Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of politicians' personal performance in fostering political representation

This research project addresses an elusive topic for political communication research: the role of the personal in politics. Specifically, how personal attributes affect the chances of an individual becoming the representative of a group of people. Current literature does not provide clear-cut concepts for ‘the personal’, which in turn has prevented the emergence of methodological designs capable of grasping its most relevant features. Conceptually, the personal has been defined primarily by its assumed risk for democracy. Terms such as ‘personalisation of politics’, ‘tabloidisation’ or ‘strategic framing’ have denounced the presence of ‘the personal’ in the communication between politicians and citizens. Methodologically, quantitative longitudinal examination of news articles have indeed provided evidence of the occurrence of such trends, but their alleged impact on democracy remains inconclusive. This approach has shorn ‘the personal’ of any political meaning, reducing its role to strategic fabrications that politician put forwards with no intention other than deception. This research project wants to take an alternative way. ‘The personal’ is defined as a performance, a concept used in social psychology and cultural sociology to describe the enactment of one’s actions in front of others. An interpretive approach and an ethnographic methodology is proposed to grasp the meaning of that performance and, ultimately, its role in fostering political representation. This research design observed the production of the TV programme, Polonia, which has been broadcast weekly in Catalonia since 2006 and consists of satirical political impersonations. Interviews, participant observation and document analysis were conducted in 2015 and 2016. The data analysis revealed that personal attributes displayed by politicians are actually meaningful if approached in a different manner. Rather that observing or examining, participants try to experience the meanings evoked by the politician’s performance. Politicians’ materiality – expressed in bodily gestures, voice, gaze, clothing, and so on – trigger memories and references which are the make-up of the character acted on stage. Finally, triangulation of data demonstrates that social stereotypes are consistently evoked by politicians. Therefore personal attributes connect politicians with social stereotypes and thus they become the representative of a group of people. The implications of this conclusion for political communication research are discussed.
Human lymphatic pumping measured in healthy and lymphoedematous arms by lymphatic congestion lymphoscintigraphy

Axillary surgery for breast cancer partially obstructs lymph outflow from the arm, chronically raising the lymphatic smooth muscle afterload. This may lead to pump failure, as in hypertensive cardiac failure, and could explain features of breast cancer treatment‐related lymphoedema (BCRL) such as its delayed onset. A new method was developed to measure human lymphatic contractility non‐invasively and test the hypothesis of contractile impairment. 99mTc‐human IgG (Tc‐HIG), injected into the hand dermis, drained into the arm lymphatic system which was imaged using a gamma‐camera. Lymph transit time from hand to axilla, ttransit, was 9.6 ± 7.2 min (mean ±s.d.) (velocity 8.9 cm min−1) in seven normal subjects. To assess lymphatic contractility, a sphygmomanometer cuff around the upper arm was inflated to 60 mmHg (Pcuff) before 99mTc‐HIG injection and maintained for >> ttransit. When Pcuff exceeded the maximum pressure generated by the lymphatic pump (Ppump), radiolabelled lymph was held up at the distal cuff border. Pcuff was then lowered in 10 mmHg steps until 99mTc‐HIG began to flow under the cuff to the axilla, indicating Ppump≥Pcuff. In 16 normal subjects Ppump was 39 ± 14 mmHg. Ppump was 38% lower in 16 women with BCRL, namely 24 ± 19 mmHg (P= 0.014, Student's unpaired t test), and correlated negatively with the degree of swelling (12–56%). Blood radiolabel accumulation proved an unreliable measure of lymphatic pump function. Lymphatic congestion lymphoscintigraphy thus provided a quantitative measure of human lymphatic contractility without surgical cut‐down, and the results supported the hypothesis of lymphatic pump failure in BCRL.
Mammalian Heat Shock Factor 1 Is Essential for Oocyte Meiosis and Directly Regulates Hsp90α Expression*

Heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) is the main regulator of the stress response that triggers the transcription of several genes encoding heat shock proteins (Hsps). Hsps act as molecular chaperones involved in protein folding, stability, and trafficking. HSF1 is highly expressed in oocytes and Hsf1 knock-out in mice revealed that in the absence of stress this factor plays an important role in female reproduction. We previously reported that Hsf1-/- females produce oocytes but no viable embryos. Consequently, we asked whether oocytes require HSF1 to regulate a particular set of Hsps necessary for them to develop. We find that Hsp90α (Hspaa1) is the major HSF1-dependent chaperone inasmuch as Hsf1 knock-out resulted in Hsp90-depleted oocytes. These oocytes exhibited delayed germinal vesicle breakdown (or G2/M transition), partial meiosis I block, and defective asymmetrical division. To probe the role of Hsp90α in this meiotic syndrome, we analyzed meiotic maturation in wild-type oocytes treated with a specific inhibitor of Hsp90, 17-allylamino-17-demethoxy-geldanamycin, and observed similar defects. At the molecular level we showed that, together with these developmental anomalies, CDK1 and MAPK, key meiotic kinases, were significantly disturbed. Thus, our data demonstrate that HSF1 is a maternal transcription factor essential for normal progression of meiosis.
Testicular biosynthesis and epididymal endoproteolytic processing of rat sperm surface antigen 2B1.

Binding of mammalian spermatozoa to the zona pellucida of homologous eggs is mediated by specific molecules on their surface membranes. In the present investigation we describe the biogenesis, epididymal processing and cellular distribution of a plasma membrane antigen (2B1) on rat spermatozoa that has a potential role in mediating zona binding. 2B1 is expressed postmeiotically in the testis as a precursor glycoprotein (approximately 60 kDa) that first appears on the plasma membrane of stage 6 to 8 round spermatids. Northern and western blot analyses show that there is a close correlation between the timing of transcription and expression of the glycoprotein on the cell surface. During spermatid elongation 2B1 is excluded from the head domain and is sequestered onto the sperm tail. As spermatozoa pass through the caput epididymidis 2B1 is endoproteolytically cleaved at a specific arginine residue (Arg 312) to produce a heterodimeric glycoprotein (approximately 40 kDa and approximately 19 kDa) containing intramolecular disulphide bridges. Endoproteolysis at Arg 312 also takes place during culture of washed testicular or caput spermatozoa in vitro and can be prevented by serine proteinase inhibitors or enhanced by trypsinisation. However, neither processing in vivo or in vitro has any effect on the domain organisation of 2B1 antigen i.e. it remains localised to the tail. These results support the hypothesis that sperm antigens that are important for fertilization are synthesized as precursor molecules in the testis and are then "activated' during epididymal maturation and capacitation, thereby ensuring that they only become fully functional at the site of fertilization.
Fibrin Glue Increases the Tensile Strength of Conduit-Assisted Primary Digital Nerve Repair

Background: An ideal peripheral nerve repair construct does not currently exist. Our primary goal was to determine whether fibrin glue adds to the tensile strength of conduit-assisted primary digital nerve repairs. Our secondary goal was to evaluate the impact of varying suture number and location on the tensile strength. Methods: Ninety cadaveric digital nerves were harvested and divided equally into the following repair groups: A (4/4), B (2/2), C (0/2), D (0/1), and E (0/0) with the first number referring to the number of sutures at the coaptation and the second number referring to the number of sutures at each proximal and distal end of the nerve-conduit junction. When fibrin glue was added, the group was labeled prime. The nerve specimens were transected and then repaired with 8-0 nylon suture and conduit. The tensile strength of the repairs was tested, and maximum failure load was determined. The results were analyzed with a 2-way analysis of variance. The Tukey post hoc test compared repair groups if the 2-way analysis of variance showed significance. Results: Both suture group and glue presence significantly affected the maximum failure load. Increasing the number of sutures increased the maximum failure load, and the presence of fibrin glue also increased the failure load. Conclusions: Fibrin glue was found to increase the strength of conduit-assisted primary digital nerve repairs. Furthermore, the number of sutures correlated to the strength of the repair. Fibrin glue may be added to a conduit-assisted primary digital nerve repair to maintain strength and allow fewer sutures at the primary coaptation site.
Attitudes and Risk Perceptions of Stakeholders in a Nuclear Waste Siting Issue

Stakeholders are often regarded as a critically important group in such issues as the siting of nuclear facilities. In this article, stakeholders were identified on the basis of self‐reported activities with regard to a nuclear waste siting issue under debate in four communities. Data were obtained in an extensive mailed survey from a total of 2,548 respondents, approximately an equal number from each community. The overall response rate was 43.9%. Some of the results and telephone interviews with a sample of the nonrespondents indicated that the data are reasonably representative of the respective populations. Stakeholder activities were measured by 20 questions and combined with an index of stakeholder activity level, dichotomized at the 90th percentile. Stakeholders were found to have a higher level of education than others, but otherwise they did not differ in demographics. They did not tend to see risks in general as high, but were quite interested and involved in the nuclear waste siting issue. The stakeholder activity level correlated with risk perception and attitudes in the waste siting issue, but with different signs for those who were for and those who were opposed: stakeholders of both types had more extreme views than others, but in different directions. In addition, stakeholder opponents were much more likely to strongly espouse extreme statements regarding the project than were supporters who also were stakeholders. Implications for risk management and communication are discussed.
Are Controlling Shareholders Influencing the Relationship Between CSR and Earnings Quality? Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies

ABSTRACT This article examines how controlling shareholders may affect the relationship between the level of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and earnings quality. We find that controlling shareholders have a significant impact on the relationship between the level of CSR and earnings quality; the relationship between the level of CSR and earnings quality is significantly positive in privately owned enterprises but not state-owned enterprises; and, among state-owned enterprises, the relationship is weaker at enterprises controlled by the central government than at those controlled by local governments. Our article highlights the differential impacts of controlling shareholders on the relationship between CSR and earnings quality.
How do static and dynamic risk factors work together to predict violent behaviour among offenders with an intellectual disability?

