Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Industrial clusters in less developed countries : review of experiences and research agenda

The chapter by Nadvi and Schmitz broadens the debate to industrializing nations like Brazil and about more recent experiences in the developing world. The paper studies how industrial clusters in LDCs are structured. It then examines inter firm relations, factors influencing them, conclusions there from. It also identifies the growth path of some prominent clusters and lessons to be drawn by the Government. The paper ends with an agenda for Research, for mapping of clusters and to identify areas of both static as well as dynamic concerns and to explore the trajectories of clusters, finally it discusses combination of research methods to further our understanding of how clustering advances industrialization in LDCs.
Pattern transfer fidelity of nanoimprint lithography on six-inch wafers

We studied the pattern transfer fidelity of nanoimprint lithography (NIL) by patterning sub-micron MESFET gates on six-inch wafers. The critical dimensions (CD) of the gate patterns on the mould, imprinted in resist, as well as after oxygen reactive ion etching (RIE) and metal lift-off were measured, separately, using an ultrahigh-resolution scanning electron microscope. Comparison of the measurements reveals that the as-imprinted gates in resist are 5.2% (or 37 nm) on average larger than those on the mould with a standard deviation of 1.2% (or 8 nm), and the gates after oxygen RIE and metal lift-off are 42% (or 296 nm) on average larger than those on the mould with a standard deviation of 8% (or 30 nm). Compared with photolithography, NIL has better pattern transfer fidelity with CD controls about four times smaller.
Share Repurchases and the Flexibility Hypothesis

Extant research finds that firms are increasingly substituting dividends with share repurchases. This substitution effect is largely attributable to the flexibility offered by share repurchases but not by dividends. Without fear of an adverse market reaction, firms can choose not to repurchase shares, which is not possible with dividends. Using the financial crisis as a natural experiment, we test whether repurchases are more flexible than dividends. We document that the proportion of repurchasing firms that reduced repurchase payouts is greater than the proportion of dividend payers that reduced their dividends during the financial crisis period. This extends to total payout reductions (dividends plus repurchases) as well between the two groups of firms. We also find that the propensity to reduce payouts between repurchasers and dividend payers exists even after controlling for several control variables. We also find that the market performance of repurchase-reducing firms is better than that of dividend-reducing firms over the financial crisis period, indicating that the markets do not penalize repurchasing firms more than dividend-reducing firms. Finally, we find that the operating performance of share repurchasers is better than dividend payers during the financial crisis and post-crisis periods. Overall, we conclude that share repurchases are more flexible than dividends.
The opposing effects of basic fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor beta on the regulation of plasminogen activator activity in capillary endothelial cells

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), a potent inducer of angiogenesis in vivo, stimulates the production of both urokinase- and tissue-type plasminogen activators (PAs) in cultured bovine capillary endothelial cells. The observed increase in proteolytic activity induced by bFGF was effectively diminished by picogram amounts of transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta), but could not be abolished by increasing the amount of TGF beta. However, the inhibition by TGF beta was greatly enhanced if the cells were pretreated with TGF beta before addition of bFGF. After prolonged incubation of cultures treated simultaneously with bFGF and TGF beta, the inhibitory effect of TGF beta diminished and the stimulatory effect of the added bFGF dominated as assayed by PA levels. TGF beta did not alter the receptor binding of labeled bFGF, nor did a 6-h pretreatment with TGF beta reduce the amount of bFGF bound. The major difference between the effects of bFGF and TGF beta was that while bFGF effectively enhanced PA activity expressed by the cells, TGF beta decreased the amounts of both cell-associated and secreted PA activity by decreasing enzyme production. Both bFGF and TGF beta increased the secretion of the endothelial-type plasminogen activator inhibitor.
Banking Efficiency in Central and Eastern Europe

country and time series evidence. A stochastic frontier analysis using a Fourier flexible form produces well-fitting cost and profit functions. Efficiency estimates indicate a generally low level of cost efficiency and an even lower level of profit efficiency. However, we also find some evidence of increasing cost efficiency and, to an even stronger extent, profit efficiency over time. Furthermore, we decompose the inefficiency values obtained from the cost and profit function estimates and thereby gain information about the level of banking efficiency across countries. Finally, we detect differences in efficiency across size and specialization and thereby provide an insight into the reasons for efficiency differences.
Wealth, Inequality, and Altruistic Bequests

