Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are socially responsible investment markets worldwide integrated

Purpose - This study seeks to investigate the extent and structure of equity price interdependence among the socially responsible investment (SRI) markets of Australia, Canada, Japan, UK and USA over the period 1994-2010. Design/methodology/approach - The paper examines the degree of price co-movement between SRI markets by using a vector autoregression analysis to identify the markets which have significant price co-movements. Subsequently, a variance decomposition analysis is conducted among the markets which are significantly related in order to determine the extent of interaction between these markets and to identify the markets that are most and least influential. Findings - The results show that the SRI markets are significantly interdependent and have become more so over the years. The USA and the UK are the markets most linked to others while Canada and Australia are the most influential. However, although the markets are significantly integrated, the level of integration is still at a low level. Originality/value - This is the first known study to examine price linkages among international SRI markets. This knowledge is important for investors as the benefits from international diversification depends on the extent of linkages between different SRI markets. Such knowledge is also valuable for policymakers and regulators if they are to address international contagion risk between markets. The study found that SRI markets are significantly linked; however, the level of linkages is still at a relatively low level. This implies that there are still significant benefits to be derived by SRI investors through international diversification.
State Economies, Metropolitan Governance, and Urban-Suburban Economic Dependence

Previous research finds that central-city and suburban indicators of economic development are strongly related. Missing from previous research, however, is an empirical test of the expected relationship between urban-suburban economic dependence and the structure of metropolitan-area governance. In addition, the impact of the state economy on this relationship has not been fully examined. The authors replicate previous research that demonstrates a relationship between the change in central-city and suburban per capita income. Then they test whether this relationship is solely a function of the state economy and if it is affected by the structure of metropolitan-area governance.
TECHNIQUE OF LASER CHORIORETINAL ANASTOMOSIS CREATION IN CENTRAL RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION AND SUCCESS RATE WITH A NEW PHOTOCOAGULATOR SYSTEM

Purpose: To evaluate the success rate of laser chorioretinal anastomosis (L-CRA) creation with a new laser photocoagulator system capable of 5 watts (W) power in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Methods: Patients with a treatment-naive CRVO were enrolled as part of an ongoing trial combining L-CRAs with anti–vascular endothelial growth factor treatment. Results: Thirty-three patients were treated with an L-CRA developing in 29 (88%). Mean power was 2.7 W and mean time for development was 1.8 months. Each patient had two potential sites created. Eighteen patients developed 2 L-CRAs and the remaining 11 patients, one each. Of the 66 potential sites, successful L-CRAs developed at 47 sites (71%). Additional Nd:YAG laser applications were used in 39% of sites. Mean follow-up was 23 months and no significant complications were seen. Conclusion: An L-CRA as a means of permanently bypassing the obstruction to venous outflow in CRVO may become more relevant as not all patients respond well to intravitreal therapy. The limitation to this technique in the past has been lack of availability of a laser system with the power necessary to create the L-CRA. The success rate with the new system has improved to 88% representing a significant improvement over our original success rate of 33%.
Economies of Size and Total Factor Productivity in Alberta Cow-Calf Production

This paper applies both parametric and non-parametric approaches to evaluate Economies of Size and Total Factor Productivity (TFP) in Alberta cow-calf production based on the unbalanced panel data from 196 farmers during the time period from 1995 to 2002. Under the parametric approach, a random parameter translog cost system and a translog cost frontier are constructed and estimated respectively. The results from the cost system estimation suggest that on average, cow-calf production in Alberta exhibits Economies of Size, technical progress and positive TFP. However, exploitable Economies of Size decrease over time, technical change rate and TFP even become negative at 2002. The critical problem, therefore, is how to reverse the trend and maintain good growth pattern. The translog cost frontier is also estimated but the results are unreliable. Therefore, the Non-parametric approach (Malmquist TFP index) is adopted. The results suggest that inefficiency exists in Alberta cow-calf production.
The selective anandamide transport inhibitor VDM11 attenuates reinstatement of nicotine seeking behaviour, but does not affect nicotine intake

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The endocannabinoid system appears to play a pivotal role in mediating the rewarding and reinforcing effects of nicotine. Recent studies have shown that the inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) attenuates reinstatement of nicotine‐seeking induced by nicotine priming and nicotine‐associated cues. FAAH hydrolyses the endogenous endocannabinoid anandamide, as well as other non‐cannabinoid ligands such as oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). As OEA and PEA can attenuate both nicotine‐taking and nicotine‐seeking behaviour, the specific role of anandamide remains unclear. In this study, we have tested the selective anadamide uptake inhibitor, VDM11, which elevates anandamide levels without affecting levels of OEA/PEA, on nicotine‐taking and nicotine‐seeking behaviour.
Decision Analysis of Exploration Opportunities in the Onshore US at Phillips Petroleum Company

