Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Primosomal Protein DnaD Inhibits Cooperative DNA Binding by the Replication Initiator DnaA in Bacillus subtilis

ABSTRACT DnaA is an AAA+ ATPase and the conserved replication initiator in bacteria. Bacteria control the timing of replication initiation by regulating the activity of DnaA. DnaA binds to multiple sites in the origin of replication (oriC) and is required for recruitment of proteins needed to load the replicative helicase. DnaA also binds to other chromosomal regions and functions as a transcription factor at some of these sites. Bacillus subtilis DnaD is needed during replication initiation for assembly of the replicative helicase at oriC and during replication restart at stalled replication forks. DnaD associates with DnaA at oriC and at other chromosomal regions bound by DnaA. Using purified proteins, we found that DnaD inhibited the ability of DnaA to bind cooperatively to DNA and caused a decrease in the apparent dissociation constant. These effects of DnaD were independent of the ability of DnaA to bind or hydrolyze ATP. Other proteins known to regulate B. subtilis DnaA also affect DNA binding, whereas much of the regulation of Escherichia coli DnaA affects nucleotide hydrolysis or exchange. We found that the rate of nucleotide exchange for B. subtilis DnaA was high and not affected by DnaD. The rapid exchange is similar to that of Staphylococcus aureus DnaA and in contrast to the low exchange rate of Escherichia coli DnaA. We suggest that organisms in which DnaA has a high rate of nucleotide exchange predominantly regulate the DNA binding activity of DnaA and that those with low rates of exchange regulate hydrolysis and exchange.
The protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid increases axonal neurofilaments and neurite caliber, and decreases axonal microtubules in NB2a/d1 Cells

When cells were treated with dbcAMP for 3 days to induce the outgrowth of axonal neurites, the addition of the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid (0A; 5 nM) for the last 24 hr markedly increased neurofilament subunit immunoreactivity including phosphate‐dependent NF‐H epitopes in axonal neurites, increased axonal neurite caliber by approximately 30 %, but did not increase neurite contour length. Ultrastructural analysis demonstrated a >2‐fold increase in neurofilaments and indicated that neurofilaments were phosphorylated to a similar extent in the presence and absence of OA. Vimentin immunoreactivity, which undergoes down‐regulation during dbcAMP‐mediated differentiation, was not increased by OA. OA did not induce the precocious appearance of delayed phosphate‐dependent neurofilament epitopes suggesting that it did not induce the activation of additional neurofilament kinases. NF‐H subunits from cytoskeletons of OA‐treated cells were less susceptible to degradation by an endogenous calcium‐dependent protease, providing a possible mechanism for neuro filament accumulation during OA treatment. By contrast, OA decreased axonal neurite microtubules, and eliminated stabilized (acetylated) axonal microtubules. OA treatment at earlier times prevented and reversed neurite outgrowth. Despite increased deposition of phosphorylated neurofilaments, OA did not hasten the development of colchicine resistance to neurites, suggesting that stabilization of the axonal cytoskeletal lattice requires neurofilament‐microtubule interaction. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Workshop on Formal Methods for Industrial Critical Systems ( FMICS ’ 02 ) University of Málaga , Spain July 12-13 , 2002

ion for Software Model-Checking.1 Andreas Podelski (Max-Planck Institut für Informatik, Germany) SESSION 1 ABSTRACTION AND MODEL-CHECKING Predicate Abstraction and Refinement for Model Checking VHDL State Machines. 3 M. Bourahla, M. Benmohamed A Tool for Abstraction in Model Checking.19 M. del Mar Gallardo, J. Martinez, P. Merino, E. Pimentel
The Strange Case of the Disappearing Sex Bias

