Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What explains the total factor productivity gap between OECD economies and the U.S.?

ABSTRACT Since 2000, the total factor productivity (TFP) in most of the OECD economies relative to the United States has been declining. This article develops an empirical model to study the linkages between relative differences in TFP gap and relative differences in fundamental factors (factor gaps). Using panel data for 33 OECD countries, it finds that the machinery and equipment investment gap, the gap in information and communication technology penetration related to mobile phone subscriptions, the economic globalization gap and the institutional quality gap explain significantly the TFP gap between the OECD economies and the United States during 2000–2011.
NMDA as Well as Non-NMDA Receptor Antagonists Can Prevent the Phase-Shifting Effects of Light on the Circadian System of the Golden Hamster

The present experiments were designed to evaluate whether the intraventricular administration of excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptor antagonists would prevent light-induced phase shifts of the circadian rhythm of wheel-running activity in the hamster. Administration of the non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (non-NMDA) antagonist 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX) blocked light-induced phase advances and delays. Similarly, administration of the competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, 3(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP), prevented light-induced phase advances and delays. Neither drug by itself caused any consistent effect on the phase of the rhythm. These data provide further evidence that EAA receptors mediate the effects of light on the circadian system, and suggest that both NMDA and non-NMDA receptor types may be involved.
How Information Transmits to Equity Markets: Earnings Announcements and Volatility

We explore the impact of earnings announcements on equity markets, using intraday price data for the DJIA stocks. We find on a daily basis, an abnormally high volatility only within one day following the overnight announcement. On an intraday basis, a striking volatility spike stands out during the overnight period, implying that the earnings news is fully reflected in the opening price. The continued high volatility during the first several minutes of trading seems to be driven by noise traders, given the one-minute returns uncorrelated with the overnight return. Using the standardized earnings surprise (SES), we find the overnight return highly dependent on good and bad news and no relationship between the 9:30-9:31 return and news content. The evidence along with the CAAR patterns surrounding the earnings announcement confirms that the equity market is completely awake and busy in reflecting the new information in the opening trading price.
Enhanced plasma levels of advanced glycation end products (AGE) and pro-inflammatory cytokines in children/adolescents with chronic renal insufficiency and after renal replacement therapy by dialysis and transplantation--are they inter-related?

AIMS Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are formed by non-enzymatic glycation or glycoxidation. After their interaction with specific receptors, they may induce expression of various proinflammatory cytokines. AGEs were shown to accumulate with advanced age, in diabetes mellitus and, in particular, in patients with chronic renal failure. In contrast to numerous investigations in adults, there are no data on plasma levels of AGEs in children with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) and after renal replacement therapy. To elucidate the specific role of renal impairment for the formation of AGEs, these data become especially interesting by exclusion of the age-dependent modulatory effects occurring in adults. Therefore, we investigated the concentrations of fluorescent (FL) AGEs, carboxymethyllysine (CML) and markers of inflammation (CRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha) in children/adolescents with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) and on renal replacement therapy with maintenance dialysis (D) or renal transplantation (TX). PATIENTS Eleven CRI patients on conservative treatment (CRI, age: mean 12.6, median 12.80, SD 5.8 +/- 1.7 years, serum creatinine: 205.7, 157.5, 58.0 micromol/l, respectively), 10 patients on D (13.6, 13.0, 5.4 years, and 698.2, 633.8, 296.1 micromol/l, respectively) and 9 patients after TX (15.9, 16.0, 3.4 years, and 115.9, 128.0, 35.1 micromol/l, respectively) were included. METHODS Plasma levels of CML, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 were determined by ELISA, FL-AGEs spectrofluorimetrically (lambda(ex)/lambda(em): 370/440 nm). RESULTS FL-AGEs and CML levels were increased in all 3 groups with the highest levels in the D patients, a successful renal transplantation did not lead to normalization of plasma AGEs. The mean CRP and IL-6 concentrations were marginally elevated, and no significance among groups was revealed. TNF-alpha was noticeably elevated in all groups, with the highest values in CRI and TX patients, while in the dialysis patients the rise was less pronounced. Stepwise multiple regression did not reveal any correlation between AGEs and proinflammatory parameters, even after exclusion of the TX group from analysis. CONCLUSIONS In children with CRI and on maintenance dialysis therapy, plasma AGE levels are markedly increased. After renal transplantation, AGE levels decrease without normalization. Proinflammatory parameters (except for TNF-alpha) are only mildly to moderately elevated. No association between AGE levels and data characterizing a proinflammatory state was revealed.
Median nerve compression can be detected by magnetic resonance imaging of the carpal tunnel.

