Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A novel transgenic technique that allows specific marking of the neural crest cell lineage in mice.

Neural crest cells are embryonic, multipotent stem cells that give rise to various cell/tissue types and thus serve as a good model system for the study of cell specification and mechanisms of cell differentiation. For analysis of neural crest cell lineage, an efficient method has been devised for manipulating the mouse genome through the Cre-loxP system. We generated transgenic mice harboring a Cre gene driven by a promoter of protein 0 (P0). To detect the Cre-mediated DNA recombination, we crossed P0-Cre transgenic mice with CAG-CAT-Z indicator transgenic mice. The CAG-CAT-Z Tg line carries a lacZ gene downstream of a chicken beta-actin promoter and a "stuffer" fragment flanked by two loxP sequences, so that lacZ is expressed only when the stuffer is removed by the action of Cre recombinase. In three different P0-Cre lines crossed with CAG-CAT-Z Tg, embryos carrying both transgenes showed lacZ expression in tissues derived from neural crest cells, such as spinal dorsal root ganglia, sympathetic nervous system, enteric nervous system, and ventral craniofacial mesenchyme at stages later than 9.0 dpc. These findings give some insights into neural crest cell differentiation in mammals. We believe that P0-Cre transgenic mice will facilitate many interesting experiments, including lineage analysis, purification, and genetic manipulation of the mammalian neural crest cells.
Why are Successive Cohorts of Listed Firms Persistently Riskier?

Prior studies show that the risk level of each new cohort of listed firms is higher than its predecessor’s. We find that these risk differences are persistent and investigate two potential explanations: (1) Each cohort adopts and retains operating innovations that are associated with higher risks and (2) increasing numbers of younger and less-experienced firms are represented in each new cohort. Our results support the first explanation. Each new cohort uses riskier production technologies and operates in more competitive product markets than its predecessor.
Age-related pelvic floor modifications and prolapse risk factors in postmenopausal women

Objective: Genital prolapse is frequent in postmenopausal women; it describes the loss of support to the pelvic organs, resulting in a herniation of these into the vaginal channel. This problem affects 50% of parous women, and at least 50% of all women develop a mild form of genital prolapse after pregnancy. Methods: An extensive literature review from 1990 to 2008 was performed on prolapse etiology and its risk factors; analyzing the data, we reviewed the genetic and biological aspects, age-related prolapse, biological tissue modifications, surgical problems, pelvic musculature modifications, and neuropathy. Results: Data suggested that aging, pelvic trauma, and surgery evoke tissue denervation and devascularization, anatomic alterations, and increased degradation of collagen; all of these may lead to a decrease in mechanical strength and predispose an individual to prolapse. It has been demonstrated that there is a reduction in protein content and estrogens in uterosacral ligaments, in the vagina, and in the parametrium of women with prolapse. This is a possible explanation for why many surgical procedures to correct prolapse fail and recurrences after surgical correction are frequent. Conclusions: Even if the etiology of pelvic prolapse is poorly defined and multifactorial, aging risk factors, such as biomechanical abnormalities in connective tissue composition, hormonal deficiency, and irregular tissue metabolism, are nonmodifiable and therefore largely stated in clinical practice. Regardless of future developments, based on the reported findings, prolapse therapy will be more influenced by genetics, biological pelvic changes, changes in tissue homeostasis, and topical hormones, rather than general pelvic corrective surgical anatomy.
[Late diagnosis and vulnerabilities of the elderly living with HIV/AIDS].

OBJECTIVE To identify vulnerabilities of elderly people with HIV/AIDS and the trajectory that they follow until reaching the diagnosis of the disease. METHOD Qualitative research conducted in specialized clinics in the state of São Paulo, from January to June 2011. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 elderly people who were found to be infected with the virus at the age of 60 years or older. The interviews were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS In this process four categories emerged, then analyzed with reference to the theoretical framework of vulnerability. CONCLUSION Late diagnosis of HIV infection or AIDS among the elderly happens in the secondary or tertiary service. Issues related to sexual life of the elderly are only questioned by health professionals after the diagnosis, also the time that condom use becomes absolute. It is believed that the investigation of the vulnerability of the elderly to HIV/AIDS allows for carrying out appropriate interventions for this population.
Different Patterns of Sexual Dysfunctions Associated with Psychiatric Disorders and Psychopharmacological Treatment

