Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serotonergic Modulation of Crayfish Hindgut

The crayfish hindgut is a morphologically differentiated tube that varies along its length in the distribution of muscles and glands, contractile properties, serotonergic innervation, patterns of 5-HT receptor expression, and sensitivity to serotonin (5-HT). Anatomical differences divide the hindgut into five distinct segments along its length. Spontaneous pulsatile contractions produced by the isolated hindgut decrease in force and increase in frequency along the anterior-posterior axis. Central input to the hindgut comes from a large cluster of 5-HT-immunoreactive neurons in the terminal abdominal ganglion that form a large nerve plexus on the hindgut. 5-HT1α and 5-HT2β receptors vary in their distribution along the hindgut, and are associated with longitudinal and circular muscles and with axon collaterals of the 5-HT-immunoreactive neurons. Application of 30 nmol l−1 to 1 μmol l−1 5-HT to rostral, middle, or caudal sections of hindgut produced tension changes that varied with the concentration and section. 5-HT also initiated antiperistaltic waves in the posterior hindgut. These results indicate that 5-HT is an important neuromodulator for initiating contractions and coordinating activity in the different functional compartments along the rostral-to-caudal axis of the hindgut.
The Grand Renaissance Dam and prospects for cooperation on the Eastern Nile

The escalation of tensions between Ethiopia and Egypt over the construction of the Grand Renaissance is at least partly based on a misunderstanding of the nature of the risks this dam poses to Egypt. There is a two-part, win–win deal that can defuse tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia. First, Ethiopia needs to agree with Egypt and Sudan on rules for filling the Grand Renaissance Dam (GRD) reservoir and on operating rules during periods of drought. Second, Egypt needs to acknowledge that Ethiopia has a right to develop its water resources infrastructure for the benefit of its people based on the principle of equitable use, and agree not to block the power trade agreements that Ethiopia needs with Sudan to make the GRD financially viable. Sudan has a big stake in Egyptian–Ethiopian reconciliation over the use of the Nile. Although Sudan’s agricultural and hydropower interests now align with those of Ethiopia, there does not seem to be a formal agreement between Ethiopia and Sudan for the sale of hydropower from the GRD. Because the economic feasibility of the GRD and other Ethiopian hydropower projects will depend on such agreements, Sudan has leverage with both Ethiopia and Egypt to encourage this win–win deal.
Science and technology policies towards research joint ventures

Since the early 1980s, developed country governments have made a strong effort to promote cooperative industrial research. Europe has been at the forefront. The support of international research consortia has been the major funding mechanism of the Framework Programmes on research, technological and development (RTD). Awareness and support for cooperative RTD has also increased at the national level, but there are great policy approach differences between member states, and between Europe and the USA and Japan. An interesting development of the last two decades in Europe has been the increasing convergence of key policy areas at the national level that directly affect the incentives of firms to participate in research partnerships, including competition and intellectual property rights policies. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.
Analysis of 16 different matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1 to MMP-20) in the synovial membrane: different profiles in trauma and rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE To define the pattern of mRNA expression of all human matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) described to date in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and traumatic synovial membrane, in order to differentiate between a physiological tissue remodelling pattern and that associated with inflammatory tissue destruction. METHODS Analysis of SwissProt protein and EMBL/GenBank nucleotide sequence banks, protein sequence alignment, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and nucleotide sequencing were used. RESULTS MMP-2 (gelatinase A), MMP-3 (stromelysin-1), MMP-11 (stromelysin-3) and MMP-19 were constitutively expressed. MMP-1 (fibroblast type collagenase), MMP-9 (gelatinase B) and MMP-14 (MT1-MMP) were expressed in all RA, but only in 55–80% of trauma samples. MMP-13 (collagenase-3) and MMP-15 (MT2-MMP) were expressed exclusively in RA (80–90% of the samples). MMP-20 (enamelysin) was absent and MMP-8 (collagenase-2) was rarely found in RA or trauma. All other MMPs (-7, -10, -12, -16, -17) had an intermediate pattern of expression. CONCLUSIONS Some MMPs without interstitial collagenase activity seem to have a constitutive pattern of expression and probably participate in physiological synovial tissue remodelling. Some MMPs are exclusively associated to RA synovitis, for example, MMP-13, which preferentially degrades type II collagen and aggrecan, and MMP-15, which activates proMMP-2 and proMMP-13 and is involved in tumour necrosis factor α processing. This clear cut rheumatoid/inflammatory MMP profile, more complex than has been previously appreciated, may facilitate inflammatory tissue destruction in RA.
Arabidopsis RETINOBLASTOMA-RELATED Is Required for Stem Cell Maintenance, Cell Differentiation, and Lateral Organ Production[W][OA]

