Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High case-fatality rates of meningococcal disease in Western Norway caused by serogroup C strains belonging to both sequence type (ST)-32 and ST-11 complexes, 1985–2002

A total of 293 meningococcal disease (McD) patients from Western Norway hospitalized during 1985–2002 were examined for risk factors related to death. The case-fatality rate (CFR) increased from 4% during 1985–1993 to 17% during 1994–2002. We analysed the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of the meningococcal patient isolates, with the aim of identifying whether highly virulent meningococcal strains contributed to the increased CFR. The Norwegian epidemic strain B:15:P1.7,16/ST-32 complex was overall the most common phenotype/genotype (n=75) and caused most deaths (n=9; CFR 12·0%). However, fatality was significantly associated with disease caused by serogroup C meningococcal strains; C:15:P1.7,16/ST-32 and C:2a/ST-11 complex strains, which had the highest CFRs of 21·1% and 18·2% respectively. Serogroup B strains of the ST-32 complex differing by serotype and/or serosubtype from the epidemic strain had a CFR of 5·1%, while the CFR of disease caused by other strains (all phenotypes and genotypes pooled) was 2·2%. The distribution of phenotypes/clonal complexes varied significantly between 1985–1993 and 1994–2002 (P<0·001); B:15/ST-32 complex strains decreased whereas both C:15:P1.7,16/ST-32 complex strains and strains with other phenotypes/clonal complexes increased. Our results indicate that C:15:P1.7,16/ST-32 and C:2a/ST-11 complex strains were highly virulent strains and contributed to the high CFR of McD in patients from Western Norway. To reduce fatality, rapid identification of such virulent strains is necessary. In addition, early and specific measures should include public information, vaccination of populations at risk of disease and carriage eradication, when clustering of patients occurs.
Measuring Protein Thermostability by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) the method of choice to study the conformational stability of biological macromolecules and proteins in particular. This unit presents step‐by‐step protocols for DSC, including sample preparation and interpretation of the results in the simplest cases as well as calibration of the apparatus and maintenance of DSC cells. Various general experimental considerations, including possible pitfalls and errors, are also discussed.
Global robust stability analysis of neural networks with multiple time delays

Global robust convergence properties of continuous-time neural networks with discrete delays are studied. By employing suitable Lyapunov functionals, we derive a set of delay-independent sufficient conditions for the existence, uniqueness, and global robust asymptotic stability of the equilibrium point. The conditions can be easily verified as they can be expressed in terms of the network parameters only. Some numerical examples are given to compare our results with previous robust stability results derived in the literature. One of our main results is shown to improve and generalize a previously published result. Other results proved to establish a new set of robust stability criteria for delayed neural networks.
See the Forest Through the Trees: Social Trust and Human Capital

This paper explores a new perspective in understanding social trust and its formation in a game theoretic setting. Evidence from experiments and real life suggests individuals differ in predisposition to cooperate, which is essentially a component of human capital that is costly to cultivate but yields a stream of returns in the future. When more people acquire a stronger cooperative tendency, they are in general more trustworthy and hence the social trust is higher. In this sense, the individual cooperative tendencies are the trees of the social trust forest. How many trees are planted and how tall they grow are affected by the effectiveness of education, information transmission, and economic governance institutions. Multiple equilibriums and inefficiency exist due to positive externalities. The main findings are consistent with relevant evidence.
Income and Democracy: Lipset's Law Inverted

In this article, we revisit Lipset’s law (Lipset 1959), which posits a positive and significant relationship between income and democracy. Using dynamic panel data estimation techniques that account for short-run cross-country heterogeneity in the relationship between income and democracy and that correct for potential cross-section error dependence, we overturn the literature's recent set of findings of the absence of any significant relationship between income and democracy and in a surprising manner: We find a significant and negative relationship between income and democracy: higher/lower incomes per capita hinder/trigger democratization. We attribute this result to the nature of the tax base. Decomposing overall income per capita into its resource and non-resource components, we find that the coefficient on the latter is positive and significant while that on the former is significant but negative. In the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) portion of the sample where the relationship runs from political institutions – i.e. democracy – to economic performance – i.e. income, democracy is found to positively and significantly affect income per capita, which slowly converge to its long-run value as predicted by current democracy levels: SSA countries may thus be currently too democratic to what their income levels suggest.
Tapping Regional And Corporate Scientific Knowledge For Innovation: The Moderating Role Of Scientific Knowledge Duration

