Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experimental and model investigations of bleaching and saturation of fluorescence in flow cytometry.

We investigated the fluorescence emission from three fluorophores commonly used for labeling cells in flow cytometry. We have demonstrated that the fluorescence emission from cells labeled with fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC), phycoerythrin (PE), and allophycocyanin (APC) is considerably saturated and bleached in standard flow cytometric conditions. Therefore, for optimization of fluorescence detection in a flow cytometer, it is important to know the emission kinetics in detail. We made a mathematical model of the optical processes involved: absorption, fluorescence emission, nonradiative decay, photodestruction, and triplet state occupation. The validity of the model was experimentally tested with a set of averaged fluorescence pulses, measured in a large range of intensities and illumination times. The fluorescence of APC could be completely described by the model and produced the following rate constants: photodestruction rate kb1 = 6 x 10(3) s(-1), triplet state population rate k12 = 2 x 10(5) s(-1), and depopulation rate k20 = 5 x 10(4) s(-1). The fluorescence kinetics of FITC- and PE-labeled cells could not be fitted with only three parameters over the entire range, indicating that other optical processes are involved. We used the model to determine the sensitivity of our flow cytometer and to calculate the optimum conditions for the detection of APC. The results show that in principle a single APC molecule on a cell can be detected in the presence of background, i.e., autofluorescence and Raman scattering by water.
A Wideband Inductorless Single-to-Differential LNA in $0.18 \mu{\rm m}$  CMOS Technology for Digital TV Receivers

This study presents an inverter-based inductorless single-to-differential (S2D) wideband low-noise amplifier (LNA). The proposed LNA has three inverter-based gain stages with a global shunt feedback resistor for wideband input impedance matching. Moreover, a shunt capacitor with a current bias transistor in the third gain stage enhances the gain/phase imbalances and the linearity of the pseudo-differential outputs. When implemented in a TSMC 0.18- μm CMOS process, this wideband LNA covering DC-1.4 GHz achieves a S21 of 16.4 dB, a minimal input third-order intercept point (IIP3) of -13.3 dBm, and a minimal noise figure (with output buffers) of 3 dB. The output gain and phase imbalances are less than 1 dB and 2.5°, respectively, within 1 GHz. The chip consumes 12.8 mW from a 1.8 V supply.
Ten-year follow-up of the ‘minimal MRI lesion’ subgroup from the original CHAMPS Multiple Sclerosis Prevention Trial

Background: Patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions are at high risk for multiple sclerosis (MS). However, patients with a minimal MRI lesion burden (a low T2-hyperintense [low T2] lesion count) may have borderline formal diagnostic criteria, presenting a clinical management challenge. Objective: Compare the 10-year disease progression of patients with low and higher T2 lesion counts treated over most intervals. Methods: CIS patients from the original CHAMPS MS trial were retrospectively assigned to low-T2 (first quartile; 2–8 lesions) or higher-T2 (second through fourth quartiles; ≥ 9 lesions) groups using baseline T2 lesion counts. The 5- and 10-year open-label extension of CHAMPS (CHAMPIONS) evaluated conversion to clinically definite MS (CDMS), MRI activity, relapses, and disability. Results: The vast majority of patients showed new disease activity by MRI and/or clinical criteria at 10 years (low-T2 86%; higher-T2 98%). Fewer low-T2 than higher-T2 patients developed CDMS (40% vs. 63%; p = 0.013); low-T2 patients also had fewer new brain lesions, less brain volume loss, and less disability progression. Conclusion: CIS patients with low T2 lesion counts show continued disease activity. However, all assessments of disease progression over 10 years indicated a significantly less severe disease course for low-T2 patients.
Muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the human melanoma cell line SK‐Mel 28: modulation of chemotaxis

Primary and metastatic human melanomas express muscarinic receptors. In embryonic tissues, expression of muscarinic receptors is correlated with morphogenesis. The hypothesis has been put forward that muscarinic receptors are involved in morphogenetic movements in the embryo, and in cellular movements in melanoma cells during invasive growth. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the muscarinic receptors in the human melanoma cell line SK‐Mel 28 and to test in a Boyden chamber assay whether the chemotactic activity towards fibronectin can be influenced by muscarinic stimulation. In Western blots with the monoclonal antibody M35, muscarinic receptors were localized in a strong band at 66 kDa, and in a weak band at 63 kDa. Western blot with M3 subtype specific antibodies reproduced the line at 66 kDa. RT‐PCR revealed mRNA for subtypes M3 and M5. These findings suggest that SK‐Mel 28 cells express a large number of subtype M3 and a small number of subtype M5 receptors. Microscopic observation of calcium mobilization after muscarinic stimulation indicated that all cells carried functional muscarinic receptors. A standardized chemotaxis assay was established in modified Boyden chambers using fibronectin as chemotactic agent. After addition of carbachol to the upper compartment, an increase of fibronectin induced chemotaxis of ∼30% was observed, an effect abrogated by atropine. These results demonstrate that muscarinic cholinergic treatment has a modulatory effect on fibronectin‐induced chemotaxis in SK‐Mel 28 melanoma cells, indicating that the muscarinic system is involved in regulation of cell movement.
The Effect of Earnings Management on Debt Maturity: An International Study

