Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are economists rational or just different

There is evidence that American economics undergraduates are more likely than others to act self-interestedly and less likely to behave cooperatively. In two experiments, differences between Americans and Canadians and between economics students and psychology students were examined. Data from simple bargaining and a prisoner’s dilemma game are presented, which suggest that Canadian students may be more cooperative than American students, and psych-ology students less selfish than either economics students or students from other disciplines. However, these results suggest also that these relationships are not simple, and that other variables – such as gender – need to be taken into account.
Colon cancer cell apoptosis is induced by combined exposure to the n-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid and butyrate through promoter methylation

DNA methylation and histone acetylation contribute to the transcriptional regulation of genes involved in apoptosis. We have demonstrated that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) and butyrate enhance colonocyte apoptosis. To determine if DHA and/or butyrate elevate apoptosis through epigenetic mechanisms thereby restoring the transcription of apoptosis-related genes, we examined global methylation; gene-specific promoter methylation of 24 apoptosis-related genes; transcription levels of Cideb, Dapk1, and Tnfrsf25; and global histone acetylation in the HCT-116 colon cancer cell line. Cells were treated with combinations of (50 µM) DHA or linoleic acid (18:2 n-6), (5 mM) butyrate or an inhibitor of DNA methyltransferases, and 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC, 2 µM). Among highly methylated genes, the combination of DHA and butyrate significantly reduced methylation of the proapoptotic Bcl2l11, Cideb, Dapk1, Ltbr, and Tnfrsf25 genes compared to untreated control cells. DHA treatment reduced the methylation of Cideb, Dapk1, and Tnfrsf25. These data suggest that the induction of apoptosis by DHA and butyrate is mediated, in part, through changes in the methylation state of apoptosis-related genes.
Linking Innovation Measurement to an Implementation Framework: A Case Study of a Financial Services Organization at the Front End of Innovation

Many organizations find themselves at the "front end of innovation", that is, they know they need to do something, but they are not quite sure what to do. Through our research, we have learned much more about the practice and implementation of innovation. For example, we have discovered that innovation is most successful if there is leadership support for a culture of innovation combined with systematic approaches to embed and reinforce innovative behaviours. This article outlines a case study of an organization in the financial services industry who began their innovation journey a number of years ago, and reports on the progress of a sustained and deliberate approach. This research highlights the relationship between an innovation cultural assessment model and its utilization as a framework to manage the implementation of activities to support the development of an innovation approach in a context specific scenario. A case study methodology was adopted that utilized an innovation culture model as a measurement tool. By actively observing the organization, including two cultural assessments over a 4-year period, the findings indicate that an innovation assessment model is useful as an approach to advance the innovation agenda in the organization. In this sense, the research findings are of interest to academics looking to conceptualize a broader implementation framework that is closely associated to the innovation measure associated with the organization. As well, practitioners looking to advance their innovation platforms will find the framework useful as they plan initiatives aimed at advancing their innovation agendas.
Detection of Endogenous Matrix Metalloprotease-12 Active Form with a Novel Broad Spectrum Activity-based Probe*

Background: The detection of MMP active forms remains a challenge. Results: An endogenous active form of MMP-12 was detected in animal fluids with a new activity-based probe. Conclusion: The presence of MMP active forms can be demonstrated only with a highly sensitive probe. Significance: It should be possible to validate active forms of MMP as potential biomarkers in different physiopathological contexts. Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) have attracted considerable attention as critical mediators of pathological tissue remodeling processes. However it remains an unresolved challenge to detect their active forms in biological samples. To prove the efficacy of a recently developed MMP activity-based probe, we examined the content in MMP active forms of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALf) from male C57BL/6 mice exposed to ultrafine carbon black nanoparticles, a model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This probe was shown to label proteins, mostly expressed in BALf of mice exposed to nanoparticles. Using competition assays with a selective MMP-12 inhibitor as well as MMP-12 knock-out mice, one of these proteins was identified as the active form of the catalytic domain of MMP-12. This new probe can detect the active form of MMP-12 down to a threshold of 1 fmol. Radioactive counting showed the concentration of the active form of MMP-12 to be around 1 fmol/μl in BALf from nanoparticle-treated mice. A less sensitive probe would therefore not have detected MMP-12. As the probe can detect other MMPs in the femtomolar range, it is a potentially powerful tool for monitoring the levels of MMP active forms in various diseases.
Neuroprotective effects of electroacupuncture on Ren and Du vessels through anti-inflammation in transient focal cerebral ischemia rats

