Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of Bacterial Growth by Drugs of the Morphine Series

The growth of Escherichia coli is reversibly inhibited by drugs of the morphine series. The order of inhibitory effectiveness for the drugs tested was levallorphan > levorphanol > dextrorphan > nalorphine > morphine. The synthetic analgesic, levorphanol, was studied in greater detail. Its effectiveness was found to be strongly dependent on the pH of the medium. Raising the pH of the medium provides a higher concentration of the neutral free base which is thought to diffuse across cell membranes more readily. However, considerations other than the rate of entry of drug into the cells must be of importance since an already established growth inhibition is promptly reversed upon lowering the pH of the medium. Two mutants of Escherichia coli with altered sensitivity to levorphanol were isolated.
Measuring ASEAN Competitiveness: A Mankiw-Romer-Weil (MRW) Model

This study explored the relative competitiveness of the ASEAN countries by simulating the MRW model using the Penn World Table (PWT) 7.0. The calibration of MRW model employed the seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) of the family of simultaneous equations model (SEM) technique to address the weaknesses of the original MRW. The estimates revealed that the population growth was found to be the relative competitiveness of Brunei, Cambodia and Laos. Savings rate was found to be significant for countries Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. However, savings rate was exogenous to the growth of the aforesaid countries. The human capital stock was found to show influence on the economic growth of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Philippines economic growth is strongly dependent on its human capital. Of these, two countries indicated inverse relationships of human capital stock and economic growth: Cambodia and Vietnam. This only signified the high opportunity loss when highly productive workers were transferred to non-productive activities of going to school. Laos did not show statistical influence and Singapore was not included in the estimation.
p53 mutation and cyclin D1 amplification correlate with cisplatin sensitivity in xenografted human squamous cell carcinomas from head and neck

To investigate the response of tumour growth to cisplatin treatment, in relation to p53 mutation and cyclin D1 dysregulation on DNA and protein level, biopsies from seven xenografted human squamous cell carcinomas from the head and neck were analysed with immunohistochemistry for p53 expression and cyclin D1 expression. Polymerase chain reaction -singlestranded conformation polymorphism was used to determine p53 mutations. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was performed to analyse cyclin D1 amplification. The mice were injected i.p. with NaCl (controls) or cisplatin. After injection the tumour volume were measured. The inhibition of tumour growth by cisplatin was defined as the area under the growth curves, and compared with the growth curves of the tumours in the control group. Xenografts with p53 mutation showed significantly higher resistance to cisplatin (p < 0.001) and also tumours with cyclin D1 amplification showed significantly higher resistance (p < 0.001).
A stochastic dynamic pricing and advertising model under risk aversion

This article analyzes a dynamic pricing and advertising model for the sale of perishable products under constant absolute risk aversion. We consider a time-dependent version of Gallego and van Ryzin’s dynamic pricing model with exponential demand and include isoelastic advertising effects as well as marginal unit costs. We derive closed-form expressions of the optimal risk-averse pricing and advertising policies of the value function and of the certainty equivalent. The formulas provide insight into the (complex) interplay between risk-sensitive pricing and advertising decisions. Moreover, to evaluate the optimally controlled sales process over time we propose efficient simulation techniques. These are used to analyze the characteristics of different degrees of risk aversion, particularly the concentration of the profit distribution and the impact on the expected evolution of price and advertising rates.
Cloning of the HSP70 gene from Halobacterium marismortui: relatedness of archaebacterial HSP70 to its eubacterial homologs and a model for the evolution of the HSP70 gene

