Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Loss of MAP Function Leads to Hippocampal Synapse Loss and Deficits in the Morris Water Maze with Aging

Hyperphosphorylation and accumulation of tau aggregates are prominent features in tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease, but the impact of loss of tau function on synaptic and cognitive deficits remains poorly understood. We report that old (19–20 months; OKO) but not middle-aged (8–9 months; MKO) tau knock-out mice develop Morris Water Maze (MWM) deficits and loss of hippocampal acetylated α-tubulin and excitatory synaptic proteins. Mild motor deficits and reduction in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the substantia nigra were present by middle age, but did not affect MWM performance, whereas OKO mice showed MWM deficits paralleling hippocampal deficits. Deletion of tau, a microtubule-associated protein (MAP), resulted in increased levels of MAP1A, MAP1B, and MAP2 in MKO, followed by loss of MAP2 and MAP1B in OKO. Hippocampal synaptic deficits in OKO mice were partially corrected with dietary supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and both MWM and synaptic deficits were fully corrected by combining DHA with α-lipoic acid (ALA), which also prevented TH loss. DHA or DHA/ALA restored phosphorylated and total GSK3β and attenuated hyperactivation of the tau C-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) while increasing MAP1B, dephosphorylated (active) MAP2, and acetylated α-tubulin, suggesting improved microtubule stability and maintenance of active compensatory MAPs. Our results implicate the loss of MAP function in age-associated hippocampal deficits and identify a safe dietary intervention, rescuing both MAP function and TH in OKO mice. Therefore, in addition to microtubule-stabilizing therapeutic drugs, preserving or restoring compensatory MAP function may be a useful new prevention strategy.
Effects of Speech Rate and Pitch Contour on the Perception of Synthetic Speech

The increased use of voice-response systems has resulted in a greater need for systematic evaluation of the role of segmental and suprasegmental factors in determining the intelligibility of synthesized speech. Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of pitch contour and speech rate on the perception of synthetic speech. In Experiment 1, subjects transcribed sentences that were either syntactically correct and meaningful or syntactically correct but semantically anomalous. In Experiment 2, subjects transcribed sentences that varied in length and syntactic structure. In both experiments a text-to-speech system generated synthetic speech at either 150 or 250 words/min. Half of the test sentences were generated with a flat pitch (monotone) and half were generated with normally inflected clausal intonation. The results indicate that the identification of words in fluent synthetic speech is influenced by speaking rate, meaning, length, and, to a lesser degree, pitch contour. The results suggest that in many applied situations the perception of the segmental information in the speech signal may be more critical to the intelligibility of synthesized speech than are suprasegmental factors.
Determinants of Information Technology Leadership Program

Information Technology (IT) is an important factor to the success of an organization as it will align and coordinating the organization to their right tracks to achieve the organizational goals. It is essential to maintaining our leadership and success. It is not surprising because IT offers enormous benefits for organizations to grow their leadership skills and societal development. In order to cope with the problems in managing people, it is important to focus on IT leadership program in motivating employees. The current gap on leadership is on evaluation and measurement of the impacts towards the employee’s attitude, mainly the organization that are being engaged with. This paper addresses the gap by providing a discussion on IT leadership program on evaluation of employees and information reporting. The evaluation using the leadership approach will not only create a holistic evaluation process, but it will also assist in fostering innovative organization and technology.
Savings and Loans in New Submarkets: Search for Predictive Factors

What are the predictive factors related to savings inflows in new savings and loan offices? Analysis of a sample of southern California offices reveals the importance of growth and the promotional aggressiveness of existing competitors in submarkets as predictive factors. The analysis casts doubt on the reliability of static measures such as population, average income, and savings penetration.
Mechanistic Systems Modeling to Improve Understanding and Prediction of Cardiotoxicity Caused by Targeted Cancer Therapeutics

