Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Helix–hairpin–helix protein MJ1434 from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii and EndoIV homologue TTC0482 from Thermus thermophilus HB27 do not process DNA uracil residues

The mutagenic threat of hydrolytic DNA cytosine deamination is met mostly by uracil DNA glycosylases (UDG) initiating base excision repair. However, several sequenced genomes of archaeal organisms are devoid of genes coding for homologues of the otherwise ubiquitous UDG superfamily of proteins. Previously, two possible solutions to this problem were offered by (i) a report of a newly discovered family of uracil DNA glycosylases exemplified by MJ1434, a protein found in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, and (ii) the description of TTC0482, an EndoIV homologue from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus HB27, as being able to excise uracil from DNA. Sequence homologues of both proteins can be found throughout the archaeal domain of life. Three proteins orthologous to MJ1434 and the family founder itself were tested for but failed to exhibit DNA uracil glycosylase activity when produced in an Ung-deficient Escherichia coli host. Likewise, no DNA uracil processing activity could be detected to be associated with TTC0482, while the protein was fully active as an AP endonuclease. We propose that the uracil processing activities formerly found were due to contaminations with Ung enzyme. Use of Δung-strains as hosts for production of putatively DNA-U processing enzymes provides a simple safeguard.
The Flattening Firm and Product Market Competition: The Effect of Trade Liberalization PRELIMINARY AND INCOMPLETE

It has been documented that firm hierarchies are flattening. CEO span of control has increased significantly over time while the number of levels in the hierarchy has declined. In this paper, we establish a causal effect of competition, from trade liberalization and changing trade costs on various characteristics of organizational design. We exploit a unique panel dataset of large US firms with detailed information on firm hierarchies and managerial positions over the period 1986-1999. We find that increasing foreign competition leads to flatter firms: (i) firms reduce the number of positions between the CEO and division managers, and (ii) increase the number of positions reporting directly to the CEO. We also find that competition increases performance-based pay for division managers and affects the reporting relationships of senior officers including Chief Financial Officers and Legal Counsel. The results are generally consistent with the explanation that intensified competition increases the value of delegation and fast decision-making, causing multidivisional firms to redesign their organizations to be more adaptive to local information while simultaneously coordinating activities across divisions.
A Prospective Study of Serum Trace Elements in Healthy Korean Pregnant Women

This prospective study sought to investigate serum levels of trace elements (cobalt, copper, zinc, and selenium) and to assess their effects on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Serum levels of trace elements in 245 Korean pregnant women (median gestational age at delivery was 39 + 4 weeks and interquartile range was 38 + 4–40 + 1 weeks) were compared with those of 527 general adults and those of previous studies in other ethnic groups. Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, neonatal birth weight, and congenital abnormalities were assessed. The median serum trace element concentrations of all pregnant women were: cobalt: 0.39 μg/L (interquartile range, IQR 0.29–0.53), copper: 165.0 μg/dL (IQR 144.0–187.0), zinc: 57.0 μg/dL (IQR 50.0–64.0), and selenium: 94.0 μg/L (IQR 87.0–101.0). Serum cobalt and copper concentrations were higher in pregnant women than in the general population, whereas zinc and selenium levels were lower (p < 0.01). Concentrations of all four trace elements varied significantly during the three trimesters (p < 0.05), and seasonal variation was found in copper, zinc, and selenium, but was not observed for cobalt. The prevalence of preeclampsia was significantly lower with high copper (p = 0.03). Trace element levels varied by pregnancy trimester and season, and alteration in copper status during pregnancy might influence pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia.
The contribution of school climate, achievement motivation, and self-concept to science learning achievement

This research was aimed at investigating the contribution of school climate, achievement motivation and self-concept to science learning achievement in the seventh graders of MTs Al-Khairiyah Tegallinggah in the academic year 2015/2016. The research used the expos facto design. There were 46 seven grade students chosen as the sample. The data on school climate, achievement motivation and self-concept were collected by using questionnaire and the data on learning achievement by using a multiple-choice test. The hypotheses were tested by using simple linear regression and multiple linear regression. The results of the research showed that: 1) there is a positive and significant contribution of school climate to the students’ learning science achievement (F = 39,88 and sig.5%); 2) there is a positive and significant contribution of achievement motivation to students’ learning science achievement (F = 31,01 and sig.5%); 3) there is a positive and significant contribution of self-concept to students’ learning science achievement (F = 15,91 and sig.5%); 4) simultaneously there is a positive and significant contribution of school climate, achievement motivation and self-concept to students’ science learning achievement (F = 15,27 and sig.5%). So, school climate, achievement motivation and self-concept can be predictors of students’ science learning achievement.
On the influence of uncertainties in MIMO decoding algorithms

With the introduction of multiple antennas at transmitter and receiver, new challenging problems have occurred. Many MIMO decoding algorithms have been proposed in the literature. However, many assumptions are too simplifying and obtained results based on oversimplified simulations showed too optimistic receiver performances. This paper treats the uncertainties that a receiver designer has to deal with: unknown noise level, channel estimation errors, different channel qualities, and presents receiver performances with respect to such uncertainties. Furthermore, few details in the ordering process of iterative MIMO decoding schemes are discussed.
Conceptualizing Moral Panic through a Moral Economy of Harm

This paper explicates a critical theory of moral panic, arguing that there is an affinity to be discerned between the sociology of moral panic and the sociology of moral regulation. It is demonstrated how efforts to distance sociological investigations of moral regulation from studies of moral panic have been founded on a narrow treatment of the ways in which the latter have conceptualized panics uncritically as irrational societal overreactions stemming from some variant of `social anxiety. ' Advocating a conceptualization which attends to the complexity of ways in which human conduct is governed, explanatory importance is situated in Valverde's formulation of `moral capital,' showing how her model not only enables a fusion between a political economy of the state and ethical subjectivity, but more crucial between panics and regulatory projects through the production of a moral economy of harm.
Compressed sensing and best approximation from unions of subspaces: Beyond dictionaries

We propose a theoretical study of the conditions guaranteeing that a decoder will obtain an optimal signal recovery from an underdetermined set of linear measurements. This special type of performance guarantee is termed instance optimality and is typically related with certain properties of the dimensionality-reducing matrix M. Our work extends traditional results in sparse recovery, where instance optimality is expressed with respect to the set of sparse vectors, by replacing this set with an arbitrary finite union of subspaces. We show that the suggested instance optimality is equivalent to a generalized null space property of M and discuss possible relations with generalized restricted isometry properties.
The universal envelope of the topological closed string BRST-complex

We construct a universal envelope for any Poisson- and Gerstenhaber algebra. While the deformation theory of Poisson algebras seems to be partially trivial, results from string- and M-theory suggest a rich deformation theory of Gerstenhaber algebras. We apply our construction in this case to well known questions on the topological closed string BRST-complex. Finally, we find a similar algebraic structure, as for the universal envelope, in the SU(2)-WZW model.
MID-INFRARED EVIDENCE FOR ACCELERATED EVOLUTION IN COMPACT GROUP GALAXIES

Compact galaxy groups are at the extremes of the group environment, with high number densities and low velocity dispersions that likely affect member galaxy evolution. To explore the impact of this environment in detail, we examine the distribution in the mid-infrared (MIR) 3.6–8.0 μm color space of 42 galaxies from 12 Hickson compact groups (HCGs) in comparison with several control samples, including the LVL+SINGS galaxies, interacting galaxies, and galaxies from the Coma Cluster. We find that the HCG galaxies are strongly bimodal, with statistically significant evidence for a gap in their distribution. In contrast, none of the other samples show such a marked gap, and only galaxies in the Coma infall region have a distribution that is statistically consistent with the HCGs in this parameter space. To further investigate the cause of the HCG gap, we compare the galaxy morphologies of the HCG and LVL+SINGS galaxies, and also probe the specific star formation rate (SSFR) of the HCG galaxies. While galaxy morphology in HCG galaxies is strongly linked to position with MIR color space, the more fundamental property appears to be the SSFR, or star formation rate normalized by stellar mass. We conclude that the unusual MIR color distribution of HCG galaxies is a direct product of their environment, which is most similar to that of the Coma infall region. In both cases, galaxy densities are high, but gas has not been fully processed or stripped. We speculate that the compact group environment fosters accelerated evolution of galaxies from star-forming and neutral gas-rich to quiescent and neutral gas-poor, leaving few members in the MIR gap at any time.
Values that Underlie and Undermine Well–Being: Variability across Countries †

We examined relations of 10 personal values to life satisfaction (LS) and depressive affect (DEP) in representative samples from 32/25 countries (N = 121 495). We tested hypotheses both for direct relations and cross–level moderation of relations by Cultural Egalitarianism. We based hypotheses on the growth versus self–protection orientation and person–focus versus social–focus motivations that underlie values. As predicted, openness to change values (growth/person) correlated positively with subjective well–being (SWB: higher LS, lower DEP) and conservation values (self–protection/social) correlated negatively with SWB. The combination of underlying motivations also explained more complex direct relations of self–transcendence and self–enhancement values with SWB. We combined an analysis of the environmental context in societies low versus high in Cultural Egalitarianism with the implications of pursuing person–focused versus social–focused values to predict how Cultural Egalitarianism moderates value–SWB relations. As predicted, under low versus high Cultural Egalitarianism, (i) openness to change values related more positively to SWB, (ii) conservation values more negatively, (iii) self–enhancement values less negatively and (iv) self–transcendence values less positively. Culture moderated value–SWB relations more weakly for DEP than for LS. Culture moderated value–LS relations more strongly than the socio–economic context did. This study demonstrates how the cultural context shapes individual–level associations between values and SWB. Copyright © 2017 European Association of Personality Psychology
Perimenopause Amelioration of a TCM Recipe Composed of Radix Astragali, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, and Folium Epimedii: An In Vivo Study on Natural Aging Rat Model

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been extensively applied as preferable herbal remedy for menopausal symptoms. In the present work, the potential of a TCM recipe named RRF, composed of Radix Astragali, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, and Folium Epimedii, was investigated on a natural aging rat model. After administration of RRF (141, 282, and 564 mg/kg/d), the circulated estradiol (E2) level increased accompanied by a reduction of serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). But no significant impact on serum lutenizing hormone (LH) level was observed. As a result of the E2-FSH-LH adjustment, the histomorphology degenerations of ovary, uterus, and vagina of the 11.5-month female rats were alleviated. And lumbar vertebrae trabecular microstructure was also restored under RRF exposure by means of increasing the trabecular area and area rate. Moreover, levels of hypothalamic dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) rallied significantly after RRF treatment. Results from our studies suggest that RRF possesses a positive regulation on the estrogen imbalance and neurotransmitter disorder, thereby restoring reproductive organ degeneration and skeleton deterioration. The above-mentioned benefits of RRF on the menopause syndromes recommend RRF as a potential candidate for the treatment of perimenopausal syndrome.
Blind Source Recovery: A Framework in the State Space

Blind Source Recovery (BSR) denotes recovery of original sources/signals from environments that may include convolution, temporal variation, and even nonlinearity. It also infers the recovery of sources even in the absence of precise environment identifiability. This paper describes, in a comprehensive fashion, a generalized BSR formulation achieved by the application of stochastic optimization principles to the Kullback-Liebler divergence as a performance functional subject to the constraints of the general (i.e., nonlinear and time-varying) state space representation. This technique is used to derive update laws for nonlinear time-varying dynamical systems, which are subsequently specialized to time-invariant and linear systems. Further, the state space demixing network structures have been exploited to develop learning rules, capable of handling most filtering paradigms, which can be conveniently extended to nonlinear models. In the special cases, distinct linear state-space algorithms are presented for the minimum phase and non-minimum phase mixing environment models. Conventional (FIR/IIR) filtering models are subsequently derived from this general structure and are compared with material in the recent literature. Illustrative simulation examples are presented to demonstrate the online adaptation capabilities of the developed algorithms. Some of this reported work has also been implemented in dedicated hardware/software platforms.
Adjuvant Trastuzumab in HER 2-Positive Breast Cancer

Dennis Slamon, M.D., Ph.D., Wolfgang Eiermann, M.D., Nicholas Robert, M.D., Tadeusz Pienkowski, M.D., Miguel Martin, M.D., Michael Press, M.D., Ph.D., John Mackey, M.D., John Glaspy, M.D., Arlene Chan, M.D., Marek Pawlicki, M.D., Tamas Pinter, M.D., Vicente Valero, M.D., Mei-Ching Liu, M.D., Guido Sauter, M.D., Gunter von Minckwitz, M.D., Frances Visco, J.D. , Valerie Bee, M.Sc., Marc Buyse, Sc.D. , Belguendouz Bendahmane, M.D., Isabelle Tabah-Fisch, M.D., Mary-Ann Lindsay, Pharm.D. , Alessandro Riva, M.D., and John Crown, M.D., for the Breast Cancer International Research Group*
"I Can Simply..." - Theorizing Simplicity As A Design Principle And Usage Factor

The usage of social software to support collaboration and knowledge management in corporate intranets is a pervasive topic in practice and research. However, there remain many open research questions concerning its socio-technical system design. To address this gap and to contribute to a deeper understanding of the role and success of corporate social software, we first identify and conceptualize simplicity as an influential design principle and usage factor. We propose a theoretical framework that helps us to empirically study the role of simplicity based on six case vignettes of corporate social software implementation and use. From the theoretical basis and the empirical analysis we develop a series of theoretical propositions and discuss implications for IS design and adoption.
Differential response of tellimagrandin II and total bioactive hydrolysable tannins in an aquatic angiosperm to changes in light and nitrogen

The submerged freshwater angiosperm Myriophyllum spicatum produces high amounts of polyphenols, especially gallotannins, with broad biological activity against insect herbivores, algae, cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria. To test whether resource availability explains the intraspecific variability of these hydrolysable tannins, the impact of light and nitrogen on the production and release of total polyphenols and tellimagrandin II, the major allelochemical present in M. spicatum was investigated. Axenic cultures grown in a controlled environment allowed to exclude any effects of herbivores, epiphytes or pathogens on phenolic compounds. Light had a strong positive effect both on tissue-bound and exuded polyphenolic compounds. Nitrogen availability neither influenced the total content of tissue-bound polyphenols nor the exudation of phenolic compounds. In contrast, at low nitrogen and low light availability tissue concentrations of the major polyphenol tellimagrandin II increased. These findings are important considering the allelochemical activity of M. spicatum polyphenols, especially tellimagrandin II. The results are assessed in the context of the recent debate on the validity of the carbon-nutrient balance hypothesis and possible other models.
The Munich Near-Infrared Cluster Survey. II. The K-Band Luminosity Function of Field Galaxies to z ~ 1.2

We present a measurement of the evolution of the rest-frame K-band luminosity function to z ~ 1.2 using a sample of more than 5000 K-selected galaxies drawn from the Munich Near-Infrared Cluster Survey (MUNICS) data set. Distances and absolute K-band magnitudes are derived using photometric redshifts from spectral energy distribution fits to BVRIJK photometry. These are calibrated using more than 500 spectroscopic redshifts. We obtain redshift estimates having an rms scatter of 0.055 and no mean bias. We use Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the influence of the errors in distance associated with photometric redshifts on our ability to reconstruct the shape of the luminosity function. Finally, we construct the rest-frame K-band LF in four redshift bins spanning 0.4 < z < 1.2 and compare our results to the local luminosity function. We discuss and apply two different estimators to derive likely values for the evolution of the number density, Φ*, and characteristic luminosity, M*, with redshift. While the first estimator relies on the value of the luminosity function binned in magnitude and redshift, the second estimator uses the individually measured {M, z} pairs alone. In both cases we obtain a mild decrease in number density by ~25% to z = 1, accompanied by brightening of the galaxy population by 0.5-0.7 mag. These results are fully consistent with an analogous analysis using only the spectroscopic MUNICS sample. The total K-band luminosity density is found to scale as d log ρL/dz = 0.24. We discuss possible sources of systematic errors and their influence on our parameter estimates. By comparing the luminosity density and the cumulative redshift distributions of galaxies in single survey fields to the sample averages, we show that cosmic variance is likely to significantly influence infrared selected samples on scales of ~100 arcmin2.
Twitter Influencers in the 2016 US Congressional Races

In this paper, I outline a method for collecting Twitter data to identify two types of political actors that are increasingly prominent in social media environments: influential politicians and politicized influencers. Influential politicians are those whose messages are readily retweeted (i.e., shared) while politicized influencers are users who retweet politicians’ messages and who themselves receive many retweets. I find that highly retweeted politicized influencers tend not to have formal political affiliations, and so are politically influential but not in an official political capacity. I then relate the Twitter data to electoral outcomes of the 2016 US congressional races. I find that, for richer candidates and incumbents, receiving many retweets is associated with higher vote percentages while, for poorer candidates and challengers, receiving retweets from highly retweeted users is associated with higher vote percentages. Better-off candidates should thus strive to be influential politicians, whereas worse-off candidates should aim to get retweeted by influential users. I argue that the rise of social media begs for a study of what we might call influencer politics, which allows for new empirical investigations into the role that social media play in shaping the democratic process.
Recrystallization Principles Applied to Whisker Growth in Tin

Tin whiskers found in electroplated deposits are known to be single crystals which spontaneously grow. Thus whisker growth can be regarded as a grain growth phenomenon. In this paper we examine whisker grain growth in the context of the well-developed principles of recrystallization process as applied to bulk metals that have undergone deformation and annealing. As a grain grows in whisker form, recrystallization process must take place as tin atoms rearrange in to the lattice structure of the elongating grain. Peculiarities of tin deposit structure that may cause whisker growth are discussed. Frank-Read source of dislocations is proposed as a possible mechanism for whisker formation. The effect of various factors on whiskering is analyzed.
The first–second language influence on framing effects and loss aversion of balanced bilinguals

Aims: We aimed to investigate the effects of language on the decision-making of bilinguals when they possess almost equal proficiencies in these languages. Methodology: Chinese–English bilinguals were asked to make decisions in Chinese or English. In the first experiment, we used a financial crisis problem to investigate the effects of language on the framing effect. In the second experiment, we used two gambling tasks to investigate the effects of language on people’s loss aversion in hypothetical and real bets. Data and analysis: Participants had similar proficiencies in Chinese and in English. Two hundred and twelve Chinese–English bilinguals took part in the first experiment. Their decision data were analysed using chi-squared tests. Ninety-six Chinese–English bilinguals took part in the second experiment. Their decision data were analysed using ANOVA and t-tests. Findings: Framing effects were reduced in the English condition. Chinese–English bilinguals were risk-averse for gains and risk-seeking for losses when choices were presented in Chinese, but this asymmetry disappeared when the choices were presented in English. However, the results indicated that the language did not have significant effects on Chinese–English bilinguals’ loss aversion in hypothetical and real bets. Originality: This is among the first studies to investigate the effects of language on decision-making in balanced bilinguals who have similar proficiencies in different languages. Significance/implications: The findings suggest that language still influences the framing effect, even in balanced bilinguals who have similar proficiencies in different languages.