Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Application of the discrete dipole approximation to very large refractive indices : Filtered coupled dipoles revived

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Identification of a new non-major histocompatibility complex genetic locus on chromosome 2 that controls disease severity in collagen-induced arthritis in rats.

OBJECTIVE To identify novel non-major histocompatibility complex (non-MHC) genetic loci controlling the severity of homologous rat type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). METHODS We conducted a genome-wide scan to identify CIA regulatory quantitative trait loci (QTL) in an F2 cross between DA (CIA highly susceptible) and ACI (CIA resistant) inbred rats immunized with homologous rat type II collagen (RII). These strains share the MHC/RT1av1 haplotype required for susceptibility to RII-induced CIA. RESULTS F2 females had higher median arthritis scores than did males. Relative resistance in the males was determined by inheriting either a DA or an ACI Y chromosome and was independent of the source of the X chromosome. In addition, a major QTL was localized on chromosome 2 (Cia7, logarithm of odds score 4.6). Cia7 is in a region that shows linkage conservation with chromosomal regions that regulate autoimmune diabetes and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice and multiple sclerosis in humans. CONCLUSION Sex chromosomes and Cia7 play an important role in regulating CIA in response to RII. This rat model should facilitate positional cloning and functional characterization of regulatory genes that may play a role in several forms of autoimmune disease, including rheumatoid arthritis.
The Value of Neuroscience Strategies to Accelerate Progress in Psychological Treatment Research

Major findings from the past 55 years of psychological treatment research indicate that 3 questions are now pivotal to continued practice-relevant progress: What is the nature of the problem(s) to be treated? What are the causal change mechanisms of efficacious psychological treatments? Can more efficient and broadly effective psychological treatments be developed? Contemporary cognitive, affective, and behavioural neurosciences offer particularly promising resources for psychological treatment research that can help accelerate progress regarding these questions. This article explains why the questions are pivotal and presents neuroscience findings to illustrate how progress can be made on each one and for diverse problems and disorders such as major depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, drug addiction, and regulation of negative affect.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Genotype 4 Hepatitis E Virus Strain Prevalent in Swine in Jiangsu Province, China, Reveals a Close Relationship with That from the Human Population in This Area

ABSTRACT Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic pathogen of which several species of animal were reported as reservoirs. Swine stands out as the major reservoir for HEV infection in humans, as suggested by the close genetic relationship of swine and human viruses. In a previous study, we sequenced the complete genome of a human genotype 4 HEV strain (HM439284) that is prevalent in Jiangsu Province, China. Here we report the complete genome of one genotype 4 HEV strain which is prevalent in swine herds in Jiangsu Province. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the swine HEV strain in the present study has high sequence homology (>92%) with the genotype 4 HEV strains prevalent in the human population of Jiangsu Province. These results suggested that the genotype 4 HEV strain in the present study is involved in cross-species transmission between swine and humans in this area.
The Relationship Between ‘Higher Education and Training’ and ‘Business Sophistication’

Economics of education which investigates economic issues related to education - presents a framework which leads to better schedules and policy-making. On the other hand, the concept of competitiveness has drawn increasing attention of both scholars and governors in the past decade. The World Economic Forum (WEF) has published Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) in order to measure national competitiveness. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the interaction between the two sets of ‘Higher Education and Training’ (One of the pillars of GCI) and ‘Business sophistication’ both of which have been addressed by education of economics and not been profoundly investigated. To achieve the research aims, a descriptive correlational study has been used. The sample is 144 countries whose data were included in 2014-2015 report. Moreover, a canonical correlation analysis (CCA) has been employed to investigate the interaction between two sets of ‘Higher education and training’ and ‘Business sophistication’. The findings of the research revealed that a significant and positive relationship between two sets and more than 77.85% of changes in ‘Business sophistication’ can be predicted by changes in ‘Higher education and training’. In ‘Higher education and training’ sub-indexes ‘Local availability of research and training services’, ‘Extent of staff training’, ‘Internet access in schools’, and ‘Quality of management schools’ had the highest effect in creating this relationship.
Agent-based Persuasive Route Recommendation for Public Goods

Over many decades, the transport sector has played a significant role in contributing to economic growth. Unfortunately, this sector has not only provided positive effects, but also has produced a number of negative impacts on society. These impacts are known as the external costs, and include traffic pollution, congestion and accident costs. Transport users rarely take these costs into consideration when they make travel decisions. As a result, the number of external costs is growing and is likely to continue to increase in parallel with the increase of urban mobility. This thesis proposes a novel recommendation system, known as the Agent-based Public-Friendly Route Recommendation (APF2R). The APF2R can help commuters make green, safe and less congested travel decisions, while supporting society to mitigate the external costs. A novel persuasive reward algorithm is introduced, which can be used by other researchers to balance two conflicted parties. This study demonstrates an agent-based model, which was used to evaluate the persuasiveness of recommendation systems. The result of the proposed system shows potential in addressing the problem of external costs. An analysis of the experimental results undertaken here, captures the evolution of the distance of users’ ranks. These results indicate a means of persuasion in connection with behavioural change.
Biosynthesis of FVIII in megakaryocytic cells: improved production and biochemical characterization

