Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Openess and Economic Growth: The case of European Expansion

One of the rudiment features of international trade theory is that open economies achieve high economic growth rates than closed economies. This dissertation attempts to investigate the relationship between openness and growth by testing the hypothesis that openness causes growth. The analysis in this dissertation is limited to the member states of the European Union and some Eastern European countries. The data are analysed using the panel estimation. The sample groups of countries are divided into five groups. The countries are categorised by their period of accession to the European Union. The results of this dissertation show proposition that openness leads to economic growth is validated in three first groups of countries. However, for the last two groups of countries the hypothesis is not validated. For the group of countries that have not yet joined the European Union, the results show that openness does not cause growth. Moreover, there is also no clear evidence that openness cause growth for the group that consists of Eastern European countries that have just joined the European Union.
Mechanisms of Inhibition of T-Type Calcium Current in the Reticular Thalamic Neurons by 1-Octanol: Implication of the Protein Kinase C Pathway

Recent studies indicate that T-type calcium channels (T-channels) in the thalamus are cellular targets for general anesthetics. Here, we recorded T-currents and underlying low-threshold calcium spikes from neurons of nucleus reticularis thalami (nRT) in brain slices from young rats and investigated the mechanisms of their modulation by an anesthetic alcohol, 1-octanol. We found that 1-octanol inhibited native T-currents at subanesthetic concentrations with an IC50 of approximately 4 μM. In contrast, 1-octanol was up to 30-fold less potent in inhibiting recombinant CaV3.3 T-channels heterologously expressed in human embryonic kidney cells. Inhibition of both native and recombinant T-currents was accompanied by a hyperpolarizing shift in steady-state inactivation, indicating that 1-octanol stabilized inactive states of the channel. To explore the mechanisms underlying higher 1-octanol potency in inhibiting native nRT T-currents, we tested the effect of the protein kinase C (PKC) activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and PKC inhibitors. We found that PMA caused a modest increase of T-current, whereas the inactive PMA analog 4α-PMA failed to affect T-current in nRT neurons. In contrast, 12-(2-cyanoethyl)-6,7,12,13-tetrahydro-13-methyl-5-oxo-5H-indolo(2,3-a)pyrrolo(3,4-c)-carbazole (Go 6976), an inhibitor of calcium-dependent PKC, decreased baseline T-current amplitude in nRT cells and abolished the effects of subsequently applied 1-octanol. The effects of 1-octanol were also abolished by chelation of intracellular calcium ions with 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid. Taken together, these results suggest that inhibition of calcium-dependent PKC signaling is a possible molecular substrate for modulation of T-channels in nRT neurons by 1-octanol.
Impaired arterial elasticity in young patients with white-coat hypertension

BackgroundConflict still exists over whether patients with white-coat hypertension are at increased risk of developing target organ damage compared with normotensive individuals. MethodsWe studied vascular distensibility in 117 young-to-middle age patients with white-coat hypertension, 174 patients with sustained hypertension, and 51 normotensive controls. To obtain a measure of compliance, a model was used that divides the total systemic compliance into large artery (C1) and small artery (C2) compliance. With this aim, radial arterial pulse waves were recorded with a tonometer sensor array by means of an HDI CR2000 device (Eagan, Minnesota, USA). Moreover, pulse wave velocity and the augmentation index were measured using the Specaway DAT system (St Pauls, Sydney, Australia). ResultsPatients with sustained hypertension had a greater body mass index than patients with white-coat hypertension (P=0.04) or the normotensive individuals (P=0.01). C1 and C2 were decreased in the two hypertensive groups as compared with those in the normotensive group (P=0.0002 and 0.03, respectively, versus sustained hypertension; P=0.00007 and 0.0004, respectively, versus white-coat hypertension). Pulse wave velocity and aortic augmentation index were increased in the white-coat hypertension patients compared with the normotensive individuals (P=0.02 and 0.004, respectively). Aortic augmentation index (P=0.008) but not pulse wave velocity was increased in the sustained hypertensive patients compared with that in the normotensive individuals. All indexes of arterial distensibility were similar in the two hypertensive groups. ConclusionsIndexes of arterial distensibility are impaired in the white-coat hypertensive group and similar to those in the sustained hypertensive group, indicating that early changes in the arterial wall can occur in white-coat hypertension. This may account for the higher risk of stroke that has been described in this condition.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the ALDH2 gene in six Indian populations

