Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 regulates microtubule formation and cell surface mechanical properties in the developing organ of Corti

Fibroblast Growth Factor (Fgf) signaling is involved in the exquisite cellular patterning of the developing cochlea, and is necessary for proper hearing function. Our previous data indicate that Fgf signaling disrupts actin, which impacts the surface stiffness of sensory outer hair cells (OHCs) and non-sensory supporting pillar cells (PCs) in the organ of Corti. Here, we used Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to measure the impact of loss of function of Fgf-receptor 3, on cytoskeletal formation and cell surface mechanical properties. We find a 50% decrease in both OHC and PC surface stiffness, and a substantial disruption in microtubule formation in PCs. Moreover, we find no change in OHC electromotility of Fgfr3-deficient mice. To further understand the regulation by Fgf-signaling on microtubule formation, we treated wild-type cochlear explants with Fgf-receptor agonist Fgf2, or antagonist SU5402, and find that both treatments lead to a significant reduction in β-Tubulin isotypes I&II. To identify downstream transcriptional targets of Fgf-signaling, we used QPCR arrays to probe 84 cytoskeletal regulators. Of the 5 genes significantly upregulated following treatment, Clasp2, Mapre2 and Mark2 impact microtubule formation. We conclude that microtubule formation is a major downstream effector of Fgf-receptor 3, and suggest this pathway impacts the formation of fluid spaces in the organ of Corti.
Financial Market Risk: Measurement and Analysis

Part I: Financial Risk Processes 1. Risk: Asset Class, Horizon, and Time 2. Competing Financial Market Hypotheses 3. Stable Scaling Distributions in Finance 4. Persistence of Financial Risk Part II: Financial Risk Measurement 5. Frequency Analysis of Financial Risk 6. Fourier Time - Frequency Analysis of Risk 7. Wavelet Time - Scale Analysis of Risk 8. Multiresolution Analysis of Local Risk Part III: Term Structure Dynamics 9. Chaos: Nonunique Equilibrium Processes 10. Measuring Term Structure Dynamics 11. Financial Turbulence: Measurement and Simulation Part 4: Financial Risk Management 12. Managing VaR and Extreme Values
Hospital Market Structure and the Return to Nursing Education

Wages and employment patterns of over 5000 nurses are examined for a state where extensive corporate ownership of hospitals magnifies the concentrated nature of the hospital setting. While baccalaureate nurses hold more positions of responsibility, regression analysis shows that the interaction of possessing a baccalaureate degree and hospital employment results in a significantly negative effect on wages. The study suggests that this effect is due to the oligopsonistic hospital structure rather than to lack of recognition by employers of differences between baccalaureate and other nurses.
Endometrial stem cell transplantation in MPTP- exposed primates: an alternative cell source for treatment of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Cell‐replacement therapies have emerged as a promising strategy to slow down or replace neuronal loss. Compared to other stem cell types, endometrium‐derived stem cells (EDSCs) are an attractive source of stem cells for cellular therapies because of their ease of collection and vast differentiation potential. Here we demonstrate that endometrium‐derived stem cells may be transplanted into an MPTP exposed monkey model of PD. After injection into the striatum, endometrium‐derived stem cells engrafted, exhibited neuron‐like morphology, expressed tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and increased the numbers of TH positive cells on the transplanted side and dopamine metabolite concentrations in vivo. Our results suggest that endometrium‐derived stem cells may provide a therapeutic benefit in the primate model of PD and may be used in stem cell based therapies.
Do monetary shocks cause regional prices to go bananas

This thesis intends to investigate the asymmetric effects of monetary policy on regional prices within Fiji. The monetary policy shocks are generated by removing any systemic response to future economic conditions from the actual policy rate that is set by the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF). This method of generating shocks involves utilizing the data and forecasts that the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) employs when implementing monetary policy, thus ensuring that any systematic response to future economic conditions by the RBF is controlled for. Regional prices are then subjected to monetary shocks to gauge whether these regional prices respond asymmetrically to a common monetary shock. The results reveal that regional prices do respond asymmetrically within the first eighteen months after the initial monetary shock. However the effects of the monetary shocks generally did not have any long term effects. Furthermore, the resulting regional inflation differentials, which varied in the short run, tended to dissipate within the first twelve months after the initial monetary shock. These results bode well for policy makers as the welfare consequences associated with long term regional inflation differentials are negligible.
Information And Communication Technology And New Zealand'S Productivity Malaise: An Industry-Level Study