The present study was designed, from the perspective of inflammatory reaction, to uncover the potential neuroprotective effect of electroacupuncture on Ren and Du vessels in transient focal cerebral ischemia in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats. In total, 192 rats were randomly assigned to four groups, sham operation group (S), model group (M), Du vessel group (D), together with Ren and Du vessels group (RD), with 48 for each. Each group was further divided into six subgroups of 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 144 h after model establishing. We performed immunohistochemistry to detect dynamic expressions of pro-inflammatory mediatorsinterleukin-1β (IL1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in affected brain tissues. It showed the lowest levels of all these four indexes in sham group. Expressions of IL-1β, IL-6 and MMP-9 in the rest three groups peaked at 24 h, 24 h and 48 h after model establishing, respectively. Levels in the other two groups were lower by contrast with model group, and they were lower in RD group than those in D group (P<0.05). MCP-1 expressions in model group peaked at 48 h, while at 12 h in D group and RD group. They were remarkably lower in the other two groups in comparison to model group (P<0.05). At most time points, levels in RD group were lower than those in D group (P<0.05). Our findings demonstrated neuroprotective effect of electroacupuncture on Ren and Du vessels on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury.
Specific Properties of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from 1 Diarrheal Patients : Comparison between Strains from Foods , and Fecal 2 Specimens from Cattle , Swine and Healthy Carriers in Osaka City , Japan

Specific Properties of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from 1 Diarrheal Patients: Comparison between Strains from Foods, and Fecal 2 Specimens from Cattle, Swine and Healthy Carriers in Osaka City, Japan 3 4 Lili Wang, Mitsuko Wakushima, Tetsu Aota, Yuka Yoshida, Toshimasa Kita, Tomofumi 5 Maehara, Jun Ogasawara, Changsun Choi, Yoichi Kamata, Yukiko Hara-Kudo and 6 Yoshikazu Nishikawa* 7 8 1 Osaka City University Graduate School of Human Life Science, Osaka 558-8585, Japan; 2 9 Osaka Municipal Meat Inspection Center, Osaka 559-0032, Japan; 3 Food Sanitation Inspection 10 Laboratory of Osaka Municipal Central Wholesale Market, Osaka 553-0005, Japan; 4 Department 11 of Microbiology, Osaka City Institute of Public Health and Environmental Sciences, Osaka 12 543-0026, Japan; 5 Department of Food and Nutrition, Chung-Ang University, 456-756, Korea; 6 13 Division of Microbiology, National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan 14 15 Running head: DISCRIMINATION OF EPEC 16 17 * Author to whom all correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed: Y. 18 Nishikawa, Graduate School of Human Life Science, Osaka City University, 3-3-138 Sugimoto, 19 Osaka 558-8585, Japan 20 Phone & Fax: +81-6-6605-2910 21 E-mail: nisikawa@life.osaka-cu.ac. jp 22 Copyright © 2012, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. doi:10.1128/AEM.03380-12 AEM Accepts, published online ahead of print on 7 December 2012
Delivery and evaluation of a pilot obesity prevention project for urban Appalachian children

Prevention of childhood obesity is a national concern and there is a need for interventions that can be implemented in community programs and are brief in nature. This pilot project was developed to evaluate the impact of the Children’s Healthy Eating and Exercise Program, which was adapted from the Traffic Light Diet. Participants were urban Appalachian children and adolescents who were enrolled in one of two community-based summer programs. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to examine children’s impressions of the program and to assess what they learned during implementation of the program. Results indicated that younger children reported consuming fewer French fries or chips and older children reported eating more vegetables at the end of the program. Knowledge of two categories of Traffic Light foods appeared good; however, participants showed lower knowledge about one of the food categories. Future studies should involve parents as well as incorporate a more rigorous evaluation design with a comparison group to examine the impact of this new program.
Integrin cytoplasmic domain‐associated protein‐1 (ICAP‐1) promotes migration of myoblasts and affects focal adhesions

Integrin Cytoplasmic domain‐Associated Protein‐1 (ICAP‐1) binds specifically to the β1 integrin subunit cytoplasmic domain. We observed that RNAi‐induced knockdown of ICAP‐1 reduced migration of C2C12 myoblasts on the β1 integrin ligand laminin and that overexpression of ICAP‐1 increased this migration. In contrast, migration on the β3 integrin ligand vitronectin was not affected. ICAP‐1 knockdown also greatly diminished migration of microvascular endothelial cells on collagen. The number of central focal adhesions in C2C12 cells on laminin was reduced by ICAP‐1 knockdown and increased by ICAP‐1 overexpression. Previously, we demonstrated that ICAP‐1 binds to the ROCK‐I kinase and translocates ROCK‐I to the plasma membrane. We show here that the ROCK kinase inhibitor Y27362 reduces migration on laminin and causes a loss of central focal adhesions, similarly as ICAP‐1 knockdown. ICAP‐1 and ROCK were co‐immune‐precipitated from C2C12 cells, and in cells that overexpressed ICAP‐1, YFP‐ROCK was translocated to membrane ruffles. These results indicate that ICAP‐1 regulates β1 integrin‐dependent cell migration by affecting the pattern of focal adhesion formation. This is likely due to ICAP‐1‐induced translocation of ROCK to β1 integrin attachment sites. J. Cell. Physiol. 214: 474–482, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transient Absorption Spectroscopic Study on Band-Structure-Type Change in CdTe/CdS Core-Shell Quantum Dots