OBJECTIVE Clinically symptomatic carpal tunnel syndrome is not necessarily accompanied by impaired nerve conduction values. Surgical decompression, however, may immediately lead to complete and lasting relief of symptoms in these patients. Because minimally invasive techniques have reduced perioperative morbidity and vocational impairment related to operative decompression, the decision to decompress symptomatic patients (despite still unimpaired nerve conduction values) might be subject to discussion in the future. New diagnostic tools may be helpful in deciding which therapeutical options to choose. When the wrist is held either in flexion or in extension, the carpal tunnel pressure increases. To investigate the dynamic changes of the carpal tunnel shape during wrist motion, as well as the variations of space for the median nerve and its signal intensity in T2-weighting, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on patients and healthy volunteers alike. Restitution and the persistence of pathological findings were assessed pre- and postoperatively. METHODS MRI (1.0 T) was performed on 20 wrists of patients with clinical symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and pathological nerve conduction values. Healthy volunteers (20 wrists) were matched according to sex and age. MRI was performed in neutral, 45-degree extension, and 45-degree wrist flexion positions. T2-weighted signal intensity of the median nerve was measured in 18 patients pre- and postoperatively. RESULTS The cross-sectional area of the carpal tunnel in patients with CTS tends to be smaller than that found in nonsymptomatic volunteers. The cross-sectional area of the carpal tunnel decreases during wrist flexion at the pisiform and hamate level. During wrist extension, the cross-sectional area of the carpal tunnel decreases at the level of the pisiform. During extension, it increases at the level of the hamate. The cross-sectional area of the median nerve showed an increase at the pisiform level (P < 0.05), a flattening of the median nerve at the hamate hook level (P < 0.05), and palmar deviation of the flexor retinaculum at the pisiform and hamate hook level (P < 0.001). This was significantly greater in CTS patients than in individuals with normal wrists. Postoperatively, the distal flattening of the median nerve recovered in 94% of the cases reviewed. Although the signal intensity of the median nerve on T2-weighted images decreased by 67%, the motor latency recovered in only 39% of the cases. CONCLUSION The carpal tunnel was smaller in CTS patients than in healthy volunteers. During flexion and extension, the space available for the median nerve narrows. This may lead to potential median nerve compression. MRI is accurate and reliable for diagnosis and postoperative follow-up of carpal tunnel syndrome. In cases with obvious clinical symptoms and yet not measurably impaired median nerve conduction values, it may be helpful in making a decision for surgical decompression.
Institutional pressure and an organization’s strategic response in Corporate Social Action engagement: The role of ownership and media attention

This study investigates the relationship between institutional pressure and a firm’s strategic behavior in the context of Corporate Social Action. We posit that as an organization’s susceptibility to institutional pressure increases, its proclivity to conform to and alleviate environmental concerns and pressures to establish or maintain its legitimacy increases. To explain variation in a firm’s strategic response to institutional pressures and its engagement in Corporate Social Action, we focus on two factors: public ownership and media attention. Analysis of the largest publicly traded German firms indicates that greater public ownership reduces a firm’s propensity to engage in Corporate Social Action, while firms with less public ownership are more proactive in social engagement. However, when confronting greater media attention, firms with greater public ownership are more reactive in pursuing conforming strategies and increasing Corporate Social Action engagement.
The Los Angeles County Response to Child Abuse and Deafness: A Social Movement Theory Analysis

