Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genomic variation and segregation of equine infectious anemia virus during acute infection

Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is a lentivirus that infects and persists in the monocyte/macrophage populations of blood and tissues. We employed polymerase chain reaction to investigate the distribution and the level of genome variability of EIAV DNA in different tissues of a horse infected with a highly virulent variant of the Wyoming strain of the virus. Long terminal repeat, gag, and pol primer pairs were used to direct the amplification of EIAV DNA from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells and from cells, presumably the macrophage subtypes, of the kidney, spleen, liver, lymph node, and cerebellum and periventricular regions of the brain. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of four domains within the envelope showed that viral subtypes with particular envelope domains segregated to different tissues as defined by the presence or absence of a given type of domain. Collectively, these results show that virus variants in the env gene home to different tissues, presumably because of selection for tissue-specific envelope determinants.
Receptor-Mediated Recognition and Uptake of Iron from Human Transferrin by Staphylococcus aureus andStaphylococcus epidermidis

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis both recognize and bind the human iron-transporting glycoprotein, transferrin, via a 42-kDa cell surface protein receptor. In an iron-deficient medium, staphylococcal growth can be promoted by the addition of human diferric transferrin but not human apotransferrin. To determine whether the staphylococcal transferrin receptor is involved in the removal of iron from transferrin, we employed 6 M urea–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which separates human transferrin into four forms (diferric, monoferric N-lobe, and monoferric C-lobe transferrin and apotransferrin). S. aureus and S. epidermidis but notStaphylococcus saprophyticus (which lacks the transferrin receptor) converted diferric human transferrin into its apotransferrin form within 30 min. During conversion, iron was removed sequentially from the N lobe and then from the C lobe. Metabolic poisons such as sodium azide and nigericin inhibited the release of iron from human transferrin, indicating that it is an energy-requiring process. To demonstrate that this process is receptor rather than siderophore mediated, we incubated (i) washed staphylococcal cells and (ii) the staphylococcal siderophore, staphyloferrin A, with porcine transferrin, a transferrin species which does not bind to the staphylococcal receptor. While staphyloferrin A removed iron from both human and porcine transferrins, neither S. aureus nor S. epidermidis cells could promote the release of iron from porcine transferrin. In competition binding assays, both native and recombinant N-lobe fragments of human transferrin as well as a naturally occurring human transferrin variant with a mutation in the C-lobe blocked binding of 125I-labelled transferrin. Furthermore, the staphylococci removed iron efficiently from the iron-loaded N-lobe fragment of human transferrin. These data demonstrate that the staphylococci efficiently remove iron from transferrin via a receptor-mediated process and provide evidence to suggest that there is a primary receptor recognition site on the N-lobe of human transferrin.
Stochastic Estimation of Firm Inefficiency Using Distance Functions

Econometric estimation of allocative and technical efficiency has frequently been carried out using a shadow cost function and its associated share or demand equations. Since the problem is formulated in terms of shadow prices, the effect of allocative inefficiency on input usage must be computed indirectly from input share or demand equations. As an alternative approach, we derive and estimate an input shadow distance system comprising the dual shadow input distance function and the price equations derived from the shadow cost minimization problem. Estimated shadow quantities provide direct estimates of the effect of allocative inefficiency on input usage. One can also easily calculate firm- and time-varying technical inefficiency by decomposing the residuals. We also compute returns to scale and the cost savings obtained by eliminating both types of inefficiency. Our approach is illustrated using a panel of U.S. railroads.
Niche strategy: merging economic and marketing theories with population ecology arguments

