Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular cloning, sequencing, and mapping of the bacteriophage T2 dam gene

Bacteriophage T2 codes for a DNA-(adenine-N6)methyltransferase (Dam), which is able to methylate both cytosine- and hydroxymethylcytosine-containing DNAs to a greater extent than the corresponding methyltransferase encoded by bacteriophage T4. We have cloned and sequenced the T2 dam gene and compared it with the T4 dam gene. In the Dam coding region, there are 22 nucleotide differences, 4 of which result in three coding differences (2 are in the same codon). Two of the amino acid alterations are located in a region of homology that is shared by T2 and T4 Dam, Escherichia coli Dam, and the modification enzyme of Streptococcus pneumoniae, all of which methylate the sequence 5' GATC 3'. The T2 dam and T4 dam promoters are not identical and appear to have slightly different efficiencies; when fused to the E. coli lacZ gene, the T4 promoter produces about twofold more beta-galactosidase activity than does the T2 promoter. In our first attempt to isolate T2 dam, a truncated gene was cloned on a 1.67-kilobase XbaI fragment. This construct produces a chimeric protein composed of the first 163 amino acids of T2 Dam followed by 83 amino acids coded by the pUC18 vector. Surprisingly, the chimera has Dam activity, but only on cytosine-containing DNA. Genetic and physical analyses place the T2 dam gene at the same respective map location as the T4 dam gene. However, relative to T4, T2 contains an insertion of 536 base pairs 5' to the dam gene. Southern blot hybridization and computer analysis failed to reveal any homology between this insert and either T4 or E. coli DNA.
Variant anatomy of renal arteries in a Kenyan population.

BACKGROUND Variant anatomy of renal arteries is important in renal transplant, vascular reconstruction, and uroradiological procedures. The variations show ethnic and population differences. Data from Africans are scarce and altogether absent for Kenyans. OBJECTIVE To describe patterns of origin, trajectories and branching of renal arteries in a Kenyan population. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING Descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Human Anatomy, University of Nairobi. MATERIAL/METHODS Three hundred and fifty six kidneys from 178 cadavers and postmortem specimens were used in the study. Aorta, renal arteries and kidneys were exposed by dissection. Number, trajectories, level of branching, number of branches and point of entry into the kidney were recorded. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.0, and presented using macrographs, tables, and bar charts. RESULTS Additional arteries occurred in 14.3% of the cases. In 82.4% of these, there was one additional artery. Fifty nine point five per cent of the double renal arteries were parallel and 7.1% crossed. Of the 305 single arteries, 76.4% showed hilar, 21.6% prehilar and 2% intraparenchymal branching. In the hilar branching, ladder type was present in 65% and fork type in 35%. Bifurcation and trifurcation were present in 59.6% and 33.1% respectively. Polar arteries were present in 16.9% cases. CONCLUSIONS Over 14% of the Kenyan population may have additional renal arteries while more than 20% show early branching. Several trajectories and hilar branching patterns exist which renal transplant surgeons and radiologists should be aware of to avoid inadvertent vascular injury.
Curriculum Internationalization at AACSB Schools: Immersive Experiences, Student Placement, and Assessment

This article presents results from a survey of AACSB-accredited business schools’ progress in internationalizing their curricula in view of a recent AACSB report. We present data on the use of immersive experiences, degree of success in student placement in internationally oriented careers, and assessment of internationalization efforts. The results indicate growth of internationalization activities at virtually all schools as expected, but these efforts may not always match AACSB recommendations. For instance, AACSB criticized business programs for not coordinating internationalization activities in a strategic manner to improve courses and develop skills needed by international managers. Our survey finds that many schools do not attempt to tie their international experiences to specific courses, but they report the experiences are used to build skills students need. Most institutions also do not examine job placement as a measure of curriculum internationalization success. We find that many schools do not assess the outcomes of their internationalization efforts in a way that can demonstrate whether or not recent AACSB suggestions are being met.
Initiation of impulses in visual cells of Limulus

Some features of the responses recorded from visual cells of Limulus with intracellular electrodes have been described in a previous article (Fuortes, 1958b). Cells producing spikes of more than 40 mV were tentatively identified with eccentric cells. The response of these cells to prolonged illumination was found to consist of a sustained depolarization (generator potential) with superimposed spikes. It was observed that, in steady-state conditions, both amplitude of the generator potential and frequency of firing are approximately linear functions of the logarithm of light intensity, frequency being therefore a linear function of generator potential amplitude. Impulse firing could also be elicited by means of depolarizing currents applied through the impaling micro-electrode and frequency of firing was then found to be a linear function of current intensity. In the present article some properties of responses elicited by illumination will be compared to those of responses evoked by currents and the results of interaction of light and currents will be described. The evidence obtained in this way indicates that membrane resistance decreases during illumination and suggests that a change of membrane permeability may be responsible for production of the generator potential.
Morphometric texture analysis of spinal trabecular bone structure assessed using orthogonal radiographic projections.

