Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cell and tissue responses to oxidative damage.

A broad array of oxidative stresses modulates gene expression in a variety of mammalian cells. One goal of this review was to characterize cellular responses to oxidative injury, how these processes are regulated, and the outcome for a particular cell or tissue. Many genes induced in response to specific oxidant stresses have been identified and include transcription factors, replication proteins, proteases, protease inhibitors, proteins affecting cell proliferation and various antioxidants, i.e. heme oxygenase, MT, and MnSOD. The latter enzyme is induced after a number of cytokines and oxidant stresses including hyperoxia and mineral dusts causing inflammation. Moreover, increases in mRNA levels of TNF and IL-1, cytokines inducing MnSOD, are observed after exposure to UV and ionizing radiation. Since increased electron flow could lead to generation of more AOS within mitochondria, increased levels of MnSOD might be necessary to maintain normal functioning of the mitochondria after oxidative stress. Alterations in cell growth are intrinsically related to the pathogenesis of many diseases. Paradoxically, some of the responses of cells to oxidative stress reflect cytotoxicity and cytostasis, whereas others result in increased cell proliferation. For example, induction of gadd genes observed after oxidative stress is related to growth arrest of cells, a response which might enable the cell to repair oxidative damage prior to replication. This phenomenon might prevent fixation of mutations associated with oxidative DNA damage. On the other hand, increased mRNA expression and activity of ODC, observed after exposure of cells to UV or asbestos is associated with increased cell proliferation. In addition, increased mRNA expression of cellular proto-oncogenes observed after exposure to oxidants could also be related to increased DNA synthesis or proliferation. Figure 5 provides a general scheme of cell responses to oxidative stress and possible ramifications. AOS can react with a number of target molecules including proteins, lipids, and DNA. These interactions elicit a number of signals including activation of gene regulatory factors (transcription factors) which in turn activate oxidative stress-responsive genes or regulons. Consequently, a number of proteins are produced with distinctive functions including DNA repair enzymes, antioxidants, proteases inhibitors, cytokines and proteins affecting cell proliferation. These cellular responses to AOS can lead to restoration of normal cellular function and adaptation to oxidative stress, cell death or aberrant proliferation. It is the latter two responses which can lead to a variety of disease states including cancer. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Una nota sobre las nuevas teorías de la formación de precios

El objetivo de la presente nota es presentar un breve análisis sobre la literatura reciente relacionada con el problema de la formación de precios. Se distinguen tres líneas de investigación; por un lado, aquella que reagrupa los juegos estratégicos de mercado, por otro lado, un conjunto de textos que tienen que ver con los juegos de encuentro y negociación y, finalmente, los trabajos que se refieren a la creatividad del mercado. Se muestra que estas líneas de investigación presentan resultados satisfactorios y otros resultados un tanto desalentadores. El conjunto de esta literatura tiene el mérito de subrayar el interés que tiene el problema de la formación de los precios en el avance de la teoría económica. Palabras clave: formación de precios, teoría de juegos estratégicos, juegos de encuentro, negociación, creatividad. Clasificación JEL: C70, D40, D83. Abstract: The goal of this paper is to provide a short analysis on the most recent literature about the pricing problem. We distinguish three different branch of research. The first one has to do with market strategic games; the second one has to do with finding and negotiation and finally, those research projects related to the creativity of the market. We show that those branches of research provide us, as the same time satisfactory and discouraging results. This literature has the merit of emphasizes the interest about pricing in the current advances of the economic theory. Keywords: pricing, strategic games theory, encounter game, negotiation, creativity. Classification JEL: C70, D40, D83. Résumé: L'objectif de la présente note est de présenter une courte analyse sur la littérature récente sur le problème de la formation des prix. Nous avons distingué trois lignes de recherche. Tout d'abord, celle qui regroupe les jeux stratégiques de marché, ensuite un ensemble des textes sur les jeux de rencontre et de négociation et, finalement, les travaux qui font référence à la créativité sur le marché. On montre que ces lignes de recherche présentent des résultats satisfaisants et d'autres moins encourageants. L'ensemble de cette littérature souligne l'intérêt du problème de la formation des prix dans le développement futur de la théorie économique. Mots clef: formation des prix, théorie de jeux stratégiques, jeux de rencontre, négociation, créativité. Classification JEL: C70, D40, D83.
The Role of the IMF: A Guide to the Reports

