Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improvement of exercise capacity after nifedipine in patients with eisenmenger syndrome complicating ventricular septal defect

We investigated the potential benefit of a preferential pulmonary vasodilatory effect of nifedipine in 4 patients with Eisenmenger syndrome complicating ventricular septal defect. First‐pass radionuclide scan was performed at rest to measure intracardiac shunting before and after nifedipine. Two hours after 20 mg sublingual nifedipine, right‐to‐left shunt increased from 16.3 ± 1.4 to 20.4 ± 1.5% (p<0.05), but systemic arterial oxygen saturation (SAO2) remained steady. With 4 weeks of maintenance nifedipine therapy, resting intracardiac shunting and SAO2 were unchanged from baseline. Symptom‐limited cycle ergometry was performed before and after maintenance nifedipine with placebo control. Exercise duration was prolonged (8.7±0.6 vs. 6.8±0.9 min; p<0.02) and SAO2 at each stage of exercise was consistently increased in all patients after nifedipine. Cardiac output and the SAO2 at peak exercise were similar. Thus, chronic nifedipine therapy increases SAO2 on exercise and improves maximal exercise capacity in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome, which is not predicted by study of resting intracardiac shunting after acute therapy.
AS 18: New Guidance for Auditing Related Party Transactions

Undisclosed related-party transactions played a significant role in high-profile accounting scandals such as Enron, Tyco, and Adelphia. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) inspectors have discovered many shortcomings in audit procedures applied to related party transactions, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has sanctioned numerous CPA firms for failing to identify or disclose clients' transactions with affiliated entities. This article identifies the risks associated with related party transactions and describes audit procedures to provide reasonable assurance that all such transactions are properly identified, accounted for, and disclosed in the financial statements. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Structure of peptidoglycan from Thermus thermophilus HB8

The composition and structure of peptidoglycan (murein) extracted from the extreme thermophilic eubacterium Thermus thermophilus HB8 are presented. The structure of 29 muropeptides, accounting for more than 85% of total murein, is reported. The basic monomeric subunit consists of N-acetylglucosamine-N-acetylmuramic acid-L-Ala-D-Glu-L-Orn-D-Ala-D-Ala, acylated at the delta-NH2 group of Orn by a Gly-Gly dipeptide. In a significant proportion (about 23%) of total muropeptides, the N-terminal Gly is substituted by a residue of phenylacetic acid. This is the first time phenylacetic acid is described as a component of bacterial murein. Possible implications for murein physiology and biosynthesis are discussed. Murein cross-linking is mediated by D-Ala-Gly-Gly peptide cross-bridges. Glycan chains are apparently terminated by (1-->6) anhydro N-acetylmuramic acid residues. Neither reducing sugars nor murein-bound macromolecules were detected. Murein from T. thermophilus presents an intermediate complexity between those of gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. The murein composition and peptide cross-bridges of T. thermophilus are typical for a gram-positive bacterium. However, the murein content, degree of cross-linkage, and glycan chain length for T. thermophilus are closer to those for gram-negative organisms and could explain the gram-negative character of Thermus spp.
Cognitive wireless mesh network without common control channel evaluated in NS-3

The CPqD Cognitive Mesh Network (CCMN) has been developed with traditional cognition elements, such as energy detection based sensing and with the ability to switch the data channel to take advantage of any available channels on a given radio-electric spectrum band. Many of the solutions that utilize cognitive mesh networks are based on the fact that it uses a common control channel (CCC) to manage the system. Therefore the Multi-Channel - One Interface Manager (MC-OIM) alg orithm was developed to maximize channel usage with a system that does not depend of any CCC . The MC-OIM algorithm was evaluated using network simulator ns-3 and simulation results were validated with testes that were done in a real scenario.
Promotion of acute‐phase skin wound healing by Pseudomonas aeruginosa C4‐HSL

A Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum‐sensing system, which produces N‐(3‐oxododecanoyl)‐l‐homoserine lactone (3‐oxo‐C12‐HSL) and N‐butanoyl‐l‐homoserine lactone (C4‐HSL), regulates the virulence factors. In our previous study, 3‐oxo‐C12‐HSL, encoded by lasI gene, was shown to promote wound healing. However, the effect of C4‐HSL, encoded by rhlI gene, remains to be elucidated. We addressed the effect of C4‐HSL on wounds in P. aeruginosa infection. Wounds were created on the backs of Sprague–Dawley SD rats, and P. aeruginosa PAO1 (PAO1) or its rhlI deletion mutant (ΔrhlI) or lasI deletion mutant (ΔlasI) was inoculated onto the wound. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with anti‐C4‐HSL antiserum or treated with C4‐HSL at the wound surface. PAO1 inoculation led to significant acceleration of wound healing, which was associated with neutrophil infiltration and TNF‐α synthesis. These responses were reversed, except for TNF‐α production, when ΔrhlI was inoculated instead of PAO1 or when rats were co‐treated with PAO1 and anti‐C4‐HSL antiserum. In contrast, the healing process and neutrophil infiltration, but not TNF‐α synthesis, were accelerated when C4‐HSL was administered in the absence of PAO1. This acceleration was not affected by anti‐TNF‐α antibody. These results suggest that C4‐HSL may be involved in the acceleration of acute wound healing in P. aeruginosa infection by modifying the neutrophilic inflammation.
Cross-Reactivity of Epstein-Barr Virus-Specific Immunoglobulin M Antibodies with Cytomegalovirus Antigens Containing Glycine Homopolymers

