Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Toceranib Phosphate on the Hypothalamic‐Pituitary‐Thyroid Axis in Tumor‐Bearing Dogs

Background Thyroid dysfunction is associated with the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in people. Hypothesis/Objectives To determine whether dysfunction in the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐thyroid axis occurs in dogs receiving the TKI, toceranib phosphate. Animals Forty‐three client‐owned dogs with cancer. Methods Prospective, observational study. Concentrations of total thyroxine (TT4), free thyroxine (FT4), total triiodothyronine (TT3), and thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) were evaluated on day 0, 30, and 90. Dogs also were evaluated for the presence of thyroglobulin autoantibodies. Results The proportion of dogs with low TT4, low FT4, low TT3, high TSH, or primary hypothyroidism (increased TSH and decreased TT4, FT4 or both) did not change over 90 days. Hormone concentrations remained within laboratory reference intervals, but FT4 (P = 0.0032) and TSH (P < 0.0001) changed over time. Mean FT4 was 1.22 ng/dL (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10–1.34) on day 0 and 1.00 ng/dL (95% CI, 0.86–1.16) on day 90. Mean TSH was 0.17 ng/mL (95% CI, 0.13–0.23) on day 0 and 0.34 ng/mL (95% CI, 0.24–0.48) on day 90. Furthermore, TT4/TT3 ratio also changed over time (P = 0.0086). Mean TT4/TT3 ratio was 2.57 (95% CI, 2.26–2.88) on day 0 and 2.02 on day 90 (95% CI, 1.61–2.44). Thyroglobulin autoantibodies were not detected in any dog. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Toceranib phosphate can disrupt the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐thyroid axis in dogs. Periodic evaluation of TT4, FT4, TT3, and TSH should be carried out in dogs receiving long‐term treatment with this medication.
Portfolio mix and large-bank profitability in the USA

The US banking system has just emerged from a troublesome period with many institutions struggling for survival. We examine large commercial banks during the latter part of the 1980s to determine what factors affected bank profitability, using both cross-section and pooled time-series cross-section regressions. Our conclusions are that large banks experienced poor performance because of a declining quality of the loan portfolio. Real estate loans generally have a negative effect on large bank profitability, although not at high levels of significance; construction and land development loans, the exception, have a strong positive effect.
Estimating performance characteristics of loop transformations

In this paper we present estimation techniques for loop transformations. These estimation techniques can be used for design space exploration. They can be used to quickly evaluate the cost and performance characteristics of the transformations, thus helping the designer make the decision of applying the transformation or not. The estimates are verified for several transformations and are very close to the actual results. <<ETX>>
Comparing Equity Policies in Canada and Northern Ireland: Policy Learning in Two Directions?

L’équité en matière d’emploi existe au Canada depuis 20 ans, et, en Irlande du Nord, sous une forme renforcée, depuis presque aussi longtemps. Dans cet article, nous comparons ces deux cadres politiques, en prenant comme point de départ l’adoption, par l’Irlande du Nord, d’une réforme de ses lois en cette matière, sur la base des lois canadiennes en vigueur à l’époque. La première différence que l’on observe est la suivante. La politique canadienne ne s’applique qu’à une partie limitée de la main-d’œuvre ; elle vise les iniquités que subissent les femmes, les minorités raciales, les Autochtones et les personnes handicapées. En Irlande du Nord, la politique s’applique à la plupart des travailleurs et travailleuses ; elle cible les inégalités entre les catholiques et les protestants. La mise en œuvre de ces politiques en Irlande du Nord et au Canada diffèrent. L’Irlande du Nord a fait des progrès significatifs en matière d’équité en emploi chez les catholiques et les protestants ; au Canada, on continue d’observer des inégalités évidentes au sein des quatre groupes ciblés. Donc, si, sur ce plan, l’apprentissage s’est d’abord fait « d’ouest en est », aujourd’hui il pourrait se faire « d’est en ouest ».
Assessing sustainability performance of built projects: a building process approach

Existing environmental performance assessment approaches focus on the overall performance to reflect sustainability of built projects. However, the impacts caused by construction activities on the environment occur throughout a project's life cycle which may be different at different stages. Similarly, the economic benefits and social impacts from implementing a construction project may also be different in different project stages. This paper presents a model of the sustainable development value (SDV), which integrates sustainability assessment into the building process. SDV measures the significance of the concerned project to the attainment of sustainable development value at different stages of a building life cycle, and the SDV at each stage will be amalgamated into the model of sustainable development ability (SDA). SDA is used as a prototype to demonstrate the extent of sustainable performance to aid decision making. This paper presents the methodological framework of SDV and SDA, and the implementation was demonstrated using a case study.
Effects of resistance training during bed rest on the viscoelastic properties of tendon structures in the lower limb

