Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential fluorescence induction reveals Streptococcus pneumoniae loci regulated by competence stimulatory peptide

Differential fluorescence induction (DFI) in Streptococcus pneumoniae was used as a method for the discovery of genes activated in specific growth environments. Competence stimulatory peptide (CSP) was used as the model inducing system to identify differentially expressed genes. To identify CSP‐induced promoters, a plasmid library was constructed by inserting random pieces of S. pneumoniae chromosomal DNA upstream of the promoterless gfpmut2 gene in an Escherichia coli/S. pneumoniae shuttle vector. S. pneumoniae carrying the library were induced with CSP and enriched for green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐expressing bacteria using fluorescence‐activated cell sorting. A total of 886 fluorescent clones was screened, and 12 differentially activated promoter elements were identified. Sequence analysis of these clones revealed that three were associated with novel competence loci, one of which we show is essential for DNA uptake, and six are known CSP‐inducible promoters. We also explored whether competence proteins have a role in virulence and found that mutations in three CSP‐inducible genes resulted in attenuated virulence phenotypes in either of two murine infection models. These results demonstrate the utility of DFI as a method for identifying differentially expressed genes in S. pneumoniae and the potential utility of applying DFI to other Gram‐positive bacteria.
Reassessing the Male-Female Wage Differential: A Fixed Effects Approach

The vast literature on the subject of the male-female wage differential has shown that despite dramatic structural and behavioral changes in the labor supply of women, a sizeable wage differential exists [19; 2; 9; 6; 4]. O'Neill [16, S92] finds that a sex differential of about 40% as measured by full-time annual earnings has persisted in the U.S. for the last four decades. But while few doubt the existence of the wage gap, there is considerable controversy regarding the role of the factors explaining the gap. The conventional approach of economists has been to estimate earnings as a function of various socio-economic characteristics. ' The observed wage gap is decomposed into a part explained by productivity related factors and an unexplained residual, traditionally labelled as discrimination. While it is possible that the unexplained variation in earnings is the result of discrimination, it is also possibly the result of model misspecification.2 In this present paper, we address the misspecification that could possibly arise from omitted variables, endogeneity and sample selection. While these issues have been considered in the context of women's labor supply functions, they have largely been ignored in studies on the wage differential [12; 13]. We approach the problem of omitted variables by formulating a Fixed Effects model. In this way, productivity related factors that are difficult to measure or have unsuitable proxies are netted out from the earnings equation. Furthermore, some of the variables that are used to explain wages are themselves the outcome of discrimination. In particular, the labor market experience of a woman is dependent on her wages earned. Here, we address the endogeneity that such a cause and effect relationship may bring about. A third difficulty arises because a typical sample of working women is a non-random selection of the female labor force giving rise to the problem of sample selection bias. Heckman's [12, 213-17] procedure is used to formulate a sample selection model of earnings. The organization of this paper proceeds as follows: Section II begins with the traditional model of earnings and then develops an extended model which consolidates the issues of omitted variables, endogeneity and sample selection. Section III contains the empirical results of the
Neurovascular Anatomy of the Embryonic Quail Hindlimb

Blood vessel and nerve development in the vertebrate embryo possess certain similarities in pattern and molecular guidance cues. To study the specific influence of shared guidance molecules on nervous and vascular development, an understanding of the normal neurovascular anatomy must be in place. The present study documents the pattern of nervous and vascular development in the Japanese quail hindlimb using immunohistochemistry and fluorescently labeled intravital injection combined with confocal and epifluorescent microscopy. The developmental patterns of major nerves and blood vessels of embryonic hindlimbs between stages E2.75 (HH18) and E6.0 (HH29) are described. By E2.75, the dorsal aortae have begun to fuse into a single vessel at the level of the hindlimb, and have completely fused by E3 (HH20). The posterior cardinal vein is formed at the level of the hindlimb by E3, as is the main artery of the early hindlimb, the ischiadic artery, as an offshoot of the dorsal aorta. Our data suggest that eight spinal segments, versus seven as reported by others (Tanaka and Landmesser, 1986a ; Tyrrell et al., 1990 ), contribute to innervation of the quail hindlimb. Lumbosacral neurites reach the plexus region by E3.5 (HH21 & 22), pause for ∼24 hr, and then enter the hindlimb along with the ischiadic and crural arteries through shared foramina in the pelvic anlage. The degree of anterior–posterior spatial congruency between major nerves and blood vessels of the quail hindlimb was found to be highest medial to the pelvic girdle precursor, versus in the hindlimb proper. Anat Rec, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Observer based finite-time switched controller of an underactuated surface vessel

