Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ATP and astrocytes play a prominent role in the control of the respiratory pattern generator in the lamprey

The paratrigeminal respiratory group (pTRG) is responsible for the respiratory pattern generation in the lamprey. The role of ATP and astrocytes, known to control respiratory activity in mammals, was investigated in the lamprey respiratory network. ATP microinjected into the pTRG induces a biphasic response consisting of marked increases in respiratory frequency mediated by P2X receptors followed by a decrease in the respiratory motor output due to the ATP metabolite adenosine. We provide evidence that astrocytes are involved in the genesis of the normal respiratory pattern, ATP‐induced responses and acidification‐induced increases of the respiratory activity. The function of astrocytes in rhythmic networks appears to be phylogenetically conserved.
The Energy Poverty Nexus in the Middle East and North Africa

Energy access remains one of the forgotten millennium development goals, despite being a key ingredient to sustained and equitable socio-economic growth and development. This article looks at the energy poverty nexus in the Middle East and North Africa, a region frequently overlooked in the study of energy access owing to its significant hydrocarbon wealth, and the impact energy poverty has made on parts of the region. A closer look reveals the puzzling picture of a region divided between energy abundant states and states with continuingly high rates of lacking access to electricity and secure supply of modern fuels. The existence of some of the worst cases of energy poverty in the MENA in net exporters of oil and gas such as Yemen and Egypt further demonstrates that energy poverty is effectively a domestic distributive problem, rather than one caused by a country's lacking natural resources. The article explores the main causal factors and suggests short- and long-term policy remedies.
Aggregation of Utility Functions

We are primarily concerned here with the question of integrability of the total demand in a model in which each consumer acts according to a cardinal utility function and has a fixed monetary income. It is well known that concavity of the various utilities is not sufficient to guarantee integrability, nor even to ensure rationality of the revealed preference. We show that if each personal utility function is homogeneous, in addition to satisfying the usual regularity conditions, then an aggregate utility function can be defined explicitly in terms of the given utilities. Furthermore, under the same assumptions we give a new characterization of equilibrium and show that equilibrium satisfactions are unique.
Type 2 Diabetes: When Does It Start?

Abstract Objective We aimed to clarify the onset of diabetes. Design Data from 27,392 nondiabetic health examinees were retrospectively analyzed for a mean of 5.3 years. Trajectories of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), body mass index (BMI), and the single point insulin sensitivity (Si) estimator (SPISE), an index of Si, 10 years before diagnosis of prediabetes (PDM; n = 4781) or diabetes (n = 1061) were separately assessed by a mixed effects model. Diabetes and PDM were diagnosed by the American Diabetes Association definition on the basis of FPG and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c values. Results In individuals who developed diabetes, mean FPG and BMI were significantly higher (P < 0.01 each) and SPISE lower than those who did not at −10 years: FPG 101.5 mg/dL vs 94.5 mg/dL, BMI 24.0 kg/m2 vs 22.7 kg/m2, and SPISE 7.32 vs 8.34, P < 0.01 each. These measurements, in subjects who developed prediabetes, were slightly but definitely different from those who did not, already at −10 years: FPG 91.8 mg/dL vs 89.6 mg/dL, BMI 22.6 kg/m2 vs 22.1 kg/m2, and SPISE 8.44 vs 8.82, P < 0.01 each. In both cases, the differences were progressively greater toward year 0, the time of diabetes, or PDM diagnosis. Conclusions FPG was significantly elevated in those who developed diabetes at least 10 years before diagnosis of diabetes, and this was also the case in those who developed PDM. Glucose dysregulation precedes diagnosis of diabetes at least for 20 years.
Integrated Environmental and Financial Performance Metrics for Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management

This paper introduces a new measure, based on a study by Trucost and Dr Robert Repetto, combining external environmental costs with established measures of economic value added, and demonstrates how this measure can be incorporated into financial analysis. We propose that external environmental costs are relevant to all investors: universal investors are concerned about the scale of external costs whether or not regulations to internalise them are likely; mainstream investors need to understand external costs as an indication of future regulatory compliance costs; and SRI investors need to evaluate companies on both financial and social performance. The paper illustrates our new measure with data from US electric utilities and illustrates how the environmental exposures of different fund managers and portfolios can be compared. With such measures fund managers can understand and control portfolio-wide environmental risks, demonstrate their environmental credentials quantitatively and objectively and compete for the increasing number of investment mandates that have an environmental component.
Industry-Public Knowledge Infrastructure Interaction: Intra- and Inter-organizational Explanations of Interactive Learning

