Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Nitrate Reductase Activity in Corn (Zea mays L.) Seedlings by Endogenous Metabolites.

Primary and secondary metabolites of inorganic nitrogen metabolism were evaluated as inhibitors of nitrate reductase (EC 1.6.6.1) induction in green leaf tissue of corn seedlings. Nitrite, nitropropionic acid, ammonium ions, and amino acids were not effective as inhibitors of nitrate reductase activity or synthesis. Increasing alpha-amino nitrogen and protein content of intact corn seedlings by culture techniques significantly enhanced rather than decreased the potential for induction of nitrate reductase activity in excised seedlings.Secondary metabolites, derived from phenylalanine and tyrosine, were tested as inhibitors of induction of nitrate reductase. Of the 9 different phenylpropanoid compounds tested, only coumarin, trans-cinnamic and trans-o-hydroxycinnamic acids inhibited induction of nitrate reductase.While coumarin alone exhibited a relatively greater inhibitory effect on enzyme induction than on general protein synthesis (the latter measured by incorporation of labeled amino acids), this differential effect may have been dependent upon unequal rates of synthesis and accumulation with respect to the initial levels of nitrate reductase and general proteins. Because of the short half-life of nitrate reductase, inhibitors of protein synthesis in general could still achieve differential regulation of nitrogen metabolism. Coumarin did not inhibit nitrate reductase activity when added directly to the assay mixture at 5 mm.Carbamyl phosphate and its chemical derivative, cyanate, were found to be competitive (with nitrate) inhibitors of nitrate reductase. The data suggest that cyanate is the active inhibitor in the carbamyl phosphate preparations.
Gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) permeates ovine ruminal and jejunal epithelia, mainly by passive diffusion

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) represents the most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain. GABA is also produced in plants and/or by the microbial conversion of amino acids. Thus, ruminants may be forced to take up significant amounts of GABA from their diet. However, it is not known whether exogenously acquired GABA might permeate the gastrointestinal barrier in such quantities as to induce systemic alterations. Thus, this study pursues the question of where within the ruminant's GI tract and by which pathways GABA may be taken up from the ingesta. The jejunal and ruminal epithelia of sheep were mounted in Ussing chambers under short-circuit conditions. The flux rates of radiolabelled GABA from the mucosal to the serosal side (Jms ) and vice versa (Jsm ) were measured. GABA was applied in various concentrations with adjustment of the mucosal pH to 6.1 or 7.4. Furthermore, beta-alanine or glycine was used as a competitive inhibitor for GABA transport. In both the jejunal and ruminal epithelium, the Jms of GABA was linearly correlated to the mucosal GABA concentration. However, Jms across the jejunal epithelium was approximately 10-fold higher than Jms across the ruminal epithelium. When 0.5 mmol/l GABA was applied on both sides of the epithelium, no net flux could be observed in the jejunal epithelia. Additionally, there was no effect of decreased mucosal pH or the application of glycine or beta-alanine under these conditions. The Jms and Jsm of GABA were linearly correlated to the transepithelial conductance. Our results suggest that GABA is taken up from the small intestine rather than from the rumen. Due to the lack of influence of pH and competitive inhibitors, this uptake seems to occur primarily via passive diffusion.
Bearing estimation for a distributed source: modeling, inherent accuracy limitations and algorithms

The problem of using sensor array measurements to estimate the bearing of a radiating source surrounded by local scatterers is considered. The concept of "partial coherence" is introduced to account for temporal as well as spatial correlation effects often encountered in a Rayleigh fading-type propagation channel formed between a source and sensor array elements. A simple parametric model for temporal channel correlation is presented, yielding an overall spatio-temporal channel model that is more realistic than formerly proposed models (which assume either full or zero temporal channel correlation). Thus, previously proposed "distributed source" models for bearing estimation problems are generalized to a parametric spatio-temporal model for what is called "partially coherently distributed (PCD) sources". A study of the associated Cramer-Rao Bound (CRB) is undertaken for a simple but illustrative problem formulation. The inherent limitations in bearing estimation accuracy for this spatio-temporal problem are seen to lie between the cases of zero and full temporal correlation, becoming more severe as temporal channel correlation increases. In addition, the associated maximum likelihood estimators for source bearing are proposed, and their performance is compared with that predicted by the CRB.
Expedited two-objective dimension scaling of compact microwave passives using surrogate models

