Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Overlapping Environmental and Financial Regulations: The Role of Corporate Governance

We study the question of whether good corporate governance improves environmental performance. The relationship between governance and environmental performance may depend on the interaction between financial and environmental regulations. To measure these relationships, we develop a unique new panel dataset that matches individual U.S. coal-fired power plant characteristics and emissions rates to the financial information on their corporate parents. We exploit predetermined variation in corporate governance quality prior to the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act—a major federal financial regulation that increased transparency between shareholders and managers—to study the effect of governance improvements on subsequent emissions rates of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx). We find that the effect of corporate governance on emissions rates differs across environmental regulatory regimes; improvements in corporate governance reduce emissions rates in areas where NOx emissions are managed by cap-and-trade, but do not affect emissions rates under emissions rate standards. We also find that effects on emissions rates are heterogeneous across different dimensions of governance; increasing CEO accountability causes emissions rates to increase, while increasing shareholder rights has the opposite effect.
Telesurveillance of elderly patients by use of passive infra-red sensors in a 'smart' room

We have developed an automated surveillance system based on passive infra-red sensors. Eight sensors were installed in a hospital room. A computer automatically captured data from the sensors every night from 21:00 until 06:00 the following morning. The sensors were polled twice per second and when a sensor was activated by movement, the event and time were recorded in a data file. At the end of the surveillance period the program analysed the data and generated a report showing the activities taking place in the room and their times. Four elderly patients were observed for a total of 97 nights. A total of 1637 possible sequences of movements by the patient and the hospital staff were detected. The computer was able to identify 1450 sequences (89%) correctly, in comparison with manual analysis. Only 10 movements (0.6%) were undetected by the system; all were very short sequences (five or six activations of the sensors). The system was generally capable of detecting and classifying all major movements in the room.
Identification of Disubstituted Sulfonamide Compounds as Specific Inhibitors of Hepatitis B Virus Covalently Closed Circular DNA Formation

ABSTRACT Hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) plays a central role in viral infection and persistence and is the basis for viral rebound after the cessation of therapy, as well as the elusiveness of a cure even after extended treatment. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of novel therapeutic agents that directly target cccDNA formation and maintenance. By employing an innovative cell-based cccDNA assay in which secreted HBV e antigen is a cccDNA-dependent surrogate, we screened an in-house small-molecule library consisting of 85,000 drug-like compounds. Two structurally related disubstituted sulfonamides (DSS), termed CCC-0975 and CCC-0346, emerged and were confirmed as inhibitors of cccDNA production, with low micromolar 50% effective concentrations (EC50s) in cell culture. Further mechanistic studies demonstrated that DSS compound treatment neither directly inhibited HBV DNA replication in cell culture nor reduced viral polymerase activity in the in vitro endogenous polymerase assay but synchronously reduced the levels of HBV cccDNA and its putative precursor, deproteinized relaxed circular DNA (DP-rcDNA). However, DSS compounds did not promote the intracellular decay of HBV DP-rcDNA and cccDNA, suggesting that the compounds interfere primarily with rcDNA conversion into cccDNA. In addition, we demonstrated that CCC-0975 was able to reduce cccDNA biosynthesis in duck HBV-infected primary duck hepatocytes. This is the first attempt, to our knowledge, to identify small molecules that target cccDNA formation, and DSS compounds thus potentially serve as proof-of-concept drug candidates for development into therapeutics to eliminate cccDNA from chronic HBV infection.
Integrating BES in the wastewater and sludge treatment line

Traditionally, wastewater treatment has been a combination of physical, biological, and chemical treatment methods. Physical methods of treatment include settling and sand filtration, biological methods include aerobic activated sludge, denitrification, and anaerobic digester treatment systems, while chemical methods include phosphate removal, dye and endocrine disruptor removal, and disinfection systems. All of these methods have been adopted and optimized to
Brands as Beacons: A New Source of Loyalty to Multiproduct Firms

