Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interaction between retroviral U5 RNA and the T psi C loop of the tRNA(Trp) primer is required for efficient initiation of reverse transcription

The 5' end of avian sarcoma and leukosis virus RNA near the primer binding site forms two RNA secondary structures, U5-inverted repeat (U5-IR) and U5-leader stems, which are required for efficient initiation of reverse transcription. Lying between these two secondary structures is a 7-base sequence that can anneal to the T psi C loop of the tRNA(Trp) primer. Base substitutions in U5 RNA which disrupt this potential interaction result in a defect in the initiation of reverse transcription both in vivo and in vitro. The defect can be complemented in vitro by base substitutions in the primer. The U5 RNA-T psi C interaction is also dependent upon the presence of both the U5-IR and the U5-leader structures. These RNA secondary structures and primer interactions are conserved in other type C and D retroviruses, suggesting that there is a common mechanism for the initiation of reverse transcription in all of these retroviruses.
Bis[2-({[2-(methylsulfanyl)phenyl]imino}methyl)phenolato-κ2 N,O]zinc chloroform disolvate

The monomeric title complex, [Zn(C14H12NOS)2]·2CHCl3 or L 2Zn·2CHCl3, where L is the 2-({[2-(methylsulfanyl)phenyl]imino}methyl)phenolate anion, may be obtained by the reaction of LZnEt with benzyl alcohol or by the reaction of two equivalents of LH with ZnEt2 in tetrahydrofuran. The Zn atom, located on a twofold axis, is four-coordinated in a distorted tetrahedral geometry by two O atoms [Zn—O = 1.9472 (19) Å] from the phenolate anions and two imine N atoms [Zn—N = 2.054 (2) Å].
A predictive current control for solar PV fed VSI in distribution system

A control technique based on predictive current control for a voltage source inverter fed by a solar PV system integrating to the distribution grid with Perturb and Observe (P&O) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique is presented in this paper. The proposed control is implemented for a three phase system to support the utility grid by providing the power to grid as well as to the connected loads with improved quality of power. This control approach for solar PV fed voltage source inverter (VSI) provides fast transient response and improved accuracy in control. Proposed control algorithm efficiently and continuously tracks reference current to make grid current sinusoidal in steady state and transient conditions. When the solar irradiance is available, the developed system acts as power quality conditioner and supply the PV generated power to the loads and the grid. During unavailability of sun power the system transfer the power from the grid to the load and capable to provide multidirectional power flow. Simulation for the proposed system has been carried out and results are presented.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE USE OF FERTILIZER BY SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN ZAMBIA, 1997 TO 2000

FACTORS AFFECTING THE USE OF FERTILIZER BY SMALLAND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN ZAMBIA, 1997 TO 2000 By Eric Teague Knepper Agriculture represents the main form of income for many families in rural Zambia and increasing incomes of the majority of the population is a crucial goal. The use of fertilizer is seen as an important way to improve agricultural output and productivity, and therefore incomes of rural households. Identifying characteristics of households that currently use fertilizer may lead to a better understanding of the constraints and opportunities to increasing fertilizer use. This paper uses three, nation-wide surveys to identify the factors that affect a household’s use of fertilizer. The factors analyzed include market-characteristics, household-level characteristics, and geographical-level characteristics. The paper also analyzes factors that affect the total quantity of fertilizer a household uses. The factors found to significantly increase a household’s likelihood of using fertilizer include total cropped area, ownership of farming assets, and proximity to a fertilizer depot. However, the most influential factors identified were transportation assets and level of district transportation infrastructure. These findings imply a straightforward policy response for government: improvements in transportation infrastructure may be among the most effective methods of increasing levels of fertilizer use and by extension the incomes of rural farming households. Copyright by ERIC TEAGUE KNEPPER 2002
Econometric studies of public support to entrepreneurship

Tokila, Anu Econometric studies of public support to entrepreneurship Jyväskylä: University of Jyväskylä, 2011, 157 p. (Jyväskylä Studies in Business and Economics ISSN 1457-1986; 104) ISBN 978-951-39-4383-7 (nid.), 978-951-39-4408-7 (PDF) Finnish summary Diss. The entrepreneurial capacity of an economy is regarded as a key determinant of economic growth and productivity improvements. Governments throughout the world see entrepreneurial interventions as crucial instruments for encouraging new firm formation, generating new ideas and new products, creating employment and decreasing unemployment, and enhancing competitiveness. This research examines the public support of entrepreneurship in Finland from 1988 to 2004. The studies first consider the existence of the deadweight effect. At the project level, deadweight is recognised as the degree to which projects would have been implemented even without public assistance; thus, deadweight indicates wasted public spending. If a large deadweight effect is observed, then the intervention is not efficient. Second, this research studies effectiveness (i.e., the impacts of support on outcomes) in terms of business success. Business success is measured by the survival of start-ups and the income of entrepreneurs. Together, these two aspects of public interventions are necessary to yield positive net impacts on society. The results show that start-up grants have a positive effect on the duration of self-employment. The findings show encouraging results regarding the income of entrepreneurs. Particularly high returns were found for highly educated entrepreneurs in rural areas. Furthermore, the papers show that regional business subsidies are not intended to be very efficient because relatively high levels of wasted spending are accepted ex ante by the public sector. This deadweight effect reduces the positive effects on outcomes. A rational policy must examine these two aspects together and attempt to balance the avoidance of deadweight with the pursuit of maximising net impacts.
Refractive Error and Visual Acuity Changes in Orthokeratology Patients

