Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Direct Benefits of Social Dominance in Juvenile Crayfish

Crayfish are known for their innate aggressiveness and willingness to quickly establish dominance relationships among group members. Consequently, the formation of dominance hierarchies and the analysis of behavioral patterns displayed during agonistic encounters have mostly been tested in environments that provide no immediate resources besides space. We tested the hypothesis that social hierarchy formation in crayfish serves to determine access to future resources. Individuals within groups of three juvenile crayfish were allowed to form a social hierarchy in a featureless environment before a single food resource was presented. Higher dominance indices were significantly correlated with increased access to the food. The highest ranked crayfish spent more time in contact with the food than did medium-ranked and lowest ranked crayfish, and crayfish of medium rank spent more time in contact with the resource than did lowest ranked animals. The highest ranked crayfish consolidated their dominant status in the presence of food, indicated by a complete absence of any submissive behaviors during that period. The results of these experiments show that the disposition of crayfish to engage in fighting and formation of a dominance hierarchy in a featureless environment serves to determine future access to an emerging resource, thereby entailing greater benefits for animals of higher social rank.
Dietary fructan carbohydrate increases amine production in the equine large intestine: implications for pasture-associated laminitis.

Pasture-induced laminitis in the horse is associated with the overconsumption of fermentable carbohydrate, in the form of simple sugars, fructans, or starch. The fermentation of carbohydrate in the cecum and large intestine results in the production of lactic acid and other toxins or "laminitis trigger factors. " Vasoactive amines have been suggested as possible initiating factors. The aim of this study was to feed a commercially available form of fructan carbohydrate (inulin, 3 g/kg of BW per day) to normal ponies and to ponies predisposed to laminitis, to mimic a change from a basal hay diet to lush spring-summer pasture. Five normal and 6 laminitis-prone, native-breed ponies were acclimated to a basal hay diet before the inclusion of inulin and chopped dried grass. Blood samples, fecal samples, and foot temperature measurements were taken throughout the study. Amines were measured in the feces and plasma by HPLC and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, respectively. The pH of the fecal samples decreased from 6.89 +/- 0.11 on the hay diet to a minimum of 6.18 +/- 0.11 with the addition of inulin (P <0.05). An increase was observed in the fecal concentrations of a number of amines, including tryptamine (2.5-fold increase, P <0.05) and tyramine (2-fold increase, P <0.05). No changes were noted in plasma amine concentrations or plasma D- or L-lactate, indicating that there may be a threshold of hindgut pH change before mucosal damage can result in the release of these factors into the circulation. No differences in pH or any of the measured compounds were observed between the group of normal ponies and those predisposed to laminitis. This indicates that differences in the intestinal microflora do not account for this predisposition. However, the results from this study indicate that moderate increases in dietary fructan carbohydrate can produce increases in bacterial fermentation products and other compounds in the large intestine, which may be relevant to the pathogenesis of acute laminitis in ponies on pasture.
Biochemical risk factors for stone formation in a Scottish paediatric hospital population

