Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sequence of a Soybean (Glycine max L.) Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase cDNA

PEPC is universally present among green plants but has not been found in animals. This enzyme catalyzes formation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediate oxaloacetate. In plants carrying out C4 and CAM metabolism, this reaction constitutes the first step of C 0 2 capture, but this enzyme’s role in CJ plants remains a subject of discussion (Latzko and Kelly, 1983). In Escherichia coli this enzyme is required for replenishment of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates as carbon skeletons are drawn off for amino acid biosynthesis (Ashworth and Kornberg, 1966). A similar role in plants might contribute to an observed correlation between PEPC activity and nitrogen accumulation levels in soybean seeds (Sugimoto et al., 1989). In the course of investigating PEPC’s potential role in plant nitrogen accumulation, we previously reported isolation, expression, and sequence analysis of Gmppcl6, a soybean (Glycine max L.) cDNA isolated from developing seeds (Sugimoto et al., 1992). We report here the sequence of Gmppcl, a second full-length PEPC-encoding cDNA isolated from the same library (Table I). The coding portion of this gene shares 86.7% nucleotide homology and 92.5% derived amino acid homology with the previously reported soybean gene. Thus, soybean, like other plants, possesses a small multigene family of PEPC sequences (Lepiniec et al., 1993). Despite high homology within the coding region, no nucleotide similarity is evident within the 3’ noncoding region. Derived amino acid sequence alignments with other known plant PEPC genes indicate slightly lower homology, but the differences a11 tend to occur in areas of lower sequence conservation (data not shown). Studies have implicated Ser15 of maize in kinase regulation of enzymic activity (Jiao and Chollet, 1990). This Ser residue is also conserved in Gmppcl, occurring within the Lys-X-X-Ser context thought to be important in kinase recognition.
Cloning and sequencing of a deoxyribonucleic acid copy of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase messenger ribonucleic acid isolated from chicken muscle.

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was purified from the breast muscles of 3-week-old chickens and used to raise a specific antiserum in rabbits. This antiserum was coupled to an in vitro translation assay to monitor the purification of GAPDH mRNA. RNA was isolated from identical breast muscles and consecutively fractionated with several techniques to yield a preparation of GAPDH mRNA which was at least 50% pure. Double-stranded cDNA was made against this purified RNA, inserted into pBR322, and used to transform Escherichia coli. Recombinants were screened by colony filter hybridization with a cDNA probe made against the purified RNA. The hybridization-positive clone with the largest insert, pGAD-28, was then characterized by using pGAD-28-cellulose to select complementary RNA from total poly(A) RNA and then translating the hybridization-selected RNA in vitro. The single translation product was shown to be GAPDH by (1) comigration with pure GAPDH on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, (2) precipitation with specific anti-GAPDH antiserum, (3) cyanylation fingerprinting, and (4) AMP-agarose affinity chromatography. pGAD-28 was mapped with several restriction enzymes and then sequenced by the method of Maxam and Gilbert [Maxam, A. M. , & Gilbert, W. (1977) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74, 560]. The 1261-nucleotide insert was found to contain 29 nucleotides of noncoding sequence at the 5' end, the entire coding region, and 230 nucleotides of the 3'-noncoding region including a poly(A) addition signal (AATAAA) and the first five residues of the poly(A) tail.
Distributed Computation of Linear Inverse Problems with Application to Computed Tomography

