Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans Are Required for Cellular Binding of the Hepatitis E Virus ORF2 Capsid Protein and for Viral Infection

ABSTRACT The hepatitis E virus (HEV), a nonenveloped RNA virus, is the causative agent of hepatitis E. The mode by which HEV attaches to and enters into target cells for productive infection remains unidentified. Open reading frame 2 (ORF2) of HEV encodes its major capsid protein, pORF2, which is likely to have the determinants for virus attachment and entry. Using an ∼56-kDa recombinant pORF2 that can self-assemble as virus-like particles, we demonstrated that cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), specifically syndecans, play a crucial role in the binding of pORF2 to Huh-7 liver cells. Removal of cell surface heparan sulfate by enzymatic (heparinase) or chemical (sodium chlorate) treatment of cells or competition with heparin, heparan sulfate, and their oversulfated derivatives caused a marked reduction in pORF2 binding to the cells. Syndecan-1 is the most abundant proteoglycan present on these cells and, hence, plays a key role in pORF2 binding. Specificity is likely to be dictated by well-defined sulfation patterns on syndecans. We show that pORF2 binds syndecans predominantly via 6-O sulfation, indicating that binding is not entirely due to random electrostatic interactions. Using an in vitro infection system, we also showed a marked reduction in HEV infection of heparinase-treated cells. Our results indicate that, analogous to some enveloped viruses, a nonenveloped virus like HEV may have also evolved to use HSPGs as cellular attachment receptors.
Comparative Study - Three Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Rain Domain in Precipitation Forecast

Precipitation forecast is important in avoid incident of natural disaster which can cause loss in involved area. This review paper involves three techniques from artificial intelligence namely logistic regression, decisions tree, and random forest which used in making precipitation forecast. These combination techniques through VAR model in finding advantages and strength for every technique in forecast process. Data contains variables from rain domain. Adaptation of artificial intelligence techniques involved on rain domain enables the process to be easier and systematic for precipitation forecast. Keywords—Logistic regression, decisions tree, random forest, VAR model.
CD44s Expression in Resectable Colorectal Carcinomas and Surrounding Mucosa

Background: CD44s (standard isoform) is a cell adhesion molecule belonging to the family of the hyaluronan-binding proteins. The CD44 family has been found to be overexpressed in epithelial tumors, where they are generally in relationship with tumor growth and metastasic properties. The aim of this work was to evaluate the membranous CD44s content in colorectal cancer and in healthy surrounding mucosa, its possible relationship with clinicopathological parameters, and its potential prognostic significance. Materials and Methods: Membranous CD44s levels were measured by an immunoenzymatic assay in tumors and surrounding mucosa samples from 72 patients with resectable colorectal carcinomas. The patients were followed for a mean time period of 30 months. Results: There was a wide variability of CD44s levels in tumor-surrounding mucosal samples (26.6–727 ng/mg protein) as well as in tumors (28.5–381 ng/mg protein). Tumor samples showed significantly higher CD44s levels (median 115.3 ng/mg protein) than surrounding mucosal samples (81 ng/mg protein) (p = 0.03). In the same way, CD44s levels in tumors as well as in surrounding mucosal samples were significantly higher in high S-phase tumors than in low S-phase tumors (p = 0.001 for both). There was no significant relationship between tumor CD44s levels and patient's outcome. However, high levels of the glycoprotein in nonneoplastic surrounding mucosa were significantly (p = 0.018) associated with a poor overall patient survival. Conclusion: CD44s may play a role in the tumorogenesis of colorectal carcinomas. In addition, CD44s levels in tumor-surrounding mucosa may provide, in concert with some clinicopathological parameters, important information about prognostic evaluation of patients with resectable colorectal carcinomas.
Proteolytic processing of the Sindbis virus membrane protein precursor PE2 is nonessential for growth in vertebrate cells but is required for efficient growth in invertebrate cells

We have shown previously that processing of the Sindbis virus envelope protein precursor PE2 to envelope protein E2 is not required for virus maturation in cultured vertebrate fibroblast cells and that unprocessed PE2 can be incorporated into infectious virus in place of E2 (J. F. Presley and D. T. Brown, J. Virol. 63:1975-1980, 1989; D. L. Russell, J. M. Dalrymple, and R. E. Johnston, J. Virol. 63:1619-1629, 1989). To better understand the role of this processing event in the invertebrate vector portion of the alphavirus life cycle, we have examined the maturation of Sindbis virus mutants defective in PE2 processing in cultured mosquito cells. We found that although substantial amounts of structural proteins PE2, E1, and C were produced in infected mosquito (aedine) cell lines, very little infectious virus was released. When the period of infection was extended, plaque size variants appeared, some of which exhibited a restored ability to grow in mosquito cells. The nucleotide sequences of two such variants were determined. These variants contained point mutations that restored PE2 cleavage, indicating a genetic linkage between failure to cleave PE2 and failure to grow in mosquito cells.
Recent insights into the pharmacokinetics of spinal opioids and the relevance to opioid selection

