Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A DSGE Model with Financial Dollarization - the Case of Serbia

We amend a DSGE model of a small open economy by adding financial euroization in order to capture the main channels of the monetary transmission mechanism in match the Serbian data. In contrast to the standard DSGE workhorse, the model encompasses commercial banks and foreign-exchange-denominated deposits and loans. Given these features, the model is well suited to evaluating effects of the nominal exchange rate on the financial wealth and consumption of households. The model structure, including optimization problems and first-order conditions, is provided in the paper. The model properties are tested to match the stylized facts of dollarized economies. Specifically, the model is calibrated to the Serbian data, and a model-consistent multivariate filter is used to identify unobserved trends and gaps.
SYNCRIP, a Cytoplasmic Counterpart of Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein R, Interacts with Ubiquitous Synaptotagmin Isoforms*

Synaptotagmins (Syts) are a large family of membrane proteins consisted of at least 12 isoforms. They are categorized in neuron-specific isoforms (I-V, X, and XI) and ubiquitous isoforms (VI–IX) based on their expression patterns. Syt-I, a neuron-specific and abundant isoform, has been well characterized and postulated to be the exocytotic Ca2+ sensor. However, the functions of other isoforms remain obscure. Here, we report that ubiquitous isoforms of synaptotagmins, Syt-VII, Syt-VIII, and Syt-IX, interacted with a cytoplasmic RNA-binding protein, SYNCRIP (Synaptotagmin-binding, cytoplasmicRNA-interacting protein), through their C2B domains. SYNCRIP was originally found in the Syt-II C2AB domain bound fraction from the mouse brain lysate. cDNA cloning of SYNCRIP cDNA revealed that the protein was highly homologous to heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein R (hnRNP R) recently identified. SYNCRIP protein was ubiquitously and constantly expressed in various tissues of mice parallel to hnRNP R. SYNCRIP indeed bound RNA with preference to poly(A) RNA; however, in contrast to the nuclear localization of hnRNP R, SYNCRIP was distributed predominantly in the cytoplasm as judged by both biochemical fractionation and immunohistochemical studies. In vitro binding experiments showed the potential interaction of SYNCRIP with C2B domains of Syts except for those of Syt-V, -VI, and -X. Furthermore, the interaction between SYNCRIP and Syt-VII, -VIII, or -IX was revealed by co-immunoprecipitation experiments using COS cells transiently expressing each Syt isoform. These findings suggested that SYNCRIP was a target of ubiquitous type of Syts and implied the involvement of ubiquitous Syts in the regulation of dynamics of the cytoplasmic mRNA.
Characterization of ATP Transport into Chromaffin Granule Ghosts

ATP is an excitatory neurotransmitter that is stored and cosecreted with catecholamines from cells of the adrenal medulla. While the transport of catecholamines into chromaffin granule ghosts has been extensively characterized, there is little information on the mechanism of ATP transport into these structures. Here we show that ATP transport is driven by the electrical component of the electrochemical proton gradient created by the chromaffin granule membrane H+-ATPase, and that the accumulated nucleotide is released from the vesicles by inhibition of the H+-ATPase. GTP and UTP are also substrates for this transporter, distinguishing it from the mitochondrial ADP/ATP exchanger. Accumulation of ADP and ATP (rather than exchange with intravesicular ATP) is demonstrated by high pressure liquid chromatography measurements. The anion transport inhibitor 4,4-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid (Ki = 27 μM) inhibits ATP transport, while atractyloside, the inhibitor of the mitochondrial ATP/ADP exchanger, is a very poor inhibitor. Finally, we have demonstrated a synergy between the accumulation of ATP and that of serotonin (i.e. more of each solute accumulates when the two are accumulated together), supporting the view that there is an interaction between serotonin and ATP that reduces their effective concentration within the ghosts.
Renin-angiotensin system may trigger kidney damage in NOD mice

