Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Attenuated Effects of Bile Acids on Glucose Metabolism and Insulin Sensitivity in a Male Mouse Model of Prenatal Undernutrition

Prenatal undernutrition and low birth weight are associated with risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Prenatal caloric restriction results in low birth weight, glucose intolerance, obesity, and reduced plasma bile acids (BAs) in offspring mice. Because BAs can regulate systemic metabolism and glucose homeostasis, we hypothesized that BA supplementation could prevent diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance in this model of developmental programming. Pregnant dams were food restricted by 50% from gestational days 12.5 to 18.5. Offspring of both undernourished (UN) and control (C) dams given unrestricted diets were weaned to high-fat diets with or without supplementation with 0.25% w/w ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), yielding four experimental groups: C, UN, C + UDCA, and UN + UDCA. Glucose homeostasis, BA composition, liver and intestinal gene expression, and microbiota composition were analyzed in the four groups. Although UDCA supplementation ameliorated diet-induced obesity in C mice, there was no effect in UN mice. UDCA similarly lowered fasting insulin, and improved glucose tolerance, pyruvate tolerance, and liver steatosis in C, but not UN, animals. BA composition differed significantly, and liver and ileal expression of genes involved in BA metabolism (Cyp7b1, Shp) were differentially induced by UDCA in C vs UN animals. Bacterial taxa in fecal microbiota correlated with treatment groups and metabolic parameters. In conclusion, prenatal undernutrition alters responsiveness to the metabolic benefits of BA supplementation, with resistance to the weight-lowering and insulin-sensitizing effects of UDCA supplementation. Our findings suggest that BA metabolism may be a previously unrecognized contributor to developmentally programmed diabetes risk.
PRICE, MARGINAL COST AND THE BUSINESS CYCLE†

We estimate mark-ups of price over marginal cost for UK manufacturing, based on the approach of Hall (1988). We also extend his method to allow for varying mark-ups over industries and the cycle. Using data on 16 two-digit industries, 1968-89, we find: (1) the average mark-up in UK manufacturing is 2.00, (2) mark-ups are procyclical, (3) mark-ups are higher in more concentrated industries. Finding (2) is evidence against the macroeconomic theory that the transmission of demand shocks to employment works via counter-cyclical mark-ups. Finding (3) suggest a significant relation between mark-ups and market structure that has proved elusive in industrial economics studies that use profit rates to measure mark-ups. Copyright 1995 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Cell lines derived from a human myelomonocytic leukaemia

Two cell lines have been isolated from separate samples, taken at the same time, from the peripheral blood of a case of myelomonocytic leukaemia. One of these (CESS‐B) is a typical B cell line obtained after treatment of the peripheral blood white cells with Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV). The second line (RC‐2) is a monocyte‐macro‐phage type, originally isolated by 5 months continuous culture in the presence of colony stimulating factor (CSF). Subsequently, after further culture, this line has become autonomous (RC‐2A), no longer requiring CSF for maintenance of proliferation, whilst retaining the characteristics of the original line.
Comprehensive Correlation Analysis of Industrial Process

In this paper, a reconstruction-based method is proposed to monitor nonlinear processes and isolate their fault types. The fault direction and enhanced statistics are introduced to improve the monitoring results and effectiveness of fault isolation. The main contributions are given as follows: 1) For fault detection, two statistics, which are decomposed according to the load directions, are defined in the complementary subspaces. 2) The fault direction is used to obtain the reconstruction model. 3) Based on the reconstruction model, the fault type can be isolated. An electro-fused magnesia furnace is introduced to test the proposed method, and the results of this test validate its effectiveness.
Regulatory Revenues and the Choice of the CAPM: Australia Versus New Zealand

This paper compares the revenues resulting from the Officer model, which is generally used by Australian regulatory bodies, the simplified Brennan-Lally model, which is used by the New Zealand regulatory body, the Sharpe-Lintner-Mossin model, which is widely used in other regulatory regimes, and a comprehensive model that is free of simplifying assumptions concerning the tax environment and the extent to which firms attach imputation credits to dividends. The question of which of the three simplified models is best depends upon the proportion of a firm's company tax that is passed through as imputation credits, the utilisation rate on imputation credits, the extent to which ordinary income is taxed more heavily than capital gains, and the issue of whether revenue underestimates are considered to be more important than revenue overestimates. If the utilisation rate is considered to be close to 1, ordinary income is considered to be more heavily taxed than capital gains, and revenue underestimates are considered to be more serious than overestimates, then the Officer model will be inferior to the other two simplified models regardless of the proportion of a firm's company taxes that are passed through as imputation credits. By contrast, if revenue underestimates and overestimates are considered equally significant, then the Officer model will be superior to the other two simplified models, in so far as at least 75% of a firm's company taxes are passed through as imputation credits.
Small‐Scale Technologies and European Coal Mine Safety, 1850–1900