ABSTRACT Bradley (1984) suggested that second markers of student projects, who have less expertise, exhibit a pattern of marking bias whereby female students are marked less extremely than males. Newstead & Dennis (1990) failed to reproduce the pattern of results which prompted this conclusion. Bradley (1993b) suggests that either (i) the second markers in Newstead and Dennis's study may have shown a one‐way bias where females are consistently marked down or (ii) the two‐way bias proposed by Bradley (1984) may not have been detected because it was present in supervisors as well as second markers. These two suggestions were evaluated through further analysis of the original data and consideration of other data sets. Neither is well supported. The proposal that supervisors display biases towards individual students which are stronger for females but which were less marked in the former polytechnics with their heavier teaching loads remains a viable explanation of the data of both Bradley (1984) and Newstead.
A comparative study of different instructional programs and their effects on student affect, cognition, and personality.

In view of the importance of comprehensive evaluations of school programs, this investigation, was designed to accomplish two goals. One was to compare the effects of five instructional programs which differed on some very basic dimensions. The second objective was to determine whether the instructional programs interacted with student aptitudes to produce higher performance on selected criteria This phase of the study is widely known as apt itudetreatment interaction research. The total sample consisted of 1366 students in five instructional programs and the sixth, seventh and eighth grades. All schools were located in fairly affluent communities and were well supported. Comparability among students was confirmed by comparing group means' on the Lorge-Throndike Intelligence Test, the Otis-Lennon Mental Ability Test and the STEA, a short intelligence scale included in the SRA achievement battery. The failure to carefully define instructional programs under study, has led to considerable confusion in the literature over the importance as well as the possible implications of research studies. The problem is that treatments are too often vaguely discussed in very global terms. The differences between the programs in this study were highlighted by positioning each instructional treatment on the "Ten Dimensions of Schooling. " The major
Aegle marmelos Mediated Green Synthesis of Different Nanostructured Metal Hexacyanoferrates: Activity against Photodegradation of Harmful Organic Dyes

Prussian blue analogue potassium metal hexacyanoferrate (KMHCF) nanoparticles Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 (FeHCF), K2Cu3[Fe(CN)6]2 (KCuHCF), K2Ni[Fe(CN)6]·3H2O (KNiHCF), and K2Co[Fe(CN)6] (KCoHCF) have been synthesized using plant based biosurfactant Aegle marmelos (Bael) and water as a green solvent. It must be emphasized here that no harmful reagent or solvent was used throughout the study. Plant extracts are easily biodegradable and therefore do not cause any harm to the environment. Hence, the proposed method of synthesis of various KMHCF nanoparticles followed a green path. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). MHCF nanoparticles were used for the photocatalytic degradation of toxic dyes like Malachite Green (MG), Eriochrome Black T (EBT), Methyl Orange (MO), and Methylene Blue (MB). Under optimized reaction conditions, maximum photocatalytic degradation was achieved in case of KCuHCF nanoparticles mediated degradation process (MG: 96.06%, EBT: 83.03%, MB: 94.72%, and MO: 63.71%) followed by KNiHCF (MG: 95%, EBT: 80.32%, MB: 91.35%, and MO: 59.42%), KCoHCF (MG: 91.45%, EBT: 78.84%, MB: 89.28%, and MO: 58.20%).
Sources of capabilities, integration and technology commercialization

In recent years, companies have increased their use of internal and external sources in pursuit of a competitive advantage through the effective and timely commercialization of new technology. Grounded in the resource-based view of the firm, this study examines the effect of a company's use of internal and external sources on multiple dimensions of successful technology commercialization (TC). The study also explores the moderating role of formal vs. informal integration mechanisms on these relationships. Applying a longitudinal design and data from 119 companies, the results show that internal human and technology-based manufacturing sources are positively associated with successful TC. Formal and informal integration mechanisms also significantly moderate the relationships observed between capability sources and TC. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Efficacy of Steroid Injection in the Treatment of Trigger Finger

