Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Invasion of epithelial cells by Shigella flexneri induces tyrosine phosphorylation of cortactin by a pp60c‐src‐mediated signalling pathway.

Shigella flexneri causes bacillary dysentery in humans by invading epithelial cells of the colon. Cell invasion occurs via bacterium‐directed phagocytosis, a process requiring polymerization of actin at the site of bacterial entry. We show that invasion of HeLa cells by S.flexneri induces tyrosine phosphorylation of cortactin, a host cell protein previously identified as a cytoskeleton‐associated protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) substrate for the proto‐oncoprotein pp60c‐src. Immunolocalization experiments indicate that cortactin is recruited to submembranous actin filaments formed during bacterial entry. In particular, cortactin is highly enriched in membrane ruffles of the entry structure, which engulf entering bacteria, and also in the periphery of the phagosome early after bacterial internalization. The proto‐oncoprotein pp60c‐src appears to mediate tyrosine phosphorylation of cortactin, since overexpression of this PTK in HeLa cells specifically increases the level of cortactin tyrosine phosphorylation induced during bacterial entry. Immunolocalization studies in pp60c‐src‐overexpressing HeLa cells indicate that pp60c‐src is recruited to the entry structure and to the periphery of the phagosome, where pp60c‐src appears to accumulate in association with the membrane. Our results suggest that epithelial cell invasion by S.flexneri involves recruitment and kinase activation of pp60c‐src. Signalling by the proto‐oncoprotein pp60c‐src may play a role in cytoskeletal changes that facilitate S.flexneri uptake into epithelial cells, since transient overexpression of pp60c‐src in HeLa cells can provoke membrane ruffling and appears also to stimulate bacterial uptake of a non‐invasive S.flexneri strain.
Three European species of Hypocrea with reddish brown stromata and green ascospores

The European species Hypocrea epimyces (Hypocreales, Ascomycota, Fungi) is redescribed based on the holotype including the drawing on its envelope by Saccardo and freshly collected material. The holomorphs of two closely related species, H. alni and H. brunneoviridis, are described as new species of the genus. They are characterized with morphological and molecular methods, including culture studies and phylogenetic analyses with internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 as a part of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster, calmodulin, endochitinase, intron 4 of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene, and a part of the RNA polymerase II subunit B gene as phylogenetic markers. All species described here have green ascospores. Although phylogenetically closely related to H. lixii, they form reddish brown instead of green to black stromata. Except for H. brunneoviridis, forming nearly gliocladium-like conidiophores, the anamorphs of these species are similar to each other but vary in the angles of conidiophore branches and phialides, in phenotypic arrangement of conidiation on growth plates and in growth rates of cultures.
Soil moisture retrieval by remote sensing and multi-year trend analysis of the soil moisture in Tibetan Plateau

In this paper, a hybrid algorithm of retrieving soil moisture is developed. This method assembles the single channel algorithm (SCA) and the Qp-model based soil moisture inversion algorithm. The new algorithm does not require soil surface roughness parameter. The accuracy evaluation of algorithm shows that the new method can provide accurate soil moisture estimate in Tibetan Plateau (TP). Based on eight years (2003~2010) soil moisture data, multi-year changing trend of soil moisture of the TP is analyzed. The spatial pattern of soil moisture changing trend basically coincides with the trend of precipitation of the meteorological sites.
Local tolerance and efficiency of two prototype collagen matrices to increase the width of keratinized tissue.

AIM to evaluate the local tolerance and efficiency of two experimental collagen matrices to increase the width of keratinized tissue. METHODS in 12 pigs, two apically positioned flaps were prepared on both sides of the mandible. The denuded defect areas were randomly covered with one of two experimental porcine-derived collagen matrices (M1; M2). The other defect area was left untreated (control). At 1 and 6 months, clinical measurements for the width and thickness of the keratinized tissue were recorded. At 6 months, all animals were sacrificed. Descriptive and semi-quantitative histologic analyses were performed. For statistical analysis, the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Mac Nemar test were applied. RESULTS the collagen matrices integrated well into the surrounding tissue without any signs of inflammation. The thickness and width of the keratinized tissue increased significantly over 6 months in all the groups, resulting in slightly more favourable results for M1 (compared with M2) with respect to the thickness and for M2 (compared with M1) with respect to the width of keratinized tissue. No statistically significant differences were observed for any of the evaluated clinical and histologic parameters among the three treatment modalities. CONCLUSIONS within the limits of this animal study, the prototype collagen matrices can be used safely to increase the width of keratinized tissue.
An Alternative Proof of the Characterization of Core Stability for the Assignment Game

