Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A high GluR1 : GluR2 expression ratio is correlated with expression of Ca2+‐binding proteins in rat forebrain neurons

α‐Amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazle propionic acid (AMPA) receptors are ubiquitously expressed; however, their subtypes and abundance vary from region to region. We classified the neurons in various forebrain regions (hippocampus, striatum, amygdala, piriform cortex and somatosensory cortex) into six types: [R1+/R2+], [R1–/R2+], [R1+/R2–], [R1–/R2–], [R1++/R2+] and [R1++/R2–], and analysed the expression of Ca2+‐binding proteins, such as parvalbumin and calbindin‐D28k, using a triple‐staining method. The neurons showing a high GluR1 : GluR2 expression ratio, [R1+/R2–], [R1++/R2+] and [R1++/R2–] neurons, comprised 13–30% of the total neuronal population. In addition, the expression of Ca2+‐binding proteins was mainly observed in these three types of neurons. The results suggest that Ca2+‐binding protein‐positive neurons express Ca2+‐permeable AMPA receptors, because the Ca2+‐permeability of AMPA receptors is enhanced by the relative scarcity of the GluR2 subunit. To directly test the possibility that Ca2+‐binding protein‐positive neurons express Ca2+‐permeable AMPA receptors, we performed Ca2+‐imaging experiments in cultured cortical neurons. Ca2+ influx through AMPA receptors was measured selectively by addition of AMPA together with cyclothiazide in the presence of blockers of other Ca2+ influx routes. More than half of the calbindin‐D28k‐positive neurons showed a large increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), whilst most of the calbindin‐D28k‐undetectable neurons exhibited only a slight rise in [Ca2+]i after AMPA addition. These results suggest that the expression of calbindin‐D28k is related to the expression of Ca2+‐permeable AMPA receptors.
Expression of the Nogo-A System in Cortical Lesions of Pediatric Patients With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex and Focal Cortical Dysplasia Type IIb

Abstract The reticulon protein Nogo-A is an important regulator of neurite growth, axonal plasticity, and cell migration in the central nervous system. Previous studies have shown markedly elevated levels of Nogo-A in human temporal lobe epilepsy. In the present study, we examined the expression pattern of the Nogo-A system in cortical lesions of pediatric patients with tuberous sclerosis complex and focal cortical dysplasia type IIb. These disorders are characterized by malformations of cortical development and are frequently associated with intractable epilepsy. We found that the messenger RNA and protein levels of the Nogo-A receptor (NgR) and the downstream targets of Nogo-A, LINGO-1, TROY, and RhoA but not P75 were upregulated in the cortices of patients compared with autopsy control samples. Immunohistochemical analyses indicated that Nogo-A and NgR were strongly expressed in misshapen cells, particularly dysmorphic neurons, balloon cells, and giant cells. TROY was diffusely expressed in the malformations of cortical development. Most of theNogo-A/NgR–positive misshapen cells were colabeled with neuronal rather than astrocytic markers. Taken together, our results suggestthat the activation of Nogo-A via the NgR/LINGO-1/TROY signal transduction pathways, but not NgR/LINGO-1/P75, may be involved in the development and/or seizure activity of cortical lesions in tuberous sclerosis complex and focal cortical dysplasia type IIb.
Standards in the global value chains of the European Single Market

ABSTRACT We examine the impact of formal standards on trade in global value chains (GVCs) in Europe. Using a gravity model approach for panel data, we estimate the influence of national, European and international standards on trade in value-added and gross trade flows within Europe. We find that national standards on their own hamper trade in European value chains while European and international standards foster trade. European standards have greater influence on trade in inner-European value chains whereas international standards have positive effects on imports into Europe from third countries. European standards therefore reduce information asymmetries between market actors in the value chains of the European Single Market. International standards serve as a means of global communication between international trade partners. In addition, we find a positive effect of an interaction term between national and European standards in European value chains confirming the necessity of national standardization. Furthermore, we consider our findings not only within international political economy's theoretical literature regarding the governance of GVCs but also, the subsequent policy implications of our findings in terms of economic growth and development.
Protective effect of melatonin on TNF‐α‐induced muscle atrophy in L6 myotubes

