Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transplanting p75-suppressed bone marrow stromal cells promotes functional behavior in a rat model of spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) have been successfully employed for movement deficit recovery in spinal cord injury (SCI) rat models. One of the unsettled problems in cell transplantation is the relative high proportion of cell death, specifically after neural differentiation. According to our previous studies, p75 receptor, known as the death receptor, is only expressed in BMSC in a time window of 6-12 hours following neural induction. Moreover, we have recently reported a decreased level of apoptosis in p75-suppressed BMSC in vitro. Therefore, our objective in this research was to explore the functional effects of transplanting p75:siRNA expressing BMSC in SCI rats. METHODS Laminectomy was performed at L1 vertebra level to expose spinal cord for contusion using weight-drop method. PBS-treated SCI rats (group one) were used as negative controls, in which cavitations were observed 10 weeks after SCI. pRNA-U6.1/Hygro- (group two, as a mock) and pRNA-U6.1/Hygro-p75 shRNA- (group three) transfected BMSC were labeled with a fluorescent dye, CM-DiI, and grafted into the lesion site 7 days after surgery. The Basso-Beattie-Bresnehan locomotor rating scale was performed weekly for 10 weeks. RESULTS There was a significant difference (P≤0.05) between all groups of treated rats regarding functional recovery. Specifically, the discrepancy among p75 siRNA and mock-transfected BMSC was statistically significant. P75 siRNA BMSC also revealed a higher level of in vivo survival compared to the mock BMSC. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that genetically modified BMSC that express p75:siRNA could be a more suitable source of cells for treatment of SCI.
Neuronal and Physiological Correlation to Hemodynamic Resting-State Fluctuations in Health and Disease

Low-frequency, spatially coherent fluctuations present in functional magnetic resonance imaging time series have had a tremendous impact on brain connectomics. This work aims to explore the degree with which hemodynamic connectivity is associated with neuronal, metabolic, and vascular connectivity measures. For this purpose, GCaMP and nontransgenic mice were used to image neuronal activity and oxidative metabolism activity, respectively, along with blood-oxygenation- and cerebral blood volume (CBV)-sensitive hemodynamic changes from the same animals. Although network clusters calculated using either GCaMP (neuronal activity) or optical imaging of intrinsic signal (OIS)-BOLD (blood oxygenation) data did not exhibit strong spatial similarity, the strengths of node-to-node connectivity measured with these modalities were strongly correlated with one another. This finding suggests that hemodynamic connectivity as measured by blood oxygenation measurements, such as functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging, is a valuable surrogate for the underlying neuronal connectivity. In nontransgenic animals, greater connectivity correlation was observed between tissue oxidative metabolism (flavoprotein autofluorescence imaging [FAI]) and blood oxygenation measurements, suggesting that metabolic contributions to hemodynamic signals are likely responsible for its significant correlation with neuronal connectivity. Lastly, a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease was used to explore the source of decreases in connectivity reported in these mice, a finding that is thought to be associated with amyloid load-driven metabolic decline. The intercluster connectivity measured by metabolic-sensitive measurements (FAI and OIS-BOLD) was maintained while vascular-only signals (OIS-CBV) provided negligible correlation. Therefore, metabolism-sensitive measurements as used in this work are better positioned to capture changes in neuronal connectivity, such that decreases in hemodynamic connectivity likely reflect decreases in oxidative metabolic function.
The “new” contract between IS employees and organizations: workplace and individual factors

