Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Effect of diisobutyl phthalate on antioxidase activity and DNA damage in mice].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the oxidative damage of mice induced by diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP) and the mechanism of free radical oxidative damage caused by DiBP. METHODS Sixty KunMing mice were divided by weight into 5 groups after accommodation to the experimental animal room for 3 days. The control group and 4 DiBP groups, group I, II, III and IV, were given DiBP in corn oil by gavages at the dosage of 0, 50, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg respectively. The mice were fed with normal diets and drinking water freely for 8 weeks. By the end of the experiment, the comet assay of blood and SOD, GSH-Px, MDA and 8-OHdG of liver were tested. RESULTS The activities of SOD and GSH-Px in DiBP groups were significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.05); the MDA contents of DiBP group III and group IV were significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.05) and the 8-OHdG content of group II was significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.01). The comet assay showed that the oxidative damage of DNA in DiBP groups was significant in comparison with the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Oxidative stress induced by diisobutyl phthalate can decrease the activities of antioxidative enzymes and result in oxidative damage of tissues.
Prostacyclin therapy before pulmonary thromboendarterectomy in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

OBJECTIVES The continuous IV administration of prostacyclin improves pulmonary hemodynamics and prognosis in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension. We investigated whether the administration of prostacyclin therapy to patients before they undergo pulmonary thromboendarterectomy ameliorates pulmonary hypertension in patients with the most severe form of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). METHODS Of the 33 patients with CTEPH who were candidates for pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, 12 patients with severe pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary vascular resistance, > 1,200 dyne. s. cm(-5)) received IV prostacyclin prior to undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. Right heart catheterization and plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurements were repeated at baseline, immediately before surgery, and 1 month after surgery. RESULTS During a mean (+/- SEM) follow-up period of 46 +/- 12 days, the IV administration of prostacyclin resulted in a 28% decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance (1,510 +/- 53 to 1,088 +/- 58 dyne. s. cm(-5); p < 0.001) before surgery. Prostacyclin therapy markedly decreased plasma BNP level (547 +/- 112 to 188 +/- 30 pg/mL; p < 0.01), suggesting improvement in right heart failure. Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy caused a further reduction of pulmonary vascular resistance (302 +/- 47 dyne. s. cm(-5)) and plasma BNP levels (60 +/- 11 pg/mL) compared to each preoperative value (p < 0.05). Operative mortality rates were relatively low (8.3%) in patients with the most severe form of CTEPH. CONCLUSION The IV administration of prostacyclin caused beneficial hemodynamic effects in patients with severe CTEPH and may serve as pretreatment for patients undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.
Decentralized control of multiple mobile manipulators handling a single object in coordination

In this paper, we propose a decentralized control algorithm of multiple mobile manipulators handling a single object in coordination. In this algorithm, the grasping point of each robot is controlled as if it has a caster-like dynamics in 3-D space, and each robot handles a single object in coordination with other robots without using the geometric relations among the robots. The proposed control algorithm is experimentally applied to three mobile manipulators, and the validity of the proposed control algorithm is illustrated by the experimental results.
Pushing the Envelope: Creating Public Value in the Labor Market: An Empirical Study on the Role of Middle Managers

Abstract This article analyzes public value creation by the German Federal Labour Agency (FLA) from a middle management perspective. We relate the role description of a public value manager by Mark Moore with middle management research inspired by Floyd and Wooldridge. As a result of a case study we conceptualize critical experience of middle management and its antecedents in balancing different value dimensions. The conflict potential is seen less in managing different expectations from the top and the front line, but rather in enacting an integrative public value manager role itself which requires significant adaptive and value-balancing work customarily attributed to professional (private) leadership.
Patients with achalasia lack nitric oxide synthase in the gastro‐oesophageal junction

Abstract. The abnormal function of the lower oesophageal sphincter in achalasia is likely to be due to impaired nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) inhibitory input. Since recent studies in animals suggest that nitric oxide (NO) is implicated physiologically in the inhibitory responses of the lower oesophageal sphincter, we have investigated whether the synthesis of NO is altered in the gastro‐oesophageal junction of patients with achalasia. NO synthase activity was investigated in samples of tissue from the gastro‐oesophageal junction obtained during surgery in eight patients with typical achalasia and six non‐achalasic controls who underwent oesophagectomy for reasons other than sphincter dysfunction. The NO synthase activity was determined by the transformation of 14C‐L‐arginine into 14C‐L‐citrulline in tissue homogenates. In addition, immunohistochemical staining of the tissues was performed using a polyclonal antibody raised against a peptide sequence of rat brain NO synthase. Furthermore, the relaxant response to an exogenous NO donor (sodium nitroprusside, SNP) was measured in vitro in muscle strips obtained from two patients with achalasia and in two non‐achalasic controls. NO synthase activity was detected in each of the samples obtained from six control patients (0.59 ±0.21 pmol mg‐1 min‐1; mean æ). By contrast, none of the samples obtained from the eight patients with achalasia had any detectable NO synthase activity. Immunohistochemical studies confirmed the presence of NO synthase in the myenteric plexus of the gastro‐oesophageal junction of control patients and its absence in achalasia. SNP relaxed muscle strips precontracted with bethanechol in both control samples and those from patients with achalasia. We suggest that the absence of NO synthase in the myenteric plexus of the gastro‐oesophageal junction explains the impaired function of the lower oesophageal sphincter in achalasia.
Employee Artefacts on the Balance Sheet: Model Illustration and Implications

