Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social Responsibility Journal The

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of proﬁtability and leverage on the relationship between eco-efﬁciency and ﬁrm value. Design/methodology/approach – The study extends the Ohlson’s model on value relevance using the hierarchical regression analysis to establish the moderating effects of the ﬁrm-speciﬁc variables. The sample includes 667 non-ﬁnancial ﬁrms from the Bursa Malaysia, as of 2013. The data for eco-efﬁciency wereextractedfromcontentanalysisoftheannualreport,whereastheﬁnancialdatawereretrievedfrom thedatastream. Findings – The study provides support for the stakeholder theory that purports that managers must develop a relationship with stakeholders by embarking on environmental friendly practices to maintain a positive ﬁrm value. The study shows a positive association between eco-efﬁciency and the value of the ﬁrm and provides support for a positive moderating relationship for proﬁtability in the relationship between eco-efﬁciency and ﬁrm value, whereas there was no signiﬁcant effect for leverage in the relationship. Research limitations/implications – It should be noted that, ﬁrst, the data comprised exclusively Malaysian companies. Including ﬁrms from similar developing countries with varying institutional make-up and culture would enhance the understanding of the subject. Second, considering that the data for this study is cross-sectional, it may not be sufﬁcient to draw strong causal inﬂuences. The study is the ﬁrst to the best of the researcher’s knowledge to provide evidence that proﬁtability positively moderates the relationship between eco-efﬁciency and ﬁrm value. Practical implications – The result shows the management and potential investors that an investment in eco-efﬁciency will lead to a higher ﬁrm value, irrespective of the debt proﬁle of the ﬁrm and that proﬁtable ﬁrms are more likely to embark on an eco-efﬁcient policy. Originality/value – This study contributes to the literature by providing evidence from a developing country’s perspective, as well as extending prior studies that merely examined the direct relationship, to now explore the moderating relationship of proﬁtability and leverage in the relationship between eco-efﬁciency and ﬁrm value using a large sample.
Overexpression of V‐1 prevents nitric oxide‐induced cell death: Involvement of enhanced tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis

Previously we reported that the synthesis of catecholamines, dopamine, and noradrenaline was enhanced by overexpression of V‐1 protein, a neuronal protein active in the initial stage of development of the rat cerebellum, in the neuronal cell line PC12D, a model of dopamine cells (Yamakuni et al. [1998] J. Biol. Chem. 273:27051–27054). To investigate the physiological role of this protein, we examined the effect of V‐1 overexpression on cell toxicity induced by nitric oxide (NO) used at low concentrations. Two clones of PC12D cells overexpressing V‐1, transfectants termed V1‐46 and V1‐69, were significantly more resistant to NOR3 (an NO donor) but not to etoposide (an inhibitor of topoisomerase II)‐induced apoptotic cell death than the control cells (termed C‐7 and C‐9) that had been transfected with the vector alone. The addition of L‐DOPA, dopamine, or noradrenaline to the medium did not abolish NOR3‐induced cell death in PC12D cells. Moreover, pretreatment of V1‐46 and V1‐69 cells with L‐α‐methyl‐p‐tyrosine (α‐MPT), an inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase, to inhibit catecholamine biosynthesis did not affect the resistance to NO toxicity. These results indicate that the catecholamine levels increased by V‐1 overexpression did not produce the protection against NOR3‐induced toxicity. We further showed that overexpression of V‐1 enhanced the synthesis of (6R)‐L‐erythro‐5,6,7,8‐tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). In addition, pretreatment with BH4 or with sepiapterin, which is converted to BH4 intracellularly, significantly protected PC12D cells in a dose‐dependent manner. The increased BH4 synthesis by V‐1 overexpression was dose dependently inhibited by pretreatment with diaminohydroxypyrimidine (DAHP), an inhibitor of GTP‐cyclohydrolase I, which is the rate‐limiting enzyme for the biosynthesis of BH4, concomitantly with the loss of protective effect afforded by V‐1 overexpression. Furthermore, the addition of BH4 or sepiapterin to DAHP‐pretreated V146 and V1‐69 cells restored cell viability. Taken together, these results indicate that V1 protein plays an important role in protection against cell death induced by NO at low levels by promoting the synthesis of BH4. Moreover, these findings suggest the up‐regulation of V1 expression as a possible therapeutic target for protection against the insult of NO‐induced oxidative stress. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of Three Residues Essential for 5-Hydroxytryptamine 2A-Metabotropic Glutamate 2 (5-HT2A·mGlu2) Receptor Heteromerization and Its Psychoactive Behavioral Function*