Solymosi and Raghavan (2001) characterize the stability of the core of the assignment game by means of a property of the valuation matrix. They show that the core of an assignment game is a von Neumann-Morgenstern stable set if and only if its valuation matrix has a dominant diagonal. Their proof makes use of some graph-theoretical tools, while the present proof relies on the notion of buyer-seller exact representative in Nunez and Rafels (2002).
An Efficient Supervised Training Algorithm for Multilayer Spiking Neural Networks

The spiking neural networks (SNNs) are the third generation of neural networks and perform remarkably well in cognitive tasks such as pattern recognition. The spike emitting and information processing mechanisms found in biological cognitive systems motivate the application of the hierarchical structure and temporal encoding mechanism in spiking neural networks, which have exhibited strong computational capability. However, the hierarchical structure and temporal encoding approach require neurons to process information serially in space and time respectively, which reduce the training efficiency significantly. For training the hierarchical SNNs, most existing methods are based on the traditional back-propagation algorithm, inheriting its drawbacks of the gradient diffusion and the sensitivity on parameters. To keep the powerful computation capability of the hierarchical structure and temporal encoding mechanism, but to overcome the low efficiency of the existing algorithms, a new training algorithm, the Normalized Spiking Error Back Propagation (NSEBP) is proposed in this paper. In the feedforward calculation, the output spike times are calculated by solving the quadratic function in the spike response model instead of detecting postsynaptic voltage states at all time points in traditional algorithms. Besides, in the feedback weight modification, the computational error is propagated to previous layers by the presynaptic spike jitter instead of the gradient decent rule, which realizes the layer-wised training. Furthermore, our algorithm investigates the mathematical relation between the weight variation and voltage error change, which makes the normalization in the weight modification applicable. Adopting these strategies, our algorithm outperforms the traditional SNN multi-layer algorithms in terms of learning efficiency and parameter sensitivity, that are also demonstrated by the comprehensive experimental results in this paper.
Service Productivity Management: Improving Service Performance Using Data Envelopment Analysis (Dea)

Management of Service Organization Productivity. - Data Envelopment Analysis Explained. - DEA Concepts for Managers. - Solving DEA Using DEAFrontier Software. - DEA Model - Extensions. - Managing Bank Productivity. - Quality-Adjusted DEA (Q-DEA). - Applying DEA to Health Care Organizations. - Government Productivity Management. - Multidimensional Quality-of-Life Measure. - Hedge Fund Performance Evaluation.
MiRroring the Multiple Potentials of MicroRNAs in Acute Myocardial Infarction

At present, cardiovascular diseases are depicted to be the leading cause of death worldwide according to the World Health Organization. In the future, projections predict that ischemic heart disease will persist in the top main causes of illness. Within this alarming context, some tiny master regulators of gene expression programs, namely, microRNAs (miRNAs) carry three promising potentials. In fact, miRNAs can prove to be useful not only in terms of biomarkers allowing heart injury detection but also in terms of therapeutics to overcome limitations of past strategies and treat the lesions. In a more creative approach, they can even be used in the area of human engineered cardiac tissues as maturation tools for cardiomyocytes (CMs) derived from pluripotent stem cell. Very promising not only for patient-specific cell-based therapies but also to develop biomimetic microsystems for disease modeling and drug screening, these cells greatly contribute to personalized medicine. To get into the heart of the matter, the focus of this review lies primarily on miRNAs as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) biomarkers. Only large cohort studies comprising over 100 individuals to reach a potent statistical value were considered. Certain miRNAs appeared to possibly complement protein-based biomarkers and classical risk factors. Some were even described to bear potential in the discrimination of similar symptomatic pathologies. However, differences between pre-analytical and analytical approaches substantially influenced miRNA data. Further supported by meta-analysis studies, this problem had to be addressed. A detailed critical analysis of each step to define miRNAs biomarker potential is provided to inspire a future improved universal strategy. Interestingly, a recurrent set of cardiomyocyte-enriched miRNAs was found, namely, miR-1; miR-133; miR-208a/b; and miR-499a. Each member of this myomiRs group displayed promising roles either individually or in combination as AMI diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers. Furthermore, a precise combo was shown to be powerful enough to transdifferentiate human fibroblasts into CMs opening doors in the therapeutics. Following these discoveries, they also emerged as optional tools to transfect in order to mature CMs derived from pluripotent stem cells. Ultimately, the multiple potentials carried by the myomiRs miR-1; miR-133; miR-208a/b; and miR-499a still remain to be fully unveiled.
Natural Occurrence, Analysis, and Prevention of Mycotoxins in Fruits and their Processed Products