In this work, a switched control law is proposed to make the desired set point of an underactuated surface vessel finite-time stabilization. The control law is separated into three actions. Each action makes the system have a double integrator subsystem and we use a finite-time controller to achieve a certain objective. In order to overcome the difficulties of measuring the linear and angular velocities of underactuated surface vessels, in the condition that only the position and orientation are measurable, we present second-order sliding-mode observers of the velocity u, v, and r for the vessels. Simulation results show that the control law is effective.
NMDA receptors mediate poly- and monosynaptic potentials in motoneurons of rat embryos

We determined the contribution of glutamate receptor subtypes to developing excitatory synaptic transmission in isolated spinal cord of rat embryos. Using electrophysiological and morphological techniques, we studied the pattern of development of synapses between dorsal root afferents and motoneurons in lumbar spinal cords of 15- to 21-d-old rat embryos. Motoneuron dendritic fields and afferent projections onto motoneurons were identified by labeling with HRP. Afferents first entered the gray matter at Day 15 of gestation, and by Day 16 they terminated close to motoneuron dendritic trees. Afferent axons projected onto motoneuron dendritic fields at Day 17, when boutons were detected on motoneuron dendrites that were crossed by afferent axons. To determine the time course of formation of functional sensorimotor synapses and their pharmacological properties, a dorsal root was stimulated while recording intracellularly from segmental motoneurons. At Day 16, excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) with long latencies, slow rates of rise, and long durations were recorded. The amplitudes of these EPSPs increased with membrane depolarization and in the absence of extracellular Mg2+. These EPSPs were blocked by D-2- amino-5-phosphonovalerate (APV) and ketamine, which are selective antagonists of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. These findings suggest that initial synaptic transmission in embryonic motoneurons is mediated solely by NMDA receptors. Short-latency EPSPs with fast rates of rise were first recorded in most motoneurons by Day 17. These EPSPs were composed of fast- and slow-rising potentials. The slow component was blocked by APV, while the fast component was eliminated by 6-cyano- 7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione and kynurenate. This indicates that the short-latency EPSPs are mediated by both NMDA and non-NMDA receptors. Dose-response curves of motoneurons to L-glutamate, NMDA, and kainate demonstrated that motoneurons are sensitive to these agonists prior to the formation of synapses between afferents and motoneurons. Motoneuron responses to NMDA and kainate increased immediately after the onset of short-latency EPSPs. This increased sensitivity could be due to extracellular factors influenced by growing sensory axons or intrinsic properties of differentiating motoneurons.
Transcription leads to pervasive replisome instability in bacteria

The canonical model of DNA replication describes a highly-processive and largely continuous process by which the genome is duplicated. This continuous model is based upon in vitro reconstitution and in vivo ensemble experiments. Here, we characterize the replisome-complex stoichiometry and dynamics with single-molecule resolution in bacterial cells. Strikingly, the stoichiometries of the replicative helicase, DNA polymerase, and clamp loader complexes are consistent with the presence of only one active replisome in a significant fraction of cells (>40%). Furthermore, many of the observed complexes have short lifetimes (<8 min), suggesting that replisome disassembly is quite prevalent, possibly occurring several times per cell cycle. The instability of the replisome complex is conflict-induced: transcription inhibition stabilizes these complexes, restoring the second replisome in many of the cells. Our results suggest that, in contrast to the canonical model, DNA replication is a largely discontinuous process in vivo due to pervasive replication-transcription conflicts. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.19848. 001
Value of serum procalcitonin levels in predicting spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a life-threatening disease that poses a great diagnostic challenge to clinicians. We aimed to systemically and quantitatively summarize the current evidence on the diagnostic value of the procalcitonin (PCT) test in identifying SBP. METHODOLOGY We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, the Cochrane database and reference lists of relevant articles with no language restrictions through May 2012. We selected original research that reported the diagnostic performance of PCT alone or compared with other biomarkers to diagnose SBP. We summarized test performance characteristics using forest plots, summary receiver operating characteristic curves and bivariate random effects models. RESULTS We found only three qualifying studies examining 181 episodes of suspected infection with 50 (27.6%) confirmed SBP episodes from 3 countries. Bivariate pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratios and negative likelihood ratios were 86% (95%CI: 73%-94%), 80% (95%CI: 72%-87%), 7.73 (95%CI: 0.91-65.64) and 0.14 (95%CI: 0.01-1.89), respectively. The global measures of accuracy, area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), showed PCT has excellent discriminative capability and individual study showed serum PCT testing has better accuracy than ascitic PCT, serum CRP or IL-6 testing. There was evidence of significant heterogeneity but no evidence of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS The existing literature suggests moderate to high accuracy for PCT as a diagnostic aid for SBP. However, larger, appropriately designed prospective studies are needed to conclusively address the value of serum PCT testing in SBP diagnosis.
Satisfaction of families using end-of-life care: Current successes and challenges in the hospice industry

