Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Visual Control of Manual Aiming Movements in 6- to 10-Year-Old Children and Adults

Recent results indicate that adults modulate their initial movement impulse toward a stationary visual target by processing visual afferent information. The authors investigated whether the mechanisms responsible for those modulations are already in place in young children or develop as the children grow older. Adults (n = 10) and 6-, 8- and 10-year-old children (ns = 6, 7, and 7, respectively) performed a video-aiming task while vision of the cursor they were moving was (acquisition) or was not (transfer) visible. The results indicated that within-participant variability of the initial impulse trajectory of the children's aiming movement leveled-off in acquisition between peak extent deceleration and the end of the initial impulse, whereas it increased linearly as movement unfolded in transfer. The results also indicated that children modulate their initial movement impulse when visual afferent information is available, although to a lesser extent than adults do, and strongly imply that contrary to past suggestions, the initial impulse of an aiming movement is not ballistic.
Effects of creatine supplementation on body composition and renal function in rats.

BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term effects of oral creatine supplementation on renal function and body composition (fat and lean mass) in an experimental model. METHODS Male Wistar rats were supplemented with creatine (2 g.kg(-1) of food) for 10 wk in combination with treadmill exercise, 12 m.min(-1), 1 h.d(-1) (CREAT + EX, N = 12) or not (CREAT, N = 10), and compared with exercised animals without creatine supplementation (EX, N = 7) and CONTROL animals, N = 7. Body composition and bone mineral density (BMD) were determined by dual x-ray absorptiometry and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal plasma flow (RPF) were measured by inulin and paraaminohippurate clearance, respectively. RESULTS At the end of the study (post), CREAT+EX presented higher lean mass and lower fat mass than CREAT, EX or CONTROL (349.7 +/- 19.7 vs 313.3 +/- 20.3, 311.9 +/- 30.8, 312.4 +/- 21.0 g and 5.7 +/- 2.3 vs 10.0 +/- 3.3, 9.8 +/- 1.5, 10.0 +/- 3.5%, P < 0.05, respectively). Post lean/fat mass ratio was higher than baseline only in CREAT + EX (18.9 +/- 7.2 vs 8.6 +/- 1.8, P < 0.05). Post BMD was significantly higher than baseline in all groups. GFR and RPF were lower in CREAT versus CONTROL (0.5 +/- 0.1 vs 1.0 +/- 0.1 and 1.5 +/- 0.2 vs 2.4 +/- 0.5 mL.min(-1), P < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION Creatine supplement in combination with exercise increased the proportion of lean mass more than EX or CREAT alone. The use of creatine alone induced an important and significant reduction of both RPF and GFR.
Downsizing and the hyper-effective manager: The shifting importance of managerial roles during organizational transformation

This article describes how managerial roles change in importance during periods of significant organizational transition. An interdisciplinary approach reveals that (1) the competing values framework is a useful framework for examining this question; (2) the transformational roles increase as expected during downsizing; (3) three of four transactional roles also increase during downsizing. This last counterintuitive finding is illuminated by the interdisciplinary model developed. Overall, managers show significant evidence of hyper-effectivity—a state of high performance that is likely to be unsustainable in the long term. Implications for human resource practitioners and researchers are discussed. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Determinants of intra-ECOWAS trade flows

Through the use of gravity model, this study endeavours to apprehend factors affecting the importance of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) intra-community trade flows. As expected, it resulted that remoteness and enclosure reduce the volume of intra-community trade while proximity (geographical, linguistic or monetary) increases it. Also, economic and demographic dynamics are sources of more increased trade within ECOWAS. The same applies to stability of exchange rates and the openness of national economies. However, taking into consideration the heterogeneity of flows through the control over invariable factors in time, only the depreciation of exchange rates and the openness of economies determine the volumes of intra-ECOWAS trade flows. Key words: Bilateral trade, ECOWAS, gravity model, panel data, currency depreciation, openness, regional integration, West Africa.
The Effect of Perceived Seller Reservation Prices on Buyers' Bargaining Behavior in a Flexible-Price Market

Abstract Previous laboratory experimental studies of bargaining have shown that a bargainer's perception of an opponent's reservation price influences the bargainer's own counteroffer, concession magnitude, and ultimatum offer. However, most of these studies have been conducted in countries where bargaining is not an everyday commercial phenomenon, and so respondents may not be expected to have much prior experience with bargaining. The present study examines these relationships within the context of a field experiment conducted in a country where bargaining is a common mode of establishing prices for a wide range of products in the ordinary course of commercial transactions. A number of hypotheses derived from the previous studies are supported by findings of the present study, thus confirming the external validityofthepreviousfindings.
Impact of FDI on Income Distribution in Selected SAARC Countries