This paper pursues the development and empirical exploration of a theoretical framework that explains the probabilities of interactive learning of innovating firms and actors in the public knowledge infrastructure. Our research question reads as follows: To what extent does the strength of innovator firms' internal knowledge resources, the complexity of their innovative activities, and the structuring of their innovative activities influence the probabilities of interactive learning between innovating firms and actors in the knowledge infrastructure? We contend basically that more complex innovative activities increase the probability of internal resource deficits/shortages in innovating firms. The higher the resource deficits/shortages and the lower the alignment of innovative activities, the more likely the search for complementary resources externally, which induces higher probabilities of interactive learning with actors in the knowledge infrastructure. In order to test the generality of our theoretical claims six models were examined, predicting the probability of interactive learning of innovating firms with the knowledge infrastructure (universities and research centres) controlling for sectoral differences in technological dynamics and size effects. Both monotonic and non-monotonic effects were tested. Our findings show that antecedents of patterns of interactive learning differ widely and are contingent upon sectoral technological dynamics and firm size. Our findings enhance a substantial refinement of the main theoretical arguments explaining the level of interactive learning. The absorptive capacity effect turns out to have an inverted U-shape only for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The complexity effect is monotonic in some cases and non-monotonic in others. The interaction effect turned out to be U-shaped. The internal integration of innovative activities has no effect at all. Support by bridging institutions had a very strong influence on levels of interactive learning between innovating firms and knowledge infrastructure, but only for SMEs.
Bcl-x l Promotes the Open Configuration of the Voltage-dependent Anion Channel and Metabolite Passage through the Outer Mitochondrial Membrane*

The diffusion of metabolites across the outer mitochondrial membrane is essential for coupled cellular respiration. The outer membrane of mitochondria isolated from growth factor-deprived cells is impaired in its ability to exchange metabolic anions. When added to mitochondria, recombinant Bcl-xL restores metabolite exchange across the outer membrane without inducing the loss of cytochrome c from the intermembrane space. Restoration of outer membrane permeability to anionic metabolites does not occur directly through Bcl-xLion channels. Instead, recombinant Bcl-xL maintains the outer mitochondrial membrane channel, VDAC, in an open configuration. Consistent with these findings, when ADP-induced oxidative phosphorylation is limited by exogenous β-NADH, recombinant Bcl-xL can sustain outer mitochondrial membrane permeability to ADP. β-NADH limits respiration by promoting the closed configuration of VDAC. Together these results demonstrate that following an apoptotic signal, Bcl-xL can maintain metabolite exchange across the outer mitochondrial membrane by inhibiting VDAC closure.
Single Mothers, Work(fare), and Managed Precariousness

Welfare-to-work initiatives represent a trenchant example of the expansion of the rules and norms of global capitalism and welfare residualism. A study of the everyday experiences of women who parent alone, this article is a case analysis of the residual welfare state as it functions according to the gendered and racialized logic of the market. I examine lone mothers' experiences of the design, delivery, and enforcement of workfare in Ontario, Canada. Specific attention is given to the operation of random and limiting employment-preparation programs; ambiguous and complex regulations; capricious and punitive service delivery; and managed precariousness. I conclude with a discussion of the ways in which women cope and resist, and a challenge to social service providers and policy makers.
Hybrid Inflation Targeting Regimes

This paper uses a DSGE model to examine whether including the exchange rate explicitly in the central bank's policy reaction function can improve macroeconomic performance. It is found that including an element of exchange rate smoothing in the policy reaction function is helpful both for financially robust advanced economies and for financially vulnerable emerging economies in handling risk premium shocks. As long as the weight placed on exchange rate smoothing is relatively small, the effects on inflation and output volatility in the event of demand and cost-push shocks are minimal. Financially vulnerable emerging economies are especially likely to benefit from some exhange rate smoothing because of the perverse impact of exchange rate movements on activity.
Are the Policy Preferences of Relatively Poor Citizens Under-represented in the Swiss Parliament?

