Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does a Stronger System of Law and Order Constrain the Effects of Foreign Direct Investment on Government Size?

The flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) has increased the challenges governments face in carrying out their fiscal responsibilities. A country's system of law and order enables or constrains the implementation of government policies, and consequently influences whether the size of government responds to changes in FDI inflows and outflows. We test this hypothesis by fitting a semiparametric model of government consumption to a panel of developed and developing countries with within-country variation. Over a short data frequency, the average compensating response of governments in developing countries to an increase in FDI inflows is larger by a factor of five than that of developed countries. These significant level effects of FDI inflows are driven by law and order and are adjusted for differences in per capita income across countries. The larger the compensating response of a government, the bigger is the constraining effect of a stronger system of law and order. The efficiency hypothesis seems empirically valid for developing countries with a moderate system of law and order. Over a long data frequency, we find a strong (negative) link between FDI inflows and government consumption, and increases in law and order weaken this link. For both data frequencies, FDI outflows have no level effect on government consumption, whereas the empirical regularity of strong and robust inertia in government consumption exists in all countries.
Pretreatment of Urine Samples with SDS Improves Direct Identification of Urinary Tract Pathogens with Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry

ABSTRACT We pretreated with SDS 71 urine samples with bacterial counts of >105 CFU/ml and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight (MALDI-TOF) identification scores of <2, in order to minimize failure rates. Identification improved in 46.5% of samples, remained unchanged in 49.3%, and worsened in 4.2%. The improvement was more evident for Gram-negative (54.3%) than for Gram-positive (32%) bacteria.
The Israeli Case

The paper presents an account of the Israeli government’s efforts to absorb and integrate an influx of Jewish immigrants from the Soviet Union and Ethiopia. With fewer than five million persons, Israel accepted 400,000 Jewish refugees between 1989–1992. At the time, the Israeli government discouraged granting of political asylum to tens of thousands of mostly Muslim refugees from East Africa. Furthermore, an Israeli law prevented family reunification of Israeli Arab citizens who married Palestinians living outside of Israel (including the occupied territories). The paper looks at policies designed to provide housing and education to the Russian and Ethiopian immigrants. Israeli absorption policies were not coordinated. Prime Minister Shamir later told the author “Who needed policy? Let them come and we will make policy. ” Policies gave preferential treatment to Russian immigrants who had more clout than the Ethiopians. They also had greater social capital. While the national government and the Jewish Agency, an NGO representing world Jewry, set immigration policy, mayors had some input in implementation. One mayor discussed here used absorption of immigrants as a means to foster local economic growth and development. The major finding here is the importance of “political will”. Israeli government officials and much of the Israeli population favoured mass immigration of Jews regardless of where they were from. Israeli leaders want to preserve a Jewish majority among its citizens. With respect to lessons for the EU, the findings here suggest that the successful absorption and acceptance of refugees lies in the attitude of the host country toward immigration. Policies and issues of coordination and implementation are secondary concerns. In the Israeli case despite the lack of adequate resources and lack of coordination absorption of immigrants succeeded.
Economic analysis of new generation vaccines for control of lumpy skin disease and Rift Valley Fever in South Africa

ABSTRACT Livestock disease outbreaks in Africa threaten improved animal and human health, increased productivity, and sustainable agricultural livelihoods. Investment into research and development of livestock vaccines has potential to generate new technologies that can benefit the livestock sector and result in control of diseases such as Rift Valley fever (RVF) and lumpy skin disease (LSD). Veterinary research and development efforts have focussed on the development of an improved, combined LSD RVF 2-in-1 vaccine, using new generation technologies. Through collaborative, multidisciplinary research, it is possible to create solid economic arguments that guide policy and investment on strategies for controlling livestock diseases. Using Monte Carlo simulation through various vaccination scenarios this paper evaluates ex-ante the costs and benefits of an LSD RVF 2-in-1 vaccine on dairy production in South Africa. Simulations over a 15 year period yielded positive net present values at R830 641 and R13 954 073 with internal rate of return at 32.4 per cent and 32.9 per cent for small scale and large scale operations, respectively. The results of the study provide decision makers with solid economic arguments regarding the potential benefits of investing in new generation vaccines for control of RVF and LSD. Continuous awareness on the importance of the vaccines, particularly for small-scale farmers is recommended for improved livestock productivity.
National trends, complications, and outcomes following transsphenoidal surgery for Cushing's disease from 1993 to 2002.

