Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social Trust Between Rural Migrants and Urban Locals in China – Exploring the Effects of Residential Diversity and Neighbourhood Deprivation

Population, Space and Place published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The social integration of migrants has become a major challenge for Chinese cities as many rural migrants still face discrimination from urban natives. Research suggests that intergroup social trust can improve cohesion and reduce stigmatisation. However, little is known about the trust level between migrants and locals and its underlying dynamics in urban China. Our study explores the trust between native Shanghai residents and rural migrants and how neighbourhood factors including residential diversity and neighbourhood poverty may play a role. We adopt a multilevel model to analyse the 1,420 questionnaire samples collected in 2013 from local and migrant residents in Shanghai. Our results show that people living in areas with more migrant residents also have higher intergroup social trust, which may indicate that exposure to more out-group neighbours can remove preconceived stigmas and foster tolerance. In contrast, there is less intergroup trust in poor neighbourhoods although migrant residents are exceptions. We speculate that migrants are less affected by local poverty because they are less spatially bound to the locality and are thus less likely to compete with native residents over local resources. Our results differ from findings in multi-ethnic societies where residential diversity causes distrust, but we believe this is a reasonable outcome considering that locals and migrants in urban China share more in common such as ethnicity, language, and national identity.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Nef Associates with Lipid Rafts To Downmodulate Cell Surface CD4 and Class I Major Histocompatibility Complex Expression and To Increase Viral Infectivity

ABSTRACT Lipid rafts are membrane microdomains that are functionally distinct from other membrane regions. We have shown that 10% of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Nef expressed in SupT1 cells is present in lipid rafts and that this represents virtually all of the membrane-associated Nef. To determine whether raft targeting, rather than simply membrane localization, has functional significance, we created a Nef fusion protein (LAT-Nef) containing the N-terminal 35 amino acids from LAT, a protein that is exclusively localized to rafts. Greater than 90% of the LAT-Nef protein was found in the raft fraction. In contrast, a mutated form, lacking two cysteine palmitoylation sites, showed less than 5% raft localization. Both proteins were equally expressed and targeted nearly exclusively to membranes. The LAT-Nef protein was more efficient than its nonraft mutant counterpart at downmodulating both cell surface CD4 and class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) expression, as well as in enhancing first-round infectivity and being incorporated into virus particles. This demonstrates that targeting of Nef to lipid rafts is mechanistically important for all of these functions. Compared to wild-type Nef, LAT-Nef downmodulated class I MHC nearly as effectively as the wild-type Nef protein, but was only about 60% as effective for CD4 downmodulation and 30% as effective for infectivity enhancement. Since the LAT-Nef protein was found entirely in rafts while the wild-type Nef protein was distributed 10% in rafts and 90% in the soluble fraction, our results suggest that class I MHC downmodulation by Nef may be performed exclusively by raft-bound Nef. In contrast, CD4 downmodulation and infectivity enhancement may require a non-membrane-bound Nef component as well as the membrane-bound form.
The Performance of R&D Cooperation: Evidence from Taiwan's High-Technology Industries

Innovation is complex, costly, and risky and incurs externalities. R&D cooperation is thus a proper mechanism to encourage firms to innovate. The purposes of this paper are to extend the prior theoretical framework and empirical studies to ask following research questions: 1. Does R&D cooperation result in higher R&D investments, R&D outputs, and financial performance? 2. How do different R&D cooperation types influence the performance of R&D cooperation? We apply the two-industry, n-firm-per-industry Cournot competition models to theoretically examine the relationship between R&D cooperation, R&D investments (input perspective of innovation), R&D outputs (output perspective of innovation: non-financial performance), and financial performance. We then use Taiwan's high-technology industry as a research sample and empirically test our research hypotheses. The empirical results show that R&D cooperation does encourage Taiwan's high-technology firms to invest more resources in R&D, and leads to higher R&D outputs and financial performance. Relative to other cooperation types, generalized cooperation leads to higher R&D outputs and financial performance and is a superior cooperative model. Therefore, only generalized cooperation can exert the full advantage of network organization and is regarded as a preferable type of R&D cooperation under high knowledge spillover. Finally, due to the nature of market competition, horizontal cooperative firms are not willing to invest too much in R&D relative to vertical cooperation and generalized cooperation.
Broad Therapeutic Efficacy of Nintedanib in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a variably progressive disease that carries a poor prognosis. Recent international multicenter phase III clinical trials testing the efficacy of nintedanib (1) and pirfenidone (2) have shown that medical therapy, specifically antifibrotic agents, can reduce the rate of lung function decline in patients with IPF. In the United States, these groundbreaking findings were quickly followed by U.S. Food and Drug Administration fast-track priority review, orphan product designation, and drug approval for both pirfenidone and nintedanib (3). Nintedanib, a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, fibroblast growth factor receptor, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor, was tested in two simultaneous phase III trials (INPULSIS-1 and INPULSIS-2) (1). Compared with placebo, nintedanib consistently slowed disease progression by significantly reducing the annual rate of decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) in both INPULSIS trials (1). Comparable reductions in disease progression were reported for pirfenidone, raising the possibility that overlapping mechanisms mediate these remarkably similar antifibrotic effects.
Opportunistic interfaces for promoting community awareness

