Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Collagen XII Interacts with Avian Tenascin-X through Its NC3 Domain*

Large oligomeric proteins often contain several binding sites for different molecules and can therefore induce formation of larger protein complexes. Collagen XII, a multidomain protein with a small collagenous region, interacts with fibrillar collagens through its C-terminal region. However, no interactions to other extracellular proteins have been identified involving the non-collagenous N-terminal NC3 domain. To further elucidate the components of protein complexes present close to collagen fibrils, different extracellular matrix proteins were tested for interaction in a solid phase assay. Binding to the NC3 domain of collagen XII was found for the avian homologue of tenascin-X that in humans is linked to Ehlers-Danlos disease. The binding was further characterized by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and supported by immunohistochemical co-localization in chick and mouse tissue. On the ultrastructural level, detection of collagen XII and tenascin-X by immunogold labeling confirmed this finding.
Control algorithm for wireless EV charger considering operational constraints of electrical components

Inductively power transfer systems are becoming increasingly popular in modern applications like electric vehicles. An essential part of these systems is the control algorithm. This algorithm enables the power transfer according to the battery conditions while ensuring the operation bounds in order to guarantee the battery reliability and durability. Most of the control algorithms found in the literature use a single input control variable,either voltage or current, and these metrics are related to the battery. However, there are some situations, few but significant, in which controlling only the current/voltage of the load can lead to an inadequate voltage/current in the rest of the system. A control algorithm that simultaneously considers the requirements of the load and the constraints of other electrical components of the system is proposed in this paper. The designed algorithm avoids any operational interruption by the passive security protections while it contributes to extend the lifetime of other components in the system and to reduce the probability of malfunction in the complete charger. We have implemented the algorithm in SIMULINK, and compared it with other popular single-based control algorithms to demonstrate its effectiveness‥
A strategy perspective on total quality management

Research on total quality management (TQM) has mainly focused on the consequences of TQM such as firm performance and the drivers of TQM such as top management team support, while the conditions that moderate the relationship between TQM and firm performance have seldom been considered. Thus, this paper attempts to investigate the conditions in which the effects of TQM are either intensified or weakened, with a sample set of 565 Korean manufacturing firms. This paper adopts a strategic perspective that considers TQM as a source of competitive advantages. The positive effect of TQM on firm performance could be measured by sales and revenue; more importantly, the results suggested that the positive effect of TQM was stronger when a firm pursues a proactive strategy (internal strategic factor) and when a firm is in its growth stage in terms of the product lifecycle (external strategic factor). Thus, managers should implement TQM earlier than their competitors to fully benefit from TQM. This study provides a more complete overview of TQM research by incorporating a strategic perspective and adding empirical evidence.
Qualifying the cytologic diagnosis of "atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance" affects the predictive value of a squamous intraepithelial lesion on subsequent biopsy.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether different qualifications of a cytologic diagnosis of "atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance" predict a greater or lesser likelihood of cervical pathology. DESIGN Comparison of different cytologic qualifications of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance with the frequency of significant cervical disease as documented by tissue biopsy. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Four hundred, fifty-two consecutive Papanicolaou smears showing atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (diagnosed by nine cytopathologists) in women who had undergone cervical biopsy within the previous 90 days at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Mass (January-June 1995). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The histopathologic diagnosis of squamous intraepithelial lesion of the cervix. RESULTS The 452 smears were qualified as "favor reactive" (22%), "not otherwise specified" (42%), "favor squamous intraepithelial lesion" (29%), and "favor high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion" (6%). High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and total squamous intraepithelial lesions were pathologically confirmed by cervical biopsy in 3.6% and 6% of the favor reactive smears, in 11% and 21% of the not otherwise specified smears, in 12% and 30% of the favor squamous intraepithelial lesion smears, and in 53% and 59% of the favor high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion smears. Significant associations were seen between a favor reactive smear and a benign finding on cervical biopsy (94%, P = .04) and between a favor high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion smear and a biopsy that showed a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (53%, P = .00001). CONCLUSIONS Qualifying atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance stratifies women into different risk groups for squamous intraepithelial lesion. It is reasonable for physicians to make patient management decisions based, at least in part, on such qualifications.
The Sales Country as a Tax Credit Country – Implementation Issues, Complexity Costs and Tax Planning

