Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Determining Factors for Transit Travel Demand by Bus Mode in US Metropolitan Statistical Areas

This study is an attempt to investigate the determining factors for transit travel demand by bus mode in the United States for Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). The multiple regression results indicate that seven internal factors, which transit managers and operators have control over, and only one external variable, namely gas price, have significant impacts on transit travel demand by bus mode. Transit supply, transit fare, average headway, transit coverage, service intensity, revenue hours, and safety are the contributing internal factors for transit demand by bus. Transit operating agencies can attract more riders by adjusting the influential internal factors that are under their control.
Retinol binding protein-4 predicts incident diabetes in Asian Indian men with prediabetes.

The association of retinol binding protein-4 (RBP4) with incident type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in Asian Indian middle-aged men with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was studied. This was an ancillary analysis of a subsample from a cohort of participants with IGT in a 2 year prospective diabetes prevention program in India. For this analysis, 71 incident T2DM and 76 non-diabetic cases (non-progressors) based on the final glycemic outcome were selected. Baseline serum RBP4 was measured using competitive enzyme immunoassay. Correlations of RBP4 with relevant anthropometric and biochemical variables and also its association with diabetes were assessed using appropriate statistical analyses. Participants who developed T2DM had higher levels of serum RBP4 (21.3 [IQR: 17.7-24.9] µg/mL) compared with non-progressors (17.3 [IQR: 13.1-21.0] µg/mL; P = 0.001). Levels of RBP4 were lower than in Caucasians. Stepwise linear regression analysis showed that body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and HbA1c had independent associations with RBP4 levels. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that RBP4 was independently associated with incident diabetes (odds ratio [OR] [95%confidence interval (CI)]: 1.69 [1.18-2.41]; P = 0.004). Adjustment for study group, age, BMI, waist circumference, 2 H plasma glucose, triglycerides, gamma glutamyl transferase, and insulin resistance weakened the significance of its association (OR [95%CI]: 1.65 [1.03-2.66]; P = 0.038). The results of this preliminary analyses showed that baseline serum RBP4 levels were independently associated with incident diabetes in Asian Indian men with IGT. It may be used as an additional predictor of future diabetes.
Macroeconomic Uncertainty, Risk, and Country Index Returns: International Evidence

This paper investigates the relation between uncertainty and stock index returns for 15 countries. An innovation is to use macro-uncertainty at both the country and global level. Our results suggest that country-speciﬁc GDP uncertainty, but not global GDP uncertainty is positively correlated with country returns. In contrast, we ﬁnd that global inﬂation uncertainty, but not country inﬂation uncertainty, is negatively correlated to country returns. Thus, macro-uncertainty is a priced risk factor and differentiation between speciﬁc and common uncertainty important. Our results are robust across various measures of uncertainty and for several different models of volatility.
Galphao/i and Galphas signaling function in parallel with the MSP/Eph receptor to control meiotic diapause in C. elegans.

BACKGROUND A conserved biological feature of sexual reproduction in animals is that oocytes arrest in meiotic prophase and resume meiosis in response to extraovarian signals. In C. elegans, sperm trigger meiotic resumption by means of the major sperm protein (MSP) signal. MSP promotes meiotic resumption by functioning as an ephrin-signaling antagonist and by counteracting inhibitory inputs from the somatic gonadal sheath cells. RESULTS By using a genome-wide RNAi screen in a female-sterile genetic background, we identified 17 conserved genes that maintain meiotic arrest in the absence of the MSP signal. In vitro binding experiments show that MSP promotes oocyte mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and meiotic maturation in part through direct interaction with the VAB-1 Eph receptor. Four conserved proteins, including a disabled protein (DAB-1), a vav family GEF (VAV-1), a protein kinase C (PKC-1), and a STAM homolog (PQN-19), function with the VAB-1 Eph/MSP receptor in oocytes. We show that antagonistic Galphao/i and Galphas signaling pathways function in the soma to regulate meiotic maturation in parallel to the VAB-1 pathway. Galphas activity is necessary and sufficient to promote meiotic maturation, which it does in part by antagonizing inhibitory sheath/oocyte gap-junctional communication. CONCLUSIONS Our findings show that oocyte Eph receptor and somatic cell G protein signaling pathways control meiotic diapause in C. elegans, highlighting contrasts and parallels between MSP signaling in C. elegans and luteinizing hormone signaling in mammals.
Subcellular localization of the Rhizobium leguminosarum nodI gene product

