Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Hepatitis Delta Virus Large Antigen Is Farnesylated Both in Vitro and in Animal Cells (*)

The hepatitis delta virus large antigen (lHDAg) is a virally encoded protein that contains a prenylation signal sequence at its carboxyl terminus consisting of the tetrapeptide Cys-Arg-Pro-Gln. Although the presence of the Gln as the COOH-terminal residue generally specifies addition of the 15-carbon farnesyl isoprenoid, earlier reports had suggested that the protein is modified by the 20-carbon geranylgeranyl. The prenylation of lHDAg was examined in vitro using a fusion protein between glutathione S-transferase and the COOH-terminal 117 amino acids of lHDAg (GST-lHDAg). When recombinant GST-lHDAg was incubated with bovine brain cytosol in the presence of either farnesyl diphosphate or geranylgeranyl diphosphate, GST-lHDAg was preferentially farnesylated. Geranylgeranylation of the fusion protein was also observed, although at a rate considerably less than that of farnesylation. Using purified recombinant protein prenyltransferases, GST-lHDAg was found to be an excellent substrate (apparent K = 0.8 μM) for protein farnesyltransferase (FTase), while modification by protein geranylgeranyltransferase I (GGTase I) was not detected. FTase was also able to catalyze geranylgeranylation of GST-lHDAg at a very low rate, suggesting that the low level of geranylgeranylation of GST-lHDAg observed in cytosolic preparations was mediated by FTase. Consistent with our observations on the in vitro prenylation of the GST-lHDAg fusion protein, isoprenoid analysis of authentic lHDAg expressed in COS cells demonstrated that the protein was farnesylated. Geranylgeranylation of lHDAg expressed in COS cells was not observed. As prenylation of lHDAg is required for the assembly of the hepatitis delta viral particle, these results suggest that inhibitors of FTase may be useful therapeutic agents for treatment of delta virus infection.
Deconstructing Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction: Challenges and Directions for Future Research

Scholars and practitioners constantly seek to improve the quality of service through the study and practice of concepts such as service quality and customer satisfaction. The present research examines the various perspectives on quality and satisfaction, explains some of the challenges, and proposes a quality framework and directions for future research. Throughout this article, the author argues in favor of a more comprehensive view on quality that considers consumer-driven, internally driven, and intrinsic or expert-driven sources. According to the proposed framework customer-driven service quality is guided by ideal expectations, performance, detailed criteria, and value perceptions. Expert-driven quality is driven by service standards, ratings, and awards. Internally driven quality is driven by benchmarking, quality circles and empowerment, and brand standards. The present study is a call to reexamine the ways of defining and measuring service quality. The ideas presented can help advance a research agenda on service quality and present a clearer distinction between the two concepts.
Measurement of internal service quality: application of the SERVQUAL battery to internal service quality

Internal marketing is an important approach for fostering a service‐ and customer‐oriented culture in an organization. A critical component of internal marketing is the provision of internal service quality. While researchers have conducted studies of internal service quality, there has been no general agreement on the measurement of the concept. Work to date has attempted to use the SERVQUAL instrument as a tool for measuring internal service quality. Researchers have not, however, demonstrated that the instrument can be reasonably modified to measure internal service quality. The current study modified the SERVQUAL instrument for a service setting and empirically tested and confirmed that it is appropriate for measuring internal service quality. While previous research has not confirmed the validity and reliability of all five SERVQUAL dimensions in a service setting, the results of the current study confirmed that all five dimensions – reliability, assurance, tangibles, empathy, responsiveness – were distinct and conceptually clear.
Institutional ownership, capital structure, and firm performance

In most studies of ownership and firm performance, researchers have assumed different forms of ownership do not interact in their effect on firm strategy or performance. Focusing on the role of institutional owners, this study poses two related questions: (1) What are the relationships between outside institutional shareholdings, on the one hand, and a firm's capital structure and performance, on the other? and; (2) Does the size of stockholdings by corporate executives, family owners, and insider-institutions modify those relationships? The data, collected from 40 pairs of manufacturing firms selected from as many industries over a 3-year period, shows that the size of outside institutional stockholdings has a significant effect on the firm's capital structure. We have also found that family and inside institutional owners' shareholdings moderate the relationship between outside institutional shareholdings and capital structure. Likewise, corporate executives' shareholdings supplement the relationship between outside institutional shareholdings and firms' performance. These findings suggest that internal and external coalitions interact with each other to influence the firm's conduct.
Essays on the capital market consequences of disclosures

ii Preface . iv Table of contents. v List of tables . vii Acknowledgements . viii Dedication . ix Chapter 1: Introduction . 1 Chapter 2: The disclosure and valuation of foreign cash holdings . 8 2.
Rapid, colorimetric identification of Candida albicans

