Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evidence that the A2 fragment of Shiga-like toxin type I is required for holotoxin integrity

Escherichia coli Shiga-like toxin type I (SLT-I) is a potent cytotoxin consisting of an enzymatically active A subunit and a pentameric B subunit that mediates toxin binding to susceptible eukaryotic cells. Evidence that the carboxy-terminal 38 amino acids of the A subunit are involved in holotoxin 1A:5B association is presented. We compared the ability of purified recombinant SLT-I B subunit (Slt-IB) to combine in vitro with purified recombinant SLT-I A subunit (Slt-IA; full-length subunit A includes amino acids 1 to 293) and its ability to combine with purified recombinant SLT-I A1 subunit (Slt-IA1; truncated subunit A includes amino acids 1 to 255). Each mixture was analyzed for biological and physical evidence of toxin assembly. Although Slt-IA successfully combined with Slt-IB to form a molecular species similar to holotoxin that was detectable by nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting and yielded a molecule which was cytotoxic to cultured Vero cells, Slt-IA1 did not have this ability. Slt-IA1 was 36-fold more active than Slt-IA in an in vitro protein synthesis inhibition assay. These findings suggest that the Slt-IA2 fragment is crucial for formation of SLT holotoxin and stabilizes the interaction between the A and B subunits.
Hyperproduction and thermal characterization of a novel invertase from a double mutant derivative of Kluyveromyces marxianus.

Summary Kinetics of intracellular invertase production employing a double mutant derivative of Kluyveromyces marxianus was optimized by varying different process variables in a 23-litre fermentor. The maximum volumetric rate (QP) and invertase yield (YP/S) by M15 mutant were 1222 U/(L·h) and 160 U/g of substrate utilized, respectively (2-fold more than those of parental strain) at 50 °C on the molasses (150 g/L of total fermentable sugars) at pH=5.5. Glucose or sucrose (100, 150 or 170 g/L) did not repress invertase catabolically under the optimized fermentation conditions, contrary to the previous reports on other yeasts and filamentous fungi, where catabolite repression of sugars was predominant. Invertases derived by the wild (IW) and mutant (IM) strains were purified employing ammonium sulphate precipitation, and then characterized by column chromatographic techniques both kinetically and thermodynamically. The acidic limb of invertases was missing and collation of pKa and the heat of ionization values indicated that carboxyl groups were involved in proton transfer during active catalysis. Ratios of Kcat/Km and vmax/Km indicated that IM was significantly more specific for sucrose hydrolysis. The IM exhibited stability in different buffers at pH=3.0–10.0 and temperature of 50–70 °C, as reflected by long half-lives. IM showed significantly lower values of enthalpy of activation (DH*) and entropy of activation (DS*), while Gibbs free energy (DG*) was significantly increased at higher temperatures, making the IM thermodynamically more thermostable. Thus IM could be used as a catabolite-resistant invertase for the production of fructose syrup or high gravity ethanol.
Effects of Using Technological Innovations on Developing Tourism Education and Learning Methods: Paradigm Shift from Learning Outcomes Perspective

