Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Precautionary Saving, Financial Risk, and Portfolio Choice

Relying on a direct question about the desired amount of precautionary wealth from the 2002 wave of the Italian Survey of Household Income and Wealth, I assess the main determinants of precautionary motive for saving. In particular, I focus on the role played by financial risk on households' saving decisions. Actually, households investing mainly in safe assets do not need to protect themselves against future and unexpected financial losses. Consequently, controlling for households' sources of risk beside financial ones, the amount of precautionary savings of a household who invest exclusively in safe assets should be lower compared to households who instead detain a non-negligible share of risky assets in their portfolio. Moreover, portfolio diversification, reducing households' total exposure to financial risk, should reduce the amount of wealth households need to save for precautionary reasons. In this paper, I provide an empirical assessment of the linkage existing between the composition of households' portfolio and the amount of wealth households wish to have to protect themselves against unexpected contingencies. As expected, a strong and negative correlation exists between the desired amount of precautionary wealth and the ownership of a portfolio made exclusively of safe assets. However, households do not seem to use portfolio diversification to reduce exposure to total risk. Finally, I address the issue of complementarity vs. substitution between formal and informal insurance schemes. Actually, trust in capital market would lower substantially the amount of wealth households wish to detain for precautionary reasons. However, there is no evidence in favour of a negative and strong linkage between precautionary saving and insurance.
A Low-Power and Bandwidth-Efficient Motion Estimation IP Core Design Using Binary Search

A new architecture design for motion estimation using binary matching criterion is proposed to achieve low power and bus bandwidth efficiency. Low power and high bus bandwidth efficiency are the two key issues for portable video applications. To address such issues, we first study an efficient algorithm called all binary motion estimation (ABME), and analyze its architecture issues in operational flow and bus access. Then, we propose an architecture for ABME with four new features: (1) macroblock level pre-processing; (2) efficient binary pyramid search structure; (3) parallel processing of 8 x 8 and 16 x 16 block searches; (4) parallel processing of bi-directional search. Such architecture leads to a superior performance in bus access, speed, and power. Our experiments show that the power consumption is as low as 763 mu W for IPPPP CIF 30 frames/s and 896 muW for IPBPB CIF 30 frames/s. The bus bandwidth savings are 54.3% for P-frame search and 67.1% for B-frame search.
Twenty-Nine New Limonoids with Skeletal Diversity from the Mangrove Plant, Xylocarpus moluccensis

Twenty-nine new limonoids—named xylomolins A1–A7, B1–B2, C1–C2, D–F, G1–G5, H–I, J1–J2, K1–K2, L1–L2, and M–N, were isolated from the seeds of the mangrove plant, Xylocarpus moluccensis. Compounds 1–13 are mexicanolides with one double bond or two conjugated double bonds, while 14 belongs to a small group of mexicanolides with an oxygen bridge between C1 and C8. Compounds 15–19 are khayanolides containing a Δ8,14 double bond, whereas 20 and 21 are rare khayanolides containing a Δ14,15 double bond and Δ8,9, Δ14,15 conjugated double bonds, respectively. Compounds 22 and 23 are unusual limonoids possessing a (Z)-bicyclo[5.2. 1]dec-3-en-8-one motif, while 24 and 25 are 30-ketophragmalins with Δ8,9, Δ14,15 conjugated double bonds. Compounds 26 and 27 are phragmalin 8,9,30-ortho esters, whereas 28 and 29 are azadirone and andirobin derivatives, respectively. The structures of these compounds, including absolute configurations of 15–19, 21–23, and 26, were established by HRESIMS, extensive 1D and 2D NMR investigations, and the comparison of experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. The absolute configuration of 1 was unequivocally established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, obtained with Cu Kα radiation. The diverse cyclization patterns of 1–29 reveal the strong flexibility of skeletal plasticity in the limonoid biosynthesis of X. moluccensis. Compound 23 exhibited weak antitumor activity against human triple-negative breast MD-MBA-231 cancer cells with an IC50 value of 37.7 μM. Anti-HIV activities of 1, 3, 8, 10, 11, 14, 20, 23–25, and 27 were tested in vitro. However, no compounds showed potent inhibitory activity.
The role of infections in the pathogenesis and course of multiple sclerosis