ABSTRACT Timely and reliable detection of acute primary human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is important in prenatal screening programs and for differential diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis-like disease. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) based on HCMV proteins enable the sensitive detection of immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies during primary infection. However, concerns have been raised about possible cross-reactivities of the HCMV antigens used for the design of such ELISAs with IgM antibodies induced by Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). In this study we investigated whether IgM antibodies generated during acute EBV infection reacted with recombinant HCMV antigens. Serum samples from patients with primary EBV infection frequently scored positive when tested in different HCMV IgM ELISAs, irrespective of whether conventional or recombinant antigens were used for the design of the HCMV IgM assays. Such cross-reactive IgM antibodies were found to be directed against short glycine-rich motifs contained within the nonstructural HCMV proteins pUL44 and pUL57. Further analyses revealed that these glycine-rich motifs were major antigenic domains for IgM antibodies induced during HCMV infection. Their deletion from recombinant proteins abrogated reactivity with IgM synthesized during HCMV infection. EBV-induced IgM antibodies that reacted with HCMV antigens showed similar kinetics of reactivity in HCMV- or EBV-specific assays in the course of primary EBV infection, indicating that the two populations of antibodies were highly overlapping. The results demonstrate that primary EBV infection leads to the induction of IgM antibodies that specifically bind to widely used diagnostic antigens of HCMV. This has to be considered in the interpretation of HCMV-specific IgM assays.
Pricing American Options - an Important Fundamental Research in Pricing Financial Derivatives

In this paper, a comprehensive review for the valuation of American options is presented. Various approaches of pricing American option contracts are discussed, with pros and cons of each briefly outlined. The paper aims at providing a literature review for those who are interested in this very fundamental research, that provides a base of pricing any American-style derivatives.
Identifying Polymorphism Change and Impact in Object-orientated Software Maintenance

Since polymorphism in object-orientated (00) programming is an important feature and tool to increase the reusability and extensibility of object-orientated programs, understanding and identifying polymorphism changes and their impacts in an object-orientated program is very important in software maintenance. Although many published research articles have addressed the polymorphism feature in object-orientated programs, almost none of them have discussed software maintenance issues on identification of polymorphism change and impact. This paper proposes a formal software maintenance model for polymorphism in object-orientated programs, and discusses a systematic approach to track different polymorphism changes and their ripple effects. In addition, it reports on the implementation of a relevant tool, OOTME, and its use on two case studies.
The personal and social benefits of urban agriculture experienced by cultivators on the Cape Flats

ABSTRACT Urban agriculture is considered a grassroots solution to food security in Africa. Research consistently supports this belief, and in South Africa urban agriculture is promoted by national and local government. One city supporting urban agriculture is Cape Town, the only South African city with an urban agriculture policy. Although many questions remain regarding the sustainability of non-governmental organisation (NGO)-supported urban agriculture projects in Cape Town and their contribution to food security, this study argues that one must look beyond economics and the physical benefits of urban agriculture to the personal and social benefits. By capturing the lived experiences of cultivators on the Cape Flats in Cape Town, the study shows that urban agriculture not only contributes to food security but builds social capital, which improves livelihood strategies and interpersonal relations. This is especially the case where urban agriculture projects are facilitated by NGOs that fund, train and oversee cultivators in these impoverished communities.
Resilient transactive control in microgrids under dynamic load altering attacks

A transactive control algorithm is proposed to manage distributed energy resources (DERs) and loads dynamically under cyber-physical attacks. Since demand response (DR) programs in a microgrid can be affected by cyber-physical attacks, it is studied a particular attack called dynamic-load altering attack (D-LAA). A transactive control algorithm based on population games theory is implemented in order to test the stability of the microgrid under D-LAA. A case study in a WSCC 9-bus is proposed. Finally, the main results of the transactive control algorithm are validated by simulations.
Ulinastatin inhibited sepsis‐induced spinal inflammation to alleviate peripheral neuromuscular dysfunction in an experimental rat model of neuromyopathy

