Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nitric Oxide Increases the Survival of Rats with a High Oxygen Exposure

The purpose of this study was to begin to examine the influence of inhaled NO on O2 toxicity. The survival of Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to>95% O2, >95% O2 + 10 ppm NO, >95% O2 + 100 ppm NO, and >95% O2 + 3 ppm NO2 was determined. Survival at 120 h was 2/24 in >95% O2, 2/12 in >95% O2 + 10 ppm NO, and 1/12 in >95% O2 + 3 ppm NO2. Survival at 120 h was 21/30 in>95% O2 + 100 ppm NO (p < 0.01 compared with >95% O2). Three additional groups of rats were exposed for 60 h to: 21% O2, >95% O2, or >95% O2 + 100 ppm NO. The lungs were then assayed for total protein, reduced (GSH) and oxidized glutathione(GSSG), and 4-hydroxy-2(E)-nonenal. Both of the high O2 groups had significantly (p < 0.05) lower GSH/mg protein and GSH/GSSG ratios compared with the 21% O2 group. The >95% O2 group had a higher 4-hydroxy-2(E)-nonenal/mg of protein than either the 21% O2 group (p < 0.05), or the >95% O2 + 100 ppm NO group (p < 0.05 compared with >95% O2, not different from the 21% O2 group). Additional groups of rats were exposed to either 21% O2, >95% O2, or >95% O2 + 100 ppm NO for 0, 24, 48, and 60 h. The lungs were examined for neutrophil accumulation, which was increased at 60 h in the two groups exposed to >95% O2, but adding NO had no effect. Thus, the overall result was that 100 ppm inhaled NO improved the survival of rats in high O2.
Portfolio Selection under Changing Market Conditions

In this paper, an extensive portfolio optimisation case study is conducted. For this, in a first step, a Markov-Switching model is estimated to time series of three global stock indices. The estimation includes a new methodology for the search for realistic initial values and a large number of covariates that were tested for their ability to explain transition probabilities. In the second step, the model is used in an industry-standard portfolio optimisation environment and compared under realistic assumptions to a Black-Scholes model. The results indicate that risk measures are significantly reduced and performance measures improved when a Markov-Switching model is used. These improvements are especially due to the faster reallocations in turbulent market phases like the burst of the dot-com bubble or the current financial crisis.
Television News and American Intervention in Somalia: The Myth of a Media-Driven Foreign Policy

Television, it is often argued, caused the United States to intervene in Somalia in 1992. Bernard C. Cohen argues that in the 1990s television "has demonstrated its power to move governments. By focusing daily on the starving children in Somalia, a pictorial story tailor-made for television, TV mobilized the conscience of the nation's public institutions, compelling the government into a policy of intervention for humanitarian reasons. " 1 In the view of Michael Mandelbaum, "televised pictures of starving people" in Somalia "created a political clamor to feed them, which propelled the U.S. military" into action.2 Adam Roberts characterizes U.S. intervention in Somalia as "responding to the immediate pressure of media. "3 George F. Kennan describes American policy as "controlled by popular emotional impulses, and particularly ones provoked by the commercial television industry. "4 Next to Vietnam, Somalia may be the most often cited case of media influence on American foreign policy, and it is one in which an effect of high orderinspiring a military intervention-is claimed. The argument that television contributed to U.S. intervention is supported by the chronology of events and news stories presented in this study; there is no reason to doubt that the appearance of Somalia on American television just before major changes in U.S. policy in
Momentum in the Chinese Stock Market: Evidence from Stochastic Oscillator Indicators

ABSTRACT We explore whether investors earn profits through the use of stochastic oscillator indicators (SOI) for trading stocks. The results reveal that investors might use momentum strategies when trading constituent stocks of SSE 50 as the overbought trading signals emitted by SOI. We infer that the results might be caused by herding behaviors of Chinese investors since overoptimistic moods are likely to exist as evidenced by the 80 percent trading volume traded by individual investors in the Chinese stock market.
A Generalized Index of Diversification: Trends in U.S. Manufacturing

An index of diversification suitable for manufacturing plants and firms is defined as a function of product number, distribution, and dissimilarity. A novel feature of the index is its continuous treatment of product heterogeneity. Using "Census of Manufactures" data files, the index is constructed for each establishment and each enterprise surveyed in the 1963-1982 censuses. Results are reported at the 2-digit SIC level. While quantifying the upward trend in enterprise diversification, the index reveals an ubiquitous and persistent decline in establishment diversification. Over time, enterprises are shifting toward a more diverse portfolio of increasingly homogeneous plants. Technical economies of scope appear to play little role in explaining the measured increase in enterprise diversification. Copyright 1991 by MIT Press.
Prevalence of American Indian Adolescent Tobacco Use: 1993–2004

