Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Growth in Government Expenditure:An Empirical Analysis of Nigeria

This study seeks to ascertain the growth in government expenditure and determine the factors responsible for this growth. In this study, we examined 4 determinants of growth in public expenditure: Inflation, Public debt, tax revenue and population. The data collected for these variables were subjected to the ordinary least square regression analysis. The results indicate that: inflation has a negative relationship with total government expenditure (TGEX); population has a positive relationship with TGEX; public debt has a significant positive relationship with TGEX; and tax revenue has a significant positive relationship with TGEX. This shows that these variables are the major determinants of growth in the Government Expenditure. We recommend, therefore, that the fiscal responsibility bill in the National Assembly should always be passed into law on time to reduce budget deficit and public debt and their effects on the economy.
Herding behaviour in asymmetric and extreme situations: the case of China

This paper will investigate herding behaviour in asymmetric (bearish versus bullish context) and extreme market conditions (characterized by significant changes in stock prices) through daily data from the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchange markets. Results show that a bullish context generates a herding behaviour for B-shares while a bearish situation rather favours a crowd movement for A-shares. Given that sophisticated investors are known to trade on B-shares, these results suggest that this category of actors is more likely to follow the trend when they face with a bullish context while they can reduce their herding behaviour in a bearish context by using technical/analytical tools allowing them not to follow the crowd behaviour.
On the Causes of Military Conscription

This paper uses cross-country panel data to study the determinants of whether a country chooses to conscript its military force. I focus on the roles of military threat, the supply of young males, political regime, economic power and the origins of legal institutions in the decision to conscript. Comparing democracies and dictatorships, democracies that are much more populous than their neighbors (which I interpret as presenting a lesser threat) are less likely to conscript. However, when I study the effect of threat on each regime type independently, I find that the effect of threat is not significant in explaining existence of conscription policies. In an attempt to account for the extent of conscription, I find that the size of the military force relative to the population is not affected by increased threat in countries that have a conscripted military force. Countries with all-volunteer forces have bigger military forces in the presence of increased threat. In a sample that includes both conscripted and non-conscripted countries, the size of the military force increases when threat increases, regardless of whether the country is a democracy. I also find that countries with higher shares of young males are more likely to conscript, countries with British legal origins are less likely to conscript and countries with Soviet legal origin are more likely to conscript.
Self-concept and health locus of control: factors related to children's adherence to recommended asthma regimen.

PURPOSE To determine the relationships of adherence to daily peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) monitoring, recommended for asthma self-management, with self-concept and health locus of control in a sample of 42 children, ages 7 through 11. DESIGN/METHODS Secondary analysis was conducted on data collected as part of our 5-week randomized, controlled asthma self-management clinical trial. During the study, the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale (PHCSC) and Children's Health Locus of Control Scale (CHLOC) were administered at baseline (Week 1) and Week 5 for comparison, while adherence to electronically-measured peak flow monitor (PFM) was evaluated during Week 5. RESULTS Adherence was positively correlated with higher self-concept (r(s) = . 33, p = . 03) and internal health locus of control (r(s) = . 30, p = . 05). Adherence to PFM and the intellectual and anxiety subscales of the PHCSC also were positively associated (r(s) = . 38, p = . 01, in both cases). CONCLUSIONS Children who have a positive self-concept, particularly in the areas of intellect and anxiety, are more adherent to their recommended asthma regimen. Similarly, those who perceive their ability to control their health more positively adhere better to daily PEFR monitoring. These results suggest that children's adherence interventions may need to include components aimed at enhancing self-concept and health locus of control.
Characterization of the interface structure of enzyme‐inhibitor complex by using hydrogen‐deuterium exchange and electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

We investigated the interaction between a thiol protease inhibitor, cystatin, and its target enzyme, papain, by hydrogen‐deuterium (H/D) exchange in conjunction with successive analysis by collision‐induced dissociation (CID) in an rf‐only hexapole ion guide with electrospray ionization‐Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI‐FTICR MS). The deuterium incorporation into backbone amide hydrogens of cystatin was analyzed at different time points in the presence or absence of papain, examining the mass of each fragment produced by hexapole‐CID. In the absence of papain, amide hydrogens in short amino‐terminal fragments, such as b2+10 and b2+12, were highly deuterated within 1 min. Although fewer fragments were observed for the cystatin‐papain complex in the hexapole‐CID spectra, significant reductions in initial deuterium content were recognized throughout the sequence of cystatin. This suggests that complex formation restricted the flexibility of the whole cystatin molecule. Detailed analyses revealed that a marked reduction in deuterium content in the region of residues 1‐10 persisted for hours, suggesting that the flexible N‐terminal region was tightly fixed in the binding pocket with hydrogen bonds. Our results are consistent with those of previous studies on the structure and inhibition mechanism of cystatin. We demonstrated here that enzyme‐inhibitor interactions can be characterized by H/D exchange in combination with CID in a hexapole ion guide using ESI‐FTICR MS rapidly and using only a small amount of sample.
Immunosuppression in inflammatory melanoma: can it be resisted by adoptively transferred T cells?

