Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
International Business Cycles: World, Region, and Country-Specific Factors

The paper investigates the common dynamic properties of business-cycle fluctuations across countries, regions, and the world. We employ a Bayesian dynamic latent factor model to estimate common components in macroeconomic aggregates (output, consumption, and investment) in a 60-country sample covering seven regions of the world. The results indicate that a common world factor is an important source of volatility for aggregates in most countries, providing evidence for a world business cycle. We find that region-specific factors play only a minor role in explaining fluctuations in economic activity. We also document similarities and differences across regions, countries, and aggregates. (JEL F41, E32, C11, C32)
Descendents of ServQual in Online Services Research: The End of the Line?

Service quality, and the ServQual model, with origins in face-to-face marketing before the age of the internet, has been drafted into the role of explaining the perceived outcomes of computer-mediated self-service encounters. These however differ in important ways from face-to-face service encounters. In this conceptual paper, we offer a number of arguments as to why researchers of computer-mediated services should not look back to ServQual for the basis of their theoretical constructs, models and survey items. We suggest by way of alternative that established information systems theory has greater salience and explanatory power for this phenomenon. We also offer some areas of theory that we believe have potential for the study of online service quality that have so far received little attention.
DNA Replication Is Required To Elicit Cellular Responses to Psoralen-Induced DNA Interstrand Cross-Links

ABSTRACT Following introduction of DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs), mammalian cells display chromosome breakage or cell cycle delay with a 4N DNA content. To further understand the nature of the delay, previously described as a G2/M arrest, we developed a protocol to generate ICLs during specific intervals of the cell cycle. Synchronous populations of G1, S, and G2 cells were treated with photoactivated 4′-hydroxymethyl-4,5′,8-trimethylpsoralen (HMT) and scored for normal passage into mitosis. In contrast to what was found for ionizing radiation, ICLs introduced during G2 did not result in a G2/M arrest, mitotic arrest, or chromosome breakage. Rather, subsequent passage through S phase was required to trigger both chromosome breakage and arrest in the next cell cycle. Similarly, ICLs introduced during G1 did not cause a G1/S arrest. We conclude that DNA replication is required to elicit the cellular responses of cell cycle arrest and genomic instability after psoralen-induced ICLs. In primary human fibroblasts, the 4N DNA content cell cycle arrest triggered by ICLs was long lasting but reversible. Kinetic analysis suggested that these cells could remove up to ∼2,500 ICLs/genome at an average rate of 11 ICLs/genome/h.
Construct validity of interpersonal personality measures : the interpersonal circumplex as a nomological net

To understand a construct means to set it within an appropriate «nomological net» of lawful relations. For measures of interpersonal constructs, the interpersonal circumplex provides a nomological system of great potential for validating constructs and their measures. Three multidimensional measures-of dependency, empathy, and narcissism-were subjected to an interpersonal analysis, and construct parameters and similarities were estimated by using formulas derived from the circumplex model. The results offered a distinctly interpersonal perspective on the construct validity of the respective measures
An Improved Method to Estimate Radar Echo Top 1 Height 2

4 It is demonstrated that the traditional method, in widespread use on NEXRAD and other 5 radar systems, to compute echo top heights results in both underand overestimates. It is 6 proposed that echo tops be computed by interpolating between elevation scans that bracket 7 the echo top threshold. The traditional and proposed techniques are evaluated using sim8 ulated radar samples of a modeled thunderstorm and by sampling a high-resolution Range 9 Height Indicator (RHI) of a real thunderstorm. It is shown that the proposed method results 10 in smaller errors when higher elevation scans are available. 11
Synergistic Effects of Arsenic Trioxide and Radiation in Osteosarcoma Cells through the Induction of Both Autophagy and Apoptosis

