Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pathogenic Potential, Genetic Diversity, and Population Structure of Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from a Forest-Dominated Watershed (Comox Lake) in British Columbia, Canada

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli isolates (n = 658) obtained from drinking water intakes of Comox Lake (2011 to 2013) were screened for the following virulence genes (VGs): stx 1 and stx 2 (Shiga toxin-producing E. coli [STEC]), eae and the adherence factor (EAF) gene (enteropathogenic E. coli [EPEC]), heat-stable (ST) enterotoxin (variants STh and STp) and heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) genes (enterotoxigenic E. coli [ETEC]), and ipaH (enteroinvasive E. coli [EIEC]). The only genes detected were eae and stx 2, which were carried by 37.69% (n = 248) of the isolates. Only eae was harbored by 26.74% (n = 176) of the isolates, representing potential atypical EPEC strains, while only stx 2 was detected in 10.33% (n = 68) of the isolates, indicating potential STEC strains. Moreover, four isolates were positive for both the stx 2 and eae genes, representing potential EHEC strains. The prevalence of VGs (eae or stx 2) was significantly (P < 0.0001) higher in the fall season, and multiple genes (eae plus stx 2) were detected only in fall. Repetitive element palindromic PCR (rep-PCR) fingerprint analysis of 658 E. coli isolates identified 335 unique fingerprints, with an overall Shannon diversity (H′) index of 3.653. Diversity varied among seasons over the years, with relatively higher diversity during fall. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed that the majority of the fingerprints showed a tendency to cluster according to year, season, and month. Taken together, the results indicated that the diversity and population structure of E. coli fluctuate on a temporal scale, reflecting the presence of diverse host sources and their behavior over time in the watershed. Furthermore, the occurrence of potentially pathogenic E. coli strains in the drinking water intakes highlights the risk to human health associated with direct and indirect consumption of untreated surface water.
Earnings Smoothing: Does It Exacerbate or Constrain Stock Price Crash Risk?

We examine the relation between earnings smoothing and stock price crash risk to evaluate the role of earnings smoothing on the downside risk of equity values. We find that, within firm, a higher degree of earnings smoothing is associated with greater crash risk; and this association, in the cross-section, is more pronounced for firms with fewer analysts following, smaller institutional holdings, and positive cumulative discretionary accruals. We also use stock returns to assess the economic significance of our results. We find that, controlling for firm fixed effects, earnings smoothing is associated with sizable negative returns in the quarter following the earnings announcement. Our findings caution investors about the downside risk of firms reporting smooth earnings, in contrast to the conventional belief that these firms are low in equity risk.
Female Choice Undermines the Emergence of Strong Sexual Isolation between Locally Adapted Populations of Atlantic Mollies (Poecilia mexicana)

Divergent selection between ecologically dissimilar habitats promotes local adaptation, which can lead to reproductive isolation (RI). Populations in the Poecilia mexicana species complex have independently adapted to toxic hydrogen sulfide and show varying degrees of RI. Here, we examined the variation in the mate choice component of prezygotic RI. Mate choice tests across drainages (with stimulus males from another drainage) suggest that specific features of the males coupled with a general female preference for yellow color patterns explain the observed variation. Analyses of male body coloration identified the intensity of yellow fin coloration as a strong candidate to explain this pattern, and common-garden rearing suggested heritable population differences. Male sexual ornamentation apparently evolved differently across sulfide-adapted populations, for example because of differences in natural counterselection via predation. The ubiquitous preference for yellow color ornaments in poeciliid females likely undermines the emergence of strong RI, as female discrimination in favor of own males becomes weaker when yellow fin coloration in the respective sulfide ecotype increases. Our study illustrates the complexity of the (partly non-parallel) pathways to divergence among replicated ecological gradients. We suggest that future work should identify the genomic loci involved in the pattern reported here, making use of the increasing genomic and transcriptomic datasets available for our study system.
FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMENGARUHI TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY INDUSTRI PERTANIAN INDONESIA PERIODE 1981-2010

