Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL FAIRNESS PERCEPTIONS IN SUPERVISORY AND NON- SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES: A CASE OF CIVIL SERVANTS IN DISTRICT DERA ISMAIL KHAN, PAKISTAN

Research suggests that employees’ role and level in organization influence reactions towards performance appraisal system (PAS). The present study investigates fairness perceptions of PAS among supervisory (appraisers/appraisees) and non-supervisory employees (appraisees) in the civil service of Pakistan. Data was collected from civil servants working in the two departments in far flung district Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. T-test of significance was performed to test the hypothesis in of the study. The results revealed that there was significant difference of fairness perceptions among supervisory and non supervisory employees working in the two public sector departments. And supervisory employees perceive the system fairer as compared to non-supervisory employees. In the article we discuss literature of organizational justice and fairness of PASs. Subsequently, we discuss methods, limitations and directions for future research in the PAS of the civil service.
PI 3‐kinase γ and protein kinase C‐ζ mediate RAS‐independent activation of MAP kinase by a Gi protein‐coupled receptor

Receptors coupled to the inhibitory G protein Gi, such as that for lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), have been shown to activate MAP kinase through a RAS‐dependent pathway. However, LPA (but not insulin) has now been shown to activate MAP kinase in a RAS‐independent manner in CHO cells that overexpress a dominant‐negative mutant of the guanine nucleotide exchange protein SOS (CHO‐ΔSOS cells). LPA also induced the activation of MAP kinase kinase (MEK), but not that of RAF1, in CHO‐ΔSOS cells. The RAS‐independent activation of MAP kinase by LPA was blocked by inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) or by overexpression of a dominant‐negative mutant of the γ isoform of PI3K. Furthermore, LPA induced the activation of the atypical ζ isoform of protein kinase C (PKC‐ζ) in CHO‐ΔSOS cells in a manner that was sensitive to wortmannin or to the dominant‐negative mutant of PI3Kγ, and overexpression of a dominant‐negative mutant of PKC‐ζ inhibited LPA‐induced activation of MAP kinase. These observations indicate that Gi protein‐coupled receptors induce activation of MEK and MAP kinase through a RAS‐independent pathway that involves PI3Kγ‐dependent activation of atypical PKC‐ζ.
Determinantes do risco de crédito rural no Brasil: uma crítica às renegociações da dívida rural

Identificamos os determinantes da inadimplencia no Sistema Nacional de CreditoRural do Brasil, utilizando o procedimento ARDL defasagens distribuidastestes de limites para cointegracao de Pesaran, Shin & Smith (2001) e testes decausalidade de Granger de Toda & Yamamoto (1995). Os resultados mostraramque taxa de juros de referencia, setor externo e ciclo de negocios nao afetaminadimplencia; maior razao precos pagos por precos recebidos pela agriculturaaumenta inadimplencia; os processos politicos de renegociacao da divida ruralinduzem endividamento, risco moral e selecao adversa; e a relacao inadimplenciae determinantes retorna ao equilibrio de longo prazo em 19 dias.
Implications of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000 – 2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders From Concepts and Findings to Recommendations

Study Design. Best evidence synthesis. Objective. To provide evidence-based guidance to primary care clinicians about how to best assess and treat patients with neck pain. Summary of Background Data. There is a need to translate the results of clinical and epidemiologic studies into meaningful and practical information for clinicians. Methods. Based on best evidence syntheses of published studies on the risk, prognosis, assessment, and management of people with neck pain and its associated disorders, plus additional research projects and focused literature reviews reported in this supplement, the 12member multidisciplinary Scientific Secretariat of the Neck Pain Task Force followed a 4-step approach to develop practical guidance for clinicians. Results. The Neck Pain Task Force recommends that people seeking care for neck pain should be triaged into 4 groups: Grade I neck pain with no signs of major pathology and no or little interference with daily activities; Grade II neck pain with no signs of major pathology, but interference with daily activities; Grade III neck pain with neurologic signs of nerve compression; Grade IV neck pain with signs of major pathology. In the emergency room after blunt trauma to the neck, triage should be based on the NEXUS criteria or the Canadian C-spine rule. Those with a high risk of fracture should be further investigated with plain radiographs and/or CT-scan. In ambulatory primary care, triage should be based on history and physical examination alone, including screening for red flags and neurologic examination for signs of radiculopathy. Exercises and mobilization have been shown to provide some degree of short-term relief of Grade I or Grade II neck pain after a motor vehicle collision. Exercises, mobilization, manipulation, analgesics, acupuncture, and low-level laser have been shown to provide some degree of short-term relief of Grade I or Grade II neck pain without trauma. Those with confirmed Grade III and severe persistent radicular symptoms might benefit from corticosteroid injections or surgery. Those with confirmed Grade IV neck pain require management specific to the diagnosed pathology. Conclusion. The best available evidence suggests initial assessment for neck pain should focus on triage into 4 grades, and those with common neck pain (Grade I and Grade II) might be offered the listed noninvasive treatments if short-term relief is desired.
Multitracer Positron Emission Tomographic Imaging of Exogenous Gene Expression Mediated by a Universal Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Amplicon Vector

