Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Active Sector Funds and Fund Manager Skill

The authors investigate the performance of active sector funds whose potential outperformance has not been exhausted entirely by decreasing returns to scale. The authors document that despite good track records, most sector funds are relatively smaller than their equilibrium fund sizes, at which they are expected to generate zero net alphas. In particular, from 1998 to 2016, a passive indexation strategy of actively managed sector funds earns an annual benchmark-adjusted return of 5.70% and a monthly alpha of 27 bps. Moreover, the strategy’s outperformance is present in market downturns (i.e., resilient to tail risk) and robust to change of rebalancing frequency and inclusion of expenses. Efficient diversification and underappreciated skill, illustrated by an alpha-arithmetic to guide similar strategies, explain the strategy’s success. TOPICS: Manager selection, mutual fund performance, exchange-traded funds and applications Key Findings • Using data on active equity sector mutual funds, the authors find that an equal-weighted portfolio of sector funds delivers reliable alpha that is resilient to market downturns and requires only infrequent rebalancing. • Active sector funds individually show only weak evidence of selection skill, which may make them somewhat undersized, but an equal-weighted portfolio of them brings out the skill signal and diversifies away much of the alpha-seeking noise. • A portfolio of sector funds benefits from two layers of diversification: It not only washes off the sector-specific risk, it also diversifies the manager-specific active risk because managers in different sectors often make independent active bets.
Identification of Patients at High Risk for Postsurgical Hypoparathyroidism

Background/Aim: Postsurgical hypoparathyroidism (PostHypo) is a common complication after total thyroidectomy. We studied the risk factors associated with PostHypo. Patients and Methods: The study included 109 women, (mean age: 50.7±10.75 years), who underwent total thyroidectomy for thyroid diseases. Results: Based on the development of biochemical hypocalcemia on the first postoperative day following total thyroidectomy, (cCa<8.4 mg/dl), 37 women developed PostHypo and 72 did not. Younger age, a lower preoperative corrected calcium and the presence of parathyroid glands in the specimens were related to the development of PostHypo. Of all patients, 51.4% had a vitamin D deficiency. A parathyroid hormone (PTH) value ≤9.4 pg/ml was 84.9% sensitive and 71.4% specific to predict PostHypo on the 1st postoperative day. A 50% reduction of the PTH value on the 1st postoperative day from the preoperative level could identify patients who develop PostHypo with 76% sensitivity and 75% specificity. Conclusion: PTH postoperative measurement and its alteration from the preoperative level can be used to identify patients who are at increased risk to develop PostHypo.
Development and application of molecular tools to investigate microbial alkaline phosphatase genes in soil

Phosphatase enzymes are responsible for much of the recycling of organic phosphorus in soils. The PhoD alkaline phosphatase takes part in this process by hydrolyzing a range of organic phosphoesters. We analyzed the taxonomic and environmental distribution of phoD genes using whole genome and metagenome databases. phoD alkaline phosphatase was found to be spread across 20 bacterial phyla and was ubiquitous in the environment, with the greatest abundance in soil. To study the large diversity of phoD, we developed a new set of primers which targets phoD genes in soil. The primer set was validated on six soils collected from two continents with different climates and soil properties, using 454-sequencing, and compared to previously published primers. Up to 685 different phoD operational taxonomic units were found in each soil, which was seven times higher than with previously published primers. The new primers amplified sequences belonging to 13 phyla including 71 families. The most prevalent phoD genes identified in these soils were affiliated with the orders Actinomycetales (13-35%), Bacillales (1-29%), Gloeobacteriales (1-18%), Rhizobiales (18-27%) and Pseudomonadales (0-22%). The primers also amplified phoD genes from additional orders, including Burkholderiales, Caulobacterales, Deinococcales, Planctomycetales and Xanthomonadales, which represented the major differences in phoD composition between samples, highlighting the singularity of each community. Additionally, phoD bacterial community structure was strongly related to soil pH, which varied between 4.2 and 6.8. These primers reveal the diversity of phoD in soil and represent a valuable tool for the study of phoD alkaline phosphatase in environmental samples.
Practical metrics for establishing the health benefits of research to support research prioritisation

