Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The roles of the polytopic membrane proteins NarK, NarU and NirC in Escherichia

 coli K‐12: two nitrate and three nitrite transporters

Two polytopic membrane proteins, NarK and NarU, are assumed to transport nitrite out of the Escherichia coli cytoplasm, but how nitrate enters enteric bacteria is unknown. We report the construction and use of four isogenic strains that lack nitrate reductase Z and the periplasmic nitrate reductase, but express all combinations of narK and narU. The active site of the only functional nitrate reductase, nitrate reductase A, is located in the cytoplasm, so nitrate reduction by these four strains is totally dependent upon a mechanism for importing nitrate. These strains were exploited to determine the roles of NarK and NarU in both nitrate and nitrite transport. Single mutants that lack either NarK or NarU were competent for nitrate‐dependent anaerobic growth on a non‐fermentable carbon source, glycerol. They transported and reduced nitrate almost as rapidly as the parental strain. In contrast, the narK–narU double mutant was defective in nitrate‐dependent growth unless nitrate transport was facilitated by the nitrate ionophore, reduced benzyl viologen (BV). It was also unable to catalyse nitrate reduction in the presence of physiological electron donors. Synthesis of active nitrate reductase A and the cytoplasmic, NADH‐dependent nitrite reductase were unaffected by the narK and narU mutations. The rate of nitrite reduction catalysed by the cytoplasmic, NADH‐dependent nitrite reductase by the double mutant was almost as rapid as that of the NarK+‐NarU+ strain, indicating that there is a mechanism for nitrite uptake by E. coli that is in‐dependent of either NarK or NarU. The nir operon encodes a soluble, cytoplasmic nitrite reductase that catalyses NADH‐dependent reduction of nitrite to ammonia. One additional component that contributes to nitrite uptake was shown to be NirC, the hydrophobic product of the third gene of the nir operon, which is predicted to be a polytopic membrane protein with six membrane‐spanning helices. Deletion of both NarK and NirC decreased nitrite uptake and reduction to a basal rate that was fully restored by a single chromosomal copy of either narK or nirC. A multicopy plasmid encoding NarU complemented a narK mutation for nitrite excretion, but not for nitrite uptake. We conclude that, in contrast to NirC, which transports only nitrite, NarK and NarU provide alternative mechanisms for both nitrate and nitrite transport. However, NarU might selectively promote nitrite ex‐cretion, not nitrite uptake.
The Dynamics of Agricultural Insurance and Consumption Smoothing

Most of the existing studies evaluating performance of market-based agricultural risk management instruments, are based on static, two-period models in which hedging or insurance is undertaken in the first period and all uncertainty is resolved in the second period. In reality, risk management decisions are undertaken in a multi-period, dynamic environment in which decisions in any period can affect outcomes in other periods. Once the modeling environment becomes truly dynamic, things can change substantially. This book focuses on interaction between farmer insurance decisions and their borrowing and saving decisions in a multi-period dynamic model. This type of interaction has not been comprehensively addressed in existing literature. In this book, a simple stochastic dynamic model is developed and solved for a risk-averse farmer using revenue insurance to manage risk and, also borrows and lends subject to a credit constraint. The analysis provides new insights into inter-temporal risk management behavior of farmers. It also suggests reasons why the effective demand for agricultural insurance may be much lower than that predicted by simple static models of agricultural insurance.
The associations between organisational performance, employee attitudes and human resource management practices: an empirical study of small businesses

Most research on the associations between organisational performance, employee attitudes and Human Resource Management (HRM) practices has adopted a theoretical framework that proposes that HRM practices lead to HR outcomes (e.g. job satisfaction, skills, etc.) which in turn affect organisational performance. Building on theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence from the fields of organisational psychology-performance and HRM-performance, this paper presents a study that develops and tests an alternative view of the association. This model depicts the influence of organisational performance on employee attitudes and the role of HRM practice as a mediator between the two. It was tested using data collected from employee surveys and management interviews in 32 small firms. The results suggest that employees in firms with better business performance have more positive attitudes towards three attitude measures (overall perceptions of work, job autonomy and the perceived link between reward and performance) and that the association between business performance and employee attitudes is partially mediated by HRM practices. The findings are discussed with respect to the nature of the complex performance-attitude-HRM relationship and their implications for management and future research
Initial Reliability and Validity of the Ohio State University TBI Identification Method