Sepsis initiates a neuroinflammatory cascade that contributes to spinal cord inflammation and behavioral impairment, and Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) is an important mediator of this cascade. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that ulinastatin (ULI) inhibits sepsis‐induced spinal inflammation to alleviate peripheral neuromuscular dysfunction through the TLR4/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/NF‐κB signaling pathway. Muscular function, spinal cord water content, and cytokine levels of spinal cord were tested in TLR4‐inhibited rats subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The normal rats were intrathecally injected with different concentrations of ULI or normal saline 60 min before CLP. At 24 h after CLP, the activation of microglia/macrophage was detected by immunofluorescence staining; and the cytokines were assayed by ELISA. The protein expression level of the TLR4 and its downstream effectors (MyD88 and NF‐κB), the neuregulin‐1, and the γ‐ and α7‐nicotinic acetylcholine receptor was measured using western blotting. The protein expression of TLR4 in the spinal cord reached a maximum at 24 h post‐CLP. Compared to the sham rats, the TLR4‐inhibited rats showed attenuated functional impairment and cytokine release. ULI (5000 U/kg ) treatment pre‐CLP significantly reduced the number of TLR4‐positive microglia/macrophages as well as inflammatory mediator release in septic rats. Furthermore, the levels of TLR4, MyD88, and NF‐κB and the expression level of γ‐/α7‐nicotinic acetylcholine receptors also decreased after ULI treatment. ULI administration may improve patient outcome by reducing the spinal inflammation through a mechanism involving the TLR4/MyD88/NF‐κB signaling in sepsis.
Innovation and international business

Abstract While classical economic theories of growth emphasised international capital accumulation, and finance-based theories of foreign investment stressed international interest rate differentials and risk reduction, the technological accumulation approach examines international knowledge building by multinational enterprises and their international business (IB) networks. The two processes of innovation and internationalisation have become ever more interconnected as central drivers of development since the first industrial revolution, through to today’s information age. The increasing significance of the knowledge-seeking motive for IB networks and of competence-creating subsidiary activities at a local level have linked localised innovation systems to IB and to international knowledge exchange. From a locational perspective, international knowledge connectivity has become critical for sustained innovation and growth. The shift of techno-socio-economic paradigm in the information age is associated with a shift in the character of IB and innovation, with critical implications for IB theory and concepts.
Effect of Exposure to Smoking in Movies on Young Adult Smoking in New Zealand

Onscreen Smoking Is a Form of Tobacco Marketing Tobacco advertising has been prohibited in New Zealand since 1990, and the government has set a goal of becoming a smokefree nation by 2025. However, tobacco marketing persists indirectly through smoking in motion pictures, and there is strong evidence that exposure to onscreen smoking causes young people to start smoking. We investigated the relationship between exposure to smoking in movies and youth smoking initiation among New Zealand young adults. Data from an online survey of 419 smokers and non-smokers aged 18 to 25 were used to estimate respondents’ exposure to smoking occurrences in 50 randomly-selected movies from the 423 US top box office movies released between 2008 and 2012. Analyses involved calculating movie smoking exposure (MSE) for each respondent, using logistic regression to analyse the relationship between MSE and current smoking behaviour, and estimating the attributable fraction due to smoking in movies. Effect of Smoking in Movies on New Zealand Youth Exposure to smoking occurrences in movies was associated with current smoking status. After allowing for the influence of family, friends and co-workers, age and rebelliousness, respondents’ likelihood of smoking increased by 11% for every 100-incident increase in exposure to smoking incidents, (aOR1.11; p< .05). The estimated attributable fraction due to smoking in movies was 54%; this risk could be substantially reduced by eliminating smoking from movies currently rated as appropriate for youth. We conclude that exposure to smoking in movies remains a potent risk factor associated with smoking among young adults, even in a progressive tobacco control setting such as New Zealand. Harmonising the age of legal tobacco purchase (18) with the age at which it is legal to view smoking in movies would support New Zealand’s smokefree 2025 goal.
Early Sport Specialization: Roots, Effectiveness, Risks

Year-round training in a single sport beginning at a relatively young age is increasingly common among youth. Contributing factors include perceptions of Eastern European sport programs, a parent's desire to give his or her child an edge, labeling youth as talented at an early age, pursuit of scholarships and professional contracts, the sporting goods and services industry, and expertise research. The factors interact with the demands of sport systems. Limiting experiences to a single sport is not the best path to elite status. Risks of early specialization include social isolation, overdependence, burnout, and perhaps risk of overuse injury. Commitment to a single sport at an early age immerses a youngster in a complex world regulated by adults, which is a setting that facilitates manipulation - social, dietary, chemical, and commercial. Youth sport must be kept in perspective. Participants, including talented young athletes, are children and adolescents with the needs of children and adolescents.
The polypeptides of isolated brain 10nm filaments and their association with polymerized tubulin.

