Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The hidden rise of new women candidates seeking election to the House of Commons, 2000 – 2008

Women’s candidacy and election are tracked over four Canadian national elections from 2000 to 2008. These elections brought a dramatic expansion in women candi-dates, but only a small increase in the number elected. Simu-lations of alternative electoral outcomes indicate only minor impact due to the shift from Liberal to Conservative gov-ernments. Women candidates from all major parties are found to have been similarly successful as men with the same party and incumbency status. Analysis of the candi-date-pool composition reveals that there were too few new women candidates in 2000 even to maintain the status quo in the House. Increases in 2004 and 2006 brought candida-cies into balance with the House composition. In 2008 the recruitment rate exceeded the House proportion meaning-fully. Since the Conservatives caught up part-way to the other parties in nominating new women candidates in 2008, the gender composition of the House became far less sensi-tive to voters’ partisan preferences than was the case earlier. The results show that the flat numbers elected arose not from stagnation in recruitment of new women candidates, but rather from two relatively large fluctuations: a cross-party collapse in 2000, followed by a cross-party resurgence. Women’s share of non-incumbent major-party candidacies and turned-over seats nearly doubled over the eight-year period, both reaching the one-third mark for the first time in 2008. This cross-party resurgence is shown to have carried over to the 2011 election.
Variation of radiation-sensitivity of neural stem and progenitor cell populations within the developing mouse brain

Abstract Purpose: We investigated the DNA damage response (DDR) of fetal neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPC), since exposure to ionizing radiation can severely impair the brain development. Material and methods: We compared apoptosis induction in the dorsal telencephalon and the lateral ganglionic eminences (LGE) of mouse embryos after an in utero irradiation. We used two thymidine analogs, together with the physical position of nuclei within brain structures, to determine the fate of irradiated NSPC. Results: NSPC did not activate an apparent protein 21(p21)- dependent G1/S checkpoint within the LGE as their counterparts within the dorsal telencephalon. However, the levels of radiation-induced apoptosis differed between the two telencephalic regions, due to the high radiation sensitivity of intermediate progenitors of the LGE. Besides radial glia cells, that function as neural stem cells, were more resistant and were reoriented toward self-renewing within hours following irradiation. Conclusions: The lack of the p21-dependent-cell cycle arrest at the G1/S transition appears to be a general feature of NSPC in the developing brain. However, we found variation of radiation-response in function of the types of NSPC. Factors involved in DDR and those involved in the regulation of neurogenesis are intricately linked in determining the cell fate after irradiations.
Monitoring of Pesticide Residues in Commonly Used Fruits in Hyderabad Region, Pakistan

A market based survey was carried out to evaluate the level of 26 pesticides in some commonly used fruits in Hyderabad region, Pakistan. Gas chromatography coupled with micro electron capture detector was used to assess the levels of pesticide residues. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was also applied for the confirmation of results. Out of total 131 analyzed samples, 53 (40%) were found contaminated with pesticide residues while only 3 (2%) samples were exceeded the MRLs of some pesticides. Chlorpyrifos and dieldrin were detected in almost all analyzed samples. Residues of chlorpyrifos (1256 µg/kg) and endosulfan sulfate (1236 µg/kg) were found higher in orange and apple samples, respectively. The findings of this study provided important data about contamination of pesticide residue in some fruits sold in Hyderabad, Pakistan, and recommended that monitoring studies should be expanded to other fruits grown in different agro climatic regions, which may serve as basis for future policy about the standards and quality control of pesticides.
Low phase noise push-push VCO using microstrip square open loop multiple split ring resonator and rat race coupler

In this paper, a novel low phase noise push-push voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) using the microstrip square open loop multiple split ring resonator (SRR) and rat race coupler is presented. The microstrip square open loop multiple SRR has large coupling coefficient value, which makes high quality (Q) factor value, so has reduced the phase noise of VCO. The rat race coupler shows slightly higher transmission compared to Wilkinson combiner and is, therefore, used instead of Wilkinson combiner for improving the performances of VCO. The proposed push-push VCO has the phase noise of −128.33 ∼ −126.00 dBc/Hz at 100 kHz in the tuning range of 5.744 ∼ 5.864 GHz.
Reduction of image noise in low tube current dynamic CT myocardial perfusion imaging using HYPR processing: a time-attenuation curve analysis.