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of resistance training on the tendon properties in knee extensors during 20 days of bed rest. Sixteen men were assigned to the resistance training group (BR‐Tr) or the non‐training, control group (BR‐Con). Leg‐press exercises were performed as five sets of 10 repetitions at 90% of maximum load daily for 20 days during bed rest. Before and after bed rest, the elongation of the tendon structures of the vastus lateralis muscle during isometric knee extension was determined using ultrasonography, while subjects performed ramp isometric contraction up to the voluntary maximum, followed by a ramp relaxation. The relationship between estimated muscle force (Fm) and tendon elongation (L) was fitted to a linear regression curve, the slope of which was defined as stiffness. The hysteresis was calculated as the ratio of the area within the Fm–L loop to the area beneath the load portion of the curve. The stiffness decreased significantly after bed rest for BR‐Con, but not for BR‐Tr. Similarly, the hysteresis increased significantly after bed rest for BR‐Con, but not for BR‐Tr. These results suggested that the bed rest caused the stiffness of tendon structures to decrease and their hysteresis to increase, and that leg‐press training prevents the deconditioning of the tendon structures in knee extensors.
Evolution of smart grid and some pertinent issues

At present there is a universal anxiety about the economic decline and a greener globe which is correlated to an improved and efficient system to generate and transmit electric power. With the initiation of the plug-in electric vehicles and renewable energy generators, a smarter, more efficient and customer-friendly power grid is indispensable that is “Smart Grid”. This paper depicts the importance, characteristics and evolution of smart grid. The allied new concerns, environmental impacts and benefits of smart grid are illustrated here. In brief platform for smart grid R&D is also portrayed It is highlighted that though the smart grid implementation is promising, it faces mammoth challenges. The voyage to smart grid is an extensive when diverse technologies will coexist. Finally the future key challenges are enlisted as a guideline for the successful implementation of Smart Grid for the sustainable future.
The overtime rebellion: Symptom of a bigger problem?

Executive Overview A pressing problem during this period of economic recovery is that of overtime. Workers in an increasing number of industries are being forced to work 50- or 60-hour weeks. More and more workers are going on strike to protest the emerging trend of forced overtime in the American workplace. Are we really managing our human resources well and scheduling overtime prudently? While the practice of forced overtime may seem prudent from a short-term cost perspective, could it be detrimental to the firm in the long run? Employees are the firm's most important resource, and it is important that they not feel treated as prisoners of work.
Producer livestock disease management incentives and decisions

This paper examines the economics of farm decisions to prevent and control infectious livestock disease. In the case of diseases with costly control tolerating some level of disease is often rational to the producer. Public policy intervention is based on future value and public good aspects of disease control which can lead to a discrepancy between private and public action thresholds. Producer incentives for disease management can be changed through new technologies that lower the cost of prevention or control, subsidies or cost sharing of control measures, or on the consumer side, a change in public desire for disease risk-free products that changes relative prices. Economists can incorporate appropriate epidemiology of a given disease in economic models to inform policy-makers on optimal value or method of subsidies that would prove most effective to make private incentives compatible with public policy goals.
Dietary value for money? Investigating how the monetary value of diets in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) relate to dietary energy density

Estimating the monetary value of individuals’ diets allows investigation into how costs relate to dietary quality. A number of studies(1–2), including one in Scotland(3), have reported a strong negative relationship between diet costs and energy density. Most studies of this type neglect to address the issue of mathematical coupling, where energy is both the numerator in the energy density variable (kJ/g) and the denominator in energy-adjusted diet cost (e.g. E/10 MJ). As a result, the findings could be reflecting a mathematical relationship(4). This study investigated how estimated diet costs of NDNS adults relate to dietary energy density using the ‘residuals’ regressionmethod to account for energy. Diet diary information from 2008–2010 was matched to an in-house database of national average (2004) food prices (the DANTE cost database) to assign a cost to each food and non-alcoholic beverage consumed. Mean daily diet costs and costs per 10 MJ were calculated for each participant. Energy density (g/kJ) was derived from foods and milk. The sample median diet cost was £2.84 per day (IQR £2.27, £3.64), or £4.05 per 10MJ (£3.45, £4.82). Values for energy density, food energy, and diet costs by quintiles of dietary energy density (1 = least energy dense) are presented in the table. Adjusted linear regression found a strong negative relationship: additional standard deviation above the diet cost expected for a given energy intake (the residual), there was an associated decrease in energy density of 0.46kJ/g (95% CI - 0.53, - 0.38, p<0.001). This is the first time individual-level diet costs have been characterized for a representative British population. These diet costs represent the inherent value of the diet, and are not comparable to UK expenditure data. The analyses confirm a diet cost-energy density link that is not due to mathematical artefact, and suggest that those consuming more energy-dense diets are achieving more kilojoules for their money.
Imagined solidarities: Where is class in union organising?