By the use of antibodies raised against a fusion protein of lacZ'-nodI (produced in Escherichia coli) which specifically react with NodI protein, it was shown that in wild-type Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae NodI protein (i) is recovered with the cytoplasmic membrane fraction and (ii) is translated as part of the nodABCIJ operon. In addition, it was found that the bacterial chromosomal background strongly influences the expression of several nod genes.
Clonal patterns of X‐chromosome inactivation in female patients withaplastic anaemia studied using a novel reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method

Abstract: Conflicting results have been published on the frequency of clonal patterns of X‐chromosome inactivation in female patients with aplastic anaemia. Previous studies have used DNA methylation to measure X‐inactivation, but aberrant methylation is known to occur in some situations. We have developed a non‐radioactive reversetranscription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) method to study expression of the polymorphism at nt.1311 of the G6PD gene at the RNA level. Using this, and a similar method for the iduronate‐2‐sulfatase (IDS) gene, we have re‐evaluated X‐inactivation in AA patients. 32/35 normal individuals showed polyclonal haemopoiesis. Patients with presumed clonal diseases showed both monoclonal and polyclonal patterns, consistent with previous reports. Overall, clonal patterns were observed in granulocytes of 10/26 AA patients (38%), a significantly higher proportion than in controls (p<0.01). Two cases showed discordance between lymphocytes and granulocytes, indicating clonality arising within the myeloid lineage. Eight cases showed clonal patterns in both myeloid and lymphoid cells, indicating the involvement of a pluripotent stem cell. Clonal patterns did not correlate with age, but there appeared to be an association with duration of disease. In PNH patients, CD59‐negative cells showed clonal patterns of X‐inactivation. In two cases, however, clonal patterns were also detected in CD59‐positive cells.
Harmonic balance optimization of terahertz Schottky diode multipliers using an advanced device model

Substantial progress has been made recently in the advancement of solid state terahertz sources using chains of Schottky diode frequency multipliers. The multiplier diodes are often simulated using a simple Schottky junction model plus a series resistance, Rs, because of the model's simplicity and ease of use in commercial harmonic balance simulators. The DC series resistance value is useable for Rs at low frequencies, but at high frequencies the Rs must be increased to match the measured RF performance. The junction properties are determined from forward I-V measurement.We have developed a harmonic balance simulator and corresponding diode model that incorporates many other factors participating in the diode behavior. These include time-dependent velocity saturation, carrier inertia and shunt capacitance in the undepleted active layer, tunneling through the Schottky barrier and heating of the junction at high powers. The model is calibrated using ensemble Monte Carlo calculations of material parameters, but otherwise no parameters are fitted other than to DC I-V measurements. The program can be used to optimize the doping concentration and diode dimensions for any multiplier, based on its frequency, input power and operation temperature. Optimizations are demonstrated for 200, 400 and 800 GHz doublers, and comparison between calculation and measurement will be shown. The match between them will be seen to be quite close. Further, the measurements include new low temperature measurements of an 800 GHz chain yielding a high 2 mW peak output power.
The cerebellum in sagittal plane--anatomic-MR correlation: 1. The vermis.