ObjectivesEvaluate the psychometric properties of indices of a lifetime history of traumatic brain injury (TBI). ParticipantsConvenience samples recruited from 2 treatment programs for persons with substance use disorders: N = 119 (study 1) and N = 103 (study 2) DesignTest interrater reliability (study 1) and predictive validity (Study 2). MeasuresSummary indices of the number, severity, timing, and effects of lifetime TBIs calculated from data elicited via a structured interview. ResultsInterrater reliability was high. Factor analysis showed indices could be characterized by severity weighted counts of the number of injuries, both lifetime and in childhood, number of symptoms persisting, worst injury, time since last TBI with loss of consciousness, and age at first TBI with loss of consciousness. Age at injury and symptoms persisting contributed independently to the prediction of common cognitive and behavioral consequences of TBI. ConclusionThese results provide preliminary support for the reliability and validity of summary indices of lifetime history of TBI elicited via a structured interview.
Validation of a novel robotic telepathology platform for neuropathology intraoperative touch preparations

Background: Robotic telepathology (RT) allows a remote pathologist to control and view a glass slide over the internet. This technology has been demonstrated to be effective on several platforms, but we present the first report on the validation of RT using the iScan Coreo Au whole slide imaging scanner. Methods: One intraoperative touch preparation slide from each of 100 cases were examined twice (200 total cases) using glass slides and RT, with a 3 week washout period between viewings, on two different scanners at two remote sites. This included 75 consecutive neuropathology cases and 25 consecutive general surgical pathology cases. Interpretations were compared using intraobserver variability. Results: Of the 200 total cases, one failed on RT. There were 47 total interpretive variances. Most of these were the result of less specific interpretations or an inability to identify scant diagnostic material on RT. Nine interpretive variances had potentially significant clinical implications (4.5%). Using the final diagnosis as a basis for comparison to evaluate these nine cases, three RT interpretations and three glass slide interpretations were considered to be discrepant. In the other three cases, both modalities were discrepant. This distribution of discrepancies indicates that underlying case difficulty, not the RT technology, probably accounts for these major variances. For the subset of 68 neoplastic neuropathology cases, the unweighted kappa of agreement between glass slides and RT was 0.68 (good agreement). RT took 225 s on average versus only 71 s per glass slide. Conclusions: This validation demonstrates that RT using the iScan Coreo Au system is a reasonable method for supplying remote neuropathology expertise for the intraoperative interpretation of touch preparations, but is limited by the slowness of the robotics, crude focusing, and the challenge of determining where to examine the slide using small thumbnail images.
Lack of reproducibility of macrodilution MBCs for Staphylococcus aureus

MBCs of methicillin, oxacillin, penicillin G, cephalothin, vancomycin, and gentamicin were determined by a standard broth macrodilution technique for 101 clinical isolates of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. Increased killing (more than 99.9%) was observed after 48 versus 24 h of incubation for many strains, and cross tolerance to antimicrobial bactericidal activity (less than 99.9% killing) was frequently observed among antimicrobial agents. However, these in vitro measurements of bactericidal activity against S. aureus were not reproducible.
Intraday return, volatility and liquidity : an investigation of the market microstructure of the Chinese stock market

