Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Random removal of inserts from an RNA genome: selection against single-stranded RNA

We have monitored the evolution of insertions in two MS2 RNA regions of known secondary structure where coding pressure is negligible or absent. Base changes and shortening of the inserts proceed until the excessive nucleotides can be accommodated in the original structure. The stems of hairpins can be dramatically extended but the loops cannot, revealing natural selection against single-stranded RNA. The 3' end of the MS2 A-protein gene forms a small hairpin with an XbaI sequence in the loop. This site was used to insert XbaI fragments of various sizes. Phages produced by these MS2 cDNA clones were not wild type, nor had they retained the full insert. Instead, every revertant phage had trimmed the insert in a different way to leave a four- to seven-membered loop to the now extended stem. Similar results were obtained with inserts in the 5' untranslated region. The great number of different revertants obtained from a single starting mutant as well as sequence inspection of the crossover points suggest that the removal of redundant RNA occurs randomly. The only common feature among all revertants appears the potential to form a hairpin with a short loop, suggesting that single-stranded RNA negatively affects the viability of the phage. To test this hypothesis, we introduced XbaI fragments of 34 nucleotides that could form either a long stem with a small loop or a short stem with a large loop (26 nucleotides). The base-paired inserts were perfectly maintained for many generations, whereas the unpaired versions were quickly trimmed back to reduce the size of the loop. These data confirm that single-stranded RNA adversely affects phage fitness and is strongly selected against. The repair of the RNA genome that we describe here appears as the result of random recombination. Of the plethora of recombinants, only those able to adopt a base-paired structure survive. The frequency with which our inserts are removed seems higher than measured by others for small inserts in a reading frame in Q beta RNA. To account for this higher frequency, we suggest models in which the single-stranded nature of our inserts induces random recombination at the site of the insertion.
Residential energy consumption patterns in Finnish households

Promoting higher energy efficiency is one of the focus areas of current policies intending to advance more sustainable future. Buildings and residential energy consumption, heating, cooling and operation of the residential buildings as well as household electricity use, are in the focus as the share of these is estimated to be 30-40% of the global energy use. Despite extensive research around the issue, there still seems to be a gap in the literature on the overall energy consumption patterns of different types of households living in different types of areas. This is due to three factors. First, when actual consumption data is utilized, it may well appear that the energy consumption deviates significantly from the theoretic efficiencies due to just user behavior. Second, it is not enough to look at the energy consumption on an apartment level as a large share of energy use, especially heating energy in apartment buildings, relate to communal spaces and the majority of the operational and maintenance activities require energy that is communal in nature in apartment buildings. Finally, residential spaces other than the primary residence, such as summer cottages and other second homes, increase the overall energy use. In this study we take a step towards filling this gap. We conduct a comprehensive analysis on the energy consumption patterns in Finnish household taking into account heat and electricity on both communal and household direct consumption levels. We take into account possessed summer cottages and other second homes. We calculate the energy requirements of average households living in different types of areas in Finland using a four category division of Helsinki Metropolitan Area (HMA), (other) cities, semi-urban areas and rural areas. We utilize statistical data of Statistics Finland and Metla including statistics on housing companies and household expenditure data to put together a comprehensive analysis. The results show that when the overall energy requirements of operating apartment buildings is taken into account, the differences in housing energy consumption of households living in different types of areas are small. In fact, whereas the overall energy requirements are slightly lower in apartment building dominated cities on household level, in less urbanized areas less energy (in kilowatt hours) is used on both per capita and per square meter, and the share of renewable fuels in the energy-mix is higher.
A 12-Year Retrospective Study of Equine Abortion in Michigan