Haemophilia A is an attractive target for gene therapy. We designed a haemophilia A gene therapy strategy involving the genetic modification of haematopoietic stem cells to achieve tissue‐specific expression of a factor VIII (FVIII) transgene in the megakaryocytic lineage. Platelets would then serve as vehicles to store the expressed FVIII and deliver the coagulation factor at the site of vascular injury. A local correction of the haemostasis defect could, therefore, be expected following platelet activation and secretion. In this study, we demonstrated that a model of haematopoietic cell lines (Dami cells) could produce a correctly processed FVIII. FVIII transgenes were placed under the control of the human platelet glycoprotein IIb (GPIIb) promoter and used for stable transfection of the Dami megakaryocytic cell line. The highest FVIII production was obtained when the FVIII transgene contained a factor IX intron 1 gene sequence inserted in the FVIII intron 1 and 13 sites. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that the splicing of these introns was complete. Recombinant FVIII (rFVIII) produced in Dami cells was a biologically active molecule (specific activity: 5664 IU/mg) that was correctly glycosylated and sulphated. This recombinant FVIII protein exhibited biochemical characteristics after deglycosylation or thrombin activation that were comparable to a commercially available B‐domainless rFVIII. These results demonstrate the advantages of a modified FVIII transgene and represent the first biochemical characterization of megakaryocyte‐produced FVIII.
X‐ray structure of Danio rerio secretagogin: A hexa‐EF‐hand calcium sensor

Many essential physiological processes are regulated by the modulation of calcium concentration in the cell. The EF‐hand proteins represent a superfamily of calcium‐binding proteins involved in calcium signaling and homeostasis. Secretagogin is a hexa‐EF‐hand protein that is highly expressed in pancreatic islet of Langerhans and neuroendocrine cells and may play a role in the trafficking of secretory granules. We present the X‐ray structure of Danio rerio secretagogin, which is 73% identical to human secretagogin, in calcium‐free form at 2.1‐Å resolution. Secretagogin consists of the three globular domains each of which contains a pair of EF‐hand motifs. The domains are arranged into a V‐shaped molecule with a distinct groove formed at the interface of the domains. Comparison of the secretagogin structure with the solution structure of calcium‐loaded calbindin D28K revealed a striking difference in the spatial arrangement of their domains, which involves ∼180° rotation of the first globular domain with respect to the module formed by the remaining domains. Proteins 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Framework for Assessing Consumer Satisfaction With Credence-Based Services: A Cognitive Script Approach.

TWO LITERATURE REVIEW . 19 SATISFACTION THEORY . 19 Expectations . 19 Performance.2 0 Disconfirmation . 20 Satisfaction . 20 Research Supporting the Disconfirmation Model22 Service Satisfaction . 25 Commentary on the Satisfaction Literature . 28 CONSUMERS' COGNITIVE SCRIPTS . 3 0 What Are Scripts? 3 0 How Do We Form Scripts? 3 2 What Triggers Our Use of Scripts? 3 3 Consumer Advantages of Using Scripts . 35 Scripts' Use in Marketing. 37 Script Methodology . 39 Script-Based Service Expectations . : . 42 CORRESPONDENT INFERENCE THEORY . 44 Research Supporting Correspondent Inference T h e o r y . 4 7 A THEORETICAL MODEL . 49 Previous Research . 4 9 Performance. 55 Disconfirmation . 57 Provider Affect . 57 General Affect . 58 Satisfaction . 58 Repeat Patronage Intention . 59 Correspondent Inference and Affect . 59 Correspondent Inference and Satisfaction . 60
Interferon-γ-induced inhibition of neuronal vesicular stomatitis virus infection is STAT1 dependent

In this report, the signaling pathways utilized by interferon (IFN)-γ in neurons and their respective roles in the inhibition of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) replication were studied. The authors have previously shown that IFN-γ treatment of NB41A3 neuroblastoma cells results in a 2-log inhibition of VSV production. This inhibition of VSV replication is dependent both in vitro and in vivo on nitric oxide (NO) production by NO synthase (NOS)-1. In NB41A3 neuroblastoma cells, IFN-γ was found to induce the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) STAT1 phosphorylation, interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-1 expression, and p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation; MAPK, however, was not required for inhibition of viral replication. Using olfactory bulb—enriched primary neuronal cultures, the inhibition of VSV replication was found to be STAT1 dependent, but did not require IRF-1.
User Acceptance of the Human Resource Information System: A Study of a Private Hospital in Malaysia

