Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mycobacterium tuberculosis malate synthase is a laminin‐binding adhesin

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) uses the glyoxalate bypass for intracellular survival in vivo. These studies provide evidence that the M. tb malate synthase (MS) has adapted to function as an adhesin which binds to laminin and fibronectin. This binding is achieved via the unique C‐terminal region of the M. tb MS. The ability to function as an adhesin necessitates extracellular localization. We provide evidence that despite the absence of a Sec‐translocation signal sequence the M. tb MS is secreted/excreted, and is anchored on the cell wall by an undefined mechanism. The MS of Mycobacterium smegmatis is cytoplasmic but the M. tb MS expressed in M. smegmatis localizes to the cell wall and enhances the adherence of the bacteria to lung epithelial A549 cells. Antibodies to the C‐terminal laminin/fibronectin‐binding domain interfere with the binding of the M. tb MS to laminin and fibronectin and reduce the adherence of M. tb to A549 cells. Coupled to the earlier evidence of in vivo expression of M. tb MS during active but not latent infection in humans, these studies show that a housekeeping enzyme of M. tb contributes to its armamentarium of virulence promoting factors.
Evaluation of Government Reforms

This article deals with the relationship between established political conceptions about government reforms and experiences with reforms and their evaluation, the background being the change in Norwegian reform policy which has taken place in recent years. This change has increased our insight into how reforms are created in the state sector and has also shed light on the different functions of such reforms, highlighting the consequences of topical questions for understanding evaluation and the evaluation strategies which are used.
An optimized plane wave synthetic focusing imaging for high-resolution convex array imaging

High quality ultrasound imaging is required throughout entire imaging depths for abdominal ultrasound. In general, sector scanning with a convex array transducer is performed by using a focused ultrasound beam to obtain a wide field-of-view. However, the conventional focusing (CF) method suffers from the degraded spatial resolution except for the vicinity of the focal depth due to the diffractive propagation of the focused ultrasound. Plane wave synthetic focusing (PWSF) method has been initially proposed for a linear array transducer to give a solution to the diffraction problem of interrogating beam. In this paper, to our best knowledge, we present the first report on the PWSF method for B-mode convex array imaging as well as the optimization strategies for enhancing image quality. The validation study was performed by acquiring data from a tissue-mimicking phantom (040GSE, CIRS Inc., USA) using an ultrasonic research platform (Vantage 128, Verasonics Inc., USA) with a C5-2 convex array transducer. The evaluation results indicate that the PWSF method can be successfully employed to convex array imaging and it exhibits substantially improved image quality compared to that of CF method.
What Is Happening in Quality Management?: Findings from an IM Survey

In recent years, quality management has become topical in management circles. The language of quality has spread throughout manufacturing industry into service industries and also into the public sector. During 1992, almost 900 Institute of Management members completed a questionnaire on quality management in their own organizations. The aim of the survey was to add to our knowledge of quality management in the UK. This article presents a brief overview of some of the main findings of the survey.
Effect of Replacement of Wheat Flour with Mushroom Powder and Sweet Potato Flour on Nutritional Composition and Sensory Characteristics of Biscuits

This research was performed to evaluate the effect of partial replacement of wheat flour by different levels (10, 20 and 30%) of the mixture of mushroom powder (MP) and sweet potato flour (SPF) at equal rates (1:1 w:w) on the chemical and sensory characteristics for produced biscuits. Also, the produced biscuits batches were evaluated for their amino acids composition and compared with control biscuit (100% wheat flour). The present results of chemical analyses indicated that the incorporation of MP/SPF into biscuits formula led to increase the contents of protein, fiber, ash, Fe, Ca, K, P and indispensable amino acids (IAAs) with increasing the incorporation level of MP/SPF mixture. The amino acids composition revealed that MP/SPF-biscuits contained most of IAAs at higher concentrations than the reference protein pattern of FAO/WHO, with exception of lysine and sulfur amino acids. Lysine was the first limiting amino acid in wheat biscuit (37%) and its chemical score reached 81% after supplementation with 30% MP/SPF mixture. Also, the present results revealed that biscuits processed from wheat flour supplemented by 10% or 20% of MP/SPF mixture exhibited a good sensory properties and better acceptability. While, the produced biscuit batch was contain 30% MP/SPF significantly varied (P<0.05) and had less judging scores for the tested organoleptic quality properties and less acceptability as compared with the other samples. Therefore, it could be concluded that the incorporation of 20% MP/SPF into wheat biscuit formula considerably improved the nutritional and sensory quality properties of produced biscuit batches.
Technology-enabled assessment of health professions education: Consensus statement and recommendations from the Ottawa 2010 conference