Little is known about sexual dysfunctions associated with psychiatric disorders and psychopharmacological treatment. In the present study schizophrenic patients (n = 45, mostly under neuroleptic treatment), neurotic patients (n = 50, mostly treated without medication), methadone-substituted opiate addicts (n = 37), and normal controls (n = 41) were included. They were interviewed with the aid of a sex-differentiated semistructured questionnaire on sexual function. All the methadone-substituted opiate addicts and nearly all the schizophrenic patients suffered from dysfunctions in at least one criterion. The three clinical groups differed significantly from the controls in sexual interest, emotional arousal, physiological arousal (erectile function/vaginal lubrication), performance (ejaculatory function/vaginism, dyspareunia), and orgasm satisfaction. Characteristic patterns of dysfunction were found in the male patients. The schizophrenic patients had significantly more dysfunctions of interest, physiological arousal, performance, and orgasm than the controls. Emotional arousal, erectile and ejaculatory functions, and orgasm satisfaction were impaired more frequently in the male schizophrenics than in the neurotic patients. Reduced sexual interest, emotional arousal, and orgasm satisfaction were reported more frequently by the methadone-substituted opiate addicts than by the neurotic men. Emotional arousal was even more frequently reduced than in the schizophrenic men. There was no correlation between sexual dysfunction and particular neuroleptics or neuroleptic or methadone dosage. The results are compared with the literature and suggestions made for further investigations.
Chloride anion concentration as a determinant of renal vascular responsiveness to vasoconstrictor agents

1 The role of chloride concentration in modulating vasoconstrictor responses of the rat isolated kidney, perfused with Krebs‐Henseleit solution, to angiotensin II (AII), arginine vasopressin (AVP) and phenylephrine (PE) was investigated. 2 Reduction of perfusate chloride from a high (117 mm) to low (87 mm) concentration, by substitution of sodium chloride with a mixture of sodium salts of propionate, acetate and methanesulphonate, reduced responsiveness to all three vasoconstrictors, the change for AII being most pronounced. 3 For AII, reduced vasoactivity with low chloride was evident both in terms of the threshold dose and on the linear part of the dose‐response curve but not for the maximum response. This attenuating effect of low chloride on the vasoconstrictor response to AII was reversed when perfusion with high chloride was reinstituted. Continuous perfusion with high chloride progressively increased the vasoconstrictor effect of low doses of AII for successive dose‐response curves. 4 In addition to reducing responses on the linear part of the dose‐response curve for both AVP and PE, low chloride also reduced the maximum vasoconstrictor response to PE, whereas the threshold dose for the two agonists was unchanged. In contrast to the enhanced pressor response to AII, during continuous perfusion with high chloride, tachyphylaxis occurred with AVP and PE. 5 The ability of chloride to modify renal responsiveness to vasoconstrictor agents may contribute to the increase in renal vascular resistance and decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) which occurs during infusion of hyperchloremic solutions into the renal artery and explain the need for chloride as the anion accompanying sodium in salt‐sensitive hypertensive models.
Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms for High-Throughput Genotyping of Anopheles arabiensis in East and Southern Africa

ABSTRACT Anopheles arabiensis Patton is one of the principal vectors of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa, occupying a wide variety of ecological zones. This species is increasingly responsible for malaria transmission in Africa and is becoming the dominant vector species in some localities. Despite its growing importance, little is known about genetic polymorphisms in this species. Multiple sequences of various gene fragments from An. arabiensis isolates from Cameroon were obtained from GenBank. In total, 20 gene fragments containing single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at moderate density were selected for direct sequencing from field collected specimens from Tanzania and Zambia. We obtained 301 SNPs in total from the 20 gene fragments, 60 of which were suitable for Illumina GoldenGate SNP genotyping. A greater number of SNPs (n = 185) was suitable for analysis using Sequenom iPLEX, an alternative high-throughput genotyping technology using mass spectrometry. An SNP was present every 59 (± 44.5) bases on average. Overall, An. arabiensis from Tanzania and Zambia are genetically closer (mean FST = 0.075) than either is to populations in Cameroon (FST TZ-CM = 0.250, FST,ZA-CM = 0.372). A fixed polymorphism between East/southern and Central Africa was identified on AGAP000574, a gene on the X chromosome. We have identified SNPs in natural populations of An. arabiensis. SNP densities in An. arabiensis were higher than Anopheles gambiae s.s. , suggesting a greater challenge in the development of high-throughput SNP analysis for this species. The SNP markers provided in this study are suitable for a high-throughput genotyping analysis and can be used for population genetic studies and association mapping efforts.
Tunable oscillatory phenomenon during anodic of n-InP (100) by the CPCR model

Tunable potential oscillations were observed during electrochemical etching of n-InP(100) in 3M NaCl solution at the model of the chronopotentiometry with current ramp. These results demonstrated that the scan rate, stirring and front illumination can regulate on the amplitude of potential oscillation, which indicated that the amplitude can be designed at certain electrochemical parameters, such as the range of current density and the scan rate.
A Ka-Band Dielectric Resonator Antenna Reflectarray

A reflectarray that uses a Dielectric Resonator Antenna (DRA) as the radiating element has been developed at Ka-Band. A variable length DRA provides the required phase shift at each cell on the reflectarray surface. Experimental results for this configuration show a similar performance to reflectarrays based on microstrip patch antennas.
The physiological functions of mammalian endoplasmic oxidoreductin 1: on disulfides and more.

