Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CvfA Protein and Polynucleotide Phosphorylase Act in an Opposing Manner to Regulate Staphylococcus aureus Virulence*

Background: Production of 3′-phosphorylated RNA by CvfA affects S. aureus virulence gene expression. Results: Disrupting pnpA-encoding exonuclease suppressed the cvfA-deleted mutant phenotype. Purified PNPase did not degrade 3′-phosphorylated RNA. Conclusion: CvfA-produced 3′-phosphorylated RNA inhibits PNPase-induced RNA degradation, resulting in hemolysin production by S. aureus. Significance: Altering the nucleotide structure at the RNA 3′ terminus regulates S. aureus virulence. We previously identified CvfA (SA1129) as a Staphylococcus aureus virulence factor using a silkworm infection model. S. aureus cvfA-deleted mutants exhibit decreased expression of the agr locus encoding a positive regulator of hemolysin genes and decreased hemolysin production. CvfA protein hydrolyzes a 2′,3′-cyclic phosphodiester bond at the RNA 3′ terminus, producing RNA with a 3′-phosphate (3′-phosphorylated RNA, RNA with a 3′-phosphate). Here, we report that the cvfA-deleted mutant phenotype (decreased agr expression and hemolysin production) was suppressed by disrupting pnpA-encoding polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) with 3′- to 5′-exonuclease activity. The suppression was blocked by introducing a pnpA-encoding PNPase with exonuclease activity but not by a pnpA-encoding mutant PNPase without exonuclease activity. Therefore, loss of PNPase exonuclease activity suppressed the cvfA-deleted mutant phenotype. Purified PNPase efficiently degraded RNA with 2′,3′-cyclic phosphate at the 3′ terminus (2′,3′-cyclic RNA), but it inefficiently degraded 3′-phosphorylated RNA. These findings indicate that 3′-phosphorylated RNA production from 2′,3′-cyclic RNA by CvfA prevents RNA degradation by PNPase and contributes to the expression of agr and hemolysin genes. We speculate that in the cvfA-deleted mutant, 2′,3′-cyclic RNA is not converted to the 3′-phosphorylated form and is efficiently degraded by PNPase, resulting in the loss of RNA essential for expressing agr and hemolysin genes, whereas in the cvfA/pnpA double-disrupted mutant, 2′,3′-cyclic RNA is not degraded by PNPase, leading to hemolysin production. These findings suggest that CvfA and PNPase competitively regulate RNA degradation essential for S. aureus virulence.
Of diapers and dissertations : the experiences of doctoral student mothers living at the intersection of motherhood and studenthood

Whi l e the literature on the experi ences of women in academe generaly, is growi ng, the experi ences of women student mothers in post-secondary educati on are rarely explored. Gi ven the i ncreasi ng number of women students enroling in university and the fact that the student popul ati on is aging, there is a greater likelihood of these students bei ng mothers. A study of these women is timely and crucial to understandi ng their needs and chal enges within the university. The purpose of the research was to exami ne the experi ences of doctoral student mothers living at the intersection of studenthood and motherhood as it was expected that the demands from the family and university woul d create specifc chal enges. The study del i neates the women' s understandi ng of and the degree to whi ch they accepted the domi nant North Ameri can i deol ogy of i ntensi ve motheri ng and the i deol ogy of the good student. Further, the study sought to ascertai n whether the student mothers experi enced a contradiction between the two i deol ogi es similar to that experi enced by the women in Hay' s (1996) study of empl oyed and stay-at-home mothers. The study utilzes the concept of the public/private di chotomy and the noti ons of greedy instiutions and competi ng urgenci es in its framework. The desi gn consi sted of in-depth semi -structured i ntervi ews with seventeen mothers at vari ous stages in their doctoral programme. The women range in age from thirty-three to forty-seven and have at least one child, under the age of thirteen, living with t hem ful-time.
Employment programmes for disabled people: lessons from research evaluations

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Increased serum creatine kinase after exercise

The effect of 2 hours of exercise on the serum creatine kinase (CK) level was investigated in 11 men and 9 women. The mean increase of CK 24 hours after exercise was significantly greater in men. The relative lack of CK elevation in women may: (1) indicate that female muscle is less susceptible to damage by adverse factors; and (2) explain discrepancies in previous reports.
Human activities segmentation and location of key frames based on 3D skeleton

Human activities consist of multiple simple actions, and the temporal information benefit action recognition at all time scales. Considering energy information of human action as action similarity criterion, we present a temporal segmentation method which action videos are firstly segmented to atomic actions based on kinematics information of human skeleton, then the atomic action units are iteratively incorporated in meaningful group by considering similarity of energy information. And the key frames are located at sphere of maximum energy information. We tested our method on two challenging datasets and its performance is better than other state of the art methods.
Hormone Replacement Therapy and Cardioprotection