Purpose. To evaluate the refractive error and visual acuity (VA) at various contrast levels in the two eyes of overnight orthokeratology (ortho-k) subjects, and to compare their postortho-k VA with the best corrected VA of spectacle-wearing control subjects matched for age, gender, and initial refractive error. Methods. Distance postortho-k uncorrected and best corrected logMAR VA at four different contrast levels of 31 ortho-k (test) subjects (aged 7–35 years old) and the best corrected VA of 31 spectacle-wearing (control) subjects were measured and compared using the Waterloo Four-Contrast LogMAR VA Chart, which incorporated four sets of letters at different contrast levels: 90%, 48%, 21%, and 7%. Noncycloplegic manifest refractive error was measured in both eyes. Results. The mean ± SD percentage reductions in spherical equivalent achieved in the current study were 92% ± 11% in the better eye and 84% ± 14% in the worse eye of the test subjects. Postortho-k uncorrected VAs were significantly correlated with the residual overall blurring strength (length of the vector representing the residual refractive error) in both eyes at all contrast levels. The mean postortho-k uncorrected VA in the better eye were 0.00 ± 0.11, 0.08 ± 0.11, 0.21 ± 0.12, and 0.46 ± 0.13 with the 90%, 48%, 21%, and 7% contrast charts, respectively. These were comparable to the best corrected VA of the better eye of the control group with the 90% (–0.03 ± 0.07) and 48% contrast charts (0.03 ± 0.09), but worse than those of the control group with the 21% (0.13 ± 0.10) and 7% (0.35 ± 0.13) contrast charts. Postortho-k VA, with the four different contrast charts, improved by 0.07 to 0.12 log units in the better eye and 0.15 to 0.18 log units in the worse eye after correction of the residual refractive error; the improved VA was comparable to the best corrected VA of the control group. Conclusions. Postortho-k visual outcomes were compromised primarily due to the presence of residual refractive error. Although the uncorrected postortho-k VA was comparable to the best corrected VA of the spectacle wearers at high-contrast levels, it was worse at low-contrast levels and caused a significant between-eye difference at all contrast levels. Therefore, we suggested that monocular VA at high- and low-contrast levels should be evaluated for ortho-k patients.
Don't Tell on Me

Although most theoretical models of household decisionmaking assume perfect information, empirical studies suggest that information asymmetries can have large impacts on resource allocation. In this study, I demonstrate the importance of these asymmetries in transnational households, where physical distance between family members can make information barriers especially acute. I implement an experiment among migrants in Washington, DC and their families in El Salvador that examines how information asymmetries can have strategic and inadvertent impacts on remittance decisions. Migrants make an incentivized decision over how much of a cash windfall to remit and recipients decide how to spend a remittance. Migrants strategically send home less when their choice is not revealed to recipients but only when recipients can punish migrants for deviation from remittance agreements. Recipients make spending choices closer to migrants’ preferences when those preferences are revealed, suggesting that recipients’ choices are inadvertently affected by imperfect information.
Risk Preferences and Estimation Risk in Portfolio Choice

This paper analyzes the estimation risk of efficient portfolio selection. We use the concept of certainty equivalent as the basis for a well-defined statistical loss function and a monetary measure to assess estimation risk. For given risk preferences we provide analytical results for different sources of estimation risk such as sample size, dimension of the portfolio choice problem and correlation structure of the return process. Our results show that theoretically sub-optimal portfolio choice strategies turn out to be superior once estimation risk is taken into account. Since estimation risk crucially depends on risk preferences, the choice of the estimator for a given portfolio strategy becomes endogenous. We show that a shrinkage approach accounting for estimation risk in both, mean and covariance of the return vector, is generally superior to simple theoretically suboptimal strategies. Moreover, focusing on just one source of estimation risk, e.g. risk reduction in covariance estimation, can lead to suboptimal portfolios.
Functional effects of amino acid substitutions at residue 33 of human thymidylate synthase.

