Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) and Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-ƒÈB) in the Mouse Cochlea

Localization of iNOS and NF-iB in the cochlear tissues of ddy-strain mice was studied immunohistochemically with reference to ageing. Severe structural disorders with a decrease in the number of cells were found, especially in the organ of Corti and in the spiral ganglion of older mice. Throughout all age-spans studied, iNOS-like immunoreactivity was found in the cells of Hensen, Claudius and the outer spiral sulcus epithelium, and it increased dramatically with age. A very small number of cells in the stroma of the spiral ligament and spiral limbus of younger mice up to 12 months of age showed weak iNOS immunoreactivity, while the spiral gan-
Article - postprint

The ability of Sphagnum moss to efficiently intercept atmospheric nitrogen (N) has 18 been assumed to be vulnerable to increased N deposition. However, the proposed 19 critical load (20 kg N ha -1 yr -1 ) to exceed the capacity of the Sphagnum N filter has not 20 been confirmed. A long-term (11 years) and realistic N manipulation on Whim bog was 21 used to study the N filter function of Sphagnum ( S. capillifolium ) in response to 22 increased wet N deposition. On this ombrotrophic peatland where ambient deposition 23 was 8 kg N ha -1 yr -1 , an additional 8, 24, and 56 kg N ha -1 yr -1 of either ammonium 24 (NH 4+ ) or nitrate (NO 3- ) has been applied for 11 years. Nutrient status of Sphagnum and 25 pore water quality from the Sphagnum layer were assessed. The N filter function of 26 Sphagnum was still active up to 32 kg N ha -1 yr -1 even after 11 years. N saturation of 27 Sphagnum and subsequent increases in dissolved inorganic N (DIN) concentration in 28 pore water occurred only for 56 kg N ha -1 yr -1 of NH 4 + addition. These results indicate 29 that the Sphagnum N filter is more resilient to wet N deposition than previously inferred. 30 However, functionality will be more compromised when NH 4+ dominates wet 31 deposition for high inputs (56 kg N ha -1 yr -1 ). The N filter function in response to NO 3- 32 uptake increased the concentration of dissolved organic N (DON) and associated 33 organic anions in pore water. NH 4+ uptake increased the concentration of base cations 34 and hydrogen ions in pore water though ion exchange. The resilience of the Sphagnum 35 N filter can explain the reported small magnitude of species change in the Whim bog 36 ecosystem exposed to wet N deposition. However, changes in the leaching substances, 37 arising from the assimilation of NO 3- and NH 4+ , may lead to species change.
Misclassi fi ed Regressors in Binary Choice Models ∗

This paper examines the effect of mismeasured discrete regressors in binary choice models. I examine plausible scenarios for the nature of the measurement error and discuss identifiability and estimation under various sets of semiparametric assumptions. Under a minimal set of assumptions, the model is only partially identified and I derive bounds for some of the parameters of interest. If the probability of misclassification is conditionally independent of the other regressors, the model is point identified and I propose a √ n consistent, asymptotically normal semiparametric two-step estimator under this set of conditions. If, however, the misclassification rates are not independent of the other regressors, further information is required. When an additional measurement on the mismeasured regressor is available I develop a √ n consistent, asymptotically normal estimator using the method of sieves without specifying the relationship between the probability of misclassification and the other explanatory variables. Monte Carlo simulations suggest good finite sample properties of the estimators and the method is illustrated with a study on the effect of unionization on the receipt of health benefits using data from the Current Population Survey. ∗I would like to thank Han Hong, Bo Honoré and Elie Tamer for their tireless encouragement and advice. I have also benefited from discussions with Xiaohong Chen, Henry Farber and Ernst Schaumburg. I would also like to thank the participants in the Princeton Microeconometrics Reading Group. †Mailing Address: 1 Fisher Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544-1021. Phone: (609) 430-8483 Fax: (609) 258-6419. Email: amahajan@princeton.edu. Revisions available at www.princeton.edu/~amahajan.
Growth-promoting Effect of 12-0-TetradecanoyIphorboI-13-acetate on Cultured Normal Human Fetal Kidney Epithelial Cells1

Normal human epithelial cells have been reported to be sensitive to growth inhibition by 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in contrast to neoplastic counterparts. Our studies with normal human fetal kidney epithelial cells, however, show that 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate may increase cell density and promote the growth of these cells at early passages. The result, together with three previous reports showing similar effects in normal human melanocytes, prostatic epithelial cells, and an unidentified cell type in human epidermal cell culture, indicates that human cells may exhibit divergent responses to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate for induction of cellular differentiation or prolifera
Evaluation of the Postural Control in Young Adults by use of Foam-Laser Dynamic Posturography and Power Plataform