This paper examines the link between information and communication technology (ICT) and New Zealand's labour productivity (LP) growth in 29 industries over the period 1988-2003, and over relevant sub-periods. After deriving an ICT intensity index in order to classify industries into 'more ICT intensive' and 'less ICT intensive', we compare LP growth rates for these two industry groupings. Further, we employ dummy variable regression models, including difference-in-difference models, to more formally test the relationship between ICT intensity and LP growth. The results prove to be sensitive to the time period specified. When breaks in the data series are taken into account, there seems to be support for the view that LP growth of more ICT intensive industries has improved over time relative to that of less ICT intensive industries, even though overall LP growth was weak. To put it differently, the restrained New Zealand LP performance apparent from our data seems to have been due mainly to the decline in LP growth of less ICT intensive industries. Our results illustrate that lack of overall productivity growth per se is not necessarily evidence against the beneficial productivity impacts of ICT. Rather, the proper comparison is that between the productivity performance of more ICT intensive versus less ICT intensive industries. However, our results can only be taken as suggestive, given the fact that ICT is but one of the determinants of LP, and given the many inherent measurement problems.
The secondary eclipse of CoRoT-1b

The transiting planet CoRoT-1b is thought to belong to the pM-class of planets, in which the thermal emission dominates in the optical wavelengths. We present a detection of its secondary eclipse in the CoRoT white channel data, whose response function goes from ∼400 to ∼1000 nm. We used two different filtering approaches, and several methods to evaluate the significance of a detection of the secondary eclipse. We detect a secondary eclipse centered within 20 min at the expected times for a circular orbit, with a depth of 0.016 ± 0.006%. The center of the eclipse is translated in a1 -σ upper limit to the planet’s eccentricity of e cos ω< 0.014. Under the assumption of a zero Bond Albedo and blackbody emission from the planet, it corresponds to a TCoRoT = 2330 +120 −140 K. We provide the equilibrium temperatures of the planet as a function of the amount of reflected light. If the planet is in thermal equilibrium with the incident flux from the star, our results imply an inefficient transport mechanism of the flux from the day to the night sides.
Leasing and Selling: Optimal Marketing Strategies for a Durable Goods Firm (Лизинг и продажи: оптимальные маркетинговые стратегии для изготовителя товаров длительного пользования)

The problems associated with marketing a durable through leases and sales are analyzed. Academic research in this area has argued that in a monopolistic environment, leasing dominates selling. Hence, leasing and selling should not co-exist and the firm should concentrate its efforts solely on leasing. It is shown that the relative profitability of leasing and selling hinges on the rates at which leased and sold units depreciate. In particular, it is found that leasing does not dominate selling in all cases; if sold units depreciate at a significantly higher rate than leased units, a monopolistic firm is better off by only selling its product. In addition, it is found that if leaded and sold products depreciate at different rates, then the optimal strategy for the firm involves a combination of both leasing and selling. The paper is concluded with an empirical analysis of the depreciation rates of leased and sold units of a popular car model. It is found that the depreciation rate of leased cars has been significantly lower than the depreciation rate of sold cars.
European Conference on Information Systems ( ECIS ) 2010 Improving the Success of Employee Portals : A Causal and Performance-Based Analysis

The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of employee portal success and to identify the levers for its improvement. We introduce a theoretical model for this that is based on the DeLone and McLean IS Success Model, which considers the specific requirements of employee portals. We tested the associations between our model’s different success dimensions by using more than 4,400 employees’ responses. These responses were collected in a survey of twelve companies across different industries participating in an international benchmarking study. We applied structural equation modeling to carry out the causal analysis. Furthermore, within a performance-based analysis, we investigated the success dimensions’ improvement potentials from both a strategic and action-oriented perspective. The results of our causal analysis indicate that besides the factors contributing to the success of IS in general, other success dimensions – like the quality of the collaboration and process support – have to be considered when aiming for a successful employee portal. The performance-based analysis emphasizes the significance of collaboration quality to improve an employee portal and indentifies the respective fields of action. The study’s findings make it possible for practitioners to understand the levers with which to improve their employee portals and to prioritize their investments accordingly. By empirically validating a comprehensive success model for employee portals, the study's results advance the theoretical development in this area and present a basis for further research in this field.
Phrenic nerve injury after paediatric heart surgery: is aggressive plication of the diaphragm beneficial?