This study examined the satisfaction of family members with the end-of-life care their loved ones received. Data were collected from 1,839 individuals receiving care from 17 different care agencies nationwide. Although family satisfaction with hospice care was generally quite high, situational factors played a role. The timing of the referral was critical, with families rating services lower almost across the board when the referral to hospice was deemed “too late. ” Additionally, families expressed greater satisfaction when the patient’s care was overseen by the hospice director, rather than a personal physician. Each of these findings has important implications for physicians, patients, and families as they begin to plan for end-of-life care.
Public accounting history in post-communist Romania

Abstract Having a longitudinal approach of the Romanian public accounting system’s evolution, this historical study proposes the development of a framework in order to assess in a descriptive manner the change of public accounting and its implications for Romania, a European emerging country. The evolution from cash accounting to accrual accounting took place during three time periods within the timeframe 1991–2015. For each of these time periods we investigated influential factors such as period, place, people, practices, propagation, products, and profession. The study shows that under the influence of the international managerial public reform and the internal factors analysed, the public accounting system shifts from the old values of the post-communist period to new reference bases such as International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). The results of the study place Romania, an East European country, on the map of international public sector accounting systems as a relatively new arrival but with serious intentions of integration.
High Power Amplifier Pre-Distorter Based on Neural-Fuzzy Systems for OFDM Signals

In this paper, a novel High Power Amplifier (HPA) pre-distorter based on Adaptive Networks - Fuzzy Inference Systems (ANFIS) for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signals is proposed and analyzed. Models of Traveling Wave Tube Amplifiers (TWTA) and Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPA), both memoryless and with memory, have been used for evaluation of the proposed technique. After training, the ANFIS linearizes the HPA response and thus, the obtained signal is extremely similar to the original. An average Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) of 10-6 can be easily obtained with our proposal. As a consequence, the Bit Error Rate (BER) degradation is negligible showing a better performance than what can be achieved with other methods available in the literature. Moreover, the complexity of the proposed scheme is reduced.
SSBI Mitigation and the Kramers–Kronig Scheme in Single-Sideband Direct-Detection Transmission With Receiver-Based Electronic Dispersion Compensation

The performance of direct-detection transceivers employing electronic dispersion compensation combined with DSP-based receiver linearization techniques is assessed through experiments on a 4 × 112 Gb/s wavelength-division multiplexing direct-detection single-sideband 16 quadratic-amplitude modulation Nyquist-subcarrier-modulation system operating at a net optical information spectral density of 2.8 b/s/Hz in transmission over standard single mode fiber links of up to 240 km. The experimental results indicate that systems with receiver-based dispersion compensation can achieve similar performance to those utilizing transmitter-based dispersion compensation, provided it is implemented together with an effective digital receiver linearization technique. The use of receiver-based compensation would simplify the operation of a fiber link since knowledge of the link dispersion is not required at the transmitter. The recently proposed Kramers–Kronig receiver scheme was found to be the best performing among the receiver linearization techniques assessed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first experimental demonstration of the Kramers–Kronig scheme.
Short Term Load Forecasting Using a Hybrid Neural Network

Short term load forecasting (STLF) is very important from the power systems grid operation point of view. STLF involves forecasting load demand in a short term time frame. The short term time frame may consist of half hourly prediction up to weekly prediction. Accurate forecasting would benefit the utility in terms of reliability and stability of the grid ensuring adequate supply is present to meet with the load demand. Apart from that it would also affect the financial performance of the utility company. An accurate forecast would result in better savings while maintaining the security of the grid. This paper outlines the STLF using a novel hybrid online learning neural network, known as the Gaussian regression (GR). This new hybrid neural network is a combination of two existing online learning neural networks which are the Gaussian adaptive resonance theory (GA) and the generalized regression neural network (GRNN). Both GA and GRNN implemented online learning, but each of them suffers from limitation. Originally GA is used for unsupervised clustering by compressing the training samples into several categories. A supervised version of GA is available, namely Gaussian ARTMAP (GAM). However, the GAM is still not capable on solving regression problem. On the other hand, GRNN is designed for solving real value estimation (regression) problem, but the learning process would involve of memorizing all training samples, hence high computational cost. The hybrid GR is considered an enhanced version of GRNN with compression ability while still maintains online learning properties. Simulation results show that GR has comparable prediction accuracy and has less prototype as compared to the original GRNN as well as the support vector regression.
Parental leave: The impact of recent legislation on parents’ leave taking

