Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Information Systems Outsourcing: A Study of Pre-Event Firm Characteristics

Researchers in information systems (IS) propose several reasons why firms outsource their IS, including reducing costs, generating cash, focusing on core competencies, and gaining access to technical expertise. We examine support for these assertions by comparing the financial characteristics of firms that enter into large-scale IS outsourcing agreements with those of other firms in their respective industries prior to outsourcing. A year-by-year comparison around the time of outsourcing indicates that firms that outsource their IS have significantly lower overhead costs, lower cash reserves, and higher debt before the outsourcing event. Analysis of changes in financial characteristics reveals an increase in long-term debt and financial leverage and declining growth rates prior to the outsourcing event. We argue that firms enter into large-scale IS outsourcing agreements primarily to reduce costs and to generate cash. Consequently, they are more likely to outsource when they have lower cash reserves, higher debt, or declining growth. The management objectives stated in the annual reports of these companies at the time of outsourcing corroborate our major findings.
Black hole evaporation: a paradigm

A paradigm describing black hole evaporation in non-perturbative quantum gravity is developed by combining two sets of detailed results: (i) resolution of the Schwarzschild singularity using quantum geometry methods and (ii) time evolution of black holes in the trapping and dynamical horizon frameworks. Quantum geometry effects introduce a major modification in the traditional spacetime diagram of black hole evaporation, providing a possible mechanism for recovery of information that is classically lost in the process of black hole formation. The paradigm is developed directly in the Lorentzian regime and necessary conditions for its viability are discussed. If these conditions are met, much of the tension between expectations based on spacetime geometry and structure of quantum theory would be resolved.
Exploring Variable Ranges in Machine Learned Models

Experiments, simulations and machine learned models can all be used as ways of classifying a set of data into a certain class. When the dimensionality of the input data starts getting larger, classification results like this become difficult for humans to comprehend; it’s no longer possible to easily visualize how the various parameters contribute to the given answer. A novel approach for exploring and ranking the influence of input parameters of a Random Forest classifier is given. This method is successfully used to show slice thickness of an exclusion plot based on particle physics data.
Origin and differentiation of natural killer cells. I. Characteristics of a transplantable NK cell precursor.

To study the origin and differentiation of natural killer (NK) cells, we developed an assay for the transplantable precursor of NK(YAC-1) cells present in the bone marrow. Mice were depleted of endogenous NK(YAC-1) cells by injection of anti-asialo GM1 antibody, followed by lethal whole body irradiation. Normal syngeneic bone marrow cells were transplanted into such pretreated mice. Regeneration of NK(YAC-1) activity in the recipient mice was monitored by two different assays: the ability of spleen cells to lyse YAC-1 cells in vitro and the ability to clear i.v. injected, 125IUdR-labeled YAC-1 cells from the lungs. With both assays, a dose-response relationship between the number of bone marrow cells injected and the degree of NK(YAC-1) activity generated could be demonstrated. However, the lung clearance assay appeared superior because the NK regeneration could be detected earlier and with lower numbers of injected marrow cells. With this assay, several characteristics of the NK precursors and their differentiation could be defined. 1) The generation of mature, lytic NK cells from their transplantable precursor requires an intact "marrow microenvironment" in the recipient mice, because differentiation failed to occur in mice rendered osteopetrotic by estradiol treatment. 2) The NK(YAC-1) precursors lack the surface antigens (NK-2.1, asialo GM1, Qa-5, Thy-1) that are characteristically seen on mature NK cells. 3) The NK-precursors could be eliminated from the bone marrow with anti-Qa-2 or anti-H-2 antisera + complement, indicating that these two antigens are expressed on the precursors. The relationship between NK(YAC-1) precursors and multipotent myeloid stem cells (CFU-S) was investigated by utilizing W/Wv and Sl/Sld mutant mice. Bone marrow cells of W/Wv anemic mice, although markedly deficient in CFU-S, have a normal frequency of NK(YAC-1) precursors. Sl/Sld mice that lack a suitable microenvironment for the development of CFU-S allowed normal differentiation of NK(YAC-1) precursors when transplanted with normal bone marrow cells. Together, these data suggest that multipotent myeloid progenitor cells, as defined by the CFU-S assay, and the NK(YAC-1) precursors are not closely related.
Impact of routine cell block preparation on results of head and neck fine needle aspirates

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of head and neck masses is a common technique for providing cytology specimens to guide patient management. Cell blocks made from these specimens can be beneficial. Policy at our institution was changed from production of cell blocks only when requested by the pathologist to routine production for all non‐parotid gland head and neck FNAs. The program was evaluated in terms of its impact on diagnosis and specimen turnaround time (TAT).
On the ranking of the disease susceptibility locus in family-based candidate gene studies: a simulation-based analysis