Heat shock induces the synthesis of a set of proteins in Halobacterium marismortui whose molecular sizes correspond to the known major heat shock proteins. By using the polymerase chain reaction and degenerate oligonucleotide primers for conserved regions of the 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) family, we have successfully cloned and sequenced a gene fragment containing the entire coding sequence for HSP70 from H. marismortui. HSP70 from H. marismortui shows between 44 and 47% amino acid identity with various eukaryotic HSP70s and between 51 and 58% identity with its eubacterial and archaebacterial homologs. On the basis of a comparison of all available HSP70 sequences, we have identified a number of unique sequence signatures in this protein family that provide a clear distinction between eukaryotic organisms and prokaryotic organisms (archaebacteria and eubacteria). The archaebacterial (viz., H. marismortui and Methanosarcina mazei) HSP70s have been found to contain all of the signature sequences characteristic of eubacteria (particularly the gram-positive bacteria), which suggests a close evolutionary relationship between these groups. In addition, detailed analyses of HSP70 sequences that we have carried out have revealed a number of additional novel features of the HSP70 protein family. These include (i) the presence of an insertion of about 25 to 27 amino acids in the N-terminal quadrants of all known eukaryotic and prokaryotic HSP70s except those from archaebacteria and the gram-positive group of bacteria, (ii) significant sequence similarity in HSP70 regions comprising its first and second quadrants from organisms lacking the above insertion, (iii) highly significant similarity between a protein, MreB, of Escherichia coli and the N-terminal half of HSP70s, (iv) significant sequence similarity between the N-terminal quadrant of HSP70 (from gram-positive bacteria and archaebacteria) and the m-type thioredoxin of plant chloroplasts. To account for these and other observations, a model for the evolution of HSP70 proteins involving gene duplication is proposed. The model proposes that HSP70 from archaebacteria (H. marismortui and M. mazei) and the gram-positive group of bacteria constitutes the ancestral form of the protein and that all other HSP70s (viz., other eubacteria as well as eukaryotes) containing the insert have evolved from this ancient protein.
Characteristics of Military Society

When men are inducted into the armed forces, they must make adjustments to the structure of activities and relationships of basic training. These are discussed in terms of the Army (1) as a hierarchy of command, (2) as a rigidly stratified society, (3) as a self-contained social world, and (4) as either socializing or isolating its members.
Family physicians' opinions and attitudes to three clinical practice guidelines.

BACKGROUND Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have been promoted as a strategy to measure and improve the quality of patient care. However, more effort has been expended on creating guidelines than implementing them. We surveyed family physicians about their knowledge of and attitudes toward 3 well-publicized CPGs. METHODS A survey questionnaire was sent to a national sample of 600 family physicians selected at random from a file from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). RESULTS After 2 mailings, the response rate was 71%. For each of the 3 guidelines, roughly 60% of respondents were familiar or somewhat familiar with the CPG. More than half of family physicians studied said they have changed their medical practices based on CPGs, and only 3% said they do not believe in guidelines and would not use them. Use of CPGs was lowest among physicians in solo practice and among those working in rural areas. However, no significant differences in CPG use or familiarity were noted based on number of years in practice. Many respondents indicated an interest in keeping CPGs current via the internet. CONCLUSIONS Most American family physicians find CPGs to be helpful, and familiarity with them is fairly uniform across most subgroups studied.
Considerations in the development of generic disease therapies for multiple sclerosis

Purpose of review:Medication prices are a major contributor to the high cost of care for multiple sclerosis (MS). The patents for some of the initial injectable therapies for relapsing MS recently expired, permitting development, regulatory approval, and marketing of generic alternatives with the potential for lower prices and cost savings to payers and patients. Recent findings:A generic version of glatiramer acetate 20 mg administered by daily subcutaneous injection recently received regulatory approval in the United States. Two additional generic versions of glatiramer acetate have been submitted for regulatory review. The development and testing of generic disease-modifying therapies for MS such as glatiramer acetate, which are complex molecules, present several complicating factors. Summary:This article provides background on the development of generics and reviews the status of generic glatiramer acetate.
Observation of Nonlinear Harmonic Generation of Bulk Modes in SAW Devices

