Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Negative economic campaigning? A principal agent-approach to the study of strategic election campaign behaviour

Economic voting is a well-established term in political science – but is there such a thing as economic campaigning? Until today, there are neither systematic-theoretical nor empirical analyses of economic context factors influencing campaign styles at elections. This paper will elaborate on two principal agent models of political representation, a sanctioning and a selection one, and transfer their assumptions onto negative campaigning. Empirically, over 2000 campaign posters of 264 German state election campaigns from 1998 to 2013 will be subjected to a multi-level analysis. This bulk of content analytical data allows for an enormous natural variation in election settings and advanced statistical methods. Using MLA, party characteristics on the individual level and contextual election factors on the aggregate level can be identified as incentives for the use of different campaign strategies.
The Structure of Interlocal Service Networks and the Effects of Administrative and Electoral Conjunctions on Their Formation

Local problems often spill over the borders of one jurisdiction into the next, creating a need for cities to cooperate on the planning and delivery of local public services. Networks of interlocal agreements (ILAs) provide a way for cities in a fragmented metropolis to cooperate on services, and these networks may be especially likely to form when local government officials are linked through interpersonal networks. Drawing on Williams’ Lifestyle Model of Metropolitan Politics and Frederickson’s theory of administrative conjunctions, this paper uses network analytic methods to examine the structure of ILA networks, and to assess the impact of governing officials’ interpersonal networks on the probability of ILAs forming between cities. The Detroit metropolitan area provides the context for this study. Results suggest that cities cooperate more extensively across the metro area for systems-maintenance functions, such as public works and public safety. More importantly, we find that any given cluster of cities has an increased probability of cooperating through ILAs when their city managers’ participate in the same local professional network. The same effects hold true for mayors’ networking with counterparts, and for some function, serve as an even stronger predictor of ILAs forming.
The Time-Varying Performance of the Long-Run Demand for Money in the United States

This article investigates the issues of the stability and predictability and interest-sensitivity of money demand over 1870-1997. Two different estimation methodologies are used--random coefficient (RC) modeling and vector error correction (VEC) modeling. The former procedure allows the profiles of the coefficients to be traced over time and relaxes several restrictions routinely imposed in applied work. The results indicate that different estimation methodologies using different data periods and frequencies yield estimates of some of the coefficients of the long-run demand for money that fall within a fairly narrow range. The results also suggest that specification errors have had an important influence on the time profile of the interest elasticity of money demand and that there is a tendency for the interest elasticity to decline in absolute value as interest rates decline. Copyright 2001 by Oxford University Press.
The role of oxidative stress in Brachiaria decumbens toxicity in sheep

In an attempt to elucidate potential time-dependent oxidative stress mechanisms associated with Brachiaria decumbens toxicity in sheep, selected blood malondialdehyde (MD), as peroxidation tissue function biomarker and tissue morphology, were assessed. Six young adult Wiltshire cross bred ram were acclimatized for 3 weeks, where ivermectin injection and liver and kidney function tests were done. Blood samples were collected during the pre-treatment, namely on 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th days of continuous feeding of Brachiaria. Meanwhile, clinical signs were monitored and sheep were euthanised on the 7th, 9th, and 11th day, where a post-mortem was performed and relevant tissues were sampled. Results revealed that plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), serum (bilirubin total and conjugated, AST, GGT, urea, and creatinine) were significantly (p<0.05) increased, whereas total antioxidant potential was decreased (p<0.05) in a time dependant manner. Continuous B. decumbens feeding induced a time dependent appearance of jaundice, photosensitization, and subcutaneous oedema. Unique intracytoplasmic accumulation of Schmorl's positive greenish lipofuscin granules were observed primarily within the centrilobular hepatocytes and Kupffer cells. This may serve as a histochemical oxidative biomarker in the liver, kidney, brain, and skin. Taken together, this study shows that oxidative stress plays a major role in B. decumbens toxicity.
Changes in Disease Failure Risk of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma over Time: Analysis of 749 Patients with Long-Term Follow-Up