This study provides evidence that a multiproduct firm's portfolio of products affects consumer purchase decisions about each of the firm's products. The authors present a theory that explains this empirical regularity. The theory involves revising the information set of consumers to include the profile of multiproduct firms. The authors show that revision of the information set in this way introduces a new source of consumer loyalty and explains interesting empirical regularities in consumer behavior. For example, consumers are loyal to a multiproduct firm even when it does not offer a product that matches their preferences better than a product of competing firms. The authors estimate the model and test its implications using panel data on television viewing choices. The estimated model also allows for state-dependence parameters and unobserved heterogeneity. The empirical results support the model and its implications. The model offers a parsimonious framework for brand-extension strategies and maps new channels of spillovers in a multiproduct firm.
A combined method for Persian and Arabic handwritten digit recognition

A method for recognition of unconstrained Persian and Arabic handwritten digits is introduced. In the proposed algorithm, after thinning the binary image of the digit, the character matrix is divided into several segments. Each segment is scanned by a vertical and a horizontal raster to find the number of crossings between the raster lines and the character body. The resulting feature vector, which has a length of 10, is applied to a multilayer perceptron (MLP) trained by the backpropagation learning technique. The rate of correct classification using the MLP was 81%. The recognition rate of the system was then increased by combining the output of the neural network classifier with the output of simple classifiers which are specially designed to distinguish between similar digits. The combination of these classifiers with the MLP increased the recognition rate of the system to 92%.
Design and Implementation of an External Quality Assessment Program for HIV Viral Load Measurements Using Dried Blood Spots

ABSTRACT An external quality assurance program was developed for HIV-1 RNA viral load measurements taken from dried blood spots using a reference panel and field-collected specimens. The program demonstrated that accurate and reproducible quantitation can be obtained from field-collected specimens. Residual proviral DNA may confound interpretation in virologically suppressed subjects.
Platelet Size and Volume Distribution Measured by Automated Platelet Analyzer

Thirty migraine without aura patients between attacks, 10 other during a migraine without aura attack and 30 normal subjects without headache were studied for platelet size and volume distribution using a new quantitative automated hematology analyzer (Coulter STKS). Platelet histograms, platelet counts and mean platelet volume were not significantly different in the three populations.
An overall evaluation of the Resistance (R) and Pathogenesis-Related (PR) superfamilies in soybean, as compared with Medicago and Arabidopsis

Plants have the ability to recognize and respond to a multitude of pathogens, resulting in a massive reprogramming of the plant to activate defense responses including Resistance (R) and Pathogenesis-Related (PR) genes. Abiotic stresses can also activate PR genes and enhance pathogen resistance, representing valuable genes for breeding purposes. The present work offers an overview of soybean R and PR genes present in the GENOSOJA (Brazilian Soybean Genome Consortium) platform, regarding their structure, abundance, evolution and role in the plant-pathogen metabolic pathway, as compared with Medicago and Arabidopsis. Searches revealed 3,065 R candidates (756 in Soybean, 1,142 in Medicago and 1,167 in Arabidopsis), and PR candidates matching to 1,261 sequences (310, 585 and 366 for the three species, respectively). The identified transcripts were also evaluated regarding their expression pattern in 65 libraries, showing prevalence in seeds and developing tissues. Upon consulting the SuperSAGE libraries, 1,072 R and 481 PR tags were identified in association with the different libraries. Multiple alignments were generated for Xa21 and PR-2 genes, allowing inferences about their evolution. The results revealed interesting insights regarding the variability and complexity of defense genes in soybean, as compared with Medicago and Arabidopsis.
Placebo response in clinical trials of depression and its implications for research on chronic neuropathic pain

