Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
IS901, a new member of a widespread class of atypical insertion sequences, is associated with pathogenicity in Mycobacterium avium

An insertion sequence (IS901), found in pathogenic strains of Mycobacterium avium, but absent in M. avium complex isolates from patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), has been isolated and sequenced. This insertion element has a nucleotide sequence of 1472 bp, with one open reading frame (0RF1), which codes for a protein of 401 amino acids. The amino acid sequence, terminal ends and target site of IS901 are similar to those of IS900, present in Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. However, the DNA sequences of these two IS elements exhibit only 60% homology, compared to a DNA homology of 98% between their respective hosts. IS901, like IS900, appears to belong to a family of related insertion elements present in actinomycetes and other bacteria. M. avium strains containing IS900 were found to be more virulent in mice than closely related strains lacking IS901. IS901 may be a useful tool for the study of the genetics of virulence in the M. avium complex and for obtaining stable integration of foreign genes into mycobacteria.
Uncovering Distribution Patterns of High Performance Taxis from Big Trace Data

The unbalanced distribution of taxi passengers in space and time affects taxi driver performance. Existing research has studied taxi driver performance by analyzing taxi driver strategies when the taxi is occupied. However, searching for passengers when vacant is costly for drivers, and it limits operational efficiency and income. Few researchers have taken the costs during vacant status into consideration when evaluating taxi driver performance. In this paper, we quantify taxi driver performance using the taxi’s average efficiency. We propose the concept of a high-efficiency single taxi trip and then develop a quantification and evaluation model for taxi driver performance based on single trip efficiency. In a case study, we first divide taxi drivers into top drivers and ordinary drivers, according to their performance as calculated from their GPS traces over a week, and analyze the space-time distribution and operating patterns of the top drivers. Then, we compare the space-time distribution of top drivers to ordinary drivers. The results show that top drivers usually operate far away from downtown areas, and the distribution of top driver operations is highly correlated with traffic conditions. We compare the proposed performance-based method with three other approaches to taxi operation evaluation. The results demonstrate the accuracy and feasibility of the proposed method in evaluating taxi driver performance and ranking taxi drivers. This paper could provide empirical insights for improving taxi driver performance.
Retrieval-Based Learning : A Decade of Progress 3

Introduction 1 A Primer on Retrieval-Based Learning 2 Direct Versus Mediated Effects of Retrieval Practice 2 Balancing Retrieval Success and Retrieval Effort 4 Theories of Retrieval-Based Learning 5 Transfer-Appropriate Processing 5 Strength and Retrieval Effort 5 Elaborative Retrieval Account 6 Episodic Context Account 7 Manipulations of Initial Retrieval Practice Conditions 7 Retrieval Practice Compared to Restudy and Elaborative Study 7 Comparisons of Recall, Recognition, and Initial Retrieval Cueing Conditions 8 Retrieval Practice With Initial Short-Answer and Multiple-Choice Tests 9 Positive and Negative Effects of Initial Multiple-Choice Questions 11 Spaced Retrieval Practice 12 Direct Manipulations of Initial Episodic Retrieval 14 Characteristics of Final Assessments of Learning 14 Retention Interval 15 Ancillary Measures on Criterial Assessments 15 Transfer of Learning 17 Generalizing Across Learner Characteristics, Materials, and Educational Contexts 19 Learner Characteristics 19 Materials 20 Educational Contexts 21 Conclusions and Future Directions 23 Acknowledgments 23 References 23
Expression of Mcm-2, Ki-67 and geminin in benign and malignant salivary gland tumours.

