Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of environmental agreements on trade margins and investment flows

To my beloved husband Ke, my precious daughter Emma, and my dearest mom and dad. Life is so great with you around. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Foremost, my deepest gratitude is to my advisor, Prof. Tibor Besedeš. I have been so fortunate to have an advisor who gave me inexhaustible trust and encouragement during my research process. He provided me with every bit of guidance, assistance, and expertise that I needed. I am extremely grateful to Prof. Besedeš for holding me to a high research standard and enforcing strict validations for each research result, and thus teaching me how to do research. His patience and support during my doctoral journey helped me find my passion for academic research and will be guiding me through the right path for a long time. I hope that one day I would become as good an advisor to my students as he has been to me. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the rest of my dissertation committee:diar Maasoumi for their constant guidance, support and invaluable feedback during the development of my dissertation. Shatakshee Dhongde for their insightful comments and guidance when I was on the job market. Additionally, I would like to thank Ms. Jyldyz Hughes and Mr. Tony Gallego for providing me great help and support during my graduate study in SOE. Finally, I must acknowledge the financial support and other supports from SOE and iv Ivan Allen College of Arts. My heartfelt gratitude is to my family: my husband Ke Wu who has been my source of inspiration and hard work, my daughter Emma Wu who has been the light of my life, and my sweet parents who have aided and encouraged me throughout this endeavor. 2 Summary Statistics of Trade and MEA Agreements by type(1965-2005) 21 3 Panel Gravity equations with bilateral fixed and Country-and-time effects 24 4 First-differenced panel gravity equations with country-and-time effects 25 5 Panel Gravity eqs. with bilateral fixed and Country-time effects by type 28 6 Panel Gravity eqs. with bilateral fixed and Country-time effects by type 31 7 Panel Gravity eqs. with bilateral fixed and Country-and-time effects:
Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging can distinguish remodeling mechanisms after acute myocardial infarction based on the severity of ischemic insult

The type and extent of myocardial infarction encountered clinically is primarily determined by the severity of the initial ischemic insult. The purpose of the study was to differentiate longitudinal fluctuations in remodeling mechanisms in porcine myocardium following different ischemic insult durations. Animals (N = 8) were subjected to coronary balloon occlusion for either 90 or 45 min, followed by reperfusion. Imaging was performed on a 3 T MRI scanner between day‐2 and week‐6 postinfarction with edema quantified by T2, hemorrhage by T2*, vasodilatory function by blood‐oxygenation‐level‐dependent T2 alterations and infarction/microvascular obstruction by contrast‐enhanced imaging. The 90‐min model produced large transmural infarcts with hemorrhage and microvascular obstruction, while the 45 min produced small nontransmural and nonhemorrhagic infarction. In the 90‐min group, elevation of end‐diastolic‐volume, reduced cardiac function, persistence of edema, and prolonged vasodilatory dysfunction were all indicative of adverse remodeling; in contrast, the 45‐min group showed no signs of adverse remodeling. The 45‐ and 90‐min porcine models seem to be ideal for representing the low‐ and high‐risk patient groups, respectively, commonly encountered in the clinic. Such in vivo characterization will be a key in predicting functional recovery and may potentially allow evaluation of novel therapies targeted to alleviate ischemic injury and prevent microvascular obstruction/hemorrhage. Magn Reson Med, 70:1095–1105, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Analysis of Epstein-Barr Virus-Regulated Host Gene Expression Changes through Primary B-Cell Outgrowth Reveals Delayed Kinetics of Latent Membrane Protein 1-Mediated NF-κB Activation