Diabetic nephropathy is a complication of diabetes and one of the main causes of end-stage renal disease. A possible causal link between renin—angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) and diabetes is widely recognized but the mechanisms by which the RAAS may lead to this complication remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) activity and expression in numerous tissues, especially kidney, of non-obese diabetic mouse. Kidney, lung, pancreas, heart, liver and adrenal tissues from diabetic and control female NOD mice were homogenized for measurement of ACE activity, SDS-PAGE and Western blotting for ACE and ACE2, immunohistochemistry for ACE and angiotensins I, II and 1-7 and bradykinin quantification. ACE activity was higher in kidney, lung and adrenal tissue of diabetic mice compared with control mice. In pancreas, activity was decreased in the diabetic group. Western blotting analysis indicated that both groups presented ACE isoforms with molecular weights of 142 and 69 kDa and a decrease in ACE2 protein expression. Angiotensin concentrations were not altered within groups, although bradykinin levels were higher in diabetic mice. The immunohistochemical study in kidney showed an increase in tubular ACE expression. Our results show that the RAAS is affected by diabetes and the elevated ACE/ACE2 ratio may contribute to renal damage.
Leisure Involvement, Job Satisfaction, and Service Performance among Frontline Restaurant Employees

ABSTRACT The importance of employee leisure involvement to employee service performance has been suggested but not tested in the literature. This study closes this research gap by inspecting the direct consequence of leisure involvement on service performance and leisure involvement’s indirect effect on service performance via job satisfaction for frontline service employees. This study uses a sample of 313 restaurant employees collected from Bandung, Indonesia. The proposed model is tested using variance-based SEM-PLS. The results show the importance of leisure involvement as a determinant of frontline service performance. Moreover, this study reveals that the effect of leisure involvement on service performance is partially mediated by job satisfaction. The conceptual and practical significance of these results are reviewed.
Greek-Cypriot Teachers’ Understandings of Intercultural Education in an Increasingly Diverse Society

There is an increasing acknowledgement of cultural diversity as the norm in societies around the world, which creates further challenges for the educational systems, especially the teachers. Cyprus is not an exception; at the moment Greek-Cypriot teachers are working in highly diverse environments in the context of a predominantly monocultural educational system in a multicultural, still ethnically divided society. Based on research still in progress, this article aims to explore intercultural education in Greek-Cypriot primary schools, with a focus on the teachers’ role. A review of the field of multicultural education, its approaches and critics provides the framework for this study. The article discusses the preliminary findings of an ethnographic study conducted in two highly diverse Greek-Cypriot public primary schools, focusing on the teachers’ understandings and practices of intercultural education. The analysis shows that most participants consider acceptance of diversity and challenging negative elements of racism and xenophobia in children’s attitudes as the main aims of intercultural education. The teachers attribute a cross-curricular character to intercultural education and offer no standard ‘recipes’ for its implementation in everyday practices. In both schools, the practices mainly involve events for the ‘celebration of diversity’. The article concludes that intercultural education, as described by the participants in this study, represents the additive approach of multicultural education, which has been heavily criticised for tokenism and failure to challenge institutional racism. However, some teachers’ critical reflections and policy developments point to the possibility of moving toward a transformation approach of the curriculum.
Is the Carry Trade strategy an explanation of the Uncovered Interest Parity puzzle

This paper examines the uncovered interest rate parity (UIP) and extends the analysis in Spronk, Verschoor and Zwinkels (2013) by looking at the UIP between Sweden and the United Kingdom. The flaws of the UIP and the reasons for why it does not seem to hold, has been called the UIP puzzle. The thesis tests if the UIP puzzle can be explained by constructing a heterogeneous agent model with a carry trader and a fundamental trader, trading with the expectation that the UIP holds. The results of the paper show that the UIP puzzle can partially be explained by the existence of carry traders in the market. A positive interest rate differential will impact the currency of the high-interest rate country to appreciate, a movement which is contradictory to what the UIP predicts. For future studies within the topic, researchers should carefully consider what agents that have the biggest impact in exchange rate markets and thereby possibly be included in the model. (Less)
Pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients in Zaire. A controlled trial of treatment for either 6 or 12 months.