Background: Aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) degrades acetaldehyde metabolized from ethanol. Its encoding gene ALDH2 has a functional polymorphism, ALDH2 Glu487Lys associated with low enzyme activity. Aim: Since Glu487Lys of this locus is fixed for the functional subunit in all non-East Asian populations, this polymorphism was examined along with G-357A promoter (SacI) and four other intronic loci to identify informative markers to study the role of this gene in Indian populations. Subjects and methods: A total of 397 males belonging to six ethnic populations, from four linguistic groups of India were included in the present study. No test was performed to detect the phenotype of alcoholism. Genotype of ALDH2*E487K and G-357A promoter site along with four non-coding single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the upstream of this polymorphism were determined by PCR and sequencing. Results: All of the subjects were found to have the common homozygous genotype (ALDH2*1/ALDH2*1) for the E487K site. Allele frequencies of non-coding SNPs varied among populations but genetic variance (Fst) indicated little variation among populations. Four major SNP-defined haplotypes accounted for almost all chromosomes in all populations. The ancestral haplotype was found in high frequency in all populations and linkage disequilibrium was strong and highly significant between all sites (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The small number of haplotypes in this region is suggesting the strong linkage disequilibrium across the region and confirms the global long-range linkage disequilibrium around the ALDH2 locus. This study provides a baseline for future research into the role of the ALDH2 locus in alcoholism in Indian populations.
FULL MONOSOMY 21, PRENATALLY DIAGNOSED BY FLUORESCENT IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION

We describe a case of full monosomy 21 which was prenatally diagnosed in chorionic villi by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Because of intrauterine fetal death, a curettage was performed and cytogenetic analysis of skin fibroblasts confirmed the presence of monosomy 21 in fetal cells. DNA investigations showed a paternal origin of the single chromosome 21. Inspection and autopsy of the fetus revealed several congenital malformations. Some of them have been reported in earlier studies of monosomy 21; others concern new observations. Regarding the eye, the following abnormalities were microscopically observed: absence of the anterior and posterior eye chambers, aniridy, a hypoplastic ciliary body, Peter's anomaly, and a double retina with secondary dysplasia. In addition, malformations of the extremities were seen: partial, proximal syndactyly of digits 3 and 4 of the right hand; pes varus position of the right foot; and transverse reduction defect at the tarsals of the left foot. To our knowledge, this is the first case in which full monosomy 21 has been proven. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of organisational commitment and Islamic work ethics on attitudes towards organisational change

Organisations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, private and public alike, are continually witnessing programmes of change. Considering the fact that successful change effort depends, in part, on the employees' behaviour, this study was prompted to examine two of the possible factors, organisational commitment and Islamic work ethics (IWEs), which can influence attitudes towards organisational change of Saudi employees. A sample of 220 employees from different organisations in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia is used. The results of correlation analysis found that both organisational commitment and IWEs have positive influence on the Saudi employees' attitudes towards organisational change. The implications of these findings, among others, are discussed. Implications and limitations are highlighted.
The Effect of Thermal Cycling Treatments on the Thermal Stability and Mechanical Properties of a Ti-Based Bulk Metallic Glass Composite

