Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative trait loci modulate ventricular size in the mouse brain

Cerebral ventricular size in humans varies significantly. Abnormal enlargement of the ventricles has been associated with schizophrenia, and hydrocephalus can lead to serious cognitive and motor deficiencies in humans and animals. In this study, we mapped quantitative trait loci (QTLs) modulating cerebroventricular size in mice. We hypothesized that genes underlying hydrocephalus might also modulate normal variation in ventricular size. By using digital images of mouse brain sections and stereological techniques, we estimated the volume of the combined lateral and third ventricles, as well as the volume of the entire brain, in 228 AXB and BXA recombinant inbred mice and their parent strains (A/J and C57BL/6J). Ventricle size, expressed as percentage of brain volume, is a heritable trait (h2 = 0.32). We detected a major QTL controlling variance in volume on chromosome (Chr) 8 near the markers D8Mit94 and D8Mit189. We also detected a strong epistatic interaction affecting ventricular volume between loci on Chr 4 (near D4Mit237 and D4Mit214) and on Chr 7 (D7Mit178 and D7Mit191). These three QTLs, labeled Vent8a, Vent4b, and Vent7c, are close to genes that have been previously implicated in hydrocephalus. J. Comp. Neurol. 461:362–369, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mandibular Reconstruction Using the Dacron‐Urethane Prosthesis and Autogenic Cancellous Bone: Review of 32 Cases

The prosthesis and cancellous bone graft technique has proven to be versatile, reliable, and highly successful when applied to mandibular reconstruction. The type of prosthesis used appears to be of some importance. Analysis of 32 cases in which the Dacron-urethane mandibular prosthesis was used is presented. Among these cases there were one failure (3 percent) and three minor complications (9 percent). These results are superior to those reported in the series in which metallic prostheses were used.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Flap Endonuclease 1 Uses Flap Equilibration To Maintain Triplet Repeat Stability

ABSTRACT Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) is a central component of Okazaki fragment maturation in eukaryotes. Genetic analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae FEN1 (RAD27) also reveals its important role in preventing trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansion. In humans such expansion is associated with neurodegenerative diseases. In vitro, FEN1 can inhibit TNR expansion by employing its endonuclease activity to compete with DNA ligase I. Here we employed two yeast FEN1 nuclease mutants, rad27-G67S and rad27-G240D, to further define the mechanism by which FEN1 prevents TNR expansion. Using a yeast artificial chromosome system that can detect both TNR instability and fragility, we demonstrate that the G240D but not the G67S mutation increases both the expansion and fragility of a CTG tract in vivo. In vitro, the G240D nuclease is proficient in cleaving a fixed nonrepeat double flap; however, it exhibits severely impaired cleavage of both nonrepeat and CTG-containing equilibrating flaps. In contrast, wild-type FEN1 and the G67S mutant exhibit more efficient cleavage on an equilibrating flap than on a fixed CTG flap. The degree of TNR expansion and the amount of chromosome fragility observed in the mutant strains correlate with the severity of defective flap cleavage in vitro. We present a model to explain how flap equilibration and the unique tracking mechanism of FEN1 can collaborate to remove TNR flaps and prevent repeat expansion.
WNK1-regulated inhibitory phosphorylation of the KCC2 cotransporter maintains the depolarizing action of GABA in immature neurons

