Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
De novo DESIGN AND SYNTHESIS OF AN ICE-BINDING, DENDRIMERIC, POLYPEPTIDE BASED ON INSECT ANTIFREEZE PROTEINS

A new strategy is presented for the design and synthesis of peptides that exhibit ice-binding and antifreeze activity. A pennant-type dendrimer polypeptide scaffoid combining an a-helical backbone with four short (β-strand branches was synthesized in solid phase using Fmoc chemistry in a divergent approach. The 51-residue dendrimer was characterized by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and circular dichroism. Each (β-strand branch contained three overlapping TXT amino acid repeats, an ice-binding motif found in the ice-binding face of the spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) and beetle (Tenebrio molitor) antifreeze proteins. Ice crystals in the presence of the polypeptide monomer displayed fiat, hexagonal plate morphology, similar to that produced by weakly active antifreeze proteins. An oxidized dimeric form of the dendrimer polypeptide also produced fiat hexagonal ice crystals and was capable of inhibiting ice crystal growth upon temperature reduction, a phenomenon termed thermal hysteresis, a defining property of antifreeze proteins. Linkage of the pennant-type dendrimer to a tri-functional cascade-type polypeptide produced a trimeric macromolecule that gave flat hexagonal ice crystals with higher thermal hysteresis activity than the dimer or monomer and an ice crystal burst pattern similar to that produced by samples containing insect antifreeze proteins. This macromolecule was also capable of inhibiting ice recrystallization.
The prevalence and magnitude of job insecurity

This study investigates the prevalence and magnitude of job insecurity experienced by employees in an organisation undergoing major transformation, while taking cognisance of intercorrelations among its subdimensions. The research adopted a formal, hypothesis-testing approach whereby quantitative data was collected using a cross-sectional survey method from a sample of 1620 employees. The findings indicate that threats to salient job features/total job and feelings of powerlessness trigger the potential for job insecurity. This study identifies conditions that increase the potential for job insecurity. Recommendations are presented for reducing the prevalence and magnitude of job insecurity.
Coulomb stress evolution in Northeastern Caribbean over the past 250 years due to coseismic, postseismic and interseismic deformation

SUMMARY The Northeastern Caribbean region accommodates ∼20 mm yr −1 of oblique convergence between the North American and Caribbean plates, which is distributed between the subduction interface and major strike-slip faults within the overriding plate. As a result, this heavily populated region has experienced eleven large (M ≥ 7.0) earthquakes over the past 250 yr. In an effort to improve our understanding of the location and timing of these earthquakes, with an eye to understand where current seismic hazards may be greatest, we calculate the evolution of Coulomb stress on the major faults since 1751 due to coseismic, postseismic, and interseismic deformation. Our results quantify how earthquakes serve to relieve stress accumulated due to interseismic loading and how fault systems communicate with each other, serving both to advance or retard subsequent events. We find that the observed progressive westwards propagation of earthquakes on the Septentrional and Enriquillo strike-slip faults and along the megathrust was encouraged by coseismic stress changes associated with prior earthquakes. For the strike-slip faults, the loading of adjacent segments was further amplified by postseismic relaxation of a viscoelastic mantle in the decades following each event. Furthermore, earthquakes on the Septentrional fault relieve a small level of Coulomb stress on the parallel Enriquillo fault to the south (and vice versa), perhaps explaining anticorrelated timing of events on these respective fault systems. The greatest net build-up of Coulomb stress changes over the past 250 yr occurs along the central and eastern segment of the Septentrional and the Bowin strike-slip faults (65 ◦ –71 ◦ W), as no recent earthquake has relieved stress in these regions. For oblique thrust faults, net stress build-up over the past 250 yr is the largest on the North American/Caribbean megathrust west of 70.5 ◦ W. High Coulomb stress has also developed east of 65.5 ◦ W, where no historic events have been inferred to have relieved stress, though uncertainties in fault slip rates from our block model associated with a lack of GPS observations in this region may have led to an over-estimation of stress changes.
An experimental methodology testing for prudence and third-order preferences

We propose an experimental method to test individuals for prudence (i.e. downside risk aversion) outside the expected utility framework. Our method relies on a novel representation of compound lotteries which allows for a systematic parameterization that captures the full generality of prudence. Therefore, we develop a general technique for lottery calibration in experiments. Since we investigate a very subtle third-order property we test our method in the laboratory employing a factorial design. We find that it yields robust results and that prudence is observed on the aggregate as well as on the individual level. Further we show that preferences based on statistical moments, in particular skewness seeking, can at most approximately explain individuals' behavior in the experiment.
Host modulation of excessive innate immune responses

