Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional overlap between two classes of matrix‐degrading proteases in wound healing

Retarded wound healing was found in mice deficient in the serine protease precursor plasminogen, as well as in wild‐type mice treated with the metalloprotease inhibitor galardin, but in both cases wound closure was ultimately completed in all mice within 60 days. The expression of several matrix metalloproteases in keratinocytes migrating to cover the wound was strongly enhanced by galardin treatment. However, when plasminogen‐deficient mice were treated with galardin, healing was completely arrested and wound closure was not seen during an observation period of 100 days, demonstrating that protease activity is essential for skin wound healing. The requirement for both plasminogen deficiency and metalloprotease inhibition for complete inhibition of the healing process indicates that there is a functional overlap between the two classes of matrix‐degrading proteases, probably in the dissection of the fibrin‐rich provisional matrix by migrating keratinocytes. Each class alone is capable of maintaining sufficient keratinocyte migration to regenerate the epidermal surface, although this function would normally be performed by both classes acting in parallel. Since there are strong similarities between the proteolytic mechanisms in wound healing and cancer invasion, these results predict that complete arrest of this latter process in therapeutic settings will require the use of inhibitors of both classes of proteases.
Progress Review of Electromagnetic Compatibility Analysis Technologies for Packages, Printed Circuit Boards, and Novel Interconnects

The ever-increasing demands of digital computing and wireless communication have been driving the semiconductor technology to change with each passing day. Modern electronic systems integrate more complex components and devices, which results in a very complex electromagnetic (EM) field environment. EM compatibility has become one of the major issues in ICs redesign, mainly due to the lack of efficient and accurate simulation tools and expertise on noise reduction and immunity improvement. This paper reviews the state of the arts of IC, electronic package, and printed circuit board simulation and modeling technologies. It summarizes the modeling technologies for both available structures [multilayered power-ground planes and macromodeling of interconnect (INC)] and novel structures (nano-INCs and 3-D ICs based on through-silicon via technology). It also illustrates the trends of simulation and modeling technologies in EM compatibility, signal integrity, and power integrity.
Considerations Regarding the Security and Protection of E-Banking Services Consumers’ Interests

A significant number of breaches in the security of electronic banking (e-Banking) system is reported each year, drawing attention to the need to protect and inform customers about the risk of exposure to malicious actions initiated by cyber-criminals. Financial institutions and consumers recognize the fact that attacks and financial frauds are becoming more complex and are perpetrated by a different class of criminal. This class is increasingly sophisticated and uses technology as part of their strategy. Furthermore, the specialists forecast that the current global recession is likely to increase the frequency of internal fraud and security breaches. The present research tries: (1) to analyze the potential dangers threatening the security of e- Banking services through a comprehensive investigation of the relevant literature; (2) to identify the tools and methods that can ensure the consumers’ protection in E-Banking, (3) to present the results of a pilot study regarding the Romanian consumer perception on the protection and security related to E-Banking services
Capital Control, Market Segmentation and Cross-Border Flow of Information: Some Empirical Evidence from the Chinese Stock Market

This paper investigates the trading activities of two distinct classes of shareholders, namely, the Chinese domestic investors and the foreign investors in the segmented Chinese A-share and B-share markets, respectively. Based on the results of our event study, we document prominent volatility and trading volumes during the windows of earnings announcements. The market reaction is more intensive in the A-share market and takes place much earlier before the public release of information. Furthermore, the abnormal trading volumes without price changes in advance of the public disclosure support the hypothesis of existing information among the A-share investors. This manifests information leakage and suggests an informal information environment in the A-share market. We further classify the earnings announcements into good news and bad news, and find that different information does not bring about different reaction patterns for the A shares. Insider trading, speculation and over-optimistic prospects for the economy in the A-share market are possible explanations.
Does Powerlessness Explain Elevated HIV Risk Among Tajik Labor Migrants? An Ethnographic Study

