Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the Escherichia coli K-12 genome with sampled genomes of a Klebsiella pneumoniae and three salmonella enterica serovars, Typhimurium, Typhi and Paratyphi.

The Escherichia coli K-12 genome (ECO) was compared with the sampled genomes of the sibling species Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium, Typhi and Paratyphi A (collectively referred to as SAL) and the genome of the close outgroup Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPN). There are at least 160 locations where sequences of >400 bp are absent from ECO but present in the genomes of all three SAL and 394 locations where sequences are present in ECO but close homologs are absent in all SAL genomes. The 394 sequences in ECO that do not occur in SAL contain 1350 (30.6%) of the 4405 ECO genes. Of these, 1165 are missing from both SAL and KPN. Most of the 1165 genes are concentrated within 28 regions of 10-40 kb, which consist almost exclusively of such genes. Among these regions were six that included previously identified cryptic phage. A hypothetical ancestral state of genomic regions that differ between ECO and SAL can be inferred in some cases by reference to the genome structure in KPN and the more distant relative Yersinia pestis. However, many changes between ECO and SAL are concentrated in regions where all four genera have a different structure. The rate of gene insertion and deletion is sufficiently high in these regions that the ancestral state of the ECO/SAL lineage cannot be inferred from the present data. The sequencing of other closely related genomes, such as S.bongori or Citrobacter, may help in this regard.
Forecasting macroeconomy based on the term structure of credit spreads: evidence from China

This article establishes an original methodology to forecast macroeconomy based on the term structure of credit spreads. It combines the traditional Svensson model with genetic algorithms to obtain the interest rate term structures of government bonds and corporate bonds and calculates credit spreads as their differences. And this article defines three factors of the term structure of credit spreads: level, slope and curvature. Based on these three factors and several macroeconomic variables, VAR models are developed and tested to forecast macroeconomic variables. The empirical results confirm that VAR models can predict the changes of China's macroeconomy well, which indicates that the term structure of credit spreads contains information of future changes of macroeconomic variables. We believe this result has significant implications for macroeconomy policy-makers.
Slotted Waveguide Array Antenna performance enhancement by parasitic elements augmentation

A novel design of Slotted Waveguide Array Antenna (SWGAA), at 8.5 GHz with beamwidth of 11° and > −21 dB sidelobe level, with each slot is augmented with a pair of inverted L-shaped parasitic dipoles is presented in this work. Each dipole is located beside the long edges of the slot. The slot cut from a rectangular waveguide acts as a magnetic dipole while the parasitic dipoles act as electric dipoles. Both dipole types act as radiating elements. If both are designed to radiate at the same frequency at the proper amplitude and phase, the radiation performance can be enhanced. Performance comparisons between conventional SWGAA design and the proposed design are presented in this work.
The Economics of Place-Making Policies

Should the national government undertake policies aimed at strengthening the economies of particular localities or regions? Agglomeration economies and human capital spillovers suggest that such policies could enhance welfare. However, the mere existence of agglomeration externalities does not indicate which places should be subsidized. Without a better understanding of nonlinearities in these externalities, any government spatial policy is as likely to reduce as to increase welfare. Transportation spending has historically done much to make or break particular places, but current transportation spending subsidizes low-income, low-density places where agglomeration effects are likely to be weakest. Most large-scale place-oriented policies have had little discernable impact. Some targeted policies such as Empowerment Zones seem to have an effect but are expensive relative to their achievements. The greatest promise for a national place-based policy lies in impeding the tendency of highly productive areas to restrict their own growth through restrictions on land use.
Does Centralisation of FX Derivative Usage Impact Firm Value

Previous research has shown that firms identified as derivative users tend to be valued at a premium relative to non-users. In this paper I develop the hypothesis that the ‘derivative premium’ is higher in firms with centralized FX exposure management, compared to a decentralized approach in which subsidiaries retain bank contacts and/or decision-making authority. This study benefits from unique survey data on the FX management practices and derivative usage of Swedish listed firms. The data supports the centralization-hypothesis. Firms with a centralized approach have a statistically significant derivative premium of around 15%, whereas there is no premium for decentralized firms.
A survey of biomedical technology in research carried out at the universities of the Netherlands and by the organisation for applied scientific research (TNO)

• A submitted manuscript is the version of the article upon submission and before peer-review. There can be important differences between the submitted version and the official published version of record. People interested in the research are advised to contact the author for the final version of the publication, or visit the DOI to the publisher's website. • The final author version and the galley proof are versions of the publication after peer review. • The final published version features the final layout of the paper including the volume, issue and page numbers.
The Identification of the Response of Interest Rates to Monetary Policy Actions Using Market-Based Measures of Monetary Policy Shocks