ABSTRACT Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is an oncogenic human herpesvirus that dramatically reorganizes host gene expression to immortalize primary B cells. In this study, we analyzed EBV-regulated host gene expression changes following primary B-cell infection, both during initial proliferation and through transformation into lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). While most EBV-regulated mRNAs were changed during the transition from resting, uninfected B cells through initial B-cell proliferation, a substantial number of mRNAs changed uniquely from early proliferation through LCL outgrowth. We identified constitutively and dynamically EBV-regulated biological processes, protein classes, and targets of specific transcription factors. Early after infection, genes associated with proliferation, stress responses, and the p53 pathway were highly enriched. However, the transition from early to long-term outgrowth was characterized by genes involved in the inhibition of apoptosis, the actin cytoskeleton, and NF-κB activity. It was previously thought that the major viral protein responsible for NF-κB activation, latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), is expressed within 2 days after infection. Our data indicate that while this is true, LCL-level LMP1 expression and NF-κB activity are not evident until 3 weeks after primary B-cell infection. Furthermore, heterologous NF-κB activation during the first week after infection increased the transformation efficiency, while early NF-κB inhibition had no effect on transformation. Rather, inhibition of NF-κB was not toxic to EBV-infected cells until LMP1 levels and NF-κB activity were high. These data collectively highlight the dynamic nature of EBV-regulated host gene expression and support the notion that early EBV-infected proliferating B cells have a fundamentally distinct growth and survival phenotype from that of LCLs.
Assessment of e-government implementation on organizational effectiveness in the department of immigration in Nairobi, Kenya.

Electronic Governance is one of the strategic innovations that many government agencies have considered implementing to deliver efficient government services and support development of government operations. The main objective of this study was to assess the level of e-government implementation on organizational effectiveness in the Department of Immigration in Nairobi, Kenya. E-government strategy was rolled out in Kenya in 2004 but much is yet to be achieved in terms of transparency, quality and accountability in service delivery. This study therefore assessed digital divide, training in ICT, ICT infrastructure, and legal framework. Descriptive research design was used. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in data analysis. Descriptive statistics involved use of percentages, frequencies and means which helped to determine and present the status of variables while correlation and regression analysis was used as statistical tools to explain the variable relationships. Hypothesis was tested using Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient. A sample of 200 respondents was drawn from a target population of 400 officers and clients at Nyayo house, Nairobi. The research instrument was self-administered. Data was collected using a survey questionnaire. The study achieved the response rate of 78.5%. The study established a significant positive correlation between training in ICT and organizational effectiveness with a correlation coefficient of 0.987,a significant positive correlation between availability of ICT infrastructure and organizational effectiveness with the correlation coefficient of 0.914, a significant positive correlation between legal framework in e-government and organizational effectiveness with coefficient of 0.667,a weak positive correlation between digital divide and organizational effectiveness with coefficient of 0.414. Regression analysis results indicated that an in increase in training in ICT, ICT infrastructure, legal framework and digital divide by one unit would increase adoption of e-government and organizational effectiveness by 0.451, 0.533, 0.0629, 0.400 units respectively. From the study findings, the study concludes that training of clients and officers on ICT will enhance adoption and effectiveness of e-government by providing better skills and the necessary knowledge to utilize e-government services. Therefore the government should establish and maintain ICT skill inventory of the officers and assess the existing skill gaps for effective e-government and organizational effectiveness in the Department. The study also concludes that there are inadequate funds needed to expand capacity, support and maintain essential ICT infrastructure and internet network coverage in Kenya and in the Department. Further conclusions are drawn that an effective legal framework speeds up
Differential effects of two probiotics on the risks of eczema and atopy associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms to Toll‐like receptors

There is strong evidence to support a genetic predisposition to eczema and more recently studies have suggested that probiotics might be used to prevent eczema by modifying the expression of putative allergy‐associated genes. The aim of this present study was to investigate whether two probiotics, Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 (HN001) and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 (HN019), can modify the known genetic predisposition to eczema conferred by genetic variation in the Toll‐like receptor (TLR) genes in a high‐risk infant population.
Dopamine is necessary to endogenous morphine formation in mammalian brain in vivo

Morphine, the most used compound among narcotic analgesics, has been shown to be endogenously present in different mammalian/invertebrate normal tissues. In this study, we used mice that cannot make dopamine due to a genetic deletion of tyrosine hydroxylase specifically in dopaminergic neurons, to test the hypothesis that endogenous dopamine is necessary to endogenous morphine formation in vivo in mammalian brain. When dopamine was lacking in brain neurons, endogenous morphine was missing in brain mouse whereas it could be detected in brain from wild type rodent at a picogram range. Our data prove for the first time that endogenous dopamine is necessary to endogenous morphine formation in normal mammalian brain. Morphine synthesis appears to be originated from dopamine through L‐tyrosine in normal brain tissue. Morphine synthesis is not considered to occur inside the same neuron in normal tissue; released dopamine might be transported into morphinergic neuron and further transformed into morphine. A physiological role for endogenous morphine is suggested considering that dopamine could modulate thermal threshold through endogenous morphine formation in vivo. Thus, dopamine and endogenous opiates/opioid peptides may be interconnected in the physiological processes; yet, endogenous morphine may represent a basic link of this chain.
Substitution of Azotobacter vinelandii hydrogenase small-subunit cysteines by serines can create insensitivity to inhibition by O2 and preferentially damages H2 oxidation over H2 evolution

Mutants in which conserved cysteines 294, 297 or 64 and 65 of the Azotobacter vinelandii hydrogenase small subunit were replaced by serines were studied. Cysteines 294 and 297 are homologous to cysteines 246 and 249 of the Desulfovibrio gigas hydrogenase, and these cysteines are ligands to the [3Fe-4S] clusters (A. Volbeda, M.-H. Charon, C. Piras, E. C. Hatchikian, M. Frey, and J. C. Fontecilla-Camps, Nature (London) 373:580-587, 1995). Cysteine 65 is homologous to cysteine 20 of the D. gigas hydrogenase, and this cysteine is a ligand to the proximal [4Fe-4S] cluster. All three mutants retained some hydrogenase activity. All three mutants studied had H2 oxidation-to-H2 evolution activity ratios with whole cells of approximately 1.5, compared with 46 for the wild type. The changes preferentially deplete H2 oxidation activity, while having less effect on evolution. The K64,65C-->S hydrogenase was partially purified and had a specific activity for the evolution reaction that was 22% that of the wild type, while the oxidation-specific activity was 2% that of the wild type. Because cysteine 65 provides a ligand to the proximal [4Fe-4S] cluster, this cluster can be altered without entirely eliminating enzyme activity. Likewise, the detection of H2 evolution and H2 oxidation activities with whole cells and membranes of the K294C-->S and K297C-->S mutants indicates that the [3Fe-4S] cluster can also be altered or possibly eliminated without entirely eliminating enzyme activity. Membranes with K294C-->S or K297C-->S hydrogenase were uninhibited by O2 in H2 oxidation and uninhibited by H2 in H2 evolution. Wild-type membranes and membranes with K64,65C-->S hydrogenase were both sensitive to these inhibitors. These data indicate that the [3Fe-4S] cluster controls the reversible inhibition of hydrogenase activity by O2 or H2.
The Inhibition of Calcium Phosphate Precipitation by Fetuin Is Accompanied by the Formation of a Fetuin-Mineral Complex*

The present studies show that the previously reported ability of fetuin to inhibit the precipitation of hydroxyapatite from supersaturated solutions of calcium and phosphate in vitro is accompanied by the formation of the fetuin-mineral complex, a high molecular mass complex of calcium phosphate mineral and the proteins fetuin and matrix Gla protein that was initially discovered in the serum of rats treated with etidronate and that appears to play a critical role in inhibiting calcification in vivo. Rat serum potently inhibited the precipitation of calcium phosphate mineral when the concentration of calcium and phosphate were increased by 10 mm each, and the modified serum was incubated at 37 °C for 9 days; in the absence of serum, precipitation occurred in seconds. Large amounts of the fetuin-mineral complex were generated in the first 3 h of this incubation and remained throughout the 9-day incubation. Purified bovine fetuin inhibited the precipitation of mineral for over 14 days in a solution containing 5 mm calcium and phosphate at pH 7.4 at 22 °C, whereas precipitation occurred in minutes without fetuin. There was a biphasic drop in ionic calcium in the fetuin solution, however, from 5 to 3 mm in the first hour and from 3 to 0.9 mm between 20 and 24 h; these changes in ionic calcium are due to the formation of complexes of calcium, phosphate, and fetuin. The complex found at 24 h to 14 days is identical to the fetuin-mineral complex found in the serum of etidronate-treated rats, whereas the complex found between 1 and 20 h is less stable.
The anterior pituitary-grafted rat: a valid model of chronic hyperprolactinemia.

