Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CD5 Costimulation Up-Regulates the Signaling to Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Activation in CD4+CD8+ Thymocytes and Supports Their Differentiation to the CD4 Lineage1

CD5 positively costimulates TCR-stimulated mature T cells, whereas this molecule has been suggested to negatively regulate the activation of TCR-triggered thymocytes. We investigated the effect of CD5 costimulation on the differentiation of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes. Coligation of thymocytes with anti-CD3 and anti-CD5 induced enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of LAT (linker for activation of T cells) and phospholipase C-γ (PLC-γ) compared with ligation with anti-CD3 alone. Despite increased phosphorylation of PLC-γ, this treatment down-regulated Ca2+ influx. In contrast, the phosphorylation of LAT and enhanced association with Grb2 led to activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase. When CD3 and CD5 on CD4+CD8+ thymocytes in culture were coligated, they lost CD8, down-regulated CD4 expression, and induced CD69 expression, yielding a CD4+(dull)CD8−CD69+ population. An ERK inhibitor, PD98059, inhibited the generation of this population. The reduction of generation of CD4+CD8− cells resulted from decreased survival of these differentiating thymocytes. Consistent with this, PD98059 inhibited the anti-CD3/CD5-mediated Bcl-2 induction. These results indicate that CD5 down-regulates a branch of TCR signaling, whereas this molecule functions to support the differentiation of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes by up-regulating another branch of TCR signaling that leads to ERK activation.
RiboCAT: a new capillary electrophoresis data analysis tool for nucleic acid probing

Chemical and enzymatic probing of RNA secondary structure and RNA/protein interactions provides the basis for understanding the functions of structured RNAs. However, the ability to rapidly perform such experiments using capillary electrophoresis has been hampered by relatively labor-intensive data analysis software. While these computationally robust programs have been shown to calculate residue-specific reactivities to a high degree of accuracy, they often require time-consuming manual intervention and lack the ability to be easily modified by users. To alleviate these issues, RiboCAT (Ribonucleic acid capillary-electrophoresis analysis tool) was developed as a user-friendly, Microsoft Excel–based tool that reduces the need for manual intervention, thereby significantly shortening the time required for data analysis. Features of this tool include (i) the use of an Excel platform, (ii) a method of intercapillary signal alignment using internal size standards, (iii) a peak-sharpening algorithm to more accurately identify peaks, and (iv) an open architecture allowing for simple user intervention. Furthermore, a complementary tool, RiboDOG (RiboCAT data output generator) was designed to facilitate the comparison of multiple data sets, highlighting potential inconsistencies and inaccuracies that may have occurred during analysis. Using these new tools, the secondary structure of the HIV-1 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR) was determined using selective 2′-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE), matching the results of previous work.
Transfer of gaseous iodine to rice plants.

Transfer rate of gaseous elemental iodine from the atmosphere to rice plants was investigated. The estimated transfer rates of iodine to rough rice and leaves, which were given as the ratios of iodine uptake rate per unit weight of plants to iodine concentration in the air, were approximately 0.08 to 0.1 and 2.0 cm3/g⋅sec, respectively. These values are concordant with those previously reported for other plants. Almost all iodine deposited on rough rice is maintained in the hulls and only about 10% of total iodine is contained in brown rice. The pattern of loss of iodine from rice plants are largely different among organs of the plants. Iodine concentration in leaves decreased exponentially with the half life of about 14 days, whereas that in rough rice seemed to depend only its weight. Migration of iodine in rice plants was barely perceptible.
Promoting Weight Loss and Blood Pressure Control at Work: Impact of an Education and Intervention Program

Objective: To assess the impact of tailored intervention on body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP) among hypertensive employees participating in an employer-based BP screening program. Methods: The quasi-experimental design involved screening subjects (n = 15,583) within the Merrill Lynch organization. A control group had BP and weight measurements plus education whereas experimental sites additionally received a pedometer, to measure physical activity, body fat measurement, and education encouraging physical activity. Change in BMI and BP were compared after 1 year. Results: The experimental group (n = 47) demonstrated statistically significant improvements in BMI (P < 0.01) and systolic BP (P = 0.04) versus control group (n = 94). Furthermore, 38.3% of the experimental group reported undertaking vigorous physical activity (≥3×/wk) at 1-year; a 100% increase compared with baseline. Conclusions: A targeted worksite intervention program may be an effective way to lower BP and promote exercise and weight loss.
Rapid genetic analysis of Helicobacter pylori gastric mucosal colonization in suckling mice

