Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anti-inflammatory effects of moxifloxacin on IL-8, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha secretion and NFkappaB and MAP-kinase activation in human monocytes stimulated with Aspergillus fumigatus.

OBJECTIVES We have previously shown that moxifloxacin conferred protective anti-inflammatory effects against Candida pneumonia in immunosuppressed mice. Further in vitro studies showed anti-inflammatory effects of moxifloxacin in LPS and cytokine-stimulated monocytic and epithelial cells. In the present study, concentrating on a more challenging pathogen of immunosuppressed hosts, we studied the effect of moxifloxacin on cytokine secretion and signal transduction mechanisms in monocytic cells stimulated with Aspergillus fumigatus. METHODS Human peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs) and a human monocytic cell line (THP-1) were incubated with 1.5x10(6)/mL conidia of a clinical isolate of A. fumigatus. Cytokine secretion and activation of NFkappaB and the MAP-kinases ERK1/2 and p38 were measured with and without the addition of moxifloxacin (5-20 mg/L). RESULTS Stimulation of PBMCs and THP-1 cells with A. fumigatus increased IL-8, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha secretion (4.1-, 8.3- and 7-fold, and 5.4-, 3.7- and 17.8-fold, respectively). Addition of moxifloxacin (5-20 mg/L) inhibited cytokine secretion up to 45.7+/-5%, 72+/-13% and 73+/-10% in PBMCs and up to 35.6+/-0.5%, 30+/-2.4% and 19+/-4% in THP-1 cells (P<0.05). Signal transduction studies showed that incubation of THP-1 cells with A. fumigatus increased ERK1/2 and p38 phosphorylation and p65-NFkappaB protein expression by 1.6-, 1.3- and 1.8-fold, respectively. Addition of moxifloxacin inhibited ERK1/2, p38 and p65-NFkappaB by up to 69+/-14%, 58+/-3% and 75+/-15%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that moxifloxacin acts as an anti-inflammatory agent in monocytic cells stimulated with A. fumigatus conidia. Whether these effects may be protective as in the Candida pneumonia model is unknown and merits in vivo studies in models of pulmonary aspergillosis.
New Customer Acquisition: Prospecting Models and the use of Commercially Available External Data

Research on improved direct mail targeting has focused primarily on the segmenting of house/customer lists. However, continued expansion of the customer file requires acquisition of new customers. This article briefly described commercially available databases and then explores the linking of them to (necessarily) limited, individual-based survey data, to provide segmentation to enhance the process of efficient targeting of prospects (non-customers). Two methodological issues are also examined: the choice of a statistical model to be used to form a scoring equation during the linking process, and the treatment of missing values, a frequent occurrence in commercially available databases.
Linking communication to innovation success in the financial services industry: a case study analysis

Reports the findings of an exploratory case study research on the contribution of internal and external communication to the commercial success of financial service innovations. An extensive case study research involving four innovation projects was conducted within a leading Belgian bank. The desk research and the 32 in‐depth interviews with senior managers and project leaders served as a platform for theory development. A propositional framework was developed that offers a contingency perspective regarding the role of communication during the different stages of the service innovation process. While many of the existing studies in the field have exclusively focused on external communication, the effectiveness of internal communication is a critical success factor. Furthermore, path dependency effects were created in the project life‐cycle of the financial service innovation projects. Finally, the findings suggest that the effectiveness of internal and external communication depends on the level of intangibility, heterogeneity, simultaneity and perishability of the new service offering.
Earnings-Reducing Activities Before Management Buyouts

During the year prior to management buyout (MBOs) announcements, target firms exhibit abnormally high discretionary expenses in selling, general and administration, abnormally low discretionary accruals, and realize losses from asset sales. Higher discretionary expenses and losses from asset sales are associated with lower pre-MBO abnormal stock returns, especially for firms with higher insider ownership, less board and institutional monitoring, and higher information asymmetry. They are also associated with better post-MBO operating performance. None of these activities affects the likelihood of MBO deal completion, announcement period abnormal returns, or offer premium. These target firms do not show such abnormal activities in other years before the MBOs or after the MBOs. Our results suggest that outside investors and the market do not fully understand the earnings-reducing activities before MBOs.
Timing analysis speed-up using a hierarchical and a multimode approach

In this paper, we examine the impact of using the hierarchy of the design and multiple delay models defined at different abstraction levels to speed up the timing performance evaluation of VLSI circuits. The algorithms implemented in the Dynamic and Hierarchical Timing Analysis (DHTA) tool are described. DHTA rapidly identifies the critical portions of the circuit at high hierarchical levels with rough delay models. These portions are then successively studied at more detailed levels for maximal accuracy. The effects on processing time of exploiting the design hierarchy and using several delay models are characterized. The implementation of DHTA demonstrates experimentally the benefits of using a mixed-mode approach for timing analysis. We show that considering all available hierarchical levels may degrade the computing time and heuristics are proposed to select the hierarchical levels which generally lead to a speed-up.
Group A Streptococcus produce pilus-like structures containing protective antigens and Lancefield T antigens

