Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Formal Analysis Of The Verb Copy Construction In Chinese

This paper presents a formal analysis of the verb copy construction in Modern Chinese. Unlike the previous analyses, in which this construction is analyzed as a single-headed structure with the second VP as the head and the first VP as an adjunct, our analysis treats the verb copy construction as a coordinated VP, with each VP as a co-head. We further propose that the first VP subsumes the following VPs in this construction. We also show that this alternative approach can successfully capture and explain all of the three key properties that characterize this construction.
Earnings Management and Firm Performance Following Open-Market Repurchases

Both post-repurchase abnormal returns and "reported" improvement in operating performance are driven, at least in part, by pre-repurchase downward earnings management rather than genuine growth in profitability. The downward earnings management increases with both the percentage of the company that managers repurchase and CEO ownership. Pre-repurchase abnormal accruals are also negatively associated with future performance, with the association driven mainly by those firms that report the largest income-decreasing abnormal accruals. The study suggests that one reason firms experience post-repurchase abnormal returns is that post-repurchase realized earnings growth exceeds expectations formed on the basis of pre-repurchase deflated earnings numbers. Copyright 2008 by The American Finance Association.
Formulation and characterization of ethylcellulose microparticles containing .l-alanyl- l-glutamine peptide

Abstract Context: The l-alanyl-l-glutamine peptide (AGP) has been effective to promote acute glycemia recovery during long-term insulin-induced hypoglycemia (IIH), and the oral administration of AGP is suggested to prevent prolonged hypoglycemia, such as nocturnal hypoglycemia. Objective: Considering the ability of AGP on glycemia recovery and AGP’s fast metabolism, the aim of current study was to obtain and characterize ethylcellulose microparticles to deliver the drug for a prolonged time. Materials and Methods: Microparticles were prepared by simple and double emulsification/hardening method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) and FT-Raman spectroscopy and in vitro release. Results and Discussion: Spherical structures with a mean diameter between 9.30 µm and 13.19 µm were formed. TG analysis showed that the thermal stability of AGP was even more increased by encapsulation with ethylcellulose. In addition, TG, DSC, FTIR and FT-Raman analyses proved that AGP was encapsulated in a molecular way. Higher values of encapsulation efficiency were observed for the microparticles prepared by double emulsification (57.83–83.67%) than for those prepared by simple emulsification (18.37%). However, the last ones could release the peptide in a quicker and more extensive manner than those prepared by double emulsification. Conclusion: For the first time, microparticles containing AGP were developed and exhibited prolonged in vitro release as well as protection to the drug, and it could be considered as a dosage form for patients who suffer from insulin-induced hypoglycemia and/or nocturnal hypoglycemia.
The dominant role of mergers in the size evolution of massive early-type galaxies sincez ~  1

Aims. The role of galaxy mergers in massive galaxy evolution, and in particular to mass assembly and size growth, remains an open question. In this paper we measure the merger fraction and rate, both minor and major, of massive early-type galaxies (M_⋆ ≥ 10^(11) M_⊙) in the COSMOS field, and study their role in mass and size evolution. Methods. We used the 30-band photometric catalogue in COSMOS, complemented with the spectroscopy of the zCOSMOS survey, to define close pairs with a separation on the sky plane 10 h^(-1) kpc ≤ r_p ≤ 30 h^(-1) kpc and a relative velocity Δv ≤ 500 km s^(-1) in redshift space. We measured both major (stellar mass ratio μ ≡ M_(⋆,2)/M_(⋆,1) ≥ 1/4) and minor (1/10 ≤ μ < 1/4) merger fractions of massive galaxies, and studied their dependence on redshift and on morphology (early types vs. late types). Results. The merger fraction and rate of massive galaxies evolves as a power-law (1 + z)^n, with major mergers increasing with redshift, n_(MM) = 1.4, and minor mergers showing little evolution, n_(mm) ~ 0. When split by their morphology, the minor merger fraction for early-type galaxies (ETGs) is higher by a factor of three than that for late-type galaxies (LTGs), and both are nearly constant with redshift. The fraction of major mergers for massive LTGs evolves faster (n_(MM)^(LT) ~ 4 ) than for ETGs (n_(MM)^(ET)= 1.8). Conclusions. Our results show that massive ETGs have undergone 0.89 mergers (0.43 major and 0.46 minor) since z ~ 1, leading to a mass growth of ~30%. We find that μ ≥ 1/10 mergers can explain ~55% of the observed size evolution of these galaxies since z ~ 1. Another ~20% is due to the progenitor bias (younger galaxies are more extended) and we estimate that very minor mergers (μ < 1/10) could contribute with an extra ~20%. The remaining ~5% should come from other processes (e.g., adiabatic expansion or observational effects). This picture also reproduces the mass growth and the velocity dispersion evolution of these galaxies. We conclude from these results, and after exploring all the possible uncertainties in our picture, that merging is the main contributor to the size evolution of massive ETGs at z ≲ 1, accounting for ~50−75% of that evolution in the last 8 Gyr. Nearly half of the evolution due to mergers is related to minor (μ < 1/4) events.
Influence of transistor parameters on the noise margin of organic digital circuits