Interplay between susceptibility genes and environmental factors is considered important player in the genesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Among environmental factors, a role for an infectious pathogen has long been considered central to the disease process. This opinion has support both from epidemiological data and the findings of immunological abnormalities in spinal fluid that reflect an immune response to an as yet undetermined antigen, possibly a pathogen, in the cerebrospinal fluid. Our review will outline the current understanding of the role of infection in the causation and progression of MS. We will review the data that point to an infectious cause of MS and consider the specific agents Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumoniae, Human Herpes Virus 6, and Epstein-Barr Virus, that are implicated in either the development or progression of MS.
Pursuit Formation of Double-Integrator Dynamics Using Consensus Control Approach

This paper deals with cyclic pursuit of double-integrator multiagent systems (MASs) in regular polygon formations. In kinematics level, based on a leaderless architecture, each agent pursues another one in a regular polygon formation with cyclic pursuit around a centroid. Then, in dynamics level, the agents reach consensus on a centroid around which they pursue each other. Despite introduced cyclic pursuit approaches in the literature based on agents with kinematic models and constant forward speeds, the proposed approach is based on agents with double-integrator dynamics without speed constraints. Moreover, based on the proposed approach, it is feasible to control the cyclic pursuit angular velocity. Numerical simulations for a MAS including seven agents confirm the usefulness of the proposed formation control strategy.
Membrane-Proximal Region of Glutamate Receptor δ2 Subunit Is Critical for Long-Term Depression and Interaction with Protein Interacting with C Kinase 1 in a Cerebellar Purkinje Neuron

The glutamate receptor δ2 subunit (GluRδ2) is selectively expressed in cerebellar Purkinje neurons (PNs) and is involved in the long-term depression (LTD). However, little is known about the mechanism of its action. Acute expression of the wild-type GluRδ2 in the GluRδ2-deficient PN rescued the induction of LTD, suggesting the direct role of GluRδ2 in LTD. To identify the critical region of GluRδ2 necessary for LTD, we constructed and expressed various mutant GluRδ2 proteins in the GluRδ2-deficient PNs. The mutant GluRδ2 possessing the membrane-proximal 21 aa residues in the C-terminal cytoplasmic region rescued the induction of LTD, whereas the mutant with membrane-proximal 13 aa failed. In addition, overexpression of 865∼871 aa of GluRδ2 (corresponding to membrane-proximal 14–20 aa) fused to EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) suppressed LTD in a wild-type PN. These results suggest that 865∼871 aa of GluRδ2 play an essential role in LTD. We next identified protein interacting with C kinase 1 (PICK1) as a molecule interacting with the membrane-proximal C-terminal region of GluRδ2 by yeast two-hybrid screening. PICK1 plays an essential role in LTD. It colocalized with GluRδ2 at spines of PNs, and immunoprecipitation assays showed that GluRδ2 bound to PICK1 mainly through 865–871 aa. These results indicate that 865–871 aa of GluRδ2 are essential for both LTD and interaction with PICK1, and suggest that interaction between GluRδ2 and PICK1 might be critical for the induction of LTD.
The Pursuit of Power Corrupts

Across three laboratory studies, this paper illustrates how a common strategic decision aimed at increasing one’s own power—investing in outside options—can lead to opportunistic behavior in exchange relationships. We show that the extent to which individuals have invested in creating outside options increases the likelihood that they will exploit their current exchange partners, even after controlling for the leverage provided by the outside options. Our results demonstrate that having previously sunk investments in an outside option leads to a heightened sense of entitlement, even when the outside option has been foregone. In turn, feelings of entitlement result in higher aspirations for what is to be gained in the current relationship, and these aspirations fuel opportunism. Finally, we show that other parties may fail to anticipate these effects, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.
Knowledge-based Development in Leading Regions across the Globe: An Exploratory Analysis of the co-Evolution of Resources, Capabilities and Outputs

