Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants Of Credit Risk – The Case Of Serbia

This paper examines systemic and specific factors that increased the credit risk level in the Serbian banking sector between 2008 and 2014, by applying the vector autoregression model (VAR), logit and probit. Business cycle and RSD depreciation are the most important systemic determinants of credit risk in the corporate sector, while in the retail sector these determinants represent a deterioration of the business and financial situation, based on a rise in the unemployment rate and nonperforming loans, together with domestic currency depreciation and the effects of the solidarity tax. Banks that entered the crisis with a lower level of capital, higher level of portfolio concentration in their 50 biggest borrowers, and with restrictions on the owner supporting the bank by providing additional capital in the period of credit risk increase, have been more exposed to default and more inclined to overestimate their good assets in their reports. The influence of RSD depreciation and the economic interrelation of clients represent an increase in the credit risk level.
Electricity Generation, Electricity Consumption, and Energy Efficiency in the United States: A Dual Climatic-Behavioral Approach

Much of the United States (US) has seen an increase in warm days, decrease in cool days, and increase in extreme weather events. These trends are projected to continue across much of the US and in turn increase the demand for electricity and subsequent greenhouse gas emissions. Ambitious energy efficiency (EE) programs are used across the US by energy utility organizations to reduce electricity demand and emissions. This study examined the impact of climatic variability on electricity consumption, as well as how pro-conservation interventions such as EE programs and experiential learning can be utilized to mitigate residential electricity consumption and emissions. Chapter 2 of this study examined the impact of EE programs on residential electricity consumption taking into account climatic indicators across the contiguous US. A state-by-state analysis suggested that climatic indicators were more explanatory of residential consumption than energy utility organization EE efforts at the state-level. Chapter 3 examined residential electricity consumption for heating and cooling applications explained by energy utility organization EE efforts and climatic indicators in the Southeast US. Indirect spending on EE programs was significantly related to heating and cooling applications and heating degree days, a climatic indicator for number of days over a certain temperature, were significantly related to cooling equipment applications. A survey of 2,450 residential electricity consumers was analyzed. Residents who were aware of EE programs and participated in EE programs were significantly more likely than those who were not to support energy utility organization use of clean energy and government subsidies for EE programs. Chapter 4 provided case study in a Southeast US state where a pro-conservation behavioral intervention was deployed in an elementary school. This chapter utilized a longitudinal design and mixed methodology to assess the effect of curriculum-based experiential learning on environmental literacy and electricity-saving behaviors. Students showed improvement in environmental literacy after interventions were deployed. Normalizing electricity consumption for weather, a decrease in energy consumption of more than 15% in student homes and more than 30% at the focal school was observed. The final chapter provides a discussion of the findings, implications, future research questions, and conclusions. Table of
Prevalence and Molecular Analysis of Macrolide and Fluoroquinolone Resistance among Isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae Collected during the 2000-2001 PROTEKT US Study

ABSTRACT The PROTEKT US (Prospective Resistant Organism Tracking and Epidemiology for the Ketolide Telithromycin in the United States) surveillance program was established to determine the prevalence and mechanisms of antibacterial resistance among bacterial pathogens from patients with community-acquired respiratory tract infections. In year 1 of the PROTEKT US study, 10,103 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, including 3,133 erythromycin-resistant strains and 81 levofloxacin-resistant strains, were collected from 206 centers. We report on the molecular analyses of these resistant strains. The resistance genotypes among the 3,044 typed macrolide-resistant isolates overall were mef(A) (n = 2,157; 70.9%), erm(B) (n = 530; 17.4%), mef(A) erm(B) (n = 304; 10.0%), and erm(A) subclass erm(TR) (n = 5; 0.2%). Fifty (1.6%) macrolide-resistant isolates were negative for the mef and the erm resistance genes. Seventy-eight (96.3%) of the 81 levofloxacin-resistant isolates analyzed possessed multiple mutations in the gyrA, gyrB, parC, and/or parE quinolone resistance-determining regions. A total of 43 known multilocus sequence typing (MLST) profiles (or single- or double-locus variants) accounted for 75 of 81 isolates. There was no evidence of dissemination of fluoroquinolone-resistant clones within the United States; however, 12 isolates with the same MLST profile were located in one center in Massachusetts. Almost 90% of the erythromycin-resistant isolates and approximately one-third of the levofloxacin-resistant isolates were multidrug resistant.
The Ethics of Influence

