Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[The SNPs analysis of encoding sequence of interacting factor gene in Chinese population].

OBJECTIVE To screen the variations of TG interacting factor(TGIF) gene in encoding sequence in Chinese high myopia patients and normal controls and to analyze the SNPs of TGIF gene encoding sequence in Chinese population. METHODS Genomic DNA was collected from 204 probands with high myopia and 112 unrelated persons without high myopia. The coding sequences of TGIF gene in 316 subjects were analyzed by using exon-by-exon PCR heteroduplex-SSCP analysis and sequencing. RESULTS There were 3 types of SNP and one single nucleotide mutation in the coding sequence of TGIF gene: IVS-2 nt350 G --> T(36/204), codon140 CCA --> CCG; Pro140Pro codon163 CCG --> CTG;Pro163Leu and codon126 GTG --> GCG; Val126Ala(1/204). The SNPs of codon140 CCA --> CCG and codon163 CCG --> CTG were composed of 3 alleles and 5 genotypes in Chinese population which abide by Hardy-Weinberg law. CONCLUSION There was no evidence to prove that mutations in the TGIF gene are responsible for the high myopia in Chinese. Three SNPs of coding sequence TGIF gene in Chinese population abide by Hardy-Weinberg law.
The distribution of histamine and serotonin in the barnacle's nervous system

The use of antisera directed against conjugates of histamine and serotonin has revealed the locations of neurons labeling for these transmitters in the nervous system of barnacles. Photoreceptors label for histamine but not serotonin and also satisfy a number of other criteria indicating that histamine is their neurotransmitter. Photoreceptors also take up radioactively labeled histamine but not serotonin. Within the barnacle's brain no somata are consistently found that label with antiserum against histamine, but one to three pairs of small cells, depending on species, label with antiserum against serotonin. The most impressive serotonin‐like immunoreactivity in the brain, however, is in a pair of large fibers ascending through the circumesophageal connectives and ramifying extensively. Within the ventral ganglion, the only other ganglion in the barnacle, ten pairs of cells label with antiserum against histamine. These neurons are confined to the posterior portion of the ganglion but ramify extensively throughout the ganglion. Antiserum against serotonin labels about 15 cell pairs, depending on species, located throughout the ganglion. The positions of the arbors of many of these cells suggest that these amines have a role in modulating either the motor pathways underlying feeding or the visual pathways responsible for the detection of shadows. Microsc. Res. Tech. 44:94–104, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Snus use and smoking behaviors: preliminary findings from a prospective cohort study among US Midwest young adults.

The effect of snus use on smoking behaviors among US young adults is largely unknown. Data from the Minnesota Adolescent Community Cohort Study collected in 2010 to 2011 and 2011 to 2012 (participants aged 20-28 years) showed that young adult nonsmokers who had tried snus were subsequently more likely than those who had not tried snus to become current smokers (n = 1696; adjusted odds ratio = 1.79; 95% confidence interval = 1.01, 3.14). Snus use was not associated with subsequent smoking cessation or reduction among young adult current smokers (n = 488; P > .46).
Quantification of Aortic Stiffness to Predict the Degree of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function

Introduction:The association between the arterial stiffness and the severity of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in hypertension has not been fully evaluated. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship of aortic stiffness by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) to parameters reflecting the atherosclerosis and the severity of LV diastolic function in patients with hypertension. Methods:LV ejection fraction, the ratio of peak velocity of early rapid filling and peak velocity of atrial filling (E/A ratio) and LV mass index were determined with echocardiography in 800 patients with hypertension. LV diastolic function was estimated by pulsed-tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) echocardiography, averaging diastolic mitral annular velocity measurements (Emav, Amav and Emav/Amav ratio) from 2 separate sites (basal septal and lateral). The baPWV was measured by the volume rendering method. Results:Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the independent factors of LV diastolic function were deceleration time, baPWV, age and Emav/Amav ratio. The receiver- operator characteristic curve demonstrated a baPWV of 1566 cm/sec was useful to discriminate mild LV diastolic dysfunction (sensitivity, 78%; specificity, 78%), and that a baPWV of 1730 cm/sec was useful to discriminate moderate LV diastolic dysfunction (sensitivity, 73%; specificity, 57%). Conclusions:Increased baPWV relates not only to the parameters reflecting atherosclerosis but also to those reflecting LV diastolic dysfunction. TDI-detected LV diastolic dysfunction is accompanied by increased aortic stiffness in essential hypertension. Therefore, quantification of aortic stiffness can predict the degree of LV diastolic function.
Research on the mechanisms of big data on consumer behavior using the models of C2C e-commerce and countermeasures

