Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bacteriophage N4 virion RNA polymerase interaction with its promoter DNA hairpin

Bacteriophage N4 minivirion RNA polymerase (mini-vRNAP), the RNA polymerase (RNAP) domain of vRNAP, is a member of the T7-like RNAP family. Mini-vRNAP recognizes promoters that comprise conserved sequences and a 3-base loop–5-base pair (bp) stem DNA hairpin structure on single-stranded templates. Here, we defined the DNA structural and sequence requirements for mini-vRNAP promoter recognition. Mini-vRNAP binds a 20-nucleotide (nt) N4 P2 promoter deoxyoligonucleotide with high affinity (Kd = 2 nM) to form a salt-resistant complex. We show that mini-vRNAP interacts specifically with the central base of the hairpin loop (−11G) and a base at the stem (−8G) and that the guanine 6-keto and 7-imino groups at both positions are essential for binding and complex salt resistance. The major determinant (−11G), which must be presented to mini-vRNAP in the context of a hairpin loop, appears to interact with mini-vRNAP Trp-129. This interaction requires template single-strandedness at positions −2 and −1. Contacts with the promoter are disrupted when the RNA product becomes 11–12 nt long. This detailed description of vRNAP interaction with its promoter hairpin provides insights into RNAP–promoter interactions and explains how the injected vRNAP, which is present in one or two copies, recognizes its promoters on a single copy of the injected genome.
A Needs-based Approach to Resource Allocation in Health Care

health-care policy in Canada and the existing methods of allocating health-care resources at the provincial level. We argue that while federal policy has focussed on arrangements for the payment of providers of services and prohibiting the application of user charges, little attention has been paid at either the federal or provincial level to what criteria should be used to allocate resources in ways consistent with the stated objectives. Current approaches to resource allocation implicitly assume that individual providers (physicians, hospital administrators) are both able and willing to allocate health-care resources in line with the stated objectives. We show that this is likely to be difficult to achieve, particularly given the methods used currently for funding providers and institutions. An alternative approach to allocating health-care resources is derived which is population-, as opposed to provider-, based and relates resource shares to the relative needs for health care among communities. The proposed approach provides a practical method of aligning the stated objectives of both federal and provincial health-care policies with the management of scarce health-care resources. Policy issues arising from the adoption of the proposed approach are discussed.
Unauthorized Immigration and Electoral Outcomes

How do inflows of unauthorized immigrants shape elections? Political economy theories often yield competing predictions and mixed empirical results. The main hurdle of empirically evaluating the impact of unauthorized immigrants on election outcomes is finding reliable data that can measure unauthorized immigration flows over time. Using a unique methodology for identifying undocumented workers across counties in the state of Georgia in the United States, we find a positive relationship between the share of the county's workforce that is unauthorized and the share of votes going to Republicans in elections. Furthermore, we show that this effect is more pronounced for the presence of unauthorized immigrants than Hispanics; is stronger in counties with higher median household income; and is substantively larger in U.S. Congressional elections than Gubernatorial or Senatorial elections. We discuss which political economy theories are most consistent with this set of findings.
Do Firms Benefit from Concentrating their Borrowing? Evidence from the Great Recession

We investigate whether the extent to which firms concentrate their borrowing from banks mitigates the credit contraction that followed the default of Lehman. Using micro data from a large sample of Italian firms, we show that firms borrowing from fewer banks and those with more concentrated borrowing suffer on average a smaller contraction in bank credit and have a lower probability of being credit-rationed. The results hold controlling for several firm-level characteristics and for the possible endogeneity of the measures of concentration of borrowing.
Hallmark Events: An Evaluation of a Strategic Response to Seasonality in the Travel Market

