Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Amplification of the meningococcal porB gene for non-culture serotype characterization

Since 1992, the proportion of culture-confirmed meningococcal infections compared with numbers of notified cases of meningococcal disease has decreased in England and Wales. As most meningococcal strain characterization methods depend on a clinical isolate, this has resulted in a loss of epidemiological information. To address this problem, and to aid non-culture diagnosis, a semi-nested PCR protocol for the amplification of the meningococcal porB gene from clinical specimens was developed. This gene encodes the meningococcal serotyping antigen; strain typing data was provided by hybridization of allele-specific oligonucleotide probes to the digoxigenin-labelled porB amplicon in a ‘PCR ELISA’. This assay was specific for meningococcal DNA and sensitivities of 0·81 for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), 0·57 for serum, and 0·62 for whole blood taken from patients with proven meningococcal infection were obtained.
Systemic Sovereign Risk and Asset Prices: Evidence from the CDS Market, Stressed European Economies and Nonlinear Causality Tests

The use of non-parametric methodologies, the introduction of non-financial variables, and the development of models geared towards the homogeneous characteristics of corporate sub-populations have recently experienced a surge of interest in the bankruptcy literature. However, no research on default prediction has yet focused on micro-entities (MEs), despite such firms’ importance in the global economy. This paper builds the first bankruptcy model especially designed for MEs by using a wide set of accounts from 1999 to 2008 and applying artificial neural networks (ANNs). Our findings show that ANNs outperform the traditional logistic regression (LR) models. In addition, we also report that, thanks to the introduction of non-financial predictors related to age, the delay in filing accounts, legal action by creditors to recover unpaid debts, and the ownership features of the company, the improvement with respect to the use of solely financial information is 3.6%, which is even higher than the improvement that involves the use of the best ANN (2.6%).
Symposium on Market Microstructure: A Review of Empirical Research

This paper provides a review of empirical research in four topics within the area of market microstructure. Specifically, the paper provides an overview of issues related to (a) the estimation of the components of the bid-ask spread, (b) the effects of order flow and regulation on market liquidity, (c) the differences and similarities between the NYSE and the Nasdaq, and (d) the interaction between the options and underlying stock markets. Copyright 1999 by MIT Press.
Optimal Multiple Stopping Approach to Mean Reversion Trading

Optimal Multiple Stopping Approach to Mean Reversion Trading Xin Li This thesis studies the optimal timing of trades under mean-reverting price dynamics subject to fixed transaction costs. We first formulate an optimal double stopping problem whereby a speculative investor can choose when to enter and subsequently exit the market. The investor’s value functions and optimal timing strategies are derived when prices are driven by an OrnsteinUhlenbeck (OU), exponential OU, or Cox-Ingersoll-Ross (CIR) process. Moreover, we analyze a related optimal switching problem that involves an infinite sequence of trades. In addition to solving for the value functions and optimal switching strategies, we identify the conditions under which the double stopping and switching problems admit the same optimal entry and/or exit timing strategies. A number of extensions are also considered, such as incorporating a stop-loss constraint, or a minimum holding period under the OU model. A typical solution approach for optimal stopping problems is to study the associated free boundary problems or variational inequalities (VIs). For the double optimal stopping problem, we apply a probabilistic methodology and rigorously derive the optimal price intervals for market entry and exit. A key step of our approach involves a transformation, which in turn allows us to characterize the value function as the smallest concave majorant of the reward function in the transformed coordinate. In contrast to the variational inequality approach, this approach directly constructs the value function as well as the optimal entry and exit regions, without a priori conjecturing a candidate value function or timing strategy. Having solved the optimal double stopping problem, we then apply our results to deduce a similar solution structure for the optimal switching problem. We also verify that our value functions solve the associated VIs. Among our results, we find that under OU or CIR price dynamics, the optimal stopping problems admit the typical buy-low-sell-high strategies. However, when the prices are driven by an exponential OU process, the investor generally enters when the price is low, but may find it optimal to wait if the current price is sufficiently close to zero. In other words, the continuation (waiting) region for entry is disconnected. A similar phenomenon is observed in the OU model with stop-loss constraint. Indeed, the entry region is again characterized by a bounded price interval that lies strictly above the stop-loss level. As for the exit timing, a higher stop-loss level always implies a lower optimal take-profit level. In all three models, numerical results are provided to illustrate the dependence of timing strategies on model parameters.
A novel mutation in the mitochondrial tRNA for tryptophan causing a late‐onset mitochondrial encephalomyopathy

Sanaker PS, Nakkestad HL, Downham E, Bindoff LA. A novel mutation in the mitochondrial tRNA for tryptophan causing a late‐onset mitochondrial encephalomyopathy. Acta Neurol Scand: 2010: 121: 109–113. © 2009 The Authors Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Munksgaard.
Foreign Ownership and Productivity in Polish Industry: The Case of Polish Manufacturing, 1993-2002