BACKGROUND Research on risk assessment with offenders with an intellectual disability (ID) has largely focused on estimating the predictive accuracy of static or dynamic risk assessments, or a comparison of the two approaches. The aim of this study was to explore how static and dynamic risk variables may 'work together' to predict violent behaviour. METHODS Data from 212 offenders with an ID were analysed. Risk assessment tools included one static measure (Violence Risk Appraisal Guide), and two dynamic measures (Emotional Problems Scale and the Short Dynamic Risk Scale). Six-month concurrent prediction data on violent behaviour were collected. A structured methodology was employed to explore putative relationships between static and dynamic factors. RESULTS Static risk factors temporally preceded dynamic ones, and were shown to dominate both dynamic measures, while there was a non-zero relationship between the static and the two dynamic measures. According to Kraemer et al., these findings suggest that dynamic risk factors function as proxy risk factors for static risk. CONCLUSIONS Dynamic and static risk factors appear to capture elements of the same underlying risk associated with violent behaviour in individuals with an ID. This is the first study to empirically explore risk interrelationships in the forensic ID field. We discuss the importance of the contribution of dynamic variables in the prediction and management of risk.
Housing price dynamics and bubble risk: the case of Turkey

Abstract Housing prices have increased substantially in some emerging markets in recent years. Turkish housing market has also experienced a boom over the last decade with rapid house price appreciations. This study is the first to employ two different house price indexes to analyze housing bubble in Turkey in two different time periods, 2010:M1–2014:M12 and 2007:M6–2014:M12. We first capture the determinants of housing price by employing Bounds test and then examine whether rising house prices have been justified by fundamentals by employing OLS/FMOLS/DOLS, Kalman filter and ARIMA models. The Bounds test results suggest that there is a long-term cointegration among house price indexes and housing rent, construction cost and real mortgage interest rate. The results imply that the Turkish housing market has experienced some cases of overvaluation, but not bubble formation. This evidence has several implications for house price dynamics and risks in the Turkish housing market. Based on Turkish experience, the study also draws policy implications for emerging housing markets.
Reduced vertebral bone density in hypercalciuric nephrolithiasis

Dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry and single‐photon absorptiometry were used to determine bone density at the lumbar spine and radial shaft in 62 patients with absorptive hypercalciuria, 27 patients with fasting hypercalciuria, and 31 nonhypercalciuric stone formers. Lumbar bone density was significantly lower in patients with absorptive (‐10%) as well as in those with fasting hypercalciuria (‐12%), with 74 and 92% of patients displaying values below the normal mean, whereas only 48% of the nonhypercalciuric stone formers had bone density values below the normal mean. In contrast, radial bone density was similar in all three groups of renal stone formers investigated. The comparison of urinary chemistry in patients with absorptive hypercalciuria and low normal bone density compared to those with high normal bone density showed a significantly increased 24 h urinary calcium excretion on random diet and a trend toward a higher 24 h urinary uric acid excretion and a higher body mass index in patients with low normal bone density. Moreover, among the patients with absorptive hypercalciuria we found a statistically significant correlation between the spinal bone density and the 24 h sodium and sulfate excretion and the urinary pH. These results gave evidence for an additional role of environmental factors (sodium and animal proteins) in the pathogenesis of bone loss in absorptive hypercalciuria. In conclusion, our data suggest an osteopenia of trabecular‐rich bone tissues in patients with fasting and absorptive hypercalciurias.
Characterization of Metal and Trace Element Contents of Particulate Matter (PM10) Emitted by Vehicles Running on Brazilian Fuels—Hydrated Ethanol and Gasoline with 22% of Anhydrous Ethanol

Emission of fine particles by mobile sources has been a matter of great concern due to its potential risk both to human health and the environment. Although there is no evidence that one sole component may be responsible for the adverse health outcomes, it is postulated that the metal particle content is one of the most important factors, mainly in relation to oxidative stress. Data concerning the amount and type of metal particles emitted by automotive vehicles using Brazilian fuels are limited. The aim of this study was to identify inhalable particles (PM10) and their trace metal content in two light-duty vehicles where one was fueled with ethanol while the other was fueled with gasoline mixed with 22% of anhydrous ethanol (gasohol); these engines were tested on a chassis dynamometer. The elementary composition of the samples was evaluated by the particle-induced x-ray emission technique. The experiment showed that total emission factors ranged from 2.5 to 11.8 mg/km in the gasohol vehicle, and from 1.2 to 3 mg/km in the ethanol vehicle. The majority of particles emitted were in the fine fraction (PM2.5), in which Al, Si, Ca, and Fe corresponded to 80% of the total weight. PM10 emissions from the ethanol vehicle were about threefold lower than those of gasohol. The elevated amount of fine particulate matter is an aggravating factor, considering that these particles, and consequently associated metals, readily penetrate deeply into the respiratory tract, producing damage to lungs and other tissues.
Interference of nicotine metabolites in cotinine determination by RIA.