Abstract: The incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) increases after menopause and at any age postmenopausal women have a significantly higher incidence of CVD compared to premenopausal women. Several epidemiological findings suggest the causative pathogenetic role of ovarian hormone deficiency in the development of CVD in women. Ovarian hormones have several potential protective effects on the cardiovascular system and despite several observational studies have shown the beneficial effect of estrogens and estrogen/progestin associations on CVD, at the present, after the findings of randomized studies, the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the prevention of CVD is still under debate. The randomized studies (Heart and Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study [HERS] and Women's Health Initiative [WHI]) found largely concordant results with the observational studies except for the divergent findings about coronary heart disease (CHD). The discrepancy between the two arms of the WHI study suggests that two factors, time to initiation of HRT since menopause and estrogen/progestin associations, are of pivotal importance to explain the widely divergent findings on the cardiovascular effects of observational studies and randomized clinical studies. Basic science and animal studies together with clinical investigations and the results of clinical studies are concordant in suggesting that a long time since menopause is associated with a reduced protective effect of estrogens while the unfavorable effects upon coagulation remain unaltered. In early postmenopausal women, like the ones included in the observational studies, ovarian hormone replacement may be cardioprotective because of the responsiveness of the endothelium to estrogens that also buffer the detrimental effects upon coagulation. In late postmenopausal women ovarian hormones have either a null effect or even a detrimental effect because of the predominance of the procoagulant or plaque‐destabilizing effects over the vasoprotective effects. Therefore, HRT has beneficial cardiovascular effects in younger women while it may have detrimental effect on coagulative balance and vascular inflammation and has little effect on cardiovascular functions in older women.
Structural basis for the recognition of diastereomeric 5′,8-cyclo-2′-deoxypurine lesions by the human nucleotide excision repair system

The hydroxyl radical is a powerful oxidant that generates DNA lesions including the stereoisomeric R and S 5′,8-cyclo-2′-deoxyadenosine (cdA) and 5′,8-cyclo-2′-deoxyguanosine (cdG) pairs that have been detected in cellular DNA. Unlike some other oxidatively generated DNA lesions, cdG and cdA are repaired by the human nucleotide excision repair (NER) apparatus. The relative NER efficiencies of all four cyclopurines were measured and compared in identical human HeLa cell extracts for the first time under identical conditions, using identical sequence contexts. The cdA and cdG lesions were excised with similar efficiencies, but the efficiencies for both 5′R cyclopurines were greater by a factor of ∼2 than for the 5′S lesions. Molecular modeling and dynamics simulations have revealed structural and energetic origins of this difference in NER-incision efficiencies. These lesions cause greater DNA backbone distortions and dynamics relative to unmodified DNA in 5′R than in 5′S stereoisomers, producing greater impairment in van der Waals stacking interaction energies in the 5′R cases. The locally impaired stacking interaction energies correlate with relative NER incision efficiencies, and explain these results on a structural basis in terms of differences in dynamic perturbations of the DNA backbone imposed by the R and S covalent 5′,8 bonds.
A Mouse Model of Activating Met Mutations

Tyrosine kinase–activating mutations in Met have been observed in hereditary papillary renal carcinomas (HPRC) and their transforming potential has been examined both in vitro and in tumor xenografts. To study the influence of these mutations in the mouse germline, we generated mice with targeted mutations in the murine met locus. Five mouse lines with mutant Met were created: WT, D1226N, Y1228C, M1248T, and M1248T/L1193V. Unexpectedly, the different mutant Met lines developed unique tumor profiles including carcinomas, sarcomas, and lymphomas. More surprising was that we observed nonrandom duplication of the mutant met allele in a majority of tumors from the mutant mouse lines. This selective chromosomal amplification has been observed in patients with HPRC. This study illustrates the importance of activating Met mutations in tumorigenesis and indicates that mutations within the kinase domain distinctly affect downstream signaling. Our Met mutant mice will provide a valuable model for testing Met inhibitors on tumors containing activating mutations present in human cancers and for understanding the molecular events critical for Met-mediated tumorigenesis.
Enhanced mechanical properties of multiwalled carbon nanotubes/thermoplastic polyurethane nanocomposites

Carbon nanotubes are considered to be ideal candidates for improving the mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposite scaffolds due to their higher surface area, mechanical properties of three-dimensional isotropic structure, and physical properties. In this study, we showed the improved mechanical properties prepared by backfilling of preformed hydrogels and aerogels of individually dispersed multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-Baytubes) and thermoplastic polyurethane. Here, we used the solution-based fabrication method to prepare the composite scaffold and observed an improvement in tensile modulus about 200-fold over that of pristine polymer at 19 wt% MWCNT loading. Further, we tested the thermal properties of composite scaffolds and observed that the nanotube networks suppress the mobility of polymer chains, the composite scaffold samples were thermally stable well above their decomposition temperatures that extend the mechanical integrity of a polymer well above its polymer melting point. The improved mechanical properties of the composite scaffold might be useful in smart material industry.
Information and Export Decisions: Bank’s Role as a Conduit of Information (in Japanese)

