Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Monetary and Fiscal Policy in the Great Moderation and the Great Recession

In this paper we argue for a new approach to monetary and fiscal policy. During the Great Moderation, the inflation targeting regime worked well. Central banks used the interest rate to stabilize inflation, and—subject to inflation being controlled—stabilized the level of demand. Fiscal policy exerted discipline over the public-sector deficits, thereby—indirectly—managing the level of public debt. Such ‘fiscal housekeeping’ worked well, because the monetary authorities were stabilizing the economy. But once private-sector deleveraging led to the Great Recession, and interest rates hit their zero bound, the outcome could no longer be managed by monetary policy. Recovery depended on the ‘automatic stabilizers’: output and tax revenues have fallen, public debt has been created, and assets have been created which a deleveraging private sector wishes to hold. But the effect has been very gradual. Recovery would have been faster if fiscal policy had been responsible for the restoration of full employment, in an environment which tolerated the necessary rises in public debt. Conversely, policies of austerity, designed to reduce public debt, have slowed the recovery. Growth will not be resumed until the private sector begins to invest strongly again, creating the financial assets which the private sector wishes to hold, thereby enabling public debt to be retired. This has not yet happened because the private sector, correctly, does not believe that macroeconomic policy is capable of sustaining a strong recovery.
Wnt Signaling Pathway Inhibitor Sclerostin Inhibits Angiotensin II–Induced Aortic Aneurysm and Atherosclerosis

Objective— Sclerostin (SOST) has been identified as an important regulator of bone formation; however, it has not been previously implicated in arterial disease. The aim of this study was to assess the role of SOST in aortic aneurysm (AA) and atherosclerosis using human samples, a mouse model, and in vitro investigations. Approach and Results— SOST protein was downregulated in human and mouse AA samples compared with controls. Transgenic introduction of human SOST in apolipoprotein E–deficient (ApoE−/−) mice (SOSTTg.ApoE−/−) and administration of recombinant mouse Sost inhibited angiotensin II–induced AA and atherosclerosis. Serum concentrations of several proinflammatory cytokines were significantly reduced in SOSTTg.ApoE−/− mice. Compared with controls, the aortas of mice receiving recombinant mouse Sost and SOSTTg.ApoE−/− mice showed reduced matrix degradation, reduced elastin breaks, and preserved collagen. Decreased inflammatory cell infiltration and a reduction in the expression of wingless-type mouse mammary virus integration site/&bgr;-catenin responsive genes, including matrix metalloproteinase-9, osteoprotegerin, and osteopontin, were observed in the aortas of SOSTTg.ApoE−/− mice. SOST expression was downregulated and the wingless-type mouse mammary virus integration site/&bgr;-catenin pathway was activated in human AA samples. The cytosine–phosphate–guanine islands in the SOST gene promoter showed significantly higher methylation in human AA samples compared with controls. Incubation of vascular smooth muscle cells with the demethylating agent 5-azacytidine resulted in upregulation of SOST, suggesting that SOST is epigenetically regulated. Conclusions— This study identifies that SOST is expressed in the aorta and downregulated in human AA possibly because of epigenetic silencing. Upregulating SOST inhibits AA and atherosclerosis development, with potential important implications for treating these vascular diseases.
Characterization of a Putative Membrane Receptor for Progesterone in Rat Granulosa Cells1

