Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trading Activity and Macroeconomic Announcements in High-Frequency Exchange Rate Data

This article introduces a new high-frequency data set that includes global trading volume and prices over five years in the spot euro-dollar and dollar-yen currency pairs. Studying the effects of US macroeconomic data releases, we show that spikes in trading volume tend to occur even when announcements are in line with market expectations, in sharp contrast to the price response. There is some evidence that the volume after announcements is negatively related to the ex ante dispersion of market expectations, contrary to the standard theoretical prediction. At very high frequency, we find evidence that much of the immediate jump in prices in reaction to an announcement occurs before the surge in volume. (JEL: F31, G14) (c) 2008 by the European Economic Association.
Cyclic AMP modifies the cellular distribution of connexin43 and induces a persistent increase in the junctional permeability of mouse mammary tumor cells.

Direct communication between cells via gap junctions is thought to be an important component of homeostasis and coordinated cellular responses to external signals. We investigated how the second messenger cAMP exerts its effects on junctional communication in a mouse mammary tumor cell line, MMT22. Junctional permeance was quantitatively assessed using dye microinjection and video microscopy. An increase of permeance was found after exposure to 8-bromo-cAMP, being detectable after 30 minutes of treatment and attaining a fourfold higher level of permeance by 24 hours. This elevated level was maintained with continuous exposure to 8-bromo-cAMP for seven days. The permeability change was accompanied by an increase in gap junctions as shown by freeze-fracture electron microscopy and by confocal microscopy using antibodies directed against the gap junction protein, connexin43. The amount of detergent-insoluble connexin43 also increased with 8-bromo-cAMP treatment, and most of the increase could be attributed to an increase of slower migrating (i.e. phosphorylated) species of connexin43. However, connexin43 mRNA and the total cellular content of connexin43 did not change over this period of exposure to 8-bromo-cAMP, as shown by densitometric analyses of northern and western blots. We conclude that 8-bromo-cAMP affects the distribution of connexin43 such that a greater proportion of the protein is utilized for channel formation. Since these changes were relatively slow to develop and persisted with prolonged exposure to 8-bromo-cAMP, it is possible that the junctional permeability of these mammary tumor cells is linked to the 'basal' level of cAMP, i.e. levels maintained by the cells in accordance with a particular cell state.
P-selectin-targeting of the fibrin selective thrombolytic Desmodus rotundus salivary plasminogen activator α1

Summary During thrombosis, P-selectin is expressed on the surface of activated endothelial cells and platelets. We hypothesized that targeting a plasminogen activator (PA) to P-selectin would enhance local thrombolysis and reduce bleeding risk. Previously, a urokinase (uPA)/anti-P-selectin antibody (HuSZ51) fusion protein was shown to increase fibrinolysis in a hamster pulmonary embolism model. To explore the therapeutic potential of this targeting strategy, we fused the fibrin-selective Desmodus rotundus salivary PA α1 (dsPAα1) to HuSZ51 and compared the fibrinolytic activity of P-selectin-targeted dsPAα1 (HuSZ51-dsPAα1) to unmodified dsPAα1 in vitro and in vivo. HuSZ51-dsPAα1 and dsPAα1 were expressed in CHO cells and purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography. HuSZ51dsPAα1 bound to thrombin-activated human and dog platelets with comparable affinities to that of parental antibody SZ51. The fusion protein retained the catalytic activities of dsPAα1 in chromogenic and clot lysis assays, indicating that dsPAα1 is fully functional when fused to HuSZ51. Compared to dsPAα1, HuSZ51-dsPAα1 had similar thrombolytic efficacy in a rat pulmonary embolism model and anti-thrombotic potency in a dog model of femoral artery thrombosis. However, HuSZ51dsPAα1 was less effective in lysis of preexisting arterial thrombi in the dog model. The reduced arterial thrombolysis was not due to the pharmacokinetic properties of HuSZ51-dsPAα1 because antigen level and amidolytic activity were higher in plasma from HuSZ51-dsPAα1-treated groups than corresponding dsPAα1-treated groups. These data indicate that the thrombolytic efficacy of HuSZ51-dsPAα1 varied dependent on the physical composition of thrombi. The lack of stimulation by fibrin in arterial thrombi may contribute to the attenuated thrombolytic efficacy of HuSZ51-dsPAα1 in the dog model.
Entrepreneurship as a Dynamic System

