Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular Characterization of Mycobacterium bovis Isolates with High Copy Number of IS6110 by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism

Article history: Received: 27 Jan 2013 Accepted: 13 Feb 2013 Available online: 2 Nov 2013 ZJRMS 2014; 16(12):70-72 Background: Mycobacterium bovis is the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis and belongs to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. M. bovis usually carries only one or a few copies of the insertion sequence IS6110 in its genome. The aim of this study was evaluation of copy number of IS6110 in M. bovis isolates by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 25 lymph node specimens of tuberculinpositive cattle were collected and cultured by standard methods, afterward genomic DNA was extracted by chloroform-isoamyl alcohol. Genetic studies were conducted by Pvull and DNA hybridization with IS6110. Results: Two isolates displayed more than of 4 copies of IS6110 by RFLP (IS6110-RFLP) method. Conclusion: The results of this study are unique and specific in Iran but reported in the world rarely. Therefore the new strains of M. bovis imported to Iran from other countries of the world. Copyright © 2014 Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.
Cross-Country Research on Earnings Quality: A Literature Review and Future Opportunities

Over the last two decades, a growing body of literature has investigated the factors influencing the differences in financial reporting, especially earnings quality, in an international setting. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the cross-country research that focuses on earnings quality and to offer suggestions for future topics in the field. In this study, I first discuss the relationship between earnings quality and the following institutional and cultural factors that have been examined in prior literature: legal tradition, investor protection (outside investor rights and legal enforcement), tax system, regulations, financial development, market competition, accounting standards (divergence from IAS), enforcement of accounting standards, culture, religiosity, and language. Second, the relationship between the improvement of earnings quality and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption is described. The results are mixed and suggest that a single set of accounting standards that are generally viewed as high quality does not always improve earnings quality. In addition, the relationship varies with the institutional and cultural factors of a country. It means that improvement through IFRS adoption would require the development of an institutional environment. Finally, as a prospect for future research, this paper discusses the extension from a single-country to cross-country study, the impact of IFRS adoption on the contracting role of accounting through the change in earnings quality, and earnings quality of non-listed firms in an international setting. These topics have become a more fruitful avenue of research with the recent increase in the availability of data.
Dissuading the state: food security, peasant resistance and environmental concerns in rural Bulgaria

ABSTRACT This article seeks to explore the responses of villagers from north-western Bulgaria to neoliberal policies promoted by the post-socialist state in rural areas. We show the two strategies people mobilise in order to defend their interests. A first method is the everyday peasant strategy of resistance: quiet, covered and unopened acts of defiance against the neoliberal policies concerning food acquisition and food production. A second method of reaction is the open protest organised against a newly established polluting enterprise, which is feared to threaten their livelihoods. In both cases villagers use historically formed transnational networks based on friendship and kinship.
Robust diffusion recursive adaptive filtering algorithm based on lp-norm

A robust diffusion adaptive filtering algorithm, called the diffusion recursive least lp-norm (DRLP), is developed for distributed estimation over network. The new algorithm aims at recursively minimizing the lp-norm of error, and can offer a more stable and robust solution than traditional adaptive filtering schemes based on minimization of the squared error, such as the diffusion recursive least squares (DRLS) algorithm. Simulation results show that the proposed DRLP can outperform several state-of-the-art methods especially when the network is disturbed by impulsive noises.
Cereblon and Its Role in the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma by Lenalidomide or Pomalidomide

Cereblon (CRBN) is part of the cullin 4-containing E3 ubiquitin ligase complex (CRL4CRBN) and functions as a target of thalidomide and its analogs (lenalidomide and pomalidomide) known as immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs). The CRBN gene consists of 1329 base pairs, 11 exons, and encodes a protein of 443 amino acids. Exons 10-11 code for the binding site of IMiDs and exons 5-7 for the binding site of DNA damage binding protein 1 (DDB1). CRBN consists of three sub-domains, the amino-terminal domain, the helical bundle domain involved in DDB1 binding and the carboxy-terminal domain harbouring IMiD– binding hydrophobic pocket CRBN in the absence of IMiDs binds to its endogenous substrate proteinsand it leads to ubiquitination of these substrates by the CRL4CRBN and their degradation by proteasomes. However, in the presence of IMiDs, CRBN binds new substrate proteins, transcription factors IKZF1 (IKAROS) and IKZF3 (AILOS), for drug-induced ubiquitination by the CRL4CRBN and next degradation in proteasomes. The administration of IMiDs alters the specificity of the CRL4CRBN and affects simultaneously the levels of two groups of substrate proteins. IMiDs upregulate the levels of endogenous substrates (MEIS2 and CRBN) and decrease the amounts of new substrates (IKAROS family proteins). In the meantime we do not know all possible substrates of the CRL4CRBN because it depends on the cell type and proteins expressed. IMiDs have the anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic and immunomodulatory activities and are efficient in several hematological malignancies as multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, mantle lymphoma and isolated del (5q) myelodysplastic syndrome. Targeted knockdown of IKAROS and AILOS causes the decrease of myeloma survival factor IRF4 (interferon regulatory factor 4) and c-myc with the decrease in cell viability in multiple myeloma cells and the increase of interleukin-2 in T-cells and their co-stimulation, both similar to that after IMiDs treatment.
Universal Approximation Power of Deep Neural Networks via Nonlinear Control Theory