Cet article examine l’effet de la gestion des resultats sur la maturite de la dette et comment cette relation est influencee par l’environnement institutionnel. L’echantillon est issu de 17 pays europeens de l’indice STOXX Europe 600 sur la periode 2006-2014. Nos resultats montrent que la gestion des resultats, aussi bien par les accruals discretionnaires que par la gestion reelle, a un effet negatif sur la dette a long terme. Plus important encore, nous observons que le lien negatif entre la gestion des resultats et la dette a long terme ne tient que dans les pays a faible protection des creanciers. Ce resultat suggere que la bonne protection des creanciers tend a compenser la faiblesse de la qualite de l’information financiere des emprunteurs.
Minority Adolescents in Ethnically Diverse Schools: Perceptions of Equal Treatment Buffer Threat Effects.

Can perceptions of equal treatment buffer the negative effects of threat on the school success of minority students? Focusing on minority adolescents from Turkish and Moroccan heritage in Belgium (Mage = 14.5; N = 735 in 47 ethnically diverse schools), multilevel mediated moderation analyses showed: (a) perceived discrimination at school predicted lower test performance; (b) experimentally manipulated stereotype threat decreased performance (mediated by increased disengagement); (c) perceived equal treatment at school predicted higher performance (mediated by decreased disengagement); and (d) personal and peer perceptions of equal treatment buffered negative effects of discrimination and stereotype threat. Thus, (situational) stereotype threat and perceived discrimination at school both undermine minority student success, whereas perceived equal treatment can provide a buffer against such threats.
23% faster program and 40% energy reduction of carbon nanotube non-volatile memory with over 1011 endurance

Carbon nanotube (CNT) non-volatile memory provides excellent cell characteristics of >1011 endurance, low power, fast <;5ns array program, and multi-level cell (MLC) potential. For the first time, optimal program methods are investigated considering speed, power and cell variability. Discrete cells are measured and a multiple-pulse reset scheme is proposed to reduce verify-reset time and a gate pulse verify-reset scheme further reduces array program energy by 40%.
Self-interaction of pneumolysin, the pore-forming protein toxin of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

The pathogenically important cholesterol-binding pore-forming bacterial "thiol-activated" toxins (TATs) are commonly believed to be monomeric in solution and to undergo a transition on membrane binding mediated by cholesterol to an oligomeric pore. We present evidence, gained through the application of a number of biochemical and biophysical techniques with associated modelling, that the TAT from Streptococcus pneumoniae, pneumolysin, is in fact able to self-associate in solution to form the same oligomeric structures. The weak interaction leading to solution oligomerization is manifested at low concentrations in a dimeric toxin form. The inhibition of toxin self-interaction by derivatization of the single cysteine residue in pneumolysin with the thiol-active agent dithio (bis)nitrobenzoic acid indicates that self-interaction is mediated by the fourth domain of the protein, which has a fold similar to other proteins known to self-associate. This interaction is thought to have implications for the understanding of mechanisms of pore formation and complement activation by pneumolysin.
Human capital and income inequality*

Abstract This study investigates empirically how human capital, measured by educational attainment, is related to income distribution. The regressions, using a cross-country data between 1980 and 2015, show that a more equal distribution of education contributes significantly to reducing income inequality. Educational expansion is a major factor in reducing educational inequality and thus income inequality. Social benefits spending and price stability contribute to reducing income inequality, while public education spending helps to reduce educational inequality. In contrast, higher per capita income, greater trade openness and faster technological progress tend to make both income and education distribution more unequal. The calibration of empirical results shows that we can attribute the rising income inequality within East Asian economies in recent decades to the unequalizing effects of fast income growth and rapid progress in globalization and technological change, which have surpassed the income-equalizing effects from improved equality in the distribution of educational attainment.
Implied Biases in Forecasts of Earnings for Different Horizons

