Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A gene coding for a putative sigma 54 activator is developmentally regulated in Caulobacter crescentus

In Caulobacter crescentus, the alternative sigma factor sigma54 plays an important role in the expression of late flagellar genes. Sigma54-dependent genes are temporally and spatially controlled, being expressed only in the swarmer pole of the predivisional cell. The only sigma54 activator described so far is the FlbD protein, which is involved in activation of the class III and IV flagellar genes and repression of the fliF promoter. To identify new roles for sigma54 in the metabolism and differentiation of C. crescentus, we cloned and characterized a gene encoding a putative sigma54 activator, named tacA. The deduced amino acid sequence from tacA has high similarity to the proteins from the NtrC family of transcriptional activators, including the aspartate residues that are phosphorylated by histidine kinases in other activators. The promoter region of the tacA gene contains a conserved sequence element present in the promoters of class II flagellar genes, and tacA shows a temporal pattern of expression similar to the patterns of these genes. We constructed an insertional mutant that is disrupted in tacA (strain SP2016), and an analysis of this strain showed that it has all polar structures, such as pili, stalk, and flagellum, and displays a motile phenotype, indicating that tacA is not involved in the flagellar biogenesis pathway. However, this strain has a high percentage of filamentous cells and shows a clear-plaque phenotype when infected with phage phiCb5. These results suggest that the TacA protein could mediate the effect of sigma54 on a different pathway in C. crescentus.
Diagnostic value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial lung biopsy in peripheral lung cancers.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The diagnostic yield of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy for peripheral lung cancers is still limited. This study evaluated whether endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) may help localize and improve the diagnostic yield of bronchoscopic transbronchial lung biopsy in peripheral lung cancer. METHODS Between July 2001 and May 2002, 218 patients received transbronchial lung biopsy during bronchoscopic examinations with (n = 122) or without EBUS guidance (n = 96) and had the presence of peripheral lung cancers subsequently confirmed. These 218 patients were included in this retrospective analysis. RESULTS The diagnostic accuracy of transbronchial lung biopsy was significantly increased under EBUS guidance for small cell carcinoma (65.6%) and for non-small cell carcinoma (42.7%) [p < 0.01]. For peripheral lung cancer either smaller than 2 cm or larger than 2 cm, the diagnostic yield of transbronchial lung biopsy with EBUS guidance was significantly higher (66.0% vs 42.3%, p < 0.002 for mass larger than 2 cm; 54.5% vs 0%, p < 0.04 for mass smaller than 2 cm). EBUS provided a better diagnostic yield (p = 0.014; odds ratio, 0.219) for lesions localized at the left upper lobe, which are generally thought to be more difficult to approach through bronchoscopy. There were no significant differences in complications between patients who underwent bronchoscopy with or without EBUS guidance. CONCLUSIONS Under EBUS guidance, the diagnostic yield of transbronchial lung biopsy in peripheral lung cancer by bronchoscopic examination was significantly improved without difference in the complication rate.
Bankers on the Board and CEO Incentives 

The Sarbanes&#8208;Oxley Act demanded the presence of more financial experts on corporate boards to improve governance. Directors from lending banks require particular attention because of the conflicts of interest between shareholders and debtholders despite their financial expertise. In this paper, we examine whether commercial banker directors work in the best interests of shareholders in providing incentives to the CEO. We find that the CEO's compensation VEGA is lower if an affiliated banker director is on the board. Further, we find that commercial banker directors increase debt&#8208;like compensation (Sundaram and Yermack, 2007) and make it less sensitive to risk.
Structure of Precursor-Bound NifEN: A Nitrogenase FeMo Cofactor Maturase/Insertase

