Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Post-translational thioamidation of methyl-coenzyme M reductase, a key enzyme in methanogenic and methanotrophic Archaea

The enzyme methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR), found in strictly anaerobic methanogenic and methanotrophic archaea, catalyzes a reversible reaction involved in the production and consumption of the potent greenhouse gas methane. The α subunit of this enzyme (McrA) contains several unusual post-translational modifications, including an exceptionally rare thioamidation of glycine. Based on the presumed function of homologous genes involved in the biosynthesis of thioamide-containing natural products, we hypothesized that the archaeal tfuA and ycaO genes would be responsible for post-translational installation of thioglycine into McrA. Mass spectrometric characterization of McrA in a ΔycaO-tfuA mutant of the methanogenic archaeon Methanosarcina acetivorans revealed the presence of glycine, rather than thioglycine, supporting this hypothesis. Physiological characterization of this mutant suggested a new role for the thioglycine modification in enhancing protein stability, as opposed to playing a direct catalytic role. The universal conservation of this modification suggests that MCR arose in a thermophilic ancestor.
Managerial Power and Rent Extraction in the Design of Executive Compensation

This paper develops an account of the role and significance of managerial power and rent extraction in executive compensation. Under the optimal contracting approach to executive compensation, which has dominated academic re-search on the subject, pay arrangements are set by a board of directors that aims to maximize shareholder value. In contrast, the managerial power approach suggests that boards do not operate at arm's length in devising executive compensation arrangements; rather, executives have power to influence their own pay, and they use that power to extract rents. Furthermore, the desire to camouflage rent extraction might lead to the use of inefficient pay arrangements that provide suboptimal incentives and thereby hurt shareholder value. The authors show that the processes that produce compensation arrangements, and the various market forces and constraints that act on these processes, leave managers with considerable power to shape their own pay arrangements. Examining the large body of empirical work on executive compensation, the authors show that managerial power and the desire to camouflage rents can explain significant features of the executive compensation landscape, including ones that have long been viewed as puzzling or problematic from the optimal contracting perspective. The authors conclude that the role managerial power plays in the design of executive compensation is significant and should be taken into account in any examination of executive pay arrangements or of corporate governance generally.
Title : Out-of-hours demand for GP care and emergency services : patients choices and referrals by general practitioners and ambulance services

Objective: To determine self-referrals’ motives to visit the Accident & Emergency Departments (AED) and to compare their characteristics to patients contacting the GP cooperative. Methods: Postal questionnaires were send to AED self-referrals and logistic regression analysis was used to contrast self-referrals to patients contacting the GP cooperative. Results: For a study population of 62,000, during four months, 5547 contacts were registered with the GP cooperative, along with 808 AED contacts, 344 of whom (43%) were selfreferrals. Main reasons to visit the AED were the perceived need for diagnostic facilities and the conviction that the hospital specialist was best qualified to handle the problem. Dissatisfaction with the GP cooperative among respondents was high. Self-referral to the AED was positively associated with injury, age between 15 and 64, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory problems, and distance to the GP centre. Conclusion: Self-referrals emerge as patients with a strong preference for the AED, mainly based on assumptions on quality of care and necessary facilities. Practice implications: The current plans to redirect self-referrals to the GP by integrating AED and GP services should take into account that self-referrals may, in part, make motivated and appropriate choices to visit the AED.
Has ICT Polarized Skill Demand? Evidence from Eleven Countries Over 25 Years

OECD labor markets have become more "polarized" with employment in the middle of the skill distribution falling relative to the top and (in recent years) also the bottom of the skill distribution. We test the hypothesis of Autor, Levy, and Murnane (2003) that this is partly due to information and communication technologies (ICT) complementing the analytical tasks primarily performed by highly educated workers and substituting for routine tasks generally performed by middle educated workers (with little effect on low educated workers performing manual non-routine tasks). Using industry level data on the US, Japan, and nine European countries 1980-2004 we find evidence consistent with ICT-based polarization. Industries with faster growth of ICT had greater increases in relative demand for high educated workers and bigger falls in relative demand for middle educated workers. Trade openness is also associated with polarization, but this is not robust to controls for technology (like R&D). Technologies can account for up to a quarter of the growth in demand for the college educated in the quarter century since 1980.
REMBLAIS SUR ARGILES MOLLES

