Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transcription-positive Cofactor 4 Forms Complexes with HSSB (RPA) on Single-stranded DNA and Influences HSSB-dependent Enzymatic Synthesis of Simian Virus 40 DNA*

The replication of simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA in vitro requires a trimeric single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-binding protein called HSSB or RPA. HSSB supports the unwinding of DNA containing the SV40 origin in the presence of the viral-encoded T antigen and is required for the initiation of RNA primer synthesis as well as processive elongation of DNA catalyzed by the DNA polymerase δ holoenzyme. In this report we show that the transcription positive cofactor 4 (PC4), a ssDNA-binding protein, forms complexes with HSSB on ssDNA and markedly affects the replication functions of HSSB. PC4 supports T antigen-catalyzed unwinding of SV40 origins in lieu of HSSB but inhibits both RNA primer synthesis and polymerase δ-catalyzed DNA chain elongation reactions. These inhibitory effects can be reversed by the addition of excess HSSB. Depending on the concentration of HSSB, PC4 is capable of either inhibiting or activating SV40 DNA replication measured in both mono- and dipolymerase systems. The possible role of PC4 in the initiation of DNA replication is discussed.
The impact of public debt on the twin imbalances in Europe: A threshold model

Recent empirical research rejecting twin deficits in indebted countries and current account imbalances adjustment in Europe led to the idea to test the twin imbalances at different public debt-to-GDP intervals. The analysis covers 14 EU countries over the time period 1995-2012. A panel data threshold model with fixed effects estimates two debt-toGDP thresholds (40.2% and 96.6%), which determine three debt-to-GDP intervals in the twin relationship. If public debtto-GDP is less than 40.2%, the model determines a negative relationship (twin divergence) between budget balance and current account. Twin deficits (surpluses) are confirmed exclusively if debt-to-GDP is in the interval between 40.2% and 96.6%. A twin divergence is also confirmed if public debt-to-GDP is more than 96.6% (e.g., as in Greece and Italy). The results confirm that increased indebtedness in European countries contributed to their current account imbalance adjustment.
Degree of Polymerization (DP) of Polysialic Acid (PolySia) on Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules (N-CAMs)

α2,8-Linked polysialic acid (polySia) is a structurally unique antiadhesive glycotope that covalently modifies N-linked glycans on neural cell adhesion molecules (N-CAMs). These sugar chains play a key role in modulating cell-cell interactions, principally during embryonic development, neural plasticity, and tumor metastasis. The degree of polymerization (DP) of polySia chains on N-CAM is postulated to be of critical importance in regulating N-CAM function. There are limitations, however, in the conventional methods to accurately determine the DP of polySia on N-CAM, the most serious being partial acid hydrolysis of internal α2,8-ketosidic linkages that occur during fluorescent derivatization, a step necessary to enhance chromatographic detection. To circumvent this problem, we have developed a facile method that combines the use of Endo-β-galactosidase to first release linear polySia chains from N-CAM, with high resolution high pressure liquid chromatography profiling. This strategy avoids acid hydrolysis prior to chromatographic profiling and thus provides an accurate determination of the DP and distribution of polySia on N-CAM. The potential of this new method was evaluated using a nonpolysialylated construct of N-CAM that was polysialylated in vitro using a soluble construct of ST8Sia II or ST8Sia IV. Whereas most of the oligosialic acid/polySia chains consisted of DPs ∼50–60 or less, a subpopulation of chains with DPs ∼150 to ∼180 and extending to DP ∼400 were detected. The DP of this subpopulation is considerably greater than reported previously for N-CAM. Endo-β-galactosidase can also release polySia chains from polysialylated membranes expressed in the neuroblastoma cell line, Neuro2A, and native N-CAM from embryonic chick brains.
Evaluation of a Center of Excellence Program for Spine Surgery

