Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
INTERGENERATIONAL PHENOTYPIC MIXING IN VIRAL EVOLUTION

Viral particles (virions) are made of genomic material packaged with proteins, drawn from the pool of proteins in the parent cell. It is well known that when virion concentrations are high, cells can be coinfected with multiple viral strains that can complement each other. Viral genomes can then interact with proteins derived from different strains, in a phenomenon known as phenotypic mixing. But phenotypic mixing is actually far more common: viruses mutate very often, and each time a mutation occurs, the parent cell contains different types of viral genomes. Due to phenotypic mixing, changes in viral phenotypes can be shifted by a generation from the mutations that cause them. In the regime of evolutionary invasion and escape, when mutations are crucial for the virus to survive, this timing can have a large influence on the probability of emergence of an adapted strain. Modeling the dynamics of viral evolution in these contexts thus requires attention to the mutational mechanism and the determinants of fitness.
Financial Reporting for Pollution Reduction Programs

We develop a conceptually grounded approach, based on the International Accounting Standards Board’s conceptual framework, to the accounting for the rights and obligations embodied in a cap-and-trade program. Under this approach, firms recognize allowances as intangible assets, initially measured at fair value with a credit to cash for purchased allowances and to a current period gain for allocated allowances; firms recognize current period expense and accrue liabilities, at fair value, as they emit; both asset and liability are remeasured at fair value at every reporting date. We apply our treatment and three alternative treatments, based on current practice and proposals considered by standard setters, to transaction-level data from the U.S. sulfur dioxide cap-and-trade program to calculate as-if financial statement outcomes using actual data. The alternative treatments result in noncomparable accounting for otherwise similar arrangements. To provide ex ante evidence on the effects of noncomparable accounting, we analyze reporting outcomes and show that alternative accounting treatments of the same arrangement result in meaningful differences in reported assets and liabilities, income volatility, and commonly used performance and leverage metrics. Because the financial reporting effects of noncomparable accounting are exacerbated by business combinations and plant-level purchases of allocated allowances that may have been initially recorded at zero, our analysis explicitly accounts for the effects of these transactions. Finally, we find that among the four accounting treatments we consider, reporting outcomes under our proposed approach are most aligned with investor perceptions, as indicated by the associations between the market value of equity and assets, liabilities, and income. This paper was accepted by Shiva Rajgopal, accounting.
The role of multilevel synergistic interplay among team mastery climate, knowledge hiding, and job characteristics in stimulating innovative work behavior

This study investigates the multilevel interplay among team-level, job-related, and individual characteristics in stimulating employees' innovative work behavior (IWB) based on the theoretical frameworks of achievement goal theory (AGT) and job characteristics theory (JCT). A multilevel two-source study of 240 employees and their 34 direct supervisors in two medium-sized Slovenian companies revealed significant two- and three-way interactions, where a mastery climate, task interdependence, and decision autonomy moderated the relationship between knowledge hiding and IWB. When employees hide knowledge, a team mastery climate only facilitates high levels of IWB if accompanied by either high task interdependence or high decision autonomy. In the absence of one of these job characteristics, knowledge hiding prevents higher levels of IWB even in the case of strong team mastery climate. The results suggest that multiple job design antecedents are necessary to neutralize the negative influence of knowledge hiding on micro-innovation processes within organizations.
Managing for Results Differently: Examining Managers’ Purposeful Performance Information Use in Public, Nonprofit, and Private Organizations

Performance information (PI) is only valuable when decision makers use it to improve their organization. Despite its importance, evidence on PI use is still limited, particularly about PI use in different contexts and for specific purposes. This article examines managers’ use of PI for specific purposes (purposeful PI [PPI]) and compares cross-sector differences in reported PPI use with a survey of nearly 1,000 top-level hospital managers in public, private, and nonprofit hospitals in the United States, while controlling for task. Findings show significant cross-sector differences in reported PPI use in three decision areas: personnel, day-to-day operations, and service efficiency, and that public managers use PI significantly less than their private and nonprofit counterparts in most decision areas. Results are discussed within the literature on performance management and cross-sector differences.
Outcome of surgical management of laryngeal carcinoma: a 5-year experience