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are highly potent cancer therapeutics that have been linked with serious cardiotoxicity, including left ventricular dysfunction, heart failure, and QT prolongation. TKI-induced cardiotoxicity is thought to result from interference with tyrosine kinase activity in cardiomyocytes, where these signaling pathways help to control critical processes such as survival signaling, energy homeostasis, and excitation–contraction coupling. However, mechanistic understanding is limited at present due to the complexities of tyrosine kinase signaling, and the wide range of targets inhibited by TKIs. Here, we review the use of TKIs in cancer and the cardiotoxicities that have been reported, discuss potential mechanisms underlying cardiotoxicity, and describe recent progress in achieving a more systematic understanding of cardiotoxicity via the use of mechanistic models. In particular, we argue that future advances are likely to be enabled by studies that combine large-scale experimental measurements with Quantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP) models describing biological mechanisms and dynamics. As such approaches have proven extremely valuable for understanding and predicting other drug toxicities, it is likely that QSP modeling can be successfully applied to cardiotoxicity induced by TKIs. We conclude by discussing a potential strategy for integrating genome-wide expression measurements with models, illustrate initial advances in applying this approach to cardiotoxicity, and describe challenges that must be overcome to truly develop a mechanistic and systematic understanding of cardiotoxicity caused by TKIs.
Second order auditory pathways in the chimpanzee

Substantial portions of the dorsal, and almost the entire posteroventral and anteroventral (Av) cochlear nuclei were aspirated unilaterally in a chimpanzee. Axonal degeneration was studied by the Fink‐Heimer method. The greatest amount of degeneration was followed medially from the region of Av into the lateral part of the trapezoid body. Degeneration also coursed around the superior surface of the restiform body and was traced into the dorsal and intermediate acoustic striae.
Study on persistency of lactation in Holstein Friesian cattle

This study was performed to analyses the persistency of lactation in Holstein Friesian cattle, by analyzing 168 lactation record from the period of 2006-2013 (8 years) at Government Dairy Farm Quetta, Baluchistan. The (PL) persistency of lactation was found lower in first lactation, while highest in 3 lactation in season winter and summer calves. The overall average (PL) was found 85.99±7.30% in winter calves and 83.79±7.27% in summer calves, whereas calving season effect was observed non-significant (p>0.05). The highest (PL) was found in Sire-D followed by SireB Sire_ A and Sire_ C. The overall average (PL) in Holstein Friesian cattle was found 84.74±7.94%. The Sire-wise effect of (PL) was found non-significant. The heritability estimates of (PL) was estimated low (0.094), while the correlation estimates was found higher among lactation length vs milk yield length (0.814), milk yield vs (PL) (0.883) and (PL) vs lactation length (0.747). It was concluded that results of current study for (PL) and Heritability of production traits were low to moderate for heritable traits, which can be improve through the proper environmental and manage mental conditions.
Financial Literacy, Cognitive Ability and Financial Advice-Seeking

This paper aims at identifying the possible link between financial literacy, cognitive ability and the propensity to seek financial expert help. We use bank and survey data collected from a randomly selected and representative sample of Dutch retail investors. We find that perceived financial literacy is negatively associated with asking for financial expert help in making investment decisions, confirming the competence effect of Heath and Tversky (1991). Consistent with these finding is that perceived financial literacy strongly relates to perceived (dis)advantages of execution-only or advised investing. This supports the idea that financial advice serves a substitute role for those who view themselves as less financially literate. Both measured financial literacy and cognitive ability are not related to advice seeking, which implies that advice is not a sufficient remedy for low literate or low cognitive able individuals. We also document some other interesting determinants of advice-seeking. Low educated and risk-tolerant investors exhibit a lower propensity to seek advice, while wealthy, older investors who place trust in advisers seek advice more often.
Heredity and Dental Caries