We develop and test how business entities tap regional and corporate scientific knowledge for their innovations in a revolutionary technology. Building on the knowledge-based view of the firm, we argue that while both regional and corporate scientific knowledge may improve a business entity's innovation, it is the business entity's own accumulative research efforts that improve its ability to absorb regional scientific knowledge. In contrast, we expect and find that the longer the entity has been researching the revolutionary technology, the less likely corporate scientific knowledge will impact the focal entity's innovation. Our results support this theory regarding the moderating effect of a business entity's own accumulative research efforts with corporate scientific knowledge but not with regional knowledge. Further, we find different effects between regional scientific knowledge and innovation among single and multi-location firms.
Field evaluation of baited traps for surveillance of Aedes japonicus japonicus in Switzerland

The efficacy of Centers for Disease Control (CDC) miniature light traps and ovitraps was tested in the outskirts of the city of Zurich in Switzerland for their use in the surveillance of Aedes (Hulecoeteomyia) japonicus japonicus (Theobald) (Diptera: Culicidae), the invasive Asian bush mosquito. Sets of single CDC traps were run overnight (n = 18) in three different environments (forest, suburban and urban) in 3 × 3 Latin square experimental designs. Traps were baited with: (a) carbon dioxide (CO2); (b) CO2 plus light, or (c) CO2 plus lure blend [Combi FRC 3003 (iGu®)]. At the same locations, mosquito eggs were collected weekly using standard ovitraps baited with different infusions (oak, hay or tap water) and equipped with different oviposition substrates (a block of extruded polystyrene, a germination paper strip or a wooden stick). Data were analysed using Poisson and negative binomial general linear models. The use of light (P < 0.001) or lure (P < 0.001) significantly increased the attractiveness of CDC traps baited with CO2. Oak and hay infusions did not increase the attractiveness of ovitraps compared with standing tap water (P > 0.05), and extruded polystyrene blocks were preferred as an oviposition substrate over wooden sticks (P < 0.05) and seed germination paper (P < 0.05). Carbon dioxide‐baited CDC miniature light traps complemented with light or iGu® lure and ovitraps containing standing tap water and polystyrene oviposition blocks can be considered as efficient and simple tools for use in Ae. j. japonicus surveillance programmes.
High gain wideband compact microstrip antenna with quasi-planar surface mount horn

We report a new compact square microstrip antenna with a surface mounted quasi-planar horn. The horn is made of plastic sheet and painted with silver epoxy. The horn improves the gain of the patch by 3-4.5 dB without adversely affecting bandwidth which is 2.3-9%. Also the horn improves the isolation between array elements by 10 dB. The total thickness of antenna, including the horn, is only 6.94 mm.
Econometric Analysis of the Mortgage Loans Dependence on Per Capita Income

The article makes the econometric modeling of the size of the mortgage loan in order to identify the mostimportant prognostic factors. The leading role of mortgage lending in the domestic banking services market isemphasized. Using Excel, Gretl software the authors are trying to prove the predominant influence of householdincome on the dynamics of the mortgage market. The article presents the methodical approach to measuring thedependence of mortgage loans on per-capita income. The results of empirical evaluations have confirmed theirpractical feasibility in the management of the credit portfolio.
Candoxatril, an orally active neutral endopeptidase inhibitor, raises plasma atrial natriuretic factor and is natriuretic in essential hypertension