Abstract Progesterone (P4) inhibits granulosa cell apoptosis in a steroid-specific, dose-dependent manner, but these cells do not express the classic nuclear P4 receptor. It has been proposed that P4 mediates its action through a 60-kDa protein that functions as a membrane receptor. The present studies were designed to determine the P4 binding characteristics of this protein. Western blot analysis using an antibody that recognizes the P4 binding site of the nuclear P4 receptor (C-262) confirmed that the 60-kDa protein was localized to the plasma membrane of both granulosa cells and spontaneously immortalized granulosa cells (SIGCs). To determine whether this protein binds P4, proteins were immunoprecipitated with the C-262 antibody, electrophoresed, transferred to nitrocellulose, and probed with a horseradish peroxidase-labeled P4 in the presence or absence of nonlabeled P4. This study demonstrated that the 60-kDa protein specifically binds P4. Scatchard plot analysis revealed that 3H-P4 binds to a single site (i.e., single protein), which is relatively abundant (200 pmol/mg) with a Kd of 360 nM. 3H-P4 binding was not reduced by dexamethasone, mifepristone (RU 486), or onapristone (ZK98299). Further studies with SIGCs showed that P4 inhibited apoptosis and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) activity, and maintained calcium homeostasis. These studies taken together support the concept that the 60-kDa P4 binding protein functions as a low-affinity, high-capacity membrane receptor for P4.
Despite decreased wait-list times for lung transplantation, lung allocation scores continue to increase.

BACKGROUND In May 2005, the lung allocation score (LAS) was introduced as a means of allocating donor lungs in order to decrease wait-list mortality and prioritize candidates based on medical urgency and posttransplant survival. The purpose of this study was to assess changes in recipient wait-list times and mean LAS since the introduction of the LAS model. METHODS The United Network for Organ Sharing provided de-identified patient-level data. The study population consisted of all patients in the United States with a reported LAS (n = 3529) undergoing lung transplantation between May 7, 2005 and November 7, 2007. The study period was divided into 6-month intervals. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to assess differences in variables with nonparametric distributions. The nonparametric trends test was used to determine significance of trends over time. RESULTS There was a significant decrease in wait-list time during the study period, while LAS among transplant recipients increased (p < 0.001). There was no significant change in FVC (49.3 +/- 17.5%, p = 0.48) or pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (11.1 +/- 5.8 mm Hg, p = 0.23); however, there was a significant increase in age (51.5 +/- 13.9 years, p < 0.001) during the study period. When stratified by etiology, the LAS increased for both interstitial pulmonary fibrosis and COPD patients (p < 0.001). Moreover, the overall number of patients listed for transplantation as well as the LAS among transplant candidates increased (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Two years after initiation of the LAS model, wait-list times continue to decrease while mean LAS continued to increase. This increase in LAS among transplant recipients was observed most notably in patients with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis and COPD, and reflected in an increased mean LAS at the time of listing.
Evaluation Of The Impact Of Day Trading On The Egyptian Stock Market

This paper investigates the effect of the introduction of day trading on the Egyptian stock market. We applied a GARCH (1, 1)â€“GED model on daily returns and volumes of 41 companies listed in the Egyptian Stock market for the period from 2004 to 2008. The results suggest that day trading decreases ex-post return, and ex-post and ex-ante risk. We also find no significant change in the coefficient of variation, which indicates that the return-to-risk relationship remains unchanged. The results of the paper further indicate that the introduction of day trading has no significant effect on the volatility clustering, volatility persistence, arrival of information and the liquidity of the market.
Arms exports, new labour and the pariah agenda

The aim of this paper is to examine the UK Labour government's commitment to 'add an ethical dimension to arms exports'. It will be suggested that Labour has articulated its policy through a two-stage framing process consisting first of ministerial speeches and, second, the content of formal policy documents. The effect of this framing process has been to constitute Labour's policy on arms sales as a sub-set of its human rights agenda, with the emphasis being placed on the control of inhumane weapons or on the issue of arms supplies to inhumane actors. Not only does this represent a restrictive agenda which downplays issues such as the effects of arms sales on a recipient's economy or political culture but this agenda itself has been framed in terms that allow Labour to exercise a highly permissive approach to exports, even when judged on the Party's own human rights criteria. It will also be argued that the pariah control agenda emphasized by Labour actually has its roots in the same post-Cold War security discourse that legitimizes high levels of defence expenditure and the development of new high-tech weaponry that can only be produced economically if it is exported abroad. In addition, the pariah control agenda articulated by Labour concentrates on the restriction of technology. However, the twin forces of globalization and technological revolution have meant that denial strategies are increasingly ineffective. Instead, it will be suggested that such approaches need to be augmented with what I have termed 'structural arms control' strategies designed to raise the economic costs of arms and lower the price of pursuing non-military security strategies.
The importance of the Tat-dependent protein secretion pathway in Streptomyces as revealed by phenotypic changes in tat deletion mutants and genome analysis.

