local anaesthetic agent with the steroid. At our institutions, we have recently observed interactions between ropivacaine and dexamethasone combinations ascribed to the incompatibility of the former with alkaline solutions, resulting in rapid crystallisation. This study has further investigated the combinations of commonly used local anaesthetic and steroid combinations to determine if such precipitation effects are more widespread.
Functional Characterization of Escherichia coli GlpG and Additional Rhomboid Proteins Using an aarA Mutant of Providencia stuartii

ABSTRACT The Providencia stuartii AarA protein is a member of the rhomboid family of intramembrane serine proteases and required for the production of an extracellular signaling molecule that regulates cellular functions including peptidoglycan acetylation, methionine transport, and cysteine biosynthesis. Additional aarA-dependent phenotypes include (i) loss of an extracellular yellow pigment, (ii) inability to grow on MacConkey agar, and (iii) abnormal cell division. Since these phenotypes are easily assayed, the P. stuartii aarA mutant serves as a useful host system to investigate rhomboid function. The Escherichia coli GlpG protein was shown to be functionally similar to AarA and rescued the above aarA-dependent phenotypes in P. stuartii. GlpG proteins containing single alanine substitutions at the highly conserved catalytic triad of asparagine (N154A), serine (S201A), or histidine (H254A) residues were nonfunctional. The P. stuartii aarA mutant was also used as a biosensor to demonstrate that proteins from a variety of diverse sources exhibited rhomboid activity. In an effort to further investigate the role of a rhomboid protein in cell physiology, a glpG mutant of E. coli was constructed. In phenotype microarray experiments, the glpG mutant exhibited a slight increase in resistance to the β-lactam antibiotic cefotaxime.
Calcium intake and its relationship with adiposity and insulin resistance in post-pubertal adolescents.

BACKGROUND Dietary calcium intake has been described as being a negative contributor to adiposity. In adolescents, this relationship is not well established. The objectives of the present study were to compare the calcium intake of normal-weight and obese adolescents and to evaluate its relationship with adiposity and insulin resistance. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis of 96 post-pubertal adolescents; 47 normal weight and 49 obese, mean age 16.6 (SD +/- 1.3) years. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Dietary intake was evaluated using a 3-day dietary record. The biochemical evaluation comprised the measurements of serum lipids, lipoproteins, glucose and insulin. Insulin resistance was calculated using the Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). RESULTS The mean calcium intake, adjusted for energy, was lower in obese adolescents, 585.2 (+/-249.9) mg, than in normal weight adolescents, 692.1 (+/-199.5) mg. Only 4% of adolescents had an adequate intake of calcium. Calcium intake was inversely associated with body trunk fat, insulin and HOMA-IR in the obese group. The quartile analysis of calcium intake provided evidence that girls in the highest quartile had decreased adiposity and insulin resistance. CONCLUSIONS This study showed a negative relationship between calcium intake and body fat and insulin resistance, mainly in obese girls, and demonstrates the importance of an increased dietary calcium intake.