A total of 706 yeast isolates were evaluated in parallel by the Candida albicans Screen (CAS; Carr-Scarborough Microbiologicals, Inc., Stone Mountain, Ga.) test and the germ tube (GT) test in comparison with the API 20C Yeast Identification System. The CAS and GT tests correctly identified 419 of the 422 isolates of C. albicans (99.3%). Two of the false-negative reactions occurring with the CAS were with GT-negative strains of C. albicans. There were two false-positive CAS reactions involving a single strain each of C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis. Sensitivity and specificity for both tests exceeded 99%, with positive and negative predictive values of 99 and 98%, respectively.
Assessment of Three Commercially Available Serologic Assays for Detection of Antibodies to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Identification of Active Tuberculosis

ABSTRACT Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains a major world disease, with approximately 9 million new cases each year. Identification and treatment of active disease are essential for TB control. Serology may offer increased detection of active disease in patients with a positive tuberculin skin test (TST) or QuantiFERON-TB (QFT-G). The InBios Active TbDetect immunoglobulin G (IgG) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), IBL M. tuberculosis IgG ELISA, and Anda Biologics TB ELISAs were evaluated for the ability to detect M. tuberculosis antibodies in patients with active disease. Agreement, sensitivity, and specificity for each ELISA were determined and compared to those for culture or amplified direct detection and M. tuberculosis low-risk control patients. The InBios Active TbDetect ELISA had an agreement of 96.2%, a sensitivity of 83.3%, and a specificity of 98.9%. The IBL M. tuberculosis ELISA had an agreement of 84.0%, a sensitivity of 5.6%, and a specificity of 100.0%. The agreement, sensitivity, and specificity of the Anda Biologics TB ELISA were 74.2%, 83.3%, and 72.0%, respectively. The sensitivity for detecting M. tuberculosis antibodies in human immunodeficiency virus-associated TB was 50% for both the InBios Active TbDetect ELISA and the Anda Biologics TB ELISA and 0% for the IBL M. tuberculosis ELISA. The positivity rates for InBios Active TbDetect ELISA, IBL M. tuberculosis ELISA, and Anda Biologics TB ELISA in latently infected individuals positive by TST and/or QFT-G were 5.1%, 0.0%, and 30.8%, respectively. It can be concluded that the InBios Active TbDetect IgG ELISA is superior to the other ELISAs in accurately detecting active TB.
The Influence of Satisfaction, Perceived Reputation and Trust on a Consumer's Commitment to a Website

Consumer commitment and trust placed by the consumer in a website are two key factors for maintaining a long‐term relationship between consumers and businesses in the online context. This study analyzes the effects of the level of satisfaction of previous interactions and the trust placed by the consumer in a website on the commitment of the online consumer. In addition, we have looked at the effects of perceived reputation and satisfaction on consumer trust. The empirical analysis confirms the existence of positive and significant effects of trust and satisfaction on commitment. Similarly, we observed positive and significant effects of perceived reputation and satisfaction on consumer trust. The study concludes with the main managerial implications, limitations and possibilities for future research.
A 12 years audit of upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures.

OBJECTIVE Evaluation of upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy in terms of indications, diagnostic efficacy, and diseases diagnosed. DESIGN Retrospective, observational case series. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY DHQ Teaching Hospital, Rawalpindi, from March 1990 to December 2001. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Patients who underwent upper GI endoscopy in 12 years were included. Upper GI endoscopies were performed according to standard protocol. Endoscopic diagnoses were based on widely accepted criteria. RESULTS Of the 8481 patients, 4935 (58.2%) were female and 3546 (41.8%) male. Mean patient age was 40.5 years. Dyspepsia (42.6%), upper GI bleed (32.8%), and evaluation of chronic liver disease (10.2%) were common indications of the procedure. An endoscopic diagnosis was possible in 82.6% patients. Varices, gastritis, duodenitis, and combined lesions were common endoscopic diagnosis. Gastritis and duodenitis were most frequent causes of upper GI bleed. We noted more gastric ulcers compared to duodenal ulcers. Females had significantly more normal endoscopies, p-value=0.02. CONCLUSION Upper GI endoscopy is an effective procedure. Dyspepsia evaluation is commonest indication for upper GI endoscopy in our patients. Etiology of upper GI bleed, and incidence of duodenal ulcer compared to gastric ulcer in our patients are different than described in literature. Females have significantly more normal endoscopies.
Social Capital and Debt Contracting: Evidence from Bank Loans and Public Bonds

We find that firms headquartered in U.S. counties with higher levels of social capital incur lower bank loan spreads. This finding is robust to using organ donation as an alternative social capital measure and incremental to the effects of religiosity, corporate social responsibility, and tax avoidance. We identify the causal relation using companies with a social-capital-changing headquarters relocation. We also find that high-social-capital firms face loosened nonprice loan terms, incur lower at-issue bond spreads, and prefer public bonds over bank loans. We conclude that debt holders perceive social capital as providing environmental pressure that constrains opportunistic firm behaviors in debt contracting.
Does the Order of Organizing Activities Matter for New Venture Performance