Background: The changes in the risk of disease failure over time in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unknown. Methods: We analyzed 749 patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy in a single center. The annual hazard rates of disease failure (recurrence or death from any cause) were estimated using the life-table method. Results: In total, 41 (5.5%), 22 (2.9%) and 129 (17.2%) patients developed local, regional and distant recurrences, respectively; 149 (19.9%) patients died. Of the 600 patients who were alive at the last follow-up, 496 (82.7%) had follow-up times longer than 6 years. The 6-year failure-free survival rate was 74.8%. Older age (> 50 years) and advanced stage (Ⅲ-ⅣB) were independent risk factors for disease failure in multivariate analysis. The hazard curve for failure risk in the whole cohort showed a sharp peak at 2 years, changed to a gradually decreasing plateau between years 3 and 5 and then declined sharply. Subgroup analyses revealed similar hazard curves in both sexes. However, the patterns of hazard curve significantly differed between high-risk (> 50 years or stage Ⅲ-ⅣB) and low-risk (≤ 50 years or stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ) patients. Interpretation: The failure hazard rate in NPC didn't decline in a linear manner, but displayed a sharp peak at 2 years. The patterns of hazard function significantly differed between patients with different age and stage. Further studies are warranted to confirm our results.
The internet in young people's civic life. Web production, contents, use, and attitudes

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Caffeine, mental stress, and risk for hypertension: a cross‐cultural replication.

&NA; Separate and combined effects of caffeine and mental arithmetic stress on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) were assessed in a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study. Thirty‐six Chinese nationals, half with and half without a family history of hypertension, received either 0, 125, or 250 mg of caffeine in three separate experimental sessions, each preceded by a 12‐hour abstention from caffeine consumption. Caffeine and mental stress elevated SBP, but caffeine did not potentiate the SBP response to mental stress. Caffeine did not affect HR. A positive family history of hypertension was associated with larger SBP elevations to the higher dose of caffeine. Family history of hypertension was associated with larger blood pressure elevations during mental stress, but only under conditions of high‐level stimulation provided by the initial exposure to the stress. These results support previous findings of greater cardiovascular reactivity to laboratory stress in individuals at high risk for hypertension.
Measures of Value in Acquisitions: Family Versus Nonfamily Firms

This article sheds light on the valuation of family firms when compared with nonfamily firms as acquisition targets. The authors argue that although the majority of theoretical and empirical research explicitly recognizes the prevalence and superior performance of family firms around the world, acquiring companies tend to regard family firms as unprofessional and inefficient organizations, thus negatively affecting their valuation when compared with nonfamily firm targets. Overall, the authors’ empirical analysis, based on a matched-pairs methodology and use of multiples, shows that acquiring companies favor the stagnation perspective rather than the stewardship perspective and thus pay less (i.e., acquire at a discount) for a family firm target than for a nonfamily firm target.
Community engagement in Ireland's developmental welfare state: a study of the life cycle approach

The idea that people matter in modern democracies, often referred to as ‘civic engagement’ is recognised at the highest international level (United Nations 2008: 9). Civic or community engagement1 is essential to how budgets are decided, policy is developed and public services delivered. Significantly, community engagement is crucial in developing policy for sustained economic and social development. In Ireland the idea of the Developmental Welfare State (DWS) is based on the premise that the social policy system should support citizens so as to reach their full potential. Such a system comprises three overlapping elements: tax and welfare transfer, the provision of services and activist initiatives (National Economic and Social Council, 2005: ix-xviii). Civil Society Organisations have been challenged to ‘operationalise the DWS’ using a ‘life cycle framework’ as part of Ireland’s corporatist partnership model (Department of Taoiseach, 2006: 40). 2
National Culture and Corporate Cash Holdings around the World