Fluorinated pyrimidines, such as 5-fluorouracil (FUra) and 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd), are cytotoxic to cells as a consequence of generation of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridylate (FdUMP), which is a mechanism-based inhibitor of the enzyme thymidylate synthase (TS). FdUMP inhibits TS via its binding into a stable inhibitory ternary complex (ITC) with the enzyme and the cosubstrate N5, N10-methylene-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate (CH2H4PteGlu). In previous studies, we identified a naturally occurring mutant form of human TS that contains a Tyr-->His substitution at residue 33 and confers relative resistance to FdUrd in both mammalian and bacterial cells. Kinetic studies indicated that the equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) for binding of FdUMP into the ITC is altered in the mutant enzyme. In the current investigation, we have examined the kinetics of FdUMP binding into covalent binary complexes, i.e., in the absence of CH2H4PteGlu. Our results showed that although the rate constants for binary FdUMP binding (i.e., kon and koff) are altered by the Tyr-->His substitution, there is no measurable effect on the overall Kd. Analysis of a number of other amino acid substitutions at residue 33 indicated that maximal enzyme accumulation and function requires a bulky, hydrophobic side chain at this site.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa GacA, a factor in multihost virulence, is also essential for biofilm formation

We have investigated a potential role for GacA, the response regulator of the GacA/GacS two‐component regulatory system, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation. When gacA was disrupted in strain PA14, a 10‐fold reduction in biofilm formation capacity resulted relative to wild‐type PA14. However, no significant difference was observed in the planktonic growth rate of PA14 gacA−. Providing gacA in trans on the multicopy vector pUCP‐gacA abrogated the biofilm formation defect. Scanning electron microscopy of biofilms formed by PA14 gacA− revealed diffuse clusters of cells that failed to aggregate into microcolonies, implying a deficit in biofilm development or surface translocation. Motility assays revealed no decrease in PA14 gacA− twitching or swimming abilities, indicating that the defect in biofilm formation is independent of flagellar‐mediated attachment and solid surface translocation by pili. Autoinducer and alginate bioassays were performed similarly, and no difference in production levels was observed, indicating that this is not merely an upstream effect on either quorum sensing or alginate production. Antibiotic susceptibility profiling demonstrated that PA14 gacA− biofilms have moderately decreased resistance to a range of antibiotics relative to PA14 wild type. This study establishes GacA as a new and independent regulatory element in P. aeruginosa biofilm formation.
Lipopolysaccharidelike immunological properties of cell wall glycoproteins isolated from Cytophaga johnsonae

Glycoproteins (GP) previously shown to be involved in the gliding motility of Cytophaga johnsonae were examined for biological activities characteristic of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). These integral membrane proteins activated 70Z/3 pre-B cells to synthesize immunoglobulin M, induced B cells to synthesize non-antigen-specific polyclonal immunoglobulin, induced macrophages to produce tumor necrosis factor, and modulated the antibody response to type III pneumococcal polysaccharide in the absence of thymus-derived (T) lymphocytes. Except for the GP activity in the 70Z/3 assay, all activities of the GP were comparable to or greater than those of LPS. No LPS was detected in the preparations of GP used or in the phenol-water extracts of C. johnsonae. The mechanism by which these GP exerted their biological activities was distinct from that of LPS, since LPS-resistant C3H/HeJ mice responded to GP. Furthermore, biologically inactive diphosphoryl lipid A obtained from nontoxic LPS of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides (an analog of toxic lipid A), which is an antagonist of LPS, did not block the induction of tumor necrosis factor by GP in macrophages. These results showed that the cell surface GP from C. johnsonae are potent LPS-like activators of B cells and macrophages. We suggest that these GP might be good candidates for use in developing an effective adjuvant system.
ANALYSIS OF INDIVIDUAL RABBIT OLFACTORY BULB NEURON RESPONSES TO THE MICROELECTROPHORESIS OF ACETYLCHOLINE, NOREPINEPHRINE AND SEROTONIN SYNERGISTS AND ANTAGONISTS.

