Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Consumption, Debt and Portfolio Choice: Testing the Effect of Bankruptcy Law

Consumer bankruptcy laws, which vary across states and over time, permit debtors to keep assets below a statutory exemption while debts are forgiven. High exemptions distort household portfolio decisions and tempt households to default on debts, but they also provide a crude form of consumption insurance. We combine information on state-level bankruptcy laws with the Consumer Expenditure Survey from 1984-1999. We find that higher exemptions are associated with (1) higher bankruptcy rates, (2) households that are more likely to simultaneously hold low-return liquid assets and owe high-cost unsecured debt, and (3) slightly better insurance for renters and worse insurance for homeowners.
Factors affecting user satisfaction in the Malaysian income tax e-filing system

This study attempted to investigate the influence of electronic service quality dimensions on E-filing user satisfaction in the northern region of Malaysia. The data were collected from 175 respondents using survey method. The electronic service quality dimensions used in this study were information quality, system quality, and service quality. Three factors were considered to measure the information quality; accuracy, completeness, and updated information. System quality was measured by four factors namely; functionality, responsiveness, reliability, and flexibility. The service quality was measured by perception of services, trust building, and customization. The findings indicate that information quality and service quality significantly affect: trust building, perception of service, flexibility, information quality: accuracy contribute to user satisfaction income tax e-filing system in the northern region of Malaysia. The system quality has partial impact on user satisfaction as two out of four dimensions of system quality show significant relationship with user satisfaction. The findings should assist Malaysian Inland Revenue Board in formulating new strategies on improving E-filing user satisfaction to achieve their goal of having 80% of Malaysian tax payers to use E-filing in the future. Future researchers should consider other attributes besides the electronic service quality dimension factors to expand this study.
Neural precursor cells derived from human embryonic brain retain regional specificity

Recent studies have revealed that neural precursor cells can be expanded not only from the subventricular zone and hippocampus but also from other regions of the human embryonic brain. To determine the regional differences of these precursor cells, we divided the brain of a 9‐week‐old human embryo into four parts, i.e., telencephalon, diencephalon, mesencephalon, and rhombencephalon. All cultures of the tissues yielded neurospheres, and these spheres gave rise to neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. An analysis of clonal populations revealed that these precursor cells were multipotent, and two region‐specific differences in neural precursor cells were revealed: 1) The precursor cells from the rostral part of the brain tended to proliferate faster than those from the caudal part, and 2) the precursor cells from the diencephalon and mesencephalon gave rise to more tyrosine hydoxylase (TH)‐positive neurons than those from the telencephalon and rhombencephalon. When 50‐day‐cultured spheres were caused to differentiate, the percentage of TH‐positive cells per total cell population was 1.2% for diencephalic and mesencephalic precursors, whereas it was 0.4% for telencephalic and rhombencephalic ones. Furthermore, the TH‐positive cells from diencephalic and mesencephalic precursors were large, multipolar, and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)‐negative, which suggested that these cells were midbrain dopaminergic neurons. In contrast, TH‐positive cells from telencephalic and rhombencephalic precursors were small, bipolar, and GABA‐positive. These results suggest that human neural precursor cells might have the potential to differentiate into a variety of cells but retain regional specificity. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Short History of Price Level Convergence in Europe

We study the evolution of price level dispersion in Europe by combining time-series information on harmonized indices of consumer prices (HICPs) with occasional observations of absolute price levels. We find that European price levels converged over much of the last 40 to 50 years. In the United States, our benchmark, price level dispersion is more or less stable. A back-of-the-envelope calculation suggests that indirect tax rate harmonization, convergence of nontraded input costs, and convergence of traded input costs (in the form of exchange rate stability and increased openness) are all important in explaining European price level convergence. Copyright (c) 2009 The Ohio State University.
Thiol modulation inhibits the interleukin (IL)‐1‐mediated activation of an IL‐1 receptor‐associated protein kinase and NF‐xB