type="main"> This article considers new technologies and fatal accident rates in European coal mining from 1850 to 1900. Its contributions are twofold: to recover and emphasize improvements in small-scale mine technologies such as safety lamps and ventilation, and, second, to deny any role at this time for later macroinventions such as electrification and mechanization. We discuss the influence of these safety-improving technologies as well as government regulations on different kinds of fatal accident rates. It is proposed that an important and overlooked source of the reduction in fatalities from certain kinds of accidents was the introduction and diffusion of a variety of safety-related technologies, none of particularly large scale.
MDM2 Gene Amplification Is Correlated to Tumor Progression but not to the Presence of SNP309 or TP53 Mutational Status in Primary Colorectal Cancers

Mdm2 is the main regulator of p53 and is amplified in ∼7% of all human cancers. MDM2 gene amplification as well as expression has been correlated to an increased tumorigenic potential. We have analyzed the prevalence of MDM2 gene amplifications and SNP309 in 284 colorectal tumors using a relatively new highly sensitive PCR/ligase detection reaction method in relation to TP53 mutational status and genomic instability. We found MDM2 to be amplified in 9% of the 284 colorectal cancers analyzed and a significantly higher proportion of tumors with high MDM2 gene amplification retained a wild-type p53 gene (P = 0.058). MDM2 gene amplification was significantly correlated to advanced tumor stage. Several small-molecule MDM2 antagonists have already been identified that either physically inhibit the p53-MDM2 binding or the E3 ligase function of MDM2. Our results suggest that MDM2 is a promising target for this type of cancer therapy in a substantial subgroup of colorectal cancers. (Mol Cancer Res 2008;6(2):205–11)
Managing Multiple Sources of Competitive Advantage in a Complex Competitive Environment

The aim of this article is to review the literature on the topic of sustained and temporary competitive advantage creation, specifically in dynamic markets, and to propose further research possibilities. After having analyzed the main trends and scholars’ works on the subject, it was concluded that a firm which has been experiencing erosion of its core sources of economic rent generation, should have diversified its strategy portfolio in a search for new sources of competitive advantage, ones that could compensate for the decline of profits provoked by intensive competitive environments. This review concludes with the hypothesis that firms, who have decided to enter and manage multiple competitive environments, should have developed a multiple strategies framework approach. The management of this source of competitive advantage portfolio should have allowed persistence of a firm’s superior economic performance through the management of diverse temporary advantages lifecycle and through a resilient effect, where a very successful source of competitive advantage compensates the ones that have been eroded. Additionally, the review indicates that economies of emerging countries, such as the ones from the BRIC block, should present a more complex competitive environment due to their historical nature of cultural diversity, social contrasts and frequent economic disruption, and also because of recent institutional normalization that has turned the market into hypercompetition. Consequently, the study of complex competition should be appropriate in such environments.
Usefulness of the LDL-C/apoB ratio in the overall evaluation of atherogenicity of lipid profile

Abstract Context: The ratio of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to apolipoprotein-B (LDL-C/apoB) conventionally represents an alternative index of LDL particle size. Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the importance of LDL-C/apoB ratio in the overall evaluation of atherogenicity of lipid profile. Methods: The plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, apoB and apoE were measured in 186 apparently healthy men using enzymatic and immunoturbidimetric methods. Results: The subjects with low values of the LDL-C/apoB ratio, indicating a predominance of small dense LDL (sd-LDL) particles in plasma, were characterized by higher TG levels and lower apoE levels. Conclusion: Low levels of apoE are most likely a cause of reduced clearance of TG-rich lipoproteins, which promotes the formation of sd-LDL. Determination of the LDL-C/apoB ratio can be used for monitoring qualitative changes in lipid profile, in addition to traditional lipid variables indicating quantitative changes.
THE SINGLE RATE VALUATION OF LEASEHOLDS

The lines ‘… he plays by intuition …he plays by sense of smell …’ are probably an exaggeration when applied to the game of pinball, but they are surely a very important part of most professional men's and women's lives. A teacher should ‘feel’ the difference between a minor ailment and something serious. Similarly, a surveyor or valuer can ‘feel’ or sense the possible decline of a high street before it happens or the improvement of a secondary location. This skill cannot be taught in lectures and by some it cannot be learned by experience, but hopefully for the sake of the future of the profession some or most of us can acquire it to a lesser or greater extent. The gifted ones are the millionaires and I am sure that many of these have never looked inside a set of valuation tables.
EM modeling of far-field radiation patterns for antennas on the GMA-TT UAV

