Role of mitochondria in Parkinson disease

The cause of the selective degeneration of nigrostriatal neurons in Parkinson disease (PD) has remained largely unknown. Exceptions include rare missense mutations in the alpha-synuclein gene on chromosome 4, a potentially pathogenic mutation affecting the ubiquitin pathway, and mutations in the parkin gene on chromosome 6. However, unlike classical PD, the latter syndrome is not associated with the formation of typical Lewy bodies. In contrast, a biochemical defect of complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain has been described in a relatively large group of confirmed PD cases. Recent cybrid studies indicate that the complex I defect in PD has a genetic cause and that it may arise from mutations in the mitochondrial DNA, Sequence analysis of the mitochondrial genome supports the view that mitochondrial point mutations are involved in PD pathogenesis. However, although mitochondria function as regulators in several known forms of cell death, their exact involvement in PD has remained unresolved. This is of relevance because classical apoptosis does not appear to play a major role in the degeneration of the parkinsonian nigra

Impact of Swiss Consumers\u27 Product Involvement on Brand Loyalty

Product involvement has been studied for 30 years, but studies connecting it to brand loyalty in Swiss hotels are missing. This study examines how Swiss leisure travellers’ product involvement with a hotel relates with loyalty to the hotel brand. Results show moderately high involvement and antecedents ‘pleasure’ and ‘sign value’ show strong relationships. Correlation scores suggest overall weak brand loyalty, impacted by desire to visit different locations. Despite medium-high interest in hotels, only small differences among hotel brands resulted

Little emperors in the UK: Acculturation and food over time

This is the post-print version of the final paper published in Journal of Business Research. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2011 Elsevier B.V.This paper investigates the acculturation process of a group of Chinese students living in the UK. It emerges from a longitudinal study looking at how participants' social ties affect their food consumption. Drafting from an interpretive study using focus groups discussions, it shows that participants' food consumption patterns change over time in relation to participants' social ties. Three acculturation phases have been individuated. They show that ethnic and non-ethnic ties influence participants' acculturation process. Students with strong ethnic ties consume Chinese food for maintaining their ethnic identity and resisting host food culture. Students with weak ethnic ties consume Chinese food to maintain their ethnic identity and global consumer culture food to resist host food culture. Participants with strong non-ethnic ties have a wider knowledge of host food culture, but they do not consume it more than students with weak non-ethnic ties

Регламентация бизнес-процессов организации с использованием Business Studio

В работе рассмотрены особенности применения графических методов моделирования в компании газовой отрасли для регламентации бизнес-процессов верхнего уровня. Разработана графическая модель отраслевого бизнес-процесса в системе Business Studio с использованием нотации IDEF0 и описан потенциал ее использования.The paper considers the features of using graphical modeling methods in the gas industry company for regulating top-level business processes. A graphical model of the industry-specific business process in the Business Studio system using IDEF0 notation is developed and the potential of its use is described