In recent years, 'nudge units' or 'behavioral insights teams' have been created in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and other nations. All over the world, public officials are using the behavioral sciences to protect the environment, promote employment and economic growth, reduce poverty, and increase national security. In this book, Cass R. Sunstein, the eminent legal scholar and best-selling co-author of Nudge (2008), breaks new ground with a deep yet highly readable investigation into the ethical issues surrounding nudges, choice architecture, and mandates, addressing such issues as welfare, autonomy, self-government, dignity, manipulation, and the constraints and responsibilities of an ethical state. Complementing the ethical discussion, The Ethics of Influence: Government in the Age of Behavioral Science contains a wealth of new data on people's attitudes towards a broad range of nudges, choice architecture, and mandates.
Screening for celiac disease among patients with Turner syndrome in Brasília, DF, midwest region of Brazil.

CONTEXT Several studies have demonstrated a higher prevalence of celiac disease (CD) among females with Turner syndrome when compared to the general population. Nevertheless, there is no record in literature concerning this investigation among Brazilian patients. OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of CD among a group of Brazilian patients with Turner syndrome. METHODS Fifty-six females with Turner syndrome and on gluten-containing diet were screened for CD utilizing immunoglobulin A antiendomysium (IgA-EMA) and immunoglobulin A anti-tissue transglutaminase (IgA-tTG) antibody assays. Additionally, they were genotyped for CD human leukocyte antigen (CD-HLA) predisposing alleles. Patients showing positivity in serological testing were offered to perform small intestine biopsy for histological confirmation. RESULTS Mean age at diagnosis of Turner syndrome was 5.5 ± 4.4 years; mean age at screening for CD was 17.0 ± 9.3 years (from 10 months of age to 52 years). Two girls were positive for IgA-EMA and IgA-tTG, presented predisposing HLA-DQ2 alleles and both had the diagnosis of CD confirmed by jejunal biopsy. CONCLUSION The 3.6% prevalence of biopsy-proven CD among this group of females with Turner syndrome is 10 times higher than the one among females from the general population of the same geographical area. This result provides additional support to an association between these two disorders and restates that girls and women with Turner syndrome represent a high risk population for developing CD.
Effect of Cycling on Glycaemia, Blood Pressure, and Weight in Young Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes.

INTRODUCTION Aerobic exercise is associated with significant improvement in glycaemia and weight loss in Type 2 diabetes (T2D). Cycling, a form of aerobic exercise can benefit young (18 to <40 years) individuals with T2D. AIM To assess effect of cycling on glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure (BP) and weight over six months in young individuals with T2D. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this retrospective, observational study, young (18 to <40 years) T2D patients who were being treated without insulin and not on more than two Oral Antidiabetic Drugs (OADs) were identified from a group of cyclists in a metro city from Northern India. These individuals were involved in a regular exercise program (cycling 25 km/day for at least five days a week). Participants with consecutive six months of cycling were selected and those involved in other forms of exercise were excluded. From their medical records, participants' weight, BP, and HbA1c levels were noted at baseline (i.e., before the start) and post-six months of cycling program and evaluated with appropriate statistics. RESULTS From 26 cases identified with T2D, 20 participants were included in analysis. Mean age of participants was 35.6±2.6 years, five were <35 years and all of them were males. Cycling resulted in significant reduction in HbA1c% (mean change from baseline at six-month: -1.18, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.12, 1.24; p<0.001). Besides, systolic (-5.2, 95% CI -3.7, -6.6; p<0.001) and diastolic (-3.1, 95% CI -1.7, -4.5; p<0.001) BP and weight (kg) (-5.0, 95% CI -4.41, -5.58; p<0.001) showed significant reduction from baseline to six-months. Among two age groups (Age < 35 and ≥ 35 years), except for reduction of diastolic BP in age < 35 years, significant reduction in all other parameters was evident in both age groups. CONCLUSION Regular aerobic exercise in cycling form results in significant reduction in HbA1c, BP and weight. It should be promoted as an ideal method for exercise in young T2D cases to derive maximum benefits and to improve adherence to lifestyle intervention.
Core promoter short tandem repeats as evolutionary switch codes for primate speciation

Alteration in gene expression levels underlies many of the phenotypic differences across species. Because of their highly mutable nature, proximity to the +1 transcription start site (TSS), and the emerging evidence of functional impact on gene expression, core promoter short tandem repeats (STRs) may be considered an ideal source of variation across species. In a genome‐scale analysis of the entire Homo sapiens protein‐coding genes, we have previously identified core promoters with at least one STR of ≥6‐repeats, with possible selective advantage in this species. In the current study, we performed reverse analysis of the entire Homo sapiens orthologous genes in mouse in the Ensembl database, in order to identify conserved STRs that have shrunk as an evolutionary advantage to humans. Two protocols were used to minimize ascertainment bias. Firstly, two species sharing a more recent ancestor with Homo sapiens (i.e. Pan troglodytes and Gorilla gorilla gorilla) were also included in the study. Secondly, four non‐primate species encompassing the major orders across Mammals, including Scandentia, Laurasiatheria, Afrotheria, and Xenarthra were analyzed as out‐groups. We introduce STR evolutionary events specifically identical in primates (i.e. Homo sapiens, Pan troglodytes, and Gorilla gorilla gorilla) vs. non‐primate out‐groups. The average frequency of the identically shared STR motifs across those primates ranged between 0.00005 and 0.06. The identified genes are involved in important evolutionary and developmental processes, such as normal craniofacial development (TFAP2B), regulation of cell shape (PALMD), learning and long‐term memory (RGS14), nervous system development (GFRA2), embryonic limb morphogenesis (PBX2), and forebrain development (APAF1). We provide evidence of core promoter STRs as evolutionary switch codes for primate speciation, and the first instance of identity‐by‐descent for those motifs at the interspecies level. Am. J. Primatol. 77:34–43, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Policing Different Racial Groups in the United States

This essay presents a set of findings from the authors’ empirical studies of police relations with different racial and ethnic groups in the United States. The findings pertain to the role of race and ethnicity in policing practices and in citizens’ perceptions of and encounters with the police. The data are derived from multiple levels (national, city, neighborhood) and both qualitative and quantitative findings are presented. Comparisons are made between three key groups in the United States: whites, blacks, and Hispanics. The essay concludes with a consideration of policy implications related to the findings.
Wildlife gardening for collaborative public–private biodiversity conservation

ABSTRACT Complementary public and private conservation action is required to sustain native biodiversity in cities. Residents can contribute by wildlife gardening – removing environmental weeds, cultivating indigenous flora, and improving habitat in their gardens. There is currently little guidance about how best to involve residents in wildlife gardening and align their work with public land management. We explored how a purposively chosen wildlife gardening program in Melbourne, Australia engaged and supported residents to augment local government efforts to conserve indigenous biota. Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with program members to understand the program’s impact on their gardening and their connections with their council and community. Unpublished Council survey data were used to position interview findings on wildlife gardening activities and the value of program features. Interviewees detailed how they modified their gardening to assist their council to conserve indigenous biota. Five program features were implicated in this change: (1) on-site garden assessment; (2) indigenous community nursery; (3) communication hubs; (4) a framework that fosters experiential learning and community linkages; and (5) endorsement of each garden’s potential conservation contribution. Collaborative wildlife gardening programs can engage residents to manage their land to achieve landscape-focused conservation goals while building relationships with council and community.
Whole-body MR imaging in the diagnosis of polymyositis.

OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to evaluate the use of whole-body MR imaging in the assessment of the extent and distribution of muscle inflammation in patients with polymyositis. CONCLUSION Whole-body turbo short tau inversion recovery imaging is a convenient complete method of evaluating patients with muscle inflammation caused by polymyositis. This imaging technique allows us to evaluate the total inflammatory burden by revealing multiple muscle groups not seen with standard protocols.
From Politics to Performance: How Perceived Support Matters for Public Organizations

ABSTRACT Research on support for educational institutions has ebbed and flowed with much of the focus directed toward internal mechanisms including teachers, administrators, and staff. This study stresses the importance of support from external environments and tests its influence on student achievement. Using panel data from over 1000 public schools, empirical results suggest that support increases test scores and daily attendance. The findings encourage scholars to consider the politics of educational environments and delve deeper into the consequences of external drivers for the performance of public schools.
NPK1, a tobacco gene that encodes a protein with a domain homologous to yeast BCK1, STE11, and Byr2 protein kinases

We have isolated a cDNA (cNPK1) that encodes a predicted protein kinase of 690 amino acids from suspension cultures of tobacco cells. The deduced sequence is closely related to those of the protein kinases encoded by the STE11 and BCK1 genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the byr2 gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe. STE11 and Byr2 function in the yeast mating pheromone response pathways, and BCK1 acts downstream of the yeast protein kinase C homolog encoded by the PKC1 gene, which is essential for normal growth and division of yeast cells. Overexpression in yeast cells of a truncated form of cNPK1, which encodes only the putative catalytic domain, replaced the growth control functions of BCK1 and PKC1 but not the mating pheromone response function of STE11. Thus, the catalytic domain of NPK1 specifically activates the signal transduction pathway mediated by BCK1 in yeast. In tobacco cells in suspension culture, the NPK1 gene is transcribed during logarithmic phase and early stationary phase but not during late stationary phase. In a tobacco plant, it is also transcribed in stems and roots but not in mature leaves, which rarely contain growing cells. The present results suggest that a signal transduction pathway mediated by this BCK1- and STE11-related protein kinase is also conserved in plants and that a function of NPK1 is controlled at least in part at a transcriptional level.
Defensive Medicine in U.S. Spine Neurosurgery

Study Design. Observational cross-sectional survey. Objective. To compare defensive practices of U.S. spine and nonspine neurosurgeons in the context of state medical liability risk. Summary of Background Data. Defensive medicine is a commonly reported and costly phenomenon in neurosurgery. Although state liability risk is thought to contribute greatly to defensive practice, variation within neurosurgical specialties has not been well explored. Methods. A validated, online survey was sent via email to 3344 members of the American Board of Neurological Surgeons. The instrument contained eight question domains: surgeon characteristics, patient characteristics, practice type, insurance type, surgeon liability profile, basic surgeon reimbursement, surgeon perceptions of medical legal environment, and the practice of defensive medicine. Results. The overall response rate was 30.6% (n = 1026), including 499 neurosurgeons performing mainly spine procedures (48.6%). Spine neurosurgeons had a similar average practice duration as nonspine neurosurgeons (16.6 vs 16.9 years, P = 0.64) and comparable lifetime case volume (4767 vs 4,703, P = 0.71). The average annual malpractice premium for spine neurosurgeons was similar to nonspine neurosurgeons ($104,480.52 vs $101,721.76, P = 0.60). On average, spine neurosurgeons had a significantly higher rate of ordering labs, medications, referrals, procedures, and imaging solely for liability concerns compared with nonspine neurosurgeons (89.2% vs 84.6%, P = 0.031). Multivariate analysis revealed that spine neurosurgeons were roughly 3 times more likely to practice defensively compared with nonspine neurosurgeons (odds ratio, OR = 2.9, P = 0.001) when controlling for high-risk procedures (OR = 7.8, P < 0.001), annual malpractice premium (OR = 3.3, P = 0.01), percentage of patients publicly insured (OR = 1.1, P = 0.80), malpractice claims in the last 3 years (OR = 1.13, P = 0.71), and state medical-legal environment (OR = 1.3, P = 0.37). Conclusion. State-based medical legal environment is not a significant driver of increased defensive medicine associated with neurosurgical spine procedures. Level of Evidence: 3
Why should I care - its Others Money

We examine the behavior of players when they play with their own vs. other people’s money; we investigate this for both dictator and ultimatum games. The results suggest that the behavior of the players differs when they play with their own money as compared to other people’s money. In a dictator game, the offer sizes are larger when playing for others, as people seem to offer more when they do not bear the cost. However, in ultimatum games, proposers tend to be more strategic, less risk averse and make lower offers, when they play with other people’s money than with their own money.
An Empirical Study on Externality and Total Factor Productivity of Manufacturing Industry in China

This paper uses the data provided by the China Economic Census Yearbook in 2004, 2008 and 2013 to measure the TFP of the whole manufacturing and labor-intensive, capital-intensive and technology-intensive industries of 29 provinces. By constructing spatial econometric model between externality of MAR, Jacobs, Porter and TFP, and the empirical outcome shows that only MAR externality has a significant negative effect on TFP of the whole manufacturing, that is, reducing the specialization of the manufacturing industry can improve the total factor productivity. At the same time, the specific effects of the three externalities on the TFP of the manufacturing industry will be different due to the different types of industries.
Hiding in Plain Sight: Mining Bacterial Species Records for Phenotypic Trait Information

Cultivation in the laboratory is key for understanding the phenotypic characteristics, growth requirements, metabolism, and environmental preferences of bacteria. However, oftentimes, phenotypic information is not easily accessible. Here, we compiled phenotypic and environmental tolerance information for >5,000 bacterial strains described in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (IJSEM). We demonstrate how this database can be used to link bacterial taxonomy, phylogeny, or specific genes to measured phenotypic traits and environmental preferences. The phenotypic database can be freely accessed (https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.4272392 ), and we have included instructions for researchers interested in adding new entries or curating existing ones. ABSTRACT Cultivation in the laboratory is essential for understanding the phenotypic characteristics and environmental preferences of bacteria. However, basic phenotypic information is not readily accessible. Here, we compiled phenotypic and environmental tolerance information for >5,000 bacterial strains described in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (IJSEM) with all information made publicly available in an updatable database. Although the data span 23 different bacterial phyla, most entries described aerobic, mesophilic, neutrophilic strains from Proteobacteria (mainly Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria), Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes isolated from soils, marine habitats, and plants. Most of the routinely measured traits tended to show a significant phylogenetic signal, although this signal was weak for environmental preferences. We demonstrated how this database could be used to link genomic attributes to differences in pH and salinity optima. We found that adaptations to high salinity or high-pH conditions are related to cell surface transporter genes, along with previously uncharacterized genes that might play a role in regulating environmental tolerances. Together, this work highlights the utility of this database for associating bacterial taxonomy, phylogeny, or specific genes to measured phenotypic traits and emphasizes the need for more comprehensive and consistent measurements of traits across a broader diversity of bacteria. IMPORTANCE Cultivation in the laboratory is key for understanding the phenotypic characteristics, growth requirements, metabolism, and environmental preferences of bacteria. However, oftentimes, phenotypic information is not easily accessible. Here, we compiled phenotypic and environmental tolerance information for >5,000 bacterial strains described in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (IJSEM). We demonstrate how this database can be used to link bacterial taxonomy, phylogeny, or specific genes to measured phenotypic traits and environmental preferences. The phenotypic database can be freely accessed (https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.4272392 ), and we have included instructions for researchers interested in adding new entries or curating existing ones.