PURPOSE This study describes a HighlY constrained backPRojection (HYPR) image processing method for the reduction of image noise in low tube current time-resolved CT myocardial perfusion scans. The effect of this method on myocardial time-attenuation curve noise and fidelity is evaluated in an animal model, using varying levels of tube current. METHODS CT perfusion scans of four healthy pigs (42-59 kg) were acquired at 500, 250, 100, 50, 25, and 10 mA on a 64-slice scanner (4 cm axial coverage, 120 kV, 0.4 s∕rotation, 50 s scan duration). For each scan a sequence of ECG-gated images centered on 75% R-R was reconstructed using short-scan filtered back projection (FBP). HYPR processing was applied to the scans acquired at less than 500 mA using parameters designed to maintain the voxel noise level in the 500-mA FBP images. The processing method generates a series of composite images by averaging over a sliding time window and then multiplies the composite images by weighting images to restore temporal fidelity to the image sequence. HYPR voxel noise relative to FBP noise was measured in AHA myocardial segment numbers 1, 5, 6, and 7 at each mA. To quantify the agreement between HYPR and FBP time-attenuation curves (TACs), Bland-Altman analysis was performed on TACs measured in full myocardial segments. The relative degree of TAC fluctuation in smaller subvolumes was quantified by calculating the root mean square deviation of a TAC about the gamma variate curve fit to the TAC data. RESULTS HYPR image sequences were produced using 2, 7, and 20 beat composite windows for the 250, 100, and 50 mA scans, respectively. At 25 and 10 mA, all available beats were used in the composite (41-60; average 50). A 7-voxel-wide 3D cubic filter kernel was used to form weighting images. The average ratio of HYPR voxel noise to 500-mA FBP voxel noise was 1.06, 1.10, 0.97, 1.11, and 2.15 for HYPR scans at 250, 100, 50, 25, and 10 mA. The average limits-of-agreement between HYPR and FBP TAC values measured 0.02+∕-0.91, 0.04+∕-1.92, 0.19+∕-1.59, 1.13+∕-4.22, and 1.07+∕-6.37 HU (mean difference +∕-1.96 SD). The HYPR image subvolume that yielded a fixed level of TAC fluctuations was smaller, on average, than the FBP subvolume determined at the same mA. CONCLUSIONS HYPR processing is a feasible method for generating low noise myocardial perfusion data from a low-mA time-resolved CT myocardial perfusion scan. The method is applicable to current clinical scanners and uses conventional image reconstructions as input data.
Cytolethal Distending Toxin (CDT)-Negative Campylobacter jejuni Strains and Anti-CDT Neutralizing Antibodies Are Induced during Human Infection but Not during Colonization in Chickens

ABSTRACT The cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) of Campylobacter jejuni was detectable, using an in vitro assay, in most but not all of 24 strains tested. The reason for the absence of toxin activity in these naturally occurring CDT-negative C. jejuni strains was then investigated at the genetic level. CDT is encoded by three highly conserved genes, cdtA, -B, and -C. In the CDT-negative strains, two types of mutation were identified. The CDT activities of C. jejuni strains possessing both types of mutation were successfully complemented with the functional genes of C. jejuni 11168. The first type of mutation comprised a 667-bp deletion across cdtA and cdtB and considerable degeneration in the remainder of the cdt locus. Using a PCR technique to screen for this deletion, this mutation occurred in fewer than 3% of 147 human, veterinary, and environmental strains tested. The second type of mutation involved at least four nonsynonymous nucleotide changes, but only the replacement of proline with serine at CdtB position 95 was considered important for CDT activity. This was confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis. This type of mutation also occurred in fewer than 3% of strains as determined using a LightCycler biprobe assay. The detection of two CDT-negative clinical isolates raised questions about the role of CDT in some cases of human campylobacteriosis. To determine if anti-CDT antibodies are produced in human infection, a toxin neutralization assay was developed and validated using rabbit antisera. Pooled human sera from infected patients neutralized the toxin, indicating expression and immunogenicity during infection. However, no neutralizing antibodies were detected in colonized chickens despite the expression of CDT in the avian gut as indicated by reverse transcription-PCR.
Root colonization and systemic spreading of Azoarcus sp. strain BH72 in grasses