Mailing address: Rua: Rio de janeiro, 713 Edifício Resid. Leblon apto 23 Centro CEP 85801-030 Cascavel Paraná ABSTRACT One of the most important tasks of the human postural control system is to keep the body balanced on the base of support provided by the feet. As a gravity sensor, the vestibular system is one of the most important tools of the nervous system in the control of the posture. When there is malfunction in this system, the individual starts to present a group of symptoms in which vertigo is generally preponderant. The present study had as objective to correlate the results of the postural control evaluation in young people obtained through the Foam-Laser Dynamic Posturography (FLP) and force platform. For the accomplishment of the study, 31 volunteers were invited (19 men and 11 women) who were submitted to the evaluation of the postural control through the Dynamic Foam-Laser Posturography and force platform simultaneously. The results reveled that there was strong correlation among the values obtained in the sensory organization tests (SOT) and pressure center (PC) displacement area on force platform in all TOS. In TOS III, V and VI respectively, strong correlation was observed in the results of the examinations in FPL and force platform, with r = 0.79, r = 0.70 and r = 0.80. This study concludes that the FLP is a very useful method for balance evaluation, and its results show strong correlation with the pressure center displacement area.
Relationships between total lightning activity, microphysics and kinematics during the 24 September 2012 HyMeX bow‐echo system

The structure of a bow‐echo system that crossed southeast France on 24 September 2012 during the first Special Observation Period of the Hydrological cycle in the Mediterranean Experiment (HyMeX) is investigated from a three‐dimensional lightning mapping array (LMA), an operational lightning network, and operational polarimetric radar observations. Lightning observations reveal that 97% of flash initiation and 93% of flash propagation occurred within the convective region. Through combining LMA and radar‐derived microphysical data it is also shown that lightning initiation events and propagation mostly occurred in regions containing graupel (initiation = 70%, propagation = 58%), ice (initiation = 22%, propagation = 33%), and to a lesser extent hail (initiation = 6%, propagation = 5%). The detailed analysis of the lightning activity during two periods of contrasted electrical activity suggests that wet hail growth processes and/or charge redistribution within the cloud may have had a negative impact on lightning initiation occurrences and propagation. The most active periods in terms of lightning activity occurred in conjunction with a vigorous, terrain driven, updraught that transported graupel particles above a height of 12 km.
The abundance of galaxy clusters in MOND: Cosmological simulations with massive neutrinos

We present a new Particle-Mesh cosmological N-body code for accurately solving the modified Poisson equation of the Quasi Linear formulation of MOND. We generate initial conditions for the Angus (2009) cosmological model, which is identical to LCDM except that the cold dark matter is switched for a single species of thermal sterile neutrinos. We set the initial conditions at z=250 for a (512 Mpc/h)^3 box with 256^3 particles and we evolve them down to z=0. We clearly demonstrate the necessity of MOND for developing the large scale structure in a hot dark matter cosmology and contradict the naive expectation that MOND cannot form galaxy clusters. We find that the correct order of magnitude of X-ray clusters (with T_X > 4.5 keV) can be formed, but that we overpredict the number of very rich clusters and seriously underpredict the number of lower mass clusters. The latter is a shortcoming of the resolution of our simulations, whereas we suggest that the over production of very rich clusters might be prevented by incorporating a MOND acceleration constant that varies with redshift and an expansion history that cannot be described by the usual Friedmann models. We present evidence that suggests the density profiles of our simulated clusters are compatible with those of observed X-ray clusters in MOND. It remains to be seen if the low mass end of the cluster mass function can be reproduced and if the high densities of dark matter in the central 20 kpc of groups and clusters of galaxies, measured in the MOND framework, can be achieved. As a last test, we computed the relative velocity between pairs of halos within 10 Mpc and find that pairs with velocities larger than 3000 km/s like the bullet cluster, can form without difficulty.
Distance Education: Effects of individual factors on the perceived image of high education institutions International Innovation Education

Current changes in the socioeconomic variables in which both public and private universities interact require them to manage their image to attract and satisfy their students. Added to this, new technologies are affecting education, increasing the supply and relevance of distance learning in the university structure. Given that, this research aimed to understand which individual factors cause significant differences in perceived university image. This study is a descriptive field research. We collected the data with a survey and analysed the results using factor analyses, t-tests, and linear regression. We found that gender, age, income, and length of interaction between the students and the organization do not influence the overall image. However, the exact sciences students presented a different perception of the researched institutions. Given the results, we concluded that perceived image can be seen as a momentary picture. The study indicates the image as a multidimensional construct. This construct is most expressively associated with intangible aspects. Abstract Current changes in the socioeconomic variables in which both public and private universities interact require them to manage their image to attract and satisfy their students. Added to this, new technologies are affecting education, increasing the supply and relevance of distance learning in the university structure. Given that, this research aimed to understand which individual factors cause significant differences in perceived university image. This study is a descriptive field research. We collected the data with a survey and analysed the results using factor analyses, t-tests, and linear regression. We found that gender, age, income, and length of interaction between the students and the organization do not influence the overall image. However, the exact sciences students presented a different perception of the researched institutions. Given the results, we concluded that perceived image can be seen as a momentary picture. The study indicates the image as a multidimensional construct. This construct is most expressively associated with intangible aspects.
AIS Electronic Library (AISeL) AIS Electronic Library (AISeL)