UN PROGRAMME DE RECHERCHES COORDONNEES ENTRE LE LABORATOIRE CENTRAL DES PONTS ET CHAUSSEES ET L'UNIVERSITE LAVAL DU QUEBEC A PERMIS L'ANALYSE SYSTEMATIQUE DU COMPORTEMENT DES SOLS DE FONDATIONS COMPRESSIBLES : ETUDE EXPERIMENTALE DU COMPORTEMENT RHEOLOGIQUE DES ARGILES MOLLES, ANALYSE DETAILLEE DES OBSERVATIONS EFFECTUEES SUR LES SITES EXPERIMENTAUX DE CUBZAC-LES-PONTS ET SAINT-ALBAN, COMPILATION DE NOMBREUSES OBSERVATIONS SUR DES OUVRAGES REELS, MISE AU POINT DE METHODES D'ANALYSE NUMERIQUE. LES ACTIVITES ONT CONDUIT, VERS 1980, A LA MISE EN FORME D'UNE NOUVELLE METHODOLOGIE POUR LA CONCEPTION DES REMBLAIS SUR ARGILES MOLLES. CETTE METHODOLOGIE EST DECRITE DANS CET OUVRAGE DONT LE PLAN EST LE SUIVANT : 1 - INTRODUCTION - 2 - PRINCIPES GENERAUX DU COMPORTEMENT DES ARGILES - 3 - METHODES DE RECONNAISSANCE ET MESURE DES PARAMETRES - 4 - COMPORTEMENT DES SOLS DE FONDATION ARGILEUX - 5 - METHODES DE DIMENSIONNEMENT - 6 - ANALYSE NUMERIQUE GLOBALE DU COMPORTEMENT DES MASSIFS D'ARGILE - 7 - METHODES DE CONSTRUCTION - 8 - INSTRUMENTATION ET UTILISATION DES MESURES - 9 - STRATEGIE DES ETUDES (IST-DOC-IST-DOC/N).
The performance of selected tree species in the rehabilitation of a limestone quarry at East African Portland Cement Company land Athi River, Kenya

Quarrying for limestone is an economic necessity that is not only hazardous to human but also one that invariably has deleterious effect on the environment. Information on the performance of trees species is important as plants are key in the revegetation of exhausted quarries. A comparison of field performance of Acacia xanthophloea, Schinus molle, Casuarina equisetifolia and Grevillea robusta was made in an exhausted limestone quarry, backfilled with limestone mine waste, in a semi-arid area, in Athi River, Kenya, between 2005 and 2008. The aim of the study was to assess the performance of the above tree species and to determine if these tree species had an influence on the soil physical and chemical properties. The seedlings were produced in a nursery and transplanted in plots established in the exhausted quarry site using randomised complete block design. Growth performances were estimated by measuring; tree height, diameter at the stem base (BD), and diameter at breast height (DBH) from March 2006 to March 2008. The soils physical and chemical parameters measured were: moisture content; organic matter; pH; total Nitrogen; total Phosphorus and exchangeable cations. The study revealed that the time-species interaction was significant (p<0.001), indicating continuous tree growth for all the species. The trees species performance was varied. C. equisetifolia recorded the highest growth increments for the; height (525.3 cm), BD (7.42 cm) and DBH (4.94 cm) and the highest growth rates for; tree height (14.24 cm/month), BD (0.23 cm/month) and DBH (0.14 cm/month), indicating superior performance. This was followed by A. xanthophloea and S. molle. Grevillea robusta showed poor performance and recorded the lowest growth increments for; height (231.7 cm), BD (4.41 cm) and BDH (2.0 cm) and growth rate for; tree height (5.04 cm/month), BD (0.084 cm/month) and DBH (0.023 cm/month). These results indicate that there is species-specific response that may be due to different waterand nutrient-use strategies and growth patterns. The soil had low soil moisture content which ranged from 0.67% to 2.3%; alkaline pH, ranging from 8.0 to 8.98; low soil nitrogen content (< 0.03%), related to the limited soil organic-matter content (ranging from 0.05% to 0.38%), and high to moderate exchangeable cations. All the tree species had a noticeable influence on soil chemical properties, by the end of the research period. The pH values and total Phosphorus were relatively lower in soils close to the tree row (0.5 m) and increased with distance from the trees, while the soil values for organic matter, total Nitrogen, and exchangeable cations were relatively higher close to the tree row and decreased with distance from the trees. From the study, C. equisetifolia has the best growth performance and also has a higher positive influence on the soil properties followed by A. xanthophloea. The two species are therefore recommended to be used in the rehabilitation of limestone quarries in similar semi-arid conditions.
Characterization of actinide-bearing sediments underlying liquid waste disposal facilities at Hanford