TRANSPLANTATION of the rat anterior pituitary gland to the kidney capsule results in a state of chronic hyperprolactinemia. For more than 35 yr two versions of this model have been used to study the functions of PRL. Autotransplantation of the pituitary to the kidney capsule induces hyperprolactinemia, but growth, GH secretion, and other anterior pituitary functions are diminished. Nonhypophysectomized rats implanted with anterior pituitary glands from littermate donors also have excess circulating PRL levels, but growth, GH secretion, and thyroid function remain normal. In the intact pituitary-grafted male rat, gonadal testosterone secretion is maintained despite diminished gonadotropin secretion. One shortcoming of the intact pituitary-grafted rat is glucocorticoid excess, the mechanism of which is unclear. However, adrenalectomy with adrenal steroid replacement of pituitary-grafted rats provides an animal model that appears to have one abnormality only, excess PRL secretion. This animal preparation com.
Stromal CD10 expression and relationship to the E‐cadherin/β‐catenin complex in breast carcinoma

Kim H‐S, Kim G Y, Kim Y W, Park Y‐K, Song J‐Y & Lim S‐J (2010) Histopathology 56, 708–719 Stromal CD10 expression and relationship to the E‐cadherin/β‐catenin complex in breast carcinoma
The determinanths of industrialisation in developing countries, 1960-2005

Industrialisation is generally considered a synonym of economic development. This paper contributes to the literature on the engine of growth hypothesis with an empirical analysis of the determinants of industrialisation. The paper goes back to the Cornwall (1977) model of manufacturing as an engine of growth and estimates the first equation of the model, i.e. the equation of manufacturing output growth. Hausman and Taylor models are estimated for a sample of 74 countries for the period 1960-2005. The results indicate that industrialisation is faster for larger countries with an undeveloped industrial base, strong export performance, and undervalued exchange rates. Skills and knowledge accumulation played an increasingly important role since the mid-1990s. Robustness checks corroborate the validity of these findings.
Impact of Quality Certification on IPO Underpricing: Evidence from India

The study examines the impact of quality certification of initial public offerings (IPOs) arising out of lead manager’s reputation, grading by credit rating agencies, presence of anchor investors and the reputation of auditors on the level of IPO underpricing. The mean initial excess return that measures the level of IPO underpricing is 22 per cent based on a sample of 399 IPOs made by Indian companies during the period from April 2005 to March 2015. Contrary to expectations, nearly 37 per cent of the IPOs do not provide a positive initial excess return. Univariate analysis reveals that except for IPO grading, the other quality certification variables do not make a significant impact on the level of underpricing. Graded issues are more fairly priced compared to non-graded issues. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the capital market regulator, has recently done away with mandatory grading of IPOs. As graded issues have been observed to improve pricing efficiency, SEBI should reconsider its decision and reintroduce compulsory IPO grading. Multivariate analysis, that includes other variables, such as issue size, level of subscription and promoters holding, reveals that the two variables that have a significant influence on initial excess returns from IPOs are the issue size and the level of oversubscription of the IPO.
Tissue Engineered Neocartilage Using Plasma Derived Polymer Substrates and Chondrocytes

&NA; This study demonstrates that fibrin monomers can be polymerized into moldable gels and used for the encapsulation of isolated chondrocytes. This biologically derived scaffold will maintain three‐dimensional spatial support, allowing new tissue development in a subcutaneous space. Chondrocytes isolated from the glenohumeral and humeroradioulnar joints of a calf were combined with cyroprecipitate and polymerized with bovine thrombin to create a fibrin glue gel with a final cell density of 12.5 × 106 cells/ml. The polymer‐chondrocyte constructs were implanted subcutaneously in 12 nude mice and incubated for 6 and 12 weeks in vivo. Histologic and biochemical analysis including deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and glycosaminoglycan quantitation confirmed the presence of actively proliferating chondrocytes with production of a well‐formed cartilaginous matrix in the transplanted samples. Control specimens from 12 implantation sites consisting of chondrocytes alone or fibrin glue substrates did not demonstrate any gross or histologic evidence of neocartilage formation. Moldable autogenous fibrin glue polymer systems have a potential to serve as alternatives to current proprietary polymer systems used for tissue engineering cartilage as well as autogenous grafts and alloplastic materials used for facial skeletal and soft‐tissue augmentation. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 101: 1580, 1998.)
Warming-induced shift towards forbs and grasses and its relation to the carbon sequestration in an alpine meadow

Global warming is often associated with changes in abiotic factors and the community composition across alpine ecosystems. However, the way that an altered community dynamics affects the ecosystem carbon (C) balance remains unclear. A warming experiment was initiated in 2010 to assess the potential impacts of warming-induced changes in the community composition and how these changes affect the C balance in mountain meadows located in the permafrost region of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (China). Under warming conditions, we found an increased importance value (IV) of forbs and grasses of 4.9%, in contrast to the IV of sedges, which decreased by 4.4%. For forbs and grasses, the IV showed positive exponential relationships with gross ecosystem production and ecosystem respiration, while negative correlations were found for sedges. These results indicate that a slight change in the IVs of sedges, grasses and forbs favors C sequestration. Moreover, the warming treatment significantly increased the mean height of sedges, grasses and forbs, and the net ecosystem exchange increase was positively correlated with the increase in the mean height of grasses and forbs. In summary, the warming-induced shift toward forb and grass species and the increase in plant height strengthen the C uptake capacity of alpine meadow ecosystems.
Cutting Edge: Ku70 Is a Novel Cytosolic DNA Sensor That Induces Type III Rather Than Type I IFN

Cytosolic foreign DNA is detected by pattern recognition receptors and mainly induces type I IFN production. We found that transfection of different types of DNA into various untreated cells induces type III IFN (IFN-λ1) rather than type I IFN, indicating the presence of uncharacterized DNA sensor(s). A pull-down assay using cytosolic proteins identified that Ku70 and Ku80 are the DNA-binding proteins. The knockdown studies and the reporter assay revealed that Ku70 is a novel DNA sensor inducing the IFN-lambda1 activation. The functional analysis of IFNL1 promoter revealed that positive-regulatory domain I and IFN-stimulated response element sites are predominantly involved in the DNA-mediated IFNL1 activation. A pull-down assay using nuclear proteins demonstrated that the IFN-λ1 induction is associated with the activation of IFN regulatory factor-1 and -7. Thus, to our knowledge, we show for the first time that Ku70 mediates type III IFN induction by DNA.
Temperature Affects Species Distribution in Symbiotic Populations of Vibrio spp

ABSTRACT The genus Sepiola (Cephalopoda: Sepiolidae) contains 10 known species that occur in the Mediterranean Sea today. AllSepiola species have a light organ that contains at least one of two species of luminous bacteria, Vibrio fischeriand Vibrio logei. The two Vibrio species coexist in at least four Sepiola species (S. affinis, S. intermedia, S. ligulata, andS. robusta), and their concentrations in the light organ depend on changes in certain abiotic factors, including temperature. Strains of V. fischeri grew faster in vitro and inSepiola juveniles when they were incubated at 26°C. In contrast, strains of V. logei grew faster at 18°C in culture and in Sepiola juveniles. When aposymbioticS. affinis or S. ligulata juveniles were inoculated with one Vibrio species, all strains of V. fischeri and V. logei were capable of infecting both squid species at the optimum growth temperatures, regardless of the squid host from which the bacteria were initially isolated. However, when two different strains of V. fischeri and V. logei were placed in direct competition with each other at either 18 or 26°C, strains of V. fischeri were present in sepiolid light organs in greater concentrations at 26°C, whereas strains of V. logei were present in greater concentrations at 18°C. In addition to the competition experiments, the ratios of the two bacterial species in adult Sepiola specimens caught throughout the season at various depths differed, and these differences were correlated with the temperature in the surrounding environment. My findings contribute additional data concerning the ecological and environmental factors that affect host-symbiont recognition and may provide insight into the evolution of animal-bacterium specificity.