This article reviews studies of the placebo response in antidepressant clinical trials, describes methods that have been attempted to decrease it, and discusses implications of the placebo response in depression for research on treatments for neuropathic pain. Literature reviews and research studies examining the placebo response in clinical trials of treatments for depression were reviewed. Existing data suggest that the placebo response in antidepressant clinical trials is substantial and that a high placebo response in a clinical trial is associated with a reduced likelihood of demonstrating the statistical superiority of antidepressant treatment vs. placebo. Attempts to decrease the placebo response in antidepressant clinical trials have generally not been effective. In addition, there is little evidence that decreasing the placebo response rate makes it more likely that superiority of active vs. placebo treatment will be demonstrated. Analyses of neuropathic pain clinical trial databases should be conducted to examine factors associated with trial outcomes. Aspects of neuropathic pain clinical trials that require further consideration or investigation include the following: (a) exclusion of patients with mild pain severity; (b) exclusion of patients with short episode duration; (c) maximizing reliability, validity, and responsiveness of outcome measures; (d) minimizing extraneous contact with investigative staff and other sources of nonspecific therapeutic effects; (e) trial duration; (f) minimizing the number of treatment groups; (g) flexible vs. fixed dose designs; (h) strategies for identifying patients and accelerating enrollment; (i) identification of run-in periods that reduce the placebo response rate; and (j) registration of clinical trials and publication of negative studies.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN MEMBRANE-BASED SEPARATIONS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY PROCESSES: REVIEW

Membrane-based separations are the most ubiquitous unit operations in biotech processes. There are several key reasons for this. First, they can be used with a large variety of applications including clarification, concentration, buffer exchange, purification, and sterilization. Second, they are available in a variety of formats, such as depth filtration, ultrafiltration, diafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and microfiltration. Third, they are simple to operate and are generally robust toward normal variations in feed material and operating parameters. Fourth, membrane-based separations typically require lower capital cost when compared to other processing options. As a result of these advantages, a typical biotech process has anywhere from 10 to 20 membrane-based separation steps. In this article we review the major developments that have occurred on this topic with a focus on developments in the last 5 years.
Initialization of Recurrent Networks Using Fourier Analysis

Time-Delayed recurrent neural network models preserve information through time and are more powerful than the static feedforward networks, especially in dynamic problems. At present, recurrent networks are mostly formulated as nonlinear autoregression models [4] when applied to time series prediction problem. In this paper, we use a novel approach to interpret the recurrent networks. We build the linkage between Fourier analysis and recurrent networks. The major advantage of our method is that it provides a means to initialize the weights. This initialization signi cantly shortens the training time.
Methylation-Mediated Proviral Silencing Is Associated with MeCP2 Recruitment and Localized Histone H3 Deacetylation

ABSTRACT The majority of 5-methylcytosine in mammalian DNA resides in endogenous transposable elements and is associated with the transcriptional silencing of these parasitic elements. Methylation also plays an important role in the silencing of exogenous retroviruses. One of the difficulties inherent in the study of proviral silencing is that the sites in which proviruses randomly integrate influence the probability of de novo methylation and expression. In order to compare methylated and unmethylated proviruses at the same genomic site, we used a recombinase-based targeting approach to introduce an in vitro methylated or unmethylated Moloney murine leukemia-based provirus in MEL cells. The methylated and unmethylated states are maintained in vivo, with the exception of the initially methylated proviral enhancer, which becomes demethylated in vivo. Although the enhancer is unmethylated and remodeled, the methylated provirus is transcriptionally silent. To further analyze the repressed state, histone acetylation status was determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analyses, which revealed that localized histone H3 but not histone H4 hyperacetylation is inversely correlated with proviral methylation density. Since members of the methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) family of proteins recruit histone deacetylase activity, these proteins may play a role in proviral repression. Interestingly, only MBD3 and MeCP2 are expressed in MEL cells. ChIPs with antibodies specific for these proteins revealed that only MeCP2 associates with the provirus in a methylation-dependent manner. Taken together, our results suggest that MeCP2 recruitment to a methylated provirus is sufficient for transcriptional silencing, despite the presence of a remodeled enhancer.
Finger arterial versus intrabrachial pressure and continuous cardiac output during head-up tilt testing in healthy subjects.

