Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular biology of borna disease virus: prototype of a new group of animal viruses.

Borna disease virus (BDV), the etiological agent of Borna disease (BD), causes a central nervous system disease that is manifested by profound behavioral abnormalities, accumulation of disease-specific antigens in limbic system neurons, and often, but not always, the presence of inflammatory cell infiltrates in the brain (35, 36, 47). BDV has been characterized recently as a nonsegmented, negative-stranded (NNS) RNA virus with the property, unique among NNS RNA animal viruses, of a nuclear site for replication and transcription of its genome, suggesting that BDV is the prototype of a new group of animal RNA viruses. Originally described in the early 19th century in horses in Germany, BD has become an important model for the study of both the mechanisms and the biological consequences of persistent virus infection of the central nervous system (35). Naturally occurring infections with BDV have been confirmed
A Dual-Mode Single-Inductor Dual-Output Switching Converter With Small Ripple

Single-inductor dual-output (SIDO) switching converters always suffer from large ripple and severe cross-regulation problem, when a large inductor current is switched between two outputs. This paper proposes a novel fly capacitor method for SIDO converters to reduce the output ripple and spike. An adaptive common-mode control is presented to suppress the cross-regulation problem. A duty-ratio-based current estimation method is proposed to detect the load current, and the converter can automatically switch between pulsewidth modulation and pulse-frequency modulation modes. The two outputs of the converter are specified for 1.2 V/400 mA and 1.8 V/200 mA with input voltage ranging from 2.7 to 5 V. The chip has been fabricated on a 0.25-¿ m CMOS mixed-signal process. The conversion efficiency is 82% at a total output power of 840 mW, while the output ripple is about 20 mV and spike is less than 40 mV. The maximum overshot voltage during load response is 50 mV.
Computational Analyses for Identification Novel MicroRNAs from Cattle and sheep

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are a class of noncoding and regulatory RNA molecules about 22 nucleotides in length. MicroRNAs regulate gene expression by an RNA interfering pathway through cleavage or inhibition of the translation of target mRNA. Many miRNAs have been reported for their important roles in developmental processes in various animals, but there is limited information about cattle and sheep miRNAs. The comparative genomics approach due to their conserved nature is a good source for the miRNAs discovery. Cattle and sheep are ideal model organisms for biological and comparative genomics studies. In our study, a computational method based on expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis was used for detection of cattle and sheep miRNAs. In cattle, 25 miRNA candidates found by homology searching frequently clustered at certain chromosomes and 28 miRNAs in sheep had been detected. Our results show that the cattle and sheep miRNA database can be providing useful information for investigating biological functions of miRNAs in cattle and sheep. Furthermore, the bioinformatics approach is a good manner for studying these functions.
Density-induced modifications of the IR emission spectrum of Xe2 excimers in dense gas

The infrared emission spectrum of Xe2 excimers produced by irradiating Xe gas with high-energy electrons has been monitored as a function of density up to 3.3 MPa at room temperature. Excimer decay yields a broad continuum centered around 7800 cm-1 of width 900 cm-1 at 0.1 MPa. The spectrum shape is consistent with a bound-free molecular transition between 0u + and 0g + states correlated with 6p and 6s atomic limits. Upon increasing density, the spectrum is strongly red-shifted and broadened. The present measurements confirm preliminary results obtained in a smaller density range. The shift is explained by the dielectric screening exerted by the gas atoms on the optically active electron-ionic molecular core interaction, and by quantum multiple scattering effects of the electron scattered off the gas atoms. The latter effect links this experiment to electron transport experiments in non-polar gases. The different spectrum broadening in pure Xe and in an Ar-Xe mixture is believed to be due to quantum indistinguishability of identical particles.
Signal filtering of daily cloud types' trends as derived from satellite images

The relationship between the intensity functions of contiguous pixels of an image is used on daily global clouds satellite data to extract local edge gradients for cloud types' classification. The images are cloud top temperatures (CTT) derived from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Advanced Very-High-Resolution Radiometer (NOAA-AVHRR) satellite observations. The cloud type classification method used is a histogram-based gradient scheme described as the occurrence of low, mid or high edge gradients in a block of pixels. The distribution of these cloud types is analyzed, then, the consistency of the monthly variations of the cloud type amount estimation is evaluated. A clear dependence of the cloud type amount signal on the solar zenith angle is noticeable. This dependence, due to the gradual satellite drift, is removed through a filtering process using the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) method. The EMD component, associated with the drift or the solar zenith angle change, is filtered out. The cloud types' amount series corrected show a substantial improvement in their trends.
Credit Default Swaps and Earnings Management

