Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Key Role of the Postsynaptic Density Scaffold Proteins Shank and Homer in the Functional Architecture of Ca2+ Homeostasis at Dendritic Spines in Hippocampal Neurons

A key aspect of postsynaptic function, also important for plasticity, is the segregation within dendritic spines of Ca2+ rises attributable to release from intracellular stores. Previous studies have shown that overexpression in hippocampal neurons of two postsynaptic density (PSD) scaffold proteins, Shank1B and Homer1b, induces spine maturation, including translocation of the intracellular Ca2+ channel inositol trisphosphate receptor (IP3R). The structural and functional significance of these processes remained undefined. Here, we show that in its relocation, IP3R is accompanied by other endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteins: the Ca2+ pump sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase, the lumenal Ca2+-binding protein calreticulin, the ER lumen-addressed green fluorescent protein, and, to a lesser extent, the membrane chaperone calbindin. The specificity of these translocations was demonstrated by their inhibition by both a Shank1 fragment and the dominant-negative Homer1a. Activation in Shank1B-transfected neurons of the metabotropic glutamatergic receptors 1/5 (mGluRs1/5), which induce IP3 generation with ensuing Ca2+ release from the stores, triggered considerable increases in Ca2+-dependent responses: activation of the big K+ channel, which was revealed by patch clamping, and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) phosphorylation. The interaction of Shank1B and Homer1b appears as the molecular mechanism linking mGluRs1/5, strategically located in the spines, to IP3R with the integration of entire ER cisternas in the PSD and with consequences on both local Ca2+ homeostasis and overall neuronal signaling.
Event-Related Potential Measures of a Violation of an Expected Increase and Decrease in Intensity

Unexpected physical increases in the intensity of a frequently occurring “standard” auditory stimulus are experienced as obtrusive. This could either be because of a physical change, the increase in intensity of the “deviant” stimulus, or a psychological change, the violation of the expectancy for the occurrence of the lower intensity standard stimulus. Two experiments were run in which event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded to determine whether “psychological” increments (violation of an expectancy for a lower intensity) would be processed differently than psychological decrements (violation of an expectancy for a higher intensity). Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded while subjects were presented with auditory tones that alternated between low and high intensity. The subjects ignored the auditory stimuli while watching a video. Deviants were created by repeating the same stimulus. In the first experiment, pairs of stimuli alternating in intensity, were presented in separate increment (H-L…H-L…H-H…H-L, in which H = 80 dB SPL and L = 60 dB SPL) and decrement conditions (L-H…L-H…L-L… L-H, in which H = 90 dB SPL and L = 80 dB SPL). The paradigm employed in the second experiment consisted of an alternating intensity pattern (H-L-H-L-H-H-H-L) or (H-L-H-L-L-L-H-L). Importantly, the stimulus prior to the deviant (the standard) and the actual deviants in both increment and decrement conditions in both experiments were physically identical (80 dB SPL tones). The repetition of the lower intensity tone therefore acted as a psychological rather than a physical decrement (a higher intensity tone was expected) while the repetition of the higher intensity tone acted as a psychological increment (a lower intensity tone was expected). The psychological increments in both experiments elicited a larger amplitude mismatch negativity (MMN) than the decrements. Thus, regardless of whether an acoustic change signals a physical increase in intensity or violates an expected decrease in intensity, a large MMN will be elicited.
Estimating the Cost of Equity Capital for Property-Liability Insurers

This article presents new evidence on the cost of equity capital by line of insurance for the property-liability insurance industry. To do so we obtain firm beta estimates and then use the full-information industry beta (FIB) methodology to decompose the cost of capital by line. We obtain full-information beta estimates using the standard one-factor capital asset pricing model and extend the FIB methodology to incorporate the Fama-French three-factor cost of capital model. The analysis suggests the cost of capital for insurers using the Fama-French model is significantly higher than the estimates based upon the CAPM. In addition, we find evidence of significant differences in the cost of equity capital across lines. Copyright The Journal of Risk and Insurance.
Preparation for movement: neural representations of intended direction in three motor areas of the monkey.