The concept of noise margin is crucial in the design and operation of digital logic circuits. Analytical expressions for the transfer curves of an inverter based on two depletion-mode p-type organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) were calculated. Based on these expressions, the values for the noise margin of organic-based inverters were calculated. In this paper, the influence of the OTFT parameters on the noise margin is presented. Knowing that statistical variations of the transistor parameters are inherent to OTFT technology, these statistical variations are also taken into account. Finally, a circuit yield analysis is presented.
Tail Risk in Hedge Funds: A Unique View from Portfolio Holdings

We develop a new systematic tail risk measure for equity-oriented hedge funds to examine the impact of tail risk on fund performance and to identify the sources of tail risk. We find that tail risk affects the cross-sectional variation in fund returns and that investments in both tail-sensitive stocks and options drive tail risk. Moreover, leverage and exposure to funding liquidity shocks are important determinants of tail risk. We find evidence of some funds being able to time tail risk exposure prior to the 2008–2009 financial crisis.
Intellectual Capital Disclosures in Japanese IPO Prospectuses

Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain ? You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal ? Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us at vbn@aub.aau. dk providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim.
Peptidoglycan O‐acetylation is functionally related to cell wall biosynthesis and cell division in Streptococcus pneumoniae

The peptidoglycan is a rigid matrix required to resist turgor pressure and to maintain the cellular shape. It is formed by linear glycan chains composed of N‐acetylmuramic acid‐(β‐1,4)‐N‐acetylglucosamine (MurNAc‐GlcNAc) disaccharides associated through cross‐linked peptide stems. The peptidoglycan is continually remodelled by synthetic and hydrolytic enzymes and by chemical modifications, including O‐acetylation of MurNAc residues that occurs in most Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. This modification is a powerful strategy developed by pathogens to resist to lysozyme degradation and thus to escape from the host innate immune system but little is known about its physiological function. In this study, we have investigated to what extend peptidoglycan O‐acetylation is involved in cell wall biosynthesis and cell division of Streptococcus pneumoniae. We show that O‐acetylation driven by Adr protects the peptidoglycan of dividing cells from cleavage by the major autolysin LytA and occurs at the septal site. Our results support a function for Adr in the formation of robust and mature MurNAc O‐acetylated peptidoglycan and infer its role in the division of the pneumococcus.
Aldosterone effects on water and electrolyte metabolism.

