Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Discrimination of intact mycobacteria at the strain level: A combined MALDI‐TOF MS and biostatistical analysis

New methodologies for surveillance and identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are required to stem the spread of disease worldwide. In addition, the ability to discriminate mycobacteria at the strain level may be important to contact or source case investigations. To this end, we are developing MALDI‐TOF MS methods for the identification of M. tuberculosis in culture. In this report, we describe the application of MALDI‐TOF MS, as well as statistical analysis including linear discriminant and random forest analysis, to 16 medically relevant strains from four species of mycobacteria, M. tuberculosis, M. avium, M. intracellulare, and M. kansasii. Although species discrimination can be accomplished on the basis of unique m/z values observed in the MS fingerprint spectrum, discrimination at the strain level is predicted on the relative abundance of shared m/z values among strains within a species. For the 16 mycobacterial strains investigated in the present study, it is possible to unambiguously identify strains within a species on the basis of MALDI‐TOF MS data. The error rate for classification of individual strains using linear discriminant analysis was 0.053 using 37 m/z variables, whereas the error rate for classification of individual strains using random forest analysis was 0.023 using only 18 m/z variables. In addition, using random forest analysis of MALDI‐TOF MS data, it was possible to correctly classify bacterial strains as either M. tuberculosis or non‐tuberculous with 100% accuracy.
Information Technology Governance: Applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour

The importance of IT governance has received increasing attention in the recent years. Extensive literature addresses top management and organisational issues of IT governance. However, recent findings suggest that people issues in IT governance equally deserve attention. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behaviour, this study examines the influence of IT practitioners and management guidance on the extent of their participation in IT governance initiatives. A quantitative study was conducted among IT practitioners in Malaysia. Data analysis using Partial Least Squares suggests that subjective norms and perceived behavioural controls on IT practitioners result in greater participation in IT governance initiatives. However, attitudes do not have significant relationship with participation in IT governance initiatives, in contrast with prediction of the theory. Further analysis reveals that awareness and perceived importance of IT governance are the two most important factors from the practitioner perspective. As for management guidance, organisational processes and reward system are the most important, closely followed by organisational structure. The findings reaffirm that IT governance requires control in the form of organisational structures, processes, goal settings and reward system to encourage desirable behaviours in IT governance initiatives.
Corporate governance in Africa: Comparative study

This thesis is a comparative study focusing on African national corporate governance codes and guidelines, with special attention given to comparing the African corporate governance codes to European colonizers’ equivalent codes. The study focuses on those African countries which were under European colonial rule during the colonial period from 1881 to 1914, as during that time most of Africa was under European rule. The study addresses whether the African countries, which currently have a corporate governance code in place, have acknowledged their specific context and environment in developing their own corporate governance codes. According to many researchers, there are no universal laws in corporate governance and the efficiency of specific corporate governance practices can vary in different contexts. Therefore, the same governance mechanisms would not work as well in less developed African countries than they would in more developed countries in Europe. For example, financial market development, legal enforcement, and ownership structures can have an effect on what corporate governance mechanisms are useful. However, the colonial history of a country can largely affect the development of institutions and legal environment in said country. Thus, it is possible that African countries would have mimicked the governance codes of their former colonizers, rather than developed codes that would suit their environment and market conditions better. In addition to the emerging market environment and colonial heritage, the study addresses whether religion, legal origin, and corruption level of a country, or the mortality rate of settlers during colonialism have an effect on the development of corporate governance codes. We have used archival research techniques to analyse the national corporate governance codes of each country. This has enabled an analysis of multiple countries simultaneously, and also a comparative analysis of older and newer codes of the same country. Our findings conclude that African corporate governance codes have not merely been mimicked from their colonizer’s code, but rather African countries have in their codes addressed issues which are relevant for their environment, such as strong communal values and corruption. However, the codes still have room for improvement in relation to minority rights protection and in the encouragement of institutional investor participation for example. Also we find that those African countries which have a corporate governance code in place are on average less corrupt than the countries which do not have such code in place at the moment.
CENÁRIOS PROSPECTIVOS NA AVIAÇÃO COMERCIAL BRASILEIRA/ PROSPECTIVE SCENARIOS FOR BRAZILIAN COMMERCIAL AVIATION