1. The purpose of this study was to compare the functional properties of neurons in three interrelated motor areas that have been implicated in the planning and execution of visually guided limb movements. All three structures, the supplementary motor area (SMA), primary motor cortex (MC), and the putamen, are components of the basal ganglia-thalamocortical "motor circuit. " The focus of this report is on neuronal activity related to the preparation for movement. 2. Five rhesus monkeys were trained to perform a visuomotor step-tracking task in which elbow movements were made both with and without prior instruction concerning the direction of the forthcoming movement. To dissociate the direction of preparatory set (and limb movement) from the task-related patterns of tonic (and phasic) muscular activation, some trials included the application of a constant torque load that either opposed or assisted the movements required by the behavioral paradigm. Single-cell activity was recorded from the arm regions of the SMA, MC, and putamen contralateral to the working arm. 3. A total of 741 task-related neurons were studied, including 222 within the SMA, 202 within MC, and 317 within the putamen. Each area contained substantial proportions of neurons that manifested preparatory activity, i.e., cells that showed task-related changes in discharge rate during the postinstruction (preparatory) interval. The SMA contained a larger proportion of such cells (55%) than did MC (37%) or the putamen (33%). The proportion of cells showing only preparatory activity was threefold greater in the SMA (32%) than in MC (11%). In all three areas, cells that showed only preparatory activity tended to be located more rostrally than cells with movement-related activity. Within the arm region of the SMA, the distribution of sites from which movements were evoked by microstimulation showed just the opposite tendency: i.e., microexcitable sites were largely confined to the caudal half of this region. 4. The majority of cells with task-related preparatory activity showed selective activation in anticipation of elbow movements in a particular direction (SMA, 86%; MC, 87%; putamen, 78%), and in most cases the preparatory activity was found to be independent of the loading conditions (80% in SMA, 83% in MC, and 84% in putamen). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Gender differences in the returns to schooling and in school enrollment rates in Indonesia

Earnings data on a nationally representative sample of Indonesian adults show that males have significantly lower returns to secondary and tertiary schooling than females. These differences are greatest at the level of Diploma 1 and vocational secondary education, but are still substantial for nonvocational secondary schooling and university education. The estimated returns to schooling are also greater for older cohorts than for younger cohorts, although the inter-cohort differences are identical for males and females. It appears that women in Indonesia have been acquiring secondary and tertiary education in relatively larger numbers than men in recent years, perhaps in response to the greater relative returns to female higher education. However, there is still a gap between male and female enrollments at the secondary and tertiary levels. The analysis in this paper does not show many strong and systematic gender differences in the effects of household and community characteristics on school enrollments.
Barriers to biomedical care and use of traditional medicines for treatment of cervical cancer: an exploratory qualitative study in northern Uganda

Use of traditional medicines for treatment of cancers has increased worldwide. We used a qualitative approach to explore barriers to biomedical care and reasons for use of traditional medicines for the treatment of cervical cancer in Gulu, northern Uganda. We carried out 24 focus group discussions involving men and women aged 18–59 years. We employed content analyses technique in data analysis. Traditional medicines were used mainly due to barriers to biomedical care for cervical cancer. The barriers included health system factors, for example long distances to health facilities and unavailability of medicines; health workers’ factors, for example negative attitudes towards patients and demands for bribes; individual patient’s factors, for example inability to pay for medical care; and socio-cultural beliefs about superiority of traditional medicines and perceived greater privacy in accessing traditional healers. Barriers to biomedical care and community beliefs in the effectiveness of traditional medicines encourage use of traditional medicines for treatment of cervical cancer but might hinder help-seeking at biomedical facilities. There is need for targeted culturally sensitive awareness campaign to promote effectiveness of modern medicine and to encourage cautious use of traditional medicines in the treatment of cervical cancer.
An XMM-Newton Observation of 4U 1755–33 in Quiescence: Evidence of a Fossil X-Ray Jet

We report an XMM-Newton observation of the low-mass X-ray binary and black hole candidate 4U 1755-33. This source had been a bright persistent source for at least 25 yr, but in 1995 it entered an extended quiescent phase. 4U 1755-33 was not detected with an upper limit to the 2-10 keV luminosity of 3.6 × 1031d ergs s-1 (where d4 kpc is the distance in units of 4 kpc)—consistent with the luminosity of other black hole candidates in a quiescent state. An unexpected result is the discovery of a narrow 7' long X-ray jetlike feature centered on the position of 4U 1755-33. The spectrum of the jet is similar to that observed from other galactic and extragalactic jets thought to be associated with accreting black holes. The detection of a fossil jet provides additional evidence supporting the black hole candidacy of 4U 1755-33. The spectral properties of three bright serendipitous sources in the field are reported, and it is suggested that these are background active galactic nuclei.
Information Disclosure Policies: Evidence from the Electricity Industry

A “third wave” of environmental policy has recently emerged that emphasizes information provision as an integral part of the risk mitigation strategy. While theory suggests information programs may correct market failures and improve welfare, the empirical effectiveness of these programs remains largely undetermined. We show that mandatory information disclosure programs in the electricity industry achieve stated policy goals. We that the average proportion of fossil fuels decreases and the average proportion of clean increases in response to disclosure programs. However, the programs also produce unintended consequences. Customer composition and pre-existing fuel mix significantly affect program response, suggesting that effective information disclosure policies may not be efficient.
Why Does Inflation Differ Across Countries?

