Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Productivity growth and inter-sector spill-over in Dutch horticulture, 1976-1995

This article calculates nonparametric measures of total factor productivity growth on Dutch horticultural firms in the period 1976-1995. Individual components of total factor productivity growth, i.e., efficiency change and technical change are regressed on socioeconomic factors reflecting the effects of the world oil crises, household and demographic characteristics, location, and investment in physical capital. Also, the article investigates the presence of inter-sector spill-overs between groups of firms with different specializations in Dutch horticulture. Copyright 2006 International Association of Agricultural Economics.
Effects of Chinese Imports on Relative Wages: Microevidence from Chile

The increasing prominence of China in world trade raises important questions about the impact of this on importer countries. In this paper, we address the issue of how import competition from China has affected relative wages in the Chilean manufacturing industry. Using plant-level data for the period 1996–2005, we find that increasing imports from China have depressed relative wages in sectors with higher Chinese-import penetration. Our results show a significant reduction of relative wages, between 4 and 25 percent, for those sectors that have experienced the largest increases in Chinese imports. We also find that this effect is particularly strong for small firms, while large firms are unaffected.
Rapamycin is active against B-precursor leukemia in vitro and in vivo, an effect that is modulated by IL-7-mediated signaling

A balance between survival and apoptotic signals regulates B cell development. These signals are tightly regulated by a host of molecules, including IL-7. Abnormal signaling events may lead to neoplastic transformation of progenitor B cells. Signal transduction inhibitors potentially may modulate these abnormal signals. Inhibitors of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) such as rapamycin have been used as immunosuppressive agents. We hypothesized that rapamycin might demonstrate activity against B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We have found that rapamycin inhibited growth of B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia lines in vitro, with evidence of apoptotic cell death. This growth inhibition was reversible by IL-7. One candidate as a signaling intermediate cross-regulated by rapamycin and IL-7 was p70 S6 kinase. Rapamycin also demonstrated in vivo activity in Eμ-ret transgenic mice, which develop pre-B leukemia/lymphoma: Eμ-ret transgenic mice with advanced disease treated daily with rapamycin as a single agent showed a >2-fold increase in length of survival as compared with symptomatic littermates who received vehicle alone. These results suggest that mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors may be effective agents against leukemia and that one of the growth signals inhibited by this class of drugs in precursor B leukemic cells may be IL-7-mediated.
Risk management in the UK insurance industry: the changing state of practice

This paper reviews a number of recent surveys relevant to risk management by UK insurers. These include the results of four surveys specifically on UK insurers. Our findings suggest that the risk management practices of UK insurers are variable, generally behind best practices in adjacent sectors, and in some cases are a cause of concern. However, we also find that they have been improving significantly.
Novel Compact and Low-Loss Phase Shifters With Magnetodielectric Disturber

Magnetodielectric materials show great potential in tunable phase shifter designs with their high relative permeability and high permittivity. This paper presents a novel compact and low-loss tunable S-band phase shifter with a magnetodielectric perturber on a meander line microstrip controlled by a piezoelectric transducer. Compared with traditional dielectric perturbation, the phase tunability of the meander line with magnetodielectric perturber is much larger while the insertion loss is not much affected. Self-biased NiCo-ferrite films were adopted to fabricate the magnetodielectric perturber, which is a ferrite/substrate/ferrite laminate sandwich structure on a commercially available Rogers dielectric substrate. Phase shifter designs with NiCo-ferrite films on one layer to three layers of the sandwich structure were compared and investigated. Relative phase shift of 40° and large phase shift per dB insertion loss of up to 500°/dB were observed at S-band. The proposed S-band phase shifters are compact and will have many potential applications in radars and wireless communication systems.
Perceptions of the effectiveness of sport organisations: The case of intercollegiate athletics

The organisational effectiveness (OE) construct is something of an enigma. While OE is at the theoretical centre of all organisational models and is the ultimate dependent variable of organisational studies, despite more than 60 years of research on the topic, substantial challenges concerning how to. conceptualise, measure, and explain OE remain. In this paper we build on the consensus that has emerged in the literature that the construct space of OE includes a wide variety of criteria and that assessments of OE are a function of one's priorities. The purpose of the paper is to address an issue essentially ignored in the literature ‐ relationships among the attributes that contribute to perceptions of OE. In an effort to accomplish our purpose, we present a preliminary study conducted within the context of intercollegiate athletics. The case study was designed to establish: (a) the factors that are the most important determinants of perceptions of effectiveness, and (b) how these factors interact with one another. Content analyses of interviews with ten salient stakeholders revealed that six factors are essential determinants of perceptions of athletic program success. These factors are related to athletic performance on the field, student‐athlete education, program ethics, and the effects of programs on a university's image, resources, and institutional enthusiasm. Thematic mapping of the interviews revealed that, while determinants of perceptions of success often work in concert with one another, some determinants tend to influence perceptions of success on their own. We conclude by discussing the theoretical and pragmatic relevance of addressing relationships among OE attributes and by suggesting promising research directions.
Steady-state kinetics of thiocyanate oxidation catalyzed by human salivary peroxidase.

