Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adhesive properties of proteolipid protein are responsible for the compaction of CNS myelin sheaths

We have studied the molecular function of proteolipid protein (PLP), the main integral membrane protein of CNS myelin, by generating mice lacking PLP expression. Here, we demonstrate that these PLP-minus mice show no pleiotropism as mice carrying point mutations within the PLP gene. The expression of other myelin genes (myelin basic protein, MBP; myelin associated glycoprotein, MAG; UDP-galactose-ceramide galactosyl transferase, CGT) is unimpaired on the RNA level. Protein level immunofluorescence analysis by confocal microscopy reveals that in PLP- minus mice there is a complete absence of PLP, a scattered appearance of MBP, and MAG expressed more widely in regions lacking MBP staining, which may be a compensatory mechanism. In electron microscopy the myelin lamellae of the ensheathed CNS axons are loosely wrapped with wide extracellular spaces between turning loops. Intraperiod dense lines are missing. The lateral loops of the paranode form regular axoglial junctions. In PLP-minus mice axons form regular axoglial junctions. In PLP-minus mice axons with large diameters are loosely myelinated, whereas small axons remain unmyelinated. Functionally, the mutant mice show deficits in their locomotor activity. We propose that adhesion properties of the extracellular domains of PLP are responsible for the tight apposition of the plasma membrane processes of oligodendrocytes wrapping axons to form the compact myelin sheath.
The Value of Pre- and Post-Stenting Fractional Flow Reserve for Predicting Mid-Term Stent Restenosis Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)

Measuring fractional flow reserve (FFR) in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has predictive value for PCI outcome. We decided to examine the utility of pre- and post-stenting FFR as a predictor of 6-month stent restenosis as well as MACE (major adverse cardiac events). Pre- and post-stenting FFR values were measured for 60 PCI patients. Within 6 months after stenting, all patients were followed for assessment of cardiac MACE including myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or positive exercise test. Stent restenosis was also assessed. Cut-off values for pre- and post-stenting FFR measurements were considered respectively as 0.65 and 0.92. Stent restenosis was detected in 4 patients (6.6%). All 4 patients (100%) with restenosis had pre-stenting FFR of < 0.65, while only 26 of 56 patients without restenosis (46.4%) had pre-stenting FFR value of < 0.65 (P = 0.039). Mean pre-stenting FFR in patients with restenosis was significantly lower than in those without restenosis (0.25 ± 0.01 vs. 0.53 ± 0.03, P = 0.022). Although stent restenosis was higher in patients with post-stenting FFR of < 0.92 (2 cases, 9.5%) than in those with FFR value of ≥ 0.92 (2 cases, 5.1%), the difference was not statistically (P = 0.510). Pre-stenting FFR, the use of longer stents, and history of diabetes mellitus can predict stent restenosis, but the value of post-stenting FFR for predicting restenosis was not explicit.
On Time Inconsistency: A Technical Issue in Stackelberg Differential Games

Stackelberg differential games are useful settings in which optimal government policies can be studied. This paper argues that the analysis of these games involves a key technical issue. In particular, we question the necessity for optimality of one boundary condition invoked in existing literature. The issue is of key interest because the boundary condition is largely responsible for the time inconsistency results previously obtained. We show that the boundary condition is not necessary in some cases. As a result, our finding undermines the credibility of the existing conclusions. Forthcoming 1997: Journal of Economic Theory.
An epidemiological survey of tumour or tumour like conditions in the scapula and periscapular region