Nonlinear generation of harmonics is measured on the wafer level on temperature compensated surface-acoustic-wave resonators on lithium niobate. The second-harmonic response features strong peaks looking like multiple resonant modes. The product of the frequency difference between the successive peaks to the substrate thickness is found to remain almost constant. The results also show that the level of the harmonic signal strongly depends on the roughness of the back side of the substrate. Due to these findings, it was assumed that the signal is due to nonlinear generation of a bulk mode. This assumption is confirmed experimentally by measuring the second-harmonic wave field on the back side of the substrate with an interferometer. Possible nonlinear mechanisms explaining these results are discussed.
University–Industry Collaboration in Turkish SMEs

University–industry collaboration and innovation are popular topics in emerging countries. Although the main premise is that such collaboration and innovation increase firm performance, the empirical evidence is inconclusive. Drawing on a sample of 79 Turkish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the authors find negative direct effects of innovation-based strategy and university collaboration on the profit growth of firms. However, where there is fierce market competition, they find that an innovation-based strategy increases profit growth and that collaboration with universities needs to exceed a certain level before the benefits are manifested in profit growth. These results contribute to the debate on the role of innovation and university collaboration in the profit growth of SMEs in emerging countries. For managers, the implications are that an innovation-based strategy is important in competitive markets in emerging countries, and that university collaboration needs to be taken more seriously and must involve higher levels of effort and commitment if benefits are to emerge; otherwise, companies may decide against working with universities.
Returns to Society from Investment in Cancer Research and Development

Abstract Background: Since the start of the War on Cancer there have been enormous investments in improving oncology treatment. The return to society generated by this investment is unknown. We estimate the returns generated over the previous four decades and extrapolate future returns from current investment in cancer R&D. Methods: Using data on cancer incidence, mortality, and treatment-specific R&D expenditures from 1973 to 2010, we used regression models and two-sided significance tests to relate investment in cancer treatment R&D to cancer mortality, by tumor type. For investment, we used a measure of the knowledge stock generated by cancer treatment R&D expenditures over the previous 25 years to capture the cumulative benefits of past innovations and advances in treatment. Results: Investment of an additional $1 million in cervical, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer between 1973 and 1990 was associated with a cumulative return of more than $5 million from cancer R&D by 2010. Through 2010, investment in cancer R&D was associated with average benefits in excess of costs in all but two cancers, ovarian and pancreatic. Regarding future returns, we estimated that each additional $1 million invested in cancer treatment research and development in 2010 will produce over $28 million in value over the following 50 years. Conclusions: The return to society from spending on cancer treatment R&D is large, but varies across tumor types.
The innovation inducement impact of environmental regulations on maritime transport: a literature review

Maritime transport is facing wide-ranking challenges due to stricter environmental regulations. It has been positioned that these stricter environmental regulations will significantly hamper the competitiveness of the shipping industry and other export/import oriented industries. However, contrasting views, arguing that environmental regulations will, in fact, enhance firms' competitiveness by inducing innovation, have also been voiced. Here, this issue is examined through a literature review on the innovation inducement impact of environmental regulations (i.e., the Porter Hypothesis), in general, and the economic impacts of environmental regulations (here Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention) as it applies to shipping in Northern Europe, in particular. According to the review, the literature is still inconclusive and lacks a clear consensus on the economic and innovation inducement impacts of environmental regulations on maritime transport. Therefore, the review concludes in suggestions for further studies on the use of marine scrubber systems as an illustrative case study example.
Neurite Degeneration Elicited by Apolipoprotein E Peptides

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) has been localized to the neurofibrillary tangles and beta-amyloid-containing plaques found in the cortex of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) (14, 28), suggesting that apoE may play a role in this disorder. Recently, synthetic peptides containing a sequence within apoE (amino acids 141-155) were found to be cytotoxic to T lymphocytes in culture. In the present study, tandem presentation of the apoE sequence E141-155, as well as longer monomeric peptides that include this domain, was found to cause extensive and specific degeneration of neurites from embryonic chick sympathetic ganglia in vitro. These results, together with the observation of strong beta A4/apoE binding in vitro and the disproportionate occurrence of the epsilon 4 allele in both familial and sporadic AD patients, suggest that peptide sequences associated with apoE may contribute directly to neurodegenerative processes.
Decreased abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the gut microbiota of Crohn's disease

