Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Credit Markets and Housing Choices

This paper analyses how individual characteristics and credit market conditions interact and determine homeownership. The impact of the lifetime profile of resources on homeownership is larger when credit market imperfections are more severe. We combine data from the Bank of Italy's Survey on Household Income and Wealth with information on regional differences in interest rate spreads. We find that an increase in current resources by 10,000 euros increases the probability of homeownership by five (two) percentage points under the least (most) favourable credit market conditions.
An Anatomy of the “S&P Game”: The Effects of Changing the Rules

This study analyzes the effects of changes in S&P 500 index composition from January 1986 through June 1994, a period during which Standard and Poor's began its practice of preannouncing changes five days beforehand. The new announcement practice has given rise to the 'S&P game' and has altered the way stock prices react. The authors find that prices increase abnormally from the close on the announcement day to the close on the effective day. The overall increase is greater than under the old announcement policy, although part of the increase reverses after the stock is included in the index. Copyright 1996 by American Finance Association.
Temporal Processing in the Visual Cortex of the Awake and Anesthetized Rat

Abstract The activity pattern and temporal dynamics within and between neuron ensembles are essential features of information processing and believed to be profoundly affected by anesthesia. Much of our general understanding of sensory information processing, including computational models aimed at mathematically simulating sensory information processing, rely on parameters derived from recordings conducted on animals under anesthesia. Due to the high variety of neuronal subtypes in the brain, population-based estimates of the impact of anesthesia may conceal unit- or ensemble-specific effects of the transition between states. Using chronically implanted tetrodes into primary visual cortex (V1) of rats, we conducted extracellular recordings of single units and followed the same cell ensembles in the awake and anesthetized states. We found that the transition from wakefulness to anesthesia involves unpredictable changes in temporal response characteristics. The latency of single-unit responses to visual stimulation was delayed in anesthesia, with large individual variations between units. Pair-wise correlations between units increased under anesthesia, indicating more synchronized activity. Further, the units within an ensemble show reproducible temporal activity patterns in response to visual stimuli that is changed between states, suggesting state-dependent sequences of activity. The current dataset, with recordings from the same neural ensembles across states, is well suited for validating and testing computational network models. This can lead to testable predictions, bring a deeper understanding of the experimental findings and improve models of neural information processing. Here, we exemplify such a workflow using a Brunel network model.
Chlorite composition and geothermometry: a comparative HRTEM/AEM-EMPA-XRD study of Cambrian basic lavas from the Ossa Morena Zone, SW Spain

Abstract Chlorites from Cambrian basaltic vesicular lavas, characterized by relatively high Xc (0.81-0.98), gave temperatures of formation of 285 to 350°C (Cathelineau’s empirical geothermometer). Both the Xc and temperature calculations gave results which were too high for the diagenetic conditions indicated by the interbedded shale mineralogy. The HRTEM and XRD studies indicate the absence of smectite layers in these chlorites; i.e. according to lattice images, the actual value of Xc is 1. The chlorite composition in these basaltic lavas must, therefore, be explained in relation to their whole-rock geochemistry, with which a good correlation has been found. The basaltic lavas are characterized by relatively high FeO/MgO ratios (3.28±1.66) and must be considered as an Fe-rich system, with similar chemical behaviour to pelitic rocks. In these cases, direct chlorite formation, without a previous smectite precursor, is a normal occurrence and the Xc calculation and empirical geothermometric calculations are inadequate.
Exploring the comparative responsiveness of a core set of outcome measures in a school-based conductive education programme.