Purpose of review Spinal opioid administration was introduced into clinical practice nearly 25 years ago in the hope of producing intense spinal analgesia that was devoid of the dose-limiting side effects associated with systemic opioid administration. While spinal opioid administration can clearly be an effective analgesic technique, there is a widespread misconception that any opioid administered epidurally or intrathecally will produce analgesia by a selective spinal mechanism. This is simply not true; multiple opioids that are commonly administered spinally produce analgesia by uptake into the systemic circulation with subsequent redistribution to brainstem opioid receptors. In an effort to help clinicians understand why some opioids are not suitable for selective spinal analgesia, this review describes recent insights into the fate of intrathecally and epidurally administered opioids. Recent findings A series of animal studies published over the last 4 or more years have provided the first measurements of opioid concentration in the epidural space, intrathecal space, spinal cord and peri-spinal tissues following intrathecal and epidural opioid administration. These studies characterize, for the first time, the factors governing the rate and extent to which different opioids redistribute from the epidural and intrathecal spaces to reach target opioid receptors in the spinal cord dorsal horn. The findings indicate that increasing lipid solubility decreases the spinal cord bioavailability of spinally administered opioids. Summary These animal data help to explain multiple clinical studies that have demonstrated that the analgesic effect of spinally administered lipid-soluble opioids is due in part, if not exclusively, to uptake into plasma and distribution to brainstem opioid receptors.
Bank Deposit Insurance, Moral Hazard and Market Discipline: Evidence from Central and Eastern Europe

There is a considerable debate on the role played by deposit insurance on market discipline in the banking industry. Using data for 203 banks across 10 Central and Eastern European countries, this paper empirically analyzes the implications of the implementation of explicit deposit insurance schemes for bank risk taking and market discipline. We show that the introduction of explicit deposit insurance in the 90’s has lead to higher risk-taking incentives. However, we also show that explicit deposit insurance has strengthened market discipline. Moreover, we find that bank ownership (foreign vs. domestic), institutional and legal factors, and resolution strategies adopted when the country has experienced banking crises impact bank risk and the effectiveness of market discipline.
Price Reaction to Dividend Initiations and Omissions in Emerging Market: Evidence from Pre and Post Market Crisis in Bangladesh

Dividend signalling and information content of dividends are areas of interest in financial literature. A vast majority of the research conducted on information content of dividend. However, no study has examined the effectiveness of dividend announcements as a signalling device in the stock market of Bangladesh. This study employs conventional event study methodology to investigate whether dividend announcements convey information to the market or whether investors dividend announcements as the signalling device of the firm’s prospects. The analysis is completed for the time period before and after the1998 market crisis in Bangladesh. The sample consists of cash dividend announcements for Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) listed firms preceding and following the market crisis. The empirical results suggest that the reactions to dividend announcements are not significant either preceding or following the financial crisis in Bangladesh, therefore, announcements of dividends neither convey information to the market nor do investors consider dividend announcements as a signal.
Investigating the Relationship between Governance Mechanisms and the Disclosure of IT Control Weaknesses

INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNANCE MECHANISMS AND THE DISCLOSURE OF IT CONTROL WEAKNESSES By Basil Hamdan, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Business at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2011 Major Director: Dr. Allen S. Lee Professor, Information Systems The current research is concerned with exploring the quality of information technology (IT) control over financial reporting systems as reported under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. More specifically, this dissertation examines the association between organizational governance mechanisms and the occurrence and subsequent disclosure of IT control weaknesses. Despite the adverse impact of IT control weaknesses on internal control quality and financial reporting reliability, research on IT controls in general and IT control weaknesses in particular remains largely anecdotal with limited reliance on theory. The current work proposes and tests an integrated theoretical model of the antecedents of IT control weaknesses. The proposed model draws upon agency theory to provide a theoretical perspective of the occurrence of IT control weaknesses and upon corporate governance literature to solicit potential factors that influence the achievement of effective IT control over financial reporting.
Spillover Effect of Fraud Allegations and Investor Sentiment