Background: The 5-HT2A·mGlu2 receptor heterocomplex is involved in psychosis. Results: Substitution of Ala-6774.40, Ala-6814.44, and Ala-6854.48 in mGlu2 abolishes the behavioral effects of hallucinogenic 5-HT2A agonists. Conclusion: Three residues at transmembrane domain 4 of mGlu2 are necessary to form the 5-HT2A·mGlu2 receptor heterocomplex. Significance: These results provide insight into the structure and behavioral function of the 5-HT2A·mGlu2 receptor heterocomplex. Serotonin and glutamate G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) neurotransmission affects cognition and perception in humans and rodents. GPCRs are capable of forming heteromeric complexes that differentially alter cell signaling, but the role of this structural arrangement in modulating behavior remains unknown. Here, we identified three residues located at the intracellular end of transmembrane domain four that are necessary for the metabotropic glutamate 2 (mGlu2) receptor to be assembled as a GPCR heteromer with the serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5-HT2A) receptor in the mouse frontal cortex. Substitution of these residues (Ala-6774.40, Ala-6814.44, and Ala-6854.48) leads to absence of 5-HT2A·mGlu2 receptor complex formation, an effect that is associated with a decrease in their heteromeric ligand binding interaction. Disruption of heteromeric expression with mGlu2 attenuates the psychosis-like effects induced in mice by hallucinogenic 5-HT2A agonists. Furthermore, the ligand binding interaction between the components of the 5-HT2A·mGlu2 receptor heterocomplex is up-regulated in the frontal cortex of schizophrenic subjects as compared with controls. Together, these findings provide structural evidence for the unique behavioral function of a GPCR heteromer.
Tetrandrine increased the survival rate of mice with lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxemia.

BACKGROUND Endotoxemia usually causes significant morbidity and mortality, and treatment of endotoxemia is often ineffective. The effects of tetrandrine (a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemia were investigated in mice. METHODS The peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with LPS and treated with or without tetrandrine. The amounts of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and IL-10 secreted by peritoneal macrophages were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with LPS to induce endotoxemia and were treated or not treated with oral gavage with 150 mg/kg tetrandrine 1 hour before or after LPS injection. The survival rate of the mice was determined after they were treated with various regiments. The amounts of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-10 in the serum of the mice were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) concentration was studied by Western blot analysis. RESULTS Tetrandrine suppressed the LPS-induced increase of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and HMGB1 secretion by peritoneal macrophages but did not affect the IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations. The animals treated with tetrandrine either 1 hour before or after LPS injection had a 100% survival rate, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (40%) (p = 0.005). The LPS-induced increase in serum TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and HMGB1 concentrations was reduced by tetrandrine treatment administered either 1 hour before or after LPS injection (p < 0.0001). In contrast, tetrandrine prolonged the LPS-induced elevation in serum IL-10 concentrations only mildly changed the serum IL-6 concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Tetrandrine treatment either 1 hour before or 1 hour after LPS injection reduced the mortality rate of the mice with LPS-induced endotoxemia. The effects of tetrandrine on LPS-induced endotoxemia might be related to the suppression of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and HMGB1 concentrations.
Y chromosomes traveling south: the cohen modal haplotype and the origins of the Lemba--the "Black Jews of Southern Africa".

