Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plasma fibronectin promotes modulation of arterial smooth-muscle cells from contractile to synthetic phenotype.

Isolated arterial smooth-muscle cells (SMCs) cultured in medium containing whole blood serum or plasma-derived serum undergo modulation from a contractile to a synthetic phenotype. This process includes the loss of myofilaments and cessation of the ability to contract. Instead, an extensive rough endoplasmic reticulum and a large Golgi complex are formed and, if properly stimulated, the cells start to proliferate actively and to produce extracellular-matrix components. In vivo, a similar change in the differentiated properties of SMCs appears to be an early key event in atherogenesis. The purpose of the present investigation was to try to identify plasma components that promote the modulation of the smooth-muscle phenotype. SMCs were enzymatically isolated from rat aorta and cultured in a defined, serum-free medium. The phenotypic state of the cells was determined by transmission electron microscopy, and their growth status was followed by 3H-thymidine autoradiography and cell counting. Under these conditions, Cohn fractions I (fibrinogen) and V (albumin) were found to partially support cell attachment and transition from the contractile to the synthetic phenotype, whereas fractions II-III and IV (globulins) were inactive in this respect. Analysis on adsorptive columns of gelatin Sepharose 4B indicated that Cohn fraction I, but not fraction V, contained fibronectin, an adhesive protein that is present in plasma and binds to fibrinogen. When seeded on a substrate of plasma fibronectin, the cells attached with high efficiency and modulated into the synthetic phenotype at a rate similar to that observed in serum-containing medium. In the absence of exogenous mitogens, the structural transformation of the cells was not accompanied by a proliferative response. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Prevention of acute renal failure by diuretics.

Experiments were performed on 26 rats to evaluate the effect of furosemide and muzolimine in an experimental model of acute renal failure (ARF). After control clearance measurements from both the left and the right kidney, an acute hydronephrosis was produced on the left side only, to completely interrupt urine flow rate. At the 17th minute of stop-flow, placebo (4 animals), furosemide (4 mg i.v. in 5 animals) or muzolimine (1.2 mg i.v. in 5 rats) were injected and three minutes later the renal arteries were clamped bilaterally for 20 minutes. The arterial clamps and the left hydronephrosis were removed at the 20th minute of ischemia and then 5 consecutive clearance periods were performed from either side to assess recovery from post-ischemic ARF. There was no difference in the entity of GFR depression and speed of recovery of either kidney between placebo, muzolimine and furosemide. The left, post-hydronephrotic kidney consistently exhibited a post-ischemic renal function more depressed than that measured in the contralateral side, although the speed of recovery was the same. The ATP content of the renal tissue was significantly larger in the right kidney compared to the contralateral side in the group receiving furosemide. In the animals treated with muzolimine ATP was significantly depressed in both kidneys. In the post-ischemic period the urinary Na excretion and the fractional water excretion rose significantly with either diuretic compared to placebo. However, this did not influence the recovery in GFR. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Pricing and Allocation Mechanisms in Underpricing of Chinese IPOs

This study tries to answer the question: Do changes in pricing and allocation mechanisms significantly affect the Chinese initial public offering (IPO) market? Four separate pricing and allocation mechanisms for the Chinese IPO market, operating from 1995 to 2007, are examined. We find that as these mechanisms evolved, the average and variance of IPO underpricing in China became smaller. The results indicate that as the Chinese IPO market has become more market-oriented, underpricing has significantly decreased, and the market has become more stable.
Using normative beliefs to determine the acceptability of wildlife management actions

Because wildlife in the United States is publicly owned, management actions and policies depend on public acceptance. This article uses a normative approach to describe and evaluate what the public believes are acceptable management actions toward three different wildlife species involved in human‐wildlife interactions. The results illustrate the extent to which normative beliefs about wildlife management actions are influenced by situational specifics and wildlife value orientations. Across different species and situations, individuals with protectionist wildlife values were less willing than those with pro‐use wildlife values to accept destroying an animal. The results point to circumstances that are likely to generate intense conflict over particular management policies and allow more confident generalization about how publics will respond to different management actions. Additional research is needed to identify the situational specifics and human values that best explain and predict normative beliefs.
Learning From Comparative Public Policy: A Practical Guide

This textbook offers a fresh approach to the study of comparative politics and public policy. Instead of concentrating on why countries differ, Learning From Comparative Public Policy explores how countries can learn from each other about the success and failure of policy initiatives. With its theory and practise focus, the lively narrative analyzes the cultural and resources problems involved in importing policies, and the roles of institutions, regulators, think tanks and experts. In addition to explaining the key tenets of policy analysis, the internationally renowned author offers a wide variety of international case studies and useful boxes to highlight examples. Invaluable reading for students of public policy, for policy makers and practioners working in the public sector, it includes: Learning from comparison. Defining a problem and creating awareness. Where to look for lessons. Applying the policy model. The problems of importing models. Using terms to evaluate future consequences.
Comparison of closed loop PF improvement controllers for single phase AC-DC dual output converter