The effect of thermal cycling treatments on the thermal stability and mechanical properties of a Ti48Zr20Nb12Cu5Be15 bulk metallic glass composite (BMGC) has been investigated. Results show that moderate thermal cycles in a temperature range of −196 °C (cryogenic temperature, CT) to 25 °C (room temperature, RT) or annealing time at CT has not induced obvious changes of thermal stability and then it decreases slightly over critical thermal parameters. In addition, the dendritic second phases with a bcc structure are homogeneously embedded in the amorphous matrix; no visible changes are detected, which shows structural stability. Excellent mechanical properties as high as 1599 MPa yield strength and 34% plastic strain are obtained, and the yield strength and elastic modulus also increase gradually. The effect on the stability is analyzed quantitatively by crystallization kinetics and plastic-flow models, and indicates that the reduction of structural relaxation enthalpy, which is related to the degradation of spatial heterogeneity, reduces thermal stability but does not imperatively deteriorate the plasticity.
Human capital theory and UK vocational training policy

Since the Industrial Training Act of 1964, the UK government has adopted a variety of policies intended to redress a problem of under-investment in vocational training. In the 1960s and 1970s it attempted to regulate the training provided by firms, through a levy scheme. More recently, subsidised training schemes have been the centrepiece of policy. This paper examines the explanations for market failure in vocational training, and explores the rationale for such policies. Under-investment can arise from credit constraints and uncertainty facing trainees, and from imperfect competition in the labour market which creates external benefits for firms. Both subsidies and regulation can be effective in dealing with these problems, although it is argued that the training levy scheme, as implemented in the UK and other countries, should be viewed mainly as a mechanism for releasing credit constraints. Copyright 1999 by Oxford University Press.
CEO Characteristics and Internal Control Quality

Manuscript Type. Empirical. Research Question/Issue. This study investigates the influence of CEO characteristics on internal control quality in the U.S. Research Findings/Insights. Using a sample of 4,374 ExecuComp non‐financial firms, we find that CEO entrenchment and age are significantly associated with a material internal control weakness disclosure (MW) under Sarbanes‐Oxley Section 404 (SOX 404). Our results demonstrate that entrenchment and age may affect CEOs' behavior in response to the SOX 404 internal control requirements. Theoretical/Academic Implications. This study provides empirical support for the influence of CEO characteristics on material internal control weakness. As a result, the effects of internal control mechanisms are likely to be decreased in firms with entrenched and younger CEOs, consistent with entrenchment theory. Practitioner/Policy Implications. This study offers insights to regulators and lawmakers interested in the effects of CEO characteristics on internal control weakness. Importantly, it points out that CEO entrenchment and age are likely to affect the strength of internal control mechanisms.
Increasing The Socio-Cultural Relevance of Science Education for Sustainable Development

Abstract Socio-scientific issues should be considered in the course of students' formal education in science as one of the ways in which science education ought to be connected to the goals of sustainable development. Approaches to education in science still perpetuate a way of thinking that is incommensurable with preparing learners to develop the understandings and skills requisite for active participation in an uncertain and complex world. In addition, uptake of science is declining worldwide, poverty is deepening, and environmental degradation is worsening. We argue herein that finding ways to link science education to issues of sustainable development could provide the basis for making science more relevant to learners, as well as better prepare learners for active participation in society. We raise the question: How can science education be more relevant, thereby enabling learners to deal with complex everyday issues and participate in decision-making oriented toward the goals of sustainable development? Drawing on experiences of interdisciplinary dialogue, we illustrate how reformulating the agenda in science education, such that it is oriented toward sustainable development, offers the basis for relevant teaching and learning vis-à-vis the engagement of learners in active learning processes.
Interleukin‐2 reconstitutes defective human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) specific CD8+ T cell proliferation in HIV infection

