Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Escolhas Contábeis: reflexões para a pesquisa

Neste ensaio, e promovida uma discussao critica a respeito das teorias e das principais obras que tratam do estudo das escolhas contabeis, com o objetivo de despertar provocacoes e reflexoes para o desenvolvimento de pesquisas sobre esse tema. A literatura da area ofereceu contribuicoes ao longo dos anos, porem questoes, como a existencia de uma teoria consolidada das escolhas contabeis e os determinantes das multiplas escolhas contabeis, ainda nao estao claras. As principais contribuicoes deste estudo sao: oferecer uma triangulacao teorica com base em discussoes fundamentadas sobre a Teoria Contratual da Firma, sobre as teorias economicas que consubstanciam a chamada ‘Teoria Positiva da Contabilidade’ e sobre a Teoria Institucional; e propor reflexoes para o estudo de multiplos fatores determinantes e consequencias economicas das escolhas contabeis, empregando diferentes abordagens metodologicas. Acredita-se que as amarracoes teoricas e hipoteticas (assim como suas limitacoes) derivadas da interacao entre as teorias aqui criticadas possam despertar a necessidade de reestruturacoes das pesquisas em escolhas contabeis, tanto em termos teoricos quanto metodologicos.
Research and Development of a Recognition System for Measurements in Micromechanics

The article includes a description of research results in the areas of neural networks and image recognition with applications in micro mechanics. The principle objective is to develop a recognition system of edges of micro components for use in measuring sizes of these micro components. In applications of this recognition system in real control systems the elapsed time is a critical point. Therefore, one of the lines of research is to implement the neural network in electronic schemes. To implement algorithms of neural networks we used the electronic schemes ALTERA.
Weight of the Evidence Evaluation of Low-Dose Reproductive and Developmental Effects of Bisphenol A

ABSTRACT A panel convened by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis (HCRA) evaluated the weight of evidence for potential developmental and reproductive toxicity of bisphenol A (BPA, CASRN 80-05-7) in animals at doses well below the Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level (LOAEL) of 50 mg/kg-day previously identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and even US EPA's reference dose (RfD) of 0.05 mg/kg-day. The effects are hypothesized to occur through an endocrine-modulating mode of action, specifically through estrogen receptors. The panel focused on potential male reproductive effects but also examined other endpoints possibly associated with hormone-like effects. The review considered studies published through April 2002. A formal deliberation framework focused on consistency, generalizability, and biological plausibility. The panel found no consistent affirmative evidence of low-dose BPA effects for any endpoint. Inconsistent responses across rodent species and strains made generalizability of low-dose BPA effects questionable. Lack of adverse effects in two multiple-generation reproductive and developmental studies casts doubt on suggestions of significant physiological or functional impairment. The panel was concerned about generalization of non-oral administration results to oral exposures. Differences in the pattern of BPA responses compared to estradiol or diethylstilbestrol (DES) cast doubt on estrogenicity as a low-dose mechanism of action for BPA. Finally, there is indirect evidence that humans may be less sensitive to possible estrogenic effects from BPA exposure due to pharmacodynamic factors. The panel recommended replication of existing studies under carefully controlled conditions and further study of BPA's pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The study was funded by a grant from the American Plastics Council.
Characterization of BRCA1 Protein Targeting, Dynamics, and Function at the Centrosome