In this paper, a diode bridge with two power switches is adopted to achieve single phase dual output ac-dc-rectifier. The main objective is to obtain the unity power factor with less harmonic distortion. Hysteresis current controller and fuzzy logic controller (FLC) are designed and compared for the application of a single-phase dual output ac-to-dc converter. Compared with the hysteresis current control (HCC) technique; fuzzy logic gives better steady state performance such as high power factor and low harmonic distortion. Closed loop analysis with HCC and FLC is presented where the line current is driven to follow the reference sinusoidal current. The high power factor (PF) and low current total harmonic distortion are verified by software simulation.
Performance evaluation of a behavior-based fuzzy controller for humanoid mobile robot

This paper presents the design and performance evaluation of a fuzzy controller for a humanoid mobile robot named VIEBOT. Using depth camera, the VIEBOT platform has the capability to explore surrounding environment to approach human target while avoiding collision with objects on its moving path. A behavior-based fuzzy controller for VIEBOT was designed to provide a mechanism for collaborating individual behaviors with different priorities. Various experiments were conducted in real office environment to validate and verify the design of this mechanism. Keywordshumanoid robot; mobile robot; fuzzy control; behavior-based control;
The Optimal Design of International Trade Institutions: Uncertainty and Escape

International institutions that include an escape clause generate more durable and stable cooperative international regimes and are easier to achieve ex ante. The escape clause is endogenous in a model of repeated trade-barrier setting in the presence of symmetric, two-sided, political uncertainty. They permit, along the equilibrium path, countries to temporarily deviate from their obligations in periods of excessive, unexpected political pressure at some prenegotiated cost. The architects of international agreements optimally choose a cost so that escape clauses are neither too cheap to use (encouraging frequent recourse, effectively reducing the benefits of cooperation) nor too expensive (making their use rare and increasing the chance of systemic breakdown). The international institution's crucial role is to provide information, verifying that the self-enforcing penalty has been paid (voluntarily), rather than to coerce payment. Escape clauses also make agreements easier to reach initially. Their flexibility reassures states that the division of the long-term gains from the agreement is not immutable.
Conflict over natural resources in South-east Asia and the Pacific

Lim Teck Ghee and Mark J. Valencia: commonalities and directions for future research conflict over land-based natural resources in the ASEAN countries Eduardo Tadem: the ASEAN region - great wealth and great strife the plunder of forest resources the transformation of a natural resource - agriculture to agribusiness conflicts over mineral resources development and tribal peoples - resistance to displacement natural resource abuses - a time for change the Japanese economy and South-East Asia - the examples of the Asahan Aluminium and Kawasaki Steel Projects Yoko Kitazawa: the Japanese miracle the miracle ends? a new vision of economic development the vision in action - Asahan Japan's overseas steel industry Kawasaki in Mindanao Kawasaki follows the vision conclusion - the comprehensive security system - what price? international conflict over marine resources in South-East Asia - trends in politicization and militarization Mark J. Valencia: present and future conflict over marine resources superpower militarization in the marine region conflict over natural resources in Malaysia - the struggle of small-scale fisherman Lim Teck Ghee: introduction the 1950s - early developments in the fisheries industry the experience with fishing co-operatives, 1957-1965 a decade of trawling development, 1960-1970 the poverty eradication programme of the 1970s - new deal for small-scale fishermen? policy developments in the 1980s conclusion conflict over natural resoures in the Pacific James M. Anthony: the region and its resources conflicts over marine space conflicts over marine environment conflicting maritime claims conflicts over pelagic resources conflict over seabed mineral resources.
Ultrasound structural fetal anomaly screening: an update

Screening for fetal anomalies by an ultrasound scan was introduced in many maternity units in the UK in the late 1970s and has become routine in most since then although there is little uniformity as to how the scan is performed and when it is offered. Up to 5% of babies are born with a congenital abnormality. In this review article we will focus on what is already known about screening for the commonest and most serious structural fetal anomalies at the 11–14 and 18–23 week scans, and discuss new techniques that promise to improve the accuracy of screening and diagnosis. Chromosomal abnormalities, “soft markers” and biochemical screening are beyond the scope of this review.
Infants' Face-Recognition by Primiparous and Multiparous Women

