Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ethylene Receptor 1 (ETR1) Is Sufficient and Has the Predominant Role in Mediating Inhibition of Ethylene Responses by Silver in Arabidopsis thaliana*

Background: Silver ions block ethylene perception yet support ethylene binding to Ethylene Receptor 1 (ETR1). Results: Loss of ETR1 reduces the effects of silver while loss of the other receptors has less of an effect. Conclusion: ETR1 has the predominant role and is sufficient for the effects of silver. Significance: This could underlie differences in the roles of the receptors in plants. Ethylene influences many processes in Arabidopsis thaliana through the action of five receptor isoforms. All five isoforms use copper as a cofactor for binding ethylene. Previous research showed that silver can substitute for copper as a cofactor for ethylene binding activity in the ETR1 ethylene receptor yet also inhibit ethylene responses in plants. End-point and rapid kinetic analyses of dark-grown seedling growth revealed that the effects of silver are mostly dependent upon ETR1, and ETR1 alone is sufficient for the effects of silver. Ethylene responses in etr1-6 etr2-3 ein4-4 triple mutants were not blocked by silver. Transformation of these triple mutants with cDNA for each receptor isoform under the promoter control of ETR1 revealed that the cETR1 transgene completely rescued responses to silver while the cETR2 transgene failed to rescue these responses. The other three isoforms partially rescued responses to silver. Ethylene binding assays on the binding domains of the five receptor isoforms expressed in yeast showed that silver supports ethylene binding to ETR1 and ERS1 but not the other isoforms. Thus, silver may have an effect on ethylene signaling outside of the ethylene binding pocket of the receptors. Ethylene binding to ETR1 with silver was ∼30% of binding with copper. However, alterations in the Kd for ethylene binding to ETR1 and the half-time of ethylene dissociation from ETR1 do not underlie this lower binding. Thus, it is likely that the lower ethylene binding activity of ETR1 with silver is due to fewer ethylene binding sites generated with silver versus copper.
A Small Dynamic Hybrid Model for the Euro Area

The authors estimate and solve a small structural model for the euro area over the 1983–2000 period. Given the assumption of rational expectations, the model implies a set of orthogonality conditions that provide the basis for estimating the model’s parameter by generalized method of moments. The authors’ main results are: (i) the impulse-response functions implied by the model are consistent with the standard stylized facts about the dynamic effects of monetary policy, (ii) evidence suggests that flexibility in Europe has increased since the adoption of the Maastricht Treaty, and (iii) the inflation expectations captured by the model might explain the European Central Bank’s reluctance to ease monetary conditions in 2000.
Policy Watch: Alcohol and Cigarette Taxes

Increased excise taxes on cigarettes and alcohol have been suggested as a means to finance (at least partially) the Clinton administration's proposed program of health care reform. We consider the revenue potential of cigarette and alcohol tax hikes and explore the effects on consumption and related outcomes. We present estimates of the social costs and implied optimal tax rates on cigarettes and alcohol. The bulk of the evidence presented here does support higher taxes on cigarettes and alcohol.
Corporate Fraud Culture: Re‐Examining the Corporate Governance and Performance Relation

Full-text is free to read on publisher website Abstract We analyse the corporate governance and performance relation, when conditioning on corporate fraud, for fraud firms during 2000 – 2007. Fraud firms are identified as either self- reported fraud events, or subject to regulatory investigation. We use the inverse Mills ratio procedure to account for firms' (unobservable) fraud culture in the dynamic system GMM model of the performance- governance relation. We find that corporate governance is an endogenously determined characteristic that has no causal impact on firm performance when conditioning on fraud. Fraud is a significant regulatory event but its overall economic impact at the firm level is highly variable.
Reserving Capacity for Urgent Patients in Primary Care

This paper examines the effect of the common practice of reserving slots for urgent patients in a primary health care practice on two service quality measures: the average number of urgent patients that are not handled during normal hours (either handled as overtime, referred to other physicians, or referred to the emergency room) and the average queue of non‐urgent or routine patients. We formulate a stochastic model of appointment scheduling in a primary care practice. We conduct numerical experiments to optimize the performance of this system accounting for revenue and these two service quality measures as a function of the number of reserved slots for urgent patients. We compare traditional methods with the advanced‐access system advocated by some physicians, in which urgent slots are not reserved, and evaluate the conditions under which alternative appointment scheduling mechanisms are optimal. Finally, we demonstrate the importance of patient arrival dynamics to their relative performance finding that encouraging routine patients to call for same‐day appointments is a key ingredient for the success of advanced‐access.
Assessing Generalized Method-of-Moments Estimates of the Federal Reserve Reaction Function