BACKGROUND We studied the efficacy of a short-course regimen of chemotherapy for pulmonary tuberculosis in Kinshasa, Zaire. We also assessed whether, among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, treatment should be extended from 6 to 12 months. METHODS HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative outpatients with pulmonary tuberculosis were treated with rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol daily for two months, followed by rifampin plus isoniazid twice weekly for four months. The HIV-positive patients who had no evidence of tuberculosis were then randomly assigned to receive either rifampin plus isoniazid or placebo twice weekly for a further six months. We also followed a comparison group of HIV-seronegative patients who received no further treatment for tuberculosis after six months. RESULTS After six months, 260 of 335 HIV-seropositive and 186 of 188 HIV-seronegative participants could be evaluated, and their rates of treatment failure were similar: 3.8 and 2.7 percent, respectively. At 24 months, the HIV-seropositive patients who received extended treatment had a relapse rate of 1.9 percent, as compared with 9 percent among the HIV-seropositive patients who received placebo for the second 6 months (P < 0.01). Extended treatment did not improve survival, however. Among the HIV-seronegative patients, 5.3 percent relapsed. CONCLUSIONS Among HIV-seropositive patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, extending treatment from 6 to 12 months reduces the rate of relapse but does not improve survival. The six-month program of partly intermittent antituberculous treatment may be an acceptable alternative when resources are limited.
Comparative studies of lipopolysaccharide and exopolysaccharide from a virulent strain of Pseudomonas solanacearum and from three avirulent mutants

The composition of the Pseudomonas solanacearum lipolysaccharide (LPS) was found to be similar to that described for the LPS of enterobacteria. The lipid A contained fatty acids and glucosamine in a molar ratio of 5:2. The LPS fraction contained 2-keto-3-deoxyoctulosonic acid, L-glycero-D-mannoheptose, hexoses (glucose, rhamnose, and glucosamine), and a pentose (xylose). The LPSs from the wild-type strain (GMI1000), from the spontaneous rough mutant (GMI2000), and from their respective acridine orange-resistant (Acrr) mutants (GMI1178 and GMI2179) contained the same component sugars in their polysaccharide moieties, but the relative amounts of each sugar varied greatly. Spontaneous mutation to the rough type was characterized by a decrease in the ratio of rhamnose to glucose, whereas a reverse effect was seen for the acridine orange resistance mutation from the parent strains (GMI1000 and GMI2000) to the respective mutant strains (GMI1178 and GMI2179). The exopolysaccharide (EPS) from GMI1000 was found to be composed of two fractions: a heteropolysaccharide (galactosamine, glucose, and rhamnose) excluded from Sephadex G-50 and an additional glucan with a lower molecular weight. Strains GMI1000 and GMI1178 produced comparable amounts of EPS, GMI2179 synthesized less EPS, and GMI2000 produced no detectable EPS. High-pressure liquid chromatography and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance analyses revealed some differences between these EPSs. The glucan fraction seemed to be the major component of the EPS from GMI2179, whereas GMI1000 and GMI1178 EPSs contained both fractions and appeared to differ in the structures of their heteropolysaccharide fractions. Viscosity measurements confirmed differences between whole EPSs produced by the three strains.
Do Insiders Exploit Anomalies?

