Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Heat Shock Factor A4A Confers Salt Tolerance and Is Regulated by Oxidative Stress and the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases MPK3 and MPK61[C][W][OPEN]

An Arabidopsis Heat Shock Factor affects tolerance to salt as well as other abiotic stresses, forms homodimers dependent on the redox regulation, interacts with MAP kinases, and alters the expression of a large set of stress-induced genes. Heat shock factors (HSFs) are principal regulators of plant responses to several abiotic stresses. Here, we show that estradiol-dependent induction of HSFA4A confers enhanced tolerance to salt and oxidative agents, whereas inactivation of HSFA4A results in hypersensitivity to salt stress in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Estradiol induction of HSFA4A in transgenic plants decreases, while the knockout hsfa4a mutation elevates hydrogen peroxide accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Overexpression of HSFA4A alters the transcription of a large set of genes regulated by oxidative stress. In yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays, HSFA4A shows homomeric interaction, which is reduced by alanine replacement of three conserved cysteine residues. HSFA4A interacts with mitogen-activated protein kinases MPK3 and MPK6 in yeast and plant cells. MPK3 and MPK6 phosphorylate HSFA4A in vitro on three distinct sites, serine-309 being the major phosphorylation site. Activation of the MPK3 and MPK6 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway led to the transcriptional activation of the HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN17.6A gene. In agreement that mutation of serine-309 to alanine strongly diminished phosphorylation of HSFA4A, it also strongly reduced the transcriptional activation of HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN17.6A. These data suggest that HSFA4A is a substrate of the MPK3/MPK6 signaling and that it regulates stress responses in Arabidopsis.
Trading Venue and Voluntary Earnings Disclosure: The NYSE Specialist Market Versus the NASDAQ Dealer Market

We investigate whether managers' disclosure decisions about earnings forecasts, and price responses to these forecasts, are related to the type of exchange on which their firm's equity is listed: the NYSE specialist market v. the NASDAQ dealer market. After controlling for postulated determinants of voluntary disclosure and exchange listing, we find not only that firms traded on the NYSE market are more likely to disclose earnings but that these firms enjoy higher price responses to each unit of unexpected future earnings information. Our results obtain for firms that moved from the NASDAQ to the NYSE. These results imply that the marginal benefits to disclosure are higher on the specialist market. They are further consistent with previous evidence that adverse selection components of spreads are higher on the NYSE than on the NASDAQ (see Affleck-Graves, Hedge, and Miller (1994), among others). The findings uncovered in this paper also accord with the notion that, even with full disclosure, a monopolistic specialist can extract profits (Amihud and Mendelson (1982)), but a finite number of liquidity providers, or market makers, cannot (Kyle (1989) or Baruch (2005)). Our results are robust to controlling for the effect of Regulation FD implemented by the SEC in 2000.
ANALYSIS OF POVERTY LEVELS AMONG FARMERS IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Rural poverty is widely prevalent in Nigeria and it has been noted as one of the banes of agricultural development. This phenomenon was studies among the rural farmers in Ogun State, a state located in South-western part of Nigeria. The study examined the nature of impoverishment of the rural farmers and determined their general poverty levels. The problems militating against the emancipation of rural farmers from poverty were also investigated. Ogun State is made up of twenty Local Government Areas (LGAs) divided into four zones by the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP). Two LGAs were chosen through simple random sampling from each zone. Twenty five respondents were chosen from each LGA giving a total of 50 respondents per zone and two hundred respondents altogether. The data collected were analyzed using the Foster Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) index. The study estimated a higher poverty incidence of 66%, a poverty depth of 35% poverty severity of 24% for rural farmers’ in Ogun State. Some of the problems affecting farming activities of the rural farmers were identified as inadequate finance to take care of farming activities, high cost of inputs and inadequate supply of inputs at the right time.
S1 and KH Domains of Polynucleotide Phosphorylase Determine the Efficiency of RNA Binding and Autoregulation

ABSTRACT To better understand the roles of the KH and S1 domains in RNA binding and polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) autoregulation, we have identified and investigated key residues in these domains. A convenient pnp::lacZ fusion reporter strain was used to assess autoregulation by mutant PNPase proteins lacking the KH and/or S1 domains or containing point mutations in those domains. Mutant enzymes were purified and studied by using in vitro band shift and phosphorolysis assays to gauge binding and enzymatic activity. We show that reductions in substrate affinity accompany impairment of PNPase autoregulation. A remarkably strong correlation was observed between β-galactosidase levels reflecting autoregulation and apparent KD values for the binding of a model RNA substrate. These data show that both the KH and S1 domains of PNPase play critical roles in substrate binding and autoregulation. The findings are discussed in the context of the structure, binding sites, and function of PNPase.
New Control of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and ROS Formation A Hypothesis