The inversion of linear systems is a fundamental step in many inverse problems. Computational challenges exist when trying to invert large linear systems, where limited computing resources mean that only part of the system can be kept in computer memory at any one time. We are here motivated by tomographic inversion problems that often lead to linear inverse problems. In state of the art x-ray systems, even a standard scan can produce 4 million individual measurements and the reconstruction of x-ray attenuation profiles typically requires the estimation of a million attenuation coefficients. To deal with the large data sets encountered in real applications and to utilise modern graphics processing unit (GPU) based computing architectures, combinations of iterative reconstruction algorithms and parallel computing schemes are increasingly applied. Although both row and column action methods have been proposed to utilise parallel computing architectures, individual computations in current methods need to know either the entire set of observations or the entire set of estimated x-ray absorptions, which can be prohibitive in many realistic big data applications. We present a fully parallelizable computed tomography (CT) image reconstruction algorithm that works with arbitrary partial subsets of the data and the reconstructed volume. We further develop a non-homogeneously randomised selection criteria which guarantees that sub-matrices of the system matrix are selected more frequently if they are dense, thus maximising information flow through the algorithm. A grouped version of the algorithm is also proposed to further improve convergence speed and performance. Algorithm performance is verified experimentally.
Partial Left Ventriculectomy (Batista Procedure) in the Treatment of Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Makati Medical Center Philippine Experience

Abstract In the Philippines patients with end‐stage heart disease refractory to conventional medical and surgical treatment do not have alternative choices. More than 99% of the population cannot afford cardiac transplantation. Partial left ventriculectomy (PLV) is a surgical procedure that improves cardiac function and refractory congestive heart failure (CHF). Between October 1997 and February 1998 eight patients had PLV at the Makati Medical Center, Philippines. All patients had end‐stage dilated cardiomyopathy. Six patients had an id‐iopathic etiology, one was ischemic and one valvular. Seven of eight operations were done with the heart beating and all had transesophageal echo monitoring. An average of a 2‐cm reduction in the left ventricle diameter was achieved and ejection fraction improved in all cases. There were no operative deaths. There were three late deaths. Two patients died of refractory CHF and ventricular arrhythmias and one patient died of massive cerebral hemorrhage with coumadin therapy. The five survivors are all doing well with no CHF. Follow‐up two‐dimensional echo shows stable left ventricular (LV) size and improved ejection fraction. Our initial experience shows that PLV, at least in the short‐term, has beneficial effects in the treatment of end‐stage dilated cardiomyopathy and might become an alternative to cardiac transplantation.
Macroeconomic Announcements and Implied Volatilities in Swaption Markets

Some of the sharpest movements in the major swap markets take place during days of US economic data releases. These yield movements induce spikes in volatilities during those days. Swaption prices adjust to reflect the spikes=the volatilities implied by these prices tend to fall once the volatility spike induced by an announcement has passed. For a given type of announcement, the decline in implied volatility is consistent with the average size of the spike in realised volatilities.
Political Connections and SEC Enforcement

In this study, I examine whether firms and executives with long-term political connections through contributions and lobbying incur lower costs from the enforcement actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). I find that politically connected firms on average are less likely to be involved in SEC enforcement actions and face lower penalties if they are prosecuted by the SEC. Contributions to politicians in a strong position to put pressure on the SEC are more effective than others at reducing the probability of enforcement and penalties imposed by an enforcement action. Moreover, the amounts paid to lobbyists with prior employment links to the SEC, and the amounts spent on lobbying the SEC directly, are more effective than other lobbying expenditures at reducing enforcement costs faced by firms.
Governing Structures and Structured Governing: Local Political Control of Public Services in Denmark

Decentralization to local government increases flexibility and responsiveness, and, by implication, policy diversity. However, a local governing structure is but one of several institutions that structure government. Central policy makers are not absent simply because policy authority formally rests in local governments. Government regulation, collective agreements, and professional norms also matter. Furthermore, other institutions, such as the organization of producer and provider roles, may be more important. Diversity in local services cannot be
Neo‐patrimonialism, Institutions and Economic Growth: The Case of Malawi, 1964–2009

