Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Duration of Firm‐Destination Export Relationships: Evidence from Spain, 1997–2006

This paper uses survival analysis to investigate the duration of Spanish firms’ trade relationships by destination over 1997-2006. Whereas firm export status is highly persistent, firms’ destination portfolio is very dynamic: a typical firm-country exporting relationship has a median duration of two years. Yet, if a firm manages to export to a country beyond two years the risk of exiting that market sharply falls afterwards. The results indicate that not only firm heterogeneity but also destination heterogeneity are crucial to explain survival in export markets. In particular, country (political) risk heavily shapes the effect of firm, product and other destination characteristics on the length of trade relationships. Whereas firm productivity, comparative advantage, partners’ GDP and proximity enhance duration of trade with low-risk countries, they have no effect on trade survival with high-risk countries. On the contrary, information spill-overs are particularly relevant to enhance survival of trade relationships with high-risk countries.
Modelling Banks' Lending Behaviour in a Capital-Regulated Framework

This paper adds to the literature on the money supply theory by assessing the effect of banks' equity on the loan generating process. First, a new ‘credit’ multiplier is examined, the so‐called ‘equity’ multiplier model. This, in a second stage, is incorporated in a new multivariate lending model. The models are assessed by using panel data cointegration techniques for the G7 countries. According to our results, a feedback relationship exists between banks' loans and equity. Moreover, the factors determining loans are: the aggregate demand, the loan–customer relation, the banks' equity and banks' portfolio adjustments and/or the monetary stance.
Dehydroascorbate Reductase Affects Leaf Growth, Development, and Function1

Ascorbic acid (Asc) is a major antioxidant in plants that detoxifies reactive oxygen species (ROS) and maintains photosynthetic function. Expression of dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), responsible for regenerating Asc from an oxidized state, regulates the cellular Asc redox state, which in turn affects cell responsiveness and tolerance to environmental ROS. Because of its role in Asc recycling, we examined whether DHAR is important for plant growth. Suppression of DHAR expression resulted in a preferential loss of chlorophyll a, a lower steady state of Rubisco as measured by the amount of the large subunit of Rubisco (RbcL), and a lower rate of CO2 assimilation. As a consequence, a slower rate of leaf expansion and reduced foliar dry weight were observed. In addition, an accelerated rate of loss of chlorophyll, RbcL, light-harvesting complex II, and photosynthetic functioning was observed in mature leaves, resulting in premature leaf aging. Reduced growth rate as measured by plant height and leaf number was consistent with the DHAR-mediated reduction of photosynthetic function. Increasing DHAR expression maintained higher levels of chlorophyll, RbcL, light-harvesting complex II, and photosynthetic functioning, resulting in delayed leaf aging. The effect of DHAR expression on leaf aging inversely correlated with the level of lipid peroxidation, indicating that DHAR functions to protect against ROS-mediated damage. These observations support the conclusion that through its Asc recycling function, DHAR affects the level of foliar ROS and photosynthetic activity during leaf development and as a consequence, influences the rate of plant growth and leaf aging.
Outcome Predictors in Pediatric Head Trauma: A Study of Clinicoradiological Factors

Introduction: Traumatic injuries are the leading cause of death and a major cause of disability among children. About 70%–80% of the accidental deaths in pediatric age group result directly from central nervous system lesions. Methods: The purpose of our study was to study all the patients of ≤18 years of age with head or spinal injury admitted in neurointensive care unit at our center, an apex trauma center in a developing country, between June 2009 and September 2011. We retrospectively analyzed various factors including type of injury, mode of injury, admission Glasgow coma score (in case of head injury), and mortality rate. Observations: The study population consisted of 264 injured children. Mean age was 8.3 ± 5.6 years (range 5 months to 18 years). Forty percent of patients were within 1–5-year age group. Head injury accounted for 89% of cases and 11% of cases were spinal injury patients. Low-velocity trauma was the most common mode of injury, accounting for 74% of the cases. The percentage of patients with mild, moderate, and severe head injury were 38%, 15%, and 47%, respectively, in the head injury group. Mortality in head injury patients was 18% and in spinal injury patients was 9%. Operative intervention was done in 56% of patients. Predictors of mortality included severe head injury, hospital stay <7 days, pneumothorax, the presence of hypotension, and deranged coagulation parameters. Conclusions: Head injury is much more common than spinal injury in pediatric patients and fall from height being the most common mode of injury. Severe head injury, hospital stay <7 days, pneumothorax, presence of hypotension, and deranged coagulation parameters are predictors of poor outcome.
Information Systems Security Education: Redressing the Balance of Theory and Practice