The effects of constant infusions of small doses of adrenal steroid hormones on sodium, potassium and water metabolism were studied in male adrenalectomized rats. An infusion of 1 microgram aldosterone/day was sufficient to restore normal sodium and potassium balance in a group of rats fed an unsupplemented diet. Log doses of aldosterone (0.1-10 micrograms/day for 4 days) administered some days after adrenalectomy caused linear increases in the body weight of rats fed a sodium-supplemented diet (0.05 M-NaCl as drinking fluid) during 4 days of treatment. Increases in body weight correlated with renal sodium and water balance. When steroid treatment was started at the time of adrenalectomy, sodium balance was not significantly affected although rats treated with 1 microgram aldosterone/day ate more, drank less saline, produced a smaller volume of urine of greater osmolarity and gained more weight than controls. A dose of 100 micrograms 18-hydroxy-deoxycorticosterone/day had no significant effects. Fluid intake and urine volume were not significantly affected by 1 mg corticosterone/day but food intake, water balance and weight gain were greater than controls. Rats treated with both aldosterone and corticosterone showed a decrease in free water clearance. Aldosterone and corticosterone, both singly and in combination, reduced plasma potassium levels. Plasma sodium levels were only increased when aldosterone was administered on its own. Long-term steroid infusions have revealed more about the physiology of aldosterone action than could acute measurements of renal function. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
MUM1 expression does not differentiate primary cutaneous anaplastic large‐cell lymphoma and lymphomatoid papulosis

SIR, We read with interest the article entitled ‘MUM1 expression in cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders: a valuable tool for the distinction between lymphomatoid papulosis and primary cutaneous anaplastic large-cell lymphoma’ recently published in the British Journal of Dermatology. We have been reviewing and studying the cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders of the Canarian Primary Cutaneous Lymphoma Network. Clinical, demographic, morphological and immunohistochemical data were obtained from 21 selected cases. Futhermore, we examined the expression of MUM1 in these disorders to assess its value as a diagnostic marker, because of the two papers published recently with conflicting results. Twenty-one cases: 13 lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP), seven cutaneous anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (C-ALCL) and one secondary cutaneous anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (S-ALCL) were selected from the database of the Canarian Primary Cutaneous Lymphoma Network. All of them met diagnostic criteria according to the WHO–EORTC classification for cutaneous lymphomas. Clinical, demographic, morphological and immunohistochemical data were reviewed and studied. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens were analysed by immunohistochemistry with a monoclonal antibody against MUM1 (Dako, Glostrup, Denmark). Clinical, demographic, morphological and immunohistochemical results were similar to those in previously reported series. Positive staining for MUM1 was observed in 12 of 13 cases of LyP (92%), seven of seven C-ALCL (100%) and one of one S-ALCL (100%). In the study reported recently by Kempf et al., 13 of 15 LyP (87%) samples stained strongly positive for MUM1, while only two of 10 C-ALCL (20%) specimens did so. Conversely, Wasco et al. found strong expression of MUM1 in five of five cases of C-ALCL (100%) and in 19 of 19 LyP (100%). As regards the number of patients, our series of cases is similar to both series published. While our results are in agreement with those of Wasco et al., they do not agree with the results of Kempf et al. Therefore, MUM1 is not helpful in separating different types of CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders and we cannot consider MUM1 as a diagnostic marker between LyP and ALCL. Additional studies with larger groups of patients are necessary to confirm the final value of MUM1 in these disorders.
Ten Experiments on the Modeling of Polyphonic Timbre. (Dix Expériences sur la Modélisation du Timbre Polyphonique)

The majority of systems extracting high-level music descriptions from audio signals rely on a common, implicit model of the global sound or polyphonic timbre of a musical signal. This model represents the timbre of a texture as the long-term distribution of its local spectral features. The underlying assumption is rarely made explicit: the perception of the timbre of a texture is assumed to result from the most statistically significant feature windows. This thesis questions the validity of this assumption. To do so, we construct an explicit measure of the timbre similarity between polyphonic music textures, and variants thereof inspired by previous work in Music Information Retrieval. We show that the precision of such measures is bounded, and that the remaining error rate is not incidental. Notably, this class of algorithms tends to create false positives - which we call hubs - which are mostly always the same songs regardless of the query. Their study shows that the perceptual saliency of feature observations is not necessarily correlated with their statistical significance with respect to the global distribution. In other words, music listeners routinely “hear” things that are not statistically significant in musical signals, but rather are the result of high-level cognitive reasoning, which depends on cultural expectations, a priori knowledge, and context. Much of the music we hear as being “piano music” is really music that we expect to be piano music. Such statistical/ perceptual paradoxes are instrumental in the observed discrepancy between human perception of timbre and the models studied here.
Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Thymidine Kinase Mutants Created by Semi-Random Sequence Mutagenesis Improve Prodrug-mediated Tumor Cell Killing 1