This study analyzes the impact of inward foreign direct investment (FDI) on income distribution in five SAARC countries, namely, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka using panel data from 1980 to 2011. Dependent variable is income inequality measured by Gini coefficient whereas independent variables are inward FDI stock as a percentage of GDP, trade openness (exports + imports / GDP), per capita GDP used as a proxy for economic growth and annual inflation rate measured by consumer price index (CPI). Fixed effects model has been used on the basis of Hausman. The results show that inward FDI stock has a negative and statistically significant impact on income inequality. Trade openness has a positive and statistically significant impact on income inequality. The impact of per capita GDP on income inequality is positive and statistically significant. However, annual inflation has a negative and statistically significant impact on income inequality. The study recommends encouraging more inward FDI, having better distribution policies, increasing exports, reducing imports and keeping inflation within a certain limit for better income distribution.
Multiple‐flow exhaled nitric oxide, allergy, and asthma in a population of older children

“Extended” (multiple‐flow) measurements of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) potentially can distinguish proximal and distal airway inflammation, but have not been evaluated previously in large populations. We performed extended NO testing within a longitudinal study of a school‐based population, to relate bronchial flux (J'awNO) and peripheral NO concentration (CalvNO) estimates with respiratory health status determined from questionnaires. We measured FeNO at 30, 50, 100, and 300 ml/sec in 1,640 subjects aged 12–15 from eight communities, then estimated J'awNO and CalvNO from linear and nonlinear regressions of NO output versus flow. J'awNO, as well as FeNO at all flows, showed influences of asthma, allergy, Asian or African ancestry, age, and height (positive), and of weight (negative), generally corroborating past findings. By contrast, CalvNO results were inconsistent across different extended NO regression models, and appeared more sensitive to small measurement artifacts. Conclusions: Extended NO testing is feasible in field surveys of young populations. In interpreting results, size, age, and ethnicity require attention, as well as instrumental and environmental artifacts. J'awNO and conventional FeNO provide similar information, probably reflecting proximal airway inflammation. CalvNO may give additional information relevant to peripheral airway, alveolar, or systemic pathology. However, it needs additional research, including testing of populations with independently verifiable peripheral or systemic pathology, to optimize measurement technique and interpretation. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2013; 48:885–896. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Welfare Effects of Immigration Policies in the Presence of Skilled, Unskilled Labor and Capital Mobility

This paper investigates the welfare consequences of immigration policies in a model with two types of labor, skilled and unskilled, and international capital mobility. The paper examines the effect of government policies, which change the immigration cost and cause immigration of one type of labor, on the welfare of natives, when the other types of labor and/or capital are also mobile. It is shown, for example, in the absence of capital mobility, if skilled and unskilled labor are highly complementary in production, then a decrease in the immigration cost of the net fiscal contributor skilled labor that causes its immigration, decreases the welfare of natives.
The retail dominance of supermarkets in Australia: a growing geography of pseudo-foods and its implications for obesity

Drawing on the work of Winson (2004), this case study identifies the large percentages of ‘pseudo foods’ (beverages containing high levels of sugars and fats) on the shelves of two major supermarkets in Melbourne, Australia. The shelving space devoted to unhealthy foods in the supermarkets surveyed is estimated at around 40%. The methodology used for the case study involved the mapping of supermarket shelf space with the assistance of a qualified surveyor. The argument is made that the geography of retail space is a strong factor in the active shaping of consumer preferences. Although no randomised clinical trial exists linking the geography of the supermarket with rising levels of obesity, retail and marketing journals document many spatial tactics that have been employed for decades by retailers to increase sales. Products that are favoured for increased sales are generally higher profit margin items that are also usually unhealthy products. The article calls for the greater regulation of supermarket space. Codes or laws should reflect the growing prominence of retail actors in the food system. Restrictions on the percentages of unhealthy foods stocked and the placement of these products at checkouts are examples of regulation aimed at increasing retail responsibility.
Eco-Labeling and Stages of Development

The paper examines the effectiveness of eco-labeling in providing a market-based solution to the under-consumption of eco-friendly products in developing and developed countries. The authors show that whether labeling is an effective device in solving the problem of asymmetric information between sellers and buyers, or whether false labeling severs the link between willingness to pay and environmental conscious production choices, depends crucially on how monitoring intensities respond endogenously to economic growth, openness to trade, and technology transfers. In particular, by accounting for endogenous policy responses to economic growth, it is shown that an inverted-U relationship exists between consumer spending on eco-unfriendly products and national income. In addition, while international trade unambiguously benefits the environment in the presence of eco-labeling with perfect enforcement, trade openness may nevertheless delay the turning point of the growth and environment relationship, when the cost of enforcement falls disproportionately on developing countries, and when environmental policies are employed to reap terms-of-trade gains.
Leadership, Prisoners' Dilemmas, and Politics

