Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nucleotide sequences of Saccharomycopsis fibuligera genes for extracellular beta-glucosidases as expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We isolated two genes for extracellular beta-glucosidase, BGL1 and BGL2, from the genomic library of the yeast Saccharomycopsis fibuligera. Gene products (BGLI and BGLII) were purified from the culture fluids of Saccharomyces cerevisiae transformed with BGL1 and BGL2, respectively. Molecular weights of BGLI and BGLII were estimated to be 220,000 and 200,000 by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The two beta-glucosidases showed the same enzymatic characteristics, such as thermo-denaturation kinetics and dependencies on pH and temperature, but quite different substrate specificities: BGLI hydrolyzed cellobiose efficiently, but BGLII did not. This result is consistent with the observation that the S. cerevisiae transformant carrying BGL1 fermented cellobiose to ethanol but the transformant carrying BGL2 did not. Southern blot analysis revealed that the two beta-glucosidase genes were derived from Saccharomycopsis fibuligera and that the nucleotide sequences of the two genes are closely related. The complete nucleotide sequences of the two genes were determined. BGL1 and BGL2 encode 876- and 880-amino-acid proteins which were shown to be highly similar to each other. The putative precursors begin with hydrophobic segments that presumably act as signal sequences for secretion. Amino acid analysis of the purified proteins confirmed that BGL1 and BGL2 encode BGLI and BGLII, respectively.
sRNA associated genomic islands in Salmonella spp.

Genomic Islands are parts of a genome that has evidence of horizontal origins. The present work is a continuation of our earlier work that identified 25 regions downstream of the small RNAs as hotspots of genomic island integration by analyzing three strains of E. coli and one strain of Shigella spp genomes. Till that work, genomic islands have been identified only at tRNA/tmRNA genes in the enterobacterial genomes. Current work reports 11 distinct small RNAs as potent integration sites for genomic islands in 12 Salmonella spp strains. The tRNAcc 1.0 software package has been used to identify genomic islands associated with small RNAs csrC, rprA, ryeB, sraD, sroB, ssrS, rydB, micF, rnpB rtT, and spf. The coordinates of 36 such small RNA associated genomic islands are presented. Also, the nature of genomic sequences encoded within the identified genomic islands were analyzed and validated using virulence factors database, GenBank annotation features, atypical sequence compositions and the genomic block rearrangements.
Migration, Unemployment & Development: A Two-Sector Analysis

This study examines why rural-urban labor migration persists and is even increasing in many developing nations despite the existence of positive marginal products in agriculture and significant levels of urban unemployment. Conventional economic models have difficulty reconciling rational behavioral explanations with growing levels of urban unemployment in the absence of absolute labor redundancy in the overall economy. This paper formulates a 2-sector model of rural-urban migration which recognizes the existence of a politically determined minimum urban wage at levels substantially higher than agricultural earnings. The distinguishing feature of the model is that migration proceeds in response to urban-rural differences in expected earnings with the urban employment rate acting as an equilibrating force on such migration. The overall model is used to demonstrate 1) that given the politically determined high minimum wage the continued existence of rural-urban migration in spite of substantial urban unemployment represents an economically rational choice on the part of the individual migrants and 2) that economists standard policy recommendation of generating urban employment opportunities through the use of "shadow prices" implemented by means of wage subsidies or direct government hiring may lead to a worsening of the urban unemployment problem. Welfare implications of alternative policies associated with various programs to retain rural population are assessed under the assumption that the full wage flexibility suggested by economic theory is politically unfeasible; it is concluded that in the absence of wage flexibility an optimal policy would include both partial wage subsidies or direct government employment and measures to restrict free migration. The basic model is a 2-sector internal trade model with unemployment the 2 sectors being the permanent urban sector which specializes in production of manufactured goods and the rural which either uses all available labor to produce agricultural goods or exports part of the labor to the urban sector. It is assumed that the typical migrant retains his ties to the rural sector but the assumption is not necessary for the argument.
Natural and synthetic sialic acid‐containing inhibitors of influenza virus receptor binding

Influenza viruses attach to susceptible cells via multivalent interactions of their haemagglutinins with sialyloligosaccharide moieties of cellular glycoconjugates. Soluble macromolecules containing sialic acid from animal sera and mucosal fluids can act as decoy receptors and competitively inhibit virus‐mediated haemagglutination and infection. Although a role for these natural inhibitors in the innate anti‐influenza immunity is still not clear, studies are in progress on the design of synthetic sialic acid‐containing inhibitors of receptor binding which could be used as anti‐influenza drugs. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
FIRM CAPABILITIES, BUSINESS STRATEGIES, CUSTOMER PREFERENCES, AND HYPERCOMPETITIVE ARENAS: THE SUSTAINABILITY OF COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR FIRM COMPETITIVENESS