Background:The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and many private health plans are encouraging patients to seek orthopedic care at hospitals designated as centers of excellence. No evaluations have been conducted to compare patient outcomes and costs at centers of excellence versus other hospitals. The objective of our study was to assess whether hospitals designated as spine surgery centers of excellence by a group of over 25 health plans provided higher quality care. Methods:Claims representing approximately 54 million commercially insured individuals were used to identify individuals aged 18–64 years with 1 of 3 types of spine surgery in 2007–2009: 1-level or 2-level cervical fusion (referred to as cervical simple fusion), 1-level or 2-level lumbar fusion (referred to as lumbar simple fusion), or lumbar discectomy and/or decompression without fusion. The primary outcomes were any complication (7 complications were captured) and 30-day readmission. The multivariate models controlled for differences in age, sex, and comorbidities between the 2 sets of hospitals. Results:A total of 29,295 cervical simple fusions, 27,214 lumbar simple fusions, and 28,911 lumbar discectomy/decompressions were identified, of which 42%, 42%, and 47%, respectively, were performed at a hospital designated as a spine surgery center of excellence. Designated hospitals had a larger number of beds and were more likely to be an academic center. Across the 3 types of spine surgery (cervical fusions, lumbar fusions, or lumbar discectomies/decompressions), there was no difference in the composite complication rate [OR 0.90 (95% CI, 0.72–1.12); OR 0.98 (95% CI, 0.85–1.13); OR 0.95 (95% CI, 0.82–1.07), respectively] or readmission rate [OR 1.03 (95% CI, 0.87–1.21); OR 1.01 (95% CI, 0.89–1.13); OR 0.91 (95%, CI 0.79–1.04), respectively] at designated hospitals compared with other hospitals. Conclusions:On average, spine surgery centers of excellence had similar complication rates and readmission rates compared with other hospitals. These results highlight the importance of empirical evaluations of centers of excellence programs.
University contributions to the 21st century challenges through social innovation

Social innovation has emerged as an important concept dealing with social issues related to social change and community development. The aim of this paper is to understand universities’ involvement in the process of social innovation, for the particular case of a Brazilian higher education institution. This is an attempt to shed some light on how can universities contribute to the different stages of the social innovation process and what are the various universities’ inputs that can become involved in the social innovation process, thus contributing for social change and development. The results obtained show that a higher education institution might be a key player promoting social innovation initiatives. On the one hand, it can contribute with its own resources and inputs to foster new social innovation ideas or practices. On the other hand, it can act as catalyst of other partners’ actions and contributions. The main policy implication of this study is that higher education institutions possess the necessary resources to support social innovation initiatives acting as agents of social change and thus contributing to community development processes and societal development.
Foreign AID and development in Colombia

This paper analyzes Colombia s experience with bilateral and multilateral lending in the post-war period. Id divided in four sections. The first presents general background information on economic and social development in this period. Section II discusses of the business cycle. Particular emphasis is placed on balance of payment policies, since the management of foreign exchange shortages and booms has figured predominantly in economic policy in the past four decades.
New in vitro assay based on glucose consumption for determining intraconazole and amphotericin B activities against Aspergillus fumigatus

We developed a new in vitro method of evaluating antifungal molecules. Fungal growth was determined by measuring glucose consumption, the only carbon source in a synthetic medium. First, the growth of 12 Aspergillus fumigatus strains was studied. Glucose consumption was an excellent indicator of fungal growth. Second, the partial inhibition of growth was calculated in terms of the 90% or 50% inhibitory concentration for the 12 strains after treatment with itraconazole and amphotericin B. With a 3-day incubation time, the calculated 90% and 50% inhibitory concentrations agreed with those obtained by a macromethod and with those reported in previous publications. In each case the high degrees of efficacy of itraconazole and amphotericin B against A. fumigatus were confirmed. Partial inhibition induced by low concentrations of antifungal agents was quantifiable by this new method.
New tools for studying microglia in the mouse and human CNS