In this study, we examine the association between the initiation of credit default swaps (CDS) trading and firms’ earnings management behavior. Since CDS contracts help creditors transfer credit risk, creditors tend to be tough in debt renegotiations. Anticipating tough creditors, CDS firms may be forced to manage earnings upward to avoid debt renegotiations rather than deflate earnings to extract covenant claim concessions from creditors. Consistent with our expectation, we find that the introduction of CDS trading is positively associated with firms’ income-increasing discretionary accruals. Our findings remain robust after we control for the endogeneity of CDS trading using the propensity-score matching method, the placebo test, and the two-stage instrumental variable approach. Furthermore, we find that the positive association between CDS initiation and discretionary accruals is more pronounced for firms with tighter financial constraints and poorer information environment. We also find that CDS initiation is negatively associated with firms’ real earnings management activities, suggesting that firms substitute the less costly accrual-based earnings management for the more costly real earnings management after CDS-initiation. Overall our study suggests that firms respond to the “empty creditor problem” created by CDS trading through earnings management tools.
An empirical study of the use of e-security seals in e-commerce

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of e‐security seals on web sites and their relative impact on e‐commerce firm reputation in influencing customers' perceptions of trust in a service provider.Design/methodology/approach – Two interrelated empirical studies are conducted to evaluate the use and impacts of e‐security seals in e‐commerce. An exploratory study methodology investigates the use of e‐security seals and a questionnaire survey is used to gauge consumer knowledge of seals.Findings – Using survey data from 211 web users, the results show that 106 respondents are cognitive and affective of e‐security seals. The results also provide further clarification of the relationship between e‐security seals and sales effectiveness. The findings point towards a positive belief by consumers in e‐security seals.Research implications – Third‐party e‐security seals organisations should undertake more promotional activities and advertising to educate comsumers about the use and benefits of e‐.
Retrodirective array design using ring antenna

This paper presents a microstrip 4×8 retrodirective array which consists of two 4×4 sub-arrays. These two 4×4 sub-arrays employ proximity-coupled microstrip ring antennas as the array elements. The design frequency of the ring antenna is 5.8 GHz and the antenna produces voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) and axial ratio less than 1.5 and 1 dB, respectively. The designed 4×8 retrodirective array is tested through electromagnetic (EM) simulation. In the simulation, the plane wave incidents at two different angles (θt=±30°) for a bistatic radar cross section (RCS).
A Melting Pot of Cuisines: Examining the Relationship Between Restaurant Ethnicities and Food Safety Inspection Scores

Past research has determined using simple summary statistics that non-American, or “ethnic” restaurants score lower on their food safety inspections, even though they are not inspected significantly more often. Using a variety of regression techniques, I find ethnicity is endogenous with a number of other explanatory factors, most notably restaurant wealth, where non-American restaurants tend to have lower prices, rendering them less able to comply with food safety codes. Past literature has also hypothesized that inspectors are biased against ethnic restaurants, due to lack of understanding with different cultures’ cuisines. On the contrary, I find evidence that inspectors are benevolent to restaurants of all types, in that they are more likely to move restaurants on the cusp of a higher or lower inspection grade, into the higher category.
The Test-Retest Reliability of 2 Mobility Performance Tests in Patients With Chronic Stroke

Objective. This study examined test-retest agreement and measurement errors for the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) and the Mobility subscale of the Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement (M-STREAM) in patients with chronic stroke and mild to moderate disability. The authors aimed to determine the level of agreement between test and retest as well as the extent to which a mobility score varies on test-retest measurements. Methods. Both mobility measures were tested on 50 chronic stroke patients twice, 7 days apart. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,1), a relative reliability index, was used to examine the level of agreement between test and retest. Absolute reliability indices, including the standard error of measurement and the smallest real differences, were used to determine the extent to which the mobility scores varied due to chance variation in measurement. Results. Test-retest agreements were excellent for both mobility measures. The standard errors of measurement of the RMI and the M-STREAM, representing the smallest change threshold that indicates a real improvement (beyond measurement error) for a group of individuals, were 0.8 and 1.5, respectively. The smallest real differences of the RMI and the M-STREAM, exhibiting the smallest change threshold that indicates a real improvement for a single individual, were 2.2 and 4.2, respectively. Conclusion. The RMI and the M-STREAM have high agreement between the test-retest measurements with acceptable measurement errors due to variation in measurement. The 2 measures can be used by clinicians and researchers to assess the mobility performance and monitor changes over time in stroke patients.
The cysteine‐rich region and the whey acidic protein domain are essential for anosmin‐1 biological functions