Although pili have long been recognized in Gram-negative pathogens as important virulence factors involved in adhesion and invasion, very little is known about extended surface organelles in Gram-positive pathogens. Here we report that Group A Streptococcus (GAS), a Gram-positive human-specific pathogen that causes pharyngitis, impetigo, invasive disease, necrotizing fasciitis, and autoimmune sequelae has long, surface-exposed, pilus-like structures composed of members of a family of extracellular matrix-binding proteins. We describe four variant pili and show that each is recognized by a specific serum of the Lancefield T-typing system, which has been used for over five decades to characterize GAS isolates. Furthermore, we show that immunization of mice with a combination of recombinant pilus proteins confers protection against mucosal challenge with virulent GAS bacteria. The data indicate that induction of a protective immune response against these structures may be a useful strategy for development of a vaccine against disease caused by GAS infection.
Negotiating Differences in Learning and Intercultural Communication

Research on ethnic Chinese students studying in a Western (New Zealand) learning environment exposed differences in communication and learning between their first culture and the host culture. Thirteen ethnic Chinese students in a New Zealand university business school participated in an 18-month ethnographic study. The findings indicate that these students were not prepared for the dialogic nature of classroom communication, which created difficulties in listening, understanding, and interacting. Written assignments embodied different expectations of writing styles, and understandings of critical analysis and plagiarism. The findings raise challenges for teachers in responding to difference rather than deficit approaches to teaching and learning, for ethnic Chinese students to be better prepared for the new learning environment, and for host institutions and local students to find ways of developing diversity awareness and appreciation.
The duality of collaboration : Inducements and opportunities in the formation of interfirm linkages

I argue that the linkage-formation propensity of firms is explained by simultaneously examining both inducement and opportunity factors. Drawing upon resource-based and social network theory literatures I identify three forms of accumulated capital—technical, commercial, and social—that can affect a firm’s inducements and opportunities to form linkages. Firms possessing these capital stocks enjoy advantages in linkages formation. However, firms lacking these accumulated resources can still form linkages if they generate a radical technological breakthrough. Thus, I identify paths to linkage formation for leading as well as peripheral firms. I test these arguments with longitudinal data on technical collaborative linkages in the global chemicals industry. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Acceleration of the Customer Education Paradox by a Smartphone

This paper primarily intends to explore whether smartphones accelerate the customer education paradox. Smartphone usage is becoming a mainstream habit, and it is changing people’s shopping experience and conventional practices, hence presenting new challenges to the market. A smartphone affects customers strongly when they are trying to choose a product/service among a variety of options, and making purchase decisions. With smartphones bringing such changes and challenges to the market, especially to the companies and stores, it is important to understand market trends in order to retain the loyalty of existing customers as well as to attract new buyers. Therefore, companies and stores should offer enhanced and better technical service quality, along with the use of tools such as QR codes. Further, mobile based websites would offer a suitable approach in assisting customers using smartphones to obtain better information of greater value. The results of this study imply that there is an opportunity for organizations to design various methods of imparting customer education by using smartphones, such as loading applications on a smartphone that lead to more information with good quality and present real benefits regarding the products/services.
How to Diminish Advice discounting with Mobile Multimedia Interventions

The phenomenon of advice discounting in advice taking and the lack of motivational force in advice giving often hamper follow-up actions which are important to satisfy both advice seekers’ and advi-sors’ demands. This paper strives to diminish the well-known problem of advice discounting by invest-ing in a design study and creating a new information system supporting advisors. The prototype is mobile and provides multimedia interventions. These enable the advisors to activate advice takers on an emotional level with wow-factor episodes which strengthen advisors’ arguments. This study is af-fected by and evaluated in the practical field of home security advice. The evaluation points to the conclusion that the motivation to utilize given advice is higher in the IS-supported advisory service compared to the conventional approach of plain speech-based advice giving. The paper contributes general design implications facing advice discounting in mobile and collaborative advisory services. Furthermore, it supports home security provider in designing their mobile service encounter to in-crease the advice implementation.
Evidence That a 77-Kilodalton Protein from the Starch of Pea Embryos Is an Isoform of Starch Synthase That Is Both Soluble and Granule Bound

