Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular Epidemiology of sil Locus in Clinical Streptococcus pyogenes Strains

ABSTRACT Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus [GAS]) causes a wide variety of diseases, ranging from mild noninvasive to severe invasive infections. Mutations in regulatory components have been implicated in the switch from colonization to invasive phenotypes. The inactivation of the sil locus, composed of six genes encoding a quorum-sensing complex, gives rise to a highly invasive strain. However, studies conducted on limited collections of GAS strains suggested that sil prevalence is around 15%; furthermore, whereas a correlation between the presence of sil and the genetic background was suggested, no link between the presence of a functional sil locus and the invasive status was assessed. We established a collection of 637 nonredundant strains covering all emm genotypes present in France and of known clinical history; 68%, 22%, and 10% were from invasive infections, noninvasive infections, and asymptomatic carriage, respectively. Among the 637 strains, 206 were sil positive. The prevalence of the sil locus varied according to the emm genotype, being present in >85% of the emm4, emm18, emm32, emm60, emm87, and emm90 strains and absent from all emm1, emm28, and emm89 strains. A random selection based on 2009 French epidemiological data indicated that 16% of GAS strains are sil positive. Moreover, due to mutations leading to truncated proteins, only 9% of GAS strains harbor a predicted functional sil system. No correlation was observed between the presence or absence of a functional sil locus and the strain invasiveness status.
An examination of the experiences of managing a diverse workforce within three US online firms located in Ireland

Ireland has been a haven for foreign direct investment (FDI) particularly in the last decade as the country has recovered from the economic downturn that occurred in 2007. Many firms that make up the FDI population in Ireland are large US multinational firms who have chosen to locate here due to a large skilled workforce, low corporation tax and lucrative Industrial Development Authority (IDA) grants. Many of the US firms that are located here, are online firms who conduct their business online in sectors such as online market places, social media and online payments. As multinational firms choose Ireland as their European base, they attract employees from all over the world. With more employees moving to Ireland to join these multinational firms, diversity management has become a key practice among these firms as they try to maximise their workforces in order to drive performance and success. Although the topic of managing diverse workforces has been examined on an international level, there has been very little research on the topic from an Irish perspective. IBEC published a report in 2003 around how diversity management should be practiced in Ireland and how important the topic of diversity management will be in in the future. Many of the previous studies have used a quantitative approach to gaining results. In this study, the qualitative research approach was used in the form of semi-structured interviews. Three US online firms were represented in the study by two managers from each firm. By using this technique an in-depth insight into the management of diverse teams was observed. The research question answered in the study is in relation to whether there are more opportunities than challenges in establishing diverse teams in US online firms based in Ireland. In brief, the research findings from the study, indicate that diversity management is actively practiced in US online firms in Ireland and there are more opportunities than challenges in establishing diverse teams. The main opportunities were identified as: large talent pool of employees to choose from, innovation, language skills and competitiveness leading to higher performance. The findings that were gathered in this study are valid as they provide a valuable insight into the opportunities and challenges of establishing diverse teams from an Irish workforce perspective, something that has not been done previously.
Innovation and location in German knowledge intensive business service firms

"Knowledge Intensive Business Services (KIBS) are widely perceived as being important drivers of technological progress and innovation. KIBS are generally understood as depending, driving and thriving on knowledge exchanges and therefore, geographical proximity to markets, customers and suppliers would be expected to be a critical factor in their performance. This paper investigates how the innovation performance and processes of KIBS firms are related to their distance from the nearest city and also to the size of the nearest city. For this purpose we make use of detailed firm level data and consider Germany as a research field. While most current evidence on this topic emerges from Canada, we complements and add to this existing literature on the geography of KIBS by examining these issues in the German spatial setting which largely conforms to a textbook type of spatial urban hierarchy. Our probit results indeed find that there are very strong distance decay and city size effects, and these also vary according to the innovation type. " (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
Influence of model resolution on geometric simulations of antibody aggregation

