Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lake Wingra: Changing Perceptions and Land-Use Decisions of Madison Wetlands

Madison, Wisconsin is characterized by the presence of the University of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Capitol. Surrounded by a beautiful chain of fresh water lakes, the scenic nature of Madison's surroundings have always played an important part in the policy decisions that have formed the city. This paper uses the historical discourses centering around our study area of Lake Wingra, on the East side of Madison, as examples of the dynamics surrounding landscape-forming decisions. Analysis of wetlands extent over time confirms that the majority of wetland reclamation in the study are occurred before 1959. A detailed analysis of discourses about wetlands suggests that wetlands were regarded as useless and ugly, contributing to local dispositions in favor of dredging and filling. Most filling took place before accurate scientific understanding of the value of wetland-provided ecosystem services could inform policy decisions. Most land reclamation in the state occurred for agricultural purposes, but wetland filling in Madison was carried out for institutional purposes. A comparison between institutionally-owned land and privately-owned land suggests that institutional use such as parks are less damaging to the health of fresh water lakes than private free-market use. The city of Madison was well known for its four lakes even before it became an established city. For both the Native Americans and the settlers, the lakes and wetlands of the area contributed heavily to the sense of place experienced there. The area around Lake Wingra, the third smallest lake in the chain, has seen interesting developments throughout recorded history. The physical environment around Wingra has affected the development of the adjacent neighborhoods and perceptions of the area. An in-depth look at the Lake Wingra wetlands through time reveals the changing perceptions and land-use practices throughout Madison. Historically, people have viewed wetlands in the United States as a nuisance, a source of disease and unproductive. These views have affected the development and health of Lake Wingra in
Regional Convergence in Europe: Evidence from the Perspective of Capital Accumulation in Services

The integration process within Europe has resulted in a reduction of regional disparities. It is, however, unfortunate that little or no attention has been given to how this regional convergence has occurred, particularly in the growing services sector. Therefore, this paper analyses the impact of capital accumulation in the services sector in European regional convergence. We use a spatial correlation to analyze the services sector in 121 European regions at the NUTS-2 level in nine European Union (EU) countries. The results show the polarisation of economic activity in the central area of Europe, which creates synergies that slow down the process of regional convergence. It also reveals the significant role of the nonmarket services sector in this process, which highlights the importance of maintaining high rates of investment for continued convergence.
Therapeutic plasma exchange rapidly improves cardiac allograft function in patients with presumed antibody‐mediated rejection

Background: Allograft dysfunction due to presumed antibody‐mediated rejection (pAMR) is one of the most serious complications of heart transplantation. Combination therapies of high‐dose steroids, intravenous immune globulin, and/or therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) are often used in this setting. Methods: We performed a 9‐year retrospective review of all episodes of pAMR treated with TPE at our institution. pAMR diagnosis was based on clinical and pathologic findings. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was measured at baseline, prior to initiation of TPE, and during the course of treatment. Results: There were 42 patients with 47 episodes of pAMR treated with TPE. The majority of episodes were treated with three TPE; however, eight required only two TPE and five episodes required >3 TPE. All episodes of pAMR had LVEF measured before and after the series of TPEs. The mean pre‐TPE LVEF was 38% compared with a post‐therapy mean LVEF of 50% (P < 0.0001). In 16 episodes of pAMR, for which LVEF was measured following each apheresis, there was significant improvement of allograft function after the first TPE (pre‐TPE mean LVEF of 31% and post‐first TPE mean LVEF of 37%; P = 0.02). Incremental and significant improvement in allograft function continued following each TPE. Changes in human leukocyte antigen‐donor specific antibodies and fibrinogen did not correlate with ejection fraction response. Conclusions: The rapid improvement in allograft function in our patients is most likely due to TPE as other pharmacologic interventions have longer onset. TPE should be considered a first‐line intervention in the setting of pAMR. J. Clin. Apheresis 29:316–321 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Common null variant, Arg192Stop, in a G‐protein coupled receptor, olfactory receptor 1B1, associated with decreased serum cholinesterase activity

Aim: Non‐functioning single nucleotide polymorphisms (nSNPs) that result in premature termination codons, that is null‐alleles of the respective genes, may have phenotypic effects on clinical parameters. We conducted association studies involving several G‐protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) that harbor nSNPs, using clinical parameters of liver function in a general population consisting of 2969 Japanese adults.
Rad18 Regulates DNA Polymerase κ and Is Required for Recovery from S-Phase Checkpoint-Mediated Arrest