Plant development depends on the balance of stem cell renewal and differentiation in several stem cell niches that is achieved by yet unknown regulatory mechanisms. Using inducible RNA interference-mediated downregulation, Arabidopsis RETINOBLASTOMA-RELATED protein is shown to regulate the proliferation, maintenance, and differentiation of stem cells and organ production from stem cell niches. Several genes involved in the regulation of postembryonic organ initiation and growth have been identified. However, it remains largely unclear how developmental cues connect to the cell cycle. RETINOBLASTOMA RELATED (RBR) is a plant homolog of the tumor suppressor Retinoblastoma (pRb), which is a key regulator of the cell cycle. Using inducible RNA interference (RNAi) against Arabidopsis thaliana RBR (RBRi), we reduced RBR expression levels at different stages of plant development. Conditional reduction or loss of RBR function disrupted cell division patterns, promoted context-dependent cell proliferation, and negatively influenced establishment of cell differentiation. Several lineages of toti- and pluripotent cells, including shoot apical meristem stem cells, meristemoid mother cells, and procambial cells, failed to produce appropriately differentiated cells. Meristem activity was altered, leading to a disruption of the CLAVATA-WUSCHEL feedback loop and inhibition of lateral organ formation. Release of RBR from RNAi downregulation restored meristem activity. Gene profiling analyses soon after RBRi induction revealed that a change in RBR homeostasis is perceived as a stress, even before genes regulated by RBR-E2F become deregulated. The results establish RBR as a key cell cycle regulator required for coordination of cell division, differentiation, and cell homeostasis.
Is there a place for property in the multi‐asset portfolio?

Uses modern portfolio theory and a spreadsheet optimizer to make an ex‐post examination of the strategic diversification effects of including property in a multi‐asset portfolio, using UK appraisal‐based (smoothed) data and several derived desmoothed series. Includes an additional low‐risk asset (cash) to investigate whether property′s place in the portfolio is maintained. In particular, considers the significance of constraining assets to match typical institutional portfolio levels. Concludes that previously supposed benefits of including property are overstated. Property still has a place in an institutional portfolio, but the analyses should not be based simply on the use of appraisal or desmoothed data in a portfolio optimizer without applying appropriate constraints.
Sources and resolution of conflicts in Nigerian artisanal fisheries

The increasing dependence on fisheries as a source of livelihood in the maritime states of Nigeria has been associated with intensive management of available resources and an upsurge of contestation of ownership and use rights. In Ondo and Rivers States, infringements on the rights of ownership and use and violation of resource management rules have been the major sources of conflict associated with the artisanal fisheries. It has been possible to resolve the emerging conflicts through non‐adjudicatory approaches such as negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. In these approaches the organization of conflict resolution is informal and the operational rules are clear, reconciliatory, and easily comprehensible. The strength and resilience of the approaches lie in the cohesiveness of the social, kinship, linguistic, and cultural interconnections among the owners and users of the fishing grounds. Usually, the resolution of conflict is accomplished speedily and openly and the process is relatively inexpensive.
A General Framework for Estimation and Inference of Geographically Weighted Regression Models: 2. Spatial Association and Model Specification Tests

Spatial association effects, perhaps the most important concern in the analysis of spatial data, have been amply studied from a global perspective in the exploratory and modeling domains, and more recently also from a local perspective in the realm of exploratory data analysis. In a local modeling framework, however, the issue of how to detect and model spatial association by using geographically weighted regression (GWR) remains largely unresolved. In this paper we exploit a recent development that casts GWR as a model of locational heterogeneity, to formulate a general model of spatial effects that includes as special cases GWR with a spatially lagged objective variable and GWR with spatial error autocorrelation. The approach also permits the derivation of formal tests against several forms of model misspecification, including locational heterogeneity in global models, and spatial error autocorrelation in GWR models. Application of these results is exemplified with a case study.
Does the ‘organizing model’ represent a credible union renewal strategy?

