Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fractionally Integrated Panel Data Systems

We consider large n, T panel data models with fixed effects, persistent common factors allowing for cross-section dependence, and possibly correlated persistent innovations that are assumed fractionally integrated. In the model, a) persistence in the innovations and the common factor allows for cointegrating relationships in the unobserved idiosyncratic components; b) the vector of innovations, whose elements can be contemporaneously correlated, can also exhibit short-memory dynamics in the form of a finite-order vector autoregressive process; c) deterministic linear and nonlinear trends can be nested. We perform estimations on the defactored observed series where the projections are based on the sample averages of fractionally differenced data. In the estimation, we use a computationally convenient equation-by-equation conditional-sum-of-squares (CSS) criterion, leading to GLS-type estimates for slope parameters. The CSS estimates of individual slope and long-range dependence parameters are root-T consistent while the mean-group slope estimate is root-n consistent, all with centered asymptotic normal distributions, irrespective of cointegration. A study of small-sample performance is carried out showing desirable properties for our estimation method. Finally, an empirical application to the long-run relationship between real GDP and debt is included.
Abilities, Mobilities, And The Beta Wealth Distribution

This paper studies the stationary distribution of wealth by using a basic economic model encompassing saving, investment, occupational choice, an imperfect credit market, entrepreneurial abilities, and intergenerational wealth mobilities. It implies that persistent wealth inequality depends on the probability of intergenerational upward mobility relative to the downward mobility probability. The model predicts substitutability between the probabilities that workers' children and entrepreneurs' children have sufficient wealth to become entrepreneurs in achieving the same degree of persistent wealth inequality. It also implies workers' children can have sufficient entrepreneurial wealth with greater or less probability than entrepreneurs' children depending on an explicit mobility measure. A wealth variant of the Great Gatsby Curve is shown to require a restriction on the downward mobility probability. The model also shows that the two kinds of entrepreneurial skills (endowed and environmental-historical abilities) are net substitutes rather than complements in preserving a given measure of stationary wealth inequality. Conditions are given on environmental-historical and endowed abilities that allow different probabilities of passing the wealth test for different types of agents, though no structural relationship between them was built into the model. We obtain insights into how the interest rate affects mobility probabilities and persistent inequality. Finally, the model is solved to obtain a closed Beta form for the distribution of wealth. Its shape is given by the mobility probabilities and subsumes the Pareto wealth distribution as a special case. Empirical illustrations inclue comparisons of the quantile estimates of our Beta stationary wealth density with the generalized Pareto distribution.
Effect of Exchange Rate Fluctuations on Manufacturing Sector in Nigeria

The title of this research paper is effects of exchange rate fluctuations on manufacturing sector in Nigeria. From current research, the issue of deciding on effective way to stabilize exchange rate of goods and services in manufacturing sector in Nigeria is one of the key elements of a firm’s financial strategy. Therefore, proper care and attention need to be given while such decision is taken. Exchange rate of a country plays a key role in international economic transactions because no nation can remain in autarky due to varying factor endowment. The purpose of this paper is to know the effects of exchange rate fluctuations on manufacturing sector in Nigeria over a period of 25 years (1985 – 2010). This work employed four (4) variables such as manufacturing gross domestic product (MGDP), manufacturing foreign private investment (MFPI), manufacturing employment rate (MER) and Exchange rate (ER). The ex-post facto research design was used for this study. Manufacturing gross domestic product (MGDP) stands as dependent variable while manufacturing foreign private investment (MFPI), manufacturing employment rate (MER) and Exchange rate (ER) as independent variables. The secondary data were obtained from CBN Statistical Bulletin and Nigeria Bureau of Statistics. Descriptive statistics and multiple regressions were employed to find out the effects of exchange rate fluctuations on manufacturing sector in Nigeria. The results of the analysis showed that all the independent variables have significant and positive relationship with dependent variable with R 2 at 80%. It also indicates that manufacturing foreign private investment (MFPI) and Exchange rate (ER) have positive effect on manufacturing gross domestic product (MGDP). Based on the above findings, the researcher recommends that government should stimulate export diversification in the area of agriculture; agro-investment, and agro-allied industries, oil allied industries such will improve Exchange rate fluctuations on manufacturing sector in Nigeria Economy. The government should restrict the importation of similar products manufactured in Nigeria to increase the buying of Nigerian products. Keyword: Exchange rate, manufacturing employment rate, CBN Statistical Bulletin, Nigeria Bureau of statistics, manufacturing foreign private investment, Descriptive research, Regression, structural adjustment programmes and manufacturing gross domestic product.
Explaining consumer complaining behaviour in double deviation scenarios: the banking services

