Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative Proteomics Analysis of Detergent-resistant Membranes from Chemical Synapses

Synaptic vesicles (SVs) in the central nervous system upon stimulation undergo rapid calcium-triggered exoendocytic cycling within the nerve terminal that at least in part depends on components of the clathrin- and dynamin-dependent endocytosis machinery. How exocytic SV fusion and endocytic retrieval are temporally and spatially coordinated is still an open question. One possibility is that specialized membrane microdomains characterized by their high content in membrane cholesterol may assist in the spatial coordination of synaptic membrane protein recycling. Quantitative proteomics analysis of detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs) isolated from rat brain synapses or cholesterol-depleted control samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry identified a total of 159 proteins. Among these 122 proteins were classified as cholesterol-dependent DRM or DRM-associated proteins, many of which with proven or hypothesized functions in exoendocytic vesicle cycling including clathrin, the clathrin adaptor complex AP-2, and a variety of SV proteins. In agreement with this, SV membrane and endocytic proteins displayed a partial resistance to extraction with cold Triton X-100 in cultured rat hippocampal neurons where they co-localized with labeled cholera toxin B, a marker for cholesterol-enriched DRMs. Moreover SV proteins formed cholesterol-dependent complexes in CHAPS-extracted synaptic membrane lysates. Our combined data suggest that lipid microdomains may act as spatial coordinators for exoendocytic vesicle cycling at synapses.
EU Merger Remedies and Competition Concerns: An Empirical Assessment

The purpose of merger remedies is to relieve the potential competitive detriments as to preserve the efficiencies. The European Community (EC) Merger Remedies Notice requires remedies able to remove the identified competition concerns entirely and proportionately. The scope of each merger remedy package is confined by the competition concern in question. This study analyses, from an empirical point of view, the relationship between competition concerns and merger remedies. It reviews all remedies accepted in Phase II EU merger investigation and categorises them into seven sets according to their nature. Results of the empirical assessment present the frequencies of each remedy type accepted for resolving various competitions concerns and reveal that merger remedy design does vary for different competition concerns. Horizontal effects require divestiture remedies more. Other structural remedies, especially access commitment and supply commitment, have a good chance to be accepted in resolving vertical and conglomerate effects.
Reassessing co-movements among G7 equity markets: evidence from iShares

iShares funds are products designed to mimic the movements of MSCI stock market indices. Being devoid of problems associated with trading restrictions, exchange-rate fluctuations and non-synchronous trading, iShares data are better suited for measuring equity-market co-movements and the diversification potential than national indices data that have been used by most of the existing studies in the area. Applying recent time-varying methodology for the analysis of short and long-term co-movements, we provide detailed analysis of the dynamics of the equity market linkages over the period 1996–2005. We find evidence of increasing conditional correlations and significant time-varying long-run relationships between the US and the majority of other G7 markets since 2001, as measured by iShares. By contrast, the extent of both short-term and long-term linkages between the US and G7 equity markets is found to be much lower for national indices data. Our findings suggest that (i) the results of the earlier studies based on national stock market indices should be interpreted with caution, since use of national indices data may overestimate the extent of available diversification benefits; (ii) iShares funds do not represent perfect diversification products. †Acknowledgements Suppressed.
Client Engagement Risks and the Auditor Search Period

SYNOPSIS: This paper investigates whether client engagement risks lengthen the client acceptance phase for audit firms and result in a longer auditor search period for their clients. Using a sample of auditor resignations over the period 2003–2008, we document that the auditor search period is longer for firms associated with client business risk (financial distress) and audit risk (internal control weaknesses or management integrity issues), while it is shorter for firms representing reduced auditor business risk (auditor industry specialization). These findings highlight the importance of client risk assessment and explain audit firms' response to perceived client risks.
Photoperiod and Thermoregulation in Vertebrates: Body Temperature Rhythms and Thermogenic Acclimation