Introduction We present practical metrics for estimating the expected health benefits of specific research proposals. These can be used by research funders, researchers and healthcare decision-makers within low-income and middle-income countries to support evidence-based research prioritisation. Methods The methods require three key assessments: (1) the current level of uncertainty around the endpoints the proposed study will measure; (2) how uncertainty impacts on the health benefits and costs of healthcare programmes and (3) the health opportunity costs imposed by programme costs. Research is valuable because it can improve health by informing the choice of which programmes should be implemented. We provide a Microsoft Excel tool to allow readers to generate estimates of the health benefits of research studies based on these three assessments. The tool can be populated using existing studies, existing cost-effectiveness models and expert opinion. Where such evidence is not available, the tool can quantify the value of research under different assumptions. Estimates of the health benefits of research can be considered alongside research costs, and the consequences of delaying implementation until research reports, to determine whether research is worthwhile. We illustrate the method using a case study of research on HIV self-testing programmes in Malawi. This analysis combines data from the literature with outputs from the HIV synthesis model. Results For this case study, we found a costing study that could be completed and inform decision making within 1 year offered the highest health benefits (67 000 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted). Research on outcomes improved population health to a lesser extent (12 000 DALYs averted) and only if carried out alongside programme implementation. Conclusion Our work provides a method for estimating the health benefits of research in a practical and timely fashion. This can be used to support accountable use of research funds.
Lockdown of Breast Cancer Screening for COVID-19: Possible Scenario

Background/Aim: Coronavirus disease is spreading worldwide. Due to fast transmission and high fatality rate drastic emergency restrictions were issued. During the lockdown, only urgent medical services are guaranteed. All non-urgent services, as breast cancer (BC) screening, are temporarily suspended. The potential of breast cancer screening programs in increasing the survival rate and decreasing the mortality rate has been widely confirmed. Suspension could lead to worse outcomes for breast cancer patients. Our study aimed to analyse the data and provide estimates regarding the temporary BC screening suspension. Patients and Methods: Data regarding breast cancer and respective screening programs were achieved through literature research and analysis. Results: Considering three different scenarios with respect to the lockdown's impact on breast cancer screening, we estimate that approximately 10,000 patients could have a missed diagnosis during these 3 months. Considering a 6-month period, as suggested by the Imperial college model, the number of patients who will not receive a diagnosis will rise to 16,000. Conclusion: Breast cancer screening should be resumed as soon as possible in order to avoid further breast cancer missed diagnosis and reduce the impact of delayed diagnosis.
Legal Performance-Enhancing Substances and Substance Use Problems Among Young Adults

In this study, we investigated long-term temporal associations between substance use behaviors and use of legal PES from adolescence to young adulthood. BrightcoveDefaultPlayer10.1542/6166437921001PEDS-VA_2020-0409 Video Abstract BACKGROUND: Legal performance-enhancing substance(s) (PES) (eg, creatine) are widely used among adolescent boys and young men; however, little is known about their temporal associations with substance use behaviors. METHODS: We analyzed prospective cohort data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, Waves I to IV (1994–2008). Logistic regressions were used to first assess adolescent substance use (Wave I) and use of legal PES (Wave III) and second to assess use of legal PES (Wave III) and subsequent substance use–associated risk behaviors (Wave IV), adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Among the sample of 12 133 young adults aged 18 to 26 years, 16.1% of young men and 1.2% of young women reported using legal PES in the past year. Adolescent alcohol use was prospectively associated with legal PES use in young men (odds ratio 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13–1.70). Among young men, legal PES use was prospectively associated with higher odds of problematic alcohol use and drinking-related risk behaviors, including binge drinking (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.35; 95% CI 1.07–1.71), injurious and risky behaviors (aOR 1.78; 95% CI 1.43–2.21), legal problems (aOR 1.52; 95% CI 1.08–2.13), cutting down on activities and socialization (aOR 1.91; 95% CI 1.36–2.78), and emotional or physical health problems (aOR 1.44; 95% CI 1.04–1.99). Among young women, legal PES use was prospectively associated with higher odds of emotional or physical health problems (aOR 3.00; 95% CI 1.20–7.44). CONCLUSIONS: Use of legal PES should be considered a gateway to future problematic alcohol use and drinking-related risk behaviors, particularly among young men.
Clinical Management of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia in Neonates, Children, and Adolescents

We systematically appraised the available literature, summarizing SAB management in children for key clinical questions. Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of community and health care–associated bacteremia, with authors of recent studies estimating the incidence of S aureus bacteremia (SAB) in high-income countries between 8 and 26 per 100 000 children per year. Despite this, <300 children worldwide have ever been randomly assigned into clinical trials to assess the efficacy of treatment of SAB. A panel of infectious diseases physicians with clinical and research interests in pediatric SAB identified 7 key clinical questions. The available literature is systematically appraised, summarizing SAB management in children in relation to these priority clinical questions. The management of neonates, children, and adolescents with SAB is predominantly based on clinical experience and trial data extrapolated from adult studies, with limited high-quality evidence available to guide management. The optimal, comprehensive management strategies for SAB in children will remain unknown until the questions outlined are answered through prospective observational cohorts and inclusion of children with SAB in clinical trials.
Proximity labeling at non-centrosomal microtubule-organizing centers reveals VAB-10B and WDR-62 as distinct microtubule regulators