Background Renal stones in children, although rare, may be associated with morbidity and renal damage. Scottish children have a different ethnic composition and diet compared with paediatric populations previously studied. Urinary stone promoters include calcium, oxalate and urate. Postulated inhibitors include citrate and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). We tested the hypothesis that Scottish paediatric stone-formers have higher excretion of urinary stone promoters (calcium/oxalate/urate) and/or lower excretion of stone inhibitors (citrate/GAGs) than children with isolated haematuria and controls. Methods In this case-controlled study, we measured creatinine, calcium, oxalate, urate, citrate and GAGs in random urine samples from 24 stone-formers (excluding inherited metabolic disorders), median age 10.2 (range 1.0–17.2) y; 25 patients with isolated haematuria, 6.3 (0.6–13.7) y; and 32 controls, 7.5 (0.8–14.7) y. Results Excretion of urinary promoters and inhibitors differed among stone-formers, haematuria and control groups for (median (range)): calcium (0.82 (0.02–2.19), 0.43 (0.08–2.65), 0.31 (0.04–2.12) mmol/mmol creatinine, respectively, P = 0.005), citrate (0.42 (0.13–0.72), 0.33 (0.05–0.84), 0.61 (0.11–1.75) mmol/mmol creatinine, P = 0.001), calcium:citrate ratio (1.68 (0.19–4.81), 1.30 (0.19–9.57), 0.54 (0.10–2.27) mmol/mmol, P < 0.0001) and the promoter:inhibitor ratio (calcium × oxalate)/(citrate × GAGs) (8.3 (1.0–82.5), 4.3 (1.2–69.5), 2.8 (0.3–13.2) mmol/g, P < 0.0001). Conclusions Scottish paediatric stone-formers had lower urinary citrate excretion and higher urinary calcium excretion, calcium:citrate ratio and promoter:inhibitor ratio compared with controls. Urinary calcium excretion and promoter:inhibitor ratio was also higher than children with isolated haematuria. Nevertheless, marked overlap between the stone-former and haematuria groups for promoter:inhibitor and calcium:citrate ratios suggests that some patients with isolated haematuria may be at future risk of urolithiasis.
Immune neutralization of the receptor for advanced glycation end products reduce liver oxidative damage induced by an acute systemic injection of lipopolysaccharide

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a multi-ligand receptor, which activation amplifies and perpetuates inflammatory reactions. RAGE activation also strongly stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species, leading an imbalance of redox cellular state. The extent of liver damage caused by inflammation is crucial to the systemic response during proinflammatory episodes. To investigate the role of RAGE in liver damage caused by systemic inflammation, we evaluated the effect of RAGE blocking in oxidative stress parameters induced by systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. Wistar rats received an intraperitoneal injection of RAGE antibody (50 mg/kg), 1 h prior intraperitoneal injection of LPS (5 mg/kg). Twenty-four hours later, the liver was isolated for analysis. The LPS-induced effect in protein oxidative damage, mitochondrial complex II activity, catalase activity, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 phosphorylation and caspase 3 activation was prevented by prior treatment with RAGE antibody. However, RAGE blocking was not able to inhibit reactive oxygen species production and the impairment in non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity induced by LPS. The present results indicate that RAGE is an important mediator of liver oxidative damage induced by an acute systemic injection of LPS, although other mechanisms may also be responsible for liver function impairment during inflammation.
Aphidicolin: an inhibitor of DNA repair in human fibroblasts.

Aphidicolin is a specific inhibitor of DNA polymerase alpha. Its influence of DNA repair has been studied in both normal and excision deficient xeroderma pigmentosum cells exposed to u.v. irradiation at 254 nm. Single strand DNA breaks accumulated in u.v. irradiated normal cells when the inhibitor was present. Such breaks were absent in both unirradiated normal cells and in u.v. irradiated excision efficient cells incubated with the compound. The data therefore indicate that aphidicolin prevents the rejoining of single strand breaks formed during the excision repair process and imply that DNA polymerase alpha is involved in the repair of DNA in human cells.
The Struggle for Identity for African American Adolescent Males in a Predominantly White, Affluent School

Rarely do researchers choose to focus on the schooling experiences of African American males, and almost never are their experiences understood from the African American male perspective regarding race and racism in predominantly White and affluent neighborhoods and schools. This article aims to discuss qualitative research that indicates African American males at Sunnyside High School do not experience race in the same way. The article begins with a discussion regarding the importance of understanding how race manifests in high school as adolescence is a particular time when youth are making meaning about race and identity. The 15 participants are described, as well as the qualitative methods used to gather data (i.e., focus groups and interviews). Findings for this article are discussed in terms of the most salient theme emerging from open coding (i.e., racist stereotyping) and are framed in terms of how racist stereotypes manifest, as well as how they are defined and understood at Sunnyside by the part.
Merger Waves and Firm Growth: Contemporary Historical Evidence