One of the perennial concerns in education is the ability of students to apply what they have learnt in a real world context. To tackle this issue, this paper proposes the adoption of a situated learning strategy as a mechanism for linking theory and practice for delivering information systems security education. There are two areas of focus in the research presented. First, we offer an example of an information systems security course applying situated learning strategy. Second, we examine student feedback on this particular teaching design. The exploratory findings suggest that situated learning has potential for knowledge development as well as for balancing theory and practice. Thus we recommend our example of an information systems security course for use as model of practice for other educators in this field.
Tissue-Specific Developmental Regulation of the Messenger Ribonucleic Acids Encoding the Growth Hormone Receptor and the Growth Hormone Binding Protein in Rat Fetal and Postnatal Tissues

ABSTRACT: Tissue responsiveness to growth hormone is likely to be regulated by local concentrations and availability of the membrane-bound growth hormone receptor (GHR) and perhaps by the actions of the soluble growth hormone binding protein (GHBP). To determine whether the developmental regulation of the GHR and GHBP might vary among tissues, we have measured the relative abundance of the 4.3-kb GFR and 1.3-kb GHBP mRNA in rat fetal and postnatal liver, kidney, lung, and ileum by Northern hybridization of polyadenylated RNA with a 32P-labeled antisense riboprobe prepared from a rat GHR cDNA. The GHR and GHBP mRNA were both present in the four tissues studied at fetal age 19 d (E19). In postnatal liver, both transcripts increased in abundance 3− to 4-fold after 14 d to mature levels at 42 d (p = 0.0001). Similar changes were seen in postnatal kidney for GHR mRNA abundance; however, GHBP mRNA abundance increased only 2− to 3-fold to mature levels by 28 d (kidney GHR versus GHBP mRNA profile, p = 0.0001). In lung, a 2-fold linear increase in GHR mRNA abundance was observed (p = 0.0019), but the GHBP mRNA did not change (GHR versus GHBP mRNA profile, p = 0.0006). Both transcripts decreased in abundance by 2− to 3-fold from E19 to 42 d in ileum (p < 0.05). The abundance of both transcripts was three to 10 times greater in 60-d liver than in the other three tissues at 60 d. The variation in abundance and in the developmental profiles of the GHR and GHBP mRNA observed in these fetal and postnatal tissues suggests that the GHR and GHBP could mediate differences within and between tissues in the responsiveness to growth hormone. The differential regulation of the two transcripts evident in kidney and lung supports the emerging evidence that the GHBP may have a funciton distinct from that of the GHR.
Tall Cell Variant of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and sonographic features of 8 patients with 10 tall cell variants of papillary thyroid carcinoma. The mean age of the patients was 57 years (range, 34–72 years). The tumor sizes varied. Of the 8 patients, 5 had symptomatic masses, and 3 had incidentalomas. Three patients had recurrences and 1 died of pulmonary metastasis within a mean time of 30 months. The tall cell variants often appeared as microlobulated markedly hypoechoic nodules with microcalcifications and extrathyroidal extension on sonography and were always associated with lymph node metastasis. The tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of an aggressive thyroid tumor with symptoms and cervical nodal metastasis.
Unraveling the Origins of EU Countries Productivity Growth - Evidence on R&D and Competition from Cross-Country Industry Analysis

Over the last two decades EU countries experienced diverging productivity growth developments. By examining the sources of EU countries growth drivers on the sectoral level, the paper takes a new look on the influence of innovations. While standard neoclassical Non-ICT capital deepening turns out the major contributor to EU productivity growth, detail industry analysis reveals that growth in innovation stocks via increased R&D in specialized and science-based industries spurred productivity growth as well. But those effects are only found for Nordic and Western Continental EU countries, while others are lacking such effects. Moreover, these specialized and science-based industries experienced strong innovation and productivity growth by decreases in competition, thereby favoring Schumpeterian growth arguments for highly dynamic sectors.
Lead Levels in Exposed Herring Gulls: Differences in the Field and Laboratory

We compared blood lead levels for herring gull (Larus argentatus) chicks exposed at two days of age in the field and the laboratory. One randomly selected chick in each family of three was injected with lead, the second with a sterile saline solution, and the third was not injected. Field birds were then completely free-living, and were entirely cared for by their parents. Blood was drawn at 35 or 45 days of age for comparison with laboratory-reared chicks. In both the laboratory and the field, blood lead levels were positively related to dose, and concentrations were lower at 45 than at 35 days of age. However, at each dose, the field birds had lower levels than did the laboratory birds. We postulate that this relates to higher overall activity and accelerated bone development in the field, and perhaps to a move varied diet. Wild young gulls were mobile and practiced flight more often than did laboratory-reared gulls. Growth metabolic, and behavioral factors may enhance deposition of lead in the bone, reducing blood lead. Thus, both in ecological risk assessments and in using birds as bioindicators, caution is required in extrapolating from laboratory studies in field conditions.
Consumer‐oriented CSR communication: focusing on ability or morality?