1. ABSTRACT Within the Information Systems function, dramatic workplace changes (e.g., outsourcing, telecommuting, rightsizing) have wakened the ties betmeen employer and employee. Perceptions of violations of the psychological contract between employer and employee [26,27-J, coupled with a booming IS job market, have reduced and/or threatened retention of IS employees. Although IS researchers have long studied IS personnel, there is a lack of research of the construct, Perception of Psychological Contract, among IS professionals. Therefore, this research extends IS personnel research by developing and empirically testing a theoretical model of workplace and individual factors impacting the “new” contract between IS employees and the organization. 2. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES In organizations in general, bonds of loyalty and trust benveen employer and employer have been undermined considerably due to rightsizing, restructuring, and outsourcing. Within the Information Systems (IS) function, these changes in the workplace have been even more pronounced. As a result, IS employees have become disenchanted due to perceived violations of their psychological contract between employer and employee [26,27]. This disenchantment is a concern for IS managers in today’s booming IS personnel marketplace.
Reduced HIV-1 long terminal repeat transcription in subjects with protective interferon regulatory factor-1 genotype: A potential mechanism mediating resistance to infection by HIV-1

Abstract We previously described the polymorphism in the interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) gene as a novel correlate of resistance to HIV-1 infection in a Kenyan female sex worker cohort. However, the underlying mechanisms likely mediating this association remained to be elucidated. The initiation of HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) transcription in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from subjects with different IRF-1 haplotypes, representing protective, intermediate and the least protective IRF-1 allele combinations, were investigated here. A single-cycle pseudovirus construct expressing vesicular stomatitis virus envelop G-protein (VSV-G) and having an HIV-1 pNL4.3 backbone with luciferase insert was used to infect PBMCs with different IRF-1 haplotypes. The efficiency of early HIV-1 LTR transcription was monitored using a luciferase assay. IRF-1 protein levels induced by the infection were measured by quantitative Western blot. Our results showed that PBMCs with the protective IRF-1 genotype demonstrated significantly lower HIV-1 LTR transcription during the initial stages of infection compared to PBMCs with other haplotypes, which correlated with the kinetics of IRF-1 responsiveness to HIV-1 infection in the cells. It suggests that IRF-1 genotypes alter the efficiency of early HIV-1 LTR transcription, likely via modulating expression of IRF-1. This may represent one mechanism mediating the association between IRF-1 polymorphisms and resistance to HIV-1 infection.
The Arabidopsis Phytochrome-Interacting Factor PIF7, Together with PIF3 and PIF4, Regulates Responses to Prolonged Red Light by Modulating phyB Levels[W]

We show that a previously uncharacterized Arabidopsis thaliana basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) phytochrome interacting factor (PIF), designated PIF7, interacts specifically with the far-red light–absorbing Pfr form of phyB through a conserved domain called the active phyB binding motif. Similar to PIF3, upon light exposure, PIF7 rapidly migrates to intranuclear speckles, where it colocalizes with phyB. However, in striking contrast to PIF3, this process is not accompanied by detectable light-induced phosphorylation or degradation of PIF7, suggesting that the consequences of interaction with photoactivated phyB may differ among PIFs. Nevertheless, PIF7 acts similarly to PIF3 in prolonged red light as a weak negative regulator of phyB-mediated seedling deetiolation. Examination of pif3, pif4, and pif7 double mutant combinations shows that their moderate hypersensitivity to extended red light is additive. We provide evidence that the mechanism by which these PIFs operate on the phyB signaling pathway under prolonged red light is through maintaining low phyB protein levels, in an additive or synergistic manner, via a process likely involving the proteasome pathway. These data suggest that the role of these phyB-interacting bHLH factors in modulating seedling deetiolation in prolonged red light may not be as phy-activated signaling intermediates, as proposed previously, but as direct modulators of the abundance of the photoreceptor.
A double-blind comparison of escitalopram and venlafaxine extended release in the treatment of major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND Escitalopram is the most selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) antidepressant available. Venlafaxine is a non-selective SRI that also inhibits noradrenergic re-uptake. This study compared escitalopram and venlafaxine extended release (XR) in depressed outpatients at the highest doses recommended in the United States. METHOD In this randomized trial, patients (diagnosis of DSM-IV-defined major depressive disorder; baseline Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score of >/= 20) received 1 week of single-blind placebo treatment, followed by 8 weeks of double-blind, fixed-dose treatment with either escitalopram or venlafaxine XR (rapidly titrated to 20 mg/day and 225 mg/day, respectively, in accordance with prescribing information). The primary efficacy variable was change from baseline to week 8 in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score. Data were collected from May to December 2002. RESULTS Mean baseline MADRS scores for the escitalopram (N = 97) and venlafaxine XR (N = 98) groups were 30.7 and 30.0, respectively. There were no significant differences in measures of efficacy between the 2 antidepressants. Mean changes from baseline to endpoint in MADRS total score for escitalopram and venlafaxine XR were -15.9 and -13.6, respectively. Remission (MADRS score of </= 10) rates at endpoint were 41.2% for escitalopram and 36.7% for venlafaxine XR. Response (>/= 50% reduction from baseline MADRS score) rates for the escitalopram and venlafaxine XR groups were 58.8% and 48.0%, respectively. Tolerability measures favored escitalopram over venlafaxine XR treatment. The venlafaxine XR group had a higher incidence than the escitalopram group of treatment-emergent adverse events (85.0% vs. 68.4%) and discontinuation due to adverse events (16.0% vs. 4.1%; p <.01). CONCLUSION Results of this study indicate that, when titrated rapidly to their maximum recommended doses, escitalopram is at least as effective as venlafaxine XR and significantly better tolerated. These results do not support the hypothesis that nonselective SRIs have greater efficacy than selective SRIs.
Measurement of the innovation front end: Viewpoint of process, social environment and physical environment

The front-end phase is in the literature generally regarded as the most critical phase of the innovation process. This is due to its inherent uncertain and ambiguous nature and its significant potential to improve overall innovation capability in industrial firms. The front-end phase precedes and feeds the new product development project phase by creating a continuous stream of new incremental and radical product concepts. Such a comprehensive measurement system dealing with the front-end phase of innovation process makes it possible for the people responsible for the innovation activities to get a picture of the efficiency of innovation process front-end and effectiveness of outcomes and impacts. This paper describes conceptually the theoretical backgrounds, a tentative idea and first managerial implications of a method, Balanced Innovation Front-End Measurement BIFEM, we are going to develop and test in 30 Finnish, German and USA companies during next two years. The framework of the model for measuring the innovation activities front end contains at the first draft five assessment viewpoints as follows; input, process, outcome, social environment and physical environment. A connection with these elements in the measurement of innovation activities as a whole has been weak, but now these will be covered by the new approach. In this paper we concentrate on three out of five assessment areas - those three are (1) process, (2) social environment and (3) physical environment. In this paper the theoretical background of innovation process front-end itself is described first (1). Second (2) the viewpoint of social environment is discussed. Third (3) this is followed by a description of a physical environment of innovation process front-end. Next fourth (4) the earlier developed and tested Programmes' Assessment Method PAM and Quality Maturity Method QMM by the writers are illustrated. Fifth (5) the most crucial points from the viewpoint of measurement in the front-end stage of innovation process are discussed. Finally sixth (6) the conclusions and structure of the new measurement method Balanced Innovation Front-End Measurement BIFEM is described.
Are daily agricultural grains prices stationary? New evidence from GARCH-based unit root tests

In this paper, we employ the GARCH-based unit root tests including the one proposed by Narayan and Liu (NL) (2015) to further examine the stationarity of daily agricultural grain prices from 1986 to 2015. We also compare the performance of these tests with standard unit root tests. Our results suggest that the unit root test for agricultural grains prices is better modeled in the presence of GARCH process with a time trend and possibly one or two shifts in the intercept. The policy implications of these findings are well documented in the paper.
Make It Matter: How Managers Can Motivate by Creating Meaning

