Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Organocatalytic and scalable synthesis of the anti-influenza drugs zanamivir, laninamivir, and CS-8958.

Zanamivir, laninamivir, and CS-8958 are three neuraminidase inhibitors that have been clinically used to combat influenza. We report herein a novel organocatalytic route for preparing these agents. Only 13 steps are needed for the assembly of zanamivir and laninamivir from inexpensive D-araboascorbic acid by this synthetic route, which relies heavily on a thiourea-catalyzed enantioselective Michael addition of acetone to tert-butyl (2-nitrovinyl)carbamate and an anti-selective Henry reaction of the resulting Michael adduct with an aldehyde prepared from D-araboascorbic acid. The synthetic procedures are scalable, as evident from the preparation of more than 3.5 g of zanamivir.
Efficient Protection of the Register File in Soft-Processors Implemented on Xilinx FPGAs

Soft-processors implemented on SRAM-based FPGAs are increasingly being adopted in on-board computing for space and avionics applications due to their flexibility and ease of integration. However, efficient component-level protection techniques for these processors against radiation-induced upsets are necessary otherwise as system failures could manifest. A register file is one of the critical structures that stores vital information the processor uses related to user computations and program execution. In this paper, we present a fault tolerance technique for the register file of a microprocessor implemented in Xilinx SRAM-based FPGAs. The proposed scheme leverages the inherent implementation redundancy created by the FPGA design automation tools when mapping the register file to on-chip distributed memory. A parity-based error detection and switching logic are added for fault masking against single-bit errors. The proposed scheme has been implemented and evaluated in lowRISC, a RISC-V ISA soft-processor implementation. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme was tested using fault injection. The fault masking overhead required in terms of FPGA resources was much lower than a traditional Triple Modular Redundancy protection. Therefore, the proposed scheme is an interesting option to protect the register file of soft processors that are implemented in Xilinx FPGAs.
The Effect of CEO Overconfidence on Large Institutional Firm Performance

In the past decades, firms tend to hire overconfident CEOs. This research investigates what the effect of CEO overconfidence is on firm performance for large institutional firms within the United States. Using the option-based measure for overconfidence the overall effect, the effect with and without financial distress and the effect of high and low overconfidence is reported and discussed. Unfortunately, the results are insignificant and no conclusions can be drawn at all. However, this study aims to give insights on how the effects are measured and what potential influences CEO overconfidence has on firm performance.
Analysis of trans tibial prosthetic socket materials using finite element method

The objective of this work was to analyze in a parametric study for optimum design solution of prosthetic socket material by finite element method. A realistic three-dimensional finite element model of the PTB socket was developed to find out the stress distribution pattern under physiologically relevant loading condition during normal walking. The CAD model of the rectified socket was collected from a CMET 250 non-tactile high accuracy (0.06 mm) white light scanner and analyses were carried out using finite element Method in ANSYS®. All structural materials used in the analysis were assumed to be linearly elastic, homogeneous and isotropic. Different materials were used for socket and only polypropylene was used for socket adopter. Analysis was prepared at 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm & 6 mm thickness of socket in different materials commonly used in developing countries. The bottom line of socket was made to zero displacement constraints and vertical loads in relation to stance phase of gait cycle were applied under static condition at the patella tendon brim. The 3 mm laminated composite sockets was found to be optimum in terms of strength, weight and factor of safety.
Prothrombin Gene Mutation Uncommon in Pulmonary Embolism

Background. Venous thrombosis followed by pulmonary embolism is one of the most common causes of sudden death among middle-aged adults. Several inherited polymorphisms are associated with heightened risk of venous thrombosis, including mutation at position 20210 of the prothrombin gene and mutation at codon 506 of the factor V gene. Methods. We studied mutation prevalence in 67 individuals who died of pulmonary embolism and were autopsied in a medical examiner's facility over a 5-year period. Mutations were identified by polymerase chain reaction followed by allele-specific endonuclease digestion. Results. Traditional risk factors for pulmonary embolism (eg, immobility, oral contraceptive use, cancer) were identified in 75%. Heterozygous mutation of the prothrombin gene was found in 3/67 (4%), and heterozygous mutation of the factor V gene was identified in 3/66 (4%). No homozygotes or compound heterozygotes were identified. The prevalence of mutation was not significantly different from that of the general population. Conclusions. Individuals who die suddenly from pulmonary embolism are not often affected by prothrombin or factor V gene mutations. Therefore, medical examiners need not routinely test for these mutations in individuals who die of pulmonary embolism.
Fractography and Mechanical Properties of Urethane Dimethacrylate Dental Composites Reinforced with Glass Nanoparticles