New firms are often established through a series oforganizing activities, but little research exists regarding the impact of thesequencing of these activities on firm performance and survival.Thisstudy seeks to provide theoretical support for the belief that new ventureorganizing does impact firm performance. A literature review describes the findings of past research on organizingsequences and activities and provides the basis for two hypotheses.Alongitudinal set of data was collected from Swedish nascent entrepreneurs(n=211) over a 30 month period.Interviews with 17 expert entrepreneursidentified a preferred sequence to organizing activities. The findings indicate that startup performance is improved when nascententrepreneurs organize their activities according to the recommended sequencesof expert entrepreneurs.When entrepreneurs engage in more organizingactivities and deviate from the recommended organizing sequence, theyexperience more negative effects on first sales and the level of new venturesales.Conversely, when they utilize the recommended organizing sequence,they experience a more rapid increase in first sales and venturesales.The implications of these findings for both researchers andpractitioners are discussed. (AKP)
Combining information regarding chromosomal aberrations t(4;14) and del(17p13) with the International Staging System classification allows stratification of myeloma patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation

Background Chromosomal abnormalities have been shown to play a major role in disease evolution of multiple myeloma. Specific changes in interphase cells can be detected by fluorescent in situ hybridization, which overcomes the problem of the lack of dividing cells required for conventional cytogenetics. Design and Methods We analyzed the prognostic value of 12 frequent chromosomal abnormalities detected by fluorescent in situ hybridization in a series of patients (n=315) with newly diagnosed, symptomatic multiple myeloma. All patients underwent frontline autologous stem cell transplantation according to the GMMG-HD3- or GMMG-HD4-trial protocols or analogous protocols. Results Univariate statistical analyses revealed that the presence of del(13q14), del(17p13), t(4;14), +1q21 and non-hyperdiploidy was associated with adverse progression-free and overall survival rates independently of the International Staging System (ISS) classification. Multivariate analyses showed that only t(4;14) and del(17p13) retained prognostic value for both progression-free and overall survival. According to the presence or absence of t(4;14) and del(17p13) and the patients’ International Staging System classification, the cohort could be stratified into three distinct groups: a group with a favorable prognosis [absence of t(4;14)/del(17p13) and ISS I], a group with a poor prognosis [presence of t(4;14)/del(17p13) and ISS II/III] and a group with an intermediate prognosis (all remaining patients). The probabilities of overall survival at 5 years decreased from 72% in the favorable prognostic group to 62% (hazard ratio 2.4; P=0.01) in the intermediate and 41% (hazard ratio 5.6; P<0.001) in the poor prognostic groups. Conclusions These results have implications for risk-adapted management for patients with multiple myeloma undergoing high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation and suggest that new treatment concepts are urgently needed for patients who belong to the poor prognosis group. As targeted therapies evolve, different treatment options might have variable success, depending on the underlying genetic nature of the clone.
Conception of Teachers' Beliefs about Teaching with ICT and the Status in Nanjing

We seek to give a comprehensive conception of teachers' beliefs about teaching with technology and measure the status in Nanjing. Belief about teaching with technology is regarded as the composition of pedagogical belief and ICT belief. Teachers' ICT belief is about how teachers perceive ICT's function in classroom. Then the assessment scale and the sub-scales are introduced. The conclusions we can drawn include: (a) Most of teachers hold personal beliefs aligned with a constructivist pedagogy, (b) Teachers who hold constructive pedagogical belief may don't agree ICT is powerful in supporting constructive learning activities, (c) ICT's function of supporting constructive learning activities are more recognized by teachers from primary school than teachers from second-school, (d) The training experiences are significantly interrelated with teachers' pedagogical belief, but not ICT belief, (e) Gender, working age and frequency of using ICT in classroom are not significantly interrelated with ICT beliefs. (f) Different from earlier research, no obvious significant differences in teachers' belief about teaching with ICT are observed between urban teachers and rural teachers.
Defining the involvement of proteinases in pemphigus vulgaris: Evidence of matrix metalloproteinase‐9 overexpression in experimental models of disease