There is increasingly strong evidence that children with disabilities are at higher risk for maltreatment when compared to children without disabilities. There is also concern about the adequacy of child welfare services for children and parents with disabilities, particularly those disabilities that result in a communication impairment. This article describes a successful community practice effort in Los Angeles County that resulted in the establishment of a comprehensive array of linguistically and culturally competent child abuse prevention and treatment services for the maltreated deaf child and for the deaf parent at risk for child abuse perpetration. Social movement theory is used to analyze a change effort that was developed and implemented by a broad coalition of members of the Deaf and hearing communities. Elements of the problem, social movement theory, the coalition, the change strategy, and the results are described.
Regulated secretion of neurotrophins by metabotropic glutamate group I (mGluRI) and Trk receptor activation is mediated via phospholipase C signalling pathways

Neurotrophins (NTs) play an essential role in modulating activity‐dependent neuronal plasticity. In this context, the site and extent of NT secretion are of crucial importance. Here, we demonstrate that the activation of phospolipase C (PLC) and the subsequent mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular stores are essential for NT secretion initiated by both Trk and glutamate receptor activation. Mutational analysis of tyrosine residues, highly conserved in the cytoplasmic domain of all Trk receptors, revealed that the activation of PLC‐γ in cultured hippocampal neurons and nnr5 cells is necessary to mobilize Ca2+ from intracellular stores, the key mechanism for regulated NT secretion. A similar signalling mechanism has been identified for glutamate‐mediated NT secretion—which in part depends on the activation of PLC via metabotropic receptors—leading to the mobilization of Ca2+ from internal stores by inositol trisphosphate. Thus, PLC‐mediated signal transduction pathways are the common mechanisms for both Trk‐ and mGluRI‐mediated NT secretion.
Jar-opening challenges. Part 1: An apparatus for assessing hand and finger torques and forces in a jar-opening activity

Abstract A simulated jar apparatus was developed to record hand kinetics and torque contribution of a digit during jar-opening activities. The design of the apparatus, namely a jar body and a lid, is similar to a commercial jam jar that is regularly seen in daily living. One six-axis force—torque transducer and a torque cell were mounted inside the jar lid to detect the external force exerted from the digit and fixed on to the jar body to record the overall torque generated by the hand and wrist respectively. The applications of the apparatus were used to test the twisting torque of the hand and to measure the applied forces of the digit, which are both important factors in opening a jar. The contribution of each digit relative to the total twisting torque of the hand could be obtained via the apparatus. The intraclass correlation coefficient of the repeated measurements of the obtained forces and moments for different counterweights was approximately 0.96—1.00, which indicates that the reliability of the measured components of the apparatus is high. The high coefficient of determination (r2 > 0.99) indicates high accuracy of prediction of the measured values with respect to the expected loads. The validation outcomes support the design rationale and actual body part of the simulated jar. In addition, understanding the contribution of a single digit in opening a jar was also achieved via the apparatus and model.
The Transcriptional Regulator Rv0485 Modulates the Expression of a pe and ppe Gene Pair and Is Required for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Virulence

ABSTRACT The pe and ppe genes are unique to mycobacteria and are widely speculated to play a role in tuberculosis pathogenesis. However, little is known about how expression of these genes is controlled. Elucidating the regulatory control of genes found exclusively in mycobacteria, such as the pe and ppe gene families, may be key to understanding the success of this pathogen. In this study, we used a transposon mutagenesis approach to elucidate pe and ppe regulation. This resulted in the identification of Rv0485, a previously uncharacterized transcriptional regulator. Microarray and quantitative real-time PCR analysis confirmed that disruption of Rv0485 reduced the expression of the pe13 and ppe18 gene pair (Rv1195 and Rv1196), defined the Rv0485 regulon, and emphasized the lack of global regulation of pe and ppe genes. The in vivo phenotype of the Rv0485 transposon mutant strain (Rv0485::Tn) was investigated in the mouse model, where it was demonstrated that the mutation has minimal effect on bacterial organ burden. Despite this, disruption of Rv0485 allowed mice to survive for significantly longer, with substantially reduced lung pathology in comparison with mice infected with wild-type Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Infection of immune-deficient SCID mice with the Rv0485::Tn strain also resulted in extended survival times, suggesting that Rv0485 plays a role in modulation of innate immune responses. This is further supported by the finding that disruption of Rv0485 resulted in reduced secretion of proinflammatory cytokines by infected murine macrophages. In summary, we have demonstrated that disruption of a previously uncharacterized transcriptional regulator, Rv0485, results in reduced expression of pe13 and ppe18 and attenuation of M. tuberculosis virulence.
Creating and leveraging knowledge to promote sport participation: the role of public governing bodies of sport