SUMMARY It is estimated that allergies afflict up to 40% of the world's population. A primary mediator for allergies is the aggregation of antigens and IgE antibodies bound to cell-surface receptors, FcεRI. Antibody/antigen aggregate formation causes stimulation of mast cells and basophils, initiating cellular degranulation and releasing immune mediators which produce an allergic or anaphylactic response. Understanding the shape and structure of these aggregates can provide critical insights into the allergic response. We have previously developed methods to geometrically model, simulate and analyze antibody aggregation inspired by rigid body robotic motion simulations. Our technique handles the large size and number of molecules involved in aggregation, providing an advantage over traditional simulations such as molecular dynamics (MD) and coarse-grained energetic models. In this paper, we study the impact of model resolution on simulations of geometric structures using both our previously developed Monte Carlo simulation and a novel application of rule-based modeling. These methods complement each other, the former providing explicit geometric detail and the latter providing a generic representation where multiple resolutions can be captured. Our exploration is focused on two antigens, a man-made antigen with three binding sites, DF3, and a common shrimp allergen (antigen), Pen a 1. We find that impact of resolution is minimal for DF3, a small globular antigen, but has a larger impact on Pen a 1, a rod-shaped molecule. The volume reduction caused by the loss in resolution allows more binding site accessibility, which can be quantified using a rule-based model with implicit geometric input. Clustering analysis of our simulation shows good correlation when compared with available experimental results. Moreover, collisions in all-atom reconstructions are negligible, at around 0.2% at 90% reduction.
Engagement Platforms in the Sharing Economy: Conceptual Foundations and Research Directions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify and delineate research directions that guide future empirical studies exploring how engagement platforms facilitate value co-creation and actor engagement in the context of the sharing economy. <br><br>Design/methodology/approach – The authors adopt a mid-range theorizing approach with service-dominant logic as the integrating meta-theoretical perspective to develop a theoretical framework about service platforms, engagement platforms, and actor engagement in information communication technology (ICT) mediated environments. The authors then contextualize the framework for the sharing economy. <br><br>Findings – The authors introduce 20 unique research questions to guide future studies related to service ecosystems, engagement platforms, and actor engagement practices in the context of the sharing economy. Research limitations/implications – The sharing economy is an emerging phenomenon that is driven by the development and proliferation of engagement platforms. The engagement platform concept therefore provides a novel perspective for exploration of how ICT can be utilized to facilitate value co-creation and engagement amongst interdependent economic actors in a service ecosystem. <br><br>Practical implications – The purpose of this paper is to guide future academic research, rather than managerial practice. Future research based on the framework can help guide decision-makers to implement and use engagement platforms more effectively. <br><br>Originality/value – This paper offers new insight into the important intersection of ICT and service research, and guides future studies exploring the role of engagement platforms in the context of the sharing economy.
Why Do Large Investors Disclose Their Information?

Large investors often advertise private information at private talks or in the media. To analyse the incentives for information disclosure, I develop a two-period Kyle (1985) type model in which an informed short-horizon investor strategically discloses private information to enhance price efficiency. I show that information disclosure is optimal when the scope of private information is large and when the large investor has a high reputation. Short investment horizons induce information disclosure among investors and are beneficial for price efficiency. However, strategic information disclosure reduces trading before disclosure and harms price discovery.
Expatriate Students' Perceptions of Attendance and Persistence at a Private Malaysian Institution

Expatriate Students’ Perceptions of Attendance and Persistence at a Private Malaysian Institution by Jin Deng MSc, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2010 PG-Diploma, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2008 University Center César Ritz, 2008 PG-Diploma, University Center César Ritz, 2000 Associate, Sichuan Radio & Television University, 1997 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Impact of different clinical pathways on outcomes of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: the RAPID-AMI study.

BACKGROUND Current guidelines support primary percutaneous coronary intervention (primary PCI) as the first treatment of choice (as opposed to thrombolytic therapy) for patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) especially when delivered within 12 hours of symptom onset. We aimed to evaluate the impact of different clinical pathways on reduction of reperfusion delay and subsequent improvement in outcomes in patients with STEMI. METHODS From November 2005 to November 2007, 546 consecutive patients with definite STEMI, who upon arrival at the emergency room were triaged to undergo primary PCI, were included. Of them, 271 patients were brought directly to catheterization laboratory (rapid group), and 275 patients were admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) or cardiac ward first, and then transferred to the catheterization laboratory (non-rapid group). Primary endpoint was door-to-balloon (D2B) time, and secondary endpoints included infarct size assessed by peak CK-MB level and rates of major cardiac adverse events (MACE) including death, reinfarction, or target-vessel revascularization during hospitalization and at 30-day clinical follow-up. RESULTS Baseline clinical characteristics, angiographic features and procedural success rates were comparable between the two groups, except that more patients received glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors before angiography (84.0% and 77.1, P = 0.042) and had TIMI 3 flow in the culprit vessel at initial angiogram (17.1% and 9.2%, P = 0.007) in the non-rapid group. The D2B time was shortened ((108 +/- 44) minutes and (138 +/- 31) minutes, P < 0.0001), and number of patients with D2B time < 90 minutes was greater (22.6% and 10.9%, P < 0.0001) in the rapid group. The advantages associated with rapid intra-hospital transfer were enhanced if the patients presented to the hospital at regular hours. Peak CK-MB level was significantly reduced in the rapid group. In-hospital mortality (4.1% and 5.8%) and cumulative MACE rate (7.0% and 9.8%) did not significantly differ between rapid and non-rapid groups. At 30 days, cumulative death- and MACE-free survival rates were improved in the rapid group (94.5% and 89.5%, P = 0.035; 90.1% and 84.0%, P = 0.034, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Clinical pathway with bypass of CCU/cardiac ward admission was associated with rapid reperfusion, smaller infarct size, and improved short-term survival for patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI. In the future, it is essential to reduce the time delay for patients presenting at off-hours.
Strategies for Improving Enzymes for Efficient Biocatalysis