This paper examines the role of bequests and inter vivos gifts in the U.S. economy, considering their importance in determining (i) the economy’s aggregate capital stock, (ii) the distribution of private net worth, and (iii) public policy outcomes and options. It focuses on several recent calibrated simulations.
Impacts of International and Internal Remittances on Household Welfare: Evidence from Viet Nam

This paper measures the impact of international and internal remittances on household welfare of remittances-receiving households using data from Viet Nam Household Living Standard Surveys 2002 and 2004. It is found that the receiving of international and internal remittances increased both income and consumption expenditures of the recipients. The impact of remittances on non-food expenditures tended to be higher than the impact on food expenditures. For international remittances, the impact on income was much higher than the impact on consumption expenditures. It means that a large proportion of international remittances were used for saving and investment. For the receipt of internal remittances, the impact on income was just slightly larger than the impact on consumption expenditures. In other words, most of the internal remittances were used for consumption expenditures.
Bipolar Cells Contribute to Nonlinear Spatial Summation in the Brisk-Transient (Y) Ganglion Cell in Mammalian Retina

The receptive field of the Y-ganglion cell comprises two excitatory mechanisms: one integrates linearly over a narrow field, and the other integrates nonlinearly over a wide field. The linear mechanism has been attributed to input from bipolar cells, and the nonlinear mechanism has been attributed to input from a class of amacrine cells whose nonlinear “subunits” extend across the linear receptive field and beyond. However, the central component of the nonlinear mechanism could in theory be driven by bipolar input if that input were rectified. Recording intracellularly from the Y-cell in guinea pig retina, we blocked the peripheral component of the nonlinear mechanism with tetrodotoxin and found the remaining nonlinear receptive field to be precisely co-spatial with the central component of the linear receptive field. Both linear and nonlinear mechanisms were caused by an excitatory postsynaptic potential that reversed near 0 mV. The nonlinear mechanism depended neither on acetylcholine nor on feedback involving GABA or glycine. Thus the central components of the ganglion cell's linear and nonlinear mechanisms are apparently driven by synapses from the same rectifying bipolar cell.
Neoliberal transformation of education in Turkey : political and ideological analysis of educational reforms in the age of AKP

Foreword A.Darder PART I: AKP AND EDUCATION IN TURKISH MAP 1. The Political Economy of Education in Turkey Gamze Yucesan-Ozdemir and Ali Murat Ozdemir 2. Educational Politics of AKP Kemal Inal PART II: REFORMS, FINANCE AND UNIONS IN EDUCATION IN THE AKP ERA 3. Constructivism and the Curriculum Reform of the AKP Hasan Under 4. Marketization of Primary School Curricula and Textbooks under the AKP Rule Unal Ozmen 5. Curriculum Change in Turkey Hulya Kosar-Altinyelken and Guliz Akkaymak 6. Learning to FlexLabor Ergin Bulut 7. Turkey under the AKP Rule Nejla Kurul 8. External Education Projects in Turkey Gulay Aslan, Erdal Kucuker and Ergul Adiguzel 9. The New Stream of Trade Unionism Duygun Gokturk, Gokce Guvercin, Onur Seckin PART III: AKP AND NEOLIBERAL-CONSERVATIVE RECONSTRUCTION IN EDUCATION 10. Marketization of Higher Education in Turkey (2002-2011) Nevzat Evrim Onal 11. Neoliberalization and Foundation Universities in Turkey Omur Birler 12. Dershane Business in Turkey Ayhan Ural 13. Growth of Islamic Education in Turkey Mustafa Kemal Coskun and Burcu Senturk 14. Body Politics and Sexual Education under the AKP rule Serdar M. Degirmencioglu 15. Early Childhood Education in Turkey: A Critical Overview Mehmet Toran 16. Fights over Human Rights Tugba Asrak-Hasdemir 17. The System of Teacher Training during the AKP Rule I. Rifat Okcabol 18. Transformation of the Teaching Profession in Turkey Esin Erturk 19. Transformation of Adult Education in Turkey Ahmet Yildiz
Regime Change, Democracy and Growth