To develop efficient and safe gene therapy approaches, the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase gene (HSV-1-tk) has been shown to function as a marker gene for the direct noninvasive in vivo localization of thymidine kinase (TK) expression by positron emission tomography (PET) using radiolabeled nucleoside analogues as specific TK substrates. Moreover, the gene encoding dopamine type 2 receptor (d2r) could be used as a PET marker gene using specific radiolabeled receptor binding compounds. Here we describe the quantitative colocalization of d2r and HSV-1-tk gene expression mediated from a universal HSV-1 amplicon vector in a subcutaneous human Gli36dEGFR glioma model by PET. The HSV-1 amplicon vector was constructed using a bicistronic gene cassette to contain (1) the d2r80A mutant, which is able to bind its ligand racloprid but unable to activate downstream signal transduction pathways, and (2) the tk39 mutant with enhanced enzymatic activity toward guanosine analogues fused to the green fluorescent protein gene (tk39gfp) serving as a marker gene in cell culture. After infection of human Gli36dEGFR glioma cells with the HSV-d2r80AIREStk39gfp (HSV-DITG) amplicon vector in cell culture, D2 receptor expression and its targeting to the cell surface were determined by Western blotting and immunolabeling. Vector application in vivo served for quantitative colocalization of d2r80A- and tk39gfp-derived PET signals employing the specific D2 receptor binding compound [11C]racloprid and the specific TK39 substrate 9-(4-[18F]fluoro-3-hydroxymethylbutyl)guanine. Our results demonstrate that for the range of gene expression studied in vivo, both enzymatic and receptor binding assays give comparable quantitative information on the level of vector-mediated gene expression in vivo. The d2r80A in combination with a specific binding compound passing the intact blood-brain barrier might be an alternative marker gene for the noninvasive assessment of vector-mediated gene expression in the brain using PET.
A Preliminary Study on the Pattern, the Physiological Bases and the Molecular Mechanism of the Adductor Muscle Scar Pigmentation in Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas

The melanin pigmentation of the adductor muscle scar and the outer surface of the shell are among attractive features and their pigmentation patterns and mechanism still remains unknown in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. To study these pigmentation patterns, the colors of the adductor muscle scar vs. the outer surface of the shell on the same side were compared. No relevance was found between the colors of the adductor muscle scars and the corresponding outer surface of the shells, suggesting that their pigmentation processes were independent. Interestingly, a relationship between the color of the adductor muscle scars and the dried soft-body weight of Pacific oysters was found, which could be explained by the high hydroxyl free radical scavenging capacity of the muscle attached to the black adductor muscle scar. After the transcriptomes of pigmented and unpigmented adductor muscles and mantles were studied by RNAseq and compared, it was found that the retinol metabolism pathway were likely to be involved in melanin deposition on the adductor muscle scar and the outer surface of the shell, and that the different members of the tyrosinase or Cytochrome P450 gene families could play a role in the independent pigmentation of different organs.
Simultaneous and non-simultaneous dual electrode stimulation in cochlear implants: evidence for two neural response modalities

Conclusion: There are two modalities of dual electrode stimulation: a shifting, continuous excitation, which is the desired effect, and a split excitation with considerable variation in loudness. The first one most likely occurs in the basal turn, with adjacent contacts, stimulated simultaneously rather than sequentially. Objectives: This study examines the effects on place pitch and loudness of simultaneous current steering and sequential stimulation. These can give cochlear implant patients access to more perceptual channels than physical contacts in the electrode array. Materials and methods: For both lateral wall and perimodiolar electrodes, simultaneous current steering as well as sequential stimulation, place pitch and loudness of the percept were predicted with a computational model of the implanted human cochlea. The loudness predictions were validated with psychophysical loudness balancing experiments. Results: Simultaneous stimulation with adjacent electrode contacts in the basal end of the cochlea was generally able to produce a single, gradually shifting intermediate pitch percept. Simultaneous stimulation beyond the first cochlear turn, sequential stimulation and simultaneous stimulation with non-adjacent electrode contacts often produced two regions of excitation. In the case of sequential stimulation the total amount of current to reach most comfortable loudness was raised, both in the model and in the patients.
Toronto Psoriatic Arthritis Screening (ToPAS) Questionnaire: A Report from the GRAPPA 2009 Annual Meeting

