Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sequence‐specific interactions of a pea nuclear factor with light‐responsive elements upstream of the rbcS‐3A gene.

Pea nuclear extracts were used in gel retardation assays and DNase I footprinting experiments to identify a protein factor that specifically interacts with regulatory DNA sequences upstream of the pea rbcS‐3A‐gene. This factor, designated GT‐1, binds to two short sequences (boxes II and III) in the −150 region that are known to function as light‐responsive elements (LREs) in transgenic tobacco. Binding of GT‐1 to homologous sequences further upstream (boxes II and III in the −220 region) indicates that these boxes comprise the redundant LRE that functions in vivo when boxes II and III are deleted. In both box II and box II, methylation interference experiments demonstrate that two adjacent G residues are critical for GT‐binding. Single Gs present in boxes III and III are also important. Since GT‐1 is present in nuclear extracts from leaves of light‐grown and dark‐adapted pea plants, its regulatory role does not depend on de novo synthesis. Thus if GT‐1 binds differentially in vivo it must be postranslationally modified or sterically blocked from binding by another factor in response to light.
Special treatment issues in non-small cell lung cancer: Diagnosis and management of lung cancer, 3rd ed: American College of Chest Physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.

BACKGROUND This guideline updates the second edition and addresses patients with particular forms of non-small cell lung cancer that require special considerations, including Pancoast tumors, T4 N0,1 M0 tumors, additional nodules in the same lobe (T3), ipsilateral different lobe (T4) or contralateral lung (M1a), synchronous and metachronous second primary lung cancers, solitary brain and adrenal metastases, and chest wall involvement. METHODS The nature of these special clinical cases is such that in most cases, meta-analyses or large prospective studies of patients are not available. To ensure that these guidelines were supported by the most current data available, publications appropriate to the topics covered in this article were obtained by performing a literature search of the MEDLINE computerized database. Where possible, we also reference other consensus opinion statements. Recommendations were developed by the writing committee, graded by a standardized method, and reviewed by all members of the Lung Cancer Guidelines panel prior to approval by the Thoracic Oncology NetWork, Guidelines Oversight Committee, and the Board of Regents of the American College of Chest Physicians. RESULTS In patients with a Pancoast tumor, a multimodality approach appears to be optimal, involving chemoradiotherapy and surgical resection, provided that appropriate staging has been carried out. Carefully selected patients with central T4 tumors that do not have mediastinal node involvement are uncommon, but surgical resection appears to be beneficial as part of their treatment rather than definitive chemoradiotherapy alone. Patients with lung cancer and an additional malignant nodule are difficult to categorize, and the current stage classification rules are ambiguous. Such patients should be evaluated by an experienced multidisciplinary team to determine whether the additional lesion represents a second primary lung cancer or an additional tumor nodule corresponding to the dominant cancer. Highly selected patients with a solitary focus of metastatic disease in the brain or adrenal gland appear to benefit from resection or stereotactic radiosurgery. This is particularly true in patients with a long disease-free interval. Finally, in patients with chest wall involvement, provided that the tumor can be completely resected and N2 nodal disease is absent, primary surgical resection should be considered. CONCLUSIONS Carefully selected patients with more uncommon presentations of lung cancer may benefit from an aggressive surgical approach.
The influence of direct cross-straits shipping on the smooth transition dynamics of stock volatilities of shipping companies

This article use the smooth transition Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedastic (GARCH) model to examine the impacts of direct cross-strait shipping on the dynamic structure of the stocks of shipping companies in Taiwan. We inferred the fact that the structural changes affect the volatility process for all stocks of shipping companies. In addition, we obtain the transition function for all related stock volatilities of shipping companies and find that their structural adjustment processes launch prior to the introduction of direct cross-strait shipping. Meanwhile, the estimated transition functions show that the stock return volatilities of shipping companies have U-shaped patterns of structural changes. This article also caught the corresponding calendar dates of structural change about volatility pattern.
Bottom-Up Engineering of Biological Systems through Standard Bricks: A Modularity Study on Basic Parts and Devices