Discovery of tumor antigen (TA) recognized by autologous T cells (TCs) in patients with melanoma has led to clinical protocols using either vaccination or adoptive transfer of TA‐specific TCs. However, efficacy of these treatments has been hampered by inhibitory effects exerted on tumor‐infiltrating TCs by tumor‐intrinsic mediators or by recruitment of immunosuppressive cells. A mouse model of autochthonous melanoma recapitulates some aspects of inflammatory melanoma development in patients. These include a systemic Th2‐/Th17‐oriented chronic inflammation, recruitment of immunosuppressive myeloid cells and acquisition by tumor‐infiltrating TCs of an ‘exhausted’ phenotype characterized by expression of multiple inhibitory receptors including programmed death‐1, also expressed on patients' melanoma‐infiltrating TCs. Rather than using extracellular blocking reagents to inhibitory surface molecules on TCs, we sought to dampen negative signaling exerted on them. Adoptively transferred TCs presenting increased cytokine receptor signaling due to expression of an active Stat5 transcription factor were efficient at inducing melanoma regression in the preclinical melanoma model. These transferred TCs thrived and retained expression of effector molecules in the melanoma microenvironment, defining a protocol endowing TCs with the ability to resist melanoma‐induced immunosuppression.
Mex67p Mediates Nuclear Export of a Variety of RNA Polymerase II Transcripts*

Mex67p is essential for nuclear poly(A)+ RNA export in yeast, but which specific transcripts are transported by Mex67p is not known. We observed that thermosensitive mex67-5 cells do not produce a heat shock response at 37 °C but will induce heat shock proteins (Hsp) (e.g. Hsp104p and Hsp70p) when shifted back from the restrictive to permissive temperature (30 °C). This memory of a previous heat stress in mex67-5 cells could be explained ifHSP mRNAs accumulated inside the nucleus during heat shock and were exported and translated in the cytoplasm on return to the permissive temperature. To test this hypothesis, nuclear export of heat shock mRNAs was directly analyzed by in situhybridization using fluorescent-labeled oligonucleotide probes specific for SSA transcripts. This revealed that Mex67p is required for nuclear export of heat shock mRNAs. Furthermore, other polymerase II transcripts encoding the transcriptional repressorASH1 and the glycolytic enzyme PGK1 are shown to require Mex67p for their export into the cytoplasm. Thus, Mex67p is an mRNA export factor for a broad range of polymerase II transcripts.
Sexual harassment in public medical schools in Ghana.

OBJECTIVE This study investigated the prevalence and incidence of Traditional (where a person in a position of power harasses a subordinate) and contra power sexual harassment, (where a subordinate is the harasser of authority figure) in medical schools in Ghana. among. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. METHOD Four hundred and nine medical students from four medical schools in Ghana were interviewed. We also considered if academic and financial dependence would predict either traditional or contra power sexual harassment. We further investigated, whether women were more bothered by sexual harassment than men and the correlation between sexual harassment and health. RESULTS Women were 61% more likely to be sexually harassed than men 39%. Sexual harassment negatively affects the victims' health outcome. We found that the traditional form of sexual harassment was prevalent in medical schools in Ghana and that academic dependence predicted attacks. In the first and second years, women at these institutions are more likely to be sexually harassed than men. CONCLUSION Sexual harassment policies of medical school need to be widely circulated. The various medical schools should provide reporting procedures and counseling for victims. This paper would inform policy and research.
Acute phase protein quantitation in serum samples from healthy Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Acute phase proteins (APPs) have been studied in many companion and large animals and have been reported to have a differential sensitivity to traditional markers of inflammation. Studies have been performed indicating the conservation of these proteins as well as the application and cross-reactivity of automated assays among different species, but few reports have detailed APPs in marine mammal species. In the present study, automated assays were utilized to generate reference intervals for C-reactive protein, haptoglobin, and serum amyloid A using 44 serum samples from healthy Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). A total of 25 samples were obtained from dolphins under human care and 19 samples were obtained from free-ranging dolphins. Mild yet statistically significant differences were observed in levels of haptoglobin and serum amyloid A between these groups. The reference intervals from the combined groups were as follows: C-reactive protein 3.1–19.7 mg/l, haptoglobin 0–0.37mg/ml, and serum amyloid A 17.5–42.9 mg/l. These baseline data should provide an important foundation for future studies of the application of APP quantitation in monitoring the health and stressors of dolphins under human care and with live capture of free-ranging dolphins.
A Prospective Study of Quality of Life in Adults with Newly Diagnosed High-grade Gliomas: The Impact of the Extent of Resection on Quality of Life and Survival