Muscle atrophy, characterized by decreased cell number and size, is a serious concern for patients afflicted with inflammatory diseases. Mounting evidence indicates that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) plays a critical role in muscle atrophy in a number of clinical settings. We hypothesize that reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediate TNF‐α‐induced muscle cell death and hypotrophy. Recently, melatonin has attracted attention because of its free‐radical scavenging and antioxidant properties. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the possible protective role of melatonin in TNF‐α‐induced muscle cell death and hypotrophy in rat L6 myotubes. To examine this possible role, L6 myotubes were exposed to various concentrations of recombinant TNF‐α for 24 hr. We found that TNF‐α at a concentration of 100 ng/mL induced ROS generation and decreased cell viability. Further analysis revealed that apoptosis, but not autophagy, may be important for TNF‐α‐induced cell death. Melatonin significantly attenuated TNF‐α‐induced ROS generation and apoptosis. In addition, decreased muscle fiber diameter and increased muscle cell proteolysis by TNF‐α was highly attenuated by treatment with melatonin. The effects of melatonin were mediated neither through its plasmalemmal receptors nor by modulating the nuclear factor kappa B pathway activated by TNF‐α. Taken together, these results suggest that TNF‐α may mediate ROS‐induced muscle cell death and hypotrophy and that melatonin may be a useful tool for protecting against muscle atrophy stemming from inflammatory diseases.
Effects of Organizational Justice on Organizational Citizenship Behaviors: Mediating Effects of Institutional Trust and Affective Commitment

This study investigated the mediating role of institutional trust and affective commitment on the relationship between organizational justice and organizational citizenship behaviors. The study participants were 315 faculty members at 67 public/private universities of technology and vocational colleges in Taiwan. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the relationships between the variables and assess the goodness of fit of the overall model. Organizational justice was positively related to institutional trust and there was an indirect effect of organizational justice on affective commitment through institutional trust. In addition, the relation between institutional trust and affective commitment was positive and affective commitment was shown to have a positive relation to organizational citizenship behaviors. Institutional trust was found to indirectly affect organizational citizenship behaviors through affective commitment. Most importantly, this study suggested a mediating effect of institutional trust and affective commitment on the relation between organizational justice and organizational citizenship behaviors. Implications, limitations, and future research were also discussed.
Community resilience 2.0: Toward a comprehensive conception of community-level resilience

Abstract Resilience theory provides an applicable framework for studying how systems cope, adapt or transform in face of exogenous disruptions. We attempt to develop a comprehensive conception of community-level resilience; we propose a combination (i.e. social-ecological resilience, community resilience) of characteristics of systems-centered (e.g. structure, embeddedness in larger spatial and temporal scales) and components-centered conceptions of resilience. Well-developed communal resources and agency are considered components leading to community resiliency. Unfortunately, current literature on community resilience does not elaborate on social structures that condition agency of social agents. We believe Archers’ morphogenetic approach and her stratified view of agency offers a seminal starting point. Furthermore, we suggest that forces (e.g. social, economic, natural) operating at larger levels impact communal resources; a community’s social memory influences their agency. Finally, we make recommendations on how community development processes can strengthen community resilience in practice and how to conduct empirical research toward community resilience 2.0.
The Young, the Old, and the Government: Demographics and Fiscal Multipliers

We document that government spending multipliers depend on the population age structure. Using the variation in military spending and birth rates across US states, we show that the local fiscal multiplier is 1.5 and increases with the population share of young people, implying multipliers of 1.1–1.9 in the interquartile range. A parsimonious life cycle open economy New Keynesian model with credit market imperfections and age-specific differences in labor supply and demand explains 87 percent of the relationship between local multipliers and demographics. The model implies that the US population aging between 1980 and 2015 caused a 38 percent drop in national government spending multipliers. (JEL D15, E12, E24, E62, J11, J22, J23)
Is Insider Control Good for Environmental Performance? Evidence From Dual-Class Firms