OBJECTIVES Phrenic nerve injury after paediatric heart surgery is associated with significant morbidity. Surgical plication of the diaphragm is believed to be beneficial to the patient, with difficult weaning from ventilation; however, the optimal timing remains unclear. We aimed to compare the outcome after two different strategies for treating hemidiaphragmatic paresis. METHODS A retrospective analysis of all patients with paresis of the diaphragm between 2000 and 2010 was performed, with special attention to the rate of reintubations, ventilation and intensive care unit (ICU) stay and the rate of plication. In 2005, the strategy for treating diaphragmatic paresis in our institution changed from conservative treatment with plication after multiple extubation efforts towards an aggressive one with plication after a single unsuccessful extubation. We compared the outcome of all patients and that of the newborns separately from the two periods. RESULTS During the study period, 148 patients with diaphragmatic paresis were diagnosed and included. Median age at the cardiac operation was 7 months (1 day-18 years), ventilation time ranged from 4 h to 41 days (median 7 days), 42 (28.4%) of the patients required at least one reintubation and ICU stay ranged from 2 to 63 days (median 11 days). A total of 63 plications were performed-5 (9%) before 2004 and 58 (62%) after 2005, P < 0.001. There were no significant differences in the ventilation time-6 (1-40) vs 8 (0-41) days, P = 0.36, reintubation rate-28 vs 29%, P = 0.85 and ICU stay-10 (3-63) vs 12 (2-55) days, P = 0.41 between both groups. The newborn patients, treated with the different strategies, also did not differ significantly in their outcome: ventilation time-12 (2-40) vs 11.5 (3-34) days, P = 0.38; reintubation rate-43 vs 41%, P = 0.62; ICU stay-16 (6-63) vs 15 (7-55) days, P = 0.55. CONCLUSIONS Changing the strategy for phrenic nerve injury after paediatric heart surgery towards a more aggressive one with early plication of the diaphragm was not associated with the better outcome. Prospective randomized studies are needed to determine the optimal management of this complication.
An Estimation of the Impact of Oil Shocks on Crude Oil Exporting Economies and Their Trade Partners

This research evaluates the impact of oil price shocks on oil producing and consuming economies; we used a simultaneous equation framework for different countries with business relations. As expected, we found that oil-producers (here, Iran and Russia) benefit from oil price shocks. However contrary to previous findings, they also benefit from the indirect effect through their trade partners. For oil-consuming economies, the effects are more diverse. In some countries, output falls in response to an oil price shock, while some others seem to be relatively immune. Generally, those countries which trade more with oil producers gain indirect benefits via higher demand from oil-producers. For instance, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy, the US, the UK, and China get a negative direct effect and positive indirect effect from oil producing countries. This is exactly the result that we anticipated. India has both negative effects directly and indirectly and seems to suffer more in a positive oil price shock. For Japan, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey the results are reversed. They benefit from an oil shock directly and indirectly.
Antagonistic activity expressed by Shigella sonnei: identification of a putative new bacteriocin

Bacteriocins are antibacterial, proteinaceous substances that mediate microbial dynamics. Bacteriocin production is a highly disseminated property among all major lineages of bacteria, including Shigella. In this paper, we addressed the purification and characterisation of a bacteriocin produced by a Shigella sonnei strain (SS9) isolated from a child with acute diarrhoea. The substance was purified through ammonium-sulphate precipitation and sequential steps of chromatography. The intracellular fraction obtained at 75% ammonium sulphate maintained activity following exposure to pH values from 1-11 and storage at -80ºC for more than two years and was inactivated by high temperatures and proteases. The molecular mass of the purified bacteriocin was determined by mass spectrometry to be 18.56 kDa. The N-terminal sequence of the bacteriocin did not match any other antibacterial proteins described. A putative new bacteriocin produced by S. sonnei has been detected. This bacteriocin may represent a newly described protein or a previously described protein with a newly detected function. Considering that SS9 expresses antagonism against other diarrhoeagenic bacteria, the bacteriocin may contribute to S. sonnei virulence and is potentially applicable to either preventing or controlling diarrhoeal disease.
Knowledge, attitude and practices about malaria among mothers and care-givers in Aba South Local Government Area, Abia state, Nigeria

The knowledge of the symptoms, treatment seeking behaviors and management of malaria amongst mothers and care-givers in Aba South LGA in South eastern Nigeria was assessed. A total of five hundred and two mothers and care-givers were interviewed using closed ended pre-tested structured questionnaires, which was administered to community members that fell within the targeted audience. The results of the investigations showed that there was a high level of knowledge of the causal agent of malaria, as 97.01 % attributed it to female anopheline mosquito bites. Radio (56.77%) and the television (20.32 %) was the major sources of information on malaria diagnosis and management strategies amongst the studied population. 54.58 % of the respondents had only secondary level of education. A remarkable mix-up of traditional and orthodox medication in the treatment of malaria was noticed. 53.19 % visited the patent medicine shop each time they fell ill and 37.85 % used local herbs. Some of the herbs were boiled before drinking, inhaled or used to bathe as the case may be, while 5.98 % visited the hospital. Preventive measures against mosquito bites included the use of insecticide spray (15.25%), use of mosquito coils (44.60%), use of insecticide treated bed nets (12.88%) and the use of fumes from Ocimum grattissimum (10.74%) locally called Nchanwu among others. We suggest that government should intensify efforts at reaching the rural dwellers that lack basic health amenities, these can be done by making available anti-malarial drugs, insecticide treated bed nets and finally the provision of intensive health education programmes are advocated to remedy and control malaria.
Type and Distribution of Sensilla in the Antennae of the Red Clover Root Borer, Hylastinus obscurus

