Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Reform of Federal Deposit Insurance

I n early 1989, the system of deposit insurance in the United States was in crisis. The Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (FSLIC), the U.S. government agency that provided deposit insurance for savings and loan (thrift) institutions, had sustained massive losses from the insolvencies of hundreds of thrifts. Tens of billions of dollars of general Treasury revenues will be necessary to make good the losses in the insurance fund, which had previously been financed solely through premiums assessed on thrifts' deposits. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which provides similar insurance for deposits in commercial banks, has sustained much smaller losses but is considered to be in poor enough financial condition that its premium assessments will increase substantially. The deposit insurance system has two goals: to provide a safe investment vehicle for unsophisticated savers and to stabilize depositories against runs (FDIC, 1989a; Baer, 1985). Runs are a potential problem because the assets of depositories are relatively illiquid, while their liabilities are mostly short-term instruments that are used as money or near-money (Diamond and Dybvig, 1983). Depositors expect to be able to redeem these instruments at par-withdraw their money-at any time. Though a credible and fast-reacting lender of last resort could probably solve the runs problem alone, the presence of credible deposit insurance clearly helps dampen any tendency toward runs. ' The crisis in deposit insurance is clearly of great policy importance. This article will review the current system of deposit insurance and advocate a set of necessary reforms.
Effect of Nectar Composition and Nectar Concentration on Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Visitations to Hybrid Onion Flowers

Abstract Floral nectar characteristics of nine inbred lines of onion (Allium cepa L.) were examined to determine their influence on the attractiveness of the onion flowers to honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). Potassium concentrations and sugar concentrations of the nectar did not significantly correlate with the number of bee visits received by an umbel. The average amount of nectar produced by both the umbels and the individual florets was significantly positively correlated with the number of bee visits. Our results suggest that selection for flowers with high nectar production may lead to a higher rate of pollination of the onion seed crop.
The role of credit constraints on firms’ exporting and importing activities

This article investigates the role of credit constraints on export, import, and two-way trade activities of European manufacturing firms. Using direct financial constraints indicators and accounting for endogeneity issues, we find that credit rationing significantly reduces both the probability of entering foreign markets and the intensive margins of trade. Empirical results also point out that the role of extra entry costs differs according to the location of foreign markets and to the type of imported goods and services. Conditional on trading in the European Union, rationing is not an obstacle to entering additional exporting and importing markets, even though two-way traders behave differently and are negatively affected by financial constraints when they enter non-EU markets.
Sydney, Australia: A Global City? Testing the Social Polarisation Thesis

It has been argued that the global city-social polarisation thesis put forward by scholars looking at North American cities cannot be easily transferred to global cities in other parts of the world. Recent research has illustrated that whilst there may be some change in levels of social polarisation in global cities outside the US, the form, structure and causes of social polarisation are different. This paper extends the debate by looking at Sydney, Australia. It is argued that whilst changes in occupational structure and income polarisation are partially explained by economic restructuring associated with globalisation, global processes alone cannot fully explain these changes. The paper points to the significance of the inclusion of factors such as the unemployed, the gendered structure of occupations and migration.
Reconfiguring the State: Trends in Territorial Governance in European States

Abstract Multi-level governance appeared in the 1990s as a concept which sought to capture the changing relationships between different territorial levels of government in the EU. The concept was important as it drew to attention to important changes in territorial governance that were occurring at this time. This article steps back to analyse wider changes in the nature and form of the Welfare State, and the consequences of this for territorial governance. It argues that there are distinct trends in contemporary territorial governance: greater political as opposed to simple administrative decentralization; more asymmetry and diversity; a shift from a ‘principal-agent’ to a ‘choice’ model of central–local relations; great scope for experimentation; more non-hierarchical relations; new patterns of fiscal relations.
The simultaneous relation between fund flows and returns

We assess the simultaneous relation between fund flows and fund returns and show that current month flows and returns play a key role in understanding the flow/performance linkage. Current returns have a positive impact on current flows, suggesting that investors react quickly to performance information. However, current flows do not universally impact current returns. Notably, the pursuit of fund flows in large funds and established funds results in negative return impacts, yet it is these returns that drive investor decisions. Investors in institutional funds are able to identify high/low return funds and react in the current period resulting in an apparent positive impact of flows on returns.
Spindle‐cell lipoma: A clinical, light‐and electron‐microscopical study

Five spindle-cell lipomas, all in male patients, were examined by light and electron microscopy. Four were located in the subcutaneous tissues of the upper back or posterior neck and one behind the left ear. They exhibited a spectrum of histological growth patterns. Electron microscopy demonstrated two distinct populations of tumor cells; one, a spindled non-fat-storing mesenchymal cell and the other a mature lipocyte. It is hypothesized that the spindled cells are analogous to the stellate mesenchymal cell of the primitive fat lobule.
ANALYSIS OF TECHNICAL INEFFICIENCY IN FOOD CROP PRODUCTION SYSTEMS AMONG SMALL-SCALE FARMERS IN SOME SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA.