OBJECTIVE: To describe the quality of life (QOL) over time for adults with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas and to examine the relationship between QOL and outcome data collected in three prospective cooperative group clinical trials. METHODS: The QOL study was a companion protocol for three Phase II high-grade glioma protocols. Five self-administered forms were completed by patients to assess QOL at study entry, 2 months, and 4 months after enrollment. RESULTS: QOL data were available for baseline, first, and second subsequent follow-up evaluations for 89%, 71%, and 69% of patients, respectively. A significant proportion of patients (47.1%) experienced impaired QOL (QOL ≤ 50) in at least one measure at subsequent evaluations, whereas most patients (88%) with impaired QOL at baseline continued to have impaired QOL at subsequent evaluations. On multivariable analyses, baseline QOL measures were predictive of QOL at the time of follow-up. In addition, patients who underwent a gross total resection were much less likely to have impaired QOL (P = 0.006), were less likely to experience worsening depression (P = 0.0008), and were more likely to have improved QOL (P = 0.003) at their first follow-up evaluation. Changes in QOL measures over time were not found to be associated with survival in multivariable analyses that adjusted for known prognostic variables; variables that were independently associated with improved survival were better performance status (P < 0.001), younger age (P < 0.001), and greater extent of resection (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Baseline QOL was predictive of QOL over time. Gross total resection was associated with longer survival and improved QOL over time for patients with high-grade gliomas.
Capacity Analysis of Distributed MIMO System

The spectral efficiency of distributed multiple antenna system in composite fading is considered. Using random Wishart matrix theory and Gauss-Hermite quadrature, we derived analytical expression for its ergodic capacity. The theoretical expressions are validated by numerical results. It is show that distributed multiple antenna system promise significant capacity gains over collocated multiple antenna system.
Financial Crises and the Composition of International Capital Flows: Does FDI Guarantee Stability?

The conventional wisdom is that crises are largely due to swings in short-term capital (mainly bank loans in the case of East Asia). Hence economies that finance their current account deficits mainly via foreign direct investment (FDI) are seen as being less susceptible to a crisis. The spate of financial crises in emerging economies in the 1990s, coinciding as they have with increased cross-border flows of capital, motivates our interest in examining the nexus between crises and the composition of capital flows. Does reliance on FDI guarantee stability? The analysis in this paper challenges the casual presumption that the switch towards FDI alone will automatically imply that extreme capital instability will become a thing of the past.
C-shaped root canal configuration in maxillary first molars.

Aim This clinical report presents the endodontic treatment of two maxillary first molars and the anatomical study of two additional maxillary first molars with a C-shaped distally located root canal system. This configuration is not a common finding. Summary According to the endodontic literature, the C-shaped root canal is most frequently seen in the mandibular second molar. The occurrence of C-shapes in maxillary first molars, however, has only been described in a limited number of case reports. We observed this configuration in two out of 2175 root-filled maxillary first molars treated at the Department of Endodontology, Ghent University Hospital, during the last 10 years. In order to study and visualize this particular aberration, cross-sections in two additional two-rooted maxillary first molars were made. From these cross sections it can be concluded that the C-shaped canal configuration is the result of a fusion of the distobuccal and the palatal roots. Key learning points •C-shaped root canal morphotypes may occur in the distal portion of the pulp chamber in maxillary first molars. •The C-shape results from a fusion of the distobuccal and palatal roots. •The C-shape may extend to the apical third of the fused roots.
The rat nucleus accumbens is involved in guiding of instrumental responses by stimuli predicting reward magnitude

The present study examined the involvement of N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA), α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolpropionate/kainate (AMPA/KA) and dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens (ACB) in influencing reaction times of instrumental responses by the expectancy of reward. A simple reaction time task demanding conditioned lever release was used in which the upcoming reward magnitude was signalled in advance by discriminative cues. After training, in control rats with vehicle infusions (0.5 µL) into the ACB, reaction times of responses were significantly shorter to the discriminative cue predictive of high reward magnitude. Indirect stimulation of dopamine receptors in the ACB by d‐amphetamine (20 µg/0.5 µL) decreased reaction times, impaired their guidance by cue‐associated reward magnitudes and reduced the accuracy of task performance. Blockade of AMPA/KA receptors in the ACB by 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquino‐xaline‐2,3‐dione (0.75 and 2.5 µg/0.5 µL) or NMDA receptors by d(−)‐2‐amino‐5‐phosphonopentanoic acid (5 µg/0.5 µL) produced a general increase in reaction times, but left guidance of reaction times by cue‐associated reward magnitudes unaffected. Thus, stimulation of intra‐ACB ionotropic glutamate receptors is critically involved in modulating the speed of instrumental responding to cues predictive for reward magnitude, but is not required for intact performance of previously learned instrumental behaviour.
Do Higher Wages Pay for Themselves: An Intra-Firm Test of the Effect of Wages on Employee Performance