The invasive properties of Azoarcus sp. strain BH72, an endorhizospheric isolate of Kallar grass, on gnotobiotically grown seedlings of Oryza sativa IR36 and Leptochloa fusca (L.) Kunth were studied. Additionally, Azoarcus spp. were localized in roots of field-grown Kallar grass. To facilitate localization and to assure identity of bacteria, genetically engineered microorganisms expressing beta-glucuronidase were also used as inocula. beta-Glucuronidase staining indicated that the apical region of the root behind the meristem was the most intensively colonized. Light and electron microscopy showed that strain BH72 penetrated the rhizoplane preferentially in the zones of elongation and differentiation and colonized the root interior inter- and intracellularly. In addition to the root cortex, stelar tissue was also colonized; bacteria were found in the xylem. No evidence was obtained that Azoarcus spp. could reside in living plant cells; rather, plant cells were apparently destroyed after bacteria had penetrated the cell wall. A common pathogenicity test on tobacco leaves provided no evidence that representative strains of Azoarcus spp. are phytopathogenic. Compared with the control, inoculation with strain BH72 significantly promoted growth of rice seedlings. This effect was reversed when the plant medium was supplemented with malate (0.2 g/liter). N2 fixation was apparently not involved, because the same response was obtained with a nifK mutant of strain BH72, which has a Nif- phenotype. Also, Western blot (immunoblot) analysis of protein extracts from rice seedlings gave no indication that nitrogenase was present. PCR and Western immunoblotting, using primers specific for eubacteria and antibodies recognizing type-specific antigens, respectively, indicated that strain BH72 could colonize rice plants systemically, probably mediated by longitudinal spreading through vessels.
Challenges and prospects for monoclonal antibodies in China

The technology of monoclonal antibodies has been developed since the 1990s and is attracting more and more attention in China during the 21st century. The first monoclonal antibody product was introduced by the Chinese local producer in 1999, and presently seven products are listed, of which three are humanized products. There are several technical constraints that are affecting the development of monoclonal antibodies in China: limitations to the number of drug targets, restricted biological diffusion, limitations to administration routes, and species-specific issues, as well as Chinaâ€™s own limitations in production and R&D capabilities. This article provides suggestions relevant for the Chinese development of monoclonal antibodies. In the long run China is expected to catch up with its own technology roadmap.
Needle aspiration of the breast

Using a 20‐ or 22‐gauge needle and a 20.0 ml syringe attached to a commercially available syringe pistol, the author performed 853 aspiration biopsies of palpable breast masses during the 9‐year period 1974 through 1982. There were 269 diagnoses of breast cancer, 42 suspected cases of cancer, and 496 aspirates reported as benign tumor, inflammation, or another non‐neoplastic diagnosis. Twenty‐seven cases of carcinoma were not diagnosed from the aspiration biopsy sample. There was one false‐positive diagnosis of carcinoma in a patient whose tumor was a cystosarcoma phylloides, benign variant. Forty‐six aspirates were considered unsatisfactory, usually because of an insufficient cellular sample. Sensitivity for the diagnosis of breast cancer was 89.0%, while specificity for the absence of breast cancer was 97.0%. Only 13 cases in the group reported as suspicious for carcinoma were proven not to be breast cancer after excisional biopsy and histologic study. The procedure is free of complications, convenient, and cost effective. It provides for evaluation of the patient who has breast cancer on an outpatient basis as well as a full discussion of treatment options prior to intervention.
Biological oxygen demand (BOD) soft measuring based on dynamic neural network (DNN): A simulation study