For significant periods Malawi's economy has performed as well or better than might have been expected given its geographical location and natural resource endowments. Underlying these promising episodes is a pattern of centralised, long‐horizon rent management and technocratic integrity. This case study of ‘developmental patrimonialism’ found that the period 1965–79 was one of centralised, long‐horizon rent management and a vertically disciplined technocracy, and the economy grew healthily; 1980–94, by contrast, was a period in which rent management drifted. Although it remained quite centralised, it became geared more to the short term, while the civil service began to deteriorate as it was politicised. These resulted in a comparatively directionless reform programme. The situation deteriorated still further under President Bakili Muluzi (1994–2004). This was a period of decentralised, short‐horizon rent management and a further deterioration of the state bureaucracy. The economy entered a tailspin. A recovery was made during the first term of President Bingu wa Mutharika (2004–09), who reintroduced some aspects of long‐horizon rent centralisation and promoted a more vertically disciplined technocracy.
Urban waterfront rehabilitation: can it contribute to environmental improvements in the developing world?

This paper examines urban waterfront rehabilitation as a sustainable development strategy in Chinese cities. Though waterfront rehabilitation is increasingly being employed in developed world cities, the environmental benefits are not always clear. Nonetheless, China, like other developing countries, has shown interest in this strategy, for improving its local water quality, upgrading environmental management, and improving quality of life for urban residents. As developing world cities struggle to break from the traditional model of ‘pollute first, clean up later’, it is critical that they employ strategies which minimize or remediate environmental impacts while still promoting economic development. This paper analyzes three such projects: the Qinhuai River Environmental Improvement Project in Nanjing, the Suzhou Creek Rehabilitation in Shanghai, and the Wuli Lake Rehabilitation in Wuxi. A critical analysis indicates that these projects have served numerous purposes which contribute to the cities’ sustainable development. Though waterways may not be restored to pristine conditions, the incremental improvements appear to be a necessary catalyst for sustainable urban development.
Genomic and epigenomic landscapes of adult de novo acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND Many mutations that contribute to the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are undefined. The relationships between patterns of mutations and epigenetic phenotypes are not yet clear. METHODS We analyzed the genomes of 200 clinically annotated adult cases of de novo AML, using either whole-genome sequencing (50 cases) or whole-exome sequencing (150 cases), along with RNA and microRNA sequencing and DNA-methylation analysis. RESULTS AML genomes have fewer mutations than most other adult cancers, with an average of only 13 mutations found in genes. Of these, an average of 5 are in genes that are recurrently mutated in AML. A total of 23 genes were significantly mutated, and another 237 were mutated in two or more samples. Nearly all samples had at least 1 nonsynonymous mutation in one of nine categories of genes that are almost certainly relevant for pathogenesis, including transcription-factor fusions (18% of cases), the gene encoding nucleophosmin (NPM1) (27%), tumor-suppressor genes (16%), DNA-methylation-related genes (44%), signaling genes (59%), chromatin-modifying genes (30%), myeloid transcription-factor genes (22%), cohesin-complex genes (13%), and spliceosome-complex genes (14%). Patterns of cooperation and mutual exclusivity suggested strong biologic relationships among several of the genes and categories. CONCLUSIONS We identified at least one potential driver mutation in nearly all AML samples and found that a complex interplay of genetic events contributes to AML pathogenesis in individual patients. The databases from this study are widely available to serve as a foundation for further investigations of AML pathogenesis, classification, and risk stratification. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health.).
Protein kinase A activation inhibits oncogenic Sonic hedgehog signalling and suppresses basal cell carcinoma of the skin