This paper examines how firms’ decision to start exporting is affected by the availability of information on export markets. Unlike existing studies which focus on information sharing among firms, we are interested in the information provided by firms’ top lender bank (main bank). Specifically, using a unique dataset containing information on both Japanese firms’ export activities and their main banks’ experience in transacting with other exporting firms, we examine whether main banks act as a conduit of information on export markets. We find that information spillovers through main banks positively affect client firms’ decision to start exporting (extensive margin), implying that information on foreign markets provided by main banks substantially reduces the fixed entry cost of exporting and helps non-exporting client firms to become exporters. Moreover, our results imply that information spillovers through main banks are more important for firms which choose Asia as their export destination. As such firms are more likely to be smaller firms, our results may suggest that main banks play an important role as a conduit of information particularly for smaller firms. Thus, our results highlight that channels of information spillovers other than those examined in the literature so far may be of considerable importance.
Mortgage Lending Discrimination: A Review of Existing Evidence

The purpose of this volume is to sort through the research evidence on mortgage lending discrimination, in order to provide policymakers with a comprehensive and comprehensible review of the current state of knowledge on lending discrimination and identify important questions that still need to be answered in order to recommend how best to further the goal of fair housing for all. Our review of the existing research evidence concludes that minority homebuyers in the United States do face discrimination from mortgage lending institutions. Although significant gaps remain in what we know, a substantial body of objective and credible statistical evidence strongly indicates that discrimination persists.
Does H. Pylori Infection Play a Role in Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura and in Other Autoimmune Diseases?

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), an autoimmune disease caused by sensitization of platelets by autoantibodies leading to platelet destruction, has been associated with some infectious agents, including Helicobacter pylori. The study by Suzuki et al., published in this issue, provides further evidence of the role of H. pylori infection in the pathogenesis of ITP, as confirmed by the increase in the platelet count in patients with ITP, following H. pylori eradication. Interestingly, H. pylori infection has also been shown to play a role in other diseases in which autoimmune mechanisms may be predominant, such as acne rosacea, idiopathic chronic urticaria, and atherosclerosis. While H. pylori eradication is usually recommended in patients with gastric diseases, there are no specific indications for extraalimentary diseases. In the light of the recent findings, a revision of the current guidelines for the management of H. pylori infection may be needed.
Travellers with Disabilities: A Substantial and Growing Tourism Niche Market

Providing tourism services to specific niche markets can broaden a business's customer base bringing about a sustainable competitive advantage. An emerging but largely under serviced tourism consumer group is the accessible tourism niche. This paper begins comparing the backpackers', seniors', and gay and lesbian markets to establish if parallels in their development, growth and consumer needs can be observed. The argument is then presented for accessible tourism, not only looking at the social and legal imperatives for servicing this market but also some of the more recent statistics to highlight it's financial worth. As part of this review, a discussion of the ongoing and discouraging barriers to greater participation is undertaken with a view to making recommendations for future action. The review revealed similarities between the early adoption of the accessible tourism niche across each of the three groups. Overlap was also found in the requirements of the groups, for example, seniors, who are increasingly likely to experience disability with aging increasing the need for accessible tourism services. Quite aside from any social or legal imperative, the increasing value and size of the accessible tourism niche strongly suggests this is a largely untapped market worthy of greater managerial attention and research effort. The discussion contained here is timely given that many discouraging barriers and service quality issues remain which exclude people with disabilities from a full range of tourism experiences.
Information Revelation and Expected Stock Returns

If information is not perfect, theories prescribe a negative relation between information availability and expected stock returns. Using two readily available variables, price and volume, I construct a new proxy for information and test its relation to returns in the 1964-2007 period on NYSE-listed stocks. I find that information revelation predicts lower future returns, controlling for beta, size, book-to-market ratio, liquidity, and momentum. A long/short trading strategy based on sorts on the information proxy generates alphas of 3% to 4%. These alphas do not have to imply an arbitrage opportunity; they are consistent with time-varying expected returns in a rational model.
Surge in bilateral economic relationship: India-Malaysia trade

India-Malaysia trade relations have expanded significantly since 1991 so much so, that currently, India is Malaysia's largest trading partner in Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Malaysia is the fourth country after Singapore, South Korea and Japan with which India has a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement. India and Malaysia will operationalise a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, aiming to boost bilateral trade to $15 billion by 2015 from nearly $10 billion last year. The paper studies the trends and changes in the composition of exports and imports of Indian trade with Malaysia during the study period 1991 to 2009. The study dwells upon analysing the present status of bilateral trade in goods and services, investment and other areas of economic cooperation. It also assesses the feasibility, potential and nature of cooperation in these areas under the CECA.
The January Seasonality and the Performance of Country-Level Value and Momentum Strategies

