Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A plasma membrane‐bound putative endo‐1,4‐β‐D‐glucanase is required for normal wall assembly and cell elongation in Arabidopsis

Endo‐1,4‐β‐D‐glucanases (EGases) form a large family of hydrolytic enzymes in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In higher plants, potential substrates in vivo are xyloglucan and non‐crystalline cellulose in the cell wall. Gene expression patterns suggest a role for EGases in various developmental processes such as leaf abscission, fruit ripening and cell expansion. Using Arabidopsis thaliana genetics, we demonstrate the requirement of a specialized member of the EGase family for the correct assembly of the walls of elongating cells. KORRIGAN (KOR) is identified by an extreme dwarf mutant with pronounced architectural alterations in the primary cell wall. The KOR gene was isolated and encodes a membrane‐anchored member of the EGase family, which is highly conserved between mono‐ and dicotyledonous plants. KOR is located primarily in the plasma membrane and presumably acts at the plasma membrane–cell wall interface. KOR mRNA was found in all organs examined, and in the developing dark‐grown hypocotyl, mRNA levels were correlated with rapid cell elongation. Among plant growth factors involved in the control of hypocotyl elongation (auxin, gibberellins and ethylene) none significantly influenced KOR‐mRNA levels. However, reduced KOR‐mRNA levels were observed in det2, a mutant deficient for brassinosteroids. Although the in vivo substrate remains to be determined, the mutant phenotype is consistent with a central role for KOR in the assembly of the cellulose–hemicellulose network in the expanding cell wall.
Short Selling, Margin Buying and Stock Return in China Market

It is well argued that short sellers are informed traders, and short interests predict future stock returns significantly. However, most researches neglect margin buyers, as twin sisters of short sellers, and keep silent about their impact on stock returns. In this article, we demonstrate that margin buyers significantly impact predictive power of conventional short measures. We document that conventional short measures neglecting margin-buying activities, short interest ratio (SIR) and days to cover (DTC) fail to predict stock return unless our analysis is confined to lightly margin bought stocks. We also show that short-margin trading ratio (SMTR), revised short measure with consideration of margin buying, predict stock return more sharply. What is more, we can form profitable portfolios by the new short measure.
Veterans' attitudes to influenza vaccination in the setting of shortage of vaccine, 2004-2005

Objectives: To inform strategies for vaccinating elderly veterans, the objectives were to determine the proportion of veterans ≥65 years old vaccinated against influenza during the 2004-05 vaccine-shortage, the place they received vaccine, the reasons why they were/were not vaccinated, and their attitudes to the shortage. Methods: Survey-questionnaire mailed to a random sample of veterans ≥ 65 years-old. The questionnaire was derived from qualitative interviews during December 2004. Results: Among 682 respondents, 87% were vaccinated during 2004-05. More participants received vaccine at the Veteransâ€™ Administration hospital than previously (67% vs. 57%, P
THE ADAPTIVE SIGNIFICANCE OF DROUGHT ESCAPE IN AVENA BARBATA, AN ANNUAL GRASS

Abstract Drought strongly influences plant productivity, suggesting that water limitation has shaped the evolution of many plant physiological traits. One functional strategy that plants employ to cope with decreasing water availability is drought escape. For drought-escaping species, high metabolic activity (gas exchange) and rapid growth are hypothesized to confer a fitness advantage, because this enables a plant to complete its life cycle before the most intense period of drought. By growing an annual grass species (Avena barbata) under well-watered or water-limited conditions in a greenhouse, we directly tested whether high photosynthesis, increased stomatal opening, and early flowering are adaptive under drought. We measured phenotypic selection on instantaneous gas exchange and flowering time as well as the underlying biochemical traits that regulate photosynthesis. We found strong selection for earlier flowering in the dry environment, but no evidence that increased photosynthesis was adaptive under drought. Photosynthetic rate (A) and stomatal conductance (gs) were both adaptively neutral in the dry environment. Increased photosynthetic capacity (Amax) was maladaptive in the dry environment, perhaps because of the respiratory cost associated with maintaining excess enzyme and substrate capacity. There was no correlational selection on the combination of physiology and flowering time in the dry environment, suggesting that accelerated development and high gas exchange may not need to be tightly linked to promote drought escape. In contrast, there was selection for both high photosynthetic function (Amax and A) and early flowering in the well-watered environment. These combinations of traits may have been favored because they maximize both energy and time available for reproduction. Our results suggest that the benefit of increased photosynthesis for plant fitness may be strongest in the absence of drought stress.
Economic Integration and Trade Protection: Policy Issues for South Asian Countries