It is widely observed that the global geography of innovation is rapidly evolving. This paper presents evidence concerning the contemporary evolution of the globe’s most productive regions. The paper uncovers the underlying structure and co-evolution of knowledge-based resources, capabilities and outputs across these regions. The analysis identifies two key trends by which the economic evolution and growth patterns of these regions are differentiated—namely, knowledge-based growth and labour market growth. The knowledge-based growth factor represents the underlying commonality found between the growth of economic output, earnings and a range of knowledge-based resources. The labour market growth factor represents the capability of regions to draw on their human capital. Overall, spectacular knowledge-based growth of leading Chinese regions is evident, highlighting a continued shift of knowledge-based resources to Asia. It is concluded that regional growth in knowledge production investment and the capacity to draw on regional human capital reserves are neither necessarily traded-off nor complementary to each other.
Mergers, Executive Risk Reduction, and Stockholder Wealth

Abstract Among the possible consequences of agency problems between corporate owners and managers is a tendency by managers to make investment decisions for their firms that are deliberately aimed at reducing firm risk, as a means to control managers’ personal wealth risk. The literature has suggested that such behavior may occur to the detriment of shareholder wealth, and that mergers may be a particular class of investment decisions for which the behavior would be observable. We test these hypotheses empirically, but find no evidence from our merger sample that risk reduction for the acquiring firm is the typical outcome nor that, when it occurs, it is differentially costly for shareholders.
The Anemia of Thermal Injury: Mechanism of Inhibition of Erythropoiesis 1

Abstract The anemia of thermal injury is a multifactorial process and includes hemorrhage and hemolysis. Much evidence suggests that a reduced rate of erythropoiesis contributes to this anemia. Prior studies show that this anemia is temporally related to the appearance in burn patients sera of a substance(s) capable of inhibiting erythropoiesis in vitro. Four experiments were done to elucidate the mechanism of action of this inhibitor. In all experiments sera from burn patients previously shown to be inhibitory to erythropoiesis in vitro were studied. In the first, inhibitory sera were exposed to erythropoietin solutions without loss of erythropoietic activity. Second, mouse marrow cells were preincubated with serum without loss of their ability to form erythroid colonies. Third, the inhibitory effect could not be overcome with increasing amounts of erythropoietin. Finally, erythroid colony formation was effected only if the inhibitory serum was present during the first 8 to 12 hr of culture. The data suggest that the erythropoietic inhibitor in these sera acts directly on erythroid stem cells in vitro and not by inactivating or interference with erythropoietin.
Environmental Assessment Of Different VehicleTechnologies And Fuels

In this paper, a comparative LCA of conventional and alternative vehicles is performed. Thanks to a modeling approach combining LCA methodology, vehicle homologation data and statistical tools, all the available vehicle types in a given fleet are included in a single LCA model. Statistical distributions are used to include the variations of the main parameters (weight, fuel consumption and emissions) of all the considered vehicles in the LCA model. When dealing with greenhouse effect, battery electric vehicles (BEV) powered with the Belgian electricity supply mix, have a lower greenhouse effect (18.6 ton CO2eq/lifetime) than all the comparable vehicle technologies with exception of the sugar cane based bio-ethanol E85 vehicle (8.47 ton CO2eq/lifetime). For the different impact categories considered in this study, the impacts of the LPG technology are comparable to diesel. Euro 4 LPG and Euro 4 diesel have respectively greenhouse effects of 53.2 ton CO2eq/lifetime and 49.4 ton CO2eq/lifetime. FCEVs have lower impact than petrol and diesel vehicles for greenhouse effect, respiratory effect and acidification. CNG vehicles appear to be an interesting alternative for conventional vehicles. They have a low greenhouse effect (34.7 ton CO2eq/lifetime for a Euro 5 CNG) and the best score for respiratory effects and acidification. Furthermore Euro 4 CNG and Euro 4 HEV have comparable greenhouse effects (respectively 44.9 ton CO2eq/lifetime and 46.4 ton CO2eq/lifetime). Thanks to an iterative calculation process and the use of range of values instead average values, the variation of all the LCA results is assessed without performing a new LCA model. This approach provides the Urban Transport XVIII 15 doi:10.2495/UT1200 1 2 www.witpress. com, ISSN 1743-3509 (on-line) WIT Transactions on The Built Environment, Vol 128, © 2012 WIT Press decision makers with a detailed environmental picture of a fleet allowing them to take the right measure for right group of vehicles
The effect of uncertainty and asset co‐specialization on governance in biotechnology alliances

We explore transaction cost economics (TCE) and real option (RO) rationales for alliance governance and find the predictive power of each depends upon the type of uncertainty confronted. Our review of alliance activity from 1995 through 2000 for 642 alliances confirms that governance is influenced directly by partner, task, and technological uncertainty and by interactions among asset co‐specialization, partner uncertainty, and task uncertainty. Consistent with TCE, co‐specialized assets increased the likelihood of hierarchical governance. Partner and task uncertainty increased this effect. Consistent with RO, we find technological uncertainty decreased the likelihood of hierarchical governance. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Deletion of CFTR Translation Start Site Reveals Functional Isoforms of the Protein in CF Patients

Background/Aims: Mutations in the CFTR gene cause Cystic Fibrosis (CF) the most common life-threatening autosomal recessive disease affecting Caucasians. We identified a CFTR mutation (c.120del23) abolishing the normal translation initiation codon, which occurs in two Portuguese CF patients. This study aims at functionally characterizing the effect of this novel mutation. Methods: RNA and protein techniques were applied to both native tissues from CF patients and recombinant cells expressing CFTR constructs to determine whether c.120del23 allows CFTR protein production through usage of alternative internal codons, and to characterize the putative truncated CFTR form(s). Results: Our data show that two shorter forms of CFTR protein are produced when the initiation translation codon is deleted indicating usage of internal initiation codons. The N-truncated CFTR generated by this mutation has decreased stability, very low processing efficiency, and drastically reduced function. Analysis of mutants of four methionine codons downstream to M1 (M82, M150, M152, M156) revealed that each of the codons M150/M152/M156 (exon 4) can mediate CFTR alternative translation. Conclusions: The CFTR N-terminus has an important role in avoiding CFTR turnover and in rendering effective its plasma membrane traffic. These data correlate well with the severe clinical phenotype of CF patients bearing the c.120del23 mutation.
Changes in weight, body composition, and factors influencing energy balance among premenopausal breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.

PURPOSE Weight gain is a common problem among breast cancer patients who receive adjuvant chemotherapy (CT). We undertook a study to determine the causes of this energy imbalance. PATIENTS AND METHODS Factors related to energy balance were assessed at baseline (within 3 weeks of diagnosis) and throughout 1 year postdiagnosis among 53 premenopausal women with operable breast carcinoma. Thirty-six patients received CT and 17 received only localized treatment (LT). Measures included body composition (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry), resting energy expenditure (REE; indirect calorimetry), dietary intake (2-day dietary recalls and food frequency questionnaires) and physical activity (physical activity records). RESULTS Mean weight gain in the LT patients was 1.0 kg versus 2.1 kg in the CT group (P =.02). No significant differences between groups in trend over time were observed for REE and energy intake; however, a significant difference was noted for physical activity (P =.01). Several differences between groups in 1-year change scores were detected. The mean change (+/- SE) in LT versus CT groups and P values for uncontrolled/controlled (age, race, radiation therapy, baseline body mass index, and end point under consideration) analysis are as follows: percentage of body fat (-0.1 +/- 0.4 v +2.2 +/- 0.6%; P =.001/0.04); fat mass (+0.1 +/- 0.3 v +2.3 +/- 0.7 kg; P =.002/0.04); lean body mass (+0.8 +/- 0.2 v -0.4 +/- 0.3 kg; P =.02/0.30); and leg lean mass (+0.5 +/- 0.1 v -0.2 +/- 0.1 kg; P =.01/0.11). CONCLUSION These data do not support overeating as a cause of weight gain among breast cancer patients who receive CT. The data suggest, however, that CT-induced weight gain is distinctive and indicative of sarcopenic obesity (weight gain in the presence of lean tissue loss or absence of lean tissue gain). The development of sarcopenic obesity with evidence of reduced physical activity supports the need for interventions focused on exercise, especially resistance training in the lower body, to prevent weight gain.
Climate change and broadacre livestock production across southern Australia. 1. Impacts of climate change on pasture and livestock productivity, and on sustainable levels of profitability