The protein anosmin‐1, coded by the KAL1 gene responsible for the X‐linked form of Kallmann syndrome (KS), exerts its biological effects mainly through the interaction with and signal modulation of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1). We have previously shown the interaction of the third fibronectin‐like type 3 (FnIII) domain and the N‐terminal region of anosmin‐1 with FGFR1. Here, we demonstrate that missense mutations reported in patients with KS, C172R and N267K did not alter or substantially reduce, respectively, the binding to FGFR1. These substitutions annulled the chemoattraction of the full‐length protein over subventricular zone (SVZ) neuronal precursors (NPs), but they did not annul it in the N‐terminal‐truncated protein (A1Nt). We also show that although not essential for binding to FGFR1, the cysteine‐rich (CR) region is necessary for anosmin‐1 function and that FnIII.3 cannot substitute for FnIII.1 function. Truncated proteins recapitulating nonsense mutations found in KS patients did not show the chemotropic effect on SVZ NPs, suggesting that the presence behind FnIII.1 of any part of anosmin‐1 produces an unstable protein incapable of action. We also identify the extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway as necessary for the chemotropic effect exerted by FGF2 and anosmin‐1 on rat SVZ NPs.
Changes in restriction enzyme pattern of the equine herpes virus type 1 (EHV-1) strain Rac H DNA during attenuation.

Summary Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) strain RacH is used after attenuation (256 passages in embryonic porcine kidney cells) as a live Vaccine against rhinopneumonitis and abortion. The genome of this strain shows a different DNA pattern after digestion with the restriction endonuclease Bam HI from that of the abortigenic virus isolates. A virus subpopulation revealing this pattern existed already at passage 182. This pattern is likely to serve as an in vitro marker for differentiation of field virus from the Vaccine strain.
Agreement between telephone and in-person delivery of a structured interview for anxiety disorders in children.

OBJECTIVE The current study determined the viability of using the telephone to facilitate assessment of children using the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for children for DSM-IV (ADIS-C-IV). METHOD Diagnoses established during telephone administration of the ADIS-C-IV-Parent version were compared with diagnoses obtained during standard administration of the ADIS-C-IV using both Child and Parent versions. Seventy-three children and their parents participated in counterbalanced, repeated assessments. RESULTS The level of agreement between telephone and standard administration for principal diagnosis (kappa=0.86), individual anxiety disorders (kappa=0.63-0.86), and other disorders (kappa=0.79-0.91) were in the good to excellent range. Additionally, agreement on overall suitability for an anxiety treatment program was excellent (kappa=0.97). CONCLUSIONS The data indicate that telephone administration of the ADIS-C-IV is a valid way to differentiate children who have anxiety disorders from those who have no disorder or other disorders, providing a less resource-demanding alternative to face-to-face assessment.
Revisiting leader-member exchange theory: insights into stadia management

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating impacts of leader-member exchange (LMX) theory on the relationship between job satisfaction, organisational commitment and performance of staff operating in stadia and arenas hosting sport events. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative methods approach was used to gather the data. In total, 146 surveys were completed from stadia hosting sport events in London, Dubai and Doha. Data were analysed using SPSS. Findings LMX fully mediated the relationship between job satisfaction and organisational commitment. LMX fully mediated the relationship between job satisfaction and job performance. In addition, job satisfaction was positively and directly related to job performance as well as organisational commitment. Research limitations/implications In-depth interviews approach is also needed to understand how employees perceive their supervisors, managers, or leaders in stadia hosting sport events. Originality/value The paper advances leadership research in stadia hosting sport events that links the impacts of LMX theory on job satisfaction, organisational commitment and performance.
ACE I/D gene polymorphism and aerobic endurance development in response to training in a non-elite female cohort.

AIM The aim of this study was to investigate the association between ACE gene polymorphism and short- and medium-duration aerobic endurance performance improvements in response to the same training regimen in a non-elite female cohort. METHODS Fifty-five female non-elite Caucasian Turkish athletes trained to enhance running speeds corresponding to 70% and 90% of heart rate reserve (V-HRR70 and V-HRR90 respectively) 30 min running speed performance (V-30min) 3 times per week, for 6 weeks. ACE gene polymorphisms studied by PCR analysis. RESULTS The distribution of genotypes in the whole cohort was 21.8%, 41.8%, 36.4% for II (n=12), ID (n=23) and DD (n=20), respectively. Subjects with ACE II genotype had significantly higher improvements in V-30min and V-HRR70 than the ACE DD group (P<0.05). However, in HRR90 ACE DD genotype had a better performance enhancement in running speed than others (P<0.05). Endurance improvements in the V-HRR70 and in the V-30min showed a linear trend as II>ID>DD (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively) while a linear trend as DD>ID>II (P<0.01) observed in V-HRR90. CONCLUSION ACE II genotype may related with better improvements in medium duration aerobic endurance performance whilst ACE DD genotype seems to be more advantageous in performance enhancement in shorter duration and higher intensity endurance activities.
Decision support for fresh produce replenishment order schedules in a retail outlet