The international taxation of multinational enterprises (MNEs) stands under public and political pressure. The OECD BEPS project is striving for taxation in line with economic activity and value creation. While this might prevent book profit shifting it comes at the risk of investment shifting and corresponding losses in tax revenue. Academics put forward destination-based taxation to prevent investment shifting. This might come at the cost of taxing MNEs’ profits not in all places of value creation. This conflict can be solved by a mechanism first proposed by Schreiber/Fell. Possible further implementation forms, especially within the OECD framework of transfer pricing and possible instruments to use shall be examined within this paper. The implementation forms shall be compared based on the involvements of information, coordination, differentiation, cooperation and consensus need, while taking into account the remaining flexibility for states involved and tax planning opportunities. While all three possible implementation forms within transfer pricing could be feasible next steps, taking into account preferences of states involved, the mechanism as such can be questioned from a stability point of view. While all states involved despite tax havens could be possible winners when entering the mechanism, sales countries could not be incentivized to uphold it from a pure revenue perspective. As a consequence, states involved should take the long-term trends in taxation into account in order to think about a solution based on coordination.
How Do Household Tasks Shape Employment Contracts? The Provision of Care in Portugal

ABSTRACT This study illustrates the complexities involved in outsourcing domestic work to the market. It draws on an original dataset of paid domestic workers in Portugal to examine how specific tasks interact with and explain contractual arrangements. A fuzzy cluster analysis categorizes paid domestic workers into caregivers and cleaners; however, a great degree of overlap implies that caring also entails cleaning tasks necessary for the care receiver’s well-being. A subsequent Tobit regression analysis shows that caregivers have more formal and stable contracts but earn lower wages and have longer working hours relative to cleaners. The study finds a segmentation of national origin and that some migrants are at a disadvantage in care work. The study also examines how employers deal with the idiosyncrasies of domestic work such as navigating trust-related issues.
Mixed Interval Realized Variance: A Robust Estimator of Stock Price Volatility

This paper proposes an ex-post volatility estimator, called generalized variance, that uses high frequency data to provide measurements robust to the idiosyncratic noise of stock markets caused by market microstructures. The new volatility estimator is analyzed theoretically, examined in a simulation study and evaluated empirically against the two currently dominant measures of daily volatility: realized volatility and realized range. The main finding is that generalized variance is robust to the presence of microstructures while delivering accuracy superior to realized volatility and realized range in several circumstances. The empirical study features Australian stocks from the ASX 20.
The Web-Based Assessment of Suicidal and Suicide-Related Symptoms: Factors Associated With Disclosing Identifying Information to Receive Study Compensation

ABSTRACT With the increasing utilization of Web-based surveys for suicide and suicide-related research, it is critical to understand factors that affect participants' decision to request study compensation (and thus potentially reveal their identity) or remain anonymous. This study evaluated differences in demographics, suicidal symptoms, and suicide-related constructs between participants electing and declining to provide identifying information to receive study compensation. A sample of 931 firefighters (91.5% male) participated in a Web-based mental health survey; on survey completion, individuals had the option to provide contact information to receive a $10 gift card. Logistic regression analyses were employed to investigate differences between those who did and did not provide this information. Overall, 82.8% provided identifying information, with younger individuals significantly more likely to do so. Participants reporting more severe suicidal symptoms and greater levels of suicide-related constructs appeared equally, and in some cases, significantly more, willing to provide identifying information. Findings indicate that individuals reporting more sensitive or stigmatizing experiences might not systematically opt out of receiving study compensation to remain anonymous on Web-based surveys. Additional research is warranted to replicate these findings in more representative samples and further delineate personality and other factors influencing the disclosure of contact information to receive study compensation.
Pyridopyrimidine derivatives as inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide synthesis: Application for treatment of diarrhea

Acute secretory diarrhea induced by infection with enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli involves binding of stable toxin (STa) to its receptor on the intestinal brush border, guanylyl cyclase type C (GC-C). Intracellular cGMP is elevated, inducing increase in chloride efflux and subsequent accumulation of fluid in the intestinal lumen. We have screened a library of compounds and identified a pyridopyrimidine derivatives {5-(3-bromophenyl)-1,3-dimethyl-5,11-dihydro-1H-indeno[2′,1′:5,6]pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4,6-trione; BPIPP} as an inhibitor of GC-C that can suppress STa-stimulated cGMP accumulation by decreasing GC-C activation in intact T84 human colorectal carcinoma cells. BPIPP inhibited stimulation of guanylyl cyclases, including types A and B and soluble isoform in various cells. BPIPP suppressed stimulation of adenylyl cyclase and significantly decreased the activities of adenylyl cyclase toxin of Bordetella pertussis and edema toxin of Bacillus anthracis. The effects of BPIPP on cyclic nucleotide synthesis were observed only in intact cells. The mechanism of BPIPP-dependent inhibition appears to be complex and indirect, possibly associated with phospholipase C and tyrosine-specific phosphorylation. BPIPP inhibited chloride-ion transport stimulated by activation of guanylyl or adenylyl cyclases and suppressed STa-induced fluid accumulation in an in vivo rabbit intestinal loop model. Thus, BPIPP may be a promising lead compound for treatment of diarrhea and other diseases.
Factors associated with buprenorphine versus methadone use in pregnancy

Background: Buprenorphine has recently emerged as a safe and effective treatment option for pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD) and is associated with superior neonatal outcomes. This study characterized and compared patient populations who used buprenorphine versus methadone during pregnancy in an academic medical center. Methods: Observational retrospective cohort evaluation of 791 pregnant women with OUD on opioid maintenance treatment from 2009 to 2012. Buprenorphine versus methadone use was defined as use after either (a) conversion from illicit opioid use during pregnancy or (b) ongoing prepregnancy use. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify patient characteristics predictive of buprenorphine use. Results: Among 791 pregnant women, 608 (76.9%) used methadone and 183 (23.1%) used buprenorphine. From 2009 to 2012, buprenorphine use during pregnancy increased from 10.1% to 33.2%. Pregnant women using buprenorphine were significantly more likely to be older, married, employed, have more education, and have a history of prescription opioid use compared with women using methadone. In contrast, pregnant women using methadone were significantly more likely to have hepatitis C virus infection, use cocaine, benzodiazepines, or marijuana, and have a history of heroin and/or intravenous opioid use. In multivariable analysis, pregnant women who were older (odds ratio [OR] = 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02, 1.11), were employed (1.87; 1.20, 2.90), and had a history of opioid maintenance treatment prior to pregnancy (2.68; 1.78, 4.02) were more likely to use buprenorphine during pregnancy. Pregnant women with a history of benzodiazepine use (0.48; 0.30, 0.77), who had children no longer in their legal custody (0.63; 0.40, 0.99), and who had a partner with a substance use history (0.37; 0.22, 0.63) were less likely to use buprenorphine during pregnancy. Conclusions: Disparities exist among patients who use buprenorphine versus methadone during pregnancy and indicate the need to improve the availability and accessibility of buprenorphine for many pregnant women.
Bacterial Adhesion at Synthetic Surfaces

ABSTRACT A systematic investigation into the effect of surface chemistry on bacterial adhesion was carried out. In particular, a number of physicochemical factors important in defining the surface at the molecular level were assessed for their effect on the adhesion ofListeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium,Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. The primary experiments involved the grafting of groups varying in hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, chain length, and chemical functionality onto glass substrates such that the surfaces were homogeneous and densely packed with functional groups. All of the surfaces were found to be chemically well defined, and their measured surface energies varied from 15 to 41 mJ · m−2. Protein adsorption experiments were performed with3H-labelled bovine serum albumin and cytochromec prior to bacterial attachment studies. Hydrophilic uncharged surfaces showed the greatest resistance to protein adsorption; however, our studies also showed that the effectiveness of poly(ethyleneoxide) (PEO) polymers was not simply a result of its hydrophilicity and molecular weight alone. The adsorption of the two proteins approximately correlated with short-term cell adhesion, and bacterial attachment for L. monocytogenes and E. coli also correlated with the chemistry of the underlying substrate. However, for S. aureus and S. typhimurium a different pattern of attachment occurred, suggesting a dissimilar mechanism of cell attachment, although high-molecular-weight PEO was still the least-cell-adsorbing surface. The implications of this for in vivo attachment of cells suggest that hydrophilic passivating groups may be the best method for preventing cell adsorption to synthetic substrates provided they can be grafted uniformly and in sufficient density at the surface.
Towards activity recognition from eye-movements using contextual temporal learning

Patterns of gaze play an important role in video analysis and understanding human behavior. This paper proposes a novel approach to solve the problem of activity recognition from first-person gaze movements. Novel n-gram statistical features are extracted from these movements via a multi scale and temporal representation scheme. A joint classification and segmentation of activities and a spatio-temporal contextual learning approach built upon confidence values from long-range neighborhoods reinforces the novelty and efficiency of the proposed approach. Experimental results show that the proposed method improves by 18% on the current baseline.
Race, Socioeconomics, Intelligence, and Criminal Offending: Accounting for Variation in Criminal Justice Outcomes

Racial disparities in arrests and incarceration are well documented and typically considered the result of differences in rates of offending. However, research indicates variation in rates of arrest and incarceration by race is not due entirely to differences in offending. While criminal offending can result in part from differences in economic and social factors, these factors also influence criminal justice outcomes. The focal concerns perspective posits that criminal justice actors develop a schema – a pattern of thought or behavior – which can influence decision making and lead to differential treatment by race in criminal justice outcomes. This schema can be developed based on key factors including race, gender, age, socioeconomic factors, and education. Results from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) indicate that arrests and conviction rates for Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics vary significantly. The inclusion criminal offending and extra-legal factors such as family and personal socioeconomic variables accounted for a large portion of the racial disparity in arrests
Statistical Efficiency of Sinewave Fitting When Using Non-Linear Quantizers

In this paper, the Cramer-Rao lower bound on the estimation of the parameters of a noisy sinewave based on quantized data is discussed. The effects of overloading noise and integral non-linearity are considered and modeled, assuming both coherent and non-coherent signal sampling. It is shown that a simplified model can be derived, which describes the Cramer-Rao lower bound by considering only the most frequently excited ADC transition levels. Then the effects of quantization on the sinewave fitting statistical efficiency are investigated
Regulation of Skeletal Muscle Ca2+ Release Channel (Ryanodine Receptor) by Ca2+ and Monovalent Cations and Anions*