SIGNIFICANCE The oxidative process of disulfide-bond formation is essential for the folding of most secretory and membrane proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). It is driven by electron relay pathways that transfer two electrons derived from the fusion of two adjacent cysteinyl side chains onto various types of chemical oxidants. The conserved, ER-resident endoplasmic oxidoreductin 1 (Ero1) sulfhydryl oxidases that reduce molecular oxygen to generate an active-site disulfide represent one of these pathways. In mammals, two family members exist, Ero1α and Ero1β. RECENT ADVANCES The two mammalian Ero1 enzymes differ in transcriptional and post-translational regulation, tissue distribution, and catalytic turnover. A specific protein-protein interaction between either isoform and protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) facilitates the propagation of disulfides from Ero1 via PDI to nascent polypeptides, and inbuilt oxidative shutdown mechanisms in Ero1α and Ero1β prevent excessive oxidation of PDI. CRITICAL ISSUES Besides disulfide-bond generation, Ero1α also regulates calcium release from the ER and the secretion of disulfide-linked oligomers through its reversible association with the chaperone ERp44. This review explores the functional repertoire and possible redundancy of mammalian Ero1 enzymes. FUTURE DIRECTIONS Systematic analyses of different knockout mouse models will be the most promising strategy to shed new light on unique and tissue-specific roles of Ero1α and Ero1β. Moreover, in-depth characterization of the known physical interactions of Ero1 with peroxidases and PDI family members will help broaden our functional and mechanistic understanding of Ero1 enzymes.
Thermal stability of electrodeposited platinum nanowires and morphological transformations at elevated temperatures

Pt nanowires were prepared by template electrodeposition using ion track etched polymer membranes and analysed with respect to their thermal stability. Driven by Rayleigh instability, the polycrystalline Pt nanostructures experienced structural transformations and finally fragmented into linear chains of nanospheres at temperatures much below the melting point of bulk Pt. Morphological changes were systematically studied by electron microscopy and compared with previously reported results on other metal nanowires and theoretical predictions. In addition, nanowires could readily be interconnected to two-dimensional assemblies by taking advantage of the rapid diffusion processes. This study will help to predict the durability of integrated nanowires and contributes to the understanding of thermal-induced transformations for polycrystalline nanowires.
An Empirical Study on Accounting Conservatism and Investment Efficiency

This paper studies A-share listed companies adoption of new accounting standards after the split share structure reform in China from 2007 to 2009,and we find that effects of accounting conservatism on the efficiency of investment has two sides: on the one hand,when a company over-invests,accounting conservatism can curb the scale of investment and improve investment efficiency;on the other hand,the accounting conservatism increases the lack of a company investment,and deteriorates the investment efficiency.Further study reveals that in non-state enterprises,accounting conservatism has a more sensitive effect on the asymmetrical investment efficiency.At the same time,we have further tested the impact of accounting conservatism and investment efficiency on corporate value.
Macular Dystrophy Associated With the A3243G Mitochondrial DNA Mutation

Methods: Seven probands harboring the A3243G mitochondrial DNA mutation and 36 asymptomatic maternal relatives were ascertained. Participants underwent ophthalmologic examination, fundus photography, autofluorescence imaging, and audiological evaluation and completed a questionnaire. Blood samples were taken to test for diabetes, determine renal function, and screen relatives for the A3243G mutation.
Hiring, employment, and health in Scandinavia: the Danish ‘flexicurity’ model in comparative perspective

ABSTRACT Previous research has shown that people with health problems often experience disadvantages on the labour market. Can weak employment protection increase employment prospects for people with ill health? In order to investigate this question, the longitudinal part of the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) data material is utilised (2008–2011) and generalised least squares regressions are estimated. The research context is set to Scandinavia. Denmark, Norway, and Sweden are similar in many respects, but deviate on one important point: the employment protection legislation is considerably weaker in the Danish ‘flexicurity’ model. The lenient firing regulations could make employers more prone to take the ‘risk’ associated with hiring someone with a health problem, since the costs related to firing him/her are low. The results reveal that people with ill health have somewhat better hiring likelihood in Denmark than in Norway and Sweden. This pattern is, however, only evident among higher educated individuals. Furthermore, descriptive evidence indicates that the ‘flexicurity’ model seems to come at a cost for people with health problems: The employment rates are not high overall, and temporary work contracts are much more widespread in Denmark. Consequently, labour market attachment for people with ill health remains rather ‘loose’ in the Danish ‘flexicurity’ model.
Optimal design of a new structure piezo-driven cell injector