THE literature provides considerable evidence to demonstrate the influence of diet upon the incidence of dental caries, but it is also clear from many studies that individual variation in susceptibility to caries exists, even under identical controlled conditions. For example, Gustafsson, Quensel, Lanke, Lundqvist, Grahnen, Bonow, and Krasse1 observed that some individuals, consuming a diet known to be caries producing, showed no increase in various lesions, while others living on a virtually sugar-free, low carbohydrate diet developed as many as nine new lesions per year. They suggested that types of caries may exist, in which sugar and other refined carbohydrates play a relatively minor causative role. Among the factors to be considered in seeking an explanation of this, the possibility that a constitutional factor may be involved cannot be ignored. Familial similarity in dental caries experience has been shown by Klein and Palmer,2 and Klein3' concluded, from a study of dental caries in parents and children, that it was difficult to exclude the view that susceptibility to dental caries in children involves strong familial factors which may have a genetic basis, possibly sex-linked. However, in animals, more precise direct evidence has been obtained5 to show that, in the laboratory rat, heredity is a factor in determining resistance or susceptibility to dental caries under uniform environmental conditions. By selective breeding, Hunt and his co-workers produced two distinct strains of albino rats, one caries-susceptible and the other caries-resistant. The evidence that susceptibility and resistance to dental caries in rats can be inherited clearly illustrates the existence of such a biologic mechanism and thus suggests the possibility that genetic constitution may also be a factor influencing susceptibility and resistance to caries in man. For the further elucidation of this problem, twins provide valuable material. Bachrach and Young6 made a study of dental caries in monozygous ("identical") and dizygous ("fraternal") twins in London schools and, although the similarity in caries between twins was found to be greater in monozygous than
Applying the Technology-Organization-Environment framework to explore ICT initial and continued adoption: An exploratory study of an independent hotel in Hong Kong

This exploratory study aims (1) to examine the factors affecting information and communication technology (ICT) initial adoption and continued adoption decisions of an independent hotel, and (2) to develop an overarching framework for unifying those factors applying a Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework for further examination in future research. Drawing on the qualitative data solicited from four managers who were involved in ICT adoption of an independent hotel in Hong Kong, this study shows the complication of ICT adoption in the hospitality context. The current findings are expected to provide scholars, hoteliers, entrepreneurs and other interested parties with timely knowledge and insights on how a newly established independent hotel in a renowned tourist destination with mature tourism markets can strategically embrace ICT. Another contribution of the current study is to empirically verify and expand the applicability of the TOE framework in exploring ICT adoption by independent hotels.
Information Content of Stock Dividends in the Indian Market: Evidence from Operating Performance and Long-Run Stock Returns

We examine long-run stock returns and operating performance following stock dividend payment by Indian firms from 1991 to 2000. Consistent with the signaling hypotheses, these firms report significant positive announcement return and superior operating performance. Our evidence establishes that the superior performance of bonus issuers is because of the better profit margin they are able to generate in comparison to matching firms during the post-issue period. We also document that announcement of bonus equity shares are associated with increase in future cash dividends. Further we examine the long-run stock return in comparison with a carefully constructed matching portfolio and the significance levels are arrived after comparing with bootstrapped empirical distribution of abnormal return from pseudo portfolios. In contrast to the results from the US markets, the equal weighted as well as value weighted abnormal returns are insignificant. But value weighting is showing positive abnormal returns indicating a delay in the market reaction for large firms.
Mind the gap : The relevance of marketing education to marketing practice

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to review the debate on the purpose, focus and necessity of UK undergraduate marketing education. Design/methodology/approach – Assumptions in this debate are challenged by the collection and analysis of interview data from practitioners, alongside additional data from UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in respect of their current marketing programmes. Findings – The results indicate that there is a large degree of commonality between the offerings at UK HEIs, and that some significant gaps between the teaching offered by the academy, and the knowledge and abilities required by practitioners do exist. Research limitations/implications – The data sets have limitations of depth and scope. Further research is needed in which the details of marketing education and the requirements of marketing practice are examined more closely, and at levels other than undergraduate, and in countries other than the UK. Practical implications – This paper should be of interest to marketing programme managers, and also to marketing module co‐ordinators as a basis on which to consider the future development of their educational practices. Originality/value – The collation of data about marketing modules offered by UK HEIs will be of interest to most marketing teachers. Further value will be obtained if this paper is used as part of the re‐engineering of a marketing programme.
Iqmik: a form of smokeless tobacco used among Alaska natives.