This thesis examines the characteristics of market microstructure on the Chinese stock exchanges (the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange). Analysis is based on using intraday 5-minute data covering a three-year period (2000 to 2002). The study focuses on empirical analysis and statistical testing of the Chinese stock market in three parts. In the first part (Chapter 3), I study the behaviour of intraday returns and return volatility. The statistical properties and systematic characteristics of intraday returns and return volatility of the Shanghai Composite Index and the Shenzhen Component Index are explored. Several parametric and non-parametric tests are used to investigate if there are systematic patterns in the Chinese stock market. Overall findings indicate that the Chinese stock market returns data is non-normal and has a fat-tailed distribution. The intraday returns broadly follow a U-shaped pattern (Wood, McInish and Ord, 1985) while the volatility of returns broadly follows an Lshaped pattern (Tang and Lui, 2002). Examinations by subperiods, wider and finer than 5-minute data, indicate that there exist intraday variations for each subperiod, and each 1-minute and 10-minute period, which are consistent with the intraday 5minute return characteristics. The results also provide the evidence that the return variance in the active trading period (open-to-close) of the stock market is larger than
Venous Sinus Stenting in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: Results of a Prospective Trial

Background: Our goal was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of stenting of venous sinus stenosis (VSS) in patients with medically-refractory, medically-intolerant or fulminant idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) in a prospective, observational study. Methods: Thirteen patients with IIH who were refractory or intolerant to medical therapy or who presented with fulminant visual field (VF) loss underwent stenting of VSS at the transverse-sinus sigmoid sinus junction, using a Precise Pro carotid stent system (Cordis). Inclusion criteria included papilledema-related VF loss with mean deviation (MD) worse than or equal to −6.00 dB, elevated opening pressure (OP) on lumbar puncture (LP), VSS (either bilateral or unilateral in a dominant sinus), and an elevated (≥8 mm Hg) trans-stenotic gradient (TSG). The main outcome measures were pre- to post-stent change in symptoms related to intracranial hypertension, MD (in dB) on automated (Humphrey) VFs, grade of papilledema (1–5), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness as measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), TSG (mm Hg), and OP on LP (cm H20). Results: Improvement or resolution of headaches occurred in 84.7% of patients, pulse-synchronous tinnitus in 100%, diplopia in 100%, and transient visual obscuration in 100%. Out of 26 eyes, 21 showed an improvement in MD, with an average improvement of +5.40 dB. Of 24 eyes with initial papilledema, 20 showed an improvement in Frisen grade, (mean change in grade of 1.90). Of 23 eyes undergoing SD-OCT, 21 (91.3%) demonstrated a reduction in RNFL thickness, with a poststent mean thickness of 90.48 &mgr;m. Mean change in OP was −20 cm H2O (reduction in mean from 42 to 22 cm H20) with all subjects demonstrating a reduction, although a second stenting procedure was necessary in one patient. Complications of the stenting procedure included one small, self-limited retroperitoneal hemorrhage, transient head or pelvic pain, and one allergic reaction to contrast. No serious adverse events occurred. Conclusions: Stenting of VSS is safe and results in reduction of intracranial pressure in patients with IIH. This is associated with improvement in papilledema, RNFL thickness, VF parameters, and symptoms associated with intracranial hypertension.
Cause marketing communications: : consumer inference on attitudes towards brand and cause

Purpose – This study aims to investigate the effects of type of message (information/buy), the moderating effects of fit (high/low) and salience (brand vs cause) and the mediating effects of attributions of partner motives in cause marketing advertisements. Design/methodology/approach – Two experiments, one with students and the second with a more representative sample of the population were used to investigate the effects. ANOVA and structural equation modeling were used to test the relationships. Findings – Fit and salience were found to be key moderators on the effect of type of message on consumer responses. While brands can use a buy message when they are salient, this benefits them only when fit is high. For informational messages, cause salience leads to positive outcomes, especially when fit is low. Further, consumer attributions of partner motives mediate responses to the advertisement. Research limitations/implications – Type of message is an important variable that needs to be selected with car.
Risk abatement as a strategy for R&D investments in family firms

The behavioral agency model suggests family firms invest less in R&D than nonfamily firms to protect their socioemotional wealth. Studies support this contention but do not explain how family firms make R&D investments. We hypothesize that when performance exceeds aspirations, family firms manage socioemotional and economic objectives by making exploitative R&D investments that lead to more reliable and less risky sales levels. However, performance below aspirations leads to exploratory R&D investments that result in potentially higher but less reliable sales levels. Using a risk abatement model, our analyses of 847 firms over 10 years supports our hypotheses. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of magnesium chloride on cardiovascular hemodynamics in the neurally intact dog.