This article presents the outcomes of an evaluation of the impact of the series of mergers of the local exchange companies that have taken place between 1988 and 2001 on an important measure of performance of the firms undergoing the mergers. The analysis reveals that after firms have undertaken one merger they experience little or no growth after such mergers, but the impact of second mergers on firm growth have been negative. If an important motive in undertaking mergers has been to enhance firm growth, then the merger waves that have been approved and consummated have led to performance declines. The impacts of the merger wave on the growth of the telecommunications sector firms have been negative. (Dieser Beitrag prasentiert die Ergebnisse einer Analyse der Auswirkungen einer Reihe zwischen 1988 bis 2001 erfolgter Fusionen lokaler Telekommunikationsunternehmen auf einen wichtigen Performance‐Indikator der an den Fusionen beteiligten Unternehmen. Die Analyse zeigt, dass Unternehmen, die eine Fusion vorgenommen haben, nach solchen Fusionen ein geringes oder kein Wachstum aufweisen, aber die Auswirkung weiterer Fusionen auf das Firmenwachstum negativ gewesen sind. Wenn ein wichtiges Motiv beim Eingehen von Fusionen darin bestand, das Firmenwachstum zu steigern, dann ist festzustellen, dass die beschlossenen und durchgefuhrten Fusionswellen zu Performance‐Verschlechterungen gefuhrt haben. Die Auswirkungen der Fusionswelle auf das Wachstum der Unternehmen des Telekommunikationssektors sind negativ gewesen.) (Cet article presente les resultats d'une evaluation de l'impact des fusions d'entreprises locales de communications ayant eu lieu entre 1988 et 2001 sur la mesure de performance des entreprises subissant les fusions. L'analyse revele qu'apres une fusion, les entreprises ne connaissent pas ou peu de croissance liee aux fusions mais l'impact d'une deuxieme fusion sur la croissance d'entreprise est negatif. Si une motivation importante pour entreprendre des fusions consistait en l'augmentation de la croissance de l'entreprise, alors les vagues de fusion approuvees et realisees ont conduit a des baisses de performance. Les impacts de la vague de fusion sur la croissance des entreprises du secteur des telecommunications ont ete negatifs.) (Este articulo presenta los resultados de una evaluacion del impacto de las fusiones de empresas de servicios locales, que han tenido lugar entre 1988 y 2001, sobre los resultados empresariales de las mismas. El analisis pone de manifiesto que tras una fusion las empresas apenas experimentan un minimo crecimiento como consecuencia de ella, pero el impacto de una segunda fusion sobre el crecimiento de la empresa suele ser negativo. Una motivacion importante para acometer fusiones consistia en el mayor crecimiento de la empresa, sin embargo, las oleadas de fusiones aprobadas y realizadas han conducido a debiles resultados. Los impactos de la ola de fusiones sobre el crecimiento de las empresas del sector de las telecomunicaciones han sido negativos.)
CTLA‐4 interacts with STAT5 and inhibits STAT5‐mediated transcription

Cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte antigen‐4 (CTLA‐4; CD152) is a member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily with strong homology to the receptor CD28 with which it shares the ligands CD80 and CD86. Unlike CD28, a potent costimulator of T‐cell responses, CTLA‐4 is transiently expressed on the cell surface of activated T cells and appears to operate predominantly as a negative regulator of T‐cell proliferation. Signal transduction mechanisms utilized by CTLA‐4 remain unclear although several mechanisms have been implicated. In this study, we show that the cytoplasmic domain of CTLA‐4, but not of CD28, binds to STAT5 in yeast two‐hybrid assay and in coimmunoprecipitation assays. Mutations of Tyr165 and Tyr182 in CTLA‐4 did not abrogate the interaction of STAT5 with CTLA‐4. Finally, the overexpression of CTLA‐4 in Jurkat T cells inhibits STAT‐mediated activation of STAT5 responsive elements. These results suggest that CTLA‐4 and STAT5 interact in T cells and that this interaction is important for CTLA‐4 signalling.
Management of community-acquired pneumonia in the era of pneumococcal resistance: a report from the Drug-Resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae Therapeutic Working Group.

