Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The transmission of international commodity prices to domestic producers

Using detailed data from three simultaneous surveys of producers, traders, and exporters, this paper examines the transmission of international coffee prices through the domestic value chain in Uganda. We find that fluctuations in the international coffee price are reflected in prices paid by exporters and large traders. However, prices paid at the market level need not reflect prices actually received by farmers. This apparent lack of price transmission may be due to seasonal changes and to the fact that producers are more likely to sell at the farm-gate when prices go up. We also find some evidence that the number of itinerant coffee buyers increases when prices rise.
Heterocyclic aromatic amine formation in grilled bacon, beef and fish and in grill scrapings.

The heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (4,8-DiMeIQx) and 2-amino alpha carboline (A alpha C) were quantitated in grilled bacon and beef. The levels of PhIP in bacon ranged from < 0.1 to 52 p.p.b. , MeIQx was detected at levels ranging from 0.9 to 18 p.p.b. Both 4,8-DiMeIQx and A alpha C were found at < 1 p.p.b. In grilled meat patties, MeIQx and PhIP were detected at levels ranging from 0.8 to 3.2 p.p.b. , while 4,8-DiMeIQx and A alpha C were below the limit of detection (approximately 0.5 p.p.b.). HAAs were below the limit of detection in grilled fish. The bacon fat drippings and the pan scrapings obtained from grilled meat and fish also contained significant amounts of HAAs and indicated that either these carcinogens are released with the fat during grilling or that HAAs are formed directly in the released fat and juices. Several of these carcinogens were detected in the pan scrapings at concentrations 10- to 100-fold higher than in cooked meats. PhIP was detected at 144 p.p.b. in combined grilled meat and fish scrapings, followed by A alpha C at 77 p.p.b. , MeIQx at 29 p.p.b. and 4,8-DiMeIQx at 4 p.p.b. The co-mutagens harman and norharman were also detected in cooked meats and fish at amounts ranging from 5 to 30 p.p.b. Fat drippings and grill residue scrapings are often used as a base for gravies and sauces. Thus, cooking practices and dietary habits have a strong impact on HAA exposure.
Adjustment and Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

This paper analyzes the factors affecting economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa, using data for 1981-97. The results indicate that per capita real GDP growth is positively influenced by economic policies that raise the ratio of private investment to GDP, promote human capital development, lower the ratio of the budget deficit to GDP, safeguard external competitiveness, and stimulate export volume growth. The favorable evolution of these variables played an important role in the region`s apparent postreform recovery of 1995-97. The paper also discusses a policy framework to promote sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.
Financial education in small ethnic minority businesses in the UK

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to set out to evaluate the financial education needs of ethnic minority SMEs in the West Midlands region of the United Kingdom.Design/methodology/approach – A postal survey was used to investigate the financial needs of owner/managers in 64 ethnic minority SMEs and a control sample of 23 non‐ethnic SMEs.Findings – The results show that owner/managers of micro‐businesses have lower educational achievements as well as higher financial education needs than their counterparts in small and medium‐sized firms. In contrast, owner/managers in small and medium‐sized businesses have relatively higher educational achievements and a better appreciation of the role of financial education. Similar trends were observed in non‐ethnic SMEs in the control sample.Originality/value – This article makes an empirically rigorous contribution to a relatively under researched aspect of SME research. The authors recommend that government agencies collaborate with leaders of ethnic minority co.
Contribution of Breastfeeding to False-Positive Saliva Polymerase Chain Reaction for Newborn Congenital Cytomegalovirus Screening

Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of saliva is highly sensitive for newborn congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) screening. This study uses nationally published CMV seroprevalence and breastfeeding rates to estimate the contribution of CMV DNA in breast milk to false-positive saliva PCR results. The false-positive rates adjusted for breastfeeding ranged from 0.03% in white Hispanic persons to 0.14% in white non-Hispanic persons. Saliva CMV PCR for newborn screening is highly sensitive, and the low false-positive rates in this study suggest that saliva PCR results are unlikely to be significantly influenced by breastfeeding or other perinatal exposures.
Expression of a 1 D subunit mRNA is correlated with L-type Ca 2 1 channel activity in single neurons of hippocampal ‘ ‘ zipper ’ ’ slices