Recent studies indicate that a defective proliferative response of HIV‐specific CD8+ T cells is associated with the lack of virologic control in chronic HIV infection in humans. The possible mechanisms that might be responsible for the reduced proliferative potential of HIV‐specific CD8+ T cells and conditions conducive to the proliferation of CD8+ T cells were examined in 14 HIV‐infected individuals and 7 HIV‐uninfected controls using CFSE labeling and flow cytometry techniques, and analyzed data using 2 quantitative measurements: the percentages of proliferating CD8+ T cells (Tp), and the maximum number of cell divisions (Dm) after stimulation. It was found that CD8+ T cells from HIV‐infected and ‐uninfected subjects proliferated equally well after polyclonal stimulation by phylohemagglutinin A (PHA); both groups reached a Tp of 92%–96% and a Dm of 5–8. However, in HIV‐infected subjects, proliferation of HIV‐ and CMV‐specific CD8+ T cells was significantly reduced compared to proliferation of CMV‐ specific CD8+ T cells from HIV‐uninfected subjects. These defective proliferative responses of HIV‐ and CMV‐specific CD8+ T cells were restored by the addition of IL‐2 at the time of stimulation. These results may have implications for the design of immune modulation strategies in vivo. J. Med. Virol. 78:1147–1157, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Customer Relationship Management in the Exhibition Industry in China: An Exploration into the Critical Success Factors and Inhibitors

China’s exhibition industry has experienced considerable growth over the past decade; however, recent studies have identified a number of issues affecting its future growth, including an inability to retain customers. Customer relationship management (CRM) offers a potential solution to this problem. Although anecdotal evidence suggests that CRM has been widely adopted in China’s exhibition industry, there is a lack of empirical research focused on factors critical to its successful implementation. Consequently, the aim of this article is to explore the drivers and inhibitors of CRM implementation in China’s exhibition industry. Reporting on the findings from a series of semi-structured interviews with 18 senior managers from exhibition organizing companies in China, this article identifies a series of underlying drivers to successful CRM implementation, including top management commitment and support, user awareness and training programs, and providing necessary resources and funds. This research also uncovered a number of factors that inhibit CRM implementation, including path dependency, organizational structure, and institutional factors, as well as poor data quality and quantity. Future research on CRM in the exhibition industry should focus on developing a conceptual model of the facilitators and inhibitors for testing in different geographic and organizational contexts.
Two Wing Models of Sales Promotion: Theorization and Examination

Sales promotion is an important and frequently used marketing tool to influence the consumers' purchase intentions directly. This research study introduces a two-wing model of sales promotion to show the comparative impact of different formats and benefit levels of instant price discounts and next off purchase promotions on the consumer perceptions and purchase intentions of the promoted products. The uniqueness of this model is that it separately tests the impact of different types and formats of instant price discounts and next off purchase promotions on the consumers' overall perceptions and purchase intentions of the products under sale. The empirical testing of this model reveals some important findings that can help marketers to develop result oriented sales promotion techniques in Asian markets. Since, this model has been tested in an Asian context only. To know its multi-cultural application it needs to be tested in diverse cultural contexts.
Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis in Korea: The 1999–2005 Cohort