Past liquid waste disposal practices at the U. S. Energy Research and Development Administration's Hanford Reservation have included the discharges of solutions containing trace quantities of actinides directly into the ground via structures collectively termed ''trenches''. Characterization of samples from two of these trenches, the 216-Z-9 and the 216-Z-1A(a), has been initiated to determine the present form and migration potential of plutonium stored in sediments which received high salt, acidic waste liquids. Analysis of samples acquired by drilling has revealed that the greatest measured concentration of Pu, approximately 10$sup 6$ $mu$Ci $sup 239$Pu/liter of sediment, occurs in both facilities just below the points of release of the waste liquids. This concentration decreases to approximately 10$sup 3$ $mu$Ci $sup 239$Pu/liter of sediment within the first 2 meters of the underlying sediment columns and to approximately 10 $mu$Ci $sup 239$Pu/liter of sediment at the maximum depth sampled (9 meters). Examination of relatively undisturbed sediment cores illustrated two types of Pu occurrence responsible for this distribution. One of these types is composed of Pu particles (greater than 70 wt percent PuO$sub 2$) added to the disposal site in the same form. This ''particulate'' type was ''filtered out'' within the upper 1 meter of the sediment column, accounting for the high concentration of Pu/liter of sediment in this region. The second type of Pu (less than 0.5 wt percent PuO$sub 2$) was originally disposed of as soluble Pu(IV). This ''nonparticulate'' type penetrated deeper within the sediment profile and was deposited in association with silicate hydrolysis of the sediment fragments. (auth)
Field Measurements and Analysis of the Morphological, Physical and Mechanical Properties of Level Ice and Sea Ice Ridges

A review of the morphological properties of over 300 full-scale floating first-year sea ice ridges has been made, including measurements from 1971 until the present time. Ridges were examined from the Bering and Chukchi Seas, Beaufort Sea, Svalbard waters, Barents Sea and Russian Arctic Ocean for the Arctic regions; and from the Canadian East Coast, Baltic Sea, Sea of Azov, Caspian Sea and Offshore Sakhalin for the Subarctic (or temperate) regions. Grounded ridges were excluded. A wide catalogue comprising the ridge thicknesses (sail, keel and consolidated layer), widths and angles as well as the macroporosity and the block dimensions is provided. The maximum sail height was found to be 8 m (offshore Sakhalin), and the mean peak sail height was 2.0 m, based on 356 profiles. The mean peak keel depth is 8.0 m, based on 321 profiles. The relationship between the maximum sail height, hs, and the maximum keel depth, hk, for all ridges is best described by the power equation hk = 5.11hs0. 69. The correlation differs depending on the region. For Arctic ridges a linear relationship was found to be the best fit (hk = 3.84hs), while for the Subarctic ridges a power relationship (hk = 6.14hs0.53) best fit the data. The ratio of maximum keel to maximum sail is 5.17 on average (based on 308 values), and has also been calculated for each region mentioned above. Arctic ridges generally have a lower keel-to-sail ratio than those in Subarctic regions. The statistical distribution of keel-to-sail ratios is best represented by a gamma distribution. The average sail and keel widths were 12 and 36 m, respectively. The relationships between the sail and keel widths and other geometrical parameters were also determined. Variation of sail and keel thicknesses within individual ridges has been compared with the variability of all ridges. Ridge cross-sectional geometry can vary greatly along the length of a ridge, even over a short distance. A study was made on sail block thicknesses, and it was found that they correlate well with the sail height with a square root model. The typical macroporosity for a first-year ice ridge is 22% (based on 58 values) with an average sail macroporosity of 18% (based on 49 values) and average keel rubble macroporosity of 20% (based on 44 values). The average ridge consolidated layer thickness was 1.36 m based on 118 values. The variation of the consolidated layer was examined, and it was found that the layer tends to grow evenly with time over the width of the ridge cross section. A greater spacing between the measurements seemed to affect the variation, as it decreased with an increasing distance between each borehole. A statistical analysis based on 377 measurements of the consolidated layer of ridges in the Barents Sea showed that the gamma distribution well describes the distribution of the consolidated layer thicknesses in that area.
Regional autonomy in Indonesia : field experiences and emerging challenges : a paper prepared for the 7th PRSCO summer institute/ the 4th IRSA international conference, "decentralization, natural resources, and regional development in the pacific rim"

