Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regional Energy Efficiency of China’s Commercial Sector: An Emerging Energy Consumer

ABSTRACT This article applies a parametric metafrontier method and the Malmquist index to analyze the energy efficiency and its dynamic performance in China’s commercial sector from 1995 to 2013. The results indicate that the energy efficiency in China’s commercial sector is generally low, and there are significant regional differences and enormous energy-saving potentials. Relative to metafrontier, commercial sectors in eastern China have relatively higher energy efficiency; while those in central and western China have relatively low energy efficiency. Besides, the dynamic energy efficiency performance in China’s commercial sector has improved over the period. The technology improvement is a major driving factor to improve the energy efficiency in the commercial sectors of all the three regions.
Biosynthesis of the Polymannose Lipopolysaccharide O-antigens from Escherichia coli Serotypes O8 and O9a Requires a Unique Combination of Single- and Multiple-active Site Mannosyltransferases*

Background: The Escherichia coli O8 and O9a antigens are influential models for bacterial glycan assembly. Results: O8 and O9a glycan biosynthesis requires three mannosyltransferases, whose activities were defined. Conclusion: Two conserved mannosyltransferases (WbdCB) produce an adaptor trisaccharide on which each WbdA polymerizes a serotype-specific repeat unit polysaccharide. Significance: These systems require multiple mannosyltransferase modules in a flexible arrangement. The Escherichia coli O9a and O8 O-antigen serotypes represent model systems for the ABC transporter-dependent synthesis of bacterial polysaccharides. The O9a and O8 antigens are linear mannose homopolymers containing conserved reducing termini (the primer-adaptor), a serotype-specific repeat unit domain, and a terminator. Synthesis of these glycans occurs on the polyisoprenoid lipid-linked primer, undecaprenol pyrophosphoryl-GlcpNAc, by two conserved mannosyltransferases, WbdC and WbdB, and a serotype-specific mannosyltransferase, WbdA. The glycan structure and pattern of conservation in the O9a and O8 mannosyltransferases are not consistent with the existing model of O9a biosynthesis. Here we establish a revised pathway using a combination of in vivo (mutant complementation) experiments and in vitro strategies with purified enzymes and synthetic acceptors. WbdC and WbdB synthesize the adaptor region, where they transfer one and two α-(1→3)-linked mannose residues, respectively. The WbdA enzymes are solely responsible for forming the repeat unit domains of these O-antigens. WbdAO9a has two predicted active sites and polymerizes a tetrasaccharide repeat unit containing two α-(1→3)- and two α-(1→2)-linked mannopyranose residues. In contrast, WbdAO8 polymerizes trisaccharide repeat units containing single α-(1→3)-, α-(1→2)-, and β-(1→2)-mannopyranoses. These studies illustrate assembly systems exploiting several mannosyltransferases with flexible active sites, arranged in single- and multiple-domain formats.
Anorexigenic C75 alters c-Fos in mouse hypothalamic and hindbrain subnuclei

The fatty acid synthase inhibitor C75 reduces feeding rapidly and for several days. We investigated brain sites potentially involved in actions of i.p. C75 in mice by examining c-Fos. At 3 h C75 increased numbers of c-Fos-immunoreactive cells in hindbrain feeding-related nuclei, and in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), lateral aspects of the arcuate nucleus (ARC), and in the central amygdala. At 24 h C75 prevented fasting-induced c-Fos expression in the medial ARC and three of its targets: lateral magnocellular PVN, lateral hypothalamus, and dorsomedial hypothalamus. C75, but not fasting, increased c-Fos in parvocellular PVN. This pattern of results suggests a shift from hindbrain-initiated short-term actions to activation of hypothalamic mechanisms that could mediate the long-term anorectic responses to C75.
Customer Psychological Empowerment as a Critical Source of Customer Engagement

Abstract Interpersonal influence today includes an extension in cyberspace in the form of e–word-of-mouth (eWOM), thereby transforming customers into information producers. Companies nonetheless continue to experience difficulty in encouraging customers to engage online respecting company brands or to participate in co-creating value and promoting company products via the Web. This research examines how customer psychological empowerment, namely the extent to which customers feel that they exert power in the marketplace, potentially enhances brand engagement. Using structural equation modeling, each of a qualitative and quantitative study has been conducted at a French ski resort (N = 753). Findings demonstrate that customers engage for three reasons: belief that they can help companies without resorting to the venting of negative feelings (punishment), brand attachment, and reciprocity based on the perceived sincerity of online comments penned by other customers.
Could oxidative stress be a factor in neurodevelopmental disorders?