Brain 10 nm filaments were isolated from bovine, rabbit and rat brains by a modification of an existing procedure. The overall polypeptide composition of these preparations was similar to that previously reported for brain neurofilaments. In addition to the major polypeptide component, which has mol. wt. approx. 50 000, three other polypeptides with chain mol. wts. approx. 210 000, 155 000 and 70 000, which correspond to peripheral-nerve neurofilament polypeptides, were consistently found to be present. The mol. wt. -50 000 species was found to be heterogeneous and may contain a component derived from the mol. wt. 70 000 polypeptide. The three higher-molecular-weight polypeptides did not appear to be obviously homologous or to be homologous with myosin or Myxicola neurofilament polypeptides. These same three higher-molecular-weight components were shown to be identical with the polypeptides probably responsible for the 10 nm filaments formed during the early cycles of the tubulin-purification protocol.
A 9-bit 50MS/s asynchronous SAR ADC in 28nm CMOS

In this paper, a design of an asynchronous differential SAR ADC is presented. The ADC uses a dynamic two-stage comparator with a current source to improve linearity, a digital SAR control logic, bootstrapped sampling switches with body effect reduction, and a charge redistribution differential DAC with a monotonic capacitor switching procedure where the metal-metal capacitor unit is only 1fF for high power efficiency. At a sample rate of 50MS/s and a supply voltage of 1V, the 9-bit SAR ADC achieves an ENOB of 8.84 bit and consumes 45 μW, resulting in an energy efficiency of 2.01 fJ/conversion-step. The circuits are designed and simulated with parasitic models using a commercially available 28nm bulk CMOS process.
Influence of Trolls on Social Media Participation: Investigating a Social Movement

TREO Talk Paper Pratyush Bharati University of Massachusetts, Boston Pratyush.Bharati@umb.edu Carol Lee University of Massachusetts, Boston Carol.Lee002@umb.edu Romilla Syed University of Massachusetts, Boston Romilla.Syed@umb.edu Abstract Trolls continue to play a significant role on social media. Despite being a common online social phenomenon trolling rarely has been the focus of academic research in information systems. It is not sufficient to understand internet trolls in general but rather in specific organizational and social contexts. This research study examines how social media troll behavior will affect online participation in social movements. Scholarship in the domain of social media based mobilization and repression is also commencing, yet, the lacunae lie in the lack of emphasis on a solid theoretical grounding of the phenomenon.
A Combined Immunofluorescence-DNA-Fluorescence Staining Technique for Enumeration of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans in a Population of Acidophilic Bacteria

An antiserum raised against whole cells of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans was allowed to react with a variety of acidophilic and nonacidophilic bacteria in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and an indirect immunofluorescence assay. Both experiments demonstrated that the antiserum was specific at the species level. This preparation was used to evaluate the role of T. ferrooxidans in the microbial desulfurization process. Leaching experiments were performed, and the numbers of T. ferrooxidans cells and other bacteria were estimated by using a combined immunofluorescence-DNA-fluorescence staining technique that was adapted for this purpose. Nonsterile coal samples inoculated with T. ferrooxidans yielded high concentrations of soluble iron after 16 days. After this period, however, T. ferrooxidans cells could no longer be detected by the immunofluorescence assay, whereas the DNA-fluorescence staining procedure demonstrated a large number of microorganisms on the coal particles. These results indicate that T. ferrooxidans is removed by competition with different acidophilic microorganisms that were originally present on the coal.
An amphipathic polypeptide derived from poly‐γ‐glutamic acid for the stabilization of membrane proteins

Difficulties in the extraction of membrane proteins from cell membrane and their solubilization in native conformations have hindered their structural and biochemical analysis. To overcome these difficulties, an amphipathic polypeptide was synthesized by the conjugation of octyl and glucosyl groups to the carboxyl groups of poly‐γ‐glutamic acid (PGA). This polymer, called amphipathic PGA (APG), self‐assembles as mono‐disperse oligomers consisted of 4–5 monomers. APG shows significantly low value of critical micelle concentration and stabilization activity toward membrane proteins. Most of the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)‐solubilized membrane proteins from Escherichia coli remain soluble state in the presence of APG even after the removal of SDS. In addition, APG stabilizes purified 7 transmembrane proteins such as bacteriorhodopsin and human endothelin receptor Type A (ETA) in their active conformations. Furthermore, ETA in complex with APG is readily inserted into liposomes without disrupting the integrity of liposomes. These properties of APG can be applied to overcome the difficulties in the stabilization and reconstitution of membrane proteins.