O presente estudo se propoe a analisar o setor de aviacao domestica brasileiro utilizando a analise prospectiva para o entendimento de como as decisoes atuais podem impactar os cenarios futuros para o setor de 2017 a 2020. Dadas as incertezas que afetam a aviacao nacional, seja devido a regulacao, fatores macroeconomicos ou mesmo acirramento da concorrencia. Somado a isto a necessidade de elevados investimentos caracteristicos deste setor, torna-se ainda mais relevante o entendimento do cenario futuro para a tomada de decisao neste setor. Sao elaborados tres cenarios futuros considerando resultados pessimistas, moderados e otimistas.
A fast wavelet-packet-based algorithm for texture synthesis

We propose a fast texture synthesis algorithm based on wavelet packet transform. It decomposes the input image into wavelet packet coefficients, then a 2-step matching, specifically coarse matching based on low frequency wavelet packet coefficients followed by fine matching based on high frequency wavelet packet coefficients, is used for the texture synthesis task. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is preferable in terms of computation time.
ARIMA Modeling with Intervention to Forecast and Analyze Chinese Stock Prices

In this study, we demonstrate the usefulness of ARIMA-Intervention time series analysis as both an analytical and forecast tool. The data base for this study is from the PACAP-CCER China Database developed by the Pacific-Basin Capital Markets (PACAP) Research Center at the University of Rhode Island (USA) and the SINOFIN Information Service Inc, affiliated with the China Center for Economic Research (CCER) of Peking University (China). These data are recent and not fully explored in any published study. The forecasting analysis indicates the usefulness of the developed model in explaining the rapid decline in the values of the price index of Shanghai A shares during the world economic debacle stating in China in 2008. Explanation of the fit of the model is described using the latest development in statistical validation methods. We note that the use of a simpler technique although parsimonious will not explain the variation properly in predicting daily Chinese stock prices. Furthermore, we infer that the daily stock price index contains an autoregressive component; hence, one can predict stock returns.
Repair of the tRNA-Like CCA Sequence in a Multipartite Positive-Strand RNA Virus

ABSTRACT The 3′ portions of plus-strand brome mosaic virus (BMV) RNAs mimic cellular tRNAs. Nucleotide substitutions or deletions in the 3′ CCA of the tRNA-like sequence (TLS) affect minus-strand initiation unless repaired. We observed that 2-nucleotide deletions involving the CCA 3′ sequence in one or all BMV RNAs still allowed RNA accumulation in barley protoplasts at significant levels. Alterations of CCA to GGA in only BMV RNA3 also allowed RNA accumulation at wild-type levels. However, substitutions in all three BMV RNAs severely reduced RNA accumulation, demonstrating that substitutions have different repair requirements than do small deletions. Furthermore, wild-type BMV RNA1 was required for the repair and replication of RNAs with nucleotide substitutions. Results from sequencing of progeny viral RNA from mutant input RNAs demonstrated that RNA1 did not contribute its sequence to the mutant RNAs. Instead, the repaired ends were heterogeneous, with one-third having a restored CCA and others having sequences with the only commonality being the restoration of one cytidylate. The role of BMV RNA1 in increased repair was examined.
Passive/Apathetic Social Withdrawal and Active Social Avoidance in Schizophrenia: Difference in Underlying Psychological Processes