Efficient allocation of resources has been a problem in small holder farm economy in Nigeria. The study examined the technical inefficiency in food crop production systems among small-scale farmers in selected Local Government Areas of Adamawa State, Nigeria. Specifically, the socio - economic characteristics of food crop farmers in the study area were described , the va rious cropping patterns of the farmers were identified and technical inefficiency of the farmers analysed. Data were collected from 360 randomly selected food crop farmers in eight local government areas spread across the four ADP zones of the State using structured questionnaires. The analytical tools were descriptive statistics involving the use of frequency tables and inferential statistics involving the use of stochastic frontier production function. The result revealed that married female farmers constituted majority (57.22%) of the respondents. Their literacy level was high, as 84% of them had some form of formal education. The respondents cultivate d an average of about two hectares of farm land using personal savings. Eleven cropping systems were identified with mixed cropping accounting for about 53% of the cropping systems and about 54% of the total hectarage allocations. The maximum likelihood estimates of the stochastic frontier production function revealed that farm size, family labour, agrochemicals, inorganic fertilizers and seed contributed significantly to food crop output. The technical efficiency (TE) scores ranged from 0.26-0.96 with a mean TE of 0.66, implying that there is a scope for increasing technical efficiency in food crop production by 34% in the short-run under the current technology. Education, extension contact, crop diversification and credit availability were found to de crease technical in efficiency of the farmers. The study recommended farmers education on fundamental farm management skills to enable farmers plan, evaluate and appraise their farm business activities among others.
Murine &Bgr;-Defensin-3 Is an Inducible Peptide with Limited Tissue Expression and Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Activity

&bgr;-Defensins are cationic peptides produced by epithelial cells that have been proposed to be an important component of immune function at mucosal surfaces. Similarities between mammalian &bgr;-defensins may permit the use of murine models to further define the role of these peptides in innate host defense. Murine &bgr;-defensin-3 (mBD-3) is a peptide that exhibits homology at the gene level to human &bgr;-defensin-2 (hBD-2), one of four &bgr;-defensins identified in man. The purpose of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of mBD-3, the tissue distribution of mBD-3 expression, and the effect of gram-negative bacterial infection on mBD-3 expression. Based on the sequence deduced from mBD-3 cDNA, a 40-amino acid peptide was assembled using automated [n-(9-fluorenyl)methoxycarbonyl] solid-phase synthesis. The antimicrobial activity of synthetic mBD-3 was evaluated in microdilution broth assays using bacterial and fungal organisms. mBD-3 mRNA expression was assayed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using cDNA derived from a panel of tissues. Expression of mBD-3 was also evaluated in tissues obtained from mice 24 h after intraperitoneal infection with Escherichia coli using reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR. Synthetic mBD-3 inhibited the growth of E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans at concentrations from 25 to 50 &mgr;g/mL. Constitutive expression of mBD-3 mRNA was not consistently found in any organ using RT-PCR. In an E. coli peritonitis model, expression of mBD-3 mRNA was upregulated only in the esophagus and tongue. We conclude that mBD-3 is an inducible peptide with limited tissue expression during E. coli peritonitis. Because it exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, this peptide may serve as an innate defense against microbial invasion at specific mucosal surfaces in the mouse.
Heavy Hitters and the Structure of Local Privacy

We present a new locally differentially private algorithm for the heavy hitters problem which achieves optimal worst-case error as a function of all standardly considered parameters. Prior work obtained error rates which depend optimally on the number of users, the size of the domain, and the privacy parameter, but depend sub-optimally on the failure probability. We strengthen existing lower bounds on the error to incorporate the failure probability, and show that our new upper bound is tight with respect to this parameter as well. Our lower bound is based on a new understanding of the structure of locally private protocols. We further develop these ideas to obtain the following general results beyond heavy hitters. (1) Advanced Grouposition: In the local model, group privacy for k users degrades proportionally to root k, instead of linearly in k as in the central model. Stronger group privacy yields improved max-information guarantees, as well as stronger lower bounds (via "packing arguments"), over the central model. (2) Building on a transformation of Bassily and Smith (STOC 2015), we give a generic transformation from any non-interactive approximate-private local protocol into a pure-private local protocol. Again in contrast with the central model, this shows that we cannot obtain more accurate algorithms by moving from pure to approximate local privacy.
Technological change and its impact on tenancy relation in West Bengal