Abstract A new control of mitochondrial membrane potential ΔΨm and formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is presented, based on allosteric ATPinhibition of cytochrome c oxidase at high intramitochondrial ATP/ADP ratios. Since the rate of ATP synthesis by the ATP synthase is already maximal at low membrane potentials (100 120 mV), the ATP/ADP ratio will also be maximal at this ΔΨm (at constant rate of ATP consumption). Therefore the control of respiration by the ATP/ADPratio keeps ΔΨm low. In contrast, the known respiratory control leads to an inhibition of respiration only at high ΔΨm values (150 200 mV) which cause ROS formation. ATPinhibition of cytochrome c oxidase is switched on and off by reversible phosphorylation (via cAMP and calcium, respectively). We propose that stress hormones which increase intracellular [Ca 2+ ] also increase ΔΨm and ROS formation, which promote degenerative diseases and accelerate aging.
Activation of Ryanodine Receptors by Imperatoxin A and a Peptide Segment of the II-III Loop of the Dihydropyridine Receptor*

Excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle is believed to be triggered by direct protein-protein interactions between the sarcolemmal dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channel and the Ca2+ release channel/ryanodine receptor (RyR) of sarcoplasmic reticulum. A 138-amino acid cytoplasmic loop between repeats II and III of the α1 subunit of the skeletal dihydropyridine receptor (the II-III loop) interacts with a region of the RyR to elicit Ca2+ release. In addition, small segments (10–20 amino acid residues) of the II-III loop retain the capacity to activate Ca2+ release. Imperatoxin A, a 33-amino acid peptide from the scorpion Pandinus imperator, binds directly to the RyR and displays structural and functional homology with an activating segment of the II-III loop (Glu666-Leu690). Mutations in a structural motif composed of a cluster of basic amino acids followed by Ser or Thr dramatically reduce or completely abolish the capacity of the peptides to activate RyRs. Thus, the Imperatoxin A-RyR interaction mimics critical molecular characteristics of the II-III loop-RyR interaction and may be a useful tool to elucidate the molecular mechanism that couples membrane depolarization to sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release in vivo.
Measuring the Dynamics of Young and Small Businesses: Integrating the Employer and Nonemployer Universes

We develop a preliminary version of an Integrated Longitudinal Business Database (ILBD) that combines administrative records and survey data for all employer and nonemployer business units in the United States. Unlike other large-scale business databases, the ILBD tracks business transitions from nonemployer to employer status. This feature of the ILBD opens a new frontier for the study of business formation, early lifecycle dynamics and the precursors to job creation in the U.S. economy. There are 5.4 million nonfarm business firms with employees as of 2000 and another 15.5 million with no employees. Our analysis focuses on 40 industries that account for nearly half of nonemployers and 36 percent of nonemployer revenues. Within these industries, nonemployers account for 14 percent of business revenues. About 220,000 of the seven million nonemployers in our selected industries hire workers and migrate to the employer universe over a three-year horizon. These Migrants account for 20 percent of revenue among young employers (three years or less since first hire). Compared to other nonemployers, the revenue of Migrants grows very rapidly in the year prior to and the year of transition to employer status.
Modelling of nutrient partitioning in growing pigs to predict their anatomical body composition. 2. Model evaluation

The objective of the present paper was to evaluate a dynamic mechanistic model for growing and fattening pigs presented in a companion paper. The model predicted the rate of protein and fat deposition (chemical composition), rate of tissue deposition (anatomical composition) and performance of pigs depending on nutrient intake. In the model evaluation, the predicted response of the pig to changes in model parameters and to changes in nutrient intakes is presented. As a result of the sensitivity analysis, changes in the maintenance energy requirements and the fractional degradation rate of muscle protein had the greatest impact on tissue deposition rates. The model was also highly sensitive to changes in the maximum velocity and steepness parameter of the lysine utilisation for muscle protein synthesis. The model was further tested by independent published results. The model successfully predicted the response of pigs to a wide range of variation in nutrient composition. Consequently, the model can be applied to develop feeding strategies to optimise pig production. It also enables prediction of the slaughter performance and the meat quality.
Stability of Symmetric and Asymmetric Vortices Pairs over Slender Conical Wing-Body Combinations

Theoretical analyses of the stability of symmetric and asymmetric vortex pairs over slender conical wing-body combinations consisting of a slender circular or elliptic cone and a flat-plate delta wing under small perturbations in an inviscid incompressible steady flow at high angles of attack with or without sideslip are presented. The three-dimensional flow problem is reduced to a problem in two dimensions, for which a general stability condition for vortex pairs can be applied. The stationary positions of symmetric and asymmetric vortex pairs and their stabilities are examined for various geometric configurations, angles of attack, and sideslip. Results of the analyses are compared with available experimental data and used to help gain insight into the flow behavior.
Plasma inactivation of candida albicans by an atmospheric cold plasma brush composed of hollow fibers