It is common practice to estimate the response of asset prices to monetary policy actions using market-based measures of monetary policy shocks, such as the federal funds futures rate. I show that because interest rates and market-based measures of monetary policy shocks respond simultaneously to all news and not simply news about monetary policy actions, market-based measures of monetary policy shocks yield biased estimates of the response of interest rates to monetary policy actions. I propose a methodology that corrects for this "joint-response bias. " The results indicate that the response of Treasury yields to monetary policy actions is considerably weaker than previously estimated. In particular, there is no statistically significant response of longer-term Treasury yields before February 2000 and no statistically significant response of any Treasury rate after.
An Evolutionary Model of Brand Competition

We study the evolutionary dynamics of brand competition in a market where two firms are competing against each other. A brand's strategy at each period could be either to innovate on its own or to copy the rival or maintain the same position as before. Consumers are heterogenous, they interact with each other, and under bounded rationality choose one of the products every period, based on their characteristics and price. A multi-agent simulation has been designed under three specifications - no network, a random network and a 2-level network. The cases of no networks, random networks and 2-level networks of different densities give very different results in terms of attainment of equilibrium. Moreover, convergence is always more frequent and faster in case of dense 2-level networks and in the case of sparse random networks. It was also noticed that a skew in the distribution of consumers in the characteristics space leads to more variation in equilibrium values as well as in the likelihood of convergence
The Swedish APP670/671 Alzheimer’s Disease Mutation: The First Evidence for Strikingly Increased Oxidative Injury in the Temporal Inferior Cortex

To evaluate the level of oxidative stress (OS) in familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD), we analysed four cerebrocortical areas from patients with Swedish FAD bearing the APP670/671 mutation. The temporal inferior cortex (TIC) from Swedish FAD patients revealed a striking 2- to 3-fold increase in diene conjugates, lipid peroxides and protein carbonyls, compared to sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Compared with TIC from sporadic AD patients, the mutation carriers showed a markedly decreased activity of catalase (CAT) in the same area, and the same trend was found for another antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. These results are consistent with the deep oxidative injury of TIC in Swedish FAD. In the frontal inferior cortex (FIC), sensory postcentral cortex (SPCC) and occipital primary cortex (OPC) from Swedish FAD, the parameters of oxidative injury tended to be higher than in sporadic AD. Only the increase in the levels of lipid hydroperoxides in SPCC and of protein carbonyls in OPC was significant. Compared to sporadic AD, Swedish FAD showed a significant increase in GSSG levels and the GSSG/2GSH ratio in the FIC, SPCC and OPC. A significantly decreased activity of CAT was detectable for the SPCC and OPC in Swedish FAD. Increased OS might play a crucial role in the rapid progression of Swedish FAD from the associative temporal cortex to the primary cerebrocortical areas.
Relearning and subsequent forgetting of semantic category exemplars in a case of semantic dementia.

Over 15 months of longitudinal assessment, a patient with semantic dementia, D.M. , improved on tests of naming and category fluency for a specific set of items (Experiment 1). The authors attribute this to his home drill with the names of these concepts plus pictures and descriptions of them. In Experiment 2, D.M. produced significantly more exemplars on category fluency for semantic categories that he had been practicing at home than for nonpracticed categories, an effect that cannot be attributed to an inherent difference between the 2 sets because the fluency performance of control participants revealed no significant difference between the 2 sets. In Experiment 3, D.M. rehearsed some of his previously nonpracticed categories daily for a period of 2 weeks: His fluency scores on the experimental categories improved substantially, but they declined once he ceased the daily drill. The results are discussed with respect to current views of long-term memory, particularly new word learning and forgetting, and to current techniques for facilitating word finding in aphasia.
Financial Intermediaries, Financial Stability, and Monetary Policy

In a market-based financial system, banking and capital market developments are inseparable. We document evidence that balance sheets of market-based financial intermediaries provide a window on the transmission of monetary policy through capital market conditions. Short-term interest rates are determinants of the cost of leverage and are found to be important in influencing the size of financial intermediary balance sheets. However, except for periods of crises, higher balance-sheet growth tends to be followed by lower interest rates, and slower balance-sheet growth is followed by higher interest rates. This suggests that consideration might be given to a monetary policy that anticipates the potential disorderly unwinding of leverage. In this sense, monetary policy and financial stability policies are closely linked.
Quantitative Research Special Report Fitch Equity Implied Rating and Probability of Default Model