In this paper, we explain the universal approximation capabilities of deep neural networks through geometric nonlinear control. Inspired by recent work establishing links between residual networks and control systems, we provide a general sufficient condition for a residual network to have the power of universal approximation by asking the activation function, or one of its derivatives, to satisfy a quadratic differential equation. Many activation functions used in practice satisfy this assumption, exactly or approximately, and we show this property to be sufficient for an adequately deep neural network with n states to approximate arbitrarily well any continuous function defined on a compact subset of R^n. We further show this result to hold for very simple architectures, where the weights only need to assume two values. The key technical contribution consists of relating the universal approximation problem to controllability of an ensemble of control systems corresponding to a residual network, and to leverage classical Lie algebraic techniques to characterize controllability.
The Influence of Perceived Organizational Support Toward The Employeesr Turnover Intentions in Budget Hotel: A Case Study in Jakarta

Turnover is a common problem for hospitality industry including hotel. There are many factors that could be the reason for employees to leave their organization. The objectives of this research are to find the relationship, the influence and the degree of the influence given by perceived organizational support toward the turnover intention. The questionnaire is distributed to 113 respondents of the staffs of budget hotels in Jakarta. The questionnaire consists of 17 questions of Perceived Organizational Support and 3 questions of Turnover Intention. The results showed that there is significant negative relationship (r =.542, p < 0.01) between these two variables Moreover, perceived organizational support is proved to have influence (R-square = .288) on turnover intention. The result of the F-test also reassures that there is significant influence of perceived organizational support toward turnover intentions. It implies that if organization provides good support to the employees, they could reduce the turnover rate, as the employees will prefer to stay within the organization. From this study, the result can be used by the organization as one consideration for them in developing a method to stabilize the turnover rate in Budget Hotel, Jakarta.
Human neurexin-3α antibodies associate with encephalitis and alter synapse development

Objective: To report a novel autoimmune encephalitis in which the antibodies target neurexin-3α, a cell adhesion molecule involved in the development and function of synapses. Methods: Five patients with encephalitis and antibodies with a similar pattern of brain reactivity were selected. Antigen precipitation and determination of antibody effects on cultured rat embryonic neurons were performed with reported techniques. Results: Immunoprecipitation and cell-based assays identified neurexin-3α as the autoantigen of patients' antibodies. All 5 patients (median age 44 years, range 23–50; 4 female) presented with prodromal fever, headache, or gastrointestinal symptoms, followed by confusion, seizures, and decreased level of consciousness. Two developed mild orofacial dyskinesias, 3 needed respiratory support, and 4 had findings suggesting propensity to autoimmunity. CSF was abnormal in all patients (4 pleocytosis, 1 elevated immunoglobulin G [IgG] index), and brain MRI was abnormal in 1 (increased fluid-attenuated inversion recovery/T2 in temporal lobes). All received steroids, 1 IV immunoglobulin, and 1 cyclophosphamide; 3 partially recovered, 1 died of sepsis while recovering, and 1 had a rapid progression to death. At autopsy, edema but no inflammatory cells were identified. Cultures of neurons exposed during days in vitro (div) 7–17 to patients' IgG showed a decrease of neurexin-3α clusters as well as the total number of synapses. No reduction of synapses occurred in mature neurons (div 18) exposed for 48 hours to patients' IgG. Neuronal survival, dendritic morphology, and spine density were unaffected. Conclusion: Neurexin-3α autoantibodies associate with a severe but potentially treatable encephalitis in which the antibodies cause a decrease of neurexin-3α and alter synapse development.
E-Selectin Mediates Porphyromonas gingivalis Adherence to Human Endothelial Cells