Research question: There is a paucity of knowledge about how national public sport agencies create and leverage information and knowledge to increase participation in sport. This paper addresses ‘what is the role of public governing bodies (PSO) in creating new models for understanding participation in sport? how do they mediate knowledge on sport participation, and what knowledge generation strategies have been used by these organizations? ' Research methods: Using a combination of three theoretical frameworks of knowledge creation and leveraging and a multiple case study approach, the knowledge creation and leveraging strategies of the national public sport agencies in Australia (The Australian Sports Commission), Belgium (Flanders-Bloso) and England (Sport England) were studied. A data coding and thematic analysis protocol was developed to ensure consistency between the cases. Results and findings: Findings indicate a trend in the three countries whereby implicit and embodied knowledge of the sport practitioner is supplemented by explicit and disembodied knowledge of large scale research. The three organizations have used extensively expanding knowledge generation strategies, which rely mainly on combining and externalizing knowledge. The research and knowledge strategies of the three public sport organizations have resulted in the creation of three distinct sport participation models which could be termed as ‘consumption’ (Australia), ‘education’ (Belgium) and ‘delivery’ (England)- oriented. Implications: These knowledge creation models have significant policy and practical implications for the management of sport participation in that they promote certain ideologies and organizational behaviors at the expense of others.
Over‐expression of Rap2a inhibits glioma migration and invasion by down‐regulating p‐AKT

Ras‐oncogenic pathway contributes to the pathogenesis of various tumours in humans, in which mutations of three canonical genes including H‐Ras, N‐Ras and K‐Ras are the most common events. Dysregulation of Ras signalling can be tumourigenic, especially gliomas of the central nervous system. Rap proteins are members of the small GTPase superfamily that involved in many biological processes. However, it remains largely unclear as to whether and how Rap proteins are involved in the development of multiple gliomas. We found that the levels of the protein Rap2a and the activity of Rap2a (GTP‐Rap2a) were weakly expressed in glioma tissues. Overexpressed Rap2a significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of glioma cells with an increase of GTP‐Rap2a. Overexpression of the dominant‐active (DA‐Rap2a), but not the dominant‐negative (DN‐Rap2a) form of Rap2a, also similarly inhibited the migration and invasion of glioma cells by reducing the phosphorylation level of AKT. In contrast, downregulation of Rap2a promoted glioma migration and invasion, and raised the phosphorylation level of AKT, whereas these effects were inhibited by PI3K‐specific inhibitor, LY294002. Thus unlike the other family members of Ras, Rab2a probably serves as a tumour suppressor in the pathogenesis of glioma.
Pain experienced by patients undergoing different periodontal therapies.

