Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The − 564 A/G polymorphism in the promoter region of the proteinase 3 gene associated with Wegener's granulomatosis does not increase the promoter activity

Proteinase 3 is the major autoantigen in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis. Earlier studies have shown that circulating leucocytes from patients with Wegener's granulomatosis show elevated proteinase 3 surface expression and mRNA levels. Wegener's granulomatosis patients also have increased levels of proteinase 3 in plasma. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (− 564 A/G SNP) in the promoter region has been associated with disease. This SNP introduces a new potential Sp1 transcription factor binding site that may be responsible for the observed up‐regulated expression of proteinase 3. To investigate this a 740 base pair long region of the promoter was cloned from genomic DNA. The disease‐associated − 564 A/G, as well as a control − 621 A/G exchange, were introduced by polymerase chain reaction mutagenesis and cloned into a luciferase reporter vector. Endogenous expression levels of proteinase 3 mRNA and promoter activity of the cloned constructs were measured in three myeloid cell lines, HL‐60, U937 and NB‐4, and in epithelial HeLa cells. The results demonstrate a good correlation between the endogenous proteinase 3 mRNA expression and the promoter activity, as judged by luciferase activity. However, no significant differences in activity between the wild‐type, polymorphic and the mutated control variant were found. In conclusion, the − 564 A/G polymorphism is not responsible for the increased expression levels seen in myeloid cells from patients with Wegener's granulomatosis.
Preliminary investigation of Yemeni women entrepreneurs: some challenges for development and barriers to success

This study aims to examine the role of women business owners in Yemen. It establishes the factors that motivate Yemeni women to establish their business venture, opportunities for growth, and discusses challenges and barriers to becoming successful entrepreneurs. Qualitative research approach is adopted via personal in-depth interviews with Yemeni women entrepreneurs in various businesses. Findings from the study reveal that there are several reasons driving Yemeni women to become entrepreneurs, including the desire to be independent, improve the standard of living, source of income to support family, and gaining control over personal life. The study also highlights several problems and barriers to success for these women entrepreneurs. The overall findings from the study suggest that Yemeni women entrepreneurs have strong entrepreneurial competence but lack the ability, and receive no continuous training and support service to develop their entrepreneurial skills to their full potential. Suggestions concerning how women entrepreneurs in Yemen might be encouraged and questions for future research are presented.
Fixed Rate Loan Commitments, Take-Down Risk, and the Dynamics of Hedging with Futures

This paper develops a normative model to analyze the hedging and fee-pricing decisions of a financial institution supplying fixed rate loan commitments to its customers. In supplying fixed rate loan commitments, the financial institution (hereafter referred to as “bank”) is assumed to act as an agent that transforms commitment risk through the use of financial futures contracts. While most previous loan commitment models have analyzed the interest rate (or price) risk the bank faces in supplying fixed rate loan commitments, they either have ignored or assumed away the loan take-down (or quantity) risk.
Heaven knows I'm miserable now

In this article, marketing is considered a tool for performing the economy, a means by which a particular economic and political ideology has been reproduced and disseminated. Despite the early success of this project in improving and progressing the quality of peoples' lives, it is doubtful that this progress can be sustained in the 21st century. Marketing and its technologies are fundamental to sustaining economic growth, yet the provision of more goods and services into the marketplace–the provision of more choice–appears not to deliver on its theoretical promise of making people happier with their lives. The source of this discontent is examined from a psychoanalytical perspective.
Prospective, Randomized Assessment of Transfer of Training (ToT) and Transfer Effectiveness Ratio (TER) of Virtual Reality Simulation Training for Laparoscopic Skill Acquisition

Objectives:We assessed the effectiveness of ToT from VR laparoscopic simulation training in 2 studies. In a second study, we also assessed the TER. ToT is a detectable performance improvement between equivalent groups, and TER is the observed percentage performance differences between 2 matched groups carrying out the same task but with 1 group pretrained on VR simulation. Concordance between simulated and in-vivo procedure performance was also assessed. Design:Prospective, randomized, and blinded. Participants:In Study 1, experienced laparoscopic surgeons (n = 195) and in Study 2 laparoscopic novices (n = 30) were randomized to either train on VR simulation before completing an equivalent real-world task or complete the real-world task only. Results:Experienced laparoscopic surgeons and novices who trained on the simulator performed significantly better than their controls, thus demonstrating ToT. Their performance showed a TER between 7% and 42% from the virtual to the real tasks. Simulation training impacted most on procedural error reduction in both studies (32- 42%). The correlation observed between the VR and real-world task performance was r > 0·96 (Study 2). Conclusions:VR simulation training offers a powerful and effective platform for training safer skills.
Intermediate occupations and the conceptual and empirical limitations of the hourglass economy thesis