1. The aims of this study were to determine the clinical feasibility of continuous, non-invasive Finapres recordings as a replacement for intrabrachial pressure during a 30 min head-up tilt, and the reliability of continuous cardiac output computation by pulse contour analysis from the finger arterial versus the brachial waveform. 2. In eight healthy subjects a 30 min 70 degrees passive head-up tilt was performed. Finger arterial (FINAP) and intrabrachial (IAP) pressures were measured simultaneously. Beat-to-beat changes in stroke volume were computed using a pulse contour algorithm. 3. Accuracy (the group-averaged FINAP-IAP difference) and precision (the SD of the difference) of Finapres measurements were 4 and 9 mmHg for systolic blood pressure, -5 and 9 mmHg for mean blood pressure and -5 and 9mmHg for diastolic blood pressure. 4. The time course of the FINAP-IAP differences during head-up tilt showed a linear trend (P < 0.001 for all pressure levels). Averaged for the group, the difference increased 7 mmHg for mean blood pressure. The difference in stroke volume computed from FINAP and IAP was 0.3 +/- 5% (mean +/- SD), and independent of the duration of the tilt (P > 0.05). This difference did not change at low blood pressure levels (0.5 +/- 6%). 5. The qualitative performance of the Finapres allows it to be used in the clinical setting as a monitor of sudden changes in blood pressure induced by a 30 min head-up tilt. Relative changes in stroke volume, as obtained by pulse contour analysis of the finger arterial waveform, closely follow intrabrachial values during long-duration head-up tilt and associated arterial hypotension.
Determining the direction of vestibular‐evoked balance responses using stochastic vestibular stimulation

As a tool for investigating vestibulo‐motor function, stochastic vestibular stimulation (SVS) has some advantages over galvanic vestibular stimulation. However, there is no technique currently available for extracting direction information from SVS‐evoked motor responses. It is essential to be able to measure the direction of response if one wishes to investigate the operation of key spatial transformation processes in the brain. Here we describe and validate a technique for determining the direction of SVS‐evoked balance responses based on the correlation between a random waveform of stimulating current and ground‐reaction shear force.
Hybrid Parameter-Varying Model Predictive Control for lateral vehicle stabilization

In this paper the concept of Hybrid Parameter-Varying Model Predictive Control (HPV-MPC) is applied for lateral vehicle stabilization. Parameter-varying in the MPC context means that a prediction model with non-constant, parameter-varying system matrices is employed. In the investigated scenario, the displacement of a car on an icy road under a side wind gust shall be mitigated. In order to explore a possible reduction of online computations and the inherent degradation of control performance, the nonlinear model of the lateral dynamics is approximated in various ways. A comparison between controllers using prediction models varying from the full nonlinear model, as an indication for the maximal achievable performance, to a linear model has been performed. Particular emphasis was put on the hybrid parameter-varying prediction model, to investigate their potential in terms of computational effort and control performance.
Talin1 Regulates TCR-Mediated LFA-1 Function1

The leukocyte integrin LFA-1 plays a critical role in T cell trafficking and T cell adhesion to APCs. It is known that integrin-mediated adhesion is regulated by changes in integrin ligand-binding affinity and valency through inside-out signaling. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in TCR-mediated LFA-1 regulation are not well understood. In this study, we show that the cytoskeletal protein talin1 is required for TCR-mediated activation of LFA-1 through regulation of LFA-1 affinity and clustering. Depletion of talin1 from human T cells by small interfering RNAs impairs TCR-induced adhesion to ICAM-1 and T cell-APC conjugation. TCR-induced LFA-1 polarization, but not actin polarization, is defective in talin1-deficient T cells. Although LFA-1 affinity is also reduced in talin1-deficient T cells, rescue of LFA-1 affinity alone is not sufficient to restore LFA-1 adhesive function. Together, our findings indicate that TCR-induced up-regulation of LFA-1-dependent adhesiveness and resulting T cell-APC conjugation require talin1.
Title Role of Diastolic Properties in the Transition to Failure in a Mouse Model of Cardiac Dilatation