ABSTRACT Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major periodontal pathogen, may contribute to atherogenesis and other inflammatory cardiovascular diseases. However, little is known about interactions between P. gingivalis and endothelial cells. E-selectin is a membrane protein on endothelial cells that initiates recruitment of leukocytes to inflamed tissue, and it may also play a role in pathogen attachment. In the present study, we examined the role of E-selectin in P. gingivalis adherence to endothelial cells. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) to induce E-selectin expression. Adherence of P. gingivalis to HUVECs was measured by fluorescence microscopy. TNF-α increased adherence of wild-type P. gingivalis to HUVECs. Antibodies to E-selectin and sialyl Lewis X suppressed P. gingivalis adherence to stimulated HUVECs. P. gingivalis mutants lacking OmpA-like proteins Pgm6 and -7 had reduced adherence to stimulated HUVECs, but fimbria-deficient mutants were not affected. E-selectin-mediated P. gingivalis adherence activated endothelial exocytosis. These results suggest that the interaction between host E-selectin and pathogen Pgm6/7 mediates P. gingivalis adherence to endothelial cells and may trigger vascular inflammation.
The effect of Islamic sacred months on stock prices in Iran and Iraq Stock Exchanges

PurposeThe present study aims to examine the effects of the Islamic sacred months, namely, Muḥarram, Rajab, Dhu al-Qaʿdah and Dhu al-Ḥijjah, on stock prices on the Iran and Iraq Stock Exchanges.Design/methodology/approachUsing the infrastructure models of the capital market, the daily stock prices were calculated for the sacred and non-sacred months. As the data of this study are non-stationary, the AMIRA time-series model was used for better understanding of the model or future projections. The dependent variables of this study are the daily stock indexes for Iranian and Iraqi Stock Exchanges, and independent ones are the sacred and non-sacred months of a lunar year. Data were gathered daily from the financial statements of Iranian and Iraqi Stock Exchanges websites. To test the hypotheses under study, a five-year period from 2012 to 2016 was considered for both Iraqi and Iranian Stock Exchanges, which corresponds with the lunar calendar from 1433-1437AH.FindingsThe obtained results indicated that there is no significant difference in stock prices between the sacred months of Muḥarram, Rajab, Dhu al-Qaʿdah and Dhu al-Ḥijjah and other non-sacred months. However, the stock price in the Iranian Stock Exchange has a significant difference in Rajab and Dhu al-Qaʿdah with other non-sacred months.Originality/valueThe results of this study will reveal more than ever the role of Islamic sacred months for society and users of financial statements to make better financial decisions especially in Islamic emerging markets.
Fuzzy and rough formal concept analysis: a survey

Formal Concept Analysis (FCA) is a mathematical technique that has been extensively applied to Boolean data in knowledge discovery, information retrieval, web mining, etc. applications. During the past years, the research on extending FCA theory to cope with imprecise and incomplete information made significant progress. In this paper, we give a systematic overview of the more than 120 papers published between 2003 and 2011 on FCA with fuzzy attributes and rough FCA. We applied traditional FCA as a text-mining instrument to 1072 papers mentioning FCA in the abstract. These papers were formatted in pdf files and using a thesaurus with terms referring to research topics, we transformed them into concept lattices. These lattices were used to analyze and explore the most prominent research topics within the FCA with fuzzy attributes and rough FCA research communities. FCA turned out to be an ideal metatechnique for representing large volumes of unstructured texts.
Positive moods and word-of-mouth in the banking industry

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating effect of functional value and symbolic value between positive moods and word-of-mouth (WOM) referrals in the context of Taiwan’s banking industry. In addition, this study investigates the moderating effect of relational benefits on the relationship between perceived value and WOM. Design/methodology/approach The research model was tested using data collected from customers (n=362) of the top 10 domestic banks in Taiwan. Structure equation modeling was employed to test and validate the conceptual model. Findings Positive moods are found to be an important predictor of functional value, symbolic value and WOM in this banking service study. Four types of relational benefits are identified including social, special treatment, confidence and face. Note that two distinct segments of bank customers are identified in terms of relational benefits: those who appreciate face benefits (n1=169), and those who appreciate general relational benefits (n2=193). The findings reveal the existence of partial mediation between a banking customer’s mood and WOM through functional value and symbolic value in the overall sample (n=362). However, it was found that functional value partially mediates the influence of positive moods on WOM among respondents in the “general relational benefits” segment only. That is, relational benefits are found to moderate the relationship between functional value and WOM. Originality/value This study expands the existing body of knowledge on customers’ perceptions of value by differentiating types of value perceptions.
The development and fate of the dental lamina of the mandibular first molar tooth in the rat.