Estimating a forward-looking monetary policy rule by the generalized method of moments (GMM) has become a popular approach. We reexamine estimates of the Federal Reserve reaction function using several GMM estimators and a maximum likelihood (ML) estimator. First, we show that over the baseline period 1979–2000, these alternative approaches yield substantially different parameter estimates. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we show that the finite-sample GMM bias can account for only a small part of the discrepancy between estimates. We find that this discrepancy is more plausibly rationalized by the serial correlation of the policy shock, causing misspecification of GMM estimators through lack of instrument exogeneity. This correlation pattern is related to a shift in the reaction function parameters around 1987. Reestimating the reaction function over the 1987–2000 period produces GMM estimates that are very close to the ML estimate.
Wage Dispersion between and within U.S. Manufacturing Plants, 1963-1986

This paper exploits a rich and largely untapped source of information on the wages and other characteristics of individual manufacturing plants to cast new light on recent changes in the United States wage structure. Our primary data source, the Longitudinal Research Datafile (LRD) , contains observations on more than 300,000 manufacturing plants during Census years (1963, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982) and 50,000-70,000 plants during intercensus years since 1972. We use the information in the LRD to investigate changes in the plant-wage structure over the past three decades. We also combine plant-level wage observations in the LRD with wage observations on individual workers in the Current Population Survey (CPS) to estimate the between-plant and within-plant components of overall wage dispersion.
U.S. Distribution Entry Strategy of Japanese Manufacturing Firms: The Role of Keiretsu

Abstract This article identifies the determinants of three modes of foreign market entry into distribution activities—arm's-length contracts, joint ventures, and wholly owned subsidiaries—and assesses the impact of unique institutional structures on the decision. We examine 310 Japanese manufacturers' entries into the U.S. market and find evidence that keirestu affiliation significantly increases the likelihood that contracts are chosen, suggesting common keiretsu membership by manufacturers and general trading companies mitigates agency problems in contractual delegation of foreign distribution activities. Regading the choice between joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries, relaxed capital and information constraints increase the likelihood that keiretsu firms establish wholly owned subsidiaries. J. Japan. Int. Econ. , March 2000, 14 (1), pp. 43–72. Anderson Graduate School of Management, University of California, 110 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, California 90095-1481; A. T. Kearney, 222 West Adams, Chicago, Illinois 60606 Copyright 2000 Academic Press. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: E23, L22, L14.
Factors Associated With Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury has a significant psychological effect, and a negative psychological state is a commonly cited reason for a reduction or cessation of sports participation after ACL reconstruction (ACLR) surgery. Purpose: To identify factors that contribute to an athlete’s psychological readiness to return to sport (RTS) after ACLR. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A cohort of 635 athletes (389 male, 246 female) who underwent ACLR and had been cleared to RTS completed the Anterior Cruciate Ligament–Return to Sport After Injury (ACL-RSI) scale at an average 12 months (range, 11-24 months) after surgery. Demographics (age, sex), sporting outcomes (preinjury frequency), surgical timing (injury to surgery interval), clinical factors (laxity), functional measures (single-limb hop symmetry), and symptoms of pain and function (International Knee Documentation Committee subjective) were also taken, and univariate and multiple regression models were used to determine the association between these and the psychological readiness of the athlete to RTS (ACL-RSI scores). Data for the entire cohort were initially analyzed; then, patients were grouped according to whether they had returned to competitive sport, and the analysis repeated for each group (return/nonreturn). Results: Univariate analysis for the entire group showed that all of the following had a positive effect on psychological readiness: male sex (β = 5.8; 95% CI, 2-10), younger age (β = −0.2; 95% CI, –0.4 to 0.01), a shorter interval between injury and surgery (β = −0.1; 95% CI, −0.1 to −0.02), a higher frequency of preinjury sport participation (β = 5.4; 95% CI, 2-9), greater limb symmetry (β = 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.6), and higher subjective knee scores (β = 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.4). In the multivariate model, subjective knee scores and age significantly accounted for 37% of the variance in psychological readiness (r2 = 0.37, P < .0001). The only difference between the groups who had and had not returned to sport was that female sex was a significant contributor for the nonreturn group. Conclusion: Self-reported symptoms and function were most associated with psychological readiness to RTS after ACLR surgery. Male patients who participated frequently in sport before ACL injury had higher psychological readiness. Conversely, female patients had a more negative outlook and may therefore benefit more from interventions designed to facilitate a smooth transition back to sport.
Mortality in Relation to Changes in a Healthy Aging Index: The Health, Aging and Body Composition Study.

