Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Supervision and Transaction Costs: Evidence from Rice Farms in Bicol, The Philippines

In this paper, we analyze supervision activities reported in a cross-section survey of rice farmers in the Bicol region of the Philippines. This survey is unique because it provides supervision data at the farm task level. We present a simple optimization model in which supervision intensity increases the productivity of hired workers, which is assumed to be lower than that of family members due to the transaction costs. The model predicts that supervision intensity will increase with transaction costs. We use different institutional conditions to proxy for transaction costs, and estimate the demand for supervision time for four different classes of rice production tasks. The estimation strategy controls for selectivity in both hiring and supervising. The results show a positive effect of transaction costs on supervision intensity.
Quantitation of junctional and extrajunctional acetylcholine receptors by electron microscope autoradiography after (125)I-α-bungarotoxin binding at mouse neuromuscular junctions

The distribution and quantitation of (125)I-α-bungarotoxin (α- BTX) binding sites and thus acetylcholine receptor (AChR) were determined in mouse sternomastoid muscle by electron microscope autoradiography. We found that a valid criterion for receptor saturation at the neuromuscular junction was the complete elimination of neurally evoked tetantic muscle contractions, since, when such a criterion was used for the endpoint of toxin incubation, α-BTX was bound to approximately 90 percent of total available endplate sites. When, without implying localization, the presynaptic axonal membrane was used as a convenient reference structure, the concentration of α-BTX relative to this membrane was determined to be 46,000 +/- 27 percent sites/μm(2). By testing various hypothetical models the distribution of developed grains was found to be consistent with the hypothesis that the main acetylcholine-receptive surface coincides with the electron-dense, thickened portion of the junctional fold membrane situated at the juxtaneuronal region of the folds and dipping approximately 2,200 A be approximately 30,500 +/- 27 percent sites/μm(2) of this postsynaptic dense membrane. There was a sharp gradient in α-BTX binding extrajunctionally, with the concentration decreasing to approximately 4 percent of the subsynaptic value within 1μm from the edge of an axonal terminal (bouton) to <1 percent within 3μm and to <0.2 percent beyond 7 μm from that terminal. Below 4,000 A (i.e. half-way from the top of the junctional folds) the concentration of α-BTX was also about 3 percent of the peak subsynaptic value. The binding density at the bottom of the junctional folds is this comparable to extrajunctional sarcolemma at equal distance from a nerve terminal. The molecular organization at the neuromuscular junction relative to its function is discussed.
Expansion of the Hadley cell under global warming

A consistent weakening and poleward expansion of the Hadley circulation is diagnosed in the climate change simulations of the IPCC AR4 project. Associated with this widening is a poleward expansion of the subtropical dry zone. Simple scaling analysis supports the notion that the poleward extent of the Hadley cell is set by the location where the thermally driven jet first becomes baroclinically unstable. The expansion of the Hadley cell is caused by an increase in the subtropical static stability, which pushes poleward the baroclinic instability zone and hence the outer boundary of the Hadley cell.
Are Representations in Working Memory Distinct From Representations in Long-Term Memory?

Neural activation in a 12-item probe-recognition task was examined to investigate the contribution of the hippocampus to long-term memory (LTM) retrieval and working memory (WM) retrieval. Results indicated a dissociation between the last item that participants studied and other items of the study list: Compared with all other serial positions, activation was reduced for the item in the most recent position (for which no items intervened between study and test). This finding suggests that this last item was in focal attention at test time, and, therefore, no retrieval operation was required to access it. However, contra the assertion that the hippocampus should selectively support LTM, activation of the medial temporal lobe was observed for all serial positions other than the last position, and activation level could be predicted from the underlying memory strength. Collectively, these findings support single-store accounts that assume there are similar operating principles across WM and LTM representations, and the focus of attention is limited.
From Prejudice to Evidence: The Case of Rhizoma Coptidis in Singapore

Rhizoma Coptidis (RC), commonly known as huanglian, is a herb frequently used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) prescriptions. Known to have “clearing damp-heat, quenching fire and counteracting poison” properties, it was widely used in the Chinese community in Singapore. Berberine, an alkaloid isolated from RC, is known to have a wide array of therapeutic effects including antimicrobial, antineoplastic, and hepatoprotective effects. In 1978, RC was implicated in causing neonatal jaundice (NNJ) and kernicterus in neonates suffering from glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, leading to the banning of RC and berberine in Singapore. More than three decades later, accumulating evidence-based studies pointing to the safety of RC for general public and better understanding of G6PD deficiency, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in Singapore reviewed and lifted the prohibition on RC and berberine, turning a brand new chapter in the history of TCM in Singapore. This paper aims to review the safety of RC and berberine, using the prohibition of use and subsequent lifting of ban on RC and berberine in Singapore as an illustration to highlight the importance of evidence-based studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
The Dark Side of the Future: An Experimental Test of Commitment Problems in Bargaining