Objective: Candoxatril (UK 79,300) is an orally available inhibitor of the neutral endopeptidase (E.C.3.4.24.11) which degrades atrial natriuretic factor (ANF). This study was designed to establish initial safety and efficacy data in essential hypertension for this novel class of drug. Design: A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-dose comparison of candoxatril with placebo in a crossover manner. Three doses of candoxatril (10, 50 and 200 mg) were used, with four subjects at each dose level. Setting: The Medical Research Council Blood Pressure Unit, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, UK (a hospital clinical research unit). Patients: Twelve patients with untreated essential hypertension. Diastolic blood pressure was >95 mmHg on three separate occasions before entry to the study. Intervention: Candoxatril or matching placebo was administered orally in the fasting state. Serial measurements of urinary volume and electrolyte excretion were taken (on each hour, urine volume was replaced with an equivalent volume of water by mouth). Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded for 12 h after drug administration and serial blood samples were taken for measurement of plasma ANF and neurohormone concentrations. Main outcome measures: Urine volume and electrolyte concentration; blood pressure; heart rate; plasma atrial natriuretic factor. Results: Plasma ANF concentrations rose significantly in all patients within 2 h of candoxatril administration compared with placebo although peak and integrated ANF levels were similar at all three doses. A significant natriuresis was only seen after 200 mg candoxatril, with a greater cumulative urine sodium excretion over 12 h compared with placebo; this was associated with a greater diuresis over 12 h compared with placebo. After a single oral dose of candoxatril, blood pressure and heart rate remained unchanged. Conclusions: Candoxatril in a single dose caused no adverse effects in essential hypertension. The drug caused a rise in basal ANF levels at all doses, but natriuresis was only seen with the highest dose used. No change in blood pressure was recorded after acute dosing and the results of chronic studies with this compound are awaited. Oral inhibitors of ANF degradation may have therapeutic potential in cardiovascular disorders.
Reactivation of the totally inactive pancreatic lipase RP1 by structure‐predicted point mutations

Both classical pancreatic lipase (DPL) and pancreatic lipase‐related protein 1 (DPLRP1) have been found to be secreted by dog exocrine pancreas. These two proteins were purified to homogeneity from canine pancreatic juice and no significant catalytic activity was observed with dog PLRP1 on any of the substrates tested: di‐ and tri‐glycerides, phospholipids, etc. DPLRP1 was crystallized and its structure solved by molecular replacement and refined at a resolution of 2.10 Å. Its structure is similar to that of the classical PL structures in the absence of any inhibitors or micelles. The lid domain that controls the access to the active site was found to have a closed conformation. An amino‐acid substitution (Ala 178 Val) in the DPLRP1 may result in a steric clash with one of the acyl chains observed in the structures of a C11 alkyl phosphonate inhibitor, a transition state analogue, bound to the classical PL. This substitution was suspected of being responsible for the absence of DPLRP1 activity. The presence of Val and Ala residues in positions 178 and 180, respectively, are characteristic of all the known PLRP1, whereas Ala and Pro residues are always present in the same positions in all the other members of the PL gene family. Introducing the double mutation Val 178 Ala and Ala 180 Pro into the human pancreatic RP1 (HPLRP1) gene yielded a well expressed and folded enzyme in insect cells. This enzyme is kinetically active on triglycerides. Our findings on DPLRP1 and HPLRP1 are therefore likely to apply to all the RP1 lipases. Proteins 32:523–531, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Timing of Neural Activity during Shifts of Spatial Attention