The measurement of bone microstructure as well as bone mineral density may improve the estimation of bone strength. Cubic specimens (N = 26, 12 mm X 12 mm X 12 mm) of human cadaver vertebrae were cut along three orthogonal anatomic orientations, i.e., superior-inferior (SI), medial-lateral (ML), and anterior-posterior (AP). Contact radiographs of the bone cubes along all three orientations were obtained and then digitized by a laser scanner with pixel size of 50 microns x 50 microns. The specimens were tested in compression along the 3 orthogonal orientations and the Young's modulus (YM) was calculated for each direction. Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) was used to obtain a measure of trabecular bone mineral density (BMD). Global gray level thresholding and local thresholding algorithms were used to extract the trabecular bone network. Apparent trabecular bone fraction (ABV/TV), mean intercept length (I.TH), mean intercept separation (I.SP), and number of nodes (N.ND) were measured from the extracted trabecular network. Fractal dimension (Fr.D) of the trabecular bone texture was also measured. Paired t-tests showed that the mean values of each texture parameter (except ABV/TV) and of YM along the SI direction were significantly different (p < 0.05) from those along the ML and AP direction. However, the mean values along the ML and AP directions were not significantly different. Multivariate regression of YM as a function of the texture parameters and BMD showed that without adjusting for the effect of BMD, YM was significantly explained by all the texture parameters (R2 = 0.2-0.6). When BMD was included in the regression, although the variations in YM of ML, AP, and SI orientations could be explained by BMD alone, some of the texture parameters did improve the overall prediction of the biomechanical properties, while, some parameters such as ABV/TV and Fr.D in the ML orientation showed a more significant overall effect in explaining mechanical strength than did BMD. In conclusion, trabecular texture parameters correlated significantly with BMD and YM. Trabecular texture parameters from projectional radiographs reflect the anisotropy of trabecular structure. Quantitative radiographic assessment of trabecular structure using fine-detail radiography can potentially improve the estimation of bone strength.
The Effects of Primary Sector Foreign Investment on Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Agriculture Production in Less-Developed Countries, 1980-99

This research helps to increase our collective understanding of the complex interrelationships between foreign investment dependence and environmental degradation. Panel regresssion analyses of 35 less developed countries from 1980 to 1999 are conducted to test the hypothesis that foreign direct investment in the primary sector increases carbon dioxide emissions from agriculture production. Results confi rm the hypothesis, providing support for the theory of foreign capital dependence. Level of agriculture production and the use of tractors are also found to increase the growth of carbon dioxide emissions from this primary sector activity. Conversely, nations more likely to ratify international environmental treaties exhibit suppressed growth in emissions. These fi ndings underscore the need for social scientists to investigate the environmental impacts of both the level and transnational organization of production in different sectors as well as the overall use of relevant machinery and the environmental commitments of nation-states.
Managing for organizational effectiveness in sub-Saharan Africa: a culture-fit model

Research in comparative management has suggested that an organization's policies can lose their effectiveness when its cultural environment changes. Going beyond the traditional cultural-free versus culture-dependent debate, the present article develops a culture-fit model, that is, a model suggesting a synthesis between indigenous cultures and modern management techniques in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Positive cultural patterns may help implement new managerial techniques such as total quality management, just-in-time, re-engineering, teamwork and collaborative management. Implications for research and practice are suggested.
Project Leadership Styles in China

Abstract China has undergone major changes in recent years regarding the development of its socio-economic infrastructure for implementing project procurement. These changes include the recent enactment of laws governing construction contracts and tendering, and the introduction of a project supervision system. This system dictates the status of the project leader (supervisor), and provides the framework in which the roles and functions of various project participants can be described. The supervisory styles of such project leaders are examined in this paper according to P-M leadership theory, which assumes that leadership affects motivational arousal directly through a combination of pressure and support.
Microalgae-activated sludge treatment of molasses wastewater in sequencing batch photo-bioreactor

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was the examination of the treatment potential of molasses wastewater, by the utilization of activated sludge and microalgae. The systems used included a sequencing batch bioreactor and a similar photo-bioreactor, favoring microalgae growth. The microalgae treatment of molasses wastewater mixture resulted in a considerable reduction in the total nitrogen content. A reduction in the ammonium and nitrate content was observed in the photo-bioreactor, while the effluent’s total nitrogen consisted mainly of 50% organic nitrogen. The transformation of the nitrogen forms in the photo-bioreactor was attributed to microalgae activity, resulting in the production of a better quality effluent. Lower COD removal was observed for the photo-bioreactor than the control, which however increased, by the replacement of the anoxic phase by a long aeration period. The mechanism of nitrogen removal included both the denitrification process during the anoxic stage and the microalgae activities, as the replacement of the anoxic stage resulted in low total nitrogen removal capacities. A decrease in the photobioreactor performance was observed after 35 days of operation due to biofilm formation on the light tube surface, while the operation at higher temperature accelerated microalgae growth, resulting thus in the early failure of the photoreactor.
Western Wildfires: A Policy Change Perspective

My research objective in this article is to analyze policy change affecting wildfire suppression programs administered by the United States Forest Service and the United States Department of the Interior. Using a variant of the punctuated equilibrium approach, a content analysis of New York Times stories dealing with wildfires over the past two decades was examined in relation to both administrative and legislative policy changes. I conclude by suggesting that administrative shifts were undertaken by federal land administrators in response to crises and media attention to protect decisional autonomy as well as forest resources, while the architect of legislative change was a president taking advantage of the combined effects of increasingly intense wildfire seasons, demographic shifts involving the movement of people and structures to the high-risk wildland urban interface areas, greater media scrutiny, and pressure to act from wildfire weary constituencies. Copyright 2006 by The Policy Studies Organization.
Leech-transmitted ciprofloxacin-resistant Aeromonas hydrophila.

The use of medicinal leeches ( Hirudo medicinalis ) is effective in establishing venous outflow in congested flaps and replants.Leech therapy also has associated risks, including significant blood loss requiring transfusions and infections from Aeromonas , a gram-negative bacilli.Leeches maintain a symbiotic relationship with Aeromonas species, which are resident to their gut in order to digest blood. Aeromonas hydrophila infections can result in extensive soft-tissue infections and myonecrosis.To prevent this devastating nosocomial infection, ciprofloxacin and/or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) are the most commonly used prophylactic antibiotics when patients undergo leech therapy.
Preferential fluid flow in the human trabecular meshwork near collector channels.

PURPOSE To determine whether preferential pathways exist within the human trabecular meshwork, pigmented and nonpigmented regions adjacent to and between collector channels were examined, and the configuration of the juxtacanalicular tissue (JCT) was analyzed. METHODS Healthy whole human eyes were perfused at 10 or 25 mm Hg with 0.5 mum fluorescent beads. Tissue wedges of pigmented and nonpigmented meshwork (with and without collector channels) were dissected from each eye and examined by confocal microscopy. Bead concentration adjacent to and between collector channels was quantified. The configuration of the JCT adjacent to collector channels from whole eyes perfused at 20 mm Hg was analyzed by light microscopy. RESULTS Eyes perfused at 25 mm Hg had more beads adjacent to collector channels in pigmented than in nonpigmented regions (4.9%+/-3.5% vs. 1.1%+/-0.9%; P=0.02). In pigmented regions without collector channels, bead concentration was decreased by fivefold (4.9%+/-3.5% vs. 0.96%+/-0.88%; P=0.04). Perfusion at 25 mm Hg increased beads by threefold under pigmented collector channels compared with the same regions in eyes perfused at 10 mm Hg. Expansion of the JCT occurred more often under collector channels at 25 mm Hg than at 10 mm Hg (44% vs. 17%; P=0.01). The JCT region under collector channels was expanded compared with JCT regions between adjacent collector channels (1053+/-424 microm(2) vs. 571+/-216 microm(2); P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Increased levels of beads in pigmented trabecular meshwork adjacent to collector channels suggest preferential flow pathways are present in human trabecular meshwork. At elevated pressure, the JCT region under collector channels is expanded, possibly because of increased fluid flow.
Inside the 'Black Box' of Sell-Side Financial Analysts

Our objective is to penetrate the “black box” of sell-side financial analysts by providing new insights into the inputs analysts use and the incentives they face. We survey 365 analysts and conduct 18 follow-up interviews covering a wide range of topics, including the inputs to analysts’ earnings forecasts and stock recommendations, the value of their industry knowledge, the determinants of their compensation, the career benefits of Institutional Investor All-Star status, and the factors they consider indicative of high-quality earnings. One important finding is that private communication with management is a more useful input to analysts’ earnings forecasts and stock recommendations than their own primary research, recent earnings performance, and recent 10-K and 10-Q reports. Another notable finding is that issuing earnings forecasts and stock recommendations that are well below the consensus often leads to an increase in analysts’ credibility with their investing clients. We conduct cross-sectional analyses that highlight the impact of analyst and brokerage characteristics on analysts’ inputs and incentives. Our findings are relevant to investors, managers, analysts, and academic researchers.
Neural Correlates of Interference Control in Adolescents with Traumatic Brain Injury: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of the Counting Stroop Task

Abstract Difficulty in inhibition or cognitive control is a common and significant sequela of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). The present study used functional MRI to examine one specific inhibitory function, interference control, in 11 adolescents, aged 12–16 years, (mean age, 15.7 years) with TBI who were at least 1 year postinjury and 11 age-matched typically developing control participants (TC) (mean age, 15.2 years). Participants completed a Counting Stroop task with 2 main conditions: (1) a neutral condition requiring the counting of animal words and (2) an interference condition in which mismatched number words were counted. Both TBI and TC adolescents activated similar networks of brain regions relevant to interference control, but the TBI group showed higher levels of activation relative to the TC group in multiple brain areas within this network, including predominantly right frontal and parietal regions. Findings of greater activation of the relevant neural network in the TBI group are consistent with recent fMRI findings using other interference control paradigms with individuals with a history of TBI. (JINS, 2011, 17, 000–000.)
Diversification in Portfolios of Individual Stocks: 100 Stocks are Not Enough

We examine returns and ending wealth in portfolios selected from 1,000 large U.S. stocks over a 20-year holding period. Shortfall risk, the possibility of ending wealth being below a target, is a useful metric for long horizon investors and is consistent with the Safety First criterion. Density functions obtained from simulations illustrate that shortfall risk reduction continues as portfolio size is increased, even above 100 stocks. A slightly lower risk can be achieved in small portfolios by diversifying across industries, but a greater reduction is obtained by simply increasing the number of stocks.
Assessment of planning abilities in individuals with mild cognitive impairment using an open-ended problem-solving task

Introduction: There is currently limited research evaluating planning abilities, a core subcomponent of executive functioning, in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In the present study, we utilized the “Amap Task,” an open-ended problem-solving task, to separately evaluate the formulation and execution components of planning ability in individuals with MCI. Method: Thirty-seven cognitively healthy older adults and 37 individuals with MCI used a map layout of a university apartment to develop and write out a strategy (formulation stage) to successfully complete a list of tasks (e.g., retrieve and fill a water pitcher before placing it in the refrigerator). Subsequently, participants carried out the tasks in the apartment with the aid of their formulated plan (execution stage). Results: MCI participants performed more poorly than older adult (OA) controls during both the formulation and execution stages on measures of task accuracy and task efficiency. However, both groups were able to adjust and improve task accuracy and efficiency from formulation to task execution. Finally, MCI participants took significantly longer to complete the task and adhered less to their formulated plans during task completion. Conclusions: Using an open-ended problem-solving task, the findings revealed that individuals with MCI experienced difficulties with both the formulation and execution components of planning. Like controls, participants with MCI were able to successfully modify their plan online, improving their performance from task formulation to task execution.
Post-GFC people management challenges: a study of India's information technology sector

This paper analyses the impact of the global financial crisis (GFC) on human resource management (HRM) practices in India's information technology (IT) industry. The findings support the presence of a hard approach to HRM. Despite the negative impact of the GFC, there was evidence of growth in certain IT services. The specific positive and negative impacts include firms' unethical and opportunistic behaviour in performance management, pay freezes, reduced billing and employee turnover rates, increased competition, addition of new service areas and improvisations to firms' business models. The short-term outlook for managers is to tread with caution. Implications for theory and practice are also discussed.
Sitting or Tilt Position for Infant Lumbar Puncture Does Not Increase Ultrasound Measurements of Lumbar Subarachnoid Space Width

Objective The objective of this study was to determine whether subarachnoid space width at the site of lumbar puncture in infants changed between 3 positions: flat lateral decubitus, 45-degree tilt, and sitting. Methods Healthy infants younger than 4 months presenting electively to a pediatric radiology department were enrolled. Exclusion criteria included signs of dehydration, illness, or previous spine/brain surgery. Subarachnoid space width at L3-L4 was measured by ultrasound with the subject placed in 3 randomly ordered positions: flat lateral decubitus, 45-degree tilt lateral decubitus, and sitting. The 3 positions were collectively compared using both repeated-measures analysis of variance and linear mixed models (LMMs) adjusted for potential confounders. Pairs of positions were compared using LMM adjusted for potential confounders. Results Fifty subjects were enrolled (15 male and 35 female patients). Patient weight was significantly correlated with subarachnoid space width (P = 0.02). There was no statistically significant difference in subarachnoid space width between the 3 positions (repeated-measures analysis of variance P = 0.32, LMM P = 0.40). Comparisons of pairs of positions were not significantly different: flat and 45 degrees P = 0.24, 45 degrees and sitting P = 0.98, and flat and sitting P = 0.23. Conclusions The subarachnoid space width did not significantly change between the 3 positions. An increase in lumbar puncture success rate with sitting or tilt position could be due to other factors such as increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure, increased interspinous space widening, or improved identification of landmarks.