Cyclical demand in the leisure, recreation, and travel markets is a major factor contributing to low productivity and low returns on investment among the suppliers of goods and services to these markets. One strategic response to "the seasonality problem," which has had varying degrees of success in different regions, is termed the Hallmark Event. Such events, built around a major theme, serve to focus tourism and recreational planning on a particular period of the year. The present research provides both an in-depth, cross-sectional study of one such activity (The Quebec Winter Carnaval) as well as a longi tudinal analysis of the event's evolution over its 20-year history. Finally, the social and economic implications of the findings are discussed with a view to aiding persons interested in developing such events.
Multiyear On-Orbit Calibration and Performance of Terra MODIS Reflective Solar Bands

Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) has made continuous global observations for more than six years since its launch in December 1999. MODIS has 36 spectral bands: 20 reflective solar bands (RSBs) with wavelengths from 0.41-2.2 mum and 16 thermal emissive bands with wavelengths from 3.7-14.4 mum. It is a cross-track scanning radiometer that collects data at three nadir spatial resolutions: 0.25 km (2 bands), 0.5 km (5 bands), and 1 km (29 bands). An onboard solar diffuser (SD) and an SD stability monitor (SDSM) are used biweekly for RSB on-orbit radiometric calibration. Another onboard calibrator (OBC), a spectroradiometric calibration assembly, is used periodically to evaluate and monitor RSB spatial and spectral performance. In addition to measurements made using OBCs, lunar observations at nearly identical phase angles are used to track RSB calibration stability. This paper provides an overview of MODIS RSB on-orbit calibration algorithms and operational activities. It discusses sensor characteristics that could impact RSB calibration accuracy and data product quality, including degradation of the SD bidirectional reflectance factor (BRF), degradation of the scan mirror reflectance in the visible spectral region, and changes in operational configuration. The Terra MODIS OBCs have performed well in monitoring SD degradation and tracking changes in RSB response. Band 8 (0.41 mum) has experienced the largest response decrease with an approximate annual rate of 4.5% (mirror side 1). Band 9 (0.44 mum) has an annual response decrease of about 2.3% (mirror side 1). For most RSB bands with wavelengths greater than 0.5 mum, the annual response changes are generally less than 1.0%. Results from the SDSM on-orbit observations show that the SD BRF also has a similar wavelength-dependent degradation, with the largest degradation appearing at the shortest wavelengths. Among the 330 RSB detectors, there are no inoperable detectors, and only a few noisy detectors have appeared postlaunch
Fiscal Discipline and Exchange Rate Systems

A new "fiscal" theory of price determination has implications for exchange rate systems and common currency areas. We show that deeper monetary integration requires the discipline of a Ricardian regime; that is, the government must guarantee fiscal solvency for any sequence of prices or exchange rates. Particularly striking results are that a currency peg is not credible without the discipline of a Ricardian regime, and a common currency area is not viable if fiscal policy in two (or more) of the countries in the union is Non-Ricardian. Interestingly, constraints written into the Maastricht Treaty are sufficient for a Ricardian regime.
Effect of substitution on the dimensionality of supramolecular aggregation in dihydrobenzopyrazoloquinolines.

Molecules of 8-methyl-10-phenyl-6,10-dihydro-5H-benzo[h]pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoline, C21H17N3, (I), are linked into cyclic centrosymmetric dimers by means of paired C-H.N hydrogen bonds. In each of 8-methyl-7,10-diphenyl-6,10-dihydro-5H-benzo[h]pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoline, C27H21N3, (II), and 8-methyl-7-(4-methylphenyl)-10-phenyl-6,10-dihydro-5H-benzo[h]pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoline, C28H23N3, (III), the molecules are linked by C-H.pi(arene) hydrogen bonds into sheets, although the detailed construction of the sheets is entirely different in (II) and (III). The molecules of 7-(4-methoxyphenyl)-8-methyl-10-phenyl-6,10-dihydro-5H-benzo[h]pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoline, C28H23N3O, (IV), are linked into a complex three-dimensional framework structure by a combination of C-H.N, C-H.O and three independent C-H.pi(arene) hydrogen bonds.
Model-based service discovery for next-generation mobile systems