A fundamental role of the innate immune system is to elicit a proper response against both invading pathogens and tissue damage or danger signals. Although the innate immune system often is successful in eliminating danger, an excessive host-response can result in severe tissue injury. Factors that contribute to the elimination of the microbe are the same factors that cause tissue injury. Therefore, innate immune response has to be carefully balanced to avoid excessive inflammation with systemic consequences. The first part of this thesis is focused on molecular interactions between host-defense peptides and p33 (globular C1q receptor), a protein that can modulate cell injury. We show in vitro how recombinant p33 binds and neutralizes cytotoxic effects of the host-defense peptides human beta defensin 3 and LL-37. Moreover, treatment with p33 was also shown to modulate the sepsis-like pathogenesis caused by extracellular histones and rescue mice in a histone-induced shock model. Extracellular histones are released into tissue and circulation after cell necrosis or neutrophil extracellular trap formation. They are found in patients with severe inflammatory diseases and contribute to disease progression. However, for the first time, we have shown that extracellular histones contribute to resolving local inflammation. Low concentrations of extracellular histones contribute to innate immunity by inducing chemokine production and leukocyte recruitment which might be beneficial for the host. The final part of this thesis describes a novel defense mechanism of microvesicles against the gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes. We show that procoagulant microvesicles are released after stimulation of pheripheral blood mononuclear cells with M1 protein from S. pyogenes. These microvesicles bind to the surface of bacteria, induce clotting and thereby prevent bacterial dissemination in vivo. In conclusion, this thesis describes new mechanisms involved in host defense as well as mechanisms involved in the modulation of excessive immune responses. (Less)
Random walk on a randomly oriented honeycomb lattice

We study the recurrence behaviour of random walks on partially oriented honeycomb lattices. The vertical edges are undirected while the orientation of the horizontal edges is random: depending on their distribution, we prove a.s. transience in some cases, and a.s. recurrence in other ones. The results extend those obtained for the partially oriented square grid lattices (Campanino and Petritis (2003), Campanino and Petritis (2014)).
Deriving Customer Lifetime Value from RFM Measures:Insights into Customer Retention and Acquisition

The wide use of RFM analysis in CRM suggests that these measures contain rather rich information about customer purchase behavior. This research, using the RFM measures of a customer, develops an individual-level CLV model that identifies the underlying behavior traits of purchase rate, lifetime and spending, which are then linked to CLV. In the application to two datasets, frequent shoppers program data from a department store and a CD chain, the model produces customer-specific metrics that are useful for identifying preferred customers and taking marketing actions targeted at the individual level in CRM. The paper then presents a retention program for existing customers that is most effective in terms of Marketing ROI, such as what action needs to be taken to which customers at which timing. For prospective customers without RFM measures, by relating the demographic characteristics to behavioral traits, insight into acquisition strategy is obtained. --
A SOCIOCOGNITIVE-TRANSFORMATIVE APPROACH TO TEACHING WRITING

Abstract. This article reports some of the compelling concerns in using various approaches to teaching writing. On this note, this paper provides an alternative teaching framework for the teaching of ESL writing to address these concerns. This sociocognitive-transformative framework incorporates the cognitive, social, cultural, and transformative components of learning. Specifically, the discussion covers three sections that shed light on the theoretical underpinning, the design, and procedure on how the proposed approach can be realized in ESL writing classrooms. It is also hoped that through this approach, the teaching and learning of writing would lead to producing 21 st century learners capable of surviving this highly globalized and knowledge-based society.
Measuring diabetes health beliefs in the South Asian population: a narrative systematic review of feasibility and validity

The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review to assess the acceptability, feasibility, reliability and validity of standardised questionnaires on diabetes-related health beliefs in South Asian populations.Asearch strategy was developed for the concepts diabetes mellitus, South Asians and health beliefs. CINAHL, EMBASE, Medline, PsychINFO and Geobase were systematically searched from 1992 to 2010, and the search was updated in 2012. Studies were eligible if they used standardised questionnaires to assess diabetes-related health beliefs among members of any of the seven South Asian sub-ethnic groups diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Five studies met the inclusion criteria. Reporting of information on study design and methods was of variable quality across the five studies, making it difficult to assess acceptability and feasibility. Most studies required researchers to provide face-to-face support to respondents to aid feasibility. Only two studies used questionnaires about diabetes-related health beliefs as predictors of self-management Despite the high prevalence of diabetes in South Asians, to date there has been little research on the acceptability, feasibility, reliability and validity of questionnaires about health beliefs. This must be addressed if this population is to benefit from future research on health beliefs and related interventions
Dominant species and dispersal limitation regulate tree species distributions in a 20-ha plot in Xishuangbanna, southwest China