We use data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation to examine the impact of leave entitlements on unpaid leave usage by men and women after the birth of a child from 1991 to 1999. The results indicate that legislation providing the right to unpaid leave has not affected men’s leave usage. The results for women are mixed: in some specifications, leave entitlements are associated with increased leave taking or longer leaves, but the results depend on how we define leave coverage. Our results point to the limited impact of unpaid leave policies and the potential importance of paid-leave policies.
The Strategy of Delayed Reconstruction of the Mandible in War Injuries

Abstract The most common causes of mandibular defects are ablative surgery of benign or malignant tumors, severe trauma, inflammatory diseases, and osteoradionecrosis. War injuries are another cause for mandibular defect. Reconstruction of the mandible is considered a challenge to the maxillofacial surgeon due to the accompanying functional and cosmetic importance. The object of this article was to show the role of nonvascularized bone graft in the reconstruction of segmental defect of the mandible resulted from projectiles and its snags. Seventeen patients underwent reconstruction of defect in the body of the mandible using non-vascularized iliac bone graft,in sixteen patients the grafts were fixed by reconstruction plate and in one by stainless-steel wire. In the emergency phase in which life-saving measures were done, in the immediate phase, treatments of associated facial and systemic injuries were carried out. The delayed phase includes the reconstruction of the residual defects and rehabilitation. A total of 17 male patients with a mean age of 34.5 years underwent reconstructive surgery, the time lapse between the injury and the delayed phase of treatment ranged from 20 days to 3 months. The size of the defects ranged from 4 to 7 cm. Treatment was considered successful in 15 patients (88.2%) in whom the grafts were incorporated to mandible with improvement of facial contour and symmetry and satisfactory occlusion of the remaining teeth. Nonvascularized bone graft is considered a feasible option for the reconstruction of a relatively small mandibular defect, especially in ascetic conditions for its role in improving facial appearance and to less extent functional benefit and more advanced method for the reconstruction needed to be introduced especially in war injuries.
Recurrent Visual Relationship Recognition with Triplet Unit

The task of visual relationship recognition (VRR) is recognizing multiple objects and their relationships in an image. A fundamental difficulty of this task is class-number scalability, since the number of possible relationships we need to consider causes combinatorial explosion. Another difficulty of this task is modeling how to avoid outputting semantically redundant relationships. To overcome these challenges, this paper proposes a novel architecture with a recurrent neural network (RNN) and triplet unit (TU). The RNN allows our model to be optimized for outputting a sequence of relationships. By optimizing our model to a semantically diverse relationship sequence, we increase the variety in output relationships. At each step of the RNN, our TU enables the model to classify a relationship while achieving class-number scalability by decomposing a relationship into a subject-predicate-object (SPO) triplet. We evaluate our model on various datasets and compare the results to a baseline. These experimental results show our model's superior recall and precision with fewer predictions compared to the baseline, even as it produces greater variety in relationships.
Semi-Automated Sensitivity Analysis to Assess Systematic Errors in Observational Data

Background Published epidemiologic research usually provides a quantitative assessment of random error for effect estimates, but no quantitative assessment of systematic error. Sensitivity analysis can provide such an assessment. Methods We describe a method to reconstruct epidemiologic data, accounting for biases, and to display the results of repeated reconstructions as an assessment of error. We illustrate with a study of the effect of less-than-definitive therapy on breast cancer mortality. Results We developed SAS code to reconstruct the data that would have been observed had a set of systematic errors been absent, and to convey the results. After 4,000 reconstructions of the example data, we obtained a median estimate of relative hazard equal to 1.5 with a 95% simulation interval of 0.8-2.8. The relative hazard obtained by conventional analysis equaled 2.0, with a 95% confidence interval of 1.2-3.4. Conclusions Our method of sensitivity analysis can be used to quantify the systematic error for an estimate of effect and to describe that error in figures, tables, or text. In the example, the sources of error biased the conventional relative hazard away from the null, and that error was not accurately communicated by the conventional confidence interval.