Abstract Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor, occurring mainly in children and adolescents, and survival largely depends on their response to chemotherapy. However, the risk of relapse and adverse outcomes is still high. We investigated the synergistic anti-cancer effects of ionizing radiation combined with arsenic trioxide (ATO) and the mechanisms underlying apoptosis or autophagy induced by combined radiation and ATO treatment in human osteosarcoma cells. We found that exposure to radiation increased the population of HOS cells in the G2/M phase within 12 h in a time-dependent manner. Radiation combined with ATO induced a significantly prolonged G2/M arrest, consequently enhancing cell death. Furthermore, combined treatment resulted in enhanced ROS generation compared to treatment with ATO or radiation alone. The enhanced cytotoxic effect of combined treatment occurred from the increased induction of autophagy and apoptosis through inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in HOS cells. The combined treatment of HOS cells pretreated with Z-VAD, 3-MA or PEG-catalase resulted in a significant reduction of cytotoxicity. In addition, G2/M arrest and ROS generation could be involved in the underlying mechanisms. The data suggest that a combination of radiation and ATO could be a new potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of osteosarcoma.
Inter‐domain work‐family, family‐work conflict and police work satisfaction

This research investigates the relationship between inter‐domain conflict in the form of work‐family conflict and family‐work conflict with various facets of employee job satisfaction. The study was conducted among police personnel (n = 119) in a large southeastern state. Results indicate that work‐family conflict is significantly related to satisfaction with job in general, pay, supervision, promotion, work, and co‐workers. Family‐work conflict is not as consistently related to the facets of job satisfaction. In general, as expected, conflict between work‐family is more closely related to employee job satisfaction than conflict between family‐work. Managerial implications are included as well as directions for future theoretical research.
Is dispositional emotional intelligence synonymous with personality?

To examine the utility of dispositional models of emotional intelligence (EI), two studies (Ns = 263, 116) examined whether dispositional EI predicted psychological health independent of personality. Participants completed measures of three EI dispositions (perception, understanding, regulation), Big-Five traits, psychological well-being and emotional distress. In Study 2 participants completed the health scales a second time three months later. Results revealed that dispositional EI is related to health outcomes cross-sectionally (Study 1) and predicts changes in health over time (Study 2), after controlling for the Big-Five. These findings suggest that dispositional EI is not synonymous with personality and predicts meaningful life outcomes above and beyond the Big-Five personality traits. These findings have implications for the theoretical conceptualization and measurement of emotional intelligence.
Scapegoating During a Time of Crisis: A Critique of Post-Celtic Tiger Ireland

Focusing upon scapegoating in post-crash Ireland, this article considers a pervasive political process that is protective of powerful interests and the status quo following the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. Drawing from group conflict theory and framing analysis as part of a broader critical realist take on society, we consider how blame has been placed on myriad targets, ranging from a collective ‘we who went a bit mad with borrowing’ to more specific groups such as public sector workers, the unemployed, single mothers and immigrants. In conclusion, we underscore the need for sociology to assert its relevance by challenging such processes and defend civil society in a capitalist world-system that is in structural crisis.
Theology, Ethics and Transcendence in Sports

This book provides an inter-disciplinary examination of the relationship between sport, spirituality and religion. It covers a wide-range of topics, such as prayer and sport, religious and spiritual perspectives on athletic identity and ‘flow’ in sport, theological analysis of genetic performance enhancement technologies, sectarianism in Scottish football, a spiritual understanding of sport psychology consultancy in English premiership soccer and how Zen may be useful in sports performance and participation. As modern sport is often intertwined with commercial and political agendas, this book also provides an important corrective to the “win at all costs” culture of modern sport, which cannot always be fully understood through secular ethical inquiry. This is a unique and important addition to the current literature for a wide-range of fields including theology and religious studies, psychology, health studies, ethics and sports studies.
Virtual reality Stroop task for assessment of supervisory attentional processing