Background Trigger finger is one of the most common reasons for referral to a hand specialist clinic. The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of steroid injections for treating trigger digits. Methods Ninety digits were investigated with at least a year follow up. The study mainly focused on the efficacy of the injections, as well as co-morbidities, presence of a nodule, actual digit injected and the severity at presentation using Green's classification. Results The study found that 66% of trigger digits were effectively treated using steroid injections. There was a difference between the efficacy of the injection in the different digits, with a statistical significance between the thumb and the fingers. The results also showed that there was no statistical relationship between the severity of the condition, the presence of a nodule or co-morbidities and the efficacy of the steroid injections. Conclusions The study found that steroid injections are an effective first-line intervention for the treatment of trigger digit. It also found an increased efficacy for treating the thumb compared to other digits. Both the severity of the condition at presentation and the presence of a nodule had no significant impact on the efficacy of the injections.
Influence of boundary reflection and refraction on diffusive photon transport.

We report computer simulations which test the accuracy of the diffusion theories used in the analysis of multiple light scattering data. Explicitly including scattering anisotropy and boundary reflections, we find that the predicted probability for transmission through a slab is accurate to 1% if the slab thickness is greater than about 5 transport mean free paths. For strictly isotropic scattering and no boundary reflections, the exact diffusion theory prediction is accurate to this level for all thicknesses. In addition, we predict how the angular distribution of transmitted photons is affected by boundary reflectivity, both with and without refraction. Simulations show that, to a similar extent, corrections to diffusion theory from a more general transport theory are not needed here, either. Our results suggest an experimental means of measuring the so-called extrapolation length ratio which characterizes boundary effects, and thus have important implications for the analysis of static transmission and diffusing-wave spectroscopy data. Disciplines Physical Sciences and Mathematics | Physics Comments At the time of publication, author Douglas J. Durian was affiliated with University of California, Los Angeles. Currently, he is a faculty member at the Physics Department at the University of Pennsylvania. This journal article is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn. edu/physics_papers/631 PHYSICAL REVIEW E VOLUME 50, NUMBER 2 AUGUST 1994 Influence of boundary reflection and refraction on diffusive photon transport
Calcium Signaling in Oomycetes: An Evolutionary Perspective

Oomycetes are a family of eukaryotic microbes that superficially resemble fungi, but which are phylogenetically distinct from them. These organisms cause major global economic losses to agriculture and fisheries, with representative pathogens being Phytophthora infestans, the cause of late potato blight and Saprolegnia diclina, the instigator of “cotton molds” in fish. As in all eukaryotes, cytoplasmic Ca2+ is a key second messenger in oomycetes, regulating life-cycle transitions, controlling motility and chemotaxis and, in excess, leading to cell-death. Despite this, little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentrations in these organisms. Consequently, this review analyzed the presence of candidate calcium channels encoded within the nine oomycete genomes that are currently available. This revealed key differences between oomycetes and other eukaryotes, in particular the expansion and loss of different channel families, and the presence of a phylum-specific group of proteins, termed the polycystic kidney disease tandem ryanodine receptor domain (PKDRR) channels.
Adolescents in Wilderness Therapy: A Qualitative Study of Attachment Relationships

Characterized by acute changes in attachment relationships, adolescence is a time of balancing autonomy and attachment needs. For adolescents in wilderness therapy programs, the setting often challenges their understanding of their own attachment relationships. The current study evaluates the narratives of 13 adolescents in a wilderness therapy program in an attempt to understand their attitudes toward parents, therapists, and other adult figures. Results showed that while participants cited the importance of trusting adults in their lives, they also reported a general lack of trust between parents and themselves. The majority of participants reported rebelling against boundaries set by parents. They also described relationships with mothers negatively, characterizing mothers as controlling and strict. The findings of this study provide insight into working with adolescents by pointing to what are often unseen relational dynamics in treatment. Findings illustrate the need for relational interventions in wilderness therapy that support the formation of adolescents' healthy relational dynamics.
Classification of Fastest Quaternary Linearly Independent Arithmetic Transforms