Broadacre livestock production is a major but highly diverse component of agriculture in Australia that will be significantly exposed to predicted changes in climate over coming decades. We used the GRAZPLAN simulation models to assess the impacts of climate change under the SRES A2 scenario across southern Australia. Climate change impacts were examined across space (25 representative locations) and time (1970–99, 2030, 2050 and 2070 climate) for each of five livestock enterprises. Climate projection uncertainty was considered by analysing projections from four global circulation models (GCMs). Livestock production scenarios were compared at their profit‐maximizing stocking rate, constrained to ensure that risks of soil erosion were acceptable. Impacts on net primary productivity (ANPP) varied widely between GCM projections; the average declines from historical climate were 9% in 2030, 7% in 2050 and 14% in 2070. Declines in ANPP were larger at lower‐rainfall locations. Sensitivity of ANPP to changes in rainfall ranged from 0.4 to 1.7, to temperature increase from −0.15 to +0.07 °C−1 and to CO2 increase from 0.11 to 0.32. At most locations the dry summer period lengthened, exacerbating the greater erosion risk due to lower ANPP. Transpiration efficiency of pastures increased by 6–25%, but the proportion of ANPP that could safely be consumed by livestock fell sharply so that operating profit (at constant prices) fell by an average of 27% in 2030, 32% in 2050 and 48% in 2070. This amplification of ANPP reductions into larger profitability declines is likely to generalize to other extensive livestock systems. Profit declines were most marked at drier locations, with operating losses expected at 9 of the 25 locations by 2070. Differences between livestock enterprises were smaller than differences between locations and dates. Future research into climate change impacts on Australian livestock production needs to emphasise the dry margin of the cereal‐livestock zone.
Analysis of FNAC of cervical lymph nodes: Experience over a two years period -

Background: Cervical lymphadenopathy is a common clinical presentation across patients of all age group. The aetiology may range from a benign nonspecific inflammation to lymphoproliferative disorders and metastatic malignancy. Aims & Objective: The present study was undertaken to study non neoplastic and neoplastic lesions of enlarged lymph nodes by Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in patients presenting with cervical lymphadenopathy referred to cytopathology department from the OPD/IPD of Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad over a period of two years (November 2011 to November 2013). Materials and Methods: A total of 2018 patients were subjected to FNAC of cervical lymph nodes over two years period (November 2011 to November 2013). Since in 113 patients, either the aspirate was inadequate or the opinion equivocal, the remaining 1905 cases were analysed. Results: Overall tuberculous lymphadenitis was the most common finding (898/1905, 46%), followed by reactive hyperplasia (624/1905, 33%). Malignant pathology accounted for 16% (306/1905) of cervical lymph node enlargement, most of which was due to metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (179/306, 58%). Conclusion: FNAC is an excellent first line of investigation and when used with a proper combination of experience and diligence, it can efficiently help at arriving in exact diagnosis.