Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Crystal structures of human cardiac β-myosin II S2-Δ provide insight into the functional role of the S2 subfragment

Myosin II is the major component of the muscle thick filament. It consists of two N-terminal S1 subfragments (“heads”) connected to a long dimeric coiled-coil rod. The rod is in itself twofold symmetric, but in the filament, the two heads point away from the filament surface and are therefore not equivalent. This breaking of symmetry requires the initial section of the rod, subfragment 2 (S2), to be relatively flexible. S2 is an important functional element, involved in various mechanisms by which the activity of smooth and striated muscle is regulated. We have determined crystal structures of the 126 N-terminal residues of S2 from human cardiac β-myosin II (S2-Δ), of both WT and the disease-associated E924K mutant. S2-Δ is a straight parallel dimeric coiled coil, but the N terminus of one chain is disordered in WT-S2-Δ due to crystal contacts, indicative of unstable local structure. Bulky noncanonical side chains pack into a/d positions of S2-Δ's N terminus, leading to defined local asymmetry and axial stagger, which could induce nonequivalence of the S1 subfragments. Additionally, S2 possesses a conserved charge distribution with three prominent rings of negative potential within S2-Δ, the first of which may provide a binding interface for the “blocked head” of smooth muscle myosin in the OFF state. The observation that many disease-associated mutations affect the second negatively charged ring further suggests that charge interactions play an important role in regulation of cardiac muscle activity through myosin-binding protein C.
Riding the typhoon: the HR response to the economic crisis in Hong Kong

The financial crisis that hit Asia in 1997 was the economic equivalent of a typhoon. It came suddenly, leaving much destruction in its wake, in the form of bankruptcies and business closures, retrenchment, wage cuts and ultimately high unemployment. Much has been written about the financial, economic and social ramifications of the crisis. This paper takes a critical look at the human resource practices adopted by an industry that appears to have been particularly affected by the subsequent economic downturn – the hotel industry. We consider how managers responded to the economic turbulence by confronting the apparently dichotomous pressures of tightening structure and managerial control, on the one hand, and the need to permit the flexibility that would facilitate change and innovativeness, on the other. Findings from a sample of hotels suggest that, while managers recognize the need to allow flexibility that would foster employee creativity, there remain deep-seated cultural and other factors that militate against such flexibility. This casts doubt on the organizations' ability to generate and sustain employee creativity and a climate in which employees can respond to unexpected challenges as they struggle to satisfy equally unusual customer demands.
The Perceived Attractiveness of Chinese Products by German Consumers—A Sociopsychological Approach

ABSTRACT The presence of Chinese companies in international markets has increased, and one of their main challenges is to overcome the negative image that Chinese products have in many countries. This study aims to shed light on how sociopsychological determinants affect the perceived attractiveness of Chinese products in Germany, using a sociopsychological approach based on social identity theory and social learning theory. The results indicate that the individual's age, level of education, occupational status, and international experience have significant effects on the perceived attractiveness of Chinese products, whereas the individual's international experience in China does not show such effects. Significant differences between different product categories are revealed.
The formation and interplay of social capital in crowdfunded social ventures

The multi-levelled processes taking place in Crowdfunding (CF), when tapping a large heterogeneous crowd for resources, and the often fundamentally different intentions of individual crowd members in the case of highly desirable social ventures with little prospect for economic gains, may lead to a different logic and approach to how entrepreneurship develops. Using this under-institutionalized sphere as both, context and subject, the author seeks evidence and a new understanding of entrepreneurial routes by using the sociological perspectives of Bourdieus' four forms of capital as a lens on 36 cases of social ventures. In the cases, opportunity recognition, formation and exploitation could not be distinguished as separate processes. CF and sourcing help form the actual opportunity and disperse information at the same time. In addition, the ‘nexus’ of opportunity and entrepreneur is breached in CF of social causes through the constant exchange of ideas with the crowd, leading to norm-value pairs between the funders and the entrepreneurs. Issues of identification and control are thus not based upon any formal relationship but based on perceived legitimization and offered democratic participation leading to the transformation of social capital (SC) into economic capital (EC). Success is based upon the SC of the entrepreneurial teams, yet the actual resource exchange and transformation into EC is highly moderated by cultural and symbolic capital that is being built up through the process.
OsNIP3;1, a rice boric acid channel, regulates boron distribution and is essential for growth under boron-deficient conditions.