Corporate environmental performance has become a key focus of business leaders, policy makers, and scholars alike. Today, scholarship on environmental practice increasingly highlights how various aspects of corporate governance can influence environmental performance. However, the prior literature is inconclusive as to whether ownership by insiders (officers and directors) will have positive or negative environmental effects and whether insider voting control or equity control is more salient to environmental outcomes. This article leverages a unique empirical data set of dual-class firms, where insiders have voting rights disproportionate to their equity rights, to shed light on this question. We find that, on average, dual-class firms underperform their single-class peers on environmental measures and that the discrepancy comes from dual-class firms where insiders have more voting control, relative to their equity stake. While small increases in voting control are associated with improved environmental performance, too much (relative to insiders’ equity stake) worsens firms’ environmental performance. Insider equity control alone has no impact on environmental outcomes. Our findings have important implications for agency theory and environmental scholarship by identifying contingencies on the impact of voting and equity-based incentives. This research casts doubt on the idea that providing insiders with significant voting control will aid environmental performance.
The Use of Incentive Spirometry in Pediatric Patients With Sickle Cell Disease to Reduce the Incidence of Acute Chest Syndrome

Introduction To determine if incentive spirometry (IS) in pediatric patients admitted with sickle cell disease for nonrespiratory complaints will decrease acute chest syndrome (ACS). Methods This was an Institutional Review Board-approved before-after 2-year retrospective cohort study evaluating an evidence-based guideline (EBG) initiating mandatory IS in admitted pediatric sickle cell patients from a tertiary children's emergency center. Student t testing and &khgr;2 analysis were performed. Results There were 1551 patient visits. About 258 visits were enrolled in the pre-EBG year, and 230 in the EBG year. Between year characteristics were similar. The EBG year reported higher use of hydroxyurea (P<0.01), analgesics (P=0.02), and chest pain (P=0.03). Sixty-seven patients (25.9%) in the pre-EBG year received transfusions versus 51 (22.5%) in the EBG year (NS). Twenty-five (9.6%) of the pre-EBG patients received blood for ACS versus 14 (6.1%) in the EBG group (absolute risk reduction: 3.5%, 95% confidence interval: −1-8.4%). Subgroup analysis revealed that patients who presented with back pain experienced a significant decrease in the development of ACS in the EBG year (P=0.04, absolute risk reduction: 14%, 95% confidence interval: 1-28%, number needed to treat: 8). Conclusion Mandatory IS for sickle cell disease patients admitted without respiratory complaints reduces transfusions and ACS, particularly for those presenting with back pain.
Measurement of trust in human-robot collaboration

We describe a collaborative performance model that captures the critical performance attributes of the distinctive human-robotic decision and control environment. The literature and our initial experimental studies show that the element of trust in human-robot collaboration is an extremely important factor in the performance model, and accordingly we have focused much of our attention on deriving suitable and practical measures of this variable. In this paper we describe the formulation of a decision-analytical based measure of trust as well as the results of two initial experiments designed to examine trust in a tactical human-robot collaborative task performed in our new mixed initiative team performance assessment system (MITPAS) simulation environment.
Cardiac-specific overexpression of perilipin 5 provokes severe cardiac steatosis via the formation of a lipolytic barrier[S]