With the development of micromanipulation technique, the piezo-driven cell injector has been widely applied in cell microinjection. Traditional injection technology used piezo actuator to drive pipettes and a small mercury column was applied in micropipette to diminish the lateral tip oscillations. This injector significantly improves the survival rates of the ICSI process, but large lateral tip oscillations of the micropipette and the toxicity of mercury may damage to the cell membrane with a lower survival rate. Based on the theoretical basis of the previous generation injection structure and conventional injection system, a new design of the piezo-driven microinjector is proposed for microinjection. In this paper, the new structure uses packaged piezo actuator as driving source for connecting more stable and reliable. And it adopts two points flexible way to fix the pipette instead of the way of one point. The design parameters have been optimized for meeting the requirements of small cell injection. It's more simple and easy to use. This paper used simulation software to study the lateral vibration of the new structure, and optimized design size for minimum the lateral oscillation of micropipettes. Harmful lateral tip oscillations of micropipette are reduced substantially during simulation. Finally, we make the new microinjector by 3D printing technology for future experiment. This new structure will reduce the damage to cells in a large extent with a high success rate.
The Negative Credit Risk-Return Puzzle: A Behavioural Story

Prior research has documented that, counter-intuitively, high credit risk stocks earn lower – not higher – returns than low credit risk stocks. In this paper we provide evidence against rational expectations explanations, and argue that behavioural considerations deriving from the disposition effect combine with limits to arbitrage factors to explain this apparent anomaly. In particular, we confirm and advance beyond the rationales suggested by previous studies, and demonstrate that the negative pricing of credit stocks is driven by the underperformance of stocks which have both high credit risk and which have suffered recent relative underperformance, and that their ongoing poor performance can be explained by a small subset of stocks which share three characteristics: they are held disproportionately by investors subject to the disposition effect; they have large unrealised capital losses, which bias these investors towards retaining them in the hope of riding out the loss; and they have high levels of a combination of four limits-to-arbitrage factors – idiosyncratic risk, turnover, illiquidity and bid-ask spreads. Collectively, these impede the arbitrageurs' correction of the mispricing induced by disposition investors, especially on the short leg of the trade, where commonly reported returns are unattainable.
6. From parental attitudes to input conditions: Spanish-English bilingual development in Toronto

Research shows correlations between pro*ciency and language attitudes. Other studies associate performance in young bilinguals more strongly with adult language input and practice at home than with individual attitudes in youth. No studies, however, have examined how attitudes and family practice are implicated in the linguistic development of bilingual children. )is study examines (1) the interplay between attitudinal and objective factors in setting the input conditions relevant for child bilingual acquisition; (2) how parental attitudes and community context shape home language practices and input conditions; and (3) how input conditions determine bilingual pro*ciency and degree of morphosyntactic transfer in young bilinguals. Twenty three bilingual children participated in the study. Children completed an elicited narrative and a word order task to assess the extent of transfer. )ey were asked to repeat sentences with clitics in reconstruction environments. If object pronoun linearization was vulnerable to transfer, children with stronger English dominance were expected to favor postverbal positioning. Results show strong correlation between family’s attitudes to Spanish and bilingualism, but only moderate association between these and language practice. )e most important di+erence in terms of dominance between the children related to onset of bilingualism. Results from the repetition task show a tendency by bilinguals to reposition preverbal pronouns as postverbal, a pattern not attested among monolinguals, and a lesser degree of the preverbal pattern. )e simultaneous bilinguals favor the predicted transfer pattern more strongly, and also show high rates of pronoun omissions. )ese results suggest that input conditions are the primary factor in language maintenance in young bilinguals.
Off to a Bad Start: Unemployment and Political Interest during Early Adulthood

It is often argued that unemployment depresses political involvement because unemployment deprives workers of important workplace-related resources. We challenge this argument from two sides. Theoretically, we argue that the resource approach neglects life cycle stages. Socialization theory suggests that workplace-related resources influence political involvement mostly during adolescence and early adulthood but not later in life. Ignoring life cycle stages therefore risks underestimating unemployment effects on young workers and overestimating them for older workers. Our second criticism is methodological. Existing literature on unemployment and political involvement largely uses cross-sectional data, which makes it impossible to eliminate unobserved heterogeneity. Using German panel data, we show that unemployment depresses the growth of political interest in early adulthood, while it does not have an effect later in life. Moreover, we find that early unemployment experiences have scarring effects that reduce the long-term level of political interest and participation.