Petroleum exploration managers must allocate scarce resources across a set of risky and uncertain investment alternatives. We developed a decision analysis software package, DISCOVERY, that provided an exploration division of Phillips Petroleum Company an alternative means of evaluating a mix of risky investments and selecting participation levels consistent with the firm’s risk propensity. Managers at Phillips use the software to (1) evaluate projects with a consistent risk-taking policy, (2) rank projects in terms of overall preference, (3) identify the firm’s appropriate level of participation, and (4) stay within their division budgets. This approach increased management’s awareness of risk and risk tolerance and provided insight into the relative financial risks associated with its available investment opportunities. As a result of this project, the company has developed consistent methods of risk analysis that include companywide analysis of all exploration projects.
Rural market imperfections and the role of institutions in collective action to improve markets for the poor

Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa have liberalized markets to improve efficiency and enhance market linkages for smallholder farmers. The expected positive response by the private sector in areas with limited market infrastructure has however been very limited. The functioning of markets is constrained by high transaction costs and coordination problems along the production-to-consumption value chain. New kinds of institutional arrangements are needed to reduce these costs and fill the vacuum left when governments withdrew from markets in the era of structural adjustments. One of these institutional innovations has been the strengthening of producer organizations and formation of collective marketing groups as instruments to remedy pervasive market failures in rural economies. The analysis presented here with a case study from eastern Kenya has shown that marketing groups pay 20-25% higher prices than other buyers to farmers while participation was also positively correlated with adoption of improved dryland legume varieties, crops not targeted by the formal extension system. However the effectiveness of marketing groups is undermined by external shocks and structural constraints that limit the volume of trade and access to capital and information, and require investments in complementary institutions and coordination mechanisms to exploit scale economies. Successful groups have shown high levels of collective action in the form of increased participatory decision making, member contributions and initial start-up capital. Failure to pay on delivery, resulting from lack of capital credit, is a major constraint that stifles competitiveness of marketing groups relative to other buyers. These findings call for interventions that improve governance and participation; mechanisms for improving access to operating capital; and effective strategies for risk management and enhancing the business skills of farmer marketing groups.
Pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activating polypeptide is up‐regulated in cortical pyramidal cells after focal ischemia and protects neurons from mild hypoxic/ischemic damage

The protective effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activating polypeptide (PACAP) in stroke models is poorly understood. We studied patterns of PACAP, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and the PACAP‐selective receptor PAC1 after middle cerebral artery occlusion and neuroprotection by PACAP in cortical cultures exposed to oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD). Within hours, focal ischemia caused a massive, NMDA receptor (NMDAR)‐dependent up‐regulation of PACAP in cortical pyramidal cells. PACAP expression dropped below the control level after 2 days and was normalized after 4 days. Vasoactive intestinal peptide expression was regulated oppositely to that of PACAP. PAC1 mRNA showed ubiquitous expression in neurons and astrocytes with minor changes after ischemia. In cultured cortical neurons PACAP27 strongly activated Erk1/2 at low and p38 MAP kinase at higher nanomolar concentrations via PAC1. In astrocyte cultures, effects of PACAP27 on Erk1/2 and p38 were weak. During OGD, neurons showed severely reduced Erk1/2 activity and dephosphorylation of Erk1/2‐regulated Ser112 of pro‐apoptotic Bad. PACAP27 stimulation counteracted Erk1/2 inactivation and Bad dephosphorylation during short‐term OGD but was ineffective after expanded OGD. Consistently, PACAP27 caused MEK‐dependent neuroprotection during mild but not severe hypoxic/ischemic stress. While PACAP27 protected neurons at 1–5 nmol/L, full PAC1 activation by 100 nmol/L PACAP exaggerated hypoxic/ischemic damage. PACAP27 stimulation of astrocytes increased the production of Akt‐activating factors and conferred ischemic tolerance to neurons. Thus, ischemia‐induced PACAP may act via neuronal and astroglial PAC1. PACAP confers protection to ischemic neurons by maintaining Erk1/2 signaling via neuronal PAC1 and by increasing neuroprotective factor production via astroglial PAC1.
Do Price Discreteness and Transactions Costs Affect Stock Returns? Comparing Ex-Dividend Pricing Before and after Decimalization

By the end of January 2001, all NYSE stocks had converted their price quotations from 1/8s and 1/16s to decimals. This study examines the effect of this change in price quotations on ex-dividend day activity. We find that abnormal ex-dividend day returns increase in the 1/16 and decimal pricing eras, relative to the 1/8 era, which is inconsistent with microstructure explanations of ex-day price movements. We also find that abnormal returns increase in conjunction with a May 1997 reduction in the capital gains tax rate, as they should if relative taxation of dividends and capital gains affects ex-day pricing. Copyright 2003 by the American Finance Association.
Estimating labour supply responses using tax reforms