Previously described animal models for Helicobacter pylori infection have been limited by cumbersome host requirements (e.g., germ-free conditions or unusual species) or are applicable to only special subsets of H. pylori strains (e.g., fresh clinical isolates or animal-adapted derivatives). Here, we report that 5- to 6-day-old outbred CD-1 (ICR) suckling mice support 24-h colonization of all H. pylori strains tested (SS1, 26695 SmR-1, 43504 SmR-1, and G27 SmR-1), including lab-passaged strains that cannot be adapted for colonization of adult animals. Total colony-forming units (cfu) recovered from infection with lab-passaged strains did not differ from those with mouse-adapted SS1. We also tested this model's ability to detect colonization defects in strains carrying mutations in known virulence genes by coinfecting with wild-type H. pylori and measuring differential recovery. This competition assay identified colonization defects in several classes of known attenuated mutants, including those defective in acid resistance (ureA), metabolism (frdA), motility (motB), and chemotaxis (cheY). A mutant defective in copA (copper transporting P-type ATPase) is nonattenuated in adult and infant mice. Possibly because of the limited duration of infection, our model did not identify defects in vacuolating cytotoxin (vacA) or γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (ggt) as attenuating, in contrast to results from other animal models. We also identified a new virulence gene (HP0507) encoding a conserved hypothetical protein, which is important for colonization in our model. The suckling mouse model offers a rapid method to identify colonization defects in any H. pylori strain and may have utility as a new tool for studying immunity to primary infection.
Robust self-cleaning surfaces that function when exposed to either air or oil

A robust paintlike repellent coating Superhydrophobic materials often depend on a particular surface patterning or an applied coating. However, these surfaces can be damaged by wear or fouled by oily materials. Lu et al. devised a suspension of coated titanium dioxide nanoparticles that can be spray-painted or dipcoated onto a range of hard and soft surfaces, including paper, cloth, and glass. The coatings resisted rubbing, scratching, and surface contamination. Science, this issue p. 1132 Robust, coated self-cleaning surfaces function after either abrasion or oil contamination. Superhydrophobic self-cleaning surfaces are based on the surface micro/nanomorphologies; however, such surfaces are mechanically weak and stop functioning when exposed to oil. We have created an ethanolic suspension of perfluorosilane-coated titanium dioxide nanoparticles that forms a paint that can be sprayed, dipped, or extruded onto both hard and soft materials to create a self-cleaning surface that functions even upon emersion in oil. Commercial adhesives were used to bond the paint to various substrates and promote robustness. These surfaces maintained their water repellency after finger-wipe, knife-scratch, and even 40 abrasion cycles with sandpaper. The formulations developed can be used on clothes, paper, glass, and steel for a myriad of self-cleaning applications.
The Economic Consequences of Accidents at Work

This paper investigates the economic consequences of workplace accidents in the British labour market. For the empirical analysis, I use data on employment and earnings from the British Household Panel Survey and exploit fixed effects estimators to control for time-invariant unobserved workers’ characteristics. I provide evidence that accidents at work negatively affect both job opportunities and workers’ earnings. First, employment probabilities following a state of injury are significantly lower. This effect persists over time and is stronger in those regions where the macroeconomic conditions are worse. Second, a serious workplace accident also results in significant delayed wage penalties, which increase with the accident’s seriousness. The effect is lower in the public sector and unionized firms, where job and earnings protection is higher and physically demanding working conditions are not widespread, or if the worker moves to a new job which suits his/her post-injury abilities better.
Consumer Preferences for Mobile Carriers in Tanzania: A Case of Group, Family, Age and Gender

This paper investigates age, family, group and gender influence consumer preference for selection of the mobile carrier. About seventy seven students from high learning institutions in Dodoma Municipality participated in responding to prepared questionnaires. The results indicate that family members and friends are contributing in influencing consumer preferences to select mobile services provider, although at smaller margins. This paper revealed also that there is no direct relationship between selection of a mobile carrier and age or gender.
How Do Treasury Dealers Manage Their Positions?

Using data on U.S. Treasury dealer positions from 1990 to 2006, we find evidence of a significant role for dealers in the intertemporal intermediation of new Treasury security supply. Dealers regularly take into inventory a large share of Treasury issuance so that dealer positions increase during auction weeks. These inventory increases are only partially offset in adjacent weeks and are not significantly hedged with futures. Dealers seem to be compensated for the risk associated with these inventory changes by means of price appreciation in the subsequent week.
Electrical Characterization of Thin-Film Structures With Redeposited Sidewalls

Accurate electrical characterization of test structures and devices requires identification and correction for parasitic current paths in the measurement network. The sidewalls formed during reactive ion etching of thin-film phase-change material layers in argon plasma can result in parasitic current paths in the structures. In this paper, thin-film structures with redeposited sidewalls are realized, and they are experimentally characterized by electrical resistance measurements on van der Pauw test structures. The impact of conducting sidewalls on contact resistance measurements and data extraction from cross-bridge Kelvin resistor structures is discussed. The error introduced in the electrical resistance measurements from these test structures is analytically modeled. The impact on the electrical performance of devices due to the formation of sidewalls is also discussed.
Emerging Market Bidder Returns and the Choice of Payment Method in M&A: Evidence from India

