Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Collagen in histologic stages of oral submucous fibrosis: A polarizing microscopic study

Background: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a precancerous condition in which there is excessive deposition of collagen in connective tissue. The purpose of present study was to compare changes in birefringence of collagen fibers in histopathological stages of OSF. Materials and Methods: Collagen in connective tissue of 91 cases of OSF was studied by staining 5 μm thick sections with picrosirius red. The polarization colors of thin (0.8 μm or less) and thick (1.6-2 μm) collagen fibers were recorded. Results: The birefringence of thin collagen fibers showed no difference in both histopathological connective tissue stages and degrees of epithelial dysplasia. The polarization colors of thick collagen fibers showed a gradual change from predominantly yellow-orange to greenish-yellow in advancing connective tissue stages and degrees of epithelial dysplasia. Conclusion: The results of present study show a significant change in birefringence of collagen between connective tissue stages and between mild, moderate to severe degree of epithelial dysplasia. This change in birefringence colors and arrangement of collagen fibers may give an implication of impending neoplastic change in OSF.
The 'natural' history of active rheumatoid arthritis over 3-6 months--an analysis of patients enrolled into trials of potential disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, and treated with placebo.

The natural history of RA over a period of 6 months is not known, but this is of central importance to the design and interpretation of drug trials of possible DMARDs. We analysed the disease activity of 142 rheumatoid patients who were randomized to receive placebo in five double blind, placebo-controlled trials of possible disease-modifying drugs conducted in a single unit. There was no significant change in ESR, duration of morning stiffness or platelet count over a period of 6 months; the mean change in ESR at 3 months was an increase of 2 mm/h (99% C.I. -3, +7), and only 5% of patients more than halved their ESR over 6 months. There was a small significant fall in articular index over 6 months of placebo treatment. There is no measurable placebo effect on ESR, morning stiffness or platelet count when these are used as measures of disease activity in trials of drug therapy in RA. ESR is an informative, stable measure of disease activity; the duration of morning stiffness may be more useful than the articular index. The use of these results as the basis of a historical cohort to help design future placebo-controlled trials, and to interpret uncontrolled trials of putative anti-rheumatic drugs is discussed.
PART OF A SPECIAL ISSUE ON PLANT MATING SYSTEMS Dichogamy correlates with outcrossing rate and defines the selfing syndrome in the mixed-mating genus Collinsia

†Background and Aims How and why plants evolve to become selfing is a long-standing evolutionary puzzle. The transition from outcrossing to highly selfing is less well understood in self-compatible (SC) mixed-mating (MM) species where potentially subtle interactions between floral phenotypes and the environment are at play. We examined floral morphological and developmental traits across an entire SC MM genus, Collinsia, to determine which, if any, predict potential autonomous selfing ability when pollinators are absent (AS) and actual selfing rates in the wild, sm, and to best define the selfing syndrome for this clade. †Methods Using polymorphic microsatellite markers, we obtained 30 population-level estimates of sm across 19 Collinsia taxa. Species grand means for the timing of herkogamy (stigma‐anther contact) and dichogamy (stigmatic receptivity, SR), AS, floral size, longevity and their genetic correlations were quantified for 22 taxa. †Key Results Species fell into discrete selfing and outcrossing groups based on floral traits. Loss of dichogamy defines Collinsia’s selfing syndrome. Floral size, longevity and herkogamy also differ significantly between these groups. Most taxa have high AS rates (.80 %), but AS is uncorrelated with any measured trait. In contrast, sm is significantly correlated only with SR. High variance in sm was observed in the two groups. †Conclusions Collinsia species exhibit clear morphological and developmental traits diagnostic of ‘selfing’ or ‘outcrossing’ groups. However, many species in both the ‘selfing’ and the ‘outcrossing’ groups were MM, pointing to the critical influence of the pollination environment, the timing of AS and outcross pollen prepotency on sm. Flower size is a poor predictor of Collinsia species’ field selfing rates and this result may apply to many SC species. Assessment of the variation in the pollination environment, which can increase selfing rates in more ‘outcrossing’ species but can also decrease selfing rates in more ‘selfing’ species, is critical to understanding mating system evolution of SC MM taxa.
A petroleum life cycle model for the United States with endogenous technology, exploration, recovery, and demand