The current project is a preliminary attempt at assessing the potential of a three-dimensional virtual reality Stroop task (VRST) for investigation of supervisory attentional processing. The VRST was compared with paper-and-pencil and computer automated (two-dimensional) versions of the Stroop. Psychophysiological measures were also used to assess varying levels of user arousal. The three versions of the Stroop task were conducted with a sample of 50 healthy university students, between the ages of 18 and 28 years, which included equivalent distributions of men and women from ethnically diverse populations. No significant differences were found for age, gender, or education. Results indicated that the typical Stroop effect pattern found in the Delis–Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) and Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) occurs in the VRST; the complexity condition of the VRST offers potential for assessment of exogenous and endogenous attentional processing; the two single-item presentation formats of the Stroop are comparable; there is a psychophysiological difference in arousal between low- and high-threat zones; and while there is a learning effect present in the VRST across conditions, it is limited by the arousal conditions in the high-threat zones. Additionally, no negative side effects were associated with use of the virtual environment. We conclude that the VRST has the potential to offer a novel approach to assessment of supervisory attentional processing within an ecologically relevant environment.
On the Turin Shroud

B. C. R. 1982. "Problems with altruism," in Current problems in sociobiology. Edited by King's College Sociobiology Group, pp. 251-67. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. CONNOR, R. C. , and K. S. NORRIS. 1982. Are dolphins reciprocal altruists? American Naturalist 119:358-74. ESSOCK-VITALE, S. M. , and M. T. McGUIRE. 1980. Predictions derived from the theories of kin selection and reciprocation assessed by anthropological data. Ethology and Sociobiology 1:233-43. FRICKE, H. W. 1979. Mating system, resource defence, and sex change in the anemonefish A mphiprion akallopisos. Zeitschriftfiir Tierpsychologie 50:313-26. LOPREATO, J. 1981. Toward a theory of genuine altruism in Homo sapiens. Ethology and Sociobiology 2:113-26. MAcDONALD, D. 1983. The ecology of carnivore social behavior. Nature 301:379-84. PACKER, C. 1977. Reciprocal altruism in Papio anubis. Nature 265:44143. REYER, H. -U. 1980. Flexible helper structure as an ecological adaptation in the pied kingfisher. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 6:2 19-27. ROOD, J. P. 1979. Dwarf mongoose helpers at the den. Zeitschriftfiir Tierpsychologie 48:277-87. SCHOENER, T. W. 1983. Simple models of optimal feeding territory size: A reconciliation. American Naturalist 121:608-29. TRIVERS, R. L. 1971. The evolution of reciprocal altruism. Quarterly Review of Biology 46:35-37. VEHRENCAMP, S. L. 1979. "The role of individual, kin, and group selection in the evolution of sociality," in Handbook of behavioral neurobiology 3: Social behavior and communication. Edited by P. Marler and J. G. Vandenberg, pp. 351-92. New York: Plenum Press.
Evaluation of Pefabloc as a serine protease inhibitor during human-islet isolation

Background. Recent evidence has suggested that inconsistencies in human-islet yields after collagenase digestion are attributed to the activation of endogenous enzymes of the cadaveric donor pancreas. Inhibition of protease activity by Pefabloc (0.4 mM; Roche Biochemicals Inc., Indianapolis, IN) has recently been shown to improve human-islet isolation after prolonged cold storage of the pancreas. In this study, we have hypothesized that this improvement was because of the inhibition of three key serine proteases. Methods. Twenty cadaveric pancreases were perfused in the presence (n=12) and absence (n=8) of Pefabloc added at the time of distention using a customized perfusion device. Samples were collected throughout the digestion process and were assayed for trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, and total protease activity. Results. In all cases, the enzyme activity levels remained lower in the presence of Pefabloc as compared with the control samples. There was significantly higher chymotrypsin and elastase activity in the control group, but not trypsin or total protease activity, from the time following loading of the enzyme onto the pancreas until the stopping of the enzymatic digestion phase (dilution). Conclusions. Pefabloc was shown to be an effective protease inhibitor throughout the entire digestion process. Pefabloc supplementation did not significantly effect the dilution time or the islet yield in this study; however, these data show that serine proteases are effectively inhibited by Pefabloc during the clinical islet process.
Immunocytochemical analysis of D‐serine distribution in the mammalian brain reveals novel anatomical compartmentalizations in glia and neurons