BACKGROUND Recent studies have proposed that minichromosome maintenance (Mcm) proteins may be sensitive proliferation markers and may serve as novel biomarkers for prognostication and diagnosis of various pre-malignant and malignant lesions. The aims of this study were to determine the expression of Mcm-2, Ki-67 and geminin in salivary gland (SG) tumours, and to evaluate their usefulness for diagnosis or for prediction of tumour behaviour. METHODS Tissue from 62 SG tumours was assembled in tissue microarray format. There were 13 adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC), 10 carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenomas (CEPA), 10 mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MEC), 10 polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinomas (PLGA), 10 pleomorphic adenomas (PA) and nine acinic cell carcinomas (AcCC). Clinicopathological data were collected retrospectively and immunohistochemical analyses of Mcm-2, Ki-67 and geminin were performed on all lesions. Labelling index (LI) for each marker was determined by counting the percentage of positive cells in six random fields from three arrays per case. RESULTS Mcm-2 expression was higher than Ki-67 and geminin in all tumours studied. Mcm-2 LI was higher in ACC (28.2 +/- 19.2%) than in CEPA, AcCC, MEC, PA and PLGA (5.3 +/- 4.1%, P = 0.001). Mcm-2 LI was higher in CEPA (20.4 +/- 5.0%) than in PA (6.9 +/- 5.0%, P = 0.001). LI did not correlate to tumour grade or outcome for any of the markers or tumour types. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that Mcm-2 may be a sensitive proliferation marker in SG tumours and may be useful for differential diagnosis between PA and CEPA, and ACC and PLGA. Further studies are warranted to assess the value of Mcm-2 as a predictor of recurrence and survival.
The Equivalent Subgraph and Directed Cut Polyhedra on Series-Parallel Graphs

The families of minimal directed cuts and minimal equivalent subgraphs of a directed graph form a pair of blocking clutters. A directed graph is series-parallel if the undirected graph obtained on ignoring directions is series-parallel. It is shown that the minimal equivalent subgraph inequalities completely describe the directed cut polyhedron, and that the minimal directed cut inequalities completely describe the equivalent subgraph polyhedron on strongly connected series-parallel graphs.
Understanding Social Isolation Among Urban Aging Adults: Informing Occupation-Based Approaches

Socially isolated aging adults are at risk of poor health and well-being. Occupational therapy can help address this issue; however, information is needed to guide such work. National surveys characterize social isolation in populations of aging adults but fail to provide meaningful information at a community level. The objective of this study is to describe multiple dimensions of social isolation and related factors among aging adults in diverse urban neighborhoods. Community-based participatory research involving a door-to-door survey of adults 50 years and older was used. Participants (N = 161) reported social isolation in terms of small social networks (24%) and wanting more social engagement (43%). Participants aged 50 to 64 years reported the highest levels of isolation in most dimensions. Low income, poor health, lack of transportation, and infrequent information access appeared linked to social isolation. Occupational therapists can address social isolation in similar urban communities through policy and practice that facilitate social engagement and network building.
The Effects of Patient Age and Diagnosis on Perceived Necessity of Psychological and Medical Treatment by Young Adults

Perceptions of and attitudes towards the elderly as related to the perceived necessity of treatment for physical and psychological symptoms were examined. Eighty participants from undergraduate classes at a medium-sized university in the northeastern United States were randomly assigned to read one of four vignettes, which were identical with the exception of the age (30 and 80) and diagnosis (Major Depressive Episode and arthritis) of the vignette character. Contrary to original hypotheses, participants reported that it was more important for an 80-year-old to obtain medical treatment than a 30-year-old. When analyzing the importance of obtaining psychological treatment, no statistically significant differences were found based on the age of the character. Medical treatment was universally rated as more important regardless of the age of the character in the scenario.
“Yes, we can!”: Perceptions of collective efficacy sources in volleyball

Abstract Collective efficacy can be defined as a group's shared confidence that they will successfully achieve their goal. We examined which behaviours and events are perceived as sources of collective efficacy beliefs in a volleyball context. In Study 1, volleyball coaches from the highest volleyball leagues (n = 33) in Belgium indicated the most important sources of collective efficacy. This list was then adapted based on the literature and on feedback given by an expert focus group, resulting in a 40-item questionnaire. In Study 2, coaches and players from all levels of volleyball in Belgium (n = 2365) rated each of these sources on their predictive value for collective efficacy. A principal component analysis revealed that the 40 sources could be divided into eight internally consistent factors. Positive supportive communication (e.g. enthusiasm after making a point) was identified as the factor most predictive for positive collective efficacy beliefs. The factor referring to the negative emotional reactions of players (e.g. discouraging body language) was the most predictive for negative collective efficacy beliefs. These findings offer a starting point for the design of continuous measurements of collective efficacy through observation.
The Toxicology of Mercury and Its Chemical Compounds