Community awareness is the general knowledge about community members, the state of the community, as well as the norms and roles in the community. In an academic research setting, maintaining an adequate level of community awareness helps build and sustain social networks, eases information sharing, and facilitates the collaboration in creative work. This general awareness often lacks concrete details, rarely affects people's immediate activities, and is poorly supported by current technologies that often presume established goals and existing contexts of interpersonal interactions. Opportunistic interfaces, on the other hand, convey information by chance, often unobtrusively in the periphery of attention, and help people take advantage of such opportunities. This thesis explores opportunistic interfaces as an alternative technique in fostering community awareness. Specifically, we assessed awareness issues in a real-world academic research community and experimented with popular ways of enhancing awareness and interpersonal interaction. Based on our findings, we devised a set of objectives of community awareness applications and iteratively developed two opportunistic interfaces that demonstrated the trade-offs between small, corner-of-the-desktop interfaces and large, full-screen displays. Finally, our evaluation of these example applications helped formulate recommendations for integrating opportunistic interfaces to promote community awareness and communication.
Low-frequency dielectric response of asphalt bonded insulation

Low frequency dielectric response measurements were performed on asphalt-mica stator insulation of vertical axis hydro-generators. These measurements, used as a diagnostic test, were conducted using a high voltage dc source and measuring the charge and discharge currents after the application of voltage steps of various magnitudes. The same dielectric tests were also performed on individual coils removed from the winging at different location, i.e. near the neutral end, the middle of the phase and the line end. Both the level of the dielectric loss and the non-linearity factor were found to correlate well with the aging conditions of the coils, which were related to their position in the winding.
Attitude and Security do count for shopping on the World Wide Web

A cutting device is provided for securing the cutting of the lateral sealed parts of a tubular packaging material web in the filling and packing machine of a filling and packaging apparatus that manufactures package containers each have a rectangular cross section and are filled with a fluid such as juice, etc. The cutting device includes the tubular packaging material web which is filled with a fluid, a pair of seal bars for laterally sealing the packaging material web, a cutter for cutting the packing material web at sealed parts thereof by a length corresponding to one container, fluid (such as air) pressure serving as a means for giving a biasing force to the cutter in a direction to retreat the cutter, and a pressure sensor capable of detecting a change of the fluid pressure in the supply passage.
Corporate governance in developing countries: a case study of Bangladesh

xxiii Acknowledgement xxvi Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Chapter 2: The Institutional Settings in Bangladesh 22 Chapter 3: Theoretical Framework 79 Chapter 4: Review of Corporate Governance Literature 125 Chapter 5: Research Design, Data, Hypotheses and Methodology. 168 Chapter 6: Empirical Analysis 214 Chapter 7: Summary and Conclusion 260
Is 'Quality' Metadata 'Shareable' Metadata? The Implications of Local Metadata Practice on Federated Collections

Introduction The federation of digital resources has become increasingly important in realizing the full potential of digital libraries. Federation is often achieved through the aggregation of descriptive metadata, therefore the decisions resource developers make for the creation, maintenance, and quality assurance of their metadata can have significant impacts on aggregators and service providers. Metadata may be of high quality within a local database or web site, but when it is taken out of this context, information may be lost or its integrity may be compromised. Maintaining consistency and fitness for purpose are also complicated when metadata are combined in a federated environment. A fuller understanding of the criteria for high quality, “shareable” metadata is crucial to the next step in the development of federated digital libraries. This study of metadata quality was conducted by the IMLS Digital Collections and Content (DCC) project team (http://imlsdcc.grainger.uiuc.edu/) using quantitative and qualitative analysis of metadata authoring practices of several projects funded through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) National Leadership Grant (NLG) program. We present a number of statistical characterizations of metadata samples drawn from a large corpus harvested through the Open Archives Initiative (OAI) Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (PMH) and interpret these findings in relation to general quality dimensions and metadata practices that occur at the local level. We discuss the impact of these kinds of quality on aggregation and suggest quality control and normalization processes that may improve search and discovery services at the aggregated level.
TESTING JOB SEARCH MODELS : THE LABORATORY APPROACH

In the theoretical literature on optimal job search, models have been developed for infinite and finite search horizons, costly and subsidized search, zero and positive discount rates, search with and without recall of past wage offers, and known and unknown wage offer distributions. Much of the literature involves models of search by individual agents, although some papers embed job search in a market context. This body of theory can be tested with laboratory and field experiments and with econometric analysis of data from the historical record. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages. This paper explains how the theory can be tested with controlled experiments, reviews the literature on laboratory job search experiments, and reports some new experiments on search with recall opportunities. We consider experiments that are designed to test finite horizon models of search by an individual agent that have the formal structure of stochastic dynamic programming models. The decision task faced by our subjects is much more complicated than those in most individual choice experiments because of the dynamic nature of the search environment. Consider, for example, an experiment designed to test a sequential job search model. Suppose that the subject receives an offer in some period that is not the last period in the search horizon. The offer is a certain amount of money. However, if the subject accepts the offer then he must forgo the
Factors influencing Malaysian bank customers to choose Islamic credit cards: Empirical evidence from the TRA model

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore factors influencing Malaysian bank customers to choose Islamic credit cards. The bank customers generally aware of Islamic credit card facilities in Islamic banks but factors leading them to choose it are particularly unexplored. Given the importance of Islamic credit cards to Islamic banks, the study is aimed at explaining the effects of attitude, subjective norm and perceived financial cost on the Malaysian bank customers' behavioral intention to choose Islamic credit cards. Design/methodology/approach – Drawing upon the theory of reasoned action (TRA), this study suggests a modified model to examine the acceptance factors of attitude, subjective norm and perceived financial cost within a context of Islamic credit cards. This paper extends partial least squares (PLS) to examine the impacts of these factors on the intention to choose Islamic credit cards. The model is tested using a survey data from 257 respondents. Findings – The results reveal that atti.
Atherosclerosis: dietary considerations.

L'auteur essaie d'analyser les liens entre les differents types d'atherosclerose et les regimes alimentaires; il passe ensuite en revue les differentes theories qui expliquent le processus de developpement de l'atherosclerose, analyse des donnees epidemologiques. Il termine en preconisant des regimes permettant de prevenir l'atherosclerose et parle d'une reducation nutritionnelle pour limiter la progression de la maladie
Performance of Rambouillet crossbred grazing on alpine pastures of Pakistan under transhumant system.

The two studies reported performance of Rambuoillet crossbreds (ewes and rams) with local sheep breed Khutta under grazing system of transhumant. Analysis of variance revealed that Rambouillet crossbred ewes were initially 16 percent heavier than their age mates of local breed. Within each genotype, ewes <1 year old were significantly (p<.01) lighter than >1, >2, >3 and >4 years old. Although Rambouillet crossbred ewes were 17 percent heavier, pattern of differences in BW of various age groups of both genotypes at the start of movement for grazing toward alpine pastures of northern areas (First recording) was almost the same. However ewes of local genotype-Khutta lost more BW (6.7 kg) during movement back to low land areas (Second recording) compared with Rambouillet crossbred ewes (4.1 kg). BW of Rambouillet crossbred ewes remained higher than local ewes even during winter (+17 %) and summer (+19 %). Analysis of variance further revealed that BW of >4 years old ewes of both genotypes were 30 and 38 percent higher than their <1 year old age mated. A significant interaction (p<0.05) was also observed between age and reproductive cycle with effects on BW of both genotypes. Rambouillet crossbred ewes were found more prolific with a fertility rate 85 percent compared with 80% in Khutta local breed. Survival rate among Rambouillet crossbred lambs was 93.4% compared with 84.3 percent in locals. Rams flushed with concentrate before breeding season differed in efficiency of weight gain. Minimum feed required for each kg weight gain was 8.1 kg in group 2 compared with 9.5 and 10.7 in groups 3 and 1 with significant differences (p<.05). Improvement in BCS was higher (45%) in rams of group 3 compared with 31.2 and 18% for groups 2 and 1, respectively. Feed required per unit of improvement in BCS was 1.4 kg in group 3 followed by 1.8 and 4.8 in groups 2 and 1. Analysis of variance revealed that cost of weight (Rupees per Kg) was lowest (153) in group 2 compared with 217.8 and 188.1 in groups 1 and 3, respectively.
Do Dividend Initiations Signal Firm Prosperity ?