We report on the band edge alignment in zinc-blended-type CdTe/CdS core-shell quantum dots, using femtosecond spectroscopy. Time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy directly shows that the system gradually developed from quasi-type-I to type-II as the shell thickness increased. Following photoexcitation of CdS, the injection of a hole from CdS valence band into CdTe valence band is observed. The hole transfer occurs on the 1000 fs time scale in these heteromaterials. Furthermore, a strain ca. 150 meV is obtained by comparing the transient with steady-state spectra.
Determinants of muslim consumers’ Halal meat consumption: applying and extending the theory of planned behavior

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to investigate the determinants of Halal meat consumption within Turkish Muslim immigrants in Germany using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a conceptual framework. The role of self-identity as a Muslim, dietary acculturation in the host culture, moral obligation to purchase Halal meat, and trust on the authenticity of Halal meat is explored. A quantitative research methodology using an online questionnaire survey was used. Cross-sectional data were collected through a survey of 464 Muslims originating from Turkey and currently living in Germany. A positive personal attitude toward the consumption of Halal meat, motivation to comply others, the perceived control over consuming Halal meat, and the availability of Halal meat predict the intention to eat Halal meat among Muslims. This study is one of the few studies investigating the determinants of Halal meat consumption in a Muslim population in Germany using the TPB within a food, religion, and migration context.
Diet-induced obesity alters the maternal metabolome and early placenta transcriptome and decreases placenta vascularity in the mouse†

Abstract Maternal obesity is associated with an increased risk of obesity and metabolic disease in offspring. Increasing evidence suggests that the placenta plays an active role in fetal programming. In this study, we used a mouse model of diet-induced obesity to demonstrate that the abnormal metabolic milieu of maternal obesity sets the stage very early in pregnancy by altering the transcriptome of placenta progenitor cells in the preimplantation (trophectoderm [TE]) and early postimplantation (ectoplacental cone [EPC]) placenta precursors, which is associated with later changes in placenta development and function. Sphingolipid metabolism was markedly altered in the plasma of obese dams very early in pregnancy as was expression of genes related to sphingolipid processing in the early placenta. Upregulation of these pathways inhibits angiogenesis and causes endothelial dysfunction. The expression of many other genes related to angiogenesis and vascular development were disrupted in the TE and EPC. Other key changes in the maternal metabolome in obese dams that are likely to influence placenta and fetal development include a marked decrease in myo and chiro-inositol. These early metabolic and gene expression changes may contribute to phenotypic changes in the placenta, as we found that exposure to a high-fat diet decreased placenta microvessel density at both mid and late gestation. This is the first study to demonstrate that maternal obesity alters the transcriptome at the earliest stages of murine placenta development. Summary Sentence Obesity in a mouse model leads to alterations in the maternal metabolome and early placenta transcriptome as well as changes in vascularity later in gestation which may provide a mechanism for decreased fetal growth.
The Value of Corporate Citizenship: Protection

We explore the notion that corporate citizenship, as obtained through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), is used by managers to protect firm value, helping their firm better withstand negative business shocks. We formally explore two parallel mechanisms for such protection . one of building moral capital (CSR Contributions) and another of improving investor posteriors (CSR Investments). We find some theoretical and empirical support for both of these, but in different settings. In particular, we find that firms with higher CSR Investments enjoy an average of $1 billion of saved firm value upon an adverse event. In contrast, CSR Contribution firms lose value (on average) upon an event, possibly due to disingenuous contributions. Meanwhile, due to managerial moral hazard, firms with high levels of CSR Contributions face adverse events more often, whereas those with high levels of CSR Investments face them less often.
Nucleotide sequence of the iucD gene of the pColV-K30 aerobactin operon and topology of its product studied with phoA and lacZ gene fusions

