Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New data on the morphology of Sphenothallus Hall: implications for its affinities

Van Iten, H. , Cox, R. S. & Mapes, R. H. 1992 04 15: New data on the morphology of Sphenothallus Hall: implications for its affinities. Lethaia, Vol. 25, pp. 135–144. Oslo. ISSN 0024–1164. Recent speculation on the phylogenetic relationships of Sphenothallus Hall, 1847 has focused on two alternatives: (1) affinity with hydrozoan or scyphozoan cnidarians, or (2) affinity with annelids or other ‘worms’. We have found that some species of Sphenothallus formed branching clonal colonies, and that others produced a thin transverse wall, similar to the conulariid schott. Sphenothallus tests are composed of carbonate apatite and are built of numerous, extremely thin lamellae (< 1 μm) that parallel the surface of the test. The holdfast, long interpreted as consisting of a pair of nested cups, actually consists of a single closed, broadly conical expansion floored by a thin basal membrane. Many thecate hydrozoan and scyphozoan polyps form branching clonal colonies and produce a thin transverse wall, similar to that produced by Sphenothallus. Further, thecae of coronatid scyphozoans are built of submicron-thick lamellae that parallel the outer surface of the theca, and coronatid thecae possess a closed, broadly conical apical expansion that serves as a holdfast. No such combination of characteristics exists among annelids or other non-cnidarian taxa. The recent discovery of paired tentacles in Sphenofhallus from the Early Devonian Hunsruck Slate by Fauchald et al., thought to indicate that Sphenorhallus was wormlike, does not militate against a hypothesis of affinity with cnidarians. We therefore favour the hypothesis of a cnidarian affinity for Sphenothallus. * Sphenothallus, vermiform problematica, phylogenetic inference, coloniality, Cnidoria, Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa, Annelida, conulariids, byroniids, Bear Gulch Limestone.
Environmental innovation in industrial packaging: a supply chain approach

Community concerns about the environmental impacts of packaging have prompted governments to introduce policies and regulations which impose eco-taxes or deposit-return systems, require companies to take-back and recover their packaging, or promote voluntary product stewardship programmes. Until recently these programmes have focused almost exclusively on consumer (retail) packaging, but increasingly companies are starting to address the environmental impacts of industrial packaging. This is being driven as much by regulation as it is by the need to reduce costs and increase efficiency in supply chains. This paper argues that environmental innovation in industrial packaging systems requires a cooperative supply chain approach to ensure that environmental and commercial costs are reduced and efficiencies optimized for the chain as a whole. This is based on a review of the literature and an industrial packaging supply chain research and demonstration programme conducted between 2003 and 2005 in Australia.
A GUINEA PIG MODEL FOR COUGH VARIANT ASTHMA AND ROLE OF TACHYKININS

Cough variant asthma is known as a major cause of chronic cough. Fundamental features of cough variant asthma are prolonged nonproductive cough responding to bronchodilator therapy, no history of wheezing or dyspnea attack, normal cough sensitivity, and slightly increased bronchial responsiveness. Animal model of cough variant asthma has not been reported. The aim of this study was to establish an animal model for studying detailed pathophysiology of cough variant asthma. Bronchial responsiveness to methacholine and cough reflex sensitivity to capsaicin were measured 72 hours after antigen (ovalbumin, OA) inhalation in actively sensitized guinea pigs. Next, cough number and specific airway resistance (sRaw) were measured during 20 minutes following reinhalation of OA solution, which was carried out 72 hours after the first OA inhalation, and then total cell number and cell differentials in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured. Bronchial responsiveness to methacholine, but not cough reflex sensitivity to capsaicin, was significantly increased 72 hours after the first inhalation of OA solution. Number of coughs, sRaw and total cell number in BALF increased significantly by the OA reinhalation, and the cough number and the increase in sRaw were significantly suppressed by β2 agonist, procaterol. FK224, a specific neurokinin (NK) receptor antagonist, did not significantly influence the OA reinhalation–induced cough and increase in sRaw and total cell number in BALF in this model. In conclusion, pathophysiologic feature of this animal model is similar to that of clinical cough variant asthma. Tachykinins may not play an important part in antigen-induced cough associated with bronchoconstriction and airway inflammation in cough variant asthma.
The Effects of Physical Exercises on Ocular Physiology: A Review