Many of the discussions on a new international financial architecture that were spawned by the east Asian crisis have dealt with the future role of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This policy brief starts by summarizing the recommendations of five recent reports and one speech, and the reasoning that lies behind them. These recommendations are divided into four major areas: 1) the scope of Fund activities, 2) surveillance, 3) lending, and 4) governance (on which topic I also summarize the views of a recent academic paper). I offer my own verdict on the first three of these topics in the last section of this brief.
3D Registration and Fusion of Ultrasound and MRI Using Major Vessels as Fiducial Markers

This paper describes fusion of three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data sets, without the assistance of external fiducial markers or external position sensors. Fusion of these two modalities combines real-time 3-D ultrasound scans of soft tissue with the larger anatomical framework from MRI. The complementary information available from multiple imaging modalities warrants the development of robust fusion capabilities. We describe the data acquisition, specialized algorithms, and results for 3-D fused data from phantom studies and in vivo studies of the normal human vasculature and musculoskeletal systems.
How is knowledge transferred between organizations involved in change

About the book: This book explores the management of change to improve public service effectiveness. It breaks new ground in addressing why public service change is becoming increasingly complex to manage, how people cope with this new complexity, what implications arise for improving policy and practice, and which avenues for further research and theory–building look particularly promising. The contributors are all leading researchers from the USA, Canada and the UK. Together they provide a synthesis of state–of–the–art thinking on the complex change process in Anglo–American contexts, policy–making for public service reform that generates managerial complexity, and practice in service organizations to improve provision. Special reference is made to education and health: the largest and most complex of the public services. The analysis has wider relevance for other public services and national contexts. Managing Change in the Public Services is essential reading for all concerned with public service improvement – leaders and managers in service organizations, administrators, trainers, advisers and consultants who support the management of change, policy–makers and public servants, and advanced course students and academics. The book also offers general insights for the theory and practice of managing organizational and systemic change.
Why solidarity matters (and sociability doesn't): The effects of perceived organizational culture on expatriation adjustment

This study examines the relationship between perceived organizational culture and cross-cultural adjustment. Using the organizational culture framework of Goffee and Jones (1996, 1998) that describes organizational culture as the intersection of sociability (e.g., the level of friendliness and socialization between organization members) and solidarity (e.g., the commonality of interests and goals among organization members), this research examines home and host organizational culture as they affect expatriation adjustment regardless of culture novelty (e.g., national cultural differences). The data were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire filled in by 166 expatriates from 29 nationalities and assigned to 39 countries. The analyses showed that perceived home and host solidarity predicts expatriates' work and general adjustment, though not interactional adjustment. These results confirm that perceived organizational culture is a predictor of expatriation cross-cultural adjustment. ©2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hearing loss in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE Hearing loss, both sensorineural and conductive, has been reported in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to try and ascertain the type of hearing loss and to determine the cause for any conductive element noted in these cases. DESIGN AND SETTING A prospective case-control study in the otolaryngology department of a university teaching hospital in the United Kingdom. METHODS AND OUTCOME MEASURES This study compared 35 patients with RA with 35 age- and sex-matched controls. All patients had pure-tone audiometry, speech discrimination, tympanometry, acoustic reflex, and acoustic reflex decay carried out. Statistical analysis of the two groups was carried out using the F test for differences in variation and the t-test for independent samples. RESULTS Sensorineural hearing loss that was statistically significant (p < .05) at 500 Hz, 1 kHz, and 2 kHz in both ears was found in 60% of the RA group and in 34.29% of the control group. A conductive hearing loss that was statistically significant (p < .05) at 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1 kHz, and 2 kHz in the right and left ears was found in 17.14% of the RA patients and in 5.71% of the control group. Speech discrimination did not show a statistically significant difference between the two groups. Tympanometry showed that the conductive element was probably owing to laxity of the middle ear transducer mechanism. Acoustic reflex and reflex decay did not show statistically significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSION Sensorineural hearing loss of the cochlear variety is a common finding in patients with RA, whereas conductive loss, although seen, is much less common. Increased laxity of the middle ear transducer mechanism is the likely cause of the conductive element.
Establishing Initial Conditions in Support of Inflation Targeting

This paper provides some practical advice on establishing initial conditions in support of an inflation-targeting monetary framework. These conditions are divided into four areas: a mandate in support of an inflation objective and accountability for achieving this objective; macroeconomic stability; a sufficiently well-developed and stable financial system; and effective policy implementation tools. The measures taken by countries to meet these conditions are also reviewed.
Cost-effective Targeting of Riparian Buffers