Gene iucD of the aerobactin operon of the Escherichia coli plasmid ColV-K30 encodes a membrane-bound enzyme synthesizing N6-hydroxylysine, the first product of the aerobactin biosynthesis pathway. The entire nucleotide sequence of the cloned iucD gene was determined, from which the primary and some aspects of the secondary structure of the encoded peptide were deduced. E. coli cells harboring multicopy plasmid pVLN12 (iucD+) hyperproduced an approximately 50-kilodalton peptide which was purified and identified as the product of the gene by examination of its amino-terminal sequence. Two iucD'-'lacZ gene fusions were constructed in vitro and four iucD'-'phoA gene fusions were generated in vivo by mutagenesis of iucD with transposon TnphoA (Tn5 IS50L::phoA). Analysis of the corresponding fusion proteins suggested at least two domains of attachment of the IucD protein to the inner side of the cytoplasmic membrane. The first apparent membrane-bound domain was found within the first 25 amino acids of the protein and showed a sequence which resembled that of the signal peptides.
A systematic review of the benefits of home telecare for frail elderly people and those with long-term conditions

We have conducted a systematic review of home telecare for frail elderly people and for patients with chronic conditions. We searched 17 electronic databases, the reference lists of identified studies, conference proceedings and Websites for studies available in January 2006. We identified summaries of 8666 studies, which were assessed independently for relevance by two reviewers. Randomized controlled trials of any size and observational studies with 80 or more participants were eligible for inclusion if they examined the effects of using telecommunications technology to (a) monitor vital signs or safety and security in the home, or (b) provide information and support. The review included 68 randomized controlled trials (69%) and 30 observational studies with 80 or more participants (31%). Most studies focused on people with diabetes (31%) or heart failure (29%). Almost two-thirds (64%) of the studies originated in the US; more than half (55%) had been published within the previous three years. Based on the evidence reviewed, the most effective telecare interventions appear to be automated vital signs monitoring (for reducing health service use) and telephone follow-up by nurses (for improving clinical indicators and reducing health service use). The cost-effectiveness of these interventions was less certain. There is insufficient evidence about the effects of home safety and security alert systems. It is important to note that just because there is insufficient evidence about some interventions, this does not mean that those interventions have no effect.
Susceptibilities of Mycobacterium fortuitum biovar. fortuitum and the two subgroups of Mycobacterium chelonae to imipenem, cefmetazole, cefoxitin, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid

MICs of imipenem, cefoxitin, cefmetazole, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid were determined against 100 strains of Mycobacterium fortuitum and 200 strains of Mycobacterium chelonae. Imipenem and cefmetazole were more active against M. fortuitum than cefoxitin was, and imipenem (which inhibited 39% of strains at 8 micrograms/ml) was the only beta-lactam active against M. chelonae subsp. chelonae.
The effect of liquidity and solvency on profitability: the case of public-listed consumer product companies in Malaysia

The optimal level of liquidity and solvency has been one of the key financial components essential for a smooth operation, particularly in maintaining firm performance. Successful companies will normally manipulate the two closely interrelated financial elements; liquidity and debt structure to maximize the firm’s value as well for achieving an optimal hedging strategy. Subsequently a careful attention to these two elements will help companies to achieve a lower reduction in a bankruptcy costs and to reduce the likelihood of financial distress. The illiquidity problem, unless remedied, will lead to insolvency as the business liabilities exceed its assets. For larger organizations, maintaining a good level of liquidity can ensure the stability of the business. Thus, this study sought to examine the effect of liquidity and debt on the profitability among large firms in consumer product sector in Malaysia. In order to meet the objectives a quantitative panel data methodology was employed. The data were obtained from the audited financial statements of 116 firms in consumer product sector for the period of three years (2012 – 2015). The findings reveal that liquidity in term of quick ratio has positive and significant effect on profitability. While, current ratio has negative but insignificant effect on profitability. The result further reveals that solvency has no significant effect on profitability. The study recommends that the firms can improve their performance by increasing the level of liquidity and maintaining their optimal debt structure level.
Do different marketing practices pre-suppose different frames of reference? An exploratory study

Purpose The role of managerial assumptions in the formulation of organizational strategies has been well recognized by previous studies, yet in marketing literature, the effect of such imperative on marketing practice choice tends to be ignored. Therefore, this paper aims to empirically investigate how management assumptions fit with the choice of marketing practices, and how such fit affects performance. Design/methodology/approach A model is developed and tested using survey methodology, and the data are analyzed using the partial least square (PLS) approach. Findings The results show that different marketing practices were coupled with different frames of reference, resulting in viable matching profiles. Research limitations/implications Given the novelty of the approach adopted in this study, conclusions about association and not causation are drawn. In addition, the study is restricted to Qatar which may reduce the generalizability of its findings and conclusions. Practical implications The findings will help managers to examine carefully the internal logic of their marketing-related profiling, where coherent variables will enhance performance. Originality/value To one’s knowledge, this paper reports a work in an area not previously researched. In addition, this study is one of the rare papers that examines unobserved heterogeneity using the PLS-structural equation modeling (SEM) in the field of marketing.