Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nucleic Acid-Dependent Cross-Linking of the Nucleocapsid Protein of Sindbis Virus

ABSTRACT The assembly of the alphavirus nucleocapsid core is a multistep event requiring the association of the nucleocapsid protein with nucleic acid and the subsequent oligomerization of capsid proteins into an assembled core particle. Although the mechanism of assembly has been investigated extensively both in vivo and in vitro, no intermediates in the core assembly pathway have been identified. Through the use of both truncated and mutant Sindbis virus nucleocapsid proteins and a variety of cross-linking reagents, a possible nucleic acid-protein assembly intermediate has been detected. The cross-linked species, a covalent dimer, has been detected only in the presence of nucleic acid and with capsid proteins capable of binding nucleic acid. Optimum nucleic acid-dependent cross-linking was seen at a protein-to-nucleic-acid ratio identical to that required for maximum binding of the capsid protein to nucleic acid. Identical results were observed when cross-linking in vitro assembled core particles of both Sindbis and Ross River viruses. Purified cross-linked dimers of truncated proteins and of mutant proteins that failed to assemble were found to incorporate into assembled core particles when present as minor components in assembly reactions, suggesting that the cross-linking traps an authentic intermediate in nucleocapsid core assembly. Endoproteinase Lys-C mapping of the position of the cross-link indicated that lysine 250 of one capsid protein was cross-linked to lysine 250 of an adjacent capsid protein. Examination of the position of the cross-link in relation to the existing model of the nucleocapsid core suggests that the cross-linked species is a cross-capsomere contact between a pentamer and hexamer at the quasi-threefold axis or is a cross-capsomere contact between hexamers at the threefold axis of the icosahedral core particle and suggests several possible assembly models involving a nucleic acid-bound dimer of capsid protein as an early step in the assembly pathway.
Randomized, Open-Label, Comparative Study of Piperacillin-Tazobactam Administered by Continuous Infusion versus Intermittent Infusion for Treatment of Hospitalized Patients with Complicated Intra-Abdominal Infection

ABSTRACT The purpose of this randomized, multicenter, open-label study was to compare the continuous infusion of piperacillin-tazobactam with the standard intermittent infusion in 262 hospitalized patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections. Within 1 day of surgical intervention, eligible patients were randomized (1:1) to piperacillin-tazobactam 12 g/1.5 g administered continuously over 24 h or 3 g/0.375 g administered over 30 min intermittently every 6 h for 4 to 14 days. The demographics of the patients in the groups were similar, with a median APACHE II score of 7 and a median length of hospitalization of 7 days. Among 167 clinically evaluable patients, 86.4% and 88.4% of the patients treated with the continuous infusion and the intermittent infusion, respectively, were clinically cured or improved at the test-of-cure visit (P = 0.817). Bacteriological success was observed in 83.9% and 87.9% of patients (P = 0.597) in the two groups, respectively, and no differences in bacteriological response by pathogen were noted. Defervesence and white blood cell count normalization occurred in the majority of patients within 3 days and were similar between patients receiving the continuous infusion and those receiving the intermittent infusion. Drug-related adverse events were generally mild and were reported in similar numbers of patients in each arm of the trial. The results of this study support continuous infusion as a safe and reasonable alternate mode of administration of piperacillin-tazobactam for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infection.
Quality management practices and operational performance: Empirical evidence for Spanish industry

Progressive implantation of the ideas and techniques related to the concept of quality management is perhaps the most patent expression of the change and innovation which has taken place in organizations in recent years. Companies aim to increase their competitive advantage by improving operational performance. Or is this the case? The research is based on information obtained from a wide sample of industrial plants ( n = 965), employing more than 50 workers and belonging to all sectors of the manufacturing industry in Spain. After a thorough review of the literature relevant to this issue, a series of hypotheses is tested using logit models. Multiple regression analysis is applied in order to ascertain which dimension of the quality management practices has the greatest effect. The results are consistent with those of most of the studies carried out to date and demonstrate a significant relationship between the level of implementation of quality management practices and improvement in operational perform.
Prediction of Aqueous Solubility and Partition Coefficient Optimized by a Genetic Algorithm Based Descriptor Selection Method

The paper describes a fast and flexible descriptor selection method using a genetic algorithm variant (GA-SEC). The relevance of the descriptors will be measured using Shannon entropy (SE) and differential Shannon entropy (DSE), which have very sparse memory requirements and allow the processing of huge data sets. A small quantity of the most important descriptors will be used automatically to build a value prediction model. The most important descriptors are not a linear combination of other descriptors, but transparent, pure descriptors. We used an artificial neural network (ANN) model to predict the aqueous solubility logS and the octanol/water partition coefficient logP. The logS data set was divided into a training set of 1016 compounds and a test set of 253 compounds. A correlation coefficient of 0.93 and an empirical standard deviation of 0.54 were achieved. The logP data set was divided into a training set of 1853 compounds and a test set of 138 compounds. A correlation coefficient of 0.92 and an empirical standard deviation of 0.44 were achieved.
An Empirical Analysis of the Output Declines in Three Eastern European Countries