This article describes a model of the life cycle of the petroleum resource in the United States. Expanding on prior system dynamic models of petroleum resources, the model endogenously generates the complete life cycle of the resource. It treats endogenously petroleum demand; the development of technology for, and investment in, exploration and recovery; discovery and production of petroleum; and the development of petroleum substitutes. With only two exogenous variables, GNP and the international petroleum price, the model portrays the evolution of the U.S. petroleum resource, and the associated industry, starting in 1870. The correspondence between simulated and actual data is examined through a variety of statistical measures. The model is used to show how the interaction between technological progress, depletion, imports, and the development of substitutes creates the life cycle by altering the dominance of the feedback processes in the system.
Tourism, Marketing and Sustainable Development in the English National Parks: The Role of National Park Authorities

This paper examines the work of the English National Park Authorities (NPAs) in relation to aspects of the development of sustainable tourism. The NPAs have implicitly sought to achieve sustainable tourism development since the parks were first designated, striving to balance the needs of visitors and the environment within the context of living, working landscapes. Studies have revealed, however, that some NPAs are not fully championing sustainable tourism development. The paper examines the NPA's use of marketing and marketing perspectives in encouraging sustainable tourism, exploring attitudes, roles and activities. A diverse, piecemeal and sometimes underinformed approach is revealed. The paper concludes with ways forward for English NPAs and for other protected area management organisations.
New Policies for a New Rural America

The U.S. rural economy is undergoing huge changes as the twenty-first century begins. The most compelling feature of these several changes is unevenness: some rural areas are booming while many others struggle. Looking forward, rural America faces five major challenges. Closing the digital divide will help rural America top e-business opportunities. Urging on rural entrepreneurs will help fuel new economic activity on Main Street. Leveraging a new product-oriented agriculture will boost growth in some farming communities, but probably not all. Sustaining the rural environment will provide a strong economic foundation for many scenic rural areas. And boosting rural human capital will be essential for most rural growth strategies. Public policy will play an important supporting role as rural America meets these challenges. But rural policies in the twenty-first century will have to go far beyond a historical focus on agriculture. The period ahead will likely see a rich debate on the goals and mechanisms of a new generation of rural policy.
Eye development: a view from the retina pigmented epithelium

The retina pigment epithelium (RPE) is a highly specialised epithelium that serves as a multifunctional and indispensable component of the vertebrate eye. Although a great deal of attention has been paid to its transdifferentiation capabilities and its ancillary functions in neural retina development, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that specify the RPE itself. Recent advances in our understanding of the genetic network that controls the progressive specification of the eye anlage in vertebrates have provided some of the initial cues to the mechanisms responsible for RPE patterning. Here, we have outlined many recent findings that suggest that a limited number of transcription factors, including Otx2, Mitf and Pax6 and a few signalling cascades, are the elements required for the onset of RPE specification in vertebrates. Furthermore, using this information and the data available on the specification of the pigmented cells of primitive chordates, we have ventured some hypotheses on the origin of RPE cells during evolution. BioEssays 26:766–777, 2004. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Controversy over the National Assessment Governing Board Standards