How many people find a sense of purpose in their jobs? Unfortunately, studies show that most do not. Their bodies may put in long hours, but their hearts and minds never punch in. And that’s a terrible dilemma for organizations trying to motivate their workforces to do more with less. Make It Matter is the antidote to crisis levels of disengagement. This upbeat, original book shows how meaning-rich workplaces connect, inspire, and catapult employees into new realms of productivity and well-being. Not only does the book make a convincing case for change, it also explains how to become the kind of business where people love to work, and the kind of manager people love to work for. Insightful research findings, stories, and guidelines help readers create: Direction: reframing work to add meaning Discovery: offering challenges and thoughtful opportunities to learn and grow Devotion: cultivating an authentic, caring culture, free from corrosive behaviors When people feel that they matter, they give their all. Channel that power and everyone profits.
A Thylakoid Membrane Protein Harboring a DnaJ-type Zinc Finger Domain Is Required for Photosystem I Accumulation in Plants*

Background: Photosystem I is a large protein/pigment assembly required for photosynthesis. Results: The PSA2 protein harbors a DnaJ-type zinc finger domain, is required for Photosystem I accumulation, and is found in a PsaG-containing complex in the thylakoid lumen. Conclusion: PSA2 promotes Photosystem I biogenesis via interaction with a PsaG-containing complex in the thylakoid lumen. Significance: These findings elucidate the biogenesis of the photosynthetic apparatus. Photosystem I (PSI) is a large pigment-protein complex and one of the two photosystems that drive electron transfer in oxygenic photosynthesis. We identified a nuclear gene required specifically for the accumulation of PSI in a forward genetic analysis of chloroplast biogenesis in maize. This gene, designated psa2, belongs to the “GreenCut” gene set, a group of genes found in green algae and plants but not in non-photosynthetic organisms. Disruption of the psa2 ortholog in Arabidopsis likewise resulted in the specific loss of PSI proteins. PSA2 harbors a conserved domain found in DnaJ chaperones where it has been shown to form a zinc finger and to have protein-disulfide isomerase activity. Accordingly, PSA2 exhibited protein-disulfide reductase activity in vitro. PSA2 localized to the thylakoid lumen and was found in a ∼250-kDa complex harboring the peripheral PSI protein PsaG but lacking several core PSI subunits. PSA2 mRNA is coexpressed with mRNAs encoding various proteins involved in the biogenesis of the photosynthetic apparatus with peak expression preceding that of genes encoding structural components. PSA2 protein abundance was not decreased in the absence of PSI but was reduced in the absence of the PSI assembly factor Ycf3. These findings suggest that a complex harboring PSA2 and PsaG mediates thiol transactions in the thylakoid lumen that are important for the assembly of PSI.
Differential molecular profiles of astrocytes in degeneration and re‐innervation after sensory deafferentation of the adult rat cochlear nucleus

Ablating the cochlea causes total sensory deafferentation of the cochlear nucleus. Over the first postoperative week, degeneration of the auditory nerve and its synaptic terminals in the cochlear nucleus temporally overlaps with its re‐innervation by axon collaterals of medial olivocochlear neurons. At the same time, astrocytes increase in size and density. We investigated the time courses of the expression of ezrin, polysialic acid, matrix metalloprotease‐9 and matrix metalloprotease‐2 within these astrocytes during the first week following cochlear ablation. All four proteins are known to participate in degeneration, regeneration, or both, following injury of the central nervous system. In a next step, stereotaxic injections of kainic acid were made into the ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body prior to cochlear ablation to destroy the neurons that re‐innervate the deafferented cochlear nucleus by axon collaterals developing growth‐associated protein 43 immunoreactivity. This experimental design allowed us to distinguish between molecular processes associated with degeneration and those associated with re‐innervation. Under these conditions, astrocytic growth and proliferation showed an unchanged deafferentation‐induced pattern. Similarly, the distribution and amount of ezrin and matrix metalloprotease‐9 in astrocytes after cochlear ablation developed in the same way as under cochlear ablation alone. In sharp contrast, the astrocytic expression of polysialic acid and matrix metalloprotease‐2 normally invoked by cochlear ablation collapsed when re‐innervation of the cochlear nucleus was inhibited by lesioning medial olivocochlear neurons with kainic acid. In conclusion, re‐innervation, including axonal growth and synaptogenesis, seems to prompt astrocytes to recompose their molecular profile, paving the way for tissue reorganisation after nerve degeneration and loss of synaptic contacts.
Occupational Risks: Perceptual Map Construction using psychometric paradigm and multivariate methods

