Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An ITAM in a Nonenveloped Virus Regulates Activation of NF-κB, Induction of Beta Interferon, and Viral Spread

ABSTRACT Immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) are signaling domains located within the cytoplasmic tails of many transmembrane receptors and associated adaptor proteins that mediate immune cell activation. ITAMs also have been identified in the cytoplasmic tails of some enveloped virus glycoproteins. Here, we identified ITAM sequences in three mammalian reovirus proteins: μ2, σ2, and λ2. We demonstrate for the first time that μ2 is phosphorylated, contains a functional ITAM, and activates NF-κB. Specifically, μ2 and μNS recruit the ITAM-signaling intermediate Syk to cytoplasmic viral factories and this recruitment requires the μ2 ITAM. Moreover, both the μ2 ITAM and Syk are required for maximal μ2 activation of NF-κB. A mutant virus lacking the μ2 ITAM activates NF-κB less efficiently and induces lower levels of the downstream antiviral cytokine beta interferon (IFN-β) than does wild-type virus despite similar replication. Notably, the consequences of these μ2 ITAM effects are cell type specific. In fibroblasts where NF-κB is required for reovirus-induced apoptosis, the μ2 ITAM is advantageous for viral spread and enhances viral fitness. Conversely, in cardiac myocytes where the IFN response is critical for antiviral protection and NF-κB is not required for apoptosis, the μ2 ITAM stimulates cellular defense mechanisms and diminishes viral fitness. Together, these results suggest that the cell type-specific effect of the μ2 ITAM on viral spread reflects the cell type-specific effects of NF-κB and IFN-β. This first demonstration of a functional ITAM in a nonenveloped virus presents a new mechanism for viral ITAM-mediated signaling with likely organ-specific consequences in the host.
Effect of xylanase and glucanase supplementation to a cereal-based, threonine-limited diet on the nitrogen balance of growing pigs

In cereal-based diets, non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) lower precaecal nutrient absorption and increase endogenous protein and amino acid (AA) losses. Adding exogenous NSP-degrading enzymes aims amongst others to reduce these negative effects and to thereby improve protein and AA supply. However, biased results exist in the literature on their efficacy in growing pigs. Hence, the objective of this study was to analyse the effects of different levels of xylanase and β-glucanase supplementation. Nitrogen (N) retention from a threonine-limited diet was chosen as an indirect indicator for differences in praecaecal threonine absorption and endogenous protein and AA losses. During three balance periods, 12 male pigs with a bodyweight of 31–66 kg were used in a cross-over design. They received three different diets based on wheat, barley, rye, and soybean meal containing 0, 40 or 80 mg/kg of an enzyme preparation containing endo-1,4,-β-xylanase and endo-1,4-β-glucanase. N excretion and retention were identical in animals of the different treatment groups, stressing that enzyme supplementation did not affect threonine absorption and/or endogenous protein and AA losses neither at medium nor at high supplementation level. Hence, in the present trial, β-glucanase and xylanase addition to cereal diets did not improve protein and AA availability in growing pigs of a body weight >30 kg.
Impact of switching on design of Ka-band SoC Dicke radiometer for space detection of solar flares

This paper presents the results of the study aimed at evaluating the impact of the switching section on the design of a millimeter-wave system-on-chip Dicke radiometer for the space-based detection of solar flares. The radiometer operates at the frequency of 36.8 GHz and is expected to be implemented in a 0.25 μm SiGe BiCMOS technology by IHP, under Space evaluations. System analysis and circuit simulations are presented and discussed. The results show that the targeted resolution of 0.7 K can be achieved with an integration time ranging from 0.034 to 0.106 s, depending on the losses of the switch. Moreover, the effectiveness of the duty cycle compensation method for the unbalanced Dicke radiometer is proven through system simulations in the case in which the noise source produces a reference temperature 5% greater than the expected value. These results support the objective targeted with the first implementation of a SoC radiometer for space-based detection of solar flares.
How Should Organizations Adapt to Youth Civic Engagement in Social Media? A Lead User Approach

Organizations aiming to foster civic engagement, such as government bodies, news outlets, political parties and non-governmental organizations, struggle to purposefully use social media to engage young people. To meet this challenge and to inform future design, we interviewed 17 innovators in engaging youth, that is, frontrunners in using social media to engage young people in organizations. Also, we conducted four group interviews with 21 youth, 16–26 years, about their experiences of and barriers to online civic engagement. Our paper contributes to identifying speciﬁc factors and strategies to support young people future online civic engagement. Findings suggest how organizations should involve and collaborate with young people. Immediate feedback and dialog combined with clearly stated goals and action-oriented engagement are important. In future design, visual communication and design for use on mobile devices are an imperative, as well as concepts that connect the online and the ofﬂine world. Finally, our paper contributes to an extension of the lead user innovation approach.
A combined electronegativity equalization and electrostatic potential fit method for the determination of atomic point charges

