Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mechanistic Aspects of Folded Protein Transport by the Twin Arginine Translocase (Tat)*

The twin arginine translocase (Tat) transports folded proteins of widely varying size across ionically tight membranes with only 2–3 components of machinery and the proton motive force. Tat operates by a cycle in which the receptor complex combines with the pore-forming component to assemble a new translocase for each substrate. Recent data on component and substrate organization in the receptor complex and on the structure of the pore complex inform models for translocase assembly and translocation. A translocation mechanism involving local transient bilayer rupture is discussed.
Islamic banks board independence and its relation to performance in GCC countries

This study aims to investigate the impact of board independence on performance of Islamic Banks in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The study used panel data of 30 Islamic banks for the period (2012-2014) from Bahrain bourse, Saudi stock exchange 'Tadawal', Abu Dhabi securities exchange and Dubai financial market, Kuwait stock exchange, Qatar stock exchange and Muscat securities market. The study also used several econometric techniques to confirm its results such as fixed-effect panel data regression. The study found that there is an inverse effect of board independence on Islamic banks performance which was measured using: ROA and ROE.
Strengthening Ghana’s Downstream Petroleum Deregulation Regime: A Review of the 2016 CBOD Industry Report.

This paper reviews the operations of the oil downstream sector in Ghana by appraising the industry report for 2016. It identifies some challenges of the sector and proffer solutions to ameliorate them. Among the recommendations include the payment of BDC debt by government and OMCs to create enough fiscal space to enhance their operations.
Human pancreatic carcinoma (mia paca‐2) in continuous culture: Sensitivity to asparaginase

An undifferentiated human pancreatic carcinoma has been established in continuous culture and is grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium fortified with 10% fetal calf serum and 2.5% horse serum. The established cell line (MIA PaCa‐2) has a doulbing time of 40 h. The cells are large with abundant cytoplasm, exhibit a high degree of aneuploidy and have a tendency to grow on top of other cells. MIA PaCa‐2 grows in soft agar with a colony‐forming efficiency of 19%. Both MIA PaCa‐2 cells and a cell line from another pancreatic carcinoma obtained from National Cancer Institute (NCI) are sensitive to asparaginase, a property not shared by several other human tumor cell lines tested.
System pomiaru dokonań: diagnoza rozwiązań stosowanych w polskich przedsiębiorstwach

Cel – prezentacja wynikow przeprowadzonej diagnozy stosowanych rozwiązan w zakresie systemu pomiaru dokonan, ocena poziomu ich zaawansowania i zgodności z potrzebami zarządzania strategicznego przedsiebiorstwa. Metodologia badania – badanie ankietowe zrealizowane metodą CATI w roku 2012 i 2014 na probie 300 przedsiebiorstw kazde, dobranych w sposob nieproporcjonalny z bazy REGON. W celu zapewnienia reprezentatywności przeprowadzonego badania opracowane zostaly wagi analityczne pozwalające odnieśc wyniki przeprowadzonego badania na ogol polskich przedsiebiorstw. Wyniki przeprowadzonego badania zostaly opracowane statystycznie. Wynik – diagnoza stosowanych rozwiązan w systemie pomiaru dokonan w przedsiebiorstwach polskich i ich ocena z punktu widzenia poziomu ich zaawansowania oraz potrzeb w zakresie zarządzania strategicznego umozliwia charakterystyke systemow funkcjonujących w Polsce. Zauwazono wystepowanie luki pomiedzy stosowanymi rozwiązaniami pomiaru dokonan w praktyce przedsiebiorstw polskich a tymi, ktore proponowane są w teorii, czy opisywanymi w ramach najlepszych praktyk. Najistotniejszą roznicą jest miedzy innymi koncentracja podmiotow na czynnikach finansowych, ktore czesto nie są powiązane ze strategią jednostki. Oryginalnośc/wartośc – przedstawione w artykule wyniki badania systemu pomiaru dokonan są kompleksowym opracowaniem, poniewaz uwzgledniono w nim i poddano ocenie pelen zestaw cech określających system pomiaru dokonan. Przyjete wagi analityczne pozwolily odnieśc wyniki przeprowadzonego badania na ogol polskich przedsiebiorstw, co nadaje im szerszy, krajowy wymiar.
Semiglobalization: Institutional Effects on Multilatina Cross-Border Acquisitions