Entrepreneurship, as an important aspect of modern economic thought, is often described as facilitating innovation, job creation and national prosperity. Given the current economic conditions in Europe, entrepreneurship growth and small business development are seen as synonymous with economic recovery and growth. Consequently, in recent years entrepreneurship has climbed steadily towards the top of political agendas in Eastern, Central and Western Europe. In turn, entrepreneurship education has emerged as the most cost-effective and speedy way to increase both the quality and quantity of entrepreneurs entering an economy. The education and development of entrepreneurial students has become a topical and much debated European issue, despite the conceptual vagueness and controversial aspects highlighted by entrepreneurship education researchers. In this article the authors postulate that entrepreneurship represents more than an accumulation of relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes. Instead, entrepreneurship is envisaged as lifelong learning and conceptualized in terms of the continuous development of an individual's key entrepreneurial competences. Thus, entrepreneurship education emerges as a dynamic system of lifelong learning steps and entrepreneurship components which are to be developed holistically in order to enhance its impact on entrepreneurial outcomes.
Optimal Initiation of a GLWB in a Variable Annuity: No Arbitrage Approach

This paper offers a financial economic perspective on the optimal time (and age) at which the owner of a Variable Annuity (VA) policy with a Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefit (GLWB) rider should initiate guaranteed lifetime income payments. We bypass issues related to utility, bequest and consumption preference by treating the VA as liquid and tradable. This allows us to use an American option pricing framework to derive a so-called optimal initiation region. Our main practical finding is that given current design parameters in which volatility (asset allocation) is restricted to less than 20%, while guaranteed payout rates (GPR) as well as bonus (roll-up) rates are less than 5%, GLWBs that are in-the-money should be turned on by the late 50s and certainly the early 60s. The exception to the rule is when a non-constant GPR is about to increase to a higher age band, in which case the optimal policy is to wait until the new GPR is hit and then initiate immediately. Also, to offer a different perspective, we invert the model and solve for the bonus (roll-up) rate that is required to justify delaying initiation at any age. We find that the required bonus is quite high and more than what is currently promised by existing products. Our methodology and results should be of interest to researchers as well as to the individuals that collectively have over $1 USD trillion in aggregate invested in these products. We conclude by suggesting that much of the non-initiation at older ages is irrational (which obviously benefits the insurance industry).
Managing the Americans: Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan and the Pursuit of ‘Power-by-Proxy’ in the 1950s

The idea of using American power ‘for purposes which we regard as good’ had been a feature of British foreign policy during the Labour governments of 1945–51. In the 1950s, however, Anthony Eden elevated ‘power-by-proxy’ to the status of strategy as he sought a means to maintain Britain's world role in the face of serious economic enervation. In the event, Eden's innate mistrust of the United States rendered him an imperfect front-man for the strategy – as Suez confirmed. However, the strategy was subsequently embraced by Eden's successor as Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, who from 1957 placed Anglo-American relations at the centre of his government's foreign policy. Yet like Eden before him, the more pro-American Macmillan ultimately doubted whether ‘power-by-proxy’ could be accomplished by reliance on the United States. Hence, at the close of the 1950s, the strategy underwent an evolution to include a new British relationship with Europe as a complement to the original, though increasingly unreliable, American proxy.
Developing Children’s Interest in Reading