Sport has been known to be one of the most important factors in preventing cardiovascular disorders; some studies suggest its role in preventing neurodegenerative diseases. This review discusses the results of various studies regarding the effects of physical exercises on intraocular pressure (IOP), myopia, certain physical parameters of the eye, ocular blood flow, and retinal electrical function. Although dynamic exercises are known to reduce IOP from 1.2 to 5.9 mm Hg only for a short period of time, uncertainty persists about whether isometric exercises or activities such as yoga can increase IOP up to 16.7 mm Hg. There has been an established connection between the time being spent outdoor and reduction in the odds of myopia—2% less odds for every hour spent outdoor. Physical activity and the level of physical fitness have an impact on the changes of b-wave electroretinogram and P100. Physical exercises increase perfusion pressure up to 190% baseline and also increase choroidal blood flow up to 140%, thus providing more blood to retina. Sport-induced change on visual field is a subject of controversy. Majority of patients show a better ocular physiological function due to sports and sports are thus considered essential for preventing common ocular diseases. Further research should focus more on long-term effects of sport-induced changes in ocular physiology and newly discovered techniques may be utilized for such purposes.
The Inheritance of Educational Inequality: International Comparisons and Fifty-Year Trends

Abstract This paper estimates 50-year trends in the intergenerational persistence of educational attainment for a sample of 42 nations around the globe. Large regional differences in educational persistence are documented, with Latin America displaying the highest intergenerational correlations, and the Nordic countries the lowest. We also demonstrate that the global average correlation between parent and child's schooling has held steady at about 0.4 for the past fifty years.
Service Systems as a Foundation for Resource Integration and Value Co-creation

Purpose – The aim is to introduce a sociological perspective on resource integration and value co-creation into service research using a service systems approach. Methodology/approach – Conceptual and a case study of the service system a Telecom Equipment and Service Provider is embedded in is reported. Findings – The service practice of the service system is framed by social structures of signification, legitimation, and domination. However, the practice is also independent of the structures since it is embedded in and shapes the structural realm. Research implications and limitations – Drawing on structuration and practice theory, the chapter offers a new framework describing how social and service structures and practices can inform and reveal mechanisms of service system dynamics. Based on the framework, three propositions are developed focusing on the mechanisms of resource integration and value co-creation. The implications need to be generalized in future research by studying other empirical contexts. Practical implications – The chapter provides some tentative guidelines on how organizations can design service systems that enable and support customers and other actors in their resource integration and value co-creation processes by paying attention to social structures and forces and not only resources as such. Originality – The chapter explicates how social structures have implications for value co-creation and resource integration in service system. It makes systematic use of structuration and practice theory to understand the social dimensions of service systems. A distinction between intended and realized resource integration is made.
Life cycle investment behavior, demographics and asset prices

This thesis investigates the relationship between demographics and asset prices. More specifically it examines the effect of changes in the age distribution of the U.S. population on housing, stock, and bond prices over the post World War II period in the U.S. This is done in two steps. First, survey data on household asset holdings is used to construct age profiles of household demand for housing, stocks, bonds, and debt. These asset demand profiles are combined with data on the age distribution of the U.S. population to construct time series measures of aggregate demographic demand for housing, financial assets net of debt, and stocks in excess of bonds, which are then used to analyze the effects of demographically driven changes in aggregate asset demand on equilibrium asset prices over the period from 1946 through 1997. The results of this exercise suggest several interesting findings. With respect to the microeconomic issue of life cycle investment behavior, one finds that the scale and composition of household asset demand changes dramatically over the course of the economic life cycle. Young households, that is, households with heads under age 40, tend to draw credit out of financial markets, primarily by issuing mortgage contracts for the purchase of houses. The extent of this and other borrowing done by young households tends to exceed any gross contributions they make to financial markets through transactions accounts, mutual funds, retirement plans, etc., making them net negative investors in financial assets on average. In contrast, households with heads between ages 40 and 60, tend to provide substantial amounts of credit to financial markets. Much of this saving is, at least nominally, retirement saving, held in personal retirement accounts and employer provided pensions. Households with heads over age 60 tend, like younger households, to drain credit from financial markets. However, unlike young households, older households draw credit out of financial markets not by borrowing, rather, by using previously accumulated assets to fund consumption during retirement. Due to large shifts in the age distribution of the U.S. population since 1946, these life cycle investment patterns appear to have had significant macroeconomic consequences. Tests of the correlation between the constructed demographic demand variables and corresponding asset price series, suggest a statistically significant link between demographic changes in the U.S. population and observed long run movements in housing, stock, and bond prices. This is true even after controlling for the effects of other factors such as fluctuations in real GDP (in the case of housing and bond prices) and dividends (in the case of stock prices). Estimated elasticities of real housing prices with respect to the demographic demand for housing suggest that demographic factors can account for approximately 59% of the observed annual increase in real housing prices between 1966 and 1986. Similarly, demographically driven changes in the demand for financial assets…
Meta-Analysis of the Correlation Between Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency and Multiple Sclerosis