Theory and empirics are ambiguous on the effect of democracy on growth. Cross-country studies find that democracy has no significant impact on growth. In contrast, within-country studies find a strong positive effect of transition to democracy. We reconcile this inconsistency by showing that the positive effect of political transition is a result of swift regime change and not democratization. We identify and examine 90 successful, failed, and gradual transitions that have occurred over the last half century. This new classification permits us to compare successful episodes of democratization with unsuccessful ones -- as opposed to with the counterfactual of no transition. We find that both successful and failed transitions boost long-run growth by about one percentage point, but gradual change is quite costly in economic terms. The results imply that the growth dividend from political transition is a result of regime change and not democratization, and also offer new evidence on the importance of the speed of transition for economic growth. The results are robust to a number of alternative specifications, to stricter and more lenient definitions of democratic transition, and to including reverse transitions.
Education’s Prisoners: Schooling, the Political Economy, and the Prison Industrial Complex

Education's Prisoners sheds light on the complicated relationship among the educational system, the political economy, and the prison industrial system in the United States. Working within the tradition of critical theory, this critical ethnography posits more than accidental connection among these phenomena, and engages in a debate with existing literature within critical theory related to structure and agency. The life stories of the participants and their perspectives on their social circumstances provide a tool for deepening and questioning our understandings of these matters. In addition to its substantive findings, this book allows us to see in human terms how structures and forces in society contribute to the outcomes of school failure and incarceration that are usually measured in percentages and correlations. It suggests wasps of improving classroom experiences and improving the life chances of young people.
Star Formation Histories of Early-Type Galaxies. I. Higher Order Balmer Lines as Age Indicators

We have obtained blue integrated spectra of 175 nearby early-type galaxies, covering a wide range in galaxy velocity dispersion and emphasizing those with σ < 100 km s-1. Galaxies have been observed both in the Virgo Cluster and in lower density environments. The main goals are the evaluation of higher order Balmer lines as age indicators and differences in stellar populations as a function of mass, environment, and morphology. In this first paper, our emphasis is on presenting the methods used to characterize the behavior of the Balmer lines through evolutionary population synthesis models. Lower σ galaxies exhibit a substantially greater intrinsic scatter, in a variety of line-strength indicators, than do higher σ galaxies, with the large intrinsic scatter setting in below a σ of 100 km s-1. Moreover, a greater contrast in scatter is present in the Balmer lines than in the lines of metal features. Evolutionary synthesis modeling of the observed spectral indexes indicates that the strong Balmer lines found primarily among the low-σ galaxies are caused by young age, rather than by low metallicity. Thus we find a trend between the population age and the central velocity dispersion, such that low-σ galaxies have younger luminosity-weighted mean ages. We have repeated this analysis using several different Balmer lines and find consistent results from one spectral indicator to another.
Change in Practice over Four Decades in the Management of Graves' Disease in Scotland

There is continuing debate on the optimal treatment for Grave's thyrotoxicosis with a resultant variation in clinical practice. The present study aimed to ascertain changes in practice in the treatment of Grave's thyrotoxicosis in Tayside, Scotland, over the past four decades. Methods. The “Scottish automated follow-up register” (SAFUR) was queried to identify all patients treated for Grave's thyrotoxicosis from 1968 to 2007 inclusive. Patients were divided into 4 groups (Groups A to D) according to the decades. Demographic profile, treatment modalities, radioactive iodine (RAI) dose, and recurrence rates were studied and outcomes were compared by χ 2 test and ANOVA using SPSS v15.0. A p value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Results. Altogether, 3737 patients were diagnosed with Grave's thyrotoxicosis over the 4 decades. Use of RAI has increased from 43.1% in Group A to 68% in Group D (p < 0.001). The dose of RAI has increased (p < 0.001) and there has been a reduction in recurrence rate with higher dose of RAI. Surgical intervention rates decreased from 55.3% to 12.3% (p < 0.001) over time. Conclusions. Analysis of a large dataset of patients with Grave's thyrotoxicosis suggests increasing use of RAI as the preferred first line of treatment. Furthermore, using a single higher dose of RAI and adoption of total thyroidectomy have decreased recurrence rates.
Optimal Cloning of PCR Fragments by Homologous Recombination in Escherichia coli