Geometry scaling of compact microwave structures is a challenging problem because of complex relationships between the physical dimensions and electrical characteristics, mostly caused by considerable cross-couplings in densely arranged layouts. Here, a procedure for expedited dimension scaling of compact microwave couplers with respect to two independent criteria has been presented. Our approach involves inverse surrogate models and permits low-cost re-design of the coupler structure for a required operating frequency and power split ratio. It is illustrated using a folded microstrip rat-race coupler.
The coupled effects of geometry and surface orientation on the mechanical properties of metal nanowires

We have performed atomistic simulations of the tensile loading of and copper nanowires to investigate the coupled effects of geometry and surface orientation on their mechanical behaviour and properties. By varying the nanowire cross section from square to rectangular, nanowires with dominant surface facets are created that exhibit distinct mechanical properties due to the different inelastic deformation mechanisms that are activated. In particular, we find that non-square nanowires generally exhibit lower yield stresses and strains, lower toughness, elevated fracture strains, and a propensity to deform via twinning; we quantify the links between the observed deformation mechanisms due to non-square cross section and the resulting mechanical properties, while illustrating that geometry can be utilized to tailor the mechanical properties of nanowires.
Haptoglobin genotype and functional outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECT Haptoglobin allele heterogeneity has been implicated in differential reactive oxidant inhibition and inflammation. Haptoglobin α2-α2 has a lower affinity for binding hemoglobin, and when bound to hemoglobin, is cleared less easily by the body. The authors hypothesized that haptoglobin α2-α2 genotype should be less protective for downstream injury after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and should portend a worse outcome. METHODS Patients with Fisher Grade 2 or higher aSAH were enrolled in the study. Genotyping for haptoglobin genotype was performed from blood and/or CSF. Demographic information, medical condition variables, and hospital course were abstracted from the medical record upon enrollment into the study. Outcome data (modified Rankin Scale score, Glasgow Outcome Scale score, and mortality) were collected at 3 months posthemorrhage. RESULTS The authors enrolled 193 patients who ranged in age from 18 to 75 years. Only Caucasians were used in this analysis to minimize bias from variable haptoglobin allele frequencies in populations of different ancestral backgrounds. The sample had more women than men (overall mean age 54.45 years). Haptoglobin α2 homozygotes were older than the other individuals in the study sample (57.27 vs 53.2 years, respectively; p = 0.02) and were more likely to have Fisher Grade 3 SAH (p = 0.02). Haptoglobin α2-α2 genotype, along with Fisher grade and Hunt and Hess grade, was associated with a worse 3-month outcome compared to those with the haptoglobin α1-α1 genotype according to modified Rankin Scale score after controlling for covariates (OR 4.138, p = 0.0463). CONCLUSIONS Patients with aSAH who carry the haptoglobin α2-α2 genotype had a worse outcome. Interestingly, the presence of a single α-2 allele was associated with worse outcome, suggesting that the haptoglobin α-2 protein may play a role in the pathology of brain injury following aSAH, although the mechanism for this finding requires further research. The haptoglobin genotype may provide additional information on individual risk of secondary injury and recovery to guide care focused on improving outcomes.
Budding type C virus particles in a human T cell line derived from acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Le virus de type C observe dans divers stades de bourgeonnement dans la lignee cellulaire TALL-1 consideree est sans reactivite immunologique croisee avec les serums de malades de leucemie a cellules T de l'adulte et il est different des virus HTLV et ATLV
Do M&As in the EU banking industry lead to an increase in performance?

This paper investigates whether M&A operations influence the performance of banks. Using a sample of 714 deals involving EU acquirers and targets located throughout the world over the period 1991-2005, we investigate whether M&A operations are associated with improved performance (measured using both standard accounting ratios and cost and alternative profit X-efficiency measures). Despite the extensive and ongoing consolidation process in the banking industry, we find that M&A operations are associated with a slight deterioration in return on equity, cash flow return and profit efficiency and with a marked improvement in cost efficiency. Hence, the improvements in cost efficiency appear to be transferred to bank clients. These changes in performance are directly attributable to the M&A operations, and would not have occurred in their absence. Moreover, these changes exhibit a particularly negative trend for cross-border deals to testify the importance of geographical relatedness in order to achieve better post-M&A performance. The environmental and bank-characteristics that make a deal successful or unsuccessful are finally identified.
La apariencia de control en la administración local por los habilitados estatales