This paper examines the spillover effect of the news about fraud allegedly committed by Chinese reverse merger companies (CRMs). These CRMs recently became public through reverse mergers with U.S. shell companies rather than through traditional IPOs. A number of these CRMs had allegations brought against them for fraudulent reporting or activities. Once the regulators and the public became alarmed by the frequency of alleged-fraud revelations, the stock prices of the offending as well as other companies were hammered. In particular, other CRMs and U.S.-listed Chinese IPOs experienced strong negative spillover effects. The intensity of the effect differed according to short selling activities, suggesting that short sellers played an important role in the spillover effect. Since non-Chinese (U.S. and other foreign) RMs have escaped the wrath of investors, the stock market reaction appears to be based on the country of origin rather than the method of going public.
SME Access to Finance: An exploration into the demand and supply contraints around SME access to finance

In March 2011, the Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University was commissioned by North East Access to Finance (NEA2F) to undertake a major piece of independent academic research to explore both the demand and supply sides of SME access to finance in the North East of England. The aim of the research was to gain insight and understanding into the challenges faced not only by the SME sector but also by the key suppliers of finance to that community, specifically the banking sector and Business Angels. Thus we do not take a position on what we think is right or what a best practice approach might be but rather reflect, as accurately as possible, the information that was shared with us. The research project commenced in May 2011 and was completed at the end of March 2012.
Measuring and mapping displacement: The problem of quantification in the battle against gentrification

Debates concerning residential population displacement in the context of gentrification remain vociferous, but are hampered by a lack of empirical evidence of the extent of the displacement occurring. The lack of quantitative evidence on gentrification-induced displacement and the difficulties in collecting it has long hampered the fight against it. Based on a systematic review of quantitative studies of the displacement associated with gentrification, this article considers how researchers have attempted to measure displacement using a range of statistical and mapping techniques reflecting the multi-dimensional character of gentrification. We note that these techniques often struggle to provide meaningful estimates of the number of individuals and households displaced by gentrification, something compounded by the lack of data available on a sufficiently granular temporal and spatial scale. Noting the limitations of extant methods, we conclude by considering the potential of more novel data sources and emergent methods involving the processing of larger amounts of (micro)data, as well as participatory GIS methods that involve affected communities themselves. This implies that whilst the quantitative study of displacement remains difficult, patterns and processes of displacement can be inferred through existing data sources, as well as data generated from those who themselves have experienced displacement.
Patient Expectancy as a Mediator of Placebo Effects in Antidepressant Clinical Trials.

OBJECTIVE Causes of placebo effects in antidepressant trials have been inferred from observational studies and meta-analyses, but their mechanisms have not been directly established. The goal of this study was to examine in a prospective, randomized controlled trial whether patient expectancy mediates placebo effects in antidepressant studies. METHOD Adult outpatients with major depressive disorder were randomly assigned to open or placebo-controlled citalopram treatment. Following measurement of pre- and postrandomization expectancy, participants were treated with citalopram or placebo for 8 weeks. Independent samples t tests determined whether patient expectancy differed between the open and placebo-controlled groups, and mixed-effects models assessed group effects on Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) scores over time while controlling for treatment assignment. Finally, mediation analyses tested whether between-group differences in patient expectancy mediated the group effect on HAM-D scores. RESULTS Postrandomization expectancy scores were significantly higher in the open group (mean=12.1 [SD=2.1]) compared with the placebo-controlled group (mean=11.0 [SD=2.0]). Mixed-effects modeling revealed a significant week-by-group interaction, indicating that HAM-D scores for citalopram-treated participants declined at a faster rate in the open group compared with the placebo-controlled group. Patient expectations postrandomization partially mediated group effects on week 8 HAM-D. CONCLUSIONS Patient expectancy is a significant mediator of placebo effects in antidepressant trials. Expectancy-related interventions should be investigated as a means of controlling placebo responses in antidepressant clinical trials and improving patient outcome in clinical treatment.
Autoimmune effector cells. II. Transfer of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis with a subset of T lymphocytes

This study was conducted to further characterize the effector cells of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) which are activated in vitro when spleen cells from Lewis rats previously immunized with myelin basic protein and adjuvant are cultured with antigen prior to transfer to syngeneic recipients. The effector cells were isolated on discontinuous Percoll gradients in the cell fraction that floated on Percoll with a buoyant density of 1.067 kg/l. These cells (designated fraction 1) transferred EAE and incorporated [3H]dThd in culture. Fraction 1 was enriched for T cells when evaluated with monoclonal anti‐rat T cell serum W3/13 and deficient in Ig+ cells; approximately 33% were positive with monoclonal anti‐rat T cell serum W3/25. In contrast, the small, nonproliferating cells found in higher density Percoll fractions did not transfer EAE.
EGF and HGF levels are increased during active HBV infection and enhance survival signaling through extracellular matrix interactions in primary human hepatocytes