The interleukin‐1 receptor type I (IL‐1RI) is associated with other proteins thus forming a complex system by which IL‐1 exerts its various signals. The initiating event is still uncertain, but activation of a recently described receptor‐associated protein kinase is one of the earliest events detectable (Martin et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 1994. 24: 1566). IL‐1 signaling is commonly accompanied by oxidative processes and is thought to be subject to redox regulation. We therefore investigated whether the activation of the IL‐1RI‐associated protein kinase could be a target for redox regulation and whether an altered activity of the kinase could influence IL‐1‐mediated NF‐xB activation. A murine T cell line, EL4, was stimulated with IL‐1 with and without pretreatment with different compounds known to influence the cellular redox status. Thiol modifying agents like diamide, menadione, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), diethyl dithiocarbamate or phenylarsine oxide inhibited the IL‐1‐induced activation of the IL‐1RI‐associated protein kinase. N‐Acetylcysteine, α,α′‐dipyridyl, aminotriazole or nitrofurantoin did not show any effect. The inhibition by PDTC was reversible unless glutathione synthesis was blocked by buthionine sulfoximine. The described conditions which inhibited or prevented the activation of the IL‐1RI‐associated kinase similarly impaired the activation of NF‐xB in EL4 cells. From these observations we conclude that free thiols in the IL‐1RI complex are essential for the activation of the IL‐1RI‐associated protein kinase and that this process is mandatory for IL‐1 signaling leading to NF‐xB activation.
Social Capital and Civic Community in Alberta

Abstract. We investigate the nature of civic community and social capital in Alberta. We find a civic community with high levels of interpersonal trust and civic participation, that values formal political equality and direct participation, yet expresses high levels of alienation from and low levels of confidence in its governments. While exogenous variables contribute to a strong civic community, only endogenous variables can account for the comparatively higher levels of participation and trust. Using a model developed by John Brehm and Wendy Rahn, we discover a virtuous circle between trust and participation, with its roots in the agrarian, populist past of the province. Economic and social changes have helped sustain this pattern, as have politicians bent on using it to defend Alberta's exceptionalism. Résumé. Nous examinons la nature de la communauté civique et du capital social en Alberta. Nous y trouvons une communauté civique riche en confiance interpersonnelle et en participation civique et trés attachée à la fois à l'égalité politique formelle et à la participation directe. Cette communauté exprime cependant un profond sentiment d'aliénation et de méfiance à l'égard de ses gouvernements. Alors que des variables exogènes contribuent au développement d'une communauté civique vigoureuse, seules les variables endogènes peuvent expliquer les niveaux relativement élevés de participation et de confiance. En nous servant du modèle développé par John Brehm et Wendy Rahn, nous avons découvert une relation circulaire “ vertueuse ” entre la confiance et la participation, ayant des racines dans le passé agraire et populiste de la province. Les changements économiques et sociaux ont aidé à promouvoir ce modèle comme le font aussi les politiciens enclins à défendre l'exceptionalisme albertain.
Water Conservation and Residential Landscapes: Household Preferences, Household Choices

Communities throughout the Western United States are challenged by tight water supplies and swelling populations. Information is needed to better develop and target municipal water conservation programs. Significant water savings ranging from 35% to 70% are possible from changes in residential landscaping and improved management of outside watering, which often accounts for more than 50% of total residential water use. This study examines landscape choices of homeowners in three cities in New Mexico in order to identify and measure behavioral factors affecting water conservation. Using survey data, landscape choices are analyzed with a mixed logit model that assesses the effects of landscape and homeowner characteristics on choice probabilities. Model coefficients and implied elasticities indicate that water cost, education, and regional culture are significant determinants of landscape choices. In addition, the results suggest moral suasion can also have a positive influence toward water-conserving landscapes.
Subnuclear distribution of topoisomerase I is linked to ongoing transcription and p53 status

The nonconserved, hydrophilic N-terminal domain of eukaryotic DNA topoisomerase I (topo I) is dispensable for catalytic activity in vitro but essential in vivo. There are at least five putative nuclear localization signals and a nucleolin-binding signal within the first 215 residues of the topo I N-terminal domain. We have investigated physiological functions of the topo I N-terminal domain by fusing it to an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The first 170 residues of the N-terminal domain allow efficient import of chimeric proteins into nuclei and nucleoli. The nucleolar localization of this protein does not depend on its interaction with nucleolin, whereas ongoing rDNA transcription clearly is crucial. Immunoprecipitation experiments reveal that the topo I N terminus (topoIN)-EGFP fusion protein associates with the TATA-binding protein in cells. Furthermore, DNA damage results in extensive nuclear redistribution of the topoIN-EGFP chimeric product. The redistribution is also p53-dependent and the N terminus of topo I appears to interact with p53 in vivo. These results show that the topo I localization to the nucleolus is related to the p53 and DNA damage, as well as changes in transcriptional status. Nucleolar release of topo I under conditions of cellular duress may represent an important, antecedent step in tumor cell killing by topoisomerase active agents.
The influence of family members on housing purchase decisions

Families and households make up a significant proportion of the real estate market. There is, however, little information in mainstream real estate literature on the impact of family behaviour on real estate decisions. This paper clarifies some of these issues by analysing and expanding on many of the findings from the marketing literature, in particular the topic of influence between different family members in the purchase of a new home. This paper presents some important issues to be considered when examining family decision‐making. These include the roles played by different family members and their influence at different stages of the decision‐making process. It also reports on the findings of a study involving a series of in‐depth interviews with real estate agents to determine their perception of the family decision‐making process in relation to a house purchase decision. This culminates in a conceptual framework on family decision making specifically for the purchase of residential real estate, before discussing the implications of these findings to the general real estate market, including service, promotion and valuation.
Hypoxic effects on exercise-induced diaphragmatic fatigue in normal healthy humans.

