Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
First report of an iridovirus (Genus Ranavirus) infection in a Leopard tortoise (Geochelone pardalis pardalis) 1

An adult Leopard tortoise (Geochelone pardalis pardalis) with severe clinical disease characterised by nasal discharge, severe necrotising stomatitis, dehydration, apathy and anorexia was presented at the Clinic for Avian, Reptile and Fish Medicine of the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna. Shortly before the onset of clinical symptoms the animal had been imported from Ethiopia. Specific PCRs for iridovirus and Chelonid herpesvirus (ChHV) gave positive results with pharyngeal swabs and necrotic layers of the oral cavity. The positive result could be confirmed by sequencing for iridovirus specific nucleic acids, the band achieved for ChHV was too weak for sequencing. Additionally various bacterial infections (Staphylococcus spp., Citrobacter freundii, E. coli, Salmonella spp., coagulase negative Staphylococcus spp.) and mycosis (Candida spp.) were found, probably all secondary due to the virus induced epithelial damage. Sequence analysis of the detected iridovirus revealed nucleotide identities of 98 to >99 % with various amphibian and reptilian isolates of the FV-3 group. After one month of intensive treatment the animal was released and recovered fully after 4 months. Our results show that an iridovirus infection has to be considered as possible coagent or differential diagnosis to ChHV. This is the first report of iridovirus infection in the species Geochelone pardalis pardalis. Schlüsselwörter: Schildkröte, Reptil, Pantherschildkröte, Iridoviridae, Ranavirus, Herpesvirus, Geochelone pardalis pardalis, CT, PCR.
Demand and Supply Factors in the Determination of India's Disaggregated Manufactured Exports: A Simultaneous Error-Correction Aprroach

This paper is an investigation of the demand and supply factors underlying the long-term behaviour of India’s disaggregated manufactured exports. Broadly, there are two divided views on India’s export behaviour: while the predominant view stresses the importance of supply and policy related factors, other studies find the significance of world demand in export determination. The issue is more important than empirical estimation of determinants of exports; it is theoretically motivated as India has been able to expand exports across sectors in tandem with changes in trade regimes. However, the fact of varying export growth across different sector does not lend support to the observation that only policies explain export performance, rather it highlights the importance of other demand and supply factors at the sectoral level. An imperfect substitutes demand-supply model of export determination is set out and the model is estimated in an error-correction framework using systems method. The model explains behaviour of disaggregated exports well. It shows the importance of demand as well as supply effects in the determination of India’s disaggregated exports except textiles and garments.
Economic Aspects of Adaptation to Climate Change: Costs, Benefits and Policy Instruments

Climate change poses a serious challenge to social and economic development. Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions need to move hand in hand with policies and incentives to adapt to the impacts of climate change. How much adaptation might cost, and how large its benefits might be, are issues that are increasingly relevant both for on-the-ground projects and in national and international contexts. This report provides a critical assessment of adaptation costs and benefits in key climate sensitive sectors, as well as at national and global levels. It moves the discussion beyond cost estimation to the potential and limits of economic and policy instruments - including insurance and risk sharing, environmental markets and pricing, and public private partnerships - that can be used to motivate adaptation actions. The report cautions that recent headline estimates on the global price-tag for adaptation face serious limitations. In addition, the few available studies have tended to stack upon the assumptions made in preceding studies. Therefore, a consensus, even in order of magnitude terms, is premature and may be misleading. Costing or raising large sums of money to finance adaptation is clearly important, but will not alleviate the challenge of ensuring that individuals, businesses, governments and civil society make timely, well-informed, and efficient adaptation decisions. The report therefore also calls for a raft of policy instruments to establish the right incentives to influence such decisions. Setting up the right incentive and partnership structures to promote adaptation, however, will be a daunting task. Adaptation to climate change as a public policy challenge has only just emerged.
Image Data Hiding Method Based on Multi-Pixel Differencing and LSB Substitution Methods

A novel data hiding method based on the least significant bit (LSB) substitution and the multi-pixel differencing (MPD) method is presented on the proposed method to improve the capacity of hidden secret data and to provide an imperceptible visual quality. First, a sum of different values for a four-pixel sub-block is calculated. The low value of the sum can be located on a smooth block and the high value is located on an edged block. The secret data are hidden into the cover image by the LSB method in the smooth block, while the MPD method is concealed in the edged block. The experimental results show that the proposed method has a higher capacity and maintains good visual quality.
Economics of Tobacco Modelling the Market for Cigarettes in Ireland