Background Modularity is a crucial issue in the engineering world, as it enables engineers to achieve predictable outcomes when different components are interconnected. Synthetic Biology aims to apply key concepts of engineering to design and construct new biological systems that exhibit a predictable behaviour. Even if physical and measurement standards have been recently proposed to facilitate the assembly and characterization of biological components, real modularity is still a major research issue. The success of the bottom-up approach strictly depends on the clear definition of the limits in which biological functions can be predictable. Results The modularity of transcription-based biological components has been investigated in several conditions. First, the activity of a set of promoters was quantified in Escherichia coli via different measurement systems (i.e., different plasmids, reporter genes, ribosome binding sites) relative to an in vivo reference promoter. Second, promoter activity variation was measured when two independent gene expression cassettes were assembled in the same system. Third, the interchangeability of input modules (a set of constitutive promoters and two regulated promoters) connected to a fixed output device (a logic inverter) expressing GFP was evaluated. The three input modules provide tunable transcriptional signals that drive the output device. If modularity persists, identical transcriptional signals trigger identical GFP outputs. To verify this, all the input devices were individually characterized and then the input-output characteristic of the logic inverter was derived in the different configurations. Conclusions Promoters activities (referred to a standard promoter) can vary when they are measured via different reporter devices (up to 22%), when they are used within a two-expression-cassette system (up to 35%) and when they drive another device in a functionally interconnected circuit (up to 44%). This paper provides a significant contribution to the study of modularity limitations in building biological systems by providing useful data on context-dependent variability of biological components.
On the pleasantness of a haptic stimulation: How different textures can be recognized through heart rate variability nonlinear analysis

The hedonic attributes of cutaneous elicitation play a crucial role in everyday life, influencing our behavior and psychophysical state. However, the correlation between such a hedonic aspect of touch and the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)-related physiological response, which is intimately connected to emotions, still needs to be deeply investigated. This study reports on caress-like stimuli conveyed to the forearm of 32 healthy subjects through different fabrics actuated by a haptic device, which can control both the strength (i.e. the normal force exerted by the fabric) and the velocity of the elicitation. The mimicked caresses were elicited with a fixed force of 6 N, two levels of velocity of 9.4 mm/sec and 65 mm/sec, and four different fabrics with different textures: burlap, hemp, velvet and silk. Participants were asked to score the caress-like stimuli in terms of arousal and valence through a self-assessment questionnaire. Heartbeat data related to the perceived most pleasant (silk) and unpleasant (burlap) fabrics were used as an input to an automatic pattern recognition procedure. Accordingly, considering gender differences, support vector machines using features extracted from linear and nonlinear heartbeat dynamics showed a recognition accuracy of 84.38% (men) and 78.13% (women) while discerning between burlap and silk elicitations at the higher velocity. Results suggest that the fabrics used for the caress-like stimulation significantly affect the nonlinear cardiovascular dynamics, also showing differences according to gender.
Self-contained track and trace using GPRS

This paper describes the design and implementation of the hardware and software of a self-contained track and trace unit capable of monitoring its own location. The unit also has the ability to report its location to a central server. The firmware for the tracking unit was implemented in the C programming language and runs natively on an Atmel AVR architecture. A PHP application was developed to enable central logging of locations, as well as exporting this data to Google Maps and Google Earth. The system was successfully implemented and a number of field tests were performed to validate specifications. The system is able to accurately track a vehicle or asset for an extended period of time. A unit's position could be visualized using either Google Earth or Google Maps. SMS control and monitoring was possible for the majority of the units operating time.
Structural interventions to reduce HIV transmission among injecting drug users

Objective: To review current knowledge of 'structural' interventions to reduce HIV transmission among injecting drug users. Structural interventions are defined as programs or policies that change the environments in which risk behavior occurs, without attempting to change knowledge, attitudes or social interaction patterns of the persons at risk. Structural interventions may either facilitate enactment of existing motives to avoid HIV transmission or make enacting risk behavior more difficult. Methods: Nonquantitative literature review. Results and conclusions: Preventing HIV infection among injecting drug users must be considered within the context of the continuing global spread of psychoactive drug use, and injecting drug use in particular. Some policies that are designed to reduce drug use may tend to increase HIV transmission among persons who do inject drugs. Evaluation of structural interventions can be difficult, as populations of drug users are usually the relevant unit of analysis. Typically, pre versus post comparisons must be used, hopefully with multiple pre and post data points. Structural interventions are often associated with 'large effects', increasing confidence that the intervention is the cause of the reduction in HIV-risk behavior. Increasing the availability of sterile injection equipment, through pharmacy sales or syringe exchange or both, is the most common and best-studied structural intervention for injecting drug users. The studies to date indicate that this usually, but not always, leads to large reductions in HIV-risk behavior. Involving drug users in the design and implementation of HIV-prevention programs can be considered a 'meta-structural' intervention that should lead to programs with increased effectiveness.
The Relationship between Stress and Severe Obesity: A Case-Control Study