Mycotoxins are small toxic chemical products formed as the secondary metabolites by fungi that readily contaminate foods with toxins in the field or after harvest. The presence of mycotoxins, such as aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and patulin, in fruits and their processed products is of high concern for human health due to their properties to induce severe acute and chronic toxicity at low-dose levels. Currently, a broad range of detection techniques used for practical analysis and detection of a wide spectrum of mycotoxins are available. Many analytical methods have been developed for the determination of each group of these mycotoxins in different food matrices, but new methods are still required to achieve higher sensitivity and address other challenges that are posed by these mycotoxins. Effective technologies are needed to reduce or even eliminate the presence of the mycotoxins in fruits and their processed products. Preventive measures aimed at the inhibition of mycotoxin formation in fruits and their processed products are the most effective approach. Detoxification of mycotoxins by different physical, chemical, and biological methods are less effective and sometimes restricted because of concerns of safety, possible losses in nutritional quality of the treated commodities and cost implications. This article reviewed the available information on the major mycotoxins found in foods and feeds, with an emphasis of fruits and their processed products, and the analytical methods used for their determination. Based on the current knowledge, the major strategies to prevent or even eliminate the presence of the mycotoxins in fruits and their processed products were proposed.
A competitive strategy for Kagiso Khulani Supervision Food Services.

The purpose of this study is to establish the most appropriate competitive strategy for Kagiso Khulani Supervision Food Services, a division of the Compass Group SA in KwaZulu Natal. This dissertation is in the form of a case study, with an electronic survey used as an instrument to gather information on the competitive environment facing the Compass Group SA. A literature review of strategic management principles has been conducted. Emphasis has been placed on the evaluation of the internal and external environment, and the generation of strategies to deliver competitive advantage. The survey conducted is used to gain an understanding of the external position of the firm. Evaluation of the internal environment has been against the model suggested by Campbell, Stonehouse and Houston, 2002, in "The Strategy Circle". To conclude the study recommendations are made based on the evaluation, answering the question "What is the most appropriate competitive strategy to be adopted by Kagiso Khulani Supervision Food Services in Kwa Zulu Natal, to retain existing business and be awarded new contracts. "
Er$^{3+}$–Yb $^{3+}$ Codoped Silica Waveguide Amplifiers Longitudinally Pumped by Broad-Area Lasers

We present a longitudinal multimode pumping scheme which allows Yb-sensitized Er-doped silica waveguide amplifiers to be effectively pumped by high-power and low-cost broad-area lasers. The proposed configuration is based on evanescent pump light coupling from a multimode low-loss waveguide to a Er-Yb codoped active core. Theoretical predictions, based on propagation and population-rate equations for the coupled Er-Yb system, show that longitudinal multimode pumping by high-power broad-area lasers at around 980 nm can provide up to 4-dB gain per centimeter, suggesting possible integration of low-cost amplifiers with important applications in wavelength-division-multiplexing metro and access optical networks.
An effective diagnosis of cervical cancer neoplasia by extracting the diagnostic features using CRF

Cervical cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the woman worldwide. Most cases of cervical cancer can be prevented if it is detected earlier through various screening programs. This paper provides various methods for the automated diagnosis of cervical cancer neoplasia. The techniques that are investigated to create a fully automated system to locate precancerous and cancerous regions in an image of a cervix generated by the digital colposcope is considered. The image regions corresponding to different tissue types are identified for the extraction of domain-specific anatomical features. Domain-specific diagnostic features are used in a probabilistic manner using Conditional Random Fields (CRF). The abnormal areas in colposcopic images are located exactly. Thus this automated diagnosis of cervical cancer method is more useful for the developing countries since they have low-resource settings and poor financial condition.
Avidity of immunoglobulin G directed against human cytomegalovirus during primary and secondary infections in immunocompetent and immunocompromised subjects

Diagnosis of primary human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is accomplished exclusively by serologic testing. Among the possible methods, the determination of immunoglobulin G (IgG) avidity is one of the least explored. In this work, we used a commercially available kit to test anti-HCMV IgG avidity in 336 serum samples from pregnant women and transplant recipients undergoing virologically proven HCMV primary or nonprimary infections and from latently infected blood donors. Our results demonstrate that the anti-HCMV IgG avidity test differentiates primary from nonprimary HCMV infections in both pregnant women and solid organ transplant recipients. In fact, 88.6% of primary infections and no secondary infections showed low-avidity IgG to HCMV. In particular, low IgG avidity is a marker of primary infection for 18 to 20 weeks after onset of symptoms in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent subjects.
RELEASE OF ATP FROM A SYNAPTOSOMAL PREPARATION BY ELEVATED EXTRACELLULAR K+ AND BY VERATRIDINE

A technique was developed which permitted the release of ATP from synaptosomes by elevated extracellular K+ or by veratridine to be directly and continuously monitored. The released ATP interacted with firefly luciferin and luciferase in the incubation medium to produce light which could be detected by a photomultiplier. The assay system was specific for ATP, in that similar concentrations of adenosine, AMP or ADP did not produce chemiluminescence. Moreover, the maximum peak of light emission correlated linearly with the concentrations of ATP present in the medium, so that semiquantitative estimates of ATP release could be made.
Efficacy of Pedicle Screw Fixation in Unstable Upper and Middle Thoracic Spine Fractures