Rapid, accurate and reliable measurements of biological oxygen demand (BOD) are a key basis for monitoring and controlling wastewater treatment processes (WWTP). A kind of soft measurement based on the dynamic neural network (DNN) is proposed in this paper, which can be used to monitor and model the important parameters of the wastewater treatment process on-line. The main parts of the soft measurement are: soft measurement model design and dynamic neural network design. The results of the simulations demonstrate that this soft measurement can measure the BOD concentration on-line, it is provided with real-time ability, good stability, and high precision and so on.
Public policy processes and the environment: implications for a sustainable future

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the roots of environment policy through a review and application of policy literature, portraying a disjointed process worried with procedure over substance and too often removed from the reality of environment degradation and attainment of sustainability. Design/methodology/approach – The paper involves literature review and application of policy literature to sustainability. Findings – Government is responsible for protecting the environment in the face of rapid industrial growth, but ineffectiveness in and misunderstanding of the policy process, confounded by a multitude of actors and interests, and, often inadequate resourcing, threaten the possibility of sustainability. Research limitations/implications – Policy literature is voluminous. This paper seeks to apply public policy literature to the concept of sustainability, but a comprehensive review of all literature would be beyond the scope of a journal article. Practical implications – There is a sep.
Genetic analysis of the alginate biosynthetic gene cluster of Pseudomonas aeruginosa shows evidence of an operonic structure

Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa causing pulmonary infections in cystic fibrosis patients have an unusual mucoid phenotype because of production of the capsule‐like exopolysaccharide, alginate. Transcriptional activation of algD, the first gene of a large alginate biosynthetic gene cluster, is associated with conversion to the alginate‐producing (Alg+) phenotype. In this study, we examined the regulation of alginate genes immediately downstream of algD. Mutants of the Alg+ strain FRD1 were constructed by gene replacement with defined Tn501 (8.2 kb) insertions in the alginate biosynthetic gene cluster, resulting in an Alg− phenotype. The Alg+ phenotype of these mutants was restored by integration of narrow‐host‐range plasmids containing DNA fragments from P. aeruginosa that reconstructed a continuous alginate gene cluster. A broad‐host‐range plasmid containing the entire alginate gene cluster except for the terminal gene, algA was unable to complement an aIG::Tn501 mutant unless algA was transcribed from a second plasmid. This indicated that any Tn501 insertion in the cluster was polar on downstream alginate genes. Northern blot hybridization experiments also showed that a transposon insertion downstream of algD adversely affected algG and algA transcription. These results provided evidence that the alginate biosynthetic gene cluster has an operonic structure and is cotranscribed from the algD promoter.
Fiscal Stimulus in the Form of Lower Payroll Taxes

Pete Klenow received his Ph.D. from Stanford University, where he is currently Landau Professor of Economics and the Gordon and Betty Moore Fellow at SIEPR. He is also a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research, for whom he organizes conferences on Economic Growth. He is a consultant to the Federal Reserve Banks of several major cities, a member of the World Bank’s Microeconomics of Growth Advisory Board, and Macroeconomics Program Director for the International Growth Centre in London. Klenow specializes in macroeconomics, with emphasis on prices, productivity and economic growth.
Deriving a Methodology for Implementing CAPM Systems

A methodology for implementing CAPM systems is described. The research was motivated by evidence of dissatisfaction with the performance of current systems, and the existence of no generic methodology. A superposition process was employed. Areas of functional management were explored for sources of implementation methodologies and yielded a number of attributes for successful implementation. The emergent structure was then validated against field studies. The result, a methodology for improving control, is a three‐level hierarchy. The first level assesses the ability of the organisation to absorb change. The next considers the options for better control. The lowest level is concerned with implementation.
Offshore Factories and Economic Development: Is There a Path From Sweatshops to Indigenous Innovation?