A la vista de la evolución de la normativa presupuestaria y de control aplicable a las entidades locales, por la propia falta de desarrollo de aspectos fundamentales y ante las dificultades para el ejercicio del control, es necesario realizar una reflexión sobre la realidad con la que conviven los habilitados estatales, para llegar a la conclusión de que en la actualidad no existe el control sobre la actuación de la Administración Local que demanda la sociedad ante la situación de crisis económica: control del déficit público y optimización de los recursos. Apunto lo que considero los aspectos básicos para el ejercicio del control y que, como iremos viendo, no han tenido el adecuado desarrollo normativo, a la vez que planteo propuestas para el estudio de un cambio del sistema de control.
Data acquisition system based on Arduino platform for Langmuir probe plasma measurements

A simple data acquisition system based on Arduino Nano platform is designed. Bluetooth wireless protocol has been used for data transmission. Android OS application for data visualization and recording is developed. The system has been successfully applied for acquiring data from Langmuir probe measurements in the non-self-sustained discharge with a hollow anode.
CDP Is a Repressor of Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus Expression in the Mammary Gland

ABSTRACT Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) transcription is highest in the lactating mammary gland but is detectable in a variety of other tissues. Previous results have shown that MMTV expression is suppressed in lymphoid and other tissues through the binding of the homeodomain-containing repressor special AT-rich binding protein 1 to a negative regulatory element (NRE) in the MMTV long terminal repeat (LTR). Another homeoprotein repressor, CCAAT displacement protein (CDP), also binds to the MMTV NRE, but a role for CDP in MMTV transcriptional suppression has not yet been demonstrated. In this paper, we show that the level of CDP decreases during development of the mammary gland and that this decline in CDP level correlates with the known increase in MMTV expression observed during mammary gland differentiation. Moreover, CDP overexpression was able to suppress MMTV LTR-reporter gene activity up to 20-fold in transient-transfection assays of mouse mammary cells. To determine if this effect was due to direct binding of CDP to the promoter-proximal NRE, we performed DNase I protection assays to map two CDP-binding sites from +835 to +845 and +920 to +931 relative to the first base of the LTR. Mutations engineered into each of these sites decreased CDP binding to the proximal NRE, whereas a combination of these mutations further reduced binding. Subsequently, each of these mutations was introduced into the full-length MMTV LTR upstream of the luciferase reporter gene. Analysis of stable transfectants of LTR constructs showed that CDP binding site mutations in the proximal NRE elevated reporter gene expression two- to sixfold compared to wild-type LTR constructs. Thus, MMTV expression increases during mammary gland development, in part due to decreased CDP levels and CDP binding to the LTR. Together, these experiments provide the first evidence that CDP acts as a repressor of MMTV transcription in the mammary gland.
Radial Distribution Function of Semiflexible Polymers.

We calculate the distribution function of the end-to-end distance of a semiflexible polymer with large bending rigidity. This quantity is directly observable in experiments on single semiflexible polymers (e.g., DNA, actin) and relevant to their interpretation. It is also an important starting point for analyzing the behavior of more complex systems such as networks and solutions of semiflexible polymers. To estimate the validity of the obtained analytical expressions, we also determine the distribution function numerically using Monte Carlo simulation and find good quantitative agreement.
A Case Study on the First PCAOB Inspection Report Issued to a Big-4 Firm that Included Public Disclosure of the Firm's Quality Control Criticisms - Deloitte & Touche LLP

Section 104 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002) requires the PCAOB to conduct inspections and report on each registered accounting firm. Inspection reports may contain nonpublic content of potential defects in a firm's system of quality control. If any defect is not cured within 12 months, the portion of the report discussing the criticism is made publicly available. Until October 2011, such disclosures had only been made public about triennial firms. The purpose of this case study is to evaluate and assess the effects of the publication of the nonpublic portions of the first PCAOB inspection report issued to a Big-4 firm that included uncured quality control defects, thereby resulting in public disclosure - the 2007 inspection of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
Transitivity in context: A rational analysis of intransitive choice and context-sensitive preference.