This paper argues that the ‘turn to organising’ in British unions over the past decade has largely ignored the broader questions of the purpose of such activity. As a consequence, unions have mainly focused on building solidarities between workers in their individual workplaces rather than developing a wider view of workers’ interests and the objectives of that solidarity. Using Hyman’s typology of union identities (2001), it is evident that ‘class’ identity has largely been sidelined in debates about union renewal in Britain. The paper argues that this limits the scope of union renewal both in practice and in theory.
Comparing five statistical methods of differential methylation identification using bisulfite sequencing data

Abstract We are presenting a comprehensive comparative analysis of five differential methylation (DM) identification methods: methylKit, BSmooth, BiSeq, HMM-DM, and HMM-Fisher, which are developed for bisulfite sequencing (BS) data. We summarize the features of these methods from several analytical aspects and compare their performances using both simulated and real BS datasets. Our comparison results are summarized below. First, parameter settings may largely affect the accuracy of DM identification. Different from default settings, modified parameter settings yield higher sensitivity and/or lower false positive rates. Second, all five methods show more accurate results when identifying simulated DM regions that are long and have small within-group variation, but they have low concordance, probably due to the different approaches they have used for DM identification. Third, HMM-DM and HMM-Fisher yield relatively higher sensitivity and lower false positive rates than others, especially in DM regions with large variation. Finally, we have found that among the three methods that involve methylation estimation (methylKit, BSmooth, and BiSeq), BiSeq can best present raw methylation signals. Therefore, based on these results, we suggest that users select DM identification methods based on the characteristics of their data and the advantages of each method.
Hybrid composite material of bombyx silk fiber for Ankle Foot Orthoses: Morphology, physical, and mechanical properties

Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFOs) are designed for neuromuskuloskeletal disorders. This study evaluated morphology and mechanical properties; tensile strength and hardness. Such properties of the ankle foot orthoses materials were used as a guideline for othoses fabrication. Ankle foot orthoses were produced into fiber polymer composite by lamination technique. Definitive laminated ankle foot orthoses silk fiber with resin had a higher specific tensile strength than carbon and glass fiber polymer composite. Hardness and elongation at break of is comparable to carbon and glass fiber polymer composite. Furthermore, the morphology of silk fiber composite showed that silk fibers adhere with resin better than carbon fibers and glass fibers. Significantly, as physical and mechanical properties and morphology, silk fiber composite promises to be an alternative material for Ankle Foot Orthoses.
The Allee Effect and Infectious Diseases: Extinction, Multistability, and the (Dis‐)Appearance of Oscillations

Infectious diseases that affect their host on a long timescale can regulate the host population dynamics. Here we show that a strong Allee effect can lead to complex dynamics in simple epidemic models. Generally, the Allee effect renders a population bistable, but we also identify conditions for tri‐ or monostability. Moreover, the disease can destabilize endemic equilibria and induce sustained oscillations. These disappear again for high transmissibilities, with eventually vanishing host population. Disease‐induced extinction is thus possible for density‐dependent transmission and without any alternative reservoirs. The overall complexity suggests that the system is very sensitive to perturbations and control methods, even in parameter regions with a basic reproductive ratio far beyond \documentclass{aastex} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{bm} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pifont} \usepackage{stmaryrd} \usepackage{textcomp} \usepackage{portland,xspace} \usepackage{amsmath,amsxtra} \usepackage[OT2,OT1]{fontenc} \newcommand\cyr{ \renewcommand\rmdefault{wncyr} \renewcommand\sfdefault{wncyss} \renewcommand\encodingdefault{OT2} \normalfont \selectfont} \DeclareTextFontCommand{\textcyr}{\cyr} \pagestyle{empty} \DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6} \begin{document} \landscape $$R_{0}=1$$ \end{document} . This may have profound implications for biological conservation as well as pest management. We identify important threshold quantities and attribute the dynamical behavior to the joint interplay of a strong Allee effect and infection.
Effect of SR121566A, a Potent GP IIb-IIIa Antagonist on Platelet-mediated Thrombin Generation In Vitro and In Vivo