While most existing theoretical and experimental literatures focus on how a high probability of repeated play can lead to more socially efficient outcomes (for instance, using the result that cooperation is possible in a repeated prisoner's dilemma), this paper focuses on the detrimental effects of repeated play, the "Dark Side of the Future". I study a resource division model with repeated interaction and changes in bargaining strength. The model predicts a negative relationship between the likelihood of repeated interaction and social efficiency. This is because the longer shadow of the future exacerbates commitment problems created by changes in bargaining strength. I test and find support for the model using incentivized laboratory experiments. Increases in the likelihood of repeated play leads to more socially inefficient outcomes in the laboratory.
Infinite sets that Satisfy the Principle of Omniscience in any Variety of Constructive Mathematics

Abstract We show that there are plenty of infinite sets that satisfy the omniscience principle, in a minimalistic setting for constructive mathematics that is compatible with classical mathematics. A first example of an omniscient set is the one-point compactification of the natural numbers, also known as the generic convergent sequence. We relate this to Grilliot's and Ishihara's Tricks. We generalize this example to many infinite subsets of the Cantor space. These subsets turn out to be ordinals in a constructive sense, with respect to the lexicographic order, satisfying both a well-foundedness condition with respect to decidable subsets, and transfinite induction restricted to decidable predicates. The use of simple types allows us to reach any ordinal below εQ, and richer type systems allow us to get higher.
A Novel Tropically Stable Oral Amphotericin B Formulation (iCo-010) Exhibits Efficacy against Visceral Leishmaniasis in a Murine Model

Purpose To develop an oral formulation of amphotericin B (AmB) that is stable at the temperatures of WHO Climatic Zones 3 and 4 (30–43°C) and to evaluate its efficacy in a murine model of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Methods The stability testing of four novel oral lipid AmB formulations composed of mono- and di-glycerides and pegylated esters (iCo-010 to iCo-013) was performed over 60 d and analyzed by HPLC-UV. In addition, the four formulations were incubated 4 h in fasted-state simulated intestinal fluid. AmB concentration was measured spectrophotometrically and emulsion droplet diameter was assessed by dynamic light scattering. Antileishmanial activity of iCo-010 was evaluated at increasing oral doses (2.5 to 10 mg/kg) in a murine model of VL. Results AmB stability in the lipid formulation (iCo-010) was >75% over 60 days. After 4 h in fasted-state simulated intestinal fluid, AmB concentration was >95%. iCo-010 demonstrated significant efficacy when orally administered to VL-infected mice bid for five days (inhibition of 99%, 98%, and 83% at 10, 5 and 2.5 mg/kg compared to the vehicle control). In addition, the qd dose of 20 mg/kg provided 96% inhibition compared to the vehicle control. Conclusions The oral AmB formulation iCo-010 is stable at the temperatures of WHO Climatic Zones 3 and 4 (30–43°C). iCo-010 showed excellent antileishmanial activity at both 10 mg/kg po bid for 5 days (<99% reduction in parasitic infection) and 20 mg/kg po qd for 5 days (95% inhibition when compared to control).
Reliability of the Sensory Organization Test in healthy college students

(Under the Direction of Michael A. Horvat) ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of the Sensory Organization Test in healthy college students. Reliability of the SOT is imperative in order to accurately assess the effectiveness of balance rehabilitation programs. Thirty healthy young adults were recruited from undergraduate classes at the University of Georgia. The participants were tested on all six conditions of the SOT, which alter incoming sensory information. Participants returned to be retested on the SOT after no more than 7 days. Results indicated a significant increase in several scores generated by the SOT between testing sessions. The stability reliability of the SOT was relatively low compared to the internal consistency reliability which was modest to excellent. Clinicians should consider the amount of motor learning that takes place during the SOT when assessing the efficacy of a particular balance intervention using the SOT.
Genetic control over the resting brain