Matching Porter's (1980) three generic strategies appropriately in each of the four arenas of hypercompetition is proposed to offer temporary competitive advantages. The longer‐term sustainability of these competitive advantages is argued to depend on matching the firm's resources/capabilities with the provision of customer value and needs, as well as the presence of isolating mechanisms in the industry/market environment. Stringing together a series of such ephemeral advantages can enhance the firm's competitiveness in the long‐run.
Cerebral Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in a captive African pygmy falcon (Polihierax semitorquatus) in southern California

A 10-month-old, female African pygmy falcon (Polihierax semitorquatus) hatched and housed at the San Diego Zoo developed neurologic signs and died from a cerebral infection with the rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis. There was an associated mild nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis. This infection was diagnosed on histology and confirmed by detection of species-specific A. cantonensis DNA in formalin-fixed and frozen brain tissue by a polymerase chain reaction assay. To the authors’ knowledge, this infection has not previously been reported in a bird in the United States and has not been known to be naturally acquired in any species in this region of the world. The source of the infection was not definitively determined but was possibly feeder geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) imported from Southeast Asia where the parasite is endemic.
Neurotoxicant‐induced elevation of adrenomedullin expression in hippocampus and glia cultures

Adrenomedullin (AM), a vasoactive peptide first isolated from pheochromocytoma, has been reported to be present in neurons in the central nervous system and in tumors of neural and glial origin. In this study, we investigated AM expression both in the hippocampus and in glial cell cultures using a chemical‐induced model of injury. An acute intraperitoneal injection of the organometal trimethyltin (TMT) results in neurodegeneration of the hippocampal CA3–4 pyramidal cell layer. Within 4 days of injection, sparse, punctate staining for AM and lectin was evident in the CA3–4 region; by 10 days, a minimal level of CA3–4 neuronal degeneration was evident, with an increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)‐positive astrocytes throughout the hippocampus. Degeneration progressed in severity until 30 days post‐TMT, with distinct positive immunoreactivity for AM in the CA4 region. mRNA levels for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1α, GFAP, and AM in the hippocampus were increased over control levels within 4 days following TMT. In cultured glial cells, a 6 hr exposure to TMT (10 μM) produced a morphological response of the cells and increased immunoreactivity for vimentin, GFAP, and AM. mRNA levels for TNFα, IL‐1α, GFAP, vimentin, and AM were elevated within 3–6 hr of exposure. In culture, neutralizing antibodies to IL‐1α and TNFα were effective in inhibiting the TMT‐induced elevation of AM mRNA. These data suggest an interaction between the proinflammatory cytokines and glia response in the regulation of AM in response to injury. J. Neurosci. Res. 66:464–474, 2001. Published 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
PHENOTYPES Sox 8 Is Expressed at Similar Levels in Gonads of Both Sexes During the Sex Determining Period in Turtles

A critical gene involved in mammalian sex determination and differentiation is the Sry-related gene Sox9. In reptiles, Sox9 resembles that of mammals in both structure and expression pattern in the developing gonad, but a causal role in male sex determination has not been established. A closely related gene, Sox8, is conserved in human, mouse, and trout and is expressed in developing testes and not developing ovaries in mouse. In this study, we tested the possibility of Sox8 being important for sex determination or sex differentiation in the red-eared slider turtle Trachemys scripta, in which sex is determined by egg incubation temperature between stages 15 and 20. We cloned partial turtle Sox8 and anti-Müllerian hormone (Amh) cDNAs, and analyzed the expression patterns of these genes in developing gonads by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and whole-mount in situ hybridization. While Amh is expressed more strongly in males than in females at stage 17, Sox8 is expressed at similar levels in males and females throughout the sex-determining period. These observations suggest that differential transcription of Sox8 is not responsible for regulation of Amh, nor responsible for sex determination in turtle. Developmental Dynamics 231: 387–395, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Measurements of Impedance and Attenuation at CENELEC Bands for Power Line Communications Systems

Power line impedance is a very important parameter on the design of power line communications (PLC) modem architecture. Variations on the impedance of the power line affect the communications circuit performance. In order to determine impedance of the power lines, measurements were carried out in Turkey at frequencies ranging from 10 to 170 kHz, (CENELEC A,B,C,D bands). Measurements were conducted in three categories: rural, urban and the industrial power lines. Experimental results are presented in graphical form. The measured impedances were determined as 3-17 ohms, 1-17 ohms, and 1-21 ohms for rural, urban and the industrial lines, respectively. A set of the formulas between impedance and frequency are developed on the power lines using the regression analysis from the obtained empirical data. Signal attenuations on the power lines in the CENELEC band are also measured for rural, urban and industrial regions. Attenuation measurements are repeated for phase-neutral, phase-ground and the neutral-ground conductors. Signal attenuations are found to be 4-30 dB, for different power lines. To establish validity of obtained results for the design of PLC systems, the results are compared with previous investigations. The effects of some household appliances such as TV, PC, UPS, lighting and cooling systems on the impedances and the attenuations for power line communications systems are observed. Some suggestions and proposals are presented for PLC modem designers.
Systemic Distribution of West Nile Virus Infection: Postmortem Immunohistochemical Study of Six Cases