ABSTRACT Whether or not local economies can benefit from investments that seek to take advantage of a local comparative advantage (e.g., cheap labor) is the question that is addressed in this article. Through multiple case studies of Moroccan companies operating in the textile sector, the paper shows that the link between low labor cost exploitation and economic development is an eclectic phenomenon. The best variable to explain whether or not this link exists is the development of human capital in local factories. The case studies show that suppliers' development initiatives in supply chain management and the vision of local managers/entrepreneurs are more effective mechanisms for growth and development than a “traditional” program of Foreign Direct Investment where knowledge is withheld by the investor. The implications are that management capabilities in emerging economies, such as those of Africa, can be developed even through investments that do not appear, at first sight, to be so appealing for host countries.
Effects of financial structure and instruments on income of low income credit unions

The effects of loan to asset ratio, investment to asset ratio, management composition and delinquency rate on income to asset ratio of low income credit unions (LICUs) were evaluated. Specific attention was given to risk income behaviours of LICUs. It was found that loan to asset ratio positively influenced the magnitude of income to asset ratio, while the investment to asset ratio had a negative effect on the income to asset ratio. LICUs that employed managers had higher incomes to asset ratios than those with volunteer managers serving in this capacity. The delinquency rate and income to asset ratio were positively related, but negatively related to delinquency rate squared indicating that when the delinquency rate increased at an increasing rate the income to asset ratio fell. LICUs portrayed three risk behavioural patterns, each associated with size or income of the organization: (1) small LICUs had high risk behaviour, (2) middle income LICUs were risk neutral, and (3) large LICUs accepted higher risks as income increased.
A Wnt/Notch/Pax7 signaling network supports tissue integrity in tongue development

The tongue is one of the major structures involved in human food intake and speech. Tongue malformations such as aglossia, microglossia, and ankyloglossia are congenital birth defects, greatly affecting individuals' quality of life. However, the molecular basis of the tissue-tissue interactions that ensure tissue morphogenesis to form a functional tongue remains largely unknown. Here we show that ShhCre-mediated epithelial deletion of Wntless (Wls), the key regulator for intracellular Wnt trafficking, leads to lingual hypoplasia in mice. Disruption of epithelial Wnt production by Wls deletion in epithelial cells led to a failure in lingual epidermal stratification and loss of the lamina propria and the underlying superior longitudinal muscle in developing mouse tongues. These defective phenotypes resulted from a reduction in epithelial basal cells positive for the basal epidermal marker protein p63 and from impaired proliferation and differentiation in connective tissue and paired box 3 (Pax3)- and Pax7-positive muscle progenitor cells. We also found that epithelial Wnt production is required for activation of the Notch signaling pathway, which promotes proliferation of myogenic progenitor cells. Notch signaling in turn negatively regulated Wnt signaling during tongue morphogenesis. We further show that Pax7 is a direct Notch target gene in the embryonic tongue. In summary, our findings demonstrate a key role for the lingual epithelial signals in supporting the integrity of the lamina propria and muscular tissue during tongue development and that a Wnt/Notch/Pax7 genetic hierarchy is involved in this development.
Building Bridges to the Future: Mapping the Territory for Developing Social and Environmental Accountability

Social and environmental accounting research has been contributing to the accounting and management research literatures for several decades. Yet it has been marginalised by the majority of accounting and management researchers in their focus upon economic development and corporate financial management. The emergence of global warming and carbon emissions onto the centre stage of public debate has put social and environmental accountability in the spotlight and begun to attract greater numbers of researchers and journals to the social and environmental research waterhole. This paper reflects on the role of the research journal as a purveyor and shaper of social and environmental accountability research, now and into the future. It cautions against the distortion of research agendas occasioned by governmental research assessments, simplistic economics-focused journal rankings and commercial publisher-driven citation indexes. Quality in publishing is called upon to be reconstructed so as to liberate rather than constrain research in this field, while critique and engagement are proposed for serious development and co-habitation. A commitment to breaking out of traditional research design strait-jackets in search of novelty and innovation is advocated as a bridge to the future contribution of social and environmental research to policy, practice, society and ecology.