To optimize communication with the Generic Modular Aircraft T-Tail (GMA-TT) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), electromagnetic (EM) simulations have been performed to predict the performance of two antenna types on the aircraft. Simulated far-field radiation patterns tell the amount of power radiated by the antennas and the aircraft together, taking into account blockage by the aircraft as well as radiation by conducting and dielectric portions of the aircraft. With a knowledge of the polarization and distance of the two communicating antennas, e.g. one on the UAV and one on the ground, and the transmitted signal strength, a calculation may be performed to find the strength of the signal travelling from one antenna to the other and to check that the transmitted signal meets the receiver system requirements for the designated range. In order to do this, the antenna frequency and polarization must be known for each antenna, in addition to its design and location. The permittivity, permeability, and geometry of the UAV components must also be known. The full-wave method of moments solution produces the appropriate dBi radiation pattern in which the received signal strength is calculated relative to that of an isotropic radiator.
Quantitative assay for algal chemotaxis

A quantitative capillary assay is described for measuring chemoreception in the neritic and littoral unicellular alga Dunaliella tertiolecta. Lucite chemotaxis plates were used in the assay with 3-microliter capillaries. A Coulter Counter was employed to determine algal cell numbers. D. tertiolecta is attracted to ammonium ion with a maximum positive response at 10(-3) M. Inclusion of calcium and L-methionine in the chemotaxis medium stimulates algal chemoreception, although neither chemical is essential for motility. Attraction of the chlorophyte to ammonium is dependent on time of incubation, cell density, and pH. The optimum pH for attraction was found to be 6.25.
TAR (Theatre as Representation) as a Provocative Teaching Tool in School Administration: A Dramatized Inclusive Classroom Scenario.

The following dramatized classroom scenario depicts a teacher struggling with the nature of an inclusive learning environment, with instructional leadership and supervision of instruction as the theoretical and practical backdrop. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how the use of a TAR (theatre as representation) case study can be used as a provocative teaching tool by those engaged in the professional development of in-service administrators, aspiring administrators, and students enrolled in a graduate level educational administration program. In addition to the secnario’s text, teaching notes in the form of discussion questions, complete with accompanying rationales, are provided.
A 1.5 V, 4.1 mW dual channel audio delta-sigma D/A converter

This stereo /spl Delta//spl Sigma/ DAC for portable digital-audio consumes 4.1 mW at 1.5 V supply. The DAC has 90 dB dynamic range over a 20 Hz-20 kHz passband. The 5.3 mm/sup 2/ chip in 0.6 /spl mu/m CMOS includes low-threshold devices.
Is Single Arc Technique in Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy Good Enough for Prostate Cancer ?

Advancement in treatment delivery techniques in external beam radiation therapy has significantly improved the conformal radiation dose distributions to the tumor while reducing dose to the critical structures. Modern treatment techniques combined with sophisticated treatment planning systems have led to increase in the treatment planning studies in the recent years. In this article, we review the application of the most recent treatment delivery technique in photon based radiation therapy known as volumetric modulated radiation therapy (VMAT). Furthermore, this article is focused on the VMAT planning for the prostate cancer. Short Communication
The Effect of Concurvity in Generalized Additive Models Linking Mortality to Ambient Particulate Matter

In recent years, a number of studies have applied generalized additive models to time series data to estimate associations between exposure to air pollution and cardiorespiratory morbidity and mortality. If concurvity, the nonparametric analogue of multicollinearity, is present in the data, statistical software such as S-plus can seriously underestimate the variance of fitted model parameters, leading to significance tests with inflated type 1 error. This paper uses computer simulation and analyses of actual epidemiologic data to explore this underestimation of standard errors. We provide a method for assessing concurvity in data and an alternate class of models that is unaffected by concurvity. We argue that some degree of concurvity is likely to be present in all epidemiologic time series datasets and we explore through the use of meta-analysis the possible impact of concurvity on the existing body of work relating ambient levels of sulfate particles to mortality.
Considerations for sustainable irrigation development in Asia

Abstract The Asian population is expected to increase from 3103 million in 1990 to 5811 million in 2050 and to 6817 million in 2150. Such rises will invariably augment demands for all water uses. Water availability is unlikely to increase to accommodate all the expected demand growth. This will escalate the conflict between various water uses. Irrigation, which is now the most significant user of water, is likely to be the main loser. Its percentage share of total water used will decline steadily in the future. This will mean that the irrigation sector will have to do more with less water by increasing its efficiency significantly. The Asian countries will also have to take a balanced approach between irrigation development and environmental protection.
An Efficiency Frontier Approach for the Vehicle Routing Problem in a Fluctuant Demand Environment

In this paper, a multi-objective mathematical model was developed for the assignment of vehicles with minimizing three conflicting objectives. An alternative of variant split delivery strategy allowing the split demands could be delivered by more than one period, was used to cope the fluctuation over available multi-period customer demands. The proposed approach used a systematic method based on a uniform design technique to set the weights of objective functions and used multiple fitness functions instead of a single fitness function to find a set of Pareto frontier solution. The computational experiment studies revealed that the proposed approaches outperform in the capability of search non-dominated solutions that can help the decision maker's preference on screening the combinations of different cost set.
Genomic mutations associated with mild and severe deficiencies of transcobalamin I (haptocorrin) that cause mildly and severely low serum cobalamin levels

Transcobalamin (TC) I deficiency, like the function of TC I itself, is incompletely understood. It produces low serum cobalamin levels indistinguishable from those of true cobalamin deficiency. Diagnosis is especially elusive when TC I deficiency is mild. To provide new, more substantive definition, the TCN1 gene was examined in two well‐characterised families that included members with both severe and mild TC I deficiencies. A severely deficient proposita with undetectable TC I levels displayed compound heterozygosity for two mutations, each causing a premature stop codon. Relatives in both families who had mildly low or low‐normal plasma levels of TC I and cobalamin were heterozygous for one or the other of these mutations. An unrelated patient with mild TC I deficiency and unknown familial TC I and cobalamin status was then tested and found to be similarly heterozygous for one of the mutations. The two nonprivate mutations identify a genetic basis for TC I deficiency for the first time. They also add new approaches to studying mild and severe TC I deficiency and to reducing confusion of its low cobalamin levels with those of cobalamin deficiency and its often dramatically different prognosis and management.
A Stepwise Nicolson–Ross–Weir-Based Material Parameter Extraction Method

Approaches of automated evaluation of electromagnetic material parameters have received a lot of attention in the literature. Among others, one method is to retrieve the material parameters from the reflection and transmission measurements of the sample material. Compared to other methods, this is a rather wideband method, but suffers from an intrinsic limitation related to the electrical thickness of the measured material. In this letter, we propose a novel way to overcome this limitation. Although being based on the classical Nicolson-Ross-Weir (NRW) technique, the proposed extraction technique does not involve any branch seeking and is therefore capable of extracting material parameters from samples thicker than λ/2, a measure that would otherwise cause problems in the NRW extraction technique. The proposed derivative of the NRW extraction technique is then used to study the effect of thermal noise on the extracted material parameters.
Agent based distributed data management for factory control

Distributed manufacturing systems, which are currently emerging more and more, require distributed control systems, and distributed control systems require distributed data management systems. These distributed data management systems have to ensure that the necessary information for control decisions are available within the decision taking entities in the moment of decision. Within this paper a general architecture and an application example for a distributed data management system for a distributed order control system is described.
Estimation of the equilibrium interest rate in CFA countries in Africa

This paper treats determination of neutral or natural interest rate in CFA zone and under zone UEMOA and CEMAC. Methodology used is based on a generalized Taylor rule derived from the goals of monetary policies and budgetary attaches with a quadratic function of reaction which takes into account a target of inflation, public expenditure and interest rate. The estimates highlight a neutral interest rate between 1.4 - 1.6%. In addition, it is observed that overall the level of natural interest rate in zone UEMOA (1.51) is lower than in zone CEMAC (1.65). It notices a larger homogeneity in CEMAC zone than UEMOA zone.
Normal human serum depleted of Clq, factor D and properdin: its use in studies of complement activation

Normal human sera were depleted of Clq, factor D (D) and properdin (P) by a simple and reproducible procedure providing reagents for analysis of complement‐dependent functions. Classical pathway activity was restored with purified Clq, and alternative pathway activity with purified D and P. Since both activation pathways were abolished, antibodies and other components could be removed without loss of complement activity during immunoabsorption procedures. Synergism between the two pathways during haemolysis of rabbit erythrocytes was clearly demonstrated, and was also found on analysis of C3 cleavage in serum incubated with other alternative pathway activators such as zymosan and inulin. Experiments with a Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W‐135 strain isolated from a patient with inherited P deficiency showed that both pathways were capable of supporting antibody‐dependent killing of the bacteria in serum. The alternative pathway was possibly more efficient than the classical pathway in the assay system. In Clq,D,P‐depleted serum with high concentrations of anticapsular IgG antibodies, the addition of D alone resulted in efficient alternative pathway‐mediated killing. The alternative pathway was equally efficient in a Clq,D,P‐depleted serum with low concentrations of anticapsular antibody, but in this case the reaction required both D and P.