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) acantholysis represents a complex phenomenon wherein a number of factors cooperates. PV serum is known to modulate important cellular events, including kinase activity, transcriptional regulation, and proteinase expression. Indeed, transduction of signals to the cell triggered by PV serum may induce proteinase up‐regulation potentially responsible for disruption of epidermal adhesion and, ultimately, blister formation. Here, we sought to investigate this hypothesis by using both in vivo and in vitro models of PV. Microarray analysis on mouse skin tissues suggested that the equilibrium between extracellular proteinases and their inhibitors moved towards enhanced proteolytic activity in PV neonatal mouse model, at least on the transcriptional level. Conversely, genes codifying cell adhesion proteins were dramatically down‐regulated. The effects of PV serum on the protein level were then studied in vitro both in keratinocyte monolayers and skin organ cultures focusing on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9 expression and activity. By means of Western blotting, zymography, and living cell immunofluorescence studies, we showed that MMP‐9 was early overexpressed in keratinocytes exposed to PV serum, and subsequently secreted in the culture medium. However, we failed to demonstrate extracellular activation of MMP‐9, since it was found in its 92 kDa inactive form in serum‐free culture supernatants. Taken together, our data demonstrated that proteinase expression, particularly of MMP‐9, is modulated by PV serum and associated with PV acantholysis. J. Cell. Physiol. 212: 36–41, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of N-Terminal Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein Residues Important for Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide, Adrenomedullin, and Amylin Receptor Function

Calcitonin-family receptors comprise calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CL) or calcitonin receptor and receptor activity-modifying protein (RAMP) pairings. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptors are CL/RAMP1, whereas adrenomedullin (AM) receptors are CL/RAMP2 (AM1 receptor) or CL/RAMP3 (AM2 receptor). Amylin (Amy) receptors are RAMP hetero-oligomers with the calcitonin receptor (AMY1, AMY2, and AMY3, respectively). How RAMPs change G protein-coupled receptor pharmacology is not fully understood. We exploited sequence differences between RAMP1 and RAMP3 to identify individual residues capable of altering receptor pharmacology. Alignment of human RAMPs revealed eight residues that are conserved in RAMP2 and RAMP3 but are different in RAMP1. We hypothesized that residues in RAMP2 and RAMP3, but not RAMP1, are responsible for making CL/RAMP2 and CL/RAMP3 AM receptors. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we introduced individual RAMP3 residues into RAMP1 and vice versa in these eight positions. Mutant or wild-type RAMPs were transfected into Cos7 cells with CL or the insert-negative form of the calcitonin receptor [CT(a)]. Agonist-stimulated cAMP production and cell-surface expression of constructs were measured. Position 74 in RAMP1 and RAMP3 was critical for determining AM potency and affinity, and Phe93 in RAMP1 was an important contributor to αCGRP potency at CGRP receptors. Mutant RAMP/CT(a) receptor complexes displayed different phenotypes. It is noteworthy that RAMP1 S103N and W74E mutations led to enhanced rAmy potency, probably related to increased cell-surface expression of these complexes. This differs from the effect on CL-based receptors where expression was unchanged. Targeted substitution has emphasized the importance of position 74 in RAMP1/RAMP3 as a key determinant of AM pharmacology.
Eigenvalues of dot-product kernels on the sphere

We obtain explicit formulas for the eigenvalues of integral operators generated by continuous dot product kernels dened on the sphere via the usual gamma function. Using them, we present both, a procedure to describe sharp bounds for the eigenvalues and their asymptotic behavior near 0. We illustrate our results with examples, among them the integral operator gen- erated by a Gaussian kernel .
THERMkIAL INACTIVATION STUDIES WITH VARIOLA V IRUS

In recent years, considerable interest has been manifested in the thermal inactivation of animal viruses (Friedman and De Berry, 1959; LehmannGrube and Syverton, 1959; Youngner, 1957; Woese, 1960). Apart from the practical aspects, studies of the temperature sensitivity of virus particles offer a natural step in the analysis of their physicochemical properties (Gard and Maal0e, 1959) and, as such, may enhance our knowledge of the component parts of virus, namely, protein and nucleic acid. The reaction characterizing the thermal inactivation of animal viruses usually follows first-order kinetics, but in some cases it has been found that the inactivation process proceeds in a two-component fashion (Bachrach et al., 1957; Kaplan, 1958). The characteristic features *of animal virus thermal inactivations has been summarized by Woese (1960); the kinetics of the process at low temperatures involve one component; at high temperatures two components are manifested, each of first-order, with differentvalues for the heat of activation of the processes. Studies with vaccinia virus, however, indicate that the shape of the inactivation curve at high temperatures may be of either one or two components, depending on the nature of the virus preparation or condition of virus storage prior to heating (Woodroofe, 1960). It appears, therefore, that the complexity of thermal inactivation of animal viruses is compounded further by certain pretreatment conditions of the virus. Although variola virus is antigenically related to vaccinia virus, and may be assayed by a comparable, quantitative method (the inoculation of the chorioallantoic membrane of embryonated eggs), little is known of the reaction of variola virus to heat inactivation. This report describes an attempt to characterize the thermal inactivation of variola virus and to determine the influence of certain factors on the reaction, i.e., suspending media, dilution of virus, and condition of virus storage. MATERIALS AND METHODS