Habitat heterogeneity and dispersal limitation are widely considered to be the two major mechanisms in determining tree species distributions. However, few studies have quantified the relative importance of these two mechanisms at different life stages of trees. Moreover, rigorous quantification of the effects of dominant tree species in determining species distributions has seldom been explored. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the distribution of tree species is regulated by different mechanisms at different life history stages. In particular, we hypothesised that dispersal limitation regulates the distribution of trees at early life stages and that environmental factors control the distribution of trees as they grow, because of niche differentiation resulting from environmental filtering. To test this, trees in 400-m 2 quadrats in a 20-ha plot in Xishuangbanna, southwest China were grouped into four classes on the basis of the diameter at breast height (DBH) that roughly represent different stages in the life history of trees. A neighbourhood index was computed to represent a neutral spatial autocorrelation effect. We used both biotic (dominant species) and abiotic (topography and soil) predictor variables to model the distribution of each target species while controlling for spatial autocorrelation within each of the DBH classes. To determine which factors played the largest role in regulating target species distribution, the simulated annealing method was used in model selection based on Akaike information criterion (AIC) values. The results showed that the relative importance of neutral and niche processes in regulating species distribution varied across life stages. The neutral neighbourhood index played the most important role in determining the distributions of small trees (1 cm  DBH  10 cm), and dominant species, as biotic environmental predictor variables, were the next most important regulators for trees of this size. Environmental predictor variables played the most important role in determining the distributions of large trees (10 cm  DBH). This finding builds on previous research into the relative importance of neutral and niche processes in determining species distributions regardless of life stages or DBH classes.
Identity disclosure as a securityscape for lgbt people

Background. The concept of a securityscape is an emerging approach to understanding human (in)securities. It derives from the concept of scapes that was initially proposed by anthropologist and cultural theorist Arjun Appadurai in 1996. Securityscapes are imagined individual perceptions of safety motivated by existential contingencies or otherwise theorized as givens of existence, according to psychotherapist Irvin Yalom: death, freedom, existential isolation, and meaningfulness. A recent study on securityscapes in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan described different securityscapes among selected socially and politically vulnerable communities, including the LGBT community. It listed securityscapes of LGBT people but did not provide details as to how such securityscapes are formed. Disclosure of a stigmatized identity was one such securityscape. objective. This article elaborates on research on how LGBT people consider disclosure of their stigmatized identity a securityscape. design. This study was conducted using a semistructured biographical interview with LGBT people in Kyrgyzstan. Results. It found that both voluntary identity disclosure and the decision to conceal the stigmatized identity are considered contrasting securityscapes by LGBT people, depending on how central the stigmatized identity is to their self-conception. conclusion. The study concludes that identity disclosure as a securityscape should be considered on a continuum, with identity concealment as a securityscape on one end and complete identity disclosure as a securityscape on the other.
On the Evolution of Size and Productivity in Transition: Evidence from Slovenian Manufacturing Firms

This paper compiles a set of stylized facts on the evolution of Firm size and labor and total factor productivity distributions during the process of transition. These facts are based on the data for all Slovenian manufacturing firms active between 1994 and 2003. Stylized picture of transition can be summarized as follows. Initially, we can distinguish between two types of firms: small and on average more productive and large and on average less productive firms. Removal of institutional restrictions has spurred growth of small firms and entry of new firms on one hand and decline and exit of large firms on the other. These simultaneous shifts have transformed the shape of firm size distribution from bimodal into unimodal. While labor and total factor productivity distributions exhibit large right-hand shifts and lower heterogeneity over time, firm productivity rankings changed substantially. Smaller firms, which were initially more productive, exhibited lower productivity growth rates and thus gradually lost their advantage. Commonly held view of transition as a process of reallocation of resources from inefficient state to efficient private firms is at odds with our results of aggregate labor and total factor productivity decompositions. Almost half of aggregate labor productivity growth can be explained by within firm growth and the rest by reallocation. Our evidence suggests that within firm growth seems to be related to the process of technological catching up of less productivelarge firms. These stylized facts may give a wrong impression of transition being a deterministic process, while it is not. The process is stochastic and thus similar to those found for established market economies. Hence theoretical models of transition should reflect deterministic features that we outlined and preserve stochastic elements introduced in now standard models of industrial dynamics.
Effects of initial soil moisture on rainfall generation and subsequent hydrologic response during the North American monsoon.