Reorganization of microtubules from the centrosome to non-centrosomal subcellular sites is central to cell differentiation. To identify components of non-centrosomal microtubule organizing centers in differentiated cells of a living organism, we developed the biotin ligase-based proximity labeling approach TurboID for use in C. elegans. We identified proteins proximal to the non-centrosomal microtubule minus end protein PTRN-1/Patronin at the apical membrane of epithelial cells, focusing on two conserved proteins: spectraplakin protein VAB-10B and WDR-62, a protein we identify as homologous to vertebrate primary microcephaly disease gene WDR62. We found that WDR-62 and VAB-10B independently regulate the growth and localization of non-centrosomal microtubules and the apical targeting of microtubule minus end proteins. This regulation occurs downstream of cell polarity and in conjunction with actin. Our data suggest a division of labor where microtubule growth and anchoring are regulated by distinct complexes and uncover novel functions of spectraplakins and WDR62 family proteins.
Empowering the crowd: Feasible strategies to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in high-density informal settlements

More than 1 billion people live in informal settlements worldwide, where precarious living conditions pose additional challenges to the management of a COVID-19 outbreak. Well-established measures, such as social distancing, testing, contact tracing, improved hygiene, and generalized use of personal protective equipment, are almost impossible to implement. We specifically investigated the impact of adapting these measures to informal settlements located in regions immersed in protracted conflicts, taking the Northwest region of Syria (NWS) as a case study. Such regions need to contend with the public health challenges resulting from violence, deterioration of health-systems, and political instability. We implemented a stochastic Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered model to simulate the spread of the virus in high-density camps of Internally Displaced Persons, using a population structure representative of these camps. We chose parameters corresponding to a worst-case scenario where there is no healthcare available. We expanded on previous models to adapt feasible interventions to the living conditions in the camps, including moderate self-distancing, self-isolation of symptomatic individuals, and protection of the most vulnerable in "safety zones". All the interventions significantly reduce the probability of observing an outbreak and the death toll. Self-distancing brings the best results if contacts are reduced by 50%, with mortality reduced by up to 35%. A similar reduction in mortality can be achieved by providing 1 self-isolation tent per 200 individuals. Protecting the vulnerable in a safety zone has synergistic effects with previous interventions for the whole population, but is especially beneficial for the vulnerable population. Complementary measures, such as lockdown of the safety zone when a first case is detected in the camp, further reduce mortality and the probability of an outbreak. Our model predicts that a combination of all simulated interventions may reduce mortality by as much as 80%. The time until the number of symptomatic cases peaks is delayed by most of the interventions, in some cases by more than three months. The proportion of the population that recovers, near 70%, could help prevent future outbreaks. Our results highlight the potential of non-medical interventions to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. They demonstrate that interventions shown to be effective in other settings can be adapted to refugee camps and are most effective when implemented in tandem. Our modelization considers complementary measures to these interventions that can be implemented autonomously by these communities, such as buffer zones, daily health-checks, and carers for isolated individuals, quantifying their impact on the micro-dynamics of disease transmission. Similar measures may be applicable to controlling COVID-19 in other informal settlements, particularly Internally Displaced Persons camps in conflict regions, around the world.
Chance, contingency, and necessity in the experimental evolution of ancestral proteins

The extent to which chance and contingency shaped the sequence outcomes of protein evolution is largely unknown. To directly characterize the causes and consequences of chance and contingency, we combined directed evolution with ancestral protein reconstruction. By repeatedly selecting a phylogenetic series of ancestral proteins in the B-cell lymphoma-2 family to evolve the same protein-protein interaction specificities that existed during history, we show that contingency and chance interact to make sequence evolution almost entirely unpredictable over the timescale of metazoan evolution. At any historical moment, multiple sets of mutations can alter or maintain specificity, and chance decides which ones occur. Contingency arises because historical sequence substitutions epistatically altered which mutations are compatible with new or ancestral functions. Evolutionary trajectories launched from different ancestors therefore lead to dramatically different outcomes over phylogenetic time, with virtually no mutations occurring repeatedly in distantly related proteins, even under identical selection conditions.
Prevalence and Antifungal Susceptibility of Candida albicans Causing Vulvovaginitis Among Pregnant Women in Lebanon

Background: Vaginal candidiasis is frequently prevalent in pregnant women and is associated with sepsis and adverse neonatal outcomes. This study determined the presence of Candida species in symptomatic pregnant women and evaluated the antifungal susceptibility profile of the isolated strains. It also aimed to explore whether Candida species predicts gestational complications and adverse neonatal outcomes. Methods: A total of 258 pregnant women at 35 to 37 week of gestation participated in this study. Vaginal swabs from these patients were collected at various obstetrics and gynecology clinics in Lebanon for a period of 12 months. Candida isolates were identified at species level and antifungal susceptibility of Candida albicans to fluconazole (FCZ), amphotericin B (AMB), itraconazole (ICZ) and voriconazole (VCZ) was determined by the agar-based E-test method. Results: Among 258 women tested, 100 (39%) were positive for Candida species. C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. krusei were isolated from 42%, 41% and 17% of the women, respectively. C. albicans had significant positive associations with gestational diabetes while C. kreusi or C. glabrata had significant positive associations with gestational complications and vaginal discharge. The antifungal susceptibility tests of C. albicans isolates revealed 97.5%, 90%, 87.5% and 97.5% susceptibility to AMB, FCZ, ICZ and VCZ, respectively. Conclusion: The current study revealed high incidence of both C. albicans and non-C. albicans strains causing vulvovaginitis among pregnant women in Beirut, Lebanon. Whereas the susceptibility rates of C. albicans against AMB and VCZ were high, FCZ and ICZ proved comparatively less efficacious. The resistance profile of circulating C. albicans among pregnant women can predict the best outcome of appropriate prophylaxis or treatment of neonatal candidiasis. Vaginal candida colonization might lead to adverse neonatal outcome or gestational complications thus Candida screening as antennal follow up is advised.
A Survey on the Relationship between Ocean Subsurface Temperature andTropical Cyclone over theWesternNorthPacific

+e relationship between ocean subsurface temperature and tropical cyclone (TC) over the western North Pacific (WNP) is studied based on the TC best-track data and global reanalysis data during the period of 1948–2012. Here the TC frequency (TCF), lifespan, and genesis position of TCs are analysed. A distinctive negative correlation between subsurface water temperature and TCF is observed, especially the TCF in the southeastern quadrant of the WNP (0–15°N, 150–180°E). According to the detrended subsurface temperature anomalies of the 125m depth layer in the main TC genesis area (0–30°N, 100–180°E), we selected the subsurface cold and warm years. During the subsurface cold years, TCs tend to have a longer mean lifespan and a more southeastern genesis position than the subsurface warm years in general. To further investigate the causes of this characteristic, the TC genesis potential indexes (GPI) are used to analyse the contributions of environmental factors to TC activities. +e results indicate that the negative correlation between subsurface water temperature and TCF is mainly caused by the variation of TCF in the southeastern quadrant of the WNP, where the oceanic and atmospheric environments are related to ocean subsurface conditions. Specifically, compared with the subsurface warm years, there are larger relative vorticity, higher relative humidity, smaller vertical wind shear, weaker net longwave radiation, and higher ocean mixed layer temperature in the southeastern quadrant during cold years, which are all favorable for genesis and development of TC.
Recombinational and transcriptional regulation within the class 1 integron

The integron is a site-specific recombination system that uses IntI integrase to mediate the insertion and excision of gene cassettes among bacterial genomes, notably the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes. Integrons carry three promoters, a well conserved integrase promoter (Pint), and seven variants of a pair of promoters (Pc and P2) responsible for gene cassette transcription. I investigated integron regulation at the levels of recombination and transcription. Qualitative PCR and protein pull-down assays done here did not identify growthphasedependent, or accessory protein(s) involvement in recombination regulation. However, others work revealed growth phase involvement as recombination products increased in the transition from log to stationary phase, and crystallography revealed site-directed recognition through specific substrate conformations. Competitive electro-mobility binding assays done in this body of work suggested additional levels of recombination regulation through differing IntI1 folding conformations resulting in the preference of one recognition site over another. Bidirectional transcriptional fusion data of Pint, and Pc and P2 established the weak expression of Pint and confirmed Pc and P2 strength; in contrast to prior speculation, deletion of 3-bp within the P2 spacer region as it exists in four other versions, resulted in dramatically reduced but not completely inhibited expression of P2. The transcription regulator predictor program PRODORIC 8.9 predicted FIS, LexA, and IHF sites. In vitro binding assays confirmed the direct interaction of all three proteins with the promoter region. Transcriptional fusion data showed FIS repressed Pint and the cassette promoters; however, LexA did not repress Pint or P2 in the native IntI state (i.e. without the 3-bp deletion resulting in formation of a LexA site). IHF activated Pint and the cassette promoters, and did not affect P2 with 3-bp deletion. Finally, H-NS, a transcription regulator with no sequence specific recognition sites, directly repressed Pint and P2 promoters with 3-bp deletion, but activated the cassette promoters (Pc and P2) in vivo. Integrase mediated recombination is an intricate multi-faceted network of regulatory components entailing growth phase and conformations of the substrate DNA and IntI. Furthermore, the integrase and cassettes are regulated transcriptionally through equally complicated nucleoprotein complexes involving FIS, LexA, IHF, and H-NS. INDEX WORDS: integron, integrase, intI1, regulation, recombination, transcriptional regulators, convergent promoters, FIS, IHF, H-NS, antibiotic resistance RECOMBINATIONAL AND TRANSCRIPTIONAL REGULATION WITHIN THE CLASS 1 INTEGRON