L-type voltage-sensitive Ca21 channels (L-VSCCs) play an important role in developmental and aging processes, as well as during normal function of brain neurons. Here, we tested a prediction of the hypothesis that membrane density of functional L-VSCCs is regulated by the level of gene expression for its a1D pore-forming subunit. If so, a1D mRNA and L-VSCC activity should be positively correlated within individual neurons. Conventional methods of aspiration andyor acute cell dissociation used in prior single-cell studies have generally yielded variable and incomplete recovery of intracellular mRNA. Thus, quantitative relationships between channel function and expression have been difficult to define. In this study, we used the partially dissociated (‘‘zipper’’) hippocampal slice preparation as a method for collecting a single neuron’s mRNA complement. This preparation, developed to expose neuronal somata for recording, also enables the extraction of a neuron with major processes largely intact. Thus, single-cell measures of geneymRNA expression can be based on approximately the cell’s full set of mRNA transcripts. In adult and aged rat hippocampal zipper slices, L-VSCC activity was first recorded in CA1 neurons in cell-attached patch mode. The same neurons were then extracted and collected for semiquantitative reverse transcriptase–PCR analysis of a1D and calmodulin A (CaM) mRNA content. Across multiple single neurons, a significant, positive correlation was found between the rank orders of L-VSCC activity and of a1D, but not CaM, mRNA expression. Thus, these studies support the possibility that the level of a1D gene expression regulates the density of functional L-VSCCs.
Vesiculoviral matrix (M) protein occupies nucleic acid binding site at nucleoporin pair (Rae1•Nup98)

Significance Using crystallographic and biochemical studies, we explored how a viral protein, the matrix (M) protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), affects a pair of cellular proteins: mRNA export factor 1 (Rae1) and nucleoporin Nup98. We identified Rae1 as a nucleic acid-binding protein and showed that the viral M protein mimics the phosphate backbone of any nucleic acid. This mimicry enables VSV M protein to occupy the nucleic acid binding site of Rae1. Because this site is also used as a temporary stopover by host cell mRNA on its passage through the nuclear pore, the viral M protein sabotages host cell mRNA export, thereby paving the way for exclusively cytoplasm-synthesized VSV mRNAs to take over the cell’s protein biosynthesis machineries. mRNA export factor 1 (Rae1) and nucleoporin 98 (Nup98) are host cell targets for the matrix (M) protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). How Rae1 functions in mRNA export and how M protein targets both Rae1 and Nup98 are not understood at the molecular level. To obtain structural insights, we assembled a 1:1:1 complex of M•Rae1•Nup98 and established a crystal structure at 3.15-Å resolution. We found that the M protein contacts the Rae1•Nup98 heterodimer principally by two protrusions projecting from the globular domain of M like a finger and thumb. Both projections clamp to the side of the β-propeller of Rae1, with the finger also contacting Nup98. The most prominent feature of the finger is highly conserved Methionine 51 (Met51) with upstream and downstream acidic residues. The complementary surface on Rae1 displays a deep hydrophobic pocket, into which Met51 fastens like a bolt, and a groove of basic residues on either side, which bond to the acidic residues of the finger. Notably, the M protein competed for in vitro binding of various oligonucleotides to Rae1•Nup98. We localized this competing activity of M to its finger using a synthetic peptide. Collectively, our data suggest that Rae1 serves as a binding protein for the phosphate backbone of any nucleic acid and that the finger of M mimics this ligand. In the context of mRNA export, we propose that a given mRNA segment, after having been deproteinated by helicase, is transiently reproteinated by Nup98-tethered Rae1. We suggest that such repetitive cycles provide cytoplasmic stopover sites required for ratcheting mRNA across the nuclear pore.
The behavioural economics of neutral and upward sloping demand curves in retailing