BACKGROUND Conductive education (CE) is a holistic educational system that uses an active cognitive approach to teach individuals with motor disorders to become more functional participants in daily activities. While CE's popularity continues to grow in North America and Europe, its effectiveness has not been established. The lack of definition of responsive outcome measures for evaluation of CE programmes has limited the interpretability of conclusions from earlier studies evaluating effectiveness. OBJECTIVE To determine which measures from a core set were most responsive to physical, functional and psychosocial changes associated with a school-based CE programme. METHODS This was a one-group before and after data collection design using an 8-month follow-up period. We enrolled a referral sample of nine children with cerebral palsy in Kindergarten or Grade 1 (Gross Motor Function Classification System levels 3, 4 or 5). The study took place within a school-based CE programme at a Canadian children's rehabilitation centre. Children participated in a CE full-day class for an entire school year. Physical, functional, psychosocial and participation measures included: Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST), Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children, Individualized Educational Plan, and Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS). Four children from the study's second year were also evaluated on the Impact on Family Scale (IFS), GAS and School Function Assessment. RESULTS The Gross Motor Function Measure, QUEST, PEDI (Caregiver Assistance) and IFS were most responsive to change. GAS was useful in documenting and quantifying goals. Problems were encountered in evaluating self-esteem and school participation. CONCLUSIONS Several strong measures of outcome were identified. Further work is needed to find valid and sensitive psychosocial and school participation measures for these young children.
Phenotype and outcome in hereditary tubulointerstitial nephritis secondary to UMOD mutations.

BACKGROUND UMOD mutations cause familial juvenile hyperuricemic nephropathy (FJHN) and medullary cystic kidney disease (MCKD), although these phenotypes are nonspecific. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS We reviewed cases of UMOD mutations diagnosed in the genetic laboratories of Necker Hospital (Paris, France) and of Université Catholique de Louvain (Brussels, Belgium). We also analyzed patients with MCKD/FJHN but no UMOD mutation. To determine thresholds for hyperuricemia and uric-acid excretion fraction (UAEF) according to GFR, these parameters were analyzed in 1097 patients with various renal diseases and renal function levels. RESULTS Thirty-seven distinct UMOD mutations were found in 109 patients from 45 families, all in exon 4 or 5 except for three novel mutations in exon 8. Median renal survival was 54 years. The type of mutation had a modest effect on renal survival, and intrafamilial variability was high. Detailed data available in 70 patients showed renal cysts in 24 (34.3%) of nonspecific localization in most patients. Uricemia was >75th percentile in 31 (71.4%) of 42 patients not under dialysis or allopurinol therapy. UAEF (n = 27) was <75th percentile in 70.4%. Among 136 probands with MCKD/FJHN phenotype, UMOD mutation was found in 24 (17.8%). Phenotype was not accurately predictive of UMOD mutation. Six probands had HNF1B mutations. CONCLUSIONS Hyperuricemia disproportionate to renal function represents the hallmark of renal disease caused by UMOD mutation. Renal survival is highly variable in patients with UMOD mutation. Our data also add novel insights into the interpretation of uricemia and UAEF in patients with chronic kidney diseases.
Risk premia in Australian interest rates

The level of and movements in interest rates and the exchange rate can have a substantial impact on the economic performance of Australia's primary industries. Whether a country and/or exchange risk premium has resulted in higher interest rates and increased volatility in the exchange rate is therefore important to these industries. There is some evidence that a small country risk premium may have emerged during the early 1990s. In line with earlier studies, however, no evidence was found of such a premium during the 1980s. A further finding is that any exchange risk premium may have declined over the last decade or so. Possible links between risk premia and Australia's foreign debt and current account deficits are also examined.
Working Environment and 'Soft Law' in the Post-Communist New Member States

Current, admittedly incomplete evidence, suggests a deteriorating working environment in the new Member States of central and eastern Europe. Moreover, support for occupational health and safety regulation concerning the working environment appears to be limited among business and political elites in the new Member States. This has created a lack of policy ‘reform fit’ between the ‘social dimension’ of a European social model and domestic agendas dominated by more ‘business-friendly’ free market considerations. The European Commission has also currently adopted ‘deregulationary’ assumptions concerning the need to ‘simplify’ the acquis, as well as advocating ‘soft law’ as an alternative to traditional regulatory instruments such as directives. However, the lack of contextual industrial relations supports, in particular, the power imbalance in industrial relations due to the weakness of trade unions and social dialogue at workplace level, make uncertain prospects for ‘soft law’ as a strategy for working environment improvements in the new Member States.
FINE‐NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY OF LIVER ALLOGRAFTS IN THE PIG