Security analysts generally provide forecasts of earnings for the current period as well as oneyear ahead earnings at fiscal year end. In this study, we derive an estimation procedure, which infers forecast bias from equivalent price expressions that utilize different horizon earnings forecasts. It is well documented that analyst long-horizon earnings forecasts tend to be more optimistic (ex post) than short-horizon forecasts. We develop a system of equations that simultaneously estimates the expected rates of return and growth rates implied by analysts’ forecast of current period earnings and one-year ahead earnings. We attribute the difference between the two expected rates of returns as the relative extent to which investors adjust analyst earnings forecasts (downward) farther out when calculating the present values of future payoffs, knowing that earnings forecasts for more distant period are, on average, more optimistically biased. We refer the adjustment to forecast of one-year ahead earnings as our measure of ex ante forecast bias. We find that investors, on average, adjust one-year ahead earnings forecasts downwards by approximately 10%. To further validate our bias measure, we partition our sample using determinants, which have been shown, in prior literature, to explain ex post forecast bias. Our results show that risk-return proxies and information content of forecasts identified in prior literature as explaining ex post forecast bias also explain ex ante forecast bias. In addition, investors do not heavily weight accounting attributes in their adjustment of the more distant earnings forecasts. In sum, we develop an estimation procedure, which estimates the implied expected rate of return and growth rate from analyst forecasts, while adjusting for the forecast bias in more distant earnings. Furthermore, our ex ante forecast measure is the first to quantify investors’ adjustment of earnings forecasts at different horizon at consensus forecast formation.
The genetics of speciation: are complex incompatibilities easier to evolve?

Reproductive isolation can evolve readily when genotypes containing incompatible alleles are connected by chains of fit intermediates. Experimental crosses show that such Dobzhansky–Muller incompatibilities (DMIs) are often complex (involving alleles at three or more loci) and asymmetrical (such that reciprocal introgressions have very different effects on fitness). One possible explanation is that asymmetrical and complex DMIs are ‘easier to evolve’, because they block fewer of the possible evolutionary paths between the parental genotypes. To assess this argument, we model evolutionary divergence in allopatry and calculate the delays to divergence caused by DMIs of different kinds. We find that the number of paths is sometimes, though not always, a reliable predictor of the time to divergence. In particular, we find limited support for the idea that symmetrical DMIs take longer to evolve, but this applies largely to two‐locus symmetrical DMIs (which leave no path of fit intermediates). Symmetrical complex DMIs can also delay divergence, but only in a limited region of parameter space. In most other cases, the presence and form of DMIs have little influence on times to divergence, and so we argue that ease of evolution is unlikely to be important in explaining the experimental data.
Absence of negative attitudes toward childbearing among pregnant teenagers. A risk factor for a rapid repeat pregnancy?

OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that adolescent mothers who conceive again during the first postpartum year express more positive attitudes toward childbearing while pregnant than do adolescent mothers who postpone further childbearing. METHOD Prospective, cross-sectional, population-based survey. DESIGN A racially diverse group of 200 consecutively enrolled, poor, pregnant 13- to 18-year-old patients in an adolescent-oriented maternity program were interviewed to determine why they had not used contraceptives prior to the index conception. The study participants were followed up prospectively for the first postpartum year. The data analysis included t tests, chi 2 tests, analysis of variance, and logistic regressions. RESULTS The repeat pregnancy rate was 11.5% during the first postpartum year. As hypothesized, those who became pregnant again were more likely to have expressed positive attitudes toward childbearing during the index pregnancy (60.9% vs 39.6%; P = .05; odds ratio = 2.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.96-5.90). In addition, those who conceived again were more likely to have had a prior miscarriage, dropped out of school, abused illicit substances, moved away from home, and reported inadequate family support during the index pregnancy, and were less likely to plan to use levonorgestrel (Norplant) following delivery. The best model for predicting repeat pregnancy included education status, postpartum plans for Norplant use, and miscarriage history. Having a positive attitude toward childbearing during pregnancy was not included in the final model because it did not contribute to the model or affect any of the other parameters in the model. CONCLUSIONS The sexually active teenaged mother who does not use contraception poses a perplexing diagnostic dilemma. The differential diagnosis is a long, complex one that includes ambivalent feelings about postponing future childbearing. This study demonstrates an indirect association between positive attitudes toward childbearing during pregnancy and repeat adolescent pregnancy. Our finding that this association operates through common linkages between maternal educational and contraceptive plans and both positive attitudes toward childbearing and repeat adolescent pregnancy suggests that interventions specifically targeting these underlying causes could reduce the unsafe sexual practices that persist among the participants in comprehensive adolescent-oriented maternity programs.
Immunization of BALB/c Mice with Killed Neospora caninum Tachyzoite Antigen Induces a Type 2 Immune Response and Exacerbates Encephalitis and Neurological Disease