Boron is an essential micronutrient for higher plants. Boron deficiency is an important agricultural issue because it results in loss of yield quality and/or quantity in cereals and other crops. To understand boron transport mechanisms in cereals, we characterized OsNIP3;1, a member of the major intrinsic protein family in rice (Oryza sativa L.), because OsNIP3;1 is the most similar rice gene to the Arabidopsis thaliana boric acid channel genes AtNIP5;1 and AtNIP6;1. Yeast cells expressing OsNIP3;1 imported more boric acid than control cells. GFP-tagged OsNIP3;1 expressed in tobacco BY2 cells was localized to the plasma membrane. The accumulation of OsNIP3;1 transcript increased fivefold in roots within 6 h of the onset of boron starvation, but not in shoots. Promoter-GUS analysis suggested that OsNIP3;1 is expressed mainly in exodermal cells and steles in roots, as well as in cells around the vascular bundles in leaf sheaths and pericycle cells around the xylem in leaf blades. The growth of OsNIP3;1 RNAi plants was impaired under boron limitation. These results indicate that OsNIP3;1 functions as a boric acid channel, and is required for acclimation to boron limitation. Boron distribution among shoot tissues was altered in OsNIP3;1 knockdown plants, especially under boron-deficient conditions. This result demonstrates that OsNIP3;1 regulates boron distribution among shoot tissues, and that the correct boron distribution is crucial for plant growth.
Coagulopathy associated with extended-spectrum cephalosporins in patients with serious infections

Patients enrolled in two double-blind multicenter studies were evaluated for the development of hypoprothrombinemia during treatment with cephalosporins. Patients with pneumonia or peritonitis received ceftizoxime, cefotaxime, or moxalactam. The incidence of hypoprothrombinemia was greater in patients with peritonitis (12 of 49) than in those with pneumonia (5 of 96; P less than 0.05). Overall, moxalactam was associated with a higher incidence of hypoprothrombinemia (13 of 52) than either ceftizoxime (1 of 43; P less than 0.05) or cefotaxime (3 of 50; P less than 0.05), and moxalactam patients incurred the highest average increase in prothrombin time (3.7 s) as compared with either ceftizoxime (0.5 s; P less than 0.05) or cefotaxime (0.9 s; P less than 0.05) patients. The occurrence of hypoprothrombinemia in moxalactam patients with peritonitis was not related to dosage, duration of therapy, age, sex, race, or renal or hepatic function. The degree of ileus was, however, strongly related to the development of coagulopathy in moxalactam-treated patients only.
Better Off Out? The Costs and Benefits of Sub-Saharan Africa's Membership of the World Trade Organization