To assess the cardiovascular actions of magnesium in neurally intact animals, magnesium chloride (1-4 mM/min) administered i.v. , producing a peak arterial magnesium level between 4.7 and 7.2 mg/dl, was given to alpha-chloralose-anesthetized, open-chest dogs. Magnesium lowered heart rate by 36 +/- 11 beats/min (P less than .05), cardiac output by 0.7 +/- 0.2 liters/min (P less than .05), left ventricular (LV) peak dP/dt by 410 +/- 96 mm Hg/sec (P less than .05) and aortic and pulmonary artery pressures, but it did not change LV end-diastolic pressure, systemic resistance or pulmonary resistance. Coronary blood flow also decreased by 39 +/- 11% (P less than .05), myocardial oxygen consumption by 88 +/- 22% (P less than .05) and myocardial oxygen extraction by 53 +/- 16% (P less than .05). When heart rate was held constant, magnesium still decreased LV systolic pressure, LV peak dP/dt and coronary blood flow. The increase in serum magnesium was accompanied by an increase in serum calcium (by 1.4 +/- 0.2 mg/dl; P less than .05) and a fall in serum potassium (by 0.21 +/- 0.1 mEq/l), but not by a change in serum sodium, myocardial electrolyte arteriovenous differences or arterial pH. Thus, at blood concentrations that are observed in humans after therapeutic dosages of magnesium, a depression of cardiac performance is observed in the anesthetized dog. Although magnesium produces a fall in coronary blood flow, this appears to be due at least in part to a decrease in myocardial oxygen requirements because myocardial oxygen extraction also decreases. Rapid changes in serum electrolytes accompany these hemodynamic effects.
Family Ownership, Agency Problems, Corporate Governance and Acquiring Firm Shareholder Wealth: Evidence from Acquisitions of New Economy Firms

Considerable academic research documents wealth destruction following mergers and acquisitions. The last decade has seen an unprecedented level of merger activity, in particular involving new economy firms. Prior studies (Kohers and Kohers 2000; 2001) suggest that high-tech M&A are associated with the payment of large premiums and involve target firms with high growth potential but with high risk. We investigate the shareholder wealth implications of high-tech M&A undertaken by Canadian firms over the period 1997-2006. We examine the relationship between ownership structure, agency problems, corporate governance, deal characteristics and acquiring firm performance. Canada offers an interesting setting given ownership is highly concentrated like in many countries with dominant family shareholdings. Some argue (e.g., Morck and Yeung 2004, 2005) that family firms are less likely to undertake optimal investment decisions or creative destructionism so as to maintain the benefits of concentrated ownership. Using the Villonga and Amit (2006) framework, we examine not only the impact of family ownership but contrast two potential agency conflicts, the conflict between shareholders and professional managers (Agency problem 1) and the conflict between large and small investors via control enhancing mechanisms such as multiple class voting shares and pyramids (Agency problem 2). First, we document positive announcement period abnormal returns for new economy deals. Second, we find a positive relationship between both family and institutional ownership and acquiring firm performance. Third, we show that the conflict between shareholders and professional managers (Agency problem 1) has a detrimental impact on announcement period abnormal returns whereas the conflict between large and small investors via control enhancing mechanisms (Agency problem 2) does not. However, the presence of both agency problems has a negative impact on shareholder wealth. Fourth, abnormal returns are higher during the boom years of 1997-2000 but lower for deals involving acquiring firms with large boards, deals involving publicly listed targets and deals involving acquirers with higher market to book ratios.
Resource requirements and costs of developing and delivering MOOCs