In this paper we study the significance of dividend initiations in the context of firm performance, risk, and shareholder returns. Our evidence contradicts the principal implication of the signaling hypothesis that increase in dividend rate is positively related to future firm prosperity. We observe that firms report improving profitability, cash flow and other performance measures leading up to dividend initiation, but subsequently there is significant and sustained reversal across all these measures. We also observe that share prices react positively to dividend initiation announcements, suggesting that they are not anticipated by investors and are interpreted as positive news. However, over the five-year period subsequent to dividend initiation stock returns are significantly lower than that of the market, indicating that investors initially underestimate the deterioration in future profitability and performance of dividend-initiating firms. An observed decline in firms’ market-to-book ratios over this period suggests that investors eventually lower their initial expectations of firm growth and prosperity.
PURINERGIC and ADRENERGIC COTRANSMISSION IN CANINE ISOLATED and PERFUSED GASTROEPIPLOIC ARTERIES

1. The vasoconstrictor responses of canine gastroepiploic artery to periarterial electrical nerve stimulation (PNS; 30 s trains of pulses at a frequency of 2, 4 or 8 Hz) were observed in a frequency dependent manner. The PNS‐induced vasoconstrictions were abolished by tetrodotoxin (1 µmol/L) and mostly depressed but not completely by guanethidine (10 µmol/L).
Corporate Governance in Family Owned Small Firms

This paper studies the impact of corporate governance on the firm performance of Unlisted Family Owned Small Firms (UFOSFs) in the relevance of the argument that owner managed firms apart from being guided by the principles of stewardship theory, not only reduce the agency costs of ownership, but also contribute to increased firm performance. I have employed Regression with Panels Corrected Standard Errors as well as Generalized Least Squares (GLS), which incorporates information about the errors and thereby makes up for the inefficiency of Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) for analysing the balanced panel data. By bringing together, the agency cost theory and stewardship theory and related theoretical perspectives to the traits of family owned small firms, this study offers evidence and throws new light on the competitive advantages of family owned small firms in terms of their positive significance on firm performance. This study is one-off in its approach in studying the importance of the role of corporate governance in the performance of unlisted family owned small firms in India. Perhaps one of the significant contributions of this study to the research field is the development of a theoretical and empirical link between family ownership effects and small firms’ performance. Apart from using primary data from a survey covering the vast regions of India, this study unlike other studies has examined four corporate governance mechanisms (Family Ownership, Board Size, Outside Directors, Audit Committee, Outsiders in Audit Committee, and Family CEO) together.
Bifurcation and chaos in zero-Prandtl-number convection

We present a detailed bifurcation structure and associated flow patterns near the onset of zero-Prandtl-number Rayleigh-Bénard convection. We employ both direct numerical simulation and a low-dimensional model ensuring qualitative agreement between the two. Various flow patterns originate from a stationary square observed at a higher Rayleigh number through a series of bifurcations starting from a pitchfork followed by a Hopf and finally a homoclinic bifurcation as the Rayleigh number is reduced to the critical value. Homoclinic chaos, intermittency, and crises are observed near the onset.
The mechanism of antibody-induced stimulation and inhibition of the immune response.

The influence of passively administered specific IgG and IgM antibodies on the immune response of mice to sheep erythrocytes is described. The stimulation of the immune response to a given dose of antigen by partially purified IgM is proportional to the square root of the concentration of antibody injected. Labeling experiments show that this stimulation is caused by an enhanced concentration of antigen in the spleen. Low doses of IgG produce the same effects, namely antigen concentration in the spleen and stimulation of the number of plaque-forming cells. But in contrast to IgM, high doses of IgG do not concentrate the antigen in the spleen and severely inhibit the immune response. It is therefore suggested that antibody may have two effects: IgM and low doses of IgG stimulate an immune response by concentrating the antigen, whereas high doses of antibody inhibit by coating the antigen or by competing with the antigen receptor sites.
Comparison of behavioral and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer's disease among institution residents and memory clinic outpatients

ABSTRACT Background: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) cause caregiver distress and earlier institutionalization. We compared the prevalence and characteristics of BPSD between institution residents and memory clinic outpatients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) to test the hypothesis that there is more BPSD among institution residents than among their outpatient counterparts. Methods: We assessed BPSD by interviewing the patients’ principal caregivers, either family or professionals, using the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (BEHAVE-AD). Data from 138 patients with probable AD from the memory clinic and 173 residents with possible AD living in the long-term care facilities were collected. The diagnoses followed the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. Results: BPSD profiles of the two groups were similar but not identical. The prevalence of at least one BPSD was high in both groups (community 81.9%, institution 74.9%). Activity disturbance was the most frequently reported BPSD in both groups (community 52.2%, institution 38.7%). Delusions, hallucinations, anxiety and aggressiveness were seen more frequently in memory clinic outpatients. The outpatients also had higher scores of BEHAVE-AD subscales in delusion/paranoid ideation, affective disturbance, and global rating of severity. With the increase of disease severity there were significantly more activity disturbance, psychosis, and aggressiveness in patients with AD. Conclusions: Caregiver factor and institution effect were two possible reasons for the higher prevalence and the greater severity of BPSD in community patients. BPSD caused more distress to family caregivers than the professional caregivers. High levels of psychotropic prescriptions for patients living in the long-term care facilities may also play a role.