This paper attempts to explain the differences in inflation performance across countries. Earlier research has examined this topic, but it has considered only some of the factors that might be empirically important determinants of inflation rates. We consider the distaste for inflation, optimal tax considerations, time consistency issues, distortionary non-inflation policies and other factors that might be empirically important determinants of inflation performance. Overall, the results suggest that institutional arrangements - central bank independence or exchange rate mechanisms - are relatively unimportant determinants of inflation performance, while economic fundamentals - openness and optimal tax considerations - are relatively important determinants.
Baroclinic Modes in a Two-Layer Basin

Abstract The objective of this study is to investigate the time-dependent circulation in a closed basin where the steady circulation is included and long Rossby wave speeds are consistent with observations. Specifically, the large-scale baroclinic eigenmodes of a two-layer rectangular basin forced by surface wind stress in the limit of small dissipation are examined. Low-frequency modes with small decay rates independent of friction result when the constraint of mass conservation is enforced. The magnitude of the wind stress is found to be critical to the eigenspectrum. For all forcing magnitudes, including forcings with closed geostrophic contours, oscillatory modes with decay rates independent of friction emerge. For forcings with closed geostrophic contours, two important classes of eigenmodes with comparable decay rates emerge: purely decaying modes confined to the region of closed contours, and basin-scale oscillatory modes. The purely decaying modes also exist without the constraint of total mass co.
Financial Fragility, Macroeconomic Shocks and Banks' Loan Losses: Evidence from Europe

This paper tests the hypothesis that the more fragile a banking system is, the more likely it is to experience problems when an unexpected shock hits. The empirical framework where this test is conducted is a reduced form model, where macroeconomic factors explain banks' loan losses. The dependent variable is the ratio of net loan losses to lending in a panel comprising the banking sectors of nine sample countries. An econometric model is estimated on pooled annual data mostly covering the period from the early 1980s to 2002. There are three separate explanatory terms. Two of these include a surprise change both in incomes and real interest rates. Both form a separate cross-product term with lagged aggregate indebtedness. The lagged dependent variable is the third explanatory term possibly capturing the feedback effect from loan losses back to the real economy. The underlying macroeconomic account that this paper puts forward is that loan losses seem basically to be generated by strong adverse aggregate shocks under high exposure of banks to such shocks. The model has been used in connection with stress testing in the Bank of Finland.
Two Techniques for Assessing Virtual Agent Personality

Personality can be assessed with standardized inventory questions with scaled responses such as “How extraverted is this character? ” or with open-ended questions assessing first impressions, such as “What personality does this character convey? ” Little is known about how the two methods compare to each other, and even less is known about their use in the personality assessment of virtual agents. We tested what personality virtual agents conveyed through gesture alone when the agents were programmed to display introversion versus extraversion (Experiment 1) and high versus low emotional stability (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, both measures indicated participants perceived the extraverted agent as extraverted, but the open-question technique highlighted the perception of both agents as highly agreeable whereas the inventory indicated that the extraverted agents were also perceived as more open to new experiences. In Experiment 2, participants perceived agents expressing high versus low emotional stability differently depending on assessment style. With inventory questions, the agents differed on both emotional stability and agreeableness. With the open-ended question, participants perceived the high stability agent as extraverted and the low stability agent as disagreeable. Inventory and open-ended questions provide different information about what personality virtual agents convey and both may be useful in agent development.
Speak up for Change? Understanding the Social Costs and Benefits of Confronting Environmental Disregard.

In the face of stagnation in efforts to tackle the global increase of greenhouse gas emissions, there is a great need to broaden our understanding of normative processes that maintain and change social norms in relation to environmentally (un)sustainable lifestyles. My research aims to address this gap in the literature by examining the normative processes associated with climate change. More specifically I focused on identifying the interpersonal costs and wider benefits (in terms of social change) associated with the interpersonal confrontation of environmental disregard. Firstly, to establish a meaningful point of comparison for subsequent studies, I compared the normative status of environmental disregard and racial prejudice (Studies 1 & 2). I then moved on to examining perceptions and consequences of interpersonal confrontation of environmental disregard over the course of six studies by placing participants in the position of an observer of an interaction in which the confrontation occurred. The results consistently identified high social costs (reduced feelings of closeness and warmth) associated with confronting environmental disregard (but not racism). The costs of confronting environmental disregard were partly determined by the morality of the issue, the appropriateness of the confrontation, the pre-existing attitude of the observer and the justification used by the confronter for their reaction. My studies also tested different strategies to reduce the social costs for the confronter (such as invoking morality in different ways) and also assessed the consequences of confrontation for changes in perceptions of social norms, climate change attitudes and behavioural tendencies amongst those bearing witness. In relation to the consequences for behavioural tendencies resulting from interpersonal confrontation, the findings suggest that confrontation of environmental disregard encourages pro-environmental action tendencies if a scientific justification for the confrontation is provided. The final chapter of the thesis explores the theoretical and practical implications of these findings in relation to engendering processes of social change.
International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health 78 Women's Empowerment and Ideal Family Size: an Examination of Dhs Empowerment Measures in Sub-saharan Africa

