Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Erythropoietin prevents neuronal apoptosis after cerebral ischemia and metabolic stress

Erythropoietin (EPO) promotes neuronal survival after hypoxia and other metabolic insults by largely unknown mechanisms. Apoptosis and necrosis have been proposed as mechanisms of cellular demise, and either could be the target of actions of EPO. This study evaluates whether antiapoptotic mechanisms can account for the neuroprotective actions of EPO. Systemic administration of EPO (5,000 units/kg of body weight, i.p.) after middle-cerebral artery occlusion in rats dramatically reduces the volume of infarction 24 h later, in concert with an almost complete reduction in the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling of neurons within the ischemic penumbra. In both pure and mixed neuronal cultures, EPO (0.1–10 units/ml) also inhibits apoptosis induced by serum deprivation or kainic acid exposure. Protection requires pretreatment, consistent with the induction of a gene expression program, and is sustained for 3 days without the continued presence of EPO. EPO (0.3 units/ml) also protects hippocampal neurons against hypoxia-induced neuronal death through activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases and protein kinase Akt-1/protein kinase B. The action of EPO is not limited to directly promoting cell survival, as EPO is trophic but not mitogenic in cultured neuronal cells. These data suggest that inhibition of neuronal apoptosis underlies short latency protective effects of EPO after cerebral ischemia and other brain injuries. The neurotrophic actions suggest there may be longer-latency effects as well. Evaluation of EPO, a compound established as clinically safe, as neuroprotective therapy in acute brain injury is further supported.
Corporate visual identity in local government: the role of the logo

Within corporate visual identity research, the logo has been highlighted as a key element which can represent the organisation to internal and external stakeholders. This paper investigates the role of the logo as part of corporate visual identity in a not-for-profit context. The focus of the research is local government. As part of an exploratory piece of work, content analysis of all the logos used by local councils in Tasmania, Australia, took place. A typology is drawn up which highlights the elements present within logos. The occurrence of these elements, and the consequences of this for logo design and corporate visual identity, is also discussed. It is shown that various commonalities and differences can be observed within the units of analysis. The implications of this piece of work for practitioners are set out. Further research is suggested which builds on this visual audit and uncovers the perceptions held by those that are employed in local government and their various constituencies.
A Review of the Endometrial Changes in Norplant® Users

Prolonged exposure to levonorgestrel associated with use of Norplant contraceptive implants leads, in many acceptors, to menstrual irregularities. Endometrial biopsies collected from a group of Norplant acceptors with persistent or prolonged breakthrough bleeding indicated this side effect is associated with proliferative-type endometrium. The number of both proliferative and secretory endometrium was markedly reduced. The stroma showed edema, sloughing, and inflammatory infiltration. Despite chronic levonorgestrel exposure, only 31% of stroma showed poorly developed decidualization. There was no association between endometrial findings and levonorgestrel levels. Hysteroscopy revealed markedly engorged superficial vessels in long-term Norplant users. It is hypothesized that progestin-related bleeding abnormalities may be due to the changes in the vascular system (e.g., damaged vessels) and hemostatic factors. Confirmation of this hypothesis requires detection of the presence of hemostatic plugs in patients with and without abnormal bleeding, study of the perivascular expression of tissue factor, measurement of estrogen and progesterone receptors at bleeding and non-bleeding sites, and identification of factors that increase angiogenesis and the fragility of uterine vessels.
Using Image Texture and Spectral Reflectance Analysis to Detect Yellowness and Esca in Grapevines at Leaf-Level

Plant diseases are one of the main reasons behind major economic and production losses in the agricultural field. Current research activities enable large fields monitoring and plant disease detection using innovative and robust technologies. French grapevines have a reputation for producing premium quality wines, however, these major fruit crops are susceptible to many diseases, including Esca, Downy mildew, Powdery mildew, Yellowing, and many others. In this study, we focused on two main infections (Esca and Yellowing), and data were gathered from fields that were located in Aquitaine and Burgundy regions, France. Since plant diseases can be diagnosed from the properties of the leaf, we acquired both Red-Green-Blue (RGB) digital image and hyperspectral reflectance data from infected and healthy leaves. Biophysical parameters that were produced by the PROSPECT model inversion together with texture parameters compiled from the literature were deduced. Then we investigated their relationship to damage caused by Yellowing and Esca. This study examined whether spectral and textural data can identify the two diseases through the use of Neural Networks. We obtained an overall accuracy of 99% for both of the diseases when textural and spectral data are combined. These results suggest that, first, biophysical parameters present a valid dimension reduction tool that could replace the use of complete hyperspectral data. Second, remote sensing using spectral reflectance and digital images can make an overall nondestructive, rapid, cost-effective, and reproducible technique to determine diseases in grapevines with a good level of accuracy.
Reducing Optical Losses and Energy-Transfer Upconversion in  ${\rm Er}_{x}{\rm Y}_{{2}\hbox{-}{\rm x}}{\rm SiO}_{5}$ Waveguides