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major causative agent of chronic liver disease and subsequent liver cirrhosis worldwide. The reduced sensitivity of virus‐infected liver cells to apoptosis may play a role in the failure to remove virus‐infected cells and eventually promote viral chronicity. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether survival factors induced during compensatory liver regeneration may protect hepatocytes against apoptosis. We evaluated the serum levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in HBV‐infected patients and found significant increases in HGF and EGF in patients with active virus infection. In primary human hepatocytes we show that HGF and EGF have a protective effect against CD95‐mediated apoptosis and cytotoxic T‐cell killing. Simultaneous treatment with both regeneration factors enhanced the cytoprotective effect. The PI 3‐K/Akt kinase inhibitor, wortmannin, and the STAT3 pathway inhibitor, Tyrphostin AG490, both effectively attenuated the cytoprotective effect of HGF and EGF. Furthermore, we show an EGF/HGF‐dependent upregulation of β1‐integrin chains, increased adhesion to extracellular matrix and an increase in focal adhesions, suggesting outside‐in signaling from the extracellular matrix as an additional cytoprotective mechanism. Our study demonstrates that HGF and EGF can interfere with CD95‐mediated apoptosis and the action of cytotoxic T‐cells through multiple mechanisms in human hepatocytes. Together our results argue that a survival mileau generated by activation of liver regeneration factors may be a risk factor for establishing viral persistence. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Laser Trim Pattern Optimization for CuAlMo Thin-Film Resistors

The influence of varying laser trim patterns on the electrical performance of a novel CuAlMo thin-film resistor material is investigated. The benefits and limitations of various trim geometries are considered before two patterns, the “L” cut and serpentine cut, are selected to laser-trim resistor samples to target values of 1-10 Ω, using previously optimized laser conditions. The effect of increasing trim gain and varying trim pattern on the stability and standard deviation of the films is then systematically investigated. A two-stage trimming process is used to reduce resistance drift to <;0.1% following storage for 168 h at 125°C in air, which also allows much tighter resistance tolerances of <;±0.1% to be achieved.
Incentives in Universal Banks

This paper studies the provision of incentives in a universal bank. This is regarded as a (common) agent serving different clients with potentially conflicting interests; for example, it may buy assets on behalf of investors and sell assets on behalf of issuing firms. The clients offer incentive schemes to the bank and they behave non-cooperatively. The bank decides a level of effort and, when firewalls are absent, a level of collusion, modelled as a costly and unproductive redistribution of wealth among the clients. The main conclusion is that in the absence of firewalls the equilibrium incentive schemes are steeper. This means that the level of effort is higher and may compensate the (ex post) inefficiency of collusion. Moreover, this is shown not to hold in the presence of one naive player who does not recognize the existence of the conflict of interest. The model allows to draw conclusions about the desirability of firewalls or of softer measures like the imposition of transparency requirements.
Lessons from the Celltech Case: Balancing Knowledge Exploration and Exploitation in Organizational Renewal

This article applies the lens of the knowledge exploration/exploitation dilemma to the renewal of Celltech Plc. From a theoretical perspective it has often been argued that as a firm matures, exploitation of current organizational knowledge drives out exploration of new ideas, and that this increases the likelihood of firm failure. This same literature gives few clues as to how balance can be maintained, or decline reversed. Our case study documents the decline of Celltech, its rejuvenation from near bankruptcy in 1990, and its subsequent ability to prosper to become the eighth largest biotech firm in the EU in terms of market capitalization. Through the Celltech case we show empirically that renewal based on exploration is possible even in a firm where exploitation has come to dominate. This case also illustrates how a balance between exploration and exploitation can be maintained for over half a decade, despite the theoretical tendency stated in the literature for exploitation to dominate. We offer insights into the process of maintaining a balance, including reorganization to release internal diversity to stimulate exploration, creation of a common language, and building systems to institutionalize the maintenance of a balance between exploration and exploitation.
“We’re Still in a Struggle”

As part of a community/university collaborative effort to promote the mental health and well-being of Diné (Navajo) youth, we explored the relevance of addressing historical trauma and current structural stressors, and of building on individual and community strengths through healing and social transformation at multiple levels. Qualitative analyses of 74 ethnographic interviews with 37 Diné youth, parents, and grandparents suggested that a focus on historical trauma as a conceptual frame for behavioral health inequities, understood within the context of resilience and survival, is appropriate. Our findings also highlight the salience of current stressors such as poverty and violence exposure. We explore the fit of an historical trauma healing framework and present implications for intervention and transformation through revitalization of traditional knowledge, culturally based healing practices, intergenerational education, and social change strategies designed to eliminate social inequities.