This review covers the toxicology of mercury and its compounds. Special attention is paid to those forms of mercury of current public health concern. Human exposure to the vapor of metallic mercury dates back to antiquity but continues today in occupational settings and from dental amalgam. Health risks from methylmercury in edible tissues of fish have been the subject of several large epidemiological investigations and continue to be the subject of intense debate. Ethylmercury in the form of a preservative, thimerosal, added to certain vaccines, is the most recent form of mercury that has become a public health concern. The review leads to general discussion of evolutionary aspects of mercury, protective and toxic mechanisms, and ends on a note that mercury is still an “element of mystery. ”
Zooming In: A Practical Manual for Identifying Geographic Clusters

This paper takes a close look at the reasons, procedures, and results of cluster identification methods. Despite being a popular research topic in strategy, economics, and sociology, geographic clusters are often studied with little consideration given to the underlying economic activities, the unique cluster boundaries, or the appropriate benchmark of economic concentration. Our goal is to increase awareness of the complexities behind cluster identification, and to provide concrete insights and methodologies applicable to various empirical settings. The organic cluster identification methodology we propose is especially useful when researchers work in global settings, where data available at different geographic units complicates comparisons across countries.
A method of measuring the volume of human dental pulp cavities.

Summary. A method of measuring the volume of the human dental pulp cavity is described. The crown of an extracted tooth is divided from its root. After cleaning the pulp cavity, it is filled with an elastomer, and the fractured tooth surfaces repositioned before the elastomer sets. The tooth is corroded in acid to release the elastomer which is then weighed, and its volume calculated. The method has been applied to representatives of each human tooth type, and mean values are given.
LENGTH OF LIFE OF ROOTS OF TEN SPECIES OF PERENNIAL RANGE AND PASTURE GRASSES.

It is well knowl that death of the tops of practically all prairie grasses occurs eaeh fall ill temperate grasslands where the soil is regularly frozeni. Year after year new shoots replace the old ones in this vegetation of longlived perennials. But as to what portion of the root system is retained andl over what period of timiie, we are almost without informatioln. This maintains despite the fact that much work has been done to increase our knowledgle of the root systems of prairie grasses. Since the early studies of WEAVER (6, 7) on their depth and lateral extent, detailed investigations have been made by PAVLYCHENKO (1) upon their rate of growth, total root lenglth, ancd quanitity ancd quality of root material. The quantity of root miiaterial under different grasslalid climates has been ascertained by SHIVELY anid AWEAVER (2), anil the quantitv uinder different degrees of utilization of these ograsses in the saiie climate by WEAVER and HARMON (8). WEAVER, HOUGEN, aind WELDON (9) studied the amouint of root material at different soil depths; buit the length of life of the roots of prairie grasses, except for brief stucdv by STODDART (4), seemiis to have been entirely neglected. However, an investigation oni the longevity of the seminal roots of certain grasses lhas recenitlv been made by WEAVER anid ZINK (10). This lack of information is greneral for other grasses as well. Notable exceptions are the studies of SPRAGUE (3) on Kentuckv blueegrass and Coloiiial bent, and of STUCKEV (5) on twelve species of cultivated grasses. Sprague concluded that at least one-half of the root system is newly generated each spring; Stuckey states that for some species the whole root systeim is retenerated animLally.
Impact of the Intensive Program of Emotional Intelligence (IPEI) on work supervisors