Abstract In order to determine the type, distribution, and structures of sensilla, the antennae of the red clover root borer, Hylastinus obscurus Marsham (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), were examined by light and electron microscopy (both scanning and transmission). Four different types of sensilla were identified in the club, and one type of chaetica was found in the scape and funicle of both male and female individuals. Chaetica and basiconica were the most abundant sensilla types in the club. They were present in the three sensory bands described, totaling approximately 80% of sensilla in the antennal club of H. obscurus. Chaetica were predominantly mechanoreceptors, although gustatory function could not be excluded. Basiconica forms showed characteristics typical of olfactory sensilla. Trichoidea were not found in the proximal sensory band, and they exhibited abundant pores, suggesting olfactory function. Styloconica were the least abundant sensillum type, and their shape was similar to that reported as having hygro- and thermoreceptor functions. There was no difference in the relative abundance of antennal sensilla between males and females. Finally, the sensillar configuration and abundance of receptors in the H. obscurus antennae suggest that these sensilla have chemoreceptive and other functions.
Emerging shared service organizations and the service‐oriented enterprise

Purpose – Service‐orientation enables new organizational forms and organization initiate shared service centers (SSCs) to become shared service organizations (SSOs) or service‐oriented enterprises (SOEs). Services can be performed in‐house, shared or outsourced. However, this form of organization faces significant challenges and to date not much research has focused on capturing experiences in this domain. The aim of this paper is to identify critical management issues in the development of service‐oriented arrangements.Design/methodology/approach – The research used a combination of literature and case study research, whereby literature provided the theoretical foundations and the case study is used to identify the critical research challenges.Findings – Technological developments enable a service‐oriented approach, leading to new organizational forms and a shift towards a more market‐oriented type of control. The SOE is an enterprise that is modularized in business domains and organized around SSCs. New.
Neural correlates of visual form and visual spatial processing

Cortico‐cortical projections for visual processing that originate from the striate cortex are organized into two streams. The dorsal stream projects to the parietal region and the ventral stream to the inferior temporal region. One hypothesis is that the dorsal stream processes visual spatial information, and the ventral stream processes visual object information. Although recognition of human faces or common objects has been shown preferentially to activate the ventral stream, the issue of when such processing starts to engage the ventral or the dorsal stream is not clear. The question explored in this study is whether processing of visual form per se without evoking the brain mechanisms that are associated with recognition of human faces or common objects is sufficient to activate the ventral stream more significantly relative to the condition when only visual spatial processing is involved. Functional magnetic resonance images were acquired while subjects performed a delayed comparison task in which either visual spatial or visual form information was processed. Cortical areas that were preferentially activated in visual spatial or visual form processing showed not only ventral‐dorsal segregation, but also hemispheric laterality. The results extended previous findings by showing that preferential activation in the ventral pathway is not contingent upon such powerful stimuli as faces and common objects. Processing of simple visual form information is cause enough for such activation to be observed. A strong left hemisphere dominance in visual form recognition was also revealed. The observed laterality may be a reflection that the left hemisphere is more important in symbolic and/or semantic coding of visual form information. Hum. Brain Mapping 8:60–71, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Antenatal and Postnatal Diagnosis of Coxsackie B4 Infection: Case Series

Abstract Enteroviruses are a common cause of neonatal infection. In particular, Coxsackie B viruses are often associated with severe, fatal disease. The antenatal diagnosis of Coxsackie B viral infections is uncommon. We present a unique case of Coxsackie B4 virus ventriculitis and myocarditis causing fetal hydrops at 22 weeks gestation. Transmission was inferred by viral isolation from the amniotic fluid and by placental pathology. We also describe two additional cases of fatal neonatal Coxsackie B4 infection complicated by myocarditis and encephalitis with cerebral necrosis in a 4-day-old female and by myocarditis, spinal leptomeningitis, and hepatitis in a 4-day-old male. Transplacental acquisition of infection carries a poor prognosis. We propose that Coxsackie B virus should be considered in the investigation of nonimmune hydrops, particularly in the presence of cardiac dysfunction.