The declines in economic activity experienced by Bulgaria, the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, and Romania in the period since market-oriented reforms were initiated are analyzed. After reviewing developments in these three countries, the paper empirically investigates two questions that are central to an interpretation of the output decline. First, to what extent does the output fall reflect "structural change," or a reallocation of resources across sectors, rather than a conventional macroeconomic recession? Second, to what extent have demand-side or supply-side forces been dominant in generating the output decline?
Cells exposed to antifolates show increased cellular levels of proteins fused to dihydrofolate reductase: A method to modulate gene expression

Human cells exposed to antifolates show a rapid increase in the levels of the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). We hypothesized that this adaptive response mechanism can be used to elevate cellular levels of proteins fused to DHFR. In this study, mouse cells transfected to express a green fluorescent protein-DHFR fusion protein and subsequently exposed to the antifolate trimetrexate (TMTX) showed a specific and time-dependent increase in cellular levels of the fusion protein. Next, human HCT-8 and HCT-116 colon cancer cells retrovirally transduced to express a DHFR-herpes simplex virus 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1 TK) fusion protein and treated with the DHFR inhibitor TMTX exhibited increased levels of the DHFR-HSV1 TK fusion protein and an increase in ganciclovir sensitivity by 250-fold. The level of fusion protein in antifolate-treated human tumor cells was increased in response to a 24-h exposure of methotrexate, trimetrexate, as well as dihydrofolate. This effect depended on the antifolate concentration and was independent of the fusion-protein mRNA levels, consistent with this increase occurring at a translational level. In a xenograft model, nude rats bearing DHFR-HSV1 TK-transduced HCT-8 tumors and treated with TMTX showed, after 24 h, a 2- to 4-fold increase of fusion-protein levels in tumor tissue from treated animals compared with controls, as determined by Western blotting. The fusion-protein increase was imaged with positron-emission tomography, where a substantially enhanced signal of the transduced tumor was detected in animals after antifolate administration. Drug-mediated elevation of cellular DHFR-fused proteins is a very useful method to modulate gene expression in vivo for imaging as well as therapeutic purposes.
A unique domain in RANK is required for Gab2 and PLCγ2 binding to establish osteoclastogenic signals

TRAF6 is essential for osteoclastogenesis and for both RANK‐ and CD40‐mediated activation of IKK and MAPKs. RANK, but not CD40, can promote osteoclastogenesis because only RANK induces NFATc1 activation through PLCγ2‐induced Ca2+ oscillations together with the co‐stimulatory signals emanating from immune receptors linked to ITAM‐containing adaptors. These previous data suggest that RANK harbors a unique domain that functions in concert with the TRAF6‐binding site in osteoclastogenesis. Here we identify such a domain, highly conserved domain in RANK (HCR), which is dispensable for the early phase of RANK and ITAM signaling but is essential for their late‐phase signaling, including sustained activation of NF‐κB and PLCγ2 leading to NFATc1 activation. HCR recruits an adaptor protein, Gab2, which further associates with PLCγ2 in the late phase. Formation of the HCR‐mediated signaling complex could account for the sustained activation of NF‐κB and PLCγ2. The present study identifies HCR as a unique domain that plays a critical role in the long‐term linkage between RANK and ITAM signals, providing a molecular basis for therapeutic strategies.
Problematising ‘Festival Tourism’: Arts Festivals and Sustainable Development in Ireland

This paper problematises the term ‘festival tourism’. It conceptualises festivals as socially sustaining devices and argues that while they frequently function as tourist attractions, their social significance extends far beyond tourism. Using empirical material gathered in two case study arts festivals in Ireland, the paper demonstrates how festivals can contribute to arts development by inter alia creating demand for the arts, enhancing venue infrastructures, encouraging local creativity and animating local involvement. The paper contends that arts festivals, irrespective of their initial objectives almost inevitably develop tourist profiles over time and it proceeds to examine how changing tourism priorities in the two festivals studied impact upon sustainable festival practices. The findings suggest that tourism emerged as a key force promoting festival growth and expansion. It was found to be associated with increased revenue flows but also with increased arts activity on a year-round basis and with an improved venue infrastructure in both places. However, problems were identified with respect to the quality of the relationship forged between the festivals and local populations in the respective places. The paper concludes by arguing that festivals’ engagement with tourism needs to be carefully managed in the interests of promoting the socially sustaining function of festivals and of encouraging sustainable approaches to tourism development.
Age and Gender Profiling of Social Media Accounts