The uptake of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in health professions education can have far-reaching consequences on assessment. The medical education community still needs to develop a deeper understanding of how technology can underpin and extend assessment practices. This article was developed by the 2010 Ottawa Conference Consensus Group on technology-enabled assessment to guide practitioners and researchers working in this area. This article highlights the changing nature of ICTs in assessment, the importance of aligning technology-enabled assessment with local context and needs, the need for better evidence to support use of technologies in health profession education assessment, and a number of challenges, particularly validity threats, that need to be addressed while incorporating technology in assessment. Our recommendations are intended for all practitioners across health professional education. Recommendations include adhering to principles of good assessment, the need for developing coherent institutional policy, using technologies to broaden the competencies to be assessed, linking patient-outcome data to assessment of practitioner performance, and capitalizing on technologies for the management of the entire life-cycle of assessment.
Prophylaxis of chronic kidney disease after liver transplantation--experience from west China.

AIM To evaluate the prophylaxis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) after liver transplantation (LT) with low-dose calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). METHODS From March 1999 to December 2009, a total of 572 patients (478 males and 94 females) underwent LT enrolled in the study. Initial immunosuppression was by triple-drug regimens that included a CNI, MMF, and prednisone. The initial dose of CNI was 0.05-0.10 mg/kg per day for tacrolimus (TAC) and 5-10 mg/kg per d for cyclosporine A (CSA) respectively, and was gradually reduced based on a stable graft function. The serum trough level of CNI was 6-8 ng/mL for TAC and 120-150 ng/mL for CSA 3-mo post-operation, 4-6 ng/mL for TAC and 80-120 ng/mL for CSA 1-year after transplantation was expected with stable liver function. MMF was personalized between 1.0-1.5 g/d. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated by an abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula. Risk factors of CKD were examined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS With a definition of GFR < 60 mL/min per 1.73 m(2), the incidence of CKD was 17.3% 5-year after LT. There were 68.3% (293 of 429 cases) patients managed to control their TAC trough concentrations within 8 ng/mL and 58.0% (83 of 143 cases) patients' CSA trough concentrations within 150 ng/mL. Of the 450 recipients followed-up over 1 year, 55.5% (183 of 330 cases) of which were treated with TAC had a trough concentration ≤ 6 ng/mL while 65.8% (79 of 120 cases) of which were treated with CSA had a concentration ≤ 120 ng/mL. The incidence of CKD in the groups of lower CNI trough concentrations was significantly lower than the groups with CNI concentrations above the ideal range. Patients with CKD had much higher CNI trough concentrations than that of patients without CKD. MMF was adopted in 359 patients (62.8%). Patients administrated with MMF had a relatively low CNI trough concentrations but with no significant difference. The graft function remained stable during follow-up. No difference was found between different groups of CNI trough concentrations. Pre-LT renal dysfunction, ages, acute kidney injury, high blood trough concentrations of CNI in 3 mo (TAC > 8 ng/mL, CSA > 150 ng/mL) and hypertension after operation were associated with CKD progression, while male gender and adoption of MMF were protection factors. CONCLUSION Low dose of CNI combined with MMF managed to prevent CKD after LT with stable graft function.
Macroeconomic Strategy in Wartime

In 2001-02 the United States has been hit by two quite different shocks, terrorism and recession. As usual in time of war, national defense is the highest priority for use of the country's resources. Although the opportunities for international warfare are limited, the challenges to the homeland are virtually unlimited. The president's fiscal year 2003 budget includes $48 billion additional for the military and $38 billion additional for homeland defense. Given the gravity of the threat, it is hard to understand why new expenditures are not undertaken as soon as and as large as possible. This would also be timely for stimulus to the economy, more effective than tax cuts and other proposals - with the nation in peril, the country is ready to make sacrifices, not to enjoy further tax reductions. Pearl Harbor in December 1941 occurred with the economy not yet recovered from the Great Depression, with unemployment still 10 per cent. Expenditures for war were increased sharply and rapidly, and full employment was restored in 1943.
Inverter modeling including non-ideal IGBT characteristics in Hybrid Electric Vehicle for accurate EMI noise prediction

In this study, an inverter model including non-ideal Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs) characteristics and a busbar model using impedance measurement is proposed. A motor drive system in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) consists of a battery, an inverter, a cable, and an electric motor. The inverter is not only a voltage source, but also one of the principal noise sources in the motor drive system. Since switching operations of power devices in the inverter make Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) noise, a non-ideal model of the IGBTs is needed for accurate EMI analysis of the motor drive system. By simulating the motor drive system with proposed non-ideal inverter model, it is possible to predict accurate common mode current noises in view of whole vehicle level. The model is verified by comparison with measurement.
The allantoplacenta of Mabuya mabouya (Sauria, Scincidae)