The principle of equal political representation can be undermined by differences in economic resources among citizens. Poor citizens are likely to hold policy preferences that differ from those of richer citizens. At the same time, their lack of resources can have as a consequence that these preferences are not taken into consideration by their representatives. Focusing on the case of the Swiss Parliament and using survey data on the opinions of citizens and MPs in the 2007–11 legislature, this study investigates whether the income of citizens systematically affects the proximity of their policy preferences with the stances of their representatives. It demonstrates that on economic issues MPs hold preferences that are generally less in favour of the state's intervention in the economy than the median citizen and that relatively poor citizens are less well represented as compared with citizens with high incomes. This remains true when taking into account only the opinions of the most knowledgeable citizens among these groups as well as when the focus is only on those who turned out to vote.
Noninvasive ventilation–neurally adjusted ventilator assist for management of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Patient–ventilator asynchrony is common with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) used for management of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Neurally adjusted ventilator assist (NAVA) is a mode of ventilatory support which can minimize the patient–ventilator asynchrony. Delivering NIV with NAVA (NIV–NAVA) during acute exacerbation of COPD seems a logical approach and may be useful in reducing patient–ventilator asynchrony. However, there are no published reports which describe the use of NIV–NAVA for management of acute exacerbation of COPD. We describe the successful management of a 56-year-old gentleman presenting to the emergency department of our hospital with acute exacerbation of COPD with hypercapnic respiratory failure with NIV–NAVA.
Class and Party: Secular Realignment and the Survival of Democrats outside the South

A common conclusion is that beginning in the late 1960s the policy stands of Democrats on civil rights and civil liberties issues alienated the white working class. Race is presumed to have driven a wedge between the white and non-white working class, and diminished class voting in American politics. The New Deal coalition has eroded, the South has moved into the Republican column, and class conflict is presumed to have steadily declined since the 1950s. These arguments, however, leave us unable to explain how the Democratic party managed to survive for over forty years as the majority party in Congress, even while it was losing the South. The party survived by steadily increasing its support outside the South. The focus of this analysis is whom the Democrats attracted over time, and what the evidence indicates about the presumed alienation of the white, working class. The conventional wisdom is largely based on analyses that assess class voting using self-identified class. We argue that measure does not capture the economic situation of the respondent. This analysis relies on the relative income situation of voters, which reflects the relative level of resources people have to live their lives. The focus is the relationship between relative income position and support for the Democratic party among non-Southern whites from 1952-1996. The results indicate a steady increase in support for the Democratic party among the less affluent since the 1950s. Differences in voting by income position are not decreasing, but, in fact, have been increasing since the 1970s.
Corporate lobbying in the European Union: the logic of access

The complexity and diversity of European interest politics is exemplified by the multitude of channels and targets that private actors use to lobby in the EU multi-level system. The aim of this article is to investigate the logic behind the apparent ad hoc lobbying behaviour of private interests. A theoretical framework is developed in order to explain the access of business interests to the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. The degree of access to these institutions is explained in terms of a theory of demand and supply of access goods. Access goods concern information that is crucial in the EU policy-making process. In order to gain access to an EU institution, business interests have to provide the access good(s) demanded by that institution. Organizational form is introduced as the innovative unit of analysis. It follows that associative business action is unconventionally studied in relation to two other organizational forms: individual company action and thirdparty representation.
A Study of the Demand for Domestic Tourism by Swedish Households using a Two-staged Budgeting Model

In this paper an econometric analysis of the domestic tourism demand of households in Sweden is performed. To study the demand for tourism of households within Sweden, a two-staged budgeting model was used. The micro-economic data that were used come from the Tourism and Travel Database, which is the main data source for the tourism and travelling behaviour of Swedes. A model was also estimated for total expenditure on domestic tourism within different categories of tourism expenditure. These categories were accommodation, groceries, restaurants, shopping and transportation. From the resulting models income, expenditure and price elasticities were calculated. The elasticities were calculated with respect to different household characteristics.
Prohibitin plays a critical role in Enterovirus 71 neuropathogenesis