Objective: Social withdrawal, a core feature of negative symptoms, is differentiated into passive social withdrawal (PSW) and active social avoidance (ASA). We examined whether this differentiation was related to differences in underlying psychological processes of object relations and reality testing. Method: Two hundred seventy-two outpatients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders from VA Connecticut Healthcare System/Connecticut Mental Health Center were evaluated using the Bell Object Relations and Reality Testing Inventory (BORRTI) and the Positive And Negative Symptoms Scale. Results: Distinct patterns were found; PSW was associated with object relation subscales explaining 5% of the variance, ASA was associated with object relations and all reality testing subscales explaining 12% of the variance. Conclusions: Findings suggest differences in the underlying mechanisms behind PSW and ASA, confirming that PSW is a primary negative symptom, while ASA is related more to positive symptoms.
Serum inverts and improves the fluorescence response of an aptamer beacon to various vitamin D analytes.

A dominant aptamer loop structure from a library of nearly 100 candidate aptamer sequences developed against immobilized 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) (calcidiol) was converted into a 5'-TYE 665 and 3'-Iowa black-labelled aptamer beacon. The aptamer beacon exhibited a mild 'lights on' reaction in buffer as a function of increasing concentrations of several vitamin D analogues and metabolites, with a limit of detection of approximately 200 ng/mL, and was not specific for any particular congener. In 10% or 50% human serum, the same aptamer beacon inverted its fluorescence behaviour to become a more intense 'lights off' reaction with an improved limit of detection in the range 4-16 ng/mL. We hypothesized that this drastic change in fluorescence behaviour was due to the presence of creatinine and urea in serum, which might destabilize the quenched beacon, causing an increase in fluorescence followed by decreasing fluorescence as a function of vitamin D concentrations that may bind and quench increasingly greater fractions of the denatured beacons. However, the results of several control experiments in the presence of physiological or greater concentrations of creatinine and urea, alone or combined in buffer, failed to produce the beacon fluorescence inversion. Other possible mechanistic hypotheses are also discussed.
Alternative proofs for improved LMI representations for the analysis and the design of continuous-time systems with polytopic type uncertainty: a predictive approach

In a previous paper (Jia et al. (2002)), several new linear matrix inequality (LMI) conditions have been obtained to reduce the conservativeness for the analysis and the design of continuous-time systems with polytopic-type uncertainty. The results are quite attractive, but their proofs are technical. The aim of this note is to provide a different route to reach the results. To this end, the concepts of standard /spl epsi/- and /spl lambda/-blocks are introduced and the corresponding equivalent forms are also defined, based on which the improved representations of given linear matrix inequalities can be predicted by replacing directly the standard blocks with their equivalent forms under two newly established exchange criteria, while the correctness of the predicted results can be tested by the well-known projection lemma.
DIURNAL FLUCTUATION IN ROOT PRESSURE.

Diurnal cycles in root activity under constant conditions seem to have been first described by HOFMEISTER in 1862 (7). Other investigators have confirmed his findings (1, 11), but in recent years it has been concluded that cycles in pressure and exudation were due to temperature fluctuations (HEm, 5). On the other hand, studies in this laboratory (9) have substantiated HOFMEISTER'S original results, and WmTE (10) has reported a cycle in exudation of excised tomato roots (though he did not control the conditions under which he was working). Complete proof of the existence of autonomic cycles has recently been obtained by the author with plants grown and tested under controlled conditions (4). Several theories have been developed to explain the general phenomena of root pressure and exudation. For the purpose of this discussion it is sufficient to point out that osmotic mechanisms have generally been used. SABININ (8) holds the view that a simple osmotic mechanism is sufficient. The general problem is confused by the controversy over the parts played by the phloem and xylem in translocation and root pressure. Since these measurements extended over periods of several days it seems probable that sieve tubes were plugged (CRAFTS, 3) and that the phloem played little part directly in maintaining the observed pressures. Here it is assumed that the hydrostatic-pressure system involved is the xylem-manometer system. In these studies, plants (Helianthus) were grown in culture solution with forced aeration, in a greenhouse. The solution concentration was low, iH(see explanation later) and typically not renewed, so that the plants were vigorous and healthy at the time of experimentation and were comparable to the "low salt plants" of HOAGLAND and BROYER (6), with root systems capa-
IrML — A Gene Encoding a New Member of the ML Protein Family from the Hard Tick, Ixodes ricinus