Prisoners’ dilemmas that exist in politics often allow leaders to benefit themselves through political actions harmful to their group’s interest. We develop a dynamic prisoners’ dilemma based on political competition, with the choices being to lobby (non cooperative choice) or not to lobby (the cooperative choice) for political privileges. Considering each interval in isolation, lobbying is the dominant choice even though the members of a group would be better off over time not lobbying regardless of what other groups do. However, it is almost always in the interest of group leaders to lobby for government benefits, and they can use prisoners’ dilemmas to “justify” that lobbying even when it is destructive to their members’ interest. We provide several examples that support the theoretical argument.
Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with Nogo-66 receptor gene silencing for repair of spinal cord injury

We hypothesized that RNA interference to silence Nogo-66 receptor gene expression in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells before transplantation might further improve neurological function in rats with spinal cord transection injury. After 2 weeks, the number of neurons and BrdU-positive cells in the Nogo-66 receptor gene silencing group was higher than in the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell group, and significantly greater compared with the model group. After 4 weeks, behavioral performance was significantly enhanced in the model group. After 8 weeks, the number of horseradish peroxidase-labeled nerve fibers was higher in the Nogo-66 receptor gene silencing group than in the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell group, and significantly higher than in the model group. The newly formed nerve fibers and myelinated nerve fibers were detectable in the central transverse plane section in the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell group and in the Nogo-66 receptor gene silencing group.
Why Do Corporate Insiders Trade? The UK Evidence

Previous research shows that corporate insiders engage in profitable transactions by trading securities of their own firms around specific events. The objective of this study is to specifically analyse all the events that preceded insider trading transactions and their explicit trading gains. We contrast this hypothesis with the signalling of undervaluation. Using a large sample of UK companies, we test the proposition that corporate insiders time their trades and that the market impact of insiders' transactions varies based on the information on which they trade on. We find that (i) insiders buy (sell) shares prior to stock price decline (run up), (ii) the event date abnormal returns are positive for buy and negative for sell transactions, (iii) the post-event abnormal returns following [+1, +10] buy (sell) trades are positive (negative), suggesting that insiders convey information to the market and that other investors follow these trades, (iv) in the longer term [+2, +160] companies do not seem to regain their pre-trade valuation, (v) the pre- and post-event abnormal performance depends on the news that precedes the trades. Overall, our results suggest that insiders time their trades and they are capable to better assess the value of their firm. Outsiders, aware of that superior view, follow insiders' behaviour in the short-term and fortify the exceptional returns gained by directors. We also find evidence that insiders use this signalling effect to sometimes camouflage their trades and overcome regulators' monitoring.
EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS ON THE USE OF FORENSIC ACCOUNTING TECHNIQUES IN CURBING CREATIVE ACCOUNTING

This study evaluated the use of forensic accounting techniques in curbing creative accounting. The objective of this study was to empirically examine forensic accounting techniques in curbing creative accounting. Primary source of data collection was employed and the statistical tools used in analyzing the data include: Kruskal-Wallis test Mean rank and percentage distribution. From the findings of the study it was revealed that strong evidence exists on the effectiveness of techniques used by forensic accountants in helping to curb the problem of creative accounting. The result further revealed the existence of strong evidence that forensic accountants have enhanced their efficiency overtime. Also, it was found that there exists strong evidence that the emergence of forensic accountants has restored confidence in the credibility of corporate firms and their report. Hence, by applying accounting principles, auditing skills and investigative procedures in solving certain legal problems, forensic accountants help lawyers, courts, regulatory bodies and other institutions in investigating financial frauds. It was established from the findings of this study that there is need that forensic accountants must possess solid knowledge and skills in the area of accounting and auditing.
Wall Street, Capitol Hill, and K Street: Political Influence and Financial Regulation

This paper explores the link between the political influence of the financial industry and financial regulation in the run-up to the global financial crisis. We construct a detailed database documenting the lobbying activities, campaign contributions, and political connections of the financial industry from 1999 to 2006 in the United States. We find evidence that spending on lobbying by the financial industry and network connections between lobbyists and legislators were positively associated with the probability of a legislator changing positions in favor of deregulation. The evidence also suggests that hiring lobbyists who had worked for legislators in the past enhanced this link.
Development of multidimensional scale for healthcare service quality (HCSQ) in Indian context