A metalloprotein structure involved in nitrogen fixation offers insight into metal-cluster insertion in nitrogenase. NifEN plays an essential role in the biosynthesis of the nitrogenase iron-molybdenum (FeMo) cofactor (M cluster). It is an α2β2 tetramer that is homologous to the catalytic molybdenum-iron (MoFe) protein (NifDK) component of nitrogenase. NifEN serves as a scaffold for the conversion of an iron-only precursor to a matured form of the M cluster before delivering the latter to its target location within NifDK. Here, we present the structure of the precursor-bound NifEN of Azotobacter vinelandii at 2.6 angstrom resolution. From a structural comparison of NifEN with des-M-cluster NifDK and holo NifDK, we propose similar pathways of cluster insertion for the homologous NifEN and NifDK proteins.
Risk factors of diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients

Background Advances in treatment have greatly reduced the risk of blindness from this disease, but because diabetes is so common, diabetic retinopathy remains an important problem. The purpose of this study is to investigate the risk factors of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients. Methods Totally 746 type 2 diabetic patients were selected for biochemical and clinical characteristics test and examined by the retina‐camera for diabetic retinopathy and the average age was 55.9 years old. Results A total of 526 patients was classified as non‐DR, 159 patients as non‐proliferative‐DR and 61 patients as proliferative‐DR. Duration of diabetes [(66.09 ± 72.51) months vs (143.71±93.27) months vs (174.30 ± 81.91) months, P=0.00], systolic blood pressure [(131.95 ± 47.20) mmHg vs (138.71±21.36) mmHg vs (147.58±24.10) mmHg, P=0.01], urine albumin [(32.79 ± 122.29) mg/L vs (190.96 ± 455.65) mg/L vs (362.00 ± 552.51) mg/L, P=0.00], glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) [(8.68 ± 2.26)% vs (9.42 ± 1.84)% vs (9.42 ± 1.96)%, P=0.04], C‐reactive protein (CRP) [(3.19 ± 7.37) mg/L vs (6.36 ± 23.59) mg/L vs (3.02 ± 4.34) mg/L, P=0.03], high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) [(1.23 ± 0.37) mmol/L vs (1.33 ± 0.35) mmol/L vs (1.24 ± 0.33) mmol/L, P=0.01], uric acid (UA) [(288.51±90.85) mmol/L vs (300.29 ± 101.98) mmol/L vs (337.57 ± 115.09) mmol/L, P=0.00], creatinine (CREA) [(84.22 ± 16.31) &mgr;mol/L vs (89.35 ± 27.45) &mgr;mol/L vs (103.28 ± 48.64) &mgr;mol/L, P=0.00], blood urine nitrogen (BUN) [(5.62 ± 1.62) mmol/L vs (6.55 ± 2.74) mmol/L vs (8.11±3.60) mmol/L, P=0.00] were statistically different among the three groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that diabetic duration and urine albumin were two independent risk factors of DR (the OR values were 1.010 and 1.003 respectively). Conclusions Diabetic duration and urine albumin are two independent risk factors of diabetic retinopathy in elderly type 2 diabetic patients.
A novel neuro-fuzzy classification system design by a species-based hybrid algorithm

In this paper, we propose a novel neuro-fuzzy classification system by a species-based hybrid of electromagnetism-like mechanism and back-propagation algorithms (SEMBP). The neuro-fuzzy classification system is constructed by an interval type-2 fuzzy neural system with asymmetric membership functions (AIT2FNS). The hybrid algorithm SEMBP combines the advantages of EM and BP algorithms. Three classification problems: the XOR data set, the breast cancer data set, and the Iris data set are used to illustrate the performance of our approach.
Optimal Resource Allocation and Charging Prices for Benefit Maximization in Smart PEV-Parking Lots

The emerging interest in deployment of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) in distribution networks represents a great challenge to both system planners and owners of PEV-parking lots. The owners of PEV-parking lots might be interested in maximizing their profit via installing charging units to supply the PEV demand. However, with stringent rules of network upgrades, installing these charging units would be very challenging. Network constraints could be relaxed via controlling the net demand through integrating distributed generation (DG) and/or storage units. This paper presents an optimization model for determining the optimal mix of solar-based DG and storage units, as well as the optimal charging prices for PEVs. The main objective is to maximize the benefit of the PEV-parking lot's owner without violating system constraints. Two cases are considered in this paper: uncoordinated and coordinated PEV demand. A novel mathematical model is further developed whereby the behavior of vehicles’ drivers, in response to different charging prices, is considered in generating the energy consumption of PEVs.
Multiple viral determinants contribute to pathogenicity of the acutely lethal simian immunodeficiency virus SIVsmmPBj variant

Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) induces an immunodeficiency syndrome similar to human AIDS. Although the disease course of SIV-induced immunodeficiency is generally measured in months to years, a disease syndrome that results in death in 5 to 14 days has been described in pig-tailed macaques infected with the SIVsmmPBj (PBj) strain. The purpose of this study was to derive an acutely lethal PBj molecular clone in order to study viral genes involved in pathogenesis. Six infectious molecular clones were generated; acutely fatal disease was induced by experimental inoculation of pig-tailed macaques with virus stocks derived from either of two clones, PBj6.6 or PBj14.6. Molecular chimeras were constructed by exchange of regions of the genome of PBj6.6 and a nonlethal, related clone, SIVsmH4. Only a chimera expressing the PBj genome under the control of a SIVsmH4 long terminal repeat induced death soon after inoculation. These studies suggest that multiple viral genes of PBj are critical for development of acute disease. More specifically, the env gene but not the long terminal repeat PBj was required for acute disease induction; however env must act in concert with another gene(s) of the PBj genome.
Foreign Risk - Domestic Problem: Capital Allocation and Performance under Political Instability

We argue that firms with foreign operations misallocate capital and underperform when they face political instability abroad. We develop and test a dynamic model of firm capital allocation under foreign political instability. The model shows that as a political regime becomes less stable, independently of whether the regime becomes less business-friendly or more business-friendly, firms invest sub-optimally (firms either over-invest or under-invest), and their marginal qs diverge further from an optimal level. Using elections and textual analysis of local media during national elections, we construct a novel index of political instability. We find that U.S. firms and industries with a greater exposure to election-induced political instability experience disruptions of investment efficiency which lead to lower valuations and lower Total Factor Productivity. Therefore, international trade is a significant conduit of foreign political instability into U.S. markets.
Do Firms Use Dividend Changes to Signal Future Earnings? An Investigation Based on Market Rationality

Are dividend changes informative? If yes, do they convey information about future earnings? Given the importance of the issue to corporate finance and because of the puzzling results of previous studies, we investigate the association among dividend changes, stock returns, and future earnings. Following 928 French and 995 German firms from 1991 to 2010, we expect that only those dividend changes will be positively associated with future earnings that result in abnormal stock returns. Inconsistent with our expectations, we find that the association between current dividend changes and future earnings changes for firms with the highest abnormal returns in the dividend change direction is not stronger than the rest of the firms. These findings cast doubt on the signaling theory, which claims that dividend changes convey information about changes in future earnings.
Gordon Holmes spinocerebellar ataxia: a gonadotrophin deficiency syndrome resistant to treatment with pulsatile gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone

The Gordon Holmes spinocerebellar ataxia syndrome (GHS) is associated with idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (IHH). There are conflicting reports in the literature as to whether the primary neuroendocrine defect is of hypothalamic GnRH secretion, as with most causes of IHH, or of pituitary resistance to GnRH action. Because of the anatomical inaccessibility of the hypophyseal portal circulation, direct measurement of GnRH levels in human subjects is not possible. Previous investigators have attempted to unravel this problem through the use of GnRH stimulation tests and the limitations of this approach may explain the differing results obtained. We used the more physiological approach of treating a male GHS patient for four weeks with GnRH, 7–10 μg/pulse, delivered subcutaneously at 90 minute frequency via a portable minipump. This therapy failed to induce any rise in plasma gonadotrophin and testosterone concentrations. By contrast, eight weeks treatment with exogenous gonadotrophins maintained physiological plasma testosterone concentrations and induced testicular enlargement with induction of spermatogenesis. The data indicate that the primary endocrinopathy in GHS is of pituitary gonadotrophin secretion and not of hypothalamic GnRH. Moreover, the patient did not harbour any mutation of the GnRH receptor gene. Two clinical observations are consistent with progressive involution of gonadotrophic function, rather than a congenital gonadotrophin deficiency. First, the patient's development was arrested at early mid‐puberty at the time of original presentation and, second, effective spermatogenesis was induced extremely rapidly during gonadotrophin treatment, suggesting prior exposure of the testes to FSH. Both spinocerebellar ataxia and pituitary dysfunction might thus have been in evolution since late childhood.
A neuromorphic visual system using RRAM synaptic devices with Sub-pJ energy and tolerance to variability: Experimental characterization and large-scale modeling