The internationalization research domain has predominantly focused on country level antecedents of firm level decisions, with particular emphasis on why certain countries are selected over others for foreign direct investment (FDI). This approach may oversimplify what actually occurs from both practical and research perspectives. Recently, MNE strategic orientation and conduct, as an outflow of a region-based localization perspective (i.e.,semiglobalization), has gained increased scholarly attention. The tradition of considering country level institutional environments may be more robustly informed by extending a paradigm which considers region-based institutions, in addition to country. Thus, in this study I examine institutional effects, as underpinned by institutional theory, on one segment of FDI decision making, cross-border acquisitions behavior, in an understudied context, Latin American MNEs (i.e., Multilatinas). Linear and mixed regression are used to test hypotheses, by examining a sample of all Multilatina CBAs exacted over a five year period (2007-2011)in targeting host country firms within eight geographic regions. Multilevel study results provide overarching support for hypotheses, that a Multilatina's internationalization into a country and region through cross-border acquisition equity participation is influenced by both country and region institutional environments. Contributions are made to the semiglobalization, cross-border acquisitions, institutions, and Multilatina literature streams through development of a more robust, multilevel perspective which more accurately captures how MNEs consider institutional environments in their international strategy and conduct.
Neural mechanisms of spatial tactile discrimination: neural patterns evoked by braille‐like dot patterns in the monkey.

1. The experiments reported here were designed to investigate the responses of cutaneous mechanoreceptive afferents to spatially configured dot patterns scanned across the skin. Braille‐like patterns were selected because the discrimination of Braille characters must depend on spatial patterning rather than some other facet of the afferent discharge. 2. A multifactorial experimental design was used in which each afferent fibre was studied using every combination of six dot patterns, two dot sizes, two dot spacings, two contact forces and two scanning velocities. Two other factors, scanning direction relative to the skin ridges and intermittent versus continuous scanning, were studied. 3. Beside the general question concerning the response properties of the mechanoreceptive afferents, three major questions were addressed here. (i) What is the critical spatial dimension at which neural spatial patterning breaks down and below which tactual discrimination must depend on facets of the afferent discharge other than spatial neural patterning? (ii) Which mechanoreceptive population sets this critical dimension? (iii) Why is tactual discrimination enhanced by lateral scanning? 4. The results presented here suggest that the critical dimension, below which spatial neural patterning breaks down, is of the order of 1.0 mm and that the slowly adapting (SA) afferent fibres are responsible for this limit. 5. At dimensions above approximately 1.0 mm the spatial contrast between peaks and troughs in the SA discharge is markedly enhanced during scanning. When the skin is stationary the discharge rates in the SA population drop rapidly to low levels. A second possible reason for enhanced tactual discrimination during scanning is related to the increased spatiotemporal information in a coherent pattern of neural activity moving across a discrete population of afferent fibres. 6. The effects of variations in conduction velocity are analysed and it is shown that they place serious constraints on the transmission of spatiotemporal information.
Pyrethroids and Nectar Toxins Have Subtle Effects on the Motor Function, Grooming and Wing Fanning Behaviour of Honeybees (Apis mellifera)

