Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Agency Problem II and Convergence in CEO Pay

Convergence in CEO pay occurs when pay differentials narrow over time. We analyze and compare differences in the rate of convergence in CEO pay of Australian listed firms with high shareholding concentration (HSC) and without, for the period 1992 to 2009. We find zero and negative pay-for-performance and pay-for-firm size associations in HSC firms, indicating entrenchment and suboptimal CEO contract design. In contrast, positive pay-for-performance effects exist in non-HSC firms. The rate of convergence in CEO pay is higher in HSC firms. While there is relatively strong investor protection, our findings indicate that Australian HSC firms face high private benefits of control and one avenue for extracting these benefits is through a higher rate of convergence in CEO pay.
Indigenous families and the welfare system: the Kuranda community case study, Stage Two

This discussion paper presents the results from the second year (Stage Two) of the Kuranda community case study for the project on Indigenous families and the welfare system. Twenty-nine key reference people were interviewed about the factors influencing the delivery of welfare income by government to Indigenous families for the care of children. Many of the key findings of the initial 1999 survey were confirmed in this follow-up study. Families and households remain highly dependent on income support via the CDEP scheme or benefits and pensions. The key role played by older women in the care of children was emphasised once again. The additional year of data enabled the documentation of the high level of mobility within the community. Between the 1999 and 2000 surveys, 84 individuals or 47 per cent of the 1999 survey participants had changed their place of residence. Some of these people moved as individuals and others as part of a family group. The results emphasise the importance of the extended family network in the care of children. The results raise a number of important issues for policy and service delivery. The fact that child-care is family-based rather than household-based needs to be recognised in the delivery of services to children. Many children have multiple carers who are in need of financial support for the period in which they are responsible for a child. There therefore needs to be flexibility in the arrangements so that the relevant family payments are going to the person actually caring for a child. The paper emphasises the need for a holistic approach to delivering assistance to children. This includes the importance of increasing the opportunities for employment and training among Indigenous adults, of providing recreational and support facilities for young people, and of facilitating the interaction between Indigenous people and the welfare system.
From GATT to the WTO: The Internal Struggle for External Competences in the EU

Despite the rise of 'mixity', the Commission is nonetheless the key European player in the WTO, even regarding issues that are not exclusive EC competences. While established integration theories struggle to explain this phenomenon, this article argues that the external institutional context should be brought into the analysis. Copyright 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
The F plasmid traY gene product binds DNA as a monomer or a dimer: structural and functional implications

The F factor traY gene product (TraYp) is a site‐specific DNA‐binding protein involved in initiation of DNA transfer during bacterial conjugation. The sequence of TraYp exhibits a unique direct‐repeat structure predicted to have a ribbon‐helix‐helix DNA‐binding motif in each repeat unit. The stoichiometry of TraYp binding to DNA was determined to further support the hypothesis that TraYp is a member of the ribbon‐helix‐helix family of DNA‐binding proteins. A gluta‐thione‐S‐transferase‐traY fusion protein was purified and shown to possess almost wild‐type DNA‐binding activity. DNA‐binding experiments were performed in which the DNA ligand was incubated with either the fusion protein, the wild‐type protein, or both. The results indicate that TraYp can bind DNA as a monomer or a dimer. Thus a TraYp monomer folds into a stable three‐dimensional structure similar to that of a dimer of the ribbon‐helix‐helix proteins Arc or Mnt. A homology model of a TraYp monomer has been constructed using the co‐crystal structure of Arc bound to DNA as a template to provide additional support for this conclusion. In addition, we have shown that an origin of the transfer‐deletion mutant lacking approximately half of the TraYp‐binding site can only be bound by a monomer of TraYp. The functional implications of this result are discussed.
Prescription Psychostimulant Use Among Young Adults: A Narrative Review of Qualitative Studies

ABSTRACT Background. Within the last decade, the nonmedical use of prescription drugs has raised concern, particularly among young adults. Psychostimulants, that is to say amphetamine and its derivatives, are pharmaceuticals, which contribute to what has come to be known in Canada and the United States as the “prescription drug crisis. ” Research in the fields of public health, addiction studies, and neuroethics has attempted to further understand this mounting issue; however, there is a paucity of data concerning the underlying social logics related to the use of these substances. Objectives. The objective of this article is to provide an overview of the current literature related to the social context of prescription psychostimulant use among young adults, and to discuss theoretical considerations as well as implications for future research. Methods. A narrative review of the literature was performed. Results. We found that research efforts have chiefly targeted college students, yet there is a lack of knowledge concerning other social groups likely to use these pharmaceuticals nonmedically, such as persons with high strain employment. Three main emerging patterns related to prescription psychostimulant use were identified: (1) control of external stressors, (2) strategic use toward the making of the self, and (3) increasing one's performance. Conclusions. Prescription psychostimulant use among young adults is anchored in contemporary normativity and cannot be separated from the developing performance ethic within North-American and other Western societies. We suggest that pharmaceuticalization and Actor-Network Theory are useful conceptual tools to frame future research efforts.
Issues in Understanding and Changing Culture

