Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Politics of Public–Private Partnerships

Since 1 May 1997 the Labour government in the United Kingdom has implemented a number of public–private partnerships (PPPs) as a central tool of governance within their wider modernisation agenda. To date, the introduction of PPPs has largely been evaluated through conceptual lenses that emphasise either the administrative, managerial, financial or technical dimensions of this reform strategy. This article seeks to complement this wider literature by arguing that PPPs raise a host of political issues and tensions that have largely been overlooked. Five specific themes are set out in order to provide a framework or organising perspective. These are: efficiency; risk; complexity; accountability; and governance and the future of state projects. The main conclusion of the article is that PPPs represent a Faustian bargain in that forms of PPP may deliver efficiency gains and service improvements in some policy areas but these benefits may involve substantial political and democratic costs.
The Setting of Macroprudential Instruments in the Eurozone: An Estimated DSGE Analysis

How macroprudential instrument should be set in a federal structure such as the Eurozone? We estimate a two-country DSGE model accounting for alternative macroprudential instruments and implementations schemes. Our main conclusions underline a possible con‡ict between the federal and the national levels in the implementation of heterogenous macroprudential measures based on a single instrument as the Pareto optimal situation computed on a federal ground requires an asymmetric choice of instruments, while more symmetric practices should be preferred on regional ground. The adoption of combined instruments in each country solves this potential con‡ict as it leads to both a higher welfare increase in the Pareto optimal equilibrium and always incurs national welfare gains. However, in all cases, the Pareto optimal equilibrium cannot be reached on national incentives and requires a supranational enforcing mechanism.
Molecular characterisation of the NSP4 gene of group A human rotavirus G2P[4] strains circulating in São Paulo, Brazil, from 1994 and 2006 to 2010

Group A human rotaviruses (HuRVA) are causative agents of acute gastroenteritis. Six viral structural proteins (VPs) and six nonstructural proteins (NSPs) are produced in RV-infected cells. NSP4 is a diarrhoea-inducing viral enterotoxin and NSP4 gene analysis revealed at least 15 (E1-E15) genotypes. This study analysed the NSP4 genetic diversity of HuRVA G2P[4] strains collected in the state of São Paulo (SP) from 1994 and 2006-2010 using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Forty (97.6%) G2P[4] strains displayed genotype E2; one strain (2.4%) displayed genotype E1. These results are consistent with the proposed linkage between VP4/VP7 (G2P[4]) and the NSP4 (E2) genotype of HuRVA. NSP4 phylogenetic analysis showed distinct clusters, with grouping of most strains by their genotype and collection year, and most strains from SP were clustered together with strains from other Brazilian states. A deduced amino acid sequence alignment for E2 showed many variations in the C-terminal region, including the VP4-binding domain. Considering the ability of NSP4 to generate host immunity, monitoring NSP4 variations, along with those in the VP4 or VP7 protein, is important for evaluating the circulation and pathogenesis of RV. Finally, the presence of one G2P[4]E1 strain reinforces the idea that new genotype combinations emerge through reassortment and independent segregation.
Intra-articular Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for the Human Joint: A Systematic Review

Background: Stem cell therapy is emerging as a potential treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) and chondral defects (CDs). However, there is a great deal of heterogeneity in the literature. The indications for stem cell use, the ideal tissue source, and the preferred outcome measures for stem cell–based treatments have yet to be determined. Purpose: To provide clinicians with a comprehensive overview of the entire body of the current human literature investigating the safety and efficacy of intra-articular mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in all joints. Methods: To provide a comprehensive overview of the current literature, all clinical studies investigating the safety and efficacy of intra-articular MSC therapy were included. PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for published human clinical trials involving the use of MSCs for the treatment of OA and CDs in all joints. A total of 3867 publications were screened. Results: Twenty-eight studies met the criteria to be included in this review. Fourteen studies treating osteoarthritis and 14 studies treating focal chondral defects were included. MSCs originating from bone marrow (13), adipose tissue (12), synovial tissue (2), or peripheral blood (2) were administered to 584 distinct individuals. MSCs were administered into the knee (523 knees), foot/ankle (61), and hip (5). The mean follow-up time was 24.4 months after MSC therapy. All studies reported improvement from baseline in at least 1 clinical outcome measure, and no study reported major adverse events attributable to MSC therapy. Discussion: The studies included in this review suggest that intra-articular MSC therapy is safe. While clinical and, in some cases, radiological improvements were reported for both OA and CD trials, the overall quality of the literature was poor, and heterogeneity and lack of reproducibility limit firm conclusions regarding the efficacy of these treatments. Conclusion: This review provides strong evidence that autologous intra-articular MSC therapy is safe, with generally positive clinical outcomes.
Politics, Markets, and the Organization of Schools