Streptomyces are Gram-positive soil bacteria that are used industrially, not only as a source of medically important natural compounds, but also as a host for the secretory production of a number of heterologous proteins. A good understanding of the different secretion processes in this organism is therefore of major importance. The functionality of the recently discovered bacterial twin-arginine translocation (Tat) pathway has already been shown in Streptomyces lividans. Here, the aberrant phenotype of S. lividans DeltatatB and DeltatatC single mutants is described. Both mutants are characterized by a dispersed growth in liquid medium, an impaired morphological differentiation on solid medium and growth retardation. To reveal the extent to which the Tat pathway is used in Streptomyces, putative Tat-dependent precursor proteins of Streptomyces coelicolor, a very close relative of S. lividans, and of Streptomyces avermitilis, of which the genomes have been completely sequenced, were identified by a modified version of the TATFIND computer program designed by Rose and colleagues [Rose, R. W. , Brüser, T. , Kissinger, J. C. & Pohlschröder, M. (2002). Mol Microbiol 45, 943-950]. A list of 230 precursor proteins was obtained; this is the highest number of putative Tat substrates found in any genome so far. In addition to the Streptomyces antibioticus tyrosinase, it was also demonstrated that the secretion of the S. lividans xylanase C is Tat-dependent. The predicted Tat substrates belong to a variety of protein classes, with a high number of proteins functioning in degradation of macromolecules, in binding and transport, and in secondary metabolism. Only a minor fraction of the proteins seem to bind a cofactor. The aberrant phenotype of the DeltatatB and DeltatatC mutants together with the high number of putative Tat-dependent substrates suggests that the Streptomyces Tat pathway has a distinct and more important role in protein secretion than in most other bacteria.
Robotic versus laparoscopic hysterectomy: a review of recent comparative studies

Purpose of review To illustrate the current stand on robotic versus conventional laparoscopic hysterectomy regarding operating times, clinical outcome and costs. Recent findings Only six studies were reviewed, as there are only few recent studies comparing robotic with laparoscopic hysterectomy and most are retrospective. Apart from one multicentre study with over 36 000 patients, 350 institutions and numerous surgeons, most studies were performed with few cases by one or two surgeons at one or two hospitals. Operating times for robotic hysterectomies generally were longer, ranging from 89.9 to 267 min. Surgery time for conventional laparoscopic hysterectomies was between 83 and 206 min. In all studies, clinical outcomes such as blood loss, complications or hospital stay of both the robotic and the conventional laparoscopic procedure were similar. Only two studies compared costs and both came up with very similar findings. Cost for a robot-assisted hysterectomy is approximately 2600 USD higher than that for conventional laparoscopic hysterectomy not including investment and amortization. Summary Robotic and conventional laparoscopic hysterectomy are essentially equivalent regarding surgical and clinical outcome. Operating times are slightly higher and costs are significantly higher for the robotic procedure.
Deposit insurance design and bank regulation in South Africa

Explicit deposit insurance is a safety net that bank regulatory authorities use to attempt to prevent and mitigate the costs of bank failures. International experience has shown however that explicit deposit insurance can increase the risk‐taking behaviour of banks. In this paper the authors briefly explore the policy lessons and the implications of the relationship between deposit insurance design and bank system stability, relate this to a possible proposal for explicit deposit insurance design in South Africa and describe aspects of the proposed South African Deposit Insurance Scheme (SADIS).
Multiscale test of CAPM for three Central and Eastern European stock markets