Tobacco use rates for American Indian adolescents are examined and compared to rates for non-Indian youth. The data are taken from an ongoing surveillance project of substance use among Indian youth and the Monitoring the Future Project for the years 1993 to 2004. Sample sizes are in the range of 14,000 to 17,000 for non-Indian youth and 600 to 2400 for Indian youth. Tobacco use is considerably higher for Indian youth; however, these rates are following the national trends of significant reductions over the past three years. Indian youth manifested a lower perception of harm from regular tobacco use, which may, in part, account for their higher levels of use. Indian females have had slightly higher rates of lifetime and daily smoking rates than males in the past but recent trends indicate a narrowing of this gap.
How do educational and occupational resources relate to the timing of family formation? A couple analysis of the Netherlands

Background: Fertility research often uses data from women only. This can bias the results if the effects of education and occupation on fertility are dependent upon the characteristics of the male partner. Using retrospective life-course information from both partners, this study examines the effects of educational and occupational characteristics on the transition to a first childbirth. Objective: The objective is to examine how the respective earning potential and career dynamics of the male and the female partners in couples influenced the timing of their entry into parenthood from 1960 to 2009 in the Netherlands, as well as the extent to which the characteristics of the two partners were interdependent in terms of their influence on the transition to a first birth. Methods: Using couple-period data from four pooled cross-sectional waves (1998-2009) of the Family Survey of the Dutch Population, discrete time event history models accounting for unobserved heterogeneity at the couple level are estimated to predict the birth of the first child, starting from the moment couples started living together. Results: The results show that a high earning potential of the female partner (based on her educational attainment, the status of her first job, and whether she is in full-time work or has supervisory responsibilities) has delaying effects on her transition to a first childbirth. With regard to the male partner, the only significant predictors of the entry into parenthood are educational attainment and working hours, and there is no evidence of an interdependence of the partners. The comparison of effects over time indicates that the female partner's higher earning potential has become a stronger predictor of delayed parenthood over time, while a positive effect for the male partner’s higher earning potential is seen only up to 1990. Conclusions: The results suggest that the educational and occupational characteristics and the labor market participation of the female partner are stronger determinants of first-birth timing than the characteristics of the male partner.
Exploring Factors Faced by Teachers in Curriculum Implementation

This study explores factors faced by teachers in curriculum implementation in the North West and Limpopo Provinces. The theoretical framework that underpins this study is based on Herzberg’s two-factor theory which is also known as motivation-hygiene theory. A mixed methodology of qualitative and quantitative was used. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were employed as the research instruments for data collection, with 160 teachers from the five districts of the two provinces. Findings revealed that the curriculum transformation process, contributed to the dissatisfaction of teachers regarding the implementation of the new curriculum (CAPS). Recommendations were formulated by empowering teachers, for the effective implementation of the school curriculum. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n6p171
Increased Prevalence of Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Artery-specific

Objective. Cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality are increased in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Prior investigations of the association of RA with measures of carotid atherosclerosis have yielded conflicting results. We compared carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) of both the common carotid (CCA) and proximal internal carotid (bulb-ICA) arteries, and plaque prevalence, between RA and non-RA participants. Methods. Subjects with RA were participants in a cohort study of subclinical CV disease in RA. Non-RA controls were selected from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Both groups underwent B-mode ultrasonography of the right and left CCA and bulb-ICA. Linear regression was used to model the association of RA status with CCA and bulb-ICA-IMT, and logistic regression for the association of RA status with plaque. Results. We compared 195 RA patients to 198 non-RA controls. CV risk factors were similarly distributed, except for a higher prevalence of hypertension in the RA group. Mean adjusted bulb-ICA-IMT was higher in RA patients than controls (1.16 vs 1.02 mm, respectively; p < 0.001), while mean adjusted CCA-IMT did not differ significantly. After adjusting for CV risk factors, the odds of plaque were significantly increased in RA participants compared to controls (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.26–4.61). The association of gender, age, smoking, and hypertension with bulb-ICA-IMT and plaque did not significantly differ by RA status. Interleukin 6 was strongly associated with bulb-ICA-IMT and plaque in controls but not in RA patients. In the RA group, shared epitope was associated with an increased prevalence of plaque. Conclusion. Compared to controls, RA was associated with a higher prevalence and higher severity of atherosclerosis in the bulb-ICA but not the CCA. Our data suggest that future studies in RA that utilize carotid artery measurements should include assessment of the bulb-ICA.
The Hbs1-Dom34 Protein Complex Functions in Non-stop mRNA Decay in Mammalian Cells*