The Toronto Psoriatic Arthritis Screening questionnaire (ToPAS) was developed as a tool to screen for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in patients with psoriasis as well as in the general population. Thus, it differs from PsA-specific screening tools and may be used to screen for PsA in epidemiologic and family investigations. In a presentation at the 2009 annual meeting of GRAPPA (Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis) in Stockholm, Sweden, the authors described the development, testing, and validation of the ToPAS tool. Results of a comparison of the ToPAS questionnaire with the Psoriatic Arthritis Screening and Evaluation (PASE) questionnaire were also presented. Modification and further validation of the ToPAS are under way.
Molecular Insights into Vesicle Tethering at the Golgi by the Conserved Oligomeric Golgi (COG) Complex and the Golgin TATA Element Modulatory Factor (TMF)*

Background: Delivery of the vesicle into the pre-fusion state during tethering is not understood. Results: Interactions between the COG complex, golgins and Rabs were mapped. Two ends of the golgin TMF both bind COG and different Rabs, the middle binds the target membrane. Conclusion: COG may reel the vesicle into docking along the golgin. Significance: Mechanistic link between tethering complex and coiled tether established. Protein sorting between eukaryotic compartments requires vesicular transport, wherein tethering provides the first contact between vesicle and target membranes. Here we map and start to functionally analyze the interaction network of the conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex that mediates retrograde tethering at the Golgi. The interactions of COG subunits with members of transport factor families assign the individual subunits as specific interaction hubs. Functional analysis of selected interactions suggests a mechanistic tethering model. We find that the COG complex interacts with two different Rabs in addition to each end of the golgin “TATA element modulatory factor” (TMF). This allows COG to potentially bridge the distance between the distal end of the golgin and the target membrane thereby promoting tighter docking. Concurrently we show that the central portion of TMF can bind to Golgi membranes that are liberated of their COPI cover. This latter interaction could serve to bring vesicle and target membranes into close apposition prior to fusion. A target selection mechanism, in which a hetero-oligomeric tethering factor organizes Rabs and coiled transport factors to enable protein sorting specificity, could be applicable to vesicle targeting throughout eukaryotic cells.
Purification and Characterization of Human α-Galactosidase A Expressed in Insect Cells Using a Baculovirus Vector

Abstract Fabry disease is an X-linked inborn error of glycolipid metabolism caused by deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme α-galactosidase A. The enzyme is responsible for the hydrolysis of terminal α-galactoside linkages in various glycolipids. To perform more extensive biochemical characterization and to develop new approaches for enzyme therapy, a method of producing and purifying recombinant α-galactosidase A suitable for scale-up manufacture for use in humans is needed. Previously, a catalytically active recombinant human α-galactosidase A was expressed using a baculovirus vector and purified using conventional chromatography. However, the level of expression was too low to permit economical production and the chromatographic techniques used for enzyme purification were not suitable for enzyme to be used in humans. Therefore, the cDNA of the enzyme was cloned to an improved baculovirus vector and the enzyme was expressed in a 15-liter bioreactor using optimized growth conditions. Infection of insect cells by the baculovirus resulted in a significant fivefold increase in the level of secreted recombinant α-galactosidase A activity that is compatible with economic manufacturing. The recombinant α-galactosidase A was purified to homogeneity using ion exchange (Poros 20-CM, Poros 20-HQ) and hydrophobic chromatography (Toso-ether, Toso-butyl) using the BioCAD HPLC workstation. These chromatographic steps are readily scalable to larger volumes and are appropriate for the purification of the recombinant human α-galactosidase A to be used in clinical trials of enzyme replacement therapy for Fabry disease patients.
Magnetic Resonance Angiography of Thromboembolic Stroke in Rats: Indicator of Recanalization Probability and Tissue Survival after Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator Treatment

Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) was performed in a thromboembolic stroke model of the rat to characterize intracranial vessel occlusion patterns and to test its predictive power for tissue recovery after recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) treatment. After rt-PA-treated selective middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion, full recanalization was observed in two of three animals, whereas additional occlusion of the circle of Willis (CW) resulted in full vascular flow restitution in only one of six rats. Tissue reperfusion markedly lagged the onset of treatment, and the delay correlated with the pattern of vessel occlusion (20 to 23 minutes for selective MCA occlusion vs. 71 to 79 minutes for combined MCA/CW occlusion). In lateral cortex and striatum the apparent diffusion coefficient decreased to 78 ± 15% of control after embolization, recovered to 80% to 85% after rt-PA treatment of selective MCA occlusion, but further declined to 66% to 69% after combined MCA/CW occlusion. Correspondingly, T2 relaxation time increased to 107% to 118% of control after selective MCA occlusion and to 112% to 124% after combined MCA/CW occlusion in these regions. The present investigation shows that MRA provides valuable information on the severity of thromboembolic stroke and has the power to predict, before the initiation of treatment, the functional tissue outcome after rt-PA-induced thrombolysis.
Relationships between Locus of Control and Adherence to Diabetes Regimen.

BACKGROUND Adequate self-care in diabetes causes quality of life promotion and decreases the number of inpatient cases. The health locus of control theory is used to assess adherence to diabetes regimen in some studies in developed countries. The purpose of this study was to determine the status of diabetes locus of control in a sample of diabetic patients in Iran and investigation of it's relationship to adherence to diabetes regimen. METHODS This analytical and cross-sectional study was carried out on 120 patients referred to Yazd Diabetes Research Center. The Iranian versions of Diabetes Locus of Control scale and Diabetes Selfcare Activities scale were used for data collection. RESULTS Men were more internal locus of control and women were more chance locus of control. The attributions of external locus of control increased by age, while the internal locus of control increased by education level and chance locus of control decreased by education level. A positive association between internal locus of control and adherence to diabetes regimen was found and there was a negative association between chance locus of control and adherence to diabetes regimen. CONCLUSION Findings suggest that interventions aimed at improving internal locus of control may improve adherence to diabetes regimen but different diabetic patients have different attribution styles and interventional programs to enhance diabetes self-care will be more successful if patient's locus of control is addressed.
Igbt Parameter Extraction for the Hefner IGBT Model

The insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is now widely used in many power electronics circuits. An accurate IGBT model is very important and useful to simulate these power electronics circuits to foresee the circuit behaviour and device behaviour before its implementation. Hefner IGBT model is one of the very good IGBT analytical models available for circuit simulation. This model requires IGBT parameters and those can be extracted experimentally. Two experiment set ups are needed and few different tests have to be carried out to extract IGBT parameters required for the Hefner model. In this paper, work carried out to extract eleven different parameters of 3.3 kV/1200 A IGBT is explained for the Hefner model
The contractile sponge epithelium sensu lato – body contraction of the demosponge Tethya wilhelma is mediated by the pinacoderm

SUMMARY Sponges constitute one of the two metazoan phyla that are able to contract their bodies despite a complete lack of muscle cells. Two competing hypotheses on the mechanisms behind this have been postulated to date: (1) mesohyl-mediated contraction originating from fusiform smooth muscle-like actinocytes (‘myocytes’) and (2) epidermal contraction originating in pinacocytes. No direct support exists for either hypothesis. The question of agonist–antagonist interaction in sponge contraction seems to have been completely neglected so far. In the present study we addressed this by studying sponge contraction kinetics. We also tested both hypotheses by carrying out volumetric studies of 3D synchrotron radiation-based x-ray microtomography data obtained from contracted and expanded specimens of Tethya wilhelma. Our results support the pinacoderm contraction hypothesis. Should mesohyl contraction be present, it is likely to be part of the antagonist system. We conclude that epithelial contraction plays a major role in sponges. Contractile epithelia sensu lato may be regarded as part of the ground pattern of the Metazoa.
Replication of African swine fever virus DNA in infected cells.

We have examined the ultrastructural localization of African swine fever virus DNA in thin-sections of infected cells by in situ hybridization and autoradiography. Virus-specific DNA sequences were found in the nucleus of infected Vero cells at early times in the synthesis of the viral DNA, forming dense foci localized in proximity to the nuclear membrane. At later times, the viral DNA was found exclusively in the cytoplasm. Electron microscopic autoradiography of African swine fever virus-infected macrophages showed that the nucleus is also a site of viral DNA replication at early times. These results provide further evidence of the existence of nuclear and cytoplasmic stages in the synthesis of African swine fever virus DNA. On the other hand, alkaline sucrose sedimentation analysis of the replicative intermediates synthesized in the nucleus and cytoplasm of infected macrophages showed that small DNA fragments ( approximately 6-12S) were synthesized in the nucleus at an early time, whereas at later times, larger fragments of approximately 37-49S were labeled in the cytoplasm. Pulse-chase experiments demonstrated that these fragments are precursors of the mature cross-linked viral DNA. The formation of dimeric concatemers, which are predominantly head-to-head linked, was observed by pulsed-field electrophoresis and restriction enzyme analysis at intermediate and late times in the replication of African swine fever virus DNA. Our findings suggest that the replication of African swine fever virus DNA proceeds by a de novo start mechanism with the synthesis of small DNA fragments, which are then converted into larger size molecules. Ligation or further elongation of these molecules would originate a two-unit concatemer with dimeric ends that could be resolved to generate the genomic DNA by site-specific nicking, rearrangement, and ligation as has been proposed in the de novo start model of Baroudy et al. (B. M. Baroudy, S. Venkatesam, and B. Moss, 1982, Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 47, 723-729) for the replication of vaccinia virus DNA.