ABSTRACT This study was undertaken to 1) analyze the total factor productivity (TFP) in Indonesian agriculture industry through the approach of the Cobb-Douglas production function and 2) analyze the factors that affect the agricultural industry TFP using the error correction model (ECM). The method used is a quantitative method to measure the level of TFP, which is ordinary least square method and the factors that influence TFP by using ECM. The results of the estimation, the variables that significantly affect short-term agricultural industry TFP is gross domestic product, domestic investment, industrial exports (X) and capital imports (M). Therefore, to optimize the productivity of the industrial output, the industry must innovate. In addition, the government should enact policies to encourage the uptake of agricultural industry technology to become more powerful or higher through policies that would support high productivity such as investment and trade. Keywords: cobb-douglas, ECM, industrial agriculture, OLS, TFP ABSTRAK Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk 1) menganalisis total factor productivity (TFP) industri pertanian di Indonesia melalui dengan pendekatan fungsi produksi cobb-douglas dan 2) untuk menganalisis faktor-faktor yang memengaruhi TFP industri pertanian menggunakan metode error correction model (ECM). Metode yang digunakan adalah metode kuantitatif untuk mengukur tingkat TFP yaitu metode ordinary least square dan faktor-faktor yang memengaruhi TFP dengan menggunakan metode ECM. Hasil estimasi, variabel yang berpengaruh nyata terhadap TFP industri pertanian jangka pendek adalah produk domestik bruto, penanaman modal dalam negeri, ekspor hasil industri (X) dan impor modal (M). Oleh karena itu, untuk mengoptimalkan produktivitas output industri maka industri harus melakukan inovasi. Di samping itu, pemerintah perlu memberlakukan kebijakan yang dapat mendorong penyerapan teknologi industri pertanian menjadi lebih kuat atau tinggi melalui kebijakan yang dapat mendorong produktivitas tinggi seperti investasi dan perdagangan. Kata kunci: cobb-douglas, ECM, industri pertanian, OLS, TFP
Advanced Correlative Light/Electron Microscopy: Current Methods and New Developments Using Tokuyasu Cryosections

Microscopy is an essential tool for analysis of cellular structures and function. With the advent of new fluorescent probes and super-resolution light microscopy techniques, the study of dynamic processes in living cells has been greatly facilitated. Fluorescence light microscopy provides analytical, quantitative, and three-dimensional (3D) data with emphasis on analysis of live cells using fluorescent markers. Sample preparation is easy and relatively inexpensive, and the use of appropriate tags provides the ability to track specific proteins of interest. Of course, only electron microscopy (EM) achieves the highest definition in terms of ultrastructure and protein labeling. To fill the gap between light microscopy and EM, correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) strategies have been developed. In particular, hybrid techniques based upon immuno-EM provide sensitive protein detection combined with high-resolution information on cell structures and protein localization. By adding the third dimension to EM with electron tomography (ET) combined with rapid freezing, CLEM techniques now provide additional tools for quantitative 3D analysis. Here, we overview the major methods applied and highlight the latest advances in the field of CLEM. We then focus on two selected techniques that use cryosections as substrate for combined biomolecular imaging. Finally, we provide a perspective of future developments in the field.
Improving corporate governance where the State is the controlling block holder: evidence from China

This paper examines changes in values and returns for Chinese firms around announcements of block-share transfers among government agencies, State-owned enterprises and private investors. We find that transfers to all three types of investors result in positive abnormal returns around transfer announcements, even when the transfers do not create a new controlling block holder and when transfers are between State entities. We also find that transfers from State entities to private entities result in larger increases in value and returns than transfers between State-controlled entities – consistent with the superior incentives and expertise of private investors. We conclude that corporate governance can be improved at State-controlled firms by improving incentives and expertise of controlling block holders.
Conjugation‐Specific Genes in the Ciliate Euplotes crassus: Gene Expression from the Old Macronucleus

ABSTRACT. Following mating or conjugation, the hypotrichous ciliate Euplotes crassus undergoes a massive genome reorganization process. While the nature of the rearrangement events has been well studied, little is known concerning proteins that carry out such processes. As a means of identifying such proteins, differential screening of a developmental cDNA library, as well as construction of a cDNA subtraction library, was used to isolate genes expressed only during sexual reproduction. Five different conjugation‐specific genes have been identified that are maximally expressed early in conjugation, during the period of micronuclear meiosis, which is just prior to macronuclear development and the DNA rearrangement process. All five genes are retained in the mature macronucleus. Micronuclear, macronuclear, and cDNA clones of one gene (conZ47) have been sequenced, and the results indicate that the gene encodes a putative DNA binding protein. In addition, the presence of an internal eliminated sequence in the micronuclear copy of the conZ47 gene indicates that this conjugation‐specific gene is transcribed from the old macronucleus.
Fisheries Economics and 20 Years with "Marine Resource Economics": A Citation Analysis

This paper reviews the impact of articles published in the Marine Resource Economics (MRE) and within the field of fisheries economics in general over the period 1954-2004. Specific attention is given to the years 1984-2004, which is the period that MRE has been published. The degree of influence is assessed using citation analysis. I present the most cited papers in MRE, the top ten all time cited fisheries economics papers, and the most cited papers during each decade over the last 30 years. By analysing the trend of recently published papers, I can assess which ones are projected to be most influential.
Lattice Recurrent Unit: Improving Convergence and Statistical Efficiency for Sequence Modeling