This study uses field data from 490 hotels in a single lodging chain to investigate three questions related to the efficiency-wage hypothesis. (1) Does paying workers higher relative wages ex ante result in better ex post actual performance, either by motivating workers to exert greater effort or by attracting higher quality workers? (2) Is the magnitude of the relation between performance and wages the same when workers are overpaid versus underpaid? (3) Do the overall benefits of paying higher wages outweigh the costs? The data enable us to perform powerful tests of wage-performance relations because exogenous factors that likely affect employee behavior are standardized across hotels. Our results suggest that actual performance (measured by customer satisfaction, revenues, and profit) is increasing in the relative wage, and that higher performance is the result, and not the cause, of higher wages. We find that the magnitude of the wage-performance relation is at least as large for workers who are overpaid compared to those who are underpaid. This result, which differs from the results of experimental studies, suggests that overpaid workers do not rationalize away wage premiums. Finally, our results indicate that increases in wages do, in fact, pay for themselves. A $1,000 increase in the general manager’s relative wage results in a $1,080 increase in profit for the mean hotel. This research contributes to a series of studies that investigates the extent to which wages influence performance (e.g. Levine 1992; Fehr and Falk 1999; Hannan, Kagal, and Moser 2002; Hannan 2005), and whether the marginal benefit of wage increases justifies their costs (Levin 1993).
In vitro immunomodulatory effects of ten commonly used herbs on murine lymphocytes.

OBJECTIVES Physicians are increasingly encountering patients who use herbal products. Some of these products are known to modulate the immune system but their scientific basic is not well established. Because these products can affect the host immune system, they could be beneficial in the treatment of immune-related diseases, or alternatively, they could cause inadvertent side-effects. The purpose of this study was to determine which of these common herbal products modulate lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. METHODS Lymphocyte proliferation assays using concanavalin A (mitogen stimulation) and mixed lymphocyte culture (alloantigen stimulation) were used as in vitro tests to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of 10 commonly used herbal products. RESULTS Ginger and tea were consistently immunosuppressive while dong quai, milk thistle, and St. John's wort were consistently immunostimulatory in vitro. Ginseng enhanced lymphocyte proliferation only in the mitogen-stimulation assay. The magnitude of the enhancement or suppression of the individual herbal products was different in the two assays. CONCLUSION Our study provides a uniform survey of the immunomodulatory properties of 10 commonly used herbal products and paves the way for testing these effects in vivo and in clinical setting.
When Children Sense in Colours: Determinants of Colour - Emotion Associations

It is an accepted fact that children are easy to impress but hard to content. Unlike adults, children have such a dynamic like and dislike patterns. Even though it is not clear why children cannot cling to one idea for a longer period of time it is obvious that their curiosity tempts to experience a bit of everything. While competing with the dynamic nature of child's mind this research extends the previous work on children's colour selection into a new direction; inquiring what are the determinants of children's colour mapping with emotions? This research argues on two phenomena and exposes the readers mind to a third. Three hypotheses were raised. First; culture influence on detecting affective relations towards colour. Second; Nature influence on detecting affective colour relations. Finally whether there is a trace for an unknown third dimension to grasp the affective reaction towards colour.
[AIDS and the Third World].

A survey of existing knowledge about the etiology, treatment, prevention, and epidemiology of HIV infection and AIDS is presented, with particular emphasis on Africa and the Third World. A brief introduction argues that the impact of AIDS in Africa is likely to be especially severe because of poverty and lack of development. The 1st chapter discusses the HIV virus and its mode of attack on the body's immune system, describes related retroviruses, explains and diagrams how the ELISA, Western Blot, and other diagnostic tests work, and describes the common signs and symptoms of the various stages of HIV infection. The 2nd chapter assesses the prospects for development of a vaccine, the difficulty of determining the lethality of HIV infection after only a few years of experience, and the efficacy of AZT, alpha interferon, and other possible treatments. Existing epidemiologic data, the divergent transmission pattern in different world regions and their recent trends, high risk behavior, the probable future course of the epidemic, and possible social and economic effects of the epidemic are discussed in chapter 3. The following chapter discusses AIDS prevention campaigns, safer sex, condom use, and IEC campaigns for the public, with examples from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, the US, and elsewhere. Chapter 5 focuses on the epidemic in Africa. Topics covered include the possible African origin of HIV, the deficiencies of existing epidemiologic data, AIDS control programs in Africa, and special problems in Africa related to the possibility of infection during lactation and the possible dangers of vaccinating children seropositive for HIV. The next chapter sketches a general strategy for AIDS prevention and outlines the role of WHO. The final chapter assesses knowledge of the level of infection in Latin America, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, North America, and Western and Eastern Europe.