We have analyzed the inflammatory changes in pig liver allografts and autografts by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and correlated the cytological findings with transplant histology and changes in recipient blood. In nonimmunosuppressed piglets (n=9) the inflammatory episode of rejection occurred promptly, peaked on days 4–7, and thereafter subsided in cases in which the graft was accepted (n=6). The early inflammatory infiltrate consisted of all major types of inflammatory leukocytes, including T lymphoblasts, B plasmablasts, and plasma cells, lymphocytes and monocytes; macrophages dominated the late inflammatory lesion of irreversible rejection. In piglets that died of rejection (n=3), the inflammation peaked earlier and the total amount of inflammation, including the frequency of blast cells and mononuclear phagocytes, was higher. These differences were, however, statistically insignificant and not predictive for irreversible rejection. In sham-operated autograft recipients (n=5) no inflammation was recorded in the graft. Application of cyclosporine (n=5), significantly suppressed the total inflammation (P=0.02 and 0.06 on days 4 and 7, respectively) and delayed the peak; in addition, both the blastogenic component (P=0.08 on day 4) and the mononuclear phagocyte component (P=0.03 on day 7) were clearly suppressed. These inflammatory changes, recorded by the FNAB, had a close correlation with biopsy histology. On the other hand, determinations of S-ASAT, S-ALAT, and S-AFOS was not correlated with the episodes of rejection, and no characteristic changes were seen in blood cytology during the rejection episodes either.
Expression of protein kinase C isoenzymes in colorectal cancer tissue and their differential activation by different bile acids

Expression of protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzymes was determined in paired samples of normal mucosa and colorectal cancer tissue from 13 patients. Total PKC activity in cancer tissue was significantly decreased compared to that in normal mucosa. Western blotting, using PKC isoenzyme‐specific antibodies, showed that two PKC isoenzymes, PKC β and PKC ϵ, were significantly decreased in cancer tissue. The level of PKC δ was increased in cancer tissue and the expression of PKC α and ζ was not altered significantly. Primary bile acids—cholic acid (CA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA)—and the principal secondary bile acids—deoxycholic acid (DCA), lithocholic acid (LCA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)—were found to be potent and selective activators of partially purified PKC isoenzymes. PKC β I was the isoenzyme most effectively activated by secondary bile acids. Our data provide a model for the involvement of secondary bile acids in colorectal carcinogenesis through specific PKC isoenzyme modulation in colorectal mucosa. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of Aerobic Exercise Training on Lymphocyte Subpopulations

This study was conducted to determine the effects of an aerobic exercise training program on subpopulations of lymphocyte phenotypes. Fourteen healthy but sedentary males, 18-40 years of age, were randomly assigned to either an aerobic exercise training or control condition. Aerobic exercise training consisted of three 45-minute sessions of cycle ergometry exercise per week at 70-80% of age-predicted maximum heart rate for ten weeks. The aerobic exercise training resulted in a significant decrease in submaximal heart rate from 176 to 150 beats per minute to a fixed work rate of 150 watts (p < .01). This training effect was accompanied by increases in the resting level of the following lymphocyte subpopulations: CD2 (1717 vs 2183 mm3; p < .01), CD4 (942 vs 1280 mm3; p < .01), CD45RA+CD4+ (312 vs 595 mm3; p < .01), CD8 (655 vs 816 mm3; p < .05), and CD20 (162 vs 244 mm3; p < .01) cell counts. These findings indicate that several lymphocyte subpopulations are increased following a 10-week program of aerobic exercise training.
A Multi-view Stereo Benchmark with High-Resolution Images and Multi-camera Videos