Background Baseline scores on a Healthy Aging Index (HAI), including 5 key physiological domains, strongly predict health outcomes. This study aimed to characterize 9-year changes in a HAI and explore their relationship to subsequent mortality. Methods Data are from the Health, Aging and Body Composition study of well-functioning adults aged 70-79. A HAI, which ranges from 0-10, was constructed at year 1 and year 10 of the study including systolic blood pressure, forced expiratory volume, digit symbol substitution test, cystatin C and fasting glucose. The relationships between the HAI at year 1 and year 10 and the change between years and subsequent mortality until year 17 were estimated from Cox proportional hazards models. Results 2264 participants had complete data on a HAI at year 1, of these 1122 had complete data at year 10. HAI scores tended to increase (i.e., get worse) over 9-year follow-up, from (mean (SD)) 4.3 (2.1) to 5.7 (2.1); mean within person change 1.5 (1.6). After multivariable adjustment HAI score was related to mortality from year 1 (Hazard Ratio (95% Confidence Interval) =1.17 (1.13 - 1.21) per unit) and year 10 (1.20 (1.14 - 1.27) per unit). The change between years was also related to mortality (1.08 (1.02 - 1.15) per unit change). Conclusions HAI scores tended to increase with advancing age and stratified mortality rates among participants remaining at year 10. The HAI may prove useful to understand changes in health with aging.
Improvement of Spinosad Production upon Utilization of Oils and Manipulation of β-Oxidation in a High-Producing Saccharopolyspora spinosa Strain

Spinosad, a member of polyketide-derived macrolides produced in the actinomycete Saccharopolyspora spinosa, has been developed as a broad-spectrum and effective insecticide. The β-oxidation pathway could be an important source of building blocks for the biosynthesis of spinosad, thus the effect of vegetable oils on the production of spinosad in a high-yield strain was investigated. The spinosad production increased significantly with the addition of strawberry seed oil (511.64 mg/L) and camellia oil (520.07 mg/L) compared to the control group without oil (285.76 mg/L) and soybean oil group (398.11 mg/L). It also revealed that the addition of oils would affect the expression of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism, precursor supply, and oxidative stress. The genetically engineered strain, in which fadD1 and fadE genes of Streptomyces coelicolor were inserted, produced spinosad up to 784.72 mg/L in the medium containing camellia oil, while a higher spinosad production level (843.40 mg/L) was detected with the addition of 0.01 mM of thiourea.
Mobile Ad-hoc Network Routing Protocols: Methodologies and Applications

A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is a wireless network that uses multi-hop peer-to-peer routing instead of static network infrastructure to provide network connectivity. MANETs have applications in rapidly deployed and dynamic military and civilian systems. The network topology in a MANET usually changes with time. Therefore, there are new challenges for routing protocols in MANETs since traditional routing protocols may not be suitable for MANETs. For example, some assumptions used by these protocols are not valid in MANETs or some protocols cannot efficiently handle topology changes. Researchers are designing new MANET routing protocols and comparing and improving existing MANET routing protocols before any routing protocols are standardized using simulations. However, the simulation results from different research groups are not consistent with each other. This is because of a lack of consistency in MANET routing protocol models and application environments, including networking and user traffic profiles. Therefore, the simulation scenarios are not equitable for all protocols and conclusions cannot be generalized. Furthermore, it is difficult for one to choose a proper routing protocol for a given MANET application. According to the aforementioned issues, my Ph.D. research focuses on MANET routing protocols. Specifically, my contributions include the characterization of different routing protocols using a novel systematic relay node set (RNS) framework, design of a new routing protocol for MANETs, a study of node mobility, including a quantitative study of link lifetime in a MANET and an adaptive interval scheme based on a novel neighbor stability criterion, improvements of a widely-used network simulator and corresponding protocol implementations, design and development of a novel emulation test bed, evaluation of MANET routing protocols through simulations, verification of our routing protocol using emulation, and development of guidelines for one to choose proper MANET routing protocols for particular MANET applications. Our study shows that reactive protocols do not always have low control overhead, as people tend to think. The control overhead for reactive protocols is more sensitive to the traffic load, in terms of the number of traffic flows, and mobility, in terms of link connectivity change rates, than other protocols. Therefore, reactive protocols may only be suitable for MANETs with small number of traffic loads and small link connectivity change rates. We also demonstrated that it is feasible to maintain full network topology in a MANET with low control overhead. This dissertation summarizes all the aforementioned methodologies and corresponding applications we developed concerning MANET routing protocols.
Trust Culture and the Ethics of Government: When Trust among Citizens Is Deficient