Rare cases of West Nile virus (WNV)‐associated inflammation outside the central nervous system (CNS) have been reported. We evaluated the systemic distribution of WNV in postmortem tissues during encephalitis in six patients using immunohistochemistry. WNV antigens were detected in neurons of CNS (all 6 cases), kidney (4 cases), lungs (2 cases), pancreas (2 cases), thyroid (2 cases), intestine (2 cases), stomach (1 case), esophagus (1 case), bile duct (1 case), skin (1 case), prostate (1 case) and testis (1 case). In systemic organs epithelial cells were infected. In none of the six cases were viral antigens identified in hepatocytes, heart, adrenal gland, nerves, skeletal muscles, bone, vessels and fat. All cases in which viral antigens were identified in systemic organs in addition to CNS were severely immunocompromised transplant recipients. With the exception of testis and brain, most foci of infection were not associated with inflammation. While the absence of inflammation may in part be due to patient immunosuppression or to possible transient nature of any host response, compartmentalization of viral antigen to the luminal region of epithelial cells may sequester WNV from immune recognition. Comparison of our findings with previous reports suggests that patients with WNV encephalitis can have widespread systemic infection.
The deformable quad-rotor: Design, kinematics and dynamics characterization, and flight performance validation

To improve the obstacle surmounting performance of the quad-rotor vehicle, this paper focuses on designing, kinematically and dynamically characterizing a novel deformable quad-rotor that is based on the scissor-like foldable structures. The foldable structure allows that the volume of the quad-rotor can be tuned to dynamically adapt variously sized obstacles and small spaces. To generate the controllable deformation, the actuated angulated elements that are the essential components of the scissor-like foldable structure play an important role. The element design, its actuation mechanism and the corresponding configuration patterns for the new quad-rotor are presented in the paper in detail. The simulations on deformation properties and obstacle surmounting ability are then performed to verify the deformation capability of the structure. In addition, experiments were extensively conducted to test the controlled deformation of the structure as well to investigate the deformation induced effects to the activated quad-rotor airframe and its aerodynamics. All implementation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed deformable quad-rotor design, that is, it enables the new quad-rotor having excellent obstacle surmounting performance, adaptability, flight maneuverability, as well as minimal aerodynamics influences during deforming.
ANA testing in the presence of acute and chronic infections

ABSTRACT Autoantibody testing is performed to help diagnose patients who have clinical symptoms suggestive of possible autoimmune diseases. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are present in many systemic autoimmune conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, a positive ANA test may also be seen with non-autoimmune inflammatory diseases, including both acute and chronic infections. When the ANA test is used as an initial screen in patients with non-specific clinical symptoms, such as fever, joint pain, myalgias, fatigue, rash, or anemia, the likelihood of a positive result due to infection will increase, especially in children. This article identifies acute and chronic infectious diseases that are likely to produce a positive ANA result and summarizes recent literature addressing both the causes and consequences of these findings.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy of diabetic foot ulcers, transcutaneous oxymetry in clinical decision making

The foot ulcer is one of most common and devastating complications of diabetes and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. The major causes of these ulcers are ischemia/hypoxia, neuropathy, and infection, and they often coexist. Despite conventional therapy including revascularization procedures when appropriate, three situations lead frequently to amputation: persistent critical limb ischemia, soft tissue infection, and impaired wound healing from osteomyelitis. In these conditions, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be used as an adjunctive treatment and is associated with a better outcome. Randomized, prospective, controlled trails have shown the benefit of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in diabetic ulcers of the lower extremity. Transcutaneous oxygen measurement performed under hyperbaric oxygen therapy has a prognostic significance when used to select patients who are the most likely to benefit from therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen should be added to conventional treatment if the transcutaneous oxygen tension close to the trophic lesion in 2.5 ATA hyperbaric oxygen is over 200 mmHg. Peri‐wound transcutaneous oxygen tensions over 400 mmHg in 2.5 ATA hyperbaric oxygen or over 50 mmHg in normobaric pure oxygen predict healing success with adjuncted hyperbaric oxygen therapy with high accuracy. (WOUND REP REG 2003;11:458–461)
Dynamics of inflation in Turkey during the 1990s