Indian mergers and acquisition deals present an interesting venue to study the effects of two conflicting forces, namely, high promoter holdings and lack of debt funding, on the method of payment choice and its impact on shareholder returns. We study the short run effects on shareholders’ wealth of the acquiring companies in mergers and acquisitions in India. Analysis of abnormal returns indicates that the M&A announcements in India display positive effects on shareholder wealth, oftentimes irrespective of the method of payment. Cash deals display positive abnormal returns, and in some event windows we observe positive abnormal returns for stock deal bidders, as well. This phenomenon is contrary to the wealth effect predictions of the information asymmetry models. We offer financing constraint hypothesis and ownership hypothesis, along with an alternative hypothesis, i.e., the pseudo cash deals hypothesis to explain this anomaly. The availability of internal funds, insider ownership and size of a deal are important factors that determine the choice of payment method in Indian mergers and acquisitions.
Effects of Crocin on Learning and Memory in Rats Under Chronic Restraint Stress with Special Focus on the Hippocampal and Frontal Cortex Corticosterone Levels

Background: Chronic stress adversely influences brain functions while crocin, as an effective component of saffron, exhibits positive effects on memory processes. This study investigated the effects of different doses of crocin on the improvement of learning and memory as well as corticosterone (CORT) levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of rats subjected to chronic stress. Materials and Methods: Forty male rats were randomly allocated to five different groups (n = 8): Control, sham; stress (6 h/day for 21 days) groups, and two groups receiving daily intraperitoneal injections of one of two doses (30 and 60 mg/kg) of crocin accompanied by 21 days of restraint stress. Latency was evaluated as a brain function using the passive avoidance test before and one-day after a foot shock. CORT levels were measured in the homogenized hippocampus and frontal cortex. Results: Results revealed that chronic stress had a significantly (P < 0.01) negative effect on memory. Crocin (30 and 60 mg/kg), however, gave increase to significantly (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05; respectively) improved memory functions in the stressed rats. Furthermore, the CORT levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex declined significantly (P < 0.05) in the stress group compared to the control. Only a crocin dose of 30 mg/kg was observed modulate significantly (P < 0.05) the CORT levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex in the stressed group. Conclusions: It was found that the lower crocin dose (30 mg/kg) had more beneficial effects than its higher (60 mg/kg) dose on learning and memory under chronic stress conditions. Moreover, it was speculated that different doses of crocin act on different neurotransmitters and biochemical factors in the brain.
Efficient Patent Pools

The paper builds a tractable model of a patent pool, an agreement among patent owners to license a set of their patents to one another or to third parties. It first provides a necessary and suncient condition for a patent pool to enhance welfare. It shows that requiring pool members to be able to independently license patents matters if and only if the pool is otherwise welfare reducing, a property that allows the antitrust authorities to use this requirement to screen out unattractive pools. The paper then undertakes a number of extensions. It evaluates the external test' according to which patents with substitutes should not be included in a pool; analyzes the welfare implications of the reduction in the members' incentives to invent around or challenge the validity of each other's patents; looks at the rationale for the (common) provision of automatic assignment of future related patents to the pool; and, last, studies the intellectual property owners' incentives to form a pool or to cross-license when they themselves are users of the patents in the pool.
Neither National Boundaries nor Transnational Social Spaces: Accounting for Variations in Valuation of ESG Risks in Varieties of Capitalism

The paper empirically re-examines the role of national institutions and trans-national social spaces in accounting for variations in CSR practices. Based on a longitudinal study of corporate social reporting in UK and Germany, the paper concludes that corporate stakeholder salience patterns are outcomes of interaction effects between national institutional boundaries and trans-national social spaces. It pushes the institutionalist frontier of research to corporate stakeholder salience – which is a precursor and intrinsic to both corporate accountability and corporate social responsibility. In addition, it opens a new vista of looking at corporate social reports – i.e. not only as artefacts of accountability, but also carriers and reflectors of national and trans-national characteristics and influences. The paper finally highlights implications of the findings for CSR and comparative capitalism research, respectively.
L’avviamento nei bilanci aziendali: impairment test e disclosure