Cardiac triacylglycerol (TG) catabolism critically depends on the TG hydrolytic activity of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL). Perilipin 5 (Plin5) is expressed in cardiac muscle (CM) and has been shown to interact with ATGL and its coactivator comparative gene identification-58 (CGI-58). Furthermore, ectopic Plin5 expression increases cellular TG content and Plin5-deficient mice exhibit reduced cardiac TG levels. In this study we show that mice with cardiac muscle-specific overexpression of perilipin 5 (CM-Plin5) massively accumulate TG in CM, which is accompanied by moderately reduced fatty acid (FA) oxidizing gene expression levels. Cardiac lipid droplet (LD) preparations from CM of CM-Plin5 mice showed reduced ATGL- and hormone-sensitive lipase-mediated TG mobilization implying that Plin5 overexpression restricts cardiac lipolysis via the formation of a lipolytic barrier. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed TG hydrolytic activities in preparations of Plin5-, ATGL-, and CGI-58-transfected cells. In vitro ATGL-mediated TG hydrolysis of an artificial micellar TG substrate was not inhibited by the presence of Plin5, whereas Plin5-coated LDs were resistant toward ATGL-mediated TG catabolism. These findings strongly suggest that Plin5 functions as a lipolytic barrier to protect the cardiac TG pool from uncontrolled TG mobilization and the excessive release of free FAs.
Schlemm’s Canal and the Collector Channels at Different Developmental Stages in the Human Eye

We studied Schlemm’s canal (SC) and other posttrabecular structures of aqueous humor outflow in eyes from human fetuses (at 24, 26, 33 and 36 weeks of gestation), eyes from normal children (2 months and 8 years old) and normal adult eyes, using mesoscopy/diaphanization and light microscopy. This study points to the presence of a collector canal parallel to the outer wall of SC (the outer collector). At 24 weeks of gestation, the SC was observable throughout the entire circumference (360°) and the anlage of the outer collector was present. At 26 weeks of gestation, the outer collector was still growing. At 33 weeks of gestation, the outer collector was parallel to the SC and had become visible in some sectors. At 36 weeks, the SC and the outer collector were clearly defined and connected by intercanal links. The intrascleral plexus was growing. At 2 months, the deep intrascleral plexus and the episcleral plexus continued to grow, developing by sectors. At 8 years of age, the same structures corresponded to those in adults. The outer collector and the intrascleral plexuses were divided into sectors not greater than 120°.
High Thoracic Epidural in Cardiac Anesthesia

High thoracic epidural analgesia (HTEA) offers a distinctive opportunity to enhance postoperative recovery for the thoracic surgery patient. In the modern hospital setting with day of admission surgery, the logistics of insertion of the epidural catheter has become increasingly difficult. The greatest limitation to its use might be the believed increased risk of epidural hematoma associated with anticoagulation during cardiopulmonary bypass. The aim of this review is to give an overview of complications and effect on outcomes with focus on cardiac performance and postoperative glycemic control and kidney function. Patients with epidurals may have improved postoperative pulmonary function and shorter ventilation time, while impact on length of stay in the intensive care unit and hospital is not as evident. HTEA is effective in pain management, attenuates perioperative stress and seems to improve postoperative blood glucose control. Whether HTEA improves recovery and facilitates fast-track is still to be confirmed. With regard to serious postoperative complications, there is evidence of reduction in supraventricular arrhythmias and lower frequency of postoperative acute kidney injury and dialysis. There are some indications of lower short term mortality and frequency of postoperative myocardial infarctions, but only as a combined outcome. The present short-term mortality of 1% to 2% should be compared with the most pessimistic frequency of epidural hematoma being 1 in 4600 patients.
Inclusive education from teachers' perspective : exploring Chilean teachers' attitudes and self-efficacy

Kuittinen, Elina. 2017. Inclusive education from teachers’ perspective: Exploring Chilean teachers’ attitudes and self-efficacy. Master's Thesis in Special Education. University of Jyväskylä. Department of Education and Psychology. 101 pages. Chile has been moving towards inclusive education. However, there are still many challenges regarding the implementation of inclusion policies. Teachers’ attitudes and self-efficacy are crucial for implementation to be successful. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore Chilean teachers’ attitudes towards inclusive education and self-efficacy in implementing inclusive practices. The data were collected in 2015. A sample of 108 Chilean in-service teachers completed a questionnaire containing a Sentiments, Attitudes and Concerns about Inclusive Education (SACIE) scale, a Teacher Self-Efficacy for Inclusive Practices (TEIP) scale, and ratings for the best educational environment for students with different special educational needs. The results indicate that teachers’ sentiments towards interacting with people with disabilities were positive, but that they had great concerns for including students with special educational needs in their own classrooms. Teachers’ overall self-efficacy in implementing inclusive practices was high, and teachers with higher self-efficacy also had more positive attitudes. The quality of teachers’ previous experience (from very negative to very positive) on teaching students with special educational needs was the strongest predictor of their attitudes towards inclusive education. The most inclusive educational environments were recommended for students with mild special educational needs. The findings of this study suggest that positive experience of teaching students with special educational needs can have positive impact on teachers’ attitudes toward inclusion. The findings provide to understand teachers’ attitudes toward inclusive education more comprehensively, and give ideas on how to improve pre-service and in-service teacher education.
Impact of the Impairment Criterion in the Diagnosis of Adult ADHD: 33-Year Follow-Up Study of Boys With ADHD