The study examines the turn-of-the-year effect in the country-level value and momentum strategies. We re-examine eight distinct value and momentum strategies within 78 markets in the 1995‑2015 period and we test their performance for the seasonal patterns. We find that during the last 20 years the value strategies performed particularly well in January and poor in December. On the contrary, the momentum strategies had high returns in December and low in January. These observations are consistent with the explanations of the January seasonality related to the tax loss selling and window dressing effects.
Boston Type I Keratoprosthesis for Treatment of Gelatinous Drop-Like Corneal Dystrophy After Repeated Graft Failure

Abstract Purpose: To describe the use of a Boston type I keratoprosthesis as a secondary penetrating procedure to treat gelatinous drop-like corneal dystrophy (GDLD), with presentation of pathologic findings, genetic analysis, and discussion of other surgical options. Methods: A 43-year-old woman with GDLD in both eyes, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of counting fingers in both eyes, and recurrent corneal opacification following two penetrating keratoplasties presented for visual rehabilitation. A Boston type I keratoprosthesis was implanted in her left eye after extracapsular clear lens extraction. Results: The surgery was uneventful and one month after surgery, best corrected vision improved to 20/30, which has been maintained for a period of more than nine months. At the 12-month visit, her vision was noted to be diminished to 20/200 due to a retroprosthetic membrane and improved to 20/25 two weeks after a Yag capsulotomy. Histopathologic examination of the corneal specimen disclosed predominantly subepithelial amyloid deposition. Genetic analysis is presented. Conclusions: GDLD is a rare disorder of primary corneal amyloidosis. Recurrence of this condition following surgery is very common. Boston type I keratoprosthesis as a secondary procedure can be successful in restoring vision in affected patients.
Language Support for Modular Autonomic Managers in Reconfigurable Software Components

Dynamic reconfiguration is a key capability of Component-based Software Systems to achieve self-adaptation as it provides means to cope with environment changes at runtime. The space of configurations is defined by the possible assemblies of components, and navigating this space while achieving goals and maintaining structural properties is managed in an auto- nomic loop. The natural architectural structure of component-based systems calls for hierarchy and modularity in the design and implementation of composites and their managers, and requires support for coordinated multiple autonomic loops.In this paper, we leverage the modularity capability to strengthen the Domain-Specific Language (DSL) Ctrl-F, targeted at the design of autonomic managers in component-based systems. Its original definition involved discrete control-theoretical management of reconfigurations, providing assur-ances on the automated behaviors. The objective of modularity is two-fold: from the design perspective, it allows designers to seamlessly decompose a complex system into smaller pieces of reusable architectural elements and adaptive behaviours. From the compilation point of view, we provide a systematical and generative approach to decompose control problems described in the architectural level while relying on mechanisms of modular Discrete Control Synthesis (DCS), which allows us to cope with the combinatorial complexity that is inherent to DCS problems. We show the applicability of our approach by applying it to the self-adaptive case study of the existing RUBiS/Brownout eBay-like web auction system.
Provoked Vestibulodynia

Vulvodynia, or chronic vulvar pain, is a common but poorly understood condition. Affected women report negative impacts in terms of sexual functioning, relationship adjustment, psychological well-being and overall quality of life. Although the etiology of vulvodynia is not well understood, it appears as if different levels of pathophysiology are implicated. Accordingly, therapeutic options are targeted at a variety of mechanisms. Unfortunately, few randomized, controlled trials exist, and few combination therapies have been examined; however, the quality and breadth of the treatment literature is improving. Further studies are needed to more fully investigate the mechanisms involved in the development and maintenance of vulvodynia, and more research in the area of treatment outcome is needed.
Statistical variability in scaled generations of n-channel UTB-FD-SOI MOSFETs under the influence of RDF, LER, OTF and MGG

Statistical variability (SV) critically affects the scaling, performance, leakage power, and reliability of devices, circuits, and systems [1]. The good electrostatic integrity of UTB-FD-SOI transistors tolerates low channel doping and dramatically reduces the statistical variability due to random dopant fluctuations (RDF), but other sources of variability remain pertinent, including line edge roughness (LER), metal gate granularity (MGG) leading to work-function variation (WFV), oxide thickness fluctuations (OTF), and interface trapped charge due to NBTI/PBTI [2-4]. The different physical nature of these phenomena affects the spread of threshold voltage (Vth), on-current (Ion), and DIBL of the transistors in different ways, and is, for the first time, comprehensively studied here for three LOP-technology generations of n-channel UTB-FD-SOI devices with a physical gate length LG of 22, 16, and 11 nm.