Classification of novel fastest quaternary linearly independent transforms has been presented. They are recursively defined and have consistent formulas relating their forward and inverse transform matrices. Their transform matrices' properties and calculation example have been shown. The computational costs of the calculation for presented transforms are also discussed. The experimental results are shown and compared with the well known quaternary arithmetic transform.
Accrual-Based and Real Earnings Management Activities Around Seasoned Equity Offerings

We show that SEO firms engage in real activities manipulation, and the decline in post-SEO performance due to the real activities management is more severe than that due to accrual management. Our evidence is important, because it shows that post-SEO operating underperformance is driven not just by accrual reversals, but also reflects the real consequences of operational decisions made to manage earnings. We also show how firms' choices of real versus accrual-based earnings management activities around SEOs vary predictably as a function of the firm's ability to use accrual management and the costs of doing so.
Urinary microbiota in patients with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia

Introduction Inflammation is associated with promotion of the initiation of various malignancies, partly due to bacterial infection-induced microenvironmental changes. However, the exact association between microbiota in urine, seminal fluid and the expressed prostatic secretions and benign prostatic hypertrophy and prostate cancer is not clear. Material and methods In the present study, we investigated the type of microbiota in the expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) of patients with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by the polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) method using universal bacterial primers. In order to understand the possible association between various bacteria and prostate cancer, quantitative real-time PCR assay was performed to quantify the amount of strains of bacteria in urine, EPS and seminal fluid. Results The prostate cancer group had a significantly increased number of Bacteroidetes bacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Firmicutes bacteria, Lachnospiraceae, Propionicimonas, Sphingomonas, and Ochrobactrum, and a decrease in Eubacterium and Defluviicoccus compared to the BPH group. The number of Escherichia coli in the prostate cancer group was significantly decreased in urine and increased in the EPS and seminal fluid, while the number of Enterococcus was significantly increased in the seminal fluid with little change in urine and EPS. Conclusions Based on these results, we suggest that there are significant changes in the microbial population in EPS, urine and seminal fluid of subjects with prostate cancer and BPH, indicating a possible role for these bacteria in these two conditions.
Does Mentoring Matter in the Mental Health Field?

This study explores the presence of mentoring relationships among a sample of 56 mental health professionals in a large county mental health agency. Participants completed the Alleman Mentoring Scales Questionnaire in an online survey. Individuals involved in mentoring relationships experienced more career and psychological enhancing functions in the work place than those who were not in mentoring relationships. Mentoring relationships predicted career and personal development of mental health professionals. Recommendations include incorporating mentoring programs in mental health agencies in order to increase social workers' competence in their jobs.
Executive attention: : An alternative perspective on general mental ability, performance, and subgroup differences

The validity-adverse impact tradeoff associated with the relationships among general mental ability (GMA), ethnicity, and employee performance represents one of the most pressing concerns in organizational staffing. We conducted 4 studies with 273 bank employees and 197 university students designed to assess the extent to which executive attention (EA) and GMA predict simulation performance and supervisory ratings of performance. We also assess the extent to which measures of EA and GMA are associated with subgroup differences. Results indicate that, like GMA, EA positively predicts managerial simulation and supervisory ratings of performance. In addition, although reaching statistical significance in only 1 of our 4 studies, EA was generally associated with smaller subgroup differences than GMA, and meta-analysis across our samples supports this reduced subgroup difference. Moreover, advantages of EA tend to increase as studies move from the laboratory with undergraduate students to a concurrent validation organizational setting with employees. We discuss implications for a theory-based view of cognitive ability in employee selection and implications for managerial practice.
A protective protein antigen of Rickettsia rickettsii has tandemly repeated, near-identical sequences