Optical losses and energy-transfer upconversion (ETU) in sputter-deposited polycrystalline Er<sub>x</sub>Y<sub>2-x</sub>SiO<sub>5</sub> thin film waveguides are investigated. We find that the high temperature anneal that is necessary for crystallization and optical activation of Er induces grain growth that causes large propagation losses. Through minimizing the grain growth, propagation loss was lowered to 2.2±0.2 dB/cm while maintaining a high confinement factor of 50%. Changing the target material to minimize sputtering of Er clusters reduced the ETU coefficient to an estimated value of 3.1±0.2×10<sup>-17</sup> cm<sup>3</sup>/s at an Er concentration of 7.6×10<sup>20</sup> cm<sup>-3</sup>. The maximum level of population inversion was 0.47±0.02, resulting in signal enhancement of 13.3 dB/cm at 1529 nm.
Performance enhancement of a novel 2-D code based atmospheric OCDMA system

In this paper, performance enhancement of one-coincidence frequency hopping code/quadratic congruence code (OCFHC/QCC) based two-dimensional (2-D) optical code division multiple access (OCDMA) system is studied using Reed-Solomon (R-S) code in presence of multiple user interference (MUI) and turbulence. Atmospheric turbulence is presumed to be weak and follows lognormal distribution. For OCFHC/QCC code, probability density function of interference is trinomial. It is observed that error probability improves by an order of 10−5 with R-S code for four simultaneous users and alternatively transmitted power requirement decreases.
The Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Cirrhotic Patients with Small Liver Nodules on MRI

BACKGROUND AND AIM:The presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has important implications for patients with cirrhosis. Studies have not compared the risk of cancer in cirrhotic patients with small liver nodules to cirrhotic patients without nodules. Our aim was to determine the risk of HCC in cirrhotic patients with small liver nodules on MRI compared to those without nodules.METHODS:We conducted a prospective study to determine the rate of HCC in cirrhotic patients with and without liver nodules. Cases were patients with liver nodule(s) less than 2 cm on MRI and controls were cirrhotic patients without nodules. Kaplan-Meier estimates and multivariate analysis were performed to estimate the risk of HCC in the two groups.RESULTS:A total of 310 liver transplant candidates with a mean follow-up of 663 days were included in the study and 133 underwent liver transplant during follow-up. The 1-yr incidence of HCC in the liver nodule group and control group was 11% and 0.5%, respectively, p < 0.001. The adjusted risk for HCC in the liver nodule group was 25 times higher compared to the control group, HR = 25.1 [95% CI 8.0, 78.9]. In 133 candidates who underwent transplant with and without liver nodules the rate of HCC was 11 (50%) and 4 (3.6%), respectively, p < 0.001. CONCLUSION:The incidence of HCC in patients with small liver nodules is significantly higher compared to patients with cirrhosis without liver nodules. The presence of small liver nodules warrants increased imaging surveillance for HCC.
Dynamics and Control of a Maglev Vehicle

In this paper, dynamics of a Maglev vehicle was analyzed and controls utilizing an optimized damping and an LQR algorithms were designed to stabilize the vehicle. The dynamics of magnetically levitated and propelled Maglev vehicle are complex and inherently unstable. Moreover, 6-DOF system dynamics is highly nonlinear and coupled. The proposed control schemes provide the dynamic stability and controllability, which computer simulations confirmed the effectiveness.
Economic Sentiment Indicator as a demand determinant in tourism: A Case of Turkey

This study is Work In Progress and focuses on Phase 1 of the proposed study. Phase 2 will be implemented in spring 2011. The purpose of phase 1 is to introduce ESI (Economic Sentiment Indicator) to the field of tourism demand studies. The proposed study is intended to develop a demand model in which tourist arrivals to Turkey from select EU countries will be used as the dependent variable. Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) along with more traditional variables such Interest Rate, Relative Price, and Relative Exchange Rate will be brought into the model as the independent demand determinants. Using a new independent variable, ESI and use of time series econometric models (such as Cointegration and Error Correction Models), the study will estimate a tourism demand function for the select markets of EU countries. It is hoped that the findings of this study, once implemented in phase 2, will enable policy makers to develop more focused marketing and fiscal policies to target visitors. In addition, the usefulness of ESI will be demonstrated and its policy implications will also be developed.
Cytogenetic Features of Elderly Turkish Myelodysplastic Syndrome Patients