Thus, after simplification, making current consumption dependent on past consumption captures the addictive nature of demand. Houthakker and Taylor predicted that t will be positive for addictive or habit forming goods like tobacco products. Houthakker and Taylor estimated alternative versions of equation 1.3 for a number of goods, including cigarettes, using annual aggregates for the US and several Western European countries. Their estimates provided considerable support for their hypothesis of habit formation in demand, with positive estimates of the structural stock coefficient (b) for almost all of the non-durable consumer goods, including cigarettes, they examined”.
Monetary policy in a changing economy : indicators, rules, and the shift towards intangible output

This paper considers the effects of the trend towards knowledge-based production on indicators that are used in forming monetary policy and the resulting implications for the conduct of monetary policy. Two specific questions are addressed. First, are recent changes in the NAIRU in the U.S. and in some other developed countries related to the worldwide trend towards knowledge-based production? Second, what are the implications of these changes for the conduct of monetary policy? The empirical analysis suggests that this trend is not a proximate or primary cause for the shifts in the NAIRU. However, there is evidence that the NAIRU and other key macroeconomic relations have shifted, and this introduces important additional uncertainties that must be confronted by monetary policymakers. The paper therefore turns to a quantitative analysis of monetary policy rules that are robust to such uncertainty. This investigation is undertaken in a small macroeconomic model of the U.S. economy, and the uncertainty is modeled as arising from parameters that evolve over time according to random walks. The robust rules that emerge suggest that, for some types of uncertainty, a monetary authority facing uncertainty about the structure of the economy should consider policies that are somewhat more aggressive than might be indicated by simple point estimates of their models.
On the Non-(p−1)-Partite Kp-Free Graphs

Abstract We say that a graph G is maximal Kp-free if G does not contain Kp but if we add any new edge e ∈ E(G) to G, then the graph G + e contains Kp. We study the minimum and maximum size of non-(p − 1)-partite maximal Kp-free graphs with n vertices. We also answer the interpolation question: for which values of n and m are there any n-vertex maximal Kp-free graphs of size m?
Neural selectivity for hue and saturation of colour in the primary visual cortex of the monkey

In the inferior temporal (IT) cortex of monkeys, which has been shown to play a critical role in colour discrimination, there are neurons sensitive to a narrow range of hues and saturation. By contrast, neurons in the retina and the parvocellular layer of the lateral geniculate nucleus (pLGN) encode colours in a way that does not provide explicit representation of hue or saturation, and the process by which hue‐ and saturation‐selectivity is elaborated remains unknown. We therefore tested the colour‐selectivity of neurons in the primary visual cortex (V1) and compared it with those of pLGN and IT neurons. Quantitative analysis was performed using a standard set of colours, systematically distributed within the CIE (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage)‐xy chromaticity diagram. Selectivity for hue and saturation was characterized by analysing response contours reflecting the overall distribution of responses across the chromaticity diagram. We found that the response contours of almost all pLGN neurons were linear and broadly tuned for hue. Many V1 neurons behaved similarly; nonetheless, a considerable number of V1 neurons had clearly curved response contours and were selective for a narrow range of hues or saturation. The relative frequencies of neurons exhibiting various selectivities for hue and saturation were remarkably similar in the V1 and IT cortex, but were clearly different in the pLGN. Thus, V1 apparently plays a very important role in the conversion of colour signals necessary for generating the elaborate colour selectivity observed in the IT cortex.
Monotone Linear Relations: Maximality and Fitzpatrick Functions

We analyze and characterize maximal monotonicity of linear relations (set-valued operators with linear graphs). An important tool in our study are Fitzpatrick functions. The results obtained partially extend work on linear and at most single-valued operators by Phelps and Simons and by Bauschke, Borwein and Wang. Furthermore, a description of skew linear relations in terms of the Fitzpatrick family is obtained. We also answer one of Simons’ problems by showing that if a maximal monotone operator has a convex graph, then this graph must actually be affine.
Expression of Human Apolipoprotein E3 or E4 in the Brains ofApoe−/− Mice: Isoform-Specific Effects on Neurodegeneration

Apolipoprotein (apo) E isoforms are key determinants of susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease. The apoE4 isoform is the major known genetic risk factor for this disease and is also associated with poor outcome after acute head trauma or stroke. To test the hypothesis that apoE3, but not apoE4, protects against age-related and excitotoxin-induced neurodegeneration, we analyzed apoE knockout (Apoe−/−) mice expressing similar levels of human apoE3 or apoE4 in the brain under control of the neuron-specific enolase promoter. Neuronal apoE expression was widespread in the brains of these mice. Kainic acid-challenged wild-type or Apoe−/− mice had a significant loss of synaptophysin-positive presynaptic terminals and microtubule-associated protein 2-positive neuronal dendrites in the neocortex and hippocampus, and a disruption of neurofilament-positive axons in the hippocampus. Expression of apoE3, but not of apoE4, protected against this excitotoxin-induced neuronal damage. ApoE3, but not apoE4, also protected against the age-dependent neurodegeneration seen in Apoe−/− mice. These differences in the effects of apoE isoforms on neuronal integrity may relate to the increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and to the poor outcome after head trauma and stroke associated with apoE4 in humans.
Balancing Exploration and Exploitation: Empirical Parameterization of Exploratory Search Systems

