Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic Diversity of the Streptococcal Competence (com) Gene Locus

ABSTRACT The com operon of naturally transformable streptococcal species contains three genes, comC, comD, andcomE, involved in the regulation of competence. ThecomC gene encodes a competence-stimulating peptide (CSP) thought to induce competence in the bacterial population at a critical extracellular concentration. The comD and comEgenes are believed to encode the transmembrane histidine kinase and response regulator proteins, respectively, of a two-component regulator, with the comD-encoded protein being a receptor for CSP. Here we report on the genetic variability of comCand comD within Streptococcus pneumoniaeisolates. Comparative analysis of sequence variations ofcomC and comD shows that, despite evidence for horizontal gene transfer at this locus and the lack of transformability of many S. pneumoniae strains in the laboratory, there is a clear correlation between the presence of a particular comCallele and the cognate comD allele. These findings effectively rule out the possibility that the presence of noncognatecomC and comD alleles may be responsible for the inability to induce competence in many isolates and indicate the importance of a functional com pathway in these isolates. In addition, we describe a number of novel CSPs from disease-associated strains of S. mitis and S. oralis. The CSPs from these isolates are much more closely related to those fromS. pneumoniae than to most CSPs previously reported fromS. mitis and S. oralis, suggesting that these particular organisms may be a potential source of DNA in recombination events generating the mosaic structures commonly reported in genes ofS. pneumoniae that are under strong selective pressure.
Ownership Structure and Bank Risk: The Effects of Crisis, Market Discipline and Regulatory Pressure

Using a large panel of US BHC over the 2001:Q1-2015:Q4, we investigate the risk-taking behaviors of banks within a comparison perspective – between public and private banks - where there exists substantial differences of asymmetry information and agency problems. We document evidence of greater stability of public banks versus their private peers. However, public banks become riskier than private banks during the last crisis. These findings suggest a mixed evidence of risk-taking mitigating role of listing status. Regulatory pressure is effective in limiting risk taking by undercapitalized public banks before, but not during the crisis, casting doubt the effectiveness of regulators during the turmoil times. Public banks with high franchise value expose to risk less than others during the crisis. Debtholders discipline is ineffective in curbing the risk-taking behavior of banks. Our study is of interest for regulators, policymakers who are in search of improving bank risk-taking behavior.
Analysis and design of an all metal in line series ohmic RF MEMS switch for microwave applications

This paper presents the analysis, design and simulation of an all metal in line series ohmic RF MEMS switch. The proposed switch is indented to be used in the frequency range between DC and 10GHz. The switching characteristics of the proposed switch fulfill all the requirements as concerns loss, isolation, linearity, power handling and small size/power consumption. The specific design of the cantilever (hammerhead) and the distributed actuation force ensure the reliability and the controllability of the switch and the relatively simple design (all metal) the robustness and high fabrication yield.
Frequent Surfing on Social Health Networks is Associated With Increased Knowledge and Patient Health Activation

Background The advent of the Internet has driven a technological revolution that has changed our lives. As part of this phenomenon, social networks have attained a prominent role in health care. A variety of medical services is provided over the Internet, including home monitoring, interactive communications between the patient and service providers, and social support, among others. This study emphasizes some of the practical implications of Web-based health social networks for patients and for health care systems. Objective The objective of this study was to assess how participation in a social network among individuals with a chronic condition contributed to patient activation, based on the Patient Activation Measure (PAM). Methods A prospective, cross-sectional survey with a retrospective component was conducted. Data were collected from Camoni, a Hebrew-language Web-based social health network, participants in the diabetes mellitus, pain, hypertension, and depression/anxiety forums, during November 2012 to 2013. Experienced users (enrolled at least 6 months) and newly enrolled received similar versions of the same questionnaire including sociodemographics and PAM. Results Among 686 participants, 154 of 337 experienced and 123 of 349 newly enrolled completed the questionnaire. Positive correlations (P<.05) were found between frequency and duration of site visits and patient activation, social relationships, and chronic disease knowledge. Men surfed longer than women (χ²3=10.104, P<.05). Experienced users with diabetes surfed more than those with other illnesses and had significantly higher PAM scores (mean, M=69.3, standard deviation, SD=19.1, PAM level 4; Z=−4.197, P<.001) than new users (M=62.8, SD=18.7, PAM level 3). Disease knowledge directly predicted PAM for all users (β=.26 and .21, respectively). Frequency and duration of social health network use were correlated with increased knowledge about a chronic disease. Experienced surfers had higher PAM than newly enrolled, suggesting that continued site use may contribute to increased activation. Conclusions Web-based social health networks offer an opportunity to expand patient knowledge and increase involvement in personal health, thereby increasing patient activation. Further studies are needed to examine these changes on other aspects of chronic illnesses such as quality of life and costs.
Effect of long-term irrigation with dairy factory wastewater on soil properties.