We report the use of metal oxide resistive switching memory (RRAM) as synaptic devices for a neuromorphic visual system. At the device level, we experimentally characterized the gradual resistance modulation of RRAM by hundreds of identical pulses. As compared with phase change memory (PCM) reported recently in [1,2], >100×-1000× energy consumption reduction was achieved in RRAM as synaptic devices (<;1 pJ per spike). Based on the experimental results, we developed a stochastic model to quantify the device switching dynamics. At the system level, we simulated the performance of image orientation selectivity on a neuromorphic visual system which consists of 1,024 CMOS neuron circuits and 16,348 RRAM synaptic devices. It was found that the system can tolerate the temporal and spatial variability which are commonly present in RRAM devices, suggesting the feasibility of large-scale hardware implementation of neuromorphic system using RRAM synaptic devices.
Is workplace screening for potentially malignant oral disorders feasible in India?

BACKGROUND Because of delays in diagnosis, oral cancer usually presents for therapy at a late stage. Patients are unaware of having lesions as they are mostly asymptomatic and physicians generally do not examine the mouth sufficiently. People in rural areas or are underserved may not frequently visit the dentist who can easily pick up these lesions early. Screening programs are useful in that regard. Such programs in general are conducted by either inviting people to come to a screening center or by health care workers visiting the individual households. However, those who work during the day may not visit screening centers or be at home during the day of the screening by a visiting health care worker. Workplace screening overcomes these challenges. METHODS To assess the feasibility of a screening program to detect potentially pre-malignant oral disorders in a workplace in India, clinically visible mucosal lesions were compared with the clinical photographs of the same lesions assessed by an expert. Role of smoking, alcohol, and chewing betel quid and tobacco in the etiology of those lesions were assessed. RESULTS Sixty-nine percent of the eligible subjects participated in the screening (n=1613). Prevalence of leukoplakia was 5%. Bidi (OR=35.6), and cigarette smoking (OR=22.8), alcohol (OR=17.6), and tobacco and areca nut chewing (OR=7.5), were significantly associated with leukoplakia and erythroplakia (all P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Conduction of a screening program by valid visual inspection to detect potentially malignant oral disorders within a workplace is not only feasible but also effective.
Classification of four affective modes in online songs and speeches

The amount of multimedia sources from websites is extremely growing up every day. How to effectively search data and to find out what we need becomes a critical issue. In this work, four affective modes of exciting/happy, angry, sad and calm in songs and speeches are investigated. A song clip is partitioned into the main and refrain parts each of which is analyzed by the tempo, normalized intensity mean and rhythm regularity. In a speech clip, the standard deviation of fundamental frequencies, the standard deviation of pauses and the mean of zero crossing rates are computed to understand a speaker's emotion. Particularly, the Gaussian mixture model is built and used for classification. In our experimental results, the averaged accuracies associated with the main and refrain parts of songs, and speeches can be 55%, 60% and 80%, respectively. Therefore, the method proposed herein can be employed to analyze songs and speeches downloaded from websites, and then provide emotion information to a user.
Pricing Implications of Clearing a Skewed Asset from the Market

I present a new model of how ex-ante skewness affects expected asset prices. The price that supports a given short position in a positively- (negatively-) skewed asset is further from (closer to) expected value than is the price that supports a long position of the same magnitude, even in a frictionless market. The average effect of this result, under market clearing of stochastic demand, produces the “skewness effect” — a documented negative relationship between ex-ante skewness and expected returns. The theory also generates new testable predictions and can help explain why standard factor models fail to account for the skewness effect.
Outbreaks of nosocomial infections in Poland in the years 2011-2015