We have compared the ability of 49 primiparous and 75 multiparous women to recognize photographs of their newborn infants. In line with previous research on infant cries, we found that multiparous women who had been with their infant 0.5 to 5.0 hr. were significantly more successful in recognizing their infants' photographs than primiparous women with comparable exposure to their newborns. For women who had not been with their infants more than 5 hr. , parity was not related to recognition. We propose that the transient performance deficit of the primiparous women indicates a short-lived impairment of perceptual/cognitive skills associated with their more stressful childbearing experience.
A Study of the Relationship between Health and Subjective Well-Being in Parkinson's Disease Patients

OBJECTIVES Governments are turning their attention to evidence on subjective measures of well-being to inform policy decisions. In the context of health, there is, therefore, growing interest in understanding how measures of health-related quality of life relate to subjective well-being and whether subjective well-being could provide a basis for resource allocation decisions in the future. This study investigates the relationship between health-related quality of life, as measured by the EuroQol five-dimensional (EQ-5D) questionnaire, and subjective well-being in Parkinson's disease. METHODS A paper questionnaire including the EQ-5D questionnaire, four key subjective well-being questions taken from the Integrated Household Survey in England, and other demographic details was distributed to people with Parkinson's disease in the United Kingdom. Responses were used to estimate multiple regression models explaining subjective well-being using the EQ-5D questionnaire index (UK weights), EQ-5D questionnaire dimensions and the visual analogue scale, and patients' sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS A total of 199 responses were received. Combining visual analogue scale and EQ-5D questionnaire dimensions, especially anxiety/depression and, to a lesser extent, mobility, yielded the best-fitting models (adjusted R(2) range 0.36-0.53). Patients with Parkinson's disease living in care homes report lower levels of subjective well-being than do those living alone. These effects are not captured by the health-related quality-of-life measures in the analysis. CONCLUSIONS Usual health-related quality-of-life measures can partially explain different well-being dimensions, yet they fail to capture part of the broader impact of disease on subjective well-being. Further empirical research into the relationship between subjective well-being and the EQ-5D Parkinson's disease longitudinally, and in different disease areas, is required, and further standardization of subjective well-being measures is recommended.
Collective Action for Common Rangelands Improvement: A Climate Change Adaptation Strategy in Uzbekistan

Rangeland degradation endangers livelihoods of many rural communities in Uzbekistan. Despite the threat of land deterioration from climate change, there are many reasons that land users do not take action to prevent or reduce land degradation. The described project uses a low-cost approach to mobilize stakeholders and initiate collective action. Based on a social learning process focusing on development of local climate-change scenarios, villagers from Qiziltepa district identified adaptation options and agreed on a common purpose to restore rangelands through collective governance systems. They formed pastoral user groups, established seed isles to ensure seeding of forage shrubs, and agreed on seasonal grazing. This case study shows the critical importance of scenarios in social learning processes for building awareness concerning climate change adaptation; they led to changes in perceptions and agreement on collective action and governance. We compare the potential of this integrated approach with large-scale seeding.
Predictive Value of Social Inhibition and Negative Affectivity for Cardiovascular Events and Mortality in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: The Type D Personality Construct

Objective Methodological considerations and selected null findings indicate the need to reexamine the Type D construct. We investigated whether associations with cardiac events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) involve the specific combination of negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI), or rather the main effect of either trait alone. Methods In this 5-year follow-up of 541 patients with CAD, the Type D construct (14-item Type D Scale) was tested by examining a) the interaction of continuous NA and SI z scores and b) a four-group classification defined by low/high trait scores. End points were major adverse cardiac events (MACEs; death, myocardial infarction [MI], coronary revascularization) and cardiac death/MI. Results At follow-up, 113 patients had a MACE, including 47 patients with cardiac death/MI. After adjustment for disease severity, age, sex, and main trait effects, the interaction of NA and SI z scores was associated with MACE (odds ratio [OR] = 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11–1.67). This continuous measure of Type D was also associated with cardiac death/MI (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.11–1.96) and remained an independent predictor of events after adjustment for depressive symptoms. Using a cutoff of 10 on both NA and SI scales, Type D was associated with an adjusted OR of 1.74 (95% CI = 1.11–2.73) for MACE and an OR of 2.35 (95% CI = 1.26–4.38) for death/MI but was unrelated to noncardiac death. Patients with high NA or SI alone were not at increased risk. Conclusions Continuous (NA × SI interaction) and dichotomized measures of Type D were associated with cardiovascular events in patients with CAD. Research is needed to explore moderating factors that may alter this association.
Role of actin stress fibres in the development of the intervertebral disc: Cytoskeletal control of extracellular matrix assembly