Summary Fitch’s Equity Implied Ratings and Probability of Default (EIR) model is estimated to provide a view of a firm’s credit condition given its current equity price and available financial information. The Fitch EIR model is a proprietary hybrid probability of default and rating model that incorporates an option-based barrier model with hybrid adjustment of firms’ financial and market information. Our barrier-option based PD provides a forward-looking structural default probability. Changes in this structural default probability provide leading information about changes in the credit quality of a debt issuer, and thus help to understand impending rating change and default. The model makes use of a small, but very carefully selected subset of accounting and market variables. Fitch’s proprietary default database contains over 7,900 defaults globally, spanning from the 1960s through 2006. Model calibration for Fitch’s EIR model is based on data from 1990 through 2005 for North American firms, and for the period between 2000 through 2005 for global firms using daily price history and annual financial statements. The Fitch EIR model covers approximately 27,000 entities globally: 13,000 in the US and Canada, plus another 14,000 firms from more than 70 other countries. For all firms, the model provides daily output of estimated default probability (PD) for both one-year and five-year horizons, and the implied agency rating (IR). Accuracy Ratio (AR) power of the model for the rated universe is 86.4% and 68.8% for 1year and 5-year horizons, respectively. When compared to established benchmark models, the EIR model outperforms peer models by wide margins. Furthermore, it is shown that our hybrid methodology (whereby certain financial ratios and market information are combined with a pure option-based barrier model) outperforms the pure option-based barrier model’s AR by 4% and 6% at the 1- and 5-year horizons, respectively. In addition to AR, a battery of tests are performed to measure the performance of the model, including k-fold tests, walk-forward tests, and lead-lag analysis. The results of these tests reveal that the model is very powerful in distinguishing good credits from bad credits, maintains robust performance through time and is applicable across different industries, geographic regions, and firms with different sizes. Analysts
Feasibility study of DTV based PCL radar in South Africa

This paper presents a discussion on Passive Coherent Location (PCL) radar system using Digital-TV signals (Digital video broadcasting Terrestrial-DVB-T) as a means of radar transmission in Cape Town South Africa. It analyzes the quality of digital TV signals as an illuminator of opportunity for PCL. Digital TV signals being broadcasted in Cape Town South Africa will be analyzed by means of the ambiguity function. Furthermore, a system characterization with performance prediction.
Physical Performance and Cardiovascular Responses to an Acute Bout of Heavy Resistance Circuit Training versus Traditional Strength Training

Circuit training effectively reduces the time devoted to strength training while allowing an adequate training volume to be achieved. Nonetheless, circuit training has traditionally been performed using relatively low loads for a relatively high number of repetitions, which is not conducive to maximal muscle size and strength gain. This investigation compared physical performance parameters and cardiovascular load during heavy-resistance circuit (HRC) training to the responses during a traditional, passive rest strength training set (TS). Ten healthy subjects (age, 26 ± 1.6 years; weight, 80.2 ± 8.78 kg) with strength training experience volunteered for the study. Testing was performed once weekly for 3 weeks. On day 1, subjects were familiarized with the test and training exercises. On the subsequent 2 test days, subjects performed 1 of 2 strength training programs: HRC (5 sets × (bench press + leg extensions + ankle extensions); 35-second interset rest; 6 repetition maximum [6RM] loads) or TS (5 sets × bench press; 3-minute interset rest, 6RM loads). The data confirm that the maximum and average bar velocity and power and the number of repetitions performed of the bench press in the 2 conditions was the same; however, the average heart rate was significantly greater in the HRC compared to the TS condition (HRC = 129 ± 15.6 beats·min−1, ∼71% maximum heart rate (HRmax), TS = 113 ± 13.1 beats·min−1, ∼62% HRmax; P < 0.05). Thus, HRC sets are quantitatively similar to traditional strength training sets, but the cardiovascular load is substantially greater. HRC may be an effective training strategy for the promotion of both strength and cardiovascular adaptations.
Session continuity and splitting of multimedia applications using qualitative user preferences

With the increasing demand for multimedia contents and with the increased usage of small hand-held devices, a user in a home network has a number of devices at hand that may offer similar multimedia services but with varying capabilities. The user may choose one device for using a particular multimedia service at one time, and change to another device at another time. The user may, however, continue using the same service and maintain their previous session on the new device without restarting a new session. Although this can be achieved using one of the session continuity approaches described in the literature, in this paper we propose how user preferences can be used for selection of a device for session continuity. A qualitative preference model is suggested, which is then translated into a quantitative model to choose the most appropriate device for user.
On elevating strategic design research