This paper studies the significance of foreign direct investment and its spillover effects in a transition country such as Poland, analyzing a unique cross-industry data set on foreign, domestic private, and domestic public companies. Aspects of foreign presence as a share of the whole industry are measured according to four criteria: foreign equity, sales, investment, and labor. The results show that the level of productivity of domestic private companies has increased steadily since 1994. A high share of foreign sales and foreign equity in the industry has a negative effect on the productivity of private companies, thus implying a crowding-out effect. No evidence has been found for association between productivity in domestic companies and foreign control over multinational enterprise affiliates, which may indicate tacit knowledge spillovers. Control variables, such as one year-lagged labor compensation and scale in domestic private and public companies, are positively associated with their productivities.
A Future Projection of Turkey's Energy Intensity

Energy intensity is the main indicator which is used as a good measure of the energy efficiency of the economy. This study aims at obtaining numerical equations to estimate Turkey's energy intensity (EI) based on basic energy indicators by using an artificial neural network (ANN). For this purpose, main energy indicators such as total production of primary energy and total gross electricity generation were used to train the ANN approach. The EI was used in the output layer. The R 2 value of EI and average deviation were found to be 0.9998 and 0.0037%, respectively.
Toward a Theory of Organizational Implosion

The essay seeks to develop theory for a particular type of organizational disaster, “organizational implosion. ” The organization implosion concept is developed in depth, but a key aspect of it is that organizational members, acting in their official capacities, play a significant role in the havoc wreaked on their organization. Hypotheses are presented about organization disaster and implosion, relating organizational outcomes to the nature of external controlling organizations, communications among organizational sets, and types of interdependence among organizations. A preliminary model of organizational implosion is presented, along with case illustrations.
Panic Disorder, Panic Attacks and Panic Attack Symptoms across Race‐Ethnic Groups: Results of the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Studies

The current study investigates race‐ethnic differences in rates of panic disorder, panic attacks and certain panic attack symptoms by jointly combining three major national epidemiological databases. The compared groups were White, African American, Latino and Asian. The White group had significantly higher rates of panic disorder, and of many panic symptoms, including palpitations, as compared to the African American, Asian and Latino groups. Several expected race‐ethnic differences were not found. An explanation for these findings are adduced, and suggestions are given for future studies so that possible ethnic‐racial differences in panic disorder, panic attacks and panic attack symptoms can be investigated in a more rigorous manner.
4-thiouridine inhibits rRNA synthesis and causes a nucleolar stress response

High concentrations (> 100 µM) of the ribonucleoside analog 4-thiouridine (4sU) is widely used in methods for RNA analysis like photoactivatable-ribonucleoside-enhanced crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (PAR-CLIP) and nascent messenger (m)RNA labeling (4sU-tagging). Here, we show that 4sU-tagging at low concentrations ≤ 10 µM can be used to measure production and processing of ribosomal (r)RNA. However, elevated concentrations of 4sU (> 50 µM), which are usually used for mRNA labeling experiments, inhibit production and processing of 47S rRNA. The inhibition of rRNA synthesis is accompanied by nucleoplasmic translocation of nucleolar nucleophosmin (NPM1), induction of the tumor suppressor p53, and inhibition of proliferation. We conclude that metabolic labeling of RNA by 4sU triggers a nucleolar stress response, which might influence the interpretation of results. Therefore, functional ribosome biogenesis, nucleolar integrity, and cell cycle should be addressed in 4sU labeling experiments.
Seven Leading Indexes of New Zealand Employment

This article constructs seven leading indexes of New Zealand employment and assesses their relative usefulness in terms of forecasting quarterly employment growth. Leading indexes have been widely used since their introduction in the late 1930s. One construction method dominated until academic research interest into alternative techniques re-appeared in the late 1980s. What has been missing so far in the literature is a thorough comparison of old and new techniques in terms of forecasting performance. This article is a step in that direction. The methods covered here reflect varying degrees of technical sophistication, ranging from simple scoring of changes to relying on frequency domain methods to extract dynamic latent factors from a large dataset. The results show that no single index dominates in terms of forecasting employment growth one to four quarters ahead. This suggests that relying on a suite of models may be the optimal forecasting strategy.
Wsc1 and Mid2 Are Cell Surface Sensors for Cell Wall Integrity Signaling That Act through Rom2, a Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor for Rho1