Analysis of placentation in the final stages of development in Mabuya mabouya shows that the placenta is formed by the apposition of the chorioallantois to the uterine mucosa implicating the entire embryonic chamber, because the allantoic vesicle invades all the exocoelom. The chorioallantoic placenta presents the features proper of a type IV allantoplacenta. However, in the mesometrial area peripheral to the placentome, we found that the paraplacentome is an additional zone specialized for histotrophic transfer, and is separated from the rest of the embryonic chamber by a chorionic invagination formed of polymorphic cells. The chorionic areolae are components of the embryonic hemisphere; they are in apposition to an endometrium with columnar epithelial cells and several glands that secrete toward the cavity of the areolae. They are observed only in the preparturition stage, probably operating in maternal‐fetal transfer of nutrients during the last embryonic growth stage. The mesometrial hemisphere possesses specializations related to histotrophic nutrition (placentome, paraplacentome, and chorionic areolae), while in the abembryonic hemisphere there is an allantoplacenta of mixed function, with capacity for histotrophic nutrition and for gas exchange. The absorptive plaques are small rounded areas constituted by chorionic cells similar to the paraplacentomal chorionic cells, in intimate apposition with a secretory uterine epithelium. Separating the absorptive plaques are respiratory segments histologically similar to the type I allantoplacenta. The additional histotrophic areas found for this species demonstrate the great specialization of this allantoplacenta, and support the highest degree of matrotrophy among reptiles reached in the Neotropical Mabuya. J. Morphol. 249:132–146, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Perceived Institutional Ambiguity and the Choice of Organizational Form in Social Entrepreneurial Ventures

Social entrepreneurship (SE) is emerging as a common approach to meeting social needs. However, SE founders appear to be organizing under both for–profit and nonprofit organizational forms to engage in essentially the same activities. We investigate this lack of consistency regarding the choice of organizational form by examining two possible explanations: a difference in motivational goals among social entrepreneurs or perceived ambiguity regarding trends in core dimensions of the institutional environment. Overall, we argue that founder perceptions of an ambiguous institutional environment are leading to the variance in choice of organizational form for SE ventures. Both theoretical and practical directions for future research are discussed as well.
The development of ideal-typical welfare regime theory

This paper focuses on recent developments in ‘ideal-typical’ welfare analysis, including findings on East Asia, Eastern Central Europe and, for the first time, Latin America. The characteristics of a new ideal-typical welfare regime in large parts of Latin America are singled out, looking at key features of major welfare state systems.
Divergent Validity of Contingent Valuation Responses in a Wildlife-Related Application

Assessments of the construct validity of contingent valuation (CV) rarely explore divergent validity. The unique structure of the Colorado elk and deer hunting seasons allowed the authors to assess divergent validity aspects of CV. A CV survey was designed that asked willingness to purchase an elk license only, a deer license only, both an elk and deer license, or neither at randomly assigned fee increases. Economic theory suggests when both fees are low, respondents would purchase both licenses; as one fee increases in relation to the other, respondents would be more likely to purchase the lower priced license only; when both fees are high, respondents would be more likely to purchase neither. Results for both residents and nonresidents support the hypothesized purchase patterns, suggesting respondents were considering the bid amount in relation to their value of the hunt, the price of substitute species hunts, and seriously considering the CV question.
Outer membrane protein patterns mark clones of Escherichia coli O2 and O78 strains that cause avian septicemia

Major outer membrane proteins were isolated from 36 Escherichia coli strains representing six common clones of the O2 and O78 serogroups implicated in avian colisepticemia. Clonal relationships among isolates were inferred from an analysis of polymorphism at 20 enzyme-encoding loci detected by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. For isolates of these clones, there was a high concordance (greater than 90%) between identity in multilocus genotype and major outer membrane protein patterns. The results indicate that major outer membrane protein patterns discriminate among the genetically different clonal groups that constitute the heterogeneous O2 and O78 serogroups associated with avian disease.
LUNAR EFFECT: ANALYSIS ON EMERGING COUNTRIES STOCK RETURNS, PRIOR AND DURING FINANCIAL CRISIS

The random walk theory is a theory which states that market prices are not influenced by prior price movements and therefore, prices in the stock market cannot simply be predicted. The stock market is considered efficient and follows the random walk theory when intelligent market participants lead the situation and reflect all available information based on past or future events. Preliminary evidences however, indicate that there are various anomalies such as calendar anomalies that could lead to market inefficiency. On the other hands, a lunar effect is a phenomenon where mean returns around the new moon is higher than mean returns around the full moon. Using non-parametric and basic multiple linear regression analysis, this study aims to investigate relationships between lunar effect and average stock returns for ten emerging countries for the period of January 2004 until December 2010. The result shows that returns on the full moon were slightly lower as compared to the returns on the new moon prior to the financial crisis and vice versa during the financial crisis.
Field trial of alcohol-server training for prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome.