D‐Serine is a co‐agonist at the NMDA receptor glycine‐binding site. Early studies have emphasized a glial localization for D‐serine. However the nature of the glial cells has not been fully resolved, because previous D‐serine antibodies needed glutaraldehyde‐fixation, precluding co‐localization with fixation‐sensitive antigens. We have raised a new D‐serine antibody optimized for formaldehyde‐fixation. Light and electron microscopic observations indicated that D‐serine was concentrated into vesicle‐like compartments in astrocytes and radial glial cells, rather than being distributed uniformly in the cytoplasm. In aged animals, patches of cortex and hippocampus were devoid of immunolabeling for D‐serine, suggesting that impaired glial modulation of forebrain glutamatergic signaling might occur. Dual immunofluorescence labeling for glutamate and D‐serine revealed D‐serine in a subset of glutamatergic neurons, particularly in brainstem regions and in the olfactory bulbs. Microglia also contain D‐serine. We suggest that some D‐serine may be derived from the periphery. Collectively, our data suggest that the cellular compartmentation and distribution of D‐serine may be more complex and extensive than previously thought and may have significant implications for our understanding of the role of D‐serine in disease states including hypoxia and schizophrenia. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Extracellular Potentials Related to Intracellular Action Potentials during Impulse Conduction in Anisotropic Canine Cardiac Muscle

This paper considers a quantitative description of intracellular and transmembrane currents in anisotropic muscle, with emphasis on the factors that determine the extracellular potentials. Although Vmax of the intracellular action potential had no relation to changes in conduction velocity in anisotropic tissue with constant membrane properties, the extracellular waveforms were quite sensitive to velocity changes. Large amplitude biphasic deflection occurred in the fast areas, and in the slow areas the waveforms were of lower amplitude and triphasic in shape; i.e., negative potentials preceded the biphasic positive-negative deflection. The extracellular potentials were simulated on the basis of a model of intracellular currents, and the theoretical and measured results showed good agreement. In tissue with anisotropic conductivity, the relationship between the spatial intracellular potential gradient and the magnitude of the extracellular potential of the excitation wave was opposite to the classical relationship in isotropic tissue. Due to the influence of the effective intracellular conductivity on the spread of intracellular currents and on conduction velocity, in anisotropic tissue the extracellular potential decreased as the intracellular potential gradient increased. The peak values of the positive and negative potentials and the spatial distribution of the potential gradients varied considerably along the activation front. These findings were accounted for by differences in the distribution and spatial extent of the transmembrane currents, which were determined by the intracellular currents. The theoretical analysis showed that intracellular and transmembrane currents were proportional to the local conduction velocities of the wavefront. Thereby, it was not possible to have a "uniform layer" of current when there were differences in conduction velocity along the length of the excitation wave. The implications of the analysis are considerable, since the gratifying agreement between the theoretical and measured results indicates that the details of the extracellular waveforms can be explained on the basis of the distribution of intracellular currents; i.e., extracellular potentials provide a sensitive index of intracellular current flow. Ore Res 45:188-204, 1979
Personal and communal resilience in communities exposed to missile attacks: Does intensity of exposure matter?