Objective: Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) represents one of the most frequent and serious hematologic diseases among the elderly. Chromosomal abnormalities have been detected in 23%–78% patients with MDS. We analyzed the cytogenetics of elderly MDS patients in Turkey. Materials and Methods: Data on patients (>65 years old) diagnosed with primary MDS from 2011 to 2013 were retrospectively collected from Erciyes University. Chromosome analysis was performed in 54 patients using conventional karyotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Results: Of the 54 patients recruited, karyotype abnormalities were found in 8 (15%) of 54 cases, among which, 5 (9%) were Trisomy 8 and 3 (6%) were del 5q. Conclusion: The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in elderly Turkish MDS patients was lower than that reported in the literature. Although the pathogenesis of MDS is still poorly understood, environmental and biological factors could induce mechanisms that are associated with diverse karyotypes and variable frequencies of chromosomal abnormalities.
Employee attitudes toward questionable negotiation tactics: empirical evidence from Peru

This research investigates the influence of three theoretically valid independent variables – horizontal and vertical individualism–collectivism, ethical idealism and trust propensity – on employees' attitudes toward ethically questionable negotiation tactics in Peru. A total of 233 usable responses were collected from participants employed in various industries in the capital area, Lima. The results empirically corroborated a classification of three groups of negotiation tactics, namely pretending, deceiving and lying tactics, which seem to range in their scale of severity from being more to less socially acceptable. Peruvian employees who scored high on vertical individualism tended to score high on the endorsement of pretending, deceiving and lying tactics; those who scored high on horizontal collectivism tended to score low on the endorsement of the deceiving and lying tactics; those who scored high on vertical collectivism tended to score high on the endorsement of the deceiving and lying tactics.
An investigation of the efficiency of South Africa's sector education and training authorities (SETA's)

The performance of South African Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA’s) has been increasingly questioned. On this premise, the paper investigated the efficiency of the SETAs with respect to their utilization of funds in order to promote a range of education and training outputs was investigated. More specifically, the study investigated the quantity and quality of five training and education outputs, set by the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS), in relation to the funding received. Furthermore, the study examined the amount of money spend on administrative expenditure by the various SETAs, as well as the SETAs management of financial reserves. In order to guide the study, as well as analyze the data, a conceptual framework to measure efficiency was based on an input-output model developed by Gupta and Verhoeven (2001). Data were obtained from the published accounting and annual reports for the period 2006 – 2009. The results indicated only two of the SETA’s were efficient with respect to their utilization of funds and that only five SETA’s consistently met their own targets. The study also shows that if the SETA’ s funds had been applied to education and training outputs, rather than for investment purposes, training outputs could have been considerably increased. The paper has implications for the use of public funds with respect to the critical skills shortage confronting the economy.
Political Behavior of the American Electorate

Students know that the 2008 elections were a watershed event in American political history. They've read and watched the coverage, but do they have a deep understanding of what happened, beyond YouTube and the talking heads? Do they know why voters cast their ballots the way they did? Flanigan and Zingale continue their thorough and accessible analytical overview of the political behavior of the American voter in this twelfth edition. Delving deeply into the 2008 National Election Study data, the authors explore the impact of innovative mobilization efforts, the effects of the waning war in Iraq and the economic slump on voting choice, and the continuing trends of polarization and partisanship - all in a way that is clear and engaging to students. The book's updated tables and figures are available electronically and free for adopters, and a brand new companion website offers data sets and exercises.
Complete Hydatidiform Mole With Retained Maternal Chromosomes 6 and 11

Distinction of hydatidiform moles from nonmolar specimens and their subclassification as complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) versus partial hydatidiform mole (PHM) are important for clinical practice and investigational studies to refine ascertainment of risk of persistent gestational trophoblastic disease which differs among these entities. Immunohistochemical analysis of p57 expression, a paternally imprinted maternally expressed gene on 11p15.5, and molecular genotyping are useful for improving diagnosis. CHMs are characterized by androgenetic diploidy, with the loss of p57 expression owing to lack of maternal DNA. Loss of p57 expression distinguishes CHMs from both PHMs (diandric triploidy) and nonmolar specimens (biparental diploidy) which retain expression. In the process of evaluating molar specimens in our laboratory with p57 immunohistochemistry and molecular genotyping, we identified a morphologically typical androgenetic diploid CHM with aberrant diffuse p57 expression. Molecular genotyping by short tandem repeat markers and genome-wide copy number analysis by single nucleotide polymorphism array established androgenetic diploidy with retained maternal copies of chromosomes 6 and 11, with aberrant p57 expression attributable to the latter. This case, only the second reported to date, illustrates the value of combined traditional pathologic and ancillary molecular techniques for refined diagnosis of molar specimens. Specimens with morphologic features suggestive of CHM yet retaining p57 expression should be subjected to molecular genotyping to establish a definitive diagnosis because misclassification as PHM underestimates the risk of persistent gestational trophoblastic disease. We recommend use of p57 immunohistochemistry and molecular genotyping to evaluate all products of conception specimens for which there is any consideration of a diagnosis of hydatidiform mole. Genome-wide analysis has the potential to assist in localizing imprinted genes critical for determining the morphologic and behavioral phenotypes of hydatidiform moles.
Effect of H. pylori on the Expression of TRAIL, FasL and their Receptor Subtypes in Human Gastric Epithelial Cells and their Role in Apoptosis