The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanisms of big data on consumer behavior on the models of C2C e-commerce. From the beginning of the following five aspects: recommendation system, information search, reputation system, virtual experience and security system, the paper discusses some factors that affect buying intention in C2C e-commerce under big data. It fully considers the characteristics of big data, and then constructs the behavioral decision-making model of C2C e-commerce consumers, especially the factors of perceived usefulness, perceived risk and trust are integrated into the model of this research. We conduct the survey method and collect 245 valid questionnaires on consumers in each area in Shanghai and online using the quota sampling method. The empirical data show that it has six hypotheses being rejected, and others are supported in 20 hypotheses. According to the results, the paper also discusses why these hypotheses are not supported and give some marketing countermeasures in order to help the e-commerce enterprises better respond to the challenges of big data. Key words: Big data, C2C e-commerce, behavioral decision-making model, mechanisms, countermeasures.
OWNERSHIP AND NONPERFORMING LOANS: EVIDENCE FROM TAIWAN'S BANKS

We first derive a theoretical model to predict that the relation between nonperforming loan ratios and government shareholdings can be downward-sloping, upward-sloping, U-shaped, and inversely U-shaped. An increase in the government's shareholding facilitates political lobbying. On the other hand, private shareholding induces more nonperforming loans (NPLs) to be manipulated by corrupt private owners. We adopt a panel data set of forty Taiwanese commercial banks during 1996–99 for empirical analysis. The results show that the rate of NPLs decreased as the ratio of government shareholding in a bank rose (up to 63.51 percent), while the rate thereafter increased. Bank size was negatively related to the rate of NPLs. Rates of NPLs are shown to have steadily increased from 1996 to 1999. Banks established after deregulation, on average, had a lower rate of NPLs than those established before deregulation.
Total Factor Regional Productivity in Greece

The components of productivity change in manufacturing industry over the regions of Greece in the 1980s are examined. Regional differences in productivity are significant in two respects. They reflect the outcomes of different production processes in space where labour is supplied and combined with various sorts of capital and where specific technologies are used. They also reflect opportunities for developing efficient business operations in space, in that they indicate one important aspect of a region's comparative advantage. Change in value added in manufacturing is represented by change in the factor inputs of capital, labour, and technology. Some of this change in output is accounted for by constant returns to scale. The rest is a result of variable returns to scale, such as produced by agglomeration economies or diseconomies, different levels of infrastructure provision, etc, and technological change. Total factor productivity represents these sources of nonconstant returns to scale. It is shown that for Greece the largest gains in total factor productivity are to be found in the noncentral regions, and especially in those having industrial area projects and industrial grants and incentives. These results are in line with research undertaken in other contexts. Those areas with the most significant productivity gains from the deployment of new technology tend to be the well-established centres housing medium-sized populations. There is some evidence to suggest that new employment opportunities are associated with increases in total factor productivity, although rarely with advances in the use of new technology.
Parent–adolescent conflict, treatment adherence and glycemic control in Type 1 diabetes: The importance of adolescent externalising symptoms

Parent–adolescent conflict has been demonstrated to relate to treatment adherence and glycemic control in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. The present longitudinal study investigated how these variables were interrelated over time, and examined whether externalising and internalising symptoms function as mediating variables. A total of 109 adolescents with diabetes participated at four annual time points and completed measures on conflict with parents, internalising and externalising symptoms. Information on treatment non-adherence and glycemic control was obtained from treating physicians. Cross-lagged analyses from a structural equation modelling approach indicated that father–adolescent but not mother–adolescent conflict positively influenced treatment non-adherence over time, which, in turn, was associated with higher glycosylated haemoglobin-values. Further, externalising but not internalising symptoms were found to mediate the pathway from father–adolescent conflict to treatment adherence over time. Finally, mother–adolescent conflict was found to relate indirectly to treatment non-adherence through its relationship with externalising symptoms. Hence, the present longitudinal study provides evidence that externalising symptoms represent an important mechanism through which earlier experiences of parent–adolescent conflict may influence later treatment non-adherence and poorer glycemic control. Implications and suggestions for future research are outlined.
Secondary spread of caudal block as assessed by ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND Redistribution and secondary spread after the initial injection of local anaesthetics (LAs) are important factors that contribute to the final spread of caudal block in children. However, to date, these phenomena have yet not been studied in detail. Thus, the aim of this observational study was to define patterns of secondary spread and redistribution of a caudal block by means of real-time ultrasonography scanning and cutaneous testing. METHODS Ultrasound assessment of LA spread within the caudal-epidural space and epidural pressure was followed during 15 min after initial injection (1.5 ml kg(-1), ropivacaine 0.2%) in 16 infants. At 15 min post-injection, cutaneous testing was also performed to assess the cranial dermatomal level of the block (at end-tidal sevoflurane 2.5%). RESULTS The median ultrasound-assessed cranial spread was Th10 and Th8 at 0 and 15 min, respectively, and the sensory level at 15 min was Th4. The caudal injection was initially found to compress the terminal part of the dural sac, later followed by a partial re-expansion as epidural pressure was returning towards pre-injection values. An intrasegmental redistribution from the dorsal to the ventral compartment of the epidural space was also observed. CONCLUSIONS Two separate patterns of secondary spread of caudal block could be observed, being horizontal intrasegmental redistribution and longitudinal cranial spread. The observed bi-directional movement of cerebrospinal fluid (coined 'the CSF rebound mechanism') does explain a major part of the difference between the initial ultrasound-assessed cranial level and the final level determined by cutaneous testing.
REGIONAL VARIATIONS IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF SMALL INTESTINAL INTRAEPITHELIAL LYMPHOCYTES IN ALYMPHOPLASIA (aly/aly) MICE AND HETEROZYGOUS (aly/+) MICE