We report an approach for the determination of atomic monopoles of macromolecular systems using connectivity and geometry parameters alone. The method is appropriate also for the calculation of charge distributions based on the quantum mechanically determined wave function and does not suffer from the mathematical instability of other electrostatic potential fit methods. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2007
Maximum Aerobic Capacity of Combined Manual Materials Handling and Standard Tasks

The present study was aimed at determining Maximum Aerobic Capacity (MAC) of Combined Manual Materials Handling (CMMH) tasks. The study also determined whether MAC values based on standard treadmill tasks are significantly different from those based on combined manual materials handling tasks. Results of this study showed that, on the average, MAC of Treadmill tasks was 2.44 l/m (SD = 0.56 l/m), whereas the MAC of CMMH tasks was 1.73 l/m (SD = 0.36 l/m). Based on the results, it is concluded that standard treadmill tasks result in significantly higher MAC than do the CMMH tasks. Moreover, the MAC values of CMMH tasks is relatively lower than those of lifting tasks reported in the literature.
Insider trading restrictions and earnings management

We study whether firms that voluntarily restrict insider trading have lower incentives for earnings management. Using a large sample of US firms, we measure these restrictions based on the extent to which insider transactions happen shortly after quarterly earnings announcements. We find that the adoption of insider trading restrictions is associated with a reduction of 9.92% in absolute discretionary accruals. Our findings are robust to controlling for changes in corporate governance, and we do not find evidence of a substitution effect between accruals and real earnings management, target beating or timeliness of loss recognition. Taken together, our results indicate that the voluntary adoption of blackout periods that limit insider trading improves the quality of financial reporting.
Online determination of levoglucosan in ambient aerosols with particle-into-liquid sampler - high-performance anion-exchange chromatography - mass spectrometry (PILS-HPAEC-MS)

Abstract. Biomass burning, such as domestic heating, agricultural, and wild open-land fires, has a significant influence on the atmosphere at the global and, especially, at the local scale. Levoglucosan has been shown to be a good tracer for biomass burning emissions in atmospheric particulate matter, and several analytical techniques have been presented for the determination of levoglucosan from filter samples. In this paper, a novel combination of a particle-into-liquid sampler (PILS) to a high-performance anion-exchange chromatograph (HPAEC) with the detection by a mass spectrometer (MS) is presented for the online analysis of levoglucosan in ambient particles. The PILS–HPAEC–MS technique enables a fast online analysis of levoglucosan from the particulate samples. The method was tested at an urban background station in Helsinki, Finland, in winter 2011. A comparison with simultaneous levoglucosan measurements from filter samples by the HPAEC–MS was performed and it showed a good agreement between the online and offline methods. Additionally, the online levoglucosan data were compared with the biomass burning tracer fragments measured by a high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS). As there were no local biomass burning sources close to the measurement station, online levoglucosan measurements revealed that most of the particles from biomass burning were either regionally distributed or long-range transported in the urban background of Helsinki. The average levoglucosan concentrations were relatively low (average 0.083 μg m−3) during the measurement campaign. The highest concentration peak measured for levoglucosan (1.4 μg m−3) seemed to originate from biomass burning in the Baltic countries, likely in Estonia, that was transported to Helsinki.
Upstream horizontal mergers and vertical integration

We study upstream horizontal mergers when one of the merging parties is a vertically integrated firm. Under upstream cost symmetry and observable contracting, we demonstrate that such type of horizontal mergers always harm consumers through a vertical partial foreclosure effect. Under observable contracting but upstream asymmetric costs, we show that overall consumer surplus may increase due to the merger even though input prices increase and some consumers are worse of. Under upstream cost symmetry but unobservable contracting, we find that consumers may be better off as a result of the merger even in the absence of exogenous cost-synergies between the merging firms. In all cases under consideration, the merger is always profitable for the merging parties.
Do People Really Want Freedom of Choice? Assessing preferences of pension participants

Reforms in private pension plans across the world are opening up more options for pension participants to make choices to suit their preferences. Freedom of choice is however not a unidimensional concept as it is commonly perceived by policy makers. People can value both the freedom to choose as well as the freedom not to choose This observation can have far-reaching implications for pension policy design. By using a unique panel survey among Dutch employees we are able to offer a more refined typology of preferences with respect to the freedom to choose. For most pension contract issues - level of pension savings, investment choice, risk coverage - a minority (14-26 %) values individual freedom of choice, whereas most would like to let their pension fund make the decisions, or favor a mixed model – having choice but not necessarily use this freedom - or are simply indifferent with respect to how their pension contract is designed and financed. Employees who distrust their pension fund or who do not express solidarity with other pension fund participants are far more likely to prefer freedom of choice compared to those who have a high level of solidarity and high level of trust in their pension fund.
Research on a novel bridgeless boost PFC converter