A steady-state kinetic analysis was made of thiocyanate (SCN-) oxidation catalyzed by human peroxidase (SPO) isolated from parotid saliva. For comparative purposes, bovine lactoperoxidase (LPO) was also studied. Both enzymes followed the classical Theorell-Chance mechanism under the initial conditions [H2O2] less than 0.2mM, [SCN-] less than 10mM, and pH greater than 6.0. The pH-independent rate constants (k1) for the formation of compound I were estimated to be 8 X 10(6) M-1 s-1 (SD = 1, n = 18) for LPO and 5 X 10(6) M-1 s-1 (SD = 1, n = 11) for SPO. The pH-independent second-order rate constants (k4) for the oxidation of thiocyanate by compound I were estimated to be 5 X 10(6) M-1 s-1 (SD = 1, n = 18) for LPO and 9 X 10(6) M-1 s-1 (SD = 2, n = 11) for SPO. Both enzymes were inhibited by SCN- at pH less than 6. The pH-independent equilibrium constant (Ki) for the formation of the inhibited enzyme-SCN- complex was estimated to be 24 M-1 (SD = 12, n = 8) for LPO and 44 M-1 (SD = 4, n = 10) for SPO. An apparent pH dependence of the estimated values for k4 and Ki for both LPO and SPO was consistent with a mechanism based on assumptions that protonation of compound I was necessary for the SCN- peroxidation step, that a second protonation of compound I gave an inactive form, and that the inhibited enzyme-SCN- complex could be further protonated to give another inactive form. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Modeled Antarctic Precipitation. Part I: Spatial and Temporal Variability*

Abstract Surface snow accumulation is the primary mass input to the Antarctic ice sheets. As the dominant term among various components of surface snow accumulation (precipitation, sublimation/deposition, and snow drift), precipitation is of particular importance in helping to assess the mass balance of the Antarctic ice sheets and their contribution to global sea level change. The Polar MM5, a mesoscale atmospheric model based on the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–NCAR Mesoscale Model, has been run for the period of July 1996 through June 1999 to evaluate the spatial and temporal variability of Antarctic precipitation. Drift snow effects on the redistribution of surface snow over Antarctica are also assessed with surface wind fields from Polar MM5 in this study. It is found that areas with large drift snow transport convergence and divergence are located around escarpment areas where there is considerable katabatic wind acceleration. It is also found that the drift snow transport generall.
Multivariable feedwater control design for a steam generator

A multivariable feedwater control design for drum water-level regulation in a heat-recovery steam generator is presented. The control design is based on a projective output feedback scheme and is used to coordinate the tandem-connected feedwater valves of a low-pressure and a high-pressure drum. One of the design objectives is to minimize the blowdown from the drums during start-ups. Results demonstrating the control performance and the improvement over a traditional single-loop feedwater control design are shown. <<ETX>>
Health-related quality of life three years after coronary surgery: A comparison with the general population

Objectives. To assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients three years after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) compared to the general Norwegian population, with emphasis on age and gender-differences. Design. A cross-sectional postal survey of patients who underwent CABG in 2000. HRQOL was assessed using the Short Form 36 (SF-36). Subgroup analyses were performed according to age (<70 versus ≥70 years) and gender. Results. Of 233 eligible patients 203 responded (mean age 67.6 years, 17% females). Patients reported better scores on bodily pain than the general population (p = 0.008), but did not differ on other subscales of SF-36. Younger patients tended to score lower, older patients higher than the general population on HRQOL. Female patients reported lower HRQOL than the general female population and reported significantly lower scores than male patients on 3 of 8 subscales. Conclusions. Three years after CABG the HRQOL is comparable to the general Norwegian population even in older patients. The older patients reported less pain than the general population.
Immune resistance orchestrated by the tumor microenvironment