ABSTRACT: Blood intake causes significant changes in ticks, triggering vital physiological processes including differential gene expression. A gene encoding Ixodes ricinus ML-domain containing protein (IrML) is one of the set of the genes that are strongly induced by blood meals. IrML belongs to the ML protein family that commonly occurs in diverse organisms and is involved in lipid binding and transport, pathogen recognition or in immune response. An IrML gene was amplified from cDNA of engorged I. ricinus females using the gene-specific primers designed on a basis of partial sequences of related genes for ML domain protein. IrML was shown to be expressed mainly in the gut, but also in salivary glands and hemolymph of all tick developmental stages. Using in situ hybridization, IrML transcripts were detected in type II and III salivary glands acini. Analysis of the predicted structure of I. ricinus ML-domain containing protein and its localization in the tick body could suggest that IrML is a secreted protein and is possibly involved in tick innate immunity.
Optimal Capital Structure and Leverage Adjustment Speed of European Public and Private Firms

In this research paper, the dynamic trade-off theory is tested by applying European public and private firms, since as much of the existing research remains in the US public firm context only. The results of our research show that European firms, both private and public, follow the optimal capital structure path consistent with the dynamic trade-off theory. We find that above optimally levered firms adjust their leverage towards the optimal capital structure faster than the below optimally levered ones. In addition, the results show that public and private firms seem to make similar leverage adjustment decisions and that not only the size but also the public/private status of the firms account for the differences. https://doi.org/10.15458/ebr103
T-S Fuzzy Maximum Power Point Tracking Control of Solar Power Generation Systems

This paper presents maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control for stand-alone solar power generation systems via the Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy-model-based approach. In detail, we consider a dc/dc buck converter to regulate the output power of the photovoltaic panel array. First, the system is represented by the T-S fuzzy model. Next, in order to reduce the number of measured signals, a T-S fuzzy observer is developed for state feedback. Then, a fuzzy direct MPPT controller is proposed to achieve asymptotic MPPT control, in which the observer and controller gains are obtained by separately solving two sets of linear matrix inequalities. Different from the traditional MPPT approaches, the proposed T-S fuzzy controller directly drives the system to the maximum power point without searching the maximum power point and measuring insolation. Furthermore, when considering disturbance and uncertainty, robust MPPT is guaranteed by advanced gain design. Therefore, the proposed method provides an easier implementation form under strict stability analysis. Finally, the control performance is shown from the numerical simulation and experimental results.
Coffee Drinking andMortality in 10 European Countries AMultinational Cohort Study

Marc J. Gunter, PhD*; Neil Murphy, PhD*; Amanda J. Cross, PhD; Laure Dossus, PhD; Laureen Dartois, PhD; Guy Fagherazzi, PhD; Rudolf Kaaks, PhD; Tilman Kühn, PhD; Heiner Boeing, PhD; Krasimira Aleksandrova, PhD; Anne Tjønneland, MD, PhD; Anja Olsen, PhD; Kim Overvad, MD, PhD; Sofus Christian Larsen, PhD; Maria Luisa Redondo Cornejo, PhD; Antonio Agudo, PhD; Marı́a José Sánchez Pérez, MD, PhD; Jone M. Altzibar, PhD; Carmen Navarro, MD, PhD; Eva Ardanaz, MD, PhD; Kay-Tee Khaw, MB BChir; Adam Butterworth, PhD; Kathryn E. Bradbury, PhD; Antonia Trichopoulou, MD, PhD; Pagona Lagiou, MD, PhD; Dimitrios Trichopoulos, MD, PhD†; Domenico Palli, MD; Sara Grioni, BSc; Paolo Vineis, MD, MPH; Salvatore Panico, MD, MSc; Rosario Tumino, MD; Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita, MD, PhD; Peter Siersema, MD, PhD; Max Leenders, PhD; Joline W.J. Beulens, PhD; Cuno U. Uiterwaal, MD, PhD; Peter Wallström, MD, PhD; Lena Maria Nilsson, PhD; Rikard Landberg, PhD; Elisabete Weiderpass, MD, PhD; Guri Skeie, PhD; Tonje Braaten, PhD; Paul Brennan, PhD; Idlir Licaj, PhD; David C. Muller, PhD; Rashmi Sinha, PhD; Nick Wareham, PhD, MBBS; and Elio Riboli, MD, ScM
Genealogical reconstruction of myotonic dystrophy in the Saguenay‐Lac‐Saint‐ Jean area (Quebec, Canada)