Prior research on pricing in behavioural economics in closed settings has traditionally delivered positive decelerating demand curves. In consumer behaviour analysis, the effects of price on consumer choice has been analysed with both panel data and in-store experiments. These studies have not only found downward sloping demand curves, but also neutral and upward sloping curves. The purpose of the current research was to try to detect these kinds of neutral or upward sloping demand curves in retailing and analyse the effects of in-store price manipulations on sales to try to scrutinise these anomalies further. The effects of the price interventions were inferred by scanner data from convenience stores, supermarkets and discount stores. The stores belonged to Icelandic and Norwegian retailers. Despite rather intensive price variations, the results confirm either a steady state or even a subtle upward sloping demand curve for all product categories tested. In line with the behavioural perspective model of consumer choice, the findings support a distinction between closed and open settings regarding the effects of price on consumption. The current research shows that the neutral or upward sloping demand curves cannot be attributed to the level of analysis, product or brand selection, type of store, methodological differences or to the data analysis. This behavioural phenomenon in open settings is necessary to study further. This is particularly important for retail executives as it is crucial to know which brand and category sales are inelastic or even upward sloping.
Deficiens, a homeotic gene involved in the control of flower morphogenesis in Antirrhinum majus: the protein shows homology to transcription factors.

Deficiens (defA+) is a homeotic gene involved in the genetic control of Antirrhinum majus flower development. Mutation of this gene (defA‐1) causes homeotic transformation of petals into sepals and of stamina into carpels in flowers displaying the ‘globifera’ phenotype, as shown by cross sections and scanning electronmicroscopy of developing flowers. A cDNA derived from the wild type defA+ gene has been cloned by differential screening of a subtracted ‘flower specific’ cDNA library. The identity of this cDNA with the defA+ gene product has been confirmed by utilizing the somatic and germinal instability of defA‐1 mutants. According to Northern blot analyses the defA+ gene is expressed in flowers but not in leaves, and its expression is nearly constant during all stages of flower development. The 1.1 kb long mRNA has a 681 bp long open reading frame that can code for a putative protein of 227 amino acids (mol. wt 26.2 kd). At its N‐terminus the DEF A protein reveals homology to a conserved domain of the regulatory proteins SRF (activating c‐fos) in mammals and GRM/PRTF (regulating mating type) in yeast. We discuss the structure and the possible function of the DEF A protein in the control of floral organogenesis.
Antibiotic Treatment of Experimental Pneumonic Plague in Mice

ABSTRACT A mouse model was developed to evaluate the efficacy of antibiotic treatment of pneumonic plague; streptomycin was compared to antibiotics with which there is little or no clinical experience. Infection was induced by inhalation of aerosolized Yersinia pestisorganisms. Antibiotics were administered by intraperitoneal injection every 6 hours for 5 days, at doses that produced levels of drug in serum comparable to those observed in humans treated for other serious infections. These studies compared in vitro to in vivo activity and evaluated the efficacy of antibiotics started at different times after exposure. Early treatment (started 24 h after challenge, when 0 of 10 mice tested had positive blood cultures) with netilmicin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, aztreonam, ampicillin, and rifampin (but not cefazolin, cefotetan, or ceftizoxime) demonstrated efficacy comparable to streptomycin. Late treatment (started 42 h after exposure, when five of five mice tested had positive blood cultures) with netilmicin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and a high dose (20 mg/kg of body weight every 6 h) of gentamicin produced survival rates comparable to that with streptomycin, while all of the beta-lactam antibiotics (cefazolin, cefotetan, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, aztreonam, and ampicillin) and rifampin were significantly inferior to streptomycin. In fact, all groups of mice treated late with beta-lactam antibiotics experienced accelerated mortality rates compared to normal-saline-treated control mice. These studies indicate that netilmicin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin may be alternatives for the treatment of pneumonic plague in humans. However, the beta-lactam antibiotics are not recommended, based upon poor efficacy in this mouse model of pneumonic plague, particularly when pneumonic plague may be associated with bacteremia.
Reticulon 4B (Nogo-B) is necessary for macrophage infiltration and tissue repair