By utilizing one coupled inductor and two auxiliary diodes, the bridgeless boost rectifier has a lower conduction loss and no diode reverse recovery problem. Detailed analysis of the novel boost rectifier is presented in this paper. The experimental results of a 300W prototype was analyzed and the excellent performance of the bridgeless boost rectifier was also shown. Dual Boost PFC brings higher EMI noise by nature. The proposed bridgeless boost rectifier can solve the problem very well. And the EMI model and analysis is validated by the Saber simulation which shows the same level with traditional Boost PFC.
IDENTIFICATION OF KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS OF AUDITOR’S REPORTS: EVIDENCE FROM BORSA ISTANBUL (BIST)

According to International Standards on Auditing (IAS) 700 –Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial Statements–the objectives of the auditor are to form an opinion on the financial statements based on an evaluation of the conclusions drawn from the audit evidence obtained and to express clearly that opinion through a written report. In the final step of audit process the auditor shall form an opinion on whether the financial statements are prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework. The auditor shall modify the opinion in the auditor’s report when: the audit or concludes that, based on the audit evidence obtained, the financial statements as a whole are not free from material misstatement. This study empirically examines distinctive financial indicators of qualified auditor’s reports in Turkey to see whether there is a relationship between financial indicators and qualifications of an auditor’s report. The aim of the paper is to analyze the qualified auditor’s reports of Borsa Istanbul nonfinancial companies for the year 2016 and to show the circumstances in the company’s financial position and performance that causes the qualifications by using key performance indicators (accounting ratios).
Personal Credit Scoring Based on Decision Tree C5.0 Algorithm

There are some problems still exist in traditional individual credit assessment system. To solve the problems, a decision tree individual credit assessment model is proposed. Using SPSS Clementine data mining tool, the personal credit data is clustering analysis by decision tree C5.0 method. It is worse to class a customer as good when they are bad, than it is to class a customer as bad when they are good. It is discussed as the different proportion of loss.
Deterministic Annealing Approach to Fuzzy C-Means Clustering Based on Entropy Maximization

This paper is dealing with the fuzzy clustering method which combines the deterministic annealing (DA) approach with an entropy, especially the Shannon entropy and the Tsallis entropy. By maximizing the Shannon entropy, the fuzzy entropy, or the Tsallis entropy within the framework of the fuzzy c-means (FCM) method, membership functions similar to the statistical mechanical distribution functions are obtained. We examine characteristics of these entropy-based membership functions from the statistical mechanical point of view. After that, both the Shannon- and Tsallis-entropy-based FCMs are formulated as DA clustering using the very fast annealing (VFA) method as a cooling schedule. Experimental results indicate that the Tsallis-entropy-based FCM is stable with very fast deterministic annealing and suitable for this annealing process.
Neologismenlexikographie und das Internet

In this article we will argue that the contemporary lexicography which deals with the collection and description of new words can profi t substantially from the use of the internet both as a source of data and as a publication platform. We will plead for a stronger linking of the individual neologism projects in Germany on various levels. This linking of projects by itself can bring an added value to the user.
A Methodology to Support Product-Differentiation Decisions

Choosing the right set of new products to offer is a key driver of profitability. New products often share some design attributes with existing products, thus, firms need to decide which attributes to keep common and which to differentiate. We propose and empirically implement a new methodology that can help managers to navigate the complex decision of where to focus differentiation, using “looks-like” prototypes that typically become available in the later stages of the product-development process. Our methodology complements early stage product-positioning methods, such as conjoint analysis and perceptual mapping. It also offers a way to estimate the impact of context dependence on choice. Finally, our methodology provides a way to test empirically whether perceptual mapping based on pairwise similarity judgments is appropriate for a product category. Using data obtained from a major wristwatch manufacturer, we are able to suggest guidelines on how to differentiate the firm's offerings and estimate the magnitude of context dependent effects. We also find that for wristwatches, attributes that drive perceptions differ from those that drive choice. Overall, our approach can help avoid falling into the trap of focusing variety on attributes that are costly to differentiate and have little impact on choice.
Test–retest reliability and minimal detectable change of repeated sit-to-stand analysis using one body fixed sensor in geriatric patients

