Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on the Economic Growth and Countries’ Export Potential

Most of the FDI specialists think that FDI had a positive impact upon the economic growth in the receiving countries. They showed that it was a direct relation between the FDI flows (as percent of the GDP) and the growth of GDP per capita not just for the developed countries, but also for most of the developing countries. In this way, the countries that had attracted an important FDI volume had the highest economic growth rates. Since the early '60s of the 20th century, the times with the most intense foreign investment activities had coincided with a sudden increase in the macroeconomic indicators (especially the GDP). Because the economic science proved that there was a direct connection between the FDI volume and economic growth rates, the IMF and the World Bank started to recommend to all countries (recommendation that they make currently) to create favorable conditions to attract FDI for ensuring, in this way, high development rates. The countries in transition need FDI not just to produce more goods and a higher quality. Foreign capital investments are the most efficient and safe way to integrate into the world economy. Concluding, only direct foreign investments would allow the re-specialization of the economy to surpass the situation of maintaining on the world markets only with food products and raw materials. Indeed, the acquired experience shows that FDI substantially enhanced the national economies’ re-specialization processes all over the world. The authors share the opinion of those specialists who affirm that FDI plays a determinant role in respecializing the transition economies and in increasing the export potential. Also, FDI growth leads to increase in the manufactured production quantity. Further, we shall examine some structural changes which occurred under the influence of FDI in the economies of new European Union member states (the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia) and in South-East Europe, drawing also the attention upon the changes in the export potential of those countries.
Prospective NATO or EU Membership and Institutional Change in Transition Countries

This paper quantifies the impact of incentives related to potential membership on institutional change as measured by the World Bank Governance Indicators (WBGI). Based on a panel of 25 transition countries for the period from 1996 to 2008 we show that pre-accession incentives provided by EU and NATOclearly matter for institutional development. In addition, path-dependency determined by cultural norms may be overcome by economic liberalization while foreign aid seems to hamper institutional development.
Fracture behaviour patterns of cusp-replacing fibre strengthened composite restorations

Objectives: To investigate and compare, in vitro, the fracture behaviours of three types of cusp-replacing posterior composite resin restorations. Methods: Standard preparations for posterior composite restoration of the mesio-lingual cusp were cut on seventy-five extracted lower left first and second molars and restorations placed. Group A (control, n =25) with a conventional posterior composite resin, Group B (n=25): resin reinforced with nano-scale electrospun glass fibres Group C (n=25) :resin reinforced with a fibre substructure. Specimens were thermocycled for 500 cycles between 5°C and 55°C with a dwell time of 30 seconds, then embedded in plastic cylinders in acrylic resin. The specimens were loaded in a universal testing machine at a 30° angle to the long axis of the tooth until fracture occurred. Fracture patterns were highlighted by staining, studied under a microscope and classified as favourable (restorable) or unfavourable (non-restorable). Sub-classification included adhesive and cohesive failures. r esults: Group C exhibited significantly more “restorable” fractures. Group B displayed significantly more “nonrestorable” fractures. Fracture patterns differed significantly between the two fibre-strengthening techniques. (Fisher’s Exact Test p = 0.05)
Cross-cultural experimental economics and indigenous management research : Issues and contributions

Cross-Cultural Experimental Economics (CCEE) and Indigenous Management Research (IMR) are dynamic and flourishing disciplines today. Whereas the former lacks a deep understanding of the distinctive factors leading to behavioral differences so far, the latter gives priority to deep contextualization and cultural embeddedness of the research design. This paper argues that both disciplines can mutually benefit from each other. Based on a review of 23 articles, four general research fields are identified that CCEE is concerned with: fairness, cooperation, trust and norm enforcement. In these fields CCEE and IMR can meet and mutually advance knowledge: CCEE can benefit by applying increased contextualization in the future, i.e., by integrating indigenous context-specific variables explicitly into future research designs; IMR can benefit by applying a replicable quantitative research methodology enabling high-quality IMR (Tsui 2004). Both approaches will benefit from increased validity if research designs are systematically integrated in a mixed method design for future research.
Modulation of Renal Insulin Signaling Pathway and Antioxidant Enzymes with Diabetes: Effects of Resveratrol

