Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Allelic exchange in Mycobacterium tuberculosis with long linear recombination substrates

Genetic studies of Mycobacterium tuberculosis have been greatly hampered by the inability to introduce specific chromosomal mutations. Whereas the ability to perform allelic exchanges has provided a useful method of gene disruption in other organisms, in the clinically important species of mycobacteria, such as M. tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis, similar approaches have thus far been unsuccessful. In this communication, we report the development of a shuttle mutagenesis strategy that involves the use of long linear recombination substrates to reproducibly obtain recombinants by allelic exchange in M. tuberculosis. Long linear recombination substrates, approximately 40 to 50 kb in length, were generated by constructing libraries in the excisable cosmid vector pYUB328. The cosmid vector could be readily excised from the recombinant cosmids by digestion with PacI, a restriction endonuclease for which there exist few, if any, sites in mycobacterial genomes. A cosmid containing the mycobacterial leuD gene was isolated, and a selectable marker conferring resistance to kanamycin was inserted into the leuD gene in the recombinant cosmid by interplasmid recombination in Escherichia coli. A long linear recombination substrate containing the insertionally mutated leuD gene was generated by PacI digestion. Electroporation of this recombination substrate containing the insertionally mutated leuD allele resulted in the generation of leucine auxotrophic mutants by homologous recombination in 6% of the kanamycin-resistant transformants for both the Erdman and H37Rv strains of M. tuberculosis. The ability to perform allelic exchanges provides an important approach for investigating the biology of this pathogen as well as developing new live-cell M. tuberculosis-based vaccines.
The Tunisia Wheat Market in the Context of World Price Volatility: A Stochastic Partial Equilibrium Approach

ABSTRACT Food security is a key objective of agricultural and food policy in Tunisia. The 2007–2008 food crisis highlighted the negative impacts of price volatility on international markets both in terms of food insecurity and budget exposure. Tunisian food subsidy expenditures ranged from $180 million to $710 million in 2006–2010, so volatile world prices meant volatile subsidy costs. Moreover, cereal production in Tunisia still has much instability due to climate conditions, which also influences imports and, consequently, subsidy expenditures. This study applies a structural model to conduct stochastic analyses of trade and policy impacts on food security and budget expenditures in the Tunisian wheat market. The methodology disaggregates durum wheat and soft wheat markets and generates projections of import prices of durum wheat and soft wheat, using projections of world prices provided by the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at University of Missouri (FAPRI-MU). The key innovation is the generated stochastic analyses of subsidy costs based on stochastic world price projections and stochastic domestic wheat yields based on historic yield variances. The analysis highlights the sensitivity of subsidy costs to world prices, volumes imported and domestic production, so that alternative policy tools can be considered.
King's law and food storage in Saxony, c. 1790-1830

This article presents new data on grain production, storage and prices in Saxony between 1789 and 1830. We contribute to three interrelated debates. First, we discuss whether monthly price increases were sufficient to cover storage costs, and how they relate to storage levels at the end of the harvest year. Second, we estimate price elasticity of demand, a test of “King’s Law”. Finally, we investigate the main determinants of grain storage in a framework that takes reverse causality into account. We find that price fluctuations within the harvest year were consistent with interest rates of about 5%. On the second subject, our findings are mainly consistent with “King’s Law”, according to which price elasticity of demand is relatively low with -0.4, and reject higher estimates of the recent literature. Finally, we show that storage quantity reacted in the predicted way to price shocks but way about as much driven by harvest variations. Between harvests, storage indeed smoothed food supply over time as theory predicts, however to a limited extent.
A Longitudinal Study of the Implementation of the Corporate Governance Code in a Developing Country

This exploratory study investigates firms’ implementation of a new corporate governance code in Mauritius, a developing economy. The authors rely on annual report disclosures during a four-year period (2004-2007). The authors analyze the level of corporate engagement with the code’s requirements, including corporate social responsibility initiatives, relative to a 2004 (when the code was enacted) benchmark over the three subsequent years. The study contributes to the literature in two ways. First, it provides much needed evidence of longitudinal implementation within developing economies that exhibit, or have started to exhibit, a combination of ownership and control features found in more advanced economies and characterized in the literature as an “emerging governance” model. Second, the authors develop a more comprehensive assessment of implementation using a scoring system that combines trichotomous weighting of each governance component (as 1, 3, or 5) and trichotomous rating of implementation of each component (as 0, 0.5, or 1). The authors argue that this system is superior to the un-weighted, dichotomous approach typically used in the literature. The analysis of weighted assessment scores for reveals a significant implementation of the code initially after 2004; but implementation began to level off by 2007 well below maximum assignable scores. Detailed requirements regarding directors’ appraisal and training, remuneration policies and remuneration information appear to be ignored by companies through 2007. A correlation analysis of the corporate governance scores and firm-based measures (level and changes) shows that the association between these different variables fluctuates significantly over the implementation window.
Intermediates Control Domain Swapping during Folding of p13suc1*