The reduction of spontaneous discharge rate of olfactory neurons by electrophoretic administrations of ACh, NE or 5-HT to individual nerve cells has been investigated in unanesthetized rabbits. Electrophoretic administration of dihydro-β-erythroidine, atropine, hexamethonium and chlorisondamine to ACh-sensitive units, blocked their response to ACh. Physostigmine prolonged the duration of the ACh response. Dihydro-β-erythroidine specifically blocked the effects of ACh, but not of NE or 5-HT administration. Both the ACh blocking agents and physostigmine temporarily suppressed discharge rate regardless of ACh responsiveness. Electrophoretic administration of NE and 5-HT always resulted in slowing of the unit’s spontaneous discharge. Similar responses were seen after administration of tyramine and metaraminol. Dibenamine and phentolamine specifically blocked NE responses and did not interfere with the responses of 5-HT. LSD-25 and BOL-148 did interfere with responses to 5-HT, but never without prior or concurrent blockade of responses to NE. The spontaneous discharge rate was at times increased after the unit’s response to NE was blocked by Dibenamine. The ability of ACh, NE or 5-HT to slow spontaneous discharge rate was qualitatively unchanged 4 hours after local administration or intravenous injections of reserpine or 7 to 11 days after intravenous injection of α-MMT, suggesting that the amines are not dependent for their effect upon intact brain stores of NE, 5-HT or dopamine. In α-MMT treated rabbits, the effect of tyramine was not apparent until after electrophoresis of NE.
Nod1 and Nod2 Are Expressed in Human and Murine Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells and Participate in Renal Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (Nod) 1 and Nod2 are members of a family of intracellular innate sensors that participate in innate immune responses to pathogens and molecules released during the course of tissue injury, including injury induced by ischemia. Ischemic injury to the kidney is characterized by renal tubular epithelial apoptosis and inflammation. Among the best studied intracellular innate immune receptors known to contribute to apoptosis and inflammation are Nod1 and Nod2. Our study compared and contrasted the effects of renal ischemia in wild-type mice and mice deficient in Nod1, Nod2, Nod(1 × 2), and in their downstream signaling molecule receptor-interacting protein 2. We found that Nod1 and Nod2 were present in renal tubular epithelial cells in both mouse and human kidneys and that the absence of these receptors in mice resulted in protection from kidney ischemia reperfusion injury. Significant protection from kidney injury was seen with a deficiency of Nod2 and receptor-interacting protein 2, and the simultaneous deficiency of Nod1 and Nod2 provided even greater protection. We conclude that the intracellular sensors Nod1 and Nod2 play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute ischemic injury of the kidney, although possibly through different mechanisms.
Type II Topoisomerase Mutations in Ciprofloxacin-Resistant Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ABSTRACT We determined the sequences of the quinolone resistance-determining regions of gyrA, gyrB, and parCgenes for 30 clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosaresistant to ciprofloxacin that were previously complemented by wild-type gyrA and gyrB plasmid-borne alleles and studied for their coresistance to imipenem (E. Cambau, E. Perani, C. Dib, C. Petinon, J. Trias, and V. Jarlier, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 39:2248–2252, 1995). In the present study, we found mutations in type II topoisomerase genes for all strains. Twenty-eight strains had a missense mutation in gyrA (codon 83 or 87). Ten of them had an additional mutation in parC(codon 80 or 84), including a novel mutation of Ser-80 to Trp, but all were fully complemented by a plasmid-borne wild-type gyrAallele. The remaining two strains harbored the first gyrBmutation described in P. aeruginosa, leading to the substitution of phenylalanine for serine 464. The strains which had two mutations in type II topoisomerase genes (i.e.,gyrA and parC) were significantly more resistant to fluoroquinolones than those with a single mutation ingyrA or gyrB (geometric mean MICs of ciprofloxacin, 39.4 versus 10.9 μg/ml, P < 0.01; geometric mean MICs of sparfloxacin, 64.0 versus 22.6,P < 0.01). No mutant with a parC mutation alone was observed, which favors DNA gyrase being the primary target for fluoroquinolones. These results demonstrate that gyrAmutations are the major mechanism of resistance to fluoroquinolones for clinical strains of P. aeruginosa and that additional mutations in parC lead to a higher level of quinolone resistance.
Equatives and Deferred Reference

Previous accounts of DEFERRED REFERENCE (e.g. Nunberg 1995) have argued that all (nonostensive) deferred reference is the result of MEANING TRANSFER, a shift in the sense of a nominal or predicate expression. An analysis of deferred equatives (I'm the pad thai) suggests an alternative account based on the notion of PRAGMATIC MAPPING: a contextually licensed mapping operation between (sets of) discourse entities, neither of which undergoes a transfer of meaning. Moreover, the use of a deferred equative requires the presence of a contextually licensed OPEN PROPOSITION whose instantiation encodes the particular mapping between entities, both of which remain accessible to varying degrees within the discourse model. Finally, it is shown how a complete account of deferred reference must provide for transfers of reference as well as sense.
Structure and dynamics in solution of the stop codon decoding N‐terminal domain of the human polypeptide chain release factor eRF1

The high‐resolution NMR structure of the N‐domain of human eRF1, responsible for stop codon recognition, has been determined in solution. The overall fold of the protein is the same as that found in the crystal structure. However, the structures of several loops, including those participating in stop codon decoding, are different. Analysis of the NMR relaxation data reveals that most of the regions with the highest structural discrepancy between the solution and solid states undergo internal motions on the ps–ns and ms time scales. The NMR data show that the N‐domain of human eRF1 exists in two conformational states. The distribution of the residues having the largest chemical shift differences between the two forms indicates that helices α2 and α3, with the NIKS loop between them, can switch their orientation relative to the β‐core of the protein. Such structural plasticity may be essential for stop codon recognition by human eRF1.