This paper develops an integrated economic, hydrologic and GIS modeling framework to examine the cost-effective targeting of land retirement for establishing riparian buffers in agricultural watersheds. Previous studies have examined the efficiency of targeting large land parcels for retirement or targeting management practices such as conservation tillage but have not considered narrow variable buffer strips. An empirical application of the framework in the Canagagigue Creek watershed in Ontario shows that average and marginal costs of sediment abatement increase at an increasing rate as the environmental goal becomes more stringent. The locations of the buffer strips vary across the watershed and are not necessarily located on those sites with greatest slope or those adjacent to visible streams. Cost effectiveness is further increased if the targeting is extended to allow for the width of the buffer strip to vary by location rather than assume a uniform width. The modeling results have important policy implications for the design of conservation stewardship programs such as setting appropriate environmental health goals based on marginal abatement costs relative to marginal benefits, and setting physical characteristics of the riparian buffers for selection along the drainage network in targeted sub-catchments.
Service Quality Evaluation at Events through Service Mapping

Service mapping is described and illustrated in the context of evaluating and improving service quality at special events. Results of participant observation at the 1998 Margaret River Masters surfing event in Western Australia are combined with concurrent visitor survey data and direct observations to generate recommendations for improving its management. Conclusions are drawn on the utility and application of the service-mapping technique for events and on the nature of service quality at events.
Part-time Work and Full-time Education in The UK: The emergence of a curriculum and policy issue

The 1990s have seen a burgeoning international, national and local literature on the significance of part-time work for those in full-time education. In this article, we trace the development of different strands of research in this area over the last decade. In common with other writers, we attribute the increased interest in the phenomenon of part-time work among full-time learners to changes in the youth labour market allied to rising levels of post-16 participation. Using evidence from three recent studies, we suggest that the scale and intensity of participation in part-time work amongst full-time 16-19 year olds appears to have increased significantly towards the end of the 1990s and that a growing commitment to part-time work has become the norm for learners in full-time 16-19 courses. Our research suggests, however, that learners in advanced-level courses have related study and paid work in different ways, and we develop a number of learner typologies to reflect this. In the final section, we explore how the 'Qualifying for Success' qualification reforms (often referred to as 'Curriculum 2000'), which seek to expand study programmes for advanced-level 16-19 year olds, might affect the relationship between earning and learning. We conclude by identifying a number of issues around earning and learning that we feel deserve further research and public debate.
Intraday Price Discovery and Volatility Transmission in Stock Index and Stock Index Futures Markets: Evidence from China

Using high-frequency data, this study investigates intraday price discovery and volatility transmission between the Chinese stock index and the newly established stock index futures markets in China. Although the Chinese stock index started a drastic falling immediately after the stock index futures were introduced, we find that the cash market plays a more dominant role in the price discovery process. The new stock index futures market does not function well in its price discovery performance at its infancy stage, apparently due to high barriers to entry into this emerging futures market. Based on a newly proposed theoretically-consistent asymmetric GARCH model, the results uncover strong bidirectional dependence in the intraday volatility of both markets.
Relative Survival of Transplant Patients: Quantifying Surplus Mortality Among Renal Transplant Recipients Compared With the General Population

Background. Relative survival estimates, used in population-based monitoring of survival of patients with cancer, accounts for differences in the background mortality (obtained from general population life tables) of patient populations to improve the comparability of survival estimates. We apply and demonstrate the benefits of this measure in solid organ transplantation for the first time. Methods. Data of deceased and living donor kidney transplant recipients aged 0 to 17, 18 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, and 60+ registered in the United Network for Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network data set and age, sex, calendar period, and race-specific US life table for 2006 were used. We calculated absolute 5- and 10-year patient survival by period analysis to obtain up-to-date estimates, whereas the expected survival of the exactly matched group of the general population was derived from life table data. Relative survival was calculated as the ratio of observed and expected survival. Results. For 5-year absolute survival, an age gradient of 23.7% and 14.0% units between the youngest and the oldest age group was found for recipients of kidneys from deceased and living donors, respectively. For relative survival, the age gradient was decreased substantially, to 15.0% and 5.0% units, respectively. For 10-year survival, the nominal effect of accounting for background mortality was even larger. Conclusions. Absolute survival estimates fail to account for potential differences in background mortality of various patient groups in general and may substantially overestimate the survival gap of older patients. Relative survival may be a useful additional measure in registry-based transplant patient outcome monitoring.
Interferometry for the LISA technology package (LTP) aboard SMART-2