Sodium channels, found ubiquitously in animal muscle cells and neurons, are one of the main target sites of many naturally-occurring, insecticidal plant compounds and agricultural pesticides. Pyrethroids, derived from compounds found only in the Asteraceae, are particularly toxic to insects and have been successfully used as pesticides including on flowering crops that are visited by pollinators. Pyrethrins, from which they were derived, occur naturally in the nectar of some flowering plant species. We know relatively little about how such compounds—i.e., compounds that target sodium channels—influence pollinators at low or sub-lethal doses. Here, we exposed individual adult forager honeybees to several compounds that bind to sodium channels to identify whether these compounds affect motor function. Using an assay previously developed to identify the effect of drugs and toxins on individual bees, we investigated how acute exposure to 10 ng doses (1 ppm) of the pyrethroid insecticides (cyfluthrin, tau-fluvalinate, allethrin and permethrin) and the nectar toxins (aconitine and grayanotoxin I) affected honeybee locomotion, grooming and wing fanning behaviour. Bees exposed to these compounds spent more time upside down and fanning their wings. They also had longer bouts of standing still. Bees exposed to the nectar toxin, aconitine, and the pyrethroid, allethrin, also spent less time grooming their antennae. We also found that the concentration of the nectar toxin, grayanotoxin I (GTX), fed to bees affected the time spent upside down (i.e., failure to perform the righting reflex). Our data show that low doses of pyrethroids and other nectar toxins that target sodium channels mainly influence motor function through their effect on the righting reflex of adult worker honeybees.
Application of Forensic Auditing in Reduding Fraud Cases in Nigeria Money Deposit Banks

The study examines the application of forensic auditing in fraud control in Nigerian banks. Nigerian banks over the past decades suffered from the menace of frauds which resulted to distresses and liquidations which hamper the roles of banks in the economy. The external auditors failed to detect the frauds in the course of carrying out their work. Regulatory evidences have shown that bank frauds increase on daily basis. Analysis of the types of frauds and forgeries perpetrated show that the most common types are: ATM fraud; fraudulent transfers/withdrawals; internet banking; lodgement of stolen warrant; presentation of forged cheques; suppression of customer deposit. The study analysed the trend in fraud cases from 2001-2012, included are the amounts involved in frauds, the most frequent types of fraud, and the losses sustained by banks. The descriptive analysis revealed that there are up and down movements in fraud cases. Since banks continually lose huge sums of money as a result of the inability of the auditors and the supervisory regulators to curtail the trend, there is therefore the need to devise different means of tackling frauds in the banks. The study therefore suggests employment of forensic auditing in Nigerian banks by amending the existing statutes, in such a way that forensic auditors are included in the audit team. Through this, auditors will have more tools to effectively deal with challenges in detecting fraud.
Internal Hexa-Band Folded Monopole/Dipole/Loop Antenna With Four Resonances for Mobile Device

A fold monopole/dipole/loop antenna offers unique advantages over a conventional Planar Inverted-F Antenna (PIFA) and monopole antenna for a mobile cellular device. Perhaps the most significant benefit is the fact that up to three resonant modes could be generated in a single continuous loop structure. In this paper, a novel hexa-band internal folded monopole/dipole/loop antenna has been proposed. The proposed antenna has four resonances in which three of them are 0. 5λ , 1λ and 1. 5λ modes. The distinctive feature of the antenna is an extra 2λ folded dipole mode, which has not been reported so far, is excited and utilized. All these four modes can be employed to cover the Low LTE700/GSM850/900 Band (LB: 698-960 MHz) and the High GSM1850/1900/UMTS2100 Band (HB: 1710-2170 MHz). The proposed loop antenna has been simulated, prototyped and tested. It is shown that the numerically simulated results are in close agreement with the experimental prototype results and proved that the antenna operates as proposed.
On the Competitive and Collaborative Implications of Category Captainship

Category captainship (CC) is a retailing practice wherein a retailer collaborates with one of the manufacturers in a product category (referred to as the captain) to develop and implement a category management strategy. Although CC has been studied using both theoretical models and surveys, empirical evidence on the benefits and drawbacks of CC is scarce. The authors use a unique data set collected during a CC implementation to empirically examine the impact of CC on the retailer, the captain, and the other manufacturers in the category. The authors find that both the retailer's private label and the captain benefit from CC because of pricing and assortment changes. They also find that some competing manufacturers benefit from CC while others suffer. Specifically, the manufacturers that closely compete with the captain benefit, whereas the manufacturers that are in close competition with the private label suffer because the retailer protects its private label. The authors show that category sales would have been higher if the retailer had not protected its private label. This study sheds light on how joint consideration of assortment and pricing, the presence of a private label, and product characteristics may influence the outcomes of CC implementations.
Aqueous humor flow in normal human eyes treated with brimonidine and timolol, alone and in combination.