We examined the effects of hypoxia on exercise-induced diaphragmatic fatigue. Eleven subjects with a mean maximal O2 uptake of 52.4 +/- 0.7 ml.kg-1.min-1 completed one normoxic (arterial O2 saturation 96-94%) and one hypoxic (inspiratory O2 fraction = 0.15; arterial O2 saturation 83-77%) exercise test at 85% maximal O2 uptake to exhaustion on separate days. Supramaximal bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation (BPNS) was used to determine the pressure generation of the diaphragm pre- and postexercise at 1, 10, and 20 Hz. There was increased flow limitation during hypoxic vs. normoxic exercise. There was a decrease in hypoxic exercise time (normoxic 24.9 +/- 0.7 min vs. hypoxic 15.8 +/- 0.8 min; P < 0.05). After exercise the BPNS transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) was significantly reduced at 1 and 10 Hz after both exercise tests. The BPNS Pdi was recovered to control values by 60 min postnormoxic exercise but was still reduced 90 min posthypoxic exercise. The mean percent fall in the stimulated BPNS Pdi was similar (normoxic -24.8 +/- 4.7%; hypoxic -18.8 +/- 3.0%) after both exercise conditions. Experiencing the same amount of diaphragm fatigue in a shorter time period in hypoxic exercise may have been due to 1) the increased expiratory flow limitation and diaphragmatic muscle work, 2) decreased O2 transport to the diaphragm, and/or 3) increased levels of circulating metabolites.
Stem cell transplantation for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia resistant to tyrosine kinase inhibitors with BCR‐ABL kinase domain mutation T315I

Resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKIs) therapy is associated with the development of kinase domain mutations. Although many imatinib‐resistant mutations respond well to second‐generation TKIs, the threonine‐to‐isoleucine mutation at codon 315 of the breakpoint cluster region/v‐abl Abelson murine leukemia viral oncogene protein fusion Bcr‐Abl (T315I) is insensitive to all currently available TKIs. The outcome in such patients after stem cell transplantation (SCT) is unknown.
Innovation in Asian Industrialization: A Gerschenkronian Perspective

This paper interprets the experience of the East and South East Asian electronics industry from a "Gerschenkronian" perspective in order to draw lessons for other developing countries. Following Gerschenkron, the paper argues that it is diversity, rather than unifor mity, in the institutional, technological and development policy arenas (called here "strategic innovation") that characterizes the experience of the Asian newly industrializing economies (NIEs). The experience of the leading export industry shows that the progress of the NIEs can be interpreted as a pattern of substitution of missing prerequisites, in line with Gerschenkron's view of European latecomer industrialization. More broadly, the progress of the NIEs should not be viewed as repetitions of earlier industrialization experiences as they involve significant deviations from the latter, usually entailing distinctive strategic innovations. This interpret ation presents a difficult challenge for those wishing to draw lessons from the Asian NIEs. There are few direct lessons from East and South East Asia for other countries and certainly no transferable or standardized "model" of development. Other paths and patterns of develop ment need to be identified and created that build upon the distinctive resources of individual developing countries. Strategic innovation, trial-and-error learning and variety are likely to continue to characterize successful industrial development in the future.
Unipolar codes with ideal in-phase cross-correlation for spectral amplitude-coding optical CDMA systems

Unipolar codes with ideal in phase cross-correlation are important in spectral amplitude-coding optical code-division multiple-access (CDMA) systems since these codes eliminate multiuser interference and also suppress the effect of phase-induced intensity noise. However, very little research work has been done on such codes although codes with ideal cross-correlation have been studied for many years. In the paper by Zhou et al.(see Electron. Lett., vol.36, p.728-29, 2000), such a code has been introduced without a clear construction method. In this paper, we firstly review this old code, and then construct two new codes with ideal in-phase cross-correlation in algebraic ways. Both of the proposed new codes are obtained by modifying former codes with ideal cross-correlation. It has been shown that the system performance can be improved significantly by using codes with ideal in-phase cross-correlation instead of the Hadamard code. These codes can also be used in synchronous optical CDMA systems for multiuser interference cancellation.
Corporate governance and earnings management: evidence from Iran