Diabetes mellitus, a disease arising by the deficiency of insulin hormone or its inability of usage, affects carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism, and destruct variety of the tissues. A strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent; resveratrol has a high potential to prevent or treat the pathogenesis of diseases. This study was conducted to reveal the relationship between diabetes-induced oxidative stress and tissue inflammation with changes in antioxidant enzymes (cat, sod, gpx, and gst) and the components of insulin signaling pathway (insulin Rβ, irs-1, pi3k, akt, mtor) in kidney tissues. Additionally, the effects of resveratrol on these parameters were evaluated. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups; (1) control/vehicle; (2) control/20 mg/kg resveratrol; (3) diabetic/vehicle; (4) diabetic/20 mg/kg resveratrol. Results demonstrated down-regulation of antioxidant enzymes in the kidney tissues of diabetic rats and this situation was devoted partially to the reduced expression of nfκb. Moreover, the components of renal insulin signaling elements were up-regulated in diabetic rats, and resveratrol treatment decreased this sensitization towards the control state. In conclusion, resveratrol improved diabetes-induced renal oxidative stress and inflammation partly due to healing action on renal antioxidant enzymes and insulin signaling pathway components.
Damage Accumulation in Advanced Metal Matrix Composites Under Thermal Cycling/Creep Loadings

Abstract : Both experimental and analytical studies were conducted during the first year with the aim of identifying the damage accumulation process in a metal matrix Composite (MMC) subjected to combined creep and thermal cycling loadings, The main achievements in the experimental study are: completion of a new thermal cycler with constant stress loading capability, preliminary data of dimensional change of SiCp/6061 Al matrix composite and R-Curve behavior of PSZ- SS/PSZ composite--PSZ laminate, Whereas the first year analytical study includes construction of dislocation Punching model from ceramic/metal interfaces, a construction of analytical modeling of creep strain of a MMC subjected to either creep loading or combined creep/thermal cycling loading where the debonding of the mat fiber interface is accounted for, Three-parameter Weibull function is employed i model to simulate the distribution of the actual interfacial strength.
Beyond Species Richness : Biogeographic Patterns and Biodiversity Dynamics Using Other Metrics of Diversity

B iological diversity is difficult or perhaps impossible to measure ushg a single metric. To most people the term "diversi~" is synonymous with "variety,'' and formal definitions of the term biological diversity try to capture this "variety of life" by including everythmg from genetic to ecological diversity (Gaston 1996). Yet at present our knowledge of spatial and temporal pattern of biodiversity is based almost entirely on one mebic: taxonomic richness. From biogeographic patterns to extinction intensities, all are quantified primarily by ushg numbers of species or higher taxa. Other measures of biological diversity do tmd to correlate with species richness, so that an area with a large number of species is also likely to have, say, higher genetic, morphological, and ecological diversity than an area with few species. However, we also know -that the relationship between iaxmomic richness and other diversity metrics is often complex and non-linear, and one may not be a good predictor of the other (Foote 1997; Roy and Foote 1997; Wdls 2001; but see Williams and Hmphries 1996). In the absence of actual measures of these other facets of diversity such as morpholog~c, functional, phylogenetic, and ecological relationships, we h o w little about the spatial and temporal distributions of the "variety of life. " More importantly, replacing simple taxon numbers with mehics that attempt to incorporate some measure of differences among specis may reveal spatial and temporal trends not evident from tam counts, m d pmvide richer insights into the dynam-
Spatio-temporal distribution and target species of longline fisheries off Southeastern/Southern Brazil between 2000 and 2011

No presente estudo, uma analise de agrupamento foi realizada para classificar 1080 entrevistas com mestres da frota nacional de espinhel pelagico (2000 a 2011), e 38 embarques da frota estrangeira arrendada (2003 a 2008), em relacao a composicao das especies desembarcadas. Para a frota nacional, foram identificados 4 grupos: 1 - Albacoras; 2 - Tubaraoazul; 3 - Meca; e 4 - Dourado. Para a frota estrangeira arrendada foram identificados 3 grupos: 1 - Meca; 2 - Tubarao-azul; e 3 - Albacoras. Os resultados indicam que parte da frota nacional altera suas estrategias de pesca de acordo com a disponibilidade da especiealvo e pela demanda do mercado (interno e externo). Uma parcela da frota oriunda do Espirito Santo opera na regiao durante alguns meses de verao (dezembro a marco), exclusivamente na captura do dourado. Para a frota estrangeira arrendada, ocorrem diferencas principalmente nas areas de pesca para cada uma das especies, sendo a frota direcionada principalmente para a captura da meca e tubarao-azul. Apesar da grande diferenca no conjunto de dados, fica evidente que a frota nacional e estrangeira operam de acordo com suas particularidades e desenvolvimento tecnologico, adotando estrategias que otimizem as capturas e os lucros liquidos por viagem.
QUADRATURE AND HARMONIC Lx-APPROXIMATION IN ANNULI