There is evidence of co-morbidity in the neurodevelopmental disorders and they display depletion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in their plasma and red cell membranes. This suggests an abnormal fatty acid metabolism, which may affect cell signalling and synthesis of eicosanoids. This common feature in the neurodevelopmental disorders may be genetic in origin: however, oxidative stress may also contribute to decreased PUFAs found in these disorders.
THE USE OF AZATHIOPRINE IN REFRACTORY IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA IN CHILDREN

Five children with refractory ITP were treated with azathioprine for 8‐27 months. An excellent response was obtained in 3 of the 5 patients, a good response in a fourth. In two presplenectomy cases the result was obtained using azathioprine alone and two post‐splenectomy cases required low dose steroids in addition to azathioprine. One pre‐splenectomy patient failed to respond to the drug alone or in combination with steroids but responded well to splenectomy. A review of the cases in the literature and the experience presented here suggests that azathioprine has a definite role in the therapy of refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in childhood.
Protein–protein interaction at crystal contacts

Packing contacts are crystal artifacts, yet they make use of the same forces that govern specific recognition in protein‐protein complexes and oligomeric proteins. They provide examples of a nonspecific protein‐protein interaction which can be compared to biologically relevant ones. We evaluate the number and size of pairwise interfaces in 152 crystal forms where the asymmetric unit contains a monomeric protein. In those crystal forms that have no element of 2‐fold symmetry, we find that molecules form 8 to 10 pairwise interfaces. The total area of the surface buried on each molecule is large, up to 4400 Å2. Pairwise interfaces bury 200–1200 Å2, like interfaces generated at random in a computer simulation, and less than interfaces in protease‐inhibitor or antigen‐antibody complexes, which bury 1500 Å2 or more. Thus, specific contacts occurring in such complexes extend over a larger surface than nonspecific ones. In crystal forms with 2‐fold symmetry, pairwise interfaces are fewer and larger on average than in the absence of 2‐fold symmetry. Some bury 1500–2500 Å2, like interfaces in oligomeric proteins, and create “crystal oligomers” which may have formed in the solution before crystallizing. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
‘Doing the brand’: aesthetic labour as situated, relational performance in fashion retail

This article explores how company requirements to consume and perform the brand impact on the attachment fashion retail employees have to the brand. The research finds that over time some workers’ attachment to the brand grew, whereas for others it diminished. To explain these differences, the article develops the idea of aesthetic labour as a ‘situated relational performance’. Attachment to the brand was mediated by both the ‘situated circuit of activity’ in which the work was performed, incorporating the brand strategy, the clothes and the store layout. It was also mediated by the sense of distinction generated through a performance of a body for others.
Empirical analysis of procurement auctions

This dissertation consists of two self-contained chapters that explore intriguing properties of procurement auctions. The first chapter empirically analyzes procurement auctions in which suppliers must decide their bids based on expectations about how future market conditions will affect their costs. While previous literature has focused on the uncertainty about winning or losing the auction, I examine the risk that is intrinsic to the contract. I use data from government procurement auctions in the State of Sao Paulo in Brazil for fresh produce to study the effect of contract risk on auction outcomes. I find that suppliers are risk averse and therefore include a risk premium in the prices they bid, which can reach 38\% of the price for some goods. In addition, I show that a simple change in the payment scheme, in which the government pays a fixed amount plus 40\% of the reference index of wholesale prices, could reduce the risk premium to less than 1\% of the bid price for all goods analyzed. The second chapter analyzes the phenomenon of jump bidding, when a bidder places a bid that is larger than necessary to outbid the current winning bid. Models that explain this type of behavior say that jump bidding arise as a signaling strategy to communicate strength to competitors. However, using a large dataset of procurement auctions that spans across different industries, the predictions of those models do not match the patterns observed in the data. I find that winners place smaller jumps on average, which contradicts the signaling strategy and suggests that jumps might not be monotonic in the bidders' valuations. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Applied Economics First Advisor Joseph Harrington
Reliability of laser Doppler, near-infrared spectroscopy and Doppler ultrasound for peripheral blood flow measurements during and after exercise in the heat

ABSTRACT This study examined the test-retest reliability of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and Doppler ultrasound to assess exercise-induced haemodynamics. Nine men completed two identical trials consisting of 25-min submaximal cycling at first ventilatory threshold followed by repeated 30-s bouts of high-intensity (90% of peak power) cycling in 32.8 ± 0.4°C and 32 ± 5% relative humidity (RH). NIRS (tissue oxygenation index [TOI] and total haemoglobin [tHb]) and LDF (perfusion units [PU]) signals were monitored continuously during exercise, and leg blood flow was assessed by Doppler ultrasound at baseline and after exercise. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC; PU/mean arterial pressure (MAP)) was expressed as the percentage change from baseline (%CVCBL). Coefficients of variation (CVs) as indicators of absolute reliability were 18.7–28.4%, 20.2–33.1%, 42.5–59.8%, 7.8–12.4% and 22.2–30.3% for PU, CVC, %CVCBL, TOI and tHb, respectively. CVs for these variables improved as exercise continued beyond 10 min. CVs for baseline and post-exercise leg blood flow were 17.8% and 10.5%, respectively. CVs for PU, tHb (r2 = 0.062) and TOI (r2 = 0.002) were not correlated (P > 0.05). Most variables demonstrated CVs lower than the expected changes (35%) induced by training or heat stress; however, minimum of 10 min exercise is recommended for more reliable measurements.
Incidence of breast cancer in a Norwegian cohort of women with potential workplace exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields.

BACKGROUND The risk of breast cancer was investigated in a large dynamic population-based cohort of all 1.1 million economically active women in Norway with potential exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields at the censuses of 1960, 1970, and 1980. METHODS The follow-up period for the cohort was 1961-1992. For each woman, date of birth and census information on occupation and socioeconomic status were ascertained. These data were linked to the breast cancer morbidity information in the Cancer Registry of Norway. Exposure to magnetic fields was assessed a priori using two different approaches. In the first approach, hours per week in a potential magnetic field above background level (0.1 microT) were classified by an expert panel. In the second approach, measured magnetic fields from a separate study of men at work were allocated to the women's census job titles. In both approaches, exposure was cumulated over the years of employment (work hours and microT-years, respectively). RESULTS The Poisson regression analysis showed a risk ratio (RR) of 1.14 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.10-1.19) in the highest exposure category compared to the lowest when using the first approach, and the corresponding RR was 1.08 (95% CI = 1.01-1.16) when using the second approach. For women younger than 50 years, RR was 1.20 (95% CI = 1.11-1.29) and 1.12 (95% CI = 0.98-1.28), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The results give some support to the hypothesis that exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields may increase the risk of breast cancer. However, since no direct information on exposure was available, no firm conclusions can be drawn.
Virgibacillus flavescens sp. nov., isolated from marine sediment.