Fostering e-learning information and communication technologies (ICTs) in tourism are used to explain how technological innovations improving the tourism learning outcomes. Technological innovations can be used in enhancing tourism knowledge, experiences and employment skills provision, and adapting work-experienced maximization methods. The aims of the study are: putting substantial improvements guidelines in quality of tourism educational process, measuring effects of using technological tools and possibilities on developing tourism education and learning methods, explaining how learning outcomes interrelated with tourism employability and job competitiveness, and putting paradigm shift from learning outcomes perspective. Wide random sample approach used to maximize accuracy and realistic primary data collection process, 540 valid respondents were collected from tourism education academic staff and employees. The structure model analysis depends on using SPSS V.21, and Smart Partial Least Squares and Structural Equation Modeling (SmartPLS-SEM 3.0) programs. They were applied to conduct descriptive analysis, relationship intermediates, factor loadings and reliability, cross loadings, discriminant validity and convergent validity of study model. The analysis of the discussed variables in the current study comprises; technological innovation tools, characteristics, reasons and justifications, tourism curriculum mapping design measurements, Kolb’s learning styles modes, Bloom's digital taxonomy and Web2.0 social media, employability competitiveness, learning outcomes, future of innovative technology tools, and future of traditional classroom tools. The major findings from the study model supported and confirmed significant relationships between tourism learning outcomes and the following five main variables: tourism curriculum mapping design measurements, Kolb’s learning styles modes, Bloom's digital taxonomy and Web2.0 social media, and employability competitiveness as reflective and formative indicators. Moreover, obtained findings recognized effects and supported positive relationships between using technological innovations on tourism learning outcomes in the future, and employability and job competitiveness. In contrast, findings supported negative relationships between using traditional classrooms systems on tourism learning outcomes in the future, and on employability and job competitiveness. The study ended with integrated complex paradigm shift in tourism e-learning links.
Decision making following a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome: an integrative review.

INTRODUCTION Prenatal screening for Down syndrome (DS) is a routine part of prenatal care in many countries, and there is growing interest in the choices women make following a prenatal diagnosis of DS. This review describes what is known about actual and hypothetical decision making following a prenatal diagnosis of DS and adds understanding about the factors that influence women's decision making. METHODS A search of empirical studies was conducted through electronic databases, major journals, and reference lists that were published in English between January 1999 and September 2010. Inclusion criteria were that the research explored attitudes toward continuation of pregnancy or induced abortion for DS and included at least 1 variable that explored factors influencing women's decision making following a prenatal diagnosis of DS. Studies that did not specify DS, unpublished manuscripts, review articles, and book chapters were excluded. RESULTS A total of 11 studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. The decision to undergo an induced abortion varied depending on whether participants were prospective parents recruited from the general population (23%-33% would terminate), pregnant women at increased risk for having a child with DS (46%-86% would terminate), or women who received a positive diagnosis of DS during the prenatal period (89%-97% terminated). Multiple factors influence women's decision making following a diagnosis of DS, including demographic factors such as religion, maternal age, gestational age, number of existing children, and history of induced abortion. Psychosocial factors including perceived parenting burden/reward, quality of life for a child with DS, attitudes toward and comfort with individuals with disabilities, and support from others also are important influences. DISCUSSION Multiple factors influence the decisions pregnant women make following the diagnosis of fetal DS. Therefore, it is critical that health care providers who work with pregnant women are aware of these factors.
Cell Cycle-dependent Transcription of CLN1 Involves Swi4 Binding to MCB-like Elements*

Two promoter elements have been defined that activate G1/S-specific transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. SCB elements (CACGAAA) are activated by the Swi4-Swi6 complex, and MCB elements (ACGCGTNA) are activated by the Mbp1-Swi6 complex. CLN1 encodes a cyclin which is expressed during this interval, and requires Swi4 and Swi6 for peak transcription, but it has no consensus SCB elements in its promoter. Two SCB-like sequences had been previously noted and suggested to be the functional promoter elements. Our studies indicate that these sequences are unable to activate transcription of a lacZ reporter construct, or to bind Swi4-Swi6 complexes in vitro However, a cluster of three sequences resembling MCB sequences are active promoter elements, sufficient to confer G1/S-specific transcription to a reporter. These sites are the predominant activation elements in the CLN1 promoter, and despite their resemblance to MCB elements, they bind Swi4-Swi6 complexes in vitro and require Swi4 and Swi6 for their activity in vivo This indicates that the sequences that promote Swi4/Swi6 binding have not been fully defined, or that there are multiple Swi4- and Swi6-containing complexes with distinct DNA binding specificities. In addition to these novel Swi4/Swi6-binding sites, these studies also show that there must be at least one novel promoter element that can confer G1/S-specific transcription to CLN1, because when all the potential SCB- and MCB-like sequences are eliminated the transcript is still cell cycle regulated.
Texture-based parametric active contour for target detection and tracking