The current popularity of corporate culture has raised some important issues. Does culture have an impact? How deep seated is culture? Can culture be changed? Corporate culture is not merely a passing fad but represents a fundamental shift in our effort to understand the complex, multifaceted organizations of today. However, it cannot be approached as a quick fix solution to a complex and changing problem. Culture needs to be managed along with all the other elements of management theory, such as strategy, structure, reward systems, skills and human resource management, if a company is to devise an integrated program for improving its performance.
Risk taking in the domain of losses: experiments in several countries

This paper presents an experimental investigation of risk taking in the domain of losses. The experiments were conducted with students in several universities whilst introducing the rudiments of expected utility theory and risk behaviour. The results are partly compatible with expected utility theory, assuming an inflection point in the utility function over losses. They also show similarities in the risk perception of students across different countries, i.e. a useful validation of human behaviour in an international context.
Unknown Input Observer-Based Robust Fault Estimation for Systems Corrupted by Partially Decoupled Disturbances

Robust fault estimation plays an important role in real-time monitoring, diagnosis, and fault-tolerance control. Accordingly, this paper aims to develop an effective fault estimation technique to simultaneously estimate the system states and the concerned faults, while minimizing the influences from process/sensor disturbances. Specifically, an augmented system is constructed by forming an augmented state vector composed of the system states and the concerned faults. Next, an unknown input observer (UIO) is designed for the augmented system by decoupling the partial disturbances and attenuating the disturbances that cannot be decoupled, leading to a simultaneous estimate of the system states and the concerned faults. In order to be close to the practical engineering situations, the process disturbances in this study are assumed not to be completely decoupled. In the first part of this paper, the existence condition of such an UIO is proposed to facilitate the fault estimation for linear systems subjected to process disturbances. In the second part, robust fault estimation techniques are addressed for Lipschitz nonlinear systems subjected to both process and sensor disturbances. The proposed technique is finally illustrated by the simulation studies of a three-shaft gas turbine engine and a single-link flexible joint robot.
Incidence and risk factors of fetal death in Norway: a case‐control study

Objective. To estimate incidence and risk factors for intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) in a Norwegian study‐population applying two different control groups. Design. Case‐control study. Setting. Two university hospitals in Oslo, Norway, January 1990 through December 2003. Sample. The cases: 377 women with IUFD. Controls: 1) all women delivering at the study‐hospitals in the period (facility‐based), and 2) 1 215 women with live births at one study‐hospital in the period (selected). Methods. Information from cases and selected controls was collected from medical records. Data on facility‐based controls were provided by the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Data were analyzed using chi‐squared test and logistic regression. Main outcome measures. Incidence of IUFD and adjusted odds ratios of risk factors. Results. The incidence was 4.1/1 000 deliveries. Small‐for‐gestational age (SGA) and placental abruption were the strongest risk factors for IUFD. Hypertensive disorders were of low risk if not associated with SGA. Low to moderate risk factors were pre‐pregnancy diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, placenta previa, gestational diabetes, smoking and twin pregnancy. Advanced maternal age was significant when compared with facility‐based controls. Risk estimates pointed in the same direction independent of control‐group. Hypertension appeared overestimated when using facility‐based controls, whereas advanced age was underestimated in the analysis among selected controls. Conclusion. SGA has a strong association with IUFD, and the risk of hypertensive disorders is mediated through SGA. The other risk factors, except placental abruption, are of low prevalence and of limited importance in the prevention of a relatively low incidence, although dramatic, event like IUFD.
Less quality more costs: Does local power sector reliability matter for electricity intensity?

The paper describes the main determinants of electricity intensity in twenty-nine transition economies. We provide an original analysis on the way the local power sector unreliability may affect the firm-level electricity intensity. The paper explains the different firm’s behaviour, within EU and outside EU, in front of outages and/or local supply power quality. For this purpose, we use the Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey (BEEPS) done in 2008-2009 over 2400 enterprises. Moreover, we built an innovative measure of the electricity supply quality at the local-level inspired by the previous work of Guiso et al. (2004). Our results indicate that in non-EU (or insufficiently reformed) countries power sector unreliability increases firm’s electricity intensity. We estimated a potential reduction of one-fifth of firm’s electricity intensity associated with an improvement from the 75th percentile to the 25th percentile of the distribution of the local power sector unreliability. Our results suggest that bad quality of the local power sector seems to dampen the firms’ ability to decreases their electricity consumption, if the country’s institutional framework is poor.
Immunization of BALB/c mice with pigeon IgY induces the production of anti-IgG autoantibodies