The Lemba are a traditionally endogamous group speaking a variety of Bantu languages who live in a number of locations in southern Africa. They claim descent from Jews who came to Africa from "Sena. " "Sena" is variously identified by them as Sanaa in Yemen, Judea, Egypt, or Ethiopia. A previous study using Y-chromosome markers suggested both a Bantu and a Semitic contribution to the Lemba gene pool, a suggestion that is not inconsistent with Lemba oral tradition. To provide a more detailed picture of the Lemba paternal genetic heritage, we analyzed 399 Y chromosomes for six microsatellites and six biallelic markers in six populations (Lemba, Bantu, Yemeni-Hadramaut, Yemeni-Sena, Sephardic Jews, and Ashkenazic Jews). The high resolution afforded by the markers shows that Lemba Y chromosomes are clearly divided into Semitic and Bantu clades. Interestingly, one of the Lemba clans carries, at a very high frequency, a particular Y-chromosome type termed the "Cohen modal haplotype," which is known to be characteristic of the paternally inherited Jewish priesthood and is thought, more generally, to be a potential signature haplotype of Judaic origin. The Bantu Y-chromosome samples are predominantly (>80%) YAP+ and include a modal haplotype at high frequency. Assuming a rapid expansion of the eastern Bantu, we used variation in microsatellite alleles in YAP+ sY81-G Bantu Y chromosomes to calculate a rough date, 3,000-5,000 years before the present, for the start of their expansion.
Wealth inequality and financial development: revisiting the symmetry breaking mechanism

Matsuyama (Econometrica 72(3):853–884, 2004) shows that financial integration may lead to income polarization among inherently identical countries, if these countries are financially underdeveloped, a result he calls “symmetry breaking. ” By introducing the minimum investment requirement and within-country wealth inequality into Matsuyama’s framework, I show that wealth inequality is as important as financial development in determining the possibility of symmetry breaking. I then address three practical issues in this model, e.g., the conditions of financial integration, the domestic financial crisis and capital controls, and the world interest rate changes and income volatility.
A survey of oral and dental health in children on home parenteral nutrition.

AIM To determine oral and dental problems in children who are receiving long term intravenous nutrition at home. MATERIALS AND METHODS DESIGN Children who had been at home on parenteral nutrition (PN) for a period of at least 3 months were recruited from the intestinal failure clinic database of a large tertiary nutrition centre. The parents were contacted by email, face to face or telephone and asked to fill in a questionnaire. Information about the PN, enteral nutrition, type of feeding in infancy, weaning, dental and oral problems was collected. Results A total of 35 patients were identified, of which 28 participated in the study. The age of the children ranged from 1-18 years with a median age of 5.5 years. The average duration of PN administration was 4.3 years. Just over half were also orally fed and three quarters had a history of breast and/or bottle feeding in infancy. Around 60% of children reported oral problems including teeth staining (29%), gum infections (11%), teeth decay and delayed dentition (16%). 68% regularly visited the dentist at 2-12 monthly intervals. CONCLUSION In comparison to the general UK paediatric population, oral and dental problems occurred less commonly in our study group of children on HPN, unlike adult patients on intravenous nutrition where poor oral health was much more prominent compared to the general public. However the overall prevalence was similar in the adult and paediatric age group receiving long-term HPN highlighting the need for specific health advice in this patient group.
Electrodynamics and ultimate SNR in parallel MR imaging