Recurrent neural networks have shown remarkable success in modeling sequences. However low resource situations still adversely affect the generalizability of these models. We introduce a new family of models, called Lattice Recurrent Units (LRU), to address the challenge of learning deep multi-layer recurrent models with limited resources. LRU models achieve this goal by creating distinct (but coupled) flow of information inside the units: a first flow along time dimension and a second flow along depth dimension. It also offers a symmetry in how information can flow horizontally and vertically. We analyze the effects of decoupling three different components of our LRU model: Reset Gate, Update Gate and Projected State. We evaluate this family of new LRU models on computational convergence rates and statistical efficiency.Our experiments are performed on four publicly-available datasets, comparing with Grid-LSTM and Recurrent Highway networks. Our results show that LRU has better empirical computational convergence rates and statistical efficiency values, along with learning more accurate language models.
Associations Between Motivation and Mental Health in Sport: A Test of the Hierarchical Model of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation

Motivation has been the subject of much research in the sport psychology literature, whereas athlete mental health has received limited attention. Motivational complexities in elite sport are somewhat reflected in the mental health literature, where there is evidence for both protective and risk factors for athletes. Notably, few studies have linked motivation to mental health. Therefore, the key objective of this study was to test four mental health outcomes in the motivational sequence posited by the Hierarchical Model of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation: motivational climate → basic psychological needs → motivation → mental health outcomes. Elite team-sport athletes (140 females, 75 males) completed seven psychometric inventories of motivation-related and mental health variables. Overall, the athletes reported positive motivational patterns, with autonomous motivation and task climate being more prevalent than their less adaptive counterparts. Elevated depressive symptoms and poor sleep quality affected nearly half of the cohort. Structural equation modeling supported pathways between motivational climate, basic needs, motivation, and mood, depressive symptoms, sleep quality, and trait anxiety. Specifically, a task climate was positively associated with the three basic psychological needs, and an ego climate was positively associated with competence. Autonomy and relatedness had positive and negative associations with autonomous and controlled forms of motivation, respectively. Controlled motivation regulations were positively associated with the four mental health outcomes. Integrated regulation had a negative association with anxiety, and intrinsic regulation had a positive association with depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the complexities of and interrelations between motivation and mental health among athletes, and support the importance of considering mental health as an outcome of motivation.
Novel small signal modeling and control of an LLC resonant converter

In this paper, a novel approach to determine the small signal model of an LLC resonant converter is presented. The proposed model uses analysis techniques from communications theory to determine the control-to-output transfer function required for the design of a digital compensation network. The model considers the effects of higher order harmonics and sideband frequencies generated by the variable switching frequency control method, as well as the effects of the LLC resonant tank and the output voltage rectifier. Experimental data from a prototype LLC resonant converter was obtained to verify the analytical results, and revealed that the proposed model is an accurate representation of the prototype converter dynamics. Simulation results demonstrated that a digital compensator design based on the proposed model was able to achieve output voltage regulation.
Canonical Wnt9b signaling balances progenitor cell expansion and differentiation during kidney development

The mammalian kidney is composed of thousands of individual epithelial tubules known as nephrons. Deficits in nephron number are associated with myriad diseases ranging from complete organ failure to congenital hypertension. A balance between differentiation and maintenance of a mesenchymal progenitor cell population determines the final number of nephrons. How this balance is struck is poorly understood. Previous studies have suggested that Wnt9b/β-catenin signaling induced differentiation (mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition) in a subset of the progenitors but needed to be repressed in the remaining progenitors to keep them in the undifferentiated state. Here, we report that Wnt9b/β-catenin signaling is active in the progenitors and is required for their renewal/proliferation. Using a combination of approaches, we have revealed a mechanism through which cells receiving the same Wnt9b/β-catenin signal can respond in distinct ways (proliferate versus differentiate) depending on the cellular environment in which the signal is received. Interpretation of the signal is dependent, at least in part, on the activity of the transcription factor Six2. Six2-positive cells that receive the Wnt9b signal are maintained as progenitors whereas cells with reduced levels of Six2 are induced to differentiate by Wnt9b. Using this simple mechanism, the kidney is able to balance progenitor cell expansion and differentiation insuring proper nephron endowment. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms that regulate progenitor cell differentiation during normal and pathological conditions.
On advanced estimation techniques for exoplanet detection and characterization using ground-based coronagraphs