Given the ongoing alarm regarding uncontrollable costs of higher education, it would be reasonable to expect not only concern about the impact of MOOCs on educational outcomes, but also systematic efforts to document the resources expended on their development and delivery. However, there is little publicly available information on MOOC costs that is based on rigorous analysis. In this article, we first address what institutional resources are required for the development and delivery of MOOCs, based on interviews conducted with 83 administrators, faculty members, researchers, and other actors in the MOOCspace. Subsequently, we use the ingredients method to present cost analyses of MOOC production and delivery at four institutions. We find costs ranging from $38,980 to $325,330 per MOOC, and costs per completer of $74-$272, substantially lower than costs per completer of regular online courses, by merit of scalability. Based on this metric, MOOCs appear more cost-effective than online courses, but we recommend judging MOOCs by impact on learning and caution that they may only be cost-effective for the most self-motivated learners. By demonstrating the methods of cost analysis as applied to MOOCs, we hope that future assessments of the value of MOOCs will combine both cost information and effectiveness data to yield cost-effectiveness ratios that can be compared with the cost-effectiveness of alternative modes of education delivery. Such information will help decision-makers in higher education make rational decisions regarding the most productive use of limited educational resources, to the benefit of both learners and taxpayers.
Examining the endurance of the balanced scorecard

PAUL R. NIVEN is a management consultant and noted speaker on the subjects of Performance Management and the Balanced Scorecard. As both a practitioner and consultant, he has developed successful Performance Management systems for large and small clients in a wide variety of organizations, including Fortune 1000 companies, public sector, and not-for-profit. He can be reached through his Web site at www.primerusconsulting. com.
Study of ultrafiltration of defatted whey protein concentrates (WPC) withdrawn from an industrial plant

Summary - This study deals with the ultrafiltration (UF) of defatted c1arified whey protein concentrates (WPC) using inorganic MS Carbosep membranes. Based on a prior knowledge of operating conditions and performance of an industrial 4-stage UF plant (150 m2), an experimental laboratbry study was carried out using a monotube rig (2.26 x 10-2 m2) and feed withdrawn from the industrial plant. Flux (J) versus transmembrane pressure (TP) has shown that membrane permeability is significantly improved after defatting clarification (thermocalcic treatment followed by microfiltration). Moreover, no marked limiting fluxes were noted, particularly over a sufficient tangential flow-rate (4.5 or 5.5 m.s-1), so that the membrane could operate at higher fluxes. UF at fluxes equal to those performed by the equipment have confirmed the forecast. Four fouling regimes have been found, which depend on flux, protein concentration, tangential flow rate and the nature of the fouling components (protein adsorption; insoluble salt precipitates on and in the membrane). Reversible phenomena are the major contributors to pressure increase at constant flux but irreversible fouling, Rif, and its alteration rate determine either the stability of UF operating conditions or their divergence which result in an increasingly rapid TP. ultrafiltration 1 defatted whey protein concentrate 1 fouling 1 tangential flow rate 1 inorganic membrane
Synchronous latency-insensitive design for multiple clock domain

Modern system-on-chip designs often require multiple clock frequencies. On the other hand, global interconnects suffer large delays. This paper proposes a method that manages these two problems within the framework of conventional synchronous design flow. The design is partitioned into isochronous blocks already at behavioral level, where each block is synchronous using a local clock. The local clock frequencies are assumed related by rational numbers. Communication between blocks is managed with FIFOs at each receiver, which manage different clock frequencies and hide unknown delays or clock skews. This method guarantees clock true implementation of a clock true behavioral description utilizing a predefined block-to-block latency.
Virus-induced diabetes mellitus. V. Biological differences between the M variant and other strains of encephalomyocarditis virus

The M variant of encephalomyocarditis virus is very closely related serologically to five other strains of encephalomyocarditis virus. Despite the serological relationship, these five viruses differ markedly from the M variant in their tissue tropisms and only the M variant infects beta cells of the pancreas, producing diabetes.