Significance Microglia are the tissue resident macrophages of the brain and spinal cord, implicated in important developmental, homeostatic, and disease processes, although our understanding of their roles is complicated by an inability to distinguish microglia from related cell types. Although they share many features with other macrophages, microglia have distinct developmental origins and functions. Here we validate a stable and robustly expressed microglial marker for both mouse and human, transmembrane protein 119 (Tmem119). We use custom-made antibodies against Tmem119 to perform deep RNA sequencing of developing microglia, and demonstrate that microglia mature by the second postnatal week in mice. The antibodies, cell isolation methods, and RNAseq profiles presented here will greatly facilitate our understanding of microglial function in health and disease. The specific function of microglia, the tissue resident macrophages of the brain and spinal cord, has been difficult to ascertain because of a lack of tools to distinguish microglia from other immune cells, thereby limiting specific immunostaining, purification, and manipulation. Because of their unique developmental origins and predicted functions, the distinction of microglia from other myeloid cells is critically important for understanding brain development and disease; better tools would greatly facilitate studies of microglia function in the developing, adult, and injured CNS. Here, we identify transmembrane protein 119 (Tmem119), a cell-surface protein of unknown function, as a highly expressed microglia-specific marker in both mouse and human. We developed monoclonal antibodies to its intracellular and extracellular domains that enable the immunostaining of microglia in histological sections in healthy and diseased brains, as well as isolation of pure nonactivated microglia by FACS. Using our antibodies, we provide, to our knowledge, the first RNAseq profiles of highly pure mouse microglia during development and after an immune challenge. We used these to demonstrate that mouse microglia mature by the second postnatal week and to predict novel microglial functions. Together, we anticipate these resources will be valuable for the future study and understanding of microglia in health and disease.
Trade Competitiveness and Employment: Job Creation or Job Destruction

ABSTRACT This paper empirically examines the impact of fluctuations in international trade competitiveness on employment in the UK manufacturing sector over the period 1999–2010. We find statistically significant but economically small effects of a shock to international trade competitiveness on the level of employment. Our results show that the adjustment process in employment mainly works through job creation. We also find that compared to large firms, small firms contribute more toward job creation than job destruction. Our results that changes in GDP growth rate and average wages are significantly related to employment suggest that the UK labour market significantly responds to market forces. Finally, we find that the effect of changes in the real exchange rate on both job creation and job destruction differs between exporting and non-exporting firms.
The anti-infarct, antistunning and antiarrhythmic effects of oleuropein in isolated rat heart

Previous studies have reported that oleuropein, the major constituent of olive leaves, has cardioprotective effects. There is no report related to oleuropein and ischemic-reperfusion injuries (cardiac dysfunction and myocardial infarction) as well as preconditioning in rat hearts. 56 male Wistar rats were divided into 7 groups (n=8). Group 1 as the control group and groups 2 to 7 as the treatment groups that received a single dose of oleuropein (100 mg/kg, i.p.) 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours before the excision of the heart, respectively. After these times, their hearts were excised and subjected to 30 min regional ischemia and 120 min reperfusion under Langendorff apparatus. Electrocardiogram and intraventricular pressures were monitored and recorded throughout the procedure. Finally, infarct size was measured by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Compared to the control group, oleuropein significantly reduced infarct size and reperfusion-induced cardiac dysfunction in groups 2 and 3. Oleuropein markedly attenuated both ischemic and reperfusion arrhythmias in groups 2 and 3. There was no significant difference between other groups (4 to 7) than the control group. Heart rate had no significant difference among all of the groups. These results indicate that pretreatment of rats with a single dose of intraperitoneal oleuropein could protect their heart against ischemic-reperfusion injury for at least 3 hours. However, it has no preconditioning effect, since oleuropein had not cardioprotective effects 24 hour later.
The Effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy on the Healing of Open Wounds in Dogs.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on acute, full-thickness wound healing in dogs. STUDY DESIGN Randomized block (dog); historical control. ANIMALS Adult male Beagles (n = 10). METHODS Two 2 × 2 cm(2) wounds were surgically created bilaterally on the trunk of each dog. Each side was randomized to receive LLLT (laser, LAS) or standard-of-care management (control, CON), 3 times weekly for 32 days. The LLLT consisted of a dual diode laser (7.5 mW/diode) at 635 nm and total energy density of 1.125 J/cm(2). Wound planimetry was performed on the caudal wounds, from which percent contraction and percent epithelialization were calculated. Histologic features were evaluated at 7 time points from cranial wound biopsies. Experimental data were also compared to wounds from a historical female control cohort (historical control, HCON). RESULTS There was no difference between LAS and CON wounds for all parameters, including histology. The HCON wounds had significantly greater contraction and epithelialization compared to LAS and CON wounds. The LAS and CON wounds had significantly less inflammation than HCON wounds early in wound healing, but inflammation was significantly greater in LAS and CON wounds by day 21. Fibroblast infiltration and collagen deposition were significantly less in LAS and CON wounds than HCON wounds. CONCLUSION There are no apparent beneficial effects of LLLT on the healing of acute wounds in healthy dogs using this LLLT protocol. Gender may influence wound healing in intact dogs.
Influence of strain rate effect on behavior of solder joints under drop impact loadings