Purpose: To determine whether a correlation exists between chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Materials and Methods: A meta-analysis of the current literature was performed to evaluate the frequency of CCSVI, diagnosed by echo color Doppler criteria, in patients with MS and in normal controls. Results: In all, 19 studies were identified from January 2005 through February 2013; however, 3 studies were excluded due to duplicate data and 3 additional studies because 0 patients fulfilled CCSVI criteria in both MS and control groups. In order to improve homogeneity, 4 outlier studies were also removed from the analysis. Analysis of the remaining 9 studies demonstrated a significant correlation between CCSVI and MS (odds ratio 1.885, P < .0001) with no significant heterogeneity of the studies (I 2 = 18, P = .279). Conclusions: The meta-analysis demonstrated a correlation between CCSVI and MS. However, there was no evidence that CCSVI has a causative role in MS.
The competitiveness effects of the EU climate policy

To show global leadership and to foster the international negotiations for a long term international climate regime the EU has decided to reduce its GHG emissions by 20% relative to 1990 until the year 2020. These reductions will even rise to 30% if there is an international agreement committing other developed countries to comparable emission reductions and economically more advanced developing countries to contributing adequately according to their responsibilities and respective capabilities. At the same time, the European council started in 2000 the so-called Lisbon process which established the issue of competitiveness as a priority area for EU policy and there is some concern about the competitiveness effects of EU climate policy. We use the multi-sector, multi-region computable general equilibrium model DART to assess the impacts of the recent EU climate policy proposals for the competitiveness of the European economies and specific sectors. There are three general insights. First, the effects of EU climate policies on competitiveness are relatively small if one leaves out the fossil fuels themselves the consumption of which is supposed to be reduced anyway. The losses of the energy intensive industries are compensated by gains in other manufacturing sectors. Secondly, there is no uniform effect across the member states of the EU. It is the special circumstances in side the different sectors within the member states that determine whether a sector wins or looses competitiveness. And finally, the changes in competitiveness are strongly influenced by the choice of the particular policy design. A more efficient instrument choice not only reduces the competitiveness effects it also distributes the burden more equally.
The origins of genetic variation between individual human oocytes and embryos: implications for infertility

Abstract Human fertility is low in comparison with that seen in other well-studied mammals. The main reason for this state of affairs seems to be the frequent occurrence and persistence of chromosomal errors in the human conceptus. Evidence obtained over the past two decades shows that the exceptionally high incidence of chromosomal anomalies seen in human preimplantation embryos is the result of errors that may occur at various stages during gamete and embryo formation. In rare cases, an error may exist or arise in the premeiotic germ cells; much more commonly it may arise during the first or second meiotic division in the male or female. Highly efficient cell cycle checkpoints in the male ensure that the incidence of aneuploidy in mature sperm is low compared to that in the oocyte. Most 3-day-old embryos created by IVF are chromosomal mosaics, and this persists to a lesser degree to the blastocyst stage on day 5. While aneuploidy of meiotic origin is a major factor affecting the fertility of older women, embryos from most younger women will have predominantly post-zygotic mitotic errors. Couples experiencing RIF are particularly likely to produce highly abnormal (chaotic) embryos by post-zygotic mechanisms.
Cash Flow Estimation Practices of Large Firms

SEvaluating capital investment decisions generally requires two types of information-estimates of relevant cash flows and the appropriate discount rate(s). There is evidence in the academic literature that previous works have heavily concentrated on developing and refining quantitative techniques for measuring the appropriate discount rate, incorporating risk in the decision process, and employing logical procedures in the capital expenditure decision-making process. In their synthesis of past capital budgeting studes, Scott and
Jeopardy in the Courtroom: A Scientific Analysis of Children's Testimony

The credibility of children's testimony is a hotly debated topic in America's courtrooms, universities and professional organisations. Are children more suggestible than adults, and if so, what are the implications for those who work with child witnesses? This work examines real life cases in which children were key witnesses in criminal chid abuse trials. Written in accessible language by experts in the field, this text should be useful for expert witnesses and all those who work with child witnesses, including therapists, social workers, law enforcement personnel and lawyers.
Policies for improving energy efficiency in the European housing stock