OBJECTIVE An alcohol-server training program to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome was developed, implemented, and evaluated in a comparison study of public drinking establishments in New Mexico and Oregon. METHOD The management and serving staffs of 148 establishments licensed for on-premise alcohol sales in the two states studied were trained to discourage alcohol consumption by pregnant customers. Pre- and post-tests of server responses to pregnant-appearing "pseudo-patron" actors ordering alcohol in experimental (n = 148) and comparison (n = 183) establishments were a key method of evaluating the efficacy of this intervention. RESULTS Within-group chi-square analyses compared rates of service refusal at baseline with 1-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up points for both the trained (experimental) and the comparison establishments. No differences were found between experimental and comparison establishments at baseline at either site, but significant differences were found for New Mexico at each posttraining measurement point. In Oregon, the refusal rate at baseline increased from 1.5% at baseline to 8.3% at 1 month, which only approached significance. In New Mexico, at baseline the refusal rate was 8.6%, and it rose to 39.2% at 6 months (p < .0001, odds ratio = 6.83) and remained high at 28.2% at 12 months (p < .001, odds ratio = 4.15). No similarly significant gains were recorded at control establishments. CONCLUSIONS Supplemental responsible beverage service training for alcohol servers to aid in the prevention of fetal alcohol exposure can be effective in reducing the serving of alcohol to visibly pregnant women, with robust effects continuing over the subsequent year in the New Mexico establishments.
Shocks, Crashes and Bubbles in Financial Markets

In a series of papers based on analogies with statistical physics models, we have proposed that most financial crashes are the climax of so-called log-periodic power law signatures (LPPL) associated with speculative bubbles (Sornette and Johansen, 1998; Johansen and Sornette, 1999; Johansen et al. 1999; Johansen et al. 2000; Sornette and Johansen, 2001a). In addition, a large body of empirical evidence supporting this proposition have been presented (Sornette et al. 1996; Sornette and Johansen, 1998; Johansen et al. 2000; Johansen and Sornette, 2000; Johansen and Sornette, 2001a, Sornette and Johansen, 2001b). Along a complementary line of research, we have established that, while the vast majority of drawdowns occurring on the major financial markets have a distribution which is well-described by a stretched exponential, the largest drawdowns are occurring with a significantly larger rate than predicted by extrapolating the bulk of the distribution and should thus be considered as outliers (Johansen and Sornette, 1998; Sornette and Johansen, 2001; Johansen and Sornette, 2001; Johansen, 2002). Here, these two lines of research are merged in a systematic way to offer a classification of crashes as either events of an endogenous origin preceded by speculative bubbles or as events of exogenous origins associated to external shocks. We first perform an extended analysis of the distribution of drawdowns in the two leading exchange markets (US dollar against the Deutschmark and against the Yen), in the major world stock markets, in the U.S. and Japanese bond market and in the gold market, by introducing the concept of “coarse-grained drawdowns”, which allows for a certain degree of fuzziness in the definition of cumulative losses and improves on the statistics of our previous results. Then, for each identified outlier, we check whether LPPL are present and take the existence of LPPL as the qualifying signature for an endogenous crash: this is because a drawdown outlier is seen as the end of a speculative unsustainable accelerating bubble generated endogenously. In the absence of LPPL, we are able to identify what seems to have been the relevant historical event, i.e. a new piece of information of such magnitude and impact that it is reasonable to attribute the crash to it, following the standard view of the efficient market hypothesis. Such drawdown outliers are classified as having an exogenous origin. Globally over all the markets analyzed, we identify 49 outliers, of which 25 are classified as endogenous, 22 as exogenous and 2 as associated with the Japanese “anti-bubble” starting in Jan. 1990. Restricting to the world market indices, we find 31 outliers, of which 19 are endogenous, 10 are exogenous and 2 are associated with the Japanese anti-bubble. The combination of the two proposed detection techniques, one for drawdown outliers and the second for LPPL, provides a novel and systematic taxonomy of crashes further substantiating the importance of LPPL. We stress that the proposed classification does not rule out the existence of other precursory signals in the absence of LPPL.
Household Saving and Labor Informality: The Case of Chile

This paper compares the saving behavior of formal and informal workers and additionally provides a socioeconomic and financial characterization of informal workers in Chile. The paper uses the Financial Household Survey conducted by the Central Bank of Chile in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, which covers between 1,740 and 2,533 urban households, performing both OLS and probit regressions. The cross-section regression results indicate that, in general, informal households save less than formal households. Further, descriptive data indicate that informal workers have less access to financial services and possess less financial assets and liabilities. In terms of policy implications, combating informality may not only improve the well-being of workers, but may also have positive consequences on the aggregate saving rate. In addition, for Chile, it is evident that there is ample room to improve access to financial services not only for informal but also for formal workers.