Librarians have always discussed methods of developing children’s interest in reading, but they have focused more on the books being read than on the act of reading. Although many touted the need to “establish the reading habit,” a closer reading of the literature reveals that this referred specifically to reading “good books,” those which socialized children into culturally acceptable sex roles. As early as 1876, articles warned of the dangers of sensational fiction for both girls and boys. By the 1940s, comic books had replaced sensational fiction as a potential “corrupting influence. ” Only in the late 1950s did public librarians begin to address the new problem of a reluctance to read at all among children in general and among boys in particular. This paper will examine the effect of gender role expectations on librarians’ efforts to promote reading to children in the twentieth century. In particular it will explore the questions of whether these strategies continue to be designed to promote reading literature that reinforces society’s gender role expectations and of whether they are designed to promote reading to both boys and girls equally, or whether one group is privileged at the expense of the other.
Cancer cachexia differentially regulates visceral adipose tissue turnover.

Cancer cachexia (CC) is a progressive metabolic syndrome that is marked by severe body weight loss. Metabolic disarrangement of fat tissues is a very early event in CC, followed by adipose tissue (AT) atrophy and remodelling. However, there is little information regarding the possible involvement of cellular turnover in this process. Thus, in this study, we evaluated the effect of CC on AT turnover and fibrosis of mesenteric (MEAT) and retroperitoneal (RPAT) adipose tissue depots as possible factors that contribute to AT atrophy. CC was induced by a subcutaneous injection of Walker tumour cells (2 × 107) in Wistar rats, and control animals received only saline. The experimental rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups: 0 days, 4 days, 7 days and 14 days after injection. AT turnover was analysed according to the Pref1/Adiponectin ratio of gene expression from the stromal vascular fraction and pro-apoptotic CASPASE3 and CASPASE9 from MEAT and RPAT. Fibrosis was verified according to the total collagen levels and expression of extracellular matrix genes. AT turnover was verified by measurements of lipolytic protein expression. We found that the Pref1/Adiponectin ratio was decreased in RPAT (81.85%, P < 0.05) with no changes in MEAT compared with the respective controls. CASPASE3 and CASPASE9 were activated on day 14 only in RPAT. Collagen was increased on day 7 in RPAT (127%) and MEAT (4.3-fold). The Collagen1A1, Collagen3A1, Mmp2 and Mmp9 mRNA levels were upregulated only in MEAT in CC. Lipid turnover was verified in RPAT and was not modified in CC. We concluded that the results suggest that CC affects RPAT cellular turnover, which may be determinant for RPAT atrophy.
Quetiapine Addition to Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in Patients With Severe Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

Objective: Although many patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) benefit from treatment with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), it is estimated that 40% to 60% of them do not respond. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of quetiapine added to baseline treatment with SRIs for the treatment of OCD in severely ill adult subjects. Method: Forty patients (21 men, 19 women) with primary OCD according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria participated in a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. They were randomly assigned to dosages of quetiapine titrated up to 400 mg/d (n = 20) or to placebo (n = 20) in addition to their SRI treatment. During the continuation phase (weeks 6-12), subjects received different dosages between 400 and 600 mg/d depending on clinical response. At entry, all patients were unresponsive to at least 1 course of at least 12 weeks of treatment with SRIs at defined doses. The total Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale score was the primary efficacy parameter. Results: Intention-to-treat, last-observation-carried-forward analysis demonstrated a mean ± SD decrease in Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale score of 5.2 ± 5.4 in the quetiapine group and 3.9 ± 4.9 in the placebo group. The analysis of treatment effects between the 2 groups showed no significant difference. There were no significant group differences in any of the other self-rating scales or clinician-administered rating scales. Conclusions: In this study, augmentation of SRI treatment with quetiapine in severe OCD had no additional effect.
Hemospray Application in Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Results of the Survey to Evaluate the Application of Hemospray in the Luminal Tract

