Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A meta-analysis of fMRI studies in healthy relatives of patients with schizophrenia

Objective: Genetically at-risk yet healthy relatives of patients with schizophrenia, sharing an important part of the genetic susceptibility to the disease, allow the study of neuroimaging endophenotypes. The aim of our study was to perform a meta-analysis of whole-brain functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies that compared adult healthy relatives of patients with schizophrenia and controls. Methods: Twenty-one whole-brain fMRI studies were included (17 using cognitive tasks and four using emotional tasks), published between 2003 and 2013. These studies included 467 healthy relatives of patients with schizophrenia and 768 controls. To conduct the statistical analysis, we used the effect-size signed differential mapping software, a voxel-based meta-analytic approach. Results: In healthy relatives of patients with schizophrenia, we observed a general pattern of overactivation across the 21 fMRI studies in right-sided frontal, parietal and temporal regions compared to controls. This pattern was accompanied by an underactivation in the cingulate gyrus. Our analyses showed a very similar pattern during purely cognitive tasks; during emotional tasks, healthy relatives additionally overactivated the left parahippocampal gyrus. Conclusions: This fMRI pattern of prefrontal overactivation and hypoactivation of the cingulate gyrus may represent a candidate endophenotype for schizophrenia.
Interleukin-6-induced Tethering of STAT3 to the LAP/C/EBPβ Promoter Suggests a New Mechanism of Transcriptional Regulation by STAT3*

LAP/C/EBPβ is a member of the C/EBP family of transcription factors and contributes to the regulation of the acute phase response in hepatocytes. Here we show that IL-6 controlsLAP/C/EBPβ gene transcription and identify an IL-6 responsive element in the LAP/C/EBPβ promoter, which contains no STAT3 DNA binding motif. However, luciferase reporter gene assays showed that STAT3 activation through the gp130 signal transducer molecule is involved in mediating IL-6-dependent LAP/C/EBPβ transcription. Southwestern analysis indicated that IL-6 induces binding of a 68-kDa protein to the recently characterized CRE-like elements in the LAP/C/EBPβ promoter. Transfection experiments using promoter constructs with mutated CRE-like elements revealed that these sites confer IL-6 responsiveness. Further analysis using STAT1/STAT3 chimeras identified specific domains of the protein that are required for the IL-6-dependent increase inLAP/C/EBPβ gene transcription. Overexpression of the amino-terminal domain of STAT3 blocked the IL-6-mediated response, suggesting that the STAT3 amino terminus has an important function in IL-6-mediated transcription of the LAP/C/EBPβ gene. These data lead to a model of how tethering STAT3 to a DNA-bound complex contributes to IL-6-dependent LAP/C/EBPβ gene transcription. Our analysis describes a new mechanism by which STAT3 controls gene transcription and which has direct implication for the acute phase response in liver cells.
The mechanism of substrate (aglycone) specificity in beta -glucosidases is revealed by crystal structures of mutant maize beta -glucosidase-DIMBOA, -DIMBOAGlc, and -dhurrin complexes.

The mechanism and the site of substrate (i.e., aglycone) recognition and specificity were investigated in maize beta-glucosidase (Glu1) by x-ray crystallography by using crystals of a catalytically inactive mutant (Glu1E191D) in complex with the natural substrate 2-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-4-hydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOAGlc), the free aglycone DIMBOA, and competitive inhibitor para-hydroxy-S-mandelonitrile beta-glucoside (dhurrin). The structures of these complexes and of the free enzyme were solved at 2.1-, 2.1-, 2.0-, and 2.2-A resolution, respectively. The structural data from the complexes allowed us to visualize an intact substrate, free aglycone, or a competitive inhibitor in the slot-like active site of a beta-glucosidase. These data show that the aglycone moiety of the substrate is sandwiched between W378 on one side and F198, F205, and F466 on the other. Thus, specific conformations of these four hydrophobic amino acids and the shape of the aglycone-binding site they form determine aglycone recognition and substrate specificity in Glu1. In addition to these four residues, A467 interacts with the 7-methoxy group of DIMBOA. All residues but W378 are variable among beta-glucosidases that differ in substrate specificity, supporting the conclusion that these sites are the basis of aglycone recognition and binding (i.e., substrate specificity) in beta-glucosidases. The data also provide a plausible explanation for the competitive binding of dhurrin to maize beta-glucosidases with high affinity without being hydrolyzed.
Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis as a Diagnostic Tool in Periodontal Microbiology