Cancer suicide gene therapy affords the prospect of using the most optimal genes available because the source of the therapeutic gene is often irrelevant. Currently, there are numerous preclinical and clinical trials to develop tumor ablative therapies that use viral, yeast, or bacterial genes. One such gene, the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) thymidine kinase (TK) is widely used as a suicide gene in combination with ganciclovir. In the study reported here, a restricted set of random sequences (semirandom) was introduced into the active site of HSV-1 TK, and the resulting variants were selected on the basis of their ability to confer increased ganciclovir or acyclovir sensitivity toEscherichia coli. Sequence analysis demonstrated that functional mutants contained three to five amino acid substitutions that are unique and novel combinations. On the basis of enzyme assay results, three mutants were identified for further analysis in vitro. These three mutants conferred substantial increased sensitivity to both ganciclovir and acyclovir when compared with IC50s of wild-type TK expressing rat C6 glioma cells. One mutant, SR39, was further evaluated in a xenograft tumor model in nude mice. Expression of SR39 in tumors was shown to prevent tumor growth at prodrug dosages that did not affect wild-type HSV-1 TK-expressing tumors. The use of any of these mutants as a suicide gene should provide a more effective and safer alternative to wild-type TK, because lower, less immunosuppressive doses of ganciclovir will be necessary for tumor ablation, and the use of acyclovir may now be possible.
Prevalence and Self-Reported Medical History of Overweight in a Cardiac Stress Testing Population

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of overweight in a cardiac stress testing population, and the percentage of subjects who indicate a history of overweight. Methods: A total of 251 consecutive subjects presenting for cardiac stress testing in a 450-bed community hospital from June to September 2010 were asked to complete a survey booklet. The survey included all patients presenting for stress testing, regardless of indication. Participants were subjects, ages 18 or older, and male or female. Exclusion criteria were medical (eg, pain), psychiatric (eg, psychosis), or intellectual disturbances that would preclude the successful completion of a survey booklet. Results: Of the 251 participants 76.5% were overweight (BMI ≥25). Among the overweight participants, only 16.1% indicated a history of overweight. Conclusions: A high prevalence of overweight/obese individuals exists in a cardiac stress test population. A majority of overweight and obese patients did not indicate a history of overweight. These results indicate poor patient recognition and/or ineffective physician-to-patient education concerning unhealthy body weight. Greater and more effective efforts are needed to effectively educate patients about this modifiable risk factor for a myriad of health problems.
Carbon exchange of a mature, naturally regenerated pine forest in north Florida

We used eddy covariance and biomass measurements to quantify the carbon (C) dynamics of a naturally regenerated longleaf pine/slash pine flatwoods ecosystem in north Florida for 4 years, July 2000 to June 2002 and 2004 to 2005, to quantify how forest type, silvicultural intensity and environment influence stand‐level C balance. Precipitation over the study periods ranged from extreme drought (July 2000–June 2002) to above‐average precipitation (2004 and 2005). After photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), vapor pressure deficit (VPD) >1.5 kPa and air temperature <10 °C were important constraints on daytime half‐hourly net CO2 exchange (NEEday) and reduced the magnitude of midday CO2 exchange by >5 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1. Analysis of water use efficiency indicated that stomatal closure at VPD>1.5 kPa moderated transpiration similarly in both drought and wet years. Night‐time exchange (NEEnight) was an exponential function of air temperature, with rates further modulated by soil moisture. Estimated annual net ecosystem production (NEP) was remarkably consistent among the four measurement years (range: 158–192 g C m−2 yr−1). In comparison, annual ecosystem C assimilation estimates from biomass measurements between 2000 and 2002 ranged from 77 to 136 g C m−2 yr−1. Understory fluxes accounted for approximately 25–35% of above‐canopy NEE over 24‐h periods, and 85% and 27% of whole‐ecosystem fluxes during night and midday (11:00–15:00 hours) periods, respectively. Concurrent measurements of a nearby intensively managed slash pine plantation showed that annual NEP was three to four times greater than that of the Austin Cary Memorial Forest, highlighting the importance of silviculture and management in regulating stand‐level C budgets.
Augmentation for intratumoral accumulation and anti‐tumor activity of liposome‐encapsulated adriamycin by tumor necrosis factor‐α in mice