BACKGROUND The authors assessed the levels of postoperative pain, postoperative dentin hypersensitivity and discomfort patients experienced during various periodontal treatments by using a visual analog scale (VAS). They aimed to determine whether VAS scores could be predicted by patient's age and sex and to evaluate the factors associated with the pain. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The study was carried out with 56 patients who had chronic periodontitis. Using a split-mouth design, the authors selected one quadrant in each patient and treated it with scaling and root planing (SRP). They treated other quadrants with the surgical therapies of modified Widman flap (MWF), flap with osseous resection (OF) and gingivectomy (GV), depending on the patient's diagnosis and treatment needs. They measured patients' discomfort during periodontal treatments, postoperative pain and postoperative dentin hypersensitivity by asking patients to mark a VAS. RESULTS The authors' analysis showed no statistically significant differences between the patients' discomfort levels associated with the four therapy types during periodontal treatment. However, postoperative pain was significantly higher for OF (P < .01) and GV (P < .05) procedures than for SRP and MWF procedures. All surgical procedures produced significantly more dentin hypersensitivity than did nonsurgical therapy. The analysis showed no statistically significant differences between male and female patients' discomfort during periodontal treatments. For all periodontal treatments, VAS scores decreased with increasing age. CONCLUSIONS Discomfort during periodontal treatments, postoperative pain and postoperative dentin hypersensitivity were associated significantly with age, type of therapy and higher scores on Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Periodontal treatment is experienced as painful by substantial numbers of patients. Therefore, the dentist should count the pain responses during and after treatment and estimate the degree of pain according to sex, age and therapy type.
Gene balance hypothesis: Connecting issues of dosage sensitivity across biological disciplines

We summarize, in this review, the evidence that genomic balance influences gene expression, quantitative traits, dosage compensation, aneuploid syndromes, population dynamics of copy number variants and differential evolutionary fate of genes after partial or whole-genome duplication. Gene balance effects are hypothesized to result from stoichiometric differences among members of macromolecular complexes, the interactome, and signaling pathways. The implications of gene balance are discussed.
Determination of mass-dependent variations in tungsten stable isotope compositions of geological reference materials by double-spike and MC-ICPMS

We present a double-spike technique for precise determination of mass-dependent fractionation of tungsten (W) stable isotopes. Instrumental mass bias effects and isotope fractionation during W separation are corrected for by means of a 180W–183W double-spike added prior to sample dissolution. The separation of W from the matrix is achieved via three-step anion-exchange chromatography. Tungsten stable isotopic compositions were determined by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS). Results are expressed relative to the NIST SRM 3136 W standard as the permil difference in 186W/184W (δ186W). The external reproducibility of the NIST SRM 3163 W standard is ±0.05‰ with an average composition of −0.01‰ on 186W/184W (2s.d., n = 171). Tungsten stable isotope compositions for USGS standard reference materials are as follows: AGV-2 (andesite; δ186W = 0.18 ± 0.05‰, 2s.d., n = 6), SDC-1 (mica schist; δ186W = 0.36 ± 0.05‰, 2s.d., n = 6), SDO-1 (shale; δ186W = 0.26 ± 0.06‰, 2s.d., n = 6), and manganese nodules NOD-A-1 (δ186W = 0.07 ± 0.05‰, 2s.d., n = 10) and NOD-P-1 (δ186W = 0.31 ± 0.04‰, 2s.d., n = 7). The long-term external reproducibility (2s.d.) for these rock standards is ±0.05‰.
Face Context Influences Local Part Processing: An ERP Study

Perception of face parts on the basis of features is thought to be different from perception of whole faces, which is more based on configural information. Face context is also suggested to play an important role in face processing. To investigate how face context influences the early-stage perception of facial local parts, we used an oddball paradigm that tested perceptual stages of face processing rather than recognition. We recorded the event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited by whole faces and face parts presented in four conditions (upright-normal, upright-thatcherised, inverted-normal and inverted-thatcherised), as well as the ERPs elicited by non-face objects (whole houses and house parts) with corresponding conditions. The results showed that face context significantly affected the N170 with increased amplitudes and earlier peak latency for upright normal faces. Removing face context delayed the P1 latency but did not affect the P1 amplitude prominently for both upright and inverted normal faces. Across all conditions, neither the N170 nor the P1 was modulated by house context. The significant changes on the N170 and P1 components revealed that face context influences local part processing at the early stage of face processing and this context effect might be specific for face perception. We further suggested that perceptions of whole faces and face parts are functionally distinguished.