Technological acceptance and usage is a critical concern as substantial investments are made implementing new information systems (IS). Ipoh Specialist Hospital (ISH) adopted the human resource IS (HRIS) to better manage its HR functions. Nonetheless, low usage levels have alerted top management that the system may have failed its intended purpose. Thus, this study aims to understand the underlying factors that influence user acceptance of the HRIS at the hospital. Using the technological acceptance model (TAM), we found relations between the following TAM constructs: (1) Perceived ease of use, (2) perceived usefulness, (3) information quality, (4) social influence and (5) user satisfaction with system usage. Data from 267 users of the HRIS at ISH show that usage is influenced by perceived ease of use, information quality and social influence towards the system. Surprisingly, perceived usefulness was found to be inversely related to usage. Lastly, system usage was found to influence user satisfaction rather than the other way around. Our findings support management’s wariness about the lack of acceptance of the HRIS at ISH. Our study bridges a gap in the HR management literature and contributes to the application of the TAM in the context of Malaysian healthcare environment, which has thus far been scarce.
CID,ETD and HCD Fragmentation to Study Protein Post-Translational Modifications

Copyright: © 2013 Quan L. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Gas phase biomolecule-ion chemistry has played a crucial role in mass spectrometry (MS) based proteomics study. The key step generating the structure information of a protein or a peptide is by ion dissociation or transformation to the characteristic tandem mass spectrometry spectra (MS2) fragmentation patterns. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) is the most widely applied fragmentation method for proteome identification and quantification analysis. Under CID condition, the peptide/protein precursor ion undergoes one or more collisions by interactions with neutral gas molecules, contributing to vibrational energy which will redistribute over the peptide/protein ion. The vibrational energy can result in ion dissociation occurring at amide bonds along the peptide backbone, generating band y-type fragment ions or leading to losses of small neutral molecules, such as water and/ or ammonia or other fragments derived from side chains [1].
Statistical Approach to Longitudinal Retrospective Study with Over 1,000 Participants Shows Main Predictors of Cardiovascular Disease for Angioplasty

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of death in the population. According to data from the World Health Organization of 2016, of the 20.8 million deaths from these diseases, 9.2 million occur due to atherosclerotic coronary disease (ACD) [1]. ACD is the most common cause of mortality in developed countries [1,2]. Comparing Brazilian patients with stable ACD from 40 to 75 years per 1,000 inhabitants with those from European countries, it is noted that Brazil (58.4 %) is surpassed only by England (59.0 %) and Spain (81.5 %) [3,4]. This disease is the leading cause of death in some South American countries, such as Argentina (12.0 %), Bolivia (11.0 %) and Ecuador (8.0 %). In Brazil, it is responsible for large numbers of deaths and health care expenditures [2].
Innovation, entrepreneurship and operating performance of farmers in forest zone: evidence from China

Innovation and entrepreneurship are effective ways to improve operating performance. This study investigates how innovation and entrepreneurial behaviors influence operating performance of famers in forest zone in China, which is rarely discussed. With 238 questionnaires from some provinces in China, Structural Equation Models are used to test the relationships. Results indicate that innovation has positive impact on proactiveness (one dimension of entrepreneurial orientation) and operating performance directly. Simultaneously, proactiveness is the mediating factor between innovation and operating performance
PRAGMATIC PROBLEM-SOLVING FOR HEALTHCARE : PRINCIPLES , TOOLS , AND APPLICATION

There is a growing national concern that health care organizations do not have a sound operating system in place. Reforming the operating system has assumed significance because of increasing operating costs and diminishing reimbursements from the payers. Critics argue that in the last 100 years or so significant strides have been made in product innovation but very little in process innovation. In an effort to improve the internal systems, health care leaders have adopted various process improvement techniques, yet success has remained elusive in most of the cases. The Toyota Production System (TPS), built on basic Industrial Engineering principles, offers powerful tools to revamp health care’s work processes. Its application in the health care sector has been limited despite showing signs of promise. The authors present a successful application of TPS design rules, using a problem solving process adapted from Toyota, in improving the group meal therapy process in a Rehabilitation Nursing Unit (RNU) of a hospital. They present how participants observed the problem first hand, did root cause analysis, and then used the TPS design rules to redesign the process, which dramatically improved the patient outcome and productivity of the therapists.
PSO Algorithm Based on Accumulation Effect and Mutation