The direct imaging of planets around nearby stars is exceedingly difficult. Only about 14 exoplanets have been imaged to date that have masses less than 13 times that of Jupiter. The next generation of planet-finding coronagraphs, including VLT-SPHERE, the Gemini Planet Imager, Palomar P1640, and Subaru HiCIAO have predicted contrast performance of roughly a thousand times less than would be needed to detect Earth-like planets. In this paper we review the state of the art in exoplanet imaging, most notably the method of Locally Optimized Combination of Images (LOCI), and we investigate the potential of improving the detectability of faint exoplanets through the use of advanced statistical methods based on the concepts of the ideal observer and the Hotelling observer. We propose a formal comparison of techniques using a blind data challenge with an evaluation of performance using the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) and Localization ROC (LROC) curves. We place particular emphasis on the understanding and modeling of realistic sources of measurement noise in ground-based AO-corrected coronagraphs. The work reported in this paper is the result of interactions between the co-authors during a week-long workshop on exoplanet imaging that was held in Squaw Valley, California, in March of 2012.
Arachidonic Acid Release from Mammalian Cells Transfected with Human Groups IIA and X Secreted Phospholipase A2 Occurs Predominantly during the Secretory Process and with the Involvement of Cytosolic Phospholipase A2-α*

Stable expression of human groups IIA and X secreted phospholipases A2 (hGIIA and hGX) in CHO-K1 and HEK293 cells leads to serum- and interleukin-1β-promoted arachidonate release. Using mutant CHO-K1 cell lines, it is shown that this arachidonate release does not require heparan sulfate proteoglycan- or glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins. It is shown that the potent secreted phospholipase A2 inhibitor Me-Indoxam is cell-impermeable. By use of Me-Indoxam and the cell-impermeable, secreted phospholipase A2 trapping agent heparin, it is shown that hGIIA liberates free arachidonate prior to secretion from the cell. With hGX-transfected CHO-K1 cells, arachidonate release occurs before and after enzyme secretion, whereas all of the arachidonate release from HEK293 cells occurs prior to enzyme secretion. Immunocytochemical studies by confocal laser and electron microscopies show localization of hGIIA to the cell surface and Golgi compartment. Additional results show that the interleukin-1β-dependent release of arachidonate is promoted by secreted phospholipase A2 expression and is completely dependent on cytosolic (group IVA) phospholipase A2. These results along with additional data resolve the paradox that efficient arachidonic acid release occurs with hGIIA-transfected cells, and yet exogenously added hGIIA is poorly able to liberate arachidonic acid from mammalian cells.
AWARENESS OF FAMILY PLANNING AMONGST ANTENATAL PATIENTS IN A NIGERIAN COMMUNITY: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

Aim: This study aimed at determining the awareness about family planning amongst pregnant women presenting to the antenatal clinic of Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. Methodology: The study was conducted between December, 2007 and February, 2008 at the antenatal clinic of the hospital. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethical Review Committee of the hospital prior to commencement of the study. The information was obtained from the respondents with the aid of a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire which included their bio-data, awareness and the sources of awareness about family planning . Other information obtained were reasons for family planning as well as knowledge about the different methods of family planning. The information obtained with the study instrument (questionnaire) was collated and analyzed with SPSS statistical software version 12.0. 1. Results: Most respondents (89%) were aware of family planning. The majority of the respondents:42 (47.2%) received information about family planning from health workers while 21(23.6%) received the information through the media. Most of the respondents (74%) knew about condom. The level of education significantly affected the awareness about family planning with a p value of 0.017. Conclusion: Most respondents were aware of family planning. The media should play a more prominent role in creating awareness amongst the populace about family panning.
Five new species of Vibrissina Rondani (Diptera: Tachinidae) from Area de Conservación Guanacaste in Northwestern Costa Rica

Abstract Background We describe five new species in the genus Vibrissina Rondani from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG). All species were reared from wild-caught sawfly larvae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta: Argidae and Tenthredinidae). We provide a morphological description of each species together with information on life history, molecular data, and photographic documentation. New information Five new species of Vibrissina Rondani: Vibrissina randycurtisi sp. n. , V. randyjonesi sp. n. , V. robertwellsi sp. n. , V. danmartini sp. n. , V. hallwachsorum sp. n.
A Model of Three Cities

We develop a spatial model representing three cities of different size and connected by a road. We study two versions of a two-stage game where firms first decide where to locate and then set quantities or prices. We show that, in the case of quantity competition, maximal dispersion or agglomeration arises. Also, multiple equilibria are possible. In the case of price competition, maximal dispersion or partial dispersion arises. An asymmetric spatial equilibrium is possible even if the model is completely symmetric ex ante. A number of results are also derived when comparing the Cournot and the Bertrand locational equilibria in terms of profits, consumer surplus, and total welfare, and with respect to the welfare-maximizing locations.