The effects of ionic composition and strength on rabbit skeletal muscle Ca2+ release channel (ryanodine receptor) activity were investigated in vesicle-45Ca2+ flux, single channel and [3H]ryanodine binding measurements. In <0.01 μM Ca2+ media, the highest 45Ca2+ efflux rate was measured in 0.25 M choline-Cl medium followed by 0.25 M KCl, choline 4-morpholineethanesulfonic acid (Mes), potassium 1,4-piperazinediethanesulfonic acid (Pipes), and K-Mes medium. In all five media, the 45Ca2+ efflux rates were increased when the free [Ca2+] was raised from <0.01 μM to 20 μM and decreased as the free [Ca2+] was further increased to 1 mM. An increase in [KCl] augmented Ca2+-gated single channel activity and [3H]ryanodine binding. In [3H]ryanodine binding measurements, bell-shaped Ca2+ activation/inactivation curves were obtained in media containing different monovalent cations (Li+, Na+, K+, Cs+, and choline+) and anions (Cl−, Mes−, and Pipes−). In choline-Cl medium, substantial levels of [3H]ryanodine binding were observed at [Ca2+] <0.01 μM. Replacement of Cl− by Mes− or Pipes− reduced [3H]ryanodine binding levels at all [Ca2+]. In all media, the Ca2+-dependence of [3H]ryanodine binding could be well described assuming that the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor possesses cooperatively interacting high-affinity Ca2+ activation and low-affinity Ca2+ inactivation sites. AMP primarily affected [3H]ryanodine binding by decreasing the apparent affinity of the Ca2+ inactivation site(s) for Ca2+, while caffeine increased the apparent affinity of the Ca2+ activation site for Ca2+. Competition studies indicated that ionic composition affected Ca2+-dependent receptor activity by at least three different mechanisms: (i) competitive binding of Mg2+ and monovalent cations to the Ca2+ activation sites, (ii) binding of divalent cations to the Ca2+ inactivation sites, and (iii) binding of anions to specific anion regulatory sites.
Time‐series investigation of fused vesicles in microvessel endothelial cells with atomic force microscopy

Vesicles or caveolae within endothelial cells, fusing together to form vacuolar organelles, are implicated in macromolecular transport and cellular element transmigration across the blood–brain barrier (BBB) during inflammation and ischemia. Vacuolar organelles have been described by transmission electron microscopy and immunofluorescence, but the details of their dynamics have not been well addressed yet. Herein, by using tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM), we observed the time‐series changes of fused vesicles within the serum‐free cultured rat cerebral microvessel endothelial cells. The fused vesicles were certainly proved by fluorescent staining of Fm4‐64 combining simultaneous AFM imaging, as well as the field emission scanning electron microscopy technique. And energy dispersive spectrum results additionally implied that there may be specific structure and compositions around the vesicle region. These results indicate that increased vesicles in BBB may contribute to the formation of fused vesicles and a higher probability to construct the trans‐endothelial channel across endothelium layer. Furthermore, the AFM application may open up a new approach to investigate the details of transcellular process by fused vesicles. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gender Roles of Turkish College Level Futsal Players

The purpose of the present study was to compare the gender role among college level male and female futsal players. Therefore, 77 college level futsal players (37 females and 40 males) were selected randomly from a Nationally University Tournament teams in Turkey on March 2016. It was used to determine sex roles using the Bem Sex Role Inventory. The data were analyzed by Mann Whitney U test and the significance level of p was set as . 05). Conversely, the feminine sex role was significantly higher female players than males (p <.05). Thus, it seems that the high femininity is an important factor for college-level female futsal players in Turkey.
Partial purification of glycerophosphate acyltransferase from Escherichia coli

Glycerophosphate acyltransferase, a membrane-bound enzyme catalyzing the initial step of phospholipid biosynthesis in Escherichia coli, has been extracted with Triton X-100, a nonionic detergent, and purified 20- to 40-fold. This preparation is free from lysophosphatidate acyltransferase. Glycerophosphate acyltransferase is inactive in detergent extracts, but can be reconstituted by the addition of phospholipid. Under such conditions, the enzyme is associated with phospholipid. The sole product of the reaction with acyl coenzyme A as substrate is 1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate. Furthermore, the enzyme shows a marked preference for saturated fatty acyl conenzyme A, implying that this enzyme is responsible for the predominance of saturated moieties in position 1 of E. coli phospholipids. Acyltransferase from two mutants, plsA and plsB, was partially purified and characterized. Results support the view that plsB is a structural gene for the acyltransferase, but suggest that the plsA gene product is not directly involved in phospholipid biosynthesis.