Background: BRCA1 inhibits centrosome duplication as part of the DNA damage checkpoint. Results: Binding partners CRM1, BARD1, and Aurora A have distinct roles in targeting BRCA1 to the centrosome and regulating its activity. Conclusion: BRCA1 nuclear export stimulates its regulation of centrosome duplication. Significance: CRM1 mediates shuttling of BRCA1 between nucleus and centrosome and may coordinate its DNA damage response. BRCA1 is a DNA damage response protein and functions in the nucleus to stimulate DNA repair and at the centrosome to inhibit centrosome overduplication in response to DNA damage. The loss or mutation of BRCA1 causes centrosome amplification and abnormal mitotic spindle assembly in breast cancer cells. The BRCA1-BARD1 heterodimer binds and ubiquitinates γ-tubulin to inhibit centrosome amplification and promote microtubule nucleation; however regulation of BRCA1 targeting and function at the centrosome is poorly understood. Here we show that both N and C termini of BRCA1 are required for its centrosomal localization and that BRCA1 moves to the centrosome independently of BARD1 and γ-tubulin. Mutations in the C-terminal phosphoprotein-binding BRCT domain of BRCA1 prevented localization to centrosomes. Photobleaching experiments identified dynamic (60%) and immobilized (40%) pools of ectopic BRCA1 at the centrosome, and these are regulated by the nuclear export receptor CRM1 (chromosome region maintenance 1) and BARD1. CRM1 mediates nuclear export of BRCA1, and mutation of the export sequence blocked BRCA1 regulation of centrosome amplification in irradiated cells. CRM1 binds to undimerized BRCA1 and is displaced by BARD1. Photobleaching assays implicate CRM1 in driving undimerized BRCA1 to the centrosome and revealed that when BRCA1 subsequently binds to BARD1, it is less well retained at centrosomes, suggesting a mechanism to accelerate BRCA1 release after formation of the active heterodimer. Moreover, Aurora A binding and phosphorylation of BRCA1 enhanced its centrosomal retention and regulation of centrosome amplification. Thus, CRM1, BARD1 and Aurora A promote the targeting and function of BRCA1 at centrosomes.
Sensitivity analysis of multi-objective optimization of CPG parameters for quadruped robot locomotion

In this paper, a study based on sensitivity analysis is performed for a gait multi-objective optimization system that combines bio-inspired Central Patterns Generators (CPGs) and a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm based on NSGA-II. In this system, CPGs are modeled as autonomous differential equations, that generate the necessary limb movement to perform the required walking gait. In order to optimize the walking gait, a multi-objective problem with three conflicting objectives is formulated: maximization of the velocity, the wide stability margin and the behavioral diversity. The experimental results highlight the effectiveness of this multi-objective approach and the importance of the objectives to find different walking gait solutions for the quadruped robot.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography features of papillary thyroid carcinoma for predicting cervical lymph node metastasis

The present study was performed to evaluate the predictive value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) for the risk of cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Between May 2014 and November 2016, 42 patients who received surgery for suspicious PTCs were enrolled in the present study. Each individual underwent CEUS with conventional ultrasound (US), preoperative US-guided fine needle aspiration and personalized surgery. Subsequently, the microvascular density (MVD) of all surgical specimens was measured. According to the results of surgical histopathology, individuals were divided into two groups: LNM+ (PTCs with LNM), and LNM− (PTCs without LNM). Clinicopathological characteristics, CEUS enhancement patterns, perfusion parameters and measurements of MVD were compared. The correlation between quantitative variables and LNM was analyzed using Spearman's correlation analysis. Compared with that in the LNM− group, patients in the LNM+ group were younger (P<0.05) and had a larger mean tumor size (P<0.05). The incidence ratio of patients who were ≤45 years old (P<0.05), tumors >10 mm in size (P<0.05) and capsular infiltration (P<0.05) were statistically higher in the LNM+ group. Following the use of a novel classification system, the ratio of PTCs with early partial hyper-enhancement was identified to be significantly higher in the LNM+ group (P<0.01). The mean intensity, intensity increase velocity, MVD ratio and mean intensity ratio of intratumoral/peripheral thyroid parenchyma (MIR) were statistically higher in the LNM+ group compared with that in the LNM− group (all P<0.05). MIR was identified to be positive correlated with LNM (P<0.05). A MIR value of 0.86 was the optimal threshold of LNM in PTCs. In conclusion, LNM may rely on the local rich blood supply of PTC lesions. Partial hyper-enhancements of CEUS and higher values of MIR may suggest a high risk for LNM in PTC.
α-Synuclein–Induced Down-Regulation of Nurr1 Disrupts GDNF Signaling in Nigral Dopamine Neurons