The practical success of next-generation mobile systems such as 4G relics largely on its flexibility in providing adaptive and cost-effective services. Service discovery is an essential mechanism to achieve this goal. Based on the investigation of the existing service discovery protocols, this article proposes a new service discovery methodology for next-generation mobile systems: model-based service discovery or MBSD. By taking advantage of the object management group (OMG) model-driven architecture (MDA) technique, model-based service discovery (MBSD) can generate service description automatically and more precisely. Furthermore, if developed via MDA, the discovered services can be regenerated into their model format and as such facilitate the service re-engineering in a finer manner. The system architecture of MBSD and its operation are presented and implemented. The proposed methodology is validated via a mobile service scenario
Joint recognition and direction-of-arrival estimation of simultaneous meeting-room acoustic events

Acoustic scene analysis usually requires several sub-systems working in parallel for carrying out the various required functionalities. Focusing to a more integrated approach, in this paper we present an attempt to jointly recognize and localize several simultaneous acoustic events that take place in a meeting room environment, by developing a computationally efficient technique that employs multiple arbitrarily-located small microphone arrays. Assuming a set of simultaneous sounds, for each array a matrix is computed whose elements are likelihoods along the set of classes and a set of discretized directions of arrival. MAP estimation is used to decide about both the recognized events and the estimated directions. Experimental results with two sources, one of which is speech, and two three-microphone linear arrays are reported. The recognition results compare favorably with the ones obtained by assuming that the positions are known.
Regional variability in relationships between climate and dengue/DHF in Indonesia

Since 1970, the worldwide distribution, frequency and intensity of epidemics of dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) have increased dramatically. In Indonesia, as elsewhere, the geographic distribution and behaviour of the two main vectors –Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus– and the consequent transmission dynamics of the disease are strongly influenced by climate. Monthly incidence data were examined in relation to monthly data for temperature, rainfall, rainfall anomalies, humidity and the Southern Oscillation Index for 1992–2001. Focusing on eight provinces, significant Pearson correlations were observed between dengue/DHF incidence and at least one climate variable (r = ±0.2 to ±0.43; P < 0.05). Multiple regression analyses showed that 12.9–24.5 per cent of variance in incidence was explained by two or three climate variables in each province (P < 0.1–0.01). Rainfall appears to be the principal climatic agent affecting the geographic distribution and temporal pattern of incidence while temperature appears to play a critical role in outbreak intensity. Wide regional and temporal variations in the strength and nature of the observed associations led to the identification of three groups of provinces where increases in dengue/DHF incidence were variously associated with increased rainfall, decreased rainfall and/or high susceptibility to climate variability. Although climatic factors play an important role in explaining the timing and intensity of dengue/DHF outbreaks, a wide range of other factors specific to local environments also appear to be involved – information that may assist in the prediction and mitigation of regional dengue/DHF outbreaks.
Mechanism of tolerance development to organic nitrates.

Tolerance to the vasodilator activity of organic nitrates appears to involve an alteration in a receptor in vascular smooth muscle. An in vitro model of nitrate tolerance was developed by incubation of rabbit thoracic aorta with organic nitrate at alkaline pH, producing a time- and concentration-dependent decrease in sensitivity to glyceryl trinitrate. Cross-tolerance is observed to all organic nitrates studied but not to nonnitrate vasodilators. When aortic strips are incubated at alkaline pH, nitrite formation is enhanced and tissue SH levels decrease. It s proposed that organic nitrate tolerance involves the oxidation of a critical sulfhydryl in the glyceryl trinitrate "receptor. " This hypothesis is supported by the reversal of both in vitro - and in vivo -induced glyceryl trinitrate tolerance by the disulfide reducing agent, dithiothreitol.
Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds under various redox conditions in soil-water systems