This paper examines whether cultural dimensions explain the variation in corporate cash holdings around the world as well as within the United States. We establish four major findings. First, in an international setting, corporate cash holdings are negatively associated with individualism and positively associated with uncertainty-avoidance. Second, individualism and uncertainty avoidance influence the precautionary motive for holding cash. Third, firms in individualistic states in the United States hold less cash than firms in collectivistic states. Fourth, we show that individualism is positively related to the firm’s capital expenditures, acquisitions, and repurchases while uncertainty avoidance is negatively related. Our findings remain unchanged after controlling for governance factors, firm attributes, and country characteristics.
Risk, insurance and small farm credit in developing countries: A policy proposal

Lending to small farmers is often too risky for commercial banks; consequently extremely high interest rates have to be paid. Agricultural development banks go some way towards solving the problem. However, default rates tend to be high, so that credit has to be subsidized by government grants or overseas aid. One cause of the problem is that loans lack proper security. Risks are increased by uncertainties of weather, disease and produce prices. The paper proposes a system of compulsory insurance of crops and livestock. The risks and associated costs are quantified for one particular case: the Small Farmer Development Programme administered by the Agricultural Development Bank of Nepal. The scheme is assumed to run on a no-profit, no-loss basis. The data suggest that the cost of insurance premiums, when added to Bank interest rates, would still leave the Bank competitive as a source of rural credit. The practical problems of implementation are considered and deemed surmountable by reinsurance and graduated premiums.
Industrial policy and the political settlement in Tanzania: aspects of continuity and change since independence

This article explores Tanzania's experience of industrial policy since independence through the concept of the political settlement. Higher growth in manufacturing since 1996 has been seen as a vindication of neoliberal policies of market liberalisation. Yet, the neoliberal approach fails to take account of the important legacy of state-led industrialisation under socialism and aspects of the political economy of the state in Tanzania that explain some of the longer-term constraints on industrialisation. Critical aspects of Tanzania's political settlement relate to state–capital relations and the distribution of power between contenting factions of intermediate classes within the state. [Politique industrielle et le règlement politique en Tanzanie: aspects de continuité et de changement depuis l'indépendance. ] Cet article examine l'expérience tanzanienne en matière de politique industrielle depuis l'indépendance à travers le concept du règlement politique. La forte croissance dans le secteur industriel depuis 1996 a été considérée comme une justification de politiques néolibérales de libéralisation des marchés. Toutefois, l'approche néolibérale ne parvient pas à prendre en compte l'héritage important d'une industrialisation gérée par l'État sous le régime socialiste ainsi que les aspects de l'économie politique de l'État en Tanzanie, qui expliquent certaines des contraintes à plus long terme à l'industrialisation. Les aspects essentiels du règlement politique en Tanzanie concernent les relations État-capital et la répartition des pouvoirs entre les factions des classes intermédiaires se contentant de la situation au sein de l'État. Mots-clés : Tanzanie; règlements politiques; politique industrielle; production industrielle; libéralisation
Regulation of cell‐type specific expression of lacZ by the 5′‐flanking region of mouse GAD67 gene in the central nervous system of transgenic mice

The transcriptional regulation of the murine gene encoding the 67‐kDa form of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67) was studied by β‐galactosidase histochemistry in transgenic mice carrying fusion genes between progressively longer portions of the 5′‐upstream regulatory region of GAD67 and E. coli lacZ. No expression was detected in brains of mice carrying 1.3 kb of upstream sequences including a housekeeping and two conventional promoters, and two negative regulatory elements with homology to known silencers. In mice carrying the same portion of the promoter region plus the first intron, lacZ expression in the adult central nervous system was found in few, exclusively neuronal sites. The number of correctly stained GABAergic centres increased dramatically with increasing the length of the 5′‐upstream region included in the construct which suggests that multiple putative spatial enhancers are located in this region. Their action is influenced by epigenetic mechanisms that may be due to site‐of‐integration and transgene copy‐number effects. Additional cis‐acting elements are needed to obtain fully correct expression in all GABAergic neurons of the adult central nervous system.
Increased callose deposition in plants lacking DYNAMIN-RELATED PROTEIN 2B is dependent upon POWDERY MILDEW RESISTANT 4