This paper provides an analysis of the controversy surround ing the stan ard setting process conducted by ACT Inc. for the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB). 1 This process is the most thoroughly planned, carefully executed, exhaustively evaluated, completely documented, and most visible of any standard setting process of which I am aware. Extensive research was conducted to determine how best to develop each step in the process.2 A distinguished team of experts guided the process through its development and implementation.3 And, the process has been open to scrutiny with evaluators observing the design and implementation of every step. Any process can be improved with experience and with continuing research and development. Better methods for setting standards likely will be created in the future. Until such developments occur, however, this process? called the achievement levels setting (ALS) process by NAGB? is the model for how standard setting should be done. The question I attempt to answer here is: If the standard setting process is of such high quality, why are the standards set by the process so controversial? Although I think extremely well of the NAGB standard setting process, interpreting the results of the ALS process is a very complex undertaking. A difference has become evident between the technical accuracy of the stan dards and the clarity of meaning for the standards that were set. The techni cal quality of the standards is very high. Statistical analyses have shown that the standards are well within the accepted bounds for amount of error in the estimated cutscores, and follow-up validity studies have provided supportive 231
Transforming p21ras Mutants and c-Ets-2 Activate the Cyclin D1 Promoter through Distinguishable Regions (*)

Several different oncogenes and growth factors promote G1 phase progression. Cyclin D1, the regulatory subunit of several cyclin-dependent kinases, is required for, and capable of shortening, the G1 phase of the cell cycle. The present study demonstrates that transforming mutants of p21ras (Ras Val-12, Ras Leu-61) induce the cyclin D1 promoter in human trophoblasts (JEG-3), mink lung epithelial (Mv1.Lu), and in Chinese hamster ovary fibroblast cell lines. Site-directed mutagenesis of AP-1-like sequences at −954 abolished p21ras-dependent activation of cyclin D1 expression. The AP-1-like sequences were also required for activation of the cyclin D1 promoter by c-Jun. In electrophoretic mobility shift assays using nuclear extracts from cultured cells and primary tissues, several AP-1 proteins (c-Jun, JunB, JunD, and c-Fos) bound the cyclin D1 −954 region. Cyclin D1 promoter activity was stimulated by overexpression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (p41MAPK) or c-Ets-2 through the proximal 22 base pairs. Expression of plasmids encoding either dominant negative MAPK (p41MAPKi) or dominant negatives of ETS activation (Ets-LacZ), antagonized MAPK-dependent induction of cyclin D1 promoter activity. Epidermal growth factor induction of cyclin D1 transcription, through the proximal promoter region, was antagonized by either p41MAPKi or Ets-LacZ, suggesting that ETS functions downstream of epidermal growth factor and MAPK in the context of the cyclin D1 promoter. The activation of cyclin D1 transcription by p21rasprovides evidence for cross-talk between the p21ras and cell cycle regulatory pathways.
Regional Growth in China Under Economic Reforms

This article uses both cross-section and panel data approaches to study regional growth in China. Inter-regional income inequality increased ((divergence), the rich regions became richer but poor regions poorer (b divergence), over the data period 1978-95. This contradicts results from other cross-region country studies shown by Sala-i-Martin [1996] and some earlier studies on China. Only after controlling for regional effects, population growth, and investment in both physical and human capital do the data show significant b-convergence. More interestingly, the degree of openness and transportation are two other important factors responsible for differences in regional growth. This finding has important implications for regional development policy.
Biochemical detection and activation of an inactive form of a trypsin-like enzyme in rabbit testes.

The acrosomal trypsin-like enzyme of rabbit spermatozoa has been reported to be involved in sperm penetration of the zona pellucida (Stambaugh, Brackett & Mastroianni, 1969). It has also been suggested that seminal plasma trypsin inhibitors inhibit mammalian sperm trypsin-like activity until removed from spermatozoa during capacitation (Zaneveld, Srivastava & Williams, 1969). The present report describes the biochemical detection and activation of an inactive form of a trypsin-like enzyme in rabbit testis. Trypsin-like activity was assayed by the spectrofluorometric detection of \g=b\-naphthylamine released from \g=a\-benzoyl-dl-arginine-\g=b\-naphthylamide HCl (BANA, Schwarz, Mann Company), which is a specific substrate for trypsin and trypsin-like enzymes (Riedel & W\l=u"\nsch, 1959). A Hitachi-Perkin-Elmer 2A spectrofluorometer was utilized for the assays which were carried out at 25\s=deg\ C with an excitation wavelength of 330 m\g=m\ and an emission wavelength of 405 m\g=m\ (Greenberg, 1962). Assay solutions consisted of (a) 3\m=. \6ml of 0-05 M-tris-HCl, 0-05 M-CaCl2, pH 8, (b) 0-05 ml of 50 µ - dissolved in dimethylformamide, and (c) 0-05 ml to 0-1 ml of enzyme solution. Assays were carried out with amounts of enzyme which produced linear rate responses and which never consumed more than 10% of the substrate. Enzyme units were defined as the amount necessary to hydrolyse 1 nmol BANA/min.
Increasing the Infliximab Dose Is Beneficial in Crohn’s Disease Patients Who Responded to a Lower Dose and Relapsed