Background: The non-stop decay (NSD) mechanism has remained undetermined in mammalian cells. Results: Degradation of unstable non-stop mRNA requires Hbs1, Dom34, and the exosome-Ski complex in mammalian cells. Conclusion: The NSD mechanism exists in mammalian cells and involves a member of the eRF3 family of G proteins, Hbs1. Significance: Our work provides a foundation for dissecting the detailed molecular basis of the human NSD mechanism. In yeast, aberrant mRNAs lacking in-frame termination codons are recognized and degraded by the non-stop decay (NSD) pathway. The recognition of non-stop mRNAs involves a member of the eRF3 family of GTP-binding proteins, Ski7. Ski7 is thought to bind the ribosome stalled at the 3′-end of the mRNA poly(A) tail and recruit the exosome to degrade the aberrant message. However, Ski7 is not found in mammalian cells, and even the presence of the NSD mechanism itself has remained enigmatic. Here, we show that unstable non-stop mRNA is degraded in a translation-dependent manner in mammalian cells. The decay requires another eRF3 family member (Hbs1), its binding partner Dom34, and components of the exosome-Ski complex (Ski2/Mtr4 and Dis3). Hbs1-Dom34 binds to form a complex with the exosome-Ski complex. Also, the elimination of aberrant proteins produced from non-stop transcripts requires the RING finger protein listerin. These findings demonstrate that the NSD mechanism exists in mammalian cells and involves Hbs1, Dom34, and the exosome-Ski complex.
The Use of Ethanol Injection under Endoscopic Control to Palliate Dysphagia Caused by Esophagogastric Cancer

Nine patients with dysphagia caused by unresectable tumors of the esophagus and cardia (eight with squamous-cell carcinomas and one with adenocarcinoma) were treated with absolute (95 g/l) alcohol mixed with 0.5% methylene blue. Total volumes ranging from 16 to 41 ml were injected endoscopically during sessions separated at 5-day intervals. The results were evaluated by endoscopic and radiological follow-up, as well as clinically, according to Bown's dysphagia score. Treatment had to be stopped in one patient with a preexisting esophagobronchial fistula. In the remaining eight patients, the mean dysphagia score decreased from 3.4 before treatment to 1.2 after treatment. After treatment, all patients were able to swallow a solid or semisolid diet. Treatment was repeated when dysphagia recurred, with a mean interval of 31.5 days between treatments. No complications were encountered. In our view, the preliminary results using this simple and inexpensive technique warrant comparative trials with other methods of palliation.
Equilibrium Selection in Experimental Games with Recommended Play

Abstract This paper presents the results of experimental games with multiple Nash equilibria in which subjects were given suggestions for their play. This procedure allows for a direct test of the self-enforcement condition implicit in the Nash equilibrium concept. The results show that perfectness has cutting power in simple single-stage games. Also, off-equilibrium payoffs influence subjects′ behavior. For two-stage games we find support for the position that subgame perfect equilibria are strategically stable and weak support for the concept of forward induction. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Number: 215.
Estimation of Willingness-to-Pay (WTP) for Water and Sanitation Services through Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) │ A Case Study in Iquitos City, The Republic of Peru │ 1

This study conducted estimates of Willingness to Pay (WTP) and Affordability to Pay (ATP)of beneficiaries for water and sanitation services in Iquitos City, Peru as part of Special Assistance for Development Policy and Projects (SADEP) “The Role of Private Sector Participation (PSP) for Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Sectors- The Case of Latin America-” in 2004. The WTP was estimated through a questionnaire survey in line with Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), while the ATP was computed with reference to available data including the household survey data in the area. The main findings are: (i) WTP is approximately twice of the current average payment level; and (ii) ATP is roughly in the range from 10% 20%lower to 20% higher than the current average payment level. The implication of this result is that although the beneficiaries’ valuation on the improvement of the water and sanitation services is high, the room for increasing the tariff level for financing a portion of the project cost would be small due to their limited payment capacity. Therefore, other means of revenue generation, such as strengthening of payment collection to realize the expressed high WTP, cost reduction through more efficient operation and management, and regional development activities contributing to the increase of income would be necessary in order to improve the sustainability of the services in the city. The estimated WTP through CVM is expected to be utilized as useful information of the demand side on tariff level of services with consideration to its limitations.
Tonsil-derived mesenchymal stromal cells: evaluation of biologic, immunologic and genetic factors for successful banking.