Motivated by the limitations of existing multi-view stereo benchmarks, we present a novel dataset for this task. Towards this goal, we recorded a variety of indoor and outdoor scenes using a high-precision laser scanner and captured both high-resolution DSLR imagery as well as synchronized low-resolution stereo videos with varying fields-of-view. To align the images with the laser scans, we propose a robust technique which minimizes photometric errors conditioned on the geometry. In contrast to previous datasets, our benchmark provides novel challenges and covers a diverse set of viewpoints and scene types, ranging from natural scenes to man-made indoor and outdoor environments. Furthermore, we provide data at significantly higher temporal and spatial resolution. Our benchmark is the first to cover the important use case of hand-held mobile devices while also providing high-resolution DSLR camera images. We make our datasets and an online evaluation server available at http://www.eth3d. net.
Remodelling of the actin cytoskeleton is essential for replication of intravacuolar Salmonella

Maturation and maintenance of the intracellular vacuole in which Salmonella replicates is controlled by virulence proteins including the type III secretion system encoded by Salmonella pathogenicity island 2 (SPI‐2). Here, we show that, several hours after bacterial uptake into different host cell types, Salmonella induces the formation of an F‐actin meshwork around bacterial vacuoles. This structure is assembled de novo from the cellular G‐actin pool in close proximity to the Salmonella vacuolar membrane. We demonstrate that the phenomenon does not require the Inv/Spa type III secretion system or cognate effector proteins, which induce actin polymerization during bacterial invasion, but does require a functional SPI‐2 type III secretion system, which plays an important role in intracellular replication and systemic infection in mice. Treatment with actin‐depolymerizing agents significantly inhibited intramacrophage replication of wild‐type Salmonella typhimurium. Furthermore, after this treatment, wild‐type bacteria were released into the host cell cytoplasm, whereas SPI‐2 mutant bacteria remained within vacuoles. We conclude that actin assembly plays an important role in the establishment of an intracellular niche that sustains bacterial growth.
Limiting TCR expression leads to quantitative but not qualitative changes in thymic selection.

Thymic selection is controlled in part by the avidity of the interaction between thymocytes and APCs. In agreement, the selective outcome can be modulated by altering the expression levels of selecting ligands on APCs. Here we test the converse proposition, i. e. , whether changing TCR levels on thymocytes can alter the selective outcome. To this end, we have generated mice in which all thymocytes express two transgenic TCRs simultaneously (dual TCR-expressing (DTE) mice), the class I-restricted HY TCR and the class II-restricted AND TCR. Due to mutual dilution, surface expression levels of the two individual transgenic TCRs are diminished in DTE relative to single TCR-expressing mice. We find that thymic selection is highly sensitive to these reductions in TCR surface expression. Positive selection mediated by the AND and HY TCRs is severely impaired or abolished, respectively. Negative selection of the HY TCR in male DTE mice is also partly blocked, leading to the appearance of significant numbers of double positive thymocytes. Also, in the periphery of male, but not female, DTE mice, substantial numbers of single positive CD8bright cells accumulate, which are positively selected in the thymus but by a highly inefficient hemopoietic cell-dependent process. Overall our results favor the interpretation that the outcome of thymic selection is not determined solely by avidity and the resulting signal intensity, but is also constrained by other factors such as the nature of the ligand and/or its presentation by different subsets of APCs.
A Review of Carbon Accounting in the Social and Environmental Accounting Literature: What Can it Contribute to the Debate?

Abstract This paper sets out to understand how carbon accounting has been tackled in the social and environmental accounting (SEA) literature, in order then to investigate what the preoccupations and gaps in this literature might tell us about the SEA ‘project’ more generally. It finds that the SEA literature on carbon accounting is already large, fast-growing, rich and varied. There is a mix of critical, philosophical or normative discussions about carbon accounting, and empirical studies of carbon accounting, with specific clusters of papers in carbon management accounting, carbon financial accounting, carbon disclosure and reporting, and carbon accounting education. Nevertheless, when compared with the scope of carbon accounting in practice, it is evident that there is considerable potential for SEA researchers to broaden their engagement with other types of carbon accounting, in particular market-enabling, physical and political forms, and to collaborate with other professions and practitioners. Carbon accounting could be emancipatory: attracting new researchers into the SEA field, encouraging greater interdisciplinary cooperation and mutual learning, offering tremendous opportunities for engagement with practice and education, and helping to imagine new accountings free from the shackles of conventional accounting.
The Relationship between Foreign aid and FDI in South Asian Economies

This study investigates whether or not foreign aid attracts foreign direct investment (FDI) in South Asian economies. Using various econometric techniques, the investigation is performed based on the concept of substitutable and complementary relationship between FDI and classified foreign aid. Foreign aid classified into aid in the shape of physical capital, and aid for human capital and infrastructure development. The results suggest that both aid in the shape of physical capital and aid for human capital and infrastructure development serve as complementary factors to foreign direct investment rather than being substitutable in South Asian economies. Thus, we conclude that aid flow in South Asian countries attract FDI into the region.
Retained Second twin: Management and Outcome in 108 Cases

In this review we present our experience of retained second twin, at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The data are based on a review of all records of twin deliveries that occurred between 1 January 1979 and 31 December 1987. Retained second twin was defined as a birth in which the interval between the deliveries of the first and second twin exceeded 30 min. There are 787 twin deliveries during the 9 years of the study. In 108 (14070) of these, there was retained second twin. Among the 108 cases of retained second twin, 101 (94070) were unbooked patients admitted as emergencies. Ninety-three (86070) mothers were 20-39 years old and 73 (68070) were para 1-4, while 14 (13070) were nullipara. The gestational age at delivery was at term (37 + weeks) in 60 (56070) cases while 48 (44070) were preterm. The birth weight of the babies ranged from 600 to 3750 g. Twelve (11070) babies weighed less than 1500g, 43 (40070) weighed 1500-2499 g and 53 (49070) weighed 2500 g or more. The mode of deliverywas by spontaneous vaginal delivery in 46 (43070) cases, caesarian section in 40 (37070), breech extraction in 10 (9070), assisted breech delivery in eight (7070), forceps in three and vacuum extraction in one. The indications for caesarian sectionweretransverselie(18); shoulder presentation/ hand prolapse (18); ruptured uterus (2); breech presentation (1) and cord presentation (1). The intrapartum complications associated with retained second twin included intrauterine fetal death (38070), malpresentation (34070), fetal distress (13070), abruptio placentae (8070), compound presentation (5070) and cord prolapse (4070). There were 52 Tropical Doctor, October 1990
Blunted sympathetic neural response to oral glucose in obese subjects with the insulin-resistant metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND Glucose ingestion stimulates sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity in lean subjects, whereas blunted responses have been reported in the obese. OBJECTIVE The objective was to investigate the impact of insulin resistance on the SNS response to oral glucose. DESIGN Nineteen insulin-resistant (IR) and 12 insulin-sensitive (IS) obese subjects with the metabolic syndrome and matched for age, sex, and blood pressure participated. Simultaneous measurements of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) by microneurography, whole-body norepinephrine spillover rate, cardiac baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), calf blood flow, and arterial blood pressure were made at baseline and 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after a 75-g glucose load. RESULTS IR subjects had a higher insulin area under the curve from 0 to 120 min (AUC(0-120): 13,468 +/- 677 compared with 6399 +/- 612 mU/L . min; P < 0.001), glucose AUC(0-120) (P < 0.05), and resting MSNA (41 +/- 3 compared with 31 +/- 3 bursts/min; P = 0.03) than did IS subjects. MSNA and the norepinephrine spillover rate increased from baseline (by 29 +/- 7% and 40 +/- 13%, respectively; P < or = 0.001 for both) in IS subjects after the glucose load. In contrast, there was a blunted and delayed sympathetic response in IR subjects. Cardiac BRS and diastolic blood pressure decreased, whereas calf blood flow increased after the glucose load and by a similar magnitude in both groups (P < 0.01). Body mass index, abdominal fat, and insulin AUC(0-120) were independent (inverse) predictors of the SNS response. CONCLUSIONS IR subjects with the metabolic syndrome have a blunted SNS response to oral glucose compared with IS subjects with the metabolic syndrome, which is related to central adiposity and the insulin response but not to differences in skeletal muscle vasodilation or BRS.