This article shows that economic integration acts as a viable instrument of protection for individual countries, when benefits of discriminatory protectionist policies like the multifiber arrangement are withdrawn. Using United Nations Conference on Trade and Development statistics for 1995–2013 and applying an extended version of the augmented gravity model, we show that the formation of a trade bloc like the South Asian Free Trade Area unambiguously promotes member countries' exports of textile and clothing at both intra-bloc and extra-bloc levels. The expansion of south-south trade is facilitated by the growing intraregional trade in intermediate goods. The creation of a regional value chain can shield the smaller countries in the context of enhanced global competition. (JEL F14, F15, F13)
Local detection of distribution level faults in a distributed sensor monitoring network using HMM

The Smart distribution system initiative requires an increased usage of the distribution feeder-level communication infrastructure to improve automation. Using a distributed sensor network for monitoring the distribution system is proposed by various researchers. Such distributed sensor communication architecture requires information to be received within an allowable delay and a minimum processing time at the control center. Increasing the number of sensors in the network also increases the data flow in the communication medium. Therefore, to reduce the burden in the communication medium, an event driven communication protocol could be utilized. This communication architecture assumed that the sensors used a local fault detection system to detect the abnormal event before communicating with the control center. This work focusses on local detection of faults in a distributed sensor network using a Hidden Markov Model considering a minimum processing time.
Beta-endorphin, Met-enkephalin and corresponding opioid receptors within synovium of patients with joint trauma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE Intra-articularly applied opioid agonists or antagonists modulate pain after knee surgery and in chronic arthritis. Therefore, the expression of beta-endorphin (END), Met-enkephalin (ENK), and mu and delta opioid receptors (ORs) within synovium of patients with joint trauma (JT), osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were examined. METHODS Synovial samples were subjected to double immunohistochemical analysis of opioid peptides with immune cell markers, and of ORs with the neuronal markers calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). RESULTS END and ENK were expressed by macrophage-like (CD68(+)) and fibroblast-like (CD68(-)) cells within synovial lining layers of all disorders. In the sublining layers, END and ENK were mostly expressed by granulocytes in patients with JT, and by macrophages/monocytes, lymphocytes and plasma cells in those with OA and RA. Overall, END- and ENK-immunoreactive (IR) cells were more abundant in patients with RA than in those with OA and JT. ORs were found on nerve fibres and immune cells in all patients. OR-IR nerve fibres were significantly more abundant in patients with RA than in those with OA and JT. muORs and deltaORs were coexpressed with CGRP but not with TH. CONCLUSIONS Parallel to the severity of inflammation, END and ENK in immune cells and their receptors on sensory nerve terminals are more abundant in patients with RA than in those with JT and OA. These findings are consistent with the notion that, with prolonged and enhanced inflammation, the immune and peripheral nervous systems upregulate sensory nerves expressing ORs and their ligands to counterbalance pain and inflammation.
Adrenaline: Mechanism of Action on the Pacemaker Potential in Cardiac Purkinje Fibers

The pacemaker potential in Purkinje fibers is generated by a slow fall in potassium current which allows the inward background currents to depolarize the membrane. Adrenaline shifts the relation between activation of the potassium current and membrane potential in a depolarizing direction. Consequently, during the pacemaker potential, the potassium current falls more rapidly to lower values and the inward currents then depolarize the membrane more quickly. The shift in the potassium activation curve produced by adrenaline is large compared to that produced by calcium ions. The molecular action of adrenaline may involve either a large change in the surface charge of the membrane or a change in the dependence of the potassium permeability on the local electric field.
Karrikins force a rethink of strigolactone mode of action

Strigolactones (SL) and karrikins (KAR) both contain essential butenolide moieties, and both require the F-box protein MAX2 to control seed germination and photomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. A new discovery that SL and KAR also require related α/β-hydrolase proteins for such activity suggests that they operate through a similar molecular mechanism. Based on structural similarity, a previously proposed mode of action for SL was also considered for KAR, but recent structure-activity studies suggest that this mechanism may not apply. Here we rationalise these observations into a hypothesis whereby different α/β-hydrolases distinguish SL and KAR by virtue of their non-butenolide moieties and catalyze nucleophilic attack on the butenolide. The products would be different for SL and KAR, and in the case of SL they have no biological activity. The inference is that nucleophilic attack on SL and KAR by α/β-hydrolases is required for their bioactivity, but the hydrolysis products are not.
Continuous infusion of low-dose topotecan: pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics during a phase II study in patients with small cell lung cancer.

Preclinical schedule dependency suggests that prolonged maintenance of low plasma levels of topotecan, a specific inhibitor of the nuclear enzyme topoisomerase I, results in optimal antitumor activity. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of topotecan, administered as single agent in second-line therapy as a continuous low-dose infusion for 21 days, were evaluated in nine patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Topotecan was administered i.v. as a 21 day continuous infusion every 28 days via an ambulatory pump. Dosages ranged from 0.4 to 0.6 mg/m2/day. Plasma levels of topotecan, the sum of topotecan, and its hydroxy acid congener and the N-desmethyl metabolite were determined at 1, 7, 14 and 21 days during infusion, using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method with fluorescence detection. Myelosuppression was the most important toxicity. All patients experienced anemia, being severe (grade 3/4) in 55% of all courses. Other adverse effects were relatively mild and reversible, and included nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue. Three patients achieved a partial response. Mean steady-state concentrations of topotecan (C(ss)) in the first course were 0.46+/-0.17 and 0.47+/-0.19 ng/ml after doses of 0.4 and 0.5 mg/m2/day, respectively. Steady-state levels of the total of topotecan and hydroxy acid (C(ss,tot)) were 1.28+/-0.25 (range 0.93-1.58) and 1.57+/-0.19 (range 1.43-1.70) ng/ml at doses of 0.4 and 0.5 mg/m2/day, respectively. The percentage of the administered topotecan dose excreted in the urine within 24 h was 40+/-14 and 1.2+/-1.0% for total topotecan and N-desmethyltopotecan, respectively. During the second course, C(ss,tot) was significantly higher (p=0.032, paired t-test), which suggests altered topotecan disposition. A sigmoidal relationship was found between C(ss,tot) and the percent decrease in platelets (r=0.76, p=0.018). We conclude that topotecan administered as a 21 day continuous low-dose infusion has activity as single-agent, second-line therapy in patients with SCLC. There was considerable interpatient and intrapatient variability in systemic exposure to topotecan. Differences in organ function might contribute to this variation. Serum aspartate aminotransferase and albumin levels were predictive of topotecan pharmacokinetics.
Risk disclosure, cost of capital and bank performance

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship among corporate risk disclosure, cost of equity capital and performance within banking institutions in a developing country setting. The authors argue that corporate risk disclosure reduces the cost of capital as investors attain better information and have confidence in the business and that less risk disclosure may generate ambiguity for potential stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach This study uses the population of all 30 listed banks on the Dhaka Stock Exchange, Bangladesh, for the years 2006 to 2012 and uses three-stage least-squares simultaneous equations to deal with endogeneity issues. Findings There is evidence that Bangladesh has voluntarily adopted the International Financial Reporting Standard 7 – Financial Instruments: Disclosures (IFRS 7) and Basel II: Market Discipline and that these standards enhance risk disclosure even where compliance is not compulsory. The cost of capital is found to be negatively associated with risk disclosure, which has an inverse relationship with bank performance. Originality/value This study provides a link between risk disclosure, cost of capital and performance. It fills a gap in the literature by providing a longitudinal study of risk disclosure in the banking sector of Bangladesh. This research also highlights the importance of appropriate risk disclosure for banks and suggests its importance in the process of fulfilling stakeholders’ demands.
Malaysian Product Design Identity: Review on the ‘Keywords’

Considering Malaysia as a multi-ethnic country, it is difficult to determine and define the cultural identity to represent Malaysia (Mun, Fern, - Chin, 2015), and use it as a characteristic in designing a product. This has been a challenging issue for most Malaysian local designers to design a Malaysia-look product based on a national identity characteristic. There is no proof that the product characteristic can be summed up or generalized based on the understanding of multi-ethnic agreement decision-making (Zainal, Othman, - Samsudin, 2015). With regards to Malaysia, the primary issue is about the national identity identification for product design. This issue then prompted to the question that would Malaysian designers be able to establish a Malaysian product with a national identity by looking at this multi-ethnic society? This research reviews the literature concerning Malaysian identity based on articles and visuals. It aims at getting the general keywords related to the components in culture and yet to be incorporated with the design characteristics at the beginning of ideation process. The basis of this study is referring to the dominant culture study by Edensor (2002), cultural identity components evaluation by Ibrahim (2015), and culture and identity ‘key issues’ by Clarke (2011). By understanding the cultural component within the society, pulling out the keywords, and validating the chosen keywords by conducting a survey, these keywords will act as the guidance in visualising a characteristic; and there will be greater chances for Malaysian designer to success in developing products with strong Malaysian identities.
Molecular cytogenetic and rapid aneuploidy detection methods in prenatal diagnosis

Cytogenetic analysis is an important component of prenatal diagnosis. The ability to rapidly detect aneuploidy and identify small structural abnormalities of fetal chromosomes has been greatly enhanced by the use of molecular cytogenetic technologies. In this review, we will present some of the molecular cytogenetic techniques available to the clinical cytogenetics laboratory. These include fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), quantitative fluorescence PCR (QF‐PCR), multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and microarray‐based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH). The benefits and limitations of each technology will be discussed in the context of prenatal diagnosis. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The effect of red clover isoflavones on menopausal symptoms, lipids and vaginal cytology in menopausal women: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Background. The unexpected results of the Women's Health Initiative study have decreased the use of conventional hormone therapy (HT), changing physicians' and patients' attitudes towards HT and increasing their interest in alternative options. Objective. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of isoflavones contained in red clover extracts (Trifolium pratense) on menopausal symptoms, lipids and vaginal cytology in menopausal women. Methods. Sixty postmenopausal women aged >40 years, non-users of HT, with Kupperman index score ⩾15, were double-blindly randomized to receive either a commercially available red clover isoflavone supplement (80 mg/day) or placebo for 90 days. Subsequently, after a 7-day washout period, subjects switched to receive the opposite treatment for a further 90 days. Kupperman index score was determined and fasting blood and vaginal cytologic sampling performed at baseline, 90 and 180 days. Results. Fifty-three women (88.3%) completed the trial. Mean age was 51.3 ± 3.5 years, 69.7% of the women were aged 50 years or more. There was no significant effect on body mass index, weight or blood pressure after either treatment phase. Baseline Kupperman index score decreased significantly after each treatment phase, with the decrease more pronounced after the isoflavone phase (baseline: 27.2 ± 7.7; after isoflavone: 5.9 ± 3.9; after placebo: 20.9 ± 5.3, p < 0.05). Red clover isoflavone supplementation significantly decreased the rate of menopausal symptoms and had a positive effect on vaginal cytology as expressed by improvement in karyopyknotic, cornification and basal cell maturation indices. Mean total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglyceride levels also decreased; however, only the latter was significantly lower compared with placebo. Conclusions. Compared with placebo, red clover isoflavone supplementation in postmenopausal women significantly decreased menopausal symptoms and had a positive effect on vaginal cytology and triglyceride levels.
Location optimization and distribution of polarization-mode dispersion compensators using polarizers

This paper investigates the benefits of using compensators with either linear or elliptic variable polarizers in order to mitigate the effects of polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) in high-speed optical fiber transmission systems. Such compensators are characterized by only one or two degrees of freedom and the optical average power of the compensated signal is used as a monitor signal, which simplifies the control algorithm. We maximize the tolerable differential group delay for the compensated system with two different approaches. In the first, we optimize the position of the compensator along the transmission line. In the second, we distribute a number of compensators through the transmission line. The attenuation of the optical signal, caused by the use of polarizers in the PMD compensators, induces additional noise in amplified systems. We assess the impact of this impairment and show that the noise enhancement is limited in systems with erbium-doped fiber amplifiers operating in gain saturation.
What Our Market Return Forecasts Really Mean: Convexity in Equity Returns and its Implications for Investment Sizing

You're probably familiar, at least in passing, with the 'convexity' of long-term bonds - i.e. that yields dropping 1% produce a bigger price move than yields rising 1%. A significant amount of brainpower has gone into understanding all the ramifications of this convexity in the fixed income markets, and the various issues and opportunities that arise are now very well understood. Equities, on the other hand, aren't typically regarded as convex instruments. We tend to think of equities directly in terms of their price, rather than their 'yield' as we do with bonds, and often think primarily about their annual return, which moves lockstep with price. But, as we discuss below, equities do have important convexity properties, and they tie in to two themes we think deserve more attention: how investors think about long-term returns, and how to properly size portfolios and investments. Our story of how equity convexity, return forecasts, and investment sizing all tie together starts in the late 1960s with a remarkable result from Robert C. Merton.
Long-Term Prevention of Congenital Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in ADAMTS13 Knockout Mice by Sleeping Beauty Transposon-Mediated Gene Therapy

Objective— Severe deficiency in the von Willebrand factor–cleaving protease ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13) because of mutations in the ADAMTS13 gene can lead to acute episodes of congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), requiring prompt treatment. Current treatment consists of therapeutic or prophylactic infusions of fresh frozen plasma. However, lifelong treatment with plasma products is a stressful therapy for TTP patients. Here, we describe the use of the nonviral sleeping beauty (SB) transposon system as a gene therapeutic approach to realize lifelong expression of ADAMTS13 and subsequent protection against congenital TTP. Approach and Results— We demonstrated that hydrodynamic tail vein injection of the SB100X system expressing murine ADAMTS13 in Adamts13−/− mice resulted in long-term expression of supraphysiological levels of transgene ADAMTS13 over a period of 25 weeks. Stably expressed ADAMTS13 efficiently removed the prothrombotic ultralarge von Willebrand factor multimers present in the circulation of Adamts13−/− mice. Moreover, mice stably expressing ADAMTS13 were protected against TTP. The treated mice did not develop severe thrombocytopenia or did organ damage occur when triggered with recombinant von Willebrand factor, and this up to 20 weeks after gene transfer. Conclusions— These data demonstrate the feasibility of using SB100X-mediated gene therapy to achieve sustained expression of transgene ADAMTS13 and long-term prophylaxis against TTP in Adamts13−/− mice.