According to EC forecasts, if energy efficiency could be increased 1% annually until 2010, two-thirds of the potential energy saving in the EU could be achieved. This would comply with 40% of the EU's Kyoto obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8% on the 1990 level by 2010-12, by cutting 200 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. Improving energy efficiency in existing buildings is often considered to be one of the most cost-effective ways of cutting carbon emissions. Current policy measures, however, seem to be decided with little reference to the specific needs of renovation in the housing sector instead of basing policy measures on detailed sets of requirements and actual costs. The research provides information for national governments in the EU on how to improve their sustainable building policies so as to increase carbon reductions in the existing housing stock. It addresses the question of the extent to which stronger government intervention is possible and necessary for circumnavigating barriers and the policy approaches that are likely to be feasible, effective, cost-efficient and legitimate.
Effects of loratadine on anti‐IgE‐induced inflammation, histamine release, and leukocyte recruitment in skin of atopics

The aim of this study was to assess the ability of the H1‐receptor antagonist loratadine to modify anti‐IgE‐induced cutaneous wheal‐and‐flare and late‐phase reactions (WFR and LPR), as well as histamine release and leukocyte accumulation in skin chambers. For this purpose, 10 atopics with allergic rhinitis were entered into a double‐blind crossover study in which they received either placebo or loratadine (20 mg/day orally) for 8 days separated by a 7‐day washout period. Blisters were induced on both forearms on day 7 of each treatment period, and were unroofed on day 8 and covered with plastic skin chambers. Chamber fluids were collected during 7 h after 1‐h incubation with anti‐IgE or control IgG. Intradermal challenge with histamine and anti‐IgE was performed at the same occasion. As compared to placebo treatment, loratadine inhibited the immediate WFRs to anti‐IgE by 35% (wheal) and 65% (flare), respectively (P < 0.01), and corresponding reactions to histamine challenge by 50% and 70% (P<0.001), respectively. Moreover, the initial phase (0‐2 h) of the LPR induced by anti‐IgE was attenuated by up to ∼60% (P < 0.001) during loratadine treatment. Thereafter, no inhibition of the LPR was observed. The magnitude and time course of histamine release into skin chambers was virtually the same after loratadine and placebo treatment, with a peak during 0‐1 h and a progressive decline during the following 2 h. Accumulation of α2‐macroglobulin, reflecting extravasation of large plasma proteins, also peaked during the first hour and was unaffected by loratadine during the 8‐h observation period. Moreover, loratadine did not reduce the anti‐IgE‐induced recruitment of eosinophils or other subtypes of leukocytes. Altogether, loratadine inhibited both the WFRs to histamine and anti‐IgE and the initial phase of the IgE‐mediated LPR. However, loratadine did not express anti‐inflammatory activity with respect to mast‐cell mediator release or leukocyte recruitment. The latter findings are in contrast to the action of loratadine in allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis, suggesting that the actions of loratadine may be organ specific and that the effects of loratadine cannot always be extrapolated from one tissue to another.
Undeclared work: a new source of employment?

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to focus upon some of the more innovative projects that are being pursued in Europe that move beyond the conventional punitive approach and seek to provide positive incentives and new institutional arrangements to enable undeclared work to be transformed into legitimate employment.Design/methodology/approach – This paper evaluates the service vouchers policy initiative in Belgium and the Harz Committee policy recommendations, especially mini jobs, in Germany.Findings – The finding is that although significant numbers of declared jobs have been created by these schemes, sometimes at a relatively low cost compared with other options for creating new formal jobs, such initiatives have had a relatively minor impact on the overall level of undeclared work in these societies.Originality/value – This paper is one of the first to bring these innovative policy initiatives to the attention of an English‐speaking audience.
Is human papillomavirus vaccination likely to be a useful strategy in India?

Abstract Two vaccines that protect against infection by some of the oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes have recently been licensed for use in population-based vaccination strategies in many countries. However, these products are being promoted as ‘cervical cancer vaccines’ based on inadequate data. Specifically, there remain several concerns about the duration of immunogenicity, length of follow-up of trial subjects, endpoints chosen in vaccine trials, applicability of trial results to real populations, the safety of these products, and their cost-effectiveness as public health interventions. Furthermore, it is unlikely that vaccination will obviate the need for setting up robust and cost-effective screening programs in countries like India. This article will discuss various aspects of HPV vaccination from a public health perspective, especially from the point of view of its relevance to India and other South Asian countries.
Leadership and Politics: A Perspective from the Growth Commission

The paper attempts via case studies to illustrate the nature and importance of political structures and transitions in the course of rapid growth and development. The cases are drawn principally from Asia, where the pattern has often been a dominant single-party structure evolving into a full multi-party democratic structure. This results from the interaction of the politics and changes that result from the growth process itself, such as the emergence of politically active middle and entrepreneurial classes. The role of political leadership in managing, sequencing, and pacing these transitions is discussed. We do not yet have a general model for which these cases would be instances. The hope is that an in-depth understanding of the case dynamics will be a useful input to the development and testing of more general theories. Copyright 2009, Oxford University Press.