It remains a challenge to generate the uniform and large-area cold plasma at atmospheric pressure. In this paper, we report a method to generate a reliable and homogeneous brush-shaped plasma plume running at atmospheric pressure. The plasma brush (110 mm in length and 10 mm in width) is mainly composed of well-aligned and hollow optical fibers. Current-voltage measurements indicate that the brush-shaped plasma plume consists of glowlike pulsed discharge with their pulsewidths of several microseconds. The generation of the He/O2 glowlike discharge is further proved by the uniform distribution of O atoms along the transverse location of the plasma brush. This brush-shaped plasma plume is used for the application in the plasma inactivation of Candida albicans cells. About 97% of Candida albicans cells with a population of 105 spores are killed when exposed to the O2/He (volume ratio: 5/95) brush-shaped plasma plume for 150 s. Analysis indicates that plasma-activated species, such as O radicals, may play a crucial role in killing the resistant Candida albicans cells.
Does the response by South Africa’s small and medium manufacturing enterprises to employment protection legislation contribute to unemployment

The small business sector has been identified as a target by government to reduce South Africa’s unemployment problem. There is existing research that most companies, including small business, avoid taking on new employees to avoid, perceived, stringent labour legislation. This research investigates whether small businesses adopt alternative employment strategies to labour as a means to avoiding labour legislation. The questionnaire was distributed to over 9000 small businesses in the metal and engineering manufacturing sectors. Of the 214 responses only 194 could be used. The results of the research point to a prevailing perception by those surveyed that labour legislation is stringent in South Africa and that small businesses, in their efforts to avoid compliance, chose to employ in the temporary and labour broker employment market. Mechanisation is also an option used by small business to avoid legislation. Legislation is, however, not always the only driver when businesses decide to mechanise.
Improving quality of life for persons with Alzheimer's disease and their family caregivers: brief occupational therapy intervention.

OBJECTIVE This study examined the extent to which adherence to occupational therapy recommendations would increase the quality of life of persons with Alzheimer's disease living in the community and decrease the burden felt by family members caring for them. METHOD Using a pretest-posttest control group design, the Assessment of Instrumental Function (AIF) was administered to two groups of persons with Alzheimer's disease in their own homes (n= 40). Caregivers completed measures of their feelings of burden and the quality of life, including level of function of the persons with Alzheimer's disease. RESULTS A significant (MANCOVA) main effect was obtained for caregiver burden and three components of quality of life, positive affect, activity frequency and self-care status, by the treatment group, F(4, 31) = 7.34, p < . 001. CONCLUSIONS Individualized occupational therapy intervention based on the person-environment fit model appears effective for both caregivers and clients. This is especially important in light of a recent directive for more favorable reimbursement for occupational therapy services for persons with dementia.
Attitude towards MRI safety during pregnancy

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been in clinical use for more than two decades. At the time of introduction of this important diagnostic tool there were many concerns about its safety and the effects of the different types of magnetic fields utilized in MRI on the body tissues. Safety of MRI in pregnancy however was and still is one of the important concerns. There is an extensive body of literature on the issue of safety of MRI during pregnancy and overall the results indicate that there is no significant evidence of harm or injury to the fetus from exposure to a magnetic field during MRI. However there is at the same time no proof of safety and further research in this area is still needed to reach a solid conclusion. It is not easy to ascertain safety of MRI during pregnancy or otherwise with retrospective or prospective data because there are a near infinite number of possible combinations of factors that influence the risk such as static magnetic field strength gradient magnetic field and radiofrequency energy variability and scan time. Furthermore confounding factors responsible for the high rate of spontaneous abortion in humans are not possible to control throughout pregnancy when studying exposure to magnetic field in early pregnancy. With the growing indications for MRI during pregnancy there is a real necessity for an established institutional policy controlling exposure of pregnant patients to a magnetic field. Such a policy should provide appropriate medical care to the mother and fetus and avoid exposure of the unborn fetus to undue risk. We studied the attitude of radiology staff in Saudi Arabia towards safety issues concerning MRI during pregnancy. (excerpt)
Plasma wave observations during Ion Gun Experiments