Although the physiological states of hypertrophic remodeling and congestive heart failure have been intensively studied, less is known about the transition from one to the other. The use of genetically engineered murine models of heart failure has proven valuable in characterizing the progression of remodeling and its ultimate decompensation to failure. Mice deficient in the cytoskeletal muscle LIM-only protein are known to present with a clinical picture of dilated cardiomyopathy and transition to failure as adults. Longitudinal high field MR cardiac imaging provided a time course of remodeling where an improvement in ejection fraction and stroke volume (15wk vs. 31wk MLP: P<0.0001) was temporally concurrent with an abrupt phase of enddiastolic chamber dilatation. Hemodynamic analysis conducted throughout that dilatation phase showed improved dP/dtmax/EDP (15wk vs. 31wk MLP : P<0.0005), dP/dtmin/EDP (15wk vs. 31wk MLP: P<0.003) and developed pressure (15wk vs. 31wk MLP: P<0.0001) levels in the MLP. Computational modeling techniques were used to estimate the end diastolic pressure volume relationship revealing that, although MLP hearts possess a stiffer stress-strain relation, chamber compliance increased as a function of dilatation. This detailed physiological characterization during a phase of rapid anatomical remodeling suggests that systolic function in the MLP may temporarily improve as a result of alterations in chamber compliance, which are mediated by dilatation. In turn, a balance may exist between exploiting the Frank Starling mechanism and altering chamber compliance that maintains function in the absence of hypertrophic growth. Though initially compensatory, this process may exhaust itself and consequently transition to a maladaptive course.
Determination of Human Insulin in Pharmaceutical Preparation by Zero, First and Second Order Derivative Spectrophotometric Methods

Zero, first and second order derivative spectrophot ometric methods were developed for the determination of insulin. The standard solutions and pharmaceutical sample were p repared in 0.01 M HCl. Absorbences of insulin were measured at 276 nm for the zero order by measuring height of pe ak from zero, at 264, 277 and 284 nm for the first order and at 277, 280, 283 and 289 nm for second order derivative spe ctrophotometric method by measuring peak to peak height. The type of solvent, the degree of deviation and range of wavel ength were chosen in order to optimize the conditio ns. The linearity ranges were found to be 5.0-70 µg mL -1 for the zero, first and second order derivative spe ctrophotometric methods. The detection and quantitation limits were found to be 2.0 µg mL -1 & 3.0 µg mL -1 for the zero order, 3.0 µg mL -1 & 4.0 µg mL -1 for first and second order derivative spectrophotom etric methods, respectively. The developed zero, fi rst and second order derivative spectrophotometric methods in this study are accurate, sensitive, precise, and reproducible and can be directly and easily applied to the pharmaceutical preparatio n. In addition, the results obtained from three der ivative spectrophotometric methods were compared and no significant difference was found statistically.
Enhanced monocyte migration and pro-inflammatory cytokine production by Porphyromonas gingivalis infection.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major periodontal pathogen, has been reported to be involved in atherogenesis. In order to further understand this pathogen's link with systemic inflammation and vascular disease, we investigated its influence on murine monocytes and macrophages from three different sources. MATERIAL AND METHODS Concanavalin A-elicited peritoneal macrophages, peripheral blood monocyte-derived macrophages and WEHI 274.1 monocytes were infected with either P. gingivalis 381 or its non-invasive fimbriae-deficient mutant, DPG3. RESULTS Infection with P. gingivalis 381 markedly induced monocyte migration and significantly enhanced production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6. Consistent with a role for this pathogen's major fimbriae and/or its invasive capacity, infection with DPG3 had a minimal effect on both monocyte attraction and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. CONCLUSION Since monocyte recruitment and activation are important steps in the development of vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis, these results suggest that P. gingivalis infection may be involved in these processes.