Immature neurons need WNK1-dependent phosphorylation of KCC2 to prevent a premature switch in the Cl− gradient and the effect of GABA. Keeping immature neurons excited After birth, signaling by the neurotransmitter GABA in the brain switches from excitatory to inhibitory. GABA mediates both the excitatory and inhibitory responses by binding to ligand-gated ion channels that conduct Cl−. Whether opening these channels triggers hyperpolarization (inhibition) or depolarization (excitation) depends on the concentration of Cl− in neurons. Friedel et al. identified phosphorylation events in the K+-Cl− cotransporter KCC2, which depended on the activity of the kinase WNK1, inhibited KCC2 activity, and contributed to the depolarizing effect of GABA-mediated signaling in immature rat neurons by maintaining high internal Cl− concentration. This regulatory mechanism has implications for the normal developmental excitatory-to-inhibitory GABA switch and neurodevelopmental diseases, such as autism, epilepsy, and spasticity. Activation of Cl−-permeable γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors elicits synaptic inhibition in mature neurons but excitation in immature neurons. This developmental “switch” in the GABA function depends on a postnatal decrease in intraneuronal Cl− concentration mediated by KCC2, a Cl−-extruding K+-Cl− cotransporter. We showed that the serine-threonine kinase WNK1 [with no lysine (K)] forms a physical complex with KCC2 in the developing mouse brain. Dominant-negative mutation, genetic depletion, or chemical inhibition of WNK1 in immature neurons triggered a hyperpolarizing shift in GABA activity by enhancing KCC2-mediated Cl− extrusion. This increase in KCC2 activity resulted from reduced inhibitory phosphorylation of KCC2 at two C-terminal threonines, Thr906 and Thr1007. Phosphorylation of both Thr906 and Thr1007 was increased in immature versus mature neurons. Together, these data provide insight into the mechanism regulating Cl− homeostasis in immature neurons, and suggest that WNK1-regulated changes in KCC2 phosphorylation contribute to the developmental excitatory-to-inhibitory GABA sequence.
The effect of age on the pharmacological management of ambulatory patients treated with depot neuroleptic medications for schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders

Cross‐sectional studies indicate that, in comparison to younger patients, older schizophrenic patients have a higher risk for neuroleptic‐induced Parkinsonism and tardive dyskinesia (TD). It has been suggested, therefore, that older patients with schizophrenia could be maintained on reduced doses of conventional neuroleptics.
The effects of drinking-driving laws: a test of the differential deterrence hypothesis.

AIMS Ontario introduced an Administrative Driver's Licence Suspension (ADLS) law in 1996, whereby a person with a blood alcohol level over the legal limit of 80 mg%, or who refused to provide a breath sample, would have his or her driver's licence suspended immediately for a period of 90 days. We test the differential deterrence hypothesis which would predict that social or lighter drinkers would be more affected by the Administrative Driver's License Suspension law than heavier drinkers. DESIGN Data from the 1996 and 1997 cycles of the Ontario Drug Monitor, a general population survey of Ontario adults (monthly cross-sectional surveys), were employed (response rate 64-67%). Analyses were restricted to drivers who reported at least some drinking during the last year (n = 3827). The total number of drinks consumed during the past 12 months was analysed with analysis of variance. FINDINGS We found that the mean alcohol consumption of those who reported drinking-driving increased significantly after the ADLS was introduced, whereas the alcohol consumption of those who did not drive after drinking remained the same. CONCLUSIONS The limits of this study include a lack of comparison data from regions without ADLS, a reliance on self-report measures, possible age restrictions of the findings and the fact that only an inferential test of the differential deterrence hypothesis is permitted by the data. Despite these limitations, these findings are consistent with the prediction that lighter or more moderate drinkers will tend to stop driving after drinking completely, and thus drop out of the drinking-driving population when the ADLS law was introduced, leaving heavier drinkers in this population. It will be important to continue to examine the dynamics of differential deterrence over a longer interval.
What's on TV? The Impact of Brand Image and Celebrity Credibility on Television Consumption from an Ingredient Branding Perspective

Today's multichannel, multimedia marketing environment presents a new layer of challenges. New demands from potential television viewers translate directly into the need of the creation and development of effective marketing strategies for the television (TV) market. This study proposes and validates a research model that analyzes an individual's TV show consumption by testing the impact of brand image and celebrity credibility. Based on the theoretical discussion, hypotheses were derived and tested with structural equation modeling on a basis of 306 consumers. Generally, the article provides evidence that brand image is the driving force in the explanation of a viewer's motivation to consume specific television content.
On the Decision to Go Public: Evidence from Privately-Held Firms