OBJECTIVE To provide recommendations for the management of community-acquired pneumonia and the surveillance of drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (DRSP). METHODS We addressed the following questions: (1) Should pneumococcal resistance to beta-lactam antimicrobial agents influence pneumonia treatment? (2) What are suitable empirical antimicrobial regimens for outpatient treatment of community-acquired pneumonia in the DRSP era? (3) What are suitable empirical antimicrobial regimens for treatment of hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia in the DRSP era? and (4) How should clinical laboratories report antibiotic susceptibility patterns for S pneumoniae, and what drugs should be included in surveillance if community-acquired pneumonia is the syndrome of interest? Experts in the management of pneumonia and the DRSP Therapeutic Working Group, which includes clinicians, academicians, and public health practitioners, met at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in March 1998 to discuss the management of pneumonia in the era of DRSP. Published and unpublished data were summarized from the scientific literature and experience of participants. After group presentations and review of background materials, subgroup chairs prepared draft responses, which were discussed as a group. CONCLUSIONS When implicated in cases of pneumonia, S pneumoniae should be considered susceptible if penicillin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is no greater than 1 microg/mL, of intermediate susceptibility if MIC is 2 microg/ mL, and resistant if MIC is no less than 4 microg/mL. For outpatient treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, suitable empirical oral antimicrobial agents include a macrolide (eg, erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin), doxycycline (or tetracycline) for children aged 8 years or older, or an oral beta-lactam with good activity against pneumococci (eg, cefuroxime axetil, amoxicillin, or a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium). Suitable empirical antimicrobial regimens for inpatient pneumonia include an intravenous beta-lactam, such as cefuroxime, ceftriaxone sodium, cefotaxime sodium, or a combination of ampicillin sodium and sulbactam sodium plus a macrolide. New fluoroquinolones with improved activity against S pneumoniae can also be used to treat adults with community-acquired pneumonia. To limit the emergence of fluoroquinolone-resistant strains, the new fluoroquinolones should be limited to adults (1) for whom one of the above regimens has already failed, (2) who are allergic to alternative agents, or (3) who have a documented infection with highly drug-resistant pneumococci (eg, penicillin MIC > or =4 microg/mL). Vancomycin hydrochloride is not routinely indicated for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia or pneumonia caused by DRSP.
Economic Fundamentals and Exchange Rates Under Different Exchange Rate Regimes: Korean Experience

Korea provides a unique opportunity to study the different behaviors or roles, if any, of limited flexibility and free floating exchange rate regimes. Korea shifted from a limited flexibility to a free floating exchange rate regime after the 1997 economic crisis. It is well documented that the exchange rate is very difficult to predict using any theoretical models for exchange rate determination. Based on a simple monetary model, we find that the impact of economic fundamentals on the exchange rate is very similar under both exchange rate regimes according to OLS estimates, but the difference is statistically significant with GARCH(1,1) results. We also find that the size of the exchange rate shock is much bigger under the free floating regime than under the limited flexibility regime. VAR results show that the exchange rate shock impact on inflation is not statistically different under the two regimes. These findings are generally in line with Baxter and Stockman (1989) for regime neutrality.
Effect of Wetlands on water quality of an agricultural catchment in a semi-arid area under land use transformation

The reduction of nutrients and sediments from agriculturalrunoff by natural wetlands has been commonly accepted, buttheirrole in water quality improvement at the catchmentscale has been seldom studied, especially in irrigated catchments. This study aims to elucidate the effect of natural and recently created wetlands on stream water quality after the conversion of a catchment for irrigation purposes.Water quality andmorphometrical andvegetation-related variables weremeasured in 19 wetlands on a 750-ha agricultural catchment under semi-arid conditions in the Ebro basin(NE Spain). A pollution gradient was found, increasing from the wetlands located in the upper catchment to those in the lower catchment.Wetlands with the lowest degree of artificiality, measured asthe amount of human createdstructures(e.g., channel excavation, dikes), and higher plant richness hadthepoorest water quality, probablybecause they were in the lower catchment and their water contained more pollutants carried from agricultural and salinesoils upstream. Some of these wetlands also had the highest rates of sediment and N-NO3 retention, incontrast to more artificial wetlands, which exported nutrients and sediments. Less artificial wetlands could also provide ancillary benefits such as biodiversity enhancement or landscape heterogeneity improvement.
Do Labour Societies Perform Differently to Cooperatives? Evidence from the Spanish Building Industry