ABSTRACT Wsc1 and Mid2 are highly O-glycosylated cell surface proteins that reside in the plasma membrane of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. They have been proposed to function as mechanosensors of cell wall stress induced by wall remodeling during vegetative growth and pheromone-induced morphogenesis. These proteins are required for activation of the cell wall integrity signaling pathway that consists of the small G-protein Rho1, protein kinase C (Pkc1), and a mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade. We show here by two-hybrid experiments that the C-terminal cytoplasmic domains of Wsc1 and Mid2 interact with Rom2, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Rho1. At least with regard to Wsc1, this interaction is mediated by the Rom2 N-terminal domain. This domain is distinct from the Rho1-interacting domain, suggesting that the GEF can interact simultaneously with a sensor and with Rho1. We also demonstrate that extracts from wsc1 and mid2 mutants are deficient in the ability to catalyze GTP loading of Rho1 in vitro, providing evidence that the function of the sensor-Rom2 interaction is to stimulate nucleotide exchange toward this G-protein. In a related line of investigation, we identified the PMT2 gene in a genetic screen for mutations that confer an additive cell lysis defect with a wsc1 null allele. Pmt2 is a member of a six-protein family in yeast that catalyzes the first step in O mannosylation of target proteins. We demonstrate that Mid2 is not mannosylated in apmt2 mutant and that this modification is important for signaling by Mid2.
A Multifunctional Acyl-Acyl Carrier Protein Desaturase from Hedera helix L. (English Ivy) Can Synthesize 16- and 18-Carbon Monoene and Diene Products*

A desaturase with 83% sequence identity to the coriander Δ4-16:0-ACP desaturase was isolated from developing seeds of Hedera helix (English ivy). Expression of the ivy desaturase in Arabidopsis resulted in the accumulation of 16:1Δ4 and its expected elongation product 18:1Δ6 (petroselinic acid). Expression in Escherichia coli resulted in the accumulation of soluble, active protein that was purified to apparent homogeneity. In vitro assays confirmed Δ4 desaturation with 16:0-ACP; however, with 18:0-acyl acyl carrier protein (ACP) desaturation occurred at the Δ9 position. The ivy desaturase also converted 16:1Δ9-ACP and 18:1Δ9-ACP to the corresponding Δ4,9 dienes. These data suggest at least two distinct substrate binding modes, one placing C4 at the diiron active site and the other placing C9 at the active site. In the latter case, 18:0 would likely bind in an extended conformation as described for the castor desaturase with 9-carbons accommodated in the cavity beyond the dirron site. However, Δ4 desaturation would require the accommodation of 12 carbons for C16 substrates or 14 carbons for C18 substrates. The amino acids lining the substrate binding cavity of ivy and castor desaturases are conserved except for T117R and P179I (castor/ivy). Paradoxically, both substitutions, when introduced into the castor desaturase, favored the binding of shorter acyl chains. Thus, it seems likely that Δ4 desaturation would require a non-extended, perhaps U-shaped, substrate conformation. A cis double bond may facilitate the initiation of such a non-extended conformation in the monounsaturated substrates. The multifunctional properties of the ivy desaturase make it well suited for further dissection of the determinants of regiospecificity.
Location of the nupC gene on the physical map of Escherichia coli K-12

Escherichia coli contains two proton motive force-driven, high-affinity uptake systems for nucleosides and deoxynucleosides. These are the products of genes termed nupG and nupC and differ in both substrate specificity and transcriptional regulation (5, 6, 8, 9). Both transport systems show wide substrate specificity for ribonucleosides and deoxyribonucleosides. However, these permeases can be distinguished by the inability of the nupC product to transport guanosine and deoxyguanosine. nupG maps between metK and speC, near 64 min on the genetic map of E. coli, and its sequence is known (11). We have recently confirmed the presence of the nupG gene on plasmid pLC20-5 from the Clarke-Carbon library (2). E. coli cells are capable of producing, de novo, sufficient quantities of nucleosides for DNA and RNA synthesis. However, externally supplied nucleosides can also be utilized, following degradation via the "salvage pathway,"and may even serve as the sole source of carbon or nitrogen for growth (3). We have exploited this phenomenon to locate nupC on the overlapping series of physically mapped lambda clones, constructed by Kohara et al. (4). nupC has been reported to lie between 50 and 52 min on the chromosome (7) but has not been precisely mapped. We report here a more precise location. Using P1 transduction from strains carrying defined transposon TnlO(Tcr) and TnlO(KMr) insertions in nupC and nupG, respectively (10), we have constructed a mutant (MPG100) of E. coli K-12 in which both transport systems have been inactivated, as evidenced by its nucleoside analog insensitivity and by the ability of plasmids carrying nupG to restore nucleoside transport (2). MPG100 was used as a host to screen the Kohara library for restoration of the ability of the cells to grow on nucleosides as the sole carbon source. Strain MPG100 was transformed with plasmid pUN121, which encodes the lambda cI repressor and increases the number of homologous recombinants which arise from interaction between the chromosome and infecting lambda
UK expat political connectivity and engagement: Perspectives from the far side of the world!