Introduction: The scapula is not an uncommon site for bone and soft tissue tumours and can be difficult to delineate on examination. Furthermore, these lesions can be potentially challenging to biopsy due to its close anatomical relationship with important structures. We present an epidemiological survey of all the scapular and periscapular lesions presenting to our institution. Methodology: This was a retrospective study with data obtained from a prospectively held electronic database over a 30-year period. Demographic and clinical data was obtained and various subgroup analyses were performed. Results: A total of 418 scapular lesions were included in the study where 132 lesions were found to be of soft tissue origin and 286 were osseous. Fifty-eight percent (n = 241) of all these lesions were malignant, of which 47% (n = 113) were primary sarcomas. The commonest malignant lesions were bone sarcomas (n = 96) followed by metastases (n = 88). The commonest primary bone sarcoma was chondrosarcoma (45%), whereas the commonest soft tissue sarcoma was high grade undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (18%). The most common benign osseous and soft tissue lesions were osteochondroma (70%) and lipoma (26%), respectively. We noted that the incidence of malignancy increased with increasing age, however, the incidence of primary bone sarcomas was fairly consistent across different age groups. Conclusion: Based on our findings we recommend that suspicious lesions arising from the scapula should be dealt with in a specialist sarcoma unit with involvement of a multidisciplinary team to offer appropriate management and advice for optimum outcome.
Probabilistic atlases of default mode, executive control and salience network white matter tracts: an fMRI-guided diffusion tensor imaging and tractography study

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a powerful MRI technique that can be used to estimate both the microstructural integrity and the trajectories of white matter pathways throughout the central nervous system. This fiber tracking (aka, “tractography”) approach is often carried out using anatomically-defined seed points to identify white matter tracts that pass through one or more structures, but can also be performed using functionally-defined regions of interest (ROIs) that have been determined using functional MRI (fMRI) or other methods. In this study, we performed fMRI-guided DTI tractography between all of the previously defined nodes within each of six common resting-state brain networks, including the: dorsal Default Mode Network (dDMN), ventral Default Mode Network (vDMN), left Executive Control Network (lECN), right Executive Control Network (rECN), anterior Salience Network (aSN), and posterior Salience Network (pSN). By normalizing the data from 32 healthy control subjects to a standard template—using high-dimensional, non-linear warping methods—we were able to create probabilistic white matter atlases for each tract in stereotaxic coordinates. By investigating all 198 ROI-to-ROI combinations within the aforementioned resting-state networks (for a total of 6336 independent DTI tractography analyses), the resulting probabilistic atlases represent a comprehensive cohort of functionally-defined white matter regions that can be used in future brain imaging studies to: (1) ascribe DTI or other white matter changes to particular functional brain networks, and (2) compliment resting state fMRI or other functional connectivity analyses.
Play Hysteresis in Supply or in Demand as Part of a Market Model

Consequences of economic hysteresis are illustrated based on a standard market model which is extended by hysteresis dynamics. Hysteresis is implemented in a simple linearized way, similar to ‘mechanical play’. As a novelty, both cases, hysteresis in supply and demand, are analysed separately as an explicit part of a supply and demand model. Explicitly modelling supply versus demand side hysteresis has two advantages. (1) Since (hysteretic) supply or demand is only a subsystem of the entire market, persistent endogenous feedback effects on price and quantity are addressed. (2) Differences in the remanent effects of transient shocks between demand and supply hysteresis become obvious.
Variability of summer precipitation over Eastern China during the last millennium

Abstract. We use measurements of recent decades, 1500-yr proxy data, and millennium model simulations with a variety of climate facings to study the temporal and spatial variability of summer precipitation over eastern China. Spectral analysis of the proxy data using multi-taper method reveals three statistically significant bidecadal (15–35-yr), pendadecadal (40–60-yr), and centennial (65–170-yr) oscillation bands. The results of wavelet filtering show that the amplitudes of these bands vary substantially through time depending on the temperature regimes. Weak centennial oscillation and strong pentadecadal oscillation occur in warm conditions, whereas both the centennial and pentadecadal oscillations are strong in cold conditions. A model/data intercomparison suggests that pentadecadal and bidecadal oscillations could be associated with internal variability of the climate system. It is also found that the increased frequency of drought-in-north/flood-in-south spatial pattern over eastern China during the last two decades is unusual in the past five centuries.
Dimeric RNA Recognition Regulates HIV-1 Genome Packaging

How retroviruses regulate the amount of RNA genome packaged into each virion has remained a long-standing question. Our previous study showed that most HIV-1 particles contain two copies of viral RNA, indicating that the number of genomes packaged is tightly regulated. In this report, we examine the mechanism that controls the number of RNA genomes encapsidated into HIV-1 particles. We hypothesize that HIV-1 regulates genome packaging by either the mass or copy number of the viral RNA. These two distinct mechanisms predict different outcomes when the genome size deviates significantly from that of wild type. Regulation by RNA mass would result in multiple copies of a small genome or one copy of a large genome being packaged, whereas regulation by copy number would result in two copies of a genome being packaged independent of size. To distinguish between these two hypotheses, we examined the packaging of viral RNA that was larger (≈17 kb) or smaller (≈3 kb) than that of wild-type HIV-1 (≈9 kb) and found that most particles packaged two copies of the viral genome regardless of whether they were 17 kb or 3 kb. Therefore, HIV-1 regulates RNA genome encapsidation not by the mass of RNA but by packaging two copies of RNA. To further explore the mechanism that governs this regulation, we examined the packaging of viral RNAs containing two packaging signals that can form intermolecular dimers or intramolecular dimers (self-dimers) and found that one self-dimer is packaged. Therefore, HIV-1 recognizes one dimeric RNA instead of two copies of RNA. Our findings reveal that dimeric RNA recognition is the key mechanism that regulates HIV-1 genome encapsidation and provide insights into a critical step in the generation of infectious viruses.
O Impacto da Regulação no Conservadorismo das Empresas Brasileiras Listadas na BM&FBOVESPA

Este trabalho investiga se a regulacao afeta o nivel de conservadorismo contabil no Brasil. Como proxy de regulacao, adotou-se a existencia de agencia nacional reguladora (ANR), legislacao especifica (LE) ou plano de contas normatizado (PCN). Como proxy de conservadorismo, foram utilizados dois modelos desenvolvidos por Basu (1997). A amostra estudada contemplou as empresas brasileiras de capital aberto, cujos dados estavam disponiveis no Economatica® para o periodo de 1996 a 2006. Os testes realizados envolveram regressoes em painel, onde os modelos de Basu (1997) foram rodados com a introducao de uma dummy para captar o impacto da regulacao. Os resultados obtidos pelos dois modelos de conservadorismo adaptados as tres dummies de regulacao nao permitem inferir nenhum impacto. Assim, esta pesquisa contribui com a literatura no sentido de nao corroborar a hipotese de que a regulacao aumenta o conservadorismo. Uma possivel explicacao para esse cenario e que o Brasil possui outros fatores, tais como ambiente institucional e alta concentracao acionaria, que podem explicar o nivel de conservadorismo. Com isso, o “efeito pais” pode ter comprometido o “efeito regulacao”. Para testar essa alegacao, seria interessante replicar este estudo em outros paises code-law e compara-los aos paises common law.
Reverse Causality in Global and Intra‐European Imbalances

The paper discusses global current account imbalances in the context of an asymmetric world monetary system. It identifies the USA and Germany as center countries with rising/high current account deficits (USA) and surpluses (Germany). These are matched by current account surpluses of countries stabilizing their exchange rates against the dollar (dollar periphery) and current account deficits of countries stabilizing their exchange rates against the euro or members of the euro area (euro periphery). The paper finds that changes of world current account positions are closely linked to the monetary policy decision patterns both in the centers and peripheries. Whereas in the centers current account positions are affected by monetary policies, in the peripheries exchange rate stabilization cum sterilization matters. In specific, monetary expansion in the USA as well as exchange rate stabilization and sterilization policies in the dollar periphery are found to have contributed to global imbalances.
Corporate Reputations: Built in or Bolted on?