Citizens’ trust in government mostly derives from the “ethics” factor, critically and particularly its “honesty” aspect. Public service is a public trust. This article aims to study the level of trust that Thai people perceive in the ethics of government, to investigate barriers to trust, and to provide determinant indicators that can promote ethical government and trust culture in the public sphere. Both questionnaires and the interview schedule were synthesised from the relevant literature. Based on the collected data, the findings were as follows: (1) citizens’ perception of the ethics of honesty of the Yingluck government is at very low level; (2) citizens’ trust in the ethics of honesty of the Yingluck government was found to be at a very low level in three areas of trust perception – trustworthiness, basic trust, and trust culture; (3) the relationship between the ethics of the Thai government and citizens’ trust were positively correlated in the same direction at a high level (r = 0.928); (4) there was a very high level (sig. 876) of inconsistency between the behaviours regarded as a test of the government’s honesty and those expected by citizens; (5) the major barriers to public trust in the Yingluck government derived from unethical norms and behaviours, a culture of distrust, political intervention in the bureaucracy, an unethical leader or a puppet leader (former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra – Yingluck’s elder brother), mega-project corruption, autocratic rule, and illegal policies – the amnesty bill; (6) alignments to cultivate trust culture include incorruptibility, public interest and the upholding of justice, transparency and accountability, respect for diversity and for the worth and dignity of people, and commitment to excellence and to maintaining the public trust. The article postulates sufficient evidence to conclude that citizens’ trust in the ethics of the Thai government is at a very low level. It highlights where existing measures match the theory, but it also identifies a number of dimensions for which “trust deficiency” or “distrusted” was recorded. This was especially the case with regard to the content of the trust belief correlated with the ethics of honesty and to the selection of possible alignments for contributing to trust culture among Thai citizens.
Cleansing My Abuse: A Reparative Response Model of Perpetrating Abusive Supervisor Behavior

Research on abusive supervision has predominantly focused on the consequences for victims while overlooking how leaders respond to their own abusive behavior. Drawing from the literature on moral cleansing, we posit that supervisors who engage in abusive behavior may paradoxically engage in more constructive leadership behaviors subsequently as a result of feeling guilty and perceiving loss of moral credits. Results from two experience sampling studies show that, within leaders on a daily basis, perpetrating abusive supervisor behavior led to an increase in experienced guilt and perceived loss of moral credits, which in turn motivated leaders to engage in more constructive person-oriented (consideration) and task-oriented (initiating structure) leadership behaviors. In addition, leader moral attentiveness and moral courage strengthen these indirect effects by amplifying leaders’ awareness of their immoral behavior and their willingness and determination to make reparations for such behavior. Our research contributes to the theoretical understanding of leaders’ responses toward their own abusive supervisor behavior and provides insights into how and when destructive leadership behaviors may, paradoxically, trigger more constructive behaviors.
Consumer eco-innovation adoption : Assessing attitudinal factors and perceived product characteristics

For business and environmental reasons, increased understanding of green consumer behavior is essential. This paper addresses consumer adoption and non-adoption of a high involvement eco-innovation (the alternative fuel vehicle, AFV). The purpose is to integrate two research streams to explore factors driving and hindering adoption. The factors are rooted in environmental psychology research and the diffusion of innovation literature. Survey results on Swedish car owners are reported. The results indicate that adopters and non-adopters differ on norms, attitudes, novelty seeking and on how innovation attributes are perceived. Furthermore, the results show that the groups rank car attributes such as fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions differently. The main contribution of the paper is the integration of norms and attitudes together with consumer adoption factors in analyzing green consumer behavior in relation to a high involvement product. The implications for business and marketing strategy and for environmental policy are discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Does the Family Business Interaction Factor Represent a Resource or a Cost?

The authors investigate the interaction between families and their businesses and the impact of this interaction on management and governance practices used. Family businesses participating in the family business programs at three U.S. universities completed questionnaires pertaining to family and business culture and practices. The research draws on the agency cost theory, governance, systems theory, and the resource-based view of organizations literature in the consideration of family firm attributes and the relationship between family members, nonfamily managers, and the firm. Chief executive officers generally perceive management practices, succession processes, and family environment more favorably than do either other family members or nonfamily managers. There are no significant differences in perceptions between active and inactive family members on the family scales. The difference in perceptions of the family firm between nonfamily managers and family managers is discussed as a challenge to the full utilization of professional management capabilities by family firms. Finally, owning family unity, the perception of business opportunity, and how positive the relation between firm and family is influences managerial and governance practices and therefore represents a resource for competitive advantage and sustained business performance.
The nature of school bullying : a cross-national perspective

The Nature of School Bullying provides a unique world-wide perspective on how different countries have conceptualized the issue of school bullying, what information has been gathered, and what interventions have been carried out. Written and compiled by well known experts in the field, it provides a concise summary of the current state of knowledge of school bullying in nineteen different countries, including: * demographic details * definitions of bullying * the nature and types of school bullying * descriptive statistics about bullying * initiatives and interventions. The Nature of School Bullying provides an authoritative resource for anyone interested in ways in which this problem is being tackled on a global scale. It will be invaluable for teachers, educational policy makers, researchers, and all those concerned with understanding school bullying and finding ways of dealing with it.