ABSTRACT Bacteria play an important role in the initiation and progression of periodontal diseases and are part of a biofilm, which can contain over 100 different species. The aim of the present study was to show the potential of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) as a tool for the detection of clinically relevant species and to compare the results of detection by DGGE with those by PCR and culturing. Hybridization of the bands from the DGGE profiles with species-specific probes was developed to confirm the band positions in the marker obtained with reference strains. The sensitivities of DGGE compared to those of cultivation for the detection of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Tannerella forsythensis were 100, 100, 88, and 100%, respectively; and the sensitivities of DGGE compared to those of PCR were 100, 90, 88, and 96%, respectively. DGGE as a diagnostic tool could easily be extended to other species, as shown for Treponema denticola, which could be detected in 48% of the samples. Three different groups of A. actinomycetemcomitans serotypes could be distinguished by DGGE (i.e., a group comprising serotypes a, d, e, and f; a group comprising serotype b; and a group comprising serotype c). Amplicons from P. gingivalis and T. denticola migrated to the same position in the gel, and P. intermedia produced multiple bands. In the present study we show that the DGGE profiles represent clinically relevant species which can be detected by hybridization with species-specific probes. With DGGE, large numbers of samples can be analyzed for different species simultaneously, and DGGE may be a good alternative in periodontal microbial diagnostics.
Interference of Left and Right Cerebellar rTMS with Procedural Learning

Increasing evidence suggests cerebellar involvement in procedural learning. To further analyze its role and to assess whether it has a lateralized influence, in the present study we used a repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation interference approach in a group of normal subjects performing a serial reaction time task. We studied 36 normal volunteers: 13 subjects underwent repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on the left cerebellum and performed the task with the right (6 subjects) or left (7 subjects) hand; 10 subjects underwent repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on the right cerebellum and performed the task with the hand ipsilateral (5 subjects) or contralateral (5 subjects) to the stimulation; another 13 subjects served as controls and were not submitted to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; 7 of them performed the task with the right hand and 6 with the left hand. The main results show that interference with the activity of the lateral cerebellum induces a significant decrease of procedural learning: Interference with the right cerebellar hemisphere activity induces a significant decrease in procedural learning regardless of the hand used to perform the serial reaction time task, whereas left cerebellar hemisphere activity seems more linked with procedural learning through the ipsilateral hand. In conclusion, the present study shows for the first time that a transient interference with the functions of the cerebellar cortex results in an impairment of procedural learning in normal subjects and it provides new evidences for interhemispheric differences in the lateral cerebellum.
Tithing and religious charitable giving in America

The concept of religious tithing – giving 10% or more of one's income to religious organizations – permeates ancient and contemporary religious literature. Yet, the degree to which households apply this construct in their charitable giving practices remains unclear. This study examines the practice of tithing using data from a national expenditures survey including 56 663 households. Despite the pervasiveness of the tithing concept, religious donors did not appear to be targeting a specific 10% giving level. This may have resulted from varied definitions of income for tithing purposes or the presence of small charitable gifts made without reference to income. While the likelihood of religious giving increased with income, the likelihood of tithing fell dramatically. As a group, tithers had less income, but were wealthier, more educated, older and gave more to nonreligious charity than did other households. Religious tithers who also gave to nonreligious charities were wealthier, older and more highly educated than tithers who gave only to religious organizations.
Ethical issues in newer assisted reproductive technologies: A view from Nigeria.

BACKGROUND Infertility is a prevalent condition in many developing countries with significant physical and psychosocial implications. The aim of this study is to discuss briefly the ethics of newer assisted reproductive technology (ART) with special emphasis on the peculiarities in Nigeria. METHODS MEDLINE and Google Scholar were searched for English-language articles from January 1990 to July 2014 using the search terms "ethics of ART AND Nigeria," "ethical issues in in vitro fertilization AND Nigeria. " Using the above search phrases, a total of 43 articles were retrieved out of which only 5 dealt specifically with the subject matter. RESULTS The core ethical issues found in the reviewed literature are listed in [Table 1]. Inequitable access to ART due to its high cost, lack of regulatory body, safety of the procedure, and fate of the embryos were the main themes identified from the papers. Surrogacy, sex selection, and gamete donation were additional relevant ethical issues. CONCLUSION There is an urgent need for stakeholders in developing countries to formulate cultural and context-specific guidelines to help address some of these ethical dilemmas.
THE MECHANISM FOR STATE‐LED CREATION OF MALAYSIA'S MIDDLE CLASSES

This paper analyzes the mechanism for creation of middle classes in Malaysia since 1971 The United Malays National Organization-led government has implemented three long-term development plans. One of the objectives of the New Economic Policy (NEP) for raising the economic positions of the Bumiputera (sons of the soil) was to create Malay middle classes. The development process has taken place in three phases: from the launching of NEP in 1971 to 1981, the first half of the Mahathir administration, and from 1991 to the present At the start of NEP, the government had an ambiguous idea about simply creating Malay middle classes. After the 1980s, however, Mahathir emphasized creating middle classes in relation to his industrialization policy In order to achieve its target and intention, the Malaysian government has changed its role in accordance with the targets it has sought.
Land Grabs, Power, and Gender in East and Southern Africa: So, What's New?