Background: Several etiological factors for obesity have been identified, whereas other factors related to obesity, such as stress, remain poorly understood. This study used psychiatric methods to examine the relationship between stress and obesity. Methods: Matched study and control groups were established, and the female and male control subjects were selected separately by random sampling. The control subjects were matched with the case subjects with respect to place of residence, sex, age, date that a pension was granted, and occupation. Psychiatric and psychological methods were assessed using a questionnaire and statistical analyses. Results: Psychiatric interviews indicated that stress was more prevalent in the study group than in the control group. Separation from parents was nearly significantly more frequently in the study group than in the control group. The questionnaire on coping mechanisms revealed that case subjects tended to resolve their problems in an active manner. Conclusions: The aim of this case-control study was to examine the relationship between stress and obesity in individuals receiving a disability pension. We identified stress factors that affect the development of obesity. We believe our study is both necessary and important, as these findings provide valuable insight into the relationship between severe obesity and stress.
Can Stabilisation Policy Reduce Long‐run Growth?

This paper presents an analysis of the long-run implications of short-term stabilization policy. The analysis is based on a simple, stochastic model of an imperfectly competitive economy with nominal rigidities and an endogenous technology. By virtue of the latter, temporary shocks have permanent effects such that the cyclical and secular properties of output are related. In particular, smoother cyclical fluctuations may be associated with flatter secular trends, implying a trade-off between short-term stabilization and long-term growth.
Cultural novelty and adjustment: Western business expatriates in China

Although seldom formally tested, the traditional assumption in the literature on expatriate management is that the greater the cultural novelty of the host country, the more difficult it would be for the expatriate to adjust. To be able to test this proposition, a mail survey was directed towards Western business expatriates in China. Three sociocultural adjustment variables were examined: general, interaction and work adjustment. Although a negative relationship was hypothesized between cultural novelty and the three adjustment variables, results of the hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that there was no significant association between them. Although highly tentative, the suggestion that it is as difficult for business expatriates to adjust to a very similar culture as to a very dissimilar culture is fundamental. Implications of this potentially crucial finding are discussed in detail.
Organizational change: in search of the golden mean

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider an archetypal illustration of change possibilities manifested in a corporation, Enron Corporation, operating within the context of global market capitalism.Design/methodology/approach – The approach taken is a theory guided case study.Findings – It was found that the culture within Enron changed from one grounded in a regulatory ethos to one fully dedicated to unregulated, free marketeering, and illustrates both the best and worst of market capitalism. The character and trajectory of the change was a combination of both internal and external forces, and the ability to recognize and balance the inherent enabling and debilitating dimensions.Originality/value – In this paper, the structuration theory analysis aids focus on the extant norms and values and in seeing how, though the actions of the participants, they construct, and are constructed by, the representation schemes and the power relationships. The analysis of Enron illustrates that change driven by .
Employee share ownership and investment concentration: which employee shareholders fail to diversify?

Using data from a survey of employees in three UK companies, the article examines concentration of savings in employer shares. It is found that a substantial minority of employees hold most of their savings in employer shares despite the risks. The article examines the distribution and determinants of portfolio concentration. It is found that portfolio concentration is more likely to be found among men, those on higher incomes, and those who are in early middle-age. Regression analysis indicates that organisational commitment and the duration of participation in the share ownership plan also affects the probability of having a concentrated portfolio. There is no clear evidence that those with substantial concentrations of employer shares take active steps to monitor their investments more closely than those with smaller shareholdings.
Genetic Variations in Bilirubin Metabolism Genes and Their Association with Unconjugated Hyperbilirubinemia in Adults