Abstract Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the Intensive Program of Emotional Intelligence (IPEI; Fernández, 2016; Férreo, 2016) on middle managers' emotional intelligence, as this variable may have a significant impact on personal satisfaction, task performance, and the work environment. Method: The intervention was applied to work team supervisors in a large call center, as it is an overlooked sector in this topic. Two‐hundred and eighty‐two supervisors from a Madrid‐based, Spanish multinational (51.4% men and 48.6% women) participated in this study. Participants were assigned to the experimental group (n = 190) or the control group (n = 92) by availability, according to management decision. All supervisors filled in two questionnaires to evaluate the different components of intrapersonal emotional intelligence (i.e., attention, clarity, and repair; TMMS‐24; Fernández‐Berrocal, Extremera, & Ramos, 2004) and cognitive and affective empathy (i.e., perspective taking, emotion understanding, empathic joy, and personal distress; TECA; López‐Pérez, Fernández, & Abad, 2008). Results: The findings showed an increase in the studied variables for the experimental group. Conclusions: The results obtained support middle managers' training in emotional competences through short, efficient, economic programs. Potential limitations and implications of the results are discussed. Resumen Impacto del Programa de Inteligencia Emocional Intensivo (PIEI) en supervisores de trabajo. Antecedentes: este estudio se centra en la evaluación del Programa de Inteligencia Emocional Intensivo (PIEI; Fernández, 2016; Férreo, 2016) aplicado a supervisores de trabajo. El programa pretende incrementar la inteligencia emocional, ya que esta variable incide en aspectos como la satisfacción personal, el desempeño de tareas y el clima laboral. Método: la intervención se aplicó a supervisores de un gran call center, un sector poco estudiado en este ámbito. Participaron 282 supervisores pertenecientes a una empresa española multinacional, radicada en Madrid (51,4% varones y 48,6% mujeres). Fueron asignados, por disponibilidad, al grupo experimental (n = 190) o al grupo control (n = 92). Todos los supervisores respondieron a dos cuestionarios: uno para evaluar los componentes de inteligencia emocional intrapersonal (v.g., claridad, comprensión y reparación; TMMS‐24; Fernández‐Berrocal, Extremera y Ramos, 2004) y otro para medir empatía cognitiva y afectiva (v.g., adopción de perspectivas, comprensión emocional, alegría empática y estrés empático; TECA, López‐Pérez, Fernández y Abad, 2008). Resultados: los resultados mostraron una mejora en las variables de estudio tras aplicar el programa en el grupo experimental. Conclusiones: los resultados obtenidos apoyan la formación emocional de mandos intermedios con programas breves, eficaces y económicos. Además, se discuten las limitaciones e implicaciones de los resultados obtenidos. Palabras clave: inteligencia emocional, empatía, programa de intervención educativa, formación de los mandos, psicología del trabajo.
Interactions entre traits de personnalité des téléostéens, environnement et polluants

Dans le cadre de cette these, nous avons etudie la mise en place de la personnalite, ainsi que sa coherence en fonction du contexte et des differents stades vie de l’individu et les mecanismes physiologiques associes. La personnalite est apparue coherente entre les contextes sur de courtes periodes mais ne l’est plus entre les differents stades de vie. Les mecanismes physiologiques de regulation du stress (cortisol et monoamines), ainsi que l’activite et la plasticite neuronale divergent en fonction de l’audace des individus. Ensuite, nous avons etudie les reponses physiologiques et comportementales des teleosteens exposes chroniquement a un melange de POP (PCB et PBDE), representatif des conditions environnementales, ainsi que celles de leur descendance non exposee. Des alterations comportementales differentes de la reponse photomotrice larvaire, de l’audace et d’un syndrome comportemental lie a l’anxiete en fonction des generations ont ete observees jusqu’a la generation F2 ou F4. Des alterations du niveau d'expression des enzymes responsables de la methylation de l’ADN ont ete egalement observees suggerant que des mecanismes epigenetiques sont responsables de la transmission de ces alterations chez la descendance. Ensuite, le comportement a ete etudie dans des qualites d'eau degradees afin de mettre en place des indicateurs comportementaux de bien-etre pertinents. Les resultats ont montre que suite a la variation de l’oxygenation ou de la teneur en NH3, les individus s’adaptent en diminuant leur activite de nage et la cohesion du groupe. De plus, nous avons observe que le comportement normal de thigmotaxie est inhibe lors de l’exposition a une qualite d’eau degradee. Cela suggere une hierarchisation des adaptations comportementales en fonction de la severite du stress. Enfin, nous avons etudie les reponses comportementales a une diminution du niveau d’oxygene dans l’eau en fonction de la personnalite : les individus audacieux diminuaient leur activite et leur cohesion de nage avec une plus grande amplitude que les individus timides qui eux diminuaient, avec une plus grande amplitude, le comportement de thigmotaxie. Ces capacites d’adaptation differentes face au stress, en fonction de la personnalite, apportent de nouvelles perspectives pour faire face aux enjeux dans des contextes ecologique et aquacole.
Stochastic modelling of environmental variation for biological populations.