ABSTRACT Callose deposition within the cell wall is a well-documented plant immune response to pathogenic organisms as well as to pathogen-/microbe- associated molecular patterns (P/MAMPs). However, the molecular mechanisms that modulate pathogen-induced callose deposition are less understood. We reported previously that Arabidopsis plants lacking the vesicle trafficking component DYNAMIN-RELATED PROTEIN 2B (DRP2B) display increased callose deposition in response to the PAMP flg22. Here, we show that increased number of flg22-induced callose deposits in drp2b leaves is fully dependent on the callose synthase POWDERY MILDEW RESISTANT 4 (PMR4). We propose that in addition to functioning in flg22-induced endocytosis of the plant receptor, FLAGELLIN SENSING 2, DRP2B may regulate the trafficking of proteins involved in callose synthesis, such as PMR4, and/or callose degradation.
Parallel Seed-Based Approach to Multiple Protein Structure Similarities Detection

Finding similarities between protein structures is a crucial task in molecular biology. Most of the existing tools require proteins to be aligned in order-preserving way and only find single alignments even when multiple similar regions exist. We propose a new seed-based approach that discovers multiple pairs of similar regions. Its computational complexity is polynomial and it comes with a quality guarantee--the returned alignments have both root mean squared deviations (coordinate-based as well as internal-distances based) lower than a given threshold, if such exist. We do not require the alignments to be order preserving (i.e., we consider nonsequential alignments), which makes our algorithm suitable for detecting similar domains when comparing multidomain proteins as well as to detect structural repetitions within a single protein. Because the search space for nonsequential alignments is much larger than for sequential ones, the computational burden is addressed by extensive use of parallel computing techniques: a coarse-grain level parallelism making use of available CPU cores for computation and a fine-grain level parallelism exploiting bit-level concurrency as well as vector instructions.
Human immunodeficiency virus counseling, testing, referral, and partner notification services. A cost-benefit analysis.

BACKGROUND The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, Ga) annually provides more than +100 million in funding to states, territories, and cities for the provision of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) counseling, testing, referral, and partner notification (CTRPN) services. Given the size of this expenditure, it is important to consider the net benefits of this program activity. We compared the economic costs and benefits of publicly funded HIV CTRPN services. METHODS Standard methods for cost-benefit analysis were used. A societal perspective was employed. Major assumptions used in the base-case analysis included the following: (1) without public funding, the HIV CTRPN services would not be provided; (2) for every 100 HIV-seropositive persons identified and reached by CTRPN services, at least 20 new HIV infections are averted; and (3) for every +100 spent on direct and indirect costs of CTRPN services, approximately another +60 is spent on the ancillary costs of alerting people to HIV issues and CTRPN service availability. Sensitivity analyses were performed to explore the robustness of base-case results to these and other changes in model assumptions. RESULTS Under base-case assumptions, the combined direct, indirect, and ancillary costs of the CTRPN program in 1990 dollars were +188,217,600. At a 6% discount rate, the estimated economic benefits of this expenditure are +3,781,918,000. The resultant benefit-cost ratio is 20.09. Sensitivity analyses showed that the benefit-cost ratio is greater than 1 for all considered cases. CONCLUSIONS This cost-benefit analysis strongly suggests that publicly funded CTRPN services result in a net economic gain to society.
Studies on the mechanism of alkaline peroxide delignification of agricultural residues