This paper examines the systematic risk and validity of the basic capital asset pricing model of Sharpe (1964), Lintner (1965) and Mossin (1966) in three Central and Eastern European stock markets (i.e. Slovenia, Hungary and Czech Republic). The CAPM is tested on a multiscale basis, building on the Fama and MacBeth (1973) methodology and applying two modern econometric techniques -- wavelet analysis and generalized method of moments estimation. Empirical results indicate that the systematic risk and validity of CAPM implications are multiscale phenomena. Empirical evidence in support of CAPM implications in the investigated Central and Eastern European stock markets is found to be weak. The most commonly violated CAPM hypotheses are the zero Jensen's alpha condition, positive market premium, and the non-systematic influence of non-observable variables on the excess returns of stocks in these stock markets.
Incidental Parameters and Dynamic Panel Modeling

Panel data o¤ers great opportunities for empirical research throughout the social and business sciences, as such data has done for many decades in longitudinal medical studies. In economics and business, just as in medicine, there is often intense interest in the e¤ects of policy measures or treatments on individual consumer and rm behavior over time. The pooling of data records across wide panels of individuals has the potential to deliver substantial econometric power in estimation through cross section averaging to sharpen estimates of common response patterns. With these great opportunities for studying individual behavior come many challenges. The present chapter focuses on one of these challenges  the role and e¤ects of incidental parameters that capture the idiosyncratic features of individual entities within a panel. Adding a new individual to a panel brings new idiosyncratic elements to be explained in the data just as it also brings observations that enhance the power of cross section averaging for the common elements of behavior. Exploring the e¤ects of such additions is the subject of this chapter. The problem of incidental parameters in statistical inference was rst pointed out in a classic article by Neyman and Scott (1948)1 . According to their characterization, an incidental parameter only gures in a nite dimensional probability law  thereby involving only a nite number of observations and, in consequence, rendering the corresponding maximum likelihood estimator inconsistent. Interestingly, in its attempt to deliver the best possible estimates of all of the parameters in a model, including incidental parameters that are speci c
Structure and Dynamics of Membrane-associated ICP47, a Viral Inhibitor of the MHC I Antigen-processing Machinery*

To evade the host's immune response, herpes simplex virus employs the immediate early gene product ICP47 (IE12) to suppress antigen presentation to cytotoxic T-lymphocytes by inhibition of the ATP-binding cassette transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP). ICP47 is a membrane-associated protein adopting an α-helical conformation. Its active domain was mapped to residues 3–34 and shown to encode all functional properties of the full-length protein. The active domain of ICP47 was reconstituted into oriented phospholipid bilayers and studied by proton-decoupled 15N and 2H solid-state NMR spectroscopy. In phospholipid bilayers, the protein adopts a helix-loop-helix structure, where the average tilt angle of the helices relative to the membrane surface is ∼15° (±7°). The alignment of both structured domains exhibits a mosaic spread of ∼10°. A flexible dynamic loop encompassing residues 17 and 18 separates the two helices. Refinement of the experimental data indicates that helix 1 inserts more deeply into the membrane. These novel insights into the structure of ICP47 represent an important step toward a molecular understanding of the immune evasion mechanism of herpes simplex virus and are instrumental for the design of new therapeutics.
Survey of the attitude to, the knowledge and the practice of contraception and medical abortion in women who attended a family planning clinic.