We test recent theories of when companies go public which predict that 1) more companies will go public when outside valuations are high or have increased, 2) companies prefer going public when uncertainty about their future profitability is high, and 3) firms whose controlling shareholders enjoy large private benefits of control are less likely to go public. Our analysis tracks a set of 330 privately-held German firms which between 1984 and 1995 announced their intention to go public to see whether, when, and how they subsequently sold equity to outside investors. Controlling for private benefits, we find that the likelihood of firms completing an initial public offering increases in the firm's investment opportunities and valuations. We also show that these effects are distinct from factors that increase firms' demand for outside capital more generally.
Primary School Teachers’ Perceptions of the Level of Development of Low-Order Cognitive Skills Under the Content and Language Integrated Learning Approach

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) has become widespread in many countries around the world in an effort to improve learners’ communicative competence in a foreign language (FL) and content acquisition in non-language areas (NLA). A successful CLIL programme must integrate the 4Cs, i.e., content, communication, cognition and culture. In this study, we focus on the synergies of developing thinking skills by combining language, content and cognition. Specifically, the aim of this study is to examine CLIL teachers’ development of low-order cognitive skills (LOTS) in the subjects of Science and Social Science in the first two years of primary education in the Region of Murcia, Spain. For this purpose, we use a mixed method that combines qualitative and quantitative techniques to test the extent to which LOTS are developed within this integrated approach. The results show that most of the cognitive processes promoted by CLIL teachers are those related to fostering understanding among pupils, which sheds light on the strengths and weaknesses of these programmes and on a wide range of related factors on which further reviews are needed.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Investment Portfolio Diversification

Andrew Rudd’s inescapable conclusion that the integration of environment, social or governance (ESG) criteria in investment processes must worsen portfolio diversification appears to be academic wisdom since nearly thirty years, but is it right? We argue that it is wrong. We develop a simple theoretical model based on the three main drivers of portfolio diversification ((1) number of stocks, (2) correlation of stocks, (3) average specific risk of stocks) and recent robust evidence on the significantly negative relationship between a firm’s ESG rating and its specific risk. Our theory argues that while the inclusion of ESG criteria into investment processes likely worsens portfolio diversification via the first and second driver, it similarly likely improves portfolio diversification through a reduction of the average stock’s specific risk. This positive effect of ESG criteria probably leads best-in-class ESG screened funds to be better diversified than otherwise identical conventional funds. With our simple theory, we aim to open a debate on the question, if (and when) the inclusion of ESG criteria into investment portfolios really worsens their diversification. Our theory implies that mainstream active investment managers appear well advised to consider the inclusion of ESG criteria in their portfolio management process to optimise their risk management. Especially pension funds should at least contemplate about the use of ESG criteria, as an ignorance of ESG criteria could violate their fiduciary risk management duties.
Corporate governance and environmental performance: is there really a link?

Corporate governance scholars are increasingly interested in firms' social and environmental performance. Empirical research in this area, however, has moved forward in an uncoordinated fashion, producing fragmented and contradictory results. Our paper seeks to address this situation by adopting a fact-based research approach that comprehensively explores the link between corporate governance and environmental performance. Specifically, we aim to understand how the relationships between and among the firms' owners, managers, and boards of directors influence environmental performance. We are particularly interested in understanding the interactions among these three key sets of actors. In the end, we offer some observations about governance practices and discuss the implications for theory. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effects of corporate brand attributes on attitudinal and behavioural consumer loyalty

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to investigate the influence of the corporate brand on attitudinal and behavioural consumer loyalty. This paper empirically demonstrates a significant relationship between consumer‐perceived corporate brand and consumer attitudinal and behavioural loyalty.Design/methodology/approach – The research is based on a sample of 285 consumers of an automobile manufacturer in Australia. Cronbach alpha and Structural Equation Modelling were used to establish psychometric properties of the corporate brand constructs.Findings – This paper establishes two groups of corporate brand attributes: corporate and marketing‐level. Corporate‐level dimensions include corporate activities, corporate associations, organizational values, and corporate personality. Marketing‐level dimensions comprise functional, emotional and symbolic brand benefits. The results reveal that corporate values, corporate brand personality and functional consumer benefits are the most critical and consistent pr.
Differential response of glutamine in cultured neurons and astrocytes