Based on the salutogenic model, this study aimed to examine the role of personal and communal resiliency in reducing individuals’ psychological distress when facing intensive missile attacks. We examined the relationships between these resources and psychological distress in communities which were exposed to different intensities of attacks. Data was gathered via anonymous self-report questionnaires from 843 adults during the period from one week to one month after intensive attacks in southern Israel. Questionnaires included demographic data as well as sense of coherence (SOC), community resiliency and psychological distress. Differences in levels of resiliency and distress were found among the groups with different ‘exposure levels’. Moreover, only personal resilience SOC explained psychological distress in the entire population, while community resiliency had no effect. Results are discussed on the basis of the salutogenic model with implications for developments of interventions with populations who are exposed to differing intensities of missile attacks.
Testing Species Boundaries in an Ancient Species Complex with Deep Phylogeographic History: Genus Xantusia (Squamata: Xantusiidae)

Identification of species in natural populations has recently received increased attention with a number of investigators proposing rigorous methods for species delimitation. Morphologically conservative species (or species complexes) with deep phylogenetic histories (and limited gene flow) are likely to pose particular problems when attempting to delimit species, yet this is crucial to comparative studies of the geography of speciation. We apply two methods of species delimitation to an ancient group of lizards (genus Xantusia) that occur throughout southwestern North America. Mitochondrial cytochrome b and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 4 gene sequences were generated from samples taken throughout the geographic range of Xantusia. Maximum likelihood, Bayesian, and nested cladogram analyses were used to estimate relationships among haplotypes and to infer evolutionary processes. We found multiple well‐supported independent lineages within Xantusia, for which there is considerable discordance with the currently recognized taxonomy. High levels of sequence divergence (21.3%) suggest that the pattern in Xantusia may predate the vicariant events usually hypothesized for the fauna of the Baja California peninsula, and the existence of deeply divergent clades (18.8%–26.9%) elsewhere in the complex indicates the occurrence of ancient sundering events whose genetic signatures were not erased by the late Wisconsin vegetation changes. We present a revised taxonomic arrangement for this genus consistent with the distinct mtDNA lineages and discuss the phylogeographic history of this genus as a model system for studies of speciation in North American deserts.
Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight (Mass Spectrometry) for Hepatitis C Virus Genotyping

ABSTRACT Determination of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype has become accepted as the standard procedure in laboratory practice. Genotype assignment helps in disease prognosis and assists in establishing the appropriate duration of treatment. More than 10 types and 70 subtypes of HCV have been described. In Russia the most common subtypes are 1a, 1b, 2a, and 3a, and the types 4 and 5 are relatively rare. The “gold standard” for testing is gene sequencing. However, a variety of other assays had been developed to provide more rapid and cheaper forms of testing. The aim of this study was to determine the HCV genotype by minisequencing followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Fragments of 5′ untranslated region of the HCV genome were amplified. Three oligonucleotide primers were designed to detect two sets of genotype-specific single nucleotide polymorphisms. The primer extension reaction was performed using modified thermostable DNA polymerase and in the presence of dideoxynucleosides. The molecular weights of the reaction products were analyzed with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer. The HCV genotype was determined by registering the particles of the expected molecular weights. The method was used to genotype HCV from HCV-positive blood sera or plasma. The 1a, 1b, 2a, 3a, and 4 genotype HCVs were determined in the samples examined. The data were confirmed by direct sequencing. Thus, we propose a new accurate and efficient method for HCV genotyping based on minisequencing followed by mass spectrometry.
It's a long way from amphioxus: descendants of the earliest chordate

The origin of chordates and the consequent genesis of vertebrates were major events in natural history. The amphioxus (lancelet) is now recognised as the closest extant relative to the stem chordate and is the only living invertebrate that retains a vertebrate‐like development and body plan through its lifespan, despite more than 500 million years of independent evolution from the stem vertebrate. The inspiring data coming from its recently sequenced genome confirms that amphioxus has a prototypical chordate genome with respect to gene content and structure, and even chromosomal organisation. Pushed by joint efforts of amphioxus researchers, amphioxus is now entering a new era, namely its maturation as a laboratory model, through the availability of a large amount of molecular data and the advent of experimental manipulation of the embryo. These two facts may well serve to illuminate the hidden secrets of the genetic changes that generated, among other vertebrates, ourselves.