OBJECTIVES To describe a homemade form of smokeless tobacco known as Iqmik used among Alaska Natives residing in western Alaska. METHODS Individual and small-group interviews were conducted with 23 adult Alaska Natives. The major themes from the interview data were summarized. A chemical analysis was conducted of the alkalinity of a sample of fungus ash used to prepare Iqmik. RESULTS Few adverse health effects of using Iqmik were reported. The alkalinity of the sample of fungus ash was high (pH=10.9). CONCLUSION The high alkalinity of Iqmik may contribute to the higher rates of tobacco use in this population.
Comparison of Progabide with Other Antiepileptic and GABAergic Drugs

Les effets de l'antiepileptique expérimental GABA agoniste, le PROGABIDE (α(chloro‐4 phenyl) fluoro‐5 hydroxy‐2 benzilidene amino)‐4‐butyramine sur le complexe trigeminal du chat a étéétudié et comparéà celui d'antiépileptiques cliniquement utilisés et de divers agonistes et antagonistes GABA. L'administration i.v. de progabide à la dose de 10 à 40 mg/kg déprime la transmission excitatoire et l'inhibition périventriculaire descendante, d'une manière similaire à celle de la carbamazepine et de la phenytoine. Le progabide déprime plus qu'il ne facilite l'inhibition segmentaire. Les taux sériques de progabide étaient comparables à ceux des patients recevant un traitement au long cours par le progabide. La bicuculline, antagoniste GABA a des effets opposés à ceux du progabide dans ce modèle expérimental, mais d'autres agonistes GABA, le THIP et le muscimol n'ont pas le mêmes effets que le progabide. Le THIP n'a pas d'effet sur la transmission excitatoire, l'inhibition périventriculaire et l'inhibition segmentaire. Le muscimol facilite l'inhibition périventriculaire et quelquefois l'inhibition segmentaire, et est sans effet sur la transmission excitatoire. Les résultats de nos expériences indiquent done que le progabide, (mais non pas le THIP ou le muscimol) peut avoir des propriétés antiépileptiques, ce qui est en accord avec les expérimentations cliniques rapportées. Les raisons des effets différenciés de ces trois GABA agonistes restent àélucider.
In the dark – designing navigation for a haptic theatre experience

the ongoing work of a collaborative theatre project, in which blind and sighted members of an interdisciplinary team are working on the creation of an immersive and accessible theatre experience. The theatre experience is set in pitch dark, and uses audio and haptic ubiquitous technologies to guide both blind and sighted members of the audience. During two sessions which explored the use of enactive navigation in the dark space, participants were able to locate areas of interest within the dark, using enactive explorative navigation, and some participants described this as a 'dense' experience.
Association of treatment adherence with real-life VA outcomes in AMD, DME, and BRVO patients