The literature on women's empowerment has defined and conceptualized " empowerment " using different and often interchangeable terms, including " autonomy, " " status " and " agency. " 1,2 According to one definition, empowerment is " the expansion of people's ability to make strategic life choices in a context where this ability was previously denied to them. " 3 Two central components of empowerment are the agency and the resources needed to exercise life choices. 2,3 In addition, the construct of women's empow-erment encompasses many dimensions, including reproductive , economic, social and cultural, familial and inter-personal, legal, political and psychological, 2 which leads to wide variation in conceptualization. Given this wide variation, women's empowerment is difficult to measure consistently. Studies often assess wom-en's autonomy with an index measuring participation in decision making about various household issues, which represents women's degree of control over their environment. Some researchers include both major decisions (e.g., large household purchases) and minor decisions (e.g., what food to cook) in the index, 4 whereas others exclude day-today household choices and those that are traditionally within the woman's domain. 5 Other measures of wom-en's empowerment assess freedom of movement, 6,7 differences in age and education between marital partners, 8,9 and the process of spouse selection. 10 Even with a clear definition and conceptualization, these constructs are difficult to quantify in a standardized way within a given population. To measure empow-erment at an individual level, researchers must translate the amorphous construct into a set of specific questions that population-based surveys can ask; ideally, those questions would be applicable to individual respondents with a diverse set of social and demographic characteristics. For example, young women who have not had sex would not have the experience needed to answer questions about sexual power. In such a case, hypothetical situations could be used to ascertain attitudes and beliefs, but such situations are often difficult for people to fully understand and respond to realistically. 11 Another challenge is the variation in cultural contexts that affect the measurement of women's empowerment. A measure that captures empowerment in one context may have limited relevance in another, as is the case with measures of mobility in communities where free movement is the norm for women. Thus, for the validity of cross-national comparisons, it is important to identify universally applicable measures, regardless of the gender equity environment. CONTEXT: The Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) program …
User-Action-Driven View and Rate Scalable Multiview Video Coding

We derive an optimization framework for joint view and rate scalable coding of multi-view video content represented in the texture plus depth format. The optimization enables the sender to select the subset of coded views and their encoding rates such that the aggregate distortion over a continuum of synthesized views is minimized. We construct the view and rate embedded bitstream such that it delivers optimal performance simultaneously over a discrete set of transmission rates. In conjunction, we develop a user interaction model that characterizes the view selection actions of the client as a Markov chain over a discrete state-space. We exploit the model within the context of our optimization to compute user-action-driven coding strategies that aim at enhancing the client's performance in terms of latency and video quality. Our optimization outperforms the state-of-the-art H.264 SVC codec as well as a multi-view wavelet-based coder equipped with a uniform rate allocation strategy, across all scenarios studied in our experiments. Equally important, we can achieve an arbitrarily fine granularity of encoding bit rates, while providing a novel functionality of view embedded encoding, unlike the other encoding methods that we examined. Finally, we observe that the interactivity-aware coding delivers superior performance over conventional allocation techniques that do not anticipate the client's view selection actions in their operation.
The size and growth of government spending

This paper reviews the size and growth of government spending. Section I surveys the empirical evidence on the growth of government expenditures. First, a number of measurement issues are raised, including the definition of the public sector, the appearance of off-budget expenditures, and the use of price deflators for government output. Section I then reviews available data on government expenditures for OECD and developing nations. Both a long term perspective, provided by several OECD economies, and contemporary experience, essentially since 1960, are presented. In Section II, the determinants of the growth in government are considered. This literature covers demographic demands for expenditure growth, the changing relative prices of public vis-a-vis private goods, the income elasticity of public goods, and the arguments of the public choice school. Most of these explanations have been directed at understanding trends in industrialized nations, and little has been written on the relevance of these explanations for developing nations. This section briefly speculates on the determinants of government growth in developing countries against the backdrop provided by results in the advanced economies.