The digital era is characterized by the widespread diffusion of information technologies (IT) offering great degrees of malleability in how their features may be interpreted and used. While there are immediate advantages to leveraging the malleability of IT, this could also prove a source of confusion for lay users who are faced with multiple interpretations of what IT can do. Despite growing evidence of this phenomenon, current research lacks the concepts and tools to adequately capture its impact on IT acceptance, adoption, and use. In this paper, we first deploy the “perceived functional ambiguity” (PFA) construct, describing its dimensionality and relationships with measures. Then, we develop and validate the corresponding multidimensional measurement instrument. Finally, we test the effect of the construct across three studies assessing how users perceive social media (N=419), smartphones (N=411) and smart speakers (N=346). Our results suggest that ambiguity has a double-edged sword effect on users’ perception of IT: greater levels of ambiguity are associated with greater utilitarian and hedonic value, but they also entail substantial learning costs. This research contributes to advancing our theoretical understanding of IT use by introducing ambiguity as a factor underpinning contemporary IT use.
ROLE OF ASYMMETRICAL DIMETHYL ARGININE IN CARDIOVASCULAR DIABETOLOGY

Objective: To determine the serum ADMA level and association of different biochemical parameters with ADMA in diabetes mellitus patients with and without coronary artery disease and normal healthy individuals. Material and Methods: A total of 210 patients ,out of which 70 type 2 diabetics without coronary artery disease in group B and 70 type 2 diabetics with CAD in group C are included. 70 normal control individuals in group A were also enrolled in the study. Blood was obtained from each participant for biochemical analysis of fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG) and asymmetrical dimethyl arginine (ADMA). Results: An elevated ADMA was noted in diabetic subjects with and without coronary artery disease than the healthy control group (03.9±1.5μmol/L and 02.0±0.6 Vs. 0.6±0.2 μmol/L). Similarly different parameters like FBS, HbA1c, HDL, LDL-C Triglyceride were found to be elevated in groupB and group C as compared to group A. Conclusion: All biochemical parameters are found to be increased in both the diseased groups i.e type 2 diabetes mellitus without CAD and type 2 diabetes mellitus with CAD as compared to the normal healthy individuals.
Chapter 5. The role of prosody in early speech segmentation and word-referent mapping

This chapter reviews electrophysiological studies on early word-form segmentation and word-referent mapping, with a focus on the role of prosody in these early abilities closely related to vocabulary acquisition. First, we will review event-related brain potential (ERP) studies on word segmentation showing the impact of lexical stress cues, infant-directed speech (IDS) properties and melodic information on word-form extraction. Then, we will review research on word-referent mapping, revealing the scarcity of ERP studies specifically exploring the contribution of prosody in this domain. Throughout the chapter we will emphasize how electrophysiological methods offer a more fine-grained perspective of the brain processes supporting segmentation and mapping abilities, often revealing infants’ sensitivities to auditory input before overt responses from behavioral methods can be obtained.
3D Simulations and MLT. I. Renzini’s Critique

Renzini wrote an influential critique of “overshooting” in mixing-length theory (MLT), as used in stellar evolution codes, and concluded that three-dimensional fluid dynamical simulations were needed. Such simulations are now well tested. Implicit large eddy simulations connect large-scale stellar flow to a turbulent cascade at the grid scale, and allow the simulation of turbulent boundary layers, with essentially no assumptions regarding flow except the number of computational cells. Buoyant driving balances turbulent dissipation for weak stratification, as in MLT, but with the dissipation length replacing the mixing length. The turbulent kinetic energy in our computational domain shows steady pulses after 30 turnovers, with no discernible diminution; these are caused by the necessary lag in turbulent dissipation behind acceleration. Interactions between coherent turbulent structures give multi-modal behavior, which drives intermittency and fluctuations. These cause mixing, which may justify use of the instability criterion of Schwarzschild rather than the Ledoux. Chaotic shear flow of turning material at convective boundaries causes instabilities that generate waves and sculpt the composition gradients and boundary layer structures. The flow is not anelastic; wave generation is necessary at boundaries. A self-consistent approach to boundary layers can remove the need for ad hoc procedures of “convective overshooting” and “semi-convection. ” In Paper II, we quantify the adequacy of our numerical resolution in a novel way, determine the length scale of dissipation—the “mixing length”—without astronomical calibration, quantify agreement with the four-fifths law of Kolmogorov for weak stratification, and deal with strong stratification.
Modelling Recovery Rates for Non-performing Loans

