Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative proteomics reveals key proteins recruited at the nucleoid of Deinococcus after irradiation‐induced DNA damage

The nucleoids of radiation‐resistant Deinococcus species show a high degree of compaction maintained after ionizing irradiation. We identified proteins recruited after irradiation in nucleoids of Deinococcus radiodurans and Deinococcus deserti by means of comparative proteomics. Proteins in nucleoid‐enriched fractions from unirradiated and irradiated Deinococcus were identified and semiquantified by shotgun proteomics. The ssDNA‐binding protein SSB, DNA gyrase subunits GyrA and GyrB, DNA topoisomerase I, RecA recombinase, UvrA excinuclease, RecQ helicase, DdrA, DdrB, and DdrD proteins were found in significantly higher amounts in irradiated nucleoids of both Deinococcus species. We observed, by immunofluorescence microscopy, the subcellular localization of these proteins in D. radiodurans, showing for the first time the recruitment of the DdrD protein into the D. radiodurans nucleoid. We specifically followed the kinetics of recruitment of RecA, DdrA, and DdrD to the nucleoid after irradiation. Remarkably, RecA proteins formed irregular filament‐like structures 1 h after irradiation, before being redistributed throughout the cells by 3 h post‐irradiation. Comparable dynamics of DdrD localization were observed, suggesting a possible functional interaction between RecA and DdrD. Several proteins involved in nucleotide synthesis were also seen in higher quantities in the nucleoids of irradiated cells, indicative of the existence of a mechanism for orchestrating the presence of proteins involved in DNA metabolism in nucleoids in response to massive DNA damage. All MS data have been deposited in the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD00196 (http://proteomecentral.proteomexchange.org/dataset/PXD000196).
Transfer of Human CD 4 1 T Lymphocytes Producing Beta Interferon in Hu-PBL-SCID Mice Controls Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Beta interferon (IFN-b) exerts pleiotropic antiretroviral activities and affects many different stages of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infectious cycle in IFN-treated cells. To explore whether transfer of genetically engineered human CD4 T cells producing constitutively low amounts of IFN-b can eradicate HIV in vivo, we developed a new Hu-PBL-SCID mouse model supporting a persistent, replicative HIV infection maintained by periodic reinoculations of activated human CD4 T cells. Transferring human CD4 T cells containing the IFN-b retroviral vector drastically reduced the preexisting HIV infection and enhanced CD4 T-cell survival and Th1 cytokine expression. Furthermore, in 40% of the Hu-PBL-SCID mice engrafted with IFN-b-transduced CD4 T cells, HIV-1 was undetectable in vivo as well as after cocultivation of mouse tissues with human phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphoblasts. These results indicate that a therapeutic strategy based upon IFN-b transduction of CD4 T cells may be an approach to controlling a preexisting HIV infection and allowing immune restoration.
A test of the relationship between person–environment fit and cross-cultural adjustment among self-initiated expatriates

Understanding an expatriate's cross-cultural adjustment to the various aspects of their host environment and organization has been a focal point of research for several decades. Person–environment (PE) fit refers to the degree of fit an individual has with various dimensions of their host environment, and past research suggests that successful PE fit positively influences adjustment. However, the strength of these relationships remains under-researched. Drawing upon data gathered from 369 self-initiated expatriate doctors working in Ireland, we examine the strength of the relationship between PE fit and cross-cultural adjustment. Our results suggest that dimensions of PE fit influence cross-cultural adjustment to varying degrees. Thus, person–job needs-supplies fit was the only fit dimension to influence interaction adjustment, while person–job demands abilities influenced both work adjustment and, to a lesser extent, interaction adjustment. Person–organization fit influenced work adjustment, while person–supervisor fit had no relationship with adjustment. These findings have implications for organizations when recruiting and supporting self-initiated expatriates.
Natural Allelic Variants of Bovine ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter ABCG2: Increased Activity of the Ser581 Variant and Development of Tools for the Discovery of New ABCG2 Inhibitors

ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCG2 [breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP)] is a member of the ABC transporter superfamily that actively extrudes xenotoxins from cells and is a major determinant of the bioavailability of many compounds. ABCG2 expression is strongly induced during lactation in the mammary gland and is related to the active secretion of drugs into the milk. The presence of drug residues and environmental pollutants in milk is an outstanding problem for human milk consumption and milk industrial processes, involving important risks to public health and the dairy industry. In cows, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in this protein has been described previously (Tyr581) and is associated with higher fat and protein percentages and lower milk yield. However, whether this amino acid substitution affects ABCG2-mediated drug transport in cows, including milk secretion, required further exploration. We cloned the two variants of bovine ABCG2 and evaluated the effect of this SNP on mitoxantrone accumulation assays performed in ovine primary fibroblasts transiently expressing either of the variants. It is interesting to note that statistically significant differences in activity between both variants were observed, and the Ser581 variant was related with an increased efflux activity. In addition, we demonstrated that genistein is a very good inhibitor of bovine ABCG2 and identified new inhibitors of the transporter, such as the macrocyclic lactones, ivermectin, and selamectin. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of these compounds on human and murine ABCG2 homologs was confirmed using transduced Marbin-Dabin canine kidney II cells. These findings may have important implications regarding the presence of drug residues in milk and drug interactions affecting the pharmacological behavior of ABCG2 substrates.
Encouraging Appropriate Infant Feeding Practices in Slums: A Positive Deviance Approach