While there is widespread support for the notion that organizations with better reputations outperform their rivals, there is uncertainty about how to create such a reputation, especially among the managers responsible for this task. For example, organizations often give money to worthy causes or create social responsibility programs in the hope that this will appeal to their stakeholders. When approaches such as these are only loosely coupled to the strategy of the organization they appear to be “bolted on” rather than “built in. ” Thus, they are likely to foster a reputation that is less consistent with the principal actions of the organization and be less credible. They are also easy for competitors to imitate. Because of this, a reputation grounded in the strategy of the organization has a better chance of providing a sustainable competitive advantage. We present a normative framework that illustrates a strategy-led approach to reputation building. It is illustrated with numerous corporate examples.
LYMAN ALPHA GALAXIES: PRIMITIVE, DUSTY, OR EVOLVED?

We present stellar population modeling results for ten newly discovered Lyman alpha emitting galaxies (LAEs), as well as four previously known LAEs at z ∼ 4.5 in the Chandra Deep Field-South. We fit stellar population models to these objects in order to specifically learn if there exists more than one class of LAE. Past observational and theoretical evidence has shown that while many LAEs appear to be young, they may be much older, with Lyα equivalent widths enhanced due to resonant scattering of Lyα photons in a clumpy interstellar medium (ISM). Our results show a large range of stellar population age (3–500 Myr), stellar mass (1.6 × 108 to 5.0 × 1010 M☉), and dust extinction (A1200 = 0.3–4.5 mag), broadly consistent with previous studies. With such a large number of individually analyzed objects, we have looked at the distribution of stellar population ages in LAEs for the first time, and we find a very interesting bimodality, in that our objects are either very young (< 15 Myr) or old (> 450 Myr). This bimodality may be caused by dust, and it could explain the Lyα duty cycle which has been proposed in the literature. We find that eight of the young objects are best fit with a clumpy ISM. We find that dust geometry appears to play a large role in shaping the spectral energy distributions that we observe, and that it may be a major factor in the observed Lyα equivalent width distribution in high redshift Lyα galaxies, although other factors (i.e., outflows) may be in play. We conclude that 12 out of our 14 LAEs are dusty star-forming galaxies, with the other two LAEs being evolved galaxies.
Comparison of adaptive systems for noise reduction in speech performance

An adaptive system is a well-known method for removing noise from noise-corrupted speech. The problem arises in many situations such as airplane cockpits and automobiles. The variable step size normalized least mean squares (VSS-NLMS) algorithm incorporating a variable step size parameter whose values are based on the ratio of signal-to-noise power has very good convergence speed and low steady-state misadjustment. This paper investigates the rate of convergence by the wavelet based LMS (WLMS) algorithm to the noise speech problem. Simulation results are presented to compare the performance of the variable step size NLMS algorithm, the wavelet based LMS Algorithm, and other commonly used fixed step size LMS algorithms
Chronic methylphenidate treatment during adolescence increases anxiety-related behaviors and ethanol drinking in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats

Methylphenidate (MPD) is the most widely used drug in the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the symptoms of which can persist into adolescence and adulthood. The cooccurrence of other psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and alcoholism, in adults with ADHD is very common, but its etiology remains largely unknown. This study examined the effects of chronic MPD treatment during adolescence on emotional and consummatory behaviors in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), often proposed as an animal model of ADHD. Adolescent SHRs of both sexes were given chronic treatment with MPD (2 mg/kg intraperitoneally; twice daily for 16 days) or vehicle and were subsequently tested in adulthood. The tests used were the open-field and the elevated plus-maze, thought to measure locomotor and emotionality-related behaviors, and a protocol of ethanol consumption. MPD elicited anxious-like behavior in the open-field (but not in the elevated plus-maze) regardless of sex, and enhanced ethanol intake in females. These findings suggest that MPD treatment during adolescence induces persistent changes on emotionality and ethanol consumption in SHRs, but these effects depend on the sex and behavioral test used. Potential clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
The Employment of the Roma - Evidence from Hungary

The paper is based on data of individual work histories of the 1993/94 representative Roma survey in Hungary. First the disappearance of full employment of Roma in the 1984-1994 period is documented by the use of a quasi cross-sectional macro model and the patterns of employment characteristics of the nineties are described. Then the erosion of employment is traced from individual histories controlling the effects of gender, age and schooling. Finally, particular aspects of low employment of Roma are accounted for, focusing on the role of low schooling, regional backwardness, and labour market discrimination.
First-Year Experiences of Associate Deans: A Qualitative, Multi-Institutional Study.