Glutamine, a byproduct of ammonia detoxification, is found elevated in brain in hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and other hyperammonemic disorders. Such elevation has been implicated in some of the deleterious effects of ammonia on the central nervous system (CNS). Recent studies have shown that glutamine results in the induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) in cultured astrocytes. We examined whether glutamine shows similar effects in cultured neurons. Both cultured astrocytes and neurons were exposed to glutamine (6.5 mM) for 24 hr and the MPT was assessed by changes in cyclosporin A (CsA)‐sensitive inner mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) using the potentiometric dye tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE). Glutamine significantly dissipated the ΔΨm in astrocytes as demonstrated by a decrease in mitochondrial TMRE fluorescence, a process that was blocked by CsA. On the other hand, treatment of cultured neurons with glutamine had no effect on the ΔΨm. Dissipation of the ΔΨm in astrocytes by glutamine was blocked by treatment with 6‐diazo‐5‐oxo‐L‐norleucine (DON; 100 μM), suggesting that glutamine hydrolysis and the subsequent generation of ammonia, which has been shown previously to induce the MPT, might be involved in MPT induction by glutamine. These data indicate that astrocytes but not neurons are vulnerable to the toxic effects of glutamine. The selective induction of oxidative stress and the MPT by glutamine in astrocytes may partially explain the deleterious affects of glutamine on the CNS in the setting of hyperammonemia, as well as account for the predominant involvement of astrocytes in the pathogenesis of HE and other hyperammonemic conditions. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
THE ADOPTION OF FORM POSTPONEMENT STRATEGY IN A GLOBAL LOGISTICS SYSTEM : THE CASE OF TAIWANESE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY

The concept of postponement is becoming more and more important as firms put more emphasis on customization along with attempting to control inventory risks and logistics costs. Types of form postponement are examined along with factors affecting the adoption of different form postponement strategies. Data from information technology (IT) firms in Taiwan, one of the largest IT product manufacturers in the world, are utilized in the research.
EMAILS TO FACULTY : AN EXAMINATION OF E-POLITENESS AMONG NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH

This study combines interlanguage pragmatics and speech act research with computermediated communication and examines how native and non-native speakers of English formulate lowand high-imposition requests to faculty. While some research claims that email, due to absence of non-verbal cues, encourages informal language, other research has claimed the opposite. However, email technology also allows writers to plan and revise messages before sending them, thus affording the opportunity to edit not only for grammar and mechanics, but also for pragmatic clarity and politeness.
Social Media Strategies for Professionals and Their Firms: The Guide to Establishing Credibility and Accelerating Relationships

Expert advice on growing your professional service firm or individual practice through social mediaShowing professionals and their marketers how to accomplish familiar marketing tactics in newer, ways, Social Media for Professionals and Their Firms takes you step by step in putting social media to work for your professional practice. Whether you want to build your own on-line reputation, or are ready to explore new media for corporate marketing and communications, this book is the definitive guide for your strategic approach.Explores why the fastest and most leveragable way to expand relationships today is through the InternetProvides step-by-step approaches to successful professional bloggingDiscusses high-level strategies for effectively using Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and bookmarking sitesIncludes pitfalls and success stories featuring notable social media trailblazersTimely and practical, this book shows you why new media is rapidly becoming the core way for professionals to reach their audiences. Whether your firm provides legal, accounting, financial planning, architecture, consultancy, or other services, Social Media Strategies for Professionals and Their Firms will show you ways to better reach and communicate with your customers.
Biochemical and antitumor effects of the combination of thymidine and 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine against leukemia L1210.

Exposure of L1210 cells in culture to 5.6, 60, 150, and 350 µm thymidine (dThd) led to 0, 33, 50, and 71% inhibition of their rates of steady-state growth. Following treatment with 0.04 µm 1-β-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C), this dThd treatment produced an increase in the apparent rates of 1-β-d-arabinosylcytosine triphosphate (ara-CTP) incorporation into nucleic acids amounting to 6-, 36-, 48-, and 60-fold, respectively, that observed in control cells. Equivalentfold increases in the corresponding intracellular concentrations of ara-CTP also occurred. At higher ara-C concentrations (to 3.0 µm), the enhancement of analog incorporation in dThd-treated cells relative to control cells was greatly reduced (to 2- to 4-fold). In addition, the dThd-induced increase in the concentration of ara-CTP did not parallel the increase in apparent rate of ara-CTP incorporation into nucleic acid at the higher concentrations of ara-C. Addition of deoxycytidine and cytidine to the medium prevented both the growth inhibition and the enhanced ara-CTP incorporation observed in the presence of dThd. Pretreatment of L1210 cells with 150 µm dThd for 24 hr before their exposure to dThd and ara-C resulted in a one-log increase in cytotoxicity, relative to the effects of ara-C alone in previously untreated cells. These cell culture observations prompted an evaluation of the chemotherapeutic potential of this combination in mice bearing leukemia L1210. dThd concentrations comparable to those inhibiting the growth rate of L1210 cells in culture by 50% were achieved and maintained in mouse plasma by the continuous i.v. infusion of dThd at 5 g/kg/day. Alternating 24-hr infusion of this dose of dThd with 24-hr infusion of ara-C at 2, 4, or 8 mg/kg/day for a total of 6 days increased the mean survival of mice bearing leukemia L1210 by 35, 203 (plus 33% long-term survivors), and 19% relative to untreated mice. Simultaneous continuous infusion of optimal doses of dThd (5 g/kg/day) and ara-C (2 mg/kg/day) for 5 days resulted in an increased life span of 101% as compared to an 87% increased life span obtained with ara-C alone. The administration of dThd at either less than or greater than the optimal dose simultaneous with ara-C resulted in survival well below that obtained with ara-C alone. These results suggest that the efficacy of simultaneous continuous infusion of dThd and ara-C is only slightly greater than that of the continuous infusion of ara-C alone. However, pretreatment by dThd followed by ara-C is superior to that achieved with the optimal schedule of ara-C alone against this murine leukemia.
AtWRKY40 and AtWRKY63 Modulate the Expression of Stress-Responsive Nuclear Genes Encoding Mitochondrial and Chloroplast Proteins1[W][OA]

WRKY transcription factors modulate the expression of nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial and chloroplast proteins via direct promoter binding and coordinate common stress responses. The expression of a variety of nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial proteins is known to adapt to changes in environmental conditions and retrograde signaling. The presence of putative WRKY transcription factor binding sites (W-boxes) in the promoters of many of these genes prompted a screen of 72 annotated WRKY factors in the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) genome for regulators of transcripts encoding mitochondrial proteins. A large-scale yeast one-hybrid screen was used to identify WRKY factors that bind the promoters of marker genes (Alternative oxidase1a, NADH dehydrogenaseB2, and the AAA ATPase Ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase synthesis1), and interactions were confirmed using electromobility shift assays. Transgenic overexpression and knockout lines for 12 binding WRKY factors were generated and tested for altered expression of the marker genes during normal and stress conditions. AtWRKY40 was found to be a repressor of antimycin A-induced mitochondrial retrograde expression and high-light-induced signaling, while AtWRKY63 was identified as an activator. Genome-wide expression analysis following high-light stress in transgenic lines with perturbed AtWRKY40 and AtWRKY63 function revealed that these factors are involved in regulating stress-responsive genes encoding mitochondrial and chloroplast proteins but have little effect on more constitutively expressed genes encoding organellar proteins. Furthermore, it appears that AtWRKY40 and AtWRKY63 are particularly involved in regulating the expression of genes responding commonly to both mitochondrial and chloroplast dysfunction but not of genes responding to either mitochondrial or chloroplast perturbation. In conclusion, this study establishes the role of WRKY transcription factors in the coordination of stress-responsive genes encoding mitochondrial and chloroplast proteins.