The effects of irrigation with dairy factory wastewater on soil properties were investigated at two sites that had received irrigation for > 60 years. In comparison with paired sites that had not received effluent, longterm wastewater irrigation resulted in an increase in pH, EC, extractable P, exchangeable Na and K and ESP. These changes were related to the use of phosphoric acid, NaOH and KOH as cleaning agents in the factory. Despite these clear changes in soil chemical properties, there were no increases in soil organic matter content (organic C and total N) and the size (microbial biomass C and N) and activity (basal respiration) of the soil microbial community were, in fact, increased by wastewater irrigation. These increases were attributed to regular inputs of soluble C (e.g. lactose) present as milk residues in the wastewater.
Glycoproteins from the Cuticle of the Atlantic Shore Crab Carcinus maenas: I. Electrophoresis and Western-Blot Analysis by Use of Lectins

The protein and glycoprotein content of four different neutral or acidic solvent extracts (0.5 M KCl, 10% EDTA, 0.1 N HCl, or 2% acetic acid) from the mineralized exoskeleton of a decapod crustacean, the Atlantic shore crab Carcinus maenas, were characterized by quantitative analysis of proteins, SDS-PAGE analysis, and probing with lectins on blots. The lectins used were Conconavalin A, Jacalin, soybean agglutinin, Maackia amurensis agglutinin II, and Sambucus nigra agglutinin. The results show that many proteins can be obtained from the crab cuticle without strong denaturants in the extraction medium. Many of the extracted cuticle proteins appeared to be glycosylated, bearing O-linked oligosaccharides and N-linked mannose-rich glycans. N-acetyl-galactosamine and N-acetylneuraminic acids were revealed, for the first time, as terminal residues on N-linked mannose-rich structures of crab cuticle glycoproteins. Sialylated glycoproteins might thus be involved in organic-mineral interactions in the calcified crab exoskeleton. The amount and variety of glycoproteins extracted with the acidic solvents are obviously different from those extracted with neutral solvents. HCl proved to be the best of the tested extraction solvents and a valuable alternative to EDTA.
CitiSense: improving geospatial environmental assessment of air quality using a wireless personal exposure monitoring system

Environmental exposures are a critical component in the development of chronic conditions such as asthma and cancer. Yet, medical and public health practitioners typically must depend on sparse regional measurements of the environment that provide macro-scale summaries. Recent projects have begun to measure an individual's exposure to these factors, often utilizing body-worn sensors and mobile phones to visualize the data. Such data, collected from many individuals and analyzed across an entire geographic region, holds the potential to revolutionize the practice of public health. We present CitiSense, a participatory air quality sensing system that bridges the gap between personal sensing and regional measurement to provide micro-level detail at a regional scale. In a user study of 16 commuters using CitiSense, measurements were found to vary significantly from those provided by official regional pollution monitoring stations. Moreover, applying geostatistical kriging techniques to our data allows CitiSense to infer a regional map that contains considerably greater detail than official regional summaries. These results suggest that the cumulative impact of many individuals using personal sensing devices may have an important role to play in the future of environmental measurement for public health.
The Role of Constraints and Discontinuities in Visible-Surface Reconstruction

Nitrogen-heterocyclic phosphonic acids and derivatives thereof characterized by aminomethyl (or substituted methyl) phosphonic acids or derivatives thereof bonded directly or indirectly, i.e., through a N-side chain to the nitrogen atom in the heterocyclic ring, for example those containing in the molecule at least one of the following units: XO ¦ PARALLEL N-(R'NH)-- C-P(OM)2 ¦ Y 1-2 where N represents a heterocyclic ring having a nitrogen atom on the ring; -R'N- represents an amino-terminated side chain attached directly to the ring nitrogen (which side chain may or may not be present); and XO ¦ PARALLEL -C-P(OM)2 ¦ Y represents a methyl (or substituted methyl) phosphonic acid group where M is hydrogen, an alcohol or a salt moiety, and X and Y are hydrogen or a substituted group such as alkyl, aryl, etc., of which one or two units may be present depending on the available nitrogen bonded hydrogens, and to uses for these compounds, for example, as scale inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors, etc.
Creating Effective Online Customer Experiences

Creating effective online customer experiences through well-designed product web pages is critical to success in online retailing. How such web pages should look specifically, however, remains unclear. Previous work has only addressed a few online design elements in isolation, without accounting for the potential need to adjust experiences to reflect the characteristics of the products or brands being sold. Across 16 experiments, this research investigates how 13 unique design elements shape four dimensions of the online customer experience (informativeness, entertainment, social presence, and sensory appeal) and thus influence purchase. Product (search vs. experience) and brand (trustworthiness) characteristics exacerbate or mitigate the uncertainty inherent in online shopping, such that they moderate the influence of each experience dimension on purchases. A field experiment that manipulates real product pages on Amazon.com affirms these findings. The results thus provide managers with clear strategic guidance on how to build effective web pages.
The Danish Prostate Cancer Database