Research has shown that more than half of attempted recovery efforts only reinforce dissatisfaction, producing a ‘double deviation’ effect. Surprisingly, these double deviation effects have received little attention in marketing literature. The crucial question is what happens after these critical encounters, which behaviour or set of behaviours the customers are prone to follow and how customers' perceptions of the firm's recovery efforts influence these behaviours. For the analysis of choice of the type of response (no action, complaining, exit, and complaining and exit), we estimate ordered probit models. The results of our study show that the magnitude of service failure, recovery strategies, distributive and procedural justice, recovery-related emotions and satisfaction with service recovery have a significant effect on customers' choice of the type of response, the latter showing the highest impact. Implications from the findings are offered.
Semantic memory is both impaired and anomalous in schizophrenia

Synopsis The integrity of semantic memory in schizophrenia was examined in a reaction time task requiring subjects to verify words as members or non-members of a conceptual category, where the words differed in their degree of semantic relationship to the category. Compared to matched normal controls, 28 schizophrenic patients were impaired on the task, showing slower responses in all conditions. In addition, their performance was anomalous in that they took longest to respond to items that were outside the category but semantically related to it, in contrast to the controls who took the longest to respond to ambiguous words at the borderline of the category. The pattern of ‘yes’ and ‘no’ responses of the patients was anomalous in a similar way. In both speed and accuracy of responding, the findings indicate that there is an outward shift of semantic category boundaries in schizophrenia.
Effects of soybean oil emulsion and eicosapentaenoic acid on stress response and immune function after a severely stressful operation.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of soybean oil emulsion and oral or enteral administration of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on stress response, cytokine production, protein metabolism, and immune function after surgery for esophageal cancer. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA It has been reported that safflower oil, rich in n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-6 PUFA), affects the survival rate of septic animals and decreases the immune function. It has also been reported that the administration of fish oil, in contrast, reduces these stress responses and stress-induced immunosuppression. In humans, the effects of soybean oil emulsion and the administration of EPA on stress response and immune function after surgery have not been established. METHODS Patients who underwent esophagectomy with thoracotomy were divided into three groups. Seven patients were fed by total parenteral nutrition (TPN) with soybean oil emulsion, which accounted for 20% of total calories. Seven patients were given oral or enteral administration of 1.8 g/day EPA, in addition to TPN with soybean oil emulsion. Nine patients served as the control group; these patients received fat-free TPN. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein, concanavalin A (con A)- or phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, natural killer cell activity, and stress hormones were measured. RESULTS The postoperative level of serum IL-6 was significantly higher in the group receiving soybean oil emulsion than in the fat-free group. Oral or enteral supplementation of EPA with soybean oil emulsion significantly reduced the level of serum IL-6 compared with the patients receiving soybean oil emulsion. Con A- or PHA-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation decreased significantly on postoperative day 7 in all groups of patients. The supplementation of EPA with soybean oil emulsion significantly improved the lymphocyte proliferation and natural killer cell activity on postoperative day 21 compared with the group receiving soybean oil emulsion. CONCLUSIONS Soybean oil emulsion amplifies, and the supplementation of EPA reduces, the stress response and stress-induced immunosuppression.
Litigation Risk and Market Reaction to Restatements

A large negative stock price reaction to a restatement announcement could imply a particularly significant accounting error, or one made by a firm that has a relatively high probability of being sued. This paper investigates the extent to which market reactions to restatement announcements are explained by litigation risk. We model the simultaneous relationship between restatement announcement abnormal returns and litigation risk and find that about half of the -9.2 percent average restatement announcement effect is due to expected litigation costs. We also find that the significance of the accounting error does not directly affect the magnitude of the abnormal return; it only affects abnormal return indirectly because it increases the probability of being sued.
Dissemination of nonpandemic Caribbean HIV-1 subtype B clades in Latin America

Objective:To estimate the prevalence of the HIV-1 subtype B pandemic (BPANDEMIC) and Caribbean (BCAR) clades in Latin America and to reconstruct the spatiotemporal dynamics of dissemination of the BCAR clades in the region. Design:A total of 7654 HIV-1 subtype B pol sequences collected from 18 different Latin American countries between 1989 and 2011 were analyzed together with subtype B reference sequences representative of the BPANDEMIC (US/France = 300) and the BCAR (Caribbean = 279, Panama = 37) clades. Methods:Phylogeographic and evolutionary parameters were estimated from sequence data using maximum likelihood and Bayesian coalescent-based methods. Results:Nonpandemic BCAR strains were probably disseminated from the Caribbean islands of Hispaniola and Trinidad and Tobago into Latin America since the early 1970s. The BCAR strains reached nearly all countries from Latin America here analyzed and in some of them were spread locally, although their overall prevalence in the region is low. The BPANDEMIC clade comprises more than 90% of subtype B infections in most countries analyzed, with exception of Suriname, French Guyana and probably Guyana, where both BPANDEMIC and BCAR clades seem to circulate at a similar prevalence. Conclusion:This study demonstrates that nonpandemic subtype B lineages of Caribbean origin have been disseminated into Latin America shortly after the estimated introduction of subtype B in the continent. Despite their early dissemination, the BCAR strains account for a minor fraction of current HIV-1 subtype B infections in the region that are mainly driven by spreading of the globally disseminated BPANDEMIC clade.
Neuroendocrine abnormalities in hypothalamic amenorrhea: spectrum, stability, and response to neurotransmitter modulation.