If we cannot explain goodwill and potential goodwill in asset terms, they do not make sense. A partial explanation can be found in human assets or employee artefacts. A balance sheet model including employee artefacts is illustrated, and the consequences on the balance sheet and related financial key ratios are substantial. The inclusion of employee artefacts on the balance sheet (1) seems to make sense, (2) but it is still unclear if the inclusion will make organizations “better. ” Even though the development of the balance sheet model is done in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, it seems to (3) challenge the (elite) social order in organizations.
Stability criteria for dissipative semi-linear distributed parameter systems with application

The concept of asymptotic stability is studied for a class of dissipative semi-linear infinite-dimensional Banach state space systems with nonlinearity defined on a convex subset of the state space. Stability criteria are established, which are based on a weaker technical condition of the m-dissipativity. These theoretical results are applied to a class of transport-reaction processes. Different types of nonlinearity are studied by adapting the criteria given in the early portions of the paper.
Intonation influences how children and adults interpret sarcasm*

ABSTRACT Adults distinguish sarcasm from literal language according to intonation involving a reduction in fundamental frequency (F0). We examined whether children's and adults' interpretation of a sarcastic speaker's belief, attitude, and humor was affected by degree of F0 reduction by presenting five- to six-year-olds and adults with sarcastic and literal criticisms with a small, medium, or large mean F0 reduction. Children and adults were more accurate in attributing the speaker's belief and intent for sarcastic criticisms for large F0 reductions compared to small reductions. These results show that F0 reduction is a helpful cue to sarcasm interpretation for both children and adults.
Openness and Crowdfunding

ii Resumo iii Acknowledgements iv Introduction 6 Aims and research question 6 Literature Review 8 Openness 8 Crowdfunding 9 Crowdfunding Platforms 11 Motivations for participation 11 Method and Data 14 Variables 14 Analysis 17 Results 18 Discussion 20 Conclusions and Future Research 21 Conclusion 21 Limitations 22 Future Research 22 References 24 Appendixes 26 Appendix 1: List of Tables 26 Appendix 2: List of the 274 platforms used in the present study 26 Appendix 3: Number of platforms by country 28 Appendix 4: About Alexa.com 29 Catolica-Lisbon School of Business and Economics Joao Amaral
Straightforward MIA‐QSTR evaluation of environmental toxicities of aromatic aldehydes to Tetrahymena pyriformis

Aldehydes are toxic environmental contaminants which cause severe health hazards. There is a growing need by industries and regulatory agencies for the development of tools able to assess the potential hazardous effects of chemicals on living organisms. In this background, multivariate image analysis combined with quantitative structure–toxicity relationships (MIA-QSTR) was used to evaluate the toxicity of aromatic aldehydes to Tetrahymena pyriformis. The techniques of genetic algorithm–partial least squares (GA-PLS) were applied effectively as MIA descriptor selection and mapping tools. In MIA-QSTR evaluation, pixels of 2D images of chemical structures could be used to recognize physicochemical information and predict changes in the toxicities. The resulting MIA-QSTR explains 90.3% leave-one-out predicted variance and 93.1% external predicted variance. The MIA-QSTR/GA-PLS performances were validated using various evaluation techniques such as cross-validation, applicability domain and Y-scrambling procedures, suggesting that the present methodology together with mechanistic interpretation may be useful to evaluate toxicity, safety and risk assessment of toxic environmental contaminants.
Sequential decoding for discrete input memoryless channels