Regional variations in intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) in the small intestine were examined in alymphoplasia mutant (aly/aly) mice, which are characterized by the systemic absence of lymph nodes and Peyer's patches, and heterozygous (aly/+) mice. The small intestines were taken from 10 to 12-week-old mice and divided equally into 3 parts (the proximal, middle and distal parts). IELs were isolated from each part of the intestine and analyzed with a flow cytometer. The number of IELs in the distal part was significantly fewer in aly/aly mice compared with aly/+ mice, although the total number of small intestinal IELs were comparable between them. As to the IELs subsets, regional variations in αβ T cells and γδ T cells were observed in aly/+ mice, but they disappeared in aly/aly mice. However, regional variations in composition of αβ T cell subsets were similarly observed in both aly/aly mice and aly/ + mice. This indicates that, although not essential, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and/or Peyer's patches may modify the regional variations in IELs.
Elevated levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β and IL‐10 in hidradenitis suppurativa skin: a rationale for targeting TNF‐α and IL‐1β

Background The pathogenesis of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is largely unknown and the disease is difficult to treat. Patients are in high need of an effective treatment. Although it is not known whether the levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α are aberrant in HS skin, anti‐TNF‐α biologics are used, with variable clinical efficacy.
Unlocking the role of a board director: a review of the literature

Purpose – This paper seeks to examine the current debate regarding the role of a board director.Design/methodology/approach – A comprehensive review of the corporate governance (CG) literature is undertaken, with a particular focus on director contribution to board effectiveness.Findings – The literature review revealed a number of issues in the CG literature that highlight the need to clarify board director role and pay closer attention to the processes needed for directors to perform their role effectively. These issues have broadly been classified into: conceptual issues regarding board effectiveness and director contribution; a methodological issue of level of analysis (board as a group and a director as individual); failure of much of the literature to account for the external context in which the board directors operate; and prescriptive nature of the literature.Originality/value – Issues pertinent to the CG literature identified in this paper hold theoretical and practical implications.
Contagion determination via copula and volatility threshold models

We develop threshold models that allow volatilities and copula functions or their association parameters to change across time. The number and location of the thresholds is assumed unknown. We use a Markov chain Monte Carlo strategy combined with Laplace estimates that evaluate the required marginal densities for a given model. We apply our methodology to financial time series, emphasizing the ability to improve estimates of risk characteristics, as well as measuring financial contagion by inspecting simultaneous changes of dependence and volatility structures.
Market Reaction to Takeover Rumour in Internet Discussion Sites

We examine the market reaction to takeover rumour postings in the Hotcopper Internet Discussion Site (IDS). Results from the interday analysis show abnormal returns and trading volumes on the day before and the day of the posting. Results of the intraday analysis show abnormal returns and trading volumes during the 10 min posting interval and abnormal trading volume during the 10 min interval immediately preceding it. Sensitivity analyses indicate that the results are robust to concerns regarding potential confounds, credibility and bid–ask spread bias. Taken together, these findings are consistent with the market reacting to the posting of takeover rumours in IDS.
Gender and family caregiving at the end-of-life in the context of old age: A systematic review