Experiments in charge control on the AF/NASA P78-2 (SCATHA) satellite were conducted with a plasma/ion source in the inner magnetosphere. These experiments were monitored with plasma wave instruments capable of high temporal and frequency resolution in the 0-6 kHz frequency range. Ion gun experiments revealed two distinct classes of behavior. Nonneutralized ion beam operation at 1 mA, 1 kV resulted in arcing signatures (spiky in time, broad frequency range), coincident with induced satellite potentials of {minus}600 to {minus}900 V. This signature disappeared with the accelerating voltage was switched off or the beam was neutralized (at which time the satellite body approached potentials of a few volts). The signal is attributed to arcing between differentially charged surfaces. An additional feature was noted in the 100-kHz channel of the wave receiver. During emission of dense, low-energy plasma, a signal is generated which may be at the upper hybrid, or plasma frequency for the local plasma.
Hubungan Corporate Governance dan Kinerja Perusahaan

This study examines the relationship between corporate governance and corporate performance. This study employs a multiple regression to test the hypothesis that corporate governance and corporate performance are positively related. The rating of corporate governance perception index (CGPI) for 2001 and 2002 by the Indonesian Institute for Corporate Governance is used to measure the corporate governance implementation, and Tobin’s q as a market performance measurement (Klapper dan Love, 2002; Black, dkk. 2003) and return on equity (ROE) as operasional performance measurement (Klapper dan Love, 2002). The analysis shows that there is a no significant relationship between corporate governance index and Tobin's q but there is a significant positive relationship between corporate governance index and return on equity. It means that corporate governance implementation affect the operational performance, but market does not respond the implementation of corporate governance immediately.
Mortality Predictive Factors in Subjects With COPD After a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program: A 3-Year Study

BACKGROUND: COPD is a high-mortality disease and projected to become the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2030. Our aim was to evaluate predictors of 3-y mortality and factors associated with early (1 y) and late (second and third year) mortality in subjects with severe COPD who completed a pulmonary rehabilitation program. METHODS: A historical cohort study was performed with subjects with COPD who were admitted to a day-hospital for chronic respiratory failure for a pulmonary rehabilitation program, from January 2008 to December 2010. The population was characterized based on sociodemographic factors, body mass index, smoking habits, lung function tests, respiratory failure, comorbidities, bacterial colonization, Modified Medical Research Council dyspnea index, 6-min walk test, mechanical ventilation, noninvasive ventilation, long-term oxygen therapy, hospital admissions, and mortality. RESULTS: From 183 patients who completed a pulmonary rehabilitation program, 93 had COPD. Our cohort had 78 male and 15 female subjects. The mean age ± SD was 68.6 ± 8.9 y, ranging from 43 to 85 y. After the pulmonary rehabilitation program, there were fewer, although not statistically significantly different hospital admissions (2.1 vs 1.7, P = .17). Three years after the pulmonary rehabilitation program, 34 subjects died (36.6%). Hypercapnic respiratory failure (P = .02), noninvasive ventilation (P = .002), lung cancer (P = .001), shorter 6-min walk distance (P = .03), and higher number of previous hospital admissions (P < .001) were associated with a higher mortality rate. CONCLUSION: There is a high mortality rate in late-stage patients with COPD. The most relevant factors associated with mortality were lung cancer, respiratory failure and noninvasive ventilation, severe exacerbations with hospitalization, and lower functional exercise capacity.
Dynamic Faults based Hardware Trojan Design in STT-MRAM

The emerging Spin Transfer Torque Magnetic Random Access Memory (STT-MRAM) is seen as a promising candidate to replace conventional on-chip memories. It has several advantages such as high density, non-volatility, scalability, and CMOS compatibility. With this technology becoming ubiquitous, it also becomes interesting as a target for security attacks. As the fabrication process of STT-MRAM evolves, it is susceptible to various fault mechanisms which are different from those of conventional CMOS memories. These unique fault mechanisms can be exploited by an adversary to deploy hardware Trojans, which are deliberately introduced design modifications. In this work, we demonstrate how a particular stealthy circuit modification to inject a fault mechanism, namely dynamic fault, can be exploited to implement a hardware Trojan trigger which cannot be detected by standard memory testing methods. The fault mechanisms can also be used to design new payloads specific to STT-MRAM. We illustrate this by proposing a new payload by utilizing coupling faults, which leads to degraded performance and data corruption.
Sustainability in Supply Chain Management: An Overview

In recent times, sustainable business development has become the key focus area for companies because of the increased competitiveness and market globalization. Organizations are under pressure to reduce the cost of products and improve the services to the customers. The number of organizations integrating sustainability in supply chain is increasing in order to improve their market positions over their competitors and increase their profitability. Incorporating sustainability in supply chain has become a challenge for the company because of several issues like environment protection, restriction in natural resources’ usage, abiding by government policies, disposal of the product at end-of-life, providing efficient and effective product or service, etc. It has become indispensable to include these key features in the existing supply chain. Realizing the importance of sustainability in a supply chain, the present paper aims to offer an understanding of the current trends in sustainable supply chain management and the challenges it faces over its implementation.