The effect of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor‐α (rhTNF‐α) on anti‐tumor activity of adriamycin entrapped in small unilamellar liposomes (ADM‐Lip) has been studied using BALB/c mice bearing subdermal Meth‐A fibrosarcoma. Accumulation of i. v. injected ADM‐Lip, but not of free ADM, into tumor tissue was augmented by a single i. v. injection of rhTNF‐α. The maximum effect of rhTNF‐α was expressed when it was injected 1 hr before ADM‐Lip. This rhTNF‐α treatment did not result in increased accumulation of ADM‐Lip in normal organs. Based on these results, we treated mice bearing Meth‐A tumor with rhTNF‐α and then with ADM‐Lip 1 hr later. By 2‐cycle treatments using this regimen, tumor growth was markedly inhibited, and 5 out of 13 mice tested were cured of tumor, while treatment with rhTNF‐α alone, ADM alone, ADM‐Lip alone or rhTNF‐α plus ADM resulted neither in prolongation of survival time nor in cure of mice. Our results indicate that ADM‐Lip can express a potent and systemic anti‐tumor activity after pretreatment of animals with TNF, but only when administration of these drugs is appropriately timed.
Monitoring Surfactant Concentrations in Surface Waters in Tricity Agglomeration

Studies were conducted to determine the concentration of anionic surfactants in selected waters in Tricity agglomeration (Gdansk, Gdynia, Sopot). Water samples were taken from November 2001 to May 2002. The total concentration of anionic surfactants in the environmental samples was determined by Methylene Blue Active Substances Method (MBAS). The concentration of anionic surfactants in the analyzed waters ranged from 5 to 150 μg/dm 3 . The highest surfactant content was observed in the Strzyza stream in Gdansk and the Kacza river in Gdynia. Less polluted were the Haffner stream in Sopot and the Oliwski stream in Gdansk.
The Combined and Relative Effect of Economic , Youth Nature and Society on Premarital Sexual Activities among Youth in Ikenne Local Government , Ogun State , Nigeria

The study examines the combined and relative effects of Economic, Nature and Society on Premarital sex. It made use of simple random technique in selecting 250 youths within Ikenne local government in Ogun State, Nigerian. The age range of the respondents was between 15 to 35 years with the mean age of 24.5 and standard deviation of 3.291. The ex-post-facto research design was employed. A 35 item; Youth Attitude towards Sexual Practices (YATSP) developed by the Researcher was used to generate data for the study. All the hypotheses data were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Data analysis involved the use of multiple regressions (backward), ANOVA and Pearson product moment Correlation. The result indicated in model 3, that the predictors’ variables accounted for 56.4% percent of the variation in premarital sexual activities. Each of the independent variables contributes significantly to the Premarital Sexual activities and a perfect positive correlation existed between Premarital Sexual activities and the three independent variables. Suggestions were made based on the outcome.
Crystal Structure of the 70 S Ribosome Bound with the Q 253 P Mutant Form of Release Factor RF 2

Natalia Santos,1 Jianyu Zhu,1,3 John Paul Donohue,1 Andrei A. Korostelev,2,* and Harry F. Noller1,* 1Center for Molecular Biology of RNA and Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA 2RNA Therapeutics Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA 3Present address: Cocrystal Discovery, Inc., Mountain View, CA 94043, USA *Correspondence: andrei.korostelev@umassmed.edu (A.A.K.), harry@nuvolari.ucsc. edu (H.F.N.) http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/j.str. 2013.04. 028