Objective To investigate the outcome of surgically managed laryngeal carcinoma patients attending an outpatient clinic over a 5-year period. Material and Methods This was an analytical, retrospective, cross-sectional study. A total of 36 laryngeal carcinoma patients who were managed surgically with or without radiotherapy were analyzed. Results A total of 32 patients (89%) were found to be disease-free during follow-up for up to 5 years. Two patients (5.5%) died because of intercurrent infection and recurrence of the disease and two (5.5%) were lost to follow-up 5 and 7 months after surgery, respectively. Conclusions The results indicate that the best disease-free rates can be achieved by managing laryngeal carcinoma surgically with or without radiotherapy depending on the advancement and aggressiveness of the disease.
Effects of Air Temperature and Relative Humidity on Coronavirus Survival on Surfaces

ABSTRACT Assessment of the risks posed by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (SARS-CoV) on surfaces requires data on survival of this virus on environmental surfaces and on how survival is affected by environmental variables, such as air temperature (AT) and relative humidity (RH). The use of surrogate viruses has the potential to overcome the challenges of working with SARS-CoV and to increase the available data on coronavirus survival on surfaces. Two potential surrogates were evaluated in this study; transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) and mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) were used to determine effects of AT and RH on the survival of coronaviruses on stainless steel. At 4°C, infectious virus persisted for as long as 28 days, and the lowest level of inactivation occurred at 20% RH. Inactivation was more rapid at 20°C than at 4°C at all humidity levels; the viruses persisted for 5 to 28 days, and the slowest inactivation occurred at low RH. Both viruses were inactivated more rapidly at 40°C than at 20°C. The relationship between inactivation and RH was not monotonic, and there was greater survival or a greater protective effect at low RH (20%) and high RH (80%) than at moderate RH (50%). There was also evidence of an interaction between AT and RH. The results show that when high numbers of viruses are deposited, TGEV and MHV may survive for days on surfaces at ATs and RHs typical of indoor environments. TGEV and MHV could serve as conservative surrogates for modeling exposure, the risk of transmission, and control measures for pathogenic enveloped viruses, such as SARS-CoV and influenza virus, on health care surfaces.
Synchronization of unified chaotic systems and application to secure communication

Synchronization of unified chaotic systems and application to secure communication are discussed. A parameter adaptive rate and proper control for synchronization of unified chaotic systems in the present of uncertain parameters and external disturbances are presented, which can lead to achieve quickly synchronization between the drive chaotic system and the response chaotic system. After transformation of the useful signal, a secure communication based on chaotic masking is derived, this can guarantee the useful signal recover quickly from the receive system. Simulations show that the synchronization of unified chaotic systems and secure communication are feasible and effective.
Quench limit cycle using different dither signal in a servo motor system

This paper concerns about the implementation of dither signals to quench the undesirable limit cycle was produced by saturation and backlash in a dc servo motor system. Various shapes of dither signals are injected into the system. Simulation results show that three dither signals evidently work differently. In this system, sinusoidal and saw-tooth dither can quench the limit cycle better than square wave dither.
Internal audience segmentation and diversity in internal communication

Purpose Workforce diversity is becoming a crucial matter in the area of internal communication. Realizing that there are multiple brackets within the body of a workforce (i.e. internal audience), the purpose of this paper is to develop an intermediate approach to manage diversity by segmenting the internal audience. Design/methodology/approach Developing a segmentation approach for managing diversity, the authors recommended the use of a few mathematical methodologies, including the expectation-maximization algorithm, partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) methodology, and Chow test, on a surveyed data set collected from 1,236 nurses of the US healthcare system. A PLS-SEM model, including employees’ mission awareness, management’s mission fulfillment, employees’ mission fulfillment, and turnover intention, was examined with respect to two internal segments. Findings Using a simple set of demographic variables, the authors demonstrated a practical approach to segmenting an internal audience and showed that causal relationships in a nomological network of variables regarding mission integration are significantly different between internal segments. Based on the segmentation approach, the authors proved that managers, in an effort to gain maximum diversity, can mix and match both the centrifugal force of diversity and the centripetal force of diversity to value individuals and for mission integration in their practices, respectively. Research limitations/implications The authors highlighted a practical matter of internal communication by connecting the concepts of diversity and internal audience segmentation. However, the generalizability of the results must be assessed in other settings. Practical implications While managing diversity involves valuing employees as individuals, the segmentation concept can function as a practical and useful intermediate tool for managing diversity. Practitioners can utilize varied sets of segmented variables according to their contexts. Social implications The authors emphasized valuing employees as individuals and developed a managerial way to make personal differences an asset to the productivity of an organization and society. Originality/value Introducing a segmentation approach to internal communication and adopting a set of useful statistical techniques, the authors attempted to develop a unique managing model of diversity. The authors suggested a dynamic and substantial segmentation of an internal audience with a smaller set of appropriate variables in each context.
Activation of Phospholipase A2 by the Nociceptin Receptor Expressed in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells

Abstract: To gain insight into the molecular mechanism for nociceptin function, functional coupling of the nociceptin receptor expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells with phospholipase A2 (PLA2) was examined. In the presence of A23187, a calcium ionophore, activation of the nociceptin receptor induced time‐ and dose‐dependent release of arachidonate, which was abolished by pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin (PTX). Immunoblot analysis using anti‐Ca2+‐dependent cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2) monoclonal antibody demonstrates that activation of the nociceptin receptor induces a time‐ and dose‐dependent electrophoretic mobility shift of cPLA2, suggesting that phosphorylation of cPLA2 is induced by the nociceptin receptor. Pretreatment of the cells with PD98059, a specific mitogen‐activated protein kinase/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase kinase 1 inhibitor, or staurosporine, a potent inhibitor of serine/threonine protein kinases and tyrosine protein kinases, partially inhibited the nociceptin‐induced cPLA2 phosphorylation and arachidonate release. These results indicate that the nociceptin receptor expressed in CHO cells couples with cPLA2 through the action of PTX‐sensitive G proteins and suggest that cPLA2 is activated by phosphorylation induced by the nociceptin receptor via mechanisms partially dependent on p44 and p42 mitogen‐activated protein kinases.
Isolation of caudal, a Drosophila homeo box‐containing gene with maternal expression, whose transcripts form a concentration gradient at the pre‐blastoderm stage

We report the isolation and characterization of caudal (cad), a previously unknown Drosophila homeo box‐containing gene from the 38E region on the left arm of the second chromosome. This homeo box has diverged from the prototype sequence in Antennapedia, but contains subregions which are highly homologous. By Northern analysis and in situ hybridization experiments two transcripts of ˜2.4 kb were found to accumulate in nurse cells and in the oocyte during oogenesis. These transcripts generate a transient concentration gradient along the antero‐posterior axis at the syncytial blastoderm stage. At the cellular blastoderm stage transcripts accumulate in a single band from 13–19% egg length at the posterior end. One zygotic transcript of 2.6 kb is detected. At later stages this transcript is localized in ectodermally and endodermally derived tissues such as the proctodeum, the Malpighian tubules and the posterior midgut. The 2.6‐kb transcript is detectable until the onset of metamorphosis.
Analysis of macrophage bactericidal function in genetically resistant and susceptible mice by using the temperature-sensitive mutant of Listeria monocytogenes

Innate resistance to infection by Listeria monocytogenes is genetically controlled and is critically dependent on prompt macrophage recruitment to the sites of infection. Experiments reported here were designed to examine whether there was an additional, qualitative difference between the intrinsic bactericidal activity of the inflammatory macrophages of genetically resistant (C57BL/6J) and susceptible (A/J) hosts. To critically evaluate the bactericidal (rather than bacteriostatic) function of the macrophage, a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant of L. monocytogenes was developed. Mutagenesis was induced with nitrosoguanidine, and the ts mutants were isolated following enrichment with penicillin-gentamicin combinations. The ts mutants were found to carry the cell surface and biochemical characteristics of the original wild-type strain of L. monocytogenes. Inflammatory peritoneal macrophages from resistant C57BL/6J mice were found to have enhanced listericidal activity when compared with inflammatory macrophages from susceptible A/J mice. However, further analysis of the macrophage populations revealed that this seemingly qualitative advantage was due to the relatively greater proportion of inflammatory macrophages present in the inflammatory exudates of resistant C57BL/6J mice. When homogeneous populations of pure inflammatory macrophages were compared, no interstrain differences in their listericidal activity in vitro were seen. These results suggest that the susceptibility of A/J strain mice to L. monocytogenes is not due to an intrinsic deficiency of the listericidal activity of the inflammatory macrophage. The slight increase in bactericidal activity of macrophages from resistant mice that was reported by others (C. J. Czuprynski, B. P. Canono, P. M. Henson, and P. A. Campbell, Immunology 55:511-518, 1985) is caused by the difference in the relative percentage of resident cells present in the peritoneal exudates from resistant and susceptible mice.
Human cytomegalovirus tropism for mucosal myeloid dendritic cells