Evidence has recently begun to accumulate that photoperiodic responses of mam mals and birds may affect the control of energy balance and thermoregulation. Exposure to short photoperiod can lower the set point for body temperature regulation in birds and mam mals, as well as the voluntarily selected body temperature in ectothermic lizards. This de crease is accompanied by a reorganization of circadian or ultradian rhythms of body temper ature, particularly an increase in periods spent at rest with minimum body temperatures. Short photoperiod is also used as an environmental cue for induction of seasonal torpor or facilita tion of hibernation. During winter, cold tolerance of small mammals is improved by an in crease of nonshivering thermogenesis in brown fat. Thermogenic capacity of brown fat (res piratory enzymes, mitochondria, uncoupling protein) is enhanced in response to short pho toperiod. This response is mediated via an increase in the activity of sympathetic innervation in brown fat. Moreover, an exposure to short photoperiod prior to low temperatures may act in preparing brown fat for facilitated thermogenesis during acclimation to cold. This shows that photoperiodic control not only affects energy balance indirectly via the control of repro duction or body mass, but may directly interact with central control of thermoregulation and may influence the process of acclimatization.
Histopathologic Maturation of Juvenile Xanthogranuloma in a Short Period

Abstract: We present a case of solitary juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) on the scalp of an 8‐month‐old girl. The initial biopsy specimen showed a dense collection of small histiocytes as evidenced by CD68 staining without either lipidization or giant cell formation, admixed with a small number of lymphocytes. On the other hand, sections from the excised specimen obtained 2 weeks after the initial biopsy from the same site showed a mixed proliferation of abundant foam cells together with Touton giant cells, some small histiocytes, and small numbers of lymphocytes and eosinophils. Mitotic figures were fewer in the excised nodule than in the initial biopsy specimen. Fascicles of spindle‐shaped cells arranged in a vague storiform pattern were additionally found in the deep portion of the nodule. Our case findings suggest that xanthomatization of the JXG could have been accelerated by the inflammation associated with the biopsy, based on the histopathologic fact that the change from an early phase to a mature form occurred within the very short period of 2 weeks.
Electronic mail and internal communication: a three‐factor model

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how e‐mail may promote effective internal communication in three key areas.Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a case study of a service‐orientated group of social businesses in the not‐for‐profit sector, where a triangulated approach is employed, a three‐factor model of effective e‐mail use is proposed. Using focus groups, diaries and survey, the impact of e‐mail was investigated on four key dimensions of internal communication at Parkside Housing Group.Findings – Whilst overall e‐mail was found to be less influential than face‐to‐face communication, e‐mail was found to positively and specifically influence: the communication climate, where it provides a mechanism for staff to feed their views up the organisation; shared objectives and goal alignment, where it helps staff to understand the overarching goals of the organisation (the “bigger picture”); and perceived external prestige – the construed external image of the organisation – by h.
Toxic effect of calcium alginate swabs on Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Calcium alginate (CA)-tipped swabs have been reported to interfere with the recovery of herpes simplex virus, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Ureaplasma urealyticum and may cause cytotoxicity in cell culture. To determine whether CA swabs also inhibit the growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, we carried out a series of experiments using either CA swabs that were toxic or nontoxic in a cell culture cytotoxicity assay or nontoxic rayon or cotton swabs. Leaving a toxic CA swab in 3 ml of Mueller-Hinton broth inoculated with 10(4) CFU/ml caused rapid killing within 6 h at 37 degrees C; colony counts of five strains were less than 1% of those of Mueller-Hinton broth controls. When the tips of toxic CA swabs were inoculated directly and kept at 37 degrees C without holding medium, the swabs were sterile at 6 h. If the same swabs were placed in Amies medium with charcoal, organisms could still be recovered at 6 h. Toxicity was less at room temperature than at 37 degrees C. Inhibition of growth of N. gonorrhoeae was not seen with rayon or cotton swabs. The toxic component was neither the CA fiber nor the aluminum wire but probably the glue used to attach the fibers. We concluded that some lots of CA swabs kill N. gonorrhoeae in vitro. Survival of N. gonorrhoeae is improved with nontoxic swabs, particularly cotton swabs, and Amies medium with charcoal regardless of swab type.
The Agency Problem: Measures for Its Overcoming

As the corporative company type emerged, the two functions of ownership and management are separated. In the companies with a large number of employees the managers are the ones that manage the capital in the best interest of the shareholders.In this type of companies, conflict of interest may occur between the managers and the shareholders. Having more information about the work of the company, managers may use it in making decisions for their own benefit, which on the other hand cannot be as beneficial for the shareholders.Conflict of interest between managers and shareholders leads to so-called agency problem. There are different ways by which shareholders can control the operations of management. Some of the measures that can be used to resolve and prevent this problem are subject of analysis in this paper.
Attitudes of young consumers towards innovations on the food market