Cooperatives and Labour Societies are both Social Economy enterprises, but with noticeable differences, some of which are imposed by legislation in Spain. The aim of this paper is to study whether such differences affect their management capacity and, in particular, efficiency. In order to do so, we apply Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) techniques to a sample of Spanish enterprises in the building industry and calculate indices of program efficiency. Results show that there is little difference between the performance of the two types of enterprises, although Cooperatives appear to have advantages over Labour Societies in regard to the management of working capital and, albeit to a lesser extent, labour.
Researching volunteers in Tourism: Going beyond

Abstract Volunteers make contributions across the breadth of tourism, both as volunteer tourists and as volunteers supporting tourism within their local community, such as through visitor attractions and events. While tourism volunteering as a research field is growing, these two groups of volunteers have largely been considered separately with little crossover of research or researchers. This paper proposes a model of tourism volunteer engagements as a means of conceptualising types of tourism volunteering, settings, and time contributions more holistically and inclusively. Using this model as a framework, we set out the current state of research on tourism volunteering, demonstrating that, to date, researchers have concentrated on key types of tourism volunteering and settings, and within these, focused on dominant time contributions, roles, and perspectives, and prevailing methods and approaches. By identifying gaps in extant research we call for more critical research and challenge researchers to ‘go beyond’ and create a wider‐ranging and more inclusive research agenda. By taking up the challenge to ‘go beyond’ we argue that this nascent research field can mature and indeed develop a wider‐ranging and more inclusive research agenda that embraces both the diversity and commonalities of tourism volunteering.
The Optimal Structure of Incentives and Authority Within an Organization

Two kinds of models for a productive organization are presented. In the first, both production and rewards are based on the performance of individuals, which is perfectly observed. Their abilities are not observable. Despite this, theorems are proved giving strong grounds for the equality of wages and marginal products unless there is monopsony in the labor market. This latter case is also discussed. The second model, which focuses on the imperfect observation of performance, allows interesting deductions about optimal payment schedules and organizational structure.
Open space index: a GIS-based tool for assessing human penetration of a landscape

In light of the rapid and continuous growth of the built environment worldwide and its attendant ecological impact, increasing the size and distribution of open space in urban areas is recognised as one effective way to reconcile the social and ecological objectives of society. However, there is no simple and objective indicator to measure open space that can be used for creating and maintaining sustainable landscapes. The paper introduces a metric, open space index (OSI), that measures the amount of space unpenetrated by the built environment. The metric is calculated by measuring the shortest distance between any location and the nearest built environment using a Geographic Information System. The metric is illustrated using two counties of the greater Twin Cities Metropolitan Region of Minnesota. The sensitivity of OSI to the size, shape, and spatial configuration of the built environment suggests that the metric can serve as an important planning tool for reconciling conservation and development in a wide range of contexts.
Towards an Integrated Information System for Retail Management

Retail management recognise the competitive edge that can be provided by actionable information. In moving towards an integrated retail management information system, it is recognised that a general driving force behind investments in information technology (IT) is the need for more detailed information about customers. Marketing (and distribution and service) can apply IT to increase their efficiency, and, more importantly, to promote their effectiveness in the increasingly competitive environment. It is argued that a management information-system should be viewed as ‘emancipatory’, permitting new decisionmaking processes, and that data from recent developments such as charge cards and electronic point of sales systems offer new opportunities. Attention focuses initially on the marketing function requirements for information about the local demand for goods and services and about the competitive position. It is suggested that real progress, driven by this external marketing perspective, will only occur through development of an integrated information-system (and that the necessary integration will require the framework of knowledge-based management-systems, rather than conventional data-based management-systems).