Nutritional Positive Deviant (PD) infants grow 'bigger' and 'faster' than other infants living in a similarly socio-economically deprived environment. Certain positive feeding and care giving practices adopted by mothers of PD infants enable them rear better nourished and active infants. Limited data is available on using PD mothers as counselors encouraging appropriate and feasible infant feeding practices (IFP) in India. Hence, the present study was undertaken. The study was conducted in a slum of Delhi (India). Twenty-Five infants aged 6-12 months were weighed. Three infants with normal weight for age status (as per Gomez classification) were classified as PD infants. A PD inquiry (PDI) was conducted on current IFP in these families to identify PD behaviours adopted and determinants for the same. PD behaviours identified included: feeding modified family pot (energy dense) complementary food at least two times a day , supervised bowl feeding by the mother and father support to the mother in infant feeding and care giving. Two, of these three PD mothers volunteered to discuss the benefits of PD behaviours they had been practicing with the other 22 members of the group. The strategy promoted collective dialogue and discussion to try the PD behaviours through weekly group discussions over a period of four weeks. After four weeks, feeding modified family pot food with addition of 1 teaspoon of ghee (milk fat) in food (10/22), feeding an extra mid-day cereal snack (12/22) were PD behaviours adopted by other members of the group (22). It can be concluded that i) behaviours requiring least preparation time were easily adopted and ii) PD mothers can be effective counselors to encourage appropriate IFP.
Does accounting history matter?

Building upon panel discussion held at the sixth Accounting History International Conference, a resounding “yes” is offered in response to the question of whether accounting history matters. However, reflecting the viewpoint that accounting history can and should matter more, various suggestions are presented for advancing the quality, relevance and significance of historical research in accounting, commencing with the need to redress persistent misconceptions about the discipline. Practical strategies for enhancing the impact of accounting history scholarship are then developed around the themes of promoting its contemporary relevance and implications, fostering engagement with diverse groups of scholars, writing accounting history in informative and engaging ways, and articulating and developing appropriate methodologies. Finally, the role of accounting historians as “change agents” is explored and advocated.
Corporate governance and measuring performance

Discusses corporate governance, which is increasingly being seen as the hallmark of a well run company, and how this should be demonstrated. Questions how governance should be measured and communicated. Concludes that performance measures need to be supplemented by contextual information on the business and its situation, and that measures should be unique to the organization and its competitive strategy.
Building the Minimum Wage: Germany's First Sectoral Minimum Wage and its Impact on Wages in the Construction Industry

The very first minimum wage in Germany was introduced in 1997 for blue-collar workers in sub-sectors of the construction industry. In the setting of a natural experiment blue-collar workers in neighboring 4-digit-industries and white-collar workers are used as control groups for differences-in-differences-in-differences estimation based on linked employer-employee data. Estimation results reveal a sizable positive average impact on wages in East Germany and no effect in West Germany. Size and significance of effects are not homogeneous across wage regimes (individual vs. collective contracts) and across the distribution suggesting spillover effects to wages where the minimum is not binding.
The Use of Target Prices to Justify Sell-Side Analysts' Stock Recommendations

This study examines a sample of 103 sell‐side analysts' reports to document the frequency with which analysts disclose target prices as justifications for their stock recommendations. In addition, I investigate whether the degree of assessed overpricing or underpricing implied by target prices is related to the favorableness of stock recommendations. I find that analysts use target price justifications in over two‐thirds of the sample reports, and higher target prices are associated with more favorable stock recommendations. The most favorable recommendations (and target prices) are more likely to be justified by price‐earnings ratios and expected growth while the least favorable recommendations are more likely to be justified with other qualitative statements. Further evidence suggests that analysts actually compute target prices using price‐multiple heuristics such as “PEG. ” However, in reports that do not disclose target prices, estimates of target prices based on these heuristics are unable to justify.
Neural Networks for Cross-Sectional Employment Forecasts: A Comparison of Model Specifications for Germany