The ranking of the p-value of the true causal single nucleotide polymorphism in the ordered list of individual SNP p-values is an important factor for achieving success in the ultimate objective of association studies identifying deleterious genetic variants. Thus, we undertake a study to assess the implications of complex, multimarker correlation structure, sample size and disease models on the ranking of the causal SNP. We carry out an extensive family-based candidate gene simulation study to analyze the position of the disease susceptibility locus in the complete list of individual SNP p-values ordered according to their statistical significance. We simulate data based on the haplotype distributions of ten randomly selected genes extracted from the HapMap database, various sample sizes (600,1000 and 2000) that current association studies employ, and disease models that mimic the characteristics of complex human disorders. We conclude that the average ranking of the causal SNP for sample sizes 600, 100 and 200 of 10.97, 9.65, and 8.34 are dramatically distant from the most significant and intuitively appropriate top position. This result is even more pronounced for genes with high average correlation and large number of common SNPs. Moreover, the gain of the DSL ranking when comparing sample sizes 600 to 1000 and 1000 to 2000, averaged over disease models, causal SNPs and genes, was approximately 1.3. These outcomes both reveal the importance of the sample size and quantify the magnitude required to unequivocally determine the identity of the DSL in family-based candidate gene studies. Our results show the overwhelming importance of large sample sizes in the localization of deleterious SNPs even under simple disease models. These conclusions possess pronounced importance for the design and result interpretation of candidate gene, next generation high-density genome-wide association studies, as well as for the construction and implementation of association tests based on the distribution of the most significant (minimum p-value) test statistics.
The combined effects of halothane and lamotrigine on excitatory postsynaptic potentials and use-dependent block in the rat dentate gyrus in vitro.

UNLABELLED Halothane affects synaptic transmission in the rat hippocampus with a 50% effective dose (ED50) correlating with clinical figures for minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration (MAC). Halothane dose-dependently suppresses glutamate receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in the rat hippocampus. It also inhibits voltage-gated Na+ channels. The anticonvulsant lamotrigine acts as a Na+ channel antagonist and inhibits glutamate release after Na+ channel activation. Given their known similar sites of action, the combination of halothane and lamotrigine may alter the inhibition produced by either drug alone. Extracellular recordings of field EPSPs were obtained from the dentate gyrus in the presence of 100 microM picrotoxin (to block GABAA receptors). Stimulation at 30 Hz (200 ms, pulse duration 0.1 ms, six pulses) allowed us to investigate use-dependent block (UDB). Once a stable equilibrium was established, halothane and lamotrigine were administered via the perfusate, and recordings were collected. Both halothane (n = 12) and lamotrigine (n = 6) exhibited reversible inhibition of the EPSP (ED50 0.28 mM [1.2%] and 100 microM, respectively) at low-frequency stimulation. Slices (n = 6) exposed to halothane 0.2 mM (0.75%), then to lamotrigine, showed reduced sensitivity compared with lamotrigine alone. Halothane 0.2 mM potentiated the control UDB (Pulse 6:31% +/- 11% control versus 20.5% +/- 2.5% halothane 0.75%; P < 0.05; n = 6). Lamotrigine had no effect on control UDB. The combination (n = 6) did not alter UDB effects compared with controls or lamotrigine alone. Halothane may reduce the effect of lamotrigine on glutamate release, either at the receptor or via effects at the inactivated Na+ channel. The site of interaction requires further examination. IMPLICATIONS The general and local anesthetic drugs halothane and lamotrigine act at both the glutamate receptor and the Na+ channels and, in our experiments, independently inhibited synaptic transmission at low-frequency stimulation. Although halothane potentiated control use-dependent block, lamotrigine had no effect. Halothane attenuated the inhibitory dose-dependent effects of lamotrigine on synaptic transmission at a low frequency. The clinical importance of this interaction in patients presenting for anesthesia remains unanswered.
Joint Source-Channel Coding for Deep-Space Image Transmission using Rateless Codes

A new coding scheme for image transmission over noisy channel is proposed. Similar to standard image compression, the scheme includes a linear transform followed by successive refinement scalar quantization. Unlike conventional schemes, though, in the proposed system the quantized transform coefficients are linearly mapped into channel symbols using systematic linear encoders. This fixed-to-fixed length "linear index coding" approach avoids the use of an explicit entropy coding stage (e.g., arithmetic or Huffman coding), which is typically fragile to channel post-decoding residual errors. We use linear codes over GF(4), which are particularly suited for this application, since they are matched to the dead-zone quantizer symbol alphabet and to the QPSK modulation used on the deep-space communication channel. We optimize the proposed system where the linear codes are systematic Raptor codes over GF(4). The rateless property of Raptor encoders allows to implement a "continuum" of coding rates, in order to accurately match the channel coding rate to the transmission channel capacity and to the quantized source entropy rate for each transform subband and refinement level. Comparisons are provided with respect to the concatenation of state-of-the-art image coding and channel coding schemes used by Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL) for the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Mission.
Comparing Test Scores Using Information From Criterion-Related Validity Studies