Correlation of thin (5-mm) sagittal high-field (1.5-T) MR images of three brain specimens and 11 normal volunteers with microtome sections of the human cerebellar vermis and hemispheres demonstrates that proton-density-weighted (long TR/short TE) and T2-weighted (long TR/long TE) spin-echo pulse sequences provide the greatest contrast between gray and white matter. These images also can display (1) the corpus medullare and primary white-matter branches to the vermian lobules, including the lingula, centralis, culmen, declive, folium, tuber, pyramis, uvula, and nodulus; and (2) several finer secondary branches to individual folia within the lobules. Surface features of the vermis including the deeper fissures (e.g., preculminate, primary, horizontal, and prepyramidal) and shallower sulci are best delineated by T1-weighted (short TR/short TE) and T2-weighted images, which provide greatest contrast between CSF and parenchyma. Given that the width of the normal vermis varied from 6 to 12 mm in our volunteers, the acquisition of thin slices (less than or equal to 5 mm) was required to minimize volume averaging of the cerebellar hemispheres with the vermis on a midline sagittal MR section. Knowledge of the detailed normal anatomy of the cerebellar vermis on sagittal MR images can assist in the identification of various pathologic alterations.
Parallax-free Exophthalmometry: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature on Clinical Exophthalmometry and the Introduction of the First Parallax-Free Exophthalmometer

Abstract Purpose: To present the first parallax-free exophthalmometer design. Background: Exophthalmometry is an important clinical tool. We provide a historic overview of clinical exophthalmometer designs, and we review current problems encountered in exophthalmometry. Methods: We present a new and parallax-free exophthalmometer design that we have evaluated in 49 patients visiting our orbital clinic. Results: The mean age of the patients was 49.8 years and 72% were female. The Pearson interobserver variation was 0.97, and 94% of the Hertel values measured by the two observers were within the limits (1.6 mm) of agreement. Conclusion: This meter appears to be a reliable instrument for exophthalmometry. It is the first instrument that allows for a complete parallax-free measurement.
Age and Strain Comparisons of Neurotransmitter Synthetic Enzyme Activities in the Mouse

Abstract: Activities of the neurotransmitter synthetic enzymes, choline acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.6; ChAT), glutamic acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.15; GAD), and tyrosine hydroxylase (EC 1.14.3.2; TH), were assayed in four brain regions of A/J and C57BL/6J mice at three ages (4. 18, and 24 months). The brain regions assayed were the fronto‐parietal cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and cerebellum. Strain effects: In some brain regions, at several ages, ChAT activity did not differ among the two srains. However, ChAT was higher in the C57BL/6J strain in the cortex at 18 months, the hippocampus at 18 and 24 months, the striatum at 24 months, and the cerebellum at 4 months. The reverse was true in the cerebellum at 24 months, where ChAT was higher in A/J mice. GAD activity in C57BL/6J mice compared to that of A/J mice was higher in the striatum and cortex, and lower in the hippocampus and cerebellum. TH activities in all four regions were generally higher in C57BL/6J mice than in A. J mice. Age effects: Age differences in enzyme activities varied with the genetic strain. ChAT activity generally was higher in brain regions of older mice of both strains. GAD activity was lower in some brain regions of older mice compared to those of younger mice (A/J striatum, C57BL/6J cortex), but higher in other brain regions of older mice compared to those in younger mice (C57BL/6J striatum, hippocampus of both strains). Whereas there were no age‐related differences in striatal TH in either strain, TH activity was higher in other brain regions of older mice (A/J cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus; C57BL/6J cerebellum). In C57BL/6J mice, cortical TH was higher at 18 months than at 4 months, but lower at 24 months than at 18 months. Higher activities of hippocampal ChAT and GAD and cerebellar TH in older C57BL/6J mice reflected increases in Vmax, with no age differences in Km values for substrates. These findings indicate that neurochemical profiles as well as the effects of age on these profiles vary with genetic strain.
A low-complexity flight controller for Unmanned Aircraft Systems with constrained control allocation