Dysbiosis is thought to be relevant to the etiology and pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). In this study, we investigated the abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, as well as Bilophila wadsworthia, in the gut microbiota of Japanese CD patients.
Primordial‐like enzymes from bacteria with reduced genomes

The first cells probably possessed rudimentary metabolic networks, built using a handful of multifunctional enzymes. The promiscuous activities of modern enzymes are often assumed to be relics of this primordial era; however, by definition these activities are no longer physiological. There are many fewer examples of enzymes using a single active site to catalyze multiple physiologically‐relevant reactions. Previously, we characterized the promiscuous alanine racemase (ALR) activity of Escherichia coli cystathionine β‐lyase (CBL). Now we have discovered that several bacteria with reduced genomes lack alr, but contain metC (encoding CBL). We characterized the CBL enzymes from three of these: Pelagibacter ubique, the Wolbachia endosymbiont of Drosophila melanogaster (wMel) and Thermotoga maritima. Each is a multifunctional CBL/ALR. However, we also show that CBL activity is no longer required in these bacteria. Instead, the wMel and T. maritima enzymes are physiologically bi‐functional alanine/glutamate racemases. They are not highly active, but they are clearly sufficient. Given the abundance of the microorganisms using them, we suggest that much of the planet's biochemistry is carried out by enzymes that are quite different from the highly‐active exemplars usually found in textbooks. Instead, primordial‐like enzymes may be an essential part of the adaptive strategy associated with streamlining.
A mutation in the amino terminus of a hybrid TrpC-TonB protein relieves overproduction lethality and results in cytoplasmic accumulation

We have developed a selection for mutations in a trpC-tonB gene fusion that takes advantage of the properties of the plasmid-encoded TrpC-TonB hybrid protein. The TrpC-TonB hybrid protein consists of amino acids 1 through 25 of the normally cytoplasmic protein, TrpC, fused to amino acids 12 through 239 of TonB. It is expressed from the trp promoter and is regulated by the trpR gene and the presence or absence of tryptophan. Under repressing conditions in the presence of tryptophan, the trpC-tonB gene can restore phi 80 sensitivity to a tonB deletion mutant, which indicates that TrpC-TonB can be exported and is functional. High-level expression of TrpC-TonB protein in the absence of tryptophan results in virtually immediate cessation of growth for strains carrying the trpC-tonB plasmid. By selecting for survivors of the induced growth inhibition (overproduction lethality), we have isolated a variety of mutations. Many of the mutations decrease expression of the TrpC-TonB protein, as expected. In addition, three independently isolated mutants expressing normal levels of TrpC-TonB protein result in a Gly----Asp substitution within the hydrophobic amino terminus of TonB. The mutant proteins are designated TrpC-TonBG26D. The mutations are suppressed by prlA alleles, known to suppress export (signal sequence) mutations. TrpC-TonB proteins carrying the Gly----Asp substitution accumulate in the cytoplasm. We conclude that the Gly----Asp substitution is an export mutation. TrpC-TonBG26D protein has been purified and used to raise polyclonal antibodies that specifically recognize both TrpC-TonB protein and wild-type TonB protein.
LAPPEENRANTA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY School of Business Finance GOLD INVESTMENTS AND SHORT- AND LONG-RUN PRICE DETERMINANTS OF THE PRICE OF GOLD

Author: Lampinen, Anssi Title: Gold investments and shortand long-run price determinants of the price of gold Faculty: LUT, School of Business Major: Finance Year: 2007 Master’s Thesis: Lappeenranta University of Technology 77 pages, 12 figures and 9 tables Examiners: prof. Mika Vaihekoski prof. Eero Pätäri
Molecular Indicators Used in the Development of Predictive Models for Microbial Source Tracking