Though niche strategy is an acknowledged way of realizing better profits from the firm's resources and actions, its long-term viability is by no means ensured; the demand in the niche may diminish or even disappear, or the niche market may become attractive to broad-line firms and new entrants. In parallel to the attention niche strategy has received from economists and marketing researchers, the subject of the emergence and disappearance of niches has also become of interest to scholars in the areas of ‘population ecology’, ‘niche width and the dynamics of organizational populations’ and ‘the demography of corporations and industries’, who base their arguments on long time series studies. Disregarding the strategic, economic and cost–benefit aspects, they attribute the birth and death of niche firms to the concentration of the firms in the market. I argue that the economists and population ecologists differ in their approach to niche strategy not only with regard to the type of forces acting on the niche firm but also on their time horizons, and propose a way to combine the benefits of the two theories.
Parvalbumin expression and distribution in the hippocampal formation of Cebus apella

New World primates play an important role in biomedical research. However, the literature still lacks information on many structural features of the brain in these species, particularly structures of the hippocampal formation that are related to long‐term memory storage. This study was designed to provide information, for the first time, about the distribution and number of neurons expressing parvalbumin‐immunoreactivity (PV‐I) in the subregions of the hippocampal formation in Cebus apella, a New World primate species commonly used in biomedical research. Our results revealed that for several morphometric variables, PV‐I cells differ significantly among the subregions CA1, CA2, CA3, and the hilus. Based upon our findings and those of other studies, we hypothesize that the proportional increase from monkeys to humans in PV‐I cell density within CA1 is a factor contributing to the evolution of increased memory formation and storage. Am. J. Primatol. 77:449–461, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Curcumin prevents maleate-induced nephrotoxicity: Relation to hemodynamic alterations, oxidative stress, mitochondrial oxygen consumption and activity of respiratory complex I

Abstract The potential protective effect of the dietary antioxidant curcumin (120 mg/Kg/day for 6 days) against the renal injury induced by maleate was evaluated. Tubular proteinuria and oxidative stress were induced by a single injection of maleate (400 mg/kg) in rats. Maleate-induced renal injury included increase in renal vascular resistance and in the urinary excretion of total protein, glucose, sodium, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and N-acetyl β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), upregulation of kidney injury molecule (KIM)-1, decrease in renal blood flow and claudin-2 expression besides of necrosis and apoptosis of tubular cells on 24 h. Oxidative stress was determined by measuring the oxidation of lipids and proteins and diminution in renal Nrf2 levels. Studies were also conducted in renal epithelial LLC-PK1 cells and in mitochondria isolated from kidneys of all the experimental groups. Maleate induced cell damage and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in LLC-PK1 cells in culture. In addition, maleate treatment reduced oxygen consumption in ADP-stimulated mitochondria and diminished respiratory control index when using malate/glutamate as substrate. The activities of both complex I and aconitase were also diminished. All the above-described alterations were prevented by curcumin. It is concluded that curcumin is able to attenuate in vivo maleate-induced nephropathy and in vitro cell damage. The in vivo protection was associated to the prevention of oxidative stress and preservation of mitochondrial oxygen consumption and activity of respiratory complex I, and the in vitro protection was associated to the prevention of ROS production.
Long-run stock price performance after IPOs: what do tests for stochastic dominance tell us?

Traditional studies of long-run stock price abnormal performance after corporate events compare the mean returns of an event firm portfolio and a benchmark firm portfolio or index. However, it is well known that long-run abnormal returns are non-normal leading to problems with statistical inference on abnormal performance. Instead in this paper, the entire return distributions of event firms and the benchmark index using non-parametric tests of stochastic dominance are compared. Tests are applied for first and second order stochastic dominance to Ritter's (1991) IPO data. It is found, contrary to results that compare only mean returns, that IPO firms do not underperform a benchmark index. The results are robust to extreme values of buy-and-hold return of IPO firms and underline the fact that long-run abnormal performance measurement is sensitive to the methodology used.
Efficient texture analysis of SAR imagery

We address the problem of efficiency in texture analysis for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery. Motivated by the statistical occupancy model, we introduce the notion of patch reoccurrences. Using the reoccurrences, we propose the use of approximate textural features in analysis of SAR images. We describe how the proposed approximate features can be extracted for two popular texture analysis methods-the gray-level cooccurrence matrix and Gabor wavelets. Results on image texture classification show that the proposed method can provide an improved efficiency in the analysis of SAR imagery, without introducing any significant degradation in the classification results.
Innovating Towards Sustainable Agriculture: A Greek Case Study

Abstract Agronomists (scientists and extensionists), despite the emergence of interactive approaches, still have troubles with (the introduction of) innovations, such as sustainable forms of agriculture. This article critically addresses such difficulties based on the evaluation of a project mainly concerning the introduction of Integrated Crop Management in a Greek village. Evaluation brought to light a number of ‘weaknesses’ which led to a rupturing of the project. Among them, despite the ‘triple bottom line’ and ‘interactive innovation’ rhetoric, the top-down and agro-scientific approach that was taken in practice, which resulted in bypassing the multifaceted nature of such projects and in misunderstandings among the parties involved, emerged as crucial. Therefore, prerequisites, in both theoretical and practical terms, of designs for interactive learning/innovation are outlined.
Low-cost fabrication, eco-friendly materials, and easy integration: The new technological paradigm for the future wireless sensor networks

This paper describes the technological needs of emerging wireless systems for the future generation of wireless sensor networks and the Internet of Things. The success of these wireless networks largely depends on the availability of a low-cost fabrication process, the possibility to employ eco-friendly materials, and the accessibility of easy integration technologies. The use of substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technology, in conjunction with eco-friendly or recyclable materials (like paper, plastic, and textile), represents a serious candidate to become the new technological paradigm for the future wireless sensor networks. This paper provides a review of the start-of-the-art of SIW components and systems, with particular regards to the use of compact and multi-functional SIW subsystems, the design of compact SIW interconnects and components, and the implementation of SIW structures on paper, plastic, and textile.
Retrospective of the replantation of severed limbs in the People's Republic of China: Current status and prospects

Thirty‐eight years have past since Chinese surgeons first reported the successful replantation of a severed limb. The following article reports the current status of replantation surgery in the People's Republic of China, addresses issues of complex replantation and reconstruction of severed limbs, &#4;and discusses future prospects and implications for replantation microsurgery. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss Inc. MICROSURGERY 22:39–43, 2002 DOI 10.1002/micr.22007
WORKER REMITTANCES IN GROWTH REGRESSIONS: THE PROBLEM OF COLLINEARITY

The sign of worker remittances in growth regressions is heavily disputed in the literature. Comparing two growth regressions with different signs for the remittance variable we show that collinearity with the lagged dependent variable might indicate that collinearity should be investigated comprehensively and might lead to a change in specifications, which differ in the variance inflation factors (VIF). In our case the variance inflation factor for remittances depends on the use of a five or one-year lag of the lagged dependent. In the regression with a VIF below ten, the standard critical value, the sign of remittances is positive.
PageSim: a novel link-based measure of web page aimilarity

To find similar web pages to a query page on the Web, this paper introduces a novel link-based similarity measure, called PageSim. Contrast to SimRank, a recursive refinement of cocitation, PageSim can measure similarity between any two web pages, whereas SimRank cannot in some cases. We give some intuitions to the PageSim model, and outline the model with mathematical definitions. Finally, we give an example to illustrate its effectiveness.
Systemic Risk, Aggregate Demand, and Commodity Prices: An Application to Colombia

We embed a small open economy model for Colombia into the systemic risk model of GGT (2014). The small open economy model is estimated by Bayesian methods and used for analysis and projections. The model enable us to give a consistent treatment of shocks to systemic risk, country risk, and oil and commodity prices. The treatment is consistent because the shocks affect the global economy, not only exogenous “rest of the world” variables. The priors are found by analyzing impulse response functions, the evolution of latent variables, equation fit, error decompositions, and model forecast performance. Among the findings are that the identified episodes of retrenchment and bouyancy in systemic risk were transmitted to Colombia’s country risk premium and that systemic risk shocks are important drivers of Colombia’s output and unemployment gaps. Finally, aggregate demand-related shocks are not important as drivers of non-core inflation in Colombia, in contrast with the findings for other countries.
Elevated Phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-Trisphosphate in Glia Triggers Cell-Autonomous Membrane Wrapping and Myelination

In the developing nervous system, constitutive activation of the AKT/mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway in myelinating glial cells is associated with hypermyelination of the brain, but is reportedly insufficient to drive myelination by Schwann cells. We have hypothesized that it requires additional mechanisms downstream of NRG1/ErbB signaling to trigger myelination in the peripheral nervous system. Here, we demonstrate that elevated levels of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3) have developmental effects on both oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. By generating conditional mouse mutants, we found that Pten-deficient Schwann cells are enhanced in number and can sort and myelinate axons with calibers well below 1 μm. Unexpectedly, mutant glial cells also spirally enwrap C-fiber axons within Remak bundles and even collagen fibrils, which lack any membrane surface. Importantly, PIP3-dependent hypermyelination of central axons, which is observed when targeting Pten in oligodendrocytes, can also be induced after tamoxifen-mediated Cre recombination in adult mice. We conclude that it requires distinct PIP3 effector mechanisms to trigger axonal wrapping. That myelin synthesis is not restricted to early development but can occur later in life is relevant to developmental disorders and myelin disease.
HSPB7 interacts with dimerized FLNC and its absence results in progressive myopathy in skeletal muscles

ABSTRACT HSPB7 belongs to the small heat-shock protein (sHSP) family, and its expression is restricted to cardiac and skeletal muscles from embryonic stages to adulthood. Here, we found that skeletal-muscle-specific ablation of the HspB7 does not affect myogenesis during embryonic stages to postnatal day 1 (P1), but causes subsequent postnatal death owing to a respiration defect, with progressive myopathy phenotypes in the diaphragm. Deficiency of HSPB7 in the diaphragm muscle resulted in muscle fibrosis, sarcomere disarray and sarcolemma integrity loss. We identified dimerized filamin C (FLNC) as an interacting partner of HSPB7. Immunofluorescence studies demonstrated that the aggregation and mislocalization of FLNC occurred in the muscle of HspB7 mutant adult mice. Furthermore, the components of dystrophin glycoprotein complex, γ- and δ-sarcoglycan, but not dystrophin, were abnormally upregulated and mislocalized in HSPB7 mutant muscle. Collectively, our findings suggest that HSPB7 is essential for maintaining muscle integrity, which is achieved through its interaction with FLNC, in order to prevent the occurrence and progression of myopathy. Highlighted Article: HSPB7 plays a crucial role in the maintenance of the muscle integrity, possibly through stabilizing the function of FLNC.
Geminating Pollen Has Tubular Vacuoles, Displays Highly Dynamic Vacuole Biogenesis, and Requires VACUOLESS1 for Proper Function1[w]

Vacuoles perform multiple functions in plants, and VCL1 (VACUOLESS1) is essential for biogenesis with loss of expression in the vcl1 mutant leading to lethality. Vacuole biogenesis plays a prominent role in gametophytes, yet is poorly understood. Given the importance of VCL1, we asked if it contributes to vacuole biogenesis during pollen germination. To address this question, it was essential to first understand the dynamics of vacuoles. A tonoplast marker, δ-TIP::GFP, under a pollen-specific promoter permitted the examination of vacuole morphology in germinating pollen of Arabidopsis. Our results demonstrate that germination involves a complex, yet definable, progression of vacuole biogenesis. Pollen vacuoles are extremely dynamic with remarkable features such as elongated (tubular) vacuoles and highly mobile cytoplasmic invaginations. Surprisingly, vcl1 did not adversely impact vacuole morphology in pollen germinated in vitro. To focus further on VCL1 in pollen, reciprocal backcrosses demonstrated reduced transmission of vcl1 through male gametophytes, indicating that vcl1 was expressive after germination. Interestingly, vcl1 affected the fertility of female gametophytes that undergo similarly complex vacuole biogenesis. Our results indicate that vcl1 is lethal in the sporophyte but is not fully expressive in the gametophytes. They also point to the complexity of pollen vacuoles and suggest that the mechanism of vacuole biogenesis in pollen may differ from that in other plant tissues.
All digital modulation bandwidth extension technique for narrow bandwidth analog fractional-N PLL

An all digital modulation bandwidth extension technique for a conventional charge pump PLL is proposed. By modulating data through fractional divider in feedback path and digital-to-frequency path in VCO all digitally, PLL's loop bandwidth can therefore be optimized for noise filtering while high data rate modulation is still obtained. The gain mismatch between input and digital-to-frequency path in VCO is calibrated based on the proposed conservation principle for a mixed mode system. The chip demonstrates the modulation bandwidth for a narrow bandwidth fractional-N PLL is extended by 70 times. The chip is implemented in 65nm CMOS process with 1.2V supply. The overhead of bandwidth extension circuitry is only 0.05mm2.
Cambodia in 1998: From Despair to Hope?

Cautious optimism is an appropriate judgment for a review of Cambodia in 1998. Second Prime Minister Hun Sen's bloody coup against First Prime Minister Norodom Ranariddh in early July 1997 had sent the country into a tailspin. In early 1998, war-torn Cambodia still seemed to be mired in despair. But by the middle of the year, the political situation seemed a bit brighter. A national election was held on July 26. Members of the international community rated the election as being free and fair, reflecting the will of the Cambodian people. Cambodian relations with the outside world subsequently improved. Factional politico-military relations were better managed. The Khmer Rouge rebellion came to an end, and Prince Ranariddh and Hun Sen agreed once again to form a coalition government. However, sustainable economic and political reform continued to elude the country, and no catalysts for true change appeared. Overall, the country remained in a state of uncertainty.
The Determinants of Compensation Committee Membership

This study extends the work of Kesner (1988) and Bilimoria and Piderit (1994) in examining the determinants of compensation committee composition. Consistent with their findings, my results suggest that the likelihood of compensation committee membership is significantly related to director type (i.e., outside vs. inside), length of board tenure, and the number of other directorships held. In addition, my results suggest that committee membership also depends on director age, and the number of other committee memberships served. Importantly, in contrast to the predictions of agency theory, I find that committee membership is only marginally related to director affiliation, and unrelated to outside director stock ownership. Together, these results provide mixed, somewhat weak evidence that firms staff their compensation committees with directors that are likely to protect shareholder interests.
Understanding Metaphorical Comparisons: Beyond Similarity.

Traditionally, metaphors such as "my job is a jail" have been treated as implicit similes (i.e., this metaphor would be treated as if it were a comparison statement, "my job is like a jail"). Tversky's account of similarity is applied to such nonliteral similarity expressions, and is shown to apply as readily to nonliteral comparisons as to literal comparisons. But treating metaphors as comparison statements fails to account for certain important phenomena, including metaphoricity itself (the judgment that a comparison statement is nonliteral). We argue that metaphors are exactly what they appear to be: class-inclusion assertions, in which the topic of the metaphor (e.g., "my job") is assigned to a diagnostic category (e.g., entities that confine one against one's will, are unpleasant, are difficult to escape from). In such assertions, the metaphor vehicle (e.g., "jail") refers to that category, and at the same time is a prototypical exemplar of that category. This account of metaphor provides a basis for a theory of metaphor comprehension, and also clarifies why people use metaphors instead of similes. How do people understand nonliteral expressions such as my grandfather is a baby? Taken literally, this sentence seems false. A grandfather must be an adult, and an adult cannot be of an age to be included in the category baby. According to traditional theories of metaphor comprehension (see Ortony, 1979a), the listener must reject this "false" literal interpretation and somehow find a nonliteral interpretation that is appropriate to the context of the conversation. In terms of speech act theory, "where an utterance is defective if taken literally, look for an utterance meaning that differs from sentence meaning" (Searle, 1979, p. 114, italics added). A comprehension model based on this assumption postulates three stages: