Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The helical domain of intestinal fatty acid binding protein is critical for collisional transfer of fatty acids to phospholipid membranes.

Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) exhibit a beta-barrel topology, comprising 10 antiparallel beta-sheets capped by two short alpha-helical segments. Previous studies suggested that fatty acid transfer from several FABPs occurs during interaction between the protein and the acceptor membrane, and that the helical domain of the FABPs plays an important role in this process. In this study, we employed a helix-less variant of intestinal FABP (IFABP-HL) and examined the rate and mechanism of transfer of fluorescent anthroyloxy fatty acids (AOFA) from this protein to model membranes in comparison to the wild type (wIFABP). In marked contrast to wIFABP, IFABP-HL does not show significant modification of the AOFA transfer rate as a function of either the concentration or the composition of the acceptor membranes. These results suggest that the transfer of fatty acids from IFABP-HL occurs by an aqueous diffusion-mediated process, i.e., in the absence of the helical domain, effective collisional transfer of fatty acids to membranes does not occur. Binding of wIFABP and IFABP-HL to membranes was directly analyzed by using a cytochrome c competition assay, and it was shown that IFABP-HL was 80% less efficient in preventing cytochrome c from binding to membranes than the native IFABP. Collectively, these results indicate that the alpha-helical region of IFABP is involved in membrane interactions and thus plays a critical role in the collisional mechanism of fatty acid transfer from IFABP to phospholipid membranes.
The Effectiveness of outside directors as a corporate governance mechanism: theories and evidence

Despite the important monitoring role that the law and some reformers have assigned to outside directors, there is substantial disagreement about whether these directors are effective monitors of management. This Article contributes to the debate over the role of outside directors in three ways. First, Section II of the Article surveys the theories about outside directors that have been put forward in the financial economics and management science literature. Second, Section III reviews the rapidly growing body of empirical evidence that bears on those theories. To date, there have been only a few law review articles that even briefly discussed empirical studies of the effectiveness of outside directors, so my goal here is to make those studies accessible to the legal community. Third, Section IV argues that the existing theories (which tend to imply that outside directors are either never effective or always effective) are too simplistic. The empirical data are mixed as to the effectiveness of outside directors as monitors: there are conditions under which outside directors appear to be effective, and conditions under which outside directors appear to be ineffective. The policy implications of these empirical results are discussed in Section V.
The coming of age of the LeuO regulator

LeuO is a quiescent genetic regulator present in many bacteria, which forms part of the H‐NS regulon. LeuO in turn has been proposed to activate a subset of genes of the regulon by antagonizing H‐NS. In the paper by Dillon et al., binding of LeuO to the S. Typhimurium genome was observed by ChIP‐chip to some of the previously described LeuO‐regulated genes, upon growth under stress conditions. However, studies at a higher LeuO concentration from a cloned inducible promoter rendered many more binding sites, pointing towards the importance of the abundance of the regulator in the cell, in a given moment. Binding of LeuO was observed not only to intergenic sequences, but in the majority of cases to intragenic sequences, and co‐binding was observed with H‐NS in many sites and with RNA polymerase to the majority of sites. The authors define a binding motif that allowed the detection of several other LeuO‐regulated genes that were not detected by ChIP‐chip, which were possibly missed because LeuO binds and bridges distal sites, in those instances. The observations reported open new questions regarding the mode of action for LeuO.
Awareness and knowledge about weight status and management: results from the 1 d sensitization campaign ‘Obesity Day’ in northern Italy

Abstract Objective To evaluate the awareness and knowledge about weight status and its management. Design A 1 d cross-sectional survey. Basic anthropometric assessments (weight, height, BMI and waist circumference) and a self-administered questionnaire were considered. Setting Nineteen Clinical Nutrition or Endocrinology and Metabolic Disorders Units or Dietetics Services in the Italian region of Lombardy. Subjects All adults attending the ‘Obesity Day’ initiative. Results A total of 914 participants (605 female and 309 male) were recruited. Although most of the participants (83·5 %) considered obesity to be a disease, 38·5 % were likely to misperceive their weight status. In particular, 38·8 % of normal-weight adults believed themselves to be overweight, whereas 71·1 % and 37·5 % of classes I and II/III obese adults classified themselves as being overweight and mildly obese, respectively. However, most of the overweight (90·2 %), mildly (96·8 %) and moderately/severely obese adults (99·1 %) recognized the need to lose weight. In all, 37·8 % of the sample underestimated the role of physical activity in weight management. Interestingly, only 17·2 % of dieters (previous or current) declared being advised by their doctor to lose weight. Multivariate models revealed that higher age, low education and higher BMI were important determinants of poor weight control and management. In addition, previous dieting appeared not to provide better knowledge, whereas the role of physical activity was recognized mainly by those practising it. Conclusions The present study suggests that in Italy knowledge about weight management should be improved not only in the general population but also among health-care professionals. To confirm this finding, there is now the rationale for a nationally representative survey. New educational programmes can be designed on the basis of the information collected.
Energy demand elasticities and weather worldwide

The purpose of this paper is to empirically estimate a model of aggregate residential and commercial energy demand elasticities, taking into account capital stock and climatic effects. We model a theoretically founded non-linear energy demand system, the generalized almost ideal, for the most important 117 countries in the world, which represent around 95% of the world population and 97% of the primary residential energy consumption, for the period 1978–2012. To this end, we assume a multi-stage utility maximization process, which models energy demand within a comprehensive theoretical framework. This paper offers three new contributions to research. First, we model energy aggregate demand response with a flexible and theoretically plausible simultaneous system. Second, we empirically measure the complete structure of price and expenditure elasticities of energy demand worldwide. Third, we explicitly estimate the impact of climate conditions on energy demand, with a newly constructed measure of weather impact based on geo-located heating and cooling degree-days. Econometric estimation reveals quantitative evidence of different income and price elasticities across countries and highlights the weather and capital stock impact on energy demand, inducing energy efficiency. Electricity tends to be a luxury good in advanced economies. Our results have welfare-improving policy implications, because appropriate policy strategies can help public decision-makers promote production efficiency and consumer welfare.
How does human resource investment in internal control affect audit reporting lag?*

Abstract The Korean government requires listed firms to disclose the total number of employees engaged in the implementation of internal controls (hereafter, IC personnel) and the number of IC personnel in accounting, finance, information technology and systems departments, and other related functional areas. Using data unique to Korea, this study examines the effect of human resource investment in internal control on audit reporting lag (ARL). We employ quantitative and qualitative measures for the IC personnel, and the ARL is measured by the time between the fiscal year-end and the audit report date. We find an insignificant association between the quantitative measure (the number of IC personnel) and ARL. On the other hand, we find that the qualitative measure (the average experience of the IC personnel) reduces the audit time, thereby decreasing the ARL. This result highlights the importance of qualitative aspect in investments in IC personnel, which could be useful for firms that desire to reap the best result from the investment. Further analysis shows that investments in IC personnel at other departments as well as accounting and finance department increase audit efficiency. We confirm the robustness of our results through a series of additional analyses.
Effectiveness of clinical pharmacist intervention on health‐related quality of life in chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder patients – a randomized controlled study

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a preventable and treatable disease, has been described as ‘10% medication and 90% education’. Extreme physician scarcity limits the implementation of quality healthcare delivery in India. We conducted this study to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical pharmacist intervention on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with COPD in an Indian tertiary care hospital.
What are the determinants of quality of life in people with cervical dystonia?

Background: Little is known about the quality of life in patients with cervical dystonia, although pain and depression are relatively common. Objective: To test the hypothesis that an individual's ability to cope with the disease will modify the association of intrinsic, extrinsic, and disease related factors with quality of life. Methods: Patients with cervical dystonia diagnosed by a movement disorder specialist were recruited from seven European countries. Data on quality of life (SF-36), measures of coping, and intrinsic, extrinsic, and disease related factors were collected by a self completed postal questionnaire. Results: 289 patients (101 men and 188 women), mean age 55 years, completed the questionnaire. Both physical and mental quality of life scores were predicted by self esteem and self deprecation, educational level, employment status, social support, response to botulinum toxin, disease severity, social participation, stigma, acceptance of illness, anxiety, and depression. In multivariable analyses, the strongest predictors were anxiety and depression. Severe depression was associated with a 19.1 point decrement in the physical summary score (95% confidence interval, −31.7 to −6.6; p = 0.003); however, disease duration and severity remained predictors. Conclusions: Care for patients with cervical dystonia must not only focus on reducing the severity of the dystonia but also on the psychological wellbeing of the patient. Interventions aimed at treating depression or anxiety, especially of a cognitive nature, may have a large impact on improving quality of life.
Proteinases and Cytokines in Neutrophil and Platelet Interactions In Vitro. Possible Relevance to the Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome

While polymorphonuclear neutrophils are endowed with potent mechanisms for phagocytosis and the killing of microbes, and thus contribute to a host defense against microbicidal infections, they have also long been recognized as important effectors of inflammation. Indeed, when their migration in tissues is not regulated, their excessive accumulation could contribute to host tissue injury following release of two essential groups of toxic products: granular substances and toxic species of reduced oxygen. ’ Lungs are particularly exposed to such insults and constitute a primary site of damage caused by host defense mechanisms. Indeed, if only a few neutrophils are normally present in the lung interstitium and alveolar spaces, these cells are susceptible to respond to chemotactic stimuli and accumulate in the lung. Thus, neutrophils have been specifically implicated in the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and emphysema. ’ After several years, the concept that neutrophils contribute to inflammation not only alone but also through interactions with platelets, has emerged. For example, a neutrophil-dependent platelet deposition was observed in different experimental models such as dermal inflammation,3 occlusion-reperfusion myocardial injury,4 or subendothelial immune complex glomerulonephritis.5 In a model of ARDS, it has been shown that not only neutrophils but also platelets contributed to lung injury.6 In this pathology, characterized by a loss of integrity of the alveolar-capillary wall, platelets have been described as potential contributors. ’ I n uitro studies have revealed that such a cell-to-cell interaction was effective and was of extreme complexity. Different biochemical and biological pathways have thus been depicted: generation of oxygen derivatives, synthesis of arachidonate metabolites and platelet-activating factor (PAF), contact through the expression of P-selectin (GMP140 or CD62). formation of neutrophil-activating peptide 2 (NAP-2), and participation of p r o t e i n a s e ~ . ~ ~ ~ We have focused our interest on one of these mechanisms, that is, the neutroPhil-induced platelet activation mediated by proteinases and modulated by cyto-
v-Src Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Connexin43: Regulation of Gap Junction Communication and Effects on Cell Transformation

The oncogenic tyrosine kinase, v-Src, phosphorylates connexin43 (Cx43) on Y247 and Y265 and inhibits Cx43 gap junctional communication (GJC), the process of intercellular exchange of ions and metabolites. To test the role of a negative charge on Cx43 induced by tyrosine phosphorylation, we expressed Cx43 with glutamic acid substitutions at Y247 or Y265. The Cx43Y247E or Cx43Y265E channels were functional in Cx43 knockout fibroblasts, indicating that introducing a negative charge on Cx43 was not likely the mechanism for v-Src disruption of GJC. Cells coexpressing v-Src and the triple serine to alanine mutant, Cx43S255/279/282A, confirmed that mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphorylation of Cx43 was not required for v-Src-induced disruption of GJC and that tyrosine phosphorylation was sufficient. In addition, v-Src cells containing v-Src-resistant gap junctions, Cx43Y247/265F, displayed properties of cell migration, adhesion, and proliferation similar to Cx43wt/v-Src cells, suggesting that Cx43 tyrosine phosphorylation and disruption of GJC are not involved in these transformed cell properties.
The Association of rs4753426 Polymorphism in the Melatonin Receptor 1B (MTNR1B) Gene and Susceptibility to Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a tridimensional structural deformity of the spine that may deteriorate progressively, leading to significant functional limitations and pain problems. Several previous studies have implicated the rs4753426 single nucleotide polymorphism in the melatonin receptor 1B (MTNR1B) gene in the etiology of AIS. However the sample sizes were limited and the findings of those studies were inconsistent. An overall assessment of the evidence supporting this association has not been previously conducted. OBJECTIVES To provide a comprehensive assessment and synthesis of the currently available evidence on the association between rs4753426 and AIS. STUDY DESIGN A systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING University hospital, China. METHODS This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines. PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, Scopus databases, and WANFANG databases were systematically searched through December 2014 to identify relevant studies following a sensitive strategy. Statistical analysis was performed using the Review Manager 5.2 software. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using the fixed-effect inverse variance model for allelic (C vs. T) and genotypic comparisons. RESULTS Four papers including 5 studies which involved 2,552 AIS cases and 2,738 controls were identified for this meta-analysis. The results showed that C allele of the rs4753426 was significantly associated with AIS (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.03-1.21, P = 0.01). CT and CC genotypes were 26% (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.04-1.53, P = 0.01) and 28% (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.05-1.56, P = 0.01), respectively, more likely to have AIS compared with CC genotype. As for the dominant model (CC+TT vs. TT), summary ORs showed statistically significant association with AIS (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.06-1.53, P = 0.009). Compared with the CT+TT genotype, the summary ORs of the CC genotype showed marginally statistically significant association with AIS (OR = 1.11, 95 % CI: 0.99-1.24, P = 0.07). The subgroup meta-analysis results showed the C allele and each genotype were significantly associated with AIS in the Asian group but not in the Caucasian group. LIMITATIONS Paucity of available literature. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, there has been no meta-analysis to analyze the association between rs4753426 polymorphism in the MTNR1B gene and AIS. This systematic review was a comprehensive analysis of the currently available evidence, and found an overall significant association of rs4753426 polymorphism with the risk of AIS, especially in the Asian population. Further investigation of this association is necessary in other populations.
Multilevel Analysis of Municipal Officials’ Participation in Land Use Policies Supportive of Active Living

Purpose: To investigate individual- and city-level factors associated with municipal officials’ participation in a local land use policy that supports active living. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Eighty-three cities in eight states. Subjects: Four hundred thirteen elected and appointed officials with various job functions including mayors, city councilors, aldermen, selectmen, city or town managers, and heads of departments of planning, community development, public works, transportation, engineering, parks and recreation, neighborhood services, and public health. Measures: A Web-based survey assessed perceived importance of physical activity and livability issues to job responsibilities; perceived resident support of local government action to address physical activity and livability issues; and residence. City-level factors obtained from Census data included percentage of commuters by walking, bicycling, and public transit. The dependent variable was self-reported participation in developing, adopting, or implementing a local land use policy supportive of active living. Analysis: Hierarchical (two-level: municipal official–city) logistic regression model, using R. Results: Municipal officials living in the city where they worked were significantly more likely to be involved in a land use policy. Higher perceived importance of livability issues was associated with participation. Perceived importance of physical activity was inversely associated with land use policy involvement. Higher city-level bicycling rates resulted in increased odds of participation in a land use policy. City-level walking rates were inversely associated with land use policy participation. Conclusion: Municipal officials who worked in cities with a higher proportion of bicycle commuters, who prioritized livability issues, and who resided in the city where they worked were more likely to engage in land use policies supportive of active living.
Approximate distribution of the low-rank adaptive normalized matched filter test statistic under the null hypothesis

In this paper, we propose to derive an approximate theoretical distribution under the null hypothesis of the low-rank adaptive normalized matched filter (LR-ANMF). This detector is used to detect a target when the disturbance is composed of a low-rank Gaussian contribution (called clutter) and an additive white Gaussian noise. In the LR-ANMF, the estimated covariance matrix is replaced by the estimated orthogonal projector onto the subspace clutter. The method to derive this distribution is based on perturbation analysis and assumes a steering vector far from the clutter and a large clutter-to-noise ratio. Simulations on a space-time adaptive processing example validate our theoretical result. The impact of both hypotheses is also studied.
Bone mass eight years after treatment for adolescent-onset anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE This paper aims to study long-term bone mineral development in former patients with an onset of anorexia nervosa during childhood and adolescence. METHODS Bone mineral density (BMD) in lumbar spine and total hip was measured in 39 female participants (mean age = 23.1 years, SD 3.5) an average of 8.1 (±3.3) years after treatment start. RESULTS At follow-up, seven participants (17.9%) still suffered from an eating disorder. Mean BMD in the former patients was within the normal range in the hip but significantly reduced in the spine. Fourteen (36%) of the participants had osteopenia, and three (8%) had osteoporosis in the spine and/or hip. Amenorrhea for more than two years was associated with reduced BMD in the spine, whereas low weight at follow-up was associated with low BMD in both the spine and the hip. CONCLUSION A large minority of these former patients had low bone mass in young adulthood. In accordance with other studies, our findings support the importance of weight restoration for future bone health in young patients with anorexia nervosa.
Changes in the frequency and diversity of messenger RNA populations in the course of myogenic differentiation.

Complementary DNAs (cDNAs) were synthesized from polyadenylated RNAs of myoblasts and myotubes and used to analyze changes in the sequence complexity and frequency distribution of messenger RNAs during myogenesis in vitro. cDNA . polyadenylated-RNA hybridization kinetics show the presence of messenger RNA sequences specific for myotubes in fully differentiated muscle cultures. These sequences are accumulated just prior to fusion, as was shown by hybridizations of myotube cDNA and total cytoplasmic RNAs from cells at different stages of differentiation. The myotube cDNA can be enriched 10-fold in myotube-specific RNA species by a hybridization with cytoplasmic RNAs from myoblasts and subsequent removal of these hybridized sequences by hydroxyapatite.
Impairment of consciously controlled use of memory in schizophrenia.

Recent studies of memory in schizophrenia have shown that explicit but not implicit memory performance is impaired. The hypothesis that schizophrenia is associated with a failure of consciously but not unconsciously (automatic) controlled influence of memory on performance was tested using a procedure providing uncontaminated estimates of consciously controlled and automatic memory processes (i.e., the process-dissociation procedure in a stem completion task). Performance of 35 patients with schizophrenia was compared with that of 35 normal participants. Consciously controlled use but not automatic influences of memory was significantly lower in patients with schizophrenia than in controls. Consciously controlled use of memory was negatively and significantly correlated with positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia differentially affects 2 types of memory processes: It impairs consciously controlled use of memory but spares automatic influences. Positive symptoms could reflect the lack of control from higher level conscious processes.