INTRODUCTION In hospitals outbreaks of nosocomial infections are recorded i.e. the occurrence of at least two clearly related cases of infections. In these outbreaks not only patients but also hospital staff are getting infected. Due to the fact, that nosocomial infections are inseparably related to the hospitalisation of the patients, there is a need to build a culture of active surveillance of emerging infections and their reporting to the authorities of the State Sanitary Inspection. MATERIAL AND METHODS This article was developed on the basis of the information gathered in the report about the occurrence of outbreaks in entities carrying out the medical activities. This report is the result of the analysis of the preliminary reports submitted by the hospitals in the cases where there was a suspicion of or an epidemic outbreak and the final reports of the epidemic outbreak suppressions. RESULTS In the years 2011-2015 in all hospitals in Poland a total number of 1 912 outbreaks of nosocomial infections was reported; in those outbreaks 15 282 patients and 1 226 medical personnel were infected. The biggest numbers of outbreaks of nosocomial infections were reported in the voivodeships: Masovia and Silesia. The most frequently etiological factor was Clostridium difficile; it caused 519 hospital outbreaks. Out of the viral factors, most of the outbreaks were due to the rotavirus - 359 of such instances. In addition to the numerous bacterial and viral factors, the outbreaks of nosocomial infections were also caused by fungi and parasites.
A matter of family? An analysis of determinants of farm succession in Polish agriculture

In this paper the impact of selected determinants on farm succession in Poland is analysed. The study shows that socio-demographic factors associated primarily with the characteristics of families, particularly of farm managers, had a significant influence on the family transfers of agricultural holdings. The impact of micro-economic and spatial factors on farm succession was observed as well. However, the research results indicate different scales and characters of succession determinants. Behind this variability was an institutional change linked to Poland’s accession to the European Union and changes in the economy. The paper argues that this context, along with conducive social and legal background, reinforced a generational change in the sector. Analysis at the micro level was prepared on the basis of empirical data from the longitudinal IERiGŻ-PIB surveys conducted in 76 villages located across Poland with the use of multinomial dependent variable logit models. A unique feature of the study is an exploration of farm succession as an intra-family and generational phenomenon, relating to the different phases of family life cycle, as well as to kinship relationships. Moreover, unlike the majority of succession studies, the presented research distinguishes three types of succession (inter-generational, intra-generational and reverse inter-generational) and is based on information concerning actual changes in surveyed rural households, not only respondents’ declarations about the future.
Quantitative biochemical rationale for differences in transmissibility of 1918 pandemic influenza A viruses

The human adaptation of influenza A viruses is critically governed by the binding specificity of the viral surface hemagglutinin (HA) to long (chain length) α2-6 sialylated glycan (α2-6) receptors on the human upper respiratory tissues. A recent study demonstrated that whereas the 1918 H1N1 pandemic virus, A/South Carolina/1/1918 (SC18), with α2-6 binding preference transmitted efficiently, a single amino acid mutation on HA resulted in a mixed α2-3 sialylated glycan (α2-3)/α2-6 binding virus (NY18) that transmitted inefficiently. To define the biochemical basis for the observed differences in virus transmission, in this study, we have developed an approach to quantify the multivalent HA–glycan interactions. Analysis of the molecular HA–glycan contacts showed subtle changes resulting from the single amino acid variations between SC18 and NY18. The effect of these changes on glycan binding is amplified by multivalency, resulting in quantitative differences in their long α2-6 glycan binding affinities. Furthermore, these differences are also reflected in the markedly distinct binding pattern of SC18 and NY18 HA to the physiological glycans present in human upper respiratory tissues. Thus, the dramatic lower binding affinity of NY18 to long α2-6 glycans, as against a mixed α2-3/6 binding, correlates with its inefficient transmission. In summary, this study establishes a quantitative biochemical correlate for influenza A virus transmission.