for Brucella abortus strain RB5. Vet Pathol 33:615. [Abstr. ] 4. Chitwood MB, Lichtenfels JR: 1972, Identification of parasitic metazoa in tissue sections. Exp Parasitol 32:461-464. 5. Ewalt DR: 1989, Comparison of three culture techniques for the isolation of Brucella abortus from bovine supramammary lymph nodes. J Vet Diagn Invest 1:227-230. 6. Ewalt DR, Payeur JP, Martin MB, et al.: 1994, Characteristics of a Brucella species from a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). J Vet Diagn Invest 6:448-452. 7. Farrell ID: 1974, The development of a new selective medium for the isolation of Brucella abortus from contaminated sources. Res Vet Sci 16:280-286. 8. Fleischman RW, Squire RA: 1970, Verminous pneumonia in the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Pathol Vet 7:89101. 9. Foster G, Jahans KL, Reid RJ, et al.: 1996, Isolation of Brucella species from cetaceans, seals, and an otter. Vet Rec 138:583586. 10. Howard EB, Britt JO, Matsumoto G: 1983, Parasitic diseases. In: Pathobiology of marine mammal diseases, ed. Howard EB, pp. 128-213. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 11. Kennedy PC, Miller RB: 1993, Brucellosis. In: Pathology of domestic animals, ed. Jubb KVF, Kennedy PC, Palmer N, 4th ed., pp. 396-402. Academic Press, San Diego, CA. 12. Lambourn DM, Jeffries SJ, Hall PB, et al.: 1996, Evidence of brucellosis in Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi) and California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) from Puget Sound, Washington. Annu Conf Wildl Dis Assoc 45:000. [Abstr. ] 13. Luna LG: 1960, Manual of histologic and special staining technics, 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill, New York, NY. 14. Migaki G, Van Dyke D, Hubbard RC: 1971, Some histopathological lesions caused by helminths in marine mammals. J Wildl Dis 2:281-289. 15. Morales GA, Helmboldt CF: 1970, Verminous pneumonia in the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). J Wildl Dis 7:22-27. 16. Morgan WJB, Corbel MJ: 1976, Recommendation for the description of a species and biotypes of the genus Brucella. Dev Biol Stand 31:27-37. 17. Palmer MV, Cheville NF, Tatum FM: 1996, Morphometric and histopathologic analysis of lymphoid depletion in murine spleens following infection with Brucella abortus strains 2308, RB51, or an htrA deletion mutant. Vet Pathol 33:282-289. 18. Ross HM, Foster G, Reid RJ, et al.: 1994, Brucella species infection in sea-mammals. Vet Rec 134:359. 19. Ross HM, Jahans IU, MacMillan AP, et al.: 1996, Brucella species infection in North Sea and cetacean populations. Vet Rec 138:647-648. 20. Rhyan JC, Wilson ISL, Burgess DE, et al.: 1995, Immunohistochemical detection of Tritrichomonas foetus in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of bovine placenta and fetal lung. J Vet Diagn Invest 7:98-101.
Effect of Stationary Objects on Illusory Forward Self-Motion Induced by a Looming Display

It has previously been shown that when a moving and a stationary display are superimposed, illusory self-rotation (circular vection) is induced only when the moving display appears as the background. Three experiments are reported on the extent to which illusory forward self-motion (forward vection) induced by a looming display is inhibited by a superimposed stationary display as a function of the size and location of the stationary display and of the depth between the stationary and looming displays. Results showed that forward vection was controlled by the display that was perceived as the background, and background stationary displays suppressed forward vection by about the same amount whatever their size and eccentricity. Also, the perception of foreground — background properties of competing displays determined which controlled forward vection, and this control was not tied to specific depth cues. The inhibitory effect of a stationary background on forward vection was, however, weaker than that found with circular vection. This difference makes sense because, for forward body motion, the image of a distant scene is virtually stationary whereas, when the body rotates, it is not.
Financial Advisor Reputation and the Cost of Debt: Theory and Evidence from Project Finance Loans

An important puzzle in credit markets is why some firms use the services of financial advisors (FA) rather than undertake those tasks themselves. This paper examines, using theory and empirical evidence, whether the presence and the reputation of FA can act as a credible signal of project quality. Our theoretical model shows that, because of the structure of success fees, project lenders may worry that FA will try to sell them excessively risky projects, leading to higher costs of debt. Using Projectware data on project finance (PF) loans granted to public-private partnership projects arranged between 2001 and 2015, we test empirically and find strong support for our theoretical prediction. Indeed, our empirical results show that the presence and the reputation of FA are associated with higher costs of debt. Moreover, the evidence shows that FA presence and reputation are linked to higher project debt ratios. Overall, our findings suggest that the structure of success fees offers strong incentives to FA to focus on providing high debt levels rather on reducing asymmetric information between sponsors and lenders. Therefore, the presence and reputation of FA do not seem to be credible signaling devices for quality in the market for project finance loans.
Metabolomic Profile of Low–Copy Number Carriers at the Salivary α-Amylase Gene Suggests a Metabolic Shift Toward Lipid-Based Energy Production

Low serum salivary amylase levels have been associated with a range of metabolic abnormalities, including obesity and insulin resistance. We recently suggested that a low copy number at the AMY1 gene, associated with lower enzyme levels, also increases susceptibility to obesity. To advance our understanding of the effect of AMY1 copy number variation on metabolism, we compared the metabolomic signatures of high– and low–copy number carriers. We analyzed, using mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), the sera of healthy normal-weight women carrying either low–AMY1 copies (LAs: four or fewer copies; n = 50) or high–AMY1 copies (HAs: eight or more copies; n = 50). Best-fitting multivariate models (empirical P < 1 × 10−3) of mass spectrometry and NMR data were concordant in showing differences in lipid metabolism between the two groups. In particular, LA carriers showed lower levels of long- and medium-chain fatty acids, and higher levels of dicarboxylic fatty acids and 2-hydroxybutyrate (a known marker of glucose malabsorption). Taken together, these observations suggest increased metabolic reliance on fatty acids in LA carriers through β- and ω-oxidation and reduced cellular glucose uptake with consequent diversion of acetyl-CoA into ketogenesis. Our observations are in line with previously reported delayed glucose uptake in LA carriers after starch consumption. Further functional studies are needed to extrapolate from our findings to implications for biochemical pathways.
Do microfinance programs benefit women in developing countries?