Background and Aims. In the human stomach expression of TNF‐related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) and its receptors and the modulatory role of Helicobacter pylori are not well described. Therefore, we investigated the effect of H. pylori on the expression of TRAIL, FasL and their receptors (TRAIL‐R1‐R4, Fas) in gastric epithelial cells and examined their role in apoptosis.
Using Microservices for Legacy Software Modernization

Microservices are commonly known as an architecture for building scalable applications running in the cloud. However, they also promise high maintainability due to smaller code bases and strong component separation, making them an interesting option for software modernization. This article presents a migration process to decompose an existing application into microservices, and presents experiences from applying this process in an ongoing legacy modernization project.
Chain Image and Store-Choice Modeling: The Effects of Income and Race

Addressed in this paper is the lack of understanding of the extent to which the image of a store can affect store selection and of the extent to which this image varies across market segments. The subject of the analysis is the choice of supermarkets for major grocery shopping, and image is here measured by the chain to which a supermarket belongs. Evidence is presented through the use of descriptive statistics from a sample of consumers and through several store-choice model calibrations that chain image is an important determinant of store choice. In the particular data set employed, chain image is at least as important as store size and store competition. Evidence is presented on the effects of peoples' income and race on their store selection. Differences are found in chain image both across income groups and across racial groups. Differences are also reported in distance deterrence across income groups, although in the opposite direction to common belief. It appears that low-income consumers are willing to travel further for grocery shopping, ceteris paribus, probably to take advantage of lower prices. Higher income consumers may be unwilling to spend the extra time involved to shop at the stores with the lowest prices and therefore give up low prices for the sake of convenience. The general conclusion from the results presented here is that intrinsic differences in store-choice behavior exist across different groups of consumers and that analyzing store location accurately demands knowledge of such differences.
Plk1 Inhibition Enhances the Efficacy of BET Epigenetic Reader Blockade in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1), a crucial regulator of cell-cycle progression, is overexpressed in multiple types of cancers and has been proven to be a potent and promising target for cancer treatment. In case of prostate cancer, we once showed that antineoplastic activity of Plk1 inhibitor is largely due to inhibition of androgen receptor (AR) signaling. However, we also discovered that Plk1 inhibition causes activation of the β-catenin pathway and increased expression of c-MYC, eventually resulting in resistance to Plk1 inhibition. JQ1, a selective small-molecule inhibitor targeting the amino-terminal bromodomains of BRD4, has been shown to dramatically inhibit c-MYC expression and AR signaling, exhibiting antiproliferative effects in a range of cancers. Because c-MYC and AR signaling are essential for prostate cancer initiation and progression, we aim to test whether targeting Plk1 and BRD4 at the same time is an effective approach to treat prostate cancer. Herein, we show that a combination of Plk1 inhibitor GSK461364A and BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 had a strong synergistic effect on castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cell lines, as well as in CRPC xenograft tumors. Mechanistically, the synergistic effect is likely due to two reasons: (i) Plk1 inhibition results in the accumulation of β-catenin in the nucleus, thus elevation of c-MYC expression, whereas JQ1 treatment directly suppresses c-MYC transcription; (ii) Plk1 and BRD4 dual inhibition acts synergistically in inhibition of AR signaling. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(7); 1554–65. ©2018 AACR.
The structure of policy networks

This paper1 compares the structure of policy networks in two different policy domains. Policy networks are seen as clusters of relatively autonomous but interdependent actors that are incorporated into the process of public policy making. Policy networks have to be seen as specific actor configurations beyond ‘policy markets’and ‘policy hierarchies’. 2 Their emergence is seen as a response to an increasing societal dispersion of resources, policy growth and governmental overload. Growing governmental activities in a context of more complex policy problems and a greater dispersion of policy resources within society makes governments increasingly dependent upon the horizontal cooperation of private actors in policy formulation and implementation. Institutional devices facilitating this mode of political resource mobilization range from formal advisory bodies, semi-institutionalized working groups to highly informal and even ‘secret’forms of cooptation of private actors (organizations and individuals) in the ‘production process’of a policy.
Fiscal Policy and Interest Rates∗

The Treasury Bill rate is regarded as an exogenous policy instrument in the National Institute's forecasting model. Other interest rates in the model are linked to this rate by term-structure equations. This approach, while justifiable for forecasting, has limitations when the model is used for policy simulations since it ignores the responses of interest rates to changes in economic conditions. This note shows how the properties of the model are affected when interest rates are treated as endogenous.