Summary: It is now little disputed that most if not all cancer cells express antigens that can be recognized by specific CD8+ T lymphocytes. However, a central question in the field of anti‐tumor immunity is why such antigen‐expressing tumors are not spontaneously eliminated by the immune system. While in some cases, this lack of rejection may be due to immunologic ignorance, induction of anti‐tumor T‐cell responses in many patients has been detected in the peripheral blood, either spontaneously or in response to vaccination, without accompanying tumor rejection. These observations argue for the importance of barriers downstream from initial T‐cell priming that need to be addressed to translate immune responses into clinical tumor regression. Recent data suggest that the proper trafficking of effector T cells into the tumor microenvironment may not always occur. T cells that do effectively home to tumor metastases are often found to be dysfunctional, pointing toward immunosuppressive mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment. T‐cell anergy due to insufficient B7 costimulation, extrinsic suppression by regulatory cell populations, inhibition by ligands such as programmed death ligand‐1, metabolic dysregulation by enzymes such as indoleamine‐2,3‐dioxygenase, and the action of soluble inhibitory factors such as transforming growth factor‐β have all been clearly implicated in generating this suppressive microenvironment. Identification of these downstream processes points to new therapeutic targets that should be manipulated to facilitate the effector phase of anti‐tumor immune responses in concert with vaccination or T‐cell adoptive transfer.
The Probability of Limit-Order Execution

Market orders and limit orders are the two main types of orders investors use to buy or sell U.S. equities. In choosing between the types, investors must weigh the price improvement associated with a limit order against the probability that the order will not be executed. In the study reported here, we examined the probability of limit-order execution and the expected benefit to limit orders for a sample of stocks traded on the NYSE. Results indicate that the longer a limit order is outstanding, the less likely it is to be executed. The probability of execution is higher for sell orders than for buy orders, lower when the limit price is farther away from the prevailing quote, lower for large trades, higher when spreads are wide, and higher in periods of high price volatility. Order-placement strategy and trade execution are important issues in equity investing. The two main types of orders that investors use to buy or sell U.S. equities are market orders and limit orders. Effective trading with limit orders requires the investor to judge the costs and benefits of using limit orders versus market orders. The goal of our research was to estimate the benefit associated with limit orders-a benefit that may be offset by the opportunity cost of immediacy provided by market orders and the probability that the limit order will not be executed. This assessment of execution probability is likely to be influenced by a number of factors in the market, including the desired price, the prices at which other investors are willing to buy or sell the security, and the size of the intended trade. We used the TORQ (trades, orders, revisions, and quotes) data for NYSE securities to address execution probability. These data contain detailed order, transaction, and quote information on 144 NYSE stocks for the period November 1990 through January 1991. Because of the large number of observations, we randomly selected 10 stocks to study. We examined the waiting time until order execution by using duration analysis, a statistical technique that is appropriate when examining the passage of time until an event occurs. We found that the longer a limit order is outstanding, the less likely it is to be executed. The probability of execution is higher for sell orders than for buy orders, lower when the limit price is farther away from the prevailing quote, lower for large trades, higher when spreads are wide, and higher in periods of great price volatility. We also found that the average expected price improvement from a limit order over a market order is greater at the beginning of the trading day, in periods of high price volatility, in the presence of wide bid–ask spreads, and for large orders. Our results suggest that investors seeking the best possible order-placement approach should carefully consider the probability of limit-order execution. More formal attempts to quantify this probability might be useful, especially for large orders. Investors might also wish to attempt to quantify the opportunity costs of immediate trade execution, which they forgo when they place a limit order instead of a market order.
Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolates of food and human origins from Brazil using molecular typing procedures and in vitro cell culture assays

The spreading of diseases through foods is a worldwide concern. Here, molecular and in vitro cell-culture assays were employed to characterize 63 Brazilian Listeria monocytogenes isolates (food, 47; clinical, 16). Serotype 4b was the most predominant (49%) followed by ½b (30%), ½a (10%), ½c (6%), 3c (3%) and 3b (2%). Ribotyping yielded 17 ribopatterns, which were grouped into four phylogenetic clusters. Cluster A comprised of 39/63 isolates primarily of food origin, and clusters B, C and D contained both food and clinical isolates. Isolates were positive for virulence determinants prfA, hlyA and inlA: clinical isolates were more invasive to Caco-2 cells and expressed high levels of inlA transcripts than the food isolates. Highly invasive isolates also provoked more Ped-2E9 cells to die by apoptosis than the weakly-invasive strains. These data demonstrate a strong genetic relatedness among clinical and food isolates and suggest transmission of a subset of L. monocytogenes strains from food to humans.
Presidential Elections and Federal Reserve Policy: An Empirical Test