A majority of geriatric patients experience difficulty in performing sit-to-stand (SiSt) transitions. A detailed assessment of SiSt ability is a prerequisite for successful rehabilitation. Body fixed sensors (BFSs) are increasingly used to assess functional performances. As to date there is no system which analyzes clinically relevant phases of SiSt, the aim of this study was to determine the reliability of an automated approach for quantifying durations and angular velocities of trunk flexion and extension during repeated SiSt transitions using one BFS (DynaPort® Hybrid). Forty multimorbid geriatric patients aged 84.1 ± 6.6 years were included. Each patient participated in two test sessions with a 5 min rest period in between. Intra- and interrater reliability was assessed. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), absolute and relative standard measurement errors (SEMs, SEMs%) and minimal detectable changes (MDCs95, MDCs95%) were calculated. ICCs were good to excellent for all variables in the total sample (0.80–0.94). The intraobserver group (50%) showed a higher number of excellent ICCs (≥.9) compared to the interobserver subgroup (10%). SEM% was low for all variables (6.9–12.7%). MDC95% ranged 19.2–34.4% and more variables ≤30% were found in the intra- (80%) compared to the inter-observer group (60%). Study results demonstrate that the BFS system provides a reliable analysis of SiSt phases in geriatric patients, and is a substantial improvement over the stopwatch approach used in clinical practice today.
More than ancillary: HIV social services, intermediate outcomes and quality of life

Abstract In HIV care, the use of social or “ancillary” services to stabilize life situations and remove barriers to care is often seen as a means to the end of ensuring more consistent participation in medical care. By examining the impact of HIV social services on the achievement of intermediate outcomes (i.e., ceasing substance use, initiating anti-retroviral therapy (ART), and entering stable housing) and the relationship between intermediate outcome status and quality of life (QOL), our analysis aims to demonstrate the importance of achieving intermediate outcomes in and of themselves and thereby the importance of the ancillary services that assist clients in attaining desired intermediate outcomes. Our analysis relies on baseline and follow-up data from 1646 HIV-positive participants collected during a longitudinal outcome evaluation of 23 HIV social service programs in the New York metropolitan area. Multivariate linear regression modeling was used to assess the impact of achieving intermediate outcomes on QOL at follow-up, controlling for baseline QOL, and demographic factors. The greatest improvements in QOL were found in individuals who changed their intermediate outcome status from using drugs to not using, from not using ART to using ART, and from being unstably housed to being stably housed. Our analysis strongly suggests the importance of achieving intermediate outcomes in improving QOL, and thereby the importance of social services that facilitate the achievement of these intermediate outcomes. The analysis also provides further validation of a QOL measure, by showing that it varies in systematic and expected ways with the achievement of intermediate outcomes. Our study suggests that social services are not merely ancillary in HIV care but rather crucial for achieving both intermediate outcomes as well as the final outcome of improved QOL.
Different cytokine profile and eosinophil activation are involved in rhinovirus‐ and RS virus‐induced acute exacerbation of childhood wheezing

To cite this article: Kato M, Tsukagoshi H, Yoshizumi M, Saitoh M, Kozawa K, Yamada Y, Maruyama K, Hayashi Y, Kimura H. Different cytokine profile and eosinophil activation are involved in rhinovirus‐ and RS virus‐induced acute exacerbation of childhood wheezing.Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011; 22: e87–e94.
Quality and Coordination of Care for Patients With Multiple Conditions: Results From an International Survey of Patient Experience

Previous studies using clinical performance measures suggest that quality of care for patients with multiple chronic conditions is not worse than that for others. This article presents patient-reported experiences of health care among 8,973 of chronically ill adults from eight countries, using telephone survey data. We designed a ‘‘morbidity score’’ combining the number of conditions and reported health status. Respondents with high morbidity scores reported less favorable experience with coordination of care compared to those with low morbidity scores. They also reported lower ratings of overall quality of care. There were no differences in reported experience with the individual physicians. Comparing type of comorbidity, chronic lung, and mental health problems were associated with lower ratings than hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and cancer. The implications and limitations of this study are discussed in the context of health care reform. Pay-for-performance programs need to account for chronic conditions to avoid penalizing physicians who care for larger shares of such patients.
An Overview of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging

The Canadian Study of Health and Aging is a multicenter, population-based cohort study of dementia with a sample of 10,263 participants aged 65 or over. Field work began in 1991, and a follow-up study was undertaken in 1996–97. The present article describes the origins and objectives of the study, provides an overview of its design, organization, and data collection methods, and offers a brief summary of the main results.
The Ischemic Penumbra: Identification, Evolution and Treatment Concepts

The concept of the ischemic penumbra is an important one for both basic investigators of cerebral ischemia and for clinicians who treat stroke patients. The ischemic penumbra has been defined in a variety of ways, but the most clinically relevant definition is that portion of the ischemic territory that is still potentially salvageable, if an appropriate treatment is given. Currently, three main challenges persist for those interested in the ischemic penumbra concept: how can this ischemic region be most accurately identified in stroke patients, what mechanisms of ischemic cell death are most important for progression from penumbra towards irreversible injury and what therapeutic modalities are most likely to impede the development of infarction? Much important information regarding each of these topics has become available recently and will be the focus of this paper.