Alkaline solutions of hydrogen peroxide partially delignify wheat straw and other lignocellulosic materials, leaving a cellulosic residue that is highly susceptible to enzymatic digestion by cellulase. The delignification reaction is strongly dependent upon the pH of the reaction mixture, with an optimum at pH 11.5–11.6, pKa for the dissociation H2O2 ⇌ H+ + HOO−. The data are consistent with a mechanism in which H2O2 decomposition products such as ·OH and O 2− ·, rather than H2O2 or HOO−, are the primary lignin oxidizing species. During the course of the delignification reaction, O2 is evolved from the reaction mixture indicating active H2O2 decomposition. At a given concentration of H2O2, the rate of O2 evolution is proportional to the amount of lignocellulosic substrate present in the reaction mixture. However, the total amount of O2 evolved is inversely proportional to the amount of substrate present, indicating that some of the peroxide oxygen becomes incorporated into lignin degradation products. The amount of peroxide oxygen incorporated can range as high as 2 O2 per lignin C9 unit, depending upon the initial concentration of lignocellulosic substrate.
Ascites: Aetiology, mortality and the prevalence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Objective. To assess the aetiology, prognosis and prevalence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in patients hospitalized for ascites. The validity of an elevated (>11 g/l) serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) in the diagnostic work-up was evaluated. Mortality trends were observed over two periods of time. Material and methods. A total of 231 consecutive patients who underwent diagnostic paracentesis between February 1994 and December 1998 and January 2005 and March 2007 were included in the study. The definition of SBP comprised polymorphonuclear cell count >250/mm3 without evidence of other intra-abdominal source of infection. SAAG was obtained and the Child-Pugh classification applied. Survival rates were obtained from medical records. Results. The most common causes of ascites were alcohol liver cirrhosis (n=143; 62%), malignancy (n=30; 13%), non-alcoholic cirrhosis (n=11; 5%) and malignancy with cirrhosis (n=11; 5%). The prevalence of SBP in cirrhosis was 6.7% (95% CI 2.8–10.5%). Overall mortality rates at 1 month, 6 months and 1 year were 22%, 40% and 48%, respectively, and remained unchanged between the intervals. Patients with grade C liver disease had higher 1-month (26% versus 6%), and 6-month (44% versus 27%) mortality rates than grade B patients, but commensurate 1-year mortality (49% versus 47%). SAAG was ≥11 g/l in 85% of patients with obvious portal hypertension and in 30% with malignancy, ascites albumin level ≤9 g/l in 69% and 20%, respectively. Conclusions. Mortality in patients with ascites was high. The occurrence of SBP was relatively low in our series, with a high proportion of alcoholic cirrhosis. SAAG was inaccurate in differentiating ascites caused by portal hypertension or malignancy.
[Sleep disorders and quality of life in patients on hemodialysis].

UNLABELLED The objective of this study was to determine the rate of sleep disorders in patients on hemodialysis and to evaluate the association between quality of sleep and quality of life in these patients. METHODS A total of 81 hemodialysis patients were enrolled in the study. Quality of sleep was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI): higher scores indicate worse sleep quality. Health-related quality of life was evaluated using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form (SF-36) questionnaire. RESULTS In the present study 54 dialysis patients (66.7%) were "poor sleepers" (PSQI>5). The SF-36 mental component summary (PCS) and physical component summary (MCS) correlated with the global PSQI score (PCS, r=-0.463, p<0.001; MCS, r=-0.426, p<0.001), age (PCS, r=-0.330, p=0.003; MCS, r=-0.381, p<0.001), hemoglobin (PCS, r=0.289, p=0.009; MCS, r=0.301, p=0.006), comorbidity (PCS, r=-0.286, p=0.01; MCS, r=-0.283, p=0.011). Dialysis patients with global PSQI< or =5 ("good sleepers") had higher SF-36 PCS and MCS scores (PCS, 51.15+/-17.2 vs. 34.72+/-16.58, p<0.001; MCS, 59.52+/-17.43 vs. 41.92+/-18.34, p<0.001) and higher hemoglobin levels (102.74+/-12.34 g/l vs. 95.67+/-10.57 g/l, p=0.009) compared with "poor sleepers" (PSQI>5). CONCLUSIONS In the present study two-thirds of dialysis patients (66.7%) were "poor sleepers". Lower hemoglobin levels correlated with worse quality of sleep and quality of life. We hypothesize that correction of anemia may improve quality of life in patients on hemodialysis. Poor sleep is associated with lower quality of life in hemodialysis patients.