There is frequently a need to compare a client's test scores from different instruments. If the scores come from instruments that use the same scale, it is tempting to compare the scores directly. Unfortunately, this method can lead clinicians to believe that there is a large difference between scores when the difference is minimal. As an alternative, we outline a method for score comparison that uses information from criterion-related validity studies. Using three examples, we show why this method is more psychometrically sound, produces more accurate comparison scores, and requires little extra work for clinicians than the direct comparison approach. To make the score comparison process easy for clinicians to use, we include an appendix that demonstrates how to implement this method in Microsoft Excel and the free R program.
Antigenic structure of human hepatitis A virus defined by analysis of escape mutants selected against murine monoclonal antibodies

We examined the antigenic structure of human hepatitis A virus (HAV) by characterizing a series of 21 murine monoclonal-antibody-resistant neutralization escape mutants derived from the HM175 virus strain. The escape phenotype of each mutant was associated with reduced antibody binding in radioimmunofocus assays. Neutralization escape mutations were identified at the Asp-70 and Gln-74 residues of the capsid protein VP3, as well as at Ser-102, Val-171, Ala-176, and Lys-221 of VP1. With the exception of the Lys-221 mutants, substantial cross-resistance was evident among escape mutants tested against a panel of 22 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, suggesting that the involved residues contribute to epitopes composing a single antigenic site. As mutations at one or more of these residues conferred resistance to 20 of 22 murine antibodies, this site appears to be immunodominant in the mouse. However, multiple mutants selected independently against any one monoclonal antibody had mutations at only one or, at the most, two amino acid residues within the capsid proteins, confirming that there are multiple epitopes within this antigenic site and suggesting that single-amino-acid residues contributing to these epitopes may play key roles in the binding of individual antibodies. A second, potentially independent antigenic site was identified by three escape mutants with different substitutions at Lys-221 of VP1. These mutants were resistant only to antibody H7C27, while H7C27 effectively neutralized all other escape mutants. These data support the existence of an immunodominant neutralization site in the antigenic structure of hepatitis A virus which involves residues of VP3 and VP1 and a second, potentially independent site involving residue 221 of VP1.
The age of a rare mutant gene in a large population.

The problems of estimating the time of extinction of a mutant allele and other related quantities have been of considerable interest to population geneticists [1-4]. Nei and Li's work [2-4] are particularly relevant to human genetics, since they have estimated not only the number of individuals who will be affected in the future by presently known deleterious genes but also the time required for these genes to disappear from the population. It seems also interesting to ask a reverse question: Given that the present number of genes of a particular mutant allele occurring in a population is known, how long has the mutant persisted in the population? That is, what is the "age" of a mutant gene? This problem has been studied for selectively neutral genes by Kimura and Ohta [5] and Maruyama [6] independently. The topic of this note is to determine the average age of a rare mutant gene in large populations. There are many mutant genes, particularly deleterious ones, which appear to be very few in number and to be localized in a specific area of a human population. It is meaningless to assign them a gene frequency because such genes usually originate from a single mutant; they spread in a fairly restricted area and disappear in a few generations. Therefore the frequency varies depending upon the choice of reference population. For this type of situation, it is better to use a branching process model in which each gene reproduces independently of the other genes of the same mutant allele. This branching process model also assumes that there is no local density-dependent regulation of the population. Throughout this note, it is assumed that each mutant allele has unique origin and that there is no further mutation of the same type. An equivalent assumption is that the mutation rate multiplied by the number of the local population is much less than one. The mutant allele under consideration is denoted by A.
Expression of cyclin B 1 after induction of senescence and cell death in non-small cell lung carcinoma A 549 cells

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of mitotic cyclin B1 in the context of senescence and cell death in A549 non-small cell lung carcinoma cells. This was performed through analysis of the cell cycle, the percentage of SA-b-galactosidase-positive, as well as TUNEL-positive cells. Morphological alterations were studied using a transmission electron microscope. Changes in the intracellular level and the presence of cyclin B1 in the nucleus and cytoplasm areas were detected by flow cytometry and confocal fluorescence microscopy, respectively. In the cells exposed to various concentrations of doxorubicin, different kinds of cell death and senescent phenotype were observed. Alterations in the cell cycle and increased polyploidy may be indicative of mitotic catastrophe execution. Changes in cyclin B1 may also be strictly related to its different regulation at mitotic catastrophe and senescence programs. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2012, Vol. 50, No. 1, 58–67)
Prevalence of overweight and obesity in adult Nigerians – a systematic review