This article assesses the credibility of disinflation programmes in Turkey during the nineties, where several programmes of reform took place. The empirical results show that there was a sharp loss of credibility at the end of the 1991 and at the beginning of the 1994 and during the Asian crisis. The programme that the Central Bank implemented after the crisis was able to increase the level of credibility of the CBRT policies. Loss of credibility is registered during the end of the 1995, while various political events took place and during the 1997 following the world economic conditions and the outflow of capitals.
Social security and early retirement

The contrasting trends toward earlier retirement and greater longevity have resulted in steadily increasing retirement costs over the last forty years. One important factor influencing early retirement decisions is the expansion of retirement benefits; but studies predict that most countries, particularly those with early retirement incentives, will be unable to meet future pension and social security obligations. In this timely CESifo volume, Robert Fenge and Pierre Pestieau examine empirical and theoretical evidence that explains why early retirement has become such a burden for social security systems and suggest pension system reforms that will reverse the trend. Drawing on evidence from the European Union (with comparisons to other industrialized countries including the United States and Canada), the authors demonstrate that the effective retirement age is influenced by social security regulations (such as a change in eligibility age) and discuss ways of measuring these embedded incentives. Fenge and Pestieau examine the implicit taxes on prolonged working life from normative and political economy perspectives. They discuss optimal payroll tax rates that minimize distortions of labor supply and retirement decisions and consider alternative ways to finance benefits, including consumption and capital income taxation. They discuss why policies are designed to discourage employment among older workers and why reforms to counter this often meet resistance. They demonstrate, contrary to the belief of many European governments, that pushing older workers into retirement does not free jobs for young unemployed workers. They show that the gap between salaries and productivity is an incentive for employers to rid themselves of older workers and argue that governments should not support this behavior by compensating older workers for the difference between severance payments and salaries in early retirement programs.
Parallel isosurface extraction for 3D data analysis workflows in distributed environments

In this paper we discuss the issues related to the development of efficient parallel implementations of the Marching Cubes algorithm, one of the most used methods for isosurface extraction, which is a fundamental operation for 3D data analysis and visualization. We present three possible parallelization strategies and we outline the pros and cons of each of them, considering isosurface extraction as stand‐alone operation or as part of a dynamic workflow. Our analysis shows that none of these implementations represents the most efficient solution for arbitrary situations. This is a major issue, because in many cases the quality of the service provided by a workflow depends on the possibility of selecting dynamically the operations to perform and, consequently, the more efficient basic building block for each stage. In this paper we present a set of guidelines that permits to achieve the highest performance for the extraction of isosurface in the most common situations, considering the characteristics of the data to process and of the workflow. These guidelines represent a suitable example to support the efficient configurations of workflows for 3D data processing in a dynamic and complex computing environment. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Information extraction for scholarly digital libraries

Scholarly documents contain many data entities, such as titles, authors, affiliations, figures, and tables. These entities can be used to enhance digital library services through enhanced metadata and enable the development of new services and tools for interacting with and exploring scholarly data. However, in a world of scholarly big data, extracting these entities in a scalable, efficient and accurate manner can be challenging. In this tutorial, we introduce the broad field of information extraction for scholarly digital libraries. Drawing on our experience in running the Cite-SeerX digital library, which has performed information extraction on over 7 million academic documents, we argue for the need for automatic information extraction, describe different approaches for performing information extraction, present tools and datasets that are readily available, and describe best practices and areas of research interest.
Measuring Tail Dependence for Aggregate Collateral Losses Using Bivariate Compound Cox Process with Shot Noise Intensity

A catastrophic event such as flood, storm, hail, bushfire and earthquake brings about damages in properties, motors and interruption of businesses collaterally. Also a couple of losses incurred collaterally from the World Trade Centre (WTC) catastrophe, Hurricane Katrina and Victorian Bushfire. However it has not been developed a suitable model for insurance companies either to measure tail dependence between these collateral losses or relevant risk measures that can be used as insurance risk premiums. The first aim of this paper is to measure tail dependence between collateral losses as insurance industry is more concerned with dependence between extreme losses. The second is to calculate conditional probabilities and conditional expectations as relevant risk measures. To achieve these aims, we use bivariate compound process where a Cox process with shot noise intensity is used to count collateral losses from catastrophic events. Homogeneous Poisson process is also examined as its counterpart for the case where the catastrophic loss frequency rate is deterministic. Using a member of Farlie-Gumbel-Morgenstern copula with exponential margins, we derive explicit expressions of joint Laplace transforms of aggregate collateral losses. Fast Fourier transform is used to obtain the joint distributions of aggregate collateral losses, with which we calculate relevant risk measures. The figures of the joint distributions of collateral losses, their contours and numerical calculations of risk measures are provided.