Purpose – This article aims to investigate young people's opinions and attitudes towards companies' engagement and communication about corporate social responsibility (CSR). Design/methodology/approach – The study employs a survey designed to uncover the underlying attitudes and values guiding young consumers' perception and evaluation of companies' engagement in and communication about CSR. The respondents are Danish students enrolled in eight different types of further or higher education.Findings – The survey shows that consumers are interested in and expect more explicit CSR communication than currently assumed by corporations and academics alike. They favour communication that is personally relevant and factually based, and consumer scepticism is not as high as suggested by current literature. The findings reflect that the value system guiding CSR evaluation and perception is not based on moral aspects and social, society‐centred values. On the contrary, consumers' focus tends to be on competence and .
Fair and affordable? Racial and ethnic segregation and inequality in New York City rental housing

Using New York City as a case study, this article examines the extent to which current affordable rental housing programs and policies violate fair housing standards and exacerbate socio-economic inequality. New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey data are analyzed with Theil's entropy and information indices and logistic regression to pinpoint the sources of racial and ethnic segregation and inequality in specific types of rental housing. This study offers three major findings. First, despite increasing neighborhood diversity, Blacks and Latinos are significantly segregated from Whites, Asians, and other racial and ethnic groups in certain types of affordable housing. Second, race and ethnicity have a greater impact than socio-economic status on which type of housing a family occupies. Third, differences in employment, income, and poverty indicate that affordable housing located within mixed-income, multiple-family dwellings offers significant advantages over cluster developments such as public housing, which compound racial, ethnic, and socio-economic inequality.
On the development of the Islets of Langerhans

Studies of pancreatic development have suggested that the islet cells develop through multihormonal stages. Abundant data have confirmed that multihormonal cells are common during pancreatic development. A number of transcription factors and homeotic proteins have also been found to be important to pancreatic and islet cell development. While one of these factors (Isl1) is important for the development of the dorsal pancreatic bud and mesenchyme, another factor (Pdx1) is needed for growth and branching of both pancreatic buds. Studies of the expression patterns of pancreatic hormones and transcription factors and other marker proteins seem at present to be most compatible with the view that early glucagon and glucagon + insulin expressing cells are precursors to the glucagon cells of the islets while mature B cells arise through differentiation from glucagon‐negative precursor cells. Recent data also point to possibilities of local paracrine interactions between islet cell types and the parenchymal tissue during development. Microsc. Res. Tech. 43:284–291, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Securitization and the Declining Impact of Bank Finance on Loan Supply: Evidence from Mortgage Originations

Low-cost deposits and increased balance sheet liquidity raise banks' supply of illiquid loans more than loans easily sold or securitized. We exploit the inability of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase jumbo mortgages to identify an exogenous change in liquidity. The volume of jumbo mortgage originations relative to nonjumbo originations increases with bank holdings of liquid assets and decreases with bank deposit costs. This result suggests that the increasing depth of the mortgage secondary market fostered by securitization has reduced the effect of lender's financial condition on credit supply. Copyright (c) 2009 the American Finance Association.
Culture, profitability, non-financial reporting and a meta-analysis: Comments and observations

Purpose - – This paper aims to highlight key limitations of meta-analyses (and the underlying research) dealing with the correlation between corporate social environmental disclosures (CESDs) and financial measures, using cultural characteristics as moderating variables. Design/methodology/approach - – This paper takes the form of a review. It discusses a research paper published in the current issue of Findings - – Several issues need to be taken into account by meta-analyses examining the correlation between CESD and financial measures over long periods of time. These include the effect of different accounting standards, the implications of the increasing use of fair value measures, the relevance of the users of corporate reports and the importance of corporate governance systems. Originality/value - – The review contributes to the debate on the need for methodological and theoretical eclecticism when it comes to corporate governance research. Positivist techniques have their role to play, but these must be complemented by interpretive and critical analysis to provide a balanced account of the development and relevance of CSED.
Behavioral Responses to Tax Rates: Evidence from Tra86