Many studies show that future stock returns are predictable. These findings are consistent with either mispricing or risk. In this paper, we use a large backward-extended insider trading database from 1975 to 2014 to construct anomaly-specific measures of mispricing that are designed to be unrelated to risk. We find that the predictive ability of anomalies survives when the direction of insider trading agrees with the anomaly, but the predictive ability of the anomalies completely disappears when insider trading disagrees with the anomaly. We conclude that mispricing is an important component of the predictive ability of all thirteen anomalies we consider.
Nuclear insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor phosphorylates proliferating cell nuclear antigen and rescues stalled replication forks after DNA damage

We have previously shown that the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) translocates to the cell nucleus, where it binds to enhancer-like regions and increases gene transcription. Further studies have demonstrated that nuclear IGF-1R (nIGF-1R) physically and functionally interacts with some nuclear proteins, i.e. the lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 (Lef1), histone H3, and Brahma-related gene-1 proteins. In this study, we identified the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) as a nIGF-1R-binding partner. PCNA is a pivotal component of the replication fork machinery and a main regulator of the DNA damage tolerance (DDT) pathway. We found that IGF-1R interacts with and phosphorylates PCNA in human embryonic stem cells and other cell lines. In vitro MS analysis of PCNA co-incubated with the IGF-1R kinase indicated tyrosine residues 60, 133, and 250 in PCNA as IGF-1R targets, and PCNA phosphorylation was followed by mono- and polyubiquitination. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments suggested that these ubiquitination events may be mediated by DDT-dependent E2/E3 ligases (e.g. RAD18 and SHPRH/HLTF). Absence of IGF-1R or mutation of Tyr-60, Tyr-133, or Tyr-250 in PCNA abrogated its ubiquitination. Unlike in cells expressing IGF-1R, externally induced DNA damage in IGF-1R-negative cells caused G1 cell cycle arrest and S phase fork stalling. Taken together, our results suggest a role of IGF-1R in DDT.
Exploiting uncertainty with market timing in corporate bond markets

The purpose of this article is to show the usefulness of technical analysis in credit markets. We document that an application of a simple moving average timing strategy to US high-yield and US investment-grade corporate bond portfolios sorted by option-adjusted spread generates investment timing portfolios that substantially outperform the corresponding benchmark. For portfolios with high uncertainty, as measured by the option-adjusted spread, the abnormal returns generate economically and statistically significant returns relative to the capital asset pricing model, the four-factor model and additionally the bond factor model from Asness et al. (J Finance 68:929–985, 2013). Our results remain robust to different moving average formation periods, transaction costs, long–short portfolio construction techniques and alternative definitions of information uncertainty.
Underuse of invasive procedures among Medicaid patients with acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine whether underuse of cardiac procedures among Medicaid patients with acute myocardial infarction is explained by or is independent of fundamental differences in age, race, or sex distribution; income, coexistent illness; or location of care. METHODS Administrative data from 226 hospitals in New York were examined for 11,579 individuals hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Use of various cardiac procedures was compared among Medicaid patients and patients with other forms of insurance. RESULTS Medicaid patients were older, were more frequently African American and female, and had lower median household incomes. They also had a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, lung disease, renal disease, and peripheral vascular disease. After adjustment for these and other factors, Medicaid patients were less likely to undergo cardiac catheterization, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, and any revascularization procedure. CONCLUSIONS Factors other than age, race, sex, income, coexistent illness, and location of care account for lower use of invasive procedures among Medicaid patients. The influence of Medicaid insurance on medical practice and process of care deserves investigation.
Snowboarder's Talus Fracture