Basal cell carcinoma of the skin (BCC) is caused by constitutive activation of the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway, mainly through mutations either in the Shh receptor Patched (PTCH) or in its co‐receptor Smoothened (Smo). Inhibitors of this pathway that are currently in clinical trials inhibit Smo. However, mutations in Smo can result in resistance to these inhibitors. To target most BCCs and avoid acquired resistance because of Smo mutations, inhibiting the Shh‐pathway downstream of Smo is critical. Attractive downstream targets would be at the level of Gli proteins, the transcriptional activators of this pathway in BCCs. Previously it has been shown that Gli1 and Gli2, when phosphorylated by protein kinase A (PKA), are targeted for proteosomal degradation. Here we show that PKA activation via the cAMP agonist forskolin is sufficient to completely abolish oncogenic Smo activity in vitro. In an inducible BCC mouse model due to a Smo mutation that confers resistance to current Smo inhibitors, topical forskolin treatment significantly reduced Gli1 mRNA levels and resulted in strongly suppressed BCC tumor growth. Our data show that forskolin inhibits the growth of even those BCCs that are resistant to Smo inhibitors and provide a proof‐of‐principle framework for the development of topically applied human skin‐permeable novel pharmacologic inhibitors of oncogenic Shh‐signaling through PKA activation.
Group I extensor afferents evoke disynaptic EPSPs in cat hindlimb extensor motorneurones during fictive locomotion.

1. Intracellular recording from extensor motoneurones in paralysed decerebrate cats was used to examine the distribution of short‐latency non‐monosynaptic excitation by group I afferents during fictive locomotion produced by stimulation of the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR). 2. During the extension but not the flexion phase of fictive locomotion, stimulation of ankle extensor nerves at 1.2‐2.0 times threshold evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in motoneurones innervating hip, knee and ankle extensors. Disynaptic EPSPs were also evoked by selective activation of group Ia muscle spindle afferents by muscle stretch. 3. The central latencies of these group I‐evoked EPSPs (mean, 1.55 ms) suggest their mediation by a disynaptic pathway with a single interneurone interposed between extensor group I afferents and extensor motoneurones. Disynaptic EPSPs were also evoked during periods of spontaneous locomotion following the cessation of MLR stimulation. 4. Hip extensor motoneurones received disynaptic EPSPs during extension following stimulation of both homonymous and ankle extensor nerves. Stimulation of hip extensor nerves did not evoke disynaptic EPSPs in ankle extensor motoneurones. 5. The appearance of disynaptic EPSPs during extension appears to result from cyclic disinhibition of an unidentified population of excitatory spinal interneurones and not postsynaptic voltage‐dependent conductances in motoneurones or phasic presynaptic inhibition of group I afferents during flexion. 6. The reorganization of group I reflexes during fictive locomotion includes the appearance of disynaptic excitation of hip, knee and ankle extensor motoneurones. This excitatory reflex is one of the mechanisms by which group I afferents can enhance extensor activity and increase force production during stance.
Effects of Technical Department’s Advice, Quality Assessment Standards, and Client Justifications on Auditors’ Propensity to Accept Client-Preferred Accounting Methods

ABSTRACT: We conduct an experiment to investigate whether the effects of an SAS No. 90-like quality assessment standard (QAS) on auditors’ decision to accept a client-preferred accounting method is jointly moderated by the nature of advice from an audit firm’s technical department and the strength of the client’s justification. Results indicate that, in the absence of advice, the presence of QAS does not affect auditors’ decision, regardless of client justification strength. However, in the presence of advice from the technical department, the presence of QAS significantly reduces auditors’ propensity to accept the client-preferred method, but only when the advice explicitly recommends the use of the most appropriate method and the client’s justification is strong. These findings demonstrate the complementary roles that professional standards and audit firms’ technical departments play in enhancing the quality of auditors’ decisions, and indicate that the nature of advice matters.
Chronic kidney disease is associated with increased platelet activation and poor response to antiplatelet therapy.

BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common co-morbidity of patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease, and may influence the response to antiplatelet therapy. We, therefore, sought to investigate its effect on platelet activation and on-treatment residual platelet reactivity. METHODS We assessed platelet activation and the response to clopidogrel and aspirin in 316 patients after percutaneous intervention with stent implantation. CKD was defined as a glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) according to the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula. Surface expression of activated glycoprotein IIb/IIIa without the addition of agonists was determined to assess baseline platelet activation. GPIIb/IIIa in response to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and arachidonic acid (AA), as well as the VerifyNow assays and light transmission aggregometry (LTA) were used to measure residual platelet reactivity. RESULTS Baseline platelet activation was significantly increased in CKD patients compared with patients without renal insufficiency [3.1 versus 2.7 mean fluorescence intensity (MFI), P = 0.001]. Moreover, patients with CKD exhibited a more pronounced expression of GPIIb/IIIa in response to ADP (13 versus 9.6 MFI) and AA (6 versus 5.1 MFI; both P≤ 0.02) than patients without CKD. In the VerifyNow assays, CKD patients showed significantly higher platelet reactivity than patients without CKD (P2Y12 assay: 239 versus 182 P2Y12 Reaction Units; aspirin assay: 415 versus 399 Aspirin Reaction Units; both P≤ 0.03). Further, patients with CKD had significantly higher platelet reactivity by LTA in response to ADP (49.9 versus 43.2%, P = 0.01). Finally, high on-treatment residual ADP-inducible platelet reactivity by the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay and by LTA occurred significantly more frequent in patients with CKD (VerifyNow: 52.2 versus 26.2%, P < 0.001; LTA: 23.3 versus 12.1%, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Patients with CKD exhibit increased platelet activation, and an attenuated response to dual antiplatelet therapy compared with patients without renal insufficiency.
Symbol vs. Digit Substitution Task Performance In Diverse Cultural and Linguistic Groups

In spite of limited empirical data to guide their use, nonverbal neuropsychological measures are frequently utilized in the assessment of non-native English speakers in an effort to minimize cultural and linguistic factors that may influence performance. In this study, three groups of participants from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds were compared on two brief, nonverbal substitution tasks sensitive to cerebral dysfunction: WAIS-R Digit Symbol and the Symbol Digit Modalities Test. Within each group, participants exhibited a similar pattern of performance, earning higher scores on Digit Symbol. However, when dominant Spanish speakers were further subdivided into higher and lower education groups, less educated Spanish speakers achieved lower scores compared to all other groups on both tasks, and failed to show the performance advantage for Digit Symbol. In spite of differences in the respective countries of educational experience, the more highly educated dominant Spanish speakers performed as well as monolingual nonHispanic and Hispanic bilingual participants on both tasks. Years of formal education appears to be the most relevant variable in explaining performance differences across cultural and linguistic groups on these tasks.
Modelica modeling language as a tool on control engineering education: Simulation of a two-tank system

Cross education to diverse areas of Engineering requires innovation in the used resources. Thus, the process of simulation proves to be fundamental to a first approach of complex physical systems prior to implementation Moreover, the fact that sometimes there is a reduced time to combine a strong practical component to lectures makes use of tools such as virtual laboratories and remote laboratories essential to education. This paper demonstrates how simulation of a closed system, via the embedded programming language Modelica in the Dymola Software, allows the production of reliable and robust controllers to illustrate the simulation methodology oriented to education.
The effect of institutional investor type on the relationship between CEO duality and financial performance

Corporate governance literature presents inconclusive evidence regarding the relationship between board characteristics and financial performance. Remembering that certain types of, but not all, institutional investors exert influence on monitoring and influencing management, this study goes beyond the traditional analyses of institutional investors and focuses on the effect of two different types of institutional investors, namely, pressure-sensitive and pressure-resistant, on the relationship between board leadership structure and financial performance. While pressure-sensitive type includes those institutions that are less likely to challenge management, pressure-resistant type incorporates those institutions that have no business relationships with the firms in which they hold stocks, and therefore are better suited to impose controls on management decisions and behaviour. The findings strongly suggest that institutional ownership moderates the relationship between CEO duality and financial performance, with the relationship being positive (negative) in presence of pressure-resistant (pressure-sensitive) institutional ownership. These findings support prior studies that argue that corporate governance mechanisms, and hence board leadership structure, should be neither modelled nor isolated from other organisational variables. The results of this study can be of interest to researchers in corporate governance, policy makers and managers who aim to maximise the value of their firms and improve board effectiveness.