OBJECTIVE To assess the attitude to, the knowledge and practice of contraception and medical abortion in women attending the family planning clinic at the mvj medical college , hosakote , Bangalore, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between 1(st) of August, 2011 and 31st of July, 2012 200 women attending family planning clinic of the mvj medical college, hosakote, Bangalore India of which 105 requested for medical termination of pregnancy (mtp), 95 for family planning advice, were interrogated on a structured questionnaire. The age of women ranged in between 20-45 years, 71 (35.5%) were illiterate, 30 (15%) had primary school education and 99 (49.5%) had diplomas from high school and above. Patients were grouped into low and high socio-economic status according to modified kuppuswamy socio-economic status scale: (i). upper class, (ii). Upper middle class, (iii). Middle class, (iv). Lower middle class, (v). lower class.consent of both husband and wife was taken. They were counseled about the various contraceptives available and allowed to choose whichever suited them best. RESULTS Among the 200 women 85 (42%) did not use contraception; 51 (25.5 %) were on the barrier method; 49 (18.31%) used intrauterine devices (iud); 12 (6%) used oral pills and and 3 (1.5%) used other methods. the request for mtp was on grounds of unplanned pregnancy in 55.25% cases or failure of contraception in 44.7%. there was no eugenic indication of the women, 3 (1.5%) had heard about emergency contraceptives, however none had used them; 20 (10%) had heard of medical abortion and 12 (6%) had previously undergone mtp with satisfaction. the various methods of contraception accepted by the women post abortion were ocps by 11 (10.47%), iuds by 54 (51.5%) and female sterilization by 26 (24.71%). in the other group, 23 (24.2%) had iuds removed and reinserted; 37.8% had iuds inserted; 26 (27.36%) women underwent sterilization operation; and 6 (6.31%) had iuds removed opting for pregnancy. statistical analysis was done using spss software (Chicago) with χ(2) test taking p value of 0.05 as significant. CONCLUSION There is lack of awareness of emergency contraception and medical abortion in the women community under study.
Inability to Cry During SRI Treatment

Sir: It has been our clinical experience that serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) rapidly improve the symptom of excessive or inappropriate crying in depressed patients. This is consistent with reports in which SRIs improve pathologic crying in stroke patients. We, however, report three cases in which patients complained that they were unable to cry during SRI treatment. We know of no previous reports of this SRI-induced adverse effect.
B2B `Relationships' - A Social Construction of Reality?

This paper will suggest that the growing attention to B2B `relationships' is merely part of a wider growth in the interest in long-term exchanges between economic actors. `Relationships' are said to have distinguishing characteristics - in particular the existence of commitment and trust plus the expectation of continuity. The paper describes Marks and Spencer's links with one of its major suppliers using information about this exchange's history from sources including members of the supplier and the customer firms, legal submissions and also independent observers. It uses this information to make two interpretations of the exchange and as a consequence questions whether or not `a relationship' in the B2B context is a `social construction of reality'.
Cigarette Advertising in Popular Youth and Adult Magazines: A Ten-Year Perspective

Cigarette advertising for youth brands delivered sufficient impressions to reach youths at high reach and frequency levels during the 1993–2002 period. However, a precipitous drop in such advertising is also found at the end of the period. The authors reconcile the findings with those of previous studies and examine the efficacy of guidelines that have been used to evaluate cigarette advertising in publications with high youth readership.
Athlete reputational crisis and consumer evaluation

Research question: The mass media widely broadcasts scandals. However, previous literature lacks examinations of consumer reactions to athlete scandals. Given the detrimental impact, it is important to understand how athletes and brand managers can optimally respond when scandals occur. The purpose of this study is to develop the fundamental understanding of consumer reactions and the effective response strategies in athlete reputational crisis (ARC) settings. Research methods: A three factorial (performance relatedness × intentionality × involvement) experiment was conducted. One hundred ninety-three undergraduate students from a large university located in the southeastern United States participated in the experiment, with analysis based on 180 useful responses. Results and findings: The results indicate that high and low involvement spectators differ in their evaluations of scandalized athletes. The attitude of highly involved consumers is significantly more negative when ARCs are performance related and intentional. Low involvement consumers’ attitude displayed a similar pattern, but only when they perceived ARCs as unintentional. Lastly, the results indicate consumers prefer rebuild response strategies (e.g. apology) in all ARC situations. Base strategies (e.g. explaining ARC situations) and sport-specific strategies (e.g. winning to make up) can be used to supplement in performance-related ARC situations. Implications: This study contributes to the fundamental knowledge regarding the potential impact of ARCs. Athlete brand managers can estimate the extent of impact based on ARC characteristics (i.e. performance relatedness and intentionality) and consumer characteristics (i.e. involvement). Furthermore, effective response strategies can be developed by examining the interplay between ARC and consumer characteristics.