In this paper we provide further evidence about the nature of a 77-kD starch synthase (SSII) that is both soluble and bound to the starch granules in developing pea (Pisum sativum L.) embryos. Mature SSII gives rise to starch synthase activity when expressed in a strain of Escherichia coli lacking glycogen synthase. In transgenic potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) expressing SSII, the protein is both soluble and bound to the starch granules. These results confirm that SSII is a starch synthase and indicate that partitioning between the soluble and granule-bound fraction of storage organs is an intrinsic property of the protein. A 60-kD isoform of starch synthase found both in the soluble and granule-bound fraction of the pea embryos is probably derived by the processing of SSII and is different gene product from GBSSI, the exclusively granule-bound 59-kD isoform of starch synthase that is similar to starch synthases encoded by the waxy genes of cereals and the amf gene of potatoes. Consistent with this, expression in E. coli of an N-terminally truncated version of SSII gives rise to starch synthase activity.
Single Dose of Betamethasone in Combined Medical Treatment of Secretory Otitis Media

With the objective of evaluating the efficacy of cefixime and the combination of cefixime and betamethasone in the treatment of secretory otitis media (SOM), we enrolled 142 children 2 to 12 years old in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. All children suffered from SOM, verified by otomicroscopy and tympanometry, of at least 3 months' duration. Active treatment was a 10-day course of cefixime with and without a single dose of 6 mg betamethasone. One hundred forty children were available for efficacy evaluation 14 to 23 days after the start of treatment. A statistically significant treatment effect was found in the group treated with cefixime plus betamethasone (n = 59), with a 44.1% cure rate as compared to 19.7% in the cefixime-treated group (n = 61; p < .005) and 5% in the placebo group (n = 20; p < .005). Relapse rates were high and no statistically significant differences between groups remained at last valid visit. Adverse events possibly or probably associated with active treatment were reported in 11 cases (9.2%). One patient reported a severe adverse event. No serious events occurred. The study did not show any significant long-term effect of cefixime treatment or any long-term treatment benefit with the addition of betamethasone to the antibiotic.
Biostatistics 201: linear regression analysis.

Correspondence to: Dr Y H Chan Tel: (65) 6325 7070 Fax: (65) 6324 2700 Email: chanyh@ cteru.com. sg In the 100 series(1-4) the common univariate techniques (summarized in Table I) available for data analyses were discussed. These techniques do not allow us to take into account the effect of other covariates/ confounders (except for partial correlation(4)) in an analysis. In such situations, a Regression Model would be required.
The W-Loop of Alpha-Cardiac Actin Is Critical for Heart Function and Endocardial Cushion Morphogenesis in Zebrafish

ABSTRACT Mutations in cardiac actin (ACTC) have been associated with different cardiac abnormalities in humans, including dilated cardiomyopathy and septal defects. However, it is still poorly understood how altered ACTC structure affects cardiovascular physiology and results in the development of distinct congenital disorders. A zebrafish mutant (s434 mutation) was identified that displays blood regurgitation in a dilated heart and lacks endocardial cushion (EC) formation. We identified the mutation as a single nucleotide change in the alpha-cardiac actin 1a gene (actc1a), resulting in a Y169S amino acid substitution. This mutation is located at the W-loop of actin, which has been implicated in nucleotide sensing. Consequently, s434 mutants show loss of polymerized cardiac actin. An analogous mutation in yeast actin results in rapid depolymerization of F-actin into fragments that cannot reanneal. This polymerization defect can be partially rescued by phalloidin treatment, which stabilizes F-actin. In addition, actc1a mutants show defects in cardiac contractility and altered blood flow within the heart tube. This leads to downregulation or mislocalization of EC-specific gene expression and results in the absence of EC development. Our study underscores the importance of the W-loop for actin functionality and will help us to understand the structural and physiological consequences of ACTC mutations in human congenital disorders.
TAURINE IN DEVELOPING RAT BRAIN: CHANGES IN BLOOD‐BRAIN BARRIER

Abstract— The fate of [35S]taurine injected intraperitoneally or intracranially has been compared in rats throughout neonatal development. The amount of [35S]taurine present in the whole rat pup 24 h after intraperitoneal injection increases during development to a maximum 15 days after birth, and declines thereafter, whereas the amount of [35S]taurine reaching the brain 24 h after intraperitoneal injection was greatest in the first 5 days after birth. The amount of [35S]taurine remaining in the brain 24 h after intracranial injection does not vary throughout the period of neonatal development. These results suggest that the ‘blood‐brain’ barrier is more accessible to taurine in the first few days after birth than later in neonatal development, and that factors other than simple exchange are involved.
Impacto do nível de disclosure corporativo na volatilidade das ações de companhias abertas no Brasil

The objective of this paper is to analyze, using regression analysis, the impact ex post of corporate disclosure in stock liquidity. The research central hypothesis is that the reduction of information asymmetry by corporate disclosure increases the number and the volume of transaction among market participants. Corporate disclosure has been analyzed from Financial Statement, for the years ended in 2006, 2007 e 2008 using content analysis based on a check list composed of 92 items, divided into two dimensions: economic (43) and social – environmental. For liquid, three proxies were used: (i) volume transitioned, (ii) number of transition and (iii) negotiability. The results of analysis have confirmed
Light microscopic and histochemical observations on the development of the palate in the Golden Syrian hamster.