Risk management focus main on technical and rational analysis about operational risks and by those imposed by occupational environment. In this work one looks to contribute to perception study of work safety professionals about a series of activities and environment agents. In this way it was used theory sustained by psychometric paradigm and multivariate analysis tools, mainly multidimensional scaling, generalized Procrustes analysis and facet theory, in order to construct the perceptual map of occupational risks. The results obtained showed that the essential characteristics of risks, which were initially split in 4 facets were detected and maintained in perceptual map. The construction of perceptual map also permitted to verify the formation of a new facet, not considered in the beginning. The facet theory which by hypothesis was used in this work showed adequate, providing the regional interpretation of the map. The inferential analysis realized showed fine results for the final configuration validation, indicating which risks and/or activities belongs to the same facet.
Image: changing how women nurses think about themselves. Literature review.

AIM This paper presents a review of the public and professional images of nursing in the literature and explores nurse image in the context of Strasen's self-image model. BACKGROUND Nurses have struggled since the 1800s with the problem of image. What is known about nurses' image is from the perspective of others: the media, public or other healthcare professionals. Some hints of how nurses see themselves can be found in the literature that suggests how this image could be improved. METHOD A literature review for all dates up to 2006 was undertaken using PubMed, Medline and CINAHL databases. Additional references were identified from this literature. Sentinel articles and books were manually searched to identify key concepts. Search words used were nurse, nursing, image and self-image. The findings were examined using the framework of Strasen's self-image model. FINDINGS Public image appears to be intimately intertwined with nurse image. This creates the boundaries that confine and construct the image of nursing. As a profession, nurses do not have a very positive self-image nor do they think highly of themselves. CONCLUSION Individually, each nurse has the power to shape the image of nursing. However, nurses must also work together to change the systems that perpetuate negative stereotypes of nurses' image.
A Behavioral Approach To Decision Making Under Uncertainty: Implications And Lessons For Expected Utility Theory

Experimental investigations by psychologists have uncovered many instances where decision makers consistently and persistently violate the postulates of classical expected utility theory. Modification and weakening of the expected utility assumptions/axioms have resulted in the development of a class of non-expected utility models which can account for some but not all observed violations. Introduction of psychological decision dimensions has resulted in theories of choice designed to describe observed behavior (e.g., regret theory and portfolio theory) and in models that formalize such psychological variables as perceived riskiness or ambiguity. Finally, at a metatheoretical level, realization of the nature and extent of human cognitive processing and memory limitations has resulted in a reevaluation of rationality or optimality criteria ("bounded rationality"), in process-model modifications of expected utility models (i.e., prospect theory), and in the study of cost-benefit tradeoffs of task-contingent judgment and decision strategies. This paper reviews recent work in these areas with an emphasis on implications for prescriptive theories for risky decision making.
Solar energy forecasting with numerical weather predictions on a grid and convolutional networks

Accurate forecasting of solar energy is of vital importance for energy system integration and development of the energy Internet. In this paper, we propose a solar energy forecasting model with numerical weather predictions on grids and convolutional networks. Gaussian process regression is used to transform the incoming solar energy values of arbitrarily located solar farms to a regular grid so that we can leverage the learning ability of convolutional networks. The convolutional network takes the input of numerical weather predictions and produces solar energy values on the grid points, which are then used to calculate the forecasts for the solar farms. Experiments on the American Meteorological Society solar energy prediction dataset demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model. The proposed model has the potential to be generalized to different tasks related to renewable energy integration.