Retailers are faced with complex periodic decisions related to replenishment orders for fresh produce and the allocation of shelf space to these products. The complexity of these decisions may be attributed to the short shelf lives of fresh produce, a variety of operational constraints and a limitation on the amount of shelf space available. Since retailers may gain a competitive advantage through the efficient management of shelf space in their fresh produce departments, an objective methodology is required to provide decision support for fresh produce replenishment order decisions. This is especially important for retail outlets with little or no backroom storage space for their fresh produce, where all product units that arrive at the store have to be displayed on the shelves immediately. A mathematical model is proposed in this thesis in support of the aforementioned fresh produce replenishment order decisions of retailers. The aim of the model is to satisfy forecasted product demand over a prescribed decision period as closely as possible, while maximising profit and minimising product waste — all subject to a fixed amount of available shelf space. Two solution approaches are designed for solving this model which takes the form of a mixed integer programming problem. An exact solution approach is implemented in CPLEX for solving the model in the context of small, hypothetical problem instances. Due to the computational complexity of the exact solution approach, a (metaheuristic) solution approach, based on the method of simulated annealing, is also established by which larger, realistic instances of the model can be solved much quicker, albeit approximately. The mathematical model and the approximate solution approach are embedded in a computerised decision support system concept demonstrator so as to provide managers of retail outlets with a practical tool able to recommend fresh produce replenishment order schedules in line with the aforementioned retail objectives. A real-life case study is performed, involving 72 products in the ambient section of the fresh produce department within a retail outlet in Grassy Park, Cape Town, so as to demonstrate the practicality of the decision support system and illustrate the high quality of its recommendations. Upon comparing the replenishment order recommendation of the system with that actually employed at the outlet, it is found that the system yields substantially superior results. iii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za
Evaluation for User Experience about Service of Fintech -Mainly with Analysis on ‘Kakaopay’ and ‘Naverpay’-

This study sought to improve the mobile easy payment services available in Korea by conducting a comparison analysis of Kakaopay, the front-runner of the mobile easy payment services in Korea’s FinTech industry, compared to Naverpay, the relative newcomer in the industry. The services were compared by analysing users’ experience. First, a literature review on the theoretical background of the FinTech and its characteristics was performed. Secondly, a survey created by reframing the six elements of the “Creating Pleasurable interfaces Model” by Stephen Anderson was conducted. In result, Kakaopay showed limited applicability caused by the lack of affiliated stores and it also showed the lack of reliability due to errors and cancellations related to the payments. It was shown that Naverpay also needs to make an effort to improve the reliability by minimizing errors in the use of the program and payments. This current study aimed to contribute as a resource which can be used, in the future, to improve the users’ experience in FinTech services offered in Korea and also to invigorate the Fintech industry.
Effects Of Voluntary Disclosure Of The Schedule Of Manufacturing Cost On Analysts’ Earnings Forecasts: Evidence From Korea

We provide the effects of voluntary disclosure of the schedule of manufacturing cost on analysts’ earnings forecasts. We set up and analyze the disclosure of the schedule of manufacturing cost as a proxy for voluntary disclosure. Specifically, we examine the associations between voluntary disclosure of it and the accuracy of analysts’ earnings forecasts and bias in earnings forecasts. The results of our study are as follows. First, the relationship between voluntary disclosure of the schedule of manufacturing cost and the accuracy of analysts’ earnings forecasts is significant in the positive (+) direction. This means that the accuracy of analysts’ earnings forecasts is higher in the case of the firms that voluntarily disclosed the schedule of manufacturing cost, as compared to other firms. Second, the relationship between voluntary disclosure of the schedule of manufacturing cost and analysts’ bias in earnings forecasts is significant in the negative (-) direction. This means that analysts underestimate earnings in the case of the firms that voluntarily disclose the schedule of manufacturing cost, as compared to other firms. Since the schedule of manufacturing cost is still an interesting item and useful information in the capital market, the results of our study provide important implications not only to managers, but also to investors and supervisory authority. Limitations of our study include the fact that not all diverse variables that affect voluntary disclosure and analysts’ forecasts are considered.
Performance Evaluation Indexes in Public Administration Some issues of their actual usefulness

The paper examines the approach to usefulness of performance indicator systems in Public Administration (PA). There are many international studies about this subject, especially from the point of view of efficiency, effectiveness and adequacy. The used approach considers the difference among these indicators based on the level of difficulty in PA implementation. The research compares some indicator systems in European Public Administration considering their easiness and feasibility to apply and connecting these qualities to the basic structures of efficiency, effectiveness and adequacy. The paper aims to compare performance indicator systems of Austria, Italy and Slovenia, emphasizing the relationship between the indicators and their diffusion in government managerial control. In particular the paper underlines the connection between the difficulty of indexes application and the level of diffusion. in Public Administrations.