Purpose Real-life clinical outcomes of patients treated with anti-VEGF drugs for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), or macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) are often inferior to results from randomized clinical trials. This observational cohort study investigates treatment adherence and real-life clinical outcomes within the first year of treatment. Patients and methods A total of 708 treatment-naïve patients (466 nAMD, 134 DME, and 108 BRVO) were included. Patients were followed with a PRN treatment protocol with three intravitreal injections (IVIs) and a series of 3 monthly injections in case of persistent or recurrent disease activity, as determined by monthly follow-up exams including optical coherence tomographies. Occurrence of gaps of >56 days between treatments or follow-up (nonadherence [NA]) and the reasons for NA (patient- or center-associated) as well as disease activity within the first 12 months of treatment were analyzed. Visual acuity (VA) as well as numbers and dates of optical coherence tomography and IVI were extracted from medical records. Results NA occurred significantly more often in patients with DME (44%) than nAMD (32%) or BRVO (25%, p<0.01 between groups). NA was mainly patient-associated (nAMD: 80.0%, DME: 83.1%, BRVO: 70.4%, p=0.38 between groups). Patients with nAMD and DME and appropriate treatment/follow-up adherence had a better chance of significantly gaining or maintaining VA, respectively (19.9% vs 12.0% with 3-line-gain in nAMD and 1.3% vs 15.3% 3-line loss in DME; each p<0.05). NA did not correlate with VA outcomes in BRVO (3-line gain 30.9% vs 48.1% and 3-line loss 8.6% vs 7.4%; p>0.05). Conclusion NA to treatment and follow-up regimens is a common problem in the management of patients with AMD and DME and limits clinical treatment outcomes under real-life conditions. Patients with DME have the highest risk of patient-associated NA, associated with a higher risk for significant VA loss.
Talking about Films: Word-of-Mouth Behavior and the Network of Success Determinants of Motion Pictures

Recent studies analyze word-of-mouth (WOM) communication as a force that drives the success of motion pictures. The authors build upon that research and integrate measurements of WOM into a broader network of success determinants. Results show that production costs and critics’ evaluation are predictors of WOM volume at the end of the first week. No effect is observed for star power and advertising expenditures. WOM volume at the end of the first week is a major predictor of short-term theatrical box office revenues, which strongly affect long-term revenues. The authors conclude that WOM volume after opening week is positively influenced by WOM volume preceding that week, by advertising expenditures, by critics’ evaluation, by awards, and by length of runtime, but not by short term revenues. Surprisingly, WOM volume after the first week appears to be unrelated to long-term revenues. The authors explore the theoretical and managerial implications of these results.
A Statistical Retrieval of Cloud Parameters for the Millimeter Wave Ice Cloud Imager on Board MetOp-SG

The meteorological observations from satellites in the microwave domain are currently limited to below 190 GHz. The next generation of European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites Polar System-Second Generation will carry an instrument, the ice cloud imager (ICI), with frequencies up to 664 GHz, to improve the characterization of the cloud frozen phase. In this paper, a statistical retrieval of cloud parameters for ICI is developed, trained on a synthetic database derived from the coupling of a mesoscale cloud model and radiative transfer calculations. The hydrometeor profiles simulated with the weather research and forecasting model (WRF) for 12 diverse European mid-latitude situations are used to simulate the brightness temperatures with the atmospheric radiative transfer simulator (ARTS) to prepare the retrieval database. The WRF+ARTS simulations have been compared with the special sensor microwave imager/sounder observations up to 190 GHz: this successful evaluation gives us confidence in the simulations at the ICI channels from 183 to 664 GHz. Statistical analyses have been performed on this simulated retrieval database, showing that it is not only physically realistic but also statistically satisfactory for retrieval purposes. A first neural network (NN) classifier is used to detect the cloud presence. A second NN is developed to retrieve the liquid and ice-integrated cloud quantities over sea and land separately. The detection and retrieval of the hydrometeor quantities (i.e., ice, snow, graupel, rain, and liquid cloud) are performed with ICI-only, and with ICI combined with observations from the microwave imager (MWI, also on board MetOp-SG). The ICI channels have been optimized for the detection and quantification of the cloud frozen phase. Adding the MWI channels improves the performances of the vertically integrated content mostly for the cloud liquid phase. The relative error for the retrieved integrated frozen water content (FWP, i.e., ice+snow+graupel) is below ~40% for 0.1 kg/<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{m}^{2}<$ </tex-math></inline-formula> FWP < 0.5 kg/<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{m}^{2}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and below ~20% for FWP > 0.5 kg/<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{m}^{2}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>.