The strain rate dependent Johnson-Cook material model and the rate independent elastic-plastic model of lead-free solders were used to investigate influence of strain rate effect on the mechanical behavior of solder joints under drop impact loadings. Failure of the solder joints was predicted and the results were compared with the experimental observations. The strain rate effect of lead-free solders has no influence on the deflection of the PCB during the drop impact but has significant influence on the stress and strain in solder joints. The rate independent elastic-plastic solder material model always underestimates the stress and overestimates the strain of the solder joint. The material model that takes the strain rate effect into account can predict more realistic behavior of the solder joints.
Complete mitochondrial genome of the chocolate hind Cephalopholis boenak (Pisces: Perciformes)

Abstract The complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of the chocolate hind Cephalopholis boenak was obtained in this study, which is the first complete mitogenome in the genus Cephalopholis. The circular mtDNA molecule was 16 771 bp in size and the overall nucleotide composition of the H-strand was 29.58% A, 27.36% T, 15.84% G, and 27.22% C, with an A + T bias. The complete mitogenome encoded 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs, 22 tRNAs and 1 control region (D-loop), with the gene arrangement and translation direction basically identical to other typical vertebrate mitogenomes. The control region located between the tRNA Pro and tRNA Phe genes and the length was 1 064 bp, rich in A + T (70.11%); it was composed of 13 complete continuity tandem repeat units, 5′-TACATATCTATGTACTTAA-3′, and one imperfect tandem repeat.
Videogamers of League of Legends : The role of passion in abusive use and in performance

Los juegos Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPG) han suscitado preocupación por su potencial adictivo. Los Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) son un nuevo género poco estudiado, pero que goza de gran popularidad, en el que prima el rendimiento por encima de la inmersión. El objetivo del presente estudio era explorar qué influencia tenía la pasión tanto en el rendimiento como en el uso abusivo a partir del Modelo Dual de la Pasión. Un total de 369 participantes completaron un cuestionario en línea que incluía usos abusivos y la Escala de la Pasión. A partir del alías del jugador se obtuvieron estadísticas de rendimiento. Los resultados muestran que la pasión armónica es un protector de sufrir consecuencias negativas de jugar. Por otro lado, la pasión obsesiva predice consecuencias negativas y el uso para la evasión. La pasión obsesiva también predice mejores resultados de rendimiento. Estos resultados sugieren que el tipo de pasión de los videojugadores es importante, ya que influye en la vulnerabilidad de sufrir conductas desadaptativas y en el rendimiento del jugador. Palabras clave: Pasión, Multiplayer Online Battle Arena, League of Legends, Internet Gaming Disorder, Rendimiento. Resumen
Risperidone versus haloperidol in the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic inpatients with schizophrenia: a randomized double-blind study

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of risperidone and haloperidol in treatment-resistant chronic schizophrenic patients. Subjects (n = 78) who met DSM-III criteria for schizophrenia were randomly assigned to receive 6 mg/day of risperidone or 20 mg/day of haloperidol for 12 weeks. Clinical efficacy was determined using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and side-effects with the Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS). Risperidone produced a mean 39.8 ± 24.1% reduction in total PANSS score compared to a mean 28.3 ± 19.4% reduction in the haloperidol group (P < 0.05). Analysis of changes for the three subscores of the PANSS revealed that the general psychopathology and negative subscores were significantly improved in the risperidone group compared to the haloperidol group. As for the side-effects, the risperidone group showed a significantly lower TESS total score, as well as nervous system symptoms subscore and cardiovascular symptoms subscore, compared to the haloperidol group. Risperidone appears to be a more effective and better tolerated antipsychotic drug in treatment-refractory Chinese schizophrenia than haloperidol.
LCL pick-up circulating current controller for inductive power transfer systems

This paper proposes a fast switching control topology for a series-parallel tuned LCL pick-up. This topology employs a similar idea to the traditional controlled rectifier to regulate the average output current through the rectifier. The proposed topology is able to provide the LCL pick-up with a smooth power transition between fully on and fully off. Also, it is able to achieve power regulation while allowing some variance in mutual coupling with the track without overloading the power supply. The normalized reflected impedance of the proposed controller back onto the primary track is first discussed in relation to simulation results. Then a 2.5 kW 50V output prototype is constructed and tested that achieves an efficiency of 88% at full load and 85% at half load. The reflected impedance of the prototype is also calculated using a normalized graph. It demonstrates that mistuning of the primary track with the associated reflected reactance has little input on system operations.
Exaggerated phase–amplitude coupling in the primary motor cortex in Parkinson disease

An important mechanism for large-scale interactions between cortical areas involves coupling between the phase and the amplitude of different brain rhythms. Could basal ganglia disease disrupt this mechanism? We answered this question by analysis of local field potentials recorded from the primary motor cortex (M1) arm area in patients undergoing neurosurgery. In Parkinson disease, coupling between β-phase (13–30 Hz) and γ-amplitude (50–200 Hz) in M1 is exaggerated compared with patients with craniocervical dystonia and humans without a movement disorder. Excessive coupling may be reduced by therapeutic subthalamic nucleus stimulation. Peaks in M1 γ-amplitude are coupled to, and precede, the subthalamic nucleus β-trough. The results prompt a model of the basal ganglia–cortical circuit in Parkinson disease incorporating phase–amplitude interactions and abnormal corticosubthalamic feedback and suggest that M1 local field potentials could be used as a control signal for automated programming of basal ganglia stimulators.
Symbolic modeling of ac power signal gain input and output impedance of fully differential single stage common-source microwave power amplifier based on LDMOS large signal model

In this paper, the symbolic formulas for ac power signal gain, input and output impedance of fully differential single stage common-source microwave power amplifier based on LDMOS large signal model are derived for the first time. The model can be verified by comparing with HSPICE simulation results as well as comparing with experimental results.
Establishing support groups for HIV-infected women: Using experiences to develop guiding principles for project implementation

HIV-infected women need support to deal with their diagnosis as well as with the stigma attached to HIV. As part of their practical training, Master's-level psychology students negotiated with the staff of four clinics in townships in Tshwane, South Africa, to establish support groups for HIV+ women and offered to assist them in facilitating the groups. This study aimed to understand why the implementation of groups was successful in one clinic and not other clinics. The student reports on their experiences and interaction with clinic staff and clients were used as sources of data. Using qualitative data analysis, different dynamics and factors that could affect project implementation were identified in each clinic. The socio-ecological and systems theories were used to understand implementation processes and obstacles in implementation. The metaphor of building a bridge over a gorge was used to describe the different phases in and obstacles to the implementation of the intervention. Valuable lessons were learnt, resulting in the development of guiding principles for the implementation of support groups in community settings.