The interferometer of the LISA technology package (LTP) on SMART-2 is needed to verify the performance of the gravitational sensors by monitoring the distance between two test masses with a noise level of 10 pm Hz −1/2 between 3 mHz and 30 mHz. It must continuously track the motion of the test mass distance while that distance changes by many µ mw ith a speed of up to 20 µ ms −1 ,w ithout losing track of the sign of the motion and without exerting any influence on the test masses that might lead to a motion above that level. As a result of a detailed comparison study, a heterodyne Mach– Zehnder interferometer was selected as the baseline for the SMART-2 mission. Its design and expected performance are described in this paper.
Thioredoxins are required for protection against a reductive stress in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Thioredoxins are small, highly conserved oxidoreductases that are required to maintain the redox homeostasis of the cell. They have been best characterized for their role as antioxidants in protection against reactive oxygen species. We show here that thioredoxins (TRX1, TRX2) and thioredoxin reductase (TRR1) are also required for protection against a reductive stress induced by exposure to dithiothreitol (DTT). This sensitivity to reducing conditions is not a general property of mutants affected in redox control, as mutants lacking components of the glutathione/glutaredoxin system are unaffected. Furthermore, TRX2 gene expression is induced in response to DTT treatment, indicating that thioredoxins form part of the cellular response to a reductive challenge. Our data indicate that the sensitivity of thioredoxin mutants to reducing stress appears to be a consequence of elevated glutathione levels, which is present predominantly in the reduced form (GSH). The elevated GSH levels also result in a constitutively high unfolded protein response (UPR), indicative of an accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, there does not appear to be a general defect in ER function in thioredoxin mutants, as oxidative protein folding of the model protein carboxypeptidase Y occurs with similar kinetics to the wild‐type strain, and trx1 trx2 mutants are unaffected in sensitivity to the glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin. Furthermore, trr1 mutants are resistant to tunicamycin, consistent with their high UPR. The high UPR seen in trr1 mutants can be abrogated by the GSH‐specific reagent 1‐chloro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene. In summary, thioredoxins are required to maintain redox homeostasis in response to both oxidative and reductive stress conditions.
Identifying uncertainties for industrial service delivery: a systems approach

Service delivery by industrial firms is increasingly seen as an influential factor for sustained profits. Across industry, this is typically achieved through long term contracts that aim to achieve performance, results, solutions, and so on. However, the increasing shift towards a service-oriented approach for production has created a number of challenges that originate from uncertainties that are experienced across supply networks. Along these lines, this research adopts a soft systems based approach to identify and categorise the uncertainties that are experienced particularly at the bidding stage of service contracts. These uncertainties significantly affect the cost and performance of service-oriented projects. This article presents the findings of a 3-year study with 22 aerospace experts from naval and defence industries that acted as key informants. It seeks to contribute to knowledge in research and industry by identifying and categorising uncertainties for industrial service delivery. Using the findings of the study, the article concludes by discussing implications and future challenges for academe and practice.
Comparative study on innovation resource in pharmaceutical fields: an entropy measure over patent data in China

It is widely believed in international literature that R&D and related innovation movement in pharmaceutical field is different from activities in other manufacture areas. This paper deals with the nature of innovation activities in China's pharmaceutical field, focusing on innovation activities in its size and technical scope, by investigating patent data in China between 1985 and 2005. Entropy measure is introduced in this paper to reveal degree of concentration and diversification. With data processing result based on entropy measure, the paper provides a descriptive chart in two dimensions: namely, degree of size and degree of technical scope. Patenting activities from foreign firms and local firms are compared in this study, and development tendency of technology resources in local companies in China is also provided comparatively. Implications from this research can be used as reference to policy makers and business companies in China.
Smoke and mirrors: is that the way it is? Themes in political marketing

Political marketing has become popularly associated with the triumph of style over substance, not to say the worst excesses of the spin doctor’s art. Analysis of professional and academic literature allows us to estimate to what extent professional practitioners recommend actions that fit with this preconception. There is general agreement that recent changes in political life - especially the decline of party affiliation and the increased importance of the mass media - have led to the changes associated with political marketing. The article debates the question by examining themes in professional literature that variously support and oppose the proposition that political marketing is all style and no substance. It uses a range of examples from recent American and European politics and concludes that despite a central focus on commercial-sector derived communication techniques, political marketers place substantial stress on the substance of policy development and delivery.