In this paper, we present a review of various computational experiments – and consequent results – concerning Neural Network (NN) models developed for regional employment forecasting. NNs are widely used in several fields because of their flexible specification structure. Their utilization in studying/predicting economic variables, such as employment or migration, is justified by the ability of NNs of learning from data, in other words, of finding functional relationships – by means of data – among the economic variables under analysis. A series of NN experiments is presented in the paper. Using two data sets on German NUTS 3 districts (326 and 113 labour market districts in the former West and East Germany, respectively), the results emerging from the implementation of various NN models – in order to forecast variations in full-time employment – are provided and discussed In our approach, single forecasts are computed by the models for each district. Different specifications of the NN models are first tested in terms of: (a) explanatory variables; and (b) NN structures. The average statistical results of simulated out-of-sample forecasts on different periods are summarized and commented on. In addition to variable and structure specification, the choice of NN learning parameters and internal functions is also critical to the success of NNs. Comprehensive testing of these parameters is, however, limited in the literature. A sensitivity analysis is therefore carried out and discussed, in order to evaluate different combinations of NN parameters. The paper concludes with methodological and empirical remarks, as well as with suggestions for future research.
Factors Influencing Farmers' Adoption of Kalima Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Variety in Malawi

ABSTRACT Adoption of appropriate agricultural technologies is a necessary requirement for sustainable agricultural development. This study was conducted to investigate the adoption of Kalima, a new introduced dry bean variety (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), by smallholder farmers in target rural areas in Malawi and to identify the factors that most strongly influenced farmers' willingness to adopt the variety. The main findings of this study were that Kalima was only grown by farmers who had received seed through seed multiplication groups and was not grown by farmers outside of those groups due to unavailability of seed. Farmers' gender, literacy level, and level of education influenced their willingness to adopt Kalima, as did farmers' perceptions of specific bean characteristics such as yield, pest tolerance, pest susceptibility, bean color and cooking time. For adoption to be sustainable, information about a technology should be judicious in order for farmers to form appropriate perceptions. To increase rates of adoption, the information should be delivered in a method suitable for farmers with a low literacy level.
Different transcriptional levels of GABAA receptor subunits in mouse cumulus cells around oocytes at different mature stage

Abstract γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) of vertebrates. However, GABA and its receptor are found not only in peripheral neuronal tissue but also in many peripheral nonneuronal tissues, and thought to have multiple physiological functions. The bidirectional communication between oocytes and cumulus cells (CCs) plays a significant role in oocyte maturation and metabolism. In our previously study, the expression level of α5 subunit in CCs isolated from oocytes of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome had been found to be associated with oocyte nuclear maturity. In this study, we investigated the transcriptional levels of GABAA receptor subunits in germinal vesicle (GV) and metaphase II (MII) mouse CCs, and explored the role of GABA-A receptor subunits during ovarian follicular development and oocyte maturation. We found that GABAA receptor subunits exhibited differential transcriptional levels in CCs at different oocyte nuclear maturity stages. It suggested an involvement of GABA-A receptor subunits related to oocyte maturation and certain functions.
Europeanisation, Public Goals and Group Interests: Convergence Policy in Greece, 1990-2003

After prolonged stagnation in the 1980s and early 1990, Greece during the past decade or so has experienced a change from its post-war statist economic policy paradigm towards a liberal model. Focusing on political and political-economic aspects, this article gives an account of the reform of state interventionism in the 1990s. Different hypotheses are consistent with explaining distinct aspects of this policy change. The general interest and Europeanisation hypotheses are mainly borne out by macroeconomic stabilisation measures, but they cannot explain failure or delay in structural adjustment. The latter are better understood on the basis of public choice institutionalism and approaches emphasising uncertainty.
FROM CENTRAL PLACE TO NETWORK MODEL: THEORY AND EVIDENCE OF A PARADIGM CHANGE

While the deficiencies of the central place model have often been highlighted, no other paradigm has replaced it. However, recently some researchers have hinted at the development of a new model of spatial organisation, a network model. This model would hold most in polycentric urban regions. This paper discusses the features of this network model in comparison with the central place model. Moreover, it explores whether this model describes spatial reality better, thereby focusing on complementarity, a main feature of the model. The relationships within multi-location hospitals and universities of professional education (hogescholen), which spread their offer of care and study programmes over multiple, close-by cities, are analysed for this reason. Within the hospital care sector there is a clear trend towards complementarity, in line with the network model. The hogescholen sector provides a more ambiguous picture. The network model, however, still seems more appropriate than the central place model. Copyright (c) 2007 by the Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG.
Heat Stability and Allosteric Properties of the Maize Endosperm ADP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase Are Intimately Intertwined1[OA]