This study evaluated the microbial degradation of naphthol, naphthalene, and acenaphthene, under aerobic, anaerobic, and denitrification conditions in soil-water systems. Chemical degradation of naphthol and naphthalene in the presence of a manganese oxide was also studied. Naphthol, naphthalene, and acenaphthene were degraded microbially under aerobic conditions from initial aqueous-phase concentrations of 9, 7, and 1 mg/liter to nondetectable levels in 3, 10, and 10 days, respectively. Under anaerobic conditions naphthol degraded to nondetectable levels in 15 days, whereas naphthalene and acenaphthene showed no significant degradation over periods of 50 and 70 days, respectively. Under denitrification conditions naphthol, naphthalene, and acenaphthene were degraded from initial aqueous-phase concentrations of 8, 7, and 0.4 mg/liter to nondetectable levels in 16, 45, and 40 days, respectively. Acclimation periods of approximately 2 days under aerobic conditions and 2 weeks under denitrification conditions were observed for both naphthalene and acenaphthene. Abiotic degradation of naphthalen and naphthol were evaluated by reaction with manganese oxide, a minor soil constituent. In the presence of a manganese oxide, naphthalene showed no abiotic degradation over a period of 9 weeks, whereas the aqueous naphthol concentration decreased from 9 mg/liter to nondetectable levels in 9 days. The results of this study show that low-molecular-weight, unsubstituted, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are amenable to microbial degradation in soil-water systems under denitrification conditions.
Is advertising rational

Advertising is not a process by which gullible consumers are persuaded to buy things they don't want, according to the authors of this paper. Instead, it furnishes consumers with some useful information. It is not so much the claims made by advertisers that are helpful, but the fact that they are willing to spend extravagant amounts of money on a product that is informative. The authors find tentative evidence for this view of advertising and discuss its implications.
Combining 'omics and microscopy to visualize interactions between the Asian citrus psyllid vector and the Huanglongbing pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus in the insect gut

Huanglongbing, or citrus greening disease, is an economically devastating bacterial disease of citrus. It is associated with infection by the gram-negative bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). CLas is transmitted by Diaphorina citri, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). For insect transmission to occur, CLas must be ingested during feeding on infected phloem sap and cross the gut barrier to gain entry into the insect vector. To investigate the effects of CLas exposure at the gut-pathogen interface, we performed RNAseq and mass spectrometry-based proteomics to analyze the transcriptome and proteome, respectively, of ACP gut tissue. CLas exposure resulted in changes in pathways involving the TCA cycle, iron metabolism, insecticide resistance and the insect’s immune system. We identified 83 long non-coding RNAs that are responsive to CLas, two of which appear to be specific to the ACP. Proteomics analysis also enabled us to determine that Wolbachia, a symbiont of the ACP, undergoes proteome regulation when CLas is present. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) confirmed that Wolbachia and CLas inhabit the same ACP gut cells, but do not co-localize within those cells. Wolbachia cells are prevalent throughout the gut epithelial cell cytoplasm, and Wolbachia titer is more variable in the guts of CLas exposed insects. CLas is detected on the luminal membrane, in puncta within the gut epithelial cell cytoplasm, along actin filaments in the gut visceral muscles, and rarely, in association with gut cell nuclei. Our study provides a snapshot of how the psyllid gut copes with CLas exposure and provides information on pathways and proteins for targeted disruption of CLas-vector interactions at the gut interface.
High-Temperature Sensing Using Miniaturized Fiber In-Line Mach–Zehnder Interferometer

A miniaturized single fiber in-line Mach-Zehnder interferometer is proposed for high-temperature sensing. The interferometer has a microcavity in one of its arms, formed by removing part of the fiber core and cladding, while the other arm remains in the fiber core. Because the fiber core exhibits a temperature coefficient of refractive index which is different from that of air, the interferometer is sensitive to temperature variation. The microcavity structured interferometer also has excellent sustainability to high temperatures up to 1100°C . The system is compact, reliable and can detect the temperature at precise location.
Fiscal Policy and Interest Rates in Europe