This study examines the first-year experiences of new associate deans at doctoral granting, Research I universities. Participants were 24 associate deans from various disciplines at three difference universities who had been in their positions for five years or less. Findings show that the transition into the associate dean position is stressful and difficult, and that the first year involves a great deal of on-the-job skill acquisition, learning to navigate the broader organizational environment, dealing with significant changes in the nature of their interactions with colleagues from their previous departments along with a great sense of loneliness and isolation, and a need to establish new peer groups. However, nearly all report high job satisfaction and a desire to remain in administration. Future study is necessary to examine how these early experiences shape decisions to move into higher-level positions in higher education administration.
Between-hand difference in ipsilateral deactivation is associated with hand lateralization: fMRI mapping of 284 volunteers balanced for handedness

In right-handers (RH), an increase in the pace of dominant hand movement results in increased ipsilateral deactivation of the primary motor cortex (M1). By contrast, an increase in non-dominant hand movement frequency is associated with reduced ipsilateral deactivation. This pattern suggests that inhibitory processes support right hand dominance in right-handers and raises the issues of whether this phenomenon also supports left hand preference in left-handers (LH), and/or whether it relates to asymmetry of manual ability in either group. Thanks to the BIL&GIN, a database dedicated to the investigation of hemispheric specialization (HS), we studied the variation in M1 activity during right and left finger tapping tasks (FTT) in a sample of 284 healthy participants balanced for handedness. An M1 fMRI localizer was defined for each participant as an 8 mm diameter sphere centered on the motor activation peak. RH exhibited significantly larger deactivation of the ipsilateral M1 when moving their dominant hand than their non-dominant hand. In contrast, LH exhibited comparable ipsilateral M1 deactivation during either hand movement, reflecting a bilateral cortical specialization. This pattern is likely related to left-handers’ good performances with their right hand and consequent lower asymmetry in manual ability compared with RH. Finally, inter-individual analyses over the whole sample demonstrated that the larger the difference in manual skill across hands, the larger the difference in ipsilateral deactivation. Overall, we propose that difference in ipsilateral deactivation is a marker of difference in manual ability asymmetry reflecting differences in the strength of transcallosal inhibition when a given hand is moving.
Semen quality before cryopreservation and after thawing in 543 patients with testicular cancer

Objective The main objective of this study was to assess semen characteristics of patients with testicular cancer before cryopreservation and after thawing, to evaluate the consequences of this technique on sperm quality in patients with testicular cancer. Methods Five hundred eighty-nine samples from 543 patients with testicular cancer were cryopreserved between 1995 and 2015, one aliquot per patient was used for a thawing test to assess the impact of cryopreservation on sperm motility; semen analysis was performed before cryo preservation and after thawing, the result interpretation was carried out using the 2010 World Health Organization (WHO) Laboratory Manual, and consent forms were signed by the patients for freezing and when sperm was used for reproductive purposes. Results Hypospermia was observed in 28.7% of samples, the median sperm concentration was 18 million/mL with 35% oligozoospermia; twenty-two patients (4.1%) had azoospermia and 12.7% had severe oligozoospermia, the median sperm count was 31.3 million and 261 semen samples (44.3%) were normal in all parameters according to the WHO; total motile sperm count before cryopreservation and after thawing was 12 (0-412.2) and 7 (0-303.9) million sperm, respectively (p < 0.00001, 95% CI 5.48-14.91), which represents a 32% reduction; concerning the utilization of cryopreserved semen samples, only twelve patients (2.2%) used their frozen sperm for reproductive purposes. Conclusions An impairment in semen quality was found in almost half of the samples from patients with testicular cancer, only few patients had azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia; sperm cryopreservation significantly reduces sperm motility and total motile sperm count and very few patients use their frozen sperm for reproductive purposes.