Background Fracture of the lateral process of the talus is a typical snowboarding injury. Basic data are limited, particularly with respect to treatment and outcome. Hypothesis As the axial-loaded dorsiflexed foot becomes externally rotated and/or everted, fracture of the lateral process of the talus occurs. Primary surgical treatment may improve the outcome of this injury, reducing the risk of secondary subtalar joint osteoarthritis. Study Design Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods We recorded details of the treatment and evaluation of 20 patients (8 female and 12 male; age at trauma, 29 years [range, 17-48 years]) who sustained a lateral process of the talus fracture while snowboarding. The injury pathomechanism was documented. The patients were treated either nonsurgically or surgically based on a fracture-type treatment algorithm. The evaluation at most recent follow-up (mean, 42 months [range, 26-53 months]) included clinical and functional examination, follow-up of sport activity, and radiological assessment (radiograph, computed tomography scan). Results The injury mechanism included axial impact (100%), dorsiflexion (95%), external rotation (80%), and eversion (45%). Using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society hindfoot score, the patients obtained a mean of 93 points; the surgically treated group (n = 14) scored higher (97 points) than did the nonoperative group (n = 6; 85 points) (P <. 05). Degenerative disease of the subtalar joint was found in 3 patients (15%; operative, 1 patient; nonoperative, 2 patients). All but 4 (20%, all after nonsurgical treatment) patients reached the same sport activity level as before injury. Conclusion The snowboarding-related lateral process of the talus fracture represents a complex hindfoot injury. In type II fractures, primary surgical treatment has led to achieving better outcomes, reducing sequelae, and allowing patients to regain the same sports activity level as before injury.
Mechanics of interbody spinal fusion. Analysis of critical bone graft area.

Bone graft subsidence is a serious complication of interbody spinal fusion. In this study, 66 mechanical tests were performed on 35 thoracic vertebral bodies to investigate the in situ mechanics of interbody spinal fusion. The relationships among trabecular bone density, bone strength, and size of bone graft area were analyzed. All vertebral bodies were scanned by quantitative computer tomography (QCT) to determine their bone density before mechanical testing. The decorticated trabecular beds of the vertebral bodies, void of all posterior elements, were loaded in a manner similar to that which occurs after surgical interbody fusion. That is, rectangular blocks of polymethylmethacrylate, representing bone grafts, were used to transfer controlled compressive loads to the decorticated vertebral trabecular surface. Both destructive and nondestructive tests were performed. The relationship between QCT bone density and trabecular bone strength was related by a power function, and, on average, the bone density and trabecular bone strength were 0.137 g/cm3 and 3.97 MPa, respectively. Eighty percent of the vertebral bodies with graft covering 25% of the total end plate area or less failed at loads less than 600 N, while 88% of the vertebral bodies with 30% or greater covered were able to carry a load greater than 600 N. The results suggest that the intrinsic behavior of trabecular bone loaded within the vertebral body is little different from the behavior of the whole body, that QCT bone density is indicative of bone strength, and that interbody graft area should be significantly greater than 30% of the total end plate area to provide a margin of safety. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Explaining Trade Flows in Renewable Energy Products: The Role of Technological Development

This study investigates the trade flows of renewable energy products, focusing on the role of technological development. We estimate a gravity model that explains the trade flows among 35 OECD countries from 1996 to 2010 using patent counts as a proxy for technology level. We compare the pattern of the trade flows between two representative renewable energy products: those related to wind and solar electricity generation. The results suggest that technological level is correlated with trade flows and this correlation is weaker in the model for solar products than that for wind products. When we include China in the sample in estimation, the technological level of solar energy is no longer correlated with the exports of solar power products.
The halo effect: violent crime and foreign direct investment

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop and test theory regarding a geographic halo effect, whereby foreign investors draw overly broad impressions about a country based on high levels of violent crime in specific locations impacting foreign direct investment (FDI) across the country. Design/methodology/approach The authors analyze the impact of homicides on FDI by source country into Mexican states from 2001 to 2015. They estimate fixed effect and dynamic panel models controlling for several determinants of FDI at the state level and the potential geographic spillover of such violence from adjacent states. Findings The authors find robust support for the existence of a geographic halo effect caused by violent crime. The results show that the highest number of state homicides is associated with lower FDI across states. Research limitations/implications The research provides some evidence of the potential role of cognitive biases on FDI decisions. In addition, its focus on Latin America brings attention to an understudied region in international business research. Practical implications For practitioners engaged in FDI decisions, the results imply the need to be more aware of potential cognitive biases that may influence them. Originality/value Few papers have explored the influence of cognitive biases on FDI.