It is suggested that an hourglass-shaped occupational structure is emerging in the UK, with the polarization of jobs at top and bottom of the occupational hierarchy. Despite the implicit suggestion that jobs in the middle appear to be disappearing, somewhat paradoxically, there are ever-increasing reports of problems with recruitment and skill across intermediate occupations.This article attempts to address the paradox and propose better ways of conceptualizing what is happening to intermediate occupations within recent structural transformations. It is argued that while the hourglass economy thesis, or a variation of it, best describes recent occupational transformations, it is limited conceptually and empirically. More specifically, it neglects important dimensions of change within intermediate occupations — dimensions that may well provide a more fruitful foundation from which to explore the nature of and developments within these jobs and their broader repercussions.
Measures of the Timeliness of Earnings

We explore relationships among four measures of ‘timeliness’ in the financial accounting research literature: the Ball and Brown (1968) measure; Dyer and McHugh’s (1975) reporting lag; the Khan and Watts (2009) measure; and the Beekes and Brown (2006) measure. There are good reasons why the measures might be related and also why they might differ. Thus we examine the extent to which they are empirically related, using data for a sample of Australian companies over the period 1994-2005. Overall, we find the four measures share a common label, ‘timeliness’, but not much else.
Preferential Trade Agreements Harm Third Countries

In this paper, we study market liberalization in an imperfectly competitive environment in the presence of price effects. For this purpose, we build a three-country model of international trade under monopolistic competition with endogenous prices and wages. The neighboring effect translates how the size effect propagates across countries. When some country increases in size, its relative wage increases, as well as that in a small and near country, while that in a large and distant country falls. We also show that a preferential trade agreement increases the relative wage, the welfare, and the terms-of-trade in the partner countries, where the integration effect dominates, while it lowers those in the third country.
Increasing Inequality is Unbalanced Growth: Evidence from North America

Increasing inequality cannot be a long-run steady state â€“ i.e. a trend that can continue indefinitely. Because the bottom 99% and top 1% in the U.S. and Canada have had very different rates of growth of market income among since the 1980s, consumption and savings flows have necessarily changed. If aggregate expenditure is to equal aggregate income, the added savings of the increasingly affluent must be loaned to enable the expenditure of other agents â€“ but increasing indebtedness implies financial fragility, periodic financial crises, greater volatility of aggregate income and, as governments respond to mass unemployment with counter-cyclical fiscal policies, a compounding instability of public finances. In Canada and the United States, increasing economic instability is thus a necessary implication of increasing inequality. However, in Mexico the establishment of a large social transfer program, rural out-migration, expansion of primary and secondary enrolment, increased female employment and declining birthrates have helped Mexico reduce inequality (albeit from a high level) in recent years â€“ just as Canada and the U.S. experienced from 1940 to 1975. Stability in market income shares and macro-economic flows requires equalization of income growth rates â€“ either an acceleration of the income growth rate of the bottom 99%, or a decline in income growth of the top 1% would do. There is no evidence that purely economic forces will produce either outcome anytime soon in Canada or the U.S. â€“ any return to stability depends on political economy.
A Wide-Range Model for Metal-Oxide Surge Arrester

This paper presents an electric model of a metal-oxide surge arrester (MOSA). The proposed electric model accurately represents the MOSA in a wide range of frequencies and amplitudes. The model was developed and validated based on MOSA electrical behavior in each one of the three operating regions of the zinc-oxide (ZnO) surge arresters, and in a database composed of voltage and current waveforms measured from tests performed in 12 ZnO varistors having different physical dimensions and electrical characteristics—from five different manufacturers. These varistors were subjected to different voltage levels in the low current region, and multilevel amplitude of switching current impulses (30/60 <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu$</tex-math></inline-formula>s), lightning current impulses (8/20 <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu$</tex-math></inline-formula>s), high current impulses (4/10 <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu$</tex-math></inline-formula>s), and fast-front current impulses (1.5/26 <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu$</tex-math></inline-formula>s and 3/6 <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu$</tex-math></inline-formula>s) encompass the three regions of operation and a wide range of frequencies and amplitudes. The results provided by the MOSA wide-range (MWR) model were compared with those obtained in the laboratory. The MWR model has shown good agreement in terms of waveform, peak value, and absorbed energy for the evaluated cases.
Mega Event Securitisation in a Third World Setting

During South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, it was both the security successes and failures of the tournament, as well as the capacities of the state, that drew scrutiny. The country faced some significant challenges in its attempts to make the event ‘safe’. This article provides an overview of the major processes of securitisation in the 2010 finals, reviewing the role played by domestic and external actors, and the way in which the supranational and glocal character of mega event securitisation in the contemporary era shaped developments in the country. It offers an assessment of the physical, social and symbolic legacies of World Cup securitisation, both for the national state and urban environments.
Joining Unison: Does the Reform of a Union Organising Strategy Change How Members Perceive Their Recruitment?