We offer a comparative analysis of public and private schools, presenting data from a new national study—the Administrator and Teacher Survey—that expands on the pathbreaking High School and Beyond survey. We find that public and private schools are distinctively different in environment and organization. Most importantly, private schools are more likely to possess the characteristics widely believed to produce effectiveness. We argue throughout that the differences across the sectors are anchored in the logic of politics and markets. This argument derives from our belief that environmental context has pervasive consequences for the organization and operation of all schools and specifically that the key differences between public and private environments—and thus between public and private schools—derive from their characteristic methods of social control: the public schools are subordinates in a hierarchic system of democratic politics, whereas private schools are largely autonomous actors “controlled” by the market.
Impact of Overwhelming Joy on Consumer Demand

In this article, the authors identify the period following a Soccer World Cup victory as a period of overwhelming joy for the winning country, and they test the impact of a World Cup victory on the demand for soccer in this country. After controlling for the main determinants of attendance, the authors find that consumer demand has positively, significantly, and durably shifted in France following the 1998 World Cup. They also show that the rise in demand is stronger in the nine cities that hosted the World Cup and that the World Cup effect persists for percentage attendance after they control for season ticket holders. Finally, the authors find supportive evidence to their claim that exceptional performance improves sport popularity when analyzing soccer attendance in several control countries, attendance for a potential substitute for soccer in France, and other episodes of overwhelming joy.
Interleukin‐12‐responding asialoGM1+CD8+ central memory‐type T cells as precursor cells for interferon‐γ‐producing killer T cells

While investigating CD8+ memory T cells in unimmunized C57BL/6 mice, we found that there were unique memory‐type CD8+ T cells expressing asialoGM1 (ASGM1), CD62L and CCR7 cell surface molecules, which occupied approximately 10% of CD8+ T cells and 35% of CD44+ memory CD8+ T cells. Culture of freshly isolated ASGM1+CD8+ T cells with interleukin (IL)‐12 plus IL‐2 caused the proliferation and generation of killer T cells. Moreover, ASGM1+CD8+ T cells, but not ASGM1−CD8+ T cells, produced high levels of interferon (IFN)‐γ in response to IL‐12 plus IL‐2. Although ASGM1+CD8+ T cells showed no significant responses to IL‐12 alone or IL‐2 alone, pulse incubation of ASGM1+CD8+ T cells with IL‐12 at an earlier time (0–12 h), and subsequently with IL‐2 at a later time (12–24 h), caused the same levels of proliferation, killer cell generation and IFN‐γ production as when they were incubated simultaneously with IL‐12 plus IL‐2 for 24 h. Thus, ASGM1+CD8+ T cells appeared to respond to IL‐12 directly to acquire IL‐2 responsiveness and differentiate into IFN‐γ‐producing killer T cells. Indeed, freshly isolated ASGM1+CD8+ T cells, but not ASGM1−CD8+ T cells, expressed higher levels of IL‐12R β2 mRNA. The fact that IL‐12 administration in vivo caused the generation of ASGM1+CD8+ killer T cells in an IFN‐γ‐dependent manner further indicated a physiological significance of ASGM1+CD8+ central memory‐type T cells in IL‐12‐induced immunoregulation for the therapy of tumors and infectious diseases. (Cancer Sci 2006; 97: 1236–1241)
Markets and the Structure of the Housebuilding Industry: An International Perspective

This paper sets out to examine why the modern housebuilding industry is organised in the ways it is and to identify some implications for the wider operation of housing markets. It concentrates on advanced economies and the impacts of market conditions, regulatory constraints, production characteristics, institutional structures and land supply. Widespread differences occur across countries in the ways in which housebuilding is institutionally structured. It is argued that these differences are generally explicable in economic terms and that regulatory practices determine much of the variation.
Lysophosphatidylcholine Stimulates Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 Gene Expression in Rat Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells

Objective—Monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 is a proatherogenic factor that is responsible for ≈60% of plaque macrophages in mouse models of atherosclerosis. We investigated whether lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), enriched in oxidized low density lipoprotein, can modulate the expression of MCP-1 in arterial wall cells. Methods and Results—LPC induced a 3-fold increase in MCP-1 mRNA in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Nuclear runon analysis showed that this increase was attributable to increased MCP-1 gene transcription. There was a 2-fold increase in MCP-1 protein in the conditioned media of cells treated with LPC. LPC-associated increases of MCP-1 mRNA and protein were similar to those produced by platelet-derived growth factor-BB, a known inducer of MCP-1. Analyses of the MCP-1 promoter in transiently transfected VSMCs indicated an LPC-responsive element(s) between base pairs −146 and −261 (relative to transcription initiation). Further studies suggested that LPC-induced MCP-1 expression partially involves mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal–regulated kinase, a tyrosine kinase(s), and (to a lesser extent) protein kinase C but not the activation of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor. Conclusions—LPC stimulates MCP-1 expression at the transcriptional level in VSMCs, suggesting a molecular mechanism by which LPC contributes to the atherogenicity of oxidized low density lipoprotein.
Estimating the Profitability of Islamic Banking: Evidence from Bank Muamalat Indonesia

The primary goal of this paper is to empirically analyze the performance of Bank Muamalat Indonesia (BMI) in terms of its ROA. Utilizing regression analysis, the paper estimates the internal determinants; taken from the bank financial structure as well as its external determinant. It is found that profit has been dominantly generated from financing activities. On the other hand, service activities have not contributed significantly to the profitability of BMI. The paper also indicates that, during 1996-2001, BMI’s portfolio has been greatly biased towards short-term based financing. The result of the paper also confirms the hypothesis of the positive relationship between inflation and profitability measure.
Evaluating Students’ Plagiarism in Higher Education Institutions

Plagiarism is a threat to students’ empowerment in higher education in a knowledge economy. In this paper the phenomenon of students’ plagiarism in higher education institutions and how it disempowers the advancement of global knowledge by students, are discussed. The paper begins with a description of the meaning, forms and reasons for plagiarism among students. It goes further to discuss some strategies for evaluating and detecting plagiarism in students’ works using Information technology. Finally some knowledge empowerment strategies are presented to show how lecturers could tackle plagiarism by empowering students to be genuine in receiving and producing information for constructing new knowledge.
Endocytic disturbances distinguish among subtypes of alzheimer's disease and related disorders

The endocytic pathway is important in amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing and β‐amyloid formation. Our studies have shown that endocytic pathway activation is a prominent and early feature of neurons in vulnerable regions of the brain in sporadic Alzheimer's disease. We report that endocytic pathway abnormalities are present not only in neurons, but in cerebral endothelia in Alzheimer's disease caused by certain APP mutations. The presence or absence of endocytic abnormalities distinguish subtypes of familial Alzheimer's disease linked to APP mutations from presenilin mutations, supporting the notion that different cellular pathways are involved in the altered processing of APP leading to increased β‐amyloid generation in certain of these different Alzheimer's disease subtypes.
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome as the Underlying Cause of Intractable Nausea and Vomiting

Abstract Recently, reports have suggested that chronic cannabis abuse can result in cyclical vomiting, or cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. With the increasing prevalence of cannabis use in the United States, this syndrome may be encountered in the emergency department. The authors describe a case of a 30-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with diffuse abdominal pain, nausea, and intractable vomiting. He reported symptomatic relief with prolonged hot showers. Results of a urine drug screen were positive for cannabis, and the patient admitted to chronic cannabis use for years. Results of the drug screen, combined with the patient's symptomatic relief with hot showers, led to the diagnosis of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. The patient was admitted to the hospital and underwent pharmaceutical treatment. However, hot showers continued to be the mainstay of the patient's symptomatic relief. Four days after presentation, the patient's symptoms resolved and he was discharged from the hospital.
In Defense of Optimization: The Fallacy of 1/N

Previous research has shown that equally weighted portfolios outperform optimized portfolios, which suggests that optimization adds no value in the absence of informed inputs. This article argues the opposite. With naive inputs, optimized portfolios usually outperform equally weighted portfolios. The ostensible superiority of the 1/N approach arises not from limitations in optimization but, rather, from reliance on rolling short-term samples for estimating expected returns. This approach often yields implausible expectations. By relying on longer-term samples for estimating expected returns or even naively contrived yet plausible assumptions, optimized portfolios outperform equally weighted portfolios out of sample. Previous research has shown that equally weighted portfolios outperform optimized portfolios, which suggests that in the absence of informed inputs, optimization adds no value. We argued the opposite. Using naive inputs, we demonstrated that optimized portfolios usually outperform equally weighted portfolios. The ostensible superiority of the 1/N approach arises not from limitations in optimization but, rather, from reliance on rolling short-term samples for estimating expected returns. By relying on longer-term samples for estimating expected returns or even naively contrived yet plausible assumptions, optimized portfolios outperform equally weighted portfolios out of sample. Our study covered 13 datasets comprising 1,028 data series. We constructed more than 50,000 optimized portfolios and evaluated their out-of-sample performance as compared with the market portfolio and the 1/N portfolio. We grouped portfolios into three categories: asset class, beta, and alpha. We used three approaches to estimate expected returns for optimized portfolios: (1) We generated the minimum-variance portfolio; (2) for each asset, we estimated a risk premium over a long data sample before the backtest start date and assumed that it remained constant throughout the backtest; and (3) in the spirit of classical statistics, we used a growing sample that included all available out-of-sample data. Although extremely simple, these expected returns have an important difference from most of the expected returns used in previous studies: They do not rely on rolling samples of realized returns, which often imply implausible expectations. For example, we might forecast that cash will outperform stocks because it did so in the past five years. Why would this particular realization be a good forecast of the next one? We should not use these past data; all we need is a reasonable forecast tied to economic intuition. Our results show that optimized portfolios significantly outperform the 1/N portfolio, even across beta universes, which are notorious for the exceptional performance of the 1/N portfolio as compared with the market portfolio. We showed that even without any ability to forecast returns, optimization of the covariance matrix by itself adds value. In our view, 1/N is not a viable alternative to thoughtful optimization but is, rather, a capitulation to cynicism.
International Labour Migration in East Asia: Trends, Patterns and Policy Issues

This paper examines emerging patterns of labour migration in East Asia and related policy issues from the perspective of labour-importing countries. Following a survey of the characteristics of labour flows stemming from, but more importantly occurring within, the region, it probes inter-country differences, both in the timing of the entry of migrant workers and the degree of dependency on migrant labour in the context of rapid economic growth and labour market change. There is clear evidence that labour migration is now a structural feature of the economic landscape in these countries. The policy challenge is to design market-based systems for making the new reliance on labour inflows consistent with changing domestic labour market conditions and the priorities of national development policy, while minimising social resentment and adverse implications for political relations with neighbouring labour-sending countries.
Corporate Citizenship in Germany and the United States – Differing Perceptions and Practices in Transatlantic Comparison

Because of the declining fiscal capabilities of the German welfare state and the resulting reductions in social services provided by the government, increasing attention has been given to the voluntary social engagement of businesses, often referred to as corporate citizenship. In that context, scholars and politicians alike have pointed to the United States as a country with a strong corporate citizenship culture and advocated a transatlantic transfer of the respective practices. Against this background, it is the first aim of this paper to examine the socio‐economic environment for corporate citizenship in both countries. Second, it will be investigated if corporate citizenship is really practiced more widely in the United States than in Germany and what forms of corporate citizenship are used by businesses. For that purpose, the corporate citizenship activities of the 100 largest companies in the United States and Germany each will be analyzed. Results show that more US than German companies undertake corporate citizenship activities and apply a wider variety of different forms. The possibilities for a transatlantic transfer are limited because of the differences in the cultural and political systems of both countries.
A Novel Vaccine Delivery Model of the Apicomplexan Eimeria tenella Expressing Eimeria maxima Antigen Protects Chickens against Infection of the Two Parasites

Vaccine delivery is critical in antigen discovery and vaccine efficacy and safety. The diversity of infectious diseases in humans and livestock has required the development of varied delivery vehicles to target different pathogens. In livestock animals, previous strategies for the development of coccidiosis vaccines have encountered several hurdles, limiting the development of multiple species vaccine formulations. Here, we describe a novel vaccine delivery system using transgenic Eimeria tenella expressing immunodominant antigens of Eimeria maxima. In this delivery system, the immune mapped protein 1 of E. maxima (EmIMP1) was delivered by the closely related species of E. tenella to the host immune system during the whole endogenous life cycle. The overexpression of the exogenous antigen did not interfere with the reproduction and immunogenicity of transgenic Eimeria. After immunization with the transgenic parasite, we detected EmIMP1’s and E. maxima oocyst antigens’ specific humoral and cellular immune responses. In particular, we observed partial protection of chickens immunized with transgenic E. tenella against subsequent E. maxima infections. Our results demonstrate that the transgenic Eimeria parasite is an ideal coccidia antigen delivery vehicle and represents a new type of coccidiosis vaccines. In addition, this model could potentially be used in the development of malaria live sporozoite vaccines, in which antigens from different strains can be expressed in the vaccine strain.
Towards a Science of Adaptation that Prioritises the Poor

Many of the advances in climate science over the last few decades have been manifest in climate models. Realism and skill have increased over time – though not necessarily proportionally – as more processes have been parameterised. Land surface processes are among the most recent additions and these lend themselves naturally to the simulation, within the climate model, of derived quantities such as crop yield (Osborne et al. 2007). This is part of a broader extrapolation of climate variables, which need not happen within the climate model, into impacts such as those on agriculture (Challinor et al. 2004) and health (Thompson et al. 2006). Climate impacts research is a growth area, with emerging methodologies and resources (Challinor et al. 2008a).