type="main" xml:lang="en"> The appetite for fiscal discipline has been steadily declining among most industrial countries. In the past, fiscal profligacy would have been punished by markets with higher interest rates and, in some cases, also exchange rate depreciation. However, in post-EMU Europe, exchange rate markets no longer discipline the fiscal behaviour of national governments. Perhaps more crucially, even the interest rate punishment to fiscal indiscipline is highly uncertain, with academic opinions being quite divided on this issue. This paper takes a close look at the link between fiscal policy and interest rates in the European context. The key finding is that an expansionary fiscal policy in one EMU member will have an effect both on its spreads and on the overall level of interest rates for the currency union as a whole, with the second effect, however, being quantitatively much more significant. This suggests that there are indeed substantial spillovers, through the interest rate channel, among fiscal policies of member countries. To limit countries’ incentive to run expansionary fiscal policies, a set of rules, like those embedded in the Stability and Growth Pact, is then needed. Some (weak) evidence is also found that after EMU, interest rate spillovers seem to be more significant for high debt countries with unsustainable fiscal policies, reflecting perhaps market concerns about a possible sovereign bail out or the impact of financial distress. There may be a case then for imposing tighter rules on high debt countries. — Riccardo Faini
Doing Well by Doing Good: Opportunity Recognition and the Social Enterprise Partnership

Abstract This paper contributes to social enterprise theory by furthering understanding of the process of opportunity recognition within partnership settings. Using opportunity recognition as the central construct, and drawing on case study evidence, the paper explores a social enterprise partnership (SEP) in an effort to uncover the drivers for its creation, identify factors influencing its success, and highlight its social value. Findings reveal that the nature of the opportunity exploited, alongside recognition of its mutual problem-solving potential led to the partnership's success. It is suggested that a SEP of this nature can be of particular value in economically deprived areas where resources are constrained and collaborative approaches are critical. A framework for analysing opportunity recognition and exploitation in SEP contexts is proposed.
The Costs of Worker Displacement

This study defines the nature of worker displacement and develops a mechanism for inferring the amount of losses caused by displacement in away that is tied to economic theory. Data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics are first used to identify the characteristics of displaced workers. After a demonstration that usual methods of evaluating workers' losses cannot provide correct measures of the cost to society, a game--theoretic model determining the amount of firm -- specific investment in workers is developed. As workers'and firms' horizons decrease, such investment will be reduced; this will be exhibited in a flattening of the wage-tenure profile as the date of displacement approaches. Examination of the profile thus provides a test whether firms and workers have good information about impending displacement. Using the PSID data for workers displaced between 1977 and 1981, the study shows there is no significant flattening of the wage-tenure profile in the entire sample. (However, some flattening does occur among unionized workers, and also among workers who are laid-off permanently from a plant that remains open.) This suggests that workers are surprised by displacement, for they continue investing in firm-specific human capital up to the time of displacement. The present value of the worker's share of the lost returns on this investment is around $7000 (1980 dollars) under intermediate assumptions about the real rate of discount, depreciation on such investment and the effect of tenure on the rate of voluntary separation.
Total Productivity and the Quality of Capital

IN MY article "On Total Productivity and All That," I made the following remark regarding the effect of the recognition of improvement in the quality of capital on Kendrick's Index of Total Productivity: "Actually such improvements would increase the output of capital-making industries and the input of capital-using industries, thus increasing the growth of the Index in the former and reducing it in the latter. It is also likely that the growth of the aggregate Index would be reduced because of the faster growth to be expected in the stock of capital so defined. "2 The first sentence is correct; but the correctness of the second was questioned by Professor Fabricant in a letter to me. The validity of that sentence could be saved by showing that the promised behavior of the Index is indeed "likely," at least for the aggregate American economy, but there is little honor in that: the sentence, as it stands, fails to take into account the more rapid growth of final output arising from such a redefinition of capital and hence of current investment as well. Since changes in quality, not only of capital, but of any input or output, are a subject of some current interest, a brief analysis of the problem may be in order. It will be conducted in terms of a geometric index because its greater simplicity more than compensates for its small divergence from an arithmetic one. ' It will be assumed that the weight system of a geometric index of total productivity or of