The purpose of this article is to elucidate inherent limitations to the performance of parallel MRI. The study focuses on the ultimate signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), which refers to the maximum SNR permitted by the electrodynamics of the signal detection process. Using a spherical model object, it is shown that the behavior of the ultimate SNR imposes distinct limits on the acceleration rate in parallel imaging. For low and moderate acceleration, the ultimate SNR performance is nearly optimal, with geometry factors close to 1. However, for high reduction factors beyond a critical value, the ultimate performance deteriorates rapidly, corresponding to exponential growth of the geometry factor. The transition from optimal to deteriorating performance depends on the electrodynamic characteristics of the detected RF fields. In the near‐field regime, i.e., for low B0 and small object size, the critical reduction factor is constant and approximately equal to four for 1D acceleration in the sphere. In the far‐field wave regime the critical reduction factor is larger and increases both with B0 and object size. Therefore, it is concluded that parallel techniques hold particular promise for human MR imaging at very high field. Magn Reson Med 52:376–390, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An integral assessment framework of health status in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Background: To date, many health status instruments exist, but the validity of these instruments is questionable. This is caused by the fact that health status is poorly defined.Purpose: To develop a validated framework that improves conceptual insight into health status and its domains.Methods: Based on theoretical and clinical considerations, we defined the domains of health status into concrete sub-domains by formulating conceptual models. Guided by these conceptual models, for each sub-domain, existing instruments were selected. We validated the conceptual models in the data of 168 COPD patients. Using factor analysis, underlying concepts in the data were identified.Results: The resulting framework included physiological functioning, complaints, functional impairment, and quality of life. These main domains were shown to be subdivided into 15 sub-domains.Conclusions: The present study shows that health status consists of conceptually distinct sub-domains. Integral assessment of health status thus entails measuring all sub-domains. Existing instruments measure only few sub-domains. Integral assessment of health status thus requires the combination of different instruments. The present framework of health status can help in composing such a battery of instruments. Patient profiles obtained by the framework are essential in individualizing treatment.
Maltodextrin Utilization Plays a Key Role in the Ability of Group A Streptococcus To Colonize the Oropharynx

ABSTRACT Analysis of multiple group A Streptococcus (GAS) genomes shows that genes encoding proteins involved in carbohydrate utilization comprise some 15% of the core GAS genome. Yet there is a limited understanding of how carbohydrate utilization contributes to GAS pathogenesis. Previous genome-wide GAS studies led us to a focused investigation of MalE, a putative maltodextrin-binding protein. Analysis of 28 strains of 22 distinct M protein serotypes showed that MalE is highly conserved among diverse GAS strains. malE transcript levels were significantly increased during growth in human saliva compared to growth in a chemically defined glucose-containing medium or a nutrient-rich medium. MalE was accessible to antibody binding, indicating that it is expressed on the GAS cell surface. Moreover, growth in human saliva appeared to increase MalE surface expression compared to growth in a nutrient-rich medium. Analysis of a ΔmalE isogenic mutant strain revealed decreased growth in human saliva compared to wild-type GAS. Radiolabeled carbohydrate binding assays showed that MalE was required for the binding of maltose but not glucose. The ΔmalE isogenic mutant strain colonized a lower percentage of GAS-challenged mice compared to wild-type and genetically complemented strains. Furthermore, decreased numbers of CFU were recovered from mice infected with the ΔmalE strain compared to those infected with wild-type GAS. These data demonstrate that maltodextrin acquisition is likely to be a key factor in the ability of GAS to successfully infect the oropharynx. Further investigation into carbohydrate transport and metabolism pathways may yield novel insights into GAS pathogenesis.
Monitoring major mastitis pathogens at the population level based on examination of bulk tank milk samples

The objective was to determine the proportions and bacterial counts of major mastitis pathogens in samples of bulk tank milk (BTM), as well as to clarify the relationship between these bacteria counts and bulk tank somatic cell count (BTSCC). The purpose was to judge the importance of the counts of mammary pathogens for BTSCC at the population level. Samples of BTM were collected from 268 randomly selected anonymous dairy herds (with approximately 29 000 dairy cows). Staphylococcus aureus, other coagulase-positive staphylococci, Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus dysgalactiae were grouped as contagious pathogens, and Streptococcus uberis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium as environmental pathogens. Based on assessment of the dominant pathogen in each herd, environmental pathogens were found to dominate. Counts of specific mammary pathogens in BTM samples did not exceed a geometric mean of 1000 cfu/ml. Significant differences were documented in BTSCC between BTM samples containing Str. agalactiae, Staph. aureus, and Str. dysgalactiae and BTM samples that were pathogen-free. Geometric means of BTSCC associated with these pathogens were noticeably higher than the overall BTSCC (Str. agalactiae 243 628; Staph. aureus 205 610; Str. dysgalactiae 203 978; overall 173 000 cells/ml). It follows that the somatic cell count (SCC) associated with these pathogens contributed substantially to the overall BTSCC. Environmental pathogens predominated in samples of BTM with SCC <300×103/ml and contagious mastitis pathogens predominated in BTM samples with SCC >300×103/ml. No correlation was detected between bacterial counts of specific pathogens and BTSCC. This study revealed that the assessment of bacterial counts of mammary pathogens in samples of BTM in relation to BTSCC is applicable for the monitoring of changes in the occurrence of major mastitis pathogens in dairy herds at a national level.
A study of configuration evolution of an operational IP backbone network