Background Obesity is a major health problem, and there is an increasing trend of overweight and obese individuals in developing countries. Being overweight or obese is known to contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality rates in various countries around the world. We therefore aimed to identify and discuss current epidemiological data on the prevalence of obesity in Nigeria. Method A systematic review of papers published on the prevalence of obesity among adults in the country was carried out. We covered work published in MEDLINE, PubMed, Google, and African Journals Online using the terms “prevalence of overweight and obesity in Nigeria” or “overweight and obesity in Nigeria. ” In addition, personal inquiries were made. The search limits were articles published from January 2001 to September 2012. Only studies that used the body mass index to assess for overweight and obesity were included. Results Four studies met the inclusion criteria out of the 75 studies reviewed. In Nigeria, the prevalence of overweight individuals ranged from 20.3%–35.1%, while the prevalence of obesity ranged from 8.1%–22.2%. Conclusion The prevalence of overweight and obese individuals in Nigeria is of epidemic proportions. There is a need to pay closer attention to combating these health disorders.
Agreement, significance, and understandings of historical responsibility in climate change negotiations

For over 20 years, Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change have struggled with the normative significance of history for the differentiation of responsibilities. Negotiations on ‘historical responsibility’ have been marked by considerable conflict between developed and developing countries. However, in 2010, the Parties acknowledged the concept in a consensus decision. This article analyses UN Climate Change Conference delegates' agreement with the decision, whether it reconciled conflict between interpretations of historical responsibility, and the significance that delegates ascribe to the decision for future agreements. The decision has not eliminated conflict between different interpretations. Delegates who understand historical responsibility as linking countries' historical contributions to climate change to their responsibilities to act agree more with the decision and foresee it having a stronger influence on future agreements than do those viewing the concept in more conceptual terms. The decision marks the start of negotiations concerning how rather than whether historical responsibility should guide operative text. This article demonstrates that (1) the divergent interpretations pose clear challenges for a necessary but demanding agreement on operationalization, and (2) focusing on an ambiguous version of proportionality between contribution to change and responsibility can become a first step for convergence between divergent positions.
NLRs, inflammasomes, and viral infection

NLR proteins are innate immune sensors that respond to microbial infection. Upon pathogen infection, some NLR proteins form large complexes, called inflammasomes, which activate caspase‐1 and induce the production of active IL‐1β and IL‐18. Activation of inflammasomes can also lead to an inflammatory cell death program, named pyroptosis. In this review, we will discuss the role of various NLR proteins in sensing different viral infections, as well as the strategies used by several RNA and DNA viruses to counteract the antiviral effects of NLR‐dependent inflammasomes.
Bovine Sex Determining Region Y: Cloning, Optimized Expression, and Purification

ABSTRACT Sex determining region Y gene (SRY) is located on Y chromosome and encodes a protein with 229 amino acids. In this study, ORF region of SRY with a length of 690 bp was synthesized using PCR and ligated to pET28a (+), then transformed in E.coli DH5α. E.coli BL21 (DE3) strain was chosen to express recombinant bovine SRY protein. A set of optimization steps was taken including different concentrations of IPTG, glucose, and temperatures at differed incubation times after the induction. Results showed that temperature points and different concentrations of IPTG and glucose had a significant effect (p < 0.01) on total protein and recombinant bovine SRY. After purification, various temperatures and concentrations of IPTG showed meaningful effects (p < 0.01) on the solubility of expressed recombinant SRY. Highest soluble rSRY protein amount was achieved where 0.5 mM IPTG and 0.5% glucose was used at 20°C during induction. In the absence of glucose, the highest amount of soluble recombinant SRY levels were achieved at the concentrations of 0.8 mM of IPTG at 28°C, 20°C, and 1.5 mM IPTG at 37°C during induction for 16, 24, and 8 hours, respectively. Regarding the results obtained in this study, it could be stated that by decreasing temperature and inducer concentration, soluble bovine SRY protein expression increases.
[Prolactin stimulation using the metoclopramide test in females taking oral contraceptives].

In 31 patients taking oral contraceptives (o.c.) for a period between 1 year to more than 3 years, basal serum prolactin levels and metoclopramide induced prolactin values were determined 30 and 60 minutes following an i.v. injection of 10 mg of metoclopramide. The basal prolactin levels were elevated in 7 women to more than 1,000 mU l. The 3 groups of patients taking o.c. with different estrogen doses showed higher drug induced increase of their prolactin levels than the controls. These differences were statistically significant between groups I and III and the control group. No differences could be found between the challenged values of the users groups. The prolactin increase challenged with 200 micrograms TRH in 5 women under o.c. was considerably smaller than that observed in the metoclopramide groups, but exceeded the TRH induced levels found in the controls. The significance of these findings is discussed with special reference to the promotion of prolactinomas.