UNLABELLED To characterize the neuroendocrine patterns of abnormal GnRH secretion in hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA), 49 women with primary and secondary HA underwent frequent sampling of LH in a total of 72 baseline studies over 12-24 h. A subset of women participated in more than one study to address 1) the variability of LH pulse patterns over time; and 2) the impact of modulating opioid, dopaminergic, and adrenergic tone on LH secretory patterns. The frequency and amplitude of LH secretion was compared with that seen in the early follicular phase (EFP) of normally cycling women. The spectrum of abnormalities of LH pulses was 8% apulsatile, 27% low frequency/low amplitude, 8% low amplitude/normal frequency, 43% low frequency/normal amplitude, 14% normal frequency/normal amplitude. Of patients studied overnight, 45% demonstrated a pubertal pattern of augmented LH secretion during sleep. Of patients studied repeatedly, 75% demonstrated at least 2 different patterns of LH secretion, and 33% reverted at least once to a normal pattern of secretion. An increase in LH pulse frequency was seen in 12 of 15 subjects in response to naloxone (opioid receptor antagonist). Clonidine (alpha-2 adrenergic agonist) was associated with a decrease in mean LH in 3 of 3 subjects. An increase in LH pulse frequency was seen in 4 of 8 subjects in response to metoclopramide (dopamine receptor antagonist), but the response was not statistically significant. Baseline abnormalities in LH secretion did not appear to influence response to neurotransmitter modulation. CONCLUSIONS 1) HA represents a spectrum of disordered GnRH secretion that can vary over time; 2) LH pulse patterns at baseline do not appear to influence the ability to respond to neurotransmitter modulation; 3) Opioid and adrenergic tone appear to influence the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator in some individuals with HA.
Human capital investment and optimal portfolio choice

We analyze how an individual should optimally invest in human capital when he also has financial wealth. We treat the individual's possibilities to take more education as expansion options and apply real option analysis. In addition, we characterize the individual's optimal consumption strategy and portfolio weights. The individual has a demand for hedging financial risk, labor income risk, and also wage level risk.
The pancreatic ductal epithelium serves as a potential pool of progenitor cells

Abstract: With the increasing success of islet transplantation, β‐cell replacement therapy has had renewed interest. To make such a therapy available to more than a few of the thousands of patients with diabetes, new sources of insulin‐producing cells must become readily available. The most promising sources are stem cells, whether embryonic or adult stem cells. Clearly identifiable adult pancreatic stem cells have yet to be characterized. Although considerable evidence suggests their possibility, recent lineage‐tracing experiments challenge their existence. Even in light of these lineage‐tracing experiments, we suggest that evidence for neogenesis or new islet formation after birth remains strong. Our work has suggested that the pancreatic duct epithelium itself serves as a pool for progenitors for both islet and acinar tissues after birth and into adulthood and, thus, that the duct epithelium can be considered ‘facultative stem cells’. We will develop our case for this hypothesis in this perspective.
Mammaglobin Expression in Gynecologic Malignancies and Malignant Effusions Detected by Nested Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction

The detection of micrometastatic disease remains a challenge for the diagnosis and monitoring of malignant disease. RT-PCR for human mammaglobin (hMAM) was recently shown to provide a sensitive method for assessing circulating breast cancer cells in peripheral blood. This study was aimed at investigating hMAM expression in normal and malignant tissue from the female genital tract and the prostate as well as in malignant effusions derived from gynecologic malignancies. hMAM expression was analyzed with nested RT-PCR in 152 samples of normal (n = 73) and malignant epithelial tissues (n = 79) and in 33 specimens of various normal mesenchymal tissue types. We found hMAM expression was not restricted to the normal mammary gland and breast carcinoma but was also detectable in most specimens of benign and malignant epithelial tissue from the ovary (97% versus 95%), uterus (both 100%), and cervix (91% versus 90%). Notably, hMAM expression was also found in benign prostatic hyperplasia (45%) and in prostate cancer (55%). A much lower expression rate was found in various normal and benign mesenchymal tissues (12%). In keeping with our previous data, hMAM expression was absent in all control samples (n = 124) of peripheral blood and bone marrow from healthy volunteers and patients with hematologic malignancies. In pleural or peritoneal effusions (n = 42) from patients with carcinomas of the breast, endometrium, or ovary, hMAM positivity was noticed in the majority of cases (74%), whereas only 52% of the specimens were cytologically positive for tumor cells. In conclusion, hMAM expression assessed by nested RT-PCR is a sensitive molecular marker for detecting micrometastatic tumor spread into pleural effusions and ascites from patients with breast cancer and various other gynecologic neoplasms.
Genetic Requirements for High Constitutive SOS Expression in recA730 Mutants of Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT The RecA protein in its functional state is in complex with single-stranded DNA, i.e., in the form of a RecA filament. In SOS induction, the RecA filament functions as a coprotease, enabling the autodigestion of the LexA repressor. The RecA filament can be formed by different mechanisms, but all of them require three enzymatic activities essential for the processing of DNA double-stranded ends. These are helicase, 5′–3′ exonuclease, and RecA loading onto single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). In some mutants, the SOS response can be expressed constitutively during the process of normal DNA metabolism. The RecA730 mutant protein is able to form the RecA filament without the help of RecBCD and RecFOR mediators since it better competes with the single-strand binding (SSB) protein for ssDNA. As a consequence, the recA730 mutants show high constitutive SOS expression. In the study described in this paper, we studied the genetic requirements for constitutive SOS expression in recA730 mutants. Using a β-galactosidase assay, we showed that the constitutive SOS response in recA730 mutants exhibits different requirements in different backgrounds. In a wild-type background, the constitutive SOS response is partially dependent on RecBCD function. In a recB1080 background (the recB1080 mutation retains only helicase), constitutive SOS expression is partially dependent on RecBCD helicase function and is strongly dependent on RecJ nuclease. Finally, in a recB-null background, the constitutive SOS expression of the recA730 mutant is dependent on the RecJ nuclease. Our results emphasize the importance of the 5′–3′ exonuclease for high constitutive SOS expression in recA730 mutants and show that RecBCD function can further enhance the excellent intrinsic abilities of the RecA730 protein in vivo.
Factors affecting conidial production of Beauveria bassiana from fungus-killed cadavers of Rhodnius prolixus.

The epizootic potential of Beauveria bassiana for control of the triatomine vectors of Chagas' disease was investigated by studying the effects of both biotic and abiotic factors on the recycling of a highly virulent fungal isolate from fungus-killed cadavers of Rhodnius prolixus. The conidial production of B. bassiana from mummified cadavers of R. prolixus required high RH levels of at least 96.5% RH. At 97% RH and 25 degrees C, the amount of conidia per insect ranged from 5.3 x 10(6) (on first-instar larval cadavers) to 1.7 x 10(8) (on adult cadavers) depending on the size of the different stages of development of the host. Under optimal conditions, B. bassiana sporulation from R. prolixus cadavers took place in 4 to 5 days after death. At a high humidity level (97% RH) the intensity of the conidial production from Rhodnius cadavers was little affected by temperature over a range from 15 to 25 degrees C, but it declined at 28-30 degrees C and was null at 35 degrees C. There was only a weak influence of the blood meal of nymphs and its timing on the conidial production from B. bassiana-killed cadavers. The recycling capacity of different B. bassiana isolates, selected for their pathogenic activity to R. prolixus, did not differ. From a vector control standpoint, high humidity appears to be the most crucial climatic constraint. The recycling ability of B. bassiana on fungus-killed R. prolixus might contribute to the regulation of triatomine vectors only after applications during the rainy seasons.
Unsatisfactory asthma control: astonishing evidence from general practitioners and respiratory medicine specialists.

BACKGROUND The aim of asthma therapy is to achieve and maintain disease control. Clinicians' behavior is crucial in terms of prescribing the best possible treatment, carrying out appropriate follow-up, and ensuring adherence to treatment. Although clinical trials have demonstrated that asthma control is an achievable goal, real-life data show that this objective is still far from being reached. OBJECTIVE To investigate physician-related factors that can influence successful asthma management. METHODS In 2008, 811 general practitioners (GPs) and 230 respiratory medicine specialists attending a continuous medical education program completed a questionnaire prior to beginning the course on aspects related to asthma pathogenesis and control, applicability of research and guidelines in daily practice, and doctor-patient relations. RESULTS The level of knowledge among GPs and specialists regarding the use of control tools was not optimal, with the Asthma Control Test used by 20.15% of GPs and 42.92% of specialists. The respondents were also largely unable to correctly identify level of asthma control, with approximately just 20% providing correct answers. Although chronic inflammation was considered the main feature of asthma by more than 90% of the 2 groups, they inexplicably believed that up to 40% of patients might not require long-term treatment. Both GPs and specialists preferred a continuous fixed-dose regimen (57.69% and 54.21%, respectively) and did not tend to favor self-management plans, believing that these were only feasible in a very small percentage of patients. CONCLUSION Our findings provide one possible explanation of why asthma control levels are currently unsatisfactory in real life.