Configuration errors are proved to be the main reasons for network interruption and anomalies. Many researchers have paid their attention to configuration analysis and provisioning, but few works focus on understanding the configuration evolution. In this paper, we uncover the configuration evolution of an operational IP backbone based on the weekly reports gathered from January 2006 to January 2013. We find that rate limiting and launching routes for new customers are configured most frequently. In addition, we conduct an analysis of network failures and find that link failures are the main causes for network failures. We suggest that we should configure redundant links for the links which are easy to break down. At last, according to the analysis results, we illustrate how to provide semi-automated configuration for rate limiting and adding customers.
Protein Kinase Cα Regulates the Expression of Complement Receptor Ig in Human Monocyte–Derived Macrophages

The complement receptor Ig (CRIg) is selectively expressed by macrophages. This receptor not only promotes the rapid phagocytosis of bacteria by macrophages but also has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive functions. Previous findings have suggested that protein kinase C (PKC) may be involved in the regulation of CRIg expression in human macrophages. We have now examined the role of PKCα in CRIg expression in human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM). Macrophages nucleofected with plasmid containing short hairpin RNA against PKCα showed markedly reduced expression of PKCα, but normal PKCζ expression, by Western blotting analysis, and vice versa. PKCα-deficient MDM showed increased expression of CRIg mRNA and protein (both the long and short form), an increase in phagocytosis of complement-opsonized Candida albicans, and decreased production of TNF-α and IL-6. TNF-α caused a marked decrease in CRIg expression, and addition of anti-TNF mAb to the TNF-α–producing MDMs increased CRIg expression. PKCα-deficient macrophages also showed significantly less bacterial LPS-induced downregulation of CRIg. In contrast, cells deficient in PKCα showed decreased expression of CR type 3 (CR3) and decreased production of TNF-α and IL-6 in response to LPS. MDM developed under conditions that increased expression of CRIg over CR3 showed significantly reduced production of TNF-α in response to opsonized C. albicans. The findings indicate that PKCα promotes the downregulation of CRIg and upregulation of CR3 expression and TNF-α and IL-6 production, a mechanism that may promote inflammation.
Antipsychotic polypharmacy: never say never, but never say always

The merits and pitfalls of this approach have been much debated by this editorialist (2–7) and within the pages of this journal (8, 9) and also by many others [e.g. 10–16; see also references in (1)]. Antipsychotic polypharmacy ⁄ combination treatments are associated with higher medication costs, more side effects, no clearly documented improvement in efficacy, and worse outcomes (e.g. 1). So, why do we keep doing it and in fact why are we increasing our use of antipsychotic polypharmacy ⁄ combinations?
Fault tolerable Li-ion battery stack

Li-ion batteries are embedded in numerous systems, such as EV, airplane, ships, and IDC etc. Therefore, Li-ion battery stacks are critical to the safety and reliability for these applied systems. In this paper, a fault tolerable circuit topology and fault isolation scheme for Li-ion battery stacks is proposed. Since one MOSFET is connected in series to each cell, the stack is tolerable to one cell fault, which is either short-circuit or open-circuit. Once one cell fails, the faulted cell will be isolated and the battery stack is able to continue to operate. The detecting of cell state is achieved by sensing the drain-source voltage of each MOSFET. Finally, a prototype is built to verify the design of the fault tolerable Li-ion battery stack.