The default-mode network, a coherent resting-state brain network, is thought to characterize basal neural activity. Aberrant default-mode connectivity has been reported in a host of neurological and psychiatric illnesses and in persons at genetic risk for such illnesses. Whereas the neurophysiologic mechanisms that regulate default-mode connectivity are unclear, there is growing evidence that genetic factors play a role. In this report, we estimate the importance of genetic effects on the default-mode network by examining covariation patterns in functional connectivity among 333 individuals from 29 randomly selected extended pedigrees. Heritability for default-mode functional connectivity was 0.424 ± 0.17 (P = 0.0046). Although neuroanatomic variation in this network was also heritable, the genetic factors that influence default-mode functional connectivity and gray-matter density seem to be distinct, suggesting that unique genes influence the structure and function of the network. In contrast, significant genetic correlations between regions within the network provide evidence that the same genetic factors contribute to variation in functional connectivity throughout the default mode. Specifically, the left parahippocampal region was genetically correlated with all other network regions. In addition, the posterior cingulate/precuneus region, medial prefrontal cortex, and right cerebellum seem to form a subnetwork. Default-mode functional connectivity is influenced by genetic factors that cannot be attributed to anatomic variation or a single region within the network. By establishing the heritability of default-mode functional connectivity, this experiment provides the obligatory evidence required before these measures can be considered as endophenotypes for psychiatric or neurological illnesses or to identify genes influencing intrinsic brain function.
Do birds differentially distribute antimicrobial proteins within clutches of eggs

Matthew D. Shawkey, Karl L. Kosciuch, Mark Liu, Frank C. Rohwer, Elizabeth R. Loos, Jennifer M. Wang, and Steven R. Beissinger Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, 137 Mulford Hall #3114, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3114, USA, Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA, Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, 331 Funchess Hall, Auburn, AL 36849, USA, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University and Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, and Delta Waterfowl, PO Box 3124, Bismarck, ND 38502, USA
Enacted Identities of Immigrant-Origin Emerging Adult Women in Online Contexts: Capturing Multiple and Intersecting Identities Using Qualitative Strategies

ABSTRACT Using a multiple intersecting identities enactment framework, and a qualitative methodology, this article examined the multiple and intersecting identities immigrant-origin emerging adult women enacted online and explored the meanings they ascribed to these identities (N = 14, M age ≈ 20; 57% = second-generation immigrant). Thematic analyses of 84 narratives revealed that the immigrant-origin emerging adult women enacted a range of identities online including: personal/individual, relational/social, gender, ethnic, civic, student, occupational, and athletic. Personal/individual and relational/social identities were enacted most frequently, and intersected most often. First-generation and second-generation immigrant women were somewhat similar in the rate with which they enacted their identities online. Results showed that second-generation immigrant women enacted their personal/individual, ethnic, and civic identities as well as their intersecting identities online most often. Findings have implications for theory and research about online enactment of multiple and intersecting identities among immigrant-origin youth.
Periodic travelling waves in cyclic predator–prey systems

Predation is an established cause of cycling in prey species. Here, the ability of predation to explain periodic travelling waves in prey populations, which have recently been found in a number of spatiotemporal field studies, is examined. The nature of periodic waves in these systems, and the way in which they can be generated by the invasion of predators into a prey population is discussed. A theoretical calculation that predicts, as a function of two parameter ratios, whether such an invasion will lead to a stable periodic travelling wave that would be observed in practice is presented - the alternative outcome is spatiotemporal chaos. The calculation also predicts quantitative details of the periodic waves, such as speed and amplitude. The results give new insights into the types of predator-prey systems in which one would expect to see periodic travelling waves following an invasion by predators.
Program Trading and Intraday Volatility

Program trading and intraday changes in the S&P 500 Index are correlated. Future prices and, to a lesser extent, cash prices lead program trades. Index extent, cash prices lead program trades. Index arbitrage trades are followed by an immediate change in the cash index, which ultimately reverses slightly. No reversal follows nonarbitrage trades. The cumulative index changes associated with buy-and-sell trades and with arbitrage and nonarbitrage trades all are similar. Price decompositions suggest that the results are not due to microstructure effects. Program trades in this 1989-90 sample do not seem to have created major short-term liquidity problems. The results are stable within the sample. Article published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Financial Studies in its journal, The Review of Financial Studies.
A Naturally Parallelizable Computational Method for Inhomogeneous Parabolic Problems

A parallel numerical algorithm is introduced and analyzed for solving inhomogeneous initial-boundary value parabolic problems. The scheme is based on the method recently introduced in [8] for homogeneous problems. We give a method based on a suitable choice of multiple parameters. Our scheme allows to compute solutions in a wide range of time. Instead of using standard time-marching method, which is not easily parallelizable, we take the Laplace transform in time of the parabolic problems. The resulting elliptic problems can be solved in parallel. Solutions are then computed by a discrete inverse Laplace transformation. The parallelization of the algorithm is natural in the sense that it requires no data communication among processors while solving the time-independent elliptic problems. Numerical results are also presented. Subject Classification: 65M12, 65M15, 65M99.
Predictors of cardiac hepatopathy in patients with right heart failure