The 13-kDa protein p13suc1 has two folded states, a monomer and a structurally similar domain-swapped dimer formed by exchange of a β-strand. The refolding reaction of p13suc1 is multiphasic, and in this paper we analyze the kinetics as a function of denaturant and protein concentration and compare the behavior of wild type and a set of mutants previously designed with dimerization propensities that span 9 orders of magnitude. We show that the folding reactions of wild type and all mutants produce the monomer predominantly despite their very different equilibrium behavior. However, the addition of low concentrations of denaturant in the refolding buffer leads to thermodynamic control of the folding reaction with products that correspond to the wild type and mutant equilibrium dimerization propensities. We present evidence that the kinetic control in the absence of urea arises because of the population of the folding intermediates. Intermediates are usually considered to be detrimental to folding because they slow down the reaction; however, our work shows that intermediates buffer the monomeric folding pathway against the effect of mutations that favor the nonfunctional, dimeric state at equilibrium.
Botulinum toxin type A as a migraine preventive treatment. For the BOTOX Migraine Clinical Research Group.

OBJECTIVE To assess the safety and efficacy of botulinum toxin type A (BOTOX; Allergan, Inc) in the prevention of migraine. BACKGROUND Current migraine preventive therapies are often unsatisfactory because of their limited efficacy, adverse effects, and drug interactions. Botulinum toxin type A injections often reduce the pain associated with conditions such as cervical dystonia, achalasia, rectal fissures, and myofascial pain syndrome. An open-label, noncontrolled study of botulinum toxin type A suggested benefits for patients with migraine. DESIGN AND METHODS This was a double-blind, vehicle-controlled study of 123 subjects with a history of two to eight moderate-to-severe migraine attacks per month, with or without aura. Participants were randomized to receive single administrations of vehicle or botulinum toxin type A, 25 U or 75 U, injected into multiple sites of pericranial muscles at the same visit. During a 1-month baseline period and for 3 months following injection, subjects kept daily diaries in which they recorded migraine frequency, migraine severity, and the occurrence of migraine-associated symptoms. RESULTS Compared with vehicle treatment, subjects in the 25-U botulinum toxin type A treatment group showed significantly fewer migraine attacks per month, a reduced maximum severity of migraines, a reduced number of days using acute migraine medications, and reduced incidence of migraine-associated vomiting. Both the 25-U and 75-U botulinum toxin type A groups were significantly better than the vehicle group on subject global assessment. Botulinum toxin A treatment was well tolerated, with only the 75-U treatment group exhibiting a significantly higher rate of treatment-related adverse events than vehicle. CONCLUSIONS Pericranial injection of botulinum toxin type A, 25 U, was found to be a safe treatment that significantly reduced migraine frequency, migraine severity, acute medication usage, and associated vomiting.
Plasmid-Mediated Bioaugmentation for the Bioremediation of Contaminated Soils

Bioaugmentation, or the inoculation of microorganisms (e.g., bacteria harboring the required catabolic genes) into soil to enhance the rate of contaminant degradation, has great potential for the bioremediation of soils contaminated with organic compounds. Regrettably, cell bioaugmentation frequently turns into an unsuccessful initiative, owing to the rapid decrease of bacterial viability and abundance after inoculation, as well as the limited dispersal of the inoculated bacteria in the soil matrix. Genes that encode the degradation of organic compounds are often located on plasmids and, consequently, they can be spread by horizontal gene transfer into well-established, ecologically competitive, indigenous bacterial populations. Plasmid-mediated bioaugmentation aims to stimulate the spread of contaminant degradation genes among indigenous soil bacteria by the introduction of plasmids, located in donor cells, harboring such genes. But the acquisition of plasmids by recipient cells can affect the host’s fitness, a crucial aspect for the success of plasmid-mediated bioaugmentation. Besides, environmental factors (e.g., soil moisture, temperature, organic matter content) can play important roles for the transfer efficiency of catabolic plasmids, the expression of horizontally acquired genes and, finally, the contaminant degradation activity. For plasmid-mediated bioaugmentation to be reproducible, much more research is needed for a better selection of donor bacterial strains and accompanying plasmids, together with an in-depth understanding of indigenous soil bacterial populations and the environmental conditions that affect plasmid acquisition and the expression and functioning of the catabolic genes of interest.
Antiglobulin Testing for CR1‐Related (Knops/McCoy/Swain‐Langley/York) Blood Group Antigens: Negative and Weak Reactions Are Caused by Variable Expression of CR1

The Knops, McCoy, Swain‐Langley and York antigens have recently been identified as being on complement receptor type 1 (CR1, CD35, C3b/C4b receptor). We examined the relationship between CR1 expression and the reactivity of the CR1‐related blood group antigens with their specific antibodies. RBC from donors of selected phenotypes were tested by hemagglutination using two monoclonal antibodies to CR1, as well as anti‐Kna, ‐McCa, ‐S1a, ‐‘Kn/McC’ and ‐Yka. Monoclonal antibodies 3D9 and Ell required ˜250 and ˜400 CR1/RBC to obtain a positive reaction. Agglutination of antigen‐positive cells by human polyclonal antisera was related to the CR1/RBC: thus, cells expressing 20–100 CR1/RBC were negative and included the previously designated null phenotypes for this collection, 100–150 were weak or negative, and > 200 were usually positive. One RBC sample carried Yka on the 190,000 dalton (A or F allele), but not the 220,000 dalton (B or S allele) variant of CR1, and gave inconsistent reactions with Yka antisera. These data provide an explanation for certain of the serologic characteristics of the CRl‐related blood group antigen system.
Knowledge Transfer in University Quadruple Helix Ecosystems: An Absorptive Capacity Perspective

Increased understanding of knowledge transfer (KT) from universities to the wider regional knowledge ecosystem offers opportunities for increased regional innovation and commercialisation. The aim of this article is to improve the understanding of the KT phenomena in an open innovation context where multiple diverse quadruple helix stakeholders are interacting. An absorptive capacity-based conceptual framework is proposed, using a priori constructs which portrays the multidimensional process of KT between universities and its constituent stakeholders in pursuit of open innovation and commercialisation. Given the lack of overarching theory in the field, an exploratory, inductive theory building methodology was adopted using semi-structured interviews, document analysis and longitudinal observation data over a three-year period. The findings identify five factors, namely human centric factors, organisational factors, knowledge characteristics, power relationships and network characteristics, which mediate both the ability of stakeholders to engage in KT and the effectiveness of knowledge acquisition, assimilation, transformation and exploitation. This research has implications for policy makers and practitioners by identifying the need to implement interventions to overcome the barriers to KT effectiveness between regional quadruple helix stakeholders within an open innovation ecosystem.
Integrated nutrient management for higher yield, quality and profitability of baby corn (Zea mays)

Field experiments were carried out on sandy loam soil at Varanasi during pre -kharif season of 2004 and 2005 to evaluate appropriate fertility levels and N sources for baby corn ( Zea mays L.). Experiment was laid out in splitplot design and replicated thrice with three fertility viz. F , 60 + 12.9 + 24.9; F , 120 + 25.8 + 49.8, and F , 1 2 3 180 + 38.7 + 74.7 kg N+P+K/ha in main plots and three N sources viz. 100% N by fertilizer, 75% fertilizer N + 25% N by FYM and 50% fertilizer N + 50% N by FYM as sub plots. Significant increase in baby corn and green fodder yield and quality parameters (carbohydrate, sugar, starch, protein, N, P and K content and uptake) in baby corn were recorded with application of 120 + 25.8 + 49.8 over 60 + 12.9 + 24.9 kg N+P+K/ha. However, net returns increased significantly with each successive increase in fertility level upto highest fertility levels i.e. 180 + 38.7 + 74.7 kg N+P+K/ha. Application of N through fertilizer alone recorded significantly higher baby corn yield (2.30 t/ha mean) and net returns (Rs. 1,10,983/ha) over 50% fertilizer N + 50% N through FYM. Available N, P and K in the soil after baby corn harvest were highest with 180 + 38.7 + 74.7 kg N+P+K/ha and 50% N supplied through FYM.
Mergers and Acquisitions in Latin America: Industrial Productivity and Corporate Governance

ABSTRACT This article examines the impact of industrial productivity in the country of origin on transnationals M&As, directed from OECD countries toward Latin America in the period 1996–2010. It also analyzes the relationship between external mechanisms of corporate governance and transnational M&As. Employing a gravitational model at the industry level, we find that industry productivity in the country of origin promotes transnational M&A activity, although capital productivity affects it negatively. We also find evidence that higher standards of corporate governance in both origin and destination countries increase the likelihood of transnational M&As taking place.
Nanomedical studies of the restoration of nitric oxide/peroxynitrite balance in dysfunctional endothelium by 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 – clinical implications for cardiovascular diseases

Background Clinical studies indicate that vitamin D3 improves circulation and may have beneficial effects in hypertension. This study uses nanomedical systems to investigate the role of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 in the preservation/restoration of endothelial function in an angiotensin II (Ang II) cellular model of hypertension. Methods 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite (ONOO−) concentrations were measured in situ with nanosensors (200–300 mm diameter with a detection limit of 1 nM) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells of African American (AA) and Caucasian American (CA) donors exposed to Ang II. The balance/imbalance between NO and ONOO− concentrations ([NO]/[ONOO−]) was simultaneously monitored and used as an indicator of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) uncoupling and endothelial dysfunction. Results [NO]/[ONOO−] imbalance in Ang II-stimulated dysfunctional endothelium was 0.20±0.16 for CAs and 0.11±0.09 for AAs. Uncoupled eNOS and overexpression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase contributed to high production of ONOO−. Vitamin D3 treatment reversed [NO]/[ONOO−] to 3.0±0.1 in CAs and 2.1±0.1 in AAs – exceeding that observed in normal endothelium. Vitamin D3 restored uncoupled eNOS and endothelial function by increasing cytoprotective NO and decreasing the cytotoxic ONOO−. The beneficial effect of vitamin D3 is associated with a favorable rate of NO and ONOO− release, restoration of the [NO]/[ONOO−] and the overall decrease in the overexpression of eNOS, inducible nitric oxide synthase and NADPH oxidase. This effect of vitamin D3 may prove to be beneficial in the treatment of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, myocardial infarction, vasculopathy, stroke and diabetes.
Rulers as mass murderers: Political institutions and human insecurity

Relatively little research has focused on how different institutional arrangements in political systems affect leaders’ incentives to commit mass murder. Most studies analyzing genocide/politicide rely heavily on a dichotomous democracy-autocracy distinction, and implicitly assume that broad political participation is sufficient to ensure good public policy and benevolent political leaders. We address this deficiency by disaggregating political institutions into three dimensions: political participation, executive recruitment, and executive constraints. We argue that rulers are less likely to target civilians and cause human insecurity in political systems that effectively impose institutional limits on executive power. Using a random effects logit model, we test our hypotheses using Harff’s (2003) dataset on politicides and genocides, 1955--2001. By disaggregating political institutions, our analysis demonstrates that it is not democratic rule alone that mitigates mass killing, but the constraints on executive power in particular. Indeed, the level of political participation increases the likelihood that civilians are targeted. The openness of executive recruitment seems not to be associated with the incidence of mass killing. We also find that autocracies, regardless of type, are generally more likely than any other regime to target their own people. Ethnic diversity, however, is not related to mass killings, not even in political systems with limitations on executive power.
Women's employment and pay in Latin America

Women's role in economic development can be examined from many different perspectives, including the feminist, anthropological, sociological, economic and legislative. This study employs an economic perspective and focuses on how women behave and are treated in the work force in a number of Latin American economies. It specifically considers the determinants of women's labor force participation and male-to-female earnings differentials. Understanding the reasons for low labor market participation rates among women, or high wage discrimination against women, can lead to policies that will improve the efficiency and equity with which human resources are utilized in a particular country. This study uses household survey data to analyze labor force participation rates and wages earned by men and women in similar positions, paying special attention to the role of education earned by men and women in similar positions, paying special attention to the role of education as a factor influencing women's decision to work. The results show that, overall, the more years of schooling a woman has, the more likely she is to participate in the labor force. In addition, more educated women earn significantly more than less educated women. The book also attempts analyses of the common factors which determine salaries paid to men and women in an effort to identify what part of the male/female earnings differential can be attributed to different human capital endowments between the sexes, and what part is due to unexplained factors such as discrimination. Differences in human capital endowments explain only a small proportion of the wage differential in most of the country studies.
Fine structural investigation of Malassezia furfur. II. The envelope of the yeast cells

Summary. The general ultrastructure of the Malassezia furfur cell envelope is shown in a schematic model. Distinct layers such as the outer lamella, the cell wall and the plasma membrane and special structural elements of the cell wall are described and presented in electronmicrographs. Special attention was paid to the outer lamellar layer that seems to be equivalent to a capsule. It probably contains lipids as well as the cell wall, and it seems to participate in attachment processes.
Apparent digestibility coefficients of selected protein ingredients for pirarucu Arapaima gigas (Teleostei: Osteoglo ssidae)

Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of nine protein ingredients were determined for pirarucu Arapaima gigas , a Neotropical fish species with great aquaculture potential in the Amazon. ADCs of crude protein, energy and dry matter were determined by feces sedimentation in cylindrical-conical tanks. Experimental diets were composed of 795 g kg -1 of the reference diet, 5 g kg -1 of chromic oxide and 200 g kg -1 of the following test ingredients: fish by-product meal, salmon by-product meal, poultry by-product meal, hydrolyzed feather meal, meat and bone meal, blood meal, soybean meal, corn gluten meal and corn gluten feed. Blood meal, meat and bone meal and corn gluten feed resulted in low ADCs for pirarucu, whereas corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal and soybean meal were better digested, indicating that these ingredients may be potential protein sources in feed formulations for pirarucu. The other animal protein ingredients presented intermediate ADCs values and, together with blood meal and meat and bone meal, they demonstrate that the nutritional quality of the animal by-products tested could be improved, especially by enhancing the processing methods of this group of ingredients.