When land grabs are viewed from a gendered and historical lens, critical questions arise concerning three domains of inquiry about what is arguably “new,” “foreign,” and “large-scale? ” They highlight historical continuities from the colonial past elite and male capture and gendered micro-political land grabs unabated over long periods of time, which once aggregated across Sub-Saharan Africa, are large-scale in themselves. This contribution reflects on feminist political-ecological research on gender and land in Kenya, Mozambique, and Madagascar and provides windows into negotiations and contestations in processes of land grabs. It analyzes what is new, while considering relations of power and knowledge that shape different ways land grabs are named and, therefore, the kinds of actions that are subsequently prescribed. Land grabs are occurring in spite of strong laws and policies, illustrating the critical role of power relations in shaping them.
The emergence of political discourse in online networks : the case of the occupy movement

How does political discourse spread in digital networks? Can we empirically test if certain conceptual frames of social movements have a correlate on their online discussion networks? Through an analysis of Twitter data from the occupy movement, this paper describes the formation of political discourse over time. Building on an a priori set of concepts, derived from theoretical discussions about the movement and its roots, we analyse the data to observe when those concepts start to appear within the networks, who are those Twitter users responsible for them, and what are the patterns through which those concepts spread. Our findings show that, although there are some signs of opportunistic behaviour among activists, most of them are central nodes from the onset of the network, and shape the discussions across time. These central activists do not only start the conversations around given frames, but also sustain over time and become key members of the network. From here, we aim to provide a thorough account of the 'travel' of political discourse, and the correlate of online conversational networks with theoretical accounts of the movement.
To Invest or Insure?

In this article, the author argues that the time horizon a dictator faces affects his incentives over the use of aid in three ways. First, dictators have a greater incentive to invest in public goods when they have a long time horizon. Second, dictators with short time horizons often face the threat of challengers to the regime; this leads them to forgo investment and instead consume state resources in two forms that harm growth: repression and private pay-offs to political opponents. Third, dictators with short time horizons have a strong incentive to secure personal wealth as a form of insurance in case the regime falls. Using panel data on dictatorships in 71 developing countries from 1961 to 2001, the author finds that time horizons have a positive impact on aid effectiveness: Foreign aid is associated with positive growth when dictators face long time horizons and negative growth when time horizons are short.
Follow-up study of survival of patients with advanced cancer in a hospice setting.

OBJECTIVE This study was to present the survival of advanced cancer patients and explore the influence of various factors on survival time as well as survival rate. The results provide guidelines for clinical practice of cancer treatment. METHODS Follow-up of 674 advanced cancer patients was performed in a hospice. The median survival time and survival rate were calculated, and survival analysis was carried out. RESULTS The median survival time of all patients dying from cancer was 12.0 months and the average survival time was 25.1 months. The 1-year cumulative survival rate was 0.518±0.020 and the 5-year cumulative survival rate was 0.088±0.012. The following factors showed significant impacts on survival rate: gender, age, primary diagnosis, surgery and the time when pain appeared. CONCLUSIONS The survival time of patients with advanced cancer was relatively short. Major approaches to extend the survival time include early detection, early diagnosis, effective surgical treatment, pain control, reasonable supply of nutrients and multiple interventions.
MISSION: POSSIBLE BUT SENSITIVE — KNOWLEDGE PROTECTION MECHANISMS SERVING DIFFERENT PURPOSES

Innovations have the potential to create value by generating rents (primary appropriability), or they can be used as background knowledge for further innovations and value creation (generative appropriability). Because these possibilities exist, organisations need to make strategic decisions on knowledge sharing with their partners in collaborative innovation. In best cases, primary and generative appropriability are complementarities rather than alternatives: Knowledge sharing with partners for new innovation could be made safer using formal and informal isolating appropriability mechanisms that improve controllability, thereby preserving rent generation possibilities and simultaneously allowing safe knowledge exchange. We use a quantitative sample of 209 Finnish firms to examine how different formal and informal appropriability mechanisms relate to value capture and creation, and whether these relationships are affected by the strategic goal to reduce imitation of competitors or to improve safe knowledge sharing to partners.
Dividend Behaviour and Dividend Signaling

Abstract We analyze the dividend behaviour of the aggregate stock market. We propose a model that assumes managers minimize the costs of adjustment associated with being away from their target dividend payout. The target is expressed as a function of lagged stock prices and permanent earnings, generalizing previous models of dividend behaviour. We present a new method for measuring unobserved permanent earning based on the Kalman filter. Our specification of dividend behaviour is strongly supported by the data relative to both alternative models and over time. We find significant evidence of dividends conveying information regarding unexpected positive changes in current permanent earnigs. We also find that both the speed of adjustment of dividends to target dividends and tests of signaling are sensitive to the specification of the model.
Validity of efficient market hypothesis: Evidence from UK mutual funds