Summary Background Some patients with right heart failure develop cardiac hepatopathy (CH). The pathophysiology of CH is thought to be secondary to hepatic venous congestion and arterial ischemia. We sought to define the clinical and hemodynamic characteristics associated with CH. Material/Methods A retrospective cross sectional analysis was performed in which subjects were identified from our institutional cardiology database if echocardiography showed either right ventricular (RV) hypokinesis or dilatation, and was performed within 30 days of right heart catheterization. A chart review was then performed to identify patient clinical characteristics and to determine if the patients had underlying liver disease. Subjects with non-cardiac causes for hepatopathy were excluded. Results In 188 included subjects, etiology for right heart dysfunction included left heart failure (LHF), shunt, pulmonary hypertension, mitral- tricuspid- and pulmonic valvular disease. On multivariate analysis, higher RV diastolic pressure and etiology for RV dysfunction other than LHF were both associated with CH. Low cardiac output was associated with CH only amongst those without LHF. Conclusions CH is most often seen in subjects with elevated RV diastolic pressure suggesting a congestive cause in most cases. CH associated with low cardiac output in patients without LHF suggests that low flow may be contributing to the patophysiology in some cases.
MOLECULAR CLONING, BACULOVIRUS EXPRESSION, AND TISSUE DISTRIBUTION OF THE ZEBRAFISH ALDEHYDE DEHYDROGENASE 2

Ethanol is metabolized to acetaldehyde mainly by the alcohol dehydrogenase pathway and, to a lesser extent, through microsomal oxidation (CYP2E1) and the catalase-H2O2 system. Acetaldehyde, which is responsible for some of the deleterious effects of ethanol, is further oxidized to acetic acid by aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs), of which mitochondrial ALDH2 is the most efficient. The aim of this study was to evaluate zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model for ethanol metabolism by cloning, expressing, and characterizing the zebrafish ALDH2. The zebrafish ALDH2 cDNA was cloned and found to be 1892 bp in length and encoding a protein of 516 amino acids (Mr = 56,562), approximately 75% identical to mammalian ALDH2 proteins. Recombinant zebrafish ALDH2 protein was expressed using the baculovirus expression system and purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography. We found that zebrafish ALDH2 is catalytically active and efficiently oxidizes acetaldehyde (Km = 11.5 μM) and propionaldehyde (Km = 6.1 μM). Similar kinetic properties were observed with the recombinant human ALDH2 protein, which was expressed and purified using comparable experimental conditions. Western blot analysis revealed that ALDH2 is highly expressed in the heart, skeletal muscle, and brain with moderate expression in liver, eye, and swim bladder of the zebrafish. These results are the first reported on the cloning, expression, and characterization of a zebrafish ALDH, and indicate that zebrafish is a suitable model for studying ethanol metabolism and, therefore, toxicity.
Implicit–explicit attitudinal discrepancy and the investigation of language attitude change in progress

ABSTRACT Socio-psychological research has frequently reported low correlations between explicit and implicit attitude measures for a range of socially sensitive topics. There is mounting evidence that implicit and explicit evaluations do not change at the same rate and thus any implicit–explicit attitudinal discrepancy (IED) may indicate attitude change in progress. However, researchers have yet to investigate whether differences between implicit and explicit attitudes towards language use can determine the direction of any language attitude change underway; somewhat surprising given recent evidence indicating that community language attitude change can result in micro-level language change over time. The present study employed an Implicit Association Test (IAT) and self-report attitude scale to measure the relationship between 90 English nationals’ implicit and explicit ratings of Northern English and Southern English speech in England. Multivariate analysis demonstrated significant IED, providing evidence of language attitude change in progress, led by younger females, with explicit attitudes changing more rapidly towards a greater tolerance of the English spoken in the north of England. The paper discusses the potential contribution of investigating implicit and explicit language attitudes to help account for the persistence of deeply embedded linguistic prejudice, as well as to measure language attitude change in progress.
Institutional ownership, board of directors and yield spreads in Long- and medium-term corporate bonds and sukuk

Previous studies documented that type of investor significantly affects the performance of bonds and sukuk. These studies showed that the yield to maturity (YTM) of bonds and sukuk are significantly associated with institutional investors. This association is because institutional investors actively monitor the performance of bonds and sukuk. Apart from the type of investor, the roles played by the board of directors (BOD) in decision making significantly influence the performance of bonds and sukuk, especially the YTM. This study aims to investigate the relationship between institutional ownerships and the BOD and yield spreads of longand medium-term corporate bonds and sukuk. Data are obtained from firm issuers’ annual reports, Bond Info Hub of Malaysia Central Bank, Department of Malaysia Statistics and Bloomberg from 2000 to 2014. The study employed unbalanced panel data approach for multivariate robust regression, OLS, fixed-effect, and random-effect models. Results revealed that the presence of top-six institutional investors and characteristics of the BOD exert a significant negative effect on the yield spreads. The findings are also consistent with the agency cost of debt theory, which suggests that long-term bonds carry a lower cost of defaults than medium-term bonds.