Blood vessel formation during ischemia and wound healing requires coordination of the inflammatory response with genes that regulate blood vessel assembly. Here we show that the reticulon family member 4B, aka Nogo-B, is upregulated in response to ischemia and is necessary for blood flow recovery secondary to ischemia and wound healing. Mice lacking Nogo-B exhibit reduced arteriogenesis and angiogenesis that are linked to a decrease in macrophage infiltration and inflammatory gene expression in vivo. Bone marrow-derived macrophages isolated from Nogo knock-out mice have reduced spreading and chemotaxis due to impaired Rac activation. Bone marrow reconstitution experiments show that Nogo in myeloid cells is necessary to promote macrophage homing and functional recovery after limb ischemia. Thus, endogenous Nogo coordinates macrophage-mediated inflammation with arteriogenesis, wound healing, and blood flow control.
New Hybrids between Saccharomyces Sensu Stricto Yeast Species Found among Wine and Cider Production Strains

ABSTRACT Two yeast isolates, a wine-making yeast first identified as a Mel+ strain (ex. S. uvarum) and a cider-making yeast, were characterized for their nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Electrophoretic karyotyping analyses, restriction fragment length polymorphism maps of PCR-amplified MET2 gene fragments, and the sequence analysis of a part of the two MET2 gene alleles found support the notion that these two strains constitute hybrids between Saccharomyces cerevisiae andSaccharomyces bayanus. The two hybrid strains had completely different restriction patterns of mitochondrial DNA as well as different sequences of the OLI1 gene. The sequence of the OLI1 gene from the wine hybrid strain appeared to be the same as that of the S. cerevisiae gene, whereas theOLI1 gene of the cider hybrid strain is equally divergent from both putative parents, S. bayanus and S. cerevisiae. Some fermentative properties were also examined, and one phenotype was found to reflect the hybrid nature of these two strains. The origin and nature of such hybridization events are discussed.
Client organizations in a corporatist country: pensioners' organizations and pension policy in Sweden

In this article, the relevance of Paul Pierson's argument about the important role played by organizations for welfare clients is scrutinized. This is done through a case-study of pensioners' organizations in Sweden and their influence on pension policy between 1980 and 2002. In terms of Pierson's argument, Sweden is considered to be a least likely candidate, because its strong labour movement is expected to crowd out other organized interests from the policy process. The investigation reveals, however, that pensioners' organizations have been able to exert influence on pension policy on different occasions. Their influence is explained by their high rating as an organization, which enables them to represent an important group of voters. These findings contradict previous research suggesting that client organizations are weak, particularly in corporatist countries with a strong labour movement, and demonstrate that Pierson's argument also has relevance in such countries.
Optimal dynamic asset allocation using a non-linear discrete time liquidity driven microstructure market model and extended Kalman filtering

This paper use a discrete time microstructure model which considers excess demand and market liquidity as two unobservable state variables as determinants whether the market is overvalued or undervalued. The model expresses the variation of conditional variance of price, were the amplitude of the price changes is dependent on the liquidity of the market. It is shown that the filtered process of hidden excess demand and its liquidity is meaningful to apply in an asset allocation strategy and is efficient in terms of producing a residual money gain compared to a passive strategy.
Assessing The Potential Benefits from Investing in Emerging Markets

In the early 1990s growing numbers of investing institutions in the UK financial community crossed a threshold of awareness about the opportunities offered by the emerging stock markets of developing countries (ESMs); the returns per unit of risk, formerly considered by most fund managers to be unacceptably low because of the high risk factor, were frequently reappraised and judged to fall within the parameters of acceptability. Investment funds were set up which either invested solely in emerging markets or adopted a policy of investing a fixed percentage of their funds in these markets (Clark, 1991; Bailey and Lim, 1992). Well‐advertised instances of spectacular returns achieved by equities in emerging markets2 apparently persuaded fund managers to overcome their misgivings and to invest in these markets despite the continuing risks associated with such investment.
How Encouraging Niceness Can Incentivize Nastiness: An Unintended Consequence of Advertising Reform