Open sets D in RN (N > 3) with the property that D is a closed annulus {x: r\ < \\x\\ < r-i) are characterized by quadrature formulae involving mean values of certain harmonic functions. One such characterization is used to give a criterion for the existence of a best harmonic Lx approximant to a function which is subharmonic (and satisfies some other conditions) in an annulus.
Impact of Behavioral Intention on Effectiveness of Message Features Evidence From the Family Sun Safety Project

The effectiveness of messages with different logical styles might change, regardless of factual content, depending on receiver intent to practice prevention. Predictions based on reactance theory, postdecisional regret, and language expectancy theory were tested in a study altering logical style (inductive versus deductive) and language intensity in messages to parents advocating family sun safety. A prediction that deductively formatted messages would be inferior for parents not intending to act was confirmed in analyses of their reported sun protection, supporting a reactance theory explanation. For parents with mixed intentions to increase protection for themselves or their children, deductive messages were most effective, consistent with postdecisional regret processes. High language intensity enhanced both effects. Reactance effects among nonintenders completely disappeared in a follow-up survey, but language intensity effects remained. The influence of message features varies by stage of progression to action, which has practical implications for tailoring health communication to individual needs.
(._.)/ dont 4get 2 txt me plz! Linguistic and Discoursal Features of Short Message Service by Female Texters

The practicality and limited space of SMS have become features encouraging the emergence of various forms of SMS language. An analysis of SMS from 20 Acehnese female students in the University of Syiah Kuala was therefore carried out to inspect the elements of language employed within the text messages. The data of 110 SMS gathered through a mobile device were thoroughly analyzed and later categorized into linguistics and discoursal features. The result showed that female students tend to write about their psychological conditions in SMS by employing logogram and pictogram. A number of findings on omitted letters and nonstandard spelling were also indicated in their SMS. They rarely used initialism and shortening in writing the text messages because it is believed that these features can diminish intelligibility. These females also wrote complex messages and employed various languages into their text messages, including the national language (Indonesian), the language of their religion (Arabic), the language from media influence (Japanese), and their mother tongue (Acehnese). Their circumstance of being multilingual has expanded their linguistic performance in employing, typing, and inventing lively SMS. It is also interesting to discover that these texters created new symbols that are not generally found in SMS to identify their reciprocal relationship of the same culture and belief. Keywords: linguistic features; discoursal features; short message service; females; multilingual DOI: http://doi.org/10.17576/3L-2016-2201-07
FIGURE 1 Explaining Product Introduction Delays Beyond Preannounced Deadlines : An MOA Framework

Product Likely to Be Delayed? Consider that a firm announces a deadline for a new product introduction. Conditional on such a preannouncement, how must an external observer evaluate whether the product will be delayed beyond that deadline? Using data collected from managers in the computer hardware, software, and telecommunications industries, the authors present an analysis that demonstrates that delays in new product introductions beyond preannounced deadlines can be jointly explained by factors related to (1) the firm's motivations to delay the product, (2) the presence of constraints that prevent delay (or the availability of opportunities to delay the product), and (3) the firm's abilities pertaining to product development.
Structural basis for acceptor RNA substrate selectivity of the 3′ terminal uridylyl transferase Tailor

Abstract Non-templated 3′-uridylation of RNAs has emerged as an important mechanism for regulating the processing, stability and biological function of eukaryotic transcripts. In Drosophila, oligouridine tailing by the terminal uridylyl transferase (TUTase) Tailor of numerous RNAs induces their degradation by the exonuclease Dis3L2, which serves functional roles in RNA surveillance and mirtron RNA biogenesis. Tailor preferentially uridylates RNAs terminating in guanosine or uridine nucleotides but the structural basis underpinning its RNA substrate selectivity is unknown. Here, we report crystal structures of Tailor bound to a donor substrate analog or mono- and oligouridylated RNA products. These structures reveal specific amino acid residues involved in donor and acceptor substrate recognition, and complementary biochemical assays confirm the critical role of an active site arginine in conferring selectivity toward 3′-guanosine terminated RNAs. Notably, conservation of these active site features suggests that other eukaryotic TUTases, including mammalian TUT4 and TUT7, might exhibit similar, hitherto unknown, substrate selectivity. Together, these studies provide critical insights into the specificity of 3′-uridylation in eukaryotic post-transcriptional gene regulation.
Extended High-Frequency Smartphone Audiometry: Validity and Reliability