In recent years, active contour models (ACM) have been considered as powerful tools for image segmentation and object tracking in computer vision and image processing applications. This article presents a new tracking method based on parametric active contour models. In the proposed method, a new pressure energy called “texture pressure energy” is added to the energy function of the parametric active contour model to detect and track a texture target object in a texture background. In this scheme, the texture features of the contour are calculated by a moment-based method. Then, by comparing these features with texture features of the target object, the contour curve is expanded or contracted to be adapted to the object boundaries. Experimental results show that the proposed method is more efficient and accurate in the tracking of objects compare to the traditional ones, when both object and background are textures in nature. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 19, 187–198, 2009
Trees of tropical peatland forest influence on variability of water and carbon input through stemflow

Abstract. Astiani D, Mujiman, Curran LM. 2017. Trees of tropical peatland forest influence on variability of water and carbon input through stemflow. Biodiversitas 18: 383-388. Hydrology controls the chemical and biotic processes in peatlands, influencing interactions among vegetation, nutrient dynamics, and carbon fluxes. The effects of forest degradation revealed severe changes in the hydrological cycle such as variability of water input on forest floor, soil water storage and the ability to abstract water from soil depth. A study had been conducted to investigate part of the water cycle, the amount of water and carbon input through stemflow into peatland forest floor for 2 years. Stemflow was measured on 20 trees of each 3 blocks of forest with tree diameter ranging from 10-30 cm dbh using stemflow collectors. Then the trees were grouped to three bark types (smooth, mid, and coarse) to investigate whether it had influenced the inputs. Results showed that with mean annual precipitation of 3282 Â± 128mm, annual mean stemflow for the area was 18.2% of the rainfall. Further analysis demonstrated that tree species with smoother bark textures tend to bring more water to forest floor compared to mid and coarse bark textures (46% and 42.5% more than coarse and intermediate consecutively). The carbon input also show similar trend. The results implied that tree species influence the amount of stemflow and significant amount of water could be slower down come to forest floor through this mechanism and protected forest soil.Keywords: Annual stemflow, peatland forest, hydrological flow, tree barks, tree species
Thyroid cancer in Greece. A tertiary center experience.

PURPOSE to present the frequency and distribution of histological subtypes of primary thyroid carcinoma cases diagnosed at our Department. METHODS we retrospectively analyzed the records of all patients with primary thyroid carcinoma admitted to our Department from January 01, 2002 until December 31, 2008. RESULTS of 1,607 patients with primary thyroid carcinoma 1510 (94%) suffered from differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), 71 (4%) from medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), 10 (< 1%) from anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), 9 (<1%) from primary thyroid non Hodgkin's lymphoma, 1 (< 1%) from primary thyroid Hodgkin's lymphoma, 1 (< 1%) from squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid, and 6 patients (< 1%) suffered from carcinoma of ectopic thyroid tissue (1 malignant struma ovarii, 2 carcinoma in thyroglossal duct remnants, and 3 patients presented with thyroid tissue carcinoma in cervical lymph nodes). CONCLUSION differentiated thyroid carcinoma is by far the most common primary malignancy of the thyroid gland. Papillary thyroid carcinomas constitute the vast majority of these neoplasms. Larger studies are necessary to better understand and evaluate the clinical characteristics, behavior and prevalence of thyroid cancer in our country.
High Frequency Life Testing of Stator Coil Insulation