Cotinine (COT), a major metabolite of nicotine (NIC), has been used as a biomarker in many studies of active and passive smoking (1)(2)(3)(4). Methods of analysis for COT in biological fluids include gas chromatography, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, HPLC, HPLC–mass spectrometry, and immunoassays (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). In particular, the RIA developed for COT and NIC by Langone and Van Vunakis (11) was the method reported by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) for determination of these analytes in several biological matrices (12)(13). In the description of the assay (11), no mention was made about cross-reactivity of anti-NIC and anti-COT antibodies with trans -3′-hydroxycotinine (THOC) and cotinine glucuronide (COT-G). Indeed, these two compounds were found to be the most abundant metabolites of NIC in urine of smokers (14). Other studies, however, have investigated the cross-reactivity of the anti-COT antiserum with THOC and other metabolites in an ELISA (15). The objective of this study was to investigate the cross-reactivity of the anti-COT and anti-NIC antisera with THOC and COT-G in the RIA (11)(12)(13). We also used urine samples from active and passive smokers to compare data from the RIA with data obtained by HPLC. The rabbit antiserum, (−)[3H]COT, and (−)[3H]NIC were …
Cancer patients' preferences of care within hospitals: a systematic literature review.

PURPOSE Knowledge about cancer patients' preferences in health care is important because it enables care to be patient centered. However, the literature does not provide an overview. The aim of this study was to identify the dimensions of hospital-based cancer care that patients evaluate the most important using Patient-rated importance as a method. DATA SOURCE PubMed was searched in 2013/2014. STUDY SELECTION Studies were identified, if they were in accordance with specific search terms and focused on hospital-based cancer care. Totally, 11 studies were found. DATA EXTRACTION The 11 studies comprised a total of 598 items. Of these, 592 items were categorized into 19 care dimensions. The highest rated quartile of items was identified as care elements patients evaluated to be the most important. Identification of the most important dimensions was done by calculating the percentages of items within each dimension that were within the highest quartile. RESULTS OF DATA SYNTHESIS The 11 studies varied a lot in regard to aim and patient characteristics. The three most important dimensions were as follows: Rapid diagnosis and treatment; High professional standard; and Information about treatment and side(effects)/consequences. Within four dimensions, Psychosocial support, Physical facilities, Waiting time and Transparency in care, no items were within the highest quartile. CONCLUSION Patient-rated importance was a useful method in identifying the care patients preferred. Due to a limited number of studies and great diversity within studies evaluated, interpretation of results should be cautious. However, it seems that cancer patients treated in hospitals with a curative intent find treatment-related information, professional standard and short delay of diagnosis and treatment most important.
Ionic channel currents in cultured neurons from human cortex

Ionic channels in human cortical neurons have not been studied extensively. HCN‐1 and HCN‐1A cells, which recently were established as continuous cultures from human cortical tissue, have been shown by histochemical and immunochemical methods to exhibit a neuronal phenotype, but expression of functional ionic channels was not demonstrated. For the present study, HCN‐1 and HCN‐1A cells were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium with 15% fetal calf serum, in some cases supplemented with 10 ng/ml nerve growth factor, 10 μM forskolin, and 1 mM dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate to promote differentiation. Cells or membrane patches were voltage clamped using conventional patch clamp techniques. In HCN‐1A cells, we identified a tetrodotoxin‐sensitive Na+ current, two types of Ca2+ channel current, including L‐type current and a second type that in some respects resembled N‐type current, and four types of K+ current, including a delayed outward rectifier that showed voltage‐dependent inactivation, two types of noninactivating Ca2+‐activated K+ channels with slope conductances of 146 and 23 pS (K+ iK+ o 145 mM/5 mM), and less frequently, a noninactivating, intermediate conductance channel that was not sensitive to internal Ca2+. When HCN‐1A cells were examined after 3 days of exposure to differentiating agents, pronounced morphological changes were evident but no differences in ionic currents were apparent. HCN‐1 cells also exhibited K+ and Ca2+ channel currents, but Na+ currents were not detected in these cells. Our data provide additional evidence indicating a functional neuronal phenotype for HCN‐1A cells, and represent the most comprehensive survey to date of the variety of ionic channels expressed by human cortical neurons. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.