Biocatalytic processes are finding increasingly widespread application not only in academia, but also in industry. This is particularly true in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries where the need for optically pure molecules is critical. Biocatalysis is also receiving a major thrust from the generation of new and novel biocatalysts via microbial screening, developments in the biocatalytic processes themselves (e.g. use of nonaqueous solvents for synthetic purposes) and improvements in the activation of the enzymes by numerous mechanisms (solvent and enzyme modifications), including protein engineering. The most dramatic results have been achieved by targeting the gene encoding a particular enzyme in order to undertake protein engineering by rational and non-rational methods. This review discusses various means of improving enzyme properties or creating new activities.
Wideband multilayer WAIM design and optimization

The use of metamaterials to obtain a wideband wide angle impedance matching (WAIM) for waveguide-fed planar phased array is investigated. The constitutive parameters as well the thickness of the layers placed over the radiating elements are optimized by means of a particle swarm optimizer (PSO). Selected results show the effectiveness of the approach in improving the performance of the whole radiating system.
Improving the Reporting Quality of Instrument Cross-Cultural Adaptation: the IRICA Statement

Background: To achieve a consensus on the reporting checklists for instrument Cross-Cultural Adaptation (CCA) research.Methods: Firstly, we clarified the research rationality with literature review and established the preliminary checklist pool based on information extracting. Then, using the focus group and expert interview, we optimized the checklists. Finally, the international Delphi surveys were conducted to evaluate the agreement degree, importance and familiarity of the checklists. In data analysis, 21 indicators were included for quantitative assessments, accompanied with group discussions.Results: A total of 61 articles was included for rational analysis and 70 items were extracted to establish the checklist pool. After focus group and experts interview research, a checklist draft contains 25 items was put forward. In the three-rounds of international Delphi surveys, 14(70.00%), 11(68.75%) and 11(68.75%) questionnaires were completed. Basing on the quantitative analysis and group discussions, 1, 1 and 9 items were deleted, added and modified. Finally, we formed the checklist for Improving the Reporting quality of Instrument cross-cultural adaptation (IRICA) which contains 24 items subhead under 6 sections: Title and structured summary, Rationale and Objective, Authorization, Participants Criteria, Forward Translations, Forward Synthesis, Backward Translations, Backward Synthesis, Experts Qualitative Review, Pilot Testing, Field Testing, Statistical methods, Participants, Series Instruments, Main results, Other analyses, Summary of evidence, Comparison of instruments, Limitations, Copyright owner interaction, Application attentions, Conclusions, Appendix, Funding. Conclusions: The IRICA statement can be used to guide users to report instrument CCA research in a standard manner, and assist to evaluate the reporting quality and study design.
Cloning and characterization of the Helicobacter pylori flbA gene, which codes for a membrane protein involved in coordinated expression of flagellar genes

Flagellar motility has been shown to be an essential requirement for the ability of Helicobacter pylori to colonize the gastric mucosa. While some flagellar structural components have been studied in molecular detail, nothing was known about factors that play a role in the regulation of flagellar biogenesis. We have cloned and characterized an H. pylori homolog (named flbA) of the lcrD/flbF family of genes. Many proteins encoded by these genes are known to be involved in flagellar biogenesis or secretion of virulence-associated proteins via type III secretion systems. The H. pylori flbA gene (2,196 bp) is capable of coding for a predicted 732-amino-acid, 80.9-kDa protein that has marked sequence similarity with other known members of the LcrD/FlbF protein family. An isogenic strain with a mutation in the flbA gene was constructed by disruption of the gene with a kanamycin resistance cassette and electroporation-mediated allelic exchange mutagenesis. The mutant strain expressed neither the FlaA nor the FlaB flagellin protein. The expression of the FlgE hook protein was reduced in comparison with the wild-type strain, and the extent of this reduction was growth phase dependent. The flbA gene disruption was shown to downregulate the expression of these flagellar genes on the transcriptional level. The flbA mutants were aflagellate and completely nonmotile. Occasionally, assembled hook structures could be observed, indicating that export of axial flagellar filament components was still possible in the absence of the flbA gene product. The hydrophilic part of the FlbA protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and used to raise a polyclonal rabbit antiserum against the FlbA protein. Western blot experiments with this antiserum indicated that the FlbA protein is predominantly associated with the cytoplasmic membrane in H. pylori. The antiserum cross-reacted with two other proteins (97 and 43 kDa) whose expression was not affected by the flbA gene disruption and which might represent further H. pylori homologs of the LcrD/FlbF protein family.
Isolation of genes preferentially expressed during Bacillis subtilis spore outgrowth