Objective: The present study was undertaken to investigate the genotype and allele frequencies of the variants in the four bilirubin metabolism genes (UGT1A1, OATP2, HMOX1, and BLVRA) and their association with hyperbilirubinemia. Material and Methods: Genotyping of 17 genetic variants was performed in 115 adults with hyperbilirubinemia and 150 controls by PCR‐RFLP, GeneScan analysis, and direct DNA sequencing. Results: Genetic polymorphisms of the UGT1A1 promoter, specifically the T‐3279G phenobarbital‐responsive enhancer module and (TA)7 dinucleotide repeat, as well as the intron and coding region variants of the OATP2, HMOX1, and BLVRA genes, were significantly higher among the cases than the controls. Further, nearly 82% of the cases showed the presence of significantly four or more variants as compared to 37% of the controls (P < 0.0001) and the mean total serum bilirubin levels also increased according to the number of variants co‐expressed. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that polymorphisms in the bilirubin metabolism genes had a significant effect on bilirubin levels and could be genetic risk factors for hyperbilirubinemia.
Perceived Impact of Care Managers' Work on Patient and Clinician Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study is to assess the contributions of care management as perceived by care managers themselves. STUDY DESIGN Focus groups and interviews with care managers who coordinate care for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure patients, as well as patients undergoing major surgery. METHODS We collected data in focus groups and interviews with 12 care managers working in the Keystone Beacon Community project, including 5 care managers working in hospitals, 2 employed in outpatient clinics and 4 telephoning discharged patients from a Transitions of Care (TOC) call center. RESULTS Inpatient care managers believe that (1) ensuring primary care provider follow-up, (2) coordinating appropriate services, (3) providing patient education, and (4) ensuring accurate medication reconciliation have the greatest impact on patient clinical outcomes. In contrast, outpatient and TOC care managers believe that (1) teaching patients the signs and symptoms of acute exacerbations and (2) building effective relationships with patients improve patient outcomes most. Some care management activities were perceived to have greater impact on patients with certain conditions (e.g., outpatient and TOC care managers saw effective relationships as having more impact on patients with COPD). All care managers believed that relationships with patients have the greatest impact on patient satisfaction, while the support they provide clinicians has the greatest impact on clinician satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS These findings may improve best practice for care managers by focusing interventions on the most effective activities for patients with specific medical conditions.
Viewscapes and Flood Hazard: Coastal Housing Market Response to Amenities and Risk

Coastal amenities and risk are so highly correlated that separate identification within the hedonic framework is potentially challenging. In this study, we construct a three-dimensional measure of ocean view, viewscape, accounting for natural topography and built obstruction that varies independent of risk classification to disentangle these spatially integrated housing characteristics. A spatial autoregressive hedonic model is developed to provide consistent estimates of the willingness to pay for coastal amenities and risk. Our findings suggest that incorporating the GIS-based view measures can be successful in isolating risk factors from spatial amenities. (JEL Q24, Q26)
The buyer‐supplier social contract: information sharing as a deterrent to unethical behaviors

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on the role of information sharing as a deterrent to unethical behavior in a buyer‐supplier relationship. The authors investigate the broader supplier network, examining information sharing as it occurs through both the buyer‐supplier structure as well as supplier‐supplier structures. The authors propose that buyer‐supplier and supplier‐supplier information sharing serve to reduce perceived buying firm unethical behavior while at the same time fostering increased commitment and satisfaction in long‐term buyer‐supplier relationships.Design/methodology/approach – The relational model presented is grounded in the theory of social contract. The authors' hypotheses are tested using structural equation modeling with survey data collected from supplier firms from a wide range of industries and that have been involved long‐term (minimum of five years) in the provision of goods and/or services with their buying firm.Findings – The authors demonstrate that perceived b.
The Economic Relevance of Environmental Disclosure and its Impact on Corporate Legitimacy: An Empirical Investigation

In determining its environmental disclosure strategy, a firm's management faces a tension between responding to the information needs of financial markets and maintaining its legitimacy within the community. In this paper, relying on information economics and legitimacy theory, we explore how firms resolve this tension. Results show that a firm's environmental disclosure enhances the quality of analysts' information context, which ultimately allows them to make better forecasts. Moreover, financial analysts seem to be able to decipher environmental information, discounting discourses that are inconsistent with a firm's underlying environmental performance. We find also that a firm's environmental disclosure serves another purpose, as it influences how its other stakeholders (beyond financial ones) perceive its legitimacy. Such enhanced legitimacy reduces the information uncertainty faced by financial analysts. Our results suggest also that both economic-based environmental disclosure and sustainable development and environmental disclosure are useful to analysts in making their forecasts and enhance a firm's legitimacy. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Dimensions of pressures faced by auditors and its impact on auditors’ independence

Research has focused on factors causing pressure and impairing auditor independence. These include competition, opinion shopping, client and auditor size, and client financial health. No study has examined the characteristics of the pressures. Responses to case studies sent to auditors in the USA and Australia were analysed via factor analysis. The objective was, first, to increase understanding of the underlying dimensions of pressures faced by these auditors; and second, to examine any similarities between these two countries, similar in culture, but significantly different in such respects as the legal environment. The results indicate two dimensions: pressure to retain the client, and to conform. The first is a more pervasive but subtle pressure while, in the second, the auditor is asked to follow a certain course of action. Pressure to retain the client appears to be greater for auditors in both countries, relative to the pressure to conform. So the underlying dimensions of the pressures in these countries are similar.