Statement of Problem: Dental resin composites are becoming prevalent in restorative dentistry and have almost replaced amalgam nowadays. Consequently, their mechanical properties and durability are critical. Objectives: The aim of this study was to produce Pyrex glass nano-particles by wet milling process and use them as reinforcement in dental resins for anterior restorations and then examination of fractographic properties of these composites. Materials and Methods: The glass nano-particles were achieved via wet milling. The surface of the particles was modified with 3-(Trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (γ-MPTMS) silane in order to improve their surface. Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) analysis showed that the silane groups provided double bonds to the surface of the particles and prevented agglomeration. Then, the composite resins were made with different weight percentages of Pyrex glass. The mechanical properties of samples flexural test were evaluated. The required energy for fracture of the specimens was achieved via this test. The fracture surfaces of the samples were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) in order to explain the mechanisms of fracture. Results: The results and analysis showed that increasing the glass nano-particles mass fraction had a great effect on mechanical properties of the composites due to the mechanisms of crack propagation and crack deflection as well as preventing void formation. The effective energy dissipation mechanisms such as crack pinning and deflection, was observed in SEM micrographs. Conclusions: Void formation in the low filler content composite is one of the mechanisms to decrease the energy required for fracture of these composites and eventually weaken them.
Partial Characterization of a Beta-Lactamase from Vibrio parahaemolyticus by a New Automated Microiodometric Technique

A number of characteristics were determined with a new automated method for a partially purified β-lactamase from Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The enzyme had a molecular weight of 28,000 by gel filtration, a pH optimum between 6.5 and 7.0, and a temperature optimum at 36°C. With penicillin G as the substrate, the Km value for the β-lactamase was 54.4 μM. The β-lactamase was inhibited by cloxacillin but not by p-chloromercuribenzoate. The enzyme was similar but not identical to β-lactamases from gram-negative, “nonhalophilic” organisms described by other workers. The microiodometric assay to measure β-lactamase activity was automated with the use of a centrifugal analyzer that permitted 14 simultaneous determinations. Within-run precision was tested by putting the same reaction mixture in each well, and the coefficient of variation was only about 3%. Four extracts from different strains of halophilic vibrios were used to demonstrate that reaction rates were linear with enzyme concentration. The correlation coefficient of activity by the automated method with activity by the spectrophotometric method was 0.9721, demonstrating that the methods compared favorably with each other. The automated method greatly facilitated the characterization of the β-lactamase.
Modulation of TCR-induced transcriptional profiles by ligation of CD28, ICOS, and CTLA-4 receptors

Signals generated by T cell receptor (TCR) and CD28 engagement are required for optimal T cell activation, but how these signals integrate within the cell is still largely unknown. We have used near genome-scale expression profiling to monitor T cell signal transduction pathways triggered via TCR and/or costimulatory receptors. Ligation of CD28 alone induced a set of short-lived early response transcripts in both Jurkat T cells and primary CD4 T cells, thus providing evidence that CD28 engagement can affect gene regulation independently of TCR engagement. Simultaneous signaling through both the TCR and CD28 resulted in altered expression of several thousand genes following several distinct temporal patterns. Most of these gene regulations were induced by TCR signaling alone and were augmented to varying degrees by CD28 costimulation. CD28 and ICOS costimulation had nearly identical effects on gene regulation, but a few transcripts (e.g., IL2, IL9) were significantly more affected by CD28. Therefore, the distinctive functional outcomes of costimulation via CD28 and ICOS are accompanied by relatively few distinct differences in gene expression. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) engagement selectively blocked augmentation of gene regulations by CD28-mediated costimulation, but did not ablate gene regulation induced by TCR triggering alone.
A Review of the Evidence on the Relation Between Crude Oil Prices and Petroleum Product Prices

We review a large body of the empirical literature focusing on the relation between petroleum product prices and oil prices and discuss the evidence on the direction of causality between crude oil prices and petroleum product prices. In addition, we survey the literature on the much-debated question of whether petroleum product prices respond differently to increases versus decreases in oil prices, which Bacon (1991) labeled the “rockets and feathers” phenomenon.
A prospective analysis of injury severity among helmeted and nonhelmeted bicyclists involved in collisions with motor vehicles.

To evaluate the impact of helmet use on injury severity, patient information was prospectively obtained for all bicyclists involved in collisions with motor vehicles seen at a level-I trauma center from January 1986 to January 1989. Two hundred ninety-eight patients were evaluated; in 284 (95.3%, study group) cases there was documentation of helmet use or nonuse. One hundred sixteen patients (40.9%) wore helmets and 168 (59.1%) did not. One hundred ninety-nine patients (70.1%) had an ISS less than 15, while 85 (29.9%) were severely injured (ISS greater than 15). Only 5.2% of helmet users (6/116) had an ISS greater than 15 compared with 47.0% (79/168) of nonusers (p less than 0.0001). The mean ISS for helmet users was 3.8 compared with 18.0 for nonusers (p less than 0.0001). Mortality was higher for nonusers (10/168, 6.0%) than for helmet users (1/116, 0.9%; p less than 0.025). A striking finding was noted when the group of patients without major head injuries (246) was analyzed separately. Helmet users in this group still had a much lower mean ISS (3.6 vs. 12.9, p less than 0.001) and were much less likely to have an ISS greater than 15 (4.4% vs. 32.1%, p less than 0.0001) than were nonusers. In this group, 42 of 47 patients with an ISS greater than 15 (89.4%) were not wearing helmets. We conclude that helmet nonuse is strongly associated with severe injuries in this study population. This is true even when the patients without major head injuries are analyzed as a group; a finding to our knowledge not previously described. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The response of virally infected insect cells to dissolved oxygen concentration: Recombinant protein production and oxidative damage

The effects of dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration on virally infected insect cells were investigated in 3‐L bioreactor culture. Specifically, cultures of Spodoptera frugiperda Sf‐9 (Sf‐9) and Trichoplusia ni BTI‐Tn‐5B1‐4 (Tn‐5B1‐4) were infected with Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus expressing secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP). Following infection at a DO concentration of 50% air saturation, the DO concentration was adjusted to a final value of either 190%, 50%, or 10% air saturation. Recombinant SEAP production, cell viability, protein carbonyl content, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content were monitored. The increases in protein carbonyl and TBARS contents are taken to be indicators of protein oxidation and lipid oxidation, respectively. DO concentration was found to have no noticeable effect on SEAP production or cell viability decline in the Sf‐9 cell line. In the Tn‐5B1‐4 cell line, cells displayed an increased peak SEAP production rate for 190% air saturation and displayed an increased rate of viability decline at increased DO concentration. Protein carbonyl content showed no significant increase in the Sf‐9 cell line by 72 h postinfection (pi) at any DO concentration but showed a twofold increase at 10% and 50% DO concentration and a threefold increase at 190% DO concentration by 72 h pi in Tn‐5B1‐4 cells. TBARS content was found to increase by ≈ 50% in Sf‐9 cells and by ≈ twofold in Tn‐5B1‐4 cells by 72 h pi with no clear relationship to DO concentration. It is hypothesized that oxygen uptake changes due to the viral infection process may bear a relation to the observed increases in protein and lipid oxidation and that lipid oxidation may play an important role in the death of virally infected insect cells. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 81: 106–114, 2003.
An Analysis of Seafood Trade Duration: The Case of ASEAN

Trade duration analysis provides insights to the stability and length of trade. This study applies survival analysis to examine the trade duration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) seafood exports from 1996 to 2014. ASEAN seafood trade duration has a mean value of 4.42 years, which varies by product and trade partner. Frequently traded seafood products have significantly higher survival rates and longer trade durations. Increasing seafood production supports longer trade duration. Sub-Saharan African countries have the smallest mean and median seafood trade durations with ASEAN countries. Our findings suggest refining policies to increase ASEAN seafood exports. This could be accomplished through supporting sustainable seafood production growth, particularly aquaculture development; encouraging participation in international trade agreements; and implementing efficient cross-border policies to help lengthen trade duration.
Acetyl‐11‐keto‐β‐boswellic acid (AKBA): structure requirements for binding and 5‐lipoxygenase inhibitory activity

1 5‐Lipoxygenase (5‐LOX) products from endogenous arachidonic acid in ionophore‐stimulated peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) and from exogenous substrate (20 μm) in 105,000 g supernatants were measured. 2 The effects of natural pentacyclic triterpenes and their derivatives on 5‐LOX activity were compared with the inhibitory action of acetyl‐11‐keto‐β‐boswellic acid (AKBA), which has been previously shown to inhibit the 5‐LOX by a selective, enzyme‐directed, non‐redox and non‐competitive mechanism. 3 The 5‐LOX inhibitory potency of AKBA was only slightly diminished by deacetylation of the acetoxy group or reduction of the carboxyl function to alcohol in intact cells (IC50=1.5 vs. 3 and 4.5 μm, respectively) and in the cell‐free system (8 vs. 20 and 45 μm). 4 β‐Boswellic acid (β‐BA), lacking the 11‐keto function, inhibited 5‐LOX only partially and incompletely, whereas the corresponding alcohol from β‐BA, as well as amyrin, acetyl‐11‐keto‐amyrin, 11‐keto‐β‐boswellic acid methyl ester had no 5‐LOX inhibitory activity up to 50 μm in either system. 5 β‐BA only partially prevented the AKBA‐induced 5‐LOX inhibition, whereas the non‐inhibitory compounds, amyrin and acetyl‐11‐keto‐amyrin, almost totally antagonized the AKBA effect and shifted the concentration‐inhibition curve for the incomplete inhibitor β‐BA to the right. In contrast, the non‐inhibitory 11‐keto‐β‐BA methyl ester exerted no antagonizing effect. 6 The results demonstrate that the pentacyclic triterpene ring system is crucial for binding to the highly selective effector site, whereas functional groups (especially the 11‐keto function in addition to a hydrophilic group on C4 of ring A) are essential for 5‐LOX inhibitory activity.
Risk bands-a novel feature of Safecharts

Safecharts (H. Dammeg and N. Nissanke, 1999) are a safety oriented variant of Statecharts (D. Harel, 1987) and have been developed especially for the use in specification and design of safety critical systems. One of the fundamental aspects of Safecharts is the explicit ordering of system states according to their risk levels. Based on this ordering, transitions are classified according to the nature of their risk and are given a priority scheme favouring the execution of safer transitions in the event of any nondeterminism. As a precaution, transitions between states with unknown relative risk levels are not permitted. As a result, many transitions, including those which might be functionally desirable, may be potentially excluded between states which are located in sparsely populated areas of risk graphs. This is an inadequacy which may be attributed to factors such as incomplete hazard analysis, the lack of information about relative risk levels of different states of the system, etc. In order to extend the permitted transition space in such circumstances and to enhance the risk ordering relation, the paper introduces the concept of risk band. Risk bands enable an unambiguous interpretation of the relevant risk level of states, thus allowing a well understood enhancement of risk graphs and an extension of the concept of safe non-determinism introduced by H. Dammeg and N. Nissanke (1999). An example drawn from the nuclear industry demonstrates the application of Safecharts.
External Entry and the Evolution of Clusters: A Study of the Biotechnology Industry in Canada