This paper looks at the case for and against the view that microfinance programs benefit women in developing countries, based on a selective body of research. The analysis suggests that women constitute the largest pie of the clientele of microfinance programs at the global level. Broadly, these programs have worked withing two paradigms which aim at (1) poverty alliveation and (2) empowerpment of women within femenist discourse. However, the literature remains about the real impact of these programs In some developing countries, access to microcredit has helped many women to cross the poverty line but even when poverty has been alleviated, scepticism presits about long term and sustainable benefits of empowerment. included but not limited to, control of women over incomes through investing credit or savings, improved baragaining power and social status. This is because the commercialization of microcredit and savings services is shifting focus from the poor clients, particularly women, to all those who needs credits form formal institutions. This development is jeopardizing the objectives of proverty alliveation and empowerment of women and calls for greater attention to the needs of women in settling objectieves and design for microfinance in developing countries
Heterologous expression of cytochrome P-450 in Escherichia coli.

While the bacterial expression system has proved to work well for the expression of functional forms both of microsomal and of mitochondrial P-450, we understand the requirements for expression in bacteria far less clearly than those for expression in eukaryotic cells. Nevertheless, the ability to generate large quantities of P-450 (Table 1) in an inexpensive culture system, the ease of site-directed mutagenesis in bacteria and the ability to purify easily relatively large quantities of P-450s, including human enzymes that are not normally available, make this a particularly useful expression system for P-450 structure/function analysis. Furthermore, the background of P-450 level in E. coli is extremely low. It appears that the minor sequence alterations that have been made at the N-terminus to achieve high expression do not alter the enzymic properties of the recombinant P-450s, and it will not be surprising if vector systems are developed where such changes are not necessary. One concern with bacterial expression of P-450 is whether this system will prove of general use. Preliminary data suggests that certain mutant forms of human P-450c17 that are known to be functional in COS cells are not functional in bacteria, suggesting further that the folding pathways are not the same in bacterial and in eukaryotic cells. This unpredictability of the bacterial system is unsettling and, only as more laboratories adopt this system because of its value for high-level P-450 expression, will we learn more details of the requirements and limitations of this system. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
How Culture Is Considered in Evaluations of Psychopathology

A mail survey was conducted to explore how mental health professionals take culture into account in their evaluations of psychopathology and to assess their reported attitudes toward the role of culture in their work. The respondents were 118 licensed social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists from the state of California. Their reported attitudes and behavior represent a culturally sensitive position. For example, 83% of the sample indicated that they consider culture for most or all of their culturally different patients. A total of 96 therapists provided brief case summaries describing how they took culture into account for a given patient. A qualitative analysis revealed that culture is considered throughout the evaluation and treatment process. Furthermore, 35 case summaries referred to changes in the therapists' clinical evaluations as a result of considering culture. All but three of the case summaries indicated that clinicians judged the problems to be less severe or less pathological when thought to be cultural in nature. The risk of dismissing actual psychopathology as culturally normative behavior is considered.
PENGARUH SALURAN PELAPORAN PELANGGARAN DAN PERSONAL COST TERHADAP MINAT UNTUK MELAPORKAN KECURANGAN PADA PENGADAAN BARANG/JASA PEMERINTAH

This paper aims to examine the effect of wrongdoing reporting channels (anonymous and non-anonymous) and the personal cost on intention to report fraud on the government procurement. Intention to report fraud via anonymous reporting channel are hypothesized to be higher than through non-anonymous reporting channel. Personal cost would reduce the intention to report fraud. The interaction between the type of reporting channel (anonymous) with the personal cost were hypothesized to have an influence on intention to report fraud. To test it, this study conducted 2x2 factorial experiment with 92 subjects who receive STAR BPKP scholarship program at two universities (Andalas University and University of Jambi). Each subject was assigned to one of four versions available cases randomly. The statistical method used to test the hypothesis is two-way ANOVA. The results showed that the type of reporting channels affected the intention to report fraud on the government procurement. The intention to report fraud via anonymous reporting channel is higher rather than via non-anonymous reporting channel. Results of the study also suggested that the presence or absence of personal cost does not affect the intention to report fraud. Furthermore, the results also showed that the interaction between the type of reporting channels (anonymous) with the personal cost did not affect the intention to report fraud on the government procurement. Keywords: anonymous and non-anonymous reporting channel, personal cost, the intention to report fraud, government procurement.
Structure of linkage disequilibrium and phenotypic associations in the maize genome