Background: Relapse after an initial response to infliximab therapy poses a problem for maintenance treatment. Aim: To assess the effects of increasing the infliximab dosage in Crohn’s disease (CD) patients who initially responded but flared during maintenance therapy. Methods: This was an observational study. Twelve CD patients with both inflammatory and fistulizing manifestations were included. All patients initially responded to 5 mg/kg of infliximab, relapsed during maintenance therapy, and were treated with 10 mg/kg. The Harvey-Bradshaw index, the fistula activity, and steroid use were assessed before and after treatment with the increased dose of infliximab. Results: The mean Harvey-Bradshaw index score after flare-up during treatment with 5 mg/kg of infliximab was 13.5 ± 3.7. Treatment with 10 mg/kg, in a mean of 3.3 infusions, decreased the activity score to a mean of 8.8 ± 2.5. Two patients were weaned off prednisone, and a reduced dose was possible in the other steroid-treated patients. Conclusions: Increasing the infliximab dose may be beneficial in CD patients who initially responded to therapy, but relapsed during maintenance with the lower dosage.
Industrial Sector Mode-Locking and Business Cycle Formation

This study investigates the synchronization of business cycles in different sectors of the economy. Business cycles in different industries or sectors have a tendency to synchronize with one another in what appears to be a national business cycle, yet trade between sectors may not be strong enough for one sector to "drive" business cycle fluctuations in another sector. How are these sectors synchronized? This study suggests that the national business cycle results from a "mode-locking" phenomenon between different sectors, a nonlinear process through which weak coupling between oscillating systems (sectors) tends to synchronize the fluctuations between the oscillating systems (sectors). Simulations, statistical analysis, and spectral analysis are used to attempt to verify this hypothesis. Investigation reveals a moderate amount of econometric support for the sectoral mode-locking hypothesis of business cycle formation.
Reflectance Forehead Pulse Oximetry: Effects of Contact Pressure During Walking

Steady progress has been made towards the development of a reliable wearable pulse oximeter to aid first responders in remote monitoring and triage operations. This study was undertaken to assess how varying contact pressures affects the photoplethysmographic (PPG) signal, and arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate (HR) measurement errors during motion artifact inducing activity. The study revealed that contact pressures ranging from 8-12 kPa resulted in the largest PPG amplitude for a reflectance sensor attached to the forehead region above the eye, although the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) did not improve significantly. However, SpO2 and HR errors increased when insufficient contact pressure was applied. This information may be helpful in the design of a more robust pulse oximeter sensor for use in remote monitoring applications
Bringing social institutions into global value chain analysis: the case of salmon farming in Chile

Global value chain (GVC) analysis has been developed to understand the changing nature of global production and distribution processes, but it has not been widely adopted by sociologists to understand the implications of globalization for work, employment and the levers for upgrading labour conditions. To understand the extent to which insertion in GVCs creates opportunities for the upgrading of labour and skills, it is necessary to consider the influence of national institutions, alongside internationally dispersed relationships between companies in different parts of the value chain. By examining the production of farmed salmon in Chile, the article explores the interactions between national institutions for innovation and skills development and locally based producers’ insertion in the global value chain.
Alternate Planning Systems: Is There Anything To Learn From Abroad?