After more than three decades under a centralized national government, Indonesia decided to implement a new policy of regional autonomy that became effective on January 1, 2001. This paper examines both the preparations for and the initial implementation of autonomy in the regions, as well as some of the conducted in fourteen districts across eleven provinces over to the last two years. This presentation has two areas of focus: first, the internal processes used by local governments to manage their new powers and responsibilities; and second, the extent to which the process of creating public policies under regional autonomy for the regions reflects the spirit of transparency good governance and democracy.
Young Japanese `Cultural Migrants’ and the Construction of their Imagined West

Migration theories tend to focus on economic and political aspects as migrationinducing factors. However, in recent years, a large number of young Japanese have been migrating to New York City, London, and other Western cities for the purpose of engaging in the production of arts and popular culture. By using ‘multisited ethnography’, the present study finds that not only economic and/or political factors but also cultural factors can act as the primary force that induces migration. In particular, media play a significant role in establishing ‘culturalideological links’ between Japan and the United States/Britain. These lead the respondents of this study to imagine their lives at the specific destination: New York City is believed to be a place where they can continue to lead ‘a normal life’ with better prospects; London is regarded as a place where they can acquire ‘distinction’. Consequently, these young Japanese actually migrated to their imagined West.
Do Legal Standards Affect Ethical Concerns of Consumers? An Experiment on Minimum Wages

To address the impact of regulation on ethical concerns of consumers, we study the example of minimum wages. In our experimental market, consumers have monopsony power, firms set prices and wages, and workers are passive recipients of a wage payment. We find that the consumers exhibit considerable fairness towards the workers by buying from the firm with the higher price and the higher wage. We also find that consumers have a tendency to split their demand equally between firms, which is a simple strategy to provide both workers with a minimal payoff. Introducing a minimum wage in a mature market raises average wages despite its significant crowding-out effects on consumers' fairness concerns. Abolishing a minimum wage crowds in consumers' fairness concerns, but crowding in is not sufficient to avoid overall negative effects on the workers' wages.
Participatory Evaluation of Pearl Millet Cultivars in Northern Nigeria

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) cv. GB 8735 was compared with local cultivars in 9 villages in Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states, N. Nigeria, in the 1996 rainy season. Yield averaged 1.22 t/ha in the improved cultivar and 0.90 t in the local cultivar. The improved cultivar was also desirable for its earliness.
FACTORS AFFECTING CREDIT RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, THE CASE OF SELECTED PRIVATE COMMERCIAL BANKS IN ETHIOPIA.