The 1980s' tax reforms and the changing dispersion of wages offer one of the best opportunities yet to estimate labour supply effects. Nevertheless, changing sample composition, aggregate shocks, the changing composition of the tax paying population and discontinuities in the tax system create serious identification and estimation problems. We develop grouping estimators, that address these issues. Our results reveal positive and moderately-sized wage elasticities. We also find negative income effects for women with children.
Immune Signatures of Murine and Human Cancers Reveal Unique Mechanisms of Tumor Escape and New Targets for Cancer Immunotherapy

Purpose: Despite lymphocyte infiltration of tumors and the activation of tumor-draining lymph nodes, malignant tumors are able to “escape” from both innate and adaptive immune responses. For immunotherapy to be successful, it must reverse these escape mechanisms, which necessitates explicit and tumor-specific elucidation of tumor escape strategies. Research Design: To identify relevant escape mechanisms in murine tumors and in two corresponding human cancers, real-time reverse transcription-PCR was used to measure a panel of genes associated with T-cell activation and inhibition pathways. Results: Comparative analysis of the expression levels of these immunomodulatory genes showed astonishing similarities in expression patterns between murine and human breast cancers but profound variability in the expression of immunomodulatory genes in colorectal cancers. For human ductal adenocarcinoma of the breast, down-regulation of dendritic cell maturation marker CD83 and T-cell activation gene CD28 was observed as well as a notable increase in the expression of the immunoinhibitory gene B7-H4. By contrast, colorectal adenocarcinoma cases showed high variability in tumor escape mechanisms, indicating a need to produce immune signatures for individual patients to identify appropriate immunotherapeutic targets. Conclusions: These results show that certain tumors, such as ductal carcinoma of the breast, show consistent immunologic abnormalities that can be used as targets for immunotherapy. These findings also show the importance and feasibility of determining the immune signatures of patients' tumors to select appropriate immunotherapeutic strategies. Ultimately, these results advocate for the determination of immune signatures as part of the customary repertoire of clinical diagnostics for cancer.
Decentralization via Federal and Unitary Referenda

This paper studies a model where the power to set policy (a choice of project) may be assigned to central or regional government via either a federal or unitary referendum. The benefit of central provision is an economy of scale, while the cost is political inefficiency. The relationship between federal and unitary referenda is characterized in the asymptotic case as the number of regions becomes large, under the assumption that the median project benefit in any region is a random draw from a fixed distribution, G. Under some symmetry assumptions, the relationship depends only on the shape of G, not on how willingness to pay is distributed within regions. The relationship to Cremer and Palfrey's "principle of aggregation" is established. Asymptotic results on the efficiency of the two referenda are also proved. Copyright 2004 Blackwell Publishing Inc.
Interações entre os poderes executivo e legislativo no processo decisório: avaliando sucesso e fracasso presidencial

This article discusses how to evaluate success and failure in the approval of a given government agenda. Through an analysis of labor legislation reform bills submitted by the Brazilian Executive Branch from 1989 to 2001, the article shows that the success or failure of the Administration's agenda cannot be measured only by the bill's final review. The attempt was to demonstrate how submitting bills is part of a broader strategy, extending beyond the specific bill, and that passing bills is not necessarily the main objective of those submitting them.
Uma Estimativa dos Aspectos Distributivos da Previdência Social no Brasil

This paper studies the distributive aspects of the Brazilian social security system. Contributions made and received benefits for each individual were considered, in the period 1976-1999. The expected contributions and benefits flows of representative groups of individuals were then estimated. For each group, the internal rates of return inherent to the social security system were assessed. Groups with lower education levels achieve the highest rates of return. The rates are also different according to the country's regions. The rates of return have grown over the years. These results evidence the existence of distributive characteristics in the Brazilian social security system.
Risk and Return in Real Estate: Evidence from a Real Estate Stock Index

The continued growth of the equity REIT market depends critically on investors' belief that the stock market provides fair and accurate valuations of real estate. An index of real estate stocks traded on the New York and American stock exchanges reflects changes in real estate market fundamentals in a more timely fashion than a widely used appraisal-based system. The index includes equity real estate investment trusts (REITs), real estate operating companies not organized in trust form, land subdividers and commercial developers, and general contractors. A statistical examination of the relation between the stock-based and appraisal-based series finds that the lagged returns of the real estate stocks help explain the behavior of the current-period appraisal series. The stock market apparently impounds information about changes in real estate values in a more timely manner than appraisal-based series constrained by infrequent property appraisals. oth practitioners and academics have become increasingly interested in the risks and returns of real estate ownership. In the absence of a centralized exchange to record sales, appraisal-based data such as the Russell-NCREIF Property Index (RNPI) are often used to analyze real estate returns. Such appraisal-based series are imperfect proxies for actual market conditions, however, largely because property valuations occur infrequently (quarterly at best), so appraisal-based series contain stale prices.1 This shortcoming has been highlighted recently by the failure of appraisal-based return indexes to capture either the timing or the magnitude of the recent dramatic downturn in commercial real estate markets. This article presents and analyzes the return behavior of a stock-market-based index of real estate performance. The index is composed of real-estate-related equities traded on the New York and American stock exchanges (NYSE and Amex). The firms in the index include owner-operators of existing properties as well as developers. Previous real estate research has primarily examined the returns of equity real estate investment trusts (REITs). That work generated two findings of particular relevance to this article. First, there is no significant contemporaneous correlation between equity REIT and appraisal series returns. Second, equity REIT returns are significantly positively correlated with broader stock market returns such as the SP real estate stock prices more accurately captured the industry downturn in the late 1980s than the well-known RNPI series. Despite the lack of a contemporaneous relation between appraisal and stock series, we conclude that there is an important connection between the two. This conclusion is based on a statistically and economically significant relation between lagged real estate stock returns and current-period returns on the appraisalbased RNPI. The evidence indicates that the two series incorporate similar information about real estate fundamentals, but the stock-based index does so in a more timely manner.
Two Pathways of Sphingolipid Biosynthesis Are Separated in the Yeast Pichia pastoris*

Although the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has only one sphingolipid class with a head group based on phosphoinositol, the yeast Pichia pastoris as well as many other fungi have a second class, glucosylceramide, which has a glucose head group. These two sphingolipid classes are in addition distinguished by a characteristic structure of their ceramide backbones. Here, we investigate the mechanisms controlling substrate entry into the glucosylceramide branch of the pathway. By a combination of enzymatic in vitro studies and lipid analysis of genetically engineered yeast strains, we show that the ceramide synthase Bar1p occupies a key branching point in sphingolipid biosynthesis in P. pastoris. By preferring dihydroxy sphingoid bases and C16/C18 acyl-coenzyme A as substrates, Bar1p produces a structurally well defined group of ceramide species, which is the exclusive precursor for glucosylceramide biosynthesis. Correlating with the absence of glucosylceramide in this yeast, a gene encoding Bar1p is missing in S. cerevisiae. We could not successfully investigate the second ceramide synthase in P. pastoris that is orthologous to S. cerevisiae Lag1p/Lac1p. By analyzing the ceramide and glucosylceramide species in a collection of P. pastoris knock-out strains in which individual genes encoding enzymes involved in glucosylceramide biosynthesis were systematically deleted, we show that the ceramide species produced by Bar1p have to be modified by two additional enzymes, sphingolipid Δ4-desaturase and fatty acid α-hydroxylase, before the final addition of the glucose head group by the glucosylceramide synthase. Together, this set of four enzymes specifically defines the pathway leading to glucosylceramide biosynthesis.
White Roll Vermilion turn down flap in primary unilateral cleft lip repair: A novel approach

Aim: Numerous modifications of Millard's technique of rotation – advancement repair have been described in literature. This article envisions a new modification in Millard's technique of primary unilateral chieloplasty. Material and Methods: Eliminating or reducing the secondary deformities in children with cleft lip has been a motivating factor for the continual refinement of cleft lip surgical techniques through the years. Vermilion notching, visibility of paramedian scars and scar contracture along the white roll are quite noticeable in close-up view even in good repairs. Any scar is less noticeable if it is in midline or along the lines of embryological closure. White Roll Vermilion turn down Flap (WRV Flap), a modification in the Millard's repair is an attempt to prevent these secondary deformities during the primary cleft lip sugery. This entails the use of white roll and the vermilion from the lateral lip segment for augmenting the medial lip vermilion with the final scar in midline at the vermilion. Result: With an experience of more than 100 cases of primary cleft lip repair with this technique, we have achieved a good symmetry and peaking of cupid's bow with no vermilion notching of the lips. Conclusion: WRV flap aims to high light the importance of achieving a near normal look of the cleft patient with the only drawback of associated learning curve with this technique.
Assessing the balanced scorecard as a management tool for hotels

Purpose – This study seeks to assess the balanced scorecard (BSC) approach to strategy and its usefulness for the international hotel industry.Design/methodology/approach – The paper undertakes a wide‐ranging literature review which focuses on strategic implementation and the BSC approach, which is compared and contrasted with evidence of practice derived from a survey of hotels in Northeast England.Findings – In reviewing the literature it is clear that sources relating to the more detailed implementation issues of strategy (which is where BSC can be cited) is relatively scarce. Furthermore the strategy literature relating to the hospitality sector is relatively weakly developed. However, the reports are available which indicate the usefulness of a BSC approach, albeit modified to suit individual circumstances, but also point to potential pitfalls in its implementation. The primary research conducted indicates that a wide variety of measures are currently being used and that many hoteliers are using meas.