Drawing on survey evidence collected between 2001 and 2012, this article examines whether changes in the organising approach of UNISON were reflected in changes in the routes of entry of new members into the union. The article shows that shifts in UNISON policy were marginal to the pattern of entry into the union. The implications of these findings for the concept and implementation of organising are subsequently reviewed.
Implementing Reforms in Bolivia: Too Much to Handle?

Abstract This article looks at the implementation of budgeting and financial management reforms in Bolivia. These reforms were intended to facilitate the introduction of an integrated approach to budgeting and financial management, and a results-orientation in management. Evidence suggests that, at least in its first few years, there was little successful reform implementation. The main factors seen to impact reform implementation include the entrenched patronage of the political system, the weak nature of reform incentives, weaknesses in central financial management systems and processes, poor internal monitoring, authority limits in the Audit Office, a lack of Parliament scrutiny, questions about transparency and participation, and relational complexities arising from donor involvement. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions or perspectives of the World Bank.
Structure and performance of palm oil marketing in Ondo State, Nigeria.

The study evaluated the structure and performance of palm oil marketing in Kogi State, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling procedure was employed in the selection of 120 marketers for the study. Primary data were collected with the aid of interview schedule to elicit relevant information from the marketers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics; Ginicoefficient model; multiple regression model and, gross and marketing margins analyses. The study showed that 76% of the marketers had 1-5 years of marketing experience. Furthermore, an average marketer had a gross margin of ₦200,830.26/annum and net revenue of ₦197,807.06/annum. This shows that palm oil marketing is a profitable business in the study area. The Gini-coefficient analysis revealed a high level of concentration and high level of inequality in the income distribution of the marketers in the study area. The low marketing margin (12%) implies that the market performed efficiently. The analysis of the factors affecting the net returns of palm oil marketers revealed that the R 2 was 0.919 which implies that the included explanatory variables explained 92% of the variation in net returns of each marketer in the study area while the F-ratio of 213.87 shows that the whole model is significant. The educational level and cost of capital input were both negative and significant at 1% and 5% level of probability, respectively. This is an indication that these costs have decreasing impact on net return. The coefficient of cost of purchase and cost of transportation were positive and significant at 1% level of probability. This is an indication that these costs have increasing impact on net return of the marketers in the study area. Based on the findings, it is therefore recommended that marketers should form cooperatives for easy access to loan so as to boost their financial base for improved performance of palm oil marketing in the State.
Plasticity in Respiratory Motor Control Invited Review: Neuroplasticity in respiratory motor control

[PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , November 1, 2007; 92 (6): 1057-1066. Exp Physiol S. R. Reeves and D. Gozal hypoxia-induced phrenic long-term facilitation in adult rats in the acute hypoxic ventilatory response, but is not required for intermittent Respiratory: Protein kinase C activity in the nucleus tractus solitarii is critically involved [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , February 1, 2008; 104 (2): 499-507. J Appl Physiol J. Terada, A. Nakamura, W. Zhang, M. Yanagisawa, T. Kuriyama, Y. Fukuda and T. Kuwaki periods and depends on orexin Ventilatory long-term facilitation in mice can be observed during both sleep and wake [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , February 27, 2008; 28 (9): 2033-2042. J. Neurosci. Baker-Herman and G. S. Mitchell F. J. Golder, L. Ranganathan, I. Satriotomo, M. Hoffman, M. R. Lovett-Barr, J. J. Watters, T. L. Spinal Adenosine A2a Receptor Activation Elicits Long-Lasting Phrenic Motor Facilitation [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , April 1, 2008; 294 (4): R1356-R1366. Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol C. Julien, A. Bairam and V. Joseph apnea frequency in newborn rats Chronic intermittent hypoxia reduces ventilatory long-term facilitation and enhances [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , April 1, 2008; 104 (4): 1220-1229. J Appl Physiol R. W. Bavis and G. S. Mitchell Long-term effects of the perinatal environment on respiratory control
Separation of Ownership from Control and Acquiring Firm Performance: The Case of Family Ownership in Canada