ABSTRACT Originally conceived as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1948, the World Trade Organization (WTO) needs no introduction. It is a full-fledged custodian of the multilateral trading system since January 1, 1995, which succeeded GATT with a view to extending the mandate to an organization that was in need of reform. With the accession of China and nine other members from 1999–2001, the WTO now covers 97% of the world's population, having added another 1.5 billion people to its fold. This increase in membership in recent years has been entirely made up of developing countries and countries in transition-defined by the WTO to include the former Soviet Union, eastern and central Europe, the Baltic States, and the Balkans. This paper reviews three central pillars of the WTO's structure and rules-all important areas relevant to the question of how developing countries can derive greater benefits from participation in the multilateral trading system. First, the nature of WTO rules; second, the reach of these rules; and third, the conditions of market access, that collectively determine the quality and utility of the WTO for its members. Not surprisingly, each of these three elements features prominently in the Doha Development Agenda. I choose to use this three-pronged approach to outline the arguments for and against sub-Saharan Africa's (SSA) membership of the WTO by assessing the real or perceived costs and benefits of membership. Overall, the paper suggests that SSA states are perhaps better off out at least for the simple reason of the unfair and/or “rigged” rules that govern such trade under the WTO framework. Considering the slow pace of reform at the WTO and the continued stalling of WTO summits from Seattle, through Cancun to the ever-evolving Doha Rounds of negotiations, a further suggestion leads to a rejection of the idea that a departure from the WTO would have horrific consequences, tantamount to economic suicide for SSA. On a cautionary note, however, the author recognizes that in practice, it is difficult to tell whether SSA would be better or worse leaving the WTO, but the contention suggests that other alternatives–such as a reinvigorated south-south co-operation and SSA regional trading arrangements would most certainly benefit SSA.
The Relationship Between the Exchange Rate and Inflation in Russia

The article estimates the short- and medium-run exchange rate pass-through effect on consumer prices on the aggregate level and for individual groups of goods and services for the period from 2000 to 2008. It shows that the improvement of certain macroeconomic indicators in recent years in Russia has not led to a reduction in the pass-through effect on inflation as in other countries. The pass-through effect has a pronounced asymmetrical character, that is, consumer prices are more likely to respond to the depreciation of the domestic currency, rather than to its appreciation.
Molecular genetics of human polymorphic N-acetyltransferase: enzymatic analysis of 15 recombinant wild-type, mutant, and chimeric NAT2 allozymes.

Human polymorphic N-acetyltransferase (NAT2) catalyzes the N-acetylation of arylamine drugs and carcinogens. Human acetylator phenotype is regulated at the NAT2 locus and has been associated with differential risk to certain drug toxicities or cancer. We examined arylamine substrate and acetyl coenzyme A cofactor affinities, and the N-acetyltransferase catalytic activities of the wild-type and 14 different mutant or chimeric human NAT2 alleles expressed in an Escherichia coli JM105 expression system. NAT2 alleles contained nucleic acid substitutions at positions 191(G-->A; Arg64-->Gln), 282(C-->T; silent), 341(T-->C; Ile114-->Thr), 481(C-->T; silent), 590(G-->A; Arg197-->Gln), 803(A-->G; Lys268-->Arg), 857(G-->A; Gly286-->Glu) and various combinations (282/590; 282/803; 282/857; 341/481; 341/803; 341/481/803; 481/803) of the 870 base pair NAT2 coding region. Expression of all 15 NAT2 alleles produced immunoreactive NAT2 protein with N-acetylation activity. NAT2 proteins encoded by alleles with nucleic acid substitutions at positions 191, 341, 590, 282/590, 341/481, 341/803, and 341/481/803 exhibited arylamine N-acetyltransferase maximum velocities significantly (P < 0.001) lower than the wildtype NAT2. Thus, nucleic acid substitutions at positions 191, 341, and 590 either alone or in combination with other silent or conservative amino acid substitutions were sufficient to result in NAT2 proteins with significant reductions in N-acetylation activities. The recombinant NAT2 proteins also showed relative differences in intrinsic stability following incubation at 37 degrees C and 50 degrees C. NAT2 encoded by alleles with nucleotide substitutions at positions 191 and 857 were particularly unstable relative to the wild type. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Pseudohypoxic Pathways in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Mutations of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) or fumarate hydratase (FH) genes lead to morphologically different renal cell carcinomas with distinct clinical courses and outcomes. The VHL protein is a part of an ubiquitin ligase complex that targets proteins for proteosomal degradation. FH is one of the mitochondrial enzymes of the Kreb's cycle. Despite two different functionalities and cellular locations, loss of either VHL or FH products has been shown to alter expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF-1α and HIF-2α) and their downstream targets. HIF proteins are key regulators of oxygen homeostasis. Tight regulation of HIF allows for cell survival and growth at the time of hypoxic stress. HIF acts via transcriptional regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet derived growth factor, endothelial growth factor receptor, glucose transporter protein 1, erythropoietin, and transforming growth factor-α. Loss of VHL or FH is thought to result in a pseudohypoxic state so that cellular response pathways mediated by HIF are activated despite normal oxygen conditions. Understanding of these pseudohypoxic pathways has provided a better appreciation of the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis in addition to providing a rationale for targeted therapeutic approaches.
Sustainable development from below: institutionalising a global idea-complex