An attempt has been made to examine the changes in tenurial contracts in consequential to the changes in agricultural production technology in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal where a dramatic change in agricultural production scenario has been witnessed over last one and half decade. The study has been made with the help of primary data collected by suitably designed schedule and questionnaire. A trend of surrendering land by the bargadars in exchange of getting ownership for a part of land thereof and thereby possibility of increasing earning as owner operator after getting ownership in foreseeable future has been elicited as a prime factor for the long sustenance of lease cultivation. From the entire analysis it comes out that with the advancement of technology, the bargaining position of the landowners vis-a-vis tenants in land lease market has been gradually favorable to the landowners and the security of tenure ensuring of getting ownership for a part of leased-in land and thereby possibility of increasing income by the tenants seems to be a compromising settlement between tenants and landowners.
Motivations for Equity Borrowing: A Welfare-switching Effect

During the early 2000s, mortgage market innovation together with home price appreciation increased the scope for mortgage equity withdrawal. From a macroeconomic perspective, this proved to be an important transmission mechanism for the wealth (particularly collateral) effects of housing. Microeconomic accounts of equity borrowing are less well developed, since standard models of savings and consumption rarely take housing wealth into account. This paper, however, builds on a small but growing literature assigning a precautionary savings role to consumption from housing wealth. The analysis uses panel data sourced from Britain and Australia to model households’ motivations for equity borrowing. Key among these motivations are pressing, uninsurable, ostensibly short-term, spending needs. In these contexts, it is proposed that equity borrowing assumes a welfare-switching role, substituting privately owned housing wealth for collectively funded safety-nets
Adeno-associated virus type 2 DNA replication in vivo: mutation analyses of the D sequence in viral inverted terminal repeats

The adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV) genome contains inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) of 145 nucleotides. The terminal 125 nucleotides of each ITR form palindromic hairpin (HP) structures that serve as primers for AAV DNA replication. These HP structures also play an important role in integration as well as rescue of the proviral genome from latently infected cells or from recombinant AAV plasmids. Each ITR also contains a stretch of 20 nucleotides, designated the D sequence, that is not involved in HP structure formation. We have recently shown that the D sequence plays a crucial role in high-efficiency rescue, selective replication, and encapsidation of the AAV genome and that a host cell protein, designated the D sequence-binding protein (D-BP), specifically interacts with this sequence (X.-S. Wang, S. Ponnazhagan, and A. Srivastava, J. Virol. 70:1668-1677, 1996). We have now performed mutational analyses of the D sequences to evaluate their precise role in viral DNA rescue, replication, and packaging. We report here that 10 nucleotides proximal to the HP structure in each of the D sequences are necessary and sufficient to mediate high-efficiency rescue, replication, and encapsidation of the viral genome in vivo. In in vitro studies, the same 10 nucleotides were found to be required for specific interaction with D-BP, but viral Rep protein-mediated cleavage at the functional terminal resolution site is independent of these sequences. These data suggest that AAV replication and terminal resolution functions can be uncoupled and that the lack of efficient replication of AAV DNA may not be a consequence of impaired resolution of the viral ITRs. These studies further illustrate that the D sequence-D-BP interaction plays an important role in the AAV life cycle and indicate that it may be possible to develop the next generation of AAV vectors capable of encapsidating larger pieces of DNA.
Vomeroglandin/CRP-Ductin is strongly expressed in the glands associated with the mouse vomeronasal organ: identification and characterization of mouse vomeroglandin.

Vomeroglandin, a subform of mouse CRP-ductin, is a protein strongly expressed in the glands of mouse vomeronasal system. Both the proteins contain several of scavenger receptor cysteine-rich and CUB domains and one ZP domain. This domain arrangement is similar to those of rat Ebnerin, human DMBT1, and rabbit hensin. In situ hybridization analysis shows strong expression of vomeroglandin mRNA in the glands of vomeronasal system. Immunological analyses detect both membrane-bound and secreted forms of vomeroglandin. The secreted protein seems to be localized in the lumen of the vomeronasal organ, playing a certain role in the pheromone perception.
Are Insider Trades Informative

We document insider trading activities of all companies listed on the NYSE, Amex, and Nasdaq exchanges during the 1975-1995 period. Insider trading is common, and in more than half the sample firms, there is at least some insider activity in a given year. In general, very little market movement is observed when insiders trade and when they report their trades to the SEC. Insiders in aggregate are contrarian investors. However, they predict market movements better than simple contrarian strategies. Insiders also seem to be able to predict cross-sectional stock returns. The result, however, is driven by insider's ability to predict returns in smaller firms. In addition, insider purchases are more informative than insider sales.
Up, Down and Reciprocal: The Dynamics of Intergenerational Transfers, Family Structure and Health in a Low-Income Context