Traditional macro-economic models of Federal Reserve (Fed) behavior typically assume that the Fed enjoys a well defined objective function based on social welfare, and generally predict counter-cyclical monetary policy. The increasing observation of procyclical monetary policy has led many researchers to investigate new models of Fed behavior. Several recent papers imply that procyclical Fed behavior is due to a lack of political accountability. Friedman [7], Toma [23] and Shughart and Tollison [21] all attribute considerable bureaucratic discretion to the Fed and seek to explain monetary policy by examining typical bureaucratic objectives. ' Other papers, such as Pierce [19; 20], Weintraub [26] and Kane [10; 11] argue that the Fed operates in an arena filled with political constraints that cause sub-optimal monetary policy, but these constraints are not modeled explicitly. One possible political constraint on Fed behavior is the incumbent president's desire for re-election. In the Political Business Cycle (PBC) literature, presidential re-election opportunities are enhanced by the production of a precise set of inflation and unemployment outcomes leading up to the election. Thus, to the extent that presidents desire cyclical macro-economic outcomes, there will be Executive pressure on the Fed to create or accommodate such outcomes. The effect this pressure will have on Fed policy is ultimately an empirical question, but most models deal with it by assumption. Traditional macro modeling assumes a zero effect, while the PBC models implicitly assume that a favorable election cycle is a primary goal of all economic policymakers. This paper examines presidential influence on the Federal Reserve by testing for an election cycle in money growth. The major result is the identification of a regular 16 quarter cycle in money growth corresponding with presidential elections. This cyclical effect is found to be stable over time and significant under a wide range of model specifications. Further, when the cyclical component of money growth is used to simulate a simple macro model, it produces a classic political business cycle in inflation and real output growth.
The effect of obesity on pulmonary lung function of school aged children in Greece

Obesity impacts on many issues of pulmonary medicine, where it is debated if obesity is linked to asthma, atopy or altered lung function tests. Our study aimed to investigate primarily the effect of obesity on the lung function tests and secondary the possible link of obesity with atopy and asthma in a large cohort of children in Greece.
The mitotic patterns in the spinal cord of the chick embryo and their relation to histogenetic processes

CONTENTS I . Introduction . Histogenesis and stage seriatioii . 1 . General remarks . 2 . Description of stages . 3, The size reduction of the central canal . 4 . Formation of the ependyma . I11 . Analysis of mitotic activity . 1 . Methods of mitotic counting and of evaluation of data . (a) Determination of segment borders . (b) Mitotic counts . (c) Construction of graphs representing the average numbers of I1 .
Structural conservation in single-domain proteins: implications for homology modeling.

Large-scale sequencing projects are widening the gap between the known protein universe and the fraction for which structural information has been experimentally obtained. Through the application of homology (comparative) modeling and more general structure prediction techniques, this gap can, however, be narrowed, providing indirect structural information for a considerable number of proteins. Moreover, the estimated number of existing protein folds seems to be limited and many of these yet unknown folds should be discovered by dedicated large-scale structural genomics projects. Within this perspective, homology (comparative) modeling will gain in importance, as will the use of models derived by this technique. Here we discuss how well a sequence alignment, the most common starting point for generating a model, reflects the structural conservation between homologous proteins and we show that sequence information is able to direct construction of acceptable models as far as the structural core is concerned. We also show here that the regions surrounding insertions and deletions are much less conserved than the core and discuss the implications of this observation for loop modeling.
Corruption and Anti‐Money‐Laundering Systems: Putting a Luxury Good to Work

Systems of laws, regulations, and institutions developed to counter money laundering provide powerful tools for fighting corruption. Currently, however, the potential benefits anti-money-laundering (AML) systems can provide in fighting corruption go largely unrealized, especially in developing countries. This mismatch poses a puzzle: Why are developing countries failing to best capitalize on their expensive AML systems by using them to fight corruption? The article is built on three core claims. The first claim is that it is logical to use AML systems for anti-corruption purposes because of a pronounced overlap in the standards required for each and the rising costs of the former. The second section demonstrates specifically how AML systems could significantly augment anti-corruption efforts, focusing on the importance of financial intelligence, asset confiscation, and international cooperation. Finally, although powerful outsiders have successfully diffused AML systems among developing countries, a lack of "ownership" in the latter explains why these systems are often established only as tokens to enhance international legitimacy and reputations.
Expression of Hand2 is sufficient for neurogenesis and cell type–specific gene expression in the enteric nervous system

The basic helix‐loop‐helix DNA binding protein Hand2 is expressed in neural crest–derived precursors of enteric neurons and has been shown to affect both neurogenesis and neurotransmitter specification of noradrenergic sympathetic ganglion neurons. In the current study, our goal was to determine whether Hand2 affects neurogenesis and/or expression of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and choline acetyltransferase in developing enteric neurons. Gain‐of‐function of Hand2 in HNK‐1+ immmunoselected precursor cells resulted in increased neurogenesis. The number of neurons expressing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide increased in response to Hand2 overexpression although choline acetyltransferase was not affected. Targeted deletion of Hand2 in neural crest cells resulted in loss of all neurons expressing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide along the length of the gastrointestinal tract, patterning defects in the myenteric plexus of the stomach, and altered number and morphology of neurons expressing TH. Our data demonstrate that expression of Hand2 is sufficient and necessary for neurogenesis and expression of a subset of cell type‐specific markers in the developing enteric nervous system. Developmental Dynamics 236:93–105, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.