Abstract The breakdown of immunological tolerance due to the activation of autoreactive B and T cells triggers physiopathological processes. An example of such conditions is the production of IgG autoantibodies specific for the Fc portion of IgG (anti-Fcγ IgG). Previous reports have shown that patients with pigeon-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis exhibit an increase in the serum levels of anti-Fcγ IgG. There is no in vivo model for the study of this condition and the immunological mechanisms of tolerance breakdown associated with sensitization by pigeon antigens are still unknown. In this work, we show that the repeated immunization of BALB/c mice with pigeon IgY during 16-weeks induces the production of anti-Fcγ IgG and keeps their high levels for seven weeks. The late appearance of anti-Fcγ IgG autoantibodies in the plasma is similar to what has been reported in other experimental autoimmune models. With the occurrence of anti-Fcγ IgG, there is a reduction in the proportion of Foxp3 + cells (regulatory T cells, Tregs) within the population of splenic CD4 + CD25 + T cells. Thus, our data showed that the immunization of BALB/c mice with IgY promotes the production of anti-Fcγ IgG along with a decrease in Tregs in the spleen. We propose that immunization of mice with pigeon antigens, like IgY can provide a model to study the immunological mechanisms involved in the development of pigeon-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
The impact of ischemia on long-term renal function after partial nephrectomy in the two kidney model.

PURPOSE To determine whether on-clamp partial nephrectomy (ON-PN) has any significant impact on long-term renal function in a two kidney model. PATIENTS AND METHODS From November 1999 to July 2013, 607 patients underwent PN at our institution. After excluding patients with solitary kidneys, multiple renal masses, and follow-up less than 90 days, 331 remained. Patient demographics were assessed, as was renal function based on pre- and postoperative mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG-3) renal scans and change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the preoperative and most recent recorded creatinine levels. RESULTS There were a total of 236 patients who underwent ON-PN and 95 who underwent off-clamp PN (OFF-PN) during the study period. The longest follow-up was 12.6 years with mean follow-up of 3 years. Mean ischemia time of patients undergoing ON-PN was 25 minutes (range 8-63 min). No differences were noted between the ON-PN and OFF-PN cohorts with respect to estimated change in eGFR (ON-PN: -6.07 mL/min/1.73 m(2) vs OFF-PN: -6.00 mL/min/1.73 m(2), P=0.69). No differences were noted in the % change in the MAG-3 renal scans (ON-PN: -0.77% vs OFF-PN: -1.1%, P=0.94). A post hoc sensitivity analysis of the same two variables stratified by age revealed no differences in change in estimated GFR or % change in differential function on renal scan. CONCLUSIONS In the two kidney model, ischemia does not appear to affect long-term renal function outcomes after PN. These data provide evidence that ON-PN is perfectly acceptable in the appropriately selected patient with two kidneys.
The future of European floodplain wetlands under a changing climate

In the future, climate change may severely alter flood patterns over large regional scales. Consequently, besides other anthropogenic factors, climate change represents a potential threat to river ecosystems. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of climate change on floodplain inundation for important floodplain wetlands in Europe and to place these results in an ecological context. This work is performed within the Water Scenarios for Europe and Neighbouring States (SCENES) project considering three different climate change projections for the 2050s. The global scale hydrological model WaterGAP is applied to simulate current and future river discharges that are then used to: (i) estimate bankfull flow conditions, (ii) determine three different inundation parameters, and (iii) evaluate the hydrological consequences and their relation to ecology. Results of this study indicate that in snow-affected catchments (e.g. in Central and Eastern Europe) inundation may appear earlier in the year. Duration and volume of inundation are expected to decrease. This will lead to a reduction in habitat for fish, vertebrates, water birds and floodplain-specific vegetation causing a loss in biodiversity, floodplain productivity and fish production. Contradictory results occur in Spain, France, Southern England and the Benelux countries. This reflects the uncertainties of current climate modelling for specific seasons.
Time-dependent changes in plasma concentrations of 3-methylindole and blood concentrations of 3-methyleneindolenine-adduct in feedlot cattle.