The trophic response of dopamine neurons to GDNF, mediated by the transcription factor Nurr1, protects them from α-synuclein–mediated toxicity. NURRishing Dopamine Neurons with GDNF Glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and its close relative neurturin are currently in clinical trials for neuroprotection in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). Although effective in classic neurotoxin animal models of this disease, GDNF has failed to afford protection in PD rodent models in which dopamine neurons are killed by α-synuclein toxicity. Using a rat model of α-synuclein–mediated PD, Decressac et al. now show that excess cellular concentrations of α-synuclein effectively block the trophic response of dopamine neurons to GDNF. They provide evidence that blockade of GDNF signaling is caused by reduced expression of the transcription factor Nurr1 and its downstream target, the GDNF receptor Ret. Deletion of Nurr1 resulted in reduced Ret expression, accompanied by a complete failure of dopamine neurons to respond to exogenously applied GDNF. However, when the investigators induced expression of Nurr1, Ret receptor expression was restored as well as the response to GDNF in the dopamine neurons subjected to α-synuclein toxicity. These results suggest that Nurr1 is a key player in the cellular defense against α-synuclein toxicity and highlight Nurr1 as a promising new target for neuroprotective therapy. Glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and its close relative neurturin are currently in clinical trials for neuroprotection in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). However, in animal models of PD, GDNF fails to protect nigral dopamine (DA) neurons against α-synuclein–induced neurodegeneration. Using viral vector delivery of human wild-type α-synuclein to nigral DA neurons in rats, we show that the intracellular response to GDNF is blocked in DA neurons that overexpress α-synuclein. This block is accompanied by reduced expression of the transcription factor Nurr1 and its downstream target, the GDNF receptor Ret. We found that Ret expression was also reduced in nigral DA neurons in PD patients. Conditional knockout of Nurr1 in mice resulted in reduced Ret expression and blockade of the response to GDNF, whereas overexpression of Nurr1 restored signaling, providing protection of nigral DA neurons against α-synuclein toxicity. These results suggest that Nurr1 is a regulator of neurotrophic factor signaling and a key player in the cellular defense against α-synuclein toxicity.
A comparison of various methods of blood sampling in mice and rats: Effects on animal welfare

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of blood sampling on animal welfare in a total of 60 NTac:SD rats and 72 C57BL/6NTac mice of both sexes. Blood was sampled either by sublingual vein puncture, tail vein puncture or by retrobulbar plexus/sinus puncture under light isoflurane anaesthesia and, additionally, by facial vein puncture in mice. Non-punctured animals as well as isoflurane-anaesthetised animals were used as controls. Pre- and post-puncture sucrose intake (1.5% w/w) was measured in rats, and nest building scores were studied in mice for 24 h post-puncture. Post-puncture activity and anxiety levels of rats and mice were measured using an elevated plus maze test and an open field test. Stress levels 24 h post-puncture were assessed by analysing faecal corticosteroid metabolites. Sucrose intake and faecal corticosteroid levels were not affected by the blood sampling procedures. Rats showed reduced activity in the open field test and an increased level of anxiety in the elevated plus maze test following retrobulbar plexus puncture and isoflurane anaesthesia. In mice, nest building activity was affected in all the groups compared with the control group, except for animals subjected to facial vein puncture. Retrobulbar sinus puncture, tail vein puncture and sublingual puncture in mice resulted in reduced activity and increased anxiety. We conclude that, of the tested methods, puncture of the tail vein and the sublingual vein have the least adverse effects in rats, whereas facial vein puncture had the least adverse effects on the welfare parameters in mice.
Coated Pit-mediated Endocytosis of the Type I Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) Receptor Depends on a Di-leucine Family Signal and Is Not Required for Signaling*

Background: The role of TGF-β receptor endocytosis in signaling is controversial. Results: Two clathrin-mediated endocytosis signals induce internalization of the type I TGF-β receptor (TβRI). Endocytosis-defective TβRI mutants signal, whereas endocytosis-enhanced TβRI exhibits reduced Smad signaling. Conclusion: TβRI endocytosis is dispensable for Smad signaling and correlates with reduced response. Significance: Understanding the role of TGF-β receptor endocytosis is relevant to cell biology and cancer. The roles of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) receptor endocytosis in signaling have been investigated in numerous studies, mainly through the use of endocytosis inhibitory treatments, yielding conflicting results. Two potential sources for these discrepancies were the pleiotropic effects of a general blockade of specific internalization pathways and the scarce information on the regulation of the endocytosis of the signal-transducing type I TGF-β receptor (TβRI). Here, we employed extracellularly tagged myc-TβRI (wild type, truncation mutants, and a series of endocytosis-defective and endocytosis-enhanced mutants) to directly investigate the relationship between TβRI endocytosis and signaling. Our findings indicate that TβRI is targeted for constitutive clathrin-mediated endocytosis via a di-leucine (Leu180-Ile181) signal and an acidic cluster motif. Using Smad-dependent transcriptional activation assays and following Smad2/3 nuclear translocation in response to TGF-β stimulation, we show that TβRI endocytosis is dispensable for TGF-β signaling and may play a role in signal termination. Alanine replacement of Leu180-Ile181 led to partial constitutive activation of TβRI, resulting in part from its retention at the plasma membrane and in part from potential alterations of TβRI regulatory interactions in the vicinity of the mutated residues.
Preparative HPLC for the Purification of major Anthocyanins from Ficus padana burm .L

Anthocyanin can be purified from raw extract of Ficus padana burm.L by applying preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). For every separation process, the chromatographic condition need to be optimized in order to gain the efficient purification process instantly. The current study shows that analytical scale chromatographic condition can be used as a condition for preparativehplc. Two known acylated anthocyanins are isolated from the Ficus padana burm.L by Step gradient polarity preparative HPLC. The structures are set based on spectrometric analysis. The data from each obtained anthocyanin is being compared with both mass spectral data and published data. The first compound (peak 1) was identify as a pelargonidin 3-(6”-p-coumarylglucoside)-5-(4”’-Malonylglucoside) and the second compound was identify as a pelargonidin 3-(6’’-Malonylglucoside).
The development of total quality management in Qatar

Presents the key findings of a study into quality practices of a number of organisations in one of the Arab countries, Qatar, which is recognised as one of the leading liquefied natural gas‐exporting regions since its reserves of gas represent about 7.4 per cent of the world total. The purposes of the study were to assess: the awareness, the understanding, the progress of, and reasons for the implementation of ISO 9000 and TQM; the obstacles encountered in TQM implementation; and the knowledge and/or practices of TQM related activities. The information was gathered using a questionnaire. The participating organisations, of which there were 143, ranged in size from large to small and came from the manufacturing, services and public sectors. The analysis of the survey data concluded that although there was a high level of enthusiasm regarding the practice of, or the need for, quality initiatives in the country, they were a long way behind those of Western organisations. Many reported an interest in ISO 9000 but due to a lack of understanding of the standard, it was often considered to be a quality model. The awareness and understanding of TQM was at a very low level and the main TQM success factors were not well‐known and practiced. Interest at the time was centred on ISO 9000 certification.
Rubik's on the Torus

Abstract Rubik's Slide is an electronic puzzle in the same style as other puzzles in the Rubik's family. It will be of interest to puzzle enthusiasts as well as to teachers and students of mathematics. This paper analyzes the puzzle using tools from group theory and graph theory. We discuss solution heuristics and model game-play using group theory. We briefly give results concerning solutions requiring a minimal number of moves.
Underlying liver disease, not tumor factors, predicts long-term survival after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