Background: Hemospray TM (TC-325) is a novel hemostatic agent licensed for use in nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) in Europe. Goals: We present the operating characteristics and performance of TC-325 in the largest registry to date of patients presenting with NVUGIB in everyday clinical practice. Methods: Prospective anonymized data of device performance and clinical outcomes were collected from 10 European centers using the multicentre SEAL survey (Survey to Evaluate the Application of Hemospray in the Luminal tract). TC-325 was used as a monotherapy or as second-line therapy in combination with other hemostatic modalities at the endoscopists’ discretion. Results: Sixty-three patients (44 men, 19 women), median age 69 (range, 21 to 98) years with NVUGIB requiring endoscopic hemostasis were treated with TC-325. There were 30 patients with bleeding ulcers and 33 with other NVUGIB pathology. Fifty-five (87%) were treated with TC-325 as monotherapy; 47 [85%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 76%-94%] of them achieved primary hemostasis, and rebleeding rate at 7 days was 15% (95% CI, 5%-25%). Primary hemostasis rate for TC-325 in patients with ulcer bleeds was 76% (95% CI, 59%-93%). Eight patients, who otherwise may have required either surgery or interventional radiology, were treated with TC-325 as second-line therapy after failure of other endoscopic treatments, all of whom achieved hemostasis following the adjunct of TC-325. Conclusions: This multicentre registry identifies potentially useful characteristics of Hemospray (TC-325) when used either as monotherapy or as a rescue therapy in a wide variety of ulcer and nonulcer NVUGIB.
SELDI protein profiling of dunning R‐3327 derived cell lines: Identification of molecular markers of prostate cancer progression

We recently demonstrated the protein expression profiling of Dunning rat tumor cell lines of varying metastatic potential (G (0%), AT‐1 (∼20%), and MLL (100%)) using SELDI‐TOF‐MS. As a parallel effort, we have been pursuing the identification of the protein(s) comprising the individual discriminatory “peaks” and evaluating their utility as potential biomarkers for prostate cancer progression.
Directed Evolution and Structural Analysis of Alkaline Pectate Lyase from the Alkaliphilic Bacterium Bacillus sp. Strain N16-5 To Improve Its Thermostability for Efficient Ramie Degumming

ABSTRACT Thermostable alkaline pectate lyases have potential applications in the textile industry as an alternative to chemical-based ramie degumming processes. In particular, the alkaline pectate lyase from Bacillus sp. strain N16-5 (BspPelA) has potential for enzymatic ramie degumming because of its high specific activity under extremely alkaline conditions without the requirement for additional Ca2+. However, BspPelA displays poor thermostability and is inactive after incubation at 50°C for only 30 min. Here, directed evolution was used to improve the thermostability of BspPelA for efficient and stable degumming. After two rounds of error-prone PCR and screening of >12,000 mutants, 10 mutants with improved thermostability were obtained. Sequence analysis and site-directed mutagenesis revealed that single E124I, T178A, and S271G substitutions were responsible for improving thermostability. Structural and molecular dynamic simulation analysis indicated that the formation of a hydrophobic cluster and new H-bond networks was the key factor contributing to the improvement in thermostability with these three substitutions. The most thermostable combined mutant, EAET, exhibited a 140-fold increase in the t 50 (time at which the enzyme loses 50% of its initial activity) value at 50°C, accompanied by an 84.3% decrease in activity compared with that of wild-type BspPelA, while the most advantageous combined mutant, EA, exhibited a 24-fold increase in the t 50 value at 50°C, with a 23.3% increase in activity. Ramie degumming with the EA mutant was more efficient than that with wild-type BspPelA. Collectively, our results suggest that the EA mutant, exhibiting remarkable improvements in thermostability and activity, has the potential for applications in ramie degumming in the textile industry.
Characterization of SOI Lamé-mode square resonators

Characterization of Lame-mode square resonators with different straight-beam anchor lengths, structural layer thickness, and number of anchor support reveals that there is likely an optimal range of anchor designs that provide high quality factor (Q) above one million, along with low motional resistance. Shorter anchor length restricts resonator vibrations and motional resistance could be increased by 3.5 times compared to resonators with longer anchor length. Two-anchor support design is able to achieve higher Qpsilas but results in higher motional resistance compared to four-anchor support. When structural thickness is reduced from 25 mum to 10 mum, Q gets degraded but still maintained above one million.
The value of intergenerational transfers within funded pension schemes