Fikremariam Zergaw. Wolaita Sodo UniversityCollege Of Business And EconomicsDepartment Of Accounting And Finance. Manuscript Info Abstract . Manuscript History Received: 12 November 2018 Final Accepted: 14 December 2018 Published: January 2019
Standard ML-NJ weak polymorphism and imperative constructs

Standard ML of New Jersey (SML-NJ) uses weak-type variables to restrict the polymorphic use of functions that may allocate reference cells, manipulate continuations, or use exceptions. However, the type system used in the SML-NJ compiler has not been presented in a form other than source code and has not been proved correct. A type system, in the form of typing rules and an equivalent algorithm, that appears to subsume the implemented algorithm is presented. Both use type variables of only a slightly more general nature than the compiler. One insight in the analysis is that the indexed type of a free variable is used in two ways, once in describing the applicative behavior of the variable itself and once in describing the larger term containing the variable. Taking this into account, an application rule that is more general than SML-NJ is formulated for applications of polymorphic functions to imperative arguments. The soundness of the type system is proved for imperative code using operational semantics. <<ETX>>
Perception and Control of Simulated Self Motion.

Abstract : This report includes three experiment sections. The first experiment tested sensitivity decreased with higher flow rates, and demonstrated that (a) preview effects led to adaptation, (b) sensitivity decreased with higher flow rates, and (c) sensitivity increased with higher optical texture densities and fractional loss. The second and third experiments examined the perception and control of change in forward speed and altitude, respectively. Results from the former indicated that higher levels of fractional loss led to enhanced control of a consistent speed, whereas high flow and/or edge rates interfered with performance. The control of altitude change was similarly affected by the levels of fractional loss, but the negative effect of flow rate occurred only in conditions of descending flight. Theoretical implications for the ecological approach to the study of perception and control and discussed. Keywords: Control, Ecological optics, Egomotion, Optical flow, Self-motion perception, Visual proprioception, Visual psychophysics, Visual simulation.
Hypoglycaemic and Hypolipidemic Effects of Black Brand of Lipton Tea (Camellia sinensis) on Normal Male Albino Rats

Recently, considerable attention has been focused on dietary supplements that possess hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic properties in lieu of the synergistically synthesized drugs like statins and metiform which have been proven to have adverse effects. This present work was carried out to study the potential effects of Lipton tea aqueous extract (LTAE) on normal male albino rats. 36 six male Wistar rats weighing 115-150 g were assigned into four main groups; each group was divided into three subgroups, consisting of three replicates namely R1, R2 and R3 making a total of nine rats in each of the main groups. Group 1 served as the control and received only water, Group 2 received 200 mg/kg of LTAE, Group 3 received 400 mg/kg of the LTAE, while Group 4 received 800 mg/kg of LTAE. All treatment was given orally on daily basis for 28 consecutive days, but the parameters were assessed on weekly basis. The result revealed that, weight gain, fasting blood sugar and serum (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c and VLDL-c) significantly (p < 0.05) decrease in all the treated groups while HDL-c significantly (p < 0.05) increased when compared to the control group. The Lipton tea aqueous extract induced both a dose-dependent and a time-dependent effect in the parameters measured, apart from the total cholesterol which did not show a dose-dependent effect. This led to an overall decrease in the antherogenic index and coronary risk index, suggesting that LTAE possesses hypoglycaemic and hypoglycaemic activities in normal male rats.
Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Effect of Cynara Scolymus among Selected Type 2 Diabetic Individuals

Globe artichoke is a vegetable with medicinal value. The present investigation was carried out in 2 phases. In first phase, fine different bakery products namely wheat biscuits, semolina biscuits, groundnut biscuits, salty biscuits and wheat bread were developed by incorporating 6 grams of processed globe artichoke powder. Among the five bakery products, the most accepted globe artichoke incorporated wheat biscuits was analyzed for their nutrient content and it was selected for supplementation. In second phase 30 type 2 diabetic individuals of both sexes and of age 35-45 years were divided into 2 groups, each group having 15 individuals. Group I (No:15) was kept as control group and Group II (No:15) was supplemented with 4 globe artichoke incorporated wheat biscuits for the period of 90 days. Results of the study showed that there was a significant (P<0.01) reduction at one percent level in fasting and post prandial blood glucose levels in Group II individuals. Results of the serum lipid profile showed a significant (P<0.01) reduction at one percent level in total cholesterol, serum triglyceride, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and significant (P<0.01) increase in High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) levels of Group II individuals compared to Group I individuals. Thus the results of study recommended the type 2 diabetic subjects should use globe artichoke vegetable in their food preparation on regular basic which shows good hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect.