Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contribution of information and communication technology to total factor productivity and externalities effects

In this article, the authors attempt to find out what roles the digital divide plays in the dynamics of the growth gap among countries by looking at the relationship between ICT investment and the evolution of total factor productivity in 38 countries. The empirical results show that the digital divide, on one hand, widens the growth gap between countries. On the other hand, the global ICT diffusion generates ICT externalities, which have positive effects on the total factor productivity of less-developed countries. Therefore, the global digitalization may have both negative impacts, manifested in a widening digital divide and growth gap, and positive impacts reflected in the effects of knowledge spillovers. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mammographic Breast Density—Evidence for Genetic Correlations with Established Breast Cancer Risk Factors

Previous twin and family studies indicate that the familial aggregation of breast density is due (in part) to genetic factors. Whether these genetic influences are shared with other breast cancer risk factors, however, is not known. Using standard film-screen mammography, we screened 550 women, including 611 pairs of sisters, from the Old Order Amish population of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. We digitized mammograms and quantified the dense and nondense areas of the breast using a computer-assisted method. Information about other breast cancer risk factors was collected via questionnaires and a physical exam. Using pedigree-based variance component methods, we estimated the genetic contributions to several breast cancer risk factors, including breast density, and evaluated the evidence for shared genetic influences between them. After adjusting for covariates, genetic effects accounted for >33% of the total variance of each risk factor (P < 0.001), including breast density, and the dense and nondense areas of the breast were significantly genetically correlated with parity [genetic correlation (ρG) = -0.47; P = 0.013] and age at menarche (ρG = -0.38; P = 0.008), respectively. The nondense area of the breast and, in turn, breast density, expressed as a ratio of dense area to total area, were also genetically correlated with most measures of adiposity but in opposite directions (ρG ≥ 0.75; P < 10−7 for nondense area). We conclude that the genetic components that influence breast density are not independent of the genetic components that influence other breast cancer risk factors. This shared genetic architecture should be considered in future genetic studies of breast density. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(12):3509–16)
Immune concept of human papillomaviruses and related antigens in local cancer milieu of human cervical neoplasia

It is presently the right time for clarifying human papillomavirus (HPV)‐associated cellular immunity and clinical implications before global HPV vaccination programs begin. Infection with oncogenic HPV associates with the progression of cervical neoplasia. Both cellular and humoral immune responses are essential for the clearance of HPV‐associated cervical lesions. There is increasing evidence that the immune system plays a pivotal role in determining the outcome of HPV infection. Viruses and associated neoplastic cells are proposed to have evolved mechanisms to avoid immune attack. T‐cell‐mediated immune responses against oncogenic HPV are believed to play a central role in cervical carcinogenesis. The presence of HPV‐specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in a majority of human cervical cancer patients provides an approach for further study of their functional role in modulating this malignancy. Tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) develop as manifestations of the recognition and defense against malignant cells by the host immune system. Cancer cells may overcome immune surveillance, either by downregulating the proliferation of HPV‐specific CTL, or altering the effector compositions of immune cells against HPV infections. TIL in the tumor microenvironment can be functionally inhibited and lose the ability of clonal proliferation as a result of depressed expression of IL‐2Rα. The upregulation of inhibitory signaling relates to the modulation of the virus‐ and/or tumor‐specific immune responses. Alteration of host genetic susceptibility may also lead to abnormal immune response as a general genomic instability resulting from virus persistence. Induction of HPV‐specific immune responses is anticipated as an intimate point for the treatment of cervical neoplasia.
Money Creation, Employment and Economic Stability: The Monetary Theory of Unemployment and Inflation

This paper by building on the general theory of the monetary circuit, proves that money-as a pure bank credit liability-exists to overcome constraints on required expenditures by firms, household and mainly the State. From this perspective the paper derives the employment function in the modern monetary economy. Thereby it is explained that full employment policy is both always possible and required. It is proven that this conclusion holds in a perfectly open economy. Ultimately it is explained that there is no trade-off between full employment and sustainable price stability.
Individual differences in prefrontal cortical activation on the Tower of London planning task: implication for effortful processing

Solving challenging (‘effortful’) problems is known to involve the dorsal and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in normal volunteers, although there is considerable individual variation. In this functional magnetic resonance imaging study, we show that healthy subjects with different levels of performance in the Tower of London planning task exhibit different patterns of brain activation. All subjects exhibited significant bilateral activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the anterior and posterior cingulate areas and the parietal cortex. However, ‘standard performers’ (performance < 70% correct) and ‘superior performers’ (performance >70% correct) differed in the patterns of activation exhibited. Superior performers showed a significantly more spatially extended activation in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex than did standard performers, whereas the latter group tended to show increased activation of the anterior cingulate region.
The Audit Reporting Model: Current Research Synthesis and Implications

SUMMARY: This research synthesis evaluates relevant research concerning the audit report. For too long, there has been a significant “expectations gap” between what financial statement users expect an audit is delivering and what the audit profession believes it is providing. This gap becomes particularly problematic for auditors when there is a “business crisis” and attention is directed to the role of the auditor. Two related gaps are considered in this synthesis, a communications gap, and an information gap. All of these gaps relate to the demand for, understanding of, and use of auditor communications, which is the focus of this synthesis. Our synthesis is driven by two primary research questions: What do financial statement users perceive as information that should be communicated, and what does research show to be the effects on users of existing and other auditor communications currently being considered? As we discuss in detail, prior research does address many aspects of these two questions, but.
Sulphonylurea receptor‐1, sulphonylureas and amplification of insulin secretion by Epac activation in β cells

Amplification of insulin secretion by cyclic AMP involves activation of protein kinase A (PKA) and Epac2 in pancreatic β cells. Recent hypotheses suggest that sulphonylurea receptor‐1 (SUR1), the regulatory subunit of ATP‐sensitive potassium channels, is implicated in Epac2 effects and that direct activation of Epac2 by hypoglycaemic sulphonylureas contributes to the stimulation of insulin secretion by these drugs. In the present experiments, using islets from Sur1KO mice, we show that dibutyryl‐cAMP and membrane‐permeant selective activators of Epac or PKA normally amplify insulin secretion in β cells lacking SUR1. In contrast to Epac activator, sulphonylureas (glibenclamide and tolbutamide) did not increase insulin secretion in Sur1KO islets, as would be expected if they were activating Epac2 directly. Furthermore, glibenclamide and tolbutamide did not augment the amplification of insulin secretion produced by Epac activator or dibutyryl‐cAMP. Collectively, the results show that SUR1 is dispensable for amplification of insulin secretion by Epac2 activation and that direct activation of Epac2 is unimportant for the action of therapeutic concentrations of sulphonylureas in β cells.
Gait Is Associated with Cognitive Flexibility: A Dual-Tasking Study in Healthy Older People

Objectives: To analyze which gait parameters are primarily influenced by cognitive flexibility, and whether such an effect depends on the walking condition used. Design: Cross-sectional analysis. Setting: Tübingen evaluation of Risk factors for Early detection of Neurodegenerative Disorders. Participants: A total of 661 non-demented individuals (49–80 years). Measurements: A gait assessment with four conditions was performed: a 20 m walk at convenient speed (C), at fast speed (F), at fast speed while checking boxes (FB), and while subtracting serial 7s (FS). Seven gait parameters from a wearable sensor-unit (McRoberts, Netherlands) were compared with delta Trail-Making-Test (dTMT) values, which is a measure of cognitive flexibility. Walking strategies of good and poor dTMT performers were compared by evaluating the patterns of gait parameters across conditions. Results: Five parameters correlated significantly with the dTMT in the FS condition, two parameters in the F and FB condition, and none in the C condition. Overall correlations were relatively weak. Gait speed was the gait parameter that most strongly correlated with the dTMT (r2 = 7.4%). In good, but not poor, dTMT performers differences between FB and FS were significantly different in variability-associated gait parameters. Conclusion: Older individuals need cognitive flexibility to perform difficult walking conditions. This association is best seen in gait speed. New and particularly relevant for recognition and training of deficits is that older individuals with poor cognitive flexibility have obviously fewer resources to adapt to challenging walking conditions. Our findings partially explain gait deficits in older adults with poor cognitive flexibility.
Vps75, A New Yeast Member of the NAP Histone Chaperone Family*

Homologues of nucleosome assembly protein 1 (NAP1) are found throughout eukaryotes. Here we identify and characterize a new NAP family histone chaperone from budding yeast, named Vps75. Purified Vps75 preferentially binds histone H3/H4 tetramers and is capable of assembling nucleosomes in vitro. In vivo, Vps75 is associated with the chromatin of both active and inactive genes and telomeres. Others have previously reported that Vps75 forms a complex with Rtt109, required for acetylation of histone H3 lysine 56 (H3 Lys-56). Cells lacking RTT109 are sensitive to hydroxyurea, pointing to a role in replication. We show that VPS75 is not required for H3 Lys-56 acetylation and that vps75Δ cells are insensitive to hydroxyurea, suggesting that although Rtt109 and Vps75 associate and are likely to be functionally connected, they also have separate roles.
ESI LC-MS and MS/MS Characterization of Antifungal Cyclic Lipopeptides Produced by Bacillus subtilis XF-1

Bacillus subtilis XF-1 (CGMCC No. 2357), a patent strain with good effects for controlling the clubroot of crucifer and many pathogenic fungi, was predicted to produce cyclic lipopeptide (CLP) antibiotics based on its genomic analysis. In this study, the CLPs were purified and determined with the following protocol: the supernatant of XF-1 cultivating mixture was firstly precipitated, then the precipitants were extracted with methanol and further separated by Sephadex LH-20 chromatography to test its antifungal activities. Fungi-inhibiting fractions were further characterized with LC/ESI-MS and LC/ESI-MS/MS. The results show that four molecular ion peaks [M+H]<sup>+</sup> (m/z 1,464, 1,478, 1,492 and 1,506) from fungi suppression fraction were identified as fengycin A with fatty acid of C<sub>16</sub>–C<sub>19</sub>, fengycin B (C<sub>14</sub>–C<sub>17</sub>), fengycin C (C<sub>15</sub>–C<sub>18</sub>), fengycin D (C<sub>15</sub>–C<sub>18</sub>) and fengycin S (C<sub>15</sub>–C<sub>18</sub>). Fengycin C (C<sub>15</sub> and C<sub>18</sub>), fengycin D (C<sub>15</sub>, C<sub>16</sub> and C<sub>18</sub>) and fengycin S (C<sub>15</sub>, C<sub>16</sub> and C<sub>18</sub>) were reported for the first time. The diversity of the fengycins that exist in this strain will help the elucidation of their biocontrol mechanisms.
Optimal Pricing of Intra-Day Liquidity

It is a puzzling fact that many central banks choose to lend intra-day funds at an interest rate of zero (or very close to zero), while the interest rate on overnight funds is much higher. I build a general equilibrium model where intra-day liquidity is needed because it is costly to make precise the time at which payments are received. If liquidity shocks are uninsurable, a necessary and sufficient condition for an equilibrium to be efficient is that the nominal intra-day interest rate be zero. This is true despite the fact that the overnight nominal rate is strictly positive (the reverse of the discount factor). Since a market intra-day rate will not always be zero, this creates a role for the central bank to supply intra-day liquidity. I allow for the possibility of moral hazard and study policies commonly used by central banks to reduce their exposure to risk. I show that collateralized lending achieves the efficient allocation, while, for certain parameters, caps on borrowing cannot prevent moral hazard.
Cause-specific mortality in long-term survivors of breast cancer who participated in trials of radiotherapy.

PURPOSE To examine long-term cause-specific mortality in patients irradiated for breast cancer as part of a randomized clinical trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS We studied all available information from randomized trials initiated before 1975 in which radiotherapy was the randomized option and surgery was the same for both treatment arms. Eight such trials were identified. RESULTS The increased all-cause mortality rate in 10-year survivors previously reported is no longer significant, although a numerical difference in favor of non-irradiated patients remains. This result was strongly influenced by the earliest trials, and more recent trials have found a nonsignificant net benefit in overall mortality associated with radiation therapy. An excess of cardiac deaths was apparent in both early and more recent trials (P < .001), but this was offset by a reduced number of deaths due to breast cancer, especially in more recent trials. CONCLUSION The reduction of breast cancer deaths suggests that radiation therapy may have a value beyond the clearly established improvements obtainable for local control. Use of techniques that minimize cardiac dose is important in reducing the risks of adjuvant radiotherapy, especially in good-prognosis patients.
The role of the root apoplast in aluminium-induced inhibition of root elongation and in aluminium resistance of plants: a review.

BACKGROUND Aluminium (Al) toxicity is the most important soil constraint for plant growth and development in acid soils. The mechanism of Al-induced inhibition of root elongation is still not well understood, and it is a matter of debate whether the primary lesions of Al toxicity are apoplastic or symplastic. SCOPE The present review focuses on the role of the apoplast in Al toxicity and resistance, summarizing evidence from our own experimental work and other evidence published since 1995. CONCLUSIONS The binding of Al in the cell wall particularly to the pectic matrix and to the apoplastic face of the plasma membrane in the most Al-sensitive root zone of the root apex thus impairing apoplastic and symplastic cell functions is a major factor leading to Al-induced inhibition of root elongation. Although symplastic lesions of Al toxicity cannot be excluded, the protection of the root apoplast appears to be a prerequisite for Al resistance in both Al-tolerant and Al-accumulating plant species. In many plant species the release of organic acid anions complexing Al, thus protecting the root apoplast from Al binding, is a most important Al resistance mechanism. However, there is increasing physiological, biochemical and, most recently also, molecular evidence showing that the modification of the binding properties of the root apoplast contributes to Al resistance. A further in-depth characterization of the Al-induced apoplastic reaction in the most Al-sensitive zone of the root apex is urgently required, particularly to understand the Al resistance of the most Al-resistant plant species.
Variations in emerging-market equity premia: impact of financial architecture

This article examines a topic of much interest, the association of financial architecture and national equity premia for recent eight-year period from 15 emerging-market countries. Modeling simultaneously our estimate of the ex-ante equity premium as a dependent variable and our measure of financial architecture as an instrumental variable, we document that equity premia are larger in countries that have a more bank-oriented financial architecture, as well as greater control of corruption, more foreign access to capital, and higher spending on education. Smaller equity premia are associated with greater political stability, greater measures against self-dealing, higher market volatility and greater uncertainty avoidance. Given the importance of the ex-ante equity premium in long-term investment decisions, the anticipated demographic challenges and financial reform in most countries and recent increases in cross-border investment, there is much interest among bankers, managers and policy-makers in these results, documenting the determinants of cross-national variations in equity premia.
Insider Trading and Earnings Management

This paper analyzes the relationship between earnings management and insider trading, specifically investigating whether discretionary accruals are related to insider trading and valuation. We find strong evidence of insiders managing earnings downward when buying and managing earnings upward when selling. On the marginal basis, value (high book-to-market value) firms manage their earnings upward compared to growth (low book-to-market value) firms, consistent with a signaling hypothesis. However, the opposite is true on the average basis, consistent with an opportunistic hypothesis. Copyright (c) 2008 The Authors Journal compilation (c) 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Sexual orientation disparities in adolescent cigarette smoking: intersections with race/ethnicity, gender, and age.

OBJECTIVES We examined sexual orientation differences in adolescent smoking and intersections with race/ethnicity, gender, and age. METHODS We pooled Youth Risk Behavior Survey data collected in 2005 and 2007 from 14 jurisdictions; the analytic sample comprised observations from 13 of those jurisdictions (n = 64,397). We compared smoking behaviors of sexual minorities and heterosexuals on 2 dimensions of sexual orientation: identity (heterosexual, gay-lesbian, bisexual, unsure) and gender of lifetime sexual partners (only opposite sex, only same sex, or both sexes). Multivariable regressions examined whether race/ethnicity, gender, and age modified sexual orientation differences in smoking. RESULTS Sexual minorities smoked more than heterosexuals. Disparities varied by sexual orientation dimension: they were larger when we compared adolescents by identity rather than gender of sexual partners. In some instances race/ethnicity, gender, and age modified smoking disparities: Black lesbians-gays, Asian American and Pacific Islander lesbians-gays and bisexuals, younger bisexuals, and bisexual girls had greater risk. CONCLUSIONS Sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, gender, and age should be considered in research and practice to better understand and reduce disparities in adolescent smoking.
Mutations Conferring Resistance to a Potent Hepatitis C Virus Serine Protease Inhibitor In Vitro

ABSTRACT BILN 2061 is a novel, specific hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 serine protease inhibitor discovered by Boehringer Ingelheim that has shown potent activity against HCV replicons in tissue culture and is currently under clinical investigation for the treatment of HCV infection. The poor fidelity of the HCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase will likely lead to the development of drug-resistant viruses in treated patients. The development of resistance to BILN 2061 was studied by the in vitro passage of HCV genotype 1b replicon cells in the presence of a fixed concentration of the drug. Three weeks posttreatment, four colonies were expanded for genotypic and phenotypic characterization. The 50% inhibitory concentrations of BILN 2061 for these colonies were 72- to 1,228-fold higher than that for the wild-type replicon. Sequencing of the individual colonies identified several mutations in the NS3 serine protease gene. Molecular clones containing the single amino acid substitution A156T, R155Q, or D168V resulted in 357-fold, 24-fold, and 144-fold reductions in susceptibility to BILN 2061, respectively, compared to the level of susceptibility shown by the wild-type replicon. Modeling studies indicate that all three of these residues are located in close proximity to the inhibitor binding site. These findings, in addition to the three-dimensional structure analysis of the NS3/NS4A serine protease inhibitor complex, provide a strategic guide for the development of next-generation inhibitors of HCV NS3/NS4A serine protease.
Nursing Activities Score as a predictor of family satisfaction in an adult intensive care unit in Greece.

AIM To study family satisfaction with care in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and its association with nursing workload estimated by the Nursing Activities Score (NAS). BACKGROUND Few previous studies have investigated the association between workload in ICUs and family satisfaction. METHODS Family Satisfaction ICU 24 (FS ICU-24) questionnaires were distributed to 161 family members (106 respondents). Questionnaires' score, NAS measurements and Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS-II) data were analysed. RESULTS The mean total level of family satisfaction was equal to 80.72% (± 9.59). Family members were more satisfied with the level of care compared with decision making. NAS values revealed a shortage of nurses in the morning shift. Moreover, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between NAS and total satisfaction after adjusting for age, length of stay and SAPS-II. CONCLUSIONS Improvements in clinical practice require the measurement of care quality which particularly includes family satisfaction. Our results indicated that family members were less satisfied with decision making. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT Nurse managers should plan for the successful involvement of family members in the decision-making process. Higher levels of nurse staffing might improve the care provided.