BACKGROUND AIMS Although mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) from human palatine tonsils (tonsillar MSC, T-MSC) have been isolated, whether T-MSC isolated from multiple donors are feasible for cell banking has not been studied. METHODS T-MSC before and after a standard protocol of cryopreservation and thawing were assessed regarding several basic characteristics, including colony-forming unit-fibroblast features, MSC-specific surface antigen profiles, and inhibition of alloreactive T-cell proliferation. In vitro mesodermal differentiation potentials to adipocytes, osteocytes and chondrocytes were detected by staining with either cell-specific dyes or antibody after incubation with each appropriate differentiation medium. Expression of mesoderm-specific genes was also quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Expression profiles of endoderm-specific genes were identified by reverse transcription PCR assay. The feasibility of T-MSC in future engraftment was tested by short tandem repeat (STR) analysis using genomic DNA isolated randomly from three independent subjects. RESULTS Both fresh and cryopreserved-thawed T-MSC showed a similar high proliferation capacity and expressed primitive cell-surface markers. Hematopoietic cell markers, HLA-DR, co-stimulatory molecules and follicular dendritic cell markers were not detected. In addition to mesodermal differentiation, fresh and cryopreserved-thawed cells also underwent endodermal differentiation, as evidenced by the expression of endoderm-specific genes including forkhead box A2 (FoxA2), SIX homeobox 1 (Six1) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 21 (CCL21). Both cells significantly decreased phorbol 12- myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced T-cell proliferation. T-MSC from three independent donors formed chimerism in STR analysis. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate for the first time that T-MSC are a potentially good source for MSC banking.
Why Did Universities Precede Primary Schools? A Political Economy Model of Educational Change

Universities were first established in Europe around the twelfth century, although primary schools did not appear until the nineteenth. This paper accounts for this phenomenon using a political economy model of educational change on who are educated (the elite or the masses) and what is taught (general or specific/vocational education). A key assumption is that general education is more effective than specific education in enhancing one's skills in a broad range of tasks, including political rent‐seeking. Its findings suggest that specific education for the masses is compatible with the elite rule, whereas mass general education is not, which refines the conventional association between education and democracy.
The Role of Education in Building Individual Human Capital: How Do Professionals Look at It?

This study followed a qualitative research approach to investigate how well-educated professionals see the role of formal education in building human capital. Individuals need to understand the relationship between education and their human capital to justify the time and money they invested to get their education. Colleges and universities need to know the value of their output, to better value and promote the process of knowledge production and transmission and help the general public appreciate their work more. While the importance of a good education is a key factor in the success of learners, this study revealed the power of social capital in making this success a reality. It may not be enough for an individual to acquire good education to guarantee a better future. The power of social connections can be the main determinant in one’s wellbeing. This study shows that it is important to address students’ life outside school beside the importance of a classroom education.
Audit Pricing in the Pension Plan Audit Market

Abstract The economic determinants of audit fees have been examined extensively among public companies, both in the US (e.g. Simunic, 1980; Gist, 1992) and internationally (e.g. Anderson and Zhegal, 1994). These studies have been based on audits of publicly-traded firms, which were surveyed to determine the audit fees. In the US pension plan audit market, audit fees are publicly disclosed, eliminating the potential for response bias present in most other audit fee studies. Additionally, unlike the public company audit market, the pension plan audit market is not dominated by the Big Six accounting firms, and audit fees in the pension plan audit market are smaller than in the public company audit market. This study examines the generalisability of the audit fee model by applying the model in the pension plan audit context. In accord with other audit fee studies, results indicate that client characteristics, including client size and risk, are associated with pension plan audit fees. In contrast with other .
A consistent analysis of diversification decisions with non-observable firm effects

The empirical analyses of firm diversification decisions, both for new activities (new products) and markets (for example, new routes for airlines), have usually estimated a binary dependent variable model for each of the decisions the firm makes. To obtain consistent estimators, every relevant effect must be considered in the specification. As this will hardly happen, the presence of nonobserved firm effects (either because such data do not exist or because it is impossible to obtain them) must be econometrically treated, because it causes inconsistency in the estimations. In this paper we propose to use the estimators provided by the maximization of the conditional likelihood function in problems of this kind because they give consistent results even when unobserved firm effects are present. Finally, we apply this technique to an example of diversification among Spanish manufacturers. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Effects of Human Resource Management Practices on Productivity

Increasingly, firms are considering the adoption of new work practices, such as problem-solving teams, enhanced communication with workers, employment security, flexibility in job assignments, training workers for multiple jobs, and greater reliance on incentive pay. This paper provides empirical evidence to address the question: do these human resource management practices improve worker productivity? For this study, we constructed our own data base through personal site visits to 26 steel plants which contained one specific steelmaking process, and collected longitudinal data with precise measures on productivity, work practices, and the technology in these production lines. The empirical results consistently support the following conclusion: the adoption of a coherent system of these new work practices, including work teams, flexible job assignments, employment security, training in multiple jobs, and extensive reliance on incentive pay, produces substantially higher levels of productivity than do more 'traditional' approaches involving narrow job definitions, strict work rules, and hourly pay with close supervision. In contrast, adopting individual work practice innovations in isolation has no effect on productivity. We interpret this evidence as support for recent theoretical models which stress the importance of complementarities among a firm's work practices.