Objective: To investigate the relationship between ADHD symptoms and impairment among adults diagnosed as having ADHD in childhood (ages 6-12). Method: Clinicians blindly interviewed 121 White males; the mean age was 41 years across the sample. DSM-IV adult ADHD behaviors were systematically rated, and impairment resulting from symptoms was scored on a 5-point Likert-type scale. Results: Correlations between degree of impairment and number of behaviors were high (r’s = .83 to .85, p < .001). The impairment criterion had no effect on classifying any participants as having, or not having, adult ADHD. All participants who reported experiencing 5 or more inattention or hyperactive-impulsive behaviors as “often” or “very often” in adulthood were significantly impaired by their symptoms. Conclusions: Contrary to results reported in children, there was a strong relationship between number of ADHD symptoms and degree of impairment. However, for several reasons (discussed in the article), it should not be concluded that the impairment criterion is superfluous. ( J. of Att. Dis. 2011; 15(2) 122-129)
Financial Crises, Dollarization, and Lending of Last Resort in Open Economies

Foreign currency debt is considered a source of financial instability in emerging markets. We propose a theory in which liability dollarization arises from an insurance motive of domestic savers. Since financial crises are associated to depreciations, savers ask for a risk premium when saving in local currency. This force makes domestic currency debt expensive, and incentivizes borrowers to issue foreign currency debt. Providing ex post support to borrowers can alleviate the effect of the crisis on savers’ income, lowering their demand for insurance, and, surprisingly, it can reduce ex ante incentives to borrow in foreign currency. (JEL E21, E42, E44, F34, G01)
Loss of β2-spectrin prevents cardiomyocyte differentiation and heart development.

AIMS β2-Spectrin is an actin-binding protein that plays an important role in membrane integrity and the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signalling pathway as an adaptor for Smads. Loss of β2-spectrin in mice (Spnb2(-/-)) results in embryonic lethality with gastrointestinal, liver, neural, and heart abnormalities that are similar to those in Smad2(+/-)Smad3(+/-) mice. However, to date, the role of β2-spectrin in embryogenesis, particularly in heart development, has been poorly delineated. Here, we demonstrated that β2-spectrin is required for the survival and differentiation of cardiomyocytes, and its loss resulted in defects in heart development with failure of ventricular wall thickening. METHODS AND RESULTS Disruption of β2-spectrin in primary muscle cells not only inhibited TGF-β/Smad signalling, but also reduced the expression of the cardiomyocyte differentiation markers Nkx2.5, dystrophin, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Furthermore, cytoskeletal networks of dystrophin, F-actin, and α-SMA in cardiomyocytes were disorganized upon loss of β2-spectrin. In addition, deletion of β2-spectrin in mice (Spnb2(tm1a/tm1a)) prevented proper development of the heart in association with disintegration of dystrophin structure and markedly reduced survival. CONCLUSION These data suggest that β2-spectrin deficiency leads to inactivation of TGF-β/Smad signalling and contributes to dysregulation of the cell cycle, proliferation, differentiation, and the cytoskeletal network, and it leads to defective heart development. Our data demonstrate that β2-spectrin is required for proper development of the heart and that disruption of β2-spectrin is a potential underlying cause of congenital heart defects.