In this paper we model the transfers of value between the various generations in a funded pension scheme (pension fund). Value-based generational accounting is used as framework of analysis. We define a setting like in the Netherlands, where pension benefits and contributions may depend on the funding ratio (the ratio of assets to liabilities of the fund). Furthermore, we define explicit risk allocation rules, specifying which stakeholders, when, and to what extent bear the risk. A pension deal may lead to substantial transfers of wealth between young and old generations, depending on the asset returns and the exact risk allocation scheme. Using contingent claims valuation methods, we calculate these transfers and the distribution of value across generations. A pension deal is recognized as a zero-sum game in value-terms, however it is potentially a positive-sum game in welfare-terms. Pension schemes that provide safer and smoother consumption streams are ranked higher in utility terms. A smoother consumption stream can be achieved by allowing risk shifting over time, using benefit indexation instruments, contribution instruments or a combination of these two type of instruments. Our results show that intergenerational risk sharing is welfare-enhancing compared with pure individual pension schemes. Even initially under-funded collective funds may still provide higher utilities than the individual benchmark.
Xpert MTB/RIF Assay for Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Rifampicin Resistance in Children: a Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND The Xpert MTB/RIF assay has been recommended by WHO to replace conventional microscopy, culture, and drug resistance tests. It simultaneously detects both Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (TB) and resistance to rifampicin (RIF) within two hours. The objective was to review the available research studies on the accuracy of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay for diagnosing pulmonary TB and RIF-resistance in children. METHODS A comprehensive search of Pubmed and Embase was performed up to October 28, 2014. We identified published articles estimating the diagnostic accuracy of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay in children with or without HIV using culture or culture plus clinical TB as standard reference. QUADAS-2 tool was used to evaluate the quality of the studies. A summary estimation for sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratios (DOR), and the area under the summary ROC curve (AUC) was performed. Meta-analysis was used to establish the overall accuracy. RESULTS 11 diagnostic studies with 3801 patients were included in the systematic review. The overall analysis revealed a moderate sensitivity and high specificity of 65% (95% CI: 61 - 69%) and 99% (95% CI: 98 - 99%), respectively, and a pooled diagnostic odds ratio of 164.09 (95% CI: 111.89 - 240.64). The AUC value was found to be 0.94. The pooled sensitivity and specificity for paediatric rifampicin resistance were 94.0% (95% CI: 80.0 - 93.0%) and 99.0% (95% CI: 95.0 - 98.0%), respectively. Hence, the Xpert MTB/RIF assay has good diagnostic and rifampicin performance for paediatric pulmonary tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS The Xpert MTB/RIF is sensitive and specific for diagnosing paediatric pulmonary TB. It is also effective in detecting rifamnicin resistance. It can, therefore, be used as an initial diagnostic tool.
Effects of Exchange Rate Uncertainty on German and

studies have used, we find that exchange rate uncertainty has a significant impact on imports and exports of Germany and of the United States. In addition, we argue that the estimated effects are likely to understate the impact of exchange rate uncertainty on trade. In this article, we first discuss the problem of defining exchange rate uncertainty and its relationship to observed variability of exchange rates. We then outline the various direct and indirect ways through which uncertainty might affect the volume of trade. Finally, we review our empirical results, and attempt to quantify the total impact that exchange rate uncertainty has had on German and U.S. trade in recent years.2
Categorical representation of visual stimuli in the primate prefrontal cortex.

The ability to group stimuli into meaningful categories is a fundamental cognitive process. To explore its neural basis, we trained monkeys to categorize computer-generated stimuli as "cats" and "dogs. " A morphing system was used to systematically vary stimulus shape and precisely define the category boundary. Neural activity in the lateral prefrontal cortex reflected the category of visual stimuli, even when a monkey was retrained with the stimuli assigned to new categories.