The lamina of the first mandibular molar teeth of rats, age range 13 d intrauterine (i.u.) to 16 d postnatal (p.n.), was examined by light and transmission electron microscopy to establish histological baselines of its development and fate. All material was obtained from animals anaesthetised with ether, killed by cervical dislocation and prepared by routine methods for both types of examination. Contrary to earlier reports that the lamina remains intact throughout development, mesenchymal elements disrupt the lamina. These were seen first at 19 d i.u. , as collagen-filled bays in the basal epithelial layers, associated with partial loss of related basal lamina. In the early stages, collagen deposition was limited and it was not obviously preceded by epithelial cell death or transformation, even though many bay-related cells showed lipid and glycogen accumulations. Later disruption of the lamina showed more mesenchymal cells as well as collagen in deeper spaces. After the onset of tooth eruption, mesenchymal cells external to and within the lamina contained lysosomal bodies and these plus evidence of related epithelial cell death and capillaries in the laminar spaces became more and more apparent. Similar collagen deposits were observed in a successional tooth primordium, which appeared at term but eventually aborted between days 5 and 10 p.n. Thus disruption of the lamina by connective tissue began earlier than has been reported previously and progressed as the tooth erupted towards the oral cavity. The evidence suggests that this disruption is initiated and sustained by mesenchymal cell activity rather than by programmed cell death or transformation of the epithelium.
Mechanism of the pleiotropic effects of the short-ear mutant gene in the mouse.

The recessive mutant gene short-ear (se) reduces the rate of proliferation of precartilage cells, producing a skeleton of reduced size with numerous small defects. It also reduces the rate of proliferation of callus cells in healing bone fractures. In this study se was shown not to affect rate of regeneration of liver, thymus, or connective tissue. Short-eared mice have many anatomical abnormalities of the soft tissues including medial displacement of the left gonad, ventral displacement of the right renal artery, hydroureter and hydronephrosis, giant cell granulomas on the ventral surface of the liver, and on some genetic backgrounds an increased frequency of cysts of the lungs. Young se/se mice often have neuromuscular waviness of the tail. In the heterozygous condition (+/se) the gene causes a slight reduction in skeletal size and a slight increase in frequency of hydroureter, liver lesions, lung cysts, and wavy tail. It was shown that the viscera appear to be crowded from the 11-day stage of gestation and that crowding is probably responsible for the abnormalities of the left gonad, the right renal artery, and the ureter, and is possibly a contributing cause of the granulomas of the liver. The probable cause of the crowding is the slower growth of the skeleton, resulting in a body cavity too small to accommodate the visceral mass of normal size. It is not clear that crowding is a sufficient explanation of the liver lesions or that it explains the effect of se on frequency of lung cysts or on waviness of the tail.
Are All Commercial Websites Created Equal? Web Vendor Reputation and Security on Third Party Payment Use

New web vendors emerge daily as business-to-consumer e-commerce grows substantially over the years. However, new web vendors may be regarded with skepticism in an existing marketplace, and may require third party support to reduce uncertainty. This study investigates the effect of consumer’s perceived security and reputation of web vendors on consumer’s purchase intention and third party payment choice. Our study examines under what condition adopting a reputable third party payment system is beneficial to web vendors. Applying trust transference theory, we found that website with high reputation and high security may not benefit from having a third party payment presence, while website with low reputation and low security will benefit the most for having an alternative financial payment mechanism. Our study also found that online consumers tend not to choose to use third party payment system when the website is perceived as high security regardless of the reputation of the website.
The accuracy of identifying the greater palatine neurovascular bundle: a cadaver study.

BACKGROUND The palate is a common site for harvesting subepithelial connective tissue grafts (SCTG). The size of SCTG that can be harvested is dictated by the position of the greater palatine neurovascular bundle (GPB). The aims of this cadaver study are to assess the accuracy of predicting the location of the GPB on study models and to evaluate anatomic factors that might influence the predictability. METHODS Eleven fully dentate or partially edentulous maxillary cadavers were used. Study models were fabricated after the greater palatine foramen was identified. The GPB was recognized after dissection, from which the distance to the cemento-enamel junction of the first molar and premolar was measured. Eight periodontists and twelve periodontal residents were asked to estimate the location of the GPB on the study models and the same measurements were taken. Comparisons of the estimated and true GPB position were performed. The correlation between the palatal vault height and the variability of detecting the GPB was investigated. RESULTS The most frequent greater palatine foramen location was between the second and third molars (66.6%). For most cases, there was an underestimation of the location of the GPB up to 4 mm. The interexaminer variability was positively correlated with the vault height. CONCLUSIONS The estimated location of the GPB was commonly closer to the cemento-enamel junction of posterior teeth. Agreement on the location of the GPB was lowered with the presence of high palatal vaults. The results of this study could assist clinicians in planning the location for harvesting SCTG on the hard palate.