Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Corynebacterium diphtheriae employs specific minor pilins to target human pharyngeal epithelial cells

Adherence to host tissues mediated by pili is pivotal in the establishment of infection by many bacterial pathogens. Corynebacterium diphtheriae assembles on its surface three distinct pilus structures. The function and the mechanism of how various pili mediate adherence, however, have remained poorly understood. Here we show that the SpaA‐type pilus is sufficient for the specific adherence of corynebacteria to human pharyngeal epithelial cells. The deletion of the spaA gene, which encodes the major pilin forming the pilus shaft, abolishes pilus assembly but not adherence to pharyngeal cells. In contrast, adherence is greatly diminished when either minor pilin SpaB or SpaC is absent. Antibodies directed against either SpaB or SpaC block bacterial adherence. Consistent with a direct role of the minor pilins, latex beads coated with SpaB or SpaC protein bind specifically to pharyngeal cells. Therefore, tissue tropism of corynebacteria for pharyngeal cells is governed by specific minor pilins. Importantly, immunoelectron microscopy and immunofluorescence studies reveal clusters of minor pilins that are anchored to cell surface in the absence of a pilus shaft. Thus, the minor pilins may also be cell wall anchored in addition to their incorporation into pilus structures that could facilitate tight binding to host cells during bacterial infection.
Direct and indirect benefits and potential disbenefits of irrigation: evidence and lessons

This paper is a part of the multi‐country study carried out by the author at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in collaboration with national partners in six Asian countries (Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Vietnam) during 2001–2002. Based mainly on primary data collected from 5400 households in 26 irrigation systems, the study examines in detail the benefits and potential disbenefits of irrigation. The results indicate that irrigation benefits vary widely across systems, and depend on a range of factors including local conditions, system management, irrigation policy, and broader economic and political factors. The study suggests that indirect irrigation benefits could be larger than direct benefits through the multiplier effect. The distribution of irrigation benefits also varies widely by type of the benefit and the socio‐economic status of the beneficiaries. The direct benefits generally accrue to landholders while a significant part of the indirect benefits accrue to the landless and small farmers, positively contributing to their livelihoods. Further, the overall benefits of irrigation are large when irrigation‐ improving interventions, investments in infrastructure, improvements in system management and service delivery to farmers, are implemented in an integrated manner.
Is IMF Surveillance Biased

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is in the process of re-inventing itself with bilateral and multilateral surveillance emerging as a key function. The paper analyses how IMF surveillance has been influenced by political power that member countries exert at the IMF and through other geopolitical and economic channels. Using the financial market reaction to the release of Article IV Public Information Notices (PIN) as an identification tool, the paper finds that IMF surveillance contains a significant and economically meaningful political economy bias in favor of politically influential member countries. Equally importantly, this political economy bias influences economic policy, in particular by inducing and allowing governments to pursue more expansionary fiscal policies.
Limits on the Gunn-Peterson Effect at z = 5

We report new limits on the Gunn-Peterson effect at a redshift near 5 using spectroscopic observations of the z = 5 Sloan Digital Sky Survey quasar, J033829.31+002156.3, made with the Low Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (LRIS) and the High-Resolution Echelle Spectrometer (HIRES) on the Keck telescopes. Lower resolution spectrophotometrically calibrated observations made with LRIS over the wavelength region 4500-9600 Å were used to obtain a continuum shape and to flux-calibrate much higher resolution (R = 36,000) observations made with HIRES. The LRIS data show an Oke DA index of 0.75. Portions of the HIRES spectrum return to near the extrapolated continuum level. Including both statistical and systematic errors, we place an upper limit of τ = 0.1 on the regions of minimum opacity. We argue that, even if this opacity arises in underdense regions of the intergalactic gas, we require a high value of the metagalactic ionizing flux at these redshifts (Jν ≫ 4 × 10-23 ergs cm-2 s-1 Hz-1 sr-1 at z ~ 4.72) to produce a solution which is consistent with even minimum nucleosynthesis estimates of the baryon density. We also report the presence of an Mg II absorption system of extremely high equivalent width [Wλ, rest(2796) = 1.73 Å] at z = 2.304.
Association between wetland presence and incidence of Salmonella enterica serotype Javiana infections in selected US sites, 2005–2011

SUMMARY Salmonella causes an estimated 1·2 million illnesses annually in the USA. Salmonella enterica serotype Javiana (serotype Javiana) is the fourth most common serotype isolated from humans, with the majority of illnesses occurring in southeastern states. The percentage of wetland cover by wetland type and the average incidence rates of serotype Javiana infection in selected counties of the Foodborne Disease Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) were examined. This analysis explored the relationship between wetland environments and incidence in order to assess whether regional differences in environmental habitats may be associated with observed variations in incidence. Findings suggest that environmental habitats may support reservoirs or contribute to the persistence of serotype Javiana, and may frequently contribute to the transmission of infection compared with other Salmonella serotypes.
Concentration‐Based Merger Tests and Vertical Market Structure

In this article I derive a concentration measure for markets with multiple vertical segments. I derive the measure using a model of vertical contracting in which upstream and downstream firms bargain bilaterally and may be integrated. The resulting vertical Hirschman‐Herfindahl index provides a measure of the degree of distortion in the vertical chain as a result of both the horizontal concentration in a segment and the degree of its vertical integration. This measure distinguishes between the differing competitive impacts of upstream and downstream competition, establishes the relative size of integrated firms in each segment, and provides a quantitative threshold test for vertical mergers.
Fitting pole-zero micromechanical models to cochlear response measurements.

An efficient way of describing the linear micromechanical response of the cochlea is in terms of its poles and zeros. Pole-zero models with local scaling symmetry are derived for both one and two degree-of-freedom micromechanical systems. These elements are then used in a model of the coupled cochlea, which is optimised to minimise the mean square difference between its frequency response and that measured on the basilar membrane inside the mouse cochlea by Lee, Raphael, Xia, Kim, Grillet, Applegate, Ellerbee Bowden, and Oghalai [(2016) J. Neurosci. 36, 8160-8173] and Oghalai Lab [(2015). https://oghalailab.stanford. edu], at different excitation levels. A model with two degree-of-freedom micromechanics generally fits the measurements better than a model with single degree-of-freedom micromechanics, particularly at low excitations where the cochlea is active, except post-mortem conditions, when the cochlea is passive. The model with the best overall fit to the data is found to be one with two degree-of-freedom micromechanics and 3D fluid coupling. Although a unique lumped parameter network cannot be inferred from such a pole-zero description, these fitted results help indicate what properties such a network should have.
Corporate governance and board equity ownership

Purpose – This study aims to test empirically the relationship between board equity ownership and corporate governance on earnings quality of for‐profit corporations, to help practitioners enhance corporate governance practices.Design/methodology/approach – The study examines two competing theories of equity ownership (convergence of interests and management entrenchment) to explain how board members react to owning the firm's stock and whether governance impacts their behavior. In a sample of 499 publicly traded firms, a governance index was calculated and the relative power of equity ownership and governance was regressed on reported earnings quality.Findings – The results support the management entrenchment theory. Both independent and insider board members become entrenched, negatively impacting reported earnings quality and the strength of the governance structure. However, effective governance using a composite of mechanisms moderates the effects of entrenchment.Research limitations/implications – T.
Innovation, Performance and Capital Investment: A Causal Analysis of Taiwan's High-Tech and Non-High-Tech Industries

Using Taiwan's annual data for the period 1988-2005, this article analyzes the causal relationship among technological innovation, capital investment, and market performance for four major industries with different technological levels, namely, the electronics, chemical, machinery and textile industries. We focus on whether or not innovation leads to the growth of industrial development and further investment in capital. In addition, we explicitly examine whether or not innovation stimulates the market performance of an industry by incorporating heterogeneity into these industries. Our results indicate that the completely trilateral causal relationship among patents, capital investment, and production value can only be found in the high-tech electronics industry in Taiwan. Some missing linkages are still found in terms of technological innovation in the mid-tech and low-tech industries.
Stock Return Predictability and The Role of Monetary Policy

This article examines whether shifts in the stance of monetary policy can account for the observed predictability in excess stock returns. Using long-horizon regressions and short-horizon vector autoregressions, the article concludes that monetary policy variables are significant predictors of future returns, although they cannot fully account for observed stock return predictability. The author undertakes variance decompositions to investigate how monetary policy affects the individual components of excess returns (risk-free discount rates, risk premia, or cash flows). Copyright 1997 by American Finance Association.
Human Resource Management under Institutional Constraints: The Case of Germany†

Most human resource management (HRM) research has been conducted in countries that have relatively weak labour market institutions such as the UK and the USA. There is little research about the scope for and constraints on the adoption of HRM practices in countries with strong statutory regulations. The research presented here is based on 16 case studies of banks and chemical firms operating in Germany, that comply with the requirements of the German labour market institutions of collective bargaining, co-determination and initial vocational training, and hence operate under strong institutional constraints. The evidence presented shows that institutional features of the German system encourage the implementation of some ingredients of the HRM ‘recipe’ and inhibit others. It also indicates that constraining influences notwithstanding, a pluralist version of HRM appears to be quite compatible with the highly regulated German context.
Measuring Food Store Image Using Kelly's Repertory Grid

This article reports thefindings of a study designed to elicit the constructs, or axial dimensions, which are used by shoppers when comparing and selecting food stores. Using Kelly's Repertory Grid, a method ideally suited to construct elicitation, a questionnaire has been devised which can be used by food retailers to measure the image both patrons and non-patrons have of theirstores. Recommendations for data analysis include both simple and more complex calculation involving factor analysis and multiple regression. An important out-come of the.study has been the confirmation of Repertory Grid as a valuable technique for the investigation of image; it has not been widely applied in the service industries but could beprofitably used wherever image is felt to be an important factor in consumer choice behaviour.
Determining if factors affecting NHL attendance are equal across geographical regions

This paper estimates a nightly demand model for National Hockey League attendance for five teams from different divisions. The magnitudes of the coefficients are compared for each team to determine if factorsthat influence attendance affect each team the same. All variables except games played in October were found to be statistically different between at least two teams. Games played between division opponents and previous season success had the largest regional variation while "calendar" variables (weekend and games played in March and April) have the lowest regional differences. The analysis shows that a general attendance model of the NHL is inaccurate and can cause misleading interpretations for purposes of marketing and profit maximization. 1. Introduction Professional sports attendance has been a widely studied issue. The majority of the literature for National Hockey League (NHL) attendance estimates a general model for average nightly attendance demand for the entire league. The only distinction between the teams is US and Canadian. If the factors that affect demand vary from region to region, a general model for the entire league is inaccurate. For this analysis, only US teams were considered. The hypothesis of the experiment is that there are regional differences in factors that affect the demand for NHL attendance. In this research, whether or not the coefficients of the demand models are statistically significant is not the goal. The purpose of this paper is to determine if the magnitude of the coefficients of the individual demand models are statistically different.
Self-Service Technology and the Service Encounter

Self-service technology is affecting the service encounter. The potential reduction in personal contact through self-service technology may affect assessments of consumer satisfaction and commitment, making it necessary to investigate self-service technology usage, particularly the long-term impact on consumers' relationships with service organisations. Thus, this paper presents a framework for investigating the impact of self-service technology on consumer satisfaction and on a multi-dimensional measure of consumer commitment. Illustrative quotes from exploratory in-depth interviews support the framework and lead to a set of propositions. Future research directions for testing the framework are also discussed, and potential implications of this research are outlined.
A contingency approach to nonprofit governance

A number of contingency factors may be relevant for effective nonprofit organizations and their boards. Although all boards must fulfill certain critical roles and responsibilities, strategic choices can be made about adopting different governance configurations or patterns. These choices can be meaningfully informed by understanding organizational contingencies such as age, size, structure, and strategy—and, even more important, by external contingencies and environmental dimensions such as degree of stability and complexity. This article extends or layers contingency thinking beyond its traditional focus on an alignment between the external environment and the organization's structure to focus as well on the alignment of the organization's governance configuration with its structure and environment. Structural contingency theory in general, and specifically within nonprofits, is reviewed. Two cases are presented of organizations that used an approach based on contingency theory in an action research process to examine and change their governance configurations. The steps they followed may help other nonprofits adapt their governance structures and practices and fulfill their responsibilities for board assessment and reflection.
Hawkes Process: Fast Calibration, Application to Trade Clustering and Diffusive Limit

This study provides explicit formulas for the moments and the autocorrelation function of the number of jumps over a given interval for a self‐excited Hawkes process. These computations are possible thanks to the affine property of this process. Using these quantities an implementation of the method of moments for parameter estimation that leads to an fast optimization algorithm is developed. The estimation strategy is applied to trade arrival times for major stocks that show a clustering behavior, a feature the Hawkes process can effectively handle. As the calibration is fast, the estimation is rolled to determine the stability of the estimated parameters. Lastly, the analytical results enable the computation of the diffusive limit in a simple model for the price evolution based on the Hawkes process. It determines the connection between the parameters driving the high‐frequency activity to the daily volatility. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 34:548–579, 2014
A Pilot Study of Vaginal Flora Changes With Randomization to Cessation of Douching

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine whether women who douche regularly would enter a randomized trial of douching cessation or continuation, whether they would adhere to the assigned behavior, and whether there was a dramatic impact on vaginal flora. Goal: The goal of this study was to determine the feasibility of a large, definitive trial of douching cessation. Study Design: Women who douched at least weekly and who had either bacterial vaginosis or normal flora by Gram stain were assigned at random either to continue douching or to stop for 8 weeks. Vaginal Gram stains were obtained every 7 days from each woman. Results: Forty-eight women were randomized. Those assigned to continue reported douching during 77% of study weeks; those assigned to stop denied douching in 94% of weeks. No dramatic differences in flora were observed between women in the continue versus stop groups. Conclusion: A large randomized trial of douching cessation is feasible.
OIL AND THE STOCK MARKETS

The authors test whether the reaction of international stock markets to oil shocks can be justified by current and future changes in real cash flows and/or changes in expected returns. They find that, in the postwar period, the reaction of U.S. and Canadian stock prices to oil shocks can be completely accounted for by the impact of these shocks on real cash flows alone. In contrast, in both the United Kingdom and Japan, innovations in oil prices appear to cause larger changes in stock prices than can be justified by subsequent changes in real cash flows or by changing expected returns. Copyright 1996 by American Finance Association.
Distinct Roles of TRF1 in the Regulation of Telomere Structure and Lengthening*

The telomere is a functional chromatin structure that consists of G-rich repetitive sequences and various associated proteins. Telomeres protect chromosomal ends from degradation, provide escape from the DNA damage response, and regulate telomere lengthening by telomerase. Multiple proteins that localize at telomeres form a complex called shelterin/telosome. One component, TRF1, is a double-stranded telomeric DNA binding protein. Inactivation of TRF1 disrupts telomeric localization of other shelterin components and induces chromosomal instability. Here, we examined how the telomeric localization of shelterin components is crucial for TRF1-mediated telomere-associated functions. We found that many of the mTRF1 deficient phenotypes, including chromosomal instability, growth defects, and dysfunctional telomere damage response, were suppressed by the telomere localization of shelterin components in the absence of functional mTRF1. However, abnormal telomere signals and telomere elongation phenotypes were either not rescued or only partially rescued, respectively. These data suggest that TRF1 regulates telomere length and function by at least two mechanisms; in one TRF1 acts through the recruiting/tethering of other shelterin components to telomeres, and in the other TRF1 seems to play a more direct role.
Plasma concentration of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) after 100 drop to vertical jumps and after a 1200-km bicycle race

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) has recently been reported to be involved in proinflammation and tissue repair. Therefore, we hypothesized that HMGB1 is released into the bloodstream after eccentric exercises or prolonged endurance activities. Blood samples from 11 participants that performed 100 drop to vertical jumps (DVJ) and from 10 participants that took part in the 1200-km ‘Paris-Brest-Paris’ bicycle race (PBP) were tested for HMGB1 and creatine kinase (CK) levels. CK increased after both DVJ (pre: 150.6 ± 81.5 U/L; post: 188.8 ± 95.5 U/L 8 h: 790.5 ± 346.4 U/L) and PBP (pre: 81.3 ± 36.4 U/L; post: 725.2 ± 229.5 U/L; 12 h: 535.8 ± 188.6 U/L), indicating membrane damage. However, HMGB1 plasma levels remained below the detection limit (78 pg/mL) of the applied enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit for all blood samples analysed. That is, neither high intensity eccentric exercises (DVJ) nor prolonged endurance events (PBP) seemed to affect HMGB1 levels in blood at selected time points.
Differential Chemokine Responses and Homing Patterns of Murine TCRαβ NKT Cell Subsets 1

NKT cells play important roles in the regulation of diverse immune responses. Therefore, chemokine receptor expression and chemotactic responses of murine TCRαβ NKT cells were examined to define their homing potential. Most NKT cells stained for the chemokine receptor CXCR3, while >90% of Vα14i-positive and ∼50% of Vα14i-negative NKT cells expressed CXCR6 via an enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter construct. CXCR4 expression was higher on Vα14i-negative than Vα14i-positive NKT cells. In spleen only, subsets of Vα14i-positive and -negative NKT cells also expressed CXCR5. NKT cell subsets migrated in response to ligands for the inflammatory chemokine receptors CXCR3 (monokine induced by IFN-γ/CXC ligand (CXCL)9) and CXCR6 (CXCL16), and regulatory chemokine receptors CCR7 (secondary lymphoid-tissue chemokine (SLC)/CC ligand (CCL)21), CXCR4 (stromal cell-derived factor-1/CXCL12), and CXCR5 (B cell-attracting chemokine-1/CXCL13); but not to ligands for other chemokine receptors. Two NKT cell subsets migrated in response to the lymphoid homing chemokine SLC/CCL21: CD4− Vα14i-negative NKT cells that were L-selectinhigh and enriched for expression of Ly49G2 (consistent with the phenotype of most NKT cells found in peripheral lymph nodes); and immature Vα14i-positive cells lacking NK1.1 and L-selectin. Mature NK1.1+ Vα14i-positive NKT cells did not migrate to SLC/CCL21. BCA-1/CXCL13, which mediates homing to B cell zones, elicited migration of Vα14i-positive and -negative NKT cells in the spleen. These cells were primarily CD4+ or CD4−CD8− and were enriched for Ly49C/I, but not Ly49G2. Low levels of chemotaxis to CXCL16 were only detected in Vα14i-positive NKT cell subsets. Our results identify subsets of NKT cells with distinct homing and localization patterns, suggesting that these populations play specialized roles in immunological processes in vivo.