Several apparent violations of transitivity have been reported in the literature on decision making. However, these effects have been shown to be compatible with random preference models, in which preferences are transitive at each point in time but vary at random over time. Such models imply that choice proportions will conform to a set of conditions called the triangle inequalities, and no clear triangle inequality violations have been empirically demonstrated to date. This article examines a broader class of choice models—“context-sensitive preference models”—in which the current and prior history of choice contexts can systematically influence decision makers’ stochastic preferences. These models generate violations of the triangle inequalities even when preferences are always transitive. Furthermore, the article develops an analysis of decision making under incomplete information, in which rational decision makers draw inferences from the present choice context, but have limited memory for past contexts. It is shown that such decision makers can exhibit intransitive choice cycles of arbitrary magnitude as a result of context-dependent switching between transitive preference orders. Two experiments test the model’s predictions, and clear violations of the triangle inequalities are observed.
CORR Insights 1 : Early Subsidence Predicts Failure of a Cemented Femoral Stem With Minor Design Changes

C onsistently excellent clinical results and quality-of-life outcomes have been demonstrated with many cemented hip stems in THA during the past 40 years. Longterm series and systematic analyses have supported the use of cemented stems as a legitimate alternative to noncemented stems from a clinical and economic perspective [1, 5, 8]. However, there are ongoing reports [3, 7] of higher than acceptable long-term aseptic loosening rates for some cemented stems, including the specific ‘‘shapeclosed’’ stem design that was the subject of this study. Shape-closed stems, such as the Charnley prosthesis, are designed to achieve mechanical stability through geometry and surface characteristics that encourage rigid prosthesis-cement fixation and an evenly distributed cement mantle. These are distinguished from the highly polished, tapered design of the ‘‘force-closed’’ stems (eg, the Exeter stem), that convert millimeterlevel stem subsidence into a long-term stabilizing force on the prosthesis and cement mantle. In their study, Johnson and colleagues validated radiostereometric analysis (RSA) as an early indicator of micromotion and as a correlate of long-term failure in a widely adopted femoral stem within the category of shape-closed stem designs. With RSA, they have confirmed that subsidence exceeding 0.15 mm at 2 years is a clinically relevant predictor of longterm aseptic loosening. More importantly, they demonstrate another instance where seemingly minor design alterations in an otherwise wellfunctioning cemented hip stem results in unacceptable long-term failure rates. The mechanisms for stem failure discussed in this report, including changes in offset, stem size, and surface material, appear to be well supported by the data. The authors contribute additional evidence that the ongoing clinical success of cemented stems, particularly shape-closed designs, is highly sensitive to seemingly minor design modifications.
Toward predictive modeling of full-size packages with layered-medium integral-equation methods

Layered-medium integral-equation (LMIE) methods that can confront the multiscale problems encountered in electromagnetic modeling of electronic packages are presented. The methods include (i) an impedance-boundary condition (IBC) formulation for modeling conductor thickness, roughness, and finite conductivity, (ii) non-radiating lumped-port models for extracting network parameters, and (iii) FFT based iterative and hierarchical-matrix (ℋ-matrix) based direct algorithms for efficiently solving the resulting systems of equations. The methods are used to analyze increasingly higher fidelity models of a benchmark packaging interconnect structure; the results are validated with measurements; and the tradeoff between increased model fidelity and computational costs are quantified.
Guideline Watch: Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder, 2nd Edition

Since the publication in 2000 of APA’s Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder (2nd Edition) (1), two important safety concerns have emerged (hepatotoxicity with nefazodone, and suicide risk and antidepressants), and two new antidepressants have been approved for use (escitalopram and duloxetine). This watch describes these developments as well as evidence that has accrued since 2000 in other areas related to the treatment of major depressive disorder.
Mothers with mental illness: I. The competing demands of parenting and living with mental illness.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to understand the parenting experiences of women with mental illness from the perspectives of mothers and case managers employed by the state department of mental health. METHODS Six focus groups of mothers and five focus groups of case managers met to discuss the problems facing mothers with mental illness and to recommend solutions. Focus-group transcripts were coded and items grouped by themes in qualitative analyses to explore the conflicts mothers face in meeting the dual challenges of parenting and living with mental illness. RESULTS Mothers and case managers identified sources of conflict in four thematic categories: the stigma of mental illness, day-to-day parenting, managing mental illness, and custody of and contact with children. CONCLUSIONS Many of the issues of mothers with mental illness are generic to all parents; others are specific to the situation of living with mental illness. Mothers with mental illness must play a role in developing standards for clinical care and the research agenda in this area.