Human CMV infections are a serious source of morbidity and mortality for immunocompromised patients and for the developing fetus. Because of this, the development of new strategies to prevent CMV acquisition and transmission is a top priority. Myeloid dendritic cells (DC) residing in the oral and nasal mucosae are among the first immune cells to encounter CMV during entry and greatly contribute to virus dissemination, reactivation from latency, and horizontal spread. Albeit affected by the immunoevasive tactics of CMV, mucosal DC remain potent inducers of cellular and humoral immune responses against this virus. Their natural functions could thus be exploited to generate long‐lasting protective immunity against CMV by vaccination via the oronasal mucosae. Although related, epithelial Langerhans‐type DC and dermal monocyte‐derived DC interact with CMV in dramatically different ways. Whereas immature monocyte‐derived DC are fully permissive to infection, for instance, immature Langerhans‐type DC are completely resistant. Understanding these differences is essential to design innovative vaccines and new antiviral compounds to protect these cells from CMV infection in vivo. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Introduction: the challenge of adult chronic energy deficiency.

In Guatemala, in 1987, the term 'chronic energy deficiency' (CED) was being used as a term to indicate an inadequate household food supply. Since then, attempts to define, measure and assess CED have evolved, using the body mass index (BMI or weight/height) of individuals as the index of CED. An estimate of food intake or physical activity was incorporated into the early analyses, but has since been discarded as difficult and unnecessary because so many people of normal BMI were found to be inactive. Provisional cut-off points for low BMI were developed to define grades of CED in the same way as Garrow used higher levels of BMI to define different grades of obesity. The same BMI cut-off points were proposed for men and women in the absence of suitable data for proposing sex-specific cut-off points. Since then, we have been collecting and sifting worldwide data to test the validity of BMI as a measure of CED. FAO has helped in making data available with extensive information being obtained from China, India, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe. There is now clear evidence that those with a low BMI have more sickness, a lower work capacity, limited social activity, and a lower income. Mothers with a low BMI also have a greater proportion of low birth weight babies compared with those of normal BMI. Three challenges remain before confirming the use of BMI as the key to specifying a state of CED: Is it valid? Does it apply to individuals as well as populations? What are the causes of CED? (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Children and Young Adults Born to Preeclamptic Pregnancies: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Preeclampsia is an independent cardiovascular risk factor for the mother, and recent studies reveal that offspring of affected pregnancies also may have an increased cardiovascular risk. Our objective was to examine evidence for increased cardiovascular risk factors in children exposed to preeclampsia in utero. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on studies reporting traditional cardiovascular risk factors in those exposed to preeclampsia compared to controls. Information was extracted on the classic cardiovascular risk factors, including blood pressure, lipid profile, glucose metabolism, and BMI from articles published between 1948 and August 2011 in Medline and Embase. RESULTS: Eighteen studies provided cumulated data on 45 249 individuals. In utero exposure to preeclampsia was associated with a 2.39 mm Hg (95% confidence interval: 1.74–3.05; P < .0001) higher systolic and a 1.35 mm Hg (95% confidence interval: 0.90–1.80; P < .00001) higher diastolic blood pressure during childhood and young adulthood. BMI was increased by 0.62 kg/m2 (P < .00001). Associations were similar in children and adolescents, for different genders, and with variation in birth weight. There was insufficient evidence to identify consistent variation in lipid profile or glucose metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: Young offspring of pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia already have increased blood pressure and BMI, a finding that may need to be considered in future primary prevention strategies for cardiovascular disease.
Iron deficient erythropoiesis might play key role in development of anemia in cancer patients

Introduction Multifactorial pathogenesis is involved in anemia of cancer patients and defining the causes of anemia is not always simple. Methods The incidence of anemia among 4 major cancers (gastric, colorectal, lung cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma), and biochemical features of anemia using ferritin, CRP, hepcidin and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) were assessed. Anemia was defined either by hemoglobin (Hb) ≤11 g/dL or a drop of Hb 2 g/dL or more during anticancer treatment. Results Among the 345 patients including 152 lung cancer, 101 gastric cancer, 69 colorectal cancer and 23 hepatocellular carcinoma, 49 patients (14.2%) had anemia at their initial diagnosis of cancer. During treatment, 129 (37.4%) experienced anemia, and 34 (26.4%) were treated mostly by transfusion. Biochemical feature of anemia was examined with 39 patients' samples. When comparing to the reference value from general population, cancer patients showed numerically higher ferritin, sTfR, CRP and hepcidin level. Among the cancer patients, anemic patients had significantly higher ferritin (p = 0.050) and sTfR (p = 0.009) level compared to non-anemic patients. Conclusion Anemia is a common issue in cancer patients and is largely undertreated with sub-optimal diagnoses of cause. The rates of anemia increase significantly during anti-cancer treatment and appear to be largely associated with iron deficiency.