OBJECTIVE To describe time-dependent changes in plasma concentrations of 3-methylindole (3MI) and blood concentrations of 3-methyleneindolenine (3MEIN)-adduct in feedlot cattle. ANIMALS 64 yearling steers. PROCEDURES Steers were assigned to 2 groups (32 steers/group). During the first 8 weeks, blood samples were collected from group 1 before the morning ration was fed, whereas samples from group 2 were collected 2 to 3 hours after the ration was fed. Blood samples were collected from all steers approximately 4 times/wk for 3 weeks and 3 times/wk for the subsequent 5 weeks. Samples were collected at the same time for all steers for an additional 10 weeks. Plasma samples were analyzed for 3MI concentrations. Blood samples collected from cattle in group 2 during the first 8 weeks were analyzed for 3MEIN-adduct concentrations. RESULTS Mean blood concentration of 3MEIN-adduct increased to a maximum value on day 33 (0.80 U/microg of protein) and then decreased to a minimum on day 54 0.40 U/microg of protein). Plasma 3MI concentrations initially decreased and remained low until after day 54. Group-1 cattle had lower plasma 3MI concentrations, compared with concentrations for group-2 cattle. Blood 3MEIN-adduct concentrations and plasma 3MI concentrations were not associated with deleterious effects on weight gains. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Blood 3MEIN-adduct concentrations peaked during the period of greatest risk for development of bovine respiratory disease complex. Conversely, plasma 3MI concentrations decreased during the same period. Animal-to-animal variation in metabolic capacity to convert 3MI to 3MEIN may be of more importance than differences in plasma 3MI concentration.
The PN2-3 Domain of Centrosomal P4.1-associated Protein Implements a Novel Mechanism for Tubulin Sequestration*

Microtubules are cytoskeletal components involved in multiple cell functions such as mitosis, motility, or intracellular traffic. In vivo, these polymers made of αβ-tubulin nucleate mostly from the centrosome to establish the interphasic microtubule network or, during mitosis, the mitotic spindle. Centrosomal P4.1-associated protein (CPAP; also named CENPJ) is a centrosomal protein involved in the assembly of centrioles and important for the centrosome function. This protein contains a microtubule-destabilizing region referred to as PN2-3. Here we decrypt the microtubule destabilization activity of PN2-3 at the molecular level and show that it results from the sequestration of tubulin by PN2-3 in a non-polymerizable 1:1 complex. We also map the tubulin/PN2-3 interaction both on the PN2-3 sequence and on the tubulin surface. NMR and CD data on free PN2-3 in solution show that this is an intrinsically unstructured protein that comprises a 23-amino acid residue α-helix. This helix is embedded in a 76-residue region that interacts strongly with tubulin. The interference of PN2-3 with well characterized tubulin properties, namely GTPase activity, nucleotide exchange, vinblastine-induced self-assembly, and stathmin family protein binding, highlights the β subunit surface located at the intermolecular longitudinal interface when tubulin is embedded in a microtubule as a tubulin/PN2-3 interaction area. These findings characterize the PN2-3 fragment of CPAP as a protein with an unprecedented tubulin sequestering mechanism distinct from that of stathmin family proteins.
Barriers to Enrollment in Drug Abuse Treatment and Suggestions for Reducing Them: Opinions of Drug Injecting Street Outreach Clients and Other System Stakeholders

Alcohol and other drug abuse (AOD) treatment is a major means of HIV/AIDS prevention, yet clients of street outreach programs (SOP) who are injection drug users (IDU), and outreach workers and staff as well, report various obstacles to enrolling clients in AOD programs. This study assessed the barriers to AOD enrollment facing high risk street outreach clients and obtained suggestions for reducing them. Data were obtained from semistructured field interviews with: 1) IDU outreach clients (N = 144) of the six SOPs in New York City (NYC) and northern suburbs supported by the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), the single state agency in New York State for AOD prevention and treatment, 2) outreach workers and staff of the six SOPs (N = 55), 3) staff of detox and AOD treatment programs in major modalities treating IDUs (N = 71), and 4) officials and administrators (N = 11) in OASAS, the AIDS Institute of the Department of Health (addresses all aspects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in New York State), and the agency for public assistance in New York City, the Human Resources Administration (HRA). Principal barriers for street outreach clients included personal–family issues, lack of insurance/Medicaid, ignorance, suspicion, and/or aversion to AOD treatment (methadone maintenance especially), “hassles” with Medicaid, lack of personal ID, lack of “slots,” limited access to intake, homelessness, childcare–child custody issues. Further, about 18% had no desire for AOD services, reported no barriers, or were too enmeshed in addiction to enroll. Outreach staff cited prospective client's lack of ID and lack of Medicaid, lack of “slots,” and stakeholder agency bureaucracy. Treatment staff cited lack of client readiness, “hassles” posed by welfare reform, AOD programs' own “red tape,” waiting lists, and near exclusionary preference for the Medicaid‐eligible. Finally, agency managers cited client factors, inadequate funding and lack of appropriate programs, treatment program requirements, and societal stigmatization of addicts. Proposed remedies included dropping ID and insurance requirements for admission, major increases in resources, funding the transporting of outreach client treatment candidates to AOD services sites, education and training initiatives, increased inter‐agency cooperation, and the need for stakeholder agencies, OASAS especially, to more effectively integrate abstinence‐oriented AOD services with harm reduction and the public health aspects of AOD problems.