This paper focuses on the development of insulation systems for high-speed and hence high-frequency electric motors with multi-MW ratings. With the growing demand for variable speed applications, an increasing number of medium and high voltage (4-13.8 kV) motors are being powered by adjustable speed drives (ASD's). One aspect that must be understood during the design of the motor is the impact that the voltage waveform from the ASD may have on the stator insulation. Both high fundamental frequency components (300- 600 Hz), switching frequency components (low kHz range) and fast rise time transient voltages (in the mus range) from the ASD's can increase the thermal and electrical stresses on the insulation resulting in a reduction of the service life. To study the effect of these ASD's on an epoxy-mica based insulation system, accelerated life tests were performed at 60 Hz, 418 Hz and 10 KHz. The main purpose of this study was to determine if the number of 'electrical cycles' to failure was constant for a given system over the range of voltages and frequencies tested and to explore if low frequency testing could be used as a predictor of insulation system life at higher frequencies. This paper will present the test setup and procedure, as well as the analysis and interpretation of the data. An examination of the resulting relationship between applied voltage, frequency and life of the insulation system will include a discussion of the ageing mechanisms at the various test voltages and frequencies.
INFLUENCE OF RELATIONSHIP QUALITY ON HOTEL GUESTS' LOYALTY: A CASE STUDY OF A MALAYSIAN BUDGET HOTEL

Abstract Building up loyalty through relationship marketing as in the case for a budget hotel has been found to be a long term investment and loyal customer were more tolerance towards occasional inferior performances. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship quality of trust, commitment and satisfaction perceived by the customer that can influence their loyalty towards a budget hotel. A cross sectional data collection approach was employed on a group of 85 hotel guests who were staying in a budget hotel. This study revealed that there was a direct relationship between relationship quality and loyalty with the exception to trust. Furthermore, this study confirmed that commitment and customer satisfaction acted as important factors in building customer loyalty. This study implies to service providers in enhancing loyalty is to reach the customer through a mean of communication, customized service and comfort to the customer. Future studies suggest such as replicated of the study in other service industries (e.g. banking, hospitals, insurance, food service, and hotels) and also to consider a bigger sampling frame that will have the ability to be generalize
Asset Securitization and Bank Risk: Do Religiosity or Ownership Structure Matter?

We test the impact of religiosity and ownership structure on the risk profile of banks, which issued securitisation. We employ GMM estimation using unique database on asset securitization of 672 commercial banks (4889 year-observations) in 22 countries (from 2003-2012), which have dual banking system. We find that banks with higher securitisation activity have consistently shown a riskier profile by being significantly less adequately capitalised and offering higher ratio of net loans to total assets. Controlling for bank type (Islamic and conventional banks), we find that although Islamic banks, in general, show a conservative approach towards risk by keeping higher reserves and more liquidity, banks involved in new issuance of asset securitization as still exposed to a higher risk profile . Controlling for a country religiosity shows different risk profile of banks in countries with different religiosity thresholds. Controlling for different types of bank ownership highlights an additional exposure to credit risk in addition to capital adequacy and liquidity risks. Our results emphasize the importance of identifying the impact of bank type and the religiosity / culture factors in global banking studies. Our results are of importance to both local and international regulators as well as different stakeholders in banks.
A Qualitative Exploration of the Impact of Cultural and Social Factors on Heroin Use in Shetland (Scotland)

Abstract In order to gain a greater understanding of the impact of social and cultural factors on patterns of heroin use and use-related behaviors, in-depth interviews were carried out with 12 heroin users in Shetland. Analysis revealed the existence of a small, highly organized and highly covert heroin subculture. Within this group, users were predominantly older, and their use was reported as being relatively self-controlled and unproblematic in nature, especially by comparison to the heroin use associated with deprived urban areas. There were indicators, however, that this situation seemed to have entered a phase of change, reflected by descriptions of an increasing number of younger, less controlled heroin users. Within the theoretical framework of drug, set and setting, the importance of drug-using norms and rules among heroin users in both regulating and maintaining patterns of use, even through periods of change, was identified. Shetland, with its relative affluence, small size and geographical isolation constitutes an unusual setting for research into heroin use, which customarily has been viewed as an urban phenomenon. Thus it offers the opportunity to gain insight into the nature of heroin use and associated behaviors from a relatively novel perspective.
Tax avoidance and optimal income tax enforcement