Exploratory searches are where a user has insufficient knowledge to define exact search criteria or does not otherwise know what they are looking for. Reinforcement learning techniques have demonstrated great potential for supporting exploratory search in information retrieval systems as they allow the system to trade-off exploration (presenting the user with alternatives topics) and exploitation (moving toward more specific topics). Users of such systems, however, often feel that the system is not responsive to user needs. This problem is not an inherent feature of such systems, but is caused by the exploration rate parameter being inappropriately tuned for a given system, dataset or user. We present a user study to analyze how different exploration rates affect search performance, user satisfaction, and the number of documents selected. We show that the tradeoff between exploration and exploitation can be modelled as a direct relationship between the exploration rate parameter from the reinforcement learning algorithm and the number of relevant documents returned to the user over the course of a search session. We define the optimal exploration/exploitation trade-off as where this relationship is maximised and show this point to be broadly concordant with user satisfaction and performance.
Reduced genus-two Gromov-Witten Invariants for $\P^n$

In this paper, we construct the reduced genus-two Gromov-Witten invariants of degree d ≥ 3 for the standard projective space Pn of dimension n ≤ 7. This invariant counts the number of simple genus-two holomorphic curves in Pn of degree d that satisfy appropriate number of constraints.
Multinational companies from emerging economies : composition, conceptualization and direction in the global economy

Introduction Trends in 'Southern' Outward FDI Towards an Industry Categorization The New Asian Multinationals 'Multilatinas' Extant Theories and Their Relevance to EMNCs The Role of Governments Some Key Questions Consequences for OECD Governments, Firms and Workers Conclusions: The Way Ahead
Thermo-Mechanical Performance of Polylactide Composites Reinforced with Alkali-Treated Bamboo Fibers

In this study, polylactide acid (PLA) is filled with bamboo fibers (BFs) to fabricate a biodegradable natural composite for industrial applications. The influence of pre-treatment of BFs using 4 wt % sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution at room temperature for 1 h on thermal and mechanical properties of resultant composites is systematically investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis demonstrate that the incorporation of treated BFs promotes higher glass transition and crystallization temperatures of the resultant composites relative to untreated fiber composites, whereas alkali treatment results in superior thermal stability. Furthermore, the fracture surfaces are characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The changes in morphology reveal the possible dissolution of hemicellulose and lignin by alkalization with NaOH, indicative of an improved interfacial adhesion. An increment in the tensile strength of composites is achieved through the reinforcement with treated fibers. However, a lower tensile modulus is found for composites reinforced with chemically modified BFs, which might be due to the partial conversion of cellulose I into II. The results highlight that the use of BFs could be a feasible candidate as reinforcements for the development of biodegradable composites.
Are wealth transfers biased against girls

"This study attempts to analyze changing patterns of land transfers and schooling investments by gender over three generations in customary land areas of Ghana's Western Region. Although traditional matrilineal inheritance rules deny landownership rights to women, women have increasingly acquired land through gifts and other means, thereby reducing the gender gap in landownership. The gender gap in schooling has also declined significantly, though it persists. We attribute such changes to the increase in women's bargaining power due to an agricultural technology that increased the demand for women's labor, contributing to the reduction of "social" discrimination as well as weak "parental" discrimination. " Authors' Abstract
The orbital ephemeris and X-ray light curve of Cyg X-3

The orbital dynamics of Cyg X-3 are a key to understanding this enigmatic X-ray binary. Recent observations by the RXTE ASM and the OSSE instrument on GRO enable us to extend the baseline of arrival time measurements and test earlier models of orbital period evolution. We derive new quadratic and cubic ephemerides from the soft X-ray data (including ASM). We find a significant shift between the predicted soft X-ray phase and the light curve phase measured by OSSE from ∼44 to 130 keV. Some of the apparent phase shift may be caused by a difference in light curve shape.
Treasury Securities and the U.S. Sovereign Credit Default Swap Market

This report explains how the sovereign credit default swap (CDS) market works and how such CDS price trends may illuminate fiscal stresses facing sovereign governments. Although CDS prices may be imperfect measures of the federal government's fiscal condition, some investors may try to glean information from those price trends. CDS prices have been playing an important role in the European government debt markets and could potentially affect U.S debt markets in the future. European policymakers have debated certain restrictions on types of sovereign CDS trading, and such calls for reform may be of interest to U.S. lawmakers.
Linking Psychological Contract Breach and Employee Outcomes in China: Does Leader-Member Exchange Make a Difference?