In this paper, we propose a framework for joint allocation and constrained control design of flight controllers for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The actuator configuration is used to map actuator constraint set into the space of the aircraft generalised forces. By constraining the demanded generalised forces, we ensure that the allocation problem is always feasible; and therefore, it can be solved without constraints. This leads to an allocation problem that does not require on-line numerical optimisation. Furthermore, since the controller handles the constraints, and there is no need to implement heuristics to inform the controller about actuator saturation. The latter is fundamental for avoiding Pilot Induced Oscillations (PIO) in remotely operated UAS due to the rate limit on the aircraft control surfaces.
Corporate Governance, Expected Operating Performance, and Pricing

We examine whether ownership and governance characteristics are associated with the firm’s operating performance and stock price. We hypothesize that while ownership structure and governance mechanisms impact the firm's operating performance, they can also impact stakeholders’ abilities to expropriate rents from other stakeholders. We use a two-step estimation approach to assess whether the benefit of a better governance system manifest itself as higher operating performance or a premium on share price. To mitigate potential problems from using conventional accounting performance measures, we use Ohlson’s (1995) expected residual income (ERI) valuation metric which incorporates the expected operating performance of the firm. Results suggest that (1) higher share ownership of the CEO, corporate insiders, and outside directors has a strong positive association with both firm performance (measured by the ERI metric) and market value; (2) large ownership of outside shareholders has a negative association with the firm’s operating performance; (3) presence of a controlling shareholder is negatively related to market value; (4) after controlling for ownership, there is no improvement in operating performance or share value from having greater representation of outside directors, or having a larger board; and (5) variables representing the CEO’s stature – the CEO’s tenure and the board chairmanship – have a negative association with operating performance or market value.
Correlation of choroidal thickness and ametropiain young adolescence

Choroid has been proposed to participate in the regulation of light refraction by changing its thickness. The present study aims to analyze the characteristics of choroidal thickness (CT), and its correlation with refractive error, axial length and age in young ametropia. A total of 51 subjects (102 eyes), aged from 5 to 18 years old (mean age 10.04 ±2.78 years), with ametropia were included in the study. Choroidal imaging was obtained by enhanced depth imaging (EDI) of spectral domain Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). CT was horizontally measured at 5 locations in across fovea with 1mm interval. We found that the spherical equivalent refractive diopter was from -7.25D to 1.6D (mean, -1.61D±1.82D), the mean axial length was 24.14mm±1.14mm. The closer to the optic disc the thinner the choroid is. CT between fovea and disc showed better correlation with refractive error (p< 0,01), axial length (p<0.01) and age (P<0.05) than those temporal to fovea. Our results indicated that the choroid is least thick around the optic disc. Thickness between fovea and optic disc is significantly associated with refractive error, axial length and age in growing adolescences. This result may help us understand the function of choroid during ametropic progression.
Investment Propensity of Controlling Shareholders and Financial Constraints: Evidence around the World

This paper examines the effect of ownership structure of a controlling shareholder on the financial constraints of non-financial firms in 22 economies for the 1982-2009 period. We find that the overinvestment propensity of a controlling shareholder becomes less severe with an increase in cash-flow rights along with a greater deviation between control rights and cash-flow rights, which makes a firm less financially constrained. Our results suggest that firms in legal environment with stronger shareholder protections are less likely to have the entrenchment of the controlling shareholders, while minority shareholders in this legal origin benefit from loosened financial constraints.
Corporate Social Media: How Two-Way Disclosure Channels Influence Investors

I examine how investors use firm-investor communications on social media to update their opinions about a firm’s reputation and its attractiveness as an investment. I focus on a case in which a Twitter user criticizes an application of managerial judgment in a firm’s financial disclosure and firm management chooses whether and how to respond. I collect data using multiple experiments in which I vary the number of retweets the criticism accumulates and the firm’s response strategy. Results suggest the following. First, a third-party criticism, even one that is unfounded, can cause investors to question their positive reactions to a firm’s disclosure (relative to never viewing the criticism). Second, a firm’s reputation and attractiveness as an investment further depend on the number of retweets the criticism accumulates. Third, following a third-party criticism, there appear to be benefits of using Twitter to address the criticism directly or to redirect attention to more positive highlights from the firm disclosure (relative to not responding). Overall, my study advances our understanding of how a firm can effectively manage investors’ perceptions by participating in, rather than abstaining from, conversations about the firm on social media.
Concurrent ipsilateral fractures of the hip and shaft of the femur. A systematic review of 722 cases.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Ipsilateral fracture of the hip and femoral shaft is encountered in high-energy trauma, and warrants special diagnostic and therapeutic considerations, which are not available in any single report. Therefore, a meta-analysis was performed. MATERIAL AND METHODS Seven hundred and twenty-two cases of concurrent, ipsilateral fractures in the hip and femoral shaft reported in 65 publications were reviewed. This high-energy injury combination was rare in children, the median age of the patients being 34 years (range 3-76 years). 78% of them were men, 44% were multiply injured. Concurrent hip fractures were reported in 0.8 to 8.6% of all femoral shaft fractures. RESULTS The trauma force was found to cause buckling of the femur and shearing of the femoral neck. Hip fractures, divided into 5 subtypes, had the following distributions: subcapital-2%, midcervical-21%, basicervical-39%, pertrochanteric-14% and intertrochanteric-24%. The diagnosis of the hip fracture was delayed in 30% of the cases, but it healed in 99% with most operative methods with no deep infections. The average rate of avascular necrosis of the femoral head was 5.1%. Plate fixation of the shaft fracture was complicated by deep infection in 6.1%, by non-union in 9.8% and yielded a poor outcome in 11.0% of the cases. The respective figures for unlocked intramedullary nailing were 2.7%, 2.7% and 6.8% and for locked nailing 0%, 0% and 0%, respectively. Fixation of the hip fracture was bound with more complications (reoperations and malunions) in combination with nailing than plate fixation. CONCLUSIONS Early diagnosis of all injuries and operative treatment of all fracture components are the key factors in reducing complications and improving the outcome in ipsilateral hip and shaft fractures. Locked nails and hip screws yield improved results compared with plates and unlocked nails combined with hip screws. Cephalo-medullary nails have yielded results similar to the first-generation locked nails.
Buying a product for an anticipated consumption situation

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to measure the product involvement of wine buyers and to examine relationships with anticipated consumption situations, places and occasions combined with the buyer’s importance of various extrinsic product attributes. Design/methodology/approach – A survey is conducted with 147 wine buyers using structured self-administered questionnaires in a central city retail location in Australia. Findings – There are no significant relationships between consumers’ involvement with wine products and what occasion or constellation of persons is anticipated when purchasing wine in a retail store. From a consumption situation perspective, both high- and low-involved buyers primarily anticipate consuming their wine together with other persons, mainly with food. High-involved wine consumers tend to consume their wine alone compared to low-involved consumers who are more likely to buy wine for other persons than for themselves. Regarding the product attributes that play an important .
Mammalian RNA polymerase I exists as a holoenzyme with associated basal transcription factors.

Transcription initiation of ribosomal RNA genes requires RNA polymerase I (Pol I) and auxiliary factors which either bind directly to the rDNA promoter, e.g. TIF-IB/SL1 and UBF, or are assembled into productive transcription initiation complexes via interaction with Pol I, e.g. TIF-IA, and TIF-IC. Here we show that all components required for specific rDNA transcription initiation are capable of physical interaction with Pol I in the absence of DNA and can be co-immunoprecipitated with antibodies against defined subunits of murine Pol I. Sucrose gradient centrifugation and fractionation on gel filtration columns reveals that approximately 10% of cellular Pol I elutes as a defined complex with an apparent molecular mass of > 2000 kDa. The large Pol I complex contains saturating levels of TIF-IA, TIF-IB and UBF, but limiting amounts of TIF-IC. In support of the existence of a functional complex between Pol I and basal factors, the large complex is transcriptionally active after complementation with TIF-IC. The results suggest that, analogous to class II gene transcription, a pre-assembled complex, the "Pol I holoenzyme", exists that appears to be the initiation-competent form of Pol I.