A scheme is described which sequentially encodes the output of a discrete letter source into the input symbols of a discrete input memoryless channel, with adjacent channel symbols mutually constrained over a length, n . The encoder permits desired channel input symbol probabilities to be approximated closely. Decoding at the receiver is accomplished with delay n by means of sequential tests on potential transmitted sequences with reject criteria set so that incorrect sequences are likely to be rejected at short lengths and the correct sequence is likely to be accepted. Averaged over a suitably defined ensemble of encoders, the decoding scheme has an average probability of error with an upper limit whose logarithm approaches -nE(R) for large n. E(R) is dependent only on the data rate R . For a channel symmetric at its output with equally likely inputs, the exponent E(R) is optimum for rates greater than a rate called R_{crit} . For such symmetric channels, a computation cutoff rate R_{comp} is defined. For R , the average number of decoding computations does not grow exponentially with n , but algebraically. R_{comp} is also defined for an asymmetric channel. In this case too, the average number of decoding computations grows algebraically with n for R .
Are Family Firms Born or Made? An Exploratory Investigation

Do businesses tend to be born as family firms or do they become family firms at a later stage in their development? The question has important implications for family business studies. In this article we examine this question using data extracted from survey responses of small business clients of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program in the United States. The results suggest that most family firms are born that way but that a significant number of firms do arrive there through time. The relationship between age and family involvement appears to be concave—the rate of increase in family involvement slows as family firms become older and at some point family involvement may even decline.
Driveway injuries in children: risk factors, morbidity, and mortality.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Injuries that occur around the driveway are not typically regarded as reportable to the police and thus are often underrecognized. The aim of this study was to characterize the pattern and consequences of motor vehicle collisions that occur in the driveway. METHODS Over the past 13 years, 64 patients admitted to the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh sustained motor vehicle-related injuries in a driveway. These injuries resulted from a vehicle driven by an adult driver striking a child (group 1) or a child shifting an idle vehicle out of gear (group 2). We compared demographic variables and outcome measures between the 2 groups. RESULTS There was no difference in gender, injury pattern, Injury Severity Score, length of stay, or operations performed between the groups. Patients in group 1 were younger, smaller, had a lower Glasgow Coma Scale, and had poorer outcomes. The majority of collisions (~65%) in group 1 resulted from a truck or sport-utility vehicle going in reverse. CONCLUSIONS Younger children are more severely injured in driveway-related crashes, which are most likely to be caused by a truck or sport-utility vehicle going in reverse. These vehicles should be equipped with additional safety features such as extended mirrors to visualize small children.
PREVALENCE OF COMPLICATIONS IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS PATIENTS

Background: Intermittent claudication mainly attributable to peripheral arterial disease is the experiencing of pain in legs, especially calf muscles, during walking and diabetic peripheral neuropathies are the commonest sequelae of diabetes mellitus. Diabetic peripheral neuropathies affect up to 50% of US patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The purpose of the current study was to know about the prevalence of complications in type 2 diabetics in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: The study was conducted at Shaikh Zayed Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore, from 2008 to 2010. A total of 150 patients, aged â‰¥40 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus, were selected from the Diabetic Clinic, Cardiology Unit, and Biochemistry Department of the Institute. The subjects were equally divided into uncomplicated (n=75) and complicated (n=75) groups. Blood pressures, ABI, BMI and neurological symptoms of each patient were recorded consequently. The â€˜Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaireâ€™ was used to assess intermittent claudication. The urine of each patient was tested for microalbuminuria to label him as complicated type 2 diabetic or otherwise. Results: In both groups about 8% individuals experienced generalised pain and 3% felt numbness. Tingling sensations in the uncomplicated group were experienced by none but 2.7% of the individuals in the complicated group complained about the ailment. No patient was suffering from intermittent claudication in the uncomplicated group but 6.7% of the individuals in the complicated group reported the problem. This was the only complaint where the difference between the groups was significant statistically (p<0.05). Conclusion: The occurrence of complications particularly intermittent claudication in type 2 diabetics is more frequent compared to uncomplicated type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Pak J Physiol 2013;9(2):35â€“7
PI 3‐kinase is a dual specificity enzyme: autoregulation by an intrinsic protein‐serine kinase activity.

Phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI 3‐kinase) has a regulatory 85 kDa adaptor subunit whose SH2 domains bind phosphotyrosine in specific recognition motifs, and a catalytic 110 kDa subunit. Mutagenesis of the p110 subunit, within a sequence motif common to both protein and lipid kinases, demonstrates a novel intrinsic protein kinase activity which phosphorylates the p85 subunit on serine at a stoichiometry of approximately 1 mol of phosphate per mol of p85. This protein‐serine kinase activity is detectable only upon high affinity binding of the p110 subunit with its unique substrate, the p85 subunit. Tryptic phosphopeptide mapping revealed that the same major peptide was phosphorylated in p85 alpha both in vivo in cultured cells and in the purified recombinant enzyme. N‐terminal sequence and mass analyses were used to identify Ser608 as the major phosphorylation site on p85 alpha. Phosphorylation of the p85 subunit at this serine causes an 80% decrease in PI 3‐kinase activity, which can subsequently be reversed upon treatment with protein phosphatase 2A. These results have implications for the role of inter‐subunit serine phosphorylation in the regulation of the PI 3‐kinase in vivo.
United States, Globalization and the International System