To investigate the role of powerlessness in elevated HIV risk among labor migrants, we compared internal verses external male migrant workers from Tajikistan using minimally structured interviews and focused field observations. The sample included 30 male labor migrants who traveled to work in Regar, Tajikistan (internal labor migrants), and 30 who travelled to work in Moscow, Russia (external labor migrants). Though powerlessness did not appear to account for whether labor migrants engaged in more HIV risk behaviors, the harsh living and working conditions of external labor migration impacted how the migrants manifested these HIV risks by amplifying group masculine norms and behaviors. Progress in preventing HIV infection amid the difficult social conditions of labor migration is contingent upon adequate conceptualization of how such conditions impact HIV risk behaviors
Mutations in Flavobacterium johnsoniae gldF and gldG Disrupt Gliding Motility and Interfere with Membrane Localization of GldA

ABSTRACT Flavobacterium johnsoniae moves rapidly over surfaces by a process known as gliding motility. The mechanism of this form of motility is not known. Four genes that are required for F. johnsoniae gliding motility, gldA, gldB, gldD, and ftsX, have recently been described. GldA is similar to the ATP-hydrolyzing components of ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Tn4351 mutagenesis was used to identify two additional genes, gldF and gldG, that are required for cell movement. gldF and gldG appear to constitute an operon, and a Tn4351 insertion in gldF was polar on gldG. pMK314, which carries the entire gldFG region, restored motility to each of the gldF and gldG mutants. pMK321, which expresses GldG but not GldF, restored motility to each of the gldG mutants but did not complement the gldF mutant. GldF has six putative membrane-spanning segments and is similar in sequence to channel-forming components of ABC transporters. GldG is similar to putative accessory proteins of ABC transporters. It has two apparent membrane-spanning helices, one near the amino terminus and one near the carboxy terminus, and a large intervening loop that is predicted to reside in the periplasm. GldF and GldG are involved in membrane localization of GldA, suggesting that GldA, GldF, and GldG may interact to form a transporter. F. johnsoniae gldA is not closely linked to gldFG, but the gldA, gldF, and gldG homologs of the distantly related gliding bacterium Cytophaga hutchinsonii are arranged in what appears to be an operon. The exact roles of F. johnsoniae GldA, GldF, and GldG in gliding are not known. Sequence similarities of GldA to components of other ABC transporters suggest that the Gld transporter may be involved in export of some material to the periplasm, outer membrane, or beyond.
The Haemophilus influenzae Sap Transporter Mediates Bacterium-Epithelial Cell Homeostasis

ABSTRACT Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) is a commensal inhabitant of the human nasopharynx and a causative agent of otitis media and other diseases of the upper and lower human airway. During colonization within the host, NTHI must acquire essential nutrients and evade immune attack. We previously demonstrated that the NTHI Sap transporter, an inner membrane protein complex, mediates resistance to antimicrobial peptides and is required for heme homeostasis. We hypothesized that Sap transporter functions are critical for NTHI interaction with the host epithelium and establishment of colonization. Thus, we cocultured the parent or the sapA mutant on polarized epithelial cells grown at an air-liquid interface, as a physiological model of NTHI colonization, to determine the contribution of the Sap transporter to bacterium-host cell interactions. Although SapA-deficient NTHI was less adherent to epithelial cells, we observed a significant increase in invasive bacteria compared to the parent strain. Upon internalization, the sapA mutant appeared free in the cytoplasm, whereas the parent strain was primarily found in endosomes, indicating differential subcellular trafficking. Additionally, we observed reduced inflammatory cytokine production by the epithelium in response to the sapA mutant strain compared to the parental strain. Furthermore, chinchilla middle ears challenged with the sapA mutant demonstrated a decrease in disease severity compared to ears challenged with the parental strain. Collectively, our data suggest that NTHI senses host environmental cues via Sap transporter function to mediate interaction with host epithelial cells. Epithelial cell invasion and modulation of host inflammatory cytokine responses may promote NTHI colonization and access to essential nutrients.
A study of tobacco carcinogenesis. I. The primary fractions

LINICAL, statistical, and pathological studies linking cancer of the lung, oral cavity, and larynx with tobacco smoking have led to an intensive study of tobacco, in particular of cigarettes, as a possible carcinogenic agent for laboratory animals. Several recent investigatioris have denionstrated condensed cigarette tar to be carcinogenic to the skin of several strains of mice, as well as to that of rabbits.5, 15, 90% 21, 23 In view of these results, it became of interest to determine the nature of the carcinogen or carcinogens responsible for these observations. For this reason, a combined chemical and biological study program was undertaken in 1952. The initial results are presented in this publication. Preliminary data have been published in part elsewhere.17~ 18, "4
ACCRUAL MANAGEMENT AND THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS AND AUDIT COMMITTEES

The recent revelation of the misleading audited accounts of several big companies in the US has heightened public concern about the integrity of a firm’s financial reporting processes. The management of the accounts is commonly known as accrual management as it is effectively accomplished through manipulation of discretionary accruals. A firm’s internal corporate governance systems should be able to constrain the extent of earnings being managed. To this end, this paper investigates one important aspect of the internal corporate governance, namely the independence of the board of directors and the audit committee. It is argued that the extent to which the board and the audit committee are independent of management determines their ability to constrain the management of discretionary accruals. Using data from the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) non-financial Main Board listed companies in 1998 evidence showed that neither board independence nor the audit committee independence effectively constrained the accrual management level. The interactive effects of board independence and audit committee independence were also found to be insignificant. Evidence in this paper, therefore, casts doubt that the independence of boards and the audit committee can lead to high quality accounting information, which is thereby useful to users. JEL classification: G34, M41 Key words: Accrual management, Audit committee independence, Discretionary accruals
Electronic structure of motoneurons in spinal cord slice cultures: a comparison of compartmental and equivalent cylinder models.

1. Voltage-clamp, current-clamp, and morphological data were obtained from visually identified motoneurons in organotypic cocultures of rat embryonic spinal cord, dorsal root ganglia, and skeletal muscle. The cells were injected with Biocytin during whole-cell patch-clamp recordings and stained with horseradish peroxidase. 2. The somata and dendritic trees of the cells were reconstructed with a semiautomatic reconstruction system. The motoneurons had a common multipolar shape. An elliptic soma gave rise to 3-9 stem dendrites with a mean diameter of 2.5 +/- 0.9 (SD) micron terminating in 24 +/- 7 dendritic endings. The mean total dendritic path length was 3,306 +/- 1,075 microns. The mean total membrane surface area was 15,594 +/- 10,404 microns 2 with a dendritic to somatic membrane surface area ratio of 3.4 +/- 1.4 (n = 7 cells). 3. The ratio between the sum of the diameters of the two daughter branches and the diameter of the parental branch each raised to the 3/2 power at all branch points was 1.3 +/- 0.28 (n = 8 cells). The dendritic trees of the cells tapered continuously from the soma to the distal ends. The mean normalized dendritic trunk parameter of all cells was 0.62 +/- 0.22. 4. The motoneurons had a mean input resistance RN of 498 +/- 374 M delta, a mean membrane time constant (tau m) of 22 +/- 4.6 ms, and a mean dendritic dominance (rho) of 2.7 +/- 0.86 (n = 5 cells). The mean electronic length (L) calculated from tau m and the slowest voltage-clamp time constant (tau VC1) was 0.7 +/- 0.04 (n = 7 cells). 5. The specific membrane capacitance (Cm) estimated from the charge of the capacitive current during a voltage step and the total membrane surface area was 1.08 +/- 0.3 microF/cm2 (n = 6 cells). 6. Compartmental computer models were constructed of individual cells. Experimental and simulated voltage transients were matched with Cm = 1 microF/cm2, a uniform membrane resistivity (Rm) = tau m/Cm and a cytosolic resistivity (Ri) of 308 +/- 39 omega.cm (n = 3 cells). 7. The mean electrotonic length of the dendritic paths was 0.83 +/- 0.2 (n = 5 cells). The mean input resistance at the dendritic terminals (RT) was 1,413 +/- 260 M omega. Synaptic conductances were applied at all distal dendritic compartments of the model cells. The resulting synaptic currents were calculated at the input site and at the soma. The mean transient current attenuation ratio was 4.7 +/- 1.7 under idealized voltage-clamp conditions. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Issues in pension funding

Part I: UK Pension Schemes 1.1 Types of Pension Schemes 1.2 Financing of Pension Schemes 1.3 The Tax Treatment of Pension Schemes 1.4 Accounting for Pension Costs 1.5 Other Issues Part II: UK Pension Funds and their Investments 2.5 Pension Fund Accounts 2.6 Types of Pension Fund Management 2.7 The Asswet Allocation of Pension Funds 2.8 The Top UK Pension Funds 2.9 The Investment Performance of UK Pension Funds Part III: The Regulatory Environment Part IV: Public Policy Issues 4.1 Current Government Policy 4.2 Other Public Policy Issues Part V: Issues in Pension Fund Management 5.1 What Types of Investments? 5.2 What Type of Fund Management? 5.3 How to Measure Fund Mangement Performance? Part VI: The Consequences of Pension Funds for Capital Markets 6.1 The Good Consequences of Pension Funds 6.2 The Bad Consequences of Pension Funds 6.3 Solving the Problem? Part VII: Future Developments 7.1 The Proposals of a Future Labour Government 7.2 Developments in the European Community 7.3 Lessons from the United States Part VIII: A New Approach to Pension Funding: The Ideal Pension Scheme.
Decomposition and Parallelization Techniques for Enumerating the Facets of Combinatorial Polytopes

A convex polytope can either be described as convex hull of vertices or as solution set of a finite number of linear inequalities and equations. Whereas both representations are equivalent from a theoretical point of view, they are not when optimization problems over the polytope have to be solved. It is a challenging task to convert one description into the other. In this paper we address the efficient computation of the facet structure of several polytopes associated with combinatorial optimization problems. New results are presented which are of interest for theoretical investigations as well as for practical optimization.
Anemia in pediatric hemodialysis patients: results from the 2001 ESRD Clinical Performance Measures Project.

BACKGROUND Despite improvements in dialysis care, anemia remains a problem in pediatric hemodialysis patients. METHODS To assess possible explanations for the anemia, clinical data were obtained from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on all hemodialysis patients ages 12 to <18 years between October and December 2000. Complete data were available for 435 of the 516 patients (84%). RESULTS A total of 160 (37%) patients had a mean hemoglobin of <11 g/dL (anemic). The mean (+/- SD) age for these patients was 15.5 +/- 1.8 years compared to 15.9 +/- 1.5 years for the target hemoglobin patients (P < 0.05). Mean time on chronic dialysis was similar for both the anemic and target hemoglobin patients (>/=100 g/dL) ( approximately 3 years) but patients on dialysis <6 months were more likely to be anemic (67%). While nearly all patients were treated with erythropoietin, anemic patients received greater weekly erythropoietin doses (intravenous, anemia 374 +/- 232 units/kg/week vs. target hemoglobin 246 +/- 196 units/kg/week, P < 0.001; and subcutaneous, 304 +/- 238 units/kg/week vs. 167 +/- 99 units/kg/week, P < 0.05). A total of 59% of anemic patients had a mean transferrin saturation (TSAT) >/=20% compared to 71% of patients with a target hemoglobin (P < 0.01). A mean serum ferritin >/=100 ng/mL was present in approximately two thirds of the anemic and target hemoglobin patients. Approximately 60% of all children were treated with intravenous iron. The mean Kt/V values were lower for anemic patients (1.46 +/- 0.4 vs. 1.53 +/- 0.3, P < 0.05). Anemic patients were less likely to have a normal serum albumin (29% anemic vs. 52% target hemoglobin patients, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION In the final multivariable regression model, dialyzing <6 months, a low albumin, and a mean TSAT <20% remained significant predictors of anemia in children.
Employee Retirement and a Firm's Pension Plan

The provisions of the pension plan in a large corporation are described in detail. The implications of the provisions are indicated by pension accrual profiles. These profiles are set forth, together with standard age-earnings and Social Security accrual profiles, in the form of life-time budget constraints. The plan provided very strong incentives to retire beginning at age 55. After age 65, negative pension and negative Social Security accruals effectively impose almost a 100 percent tax rate on wage earnings for many employees of the firm. Departure rates from the firm are compared with economic incentives inherent in the plan provisions. The inducements in the plan provisions to retire early have had a very substantial effect on departure rates from the firm. Over 50 percent of those employed by the firm at age 50 leave before 60 and 90 percent before age 65. The jumps in departure rates at specific ages coincide precisely with the discontinuities and kink points in the worker compensation profiles that result from the pension plan provisions together with wage earnings profiles and Social Security accrual.
Cupric citrate as growth promoter for broiler chickens in different rearing stages

ABSTRACT: Feeding cupric citrate as alternative to cupric sulfate to broilers has been suggested in theliterature. Day-old male broiler chicks (1,200) were used in an experiment to evaluate the efficacy of cupriccitrate supplementation (75 mg Cu kg -1 ) during the 1-21, 22-42 or 1-42 d periods in comparison to anunsupplemented diet and a diet supplemented with cupric sulfate (200 mg Cu kg -1 , 1-42 d). A randomizedblock design was used, with five treatments, six replicates and 40 birds per pen. The diets, based on corn andsoybean meal, and water were offered ad libitum during the 42-day experimental period. Over the entireperiod, there was no effect of copper supplementation ( P > 0.05) on bird live weight, weight gain, feedintake, feed conversion and mortality. Cupric citrate supplementation on the 22-42 d period resulted in worsefeed conversion as compared to broilers receiving cupric sulfate (2.014 vs. 1.967, P < 0.05). Copper residuesin the litter were reduced when broilers were fed cupric citrate, as compared to cupric sulfate (
The impact of ownership on Iowa land owners' decisions to adopt conservation practices

The structure of land ownership in Iowa is rapidly changing. More than half of the state's land is rented. The average age of land owners has increased over time. This study examines the differences in adoption of conservation practices between absentee owners and owner operators. Specifically, this study investigates hitherto unexplored differences between absentee owners and owner operators found in previous studies (e.g., absentee owners, sole ownership, proximity of habitation to farm and reasons for owning land) regarding decisions to conserve land.This study's 2006 survey data were analyzed using the non-parametric method (tau-b) and a parametric regression framework (logistic regressions). The results suggested that all conservation practices were not considered to be equal by landowners. Being an owner operator or absentee owner impacted the decision to use certain types of conservation practices. Absentee owners tend to adopt the structural (expensive) conservation practices more than owner operators, whereas both types of owners equally adopt inexpensive conservation practices. Being an absentee owner or owner operator does not impact the probability of having land enrolled in a government conservation program. Age, education, place of residence, owned agricultural land and reasons for owning land seem to affect the adoption of each practice individually. However, knowledge about the cost-share program does have a positive impact on adoption, regardless of the type of conservation practices.Ultimately, there is a need for more investigation to increase our knowledge of absentee owners, the reasons land owners choose to be absentee owners and their motivations to conserve land. This study found that landowners rarely used the internet for management information regarding their land. Similarly a very low percentage of landowners said the internet was their preferred way to receive such information. Reasons why the internet was not more widely used should be explored. Finally, policy makers should consider absentee owners as being strategically different from owner operators when creating conservation policies.
Cluster Institutional Isomorphic Pressures: A case of Tirupur knitwear cluster

There is a growing interest on study of industrial clusters in the institutional perspective. Each industrial cluster is unique, need to analyse the role of institutions in the formation, growth, and in sustaining the competitiveness of the cluster is felt. This paper explores one of the popular industrial clusters and analyses how the institutions in the cluster develop a force of homogeneity. For understanding the forces of the cluster, first the evolution of the cluster in the organisational and institutional perspective is explained by the support of various literatures. Then the relevant phenomenon is identified in the cluster activities and is associated to the cluster institutional isomorphic forces. This paper will create an understanding of the role of institutions in the cluster and help the various stakeholders to design strategies for the growth and competitiveness of the cluster.