Based on a rich dataset of recoveries donated by a debt collection business, recovery rates for non-performing loans taken from a single European country are modelled using linear regression, linear regression with Lasso, beta regression and inflated beta regression. We also propose a two-stage model: beta mixture model combined with a logistic regression model. The proposed model allowed us to model the multimodal distribution we found for these recovery rates. All models were built using loan characteristics, default data and collections data prior to purchase by the debt collection business. The intended use of the models was to estimate future recovery rates for improved risk assessment, capital requirement calculations and bad debt management. They were compared using a range of quantitative performance measures under K-fold cross validation. Among all the models, we found that the proposed two-stage beta mixture model performs best.
Electroencephalography Microstate Alterations in Otogenic Vertigo: A Potential Disease Marker

Objectives A huge population, especially the elderly, suffers from otogenic vertigo. However, the multi-modal vestibular network changes, secondary to periphery vestibular dysfunction, have not been fully elucidated. We aim to identify potential microstate electroencephalography (EEG) signatures for otogenic vertigo in this study. Materials and Methods Patients with recurrent otogenic vertigo and age-matched healthy adults were recruited. We performed 256-channel EEG recording of all participants at resting state. Neuropsychological questionnaires and vestibular function tests were taken as a measurement of patients’ symptoms and severity. We clustered microstates into four classes (A, B, C, and D) and identified their dynamic and syntax alterations of them. These features were further fed into a support vector machine (SVM) classifier to identify microstate signatures for vertigo. Results We compared 40 patients to 45 healthy adults, finding an increase in the duration of Microstate A, and both the occurrence and time coverage of Microstate D. The coverage and occurrence of Microstate C decreased significantly, and the probabilities of non-random transitions between Microstate A and D, as well as Microstate B and C, also changed. To distinguish the patients, the SVM classifier, which is built based on these features, got a balanced accuracy of 0.79 with a sensitivity of 0.78 and a specificity of 0.8. Conclusion There are several temporal dynamic alterations of EEG microstates in patients with otogenic vertigo, especially in Microstate D, reflecting the underlying process of visual-vestibular reorganization and attention redistribution. This neurophysiological signature of microstates could be used to identify patients with vertigo in the future.
A Response to Doole and Marsh ([Doole, G., 2013]) Article: Methodological Limitations in the Evaluation of Policies to Reduce Nitrate Leaching from New Zealand Agriculture

A recent paper by Doole and Marsh (2013), questioned the validity of using the New Zealand Forest and Agriculture Regional Model (NZFARM) for New Zealand agri‐environmental policy analysis. We respond to their critique by clearly describing the model structure, explaining the NZFARM parameterisation, calibration, and validation procedure, and presenting estimates from a series of nutrient reduction policy scenarios to highlight the utility of the model. In doing so, we demonstrate that NZFARM generates logical and intuitive results that can be used for robust agri‐environmental policy decision‐making.
Teachers' Views on Inquiry-Based Learning in Science - A Case Study from an International School

This paper reports a study of teachers' perspectives on inquiry-oriented approaches and how they conceptualize it. Five teachers from an international school were interviewed. They were asked to describe how they interpret inquiry-based teaching, and to give examples of their own teaching practice in line with inquiryoriented teaching. The results from the inductive analysis show that teachers considered student autonomy as the most prominent in their perception of inquiry-based approaches to science teaching, but their example revealed that they consider content knowledge from curriculum, and how this connects to the real world as equally important as student autonomy.
Evaluation of the use of pharmacological treatment with prisoners experiencing high levels of hypersexual disorder

Abstract This paper presents an evaluation of the impact of pharmacological treatment in reducing hypersexual disorder in adult males who have been incarcerated following conviction for a sexual offence. The evaluation compares two types of pharmacological treatment, one of which is part of the current NICE guidance for treatment of hypersexuality (Antiandrogens), whilst the other type (SSRIs) is off-label use in the UK for hypersexuality. The participant pool comprised 127 adult male prisoners serving sentences for sexual offences in a UK prison. Participants had been voluntarily referred for pharmacological treatment to manage hypersexual disorder. The results demonstrated a significant reduction of hypersexual disorder pre- and post-medication and contribute to the evidence base for the use of pharmacological treatment with individuals for whom hypersexual disorder may be a salient factor in their offending. Limitations of the current research are discussed.