The organizing model of union renewal is a significant influence for many UK unions. This article recognizes that a focus on the organizing model has made it a useful rhetorical device that has reminded individuals of their shared material interests and helped to generate collective efforts amongst diverse interest groups. That being said, a critical examination calls the rationales for adopting the organizing model, and the concepts that underpin it, into question, and suggests that it represents an inadequate solution to problems generated by the diverse identities of unions operating in different contexts. The conclusion calls into question the extent to which the organizing model can maintain its analytical and practical value to the union-renewal debate.
A single chip broadband noise source for noise measurements at cryogenic temperatures

This paper presents the design and performance of a single chip broadband noise source dedicated for on-chip measurements in a cryogenic environment. The noise source is used to generate the two input noise powers Pc and Ph which are required by the commonly used Y-factor method. High accuracy in temperature control and impedance presented to the device under test is achieved over a wide temperature range from 7 K to 100 K. Noise temperature measurements of a cryogenic low noise amplifier were performed on-chip and show a typical accuracy of ±1 K.
Robust closed-loop global supply chain network design under uncertainty: the case of the medical device industry

Improving performance of global supply chains requires careful consideration of various factors including distance from markets, access to resources, exchange and tax rates, import tariffs, and trade regulations. In this paper, a comprehensive optimization model is proposed to maximise the after-tax profit of a closed-loop global supply chain for medical devices under uncertainty. The uncertainty of the decision-making environment is modelled using the budget of uncertainty concept in interval robust optimization. International financial issues due to the Economic Cooperation Organisation Trade Agreement as well as national regulations including transfer pricing limitations, exchange rates, tax rates, and import tariffs are considered. The proposed model considers various realistic assumptions pertaining to medical device supply chains such as multiple products, multiple periods, multiple echelons, and limited warehousing lifetime. In addition, reverse flows of perished and defective products are considered to address environmental concerns and customers’ requirements as well as to gain economic advantages. To tackle this problem, an efficient memetic algorithm is developed that incorporates adaptive variable neighbourhood search as its local search heuristic. Computational results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed model in dealing with uncertainty in an agile manufacturing context. In addition, several managerial insights are discussed based on the results.
Crowding Out and the Informativeness of Security Prices

Individual investors trade less aggressively on any particular piece of information as more investors observe it. The trades of the new investors observing a piece of information 'crowd out'some of the trades of the old investors who observe that same piece of information. This paper shows that when traders are risk averse, these crowding out effects lead the proportions of traders who choose to observe one signal versus another to differ from the proportions that maximize the informativeness of prices. Copyright 1993 by American Finance Association.
A Time-Division Multiplexing Signaling Scheme for Inter-Symbol/Channel Interference Reduction in Low-Power Multi-Drop Memory Links

A time-division multiplexing digital channel coding scheme with inter-channel interference reduction property for multi-drop memory interfaces has been proposed. Shaping the transmitter output spectrum to avoid channel frequency notches, the proposed digital time-domain multiplexing signaling reduces inter-symbol interference and far-end crosstalk in multi-drop bus interfaces. Thanks to a proper guard interval insertion, the transmitted signal exhibits reduced inter-channel interference among time-domain sub-channels, as compared to the previously proposed digital spectrum shaping signaling. Applying the proposed coding scheme, the data rate can be four times as high as the first channel notch frequency, without employing decision-feedback equalizer, feed-forward equalizer, and continuous-time linear equalizer. On the other hand, non-return-to-zero signaling necessitates decision-feedback equalizer with at least 12 taps on the receiver side for receiving data at the same rate for the same multi-drop bus interface.
On decorrelation in dual-branch diversity systems

The performance of a dual-branch decorrelator receiver operating in correlated Rayleigh and Rician fading channels in conjunction with selection combining (SC) and switch-and-stay combining (SSC) is analyzed and compared to the performance of a conventional SC and SSC receiver. For each combining scheme, analytical expressions for the average bit error rate (BER) of several modulation techniques of practical interest, the mean output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the outage probability are derived. It is shown that the decorrelator receiver has superior performance over the conventional receiver by as much as 2.83 dB in average SNR. The effects of modulation order, correlation coefficient and the severity of fading on the performance of the decorrelator receiver are studied.
Original Sin Mystery Trinity and Unequal Blessings

We investigate whether the fact that most countries cannot borrow internationally in their own currencies, referred to as “original sin” by Eichengreen and Hausmann (1999), may remain as a “mystery” when an alternative variable set and estimation procedure are taken into account. Our results suggest that flexible exchange rates and strong macroeconomic policy stance with sound institutions are necessary but not sufficient for redemption from original sin. Original sin appears to be persistent and determined also by the variables which are beyond the sole control of individual countries. Consequently, redemption from it and satisfying the blessed trinity of international currency, flexible exchange rates and sound institutions requires a new international financial system allowing complete markets for all currencies meeting the necessary conditions.
Is lower income associated with greater biopsychosocial morbidity? Implications for physicians working with underserved patients.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have established a powerful relationship between socioeconomic position and health. However, there has been little attention given to the association between income, biopsychosocial morbidity, and decline in health over time among primary care patients. METHODS Data were collected using a survey mailed to patients receiving care at a family medicine center and through a follow-up survey mailed 2 years later. The independent association between various biopsychosocial measures and family income was assessed through stepwise linear regression. After controlling for baseline health status, the effect of family income on health status at follow-up was assessed. RESULTS Data were available from 922 active family medicine patients who responded to the initial survey and from 655 who responded to the follow-up survey. In bivariate analyses, lower family income was significantly associated with poorer health status, greater psychological distress, more family dysfunction, less social support, more behavioral risk factors, higher rates of obesity and uncontrolled blood pressure, poorer physical and mental health status, and more medical diagnoses. In a multivariate analysis, age, sex, marital status, race, social network, family criticism, smoking, fat consumption, and health status were independently associated with family income. After controlling for covariates, including baseline health status, family income was a significant predictor of health status at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Family income is associated with biopsychosocial morbidity and health decline. Physicians who care for poorer patients will likely be confronted by challenging and complex biopsychosocial problems.
Economic Perspectives on Nutrition Policy Evaluation