Orientation of collagen fibrils is a key event in the development of many tissues. In the intervertebral disc, the outer annulus fibrosus comprises lamellae of parallel collagen fibres, the direction of orientation of the long axis of which alternates in angle between lamellae. In development, this organisation is preceded by the formation of sheets of oriented fibroblasts, which then deposit the oriented lamellae. Here, using fluorescent labelling, confocal and electron microscopic techniques on developmental series, we show that the orientation of cells in lamellae is associated with the formation of adherens junctions intercellularly, involving cadherins and vinculin, and longitudinal stress fibres (label for filamentous actin and tropomyosin) intracellularly. The stress fibres direct the initial elongation of cells and control the deposition of oriented extracellular matrix via junctional complexes with the matrix involving vinculin and α 5 β 1 integrins, which in turn promote the formation of oriented fibronectin at the cell surface; oriented collagen is deposited between cells at the same stages. Shortly after birth, the stress fibres disappear, probably because cells now gain orientational cues from the matrix, and are undergoing differentiation‐related changes to form fibrocartilage cells. Dev Dyn 1999;215:179–189. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Women, War, and Winning Elections: Gender Stereotyping in the Post-September 11th Era

Scores of political science studies reveal that female candidates fare as well as their male counterparts. But the percentage of citizens willing to support a woman presidential party nominee has significantly decreased over the last two years. Based on the results of a Knowledge Networks national random sample survey, this article offers the first empirical examination of the manner in which the atmosphere of war might affect women candidates’ electoral prospects. I find that citizens prefer men’s leadership traits and characteristics, deem men more competent at legislating around issues of national security and military crises, and contend that men are superior to women at addressing the new obstacles generated by the events of September 11, 2001. As a result of this gender stereotyping, levels of willingness to support a qualified woman presidential candidate are lower than they have been for decades. These findings carry broad implications for the study of women and politics. If women fare as well as men when the political climate is dominated by issues that play to women’s stereotypical strengths, but are disadvantaged when “men’s issues” dominate the political agenda, then we must reconsider the conclusion that winning elections has nothing to do with the sex of the candidate.
SMEs and environmental communications: motivations and barriers to environmental reporting

SMEs engaged with the environmental agenda are aware of the value of a 'green' image in their market place, readily using their environmental achievements in their marketing communications and deriving various benefits from it. However, most only produce a formal environmental report when there are clear external pressures compelling them to do so, especially when this is needed to achieve a recognised environmental certification. This paper reports on the results of research indicating that, for most 'green' SMEs, the current cost-benefit balance is such that they see no added value in reporting on their environmental activity. Therefore, unless the concept and image of the environmental report change or legislative pressures or demand from core stakeholders increase, most environmentally active SMEs are very unlikely to take up environmental reporting.
Carotid arterial stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis assessed by speckle tracking strain imaging: its association with carotid atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVES Although a series of trials support the intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid artery as a good predictor for the cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the link between IMT, vascular elastic property and the disease activity of RA is not defined. We investigated the association between carotid atherosclerosis, elastic properties of the carotid arterial wall and clinical parameters of RA. METHODS One hundred and twenty RA patients and fifty healthy controls were included. Peak systolic global circumferential and posterior radial strain of carotid artery were measured to assess the elastic properties. Beta stiffness index was used as conventional method for the distensibility of the carotid artery. RA activity was assessed by high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and disease activity score with 28 joints (DAS 28) and health assessment questionnaire (HAQ). RESULTS Carotid plaques were more common in RA patients. RA patients with plaques were older and had an increased mean IMT, hsCRP, DAS 28, and longer disease duration compared with those without plaques. Peak systolic global circumferential and posterior radial strain were congruent with β stiffness index, and significantly lower in the RA group. Age, disease duration, hsCRP, DAS 28 showed significant correlations with mean IMT and parameters of carotid elastic property. CONCLUSIONS Carotid atherosclerosis was more common in RA patients, and carotid arterial stiffness had significant correlation with disease duration and disease activity of RA. Speckle tracking strain imaging is a comparative method for the assessment of elastic properties of carotid artery of RA patients.
SUBJECTIVE SLEEP DISTURBANCES WERE CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH COMPREHENSIVE GERIATRIC FUNCTIONS IN DOSE‐RESPONSIVE MANNER IN THE COMMUNITY‐DWELLING ELDERLY PEOPLE IN JAPAN

59.6% of the fallers answered the numbers of falls, there was weak but significant correlation between number of falls and GDS-15 scores in those who had fallen (rs 5 0.17, P 5.002). The mean fall risk index score was significantly higher in fallers than nonfallers, and there was significant correlation between fall risk index and GDS-15 (rs 5 0.53, Po.001) in fallers. We confirmed the higher prevalence of depression in fallers than nonfallers, and there was a significant correlation between the number of falls and GDS-15, as Somadder et al. reported. However, unlike with the findings of Somadder et al., community-dwelling elderly fallers in Japan were significantly older and had lower quantitative ADL and QOL scores, as well as higher GDS-15 scores than nonfallers, even after adjustment for age.