This paper examines the relationship between board characteristics and earnings management in Iranian firms. The results show that when the CEO is the board chair and if the board size grows, the level of earnings management would increase. However, when there are more non-executive and institutional directors on the board, the level of earnings management will be lower. Even holding more board meetings does not decrease the extent of earnings management and the presence of an audit committee does not have any significant influence on earnings management.
The role of lifeline losses in business continuity in the case of Adapazari, Turkey

Despite the fact that one of the main reasons for business discontinuity after the shock of a natural disaster is lifeline outages, individual preparedness and recovery efforts have been given priority. This paper focuses on the significance of lifeline services for business continuity in order to highlight the necessity for collective action to achieve community recovery. Post-disaster research was conducted on a sample of business survivors in the town of Adapazari, which was severely affected by an earthquake in 1999. The study looked into the dependence of businesses on various infrastructure systems and the effects on those businesses of lifeline outages. The findings of the study address the need for community-level actions that are beyond the capability of any individual firm and which will ensure the continuity of business.
Economic geography, globalisation and New Zealand's productivity paradox

This paper examines New Zealand's poor productivity performance from the reform period onwards, from the perspective of economic geography. Rather than employing institutional or free-market versus interventionist arguments to explain New Zealand's low productivity, as is usually the case, the argument developed here is that the debate should be considered from a very different viewpoint. If we adopt an economic geography perspective, there is nothing really paradoxical about New Zealand's productivity performance. As such, New Zealand's productivity performance is rather more of a conundrum, a riddle, with a fairly straightforward solution.
The Effects of Salaries and Opportunity Costs on Duration in Teaching: Evidence from Michigan

This paper demonstrates that salaries and opportunity costs have important influences on how long teachers stay in teaching. The empirical work is based on a new longitudinal dataset providing information on the careers of 7800 Michigan public school teachers. The generalized least squares estimation technique accommodates censored observations, time-varying covariates, and fixed effects. One implication of the result is that predictions from the current generation of teacher supply and demand models are likely to be misleading. Copyright 1989 by MIT Press.
Reversibility in an Earth System model in response to CO2 concentration changes

We use the HadGEM2-ES Earth System model to examine the degree of reversibility of a wide range of components of the Earth System under idealized climate change scenarios where the atmospheric CO2 concentration is gradually increased to four times the pre-industrial level and then reduced at a similar rate from several points along this trajectory. While some modelled quantities respond almost immediately to the atmospheric CO2 concentrations, others exhibit a time lag relative to the change in CO2. Most quantities also exhibit a lag relative to the global-mean surface temperature change, which can be described as a hysteresis behaviour. The most surprising responses are from low-level clouds and ocean stratification in the Southern Ocean, which both exhibit hysteresis on timescales longer than expected. We see no evidence of critical thresholds in these simulations, although some of the hysteresis phenomena become more apparent above 2 × CO2 or 3 × CO2. Our findings have implications for the parametrization of climate impacts in integrated assessment and simple climate models and for future climate studies of geoengineering scenarios.
Bank Borrowers and Loan Sales: New Evidence on the Uniqueness of Bank Loans

This paper examines the information content of the announcement of a sale of a borrower's loans by its lending bank. We find significant negative stock returns for the borrower on the loan sale announcement, particularly for sub-par loan sales, where the bank's information advantage is greatest. Further, a large proportion of these borrowers file for bankruptcy after the loan sale. The evidence supports the hypothesis that news of a bank loan sale conveys negative certification, validated by the subsequent performance of the firms whose loans are sold. We also find that selling banks are not significantly impacted.
Velocity of Information in Efficient Markets: A Theory of Market Value Change

This article argues that market prices in contemporary financial markets are driven by the value of information multiplied by a factor of the information’s velocity. These factors combined have the potential to explain several observed market phenomenon, including market volatility during economic crisis or recession, market bubbles, flash crashes, and short-run volatility combined with overreactions and over-corrections. The theory considers both micro and macroeconomic information, and questions the assumption that market prices always reflect intrinsic value alone. While microeconomic information is helpful in determining a security’s intrinsic value relative to other securities, macroeconomic information impacts the aggregate market. The result of our contemporary high-velocity information environment suggests our financial markets are becoming informationally hyperefficient and quasi-rational. This hyperefficiency has the potential to create short-run volatility on a scale not previously experienced.