The growth of social networking platforms such as Facebook and Twitter has bridged communication channels between people to share their thoughts and sentiments. However, along with the rapid growth and rise of the Internet, the idea of anonymity has also been introduced wherein user identities are easily falsified and hidden. Hence, presenting difficulty for businesses to give accurate advertisements to specific account demographics. As such, this study aims to identify gender and age group of Filipino social media accounts through analyzing post contents. Several features will be considered and various techniques will be adopted to process posts written in English, Filipino, and Taglish (Tagalog interspersed with English). The study will implement these techniques and record their compatibility and performance in a Filipino setting. A computational model capable of gender and age classification will be built as the final product.
The interaction of RNA polymerase and lac repressor with the lac control region

We have examined the interactions of lac repressor and RNA polymerase with the DNA of the lac control region, using a method for direct visualization of the regions of DNA protected by proteins from DNAase attack. The repressor protects the operator essentially as reported by Gilbert and Maxam (1) with some small modifications. However, the evidence reported here concerning the binding of RNA polymerase to the DNA of the promoter mutant UV5 indicates that : 1) the RNA polymerase molecule binds asymmetrically to the promoter DNA, 2) RNA polymerase protects DNA sequences to within a few bases of the CAP binding site, suggesting direct interaction between polymerase and the CAP protein at this site, 3) RNA polymerase still binds to the promoter when repressor is bound to the operator, but fails to form the same extensive complex.
Systematic Risk and the Theory of the Firm

The mean-variance capital-asset-pricing model forms the basis for much of the theoretical and empirical work in modern financial economics. While this model defines the relevant measure of the risk of a security β in a general equilibrium context, the relationship between this measure and the microeconomic variables of a firm has not been studied in the literature. This paper develops a model of the firm under uncertainty and derives the relationship between systematic risk and such firm variables as monopoly power, demand elasticity, and the labor-capital ratio. The general conclusions are surprisingly robust and point to several interesting empirically testable hypotheses.
Coupled Singular Value Decomposition of a Cross-Covariance Matrix

We derive coupled on-line learning rules for the singular value decomposition (SVD) of a cross-covariance matrix. In coupled SVD rules, the singular value is estimated alongside the singular vectors, and the effective learning rates for the singular vector rules are influenced by the singular value estimates. In addition, we use a first-order approximation of Gram-Schmidt orthonormalization as decorrelation method for the estimation of multiple singular vectors and singular values. Experiments on synthetic data show that coupled learning rules converge faster than Hebbian learning rules and that the first-order approximation of Gram-Schmidt orthonormalization produces more precise estimates and better orthonormality than the standard deflation method.
Therapeutic effects of metformin and clomiphene in combination with lifestyle intervention on infertility in women with obese polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of metformin and clomiphene in combination with lifestyle adjustment on infertility in women with obese polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Methods: A total of 101 infertile women with obese PCOS admitted to our hospital from July 2013 to July 2015 were randomly divided into an observation group (n=51) and a control group (n=50). The control group was treated with metformin plus clomiphene, based on which the observation group was also subjected to lifestyle adjustment. The body weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were measured before and after treatment. The changes of reproductive hormones, ovaries and endometrium were detected, and the rates of menstrual recovery, ovulation and pregnancy were observed. Results: The body weight and BMI of the observation group after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment and of the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in WHR between the two groups. In the observation group, there were significant differences in LH, T, LH/FSH, FINS and TG levels before and after treatment and from those of the control group after treatment (P<0.05). Both the left and right ovarian volumes of the observation group after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment and of the control group after treatment (P<0.05). The menstrual recovery, ovulation and pregnancy rates of the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Lifestyle adjustment combined with metformin and clomiphene can improve the reproductive endocrine and lipid metabolism of obese PCOS patients, decrease the volumes of left and right ovaries, and increase the menstrual recovery, ovulation and pregnancy rates.
Reinsurance and Capital Structure: Evidence from the United Kingdom Non-Life Insurance Industry

Using a data set consisting of statutory returns of U.K. non-life insurers from 1985 to 2002, I find that insurers with higher leverage tend to purchase more reinsurance, and insurers with higher reinsurance dependence tend to have a higher level of debt. My results are consistent with the expected bankruptcy costs argument, agency costs theory, risk-bearing hypothesis, and renting capital hypothesis. I also find that the impact of leverage on reinsurance will be weaker for insurers that use more derivatives than those that use less. Moreover, high levels of derivative use increase the leverage gains attributable to reinsurance.
Social capital and cultural adjustment of international assignees in NGOs: do support networks really matter?