Abstract Many countries have a land use planning “system” in a sense in which the United States does not: a hierarchy of planning functions ranging from the locality to the central (provincial, state) government. In such systems, national policy and operational requirements and guidelines are the responsibility of the center; execution lies with the locality. As a contribution to the debate on this issue, this article summarizes some key elements in the British, French and Dutch approaches. It is suggested that Americans would not be prepared to support such systems, which deny them local control over development and the chance of making money from land transactions.
A Simple Test of Consumption Insurance

Are consumers effectively insured against idiosyncratic shocks to income or wealth, either by formal institutions such as charities, private insurance, and government programs or by informal mechanisms such as gifts and "loans" from relatives, friends, and neighbors? Under full insurance, consumption growth should be cross-sectionally independent of idiosyncratic variables that are exogenous to consumers. This proposition is tested by cross-sectional regressions of consumption growth on a variety of exogenous variables. Full insurance is rejected for long illness and involuntary job loss, but not for spells of unemployment, loss of work due to strike, and an involuntary move.
Channelopathies can cause epilepsy in man

Idiopathic epilepsies, which account for up to 40% of all epilepsies, are mainly caused by genetic factors. Most idiopathic epilepsies are due to oligogenic or multifactorial rather than monogenetic inheritance. Nevertheless, most of what is known today about the molecular genetics of idiopathic epilepsies has been found by analysing large families with rare monogenetic forms of the disease. For the first time, gene defects can be linked to certain epilepsies. Mutations in the CHRNA4 or CHRNB subunits of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor lead to familial nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy, while defects in the voltage‐gated potassium channels KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 have recently been found to cause benign familial neonatal convulsions. The voltage‐gated sodium channel subunits SCN1B, SCN1A and SCN2A as well as the GABRG2 subunit of the GABAA receptor are involved in the pathology of the newly described syndrome generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus. These rare monogenetic epilepsies can serve as models for further genetic analysis of the common forms of idiopathic epilepsies. © 2002 European Federation of Chapters of the International Association for the Study of Pain
Digital tracking array using off-the-shelf hardware

The design, development, and testing of a digital tracking array is described. The array operates at 2.4 GHz for tracking video and data from UAVs and other mobile transmitters. A monopulse tracking technique is used to keep the beam scanned to the direction of the incoming signal. The array is built entirely of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. Calibration, measurement of patterns, and verification of the tracking function are also discussed.
Emotions in Leadership in an IOIS Project

This interpretive grounded theory (GT) study describes and analyzes emotions in leadership in a Nordic inter-organizational information system (IOIS) project which spanned four user organizations, two suppliers, one national organization, a research organization and a Ministry. This study shows how GT can be used to gain significant insights into a case study, and generate new concepts. We identified Certainty, Significance, Connection and Contribution as important selective codes that make up the Emotions category. The paper focuses on leadership issues in the emotion category. The paper concludes by discussing how some of leadership issues could be attributed to emotions issues and considers some theoretical and practical implications.
The effect of ethylurethane on hematocrit, blood pressure and plasma-glucose.

Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 25% ethylurethane (i.e. 2.8 M) in a dose of 1 g/kg causes a rise in hematocrit (Hct) accompanied by an identical rise in erythrocyte count but by a fall in plasma protein. This effect is absent after intra-arterial (i.a.) and oral administration and much reduced after subcutaneous (s.c.) injection. The hemoconcentration is not caused by osmotic attraction of fluid but by leakage of blood plasma into the peritoneal cavity. The higly concentrated urethane solution causes superificial damage of intra-abdominal organs. Extensive local damage is also observed after s.c. and intramuscular injection of 25% urethane. The fall in blood pressure which is found after i.p. injection, but is absent after i.a. injection, can be explained by the loss of blood plasma. Plasma-glucose rises after i.p. injection but not after i.a. injection. This hyperglycemia may be initiated by stimuli arising in the damaged tissues.