The belief that globalization has resulted in a multipolar global village transcending political, territorial, economic and socio-cultural particularities seems to be mistaken. On the contrary, it has been a convenient metaphor for the US to promote its own political and economic thinking on all nations at the expense of their cultural, social, economic and political diversity through the instrument of Transnational Corporations (TNCs) and the process of homogenization of production, labour and trade. The developing countries have remained captive to the wishes of these US-based corporations. Globalization has not meant more democratization, freedom, independence or emergence of a multipolar world and regional powers. Instead, it has become an expedient euphemism for the US to decide the economy of the entire globe by its own domestic imperatives of providing a luxurious life style to its own citizens. The disintegration of Soviet Union and the end of Cold War, instead of ushering in a new world order, has resulted in the emergence of the US as a great leviathan, which by virtue of its own military prowess feels free to spread auits own liberal market economy binding all the nations of the world to all its nuances at the cost of their independence and sovereignty. American foreign policy behaviour with respect to Afghanistan, Iraq and global climate change negotiations is a testimony to this fact.
RISK LOAN PORTFOLIO OPTIMIZATION MODEL BASED ON CVAR RISK MEASURE

In order to achieve commercial banks liquidity, safety and profitability objective requirements, loan portfolio risk analysis based optimization decisions are rational allocation of assets. The risk analysis and asset allocation are the key technology of banking and risk management. The aim of this paper, build a loan portfolio optimization model based on risk analysis. Loan portfolio rate of return by using Value-at-Risk (VaR) and Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR) constraint optimization decision model reflects the bank's risk tolerance, and the potential loss of direct control of the bank. In this paper, it analyze a general risk management model applied to portfolio problems with VaR and CVaR risk measures by using Using the Lagrangian Algorithm. This paper solves the highly difficult problem by matrix operation method. Therefore, the combination of this paper is easy understanding the portfolio problems with VaR and CVaR risk model is a hyperbola in mean-standard deviation space. It is easy calculation in proposed method.
Innovation in the experience economy: a taxonomy of innovation organisations

This article theoretically discusses innovation in the experience economy and presents a taxonomy of experience firms according to their dynamic drivers. On the basis of the taxonomy, more principal innovation lines are suggested. Three central issues are discussed. The three issues are: society’s demand for experiences, the company’s effort to produce innovations and technology (by which is meant information and communication technology (ICT)). These issues are crucial to understanding the evolving experience economy and the role and character of innovation in this economy. Finally, whether innovation systems can be found in the experience economy is discussed.
The Impact of Distance to Nearest Education Institution on the Post-compulsory Education Participation Decision

This paper uses data sources from England with the unique capacity to measure distances between home addresses and education institutions, to investigate, for the first time, the effect that such distance has on an individual’s post-compulsory education participation decision. The results show that there is a small overall effect. However, when attention is focused on young people who are on the margin of participating in post-compulsory education (according to their prior attainment and family background) and when post-compulsory education is distinguished by whether it leads to academic or vocational qualifications, then greater distance to nearest education institution is seen to have a significant impact on the decision to continue in full–time post-compulsory education.
Application of games with incomplete information for pricing electricity in deregulated power pools

The authors present a game theory approach to the problem of pricing electricity in deregulated marketplaces. They assume that an independent operator receives bids by pool participants and defines transactions among participants by looking for the minimum price that satisfies the demand in the pool. The competition among pool participants is modeled as a noncooperative game with incomplete information. They assume that each pool participant knows its own operation costs but does not know his opponents' operation costs. The game, with incomplete information, is transformed into a game with complete, but imperfect, information and solved using the Nash equilibrium idea. The approach presented in this paper is geared towards providing support for pricing electricity in deregulated pools.
An Application of Unconditional Quantile Regression to Cigarette Taxes

This study investigates heterogeneous response to state cigarette tax increases using unconditional quantile regression (UQR). We make two contributions to the empirical policy analysis literature. First, we argue that UQR provides more policy-relevant information than conventional quantile regression in most empirical state policy analyses. Second, we document cigarette tax elasticity across a sample of adult smokers in the Current Population Survey Tobacco Use Supplements between 1992 and 2011. Our ordinary least squares regression show an imprecise negative relationship between taxes and cigarettes smoked in the past 30 days, while UQR reveals a U-shaped relationship: Only moderate smokers reduce their smoking following a cigarette tax increase, and the magnitude of the effect is small. A $1.00 (135 percent) increase in the cigarette tax leads to a 3.5 percent reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked in the past 30 days among the most responsive smokers (implied tax elasticity = −0.03).