ABSTRACT A number of chemical, microbial, and eukaryotic indicators have been proposed as indicators of fecal pollution sources in water bodies. No single one of the indicators tested to date has been able to determine the source of fecal pollution in water. However, the combined use of different indicators has been demonstrated to be the best way of defining predictive models suitable for determining fecal pollution sources. Molecular methods are promising tools that could complement standard microbiological water analysis. In this study, the feasibility of some proposed molecular indicators for microbial source tracking (MST) was compared (names of markers are in parentheses): host-specific Bacteroidetes (HF134, HF183, CF128, and CF193), Bifidobacterium adolescentis (ADO), Bifidobacterium dentium (DEN), the gene esp of Enterococcus faecium, and host-specific mitochondrial DNA associated with humans, cattle, and pigs (Humito, Bomito, and Pomito, respectively). None of the individual molecular markers tested enabled 100% source identification. They should be combined with other markers to raise sensitivity and specificity and increase the number of sources that are identified. MST predictive models using only these molecular markers were developed. The models were evaluated by considering the lowest number of molecular indicators needed to obtain the highest rate of identification of fecal sources. The combined use of three molecular markers (ADO, Bomito, and Pomito) enabled correct identification of 75.7% of the samples, with differentiation between human, swine, bovine, and poultry sources. Discrimination between human and nonhuman fecal pollution was possible using two markers: ADO and Pomito (84.6% correct identification). The percentage of correct identification increased with the number of markers analyzed. The best predictive model for distinguishing human from nonhuman fecal sources was based on 5 molecular markers (HF134, ADO, DEN, Bomito, and Pomito) and provided 90.1% correct classification.
Sovereign credit ratings and financial market volatility : bi-directional relationships and heterogeneous impact

This thesis examines the bi-directional relationship between sovereign credit ratings and financial market volatility. Prior literature focuses on one aspect of the relationship which is the impact of credit rating actions on financial assets’ returns, whereas the links between rating actions and market volatility have attracted little attention. Based on a comprehensive dataset of rating events from the three largest credit rating agencies (CRAs) i.e. S&P, Moody’s, and Fitch, this thesis presents unique evidence of (i) inter-relationships between sovereign rating information and equity market volatility dynamics; (ii) heterogeneous effects of sovereign rating actions on equity and foreign exchange market volatilities; (iii) volatility spill-over effects of rating actions. Several methodologies are employed in order to confirm the robustness of the findings, including event study, multivariate regressions, non-parametric tests, Vector Autoregressive models, probit analyses, and Monte Carlo experiments. The findings reveal that certain types of rating news play an important “confirmation role” whereby rating actions can reduce market ex-post volatility and ex-ante uncertainty. Also, there is evidence of differences in rating policies and timeliness across CRAs which provides some explanation for the heterogeneous effects of rating actions. Rating news which incorporates new information, either negative or positive, is associated with elevated ex-ante market uncertainty and ex-post volatility, while additional rating news which is not new to the public can lead to reduced market uncertainty and volatility. The contribution of this thesis is threefold. First, the findings contribute significantly to the debate on the information content of rating news and highlight the importance of multiple ratings in coordinating investors’ heterogeneous beliefs. Second, the thesis provides valuable insights for the debate on the role and regulation of CRAs since the global financial crisis. Third, the findings offer practical implications for option traders, international investors, financial institutions, and portfolio managers.
In vivo and in vitro induction of human cytochrome P4503A4 by dexamethasone

The aims of these experiments were to determine the effect of a therapeutic regimen of dexamethasone on cytochrome P4503A4 (CYP3A4) activity in healthy volunteers; and the concentration‐effect relationship between dexamethasone and CYP3A4 activity in primary human hepatocyte cultures.