The prevalence of myotonic dystrophy (MyD) in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean (SLSJ) region (Quebec, Canada) is 30 to 60 times the world's prevalence. We identified 746 patients (673 still alive) distributed in 88 families. Using a population-based register of the SLSJ area and several marriage repositories from northeastern Quebec, we could trace back all patients to a couple who settled in "Nouvelle-France" in 1657. The MyD gene was then passed on over 10 to 14 generations. This genealogical reconstruction is a strong argument in favor of the genetic homogeneity of MyD in the SLSJ region.
Fear of Democracy: A Cultural Evaluation of Sunstein on Risk

What dynamics shape public risk perceptions? What significance should such perceptions have in the formation of risk regulation? In Laws of Fear: Beyond the Precautionary Principle (2005), Cass Sunstein catalogs a variety of cognitive and social mechanisms that he argues inflate public estimations of various societal risks. To counter the impact of irrational public fears, he advocates delegation of authority to politically insulated experts using economic cost-benefit analysis. Missing from Sunstein's impressive account, however, is any attention to the impact of cultural cognition, the tendency of individuals to form risk perceptions that reflect and reinforce their cultural worldviews. Relying on existing and original empirical research, we use this dynamic to develop an alternative cultural evaluator model, which better explains individual variation in risk perception, differences of opinions among experts, and the intensity of political conflict over risk than does Sunstein's irrational weigher model. Cultural cognition also complicates Sunstein's policy prescriptions. Because the public fears that Sunstein describes as irrational express cultural values, expert cost-benefit analysis does not merely insulate the law from factual error, as Sunstein argues; rather, it systematically detaches law from popular understandings of the ideal society. Indeed, the best defense of Sunstein's program might be just that: by eliding the role that risk regulation plays in endorsing contested cultural visions, expert cost-benefit analysis protects the law from a divisive and deeply illiberal form of expressive politics. The difficult task for those who understand the phenomenon of cultural cognition and who favor democratic modes of policymaking is to devise procedures that assure that popularly responsive risk regulation is both rational and respectful of diverse cultural worldviews.
Down‐Regulation of Vascular Adhesion Molecule‐1 by Fluid Shear Stress in Cultured Mouse Endothelial Cells a

This study was undertaken to determine whether blood flow modulates the adhesive property of vascular endothelial cells to lymphocytes and, if it does, what adhesion molecules are involved. Cultured mouse endothelial cells were exposed to medium flow in a parallel plate chamber, and binding assay using fluorescence-labeled lymphocytes was carried out. The adhesion rate of endothelial cells to lymphocytes, which was high in the static control state, decreased when exposed to shear stress (1.5 dynes/cm2) for 6 h. The treatment of static endothelial cells with a monoclonal antibody of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) depressed the adhesion rate to the same extent as that caused by flow, while monoclonal antibodies of CD44 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 had no effect on it. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the application of flow decreased markedly the amount of VCAM-1 expressed on the cell surface. A reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction of mRNA showed that flow depressed VCAM-1 mRNA levels. These results suggest that blood flow can modulate the adhesive property of endothelial cells to lymphocytes via affecting the surface expression of adhesion molecules, e.g., down-regulation of VCAM-1.