Building on recent work in economic geography, evolutionary economics, and international business, I examine how firms that enter from outside a region alter the knowledge and opportunity structure for potential entrepreneurial entrants and indigenous incumbents in that region. In particular, I examine the short and long run effects of both greenfield and acquisition entry on entrepreneurial entry, as well as on the exit and growth of indigenous incumbents in industry clusters. A comprehensive dataset of all firms in the Canadian biotech industry between 1976 and 2003 is used to study the dynamic effects within all regions that have experienced an external entry. The results show a complex set of processes at work. Newer greenfield and acquisition entrants have consistently opposing effects, with newer greenfields enhancing entrepreneurial entry, but dampening growth and survival of indigenous incumbents in the longer run. Older greenfields, those that have a long presence in a given region and are primarily traditional pharmaceutical firms, have a similar effect to that of acquisitions. Moreover, the level of agglomeration moderates the influence of ‘outsiders’ on the indigenous industry, especially in the case of acquisitions. The results suggest that legal constraints on labor mobility barriers have an important influence on the observed patterns. The overall patterns suggest that the search and site selection of ‘outsiders’ is an important mechanism driving local industry evolution, complementary to other traditional mechanisms.
Cytosolic Redistribution of Cytochrome C after Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Rats

Recent in vitro cell-free studies have shown that cytochrome c release from mitochondria is a critical step in the apoptotic process. The present study examined the expression of cytochrome c protein after transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats, in which apoptosis was assumed to contribute to the expansion of the ischemic lesion. In situ labeling of DNA breaks in frozen sections after 90 minutes of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion showed a significant number of striatal and cortical neurons, which were maximized at 24 hours after ischemia, exhibiting chromatin condensation, nuclear segmentation, and apoptotic bodies. Cytosolic localization of cytochrome c was detected immunohistochemically in the ischemic area as early as 4 hours after 90 minutes of MCA occlusion. Western blot analysis of the cytosolic fraction revealed a strong single 15-kDa band, characteristic of cytochrome c, only in the samples from the ischemic hemisphere. Western blot analysis of the mitochondrial fraction showed a significant amount of mitochondrial cytochrome c in nonischemic brain, which was decreased in ischemic brain 24 hours after ischemia. These results provide the first evidence that cytochrome c is being released from mitochondria to the cytosol after transient focal ischemia. Although further evaluation is necessary to elucidate its correlation with DNA fragmentation, our results suggest the possibility that cytochrome c release may play a role in DNA-damaged neuronal cell death after transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats.
The Effect of Graduated Compression Stockings on Running Performance

Ali, A, Creasy, RH, and Edge, JA. The effect of graduated compression stockings on running performance. J Strength Cond Res 25(5): 1385-1392, 2011-The aim of this study was to examine the effects of wearing different grades of graduated compression stockings (GCS) on 10-km running performance. After an initial familiarization run, 9 male and 3 female competitive runners (&OV0312;o2max 68.7 ± 5.8 ml·kg−1·min−1) completed 4 10-km time trials on an outdoor 400-m track wearing either control (0 mm Hg; Con), low (12-15 mm Hg; Low), medium (18-21 mm Hg; Med), or high (23-32 mm Hg; Hi) GCS in a randomized counterbalanced order. Leg power was assessed pre and postrun via countermovement jump using a jump mat. Blood-lactate concentration was assessed pre and postrun, whereas heart rate was monitored continuously during exercise. Perceptual scales were used to assess the comfort, tightness, and any pain associated with wearing GCS. There were no significant differences in performance time between trials (p = 0.99). The change in pre to postexercise jump performance was lower in Low and Med than in Con (p < 0.05). Mean heart rate (p = 0.99) and blood lactate (p = 1.00) were not different between trials. Participants rated Con and Low as more comfortable than Med and Hi (p < 0.01), Med and Hi were rated as tighter than Low (p < 0.01), all GCS were rated as tighter than Con (p < 0.01), and Hi was associated with the most pain (p < 0.01). In conclusion, GCS worn by competitive runners during 10-km time trials did not affect performance time; however Low and Med GCS resulted in greater maintenance of leg power after endurance exercise. Athletes rated low-grade GCS as most comfortable garments to wear during exercise.