ABSTRACT BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously with solubleNeospora caninum tachyzoite antigen (NSO) entrapped in nonionic surfactant vesicles (NISVs) or administered with Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA). Following virulent parasite challenge, groups of mice immunized with NSO and either NISVs or FCA had clinical neurological disease and increased numbers of brain lesions compared to groups of mice inoculated with FCA, NISVs, or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) alone. Increased numbers of brain lesions were statistically significant only between mice immunized with NISV-NSO and NISV- or PBS-treated mice. Following parasite challenge, brain inflammatory infiltrates in all experimental and control groups of mice were relatively similar and consisted of compact infiltrates of macrophages admixed with various numbers of lymphoid cells. Increased brain lesions in NSO-immunized mice were associated with increased antigen-specific interleukin 4 (IL-4) secretion and increased IL-4:gamma interferon secretion ratios from splenocytes in vitro and increased antigen-specific immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1):IgG2a ratios in vivo. Thus, immunization with whole killed N. caninum antigen and either liposoidal or Freund's adjuvant induced a type 2 immune response that was associated with worsened disease. The present studies emphasize the need to identify specific N. caninum antigens or other delivery systems that will elicit protective immune responses to neosporosis.
Constitutional NF1 mutations in neurofibromatosis 1 patients with malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patients have 10% of lifetime risk for developing malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST), one of the most aggressive cancers. We examined the spectrum of constitutional NF1 mutations among 24 NF1 patients with MPNST. We found mutations in 18 patients: four megabase deletions involving the NF1 gene, 13 truncating mutations, and only one missense mutation. One deletion included both exonic and intronic sequences. No typical splicing mutation was found. Five of these mutations were novel: c.3686delA, c. 197_204+9del17, c.3044T>C (p.Leu1015Pro), c.2497delT, and c. 6020_6027dup. The proportion of megabase deletions of the NF1 gene found in patients with MPNST (17%=4/24) was higher than that in a group of unselected NF1 patients (5.4%=27/500). © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Investment Under Uncertainty and Time-Inconsistent Preferences

The real options framework has been used extensively to analyze the timing of investment under uncertainty. While standard real options models assume that agents possess a constant rate of time preference, there is substantial evidence that agents are very impatient about choices in the short-term, but are quite patient when choosing between long-term alternatives. We extend the real options framework to model the investment timing decisions of entrepreneurs with such time-inconsistent preferences. Two opposing forces determine investment timing: while evolving uncertainty induces entrepreneurs to defer investment in order to take advantage of the option to wait, their time-inconsistent preferences motivate them to invest earlier in order to avoid the time-inconsistent behavior they will display in the future. We find that the precise trade-off between these two forces depends on such factors as whether entrepreneurs are sophisticated or naive in their expectations regarding their future time-inconsistent behavior, as well as whether the payoff from investment occurs all at once or over time. We extend the model to consider equilibrium investment behavior for an industry comprised of time-inconsistent entrepreneurs. Such an equilibrium involves the dual problem of entrepreneurs playing dynamic games against competitors as well as against their own future selves.
Is There Any Asymmetry Between Fuel and Crude Oil Prices in Turkey?

This article examines the relationship between crude oil and fuel prices in Turkey covering the period January 1987 and October 2013. Regime-dependent responses and variance decompositions derived from the TVAR models confirm the asymmetry in the price adjustment process: Diesel and gasoline prices respond more aggressively to oil price increases than to decreases. The results further indicate that exchange rate movements are more important than the change in crude oil prices in the explanation of asymmetric price transmission mechanism.
Primary structure and processing of lysosomal alpha‐glucosidase; homology with the intestinal sucrase‐isomaltase complex.

Lysosomal alpha‐glucosidase (acid maltase) is essential for degradation of glycogen in lysosomes. Enzyme deficiency results in glycogenosis type II. The amino acid sequence of the entire enzyme was derived from the nucleotide sequence of cloned cDNA. The cDNA comprises 3636 nt, and hybridizes with a messenger RNA of approximately 3.6 kb, which is absent in fibroblasts of two patients with glycogenosis type II. The encoded protein has a molecular mass of 104.645 kd and starts with a signal peptide. Sites of proteolytic processing are established by identification of N‐terminal amino acid sequences of the 110‐kd precursor, and the 76‐kd and 70‐kd mature forms of the enzyme encoded by the cDNA. Interestingly, both amino‐terminal and carboxy‐terminal processing occurs. Sites of sugar‐chain attachment are proposed. A remarkable homology is observed between this soluble lysosomal alpha‐glucosidase and the membrane‐bound intestinal brush border sucrase‐isomaltase enzyme complex. It is proposed that these enzymes are derived from the same ancestral gene. Around the putative active site of sucrase and isomaltase, 10 out of 13 amino acids are identical to the corresponding amino acids of lysosomal alpha‐glucosidase. This strongly suggests that the aspartic acid residue at this position is essential for catalytic function of lysosomal alpha‐glucosidase.
Ambulatory blood pressure profiles and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI‐1) activity in lean women with and without the polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVE Hyperinsulinaemic women with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may be at increased risk of vascular disease later in life, mediated by blood pressure or lipid abnormalities or by elevated plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1) activity. PAI‐1 may also be involved in ovarian follicle development and ovarian connective tissue remodelling. We measured plasma PAI‐1 activity and 24‐hour ambulatory blood pressure records in women with and without PCOS.