Abstract Through the use of a mesoscale meteorological model and distributed hydrologic model, the effects of initial soil moisture on rainfall generation, streamflow, and evapotranspiration during the North American monsoon are examined. A collection of atmospheric fields is simulated by varying initial soil moisture in the meteorological model. Analysis of the simulated rainfall fields shows that the total rainfall, intensity, and spatial coverage increase with higher soil moisture. Hydrologic simulations forced by the meteorological fields are performed using two scenarios: (i) fixed soil moisture initializations obtained via a drainage experiment in the hydrologic model and (ii) adjusted initializations to match conditions in the two models. The scenarios indicate that the runoff ratio increases with higher rainfall, although a change is observed from a linear (fixed initialization) to a nonlinear response (adjusted initialization). Variations in basin response are attributed to controls exerted by ra.
Compact codebooks for transmit beamforming in closed-loop MIMO Date Submitted

Notice This document has been prepared to assist IEEE 802.16. It is offered as a basis for discussion and is not binding on the contributing individual(s) or organization(s). The material in this document is subject to change in form and content after further study. The contributor(s) reserve(s) the right to add, amend or withdraw material contained herein. Release The contributor grants a free, irrevocable license to the IEEE to incorporate material contained in this contribution, and any modifications thereof, in the creation of an IEEE Standards publication; to copyright in the IEEE’s name any IEEE Standards publication even though it may include portions of this contribution; and at the IEEE’s sole discretion to permit others to reproduce in whole or in part the resulting IEEE Standards publication. The contributor also acknowledges and accepts that this contribution may be made public by IEEE 802.16. Patent Policy and Procedures The contributor is familiar with the IEEE 802.16 Patent Policy and Procedures (Version 1.0) , including the statement “IEEE standards may include the known use of patent(s), including patent applications, if there is technical justification in the opinion of the standardsdeveloping committee and provided the IEEE receives assurance from the patent holder that it will license applicants under reasonable terms and conditions for the purpose of implementing the standard. ”
Growth Performance and Carcass Yields as Influenced by Age and Sex in Different Turkey Varieties

A trial was conducted to study the influence of age and sex on production parameters in three different varieties of Turkeys belonging to Non-descript (V1), Nandanam Turkey-1 (V2) and Beltsville small white (V3) with 54 numbers each in three replicates. Hatch weight, weekly body weights and feed consumption were recorded at weekly intervals up to 16 weeks of age. Parameters on Ready-to-cook yield, giblet yield, meat: bone ratio and cut-up parts were recorded at three age groups in all the three varieties. Beltsville small white variety had significantly higher body weight and the best feed efficiency followed by Nandanam Turkey-1 and Non-descript varieties. Ready-to-cook yield in tom turkeys did not differ significantly between three turkey varieties. Giblet yield percent had gradually declined as age advanced. The giblet percent yield at 12 and 14th weeks of age in Beltsville small white variety showed significantly lower percentage than Nandanam Turkey-1 and Non-descript variety. Significant variation was found in breast yield between ages and as the age advanced, the percent value also increased (16.24 to 19.61 %).
Role of Urinary Albumin in the Prediction of Preeclampsia

The prospective study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology of Sir Salimullah Medical College & Mitford Hospital and at the Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, Research Division, BIRDEM, during the period of Jan 2003 to July 2004. To explore a suitable biochemical marker to predict the future development of preeclampsia (PE), total 119 pregnant women at their 10-14 weeks of pregnancy were selected. Urinary albumin was measured in these subjects and they were followed up to the term for the possible development of PE. The data were analyzed by grouping the subjects into the PE group and control group. Out of 119 subjects 56 were primigravida and 63 were multigravida. From the total subjects 10 developed PE (04 primigravida and 06 multigravida), which shows a prevalence of about 8.4%. The PE group showed a relatively higher value of Albumin Creatinine Ratio (ACR) as compared to control. 63 subjects had microalbuminuria out of which 8 developed PE. The sensitivity of ACR in predicting the development of PE was 80%, specificity 49.54%, Positive pridictive value (PPV) 12.69% and Negitive pridictive value (NPV) 96.42%. It may be concluded that early pregnancy levels of microalbuminuria can be used as predictors of preeclampsia with high negative predictive value. Key Words: Preeclampsia; Microalbuminuria DOI: 10.3329/fmcj.v6i1. 7404 Faridpur Med. Coll. J. 2011;6(1): 14-18