This article makes a comparative analysis on how the global idea-complex of sustainable development is interpreted and institutionalised on the local level. Local institutionalisation is analysed from the theoretical framework of new institutionalism's theme of policy diffusion and adaptation. From a most different case-study design, the article analyses four Swedish local governments in the region of Örebro: Hällefors, Karlskoga, Lekeberg and Örebro. The results show that the four local governments adapt to sustainable development in quite different ways, from local translation processes (Hällefors and Örebro) to resistance and ignorance (Karlskoga and Lekeberg). This variation is interpreted in relation to the importance of local contexts. There is no intra-regional spreading of ideas leading to convergence among the cases. However, not only the local context matters, but also policy areas and development projects constitute contexts, indicating the importance of intra-local differences.
Are Emerging Markets More Profitable? Implications for Comparing Weak and Semi-Strong Form Efficiency

Using data from 56 markets, we find that short-term reversal, post-earnings drift, and momentum strategies earn similar profits in emerging and developed markets. Portfolio-level variance ratios and market delay measures show greater deviations from efficiency in developed markets and firm-level variance ratios are similar across emerging and developed markets. Conceptually, we show that efficiency tests can yield misleading inferences because they do not control for the information environment. Our evidence corrects misperceptions that emerging markets feature larger trading profits and higher return autocorrelation, highlights crucial limitations of weak and semi-strong form efficiency measures, and points to the importance of measuring informational aspects of efficiency.
Reputation, Risk-Taking and Macroprudential Policy

This paper examines the role of macroprudential capital requirements in preventing inefficient credit booms in a model with reputational externalities. Unprofitable banks have strong incentives to invest in risky assets and generate inefficient credit booms when macroeconomic fundamentals are good in order to signal high ability. We show that across-the-system countercyclical capital requirements that deter credit booms are constrained optimal when fundamentals are within an intermediate range. We also show that when fundamentals are deteriorating, a public announcement of that fact can itself play a powerful role in preventing inefficient credit booms, providing an additional channel through which macroprudential policies can improve outcomes.
When Do the Rich Vote Less than the Poor and Why? Explaining Turnout Inequality Across the World

The conventional wisdom that the poor are less likely to vote than the rich is based upon research on voting behavior in advanced industrialized countries. However, in some places the relationship between turnout and socioeconomic status is reversed. We argue that the potential tax exposure of the rich explains the positive relationship between income and voting in some places and not others. Where the rich anticipate taxation, they have a greater incentive to participate in politics and politicians are more likely to use fiscal policy to gain support. We explore two factors affecting the tax exposure of the rich – the political salience of redistribution in party politics and the state’s extractive capacity. Using survey data from developed and developing countries, we demonstrate that the rich turn out to vote at higher rates when the political preferences of the rich and poor diverge and where bureaucratic capacity is high.
Phenomenon-Based Learning in Agroecology: A Prerequisite for Transdisciplinarity and Responsible Action

Phenomenon-based learning in agroecology provides a rationale and platform for bridging academia and society. Learning based on reflective experiences on farms and in communities has provided the foundation and the core of an agroecology course in Norway since 2000. Student teams work with university teachers and stakeholders in ‘open-ended cases’ to identify key constraints and future possibilities. This learning strategy uses real-world situations on the farm and in the community where solutions are not already known to instructor or clients. Employing natural science and social science methods, the teams examine and evaluate production, economic, environmental, and social dimensions, as integrated into whole systems. The students then design and evaluate future scenarios and work out plans of action. The result has been a strong foundation for responsible action in students' future endeavors in education and development.
The ecology and behavior of the lone star tick (Acarina: Ixodidae). IV. The daily and seasonal activity patterns of adults in different habitat types.