Summary The effect of SR121566A, a new non-peptide GP IIb-IIIa antagonist was studied in vitro with regard to thrombin generation in platelet rich plasma and in vivo on stasis-induced venous thrombosis in the rabbit. SR121566A inhibited ADP-, arachidonic acid- and collagen-induced human platelet aggregation with IC50 values of 46 ± 7.5, 56 ± 6 and 42 ± 3 nM, respectively. In the same experimental conditions, SR121566A strongly inhibited thrombin generation triggered by low concentrations of tissue factor. SR121566A reduced in a dose-dependent manner both the area under the curve and the thrombin peak concentration but did not affect the lag phase (defined as the time until 10 nM thrombin was generated). Aspirin (100 µg/ml) did not affect thrombin generation. One hour after intravenous administration to rabbits, SR121566A exhibited a potent ex vivo inhibitory effect against ADP-, arachidonic acid- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation. The ID50 were 0.6 ± 0.25, 0.7 ± 0.08 and 0.13 ± 0.08 mg/kg, respectively. The ability of aspirin and SR121566A to affect venous stasis was determined in a stasis-induced venous thrombosis model in rabbits under high and low thrombogenic challenges. While aspirin was ineffective in both conditions, SR121566A significantly inhibited thrombus formation under low thrombogenic challenge demonstrating for the first time that a potent non-peptide platelet GP IIb-IIIa antagonist inhibits thrombin generation in vivo and exhibits a strong antithrombotic effect with regard to stasis-induced venous thrombosis. These results therefore confirm the existence of a close relationship between platelet activation and thrombin generation leading to blood coagulation but also emphasise the key role of platelets in the development of venous thrombosis, most likely through activation of the GP IIb-IIIa complex.
Understanding accountability in social enterprise organisations: a framework

Purpose – Social enterprise organisations (SEOs) operate across the boundaries of the public, private and not‐for‐profit (NFP) sectors in delivering public services and competing for resources and legitimacy. While there is a rich literature on accountability in the private and public sectors, together with the wider NFP sector, SEOs have received comparatively little attention and remain a relatively under‐researched organisational form. Drawing on accountability, legitimacy and user‐needs theories, the purpose of this paper is to develop a practical framework which can be used to explore how accountability within SEOs is constructed and discharged.Design/methodology/approach – This paper draws on user‐needs, accountability, legitimacy and impression management theories expounded in relation to the private, public and NFP sectors.Findings – A framework to better understand how accountability can be discharged by SEOs is developed and discussed.Research limitations/implications – While a framework for bet.
Leveraging partial dynamic reconfiguration on Zynq SoC FPGAs

The ability of modern FPGAs to change isolated regions of their configuration during run-time is increasingly appreciated by industry. Integrating powerful microprocessors modern FPGAs evolved to efficient SoC architectures, making dynamic partial reconfiguration accessible in various ways. Nonetheless, exploiting this technology requires minimization of the implied latency-overhead. This paper offers an exploration of the latest generation of Xilinx all-programmable SoC Zynq devices in terms of their capabilities to reconfigure during run-time. Suitable architectures are provided and performance evaluations are given for both internal configuration interfaces: PCAP and ICAPE2. Moreover, an analysis of the latest tool-chain as well as roadblocks encountered during the progress of this work are presented.
Bid-Ask Spread, Quoted Depths, and Unexpected Duration Between Trades

We examine the intraday informational and liquidity effects of unexpected duration between trades on bid-ask spreads and depths. The difference between realized duration and the predicted duration from an autoregressive conditional duration model is used as a proxy for unexpected duration. We find that unexpected short duration alone permanently increases the quoted spread and positively correlates with the adverse-selection component of the effective spread, despite the presence of a liquidity component in the spread adjustment. Unexpected duration for a buyer-initiated trade has a stronger impact on the quoted spread than that for a seller-initiated trade. These results support the implications of information uncertainty in Easley and O’Hara (J Financ 47(2):577–605 1992) and short-sales constraints in Diamond and Verrecchia (J Financ Econ 18:277–311 1987) for the price adjustment behavior. Moreover, we show that unexpected short duration for a seller-initiated (buyer-initiated) trade permanently increases (slightly reduces) the bid (ask) depth and that there is also a liquidity component in the adjustment in depths. We attribute the asymmetric effects on depths to the differential informativeness of buyer- and seller-initiated trades.
Spleen neoangiogenesis in patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia

Neoangiogenesis is an integral component of bone marrow myeloproliferation in patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM). As extramedullary haematopoiesis is a constitutive feature of MMM, we studied spleen neoangiogenesis by a computerized image analysis in MMM patients. Compared with five normal subjects, spleen CD34‐staining capillary vascular density (CVD) was 2·1–3·03 times higher than the upper range of normal in six of the 15 (40%) MMM patients. CD8‐staining sinusoidal vascular density (SVD) was constantly normal or lesser than normal and was inversely correlated with CVD (R = −0·53; P = 0·04). In MMM patients who did not receive cytoreductive or radiation therapy in the month before splenectomy (n = 9), the CVD was a significant determinant of spleen size (R = 0·88; P = 0·04). In MMM patients, the number of spleen CD34+ haematopoietic stem cells was increased from 1·2 to 98 times the upper limit of normal, and predicted the expansion of CVD (R = 0·57; P = 0·03). A population of cells expressing the CD34+/CD133+/VEGFR‐2+ angiopoietic phenotype was present in the blood and spleen of five of seven patients. These results document that neoangiogenesis is an integral component of spleen re‐localization of haematopoietic stem cells and suggest a cellular mechanism for spleen neoangiogenesis.