PCR fragments and linear vectors containing overlapping ends are easily assembled into a propagative plasmid by homologous recombination in Escherichia coli. Although this gap-repair cloning approach is straightforward, its existence is virtually unknown to most molecular biologists. To popularize this method, we tested critical parameters influencing the efficiency of PCR fragments cloning into PCR-amplified vectors by homologous recombination in the widely used E. coli strain DH5α. We found that the number of positive colonies after transformation increases with the length of overlap between the PCR fragment and linear vector. For most practical purposes, a 20 bp identity already ensures high-cloning yields. With an insert to vector ratio of 2:1, higher colony forming numbers are obtained when the amount of vector is in the range of 100 to 250 ng. An undesirable cloning background of empty vectors can be minimized during vector PCR amplification by applying a reduced amount of plasmid template or by using primers in which the 5′ termini are separated by a large gap. DpnI digestion of the plasmid template after PCR is also effective to decrease the background of negative colonies. We tested these optimized cloning parameters during the assembly of five independent DNA constructs and obtained 94% positive clones out of 100 colonies probed. We further demonstrated the efficient and simultaneous cloning of two PCR fragments into a vector. These results support the idea that homologous recombination in E. coli might be one of the most effective methods for cloning one or two PCR fragments. For its simplicity and high efficiency, we believe that recombinational cloning in E. coli has a great potential to become a routine procedure in most molecular biology-oriented laboratories.
Racial disparities in stage-specific colorectal cancer mortality: 1960-2005.

OBJECTIVES We examined whether racial disparities in stage-specific colorectal cancer survival changed between 1960 and 2005. METHODS We used US Mortality Multiple-Cause-of-Death Data Files and intercensal estimates to calculate standardized mortality rates by gender and race from 1960 to 2005. We used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data to estimate stage-specific colorectal cancer survival. To account for SEER sampling uncertainty, we used a bootstrap resampling procedure and fit a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS Between 1960-2005, patterns of decline in mortality rate as a result of colorectal cancer differed greatly by gender and race: 54% reduction for White women, 14% reduction for Black women, 39% reduction for White men, and 28% increase for Black men. Blacks consistently experienced worse rates of stage-specific survival and life expectancy than did Whites for both genders, across all age groups, and for localized, regional, and distant stages of the disease. CONCLUSIONS The rates of stage-specific colorectal cancer survival differed among Blacks when compared with Whites during the 4-decade study period. Differences in stage-specific life expectancy were the result of differences in access to care or quality of care. More attention should be given to racial disparities in colorectal cancer management.
Comparison of effects of fentanyl and remifentanil on hemodynamic response to endotracheal intubation and myoclonus in elderly patients with etomidate induction

Background Etomidate has a stable hemodynamic profile after induction, but hypertension and tachycardia are frequent after intubation as well as myoclonus. We compared the effects of fentanyl and remifentanil on the hemodynamic response to intubation and myoclonus during etomidate induction in elderly patients. Methods Ninety ASA I or II patients aged over 65 were randomly assigned to 3 groups. Group C received normal saline 10 ml (n = 30), group F and R were pretreated with fentanyl 1.0 µg/kg (n = 30) or remifentanil 1.0 µg/kg with continuous infusion of 0.1 µg/kg/min (n = 30) 1 min before induction with etomidate 0.2 mg/kg. Endotracheal intubation was performed after administration of rocuronium 0.8 mg/kg. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial pressure, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), and the incidence and intensity of myoclonus were recorded. Results After intubation, group R showed significant decreases compared with groups C and F for all of the hemodynamic variables measured. The incidences of increases in SBP and HR of more than 30% of the baseline levels, SBP of > 200 mmHg, and HR of > 120 beats/min were significantly lower in group R (0%, 10%, 0%, and 0%, respectively) compared with groups C (83%, 83%, 30%, and 13%, respectively) and F (63%, 77%, 13%, and 7%, respectively). The frequency and intensity of myoclonus were significantly decreased in both groups F and R compared with group C. Conclusions Pretreatment with remifentanil suppressed cardiovascular reactions to endotracheal intubation more effectively than that of fentanyl during etomidate induction. Both opioids reduced the incidence of myoclonus.
Endometrial expression of epithelial neutrophil-activating peptide-78 during the menstrual cycle or in progestin-only contraceptive users with breakthrough bleeding and the influence of doxycycline therapy.