Studies on caged, known-aged, l-year-old and unknown-aged, field-collected adult lone star ticks were conducted during the spring and summer of 1971 to observe their daily and seasonal activity in 4 different habitat types. The number of active ticks was lowest in the meadow habitat and highest in the bottomwoods. Seasonal activity began in February when adults exhibited host-seeking behavior on the ground. Ticks began ascending vegetation and cages in mid-to-late April and a peak in percentage of ascended ticks was reached in late May and early June. The percentage ascended remained constant until early July when ticks began descending in association with lower humidities and higher temperatures. After reaching a low in mid-July, a second ascent of the population was observed in late July, corresponding to increasing humidities and lowering temperatures. Climatic factors seemed to influence vertical migration. The daily behavior of adults varied from one time of the year to another. During the late winter and early spring, ticks were in close association with the leaf litter and soil. During May the percentage of ticks ascending seemed to increase from morning to evening. During June the percentage at higher levels remained constant throughout the day, while during July there was an upward movement of ticks from mid-afternoon until evening and a downward movement between early morning and mid-morning.
EXPLAINING ASYMMETRY IN THE U.S. MERCHANDISE AND SERVICE ACCOUNT BALANCE: Does the Service Sector Hold the Key to the U.S. Current Account Woes?

The U.S. economy has experienced two noteworthy structural changes in recent years. Externally, there has been a growing deficit in the merchandise account along with a simultaneously rising service account surplus. And domestically, the GDP share of the service sectors has been growing at a faster rate relative to the goods sectors. The objective of this article is to test the proposition that much of the asymmetry in the relative performance of the merchandise and the service accounts can be explained (1) in terms of income and price elasticity differentials and (2) in terms of relative growth of the service sectors. Results from estimated import and export demand functions for merchandise and service trades and from sectoral analysis of the U.S. economy seem to support the above proposition. The main policy implications are that: (1) domestically, the United States should facilitate current sectoral transformation by eliminating market distortions and rigidities and (2) externally, it should expand on the initiatives taken during the Uruguay Round and drive the WTO toward a full liberalization of trade in services.
A RACE TO THE BOTTOM? EXPLORING VARIATIONS IN EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS IN THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR

This paper presents findings of a study examining state-voluntary sector inter-organizational relationships, and the capacity of third-sector organizations to exercise autonomy over employment matters in this relationship. The aim is to provide insights into an under-researched area of the inter-organizational literature, especially in relation to its employment implications. In doing so, it reveals how, as with broader studies of inter-organizational relations, state-voluntary sector relations are not homogenous and therefore lead to differing implications for employment. In particular, three Types of voluntary organization emerge, employing, with varying degrees of success, various strategies to protect the terms and conditions of their employees in the face of cost-cutting pressures from funding bodies. As industrialized countries increasingly turn to the third sector for the provision of social services, it argues that even for the strongest of these organizations, there are long-term risks for staff morale and therefore quality of care provided by the sector if organizations fail to manage these external pressures from funders.
Is bad news always bad? The impact of Floyd Landis's rise and fall on Phonak

In the space of one week, cyclist Floyd Landis went from hero to villain when his remarkable comeback to win the 2006 Tour de France was nullified by a positive drug test. I use event study techniques to analyse the impact of Landis's rise and fall on the profitability of Phonak, his team's sponsor. I find that neither his spectacular win nor his rapid fall had an immediate impact on Phonak but that there was a significant cumulative abnormal return to Phonak stock in the wake of these events. I conclude that Phonak benefited from both the good and bad news about Landis.