Association studies based on linkage disequilibrium (LD) can provide high resolution for identifying genes that may contribute to phenotypic variation. We report patterns of local and genome-wide LD in 102 maize inbred lines representing much of the worldwide genetic diversity used in maize breeding, and address its implications for association studies in maize. In a survey of six genes, we found that intragenic LD generally declined rapidly with distance (r2 < 0.1 within 1500 bp), but rates of decline were highly variable among genes. This rapid decline probably reflects large effective population sizes in maize during its evolution and high levels of recombination within genes. A set of 47 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci showed stronger evidence of genome-wide LD than did single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in candidate genes. LD was greatly reduced but not eliminated by grouping lines into three empirically determined subpopulations. SSR data also supplied evidence that divergent artificial selection on flowering time may have played a role in generating population structure. Provided the effects of population structure are effectively controlled, this research suggests that association studies show great promise for identifying the genetic basis of important traits in maize with very high resolution.
Lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary vascular sequestration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes is complement independent.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injected intravenously produces leukopenia and sequestration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in the pulmonary vascular bed. To evaluate the role of complement in this process, we used C5-sufficient (B10.D2/nSn) and C5-deficient (B10.D2/oSn) mice and Sprague-Dawley rats depleted of complement with Naja naja cobra venom factor (CVF). We found a comparable increase in the number of PMN in lung tissue of C5-sufficient and C5-deficient mice given Escherichia coli LPS (0127:B8, 3 mg/kg), revealing that LPS acts independently of C5 and its biologically active fragments. Intravenous injection of LPS (3 mg/kg) into rats caused significant intravascular complement activation as assessed by serum CH50 and resulted in an almost 10-fold increase in numbers of PMN in lung tissue. Pretreatment of rats with CVF (50 U) did not reduce LPS-induced PMN sequestration, suggesting that the process is independent of C3. As reported previously, we found large numbers of PMN in bronchoalveolar lavage samples of 24 h after injection of LPS (3 mg/kg). Complement depletion did not prevent LPS-induced migration of PMN. No PMN migration occurred 2, 6, 12, 24, or 48 h after injection of CVF alone, indicating that complement activation is not sufficient to cause PMN migration. In contrast to our findings in rats, no PMN migrated into airspaces of C5-sufficient and C5-deficient mice 24 or 48 h after injection of LPS (3 to 20 mg/kg).
Suicide studies in ethnic minorities: improving the science to help develop policy

Epidemiological studies have documented significant differences in the rates of suicide between ethnic groups within countries (McKenzie et al. 2003). For example, there are highly standardised mortality ratios for suicide in the Maori of New Zealand and the aboriginal peoples of Australia (McKenzie et al. 2003). Native Americans have rates of suicide that are at least 50% higher than the White population (US Department of Health and Human Services 2001a). Also in Canada, the rate of suicide on some Aboriginal reserves ranks among the highest in the world (Kirmayer et al. 2007). There are also reportedly higher suicide rates in some populations of the Indian diaspora around the world when compared to the native populations (McKenzie et al. 2003, 2008). The suicide rate in White Americans has been reported to be double that of African-Americans (US Department of Health and Human Services 2001a). Early work on this issue by Sainsbury and Barraclough (1968) reported that in the USA the rank order of suicide rates in immigrant groups was similar to the rank order of suicide rates for their countries of origin (Sainsbury and Barraclough 1968). Immigrants who came from countries with high suicide rates had higher rates in the USA than immigrants who came from countries with medium or low rates of suicide. But because there was some convergence towards the rate of the host population (Sainsbury and Barraclough 1968), one explanation for this is that some aspects of the culture of their home country that are linked to suicide risk stay with immigrants despite the fact that they have moved to a new country. These aspects are modified by the host culture and may dissipate over time, so that immigrant groups will acquire the rates of suicide of the host population as they acculturate and change their patterns of risk and resilience (McKenzie et al. 2003). However, there is evidence that this does not always occur. In Sweden, the rates in migrants from areas with traditionally higher suicide rates is increased, rather than decreased, in their Swedish-born children (Hjern 2002). The theory that migrants continue to keep some of the culture of their countries of origin and this is linked to their suicide rate in part relies on the assumption that people who migrate are typical, or at least carry the same liability to suicide, as those left in a country. But we know that people who migrate may be on average different to those who stay. They may be more resilient, may be leaving because of persecution, because of their social position or because they lack opportunity. Minorities within a country may be more likely to migrate than majority populations: although 2% of the Indian population is Sikh, 28% of the UK Indian origin population is Sikh (Office of National Statistics 2012). Ethnicity & Health Vol. 17, Nos. 1 2, February April 2012, 7 11