OBJECTIVE To compare the effect on aqueous humor flow and intraocular pressure (IOP) of topically applied 0.2% brimonidine tartrate with topically administered 0.5% timolol maleate, alone and in combination. DESIGN A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study of 20 human subjects was carried out. The topical drugs were instilled twice daily the day before and again on the morning of the day of the measurements. Aqueous humor flow was measured by clearance of topically applied fluorescein with a fluorophotometer, and IOP was measured with an applanation tonometer. RESULTS Brimonidine reduced the aqueous humor flow by 33.1%; timolol, by 49.9%; and the combination of brimonidine and timolol, by 58.9%. Brimonidine reduced the IOP by 20.3%; timolol, by 22.9%; and the combination of brimonidine and timolol, by 34.7%. CONCLUSIONS Brimonidine suppressed aqueous humor flow, but not as effectively as timolol. However, the effects on the IOP of both drugs separately were comparable. The short-term effect of brimonidine was partly additive to timolol, and the combination treatment caused a further reduction in aqueous humor flow and IOP. The IOP reduction by timolol could be explained solely by aqueous humor flow reduction. Much of the IOP reduction caused by brimonidine, but not all, could be explained by suppression of the aqueous humor flow, suggesting an additional mechanism for the ocular hypotensive effect of brimonidine.
Fluoride Analysis in Nanoliter- and Microliter-size Fluid Samples

A variety of techniques is described for measuring fluoride in volumes of from 0.005 to 5 μL, including: (1) micropipette procedures for transference and dilution of samples, (2) construction of miniature and micro fluoride-selective electrodes, and (3) methods for adapting standard electrodes for micro- and semi-micro volumes. These described techniques have a number of advantages, including speed of analysis, high accuracy, and adaptability to many types of fluid samples. Recent studies involving use of these procedures include the analysis of fluoride in: (I) plaque fluid samples from single sites before and after topical fluoride administration, (2) tooth mineral samples recovered by acid-etch or microdrill biopsy of enamel, and (3) fluid recovered from the interior of the tooth during simulation of the caries process.
The CXCR1 and CXCR2 Receptors Form Constitutive Homo- and Heterodimers Selectively and with Equal Apparent Affinities*

Both homo- and heterodimeric interactions between the CXCR1 and CXCR2 chemokine receptors were observed following co-expression of forms of these receptors in HEK293 cells using assays, including co-immunoprecipitation, single cell imaging of fluorescence resonance energy transfer, cell surface time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer, and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer. These interactions were constitutive and unaffected by the presence of the agonist interleukin 8 and selective as no significant interactions were noted between either the CXCR1 or CXCR2 receptor and the α1A-adrenoreceptor. Saturation bioluminescence resonance energy transfer indicated that heteromeric interactions between CXCR1 and CXCR2 were of similar affinity as the corresponding homomeric interactions. A novel endoplasmic reticulum trapping strategy demonstrated that these interactions were initiated during protein synthesis and maturation and prior to cell surface delivery. These studies indicated that CXCR1-CXCR2 heterodimers are as likely to form in cells co-expressing these two chemokine receptors as the corresponding homodimers and stand in contrast to previous studies indicating an inability of the CXCR1 receptor to homodimerize or to interact with the CXCR2 receptor (Trettel, F., Di Bartolomeo, S., Lauro, C., Catalano, M., Ciotti, M. T., and Limatola, C. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 40980-40988).
Effects of Invasive Eastern Redcedar on Capture Rates of Nicrophorus americanus and Other Silphidae