ABSTRACT We have investigated mechanisms that recruit the translesion synthesis (TLS) DNA polymerase Polκ to stalled replication forks. The DNA polymerase processivity factor PCNA is monoubiquitinated and interacts with Polκ in cells treated with the bulky adduct-forming genotoxin benzo[a]pyrene dihydrodiol epoxide (BPDE). A monoubiquitination-defective mutant form of PCNA fails to interact with Polκ. Small interfering RNA-mediated downregulation of the E3 ligase Rad18 inhibits BPDE-induced PCNA ubiquitination and association between PCNA and Polκ. Conversely, overexpressed Rad18 induces PCNA ubiquitination and association between PCNA and Polκ in a DNA damage-independent manner. Therefore, association of Polκ with PCNA is regulated by Rad18-mediated PCNA ubiquitination. Cells from Rad18−/− transgenic mice show defective recovery from BPDE-induced S-phase checkpoints. In Rad18−/− cells, BPDE induces elevated and persistent activation of checkpoint kinases, indicating persistently stalled forks due to defective TLS. Rad18-deficient cells show reduced viability after BPDE challenge compared with wild-type cells (but survival after hydroxyurea or ionizing radiation treatment is unaffected by Rad18 deficiency). Inhibition of RPA/ATR/Chk1-mediated S-phase checkpoint signaling partially inhibited BPDE-induced PCNA ubiquitination and prevented interactions between PCNA and Polκ. Taken together, our results indicate that ATR/Chk1 signaling is required for Rad18-mediated PCNA monoubiquitination. Recruitment of Polκ to ubiquitinated PCNA enables lesion bypass and eliminates stalled forks, thereby attenuating the S-phase checkpoint.
On Exactitude in Financial Regulation: Value-at-Risk, Expected Shortfall, and Expectiles

This article reviews two leading measures of financial risk and an emerging alternative. Embraced by the Basel accords, value-at-risk and expected shortfall are the leading measures of financial risk. Expectiles offset the weaknesses of value-at-risk (VaR) and expected shortfall. Indeed, expectiles are the only elicitable law-invariant coherent risk measures. After reviewing practical concerns involving backtesting and robustness, this article more closely examines regulatory applications of expectiles. Expectiles are most readily evaluated as a special class of quantiles. For ease of regulatory implementation, expectiles can be defined exclusively in terms of VaR, expected shortfall, and the thresholds at which those competing risk measures are enforced. Moreover, expectiles are in harmony with gain/loss ratios in financial risk management. Expectiles may address some of the flaws in VaR and expected shortfall—subject to the reservation that no risk measure can achieve exactitude in regulation.
Does Negative Mood Influence Self-Report Assessment of Individual and Relational Measures? An Experimental Analysis

The present study was designed to test the influence of negative mood on the self-report of individual and relational correlates of depression and marital distress. The authors applied a combined experimental mood induction procedure, based on music, autobiographical recall, and environmental manipulation. Results showed that the mood manipulation was effective, and the depressed Mood Induction Procedure (MIP) and neutral MIP groups did not differ in their self-rated measures of the above-mentioned variables. In conclusion, the authors argue that these measures are generally insensitive to depressed mood, providing an important contribution to this literature.
A novel route for immobilization of proteins to silica particles incorporating silaffin domains

In the diatom Cylindrotheca fusiformis, modified peptides called silaffin polypeptides are responsible for silica deposition in vivo at ambient conditions. Recently, it was discovered that the synthetic R5 peptide, the repeat unit of silaffin polypeptide without post‐translational modification, was capable of precipitating silica in vitro and at ambient conditions. Herein, chimeric proteins were generated by incorporating synthetic silaffin R5 peptides and related unmodified silaffin domains (R1–R7) from Cylindrotheca fusiformis onto green fluorescent protein (GFP) by recombinant DNA technology and their ability to cause silicification was also examined. GFP chimeric proteins showed silicification at very low concentrations (600–700 μg/mL) when compared with adding excess amounts of R5 peptides (10 mg/mL) as previously reported. Sensitive to pH conditions, only the GFP‐R1 chimera showed silicification activity at pH 8.0. The protein immobilization efficiencies of these chimeras were unexpectedly high ranging from 75 to 85%, with the R1 silaffin‐protein construct showing excellent immobilization efficiency and a constant molar ratio of silica to protein ranging from 250 to 350 over a wide pH range. The average silica particle sizes had a tendency to decrease as pH increased to basic conditions. This study demonstrated the production of nanoscale immobilized protein, fabricated via silaffin‐fused proteins. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog. , 2009
Variations in the fluorescence intensity of intact DAPI‐stained bacteria and their implications for rapid bacterial quantification

J. ROSS, P.I. BOON, R. SHARMA AND R. BECKETT. 1996. As current techniques for the quantification of bacteria are laborious and often imprecise, instrumental approaches such as sedimentation field‐flow fractionation (SdFFF) are attractive. In this technique, fluorogenic dyes specific for nucleic acids are used to identify bacterial cells. Bacterial biomass can be quantified directly with SdFFF if the specific fluorescence of bacterial cells is constant. The effect of different growth conditions on the specific fluorescence of one strain each of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis stained with 4',6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole was examined. Specific fluorescence varied over a 500‐fold range, from 0.22 to 103 arbitrary fluorescence units per cell. Specific fluorescence was highest when cells were in log phase, and lowest when cells were in stationary phase. Specific fluorescence decreased when cells harvested in log phase were starved for 7 d in a carbon‐free minimal medium, and increased rapidly (within 2 h) after cells were relieved from carbon limitation. Such variations in specific fluorescence must be considered when using gross fluorescence as a direct indicator of bacterial numbers in the SdFFF technique for quantifying bacterial biomass. Moreover, they have serious implications for the application of fluorescence techniques in other instrumental approaches for bacterial enumeration in environmental samples.
Queueing Networks and Markov Chains - Modeling and Performance Evaluation with Computer Science Applications, Second Edition

Preface to the Second Edition. Preface to the First Edition. 1. Introduction. 1.1 Motivation. 1.2 Methodological Background. 1.3 Basics of Probability and Statistics. 2. Markov Chains. 2.1 Markov Processes. 2.2 Performance Measures. 2.3 Generation Methods. 3. Steady-State Solutions of Markov Chains. 3.1 Solution for a Birth Death Process. 3.2 Matrix-Geometric Method: Quasi-Birth-Death Process. 3.3 Hessenberg Matrix: Non-Markovian Queues. 3.4 Numerical Solution: Direct Methods. 3.5 Numerical Solution: Iterative Methods. 3.6 Comparison of Numerical Solution Methods. 4. Steady-State Aggregation/Disaggregation Methods. 4.1 Courtois' Approximate Method. 4.2 Takahashi's Iterative Method. 5. Transient Solution of Markov Chains. 5.1 Transient Analysis Using Exact Methods. 5.2 Aggregation of Stiff Markov Chains. 6. Single Station Queueing Systems. 6.1 Notation. 6.2 Markovian Queues. 6.3 Non-Markovian Queues. 6.4 Priority Queues. 6.5 Asymmetric Queues. 6.6 Queues with Batch Service and Batch Arrivals. 6.7 Retrial Queues. 6.8 Special Classes of Point Arrival Processes. 7. Queueing Networks. 7.1 Definitions and Notation. 7.2 Performance Measures. 7.3 Product-Form Queueing Networks. 8. Algorithms for Product-Form Networks. 8.1 The Convolution Algorithm. 8.2 The Mean Value Analysis. 8.3 Flow Equivalent Server Method. 8.4 Summary. 9. Approximation Algorithms for Product-Form Networks. 9.1 Approximations Based on the MVA. 9.2 Summation Method. 9.3 Bottapprox Method. 9.4 Bounds Analysis. 9.5 Summary. 10. Algorithms for Non-Product-Form Networks. 10.1 Nonexponential Distributions. 10.2 Different Service Times at FCFS Nodes. 10.3 Priority Networks. 10.4 Simultaneous Resource Possession. 10.5 Prograrns with Internal Concurrency. 10.6 Parallel Processing. 10.7 Networks with Asymmetric Nodes. 10.8 Networks with Blocking. 10.9 Networks with Batch Service. 11. Discrete-Event Simulation. 11.1 Introduction to Simulation. 11.2 Simulative or Analytic Solution? 11.3 Classification of Simulation Models. 11.4 Classification of Tools in DES. 11.5 The Role of Probability and Statistics in Simulation. 11.6 Applications. 12. Performance Analysis Tools. 12.1 PEPSY. 12.2 SPNP. 12. 3 MOSEL-2. 12.4 SHARPE. 12.5 Characteristics of Some Tools. 13. Applications. 13.1 Case Studies of Queueing Networks. 13.2 Case Studies of Markov Chains. 13.3 Case Studies of Hierarchical Models. Glossary. Bibliography. Index.
Aircraft Target Recognition: A novel approach for features extraction from ISAR images

In this paper, we present a system for Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) based on ISAR images. The methodology used is based on knowledge discovery from data (KDD process) process adapted to radar field. The shape extraction is the most important step in recognition system. However, we propose a new approach for Target shape extraction based on combination of Smallest Univalue Segment Assimilating Nucleus (SUSAN) method and Variational Level Set (VLS). The feature vector is then represented by Fourier descriptors of each target shape. Finally, recognition scheme is achieved by both: Support Vectors Machine (SVM) and K Nearest Neighbors (KNN) classifiers.
Effects of adaptive postfilters on the LSF quantisation for low bit rate speech coders in tandem connections

This paper examines the effects of postfiltering techniques on the performance of the line spectrum frequency (LSF) parameters for low bit rate speech coders in tandem connections. The speech coder platform consists of a mixed multiband excitation (MMBE) linear predictive coding (LPC) algorithm, that encodes voiced frames at 1.75 kb/s and unvoiced frames at 0.4 kb/s. The analysis is performed for the well known adaptive spectral enhancement (ASE) technique and a recently reported scheme, called spectral envelope restoration combined with noise reduction (SERNR) postfilter, using the same MMBE platform. Spectral distortions and percentages of outliers of a switched predictive LSF vector quantiser, when the speech coder is operating in tandem connections, are presented. These results, along with subjective listening tests, show that the SERNR technique is clearly superior to the ASE postfilter in tandem connection situations.
An Important Role for Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I-Restricted T Cells, and a Limited Role for Gamma Interferon, in Protection of Mice against Lethal Herpes Simplex Virus Infection

ABSTRACT Herpes simplex virus (HSV) inhibits major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I expression in infected cells and does so much more efficiently in human cells than in murine cells. Given this difference, if MHC class I-restricted T cells do not play an important role in protection of mice from HSV, an important role for these cells in humans would be unlikely. However, the contribution of MHC class I-restricted T cells to the control of HSV infection in mice remains unclear. Further, the mechanisms by which these cells may act to control infection, particularly in the nervous system, are not well understood, though a role for gamma interferon (IFN-γ) has been proposed. To address the roles of MHC class I and of IFN-γ, C57BL/6 mice deficient in MHC class I expression (β2 microglobulin knockout [β2KO] mice), in IFN-γ expression (IFN-γKO mice), or in both (IFN-γKO/β2KO mice) were infected with HSV by footpad inoculation. β2KO mice were markedly compromised in their ability to control infection, as indicated by increased lethality and higher concentrations of virus in the feet and spinal ganglia. In contrast, IFN-γ appeared to play at most a limited role in viral clearance. The results suggest that MHC class I-restricted T cells play an important role in protection of mice against neuroinvasive HSV infection and do so largely by mechanisms other than the production of IFN-γ.
The Stabilizing Role of Forward Guidance: A Macro Experiment

Expectations are among the main driving forces for economic dynamics. Therefore, managing expectations has become a primary objective for monetary policy seeking to stabilize the business cycle. In this paper, we study whether central banks can manage market expectations by means of forward guidance in a New Keynesian learning-to-forecast experiment. Forward guidance takes the form of one-period ahead inflation projections that are published by the central bank in each period. Subjects in the experiment observe these projections along with the historic development of the economy and subsequently submit their own one-period ahead inflation forecasts. In this context, we find that the central bank can significantly manage market expectations through forward guidance and that this management strongly supports monetary policy in stabilizing the economy. Moreover, forward guidance drastically reduces the probability of a deflationary spiral after strong negative shocks to the economy.
Deubiquitinating and Interferon Antagonism Activities of Coronavirus Papain-Like Proteases

ABSTRACT Coronaviruses encode multifunctional proteins that are critical for viral replication and for blocking the innate immune response to viral infection. One such multifunctional domain is the coronavirus papain-like protease (PLP), which processes the viral replicase polyprotein, has deubiquitinating (DUB) activity, and antagonizes the induction of type I interferon (IFN). Here we characterized the DUB and IFN antagonism activities of the PLP domains of human coronavirus NL63 and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus to determine if DUB activity mediates interferon antagonism. We found that NL63 PLP2 deconjugated ubiquitin (Ub) and the Ub-line molecule ISG15 from cellular substrates and processed both lysine-48- and lysine-63- linked polyubiquitin chains. This PLP2 DUB activity was dependent on an intact catalytic cysteine residue. We demonstrated that in contrast to PLP2 DUB activity, PLP2-mediated interferon antagonism did not require enzymatic activity. Furthermore, addition of an inhibitor that blocks coronavirus protease/DUB activity did not abrogate interferon antagonism. These results indicated that a component of coronavirus PLP-mediated interferon antagonism was independent of protease and DUB activity. Overall, these results demonstrate the multifunctional nature of the coronavirus PLP domain as a viral protease, DUB, and IFN antagonist and suggest that these independent activities may provide multiple targets for antiviral therapies.
Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors attenuate cardiac hypertrophy by suppressing autophagy

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) regulate cardiac plasticity; however, their molecular targets are unknown. As autophagy contributes to pathological cardiac remodeling, we hypothesized that HDAC inhibitors target autophagy. The prototypical HDAC inhibitor (HDACi), trichostatin A (TSA), attenuated both load- and agonist-induced hypertrophic growth and abolished the associated activation of autophagy. Phenylephrine (PE)-triggered hypertrophy and autophagy in cultured cardiomyocytes were each blocked by a panel of structurally distinct HDAC inhibitors. RNAi-mediated knockdown of either Atg5 or Beclin 1, two essential autophagy effectors, was similarly capable of suppressing ligand-induced autophagy and myocyte growth. RNAi experiments uncovered the class I isoforms HDAC1 and HDAC2 as required for the autophagic response. To test the functional requirement of autophagic activation, we studied mice that overexpress Beclin 1 in cardiomyocytes. In these animals with a fourfold amplified autophagic response to TAC, TSA abolished TAC-induced increases in autophagy and blunted load-induced hypertrophy. Finally, we subjected animals with preexisting hypertrophy to HDACi, finding that ventricular mass reverted to near-normal levels and ventricular function normalized completely. Together, these data implicate autophagy as an obligatory element in pathological cardiac remodeling and point to HDAC1/2 as required effectors. Also, these data reveal autophagy as a previously unknown target of HDAC inhibitor therapy.
The taxpayer’s intentions: Subjective prerequisites in tax law

Abstract Tax legislation contains references to taxpayer’s intentions with their transactions. The acquisition or sale of an asset may be treated differently, for example, depending on the purpose of the person holding it. This article contains a discussion of the concept of subjective prerequisites, with particular emphasis on the role they can play in tax law. How the terms intention and purpose are actually used in the Swedish Income Tax Act (ITA) is also explored.
Dynamic characteristics of HIV-1 reservoirs

Purpose of reviewTo examine kinetic issues related to the stability of the latent reservoir and the observation of low levels of viremia (< 50 copies/ml) in patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy. Recent findingsOnce HIV-1 RNA becomes undetectable it is difficult to deduce the events occurring in HIV-infected individuals. Analyses of viral blips and genetic changes in HIV-1 DNA have, however, provided insights into ongoing viral replication and the stability of the latent reservoir. SummaryUnder potent therapy, HIV-1 RNA decays in two phases and then becomes undetectable by clinical assay. Three possible scenarios are explored: the viral load stabilizes at a new steady state, or viral clearance remains more rapid than viral production and viral load declines either in a third exponential phase that might reflect the half-life of the latent reservoir, or in a decelerating manner reflecting heterogeneities in the cell populations making up the latent reservoir. A simple model shows that depending on the viral burst size it may be possible to sustain a low approximately steady level of viremia, say 10 copies/ml, for years without seriously depleting the latent reservoir.