Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The drosophila Chmp1 protein determines wing cell fate through regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling

BACKGROUND: Receptor down‐regulation by the multivesicular body (MVB) pathway is critical for many cellular signaling events. MVB generation is mediated by the highly conserved ESCRT (0, I, II, and III) protein complexes. Chmp1 is an ESCRT‐III component and a putative tumor suppressor in humans. However, published data on Chmp1 activity are conflicting and its role during tissue development is not well defined. RESULTS: We investigated the function of Drosophila Chmp1 and found that it is an essential gene. In the wing, loss of Chmp1 activity causes a cell fate change from intervein to vein, and interactions between Chmp1 and Drosophila Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (DER) regulators suggest that Chmp1 negatively regulates DER signaling. Chmp1 knockdown also decreases Blistered expression, which is repressed by DER signaling. We find that Chmp1 protein localizes to the late endosome in Drosophila embryos, which is consistent with its effects on DER signaling resulting from its function in the ESCRT‐III complex. CONCLUSIONS: Drosophila Chmp1 negatively regulates DER signaling, likely through its role in MVB formation. Loss of Chmp1 activity in the Drosophila wing induces a cell fate change from intervein to vein that should provide a useful tool for future studies of ESCRT protein activity. Developmental Dynamics 243:977–987, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The First Lithium Clinic in Hong Kong: A Chinese Profile

A study of 50 Chinese patients referred to the first lithium clinic in Hong Kong revealed a high prevalence of recurrent mania and rarely unipolar depression. A history of delusions and hallucinations, and re-diagnosis from schizophrenia to manic depressive psychosis, were common. Lithium was prescribed after 3.9 episodes of illness, and at a dosage of 1,191 mg despite a moderate serum level of 0.63 mmol/l. Laboratory monitoring was haphazard, and polypharmacy was common. This might pose unnecessary risks to some patients.
Multicenter Evaluation of a Modified Cefoxitin Disk Diffusion Method and PBP2a Testing To Predict mecA-Mediated Oxacillin Resistance in Atypical Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT Phenotypic variants of Staphylococcus aureus that display small colonies, reduced pigmentation, and decreased hemolysis and/or coagulase activity are periodically isolated by the clinical laboratory. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of these isolates is complicated, because many do not grow on routine AST media, including Mueller-Hinton agar (MHA) and cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth. This multicenter study evaluated cefoxitin disk diffusion for 37 atypical S. aureus isolates (156 readings) with MHA supplemented with 5% sheep's blood (BMHA), using mecA PCR as the reference standard. The correlation of two commercial PBP2a assays with mecA PCR was also assessed. Ten isolates were negative and 27 positive for mecA. No major errors for cefoxitin were observed, but 19.5% very major errors (VMEs) were observed at 24 h of incubation, and 17.2% VMEs were observed at 48 h. The proportions of VMEs ranged from 14.7 to 23.0% at 24 h, and from 13.3 to 17.6% at 48 h, across three testing laboratories. PBP2a tests were performed from growth on BMHA and blood agar plates (BAP), with and without cefoxitin disk induction. The Alere PBP2a SA culture colony test sensitivities for mecA were 90.0% with uninduced growth and 97.4% with induced growth from BMHA. On BAP, sensitivity was 96.0% with induced growth. The sensitivities of the Oxoid PBP2′ latex agglutination test were 85.7% with uninduced growth and 93.9% with induced growth from BMHA and 95.9% with induced growth on BAP. On the basis of these data, we recommend that laboratories perform only mecA PCR and/or PBP2a tests when requested to perform AST on atypical isolates of S. aureus.
Heterogeneity in the vanB Gene Cluster of Genomically Diverse Clinical Strains of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci

ABSTRACT Molecular analysis of 17 genomically unrelated clinical VanB-type vancomycin-resistant enterococcus isolates from hospital patients in Germany, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States revealed three subtypes of the vanB gene cluster—vanB1, vanB2, andvanB3—which was in accordance with previous subtyping of the ligase gene sequence. There was no correlation betweenvanB subtype and levels of vancomycin resistance. All strains studied carried a structurally conserved vanB gene cluster as shown by long-range PCR (long PCR) covering 5,959 bp of the published sequence in vanB1 strain V583. Restriction analysis of long PCR amplicons displayed one unique vanB1pattern and a second vanB2- and vanB3-specific pattern. The vanSB-vanYB intergenic sequences with flanking coding regions were identical within eachvanB subtype with one exception. A U.S. vanB2isolate had a 789-bp enlargement of this region containing a putative open reading frame (ORF) with substantial homology to an ORF in theClostridium perfringens IS1469 insertion element. The molecular heterogeneity within the vanB gene cluster has implications for the selection of PCR primers, as the primers must ensure detection of all vanB subtypes, and is of importance when considering reservoirs and dissemination ofvanB resistance. The molecular identity within thevanB1 and the vanB2 subtype indicates horizontal transmission of both gene clusters between isolates in different geographical areas. Restriction analysis of long PCRvanB amplicons may reveal specific varieties that can be used as epidemiological markers for mobile determinants conferring VanB-type resistance. The finding of three distinct vanBgene clusters should encourage a search for different environmental reservoirs of vanB resistance determinants.
Student perceptions of the acceptability of various code-writing practices

This paper reports on research that used focus groups and a national online survey of computing students at Australian universities to investigate perceptions of acceptable academic practices in writing program code for assessment. The results indicate that computing students lack a comprehensive understanding of what constitutes acceptable academic practice with regard to writing program code. They are not clear on the need to reference code taken from other sources, or on how to do so. Where code from other sources is used, or inappropriate collaboration takes place between students, there appears to be a feeling that any academic misconduct is diminished or even nullified if the students subsequently work with the code to make it their own. These findings suggest a need for the development of standards that elucidate acceptable practices for computing, combined with ongoing education of computing students.
A Re-examination of German Government Approval and Economic Performance: Is There a Stable Relationship between Them?

This paper studies the stability between the government approval and macroeconomic series for Germany during 1977–2004 allowing structural breaks. We first execute traditional cointegration tests without breaks, and the results reveal weak evidence of a link between the political and economic variables. However, using Hansen's (1992) tests for parameter instability suggest that such a relationship between politics and economy may be unstable. After allowing for the structural breaks in the series and conducting Gregory and Hansen's (1996) cointegration test, we find that a clear cointegrated relationship undoubtedly exists between approval rates and macroeconomics; we discover that some events indeed affect the government's popularity. Overall, once we locate structural breakpoints, such as when the West German government was succeeded by Helmut Kohl in 1982, then we begin to distinguish the actual cointegrated relationships between the approval rate of government and macroeconomics before and after the structural breakpoint.
Educational Leadership in an Online World: Connecting Students to Technology Responsibly, Safely, and Ethically.

This article highlights the issues that surround the use of digital technologies in today's educational institutions. From cyberbullying to online texts, education is caught up in the issues and is looking for a solution to help its faculities and students. This article provides a foundation for helping users to become digital citizens and begin taking responsibility for their and others technology use.
Sovereign risk and armed conflict: an event-study for colombia

We study the causal effect of recent landmark events of the Colombian armed conflict on the foreign perception of sovereign risk, as measured by the price of the Credit Default Swap (CDS) of Colombian bonds. We construct a Synthetic Control Group to use as the non-conflict counterfactual of the Colombian CDS price and compare its behavior around relevant conflict-event dates with that of the actual (conflict-affected) Colombian CDS. Results suggest that the impact of conflict on the foreign perception of sovereign risk is sizable but rather idiosyncratic, and depends on the political context surrounding each event.
Earnings Management in Response to a Windfall Tax in the Water and Sewerage Utility Companies in England and Wales

This study examines whether the ten Water and Sewerage group Companies (WaSCs) in England and Wales used accounting accruals to decrease earnings and in turn reduce political costs in response to the Windfall Tax. In particular, this study encompasses a sample period when there was widespread speculation about a potential Windfall Tax and the 'monopolistic' level of utility company profits. Therefore considerable incentives existed for managers to use the accounting discretion available to them to reduce potential political costs. The results show that WaSCs did not use income-decreasing earnings management in response to the Windfall Tax in the year prior to the 1992 or the 1997 General Election. In contrast the evidence obtained in this study suggests that income-increasing accruals were adopted. The results suggest other pressures were more important to these large group plcs than the threat of politically imposed wealth transfers.
Differential Localization and Function of PB1-F2 Derived from Different Strains of Influenza A Virus

ABSTRACT PB1-F2 is a viral protein that is encoded by the PB1 gene of influenza A virus by alternative translation. It varies in length and sequence context among different strains. The present study examines the functions of PB1-F2 proteins derived from various human and avian viruses. While H1N1 PB1-F2 was found to target mitochondria and enhance apoptosis, H5N1 PB1-F2, surprisingly, did not localize specifically to mitochondria and displayed no ability to enhance apoptosis. Introducing Leu into positions 69 (Q69L) and 75 (H75L) in the C terminus of H5N1 PB1-F2 drove 40.7% of the protein to localize to mitochondria compared with the level of mitochondrial localization of wild-type H5N1 PB1-F2, suggesting that a Leu-rich sequence in the C terminus is important for targeting of mitochondria. However, H5N1 PB1-F2 contributes to viral RNP activity, which is responsible for viral RNA replication. Lastly, although the swine-origin influenza virus (S-OIV) contained a truncated form of PB1-F2 (12 amino acids [aa]), potential mutation in the future may enable it to contain a full-length product. Therefore, the functions of this putative S-OIV PB1-F2 (87 aa) were also investigated. Although this PB1-F2 from the mutated S-OIV shares only 54% amino acid sequence identity with that of seasonal H1N1 virus, it also increased viral RNP activity. The plaque size and growth curve of the viruses with and without S-OIV PB1-F2 differed greatly. The PB1-F2 protein has various lengths, amino acid sequences, cellular localizations, and functions in different strains, which result in strain-specific pathogenicity. Such genetic and functional diversities make it flexible and adaptable in maintaining the optimal replication efficiency and virulence for various strains of influenza A virus.
COMMUTING IN TRANSIT VERSUS AUTOMOBILE NEIGHBORHOODS

Abstract In recent years, there has been a chorus of calls to redesign America's suburbs so that they are less dependent on automobile access and more conducive to transit riding, walking, and bicycling. This article compares commuting characteristics of transit-oriented and auto-oriented suburban neighborhoods, in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Southern California. Transit neighborhoods averaged higher densities and had more gridded street patterns compared to their nearby counterparts with auto-oriented physical designs. Neighborhoods were matched in terms of median incomes and, to the extent possible, transit service levels, to control for these effects. For both metropolitan areas, pedestrian modal shares and trip generation rates tended to be considerably higher in transit than in auto-oriented neighborhoods. Transit neighborhoods had decidedly higher rates of bus commuting only in the Bay Area. Islands of transit-oriented neighborhoods in a sea of freeway-oriented suburbs seem to have negligible .
The Organization of Firms in a Global Economy

* Preface * Introduction * Contractual Frictions and Global Sourcing Pol Antras and Elhanan Helpman * The Boundaries of the Multinational Firm: An Empirical Analysis Nathan Nunn and Daniel Trefler * Contract Enforcement, Comparative Advantage and Long-Run Growth Gianmarco I.P. Ottaviano * The Dynamics of Firm-Level Adjustments to Trade Liberalization James A. Costantini and Marc J. Melitz * Competing in Organizations: Firm Heterogeneity and International Trade Dalia Marin and Thierry Verdier * Optimal Choice of Product Scope for Multiproduct Firms under Monopolistic Competition Robert Feenstra and Hong Ma * Firm Heterogeneity, Central Locations, and the Structure of Foreign Direct Investment Stephen R. Yeaple * Export Dynamics in Colombia: Transaction-Level Evidence Jonathan Eaton, Marcela Eslava, Maurice Kugler and James Tybout * Fair Wages and Foreign Sourcing Gene M. Grossman and Elhanan Helpman * Organizing Offshoring: Middle Managers and Communication Costs Pol Antras, Luis Garicano and Esteban Rossi-Hansberg
EFFECTS OF CALCIUM, CITRIC ACID, ASCORBIC ACID, VITAMIN D ON THE EFFICACY OF 3 MICROBIAL PHYTASE IN BROILER STARTERS FED WHEAT-BASED DIETS I. PERFORMANCE, BONE MINERALIZATION AND ILEAL DIGESTIBILITY

A study was conducted to determine the additive effects of calcium (Ca) levels and the enzyme phytase, organic acids (citric, ascorbic acid), vitamin D on broiler performance and nutrient digestibility (d 3 1 to 21) in wheat-based diet. Broilers were fed the following diets at either 7.9, or 9 g/kg of dietary Ca with: 1) a negative control wheat-based diet, 3.15 g/kg available phosphorus (P) (NC); 2) NC + 500 units Ronozyme™ P phytase/kg diet; 3) phytase + 20 g/kg citric acid; 4) phytase + citric acid + 200 mg/kg diet ascorbic acid; 5) phytase + citric acid + ascorbic acid + 200 µg/kg diet vitamin D; 6) NC plus 1.35 g/kg 3 available P. These 12 diets were supplemented with 50 mg/kg of xylanase (Ronozyme™ Wx, Roche) and fed to four replicates of 20 birds each. Phytase addition at the high Ca level increased body weight (BW), feed intake (FI), and tibia ash. Increased protein and P digestibility at the lower level of Ca and both levels of Ca, respectively was also present. Subsequent addition of citric and ascorbic acid to the low Ca diets increased BW and protein digestibility by 11.1 and 23%, respectively over the values obtained from the control diet. The BW of chicks that received the positive control diet were similar to those that received the phytase, organic acids and vitamin D supplemented low-Ca, low-P diet. The addition of phytase with citric acid, ascorbic acid, 3 and vitamin D to the low Ca control diet improved BW and P digestibility by 18 and 60%, respectively. The 3 data from this study shows that for broiler chickens, at low-P (3.15 g/kg), low-Ca (7.9 g/kg) diets supplemented with microbial phytase, organic acids and vitamin D improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) 3 and gave a similar BW as a Ca- and P- adequate diets. These low P and Ca diets can result in a considerable reduction in the amount of excreted phosphorus and nitrogen.
Inequality and Growth

Using two unifying models and an empirical exercise, this paper presents and extends the main theories linking income distribution and growth, as well as the relevant empirical evidence. The first model integrates the political-economy and imperfect-capital-market theories. It allows for explicit departures from perfect democracy and embodies the tradeoff between the growth costs and benefits of redistribution through taxes, land reform, or public schooling: such policies simultaneously depress saving incentives and ameliorate the wealth constraints which impede investment by the poor. The second model is a growth version of the prisoner's dilemma which captures the essence of theories where sociopolitical conflict reduces the security of property rights, thereby discouraging accumulation. The economy's growth rate is shown to be a decreasing function of interest groups' rent-seeking abilities, as well as of the gap between rich and poor. It is not income inequality per se that matters, however, but inequality in the relative distribution of earning and political power. For each of the three channels of political economy, capital markets, and social conflict, the empirical evidence is surveyed and discussed in conjunction with the theoretical analysis. Finally, the possibility of multiple steady states leads the author to raise and take up a new empirical issue: are cross-country differences in inequality permanent, or gradually narrowing? Equivalently, is there convergence not only in first moments (GDP per capita), but in distribution?
Legislating Results

While most states have had legal requirements in place to conduct performance-based budgeting (PBB) for some time, little research exists that examines the content of these laws. This research examines PBB laws in states that received the highest and lowest scores from the most recent Government Performance Project (GPP) in budgeting for performance. Specifically, we examine the components of state laws that prescribe performance measurement development and protocols for measurement applicability in the budgetary process. Currently, 39 states have code prescribing some sort of performance-based budgeting process. Findings here indicate that all states scored by the GPP as strong users of performance information for budgetary decision making have PBB law, while just over half of states scored as weak in the use of this information to aid decision making have such law. Also, states scored as strong users of performance information for budgetary decision making have PBB laws that are "more comprehensive" than those of states scored as weaker users of such information. That is, state leaders in budgeting for performance have laws more likely to include specifics regarding performance measurement applicability across all budgeting phases—including measurement linkages to strategic plans, measurement reporting requirements, and stipulations regarding measurement and results evaluation and auditing. Perhaps most importantly, findings indicate that state leaders in budgeting for performance have PBB laws that codify shared responsibility among budgeting participants in developing and using performance information.
Building Online Transaction Trust through a Two-Step Flow of Information Communication

Abstract E-commerce businesses have endeavored to facilitate online transactions by establishing website reputations through use of digital security mechanisms to alleviate the uncertainty about online transactions. This study incorporates the two-step flow of communication theory to elaborate on the antecedents that underlie consumers' intention to purchase online. Using data collected from 457 online shoppers in Taiwan, the findings suggest that third party issued e-certification and consumers' previous experience significantly influence party trust. In addition, party-trust significantly impacts online purchase intention. These results provide a clearer understanding of how to successfully build transaction trust and consequential behaviors. This paper concludes with several research implications.
Land grabbing in Southern Africa: the many faces of the investor rush

The popular term ‘land grabbing’, while effective as activist terminology, obscures vast differences in the legality, structure and outcomes of commercial land deals and deflects attention from the roles of domestic elites and governments as partners, intermediaries and beneficiaries. This paper summarises initial evidence of the characteristics of recent acquisitions of public lands and land held under customary tenure in Southern Africa, and their distribution across the region. It draws attention to their diverse manifestations – to questions of size, duration and source of the investments; the commodities and business models through which they are implemented; the tenure arrangements and resources accessed; the terms of leases and compensation; the degree of displacement; labour regimes and employment creation; and changes in settlement and infrastructure. The article proposes a schematic analytical framework for distinguishing between different types of land deals and considers the implications for unfolding and future trajectories of agrarian change.
Selection of product line qualities and prices to signal competitive advantage

We investigate a firm's choice of prices and qualities of a product line to signal competitive advantage to potential entrants and to discourage entry. The market consists of customer segments with different valuations for product quality. We demonstrate that a higher quality and a higher price of each product in the line convey the firm's advantage to potential competition and prevents entry. We discuss implications for optimal product line selection when customers 'self-select' a product from the line. When product quality change is costly, the superior incumbent continues to select a higher quality and price for each product in the line to credibly substantiate its competitive advantage, though the distortions necessary from the optimal values are lower than before. After informative signalling and deterring entry, the firm retains the higher quality product line.
Public–private partnerships in the US and Canada: “There are no free lunches”1

Abstract Governments in many industrialized nations have made concerted efforts to reduce their immediate expenditures and to reduce the cost of major infrastructure projects. Public–private partnerships (P3s) are one emerging method that might do so. Despite the increased use of P3s, there is little independent research on the effectiveness of P3s as a public policy instrument. This article considers the major rationales for P3s, including cost savings and keeping project financing off government budgets. It then presents a transaction cost model that suggests that P3s can often be prone to conflict, high contracting costs, opportunism and failure. Evidence from six major infrastructure projects and a summary analysis of US prisons is then presented. These cases confirm that contracting costs have been high, as predicted by the model. Specifically, high contracting costs reflect the presence of complexity/uncertainty, asset specificity, the potential for ex post bilateral opportunism and a lack of contract management skills by governments. Given these circumstances, the private sector can behave opportunistically at the expense of the public sector as there has sometimes been a political imperative to prevent projects from terminating. Public partners have also behaved opportunistically after projects are in place. Unless public sector managers recognize that they must design contracts that both compensate private sector partners for risk and then ensure that they actually bear it, P3s have little chance of being efficient or effective service delivery mechanisms.