We developed a new experimental task to investigate the relative timing of neural activity during shifts of spatial attention with event-related potentials. The task enabled the investigation of nonlateralized as well as lateralized neural activity associated with spatial shifts. Participants detected target stimuli within one of two peripheral streams of visual letters. Colored letters embedded within the streams indicated which stream was to be used for target detection, signaling that participants should “hold” or “shift” their current focus of spatial attention. A behavioral experiment comparing performance in these focused-attention conditions with performance in a divided-attention condition confirmed the efficacy of the spatial cues. Another behavioral experiment showed that overt shifts of spatial attention were mainly complete by around 400 msec, placing an upper boundary for isolating neural activity that was instrumental in controlling spatial shifts. Event-related potentials recorded during a covert version of the focused-attention task showed a large amount of nonlateralized neural activity associated with spatial shifts, with significant effects starting around 330 msec. The effects started over posterior scalp regions, where they remained pronounced. Transient effects were also observed over frontal scalp regions. The results are compatible with a pivotal role of posterior parietal areas in initiating shifts of spatial attention.
DNA Binding by Sgf11 Protein Affects Histone H2B Deubiquitination by Spt-Ada-Gcn5-Acetyltransferase (SAGA)*

Background: Histone deubiquitination by SAGA is a core mechanism in gene expression regulation. Results: The zinc finger domain of SAGA subunit Sgf11 interacts with nucleosomal DNA via a positively charged surface patch. Conclusion: This interaction is required for optimal deubiquitination activity. Significance: This work highlights the unexpected role of C2H2-like zinc fingers in SAGA complex. The yeast Spt-Ada-Gcn5-acetyltransferase (SAGA) complex is a transcription coactivator that contains a histone H2B deubiquitination activity mediated by its Ubp8 subunit. Full enzymatic activity requires the formation of a quaternary complex, the deubiquitination module (DUBm) of SAGA, which is composed of Ubp8, Sus1, Sgf11, and Sgf73. The crystal structures of the DUBm have shed light on the structure/function relationship of this complex. Specifically, both Sgf11 and Sgf73 contain zinc finger domains (ZnF) that appear essential for the DUBm activity. Whereas Sgf73 N-terminal ZnF is important for DUBm stability, Sgf11 C-terminal ZnF appears to be involved in DUBm function. To further characterize the role of these two zinc fingers, we have solved their structure by NMR. We show that, contrary to the previously reported structures, Sgf73 ZnF adopts a C2H2 coordination with unusual tautomeric forms for the coordinating histidines. We further report that the Sgf11 ZnF, but not the Sgf73 ZnF, binds to nucleosomal DNA with a binding interface composed of arginine residues located within the ZnF α-helix. Mutational analyses both in vitro and in vivo provide evidence for the functional relevance of our structural observations. The combined interpretation of our results leads to an uncommon ZnF-DNA interaction between the SAGA DUBm and nucleosomes, thus providing further functional insights into SAGA's epigenetic modulation of the chromatin structure.
Local property taxes and moral hazard

A double moral hazard approach is used to address efficiency issues associated with local property taxes. It is shown that a local property tax will not lead to an efficient solution. However, despite its inefficiencies it is shown to be in both the local government's and in the property owners' interests to implement such a tax. The underlying reason is that the tax will provide the local government with incentives to take actions that are beneficial for the property owners. Furthermore, the question of risk aversion and its impact on a local property tax is discussed. This is argued to be dependent on what sources of risk exist. Two risk-sources are addressed in the paper. The first stems from uncertainty between actions and resulting revenues, the second from uncertainty in approximating the actual revenues. Both affect the results from the model but in opposite directions and hence the net effect of risk aversion is ambiguous.
GestAR: Real Time Gesture Interaction for AR with Egocentric View

The existing, sophisticated AR gadgets1 in the market today are mostly exorbitantly priced. This limits their usage for the upcoming academic research institutes and also their reach to the mass market in general. Among the most popular and frugal head mounts, Google Cardboard (GC) and Wearality2 are video-see-through devices that can provide immersible AR and VR experiences with a smartphone. Stereo-rendering of camera feed and overlaid information on smartphone helps us experience AR with GC. These frugal devices have limited user-input capability, allowing user interactions with GC such as head tilting, magnetic trigger and conductive lever. Our paper proposes a reliable and intuitive gesture based interaction technique for these frugal devices. The hand gesture recognition employs the Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM) based on human skin pixels and tracks segmented foreground using optical flow to detect hand swipe direction for triggering a relevant event. Realtime performance is achieved by implementing the hand gesture recognition module on a smartphone and thus reducing the latency. We augment real-time hand gestures as new GC's interface with its evaluation done in terms of subjective metrics and with the available user interactions in GC.
Glycerol-3-phosphate Cytidylyltransferase