Aim of database The Danish Prostate Cancer Database (DAPROCAdata) is a nationwide clinical cancer database that has prospectively collected data on patients with incident prostate cancer in Denmark since February 2010. The overall aim of the DAPROCAdata is to improve the quality of prostate cancer care in Denmark by systematically collecting key clinical variables for the purposes of health care monitoring, quality improvement, and research. Study population All Danish patients with histologically verified prostate cancer are included in the DAPROCAdata. Main variables The DAPROCAdata registers clinical data and selected characteristics for patients with prostate cancer at diagnosis. Data are collected from the linkage of nationwide health registries and supplemented with online registration of key clinical variables by treating physicians at urological and oncological departments. Main variables include Gleason scores, cancer staging, prostate-specific antigen values, and therapeutic measures (active surveillance, surgery, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, and chemotherapy). Descriptive data In total, 22,332 patients with prostate cancer were registered in DAPROCAdata as of April 2015. A key feature of DAPROCAdata is the routine collection of patient-reported outcome measures (PROM), including data on quality-of-life (pain levels, physical activity, sexual function, depression, urine and fecal incontinence) and lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, and body mass index). PROM data are derived from questionnaires distributed at diagnosis and at 1-year and 3-year follow-up. Hitherto, the PROM data have been limited by low completeness (26% among newly diagnosed patients in 2014). Conclusion DAPROCAdata is a comprehensive, yet still young clinical database. Efforts to improve data collection, data validity, and completeness are ongoing and of high priority.
Study on the underwater geomagnetic navigation based on the integration of TERCOM and K-means clustering algorithm

In order to improve the poor accuracy and stability of the traditional geomagnetic matching navigation by TERCOM, In this paper, we discuss a new method which is based on the integration of TERCOM, K-means clustering algorithm and INS (inertial navigation system) in detail. Through an experiment, we find that the new method has higher accuracy and stability than the traditional method, especially when it is used in the similar geomagnetic distribution area.
Molecular basis of transcription initiation in Archaea

Compared with eukaryotes, the archaeal transcription initiation machinery—commonly known as the Pre-Initiation Complex—is relatively simple. The archaeal PIC consists of the TFIIB ortholog TFB, TBP, and an 11-subunit RNA polymerase (RNAP). The relatively small size of the entire archaeal PIC makes it amenable to structural analysis. Using purified RNAP, TFB, and TBP from the thermophile Pyrococcus furiosus, we assembled the biochemically active PIC at 65ºC. The intact archaeal PIC was isolated by implementing a cross-linking technique followed by size-exclusion chromatography, and the structure of this 440 kDa assembly was determined using electron microscopy and single-particle reconstruction techniques. Combining difference maps with crystal structure docking of various sub-domains, TBP and TFB were localized within the macromolecular PIC. TBP/TFB assemble near the large RpoB subunit and the RpoD/L “foot” domain behind the RNAP central cleft. This location mimics that of yeast TBP and TFIIB in complex with yeast RNAP II. Collectively, these results define the structural organization of the archaeal transcription machinery and suggest a conserved core PIC architecture.
The Effect of Dockless Bike-Sharing on Public Transportation: An Empirical Study

We examine the impact of a new mobile-based, dockless bike-sharing service on public transportation. In contrast to traditional rental bikes that are parked at fixed stations, the dockless bikes can be picked up and returned at literally anywhere. This dockless feature of the shared bikes likely provides a solution to the last mile problem, potentially making it a complement to public transportation. Assembling a unique panel data of shared-bike rides and subway traffic, we estimate the relationship between shared-bike ridership and public transportation. Our results show that increases in shared-bike rides lead to increases in subway traffic. This positive effect is stronger for peak hours during weekdays and non-peak hours during weekends. We argue this effect is most likely driven by shared bikes promoting public transportation use and substituting for private cars (substitution effect) and also stimulating new travel (stimulating effect). Overall, we find that dockless shared bikes, in contrast to most of the other sharing economy phenomenon, acts as a complement rather than a substitute for public transportation. In addition, increased use of dockless shared bikes has a positive societal impact, leading to less urban congestion and better environmental protection.
Significance of Histopathological Tumor Regression After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Gastric Adenocarcinomas: A Summary of 480 Cases