International assignees face cultural adjustment challenges in their host countries in work and nonwork situations. At the same time, social capital theory suggests that individuals can access and mobilize resources from their social networks. We explore the use of social networks by international assignees from a non-governmental organization in their cross-cultural adjustment to the host country. Specifically, we are interested in the individuals who directly provided support to the expatriate, a network that we term the ‘current assignment support network’. We focus on the size, type and frequency of contact of the international assignee's support network, and investigate to what extent these variables can predict overall cultural adjustment to the host country, or separate dimensions of cultural adjustment such as interaction adjustment, general adjustment and work adjustment. Our findings indicate that certain characteristics of the international assignee's current assignment support network do impact their cultural adjustment to the host country, but that the effects are moderated by whether the assignee has prior international experience.
Ca2+‐independent, but voltage‐ and activity‐dependent regulation of the NMDA receptor outward K+ current in mouse cortical neurons

To test the novel hypothesis that the K+ efflux mediated by NMDA receptors might be regulated differently than the influx of Ca2+ and Na+ through the same receptor channels, NMDA receptor whole‐cell currents carried concurrently or individually by Ca2+, Na+ and K+ were analysed in cultured mouse cortical neurons. In contrast to the NMDA inward current carried by Ca2+ and Na+, the NMDA receptor outward K+ current or NMDA‐K current, recorded either in the presence or absence of extracellular Ca2+ and Na+, and at different or the same membrane potentials, showed much less sensitivity to alterations in intracellular Ca2+ concentration and underwent little rundown. In line with a selective regulation of the NMDA receptor K+ permeability, the ratio of the NMDA inward/outward currents decreased, and the reversal potential of composite NMDA currents recorded in physiological solutions shifted by −8.5 mV after repeated activation of NMDA receptors. Moreover, a depolarizing pre‐pulse of a few seconds or a burst of brief depolarizing pulses selectively augmented the subsequent NMDA‐K current, but not the NMDA inward current. On the other hand, a hyperpolarizing pre‐pulse showed the opposite effect of reducing the NMDA‐K current. The voltage‐ and activity‐dependent regulation of the NMDA‐K current did not require the existence of extracellular Ca2+ or Ca2+ influx; it was, however, affected by the duration of the pre‐pulse and was subject to a time‐dependent decay. The burst of excitatory activity revealed a lasting upregulation of the NMDA‐K current even 5 s after termination of the pre‐pulses. Our data reveal a selective regulation of the NMDA receptor K+ permeability and represent a novel model of voltage‐ and excitatory activity‐dependent plasticity at the receptor level.
PREDICTION OF BUSINESS FAILURE USING ACCOUNTING DATA

The original point of departure for this effort was William Beaver's now classic study.2 He presented empirical evidence that certain financial ratios, most notably cash flow/total debt, gave statistically significant signals well before actual business failure. The test design used here is, with minor differences, a replication of his original design, which employed pairs of matched failed and nonfailed firms of similar size and industry characteristics. In earlier writings, I presented a simple theoretical framework utilizing a stochastic rather than deterministic model which plausibly explained Beaver's result.3 The present study tests the predictive usefulness of a statistic derived from a binomial process with an absorbing state. The evidence indicates a substantial improvement over Beaver's ratios through at least four years before bankruptcy.4
Total quality and human resources management: lessons learned from Baldrige Award-winning companies

Executive Overview Moving from business as usual to a Total Quality Management (TQM) culture demands much from an organization. Nowhere in the organization is the demand more apparent or more important than in the human resource management function. Interviews with human resource professionals employed by winners of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award provide insights into how HRM “best practices” support TQM cultures in these firms. Baldrige Award-winning companies have developed “portfolios” of human resource management policies to complement strategic TQM objectives. Aligning human resource practices with quality initiatives requires revolutionary changes in the way organizations train, empower, evaluate, and reward individuals and teams. However, the revolution is far from over. Even among organizations recognized for their TQM achievements, there is still a need for continuous improvement with respect to HR practices governing the selection, promotion, and development of future leaders. A pro.
Hardware-in-the-loop simulation, modeling and close-loop testing for three-level photovoltaic grid-connected inverter based on RT-LAB

The hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation testing for the controller of three-level photovoltaic grid-connected inverter is studied by RT-LAB, and a HIL simulation, modeling and testing scheme for photovoltaic grid-connected inverter is presented based on FPGA simulation and eHS modeling technology. First, a HIL testing platform, which contains PV array model, three-level photovoltaic inverter power circuit model, low voltage ride-through (LVRT) testing model and grid model, is constructed based on eHS modeling technology. And then the I/O physical interface circuit is constructed which connects the controller of three-level photovoltaic grid-connected inverter and signal condition module of RT-LAB simulator. Furthermore, open-loop testing of the controller is studied by the HIL testing platform and I/O physical interface circuit. Finally, the HIL close-loop testing for the controller is carried out in the normal grid and LVRT testing conditions by FPGA processor of RT-LAB simulator. Simulation testing results fully show the dynamic, static characteristics of the photovoltaic grid-connected inverter, and verify the validity of the proposed HIL simulation, modeling and testing scheme.