L’applicazione all’avviamento dell’ impairment test costituisce uno dei temi maggiormente dibattuti in ambito internazionale, in relazione ai molteplici profili di soggettivita insiti nei criteri di valutazione previsti dallo IAS 36 e al conseguente rischio che detta procedura possa costituire un potenziale strumento di politiche di bilancio. Attraverso un’indagine comparata dei bilanci di societa quotate italiane e inglesi dal 2005 al 2008, si intende verificare il trattamento contabile dell’avviamento, in particolare nel caso di segnali di perdite di valore, nonche la corrispondente disclosure fornita al riguardo. Nella ricerca sono analizzate le relazioni intercorrenti tra entita della svalutazione dell’avviamento, valutazione dell’azienda riflessa dalle corrispondenti quotazioni di borsa, e grado di disclosure sull’avviamento. Presumendo che la qualita della disclosure esprima il livello di attendibilita con cui si sono applicate le disposizioni dello IAS 36, si verifica l’ipotesi che la mancata effettuazione di svalutazioni, pur in presenza di indicatori di perdite di valore dell’avviamento, conduca le aziende a fornire una disclosure sull’ impairment test non completa ne soddisfacente.
The effects of alcohol intoxication and gender on the social information processing of hostile provocations involving male and female provocateurs.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of acute alcohol intoxication and gender on the social information processing of hostile provocations involving male and female provocateurs. METHOD A sample of 82 participants (50% women) was randomly assigned to either an alcohol, placebo or control group. Participants completed a baseline assessment and a social information processing protocol. The protocol consisted of 12 videotaped provocation scenarios with gender of provocateur and level of hostility (hostile versus nonhostile) crossed (three scenarios for each combination). Note: Female participants viewed 12 scenarios that presented a female target and male participants viewed 12 scenarios that presented a male target. Participants viewed each scenario separately and responded to questions from an interviewer via an intercom. Questions tapped the social information processing domains of encoding, response representation, goal selection, response generation, response evaluation and response selection. RESULTS Analyses showed a pattern of results whereby intoxicated men evidenced a greater degree of hostile response representation, a greater proportion of aggressive goal selection, greater aggressive response generation and greater aggressive response selection than all other group-by-gender combinations. These results were found most often for scenarios where the intent was hostile and the provocateur was male. CONCLUSIONS The pattern of findings was consistent with past research on the relationship between alcohol, social information processing and aggression as well as with behavioral studies of the alcohol-aggression link. The social information processing model used in this study appears to be useful for the study of cognitive processes in the causal link between acute alcohol intoxication and aggressive behavior.
Variance in quantitative traits due to linked dominant genes and variance in heterozygosity in small populations.

The influence of small population size (N) on the genetic variance within and between randomly bred unselected lines, with selfing permitted, is investigated for a model of a quantitative trait determined by linked genes that show dominance within loci but are additive over loci. Formulae for within-line variance include terms in linkage disequilibrum, which occurs by chance in the lines and these are evaluated in terms of N, map length and gene number. -The expected variance within lines is increased by this disequilibrium, quite substantially if there are many loci, with most of the increase being between or within full-sib families and almost no change expected between half-sib families or in the covariance of offspring and parent. If all loci are unlinked, there is no increase in variance within full-sib families. The variance between lines is little affected by disequilibrum generated by chance. -Expressions for the variance between individuals in heterozygosity over the whole genome are special cases of those for the variance due to linked dominated genes, and formulae are given and evaluated. The coefficient of variation of heterozygosity is at least (see PDF) and can be much higher for species with few chromosomes.
Does a Feline Leukemia Virus Infection Pave the Way for Bartonella henselae Infection in Cats?

ABSTRACT Domestic cats serve as the reservoir hosts of Bartonella henselae and may develop mild clinical symptoms or none after experimental infection. In humans, B. henselae infection can result in self-limiting cat scratch disease. However, immunocompromised patients may suffer from more-severe courses of infection or may even develop the potentially lethal disease bacillary angiomatosis. It was reasoned that cats with immunocompromising viral infections may react similarly to B. henselae infection. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of the most important viruses known to cause immunosuppression in cats—Feline leukemia virus (FeLV), Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV)—on natural B. henselae infection in cats. Accordingly, 142 cats from animal shelters were necropsied and tested for B. henselae and concurrent infections with FeLV, FIV, or FPV by PCR and immunohistochemistry. A significant association was found between B. henselae and FeLV infections (P = 0.00028), but not between B. henselae and FIV (P = 1.0) or FPV (P = 0.756) infection, age (P = 0.392), or gender (P = 0.126). The results suggest that susceptibility to B. henselae infection is higher in cats with concurrent FeLV infections, regardless of whether the infection is latent or progressive. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry for B. henselae failed to identify lesions that could be attributed specifically to B. henselae infection. We conclude that the course of natural B. henselae infection in cats does not seem to be influenced by immunosuppressive viral infections in general but that latent FeLV infection may predispose cats to B. henselae infection or persistence.
Internet Commerce and Software Agents: Cases, Technologies and Opportunities

The Internet is revolutionizing retail merchandising and shopping. This text addresses some major Internet commerce issues and the challenges to be met in achieving automated and secure Internet trading. Among the topics covered are the development of intelligent tools, business models to maximise the benefits of agent technologies, agent-based payments, recommender systems, Web-based smart card agents, Internet lottery systems and wireless virtual communities.