Abstract Because of fire suppression and improper land management, native eastern redcedar, Juniperus virginiana L. , is invading many grassland areas. Among these areas are the Loess Canyons of southeastern Lincoln County, NE, which support a large population of the federally endangered American burying beetle, Nicrophorus americanus Olivier. In the past 30 yr, cedar encroachment has covered >30% of this landscape and is increasing at a rate of 2% per year. The effects of cedar trees on remaining populations of American burying beetle are currently unknown. In this study, we sampled two sites in Lincoln County, NE, by placing paired baited pitfall traps (N = 16) in cedar-dominated and open grassland habitats during June and August 2004 and 2005. We collected significantly more Silphidae, including American burying beetle in open habitats. All American burying beetle were marked and released. The recapture rate of these beetles was two times higher in cedar sites than in open sites. Among the Silphidae, only Nicrophorus orbicollis Say was collected significantly more often in cedar areas. The results of this study indicate that cedars reduce numbers of most silphid species, likely by limiting their ability to forage for carrion, a required resource for feeding and reproduction. This is the first study to directly examine the impact of cedar on Silphidae, and our results have important implications in the Great Plains and beyond. However, future studies must examine the impacts of cedar management, including mechanical control or prescribed fire, on American burying beetle and other silphid species.
Immunogenicity and safety of an HIV-1 lipopeptide vaccine in healthy adults: a phase 2 placebo-controlled ANRS trial

Background:French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis's HIV-LIPO-5 vaccine includes five HIV-1 peptides, containing multiple CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell epitopes and coupled to a palmitoyl tail. Whether HIV-LIPO-5 immunogenicity varies with the dose is unknown. Methods:HIV-negative volunteers were randomized to receive HIV-LIPO-5 vaccine at 50 μg/lipopeptide (N = 32), 150 μg/lipopeptide (N = 32), 500 μg/lipopeptide (N = 33) or placebo (N = 34) at weeks 0, 4, 12 and 24. HIV-1-specific CD8+ (interferon-γ ELISpot on peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured for 12 days) and CD4+ responses (peripheral blood mononuclear cell lymphoproliferation) were assessed at baseline, after each injection and at week 48. Results:Local reactions were dose-dependent but no differences in systemic reactions appeared between groups. Sustained (at least on two separate occasions) CD8+ response rates to at least one given HIV-1 pool were obtained in 22 of 32 (69%), 21 of 33 (64%) and 21 of 34 (62%) individuals for LIPO-5 50, 150 and 500 groups, respectively (P ≤ 0.0001 for all comparisons to the placebo). Cumulative CD4+ response rates were obtained in 15 of 32 (47%), 18 of 33 (55%) and 15 of 34 (44%) individuals (P < 0.0001 for all comparisons to placebo). At week 48, CD8+ responses persisted in 47 of 91 (52%) HIV-LIPO-5 recipients. Conclusion:Doses of 50, 150 and 500 μg of French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis's HIV-LIPO-5 vaccine were able to elicit HIV-specific sustained CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses in healthy adults. Safety is good and all doses appear appropriate in further ‘prime-boost’ trials.
THE EFFECT OF NITRIC OXIDE ON MOUSE PRE-IM PLANTATION EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT AND APOPTOSIS

Clinical studies have shown that in pathological conditions such as endometriosis and reproductive tract infection (male and female) there is an activation status of macrophages that produce large quantities of nitric oxide (NO) in addition to other effector molec ules. Large amounts of NO may have embryotoxic roles and produce infertility. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of NO on mouse pre-implantation embryo development in vitro. Mouse embryos (2-cell stage) were cultured in media containing different concentrations of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an NO donor, or L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an NO syntase (NOS) inhibitor. At the end of culture, cell apoptosis was studied by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase -mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) technique. The results showed that development of preimplantation embryos were inhibited by high concentration of SNP (1 and 10 μM). In contrast, 0.1 μM of SNP stimulated the embryo development. Similarly, the inhibition of NO by NOS inhibitor resulted in the dose -dependent inhibition of embryo development, but the addition of 0.1 μM SNP with L-NAME reversed the inhibitory effect of L-NAME. TUNEL technique showed that high concentration of NO could induce apoptosis in the embryo, but at low concentration, it decreased apoptotic cell death. Iran. Biomed. J. 7 (3): 107-111, 2003