A Gram-stain-variable, rod-shaped, motile bacterial strain, designated S1-20T, was isolated from marine sediment of the Yellow Sea in China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain S1-20T was related to the genus Virgibacillus and had highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with the type strains of Virgibacillus necropolis (98.1 %), Virgibacillus arcticus (97.7 %) and Virgibacillus carmonensis (97.3 %). The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain S1-20T were anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The main menaquinone was MK-7. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain S1-20T was 38.3 mol%. The polar lipids profile contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, five unidentified phospholipids, one unknown aminophospholipid and an aminolipid. Combined data from phenotypic, phylogenetic and DNA-DNA relatedness studies demonstrated that strain S1-20T is a representative of a novel species of the genus Virgibacillus, for which the name Virgibacillus flavescens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S1-20T ( = LMG 28381T = DSM 29015T).
Book Review: Personnel: Employee Turnover: Causes, Consequences, and Control

Women's entry into the labor force and their experiences there not only reflect the influence of economic, legal, and socio-psychological forces but also have similarly multifaceted implications. Women in the Workplace provides the much needed multidisciplinary analysis that is required to account for these diverse factors. Although the book recommends strategies for improving women's position, it makes no specific forecasts in this regard, as it acknowledges that the future is clouded by broader questions such as the general economic climate in the 1980s and the environment for implementing legal decisions on discrimination. Sharon P. Smith District Manager, Economic Reports American Telephone and Telegraph Company
The Effect of Political Stability and Governance on Economic Development

This paper studies the effect of political stability and governance on economic development by consulting the literature, examining the data, and through empirical estimations. Additionally, further attention is paid to the role of political leadership and democratic institutions. The empirical estimations involve a panel dataset containing 157 countries, including 35 developed and 122 developing countries, covering a 10-year period between 2002-2011. The results confirm the statistically and economically significant effect of political stability on economic development in the short and long run. All else equal, a one point increase in the political stability variable is associated with an increase of the GDP growth rate by around 1.38-1.62 percentage points or an increase of GDP per worker by around $1,207-$1,730. These results are robust to alternative model specifications and political stability indicators as well as after controlling for autocorrelation and heteroskedasticity. Using a cross-sectional IV-analysis these results are addressed for potential endogeneity caused by simultaneity (bidirectionality) although this point requires more attention and the use of strong time-variant instrumental variables. Regarding governance the effect of the control of corruption, government efficiency, and regulatory quality are significant and robust while, contrary to expectations, the rule of law and voice and accountability give insignificant results. Untimely and unanticipated executive changes have an additional significant detrimental effect on growth rates while elections have no significant effect regardless of the political system and level of development.
Genetic variation of Gongylonema pulchrum from wild animals and cattle in Japan based on ribosomal RNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I genes

Abstract The gullet worm (Gongylonema pulchrum) has been recorded from a variety of mammals worldwide, including monkeys and humans. Due to its wide host range, it has been suggested that the worm may be transmitted locally to any mammalian host by chance. To investigate this notion, the ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA), mainly regions of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) 1 and 2, and a cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) region of mitochondrial DNA of G. pulchrum were characterized using parasites from the following hosts located in Japan: cattle, sika deer, wild boars, Japanese macaques, a feral Reeves's muntjac and captive squirrel monkeys. The rDNA nucleotide sequences of G. pulchrum were generally well conserved regardless of their host origin. However, a few insertions/deletions of nucleotides along with a few base substitutions in the ITS1 and ITS2 regions were observed in G. pulchrum from sika deer, wild boars and Japanese macaques, and those differed from G. pulchrum in cattle, the feral Reeves's muntjac and captive squirrel monkeys. The COI sequences of G. pulchrum were further divided into multiple haplotypes and two groups of haplotypes, i.e. those from a majority of sika deer, wild boars and Japanese macaques and those from cattle and zoo animals, were clearly differentiated. Our findings indicate that domestic and sylvatic transmission cycles of the gullet worm are currently present, at least in Japan.
Medium to long-term curative effects of long-segmental fixation and fusion on degenerative scoliosis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the medium to long-term curative effects of surgical long segmental fixation and fusion in degenerative scoliosis (DS). PATIENTS AND METHODS From January 2001 to December 2011, 56 DS patients underwent long segmental fixation and fusion. Clinical data, including visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry disability index (ODI), lumbar lordosis angles, coronary Cobb angles and postoperative complications were followed up for 2 to 12 years postoperatively. RESULTS VAS and ODI scores were significantly improved 1 year postoperatively compared to the preoperative values (P = 0.000). Coronary Cobb angles were significantly improved three months postoperatively (P = 0.001) but ≥ 1 year after surgery there was no further significant improvement compared to the preoperative values (P = 0.585). The lumbar lordosis angle was not significantly changed postoperatively (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Favorable medium to long-term curative effects can be achieved by long segmental fixation and fusion. Ideally, the fixation and fusion segments should be longer than the segments affected by scoliosis. The restoration of the lumbar lordosis angle is the key to rebuilding sagittal balance, which is closely correlated with a patient's clinical symptoms and quality of life.
Spanish Version of the Avoidance-Endurance Questionnaire: Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties

Abstract To analyze the factorial structure and psychometric properties of the Spanish adaptation of the AEQ, and to validate it by reporting relevant pain-related variables, which were not investigated in the original study. One hundred and fifty Spanish patients diagnosed with chronic back and neck pain were referred by physicians from different pain clinics in Spain; all the patients filled out the questionnaires at their clinic. A series of principal components analyses (PCA) was performed to develop the Spanish version of the AEQ. Reliability and validity were also calculated. The PCAs revealed five fear-avoidance scales (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measures were between .60 and .88, and Bartlett’s tests were significant, p < .01): the Depression scale (DS), Anxiety scale (AS), Catastrophizing scale (CS), Helplessness/hopelessness scale (HHS), and Avoidance of Social and Physical Activities scale (ASPAS), and three endurance-related responses scales: Pain Persistence Behaviour and Distraction scale (PPDS), Ignoring Pain scale (IPS), and Humor scale (HS). All the scales showed high internal consistency (α > .73) and suitable validity (p < .05). New results associated with pain-related cognitive/affective and behavioural responses are discussed. This instrument will probably help clinicians to identify Spanish patients at a high risk of chronicity and to develop treatments tailored to the different profiles in order to improve secondary and tertiary prevention in back and neck pain.
Binding characteristics of high‐affinity dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonists, 11C‐PPHT and 11C‐ZYY‐339 in rodents and imaging in non‐human primates by PET

We have evaluated the in vitro autoradiographic binding characteristics and in vivo brain distribution of two high‐affinity dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonists, (±)‐2‐(N‐phenethyl‐N‐1′‐11C‐propyl)amino‐5‐hydroxytetralin (11C‐PPHT) and (±)‐2‐(N‐cyclohexylethyl‐N‐1′‐11C‐propyl)amino‐5‐hydroxytetralin (11C‐ZYY‐339) in rodents and in monkeys using positron emission tomography (PET). In vitro autoradiograms in rat brain slices with 11C‐PPHT and 11C‐ZYY‐339 revealed binding to dopaminergic regions in the striata, which was substantially (>90%) displaced by 10 μM sulpiride. Striatal binding was also removed in the presence of 5‐guanylylimidophosphate (Gpp(NH)p), indicative of binding of these radiotracers to the high‐affinity (HA) state. The results of in vivo studies in rats exhibited binding of the two radiotracers to the striata (striata/cerebellum approached 2 in 30 min). The regional selectivity to the striata was reduced by preadministration of haloperidol. PET studies in male rhesus monkeys using an ECAT EXACT HR+ scanner indicated localization of 11C‐PPHT and 11C‐ZYY‐339 in the striata and thalamus. Striata to cerebellum and thalamus to cerebellum ratios were low (1.5 and 1.3, respectively, at 30 min postinjection) for both 11C‐PPHT and 11C‐ZYY‐339, apparently due to the slower nonspecific clearance from cerebellum. These findings with 11C‐PPHT and 11C‐ZYY‐339 indicate the possibility of in vivo imaging of high‐affinity state of dopamine D2/D3 receptors in both the striata and the thalamus. Synapse 54:83–91, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An Exploration of the Lived Experiences of Black Women Secondary School Leaders

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