While the popular understanding of the influence of design is growing, academic research has largely been restricted to considering consumer-level responses to design elements. This paper reviews this past work and proposes a more strategic research agenda for the field, with the potential to explicate linkages between design elements and strategies and outcomes related to innovation and corporate performance.
Expression of Integrin Receptors on Peripheral Lymphocytes: Correlation with Endometrial Receptivity 1

PROBLEM: To investigate the expression of integrin (ITG) cell adhesion molecules on peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and their correlation with endometrial cell ITG expression in fertile and infertile women during peak uterine receptive period (day 19/20). METHOD OF STUDY: Surface marker expression and quantification of α6, α4 and β3 ITG subunits was done by immunohistochemistry, indirect immunofluroscence and cell‐enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay methods using endometrial cells and PBL obtained from fertile and infertile (unexplained infertility) women. RESULTS: The expression of ITGs was significantly (P<0.001) decreased in the endometrial cells of infertile women compared to normal fertile women. These results correlated well with the data obtained using PBL‐ITG expression. CONCLUSIONS: If these preliminary data are consistent in a larger group of patients, the expression of α4 and β3‐ITG subunits on PBL may be used as clinical markers to assess endometrial receptivity in infertile women. Moreover, frequent blood sampling is advantageous over repeated endometrial biopsies as the former approach is easier, non‐traumatic and avoids intra‐uterine infections.
Gender Differences in the Relationship of Homelessness to Symptom Severity, Substance Abuse, and Neuroleptic Noncompliance in Schizophrenia

This study examined gender differences in the relationship of homelessness in schizophrenia to symptom severity, risk behaviors, and prognostic features. Four hundred subjects with schizophrenia were studied: 100 homeless men, 100 homeless women, 100 never homeless men, and 100 never homeless women. Assessments included derivation of five symptom factors by using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Homelessness for the entire sample was associated with greater severity of positive, activation, and autistic preoccupation symptoms, younger age at first hospitalization, and substance abuse (SA). For men only, homelessness was associated with neuroleptic noncompliance (NN). When NN and SA were statistically controlled, symptom severity was not different between the homeless and never homeless. Women, independent of residential status, had more severe negative, activation, and autistic preoccupation symptoms that were not associated with prognostic features or risk behaviors. For both men and women, SA was associated with homelessness, but independent of residence, SA was less severe in women. Additionally, SA was less severe in homeless women than never homeless men. Thus, symptom severity in homeless individuals with schizophrenia appears as an interaction of symptom profiles and risk behaviors that are gender specific. Although cross-sectional analyses cannot distinguish cause from effect, these findings suggest gender-specific routes to homelessness among indigent urban adults with schizophrenia.
Impact of liquidity on stock returns: an empirical investigation of the Tunisian stock market

This paper investigates the return–liquidity relationship on one Middle East and North Africa frontier market, the Tunisian Stock Exchange (TSE). The findings provide evidence that there is a significant and positive premium for companies with high price impact and low trading frequency. However, Tunisian investors appreciate more low spread stocks. We show, also, a non-linear relation between potential delays of execution and stock returns. In addition, we find that Tunisian investors require a premium to compensate past cumulative illiquidity risk (high price impact, low turnover and high potential delay of execution) over the prior three to 12 months and to compensate past cumulative spread over 12 months. We point out also that these effects are seasonal.
Does Operational and Financial Hedging Reduce Exposure? Evidence from the U.S. Airline Industry

We examine the effects of both financial and operational hedging on jet fuel exposure in the U.S. airline industry. Specifically, we investigate two operational hedging strategies: the extent to which airlines operate different aircraft types and the degree to which airlines operate fuel-efficient fleets. We find that both financial and operational hedging are important tools in reducing airline exposure to jet fuel price risk. However, operational hedging strategies appear to be more economically important, which suggests that hedging with derivatives is more likely to be used to “fine-tune” risk exposure, whereas operational choices have a higher order effect on risk exposure.
Information work and the opportunity of innovation

Explains the need for fresh innovation in product development, suggesting that the industries that contributed to the last economic boom will be replaced by new ones in the future. Distinguishes between innovation and creativity, arguing that the two are complementary and that it is increasingly product users, rather than manufacturers, who are the inspiration for product innovations. Posits that, formerly, organizations have over-focused on the technological, whereas in fact innovation rarely happens outside the social. Suggests that information professionals are uniquely well placed to contribute to this process: because they have the equipment and technology to do it; because they constitute a knowledge-gathering node outside the political manoeuvring of the organization; and because they can provide leadership on knowledge about the field of information itself.