HYPOTHESIS A subset of patients can be identified who will survive without recurrence beyond 5 years after hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). DESIGN A retrospective review of a multi-institutional database of 591 patients who had undergone hepatic resection for HCC and on-site reviews of clinical records and pathology slides. SETTING All patients had been treated in academic referral centers within university-based hospitals. PATIENTS We identified 145 patients who had survived for 5 years or longer after hepatic resection for HCC. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Clinical and pathologic factors, as well as scoring of hepatitis and fibrosis in the surrounding liver parenchyma, were assessed for possible association with survival beyond 5 years and cause of death among the 145 five-year survivors. RESULTS Median additional survival duration longer than 5 years was 4.1 years. Women had significantly longer median additional survival durations than did men (81 months vs 38 months, respectively, after the 5-year mark) (P =.008). Surgical margins, type of resection, an elevated preoperative alpha-fetoprotein level, and the presence of multiple tumors or microscopic vascular invasion had no bearing on survival longer than 5 years. However, patients who survived for 5 years who also had normal underlying liver or minimal fibrosis (score, 0-2) at surgery had significantly longer additional survival than did patients with moderate fibrosis (score, 3-4) or severe fibrosis/cirrhosis (score, 5-6) (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Death caused by HCC is rare beyond 5 years after resection of HCC in the absence of fibrosis or cirrhosis. The data suggest that chronic liver disease acts as a field of cancerization contributing to new HCC. These patients may benefit from therapies directed at the underlying liver disease.
Models for the design and analysis of a large package sort facility

At the sort facility in a large overnight package delivery operation, palletized loads are moved in a container (called an inbound ULD) from a plane to a bin, unloaded from the bin, and moved by forklift one item at a time from a bin to a rack. At the rack, each palletized load is loaded into a container (called an outbound ULD) and this outbound ULD is delivered to a plane for delivery to its final delivery airport. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal design of this sort facility that acts as a hub in a hub‐and‐spoke system. For a given topology of the sort facility (a topology being the specification of the locations of the bins and the racks), a design of this sort facility is the assignment of inbound ULDs to bins and outbound ULDs to racks and the determination of the number of forklifts needed to carry out the sort. In this paper, the Bin and Rack Assignment Model (BRAM) is developed to perform this analysis; the objective of the BRAM is to minimize the daily operating and amortized capital cost of performing the sort. Since the BRAM is computationally difficult to solve, the BAM and RAM algorithm is developed to derive heuristic solutions to the BRAM. Several examples of the BAM and RAM algorithm are presented. A modification to the BAM and RAM algorithm for solving practical‐sized problems is then presented and future directions for this analysis are discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Neuroblastoma-Selective Suicide Gene Therapy Approach Using the Tyrosine Hydroxylase Promoter

In this study, selective expression of therapeutic transgenes was evaluated in neuroblastoma cells. Promoter fragments of the genes for neuron-specific enolase (NSEp), tyrosine hydroxylase (THp), and dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBHp) were studied in neuroblastoma and nonneuronal cell lines by transient transfection experiments using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis of enhanced green fluorescent protein (egfp) and luciferase (luc +) assay. Both reporter gene assays revealed a neuroblastoma-selective expression mediated by NSEp and THp, whereas DBHp was active only in a murine neuroblastoma cell line. Reporter gene expression by NSEp in neuroblastoma cells was markedly higher than expression by THp, but NSEp also showed considerable background activity in nonneuronal cells. THp-driven expression of egfp was 35-fold higher in human neuroblastoma MHH-NB11 compared with nonneuronal HeLa cells. Thus, THp was chosen for a neuroblastoma-selective suicide gene therapy approach using the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV-tk)/ganciclovir (GCV) system. A retrovirus vector that contained an expression cassette of a HSV-tk/egfp fusion gene and THp in antisense orientation was generated. Stably transduced human neuroblastoma cells and nonneuronal cell lines were generated, and HSV-tk/egfp expression was measured by FACS and GCV cytotoxicity assay. There was a 2.2-fold difference in green fluorescence and a 1.4-fold difference in cell killing between the human neuroblastoma MHH-NB11 and HeLa cells after HSV-tk/egfp gene transfer. The overall difference in THp-HSV-tk/egfp–mediated cell killing between neuroblastoma and nonneuronal tumor cell lines was statistically significant (P = 0.001). In conclusion, the present study demonstrated the feasibility of a neuroblastoma-selective gene therapy approach using the THp/ HSV-tk/egfp expression cassette.