ADP-glucose (Glc) pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), a key regulatory enzyme in starch biosynthesis, is highly regulated. Transgenic approaches in four plant species showed that alterations in either thermal stability or allosteric modulation increase starch synthesis. Here, we show that the classic regulators 3-phosphoglyceric acid (3-PGA) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) stabilize maize (Zea mays) endosperm AGPase to thermal inactivation. In addition, we show that glycerol phosphate and ribose-5-P increase the catalytic activity of maize AGPase to the same extent as the activator 3-PGA, albeit with higher Ka (activation constant) values. Activation by fructose-6-P and Glc-6-P is comparable to that of 3-PGA. The reactants ATP and ADP-Glc, but not Glc-1-P and pyrophosphate, protect AGPase from thermal inactivation, a result consistent with the ordered kinetic mechanism reported for other AGPases. 3-PGA acts synergistically with both ATP and ADP-Glc in heat protection, decreasing the substrate concentration needed for protection and increasing the extent of protection. Characterization of a series of activators and inhibitors suggests that they all bind at the same site or at mutually exclusive sites. Pi, the classic “inhibitor” of AGPase, binds to the enzyme in the absence of other metabolites, as determined by thermal protections experiments, but does not inhibit activity. Rather, Pi acts by displacing bound activators and returning the enzyme to its activity in their absence. Finally, we show from thermal inactivation studies that the enzyme exists in two forms that have significantly different stabilities and do not interconvert rapidly.
Red kidney bean poisoning in the UK: an analysis of 50 suspected incidents between 1976 and 1989

SUMMARY Between July 1976 and February 1989, 50 incidents of suspected red kidney bean poisoning were reported in the UK. Nine incidents in which nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea developed within 1–7 h of ingestion, were confirmed by the detection of haemagglutinin in the beans. The diagnosis was made on a further 23 incidents on the basis of symptoms, incubation time and the description of preparation of beans prior to consumption. The haemagglutinin (lectin), which occurs naturally in the red kidney bean, is inactivated by thorough cooking of well soaked beans. In many of the outbreaks reported the implicated beans were consumed raw or following an inadequate heat process.
Environmental Issues in the Media – Studentsí Perceptions in the Three Nordic-Baltic Countries

Abstract The media, as a source of information, is supposed to have a significant role in effecting peopleís environmental knowledge and attitudes. The purpose of this study was to find studentsí perceptions of environmental issues as presented in the media and how students in Finland, Lithuania and Sweden used these media sources in the matters related to environmental issues. The most important source of environmental knowledge was found to be the Internet, followed by newspapers, television, school and education. In their own lives, students discussed environmental issues every day and, to some extent, in social media, discussion forums and blogs. In Finland, newspapers represented the most important source of environmental knowledge; in Lithuania, environmental organisations were the most prevalent, and, in Sweden, it was in a school or educational context. Based on these results, it was concluded that, in order to reach both genders of students in different countries and to more greatly benefit from all sources of information, a variety of media should be used in education for sustainability.
Macrophage Activation Is Responsible for Loss of Anticontractile Function in Inflamed Perivascular Fat

Objective—The aim of this study was to determine whether macrophages dispersed throughout perivascular fat are crucial to the loss of anticontractile function when healthy adipose tissue becomes inflamed and to gain an understanding of the mechanisms involved. Methods and Results—Pharmacological studies on in vitro small arterial segments from a mouse model of inducible macrophage ablation and on wild-type animals were carried out with and without perivascular fat using 2 physiological stimuli of inflammation: aldosterone and hypoxia. Both inflammatory insults caused a similar loss of anticontractile capacity of perivascular fat and increased macrophage activation. Aldosterone receptor antagonism and free radical scavengers were able to restore this capacity and reduce macrophage activation. However, in a mouse deficient of macrophages CD11b-diptheria toxin receptor (CD11b-DTR), there was no increase in contractility of arteries following aldosterone incubation or hypoxia. Conclusion—The presence and activation of macrophages in adipose tissue is the key modulator of the increase in contractility in arteries with perivascular fat following induction of inflammation. Despite multiple factors that may be involved in bringing about the vascular consequences of obesity, the ability of eplerenone to ameliorate the inflammatory effects of both aldosterone and hypoxia may be of potential therapeutic interest.
Work experiences, work adjustment and psychological well-being of expatriate employees in Hong Kong

This study replicated and extended research on expatriate work adjustment by examining the antecedents of work adjustment and its outcomes in terms of psychological well-being. Data were obtained from a nationally heterogeneous sample (N = 184) of expatriate employees in Hong Kong using a structured questionnaire. Results of regression analysis revealed role conflict to be significantly negatively related to work adjustment, while role discretion, co-worker support and work-method ambiguity (clarity) were significantly positively related to work adjustment. Of the three hypothesized outcomes, work adjustment was significantly positively related only to job satisfaction but not to quality of life and marital adjustment. Though not the focus of this study, interaction adjustment was found to be significantly positively related to quality of life. Limitations of the study and implications of the findings are discussed.