A close relative of poliovirus, enterovirus 71 (EV71) is regarded as an important neurotropic virus of serious public health concern. EV71 causes Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease and has been associated with neurological complications in young children. Our limited understanding of the mechanisms involved in its neuropathogenesis has hampered the development of effective therapeutic options. Here, using a two-dimensional proteomics approach combined with mass spectrometry, we have identified a unique panel of host proteins that were differentially and dynamically modulated during EV71 infection of motor-neuron NSC-34 cells, which are found at the neuromuscular junctions where EV71 is believed to enter the central nervous system. Meta-analysis with previously published proteomics studies in neuroblastoma or muscle cell lines revealed minimal overlapping which suggests unique host-pathogen interactions in NSC-34 cells. Among the candidate proteins, we focused our attention on prohibitin (PHB), a protein that is involved in multiple cellular functions and the target of anti-cancer drug Rocaglamide (Roc-A). We demonstrated that cell surface-expressed PHB is involved in EV71 entry into neuronal cells specifically, while membrane-bound mitochondrial PHB associates with the virus replication complex and facilitates viral replication. Furthermore, Roc-A treatment of EV71-infected neuronal cells reduced significantly virus yields. However, the inhibitory effect of Roc-A on PHB in NSC-34 cells was not through blocking the CRAF/MEK/ERK pathway as previously reported. Instead, Roc-A treated NSC-34 cells had lower mitochondria-associated PHB and lower ATP levels that correlated with impaired mitochondria integrity. In vivo, EV71-infected mice treated with Roc-A survived longer than the vehicle-treated animals and had significantly lower virus loads in their spinal cord and brain, whereas virus titers in their limb muscles were comparable to controls. Together, this study uncovers PHB as the first host factor that is specifically involved in EV71 neuropathogenesis and a potential drug target to limit neurological complications.
United States – Definitive Safeguard Measures on Imports of Certain Steel Products (WT/DS259; WT/DS252; WT/DS248; WT/DS249; WT/DS251; WT/DS258; WT/DS254; WT/DS253: DSR 2003:VII, 3117)

Since the inception of the WTO, safeguard measures have regularly been the subject of dispute settlement proceedings. The latest in this chain of disputes concerns the definitive safeguard measures imposed by the United States on a wide range of steel products in 2002. The safeguards investigation of steel imports was initiated under the US law by the US International Trade Commission (USITC) at the request of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in June, 2001. The request covered four broad categories of steel products, which were divided into 33 categories by the USITC for purposes of data collection. Ultimately, the USITC defined 27 separate “industries” producing steel products within the scope of the investigation. For each of these industries, the USITC proceeded to determine whether imports had increased, and if so, whether increased imports were a substantial cause of serious injury or threat of injury. This analysis resulted in negative determinations for 15 industries, affirmative determinations for eight industries, and “divided” determinations (a 3–3 vote) for four industries.
Klazomania: A Rare Case of Compulsive Screaming, Complicating Major Depression, Effectively Treated with Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

We describe a rare case of a 57-year-old women diagnosed with Klazomania (compulsive shouting), rarely reported in literature, complicated by Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), refractory to medical management and treated successfully using electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). This is a unique presentation in which compulsions occurring in the context of MDD involved shouting rather than more typical compulsions such as hand washing or counting. Potential neurological disorders were ruled out through an extensive diagnostic workup prior to a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Her episodic compulsive shouting abated and eventually remitted after a 12- session course of ECT.
Patterns and determinants of Australia's international trade in textiles and clothing

Structural change of textile and clothing industries in Australia has intensified in recent years due to a range of factors including reductions in protection, import competition, shifts in consumer spending, and technological change. This thesis provides a comprehensive analysis of patterns and determinants of international trade in textiles and clothing (TAC) during the period 1965 to 1999.
Management accounting change in small technology companies: towards a mathematical model of the technology firm

The primary purpose is to explain management accounting (MA) change in 93 small Finnish technology firms in terms of their organisational characteristics and motivation patterns. Factor analysis identifies our motivation patterns among the companies. Hence, four types of companies emerge called 'change-oriented', 'stable and conservative', 'performance-contented' and 'discontent resourceless' organisations. A mathematical model of the technology firm as an adaptive organism with a certain probability to survive, is constructed to get expectations for the differences in MA change between the identified types. The model shows that the MAS systems, which help management in large organisations to identify directions for future action (for example, short-term budgeting) may be ineffective in small technology companies. The probability of a company's survival is sensitive to the intensity of competition and cost efficiency. In an environment where an identified, innovative project cannot be undertaken with certainty, the length of the strategic planning period has a limited optimum level. Moreover, the four types of companies examined have significantly different motivation levels to change their MASs. The change-oriented company must improve its MASs remarkably to compensate for the large negative effect, especially, of high competition, whereas the stable and conservative company has little or not pressure for improvements in its MASs. The performance-contented company has no real motivation to change its MASs because there is no competition. But the discontent resourceless company, which functions in an atmosphere of high competition with shorter customer relationships, is compelled by its environment to adapt its MASs although it has, otherwise, low motivation for change and is acutely resource constrained. These expectations were supported by correlation and regression analyses applied to explore the relationship o fthe four types to MA change.