We examine stochastic effects, in particular environmental variability, in population models of biological systems. Some simple models of environmental stochasticity are suggested, and we demonstrate a number of analytic approximations and simulation-based approaches that can usefully be applied to them. Initially, these techniques, including moment-closure approximations and local linearization, are explored in the context of a simple and relatively tractable process. Our presentation seeks to introduce these techniques to a broad-based audience of applied modellers. Therefore, as a test case, we study a natural stochastic formulation of a non-linear deterministic model for nematode infections in ruminants, proposed by Roberts and Grenfell (1991). This system is particularly suitable for our purposes, since it captures the essence of more complicated formulations of parasite demography and herd immunity found in the literature. We explore two modes of behaviour. In the endemic regime the stochastic dynamic fluctuates widely around the non-zero fixed points of the deterministic model. Enhancement of these fluctuations in the presence of environmental stochasticity can lead to extinction events. Using a simple model of environmental fluctuations we show that the magnitude of this system response reflects not only the variance of environmental noise, but also its autocorrelation structure. In the managed regime host-replacement is modelled via periodic perturbation of the population variables. In the absence of environmental variation stochastic effects are negligible, and we examine the system response to a realistic environmental perturbation based on the effect of micro-climatic fluctuations on the contact rate. The resultant stochastic effects and the relevance of analytic approximations based on simple models of environmental stochasticity are discussed.
The effects of weather conditions on measles incidence in Guangzhou, Southern China

Background: Few studies were conducted to examine the effects of weather conditions on the incidence of measles. Methods: We used a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) to analyze the relationship between meteorological factors and measles incidence in Guangzhou, China. Results: Nonlinear effects of temperature and relative humidity on measles incidence were observed. The relative risk (RR) for the measles incidence associated with the 75th percentile of mean temperature (27.9 °C) relative to the median of mean temperature (24.7 °C) was 1.00 (0.86,1.16) for lags 0–10 days. The RR for the measles incidence associated with the 25th percentile of relative humidity (64%) relative to the median of relative humidity (73%) was 1.36 (1.01,1.82) for lags 0–30 days. The wet effects and dry effects were larger in females than in males. The wet effects were generally increased with ages. Significantly negative effects of cold spells on measles incidence were observed. Conclusion: Both hot and cold temperatures result in decreases in the incidence of measles, and low relative humidity is a risk factor of measles morbidity. An increased number of measles cases might occur before and after a cold spell. Our findings highlight the need to pay more attention to the weather transformation and improve the immunity of susceptible population for measles elimination. Catch-up vaccination campaigns should be initiated among young adults.
Benzoylmethyl 4-chlorobenzoate

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C15H11ClO3, contains three molecules, A, B, and C. Molecules A and B are aligned edge-to-face, whereas molecules B and C are aligned almost parallel to each other. The crystal structure displays C—H⋯π and π–π [centroid–centroid distances of 3.960 (4), 3.971 (4) and 3.971 (4) for molecules A, B and C, respectively] parallel-displaced interactions, and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.