BACKGROUND Endometrial breakthrough bleeding is characterized by an inflammatory reaction and increased production of proinflammatory mediators, one of which may be epithelial neutrophil-activating peptide-78 (ENA-78), a chemokine with neutrophil-activating properties. METHODS AND RESULTS We therefore investigated the endometrial expression of ENA-78 in Norplant users as progestin-only contraceptive with various bleeding patterns (n=35) as compared with non-users with a normal menstrual cycle (n=55). The endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) were the major site of ENA-78 expression with the highest levels found during the secretory phase. The expression of ENA-78 was increased in Norplant users with irregular bleeding as compared with those with regular cycles and amenorrhoea. The levels of ENA-78 detected in uterine washes and sera after the use of Norplant for 3-6 months (n=25) increased compared with baseline (P < 0.05). These levels did not significantly change in Norplant users who received doxycycline (Dox) therapy (25 mg/twice daily for 6 months) when measured midway through or at the conclusion of study when compared with the baseline (n=25). Treatments with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) (25 ng/ml), but not 17beta-estradiol (E2) or E2 + MPA (10(-8) M), representing endometrium exposed to contraceptive and inflammatory conditions, respectively, increased the levels of ENA-78 production by ESCs, and this was reduced by co-treatments with Dox (25 microg/ml) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The endometrial production of ENA-78 is altered in progestin-only contraceptive users experiencing breakthrough bleeding and is regulated by MPA and TNF-alpha in ESCs. Although Dox therapy did not alter uterine ENA-78 secretion, its suppression in ESCs suggests that Dox, acting site-specifically and through an anti-inflammatory mechanism, may influence the outcome of breakthrough bleeding in contraceptive users.
Computational Modelling of Synaptic Plasticity in the Dentate Gyrus Granule Cell

After more than 30 years of study, the dynamics of synaptic plasticity in neurons still remain somewhat a mystery. By conducting a series of simulations on a simulated version of the rat dentate gyrus granule cell using the Izhikevich spiking neuron model, we compare and contrast several potential synaptic plasticity rules' applicability to the same experiment. Based on a 2001 experiment (Abraham et al., 2001), our simulations find that spike timing dependent plasticity (STDP), a more recent (Markram et al., 1997) theory of synaptic plasticity, is insufficient to replicate the heterosynaptic LTD shown in the experiment without including aspects of the significantly older Bienenstock-Cooper-Munro (BCM) (Bienenstock et al., 1982) theory. A combination of the history-independent STDP model and the historydependent BCM model seems most likely to be an accurate candidate for reproducing the greatest variety of cell dynamics. We also find that in simpler nearest-neighbour STDP rules, the choice of pairing scheme is critical in achieving the greatest concordance with experiment.
Technology Integration: A Review of the Literature

Technology has been viewed as a lodestone for improving student academic performance and for increasing the flexibility of public schools. This review provides a synthesis that addresses the effect of technology on teaching and learning and analyzes these effects through the lens of diffusion theory. This synthesis examines the historical trends of technology, explores policy changes that have influenced technology’s role in K-12 curriculum, how these changes have resulted in a new definition of literacy that now includes technological literacy and in new social and cultural dynamics. Third, this review examines the gaps between the vision for technology and its practical realities, concluding with a call for future educational research in technology.