This study examines the moderating role of a leader-member exchange in the relationship between psychological contract breach (PCB) and employee outcomes in China. Results of this study show that (1) a psychological contract breach influences an employee’s turnover intention, organizational identification, and organizational citizenship behaviors; and (2) leader-member exchange can be a mediating variable to affect the relationship between psychological contract breach and organizational identification, organizational citizenship behavior, but cannot affect the relationship between psychological contract breach and turnover intentions in Chinese firms.
Poisson's ratio in cubic materials

Expressions are given for the maximum and minimum values of Poisson's ratio ν for materials with cubic symmetry. Values less than −1 occur if and only if the maximum shear modulus is associated with the cube axis and is at least 25 times the value of the minimum shear modulus. Large values of occur in directions at which the Young modulus is approximately equal to one half of its 111 value. Such directions, by their nature, are very close to 111. Application to data for cubic crystals indicates that certain Indium Thallium alloys simultaneously exhibit Poisson's ratio less than −1 and greater than +2.
Opportunistic competition law enforcement

We analyse the interplay between investigation policies, deterrence and desistance in a model where a competition authority monitors multiple sectors and faces a budget constraint that prevents it from deterring cartels in all sectors simultaneously. Most studies of competition law enforcement treat competition authorities as all-knowing, unwavering and benevolent. They do not behave opportunistically, do not face asymmetric information and choose their actions to optimize social welfare. In this paper, we drop one of these assumptions, and study a competition authority that can not commit to a particular investigation strategy. As a consequence, a competition authority’s decisions to investigate will be driven by the (ex-post) desistance effect instead of the (ex ante) deterrence effect of an investigation policy. The resulting opportunistic behaviour may lead to a suboptimal investigation strategy. We find that, in the absence of commitment, developing a sector specific reward scheme based on the number of captured cartels can improve welfare.
Impaired cutaneous wound healing in interleukin‐6‐deficient and immunosuppressed mice

It has been postulated that an inflammatory response after cutaneous wounding is a prerequisite for healing, and inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), might be intimately involved in this process. IL‐6 – deficient transgenic mice (IL‐6 KO) displayed significantly delayed cutaneous wound healing compared with wild‐type control animals, requiring up to threefold longer to heal. This was characterized by minimal epithelial bridge formation, decreased inflammation, and granulation tissue formation. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays of wound tissue from IL‐6 KO mice, decreased AP‐1 transcription factor activation was shown compared with wild‐type mice 16 h after wounding. In situ hybridization of wound tissue from wild‐type mice revealed IL‐6 mRNA expression primarily in the epidermis at the leading edge of the wound. Delayed wound healing in IL‐6 KO mice was reversed with a single dose of recombinant murine IL‐6 or intradermal injection of an expression plasmid containing the full‐length murine IL‐6 cDNA. Treatment with rmIL‐6 also reconstituted wound healing in dexamethasone‐treated immunosuppressed mice. The results of this study may indicate a potential use for IL‐6 therapeutically where cutaneous wound healing is impaired. —Gal‐lucci, R. M. , Simeonova, P. P., Matheson, J. M. , Kommineni, C. , Guriel, J. L. , Sugawara, T. , and Luster, M. I. Impaired cutaneous wound healing in interleukin‐6 – deficient and immunosuppressed mice. FASEB J. 14, 2525–2531 (2000)
Market Transition and Income Inequality in Urban China: Evidence from Shapley Value Decomposition

Chinai¯s market-oriented reform is expected to strengthen the role of the market in allocating resources, which raises concerns over the impact of market transformation on income distribution and earnings inequality in the past decades. This paper decomposes the sources of inequality based on the newly developed Shapley value approach and examines the contributions of the market, along with other nonmarket factors, to total inequality. Using the China Health and Nutrition Survey data over the period 1989¨C2009, we find that the income gap between laborers with a higher level of education and those with a lower level has widened since the transformational reforms of the economy. Our results suggest that the largest contribution of changes in income inequality can be attributed to the increase in returns to education, while the relative contributions of the household registration (hukou) system, type of sector ownership, geographic location, and gender to inequality experienced a downward trend between 1989 and 2009. The authors argue that rising income inequality is the consequence of efficiency improvements and an imperfect economic system, and that the market is a decisive force in economic development as it releases competitive signals and creates incentive mechanisms for innovation. Creating a more efficient labor market and increasing investment in human capital, particularly equalizing educational opportunities and improving the quality of education in lagging rural and inland regions to disadvantaged groups, are significant for an equitable distribution of income and sustainable development in the long run.