Objective: An increasing number of patients with locally advanced gastric carcinomas (GC) are being treated with preoperative chemotherapy before surgery. Background: Histopathological tumor regression may have an important prognostic impact in addition to the UICC-TNM classification system. Methods: We evaluated the histopathological tumor regression in 480 surgical resection specimens of GC after neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy, using an established system encompassing three tumor regression grades based on the estimation of the percentage of residual tumor tissue at the primary tumor site in relation to the macroscopically identifiable former tumor bed. Tumor regression was correlated to clinicopathological characteristics and patient survival. Results: Of the patients in this study, 102 (21.2%) had complete or subtotal tumor regression (<10% residual tumor), 121 (25.2%) had partial tumor regression (10–50% residual tumor), and 257 (53.5%) had minimal or no regression (>50% residual tumor). Tumor regression was significantly associated with posttreatment tumor category (pT), lymph node status (pN), lymphatic invasion status (pL), and resection status (P < 0.001). Major histopathological regression was less frequent in tumors of the distal stomach and tumors of nonintestinal type (P = 0.003). Tumor regression (P = 0.009) and postoperative Lymph node status (P < 0.001) were independent prognostic factors for survival in a multivariate analysis of tumor regression, ypT/N/L category, resection status, grading and Lauren´s classification. Conclusions: Assessment of histological tumor regression after preoperative chemotherapy in GC provides objective and highly valuable prognostic information in addition to posttherapeutic lymph node status. A standardized tumor regression grading system should be implemented in pathological reports of these tumors.
Improved Glucose Tolerance Restores Insulin-Stimulated Akt Kinase Activity and Glucose Transport in Skeletal Muscle From Diabetic Goto-Kakizaki Rats

The serine/threonine kinase Akt (protein kinase B [PKB] or related to A and C protein kinase [RAC] has recently been implicated to play a role in the signaling pathway to glucose transport. However, little is known concerning the regulation of Akt activity in insulinsensitive tissues such as skeletal muscle. To explore the role of hyperglycemia on Akt kinase activity in skeletal muscle, normal Wistar rats or Goto-Kakizaki (GK) diabetic rats were treated with phlorizin. Phlorizin treatment normalized fasting blood glucose and significantly improved glucose tolerance (P < 0.001) in GK rats, whereas in Wistar rats, the compound had no effect on glucose homeostasis. In soleus muscle from GK rats, maximal insulin-stimulated (120 nmol/l) Akt kinase activity was reduced by 68% (P < 0.01) and glucose transport was decreased by 39% (P < 0.05), compared with Wistar rats. Importantly, the defects at the level of Akt kinase and glucose transport were completely restored by phlorizin treatment. There was no significant difference in Akt kinase protein expression among the three groups. At a submaximal insulin concentration (2.4 nmol/l), activity of Akt kinase and glucose transport were unaltered. In conclusion, improved glucose tolerance in diabetic GK rats by phlorizin treatment fully restored insulin-stimulated activity of Akt kinase and glucose transport. Thus, hyperglycemia may directly contribute to the development of muscle insulin resistance through alterations in insulin action on Akt kinase and glucose transport.
The Role of Mobile Phones in Real World Motor Vehicle Crashes

In this article, on road epidemiological studies including naturalistic driving studies that have assessed the role of mobile phones in crashes and near crashes will be reviewed, for example, Redelmeier & Tibshirani (1997); McEvoy, Stevenson, McCartt, et al. (2005); Klauer, Dingus, Neale, et al. (2006); Klauer, Guo, Simons-Morton, et al. (2014). The article will summarise the types of on-road studies that have been used to assess the risks of mobile phone use while driving, explain results to date, explore what aspects of the phone task appear to be most risky, and compare this with other common forms of driver distraction including passengers. Driver distraction has been defined as the diversion of attention away from activities critical for safe driving toward a competing activity (Lee, Young, & Regan, 2009, p. 34). In recent years, driver distraction has emerged as an increasingly important contributor to motor vehicle crashes. Road safety efforts have started to focus on sources of driver distraction, including mobile phone use while driving. Today’s mobile phones feature a range of functions that make them highly useful devices, however under certain settings, it is possible that these same features may cause unintended consequences. Mobile phone use may divert driver attention from the driving task in a number of ways including reaching for the phone, dialling, engaging in conversation, hanging up, sending and receiving text messages, accessing the internet and phone apps, reading maps and emails, and interacting with music functions. For some years now, researchers have been investigating the distracting effects of mobile phones while driving. These studies have included laboratory testing under simulated driving conditions, testing driving performance on off road circuits, study designs using case-control or case-crossover techniques to examine the association between mobile phone use and crashes and, most recently, naturalistic driving studies in which drivers are filmed during their day-to-day driving to assess the role of distractions in near crash and crash events. It is possible for driver distraction to affect driving performance in a number of ways: speed variability, following distance (or headway), lane keeping, reaction time and gap acceptance (Young, Regan, Lee, 2009, Ch 7). However, these measures do not tell us the degree to which road safety may be compromised due to degraded driving performance. Accordingly, epidemiological studies have sought to determine the level of risk attributable to various driver distractions.