Background: Treatment of unstable upper and middle thoracic spine fractures remains controversial. There is no consensus regarding optimal treatment. Objectives: In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of pedicular screw in the management of middle thoracic spine fractures to correct kyphosis and anterolisthesis and improve neurologic condition of patients. Patients and Methods: Twenty-five patients with unstable T1-T10 fractures treated with pedicle screw fixation technique were studied. Neurologic situation, preoperative and postoperative radiographs were evaluated. Radiographic measurements included kyphotic deformity and anterolisthesis. An American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale was used for neurologic classification of the patients. Results: From a total of 25 patients, 21 cases were male and 4 were female. The mean age of the patients was 35.40 ± 14.39 years. The mean degree of kyphosis improved from 27.04 ± 7.33 degrees preoperatively to 15.96 ± 5.76 degrees at final follow-up. The mean of anterolisthesis improved from 6.44 ± 4.93 mm to 0.96 ± 0.36 mm at final follow-up. Kyphosis (P = 0.0001), anterolisthesis (P = 0.0001) and neurological state (P = 0.01) improved significantly after operation. No cases of hardware failure, neurological deterioration and loss of correction were reported. Conclusions: Application of pedicular screw in unstable upper and middle thoracic spine fractures is an effective method that can correct kyphotic deformity and anterolisthesis and improve neurologic deficit.
Chapter Seven: Foreign Direct Investors in Conflict Zones

The transition from war to peace is fraught with tension and the risk of a return to bloodshed. With so much at stake, it is crucial that the international community and local stakeholders make sense of the complex mosaic of challenges, to support a lasting, inclusive and prosperous peace. Recent missions, such as in Afghanistan, Somalia or Sudan, have highlighted the fact that there can be no one-size-fits-all approach to steering countries away from violence and towards stability. This Adelphi offers a series of economic perspectives on conflict resolution, showing how the challenges of peacebuilding can be more effectively tackled. From the need to marry diplomatic peacemaking with development efforts, and activate the private sector in the service of peacebuilding aims, to the use of taxes and natural-resource revenues as a financial base for sustainable peace, this issue considers how economic factors can positively shape and drive peace processes. It examines the complex ways in which power and order may be manifested in conflict zones, where unpalatable compromises with local warlords can often be the first step towards a more lasting settlement. In distilling expertise from a range of disciplines, this Adelphi seeks to inform a more economically integrated and responsive approach to helping countries leave behind their troubled pasts and take a fuller role in constructing their futures.
PENGARUH PENGALAMAN AUDITOR TERHADAP ETHICAL JUDGEMENT

ABSTRACT: The Effect of Auditor’s Experience on Ethical Judgement . This research examines the effect of auditor’s experience on ethical judgement with auditor’s knowledge and professional commitment as intervening variable. By 82 public accountants were taken as samples.Data collection is done by mail survey and is empirically examined by using path analysis.The results shows that auditor’s experience has direct effect on ethical judgment but it has negative effect with auditor’s knowledge becomes an intervening variable. Auditor’s experience has direct effect on auditor’s knowledge and professional commitment. This study finds no relationship between professional commitment and ethical judgement. The finding of research concludes that experience and knowledge are determinants of ethical judgement. ABSTRAK : Pengaruh Pengalaman Auditor Terhadap Ethical Judgement. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji pengaruh pengalaman auditor terhadap ethical judgement dengan pengetahuan auditor dan komitmen professional sebagai variable intervening . Sampel riset ini adalah 82 kantor akuntan publik. Pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui mail survey dan pengujiannya menggunakan analisis jalur. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pengalaman auditor berpengaruh langsung terhadap ethical judgement namun berpengaruh negative saat pengetahuan auditor menjadi variable intervening. Selain itu, pengalaman auditor berpengaruh langsung terhadap pengetahuan auditor dan komitmen professional. Penelitian ini tidak menemukan hubungan antara komitmen professional dan ethical judgement. Secara keseluruhan, penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa pengalaman dan pengetahuan auditor merupakan determinan ethical judgement.
New Evidence about Brown v. Board of Education: The Complex Effects of School Racial Composition on Achievement

Uncovering the effect of school racial composition is difficult because racial mixing is not accidental but instead an outcome of government and family choices. Using rich panel data on the achievement of Texas students, we disentangle racial composition effects from other aspects of school quality and from differences in abilities and family background. The estimates strongly indicate that a higher percentage of black schoolmates reduces achievement for blacks, while it implies a much smaller and generally insignificant effect on whites. These results suggest that existing levels of segregation in Texas explain a small but meaningful portion of the racial achievement gap.