Summary In this article, the author presents the results of her own surveys concerning attitudes of young consumers - living in the border areas of Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Germany - towards innovation on the market of food products. Innovative food is positively accepted by the young consumers, although it should be noted that large group of consumers are driven by the habits, especially Polish and Czech consumers. The process of diffusion of innovations on the food market among young consumers depends on the country they live in, gender (women considerably faster accept innovations) but is not determined by high incomes. Streszczenie W niniejszym opracowaniu autorka prezentuje wyniki własnych badań ankietowych dotyczących postaw młodych konsumentów - zamieszkujących tereny przygraniczne Polski, Czech, Słowacji i Niemiec - wobec innowacji na rynku produktów żywnościowych. Jak zauważono, innowacyjna żywność jest pozytywnie przyjmowana przez młodych konsumentów, choć należy zauważyć, że znaczna grupa konsumentów kieruje się przyzwyczajeniem, dotyczy to szczególnie polskich i czeskich konsumentów. Proces dyfuzji innowacji na rynku żywności wśród młodych konsumentów jest uzależniony od kraju pochodzenia nabywców, płci (kobiety znacznie szybciej akceptują innowacje) natomiast nie jest determinowany wysokimi dochodami
Single agent vinorelbine as first-line chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Breast cancer arises in about 48% of patients (pts) older than 65 years. Chemotherapy is administered to elderly pts with advanced breast cancer (ABC) resistant to hormonal treatment or with visceral metastases. Vinorelbine (VNR), a semisynthetic vinca alkaloid, is active and well-tolerated in ABC reporting, as a single agent, an objective response (OR) rate of 41%-60%. The ELVIS (Elderly Lung cancer Vinorelbine Italian Study) trial demonstrated the tolerability and efficacy of VNR in elderly pts with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (JNCI 91: 66-72, 1999). MATERIALS AND METHODS From January 1999 to December 2000, we analysed, retrospectively, our data about single-agent VNR as a first-line chemotherapy in elderly pts (> or = 70 years) with ABC. Twenty-four pts were analysed. VNR was administered at the dose of 30 mg/m2, i.v. , days 1 and 8, every 3 weeks for a maximum of 6 cycles. RESULTS The main toxicity was (% of pts): grade (G) 3-4 neutropenia 25%; G 2 thrombocytopenia 4.1%; G 2 asthenia 25%; G 2-3 constipation 16.6%; and G 1 neurotoxicity 25%. No cycles of chemotherapy were omitted or postponed. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was administered in 12.5% of a total of 112 cycles. Nine (37.5%) objective responses (2 complete and 7 partial responses) were observed. The median duration of response and survival were 7 and 11 months, respectively. CONCLUSION These results suggest that single agent VNR is active and well-tolerated in elderly pts with ABC. Further prospective trials are warranted.
Determination of biomass detachment rate coefficients in anaerobic fluidized-bed-GAC reactors.

In this study a simple analytical technique that determines the active biomass in a sample capable of degrading specific substrates anaerobically was developed and used to measure first-order detachment rate coefficients of acetate and phenol utilizing organisms. Different detachment rate coefficients were measured for the two microbial populations. A general relationship between the detachment rate coefficients and biomass accumulation was developed. The detachment rate coefficient was found to increase sharply after a certain biomass accumulation until it reaches a maximum, after which it decreases continuously with increasing biomass until it levels off at a constant value independent of biomass. Detachment rate coefficients measured in different reactors, operating at different conditions with respect to loading, biological SRT, and attachment media particle size, were in close agreement with each other after being normalized to the shear stress and daily methane production rate per unit biofilm area.
Involuntary Unemployment and Environmental Policy: The Double Dividend Hypothesis

An environmental tax reform might bring about gains over and above improved environmental quality. In particular, if tax revenues from environmental taxes are used to reduce the tax on wage income, positive employment effects can result in second-best economies. An efficiency wage model is used to analyze the impact of an ecological tax reform on involuntary unemployment. The government controls emissions by selling emission permits. Employment of labor and wages are determined endogenously. Conditions are identified under which an environmental tax reform reduces unemployment and increases welfare. Copyright 1997 by The editors of the Scandinavian Journal of Economics.
Balance sheet recession as the â€˜other halfâ€™ of macroeconomics