This paper uses the experience after the Tax Reform Act of 1986 to examine how taxes affect three aspects of individual taxpayer behavior: labor supply, total taxable income, and capital gains. The substantial sensitivity of married women's labor supply implies that the efficiency of the tax system could be increased significantly by reducing the marginal tax rates of these women relative to their husbands' marginal tax rates. More generally, the sensitivity of taxable income to the net of tax share implies that lower marginal tax rates would involve much less revenue loss than is traditionally assumed and would bring a much more substantial reduction in the deadweight loss of the tax system. The sharp fall in the real value of realized capital gains since the 1986 rise in tax rates on capital gains confirms earlier research indicating the substantial sensitivity of capital gains realizations to tax rates. A comparison with projections by the Treasury and Congressional Budget Office made in 1988 shows that the current official model greatly understates the sensitivity of capital gains to tax rates.
COX-1 sensitivity and thromboxane A2 production in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients under chronic aspirin treatment.

AIMS Although aspirin treatment is useful in reducing ischaemic events in diabetic patients, recent studies suggest that it is less effective when compared with non-diabetics (ND). We sought to evaluate COX-1 sensitivity and thromboxane A(2) (TxA(2)) production in type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients under chronic aspirin treatment, and also evaluate the association between thromboxane A(2) (TxA(2)) production and markers of inflammation and metabolic control, such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, fasting blood glucose, and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). METHODS AND RESULTS Agonist-induced platelet aggregation (PA) and TxB(2), a stable metabolite of TxA(2), production, serum TxB(2), and platelet COX-1 and COX-2 expression were studied in T2DM patients, T1DM patients, and high-risk ND subjects, all receiving a low dose of aspirin. TxB(2) formation was studied in platelets treated in vitro with aspirin alone or with a COX-2 inhibitor (NS-398). PA, collagen-induced TxB(2) production, and serum TxB(2) were higher in T1DM and T2DM patients than in ND subjects. TxB(2) production was reduced in diabetic patients by in vitro treatment with aspirin. COX-2 was expressed in all diabetic patients but only in 46% of ND patients. In diabetic patients significant correlations were observed between TxB(2) production and both fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c. CONCLUSION COX-1 sensitivity and TxB(2) production is similarly reduced in both T1DM and T2DM patients under chronic aspirin treatment. The association between TxB(2) production and either fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels suggests that in diabetic patients hyperglycaemia is a determinant of the reduced platelet sensitivity to aspirin.
Do Investors Misprice Components of Net Periodic Pension Cost?

We examine whether and how investors misprice the components of net periodic pension cost under SFAS No. 87 and 158. We find that investors appear to have difficulty in understanding the transitory feature of other net periodic pension cost (PPOPCC) and thus overestimate its persistence, which in turn leads to the mispricing of PPOPCC in the pre‐158 period. We also find that SFAS No. 158 appears to reduce the mispricing of PPOPCC, suggesting a positive effect of SFAS No. 158 on investors' valuation of pension items in the income statement. Additional analysis suggests that investors also overestimate the persistence of, and thus misprice, pension‐related cash flows and accruals in the pre‐158 period and that SFAS No. 158 reduces the mispricing of pension‐related cash flows and accruals.
OTX2 and CRX rescue overlapping and photoreceptor‐specific functions in the Drosophila eye

Background: Otd‐related transcription factors are evolutionarily conserved to control anterior patterning and neurogenesis. In humans, two such factors, OTX2 and CRX, are expressed in all photoreceptors from early specification through adulthood and associate with several photoreceptor‐specific retinopathies. It is not well understood how these factors function independently vs. redundantly, or how specific mutations lead to different disease outcomes. It is also unclear how OTX1 and OTX2 functionally overlap during other aspects of neurogenesis and ocular development. Drosophila encodes a single Otd factor that has multiple functions during eye development. Using the Drosophila eye as a model, we tested the ability of the human OTX1, OTX2, and CRX genes, as well as several disease‐associated CRX alleles, to rescue the different functions of Otd. Results: Our results indicate the following: OTX2 and CRX display overlapping, yet distinct subfunctions of Otd during photoreceptor differentiation; CRX disease alleles can be functionally distinguished based on their rescue properties; and all three factors are able to rescue rhabdomeric photoreceptor morphogenesis. Conclusions: Our findings have important implications for understanding how Otx proteins have subfunctionalized during evolution, and cement Drosophila as an effective tool to unravel the molecular bases of photoreceptor pathogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 241:215–228, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.