Abstract Research among expatriates eligible to vote in country of origin elections is sparse and tends to focus on legal and political considerations while ignoring psychological and sociological issues. This is surprising given recent research suggesting that of approximately 5.5 million UK citizens living abroad, only an estimated 13,000 registered to vote in the 2010 UK General Election. Drawing on social psychology, consumer behaviour and political marketing literature, this research provides insights into voting attitudes and behaviour of UK expatriates living in New Zealand. Adopting a qualitative research methodology incorporating diary completion and interviews, findings are reported in three key areas: contextual political and socio-economic influences on decisions to move abroad, levels of political connectivity, and finally levels of political engagement. Based on these findings, a segmentation tool and tentative engagement strategies are proposed to enhance the likelihood of expatriate participation in future elections.
Time-Scale Decomposition of Price Transmission in International Markets

This paper focuses on return spillovers in stock markets at different time scales using wavelet analysis. We look at eight stock indices that comprise the G7 countries, emerging Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, the emerging Far East, Latin America, North America, and the Pacific region for the period 1990-2002. Our estimation results show evidence of price spillovers from the G7 countries to Europe, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, emerging Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. However, price spillovers from these regions to the G7 countries are weaker at different time scales. Similarly, we find price spillovers from North America to Latin America, emerging Asia, the emerging Far East, and the Pacific region, and from both Europe and Latin America to North America. Our results are robust to the existence of asymmetric generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) effects and serial correlation in returns. We believe that our findings are potentially relevant to portfolio risk management.
Structural basis of transcriptional gene silencing mediated by Arabidopsis MOM 1 NISHIMURA , Taisuke

Shifts between epigenetic states of transcriptional activity are typically correlated with changes in epigenetic marks. However, exceptions to this rule suggest the existence of additional, as yet uncharacterized, layers of epigenetic regulation. MOM1, a protein of 2,001 amino acids that acts as a transcriptional silencer, represents such an exception. Here we define the 82 amino acid domain called CMM2 (Conserved MOM1 Motif 2) as a minimal MOM1 fragment capable of transcriptional regulation. As determined by X-ray crystallography, this motif folds into an unusual hendecad-based coiled-coil. Structure-based mutagenesis followed by transgenic complementation tests in plants demonstrate that CMM2 and its dimerization are effective for transcriptional suppression at chromosomal loci co-regulated by MOM1 and the siRNA pathway but not at loci controlled by MOM1 in an siRNA-independent fashion. These results reveal a surprising separation of epigenetic activities that enable the single, large MOM1 protein to coordinate cooperating mechanisms of epigenetic regulation. NISHIMURA, Taisuke, et al. Structural basis of transcriptional gene silencing mediated by Arabidopsis MOM1. PLOS Genetics, 2012, vol. 8, no. 2, p. e1002484 DOI : 10.1371/journal.pgen. 1002484
Change of Control and the Success of China's Share Issue Privatization

Using two newly available datasets of exchange-listed firms in China covering the period from 1994 to 2003, we test if share-issue privatization, defined here as a change of corporate control from the State to private owners rather than the IPO event used in earlier studies, improved firm performance. Our econometric analysis shows that privatization, when accompanied by a change of control, has had positive effects on profitability and the productivity of labor that are both statistically and economically significant.
Length of Board Tenure and Outside Director Independence

I posit and test two competing views on the significance of outside director tenure lengths; the "expertise" hypothesis suggesting that extended board service time is a sign of director commitment, experience, and competence and the "management-friendliness" hypothesis suggesting that extended board service time marks directors who befriend management at the expense of shareholders. I find evidence that Senior directors, defined as directors with twenty or more years of board service, are almost twice as likely to occupy a 'management-affiliated' profession compared to the rest, and that they are also more likely to staff the firm's nominating and compensation committees. Senior director participation in the compensation committee is associated with higher pay for the CEO, especially when the CEO is more powerful in the firm. These results are consistent with the management-friendliness hypothesis, and highlight a need for setting term limits for directors. Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd, 2003.
Slip detection by tactile sensors: algorithms and experimental results

Two techniques for slip detection with a rubber-based tactile matrix sensor are presented. The described results have been obtained within a common research activity between the Robotics and Automation Laboratory of the University of Bologna and the Control Laboratory of the Delft University of Technology. The first technique is based on a frequency analysis of the position of the center of force distribution. The main idea is that before a slip situation actually occurs, it is possible to detect a micro movement of the object due to the elasticity of the rubber. By implementing a FFT of the center of distribution and by testing the frequency components, the slip is identified before it practically occurs. The second approach is based on the principle that the normal forces measured by the tactile sensor fluctuate with a certain frequency during slip because of the rubber elasticity. This fluctuation is due to a 'catch and snap back' effect, which is present when an object is slipping over the sensor's surface. By testing the frequency domain of the normal force a slip condition can be detected. A comparison of the two approaches is presented and discussed on the basis of experimental results obtained in both laboratories.