Once every several decades, the private sector loses its mind in a bubble, leverages itself up to the hilt, and is forced into debt minimization in order to remove its debt overhang following the crash. When the private sector as a whole is deleveraging, even at record low interest rates, monetary policy is largely ineffective while fiscal policy becomes absolutely essential in keeping both the economy and money supply from shrinking. The superior effectiveness of monetary policy during private sector profit maximization and of fiscal policy during private sector debt minimization indicates that the latter was the long-overlooked â€˜other halfâ€™ of macroeconomics.
Interrelation of value added elements and company's financial performance

Business value added is a complex multilayer category whose elements are conflicting from the perspective of the company. It can be defined as the difference between revenues and costs of purchased or produced goods and services. Elements of the value added structure are: salaries, wages and employee compensations; interests; income taxes and net profit. Therefore, higher added value generates higher profits and each of value-added elements has a specific impact on the company's financial performance measured by return on investment. The aim of this paper is to research and analyse the impact of value added, as well as its elements, on the company's profitability. The research hypothesis is that optimisation of the level and structure of value added elements can increase the overall financial performance. The verification of empirical evidence will be provided through the sample of the Croatian listed companies in the period 2000-2008. The obtained results indicate that the return on investment ratio is positively correlated with all the elements of value added. In other words, it can be expected that more profitable companies create more value added and vice versa.
Growth, volatility, and credit market imperfections: evidence from German firms

– The purpose of this paper is two-fold. First, it studies whether output volatility and growth are linked at the firm-level, using data for German firms. Second, it explores whether the link between volatility and growth depends on the degree of credit market imperfections. – The authors use a novel firm-level dataset provided by the Deutsche Bundesbank, the so-called Financial Statements Data Pool. The dataset has time series observations for German firms for the period 1997-2004, and the authors use information on the debt-to-assets or leverage ratio of firms to proxy for credit-constraints at the firm-level. As additional proxies for the importance of credit market imperfections, we use information on the size and on the legal status of firms. – The authors find that higher volatility has a negative impact on growth for small and a positive impact for larger firms. Higher leverage is associated with higher growth. At the same time, there is heterogeneity in the determinants of growth across firms from different sectors and across firms with a different legal status. – While most traditional macroeconomic models assume that growth and volatility are uncorrelated, a number of microeconomic models suggest that the two may be linked. However, it is unclear whether the link is positive or negative. The paper presents additional evidence regarding this question. Moreover, understanding whether credit market conditions affect the link between volatility and growth is of importance for policy makers since it suggests a channel through which the credit market can have long-run welfare implications. The results stress the importance of firm-level heterogeneity for the effects and effectiveness of economic policy measures. – The paper has two main novel features. First, it uses a novel firm-level dataset to analyze the determinants of firm-level growth. Second, it analyzes the growth-volatility nexus using firm-level data. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper, which addresses the link between volatility, growth, and credit market imperfections using firm-level data.
Decision Frequency and Synchronization Across Agents: Implications for Aggregate Consumption and Equity Return

This article examines a model in which decisions are made at fixed intervals and are unsynchronized across agents. Agents choose nondurable consumption and portfolio composition, and either or both can be chosen infrequently. A small utility cost is associated with both decisions being made infrequently. Calibrating returns to the U.S. economy, less frequent and unsynchronized decision-making delivers the low volatility of aggregate consumption growth and its low correlation with equity return found in U.S. data. Allowing portfolio rebalancing to occur every period has a negligible impact on the joint behavior of aggregate consumption and returns. Copyright 1996 by American Finance Association.
Tecolote, Guatemala: Archaeological Evidence for a Fortified Late Classic Maya Political Border

Abstract A newly discovered system of fortifications at Tecolote, Guatemala, a Late Classic period (A.D. 600–900) Maya secondary center in the Yaxchilan polity, consists of a series of stone walls and hilltop watchtowers. The stone walls appear to have been used as foundations to secure wooden palisades, as suggested previously for other Classic Maya sites, and were used in concert with strategic settlement at the site to maximize overall defensibility. We interpret the site core of Tecolote together with its associated walls and watchtowers as part of an integrated polity-wide system of defense meant to protect the kingdom of Yaxchilan against attack from the polity of Piedras Negras. Furthermore, Tecolote and other sites along Yaxchilan's northern border were used as staging grounds for attacks into the Piedras Negras kingdom. We use epigraphic and archaeological data to discuss the significance of this new find for understanding 8th-century geopolitics in the western Maya lowlands and the role of regional warfare and fortification systems in the expansion and demise of Classic polities of this region. Our analysis seeks to develop models for ancient warfare beyond the basic assessment of site-based defense.