This research is geared towards analysing performance of the fund managers and their market timing abilities. For the purpose of this study, sample of 50 U.K. mutual funds were selected in random. Their returns from the beginning of 1990 to the end of 2008 were used for hypotheses testing. Financial Times All Share Index was taken as a benchmark. Two widely accepted performance measurement techniques were employed, that is, Jensen alpha measure and Treynor and Mazuy market timing hypothesis. Based on the results, it is concluded that the fund managers lacked the ability to predict the market movement on consistent bases. They were unable to outperform the market or in simple words, they could not “beat the market”. Any chance of outperforming the market is merely a random chance and this cannot be done on consistent bases. An interesting thing to note is that fund managers also lacked market timing abilities which supports the efficient market hypothesis proposed by Fama. Present research has strong implications for existing and potential fund managers and individual investors in terms of measuring the performance of mutual funds.
Growth and sexual maturation of low birth weight children: a 14 year follow up.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the physical growth and sexual maturation of children born with low birth weight (< 2000 g). (LBW). DESIGN Longitudinal follow up. SETTING Hospital born urban cohort. METHODS Weight, height, head circumference and pubertal changes were recorded till 14 years at specified intervals in 252 LBW and 176 control (term neonates with birth weights > or = 2500 g) children. Effect of prematurity and fetal growth retardation (SFD) was studied in 79 preterm appropriate for gestation and 45 term SFD children. RESULTS LBW boys significantly lagged behind their controls for all physical growth parameters till 14 years, while the LBW girls had a physical growth comparable to controls after 11 years. Preterms had comparable weight, height and head circumference with their controls after 11 years. The SFDs, however, remained significantly handicapped in their overall physical growth even at 14 years. In comparison to controls, menarche occured 6 months earlier in preterms and 12 months earlier in SFD girls. However, there was no change in the sequence of pubertal changes in either preterms or SFDs. CONCLUSIONS Fetal growth retardation has a lasting adverse effect on later physical growth, while most preterms catch up with their peers by adolescence.
Do social factors really matter when companies engage in industrial symbiosis

This article asks if social factors really matter when companies engage spontaneously in industrial symbiosis. The question is investigated by evaluating the incubation and implementation process of one single industrial symbiosis synergy in a Danish industrial district. The techno-economic and social factors of this synergy are weighted against one another and it is concluded that social factors play an important role in realising industrial symbiosis synergies. The social aspects of industrial symbiosis are understood in terms of the neo-institutional theory. It is argued that this theoretical framework could be the basis of future research into industrial symbiosis as it provides some important insights gained from the social sciences concerning corporate behaviour.
The impact of smallholder irrigation on household welfare: The case of Tugela Ferry irrigation scheme in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The potential of smallholder irrigated agriculture to enhance food security and alleviate rural poverty has led the South African Government to prioritise and invest significantly in irrigation establishment, rehabilitation and revitalisation. The question addressed in this study pertains to the extent to which smallholder irrigation has been able to reduce poverty in the rural communities to justify this investment. Using a sample of 251 farmers, this study found that factors such as land size, perceived soil fertility, household size, and access to support services were significant predictors of irrigation participation. The results from the treatment effect model indicated that access to irrigation plays a positive role in the welfare of rural households, with irrigators spending about ZAR2 000 per adult equivalent on consumption more than the non-irrigators. The study, therefore, concluded that government investments in smallholder irrigation for poverty reduction are justified. The other factors that influenced household consumption were off-farm income, land size, livestock size, education level, family size and access to support services and infrastructure. The study recommends that investments in smallholder irrigation continue for poverty reduction, and that priority should also be on finding other feasible rural micro-projects and development initiatives to complement smallholder irrigation and significantly reduce rural poverty. Keywords: smallholder irrigation, poverty, food security, treatment effect model, Foster Greer Thorbecke (FGT) poverty measures
How to attain and sustain excellence with performance-based process management

An organization's effectiveness in implementing a strategy always depends on its capability to realize selected strategic goals through the performance levels achieved by its processes. Critical business processes are the basic means to support a company's strategic objectives according to set priorities. Through them management optimizes the deployment of all, but especially human resources in the work stations that form the value adding process stages. This paper describes a systematic approach for selecting the critical processes with the greatest impact on important strategic goals. This is done by evaluating process value adding contributions to attain business excellence. An evaluation of total performance for any organization must rely on all the criteria that address its critical success factors. In such a context process analysis becomes the linchpin of strategic management and work performers (individuals or teams). Thus, accurate process performance assessment plays a most decisive role in deve.