Background:No previous studies have evaluated the long-term outcomes of acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) in non-Caucasian populations. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of Korean patients with ASUC. Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 99 Korean patients with ASUC who satisfied the criteria given by Truelove and Witts between 1999 and 2005. The short-term outcome parameter was the colectomy rate during index hospitalization, and the long-term outcome parameters were the rates of colectomy and rehospitalization after discharge from index hospitalization. Results:During index hospitalization, 16 of 99 patients (16.2%) underwent colectomy: 6 of 71 responders (8.5%) to intravenous steroids on day 3 versus 10 of 28 nonresponders (35.7%), as assessed using the Oxford index (P = 0.002). Among 83 patients who avoided colectomy during index hospitalization, 13 patients (15.7%) underwent colectomy during the median follow-up period of 10.6 years. The cumulative probability of colectomy tended to be lower in complete responders on day 7 of intravenous steroid therapy (CR7) than in others: 3.7% versus 13.9% at 5 years and 7.6% versus 18.2% at 10 years (P = 0.100). The cumulative probability of rehospitalization was significantly lower in CR7 than in other patients: 20.5% versus 37.5% at 5 years and 31.4% versus 48.2% at 10 years (P = 0.043). Conclusions:Assessing the degree of response to intravenous steroids helps predict the short- and long-term outcomes in patients with ASUC. Korean patients with ASUC may have better clinical courses than Caucasians, as indicated by the lower colectomy rate.
Protein expression of double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR) in intrahepatic bile ducts in normal adult livers, fetal livers, primary biliary cirrhosis, hepatolithiasis and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM The protein expression of double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR) in intrahepatic bile ducts has not been investigated. METHODS Immunohistochemistry and a semiquantitative scoring method in normal liver and biliary diseases were used for the investigation. RESULTS In "normal" adult livers (n=10), intrahepatic bile ducts were negative for PKR. In normal fetal livers (n=25), primitive biliary epithelia were almost negative for PKR. In primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) (n=30), damaged bile ducts were frequently positive for PKR, while uninvolved bile ducts were negative. In hepatolithiasis (n=27), proliferated bile ducts were positive for PKR, and the PKR score correlated with the degree of proliferation. In cholangiocarcinoma (CC) (n=44), PKR expression was frequently noted, and the PKR score correlated with good differentiation of CC, being highest in well-differentiated CC and lowest in poorly-differentiated CC. The PKR score decreased in the following order: CC (mean PKR score=3.96), hepatolithiasis (2.56), PBC (1.60), normal fetal liver (0.40), and normal adult livers (0.00). The PKR expression in hepatocytes was "baseline" in normal adult livers, while moderately increased in fetal livers, PBC, hepatolithiasis and CC. CONCLUSIONS Although the significance of these data is unclear, they suggest (i) that PKR is absent in bile ducts in normal adult and fetal livers, (ii) that PKR in bile duct cells newly emerges or increases in PBC, hepatolithiasis, and CC, (iii) that PKR accumulates in damaged bile ducts in PBC, (iv) that PKR increases in parallel with biliary cell proliferation in hepatolithiasis, and (v) that PKR expression correlates with differentiation in CC. PKR expression in intrahepatic bile ducts seems to be associated with inflammation or cell proliferation of the bile duct cells.
Education and Household Location in Chicago

This paper examines the choice of residential location in the city of Chicago versus its suburban areas. Data from the 5 percent Public Use Microdata Sample from the "1990" and "2000 Census of Population and Housing" are used. Particular attention is given to the effects of educational attainment. Place of work continues to dominate the residential location decision. However, conditioning on place of work, demographics, and income, educational attainment is found to be statistically significant in residential choice of the city versus the suburbs in 2000 for non-Hispanic whites, especially those with graduate degrees. In contrast, more educated African-Americans and Hispanics tend to locate in suburban areas. Copyright (c) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Aminoimidazole carboxamide ribonucleoside toxicity: A model for study of pyrimidine starvation

Aminoimidazole carboxamide ribonucleoside (AIC‐R), a purine precursor, has biphasic effects on the growth of Chinese hamster fibroblasts. At 200 μM AIC‐R cell growth is almost completely arrested, while at 50 and 700 μM AIC‐R cell growth is comparable to that observed in the absence of nucleoside. The growth inhibition produced by AIC‐R is the consequence of inhibition of the orotate phosphoribosyltransferase‐orotidylic decarboxylase (OPRT‐ODC) reactions, as evidenced by a 87% reduction in the intracellular concentrations of UTP and CTP, accumulation of orotate in the medium, and restoration of normal growth by inclusion of 100 μM uridine in the medium. Inhibition of pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis at 200 μM AIC‐R is associated with an 82% reduction in the intracellular concentration of PP‐ribose‐P and a 150% increase in the concentration of purine nucleotides. Restoration of cell growth to a normal rate at 700 μM AIC‐R—a condition under which PP‐ribose‐P remains depressed and purine nucleotide concentrations are also depressed (40% of control)—and absence of toxicity at 50 μM AIC‐R—a condition under which purine nucleotide concentrations are increased by 150% and PP‐ribose‐P concentration is normal—suggest that the inhibition of OPRT‐ODC observed at 200 μM AIC‐R is caused by the combination of the reduction in PP‐ribose‐P and increase in purine nucleotides. These studies provide a better understanding of the control of the OPRT‐ODC reactions in the cell and provide additional insight into the basis of pyrimidine starvation induced by purine nucleosides.