We examine the optimal auditing problem of a tax authority when taxpayers can choose both to evade and avoid. For a convex penalty function, the incentive-compatibility constraints may bind for the richest taxpayer and at a positive level of both evasion and avoidance. The audit function is non-increasing in reported income, and is higher for progressive tax functions than for regressive tax functions. Higher marginal tax rates increase the incentives for non-compliance, overturning the well-known Yitzhaki paradox.
Oesophageal temperature monitoring and incidence of oesophageal lesions after pulmonary vein isolation using a remote robotic navigation system.

AIMS Oesophageal lesions (EL), a potential complication after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), have been described recently. A new remote robotic navigation system (RNS; Hansen Medical) provides enhanced catheter stability along with more effective lesion placement. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate temperature monitoring and incidence of EL when using RNS with an irrigated tip radiofrequency catheter for PVI. METHODS AND RESULTS Circumferential PVI using RNS was performed in 73 patients (pts) with paroxysmal (n = 46, 63%) and persistent atrial fibrillation. An oesophageal temperature probe was placed in 58 (79.5%) pts and was integrated in the 3D-map (NavX). Power was limited to 25 W at the posterior wall, and in the case of an increase in temperature power was limited to 20 W. Endoscopy was performed in 42 pts within 24 h after PVI. In 44 of 58 (75.9%) pts, a significant rise in temperature (>39 degrees C) was observed. In 6 of 42 (14.3%) pts, an EL was found during endoscopy. In patients with EL, the body mass index (BMI) was significantly lower than in pts without EL (24.1 +/- 2.0 vs. 29.0 +/- 5.8, P = 0.047). The BMI of all patients with EL was <26, whereas all patients without EL had a BMI above 26. The EL showed brisk healing after re-endoscopy within 2 weeks in all pts. CONCLUSION In patients undergoing PVI using the RNS, the incidence of EL is 14.3% when using power settings comparable to settings used in manual ablation. Patients with lower BMI (<26) are at higher risk for EL.
The World Price of Tail Risk

We examine the pricing of tail risk for 43,000 stocks from 46 countries between 1995 and 2013. We decompose tail risks into those with respect to local and global market returns and find that both risks are independently priced. Due to the increased demand for hedging tail risks, the premia for both tail risks are positively related to globalization. For local tail risk, though not for global tail risk, the premium is high when investor sentiment is low and its sensitivity is limited by globalization, reflecting that investors can diversify away local tail risk, but not global tail risk, globally.
Idiosyncratic volatility and momentum: the performance of Australian equity pension funds

We investigate the importance of idiosyncratic volatility for pricing of equity funds by using a comprehensive dataset of Australian retail equity pension funds from January 1995 to December 2008. We find strong evidence to support that idiosyncratic volatility is a significant pricing factor for returns of the equity funds implying that investors should consider idiosyncratic volatility when evaluating the performance of funds,. We also find strong evidence to support that idiosyncratic volatility is strongly associated with momentum effect of Australian equity pension funds as equity pension funds with high idiosyncratic volatilities exhibit a high momentum effect. JEL Classification: G12
Clinical application of the retrograde arterialized venous flap

Retrograde arterialized venous flaps were applied to skin and soft‐tissue defects in 13 patients with an average age of 34.4 years. Ten defects were located on the hand, and three on the lower leg. All flaps were harvested from the flexor aspect of the forearm; they ranged in size from 2 × 1 to 11 × 7 cm. There was venous congestion with superficial epidermolysis in six flaps, but not in the other seven. Partial skin necrosis in two of the lower‐extremity flaps necessitated secondary skin grafts. Our results suggest that retrograde perfusion enhances blood flow in the periphery of arterialized venous flaps and gives good results in terms of flap survival, especially on the upper extremity. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.