Background: As societies age and governments attempt to manage within constrained health budgets by moving care into community settings, women will be called upon to provide more palliative care in old age. However, little is known about gendered disparities for caregivers of people over the age of 65 years. Aim: To identify and synthesise the empirical literature between 1994 and 2014 that focusses on gender and family caregiving for people over the age of 65 years with a life-limiting illness. Design: Systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Supplemental review using a novel feminist quality appraisal framework. Data sources: Search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Sociological Abstracts and Gender Studies to find empirical studies on gender and family caregiving at end-of-life in the context of old age. Results: Of 19 studies identified, 9 presented thorough gender analyses. Gender themes included why people care, how they care, and the consequences of providing care. Women caregivers experienced a greater degree of mental and physical strain than their male counterparts. This was linked to societal expectation that women should provide a greater degree of care at the end-of-life for family members. Conclusion: Palliative family caregiving for older adults is gendered. Gender affects why people care and the consequences of providing care. Palliative care literature needs to incorporate a greater gender focus for future research and policy makers need to be aware of the gendered ramifications of providing more palliative care in the community.
Global analysis of cellular protein flux quantifies the selectivity of basal autophagy

ABSTRACT In eukaryotic cells, the macroautophagy pathway has been implicated in the degradation of long-lived proteins and damaged organelles. Although it has been demonstrated that macroautophagy can selectively degrade specific targets, its contribution to the basal turnover of cellular proteins had previously not been quantified on proteome-wide scales. In a recent study, we utilized dynamic proteomics to provide a global comparison of protein half-lives between wild-type and autophagy-deficient cells. Our results indicated that in quiescent fibroblasts, macroautophagy contributes to the basal turnover of a substantial fraction of the proteome. However, the contribution of macroautophagy to constitutive protein turnover is variable within the proteome. The methodology outlined in the study provides a global strategy for quantifying the selectivity of basal macroautophagy.
Spiritual Leadership Values and Organisational Behaviour in Malaysian Private Institutions of Higher Education

Malaysia wants to be a part of the bandwagon in the industry of higher education, thus, the number of private higher education institutions has grown drastically in the recent years. Moreover, the assimilation of cultures and values among the races in Malaysia has contributed distinctive organisational cultures that affect leadership values and organisational behaviour specifically in the private institutions of higher education sector. The purpose of this study is to identify spiritual leadership values embraced by the leaders in private institutions of higher education, as well as the relationship between spiritual leadership values and organisational behaviour (job satisfaction, organizational commitment and intention to quit). In total, 302 academics and administrative staff from 7 private institutions of higher education in Malaysia participated in the study. Questionnaire and non-probability sampling were used in the data collection for this study. The findings show that love, hope, and peace are associated with membership and meaning, meanwhile membership and meaning are associated with organisational behaviour. Hence, this study has contributed in leadership training that will affect the turnover rate and ultimately result a cost effective managerial policing in the Malaysian private institutions of higher education.
Exchange rates, productivity, poverty and inequality

This article analyses differences in the wealth of nations by comparing PPP-based cross-country incomes from the Penn World Table with those derived from prevailing exchange rates. Using the Balassa (1964)–Samuelson (1964) productivity-bias framework, we introduce the ‘international poverty line’ and illustrate the implications for cross-country income inequality. We demonstrate that our results are not inconsistent with the previous literature when appropriately interpreted.
The Rise of Independent Directors in the United States, 1950-2005: Of Shareholder Value and Stock Market Prices

Between 1950 and 2005, the composition of large public company boards dramatically shifted towards independent directors, from approximately 20% independents to 75% independents. The standards for independence also became increasingly rigorous over the period. The available empirical evidence provides no convincing explanation for this change. This Article explains the trend in terms of two interrelated developments in U.S. political economy: first, the shift to shareholder value as the primary corporate objective; second, the greater informativeness of stock market prices. The overriding effect is to commit the fi rm to a shareholder wealth maximizing strategy as best measured by stock price performance. In this environment, independent directors are more valuable than insiders. They are less committed to management and its vision. Instead, they look to outside performance signals and are less captured by the internal perspective, which, as stock prices become more informative, becomes less valuable. More controversially, independent directors may supply a useful friction in the operation of control markets. Independent directors can also be more readily mobilized by legal standards to help provide the public goods of more accurate disclosure (which improves stock price informativeness) and better compliance with law. In the United States, independent directors have become a complementary institution to an economy of firms directed to maximize shareholder value. Thus, the rise of independent directors and the associated corporate governance paradigm should be evaluated in terms of this overall conception of how to maximize social welfare.