Too much food energy intake (relative to expenditure) and unbalanced diets are implicated in a range of diseases that impose major burdens on healthcare systems and cause pain and suffering. Governments have responded by introducing a range of measures, mainly targeting information and education, largely to children. However, more interventionist measures have been advocated and, in the past year, various food taxes have been introduced in Denmark, Hungary and France. The Address discusses evaluation of policies, particularly in the light of alternative theories of diet choice (rational choice, systematically irrational, automatic). The public health approach uses quality adjusted life years but fails to distinguish between private and social benefits and takes no account of the drivers of food choice behaviour. The economic approach, based on informed choice, makes the distinction between private and social benefits (if not always explicitly) but struggles to evaluate policies that change utility functions and with behavioural assumptions other than traditional rationality. Alternative assumptions and approaches could put the cost of unhealthy eating anywhere between £10 billion and £100 billion per annum in the UK. Evidence suggests that information measures (to perform or persuade) do not much change diets, nor do they tackle the externality element of unhealthy eating. They may, however, help change long-term social norms. More interventionist measures like taxes improve social welfare (according to the compensation principle) and reduce health inequalities but are regressive, like all sin taxes. Almost all interventions pass cost-effectiveness tests.
Effect of 2 liters of intraperitoneal dialysate on the cardiovascular system.

In 21 patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), the effect of 2 liters of intraperitoneal dialysate on the supine and upright hemodynamics (19 patients), and the hemodynamic responses to 45 degrees head-up tilt (9 patients) were studied. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and stroke volume (SV) (using impedance cardiography) were measured. In the supine position there was no significant difference in BP, SV, HR, derived cardiac output (CO) and peripheral resistance (PR) between "empty" (E) and "full" (F) conditions. On standing in both E and F conditions there were significant falls in systolic BP (p less than 0.001, compared with supine), SV and CO (p less than 0.05) accompanied by an increase in HR (p less than 0.001) but no significant change in peripheral resistance nor diastolic BP. The fall in systolic BP was greater in the E condition (from 149.3 +/- 4.5 mmHg to 134.6 +/- 5.9 in E, from 148.8 +/- 4 mmHg to 140.8 +/- 5.0 in F, p less than 0.001) and was accompanied by a bigger rise in HR (from 80.2 +/- 4.3 beat/min to 91.8 +/- 5.3 (E), from 79.4 +/- 4.4 to 87.7 +/- 5.2 (F, p less than 0.001). On tilting in 13 normal subjects there was an increase in diastolic BP (76.7 +/- 2.0 mmHg to 81.4 +/- 0.6, p less than 0.01), HR (63.3 +/- 2.4 beat/min to 73.6 +/- 1.0, p less than 0.01) and PR (13.4 +/- 1.0 mmHg/l/min to 21.3 +/- 0.2, p less than 0.001). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Modelling the Blind Principal Bid Basket Trading Cost

A blind principal bid (BPB) is one of the mechanisms for simultaneously trading a basket of stocks at a pre‐determined execution price. In a BPB, asset managers auction a basket of stocks directly to liquidity providers who do not know the identities of the individual stocks in the basket. Unlike other methods of trading, the cost and composition of the BPB basket are not reported in a standard and timely manner. Complete basket data are available only to the asset manager and the broker who won the auction. The current literature contains very little information on the BPB phenomenon, largely due to a lack of public data for research. This paper analyses a unique dataset of 140 executed baskets, building on the seminal papers of Kavajecz and Keim (2005) and Stoll (1978a, b) to develop empirical and structural models of BPB trading costs. Our research provides novel insights into the dynamics of pricing BPB trading costs, a topic that has rarely been examined in the literature. The research reported here also has significant practical applications. Asset managers obtain a benchmark for evaluating the lowest bid, and brokers obtain qualitative insights that can aid them in formulating their bids.