OBJECT Information about complications, patient outcomes, and mortality rate after transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for Cushing's disease has been derived largely from single-institution series. In this study the authors report on inpatient death, morbidity, and outcomes following TSS for Cushing's disease on a national level. METHODS All patients in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database who had undergone transsphenoidal resection of a pituitary tumor for Cushing's disease between 1993 and 2002 were included in the study. The number of cases per year, length of stay (LOS), and rates of inpatient complications, death, and adverse outcomes (death or discharge to institution other than home) were abstracted. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the effects of patient and hospital characteristics on outcome measures. RESULTS According to the NIS, there were an estimated 3525 cases of TSS for Cushing's disease in the US between 1993 and 2002. During this period, there was a trend toward a small increase in the number of TSSs for Cushing's disease. The in-hospital mortality rate was 0.7%, and the complication rate was 42.1%. Diabetes insipidus (15%), fluid and electrolyte abnormalities (12.5%), and neurological deficits (5.6%) were the most common complications reported. Multivariate analysis showed that complications were more likely in patients with pre-operative comorbidities. Patients older than 64 years were much more likely to have an adverse outcome (odds ratio [OR] 20.8) and a prolonged hospital stay (OR 2.2). Women were less likely than men to have an adverse outcome (OR 0.3). A single postoperative complication increased the mean LOS by 3 days, more than tripled the odds of an adverse outcome, and increased the hospital charges by more than US $7000. CONCLUSIONS The authors provided a national perspective on trends, inpatient complications, and outcomes after TSS for Cushing's disease in the US. Postoperative complications had a significantly negative effect on LOS, adverse outcome, and resource utilization. Advanced age and multiple preoperative comorbidities were identified as important risk factors, and their effects on patient outcomes were quantified.
Ksp1 Kinase Regulates Autophagy via the Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (TORC1) Pathway*

Background: Autophagy is an essential physiological process that is tightly regulated. Results: Ksp1 is a negative regulator of autophagy that activates the Tor complex 1 (TORC1), and Ksp1 function is regulated by protein kinase A (PKA). Conclusion: Ksp1 integrates signaling between PKA and TORC1. Significance: Our work implicates the Ksp1 kinase as part of the TORC1 network for regulating autophagy. Macroautophagy (hereafter autophagy) is a bulk degradation system conserved in all eukaryotes, which engulfs cytoplasmic components within double-membrane vesicles to allow their delivery to, and subsequent degradation within, the vacuole/lysosome. Autophagy activity is tightly regulated in response to the nutritional state of the cell and also to maintain organelle homeostasis. In nutrient-rich conditions, Tor kinase complex 1 (TORC1) is activated to inhibit autophagy, whereas inactivation of this complex in response to stress leads to autophagy induction; however, it is unclear how the activity of TORC1 is controlled to allow precise adjustments in autophagy activity. In this study, we performed genetic analyses in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to identify factors that regulate TORC1 activity. We determined that the Ksp1 kinase functions in part as a negative regulator of autophagy; deletion of KSP1 facilitated dephosphorylation of Atg13, a TORC1 substrate, which correlates with enhanced autophagy. These results suggest that Ksp1 down-regulates autophagy activity via the TORC1 pathway. The suppressive function of Ksp1 is partially activated by the Ras/cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA), which is another negative regulator of autophagy. Our study therefore identifies Ksp1 as a new component that functions as part of the PKA and TORC1 signaling network to control the magnitude of autophagy.
Demographic Differences in Substance Use Problems Among Juvenile Delinquents

This article presents two studies that used community-based, national samples of adolescents to compare demographic differences between delinquent and nondelinquent respondents. Results indicated that ethnic differences in alcohol problems were similar in the delinquent and nondelinquent groups, with whites reporting higher levels of alcohol problems. In contrast, age differences were smaller among delinquents than nondelinquents, which pointed to a heightened risk for both alcohol and marijuana problems among younger delinquents. Future research can explore biological and psychosocial factors that increase risk for substance problems among younger delinquents.
Blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in obese NIDDM patients.

Four group of age- and sex-matched patients were studied: 1. nondiabetic subjects (n = 20) with a body mass index (BMI) < 25 Kg/m2 (lean control subjects); 2. obese non diabetic subjects (n = 22) with a BMI > 30 Kg/m2 (obese control subjects); 3. lean NIDDM subjects (n = 22); and 4. obese NIDDM subjects (n = 24). We determined: total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, blood glucose, Apolipoproteins A1 and B, insulin, Lp(a), Factor VII, fibrinogen, plasminogen, t-PA(Ag) pre and post venous occlusion (VO) and PAI activity pre and post VO. In addition to metabolic abnormalities obese non diabetic subjects and lean and obese NIDDM patients displayed significantly higher levels of fibrinogen, Factor VII, plasminogen, PAI pre and post VO and tPA(Ag) pre VO and significantly lower levels of t-PA(Ag) post VO. Our findings demonstrate an impairment of the haemostatic and fibrinolytic mechanisms which may be a key role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic vascular complications in obesity and in NIDDM.
Strategies for wise use of wetlands : best practices in participatory management. Proceedings of a workshop held at the 2nd International conference on wetlands and development

This review paper provides an introduction to this volume, bringing together the case studies presented and discussed in a workshop of the 2nd International Conference on Wetlands and Development, held in Dakar, Senegal. Eight co-management themes are highlighted to identify and refine strategies for wise use: supporting frameworks, local environmental knowledge, economic valuations, gender, participatory monitoring, effectively addressing threats to wetlands through co-management, win-win scenarios where socio-economic development has gone hand in hand with wetland conservation, and exit strategies. This paper provides an overview of the lessons from the case studies published in this volume, together with other recent examples from the literature, and highlights best practices in participatory management of both inland and coastal wetlands.
TRIATOMA INFESTANS: INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE AND BLOOD CONSUMPTION

This work had 2 objectives. The first was to quantify Trypanosoma cruzi development within Triatoma infestans maintained at 2 different temperatures, using an experimental design that simulated the natural transmission process and, second, to learn how the vector blood consumption rate modifies the parasite's development. Two hundred and three, fifth-stage nymphs of T. infestans were infected with the X-1 strain of T. cruzi (about 104 trypanosomes/ml blood), maintained at 20 and 28 C, and daily offered the opportunity to feed on uninfected laboratory mice. From 24 hr to the 55th day after the infective meal, the total number of epimastigotes and rectal and fecal metacyclic trypomastigotes were counted. Epimastigote multiplication began on the first day after the infective meal at both temperatures. This parasitic stage developed similar population densities within the vector under both temperature regimes. Trypomastigotes appeared in the rectum and feces at 20 C, 32 and 24 days later, respectively, than at 28 C; however, once they became infective, insects developed similar population densities of fecal metacyclic forms. Blood consumption was related to epimastigote and rectal trypomastigote development at 28 C, but not to the number of trypomastigotes in the feces. A minimum of 120 and 180 mg of fresh blood consumed assured that all bugs developed epimastigotes and trypomastigotes. In spite of the delay in producing metacyclic forms at 20 C, the insect's infective capacity was similar at both temperatures.
Health Consciousness, Smog Consciousness and Chinese Elderly Migrant Workers’ Preferred Retirement Place

Although those who migrated fairly early in the Chinese diaspora are reaching retirement age, their choice of retirement location will be affected by significant rural–urban disparities in medical insurance and service, pension, environment management, and public education. The lifestyle and savings for migrant workers over 45 years old are unique; they have received the wages of urban workers but are still tied to agricultural residential identities. A field survey of 173 elderly migrant workers in Xi’an examined the relationship between preferred place of retirement and health, smog, and health environmental consciousness. Among the sample, 70.5% preferred to return home for retirement; 16.8%, to stay away from home; and 12.7% had not yet considered where they would live in retirement. Based on regression results, migrant workers who were more concerned about their personal health, less concerned about the effects of city smog, who had property in rural areas and who were less educated were significantly more likely to say that they would return to rural areas for retirement. It is suggested that the narrowing the gap in retirement service and medical service between rural and urban areas could be an effective way for the government to deal with future retirement issues and provide equalized retirement services for elderly migrant workers.
A Cross-Cultural Study of Parental Conflict and Eating Disorders in a Non-Clinical Sample

Previous British studies have found that EAT scores of second generation British Asian schoolgirls are higher than those of White schoolgirls (Furnham & Husain, 1999; McCourt & Waller, 1995; Mumford et al., 1991), and that these scores are positively associated with parental over-protection (Furnham & Hussain, 1999). This study looked at the relationship between parental conflict and parental over-protection and EAT scores in three cultures. The three groups, all of late adolescent females, were British Caucasians (N=116), immigrant British Asians from Pakistan (N=118), and Pakistanis tested in Pakistan (N=114). A 22 item conflict questionnaire was constructed and administered to 355 participants, along with the PBI, EAT-26, and Body Shape Belief Scale (BSBS). It was predicted that the British Asians would have higher EAT, parental protection and conflict scores than the other two groups. It was also predicted that EAT scores would be highly correlated with conflict scores. All hypotheses were supported, and over-protection scores were noticeably highest in the British Asian group. They also had a significant amount of more conflict with parents than any of the other cultural groups. EAT scores were associated with conflict and over-protection. Results are discussed in terms of the literature in the field.
Energy-Efficient Data Forwarding for State Estimation in Multi-Hop Wireless Sensor Networks

State estimation is of great importance in various applications based on wireless networked control systems. Wireless sensor node usually forwards its data to a remote receiver through a series of relay nodes in order to save its limited energy. In this technical note, we investigate the data forwarding strategy design for accurate remote state estimation in multi-hop wireless networks. Based on different computational capability of relay nodes, we first propose two relay strategies, namely, Direct Forwarding Strategy (DFS) and Local Processing and Forwarding Strategy (LFS). Stability condition, estimation performance and energy efficiency of both the two strategies are theoretically analyzed. We further propose an Event-triggered Forwarding Strategy (EFS) which is able to balance the estimation accuracy and relay energy consumption. Numerical examples are employed to demonstrate the effectiveness of our design.
Neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio predicts cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in hemodialysis patients

Abstract Neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a marker of systemic inflammation that has been shown to predict mortality in patients with malignancies, ischemic heart disease and peripheral vascular disease. Its prognostic value in hemodialysis patients is unclear. The aims of this study were to: (i) explore the relationship between NLR and other biochemical parameters and (ii) to examine the value of NLR as a predictor of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in hemodialysis patients. The study included all the incident hemodialysis patients from a single center between 2007 and 2012. NLR was calculated using samples obtained 3 months after commencing hemodialysis. One hundred seventy hemodialysis patients were included with a median follow-up of 37 months. There were 54 deaths (32%). NLR was positively correlated with C-reactive protein (r = 0.24, p = 0.0023) and negatively correlated with hemoglobin (r = −0.27, p = 0.00048), albumin (r = −0.23, p = 0.0034) and total cholesterol (r = −0.17, p = 0.049) levels. In multivariate Cox regression, NLR was independently associated with both all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2–1.6; p ≤ 0.0001) and cardiovascular death (HR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1–1.6, p = 0.0032). Other predictors of all-cause mortality were age (HR 1.6 per decade; 95% CI, 1.2–2.1; p = 0.0017), body mass index (HR 0.93; 95% CI, 0.88–0.98; p = 0.0047), albumin (HR 0.91; 95% CI, 0.86–0.97; p = 0.0035) and peripheral vascular disease (HR 2.7; 95% CI, 1.4–5.1; p = 0.0023). NLR is a practical, cost-efficient and easy to use predictor of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in incident hemodialysis patients.
Transient receptor potential activated brown fat thermogenesis as a target of food ingredients for obesity management

Purpose of reviewCold exposure activates brown adipose tissue (BAT), the major site of sympathetically activated nonshivering thermognenesis, via transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. Capsaicin and its nonpungent analogue (capsinoids) are agonists for a vanilloid subtype one of TRP, and have the potential to increase whole-body energy expenditure and reduce body fat. This article reviews the regulatory roles of BAT for energy expenditure and body fat in humans, particularly focusing on food ingredients activating the TRP-BAT axis. Recent findingsAcute cold exposure increased energy expenditure in humans with metabolically active BAT, but not those without it. Quite similar responses were found after a single oral ingestion of either capsinoids or an alcohol extract of Guinea pepper seeds, indicating that these food ingredients activate BAT and thereby increase energy expenditure. When individuals without active BAT were exposed to cold every day for 6 weeks, BAT was recruited in association with increased energy expenditure and decreased body fat. A 6-week daily ingestion of capsinoids mimicked the effects of repeated cold exposure. These findings indicate that human BAT can be reactivated/recruited, thereby increasing energy expenditure and decreasing body fat. SummaryHuman BAT recruited by prolonged ingestion of a vanilloid subtype one of TRP agonists increases energy expenditure and decreases body fat. In addition to capsinoids, there are numerous food ingredients acting as TRP agonists, which are expected to activate BAT and so be useful for the prevention of obesity in daily life.
Reactivity of synthetic peptides representing selected sections of hepatitis C virus core and envelope proteins with a panel of hepatitis C virus‐seropositive human plasma

A series of 54 synthetic peptides, 15–20 residues long, that represented selected parts of the structural proteins of hepatitis C virus (HCV) were tested for immunoreactivity with a panel of 45 plasma samples from potential blood donors who were known to be seropositive for anti‐HCV. Most of the ten peptides that represented the core protein showed reactivity with most of the panel samples. All except one of the 20 peptides that represented non‐hypervariable regions of envelope proteins E1 and E2 showed little or no reactivity. In contrast, 18 of the the 24 peptides that represented variants of the hypervariable region 1 of the E2 protein reacted with at least one panel sample. Notably, 40% of the panel samples cross‐reacted with two or more different peptides sequences some of which differed by more than 50%. Two panel samples each cross‐reacted with seven different peptide sequences. The results suggest a broad anti‐hypervariable region antibody specificity in many anti‐HCV‐seropositive samples and possible limits on the mutability of hypervariable region sequences. The work contributes to understanding the immunogenicity and persistence of HCV. J Med Virol 51:67–79, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.