Several light microscopical and ultrastructural studies are available on theformation of the secondary palate in rats and mice (Walker & Fraser, 1956; Walker, 1961, 1969; Coleman, 1965; Mato, Aikawa & Katahira, 1966, 1967a, b, c, 1968; Hughes, Furstman & Bernick, 1967; Farbman, 1968, 1969; De Angelis & Nalbandian, 1968; De Angelis, 1969; Brusati, 1969; Hayward, 1969; Shapiro & Sweney, 1969; Smiley, 1970; Sweney & Shapiro, 1970; Wragg et al. 1970). Closure of the secondary hard palate has been most commonly used as a convenient biological system for the study of mechanisms underlying normal palatogenesis. However, information on fusion of the primary and the secondary palate with each other and with the nasal septum, and on the formation of the soft palate, is lacking. The present investigation includes a gross, microscopical and histochemical study of the development of the hard and soft palates in the Golden Syrian hamster. Compared with the mouse this species has a shorter gestation period (15 to 16 days) and its litters are larger. Furthermore, it allows more accurate timing of gestation because of the shorter ovulation time (Hoffman, 1968); and, most important, hydrocortisone selectively induces cleft palate in them (Shah & Chaudhry, 1973). It is hoped that precise knowledge of the events during normal palatogenesis and during induction of cleft palate by hydrocortisone in the hamster will provide an alternative and reliable system for teratogenic studies. In addition, the fusion of the opposing epithelia of the palatal shelves should provide a useful model for exploration of the mechanism of physiological cell death.
Competitive Capabilities among Manufacturing Plants in Developing, Emerging, and Industrialized Countries: A Comparative Analysis

Competitive capabilities have been defined as a plant's actual performance relative to its competitors, with the most commonly investigated capabilities being quality, delivery, flexibility, and cost. However, most research in this realm has investigated capabilities within developed countries, and neglected the context of developing and emerging nations, which are increasingly becoming viable economic entities in global supply chains in their own right. The present study fills this gap and carries out a comparative analysis of competitive capabilities among plants in developing, emerging, and industrialized countries. Basing our arguments on the resource-based view of the firm, we suggest that the influence of competitive capabilities on each other varies among plants in differentially industrialized regions. Specifically, we suggest that, on average, competitive capabilities tend to influence each other to a greater degree in plants in emerging and developing countries compared to industrialized countries. Along similar lines, we suggest that the influence of the four competitive capabilities on performance improvement is manifested more strongly among plants in emerging and developing countries than among plants in industrialized nations. We investigate these contentions with data from 1,211 plants in 21 countries. The results are particularly important for decision makers as they decide on the increasingly global location of their manufacturing operations or the configuration of their global supply chains.
HIV and viral hepatitis co-infection in New York City, 2000–2010: prevalence and case characteristics

SUMMARY Using surveillance data, we describe the prevalence and characteristics of individuals in New York City (NYC) co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV). Surveillance databases including persons reported to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene with HIV, HBV, and HCV by 31 December 2010 and not known to be dead as of 1 January 2000, were matched with 2000–2011 vital statistics mortality data. Of 140 606 persons reported with HIV, 4% were co-infected with HBV only, 15% were co-infected with HCV only, and 1% were co-infected with HBV and HCV. In all groups, 70–80% were male. The most common race/ethnicity and HIV transmission risk groups were non-Hispanic blacks and men who have sex with men (MSM) for HIV/HBV infection, and non-Hispanic blacks, Hispanics, and injection drug users for HIV/HCV and HIV/HBV/HCV infections. The overall age-adjusted 2000–2011 mortality was higher in co-infected than HIV mono-infected individuals. Use of population-based surveillance data provided a comprehensive characterization of HIV co-infection with HBV and HCV. Our findings emphasize the importance of targeting HIV and viral hepatitis testing and prevention efforts to populations at risk for co-infection, and of integrating HIV and viral hepatitis care and testing services.
Option Return Predictability

We uncover new return predictability in the cross-section of delta-hedged equity options. Expected returns to writing delta-hedged calls are negatively correlated with stock price, profit margin, and firm profitability, but positively correlated with cash holding, cash flow variance, new shares issuance, total external financing, distress risk, and dispersion of analysts’ forecasts. Our option portfolio strategies have annual Sharpe ratio above two and remain profitable after transaction costs. Their profits can be explained by two option factors, while equity risk factors have no explanatory power. We find support for several economic channels at work, yet the option return predictability remains puzzling.