Particle SwarmOptimization (PSO) algorithm is a new swarm intelligence optimization technique, because of its simplicity, fewerparameters and good effects, PSO has been widely used to solve various complexoptimization problems. particle swarm optimization(PSO) exist the problems ofpremature and local convergence, we proposed an improved particle swarm optimization based on aggregation effect and with mutation operator, whichdetermines whether the aggregation occurs in searching, if there is then theGaussian mutation is detected to theglobal extremum, to overcome particle swarm optimization falling into localoptimal solution defects. Testing thenew algorithm by a typical test function, the results show that, compared withthe conventional genetic algorithm (SGA), it improves the ability of globaloptimization, but also effectively avoid the premature convergence. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.11591/telkomnika.v11i12. 3703
The Making of Effective Managers: The Sudanese and the US Perspectives

This article, the first from the International Project on Culture and Management, a worldwide study to determine the role of national culture in managerial behavior and effectiveness, accomplishes two tasks. It describes the essential features of the design of the whole project and compares the questionnaire responses of US and Sudanese college students on four aspects of normative managerial behavior-personality, knowledges skills, and values. Data are analyzed by factor analysis and stepwise regression. The findings validate the hypothesis that Americans and the Sudanese expect significantly different behaviors from their managers in all four areas.
Optimal constrained self-learning battery sequential management in microgrid via adaptive dynamic programming

This paper concerns a novel optimal self-learning battery sequential control scheme for smart home energy systems. The main idea is to use the adaptive dynamic programming U+0028 ADP U+0029 technique to obtain the optimal battery sequential control iteratively. First, the battery energy management system model is established, where the power efficiency of the battery is considered. Next, considering the power constraints of the battery, a new non-quadratic form performance index function is established, which guarantees that the value of the iterative control law cannot exceed the maximum charging/discharging power of the battery to extend the service life of the battery. Then, the convergence properties of the iterative ADP algorithm are analyzed, which guarantees that the iterative value function and the iterative control law both reach the optimums. Finally, simulation and comparison results are given to illustrate the performance of the presented method.
Effect of fat supplementation on voluntary food intake and rumen metabolism in sheep

1. In an experiment in which a high-fat supplement was given in the dry form to lambs offered dried grass ad lib. , both the voluntary intake and digestibility of the dried grass were reduced. When the high-fat supplement was given in a liquid suspension so that the rumen was by-passed, the voluntary intake and digestibility of the dried grass were not significantly altered. 2. The effect of injecting an emulsion of tallow into the rumen of sheep on rumen metabolism was studied in another experiment. Increasing the fat supplementation lowered the rate of digestion of both dried grass and cotton thread, lowered markedly the concentration of rumen ammonia, and raised the proportion of propionic acid in the rumen.
Routine Markerless Gene Replacement in Bacillus anthracis

ABSTRACT An improved genetic tool suitable for routine markerless allelic exchange in Bacillus anthracis has been constructed. Its utility was demonstrated by the introduction of insertions, deletions, and missense mutations on the chromosome and plasmid pXO1 of the Sterne strain of B. anthracis.
From 'Made in China' to 'Created in China' : the development of a country brand in the international exporting context

Globalisation has created a world where countries compete with each other over trading. Historically, emerging countries started with a negative brand image to enhance exporting. This is particularly true in the Asian context where a general developmental path has been established by countries such as Japan and South Korea. Their success has gained a strong brand image for their products. China, after launching itself into the global market in the late 70s, has gained an increasing market share of ‘Made in China’ products. The reputation of ‘Made in China’, however, is perceived at low quality mass production of low-tech content, and there are only few Chinese brands which can stand out in the global market. This study explores ‘Made in China’ phenomenon in the global market, especially from the producer’s viewpoint. The literature review provides a background to the research. It covers the studies on Country of Origin (COO) effect, economic development strategies and competitive advantage theories. This research employs a mixed methods strategy that combines both quantitative and qualitative studies. The questionnaire survey was designed to reveal British importers’ perception of ‘Made in China’ products. Netnography and Interview are adopted to investigate the voice from Chinese producers and manufacturers. The design of this research allows for triangulating the findings. The results show the international buyers, i.e. British importers, perceive the biggest advantage for Chinese products is price. Chinese producers’ contributions suggest four themes to represent the current situation of ‘Made in China’, namely the image, price, quality and imitation. In their view the future development lies in ‘Created in China’, which consists of other four themes: creativity, branding, designing and R&D. A model of -From ‘Made in China’ to ‘Created in China’is developed in this research. This model identifies the major obstacles that impede the development are thin profit and copying. This research shed lights on the study of developing a country brand, especially for the emerging nation like China. For the first time, this research explores the producers’ views to highlight the importance of their roles in a country brand’s development. The findings also have the implications for Chinese policymakers and industrial development agency. It further offers knowledge to the emerging nations who wish to develop their country brand in the international exporting market.