Enacted in an effort to discourage negative political advertising, American regulations mandate that candidates endorse their ads (“My name is ___, and I approve this message.”). Four studies suggest that mandatory endorsements enhance the perceived credibility of some ads these regulations were designed to discourage. This research tests for what types of messages mandatory endorsements have this effect, and why. Mandatory endorsements boosted evaluations of policy-focused attack ads—those typically plagued by overcomeable skepticism—but had no consistent effect on positive or character-focused ads. Mandatory endorsements boost ad believability—largely outside of participants' awareness—for two reasons: (1) the tagline offers a legitimizing association with regulation and (2) the candidates' own personally delivered endorsement language offers an implicit promise of the ads' truth value. The authors discuss how these findings bring order to and extend previous work on mandatory endorsements and ironic effects of communications requirements. Finally, they consider how regulations could be reformed to promote the public good by informing (without misleading) the electorate.
Origin of Foreign Direct Investment and Firm Performance: Evidence from Foreign Acquisitions of Chinese Domestic Firms

type="main" xml:id="twec12147-abs-0001"> Using a newly created panel of domestic Chinese firms who receive foreign direct investment (FDI), this paper finds that Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)-acquired firms outperform those acquired by investors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan (HMT). To control for possible endogeneity of the FDI decision, I employ propensity score matching combined with a difference-in-differences approach. The results indicate that relative to HMT-acquired firms, OECD-acquired firms experience significantly higher productivity in the initial year of acquisition and this productivity differential persists in subsequent years, reaching 27.8 per cent by the third year. Further, OECD-acquired firms exhibit higher profits, average wages and capital per worker compared to HMT-acquired firms. These results suggest that the origin of the foreign investor differentially affects target firm performance.
Neopterin as a marker for immune system activation.

Increased amounts of neopterin are produced by human monocytes/macrophages upon stimulation with the cytokine interferon-y. Therefore, measurement of neopterin concentrations in body fluids like serum, cerebrospinal fluid or urine provides information about activation of T helper cell 1 derived cellular immune activation. Increased neopterin production is found in infections by viruses including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), infections by intracellular living bacteria and parasites, autoimmune diseases, malignant tumor diseases and in allograft rejection episodes. But also in neurological and in cardiovascular diseases cellular immune activation indicated by increased neopterin production, is found. Major diagnostic applications of neopterin measurements are, e.g. monitoring of allograft recipients to recognize immunological complications early. Neopterin production provides prognostic information in patients with malignant tumor diseases and in HIV-infected individuals, high levels being associated with poorer survival expectations. Neopterin measurements are also useful to monitor therapy in patients with autoimmune disorders and in individuals with HIV infection. Screening of neopterin concentrations in blood donations allows to detect acute infections in a non-specific way and improves safety of blood transfusions. As high neopterin production is associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species and with low serum concentrations of antioxidants like alpha-tocopherol, neopterin can also be regarded as a marker of reactive oxygen species formed by the activated cellular immune system. Therefore, by neopterin measurements not only the extent of cellular immune activation but also the extent of oxidative stress can be estimated.
The Impact of Supplementary On-Line Resources on Academic Performance: A Study of First-Year University Students Studying Economics

This paper examines the impact of supplementary web-based materials on students’ academic performance in a first-year economics unit at university. In particular, the paper considers the impact of students’ usage of the unit’s webpage, voluntary on-line discussion board, voluntary on-line quizzes and voluntary on-line homework questions on their final mark in the first-year economics unit. It finds that students who make use of on-line materials perform better in the unit than students who do not, holding prior academic ability constant. The paper also finds that students’ usage of on-line supplementary materials does not vary according to their academic ability.