From the Charon 4A library of Ferrari et al (J. Bacteriol. 146:430-432, 1981) we isolated three genes involved in Bacillus subtilis spore outgrowth by screening the library by hybridization with labeled RNA from outgrowing spores in the presence of an excess of unlabeled vegetative RNA. Hybridization competition experiments with purified clones showed that the clones contained sequences that were transcribed only during spore outgrowth or preferentially during spore outgrowth. Fragments of the cloned DNAs were subcloned in plasmid pJH101, and by using plasmid integration and PBS1 transduction the chromosomal loci were mapped. The three loci which we mapped are outG and outH, which are located between polC and dnaA, and outI, which is located near pycA. Using the cloned DNAs and derived plasmids in dot hybridization experiments with RNA extracted from cells at different developmental stages, we defined for two clones a region that is transcribed only during the outgrowth phase.
Molecular characterisation of bacteria in a wetland used to remove ammoniacal-N from landfill leachate

Bacteria associated with leachate from a constructed, surface-flow wetland effective at removing ammonium-N, were characterised using molecular methods which bypass the need for cultivation. DNA was extracted from the sample and bacterial 16S rDNA sequences amplified and cloned. Ninety-six individual clones were re-amplified and analysed by restriction digestion and targeted sequencing. A collector's curve was used to estimate the total number of bacterial groups (operational taxonomic units, OTUs) in the sample at 47. Thirty-six clones representing 28 OTUs were sequenced and characterised by aligning them against published sequences. Of these, 10 were confidently identified, whilst for the remaining 18, the closest match was obtained. The sequences in 64% of the OTUs were similar to those of the Proteobacteria but no classical nitrifying bacteria were identified. However, alkaliphilic Methylomicrobium sp. that oxidise ammonium and bacteria from the genus Alcaligenes, at least one species of which is capable of heterotrophic nitrification, were detected.
A New Auditing Protocol With Outsourced Key updates To TPA and Integrity Checking In Cloud

In particular, we use the third party auditor (TPA) in many existing public reviewing plans, let it assume the part of approved party for our situation, and make it accountable for both the storage auditing and the safe key updates for key-presentation resistance. In our outline, TPA just needs to hold a encrypted rendition of the customer's mystery key, while doing all these troublesome assignments in the interest of the customer. The customer just needs to download the encoded mystery key from the TPA while transferring new records to cloud. In addition, our plan additionally outfits the customer with ability to additionally check the legitimacy of the encrypted secret keys given by TPA. All these striking components are deliberately intended to make the entire examining strategy with key presentation resistance as transparent as workable for the customer. We formalize the definition and the security model of this worldview. The security verification and the execution simulation demonstrate that our point by point plan instantiations are secure and productive.
Implicit Modeling of Object Topology by Guidance with Temporal View Attention

Object recognition developed to the most common approach for detecting arbitrary objects based on their appearance. Statistical pat- tern analysis methods, are able to extract features from appearing im- ages, enabling a classiflcation of the image content; have reached certain maturity; and achieve excellent recognition on rather complex problems. However, these systems seem not directly scalable to human performance in cognitive sense and appearance does not attribute to understanding the structure of objects. Due to noise, occlusions, and illumination, ob- jects are segmented often poorly with more or less drop outs in contour that yields poor recognition performance, and since object representa- tion enables logical input of spatial arrangements to higher cognitive processes, scene interpretation in cognitive manner gets inhibited. In another paper we proposed the architecture and a simulation of the flve bottom layers of a cognitive vision model by implementing the striate visual cortex as the flrst level. Hence, in this work we focus on the concept of modeling object prototypes from geon recipes on biological formations, such as the circuit of Papez, and show how structure of such formation can be utilized for the modeling of objects. The proposed implementation is exemplifled by an object similar to the Necker cube.