The nucleotide sequence of a Rickettsia rickettsii gene that encodes a high-molecular-mass surface antigen (190 kilodaltons), which elicits protective immunity, was determined. The 6,747-nucleotide gene coded for a 2,249-amino-acid protein with a calculated molecular weight of 224,321. A 3.8-kilobase PstI fragment proximal to the 5' end of the gene was found to consist of 13 highly related tandem repeats which constituted over 40% of the coding region. The repeated sequences could be divided into either a 225-nucleotide, 75-amino-acid unit (type I) or a 216-nucleotide, 72-amino-acid unit (type II), with extensive homology between the two types of repeating units. The deduced amino acid sequence for these repeat units, overall, was slightly hydrophobic with short hydrophilic domains. The carboxy-terminal (nonrepetitive) portion of the deduced protein sequence was hydrophilic, with potential surface-exposed epitopes. The full-length reading frame was reconstructed in Escherichia coli, and transient expression of the 190-kilodalton antigen was demonstrated; however, the protein appeared to be severely degraded by proteases and was apparently toxic to E. coli. The conservation of this unique repetitive gene structure, coupled with results from previous reports showing the protective properties of the 190-kilodalton antigen, suggests that this protein plays an important role in the pathogenesis of and immunity to Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Piecewise-stationary bandit problems with side observations

We consider a sequential decision problem where the rewards are generated by a piecewise-stationary distribution. However, the different reward distributions are unknown and may change at unknown instants. Our approach uses a limited number of side observations on past rewards, but does not require prior knowledge of the frequency of changes. In spite of the adversarial nature of the reward process, we provide an algorithm whose regret, with respect to the baseline with perfect knowledge of the distributions and the changes, is O(k log(T)), where k is the number of changes up to time T. This is in contrast to the case where side observations are not available, and where the regret is at least Ω(√T).
Clearance of Tracer Albumin from Peritoneal Cavity to Plasma at Low Intraperitoneal Volumes and Hydrostatic Pressures

Objective To assess the clearance of radiolabeled tracer albumin (RISA) from peritoneal cavity to plasma (CI → P) in rats under essentially “normal” conditions, that is, when intraperitoneal hydrostatic pressure (IPP) is subatmospheric and the intraperitoneal (IP) “free” fluid volume (IPV) is low. Methods A volume of 0.3 mL of RISA was injected IP into anesthetized Wistar rats (wt = 300 g) when the IPV was approximately 2 mL (normal) or the IPV was approximately 10 mL, and IPP was either -1.8 mmHg (normal) or +1.5 mmHg (produced by an external cuff). Plasma samples (25 μL) were obtained repeatedly during the dwell, which lasted 30 300 min, after which the peritoneal cavity was opened to recover the IPV and residuallP RISA activity. The CI → P was assessed as the mass transfer of RISA into plasma, occurring per unit time,-divided by the calculated mean IP RISA concentration (CD). The interstitial RISA space was measured as the mass of RISA accumulated, per unit tissue weight, in peritoneal tissue samples divided by the CD. Results A markedly lower CI → P (2.47 ± 0.67 μL/min), as well as total RISA clearance out of the peritoneal cavity (CI), was found under “normal” conditions (an IPV of approximately 2 mL and an IPP of approximately -1.8 mmHg) compared to the situation during peritoneal dialysis (an IPV of approximately 20 mL and an IPP of +1 mmHg). Furthermore, the interstitial RISA space increased linearly over time even at negative IPPs and at an unchanging peritoneal interstitial fluid volume. At a low (normal) IPV the CI → P did not increase significantly with elevating IPP, and increased only marginally when tracer distribution was improved by artificial vibration of the rats. However the CI → P increased when larger volumes were infused to increase the totallPV. Conclusions It is concluded that the CI → P and CI at low IPPs and IPVs are not as high as during peritoneal dialysis. Increases in CI → P were, however, coupled to increases in IPV. This highlights the importance of the IPV per se and of a sufficient IP tracer distribution for direct lymphatic absorption to be efficient. This study was presented in part at the XVIth Annual Conference on Peritoneal Dialysis, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. , 1997 (33).