The bacterial enzyme, glycerol-3-phosphate cytidylyltransferase (GCT), is a model for mammalian cytidylyltransferases and is a member of a large superfamily of nucleotidyltransferases. Dimeric GCT from Bacillus subtilis displays unusual negative cooperativity in substrate binding and appears to form products only when both active sites are occupied by substrates. Here we describe a complex of GCT with the product, CDP-glycerol, in a crystal structure in which bound sulfate serves as a partial mimic of the second product, pyrophosphate. Binding of sulfate to form a pseudo-ternary complex is observed in three of the four chains constituting the asymmetric unit and is accompanied by a backbone rearrangement at Asp11 and ordering of the C-terminal helix. Comparison with the CTP complex of GCT, determined previously, reveals that in the product complex the active site closes around the glycerol phosphate moiety with a concerted motion of the segment 37-47 that includes helix B. This rearrangement allows lysines 44 and 46 to interact with the glycerol and cytosine phosphates of CDP-glycerol. Binding of CDP-glycerol also induces smaller movements of residues 92-100. Roles of lysines 44 and 46 in catalysis have been confirmed by mutagenesis of these residues to alanine, which decreases Vmax(app) and has profound effects on the Km(app) for glycerol-3-phosphate.
Optimizing Neural Net based Predictive Control

Neural networks hold great promise for application in the general area of process control. This paper focuses on using a backpropagation network in an optimization based model predictive control scheme. Since analytical expressions for the gradient and Hessian of the neural net model can be derived and these expressions can be calculated in paralle, extremely fast computation times are possible. The control approach is illustrated on a pH CSTR example.
Emergency nurses attitudes towards older people in the emergency department: a cross-sectional study

Aim: To report nurses’ attitudes towards older people in the emergency department (ED). Background: A nurse’s attitude towards an older person can have an effect on nurses’ work practices and interactions and can result in adverse outcomes for the older person. Design: A national cross-sectional survey using a previously validated instrument Older Person in Acute Care Survey (OPACS) was conducted to measure emergency nurses’ attitudes towards older people in their care. Methods: Members of the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia (CENA) were invited to participate in the study. There were 371 (39%) completed surveys returned. Results: The OPACS survey identified that ED nurses have positive attitudes towards older people in the ED. Conclusion: The implications for practice are clinically significant because positive attitudes can result in prevention of discrimination and marginalisation of the older person in the ED.
An Evolutionary Game for User Access Mode Selection in Fog Radio Access Networks

The fog radio access network (F-RAN) is a promising paradigm to provide high spectral efficiency and energy efficiency. Characterizing users to select an appropriate communication mode in F-RANs is critical for performance optimization. With evolutionary game theory, a dynamic mode selection is proposed for F-RANs, in which the competition among the groups of potential users’ space is formulated as a dynamic evolutionary game, and the game is solved by an evolutionary equilibrium. Stochastic geometry tool is used to derive the proposals’ payoff expressions for both fog access point and device-to-device users by considering node location, cache sizes, as well as the delay cost. The analytical results for the proposed game model and the corresponding solution are evaluated, which show that the evolutionary game-based access mode selection algorithm has a better payoff than the max rate-based algorithm.
Approximate ground truth in the real world for testing optical flow algorithms

Vision-based driver assistance requires basic vision modules for stereo analysis or optic flow calculation. Driving situations change frequently, and methods need to be evaluated in the real world. The paper proposes ways for evaluating optic flow techniques by using estimated geometries for surrounding buildings or ‘road furniture’. It demonstrates the value of such an evaluation by discussing four different optic flow techniques.