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop and empirically validate a multidimensional scale for measuring healthcare service quality (HCSQ), based on modified Brady and Cronin's hierarchical service quality model. The study also investigated HCSQ and its ability to predict important service outcomes through two different models. In the first model, direct effects of service quality dimensions, namely physical environment quality (comprising ambient condition, social factor and tangibles), interaction quality (comprising attitude and behaviour, expertise and process quality) and outcome quality (comprising waiting time, patient satisfaction and loyalty) on image are measured. In the second model, direct effects of physical environment quality (comprising ambient condition, social factor and tangibles), interaction quality (comprising attitude and behaviour, expertise and process quality) on service quality through outcome quality (comprising waiting time, patient satisfaction and loyalty) are measu.
How Not to Kill the Golden Goose: Reconceptualizing accountability environments of third-sector organizations

For third-sector organizations (TSOs) that deliver publicly funded health and community services, accountability practices are predominantly shaped by the imperatives of government funders. However, the ensuing public management accountability regimes can undermine TSO responsiveness to communities, align poorly with imperatives of professional staff, create high transaction costs and threaten TSO sustainability. Public management literature lacks an adequate framework for conceptualizing TSO accountability. We outline a conceptual framework – the ‘triskele’ – for analysing accountability tensions experienced by TSOs that could assist funders and other stakeholders with the difficult task of designing more workable and meaningful accountability regimes for all stakeholders.
The iron chelator deferasirox affects redox signalling in haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells

The iron chelator deferasirox (DFX) prevents complications related to transfusional iron overload in several haematological disorders characterized by marrow failure. It is also able to induce haematological responses in a percentage of treated patients, particularly in those affected by myelodysplastic syndromes. The underlying mechanisms responsible for this feature, however, are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of DFX‐treatment in human haematopoietic/progenitor stem cells, focussing on its impact on the redox balance, which proved to control the interplay between stemness maintenance, self‐renewal and differentiation priming. Here we show, for the first time, that DFX treatment induces a significant diphenyleneiodonium‐sensitive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production that leads to the activation of POU5F1 (OCT4), SOX2 and SOX17 gene expression, relevant in reprogramming processes, and the reduction of the haematopoietic regulatory proteins CTNNB1 (β‐Catenin) and BMI1. These DFX‐mediated events were accompanied by decreased CD34 expression, increased mitochondrial mass and up‐regulation of the erythropoietic marker CD71 (TFRC) and were compound‐specific, dissimilar to deferoxamine. Our findings would suggest a novel mechanism by which DFX, probably independently on its iron‐chelating property but through ROS signalling activation, may influence key factors involved in self‐renewal/differentiation of haematopoietic stem cells.
Bidding for Securities: The Effect on the Issuer's Interest Costs

Richard West (1965) and Reuben Kessel (1971) have both reported that on new issues of taxexempt securities the issuer's interest costs decline sharply as the number of bidders increases. Moreover, they also agree that this reduction in the bid yield is primarily reflected in a decline in the yield to maturity at which the bonds are offered to the public rather than a decline in the underwriter's spread between the bid and offer yields. 1 However, the two studies differ regarding the level at which an additional bid ceases to affect the bid yield. West (1965) argued that the higher yields on issues which received only one or two bids represented monopsony pricing and found no evidence that additional bids beyond the third would lower the interest rate. On the other hand, Kessel (1971) argued that additional bids represent a more intensive search for the underwriting syndicate that can sell the issue at the lowest rate. Since underwriters serve different customThis paper examines the relationship between the number of bidders for a contract and the resulting price. Attention is focused on the bidding for new bond issues. The theory of order statistics is used to analyze the theoretical magnitude of the sampling or search effect of an additional bidder. A simple model of the bidder's bid decision is then utilized to examine the competitive impact on individual bidders. After previous studies of the municipal bond market by West and Kessel are carefully reviewed, evidence for the corporate bond market is presented.
Home-working in Rural Bali: The Organization of Production and Labor Relations*

Abstract This article aims to explore the role of home-based production networks within the industrialization process of rural areas in developing countries and its impact on the labor involved. Based on the structures of the Balinese clothing industry, the article explores the organization of production, provision of production and working capital, and composition and origin of labor. This article shows that home-based batik and embroidery clothing production in Bali is one of very few sources of income beyond agricultural work for immobile, rural labor. However, these production networks within the Balinese clothing industry are defined by weak labor relations vis-à-vis the clothing firm's exceptionally strong position.