Abstract In the absence of well-functioning public transfer systems and safety nets, the family acts as the key provider of income and support through the intergenerational redistribution of resources. In this paper we use micro-level longitudinal data and a mix of methodologies to document the lifecycle patterns of financial transfers in a rural, sub-Saharan African population. Underneath a well-established age-pattern of intergenerational transfers in which transfer patterns change according to broad stages of the economic life cycle, our analyses document significant heterogeneity and fluidity: Intergenerational transfers are variable and reverse their direction, with individuals moving between the provider and recipient states repeatedly across their life course and within each major stage of the life-cycle. Contrary to common perceptions about family transfers ameliorating short-term shocks, transfers in our analyses are driven primarily by demographic factors such as changes in health, household size, and household composition, rather than short-term events. Overall our analyses suggest that the role of transfers in this rural sub-Saharan context is significantly more complex than suggested by theories and evidence on aggregate transfer patterns, and at the micro-level, intergenerational transfers encapsulate multiple functions ranging from direct exchange to old-age support in the absence of a public pension system. Abstract: In the absence of well-functioning public transfer systems and safety nets, the family acts as the key provider of income and support through the intergenerational redistribution of resources. In this paper we use micro-level longitudinal data and a mix of methodologies to document the lifecycle patterns of financial transfers in a rural, sub-Saharan African population. Underneath a well-established age-pattern of intergenerational transfers in which transfer patterns change according to broad stages of the economic life cycle, our analyses document significant heterogeneity and fluidity: Intergenerational transfers are variable and reverse their direction, with individuals moving between the provider and recipient states repeatedly across their life course and within each major stage of the life-cycle. Contrary to common perceptions about family transfers ameliorating short-term shocks, transfers in our analyses are driven primarily by demographic factors such as changes in health, household size, and household composition, rather than short-term events. Overall our analyses suggest that the role of transfers in this rural sub-Saharan context is significantly more complex than suggested by theories and evidence on aggregate transfer patterns, and at the micro-level, intergenerational transfers encapsulate multiple functions ranging from direct exchange to old-age support in the absence of a public pension system.
Competent stripes for diverse positions of limbs/fins in gnathostome embryos

SUMMARY Every vertebrate species has its own unique morphology adapted to a particular lifestyle and habitat. Limbs and fins are strikingly diversified in size, shape, and position along the body axis. This diversity in morphology suggests the existence of a variety of embryonic developmental programs. However, comparisons of various embryos suggest common mechanisms underlying limb/fin formation. Here, we report the existence of continuous stripes of competency for appendage formation along the dorsal midline and the lateral trunk of all of the major jawed vertebrate (gnathostome) groups. We also show that the developing fin buds of cartilaginous fish share a mechanism of anterior–posterior axis formation as well as an shh (sonic hedgehog) expression domain in the posterior bud. We hypothesize a continuous distribution of competent stripes that represents the common developmental program at the root of appendage formation in gnathostomes. This schema would have permitted subsequent divergence into various levels of limbs/fins in each animal group.
Mandarin-accented fall, rise and fall-rise F0 contours in Dutch

An experiment was conducted to study how Mandarin Chinese speakers of Dutch produced three Dutch pitch contours (Fall, Rise and Fall-rise) on final syllables in the intonational phrase. It was found that the Fall-Rise was the hardest contour for them to produce. In addition, there were substantial differences between the subjects with higher and those with lower proficiency in Dutch in the realization of the Fall and the Rise, which the higher proficiency subjects produced much as did the native control group.
"Best" PEEP during one-lung ventilation.

Eight patients were studied under general anaesthesia for elective pulmonary lobectomy to see if intrinsic positive end-expired pressure (PEEPi) would appear or increase in the dependent lung during one-lung ventilation (OLV) or if application of external PEEP equal to individually measured PEEPi would produce better arterial oxygenation, haemodynamic state and oxygen delivery than either zero PEEP (ZEEP) or an external PEEP 5 cm H2O greater than PEEPi. Patients were non-obese, without obstructive airways disease, aged 53-76 yr and ASA < III. They received standardized anaesthesia with fentanyl, 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen and isoflurane; monitoring included radial and fibreoptic pulmonary arterial catheters and intermittent positive pressure ventilation with a tidal volume of 8 ml kg-1, 16 bpm, and an I:E ratio of 1:2. PEEPi was measured during two-lung ventilation (TLV) and OLV, using rapid airway occlusion at end-expiration. There was no PEEPi during TLV, but 2-6 mm Hg of PEEPi appeared during OLV. Applying external PEEP equal to individually measured PEEPi reduced venous admixture and increased PaO2 without a decrease in cardiac index (thus increasing oxygen delivery) compared with ZEEP, but the improvement in pulmonary gas exchange was lost and an additional penalty of reduced cardiac output was imposed when external PEEP was increased to 5 mm Hg above PEEPi.