This study investigates the relationship between ownership structure and acquiring firm performance. A large proportion of Canadian public companies have controlling shareholders (families) that often exercise control over voting rights while holding a small fraction of the cash flow rights. This is achieved through the concurrent use of dual class voting shares and stock pyramids. Many suggest that these ownership structures involve larger agency costs than those imposed by dispersed ownership structures and that they distort corporate decisions with respect to investment choices such as acquisitions. We find that average acquiring firm announcement period abnormal returns for our sample of 327 Canadian transactions are positive over the 1998-2002 period. Cash deals, acquisitions of unlisted targets and cross-border deals have a positive impact on value creation. Governance mechanisms (outside block-holders, unrelated directors and small board size) also have a positive influence on the acquiring firm performance. Further, the positive abnormal returns are greater for family firms. We do not find that separation of ownership and control has a negative impact on performance. These results suggest that, contrary to other jurisdictions offering poor minority shareholder protection or poor corporate governance, separation of control and ownership is not viewed as leading to value destroying mergers and acquisitions, i.e., market participants do not perceive families as using M&A to obtain private benefits at the expense of minority shareholders. We do find a non-monotonic relationship between ownership level and acquiring firm abnormal returns. Ownership of a majority of the cash flow rights has a negative impact on announcement returns. This is consistent with the view that large shareholders may undertake less risky projects as their wealth invested in the firm increases. Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd, 2006.
Training in service – importing and imparting customer service culture as an interactive process

Customer service culture initiatives have received renewed academic attention. Recent surveys of employee responses have highlighted the importance of training. However, its precise nature and how messages and various responses are mediated through an interactive and dynamic process have been largely neglected. In addition, employees' experience of customer service as consumers and of its contradictions has yet to be fully explored in accounting for employee responses. In an effort to develop existing knowledge and models of customer service culture, these issues are addressed by drawing on observational research. Four training programmes are examined in varied contexts, including a UK call centre and a Malaysian bank. They reveal a dynamic whereby trainers' anticipation of employee attitudes such as cynicism and the immediate reactions and dialogue of trainees help shape both the service message and subsequent responses.
Changes in Wage Discrimination against People with Disabilities: 1984-93

The extent to which discrimination against people with disabilities has changed from 1984 to 1993 is estimated in this paper. A novel data source—a set of health-impaired workers who self-report that their productivity is not affected by their impairment—is used to separately identify the effects of discrimination on wages from those of poor health. The results indicate that for this group in 1984 only 3.7 percentage points of the earnings gap can be attributed to discrimination. Assuming that work limited people with disabilities face an identical amount of discrimination allows one to separately identify the effects of health from the effects of wage discrimination on the earnings of people with disabilities and implies that the effects of discrimination are small. Moreover, the analysis indicates that the amount of discrimination did not decrease by 1993, despite the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). While discrimination did not change over this period, the negative effects of poor health on the earnings of people with disabilities fell substantially; this suggests that without either improvements in technology or the accommodation provisions of the ADA, the earnings gaps faced by people with disabilities would have been even higher in 1993.
Radiation as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Abstract population are ubiquitous background radiation and medical exposure of patients. From the early 1980s to 2006, the average dose per individual in the United States for all sources of radiation increased by a factor of 1.7-6.2 mSv, with this increase due to the growth of medical imaging procedures. Radiation can place individuals at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Excess risk of cardiovascular disease occurs a long time after exposure to lower doses of radiation as demonstrated in Japanese atomic bomb survivors. This review examines sources of radiation (atomic bombs, radiation accidents, radiological terrorism, cancer treatment, space exploration, radiosurgery for cardiac arrhythmia, and computed tomography) and the risk for developing cardiovascular disease. The evidence presented suggests an association between cardiovascular disease and exposure to low-to-moderate levels of radiation, as well as the well-known association at high doses. Studies are needed to define the extent that diagnostic and therapeutic radiation results in increased risk factors for cardiovascular disease, to understand the mechanisms involved, and to develop strategies to mitigate or treat radiation-induced cardiovascular disease.
A Novel Method for the Mutual Coupling Calculation Between Antenna Array Radiators: Analysis of the radiation pattern of a single radiator in the antenna array.

A novel method for the estimation of the mutual coupling between radiators in antenna arrays is presented in this article. The methodology proposed includes the analysis of the radiation pattern of the single radiator in the antenna array. An algorithm based on the calculation of real and imaginary parts of the antenna mutual impedance using the Kramers-Kronig relations is demonstrated. The validation is performed by comparing the calculated estimations with electromagnetic simulations of the antenna system and wellknown theoretical results evaluated by the method of induced electromagnetic force. The developed procedure is universal and can be applied to different types of antenna systems.