Abstract Background: Extended high-frequency (EHF) audiometry (8–16 kHz) has an important role in audiological assessments such as ototoxicity monitoring, and for speech recognition and localization. Accurate and reliable EHF testing with smartphone technologies has the potential to provide more affordable and accessible hearing-care services, especially in underserved contexts. Purpose: To determine the accuracy and test–retest reliability of EHF audiometry with a smartphone application, using calibrated headphones. Research Design: Air-conduction thresholds (8–16 kHz) and test–retest reproducibility, recorded with conventional audiometry (CA) and smartphone audiometry (SA), using audiometric (Sennheiser HDA 300 circumaural) and nonstandard audiometric (Sennheiser HD202 II supra-aural) headphones, were compared in a repeated-measures design. Study Sample: A total of 61 participants (122 ears) were included in the study. Of these, 24 were adults attending a tuberculosis clinic (mean age = 36.8, standard deviation [SD] = 14.2 yr; 48% female) and 37 were adolescents and young adults recruited from a prospective students program (mean age = 17.6, SD = 3.2 yr; 76% female). Of these, 22.3% (n = 326) of EHF thresholds were ≥25 dB HL. Data Analysis: Threshold comparisons were made between CA and SA, with audiometric headphones and nonstandard audiometric headphones. A paired samples t-test was used for comparison of threshold correspondence between conventional and smartphone thresholds, and test–retest reproducibility of smartphone thresholds. Results: Conventional thresholds corresponded with smartphone thresholds at the lowest intensity (10 dB HL), using audiometric and nonstandard audiometric headphones in 59.4% and 57.6% of cases, respectively. Conventional thresholds (exceeding 10 dB HL) corresponded within 10 dB or less, with smartphone thresholds in 82.9% of cases using audiometric headphones and 84.1% of cases using nonstandard audiometric headphones. There was no significant difference between CA and SA, using audiometric headphones across all frequencies (p > 0.05). Test–retest comparison also showed no significant differences between conditions (p > 0.05). Smartphone test–retest thresholds corresponded within 10 dB or less in 86.7% and 93.4% of cases using audiometric and nonstandard audiometric headphones, respectively. Conclusions: EHF smartphone testing with calibrated headphones can provide an accurate and reliable option for affordable mobile audiometry. The validity of EHF smartphone testing outside a sound booth as a cost-effective and readily available option to detect high-frequency hearing loss in community-based settings should be established.
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography of Optic Disc and Macula Vessel Density in Glaucoma and Healthy Eyes

Aim: To study the microvascular density of the macular and optic nerve head in healthy and glaucoma subjects using optical coherence tomography angiography. Methodology: We performed a cross-sectional cohort study on healthy subjects and patients with glaucoma. The AngioVue Enhanced Microvascular Imaging System was used to capture the optic nerve head and macula images during one visit. En face segment images of the macular and optic disc were studied in layers. Microvascular density of the optic nerve head and macula were quantified by the number of pixels measured by a novel in-house developed software. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) were used to determine the accuracy of differentiating between glaucoma and healthy subjects. Results: A total of 24 (32 eyes) glaucoma subjects (57.5±9.5-y old) and 29 (58 eyes) age-matched controls (51.17±13.5-y old) were recruited. Optic disc and macula scans were performed showing a greater mean vessel density (VD) in healthy compared with glaucoma subjects. The control group had higher VD than the glaucoma group at the en face segmented layers of the optic disc (optic nerve head: 0.209±0.05 vs. 0.110±0.048, P<0.001; vitreoretinal interface: 0.086±0.045 vs. 0.052±0.034, P=0.001; radial peripapillary capillary: 0.146±0.040 vs. 0.053±0.036, P<0.001; and choroid: 0.228±0.074 vs. 0.165±0.062, P<0.001). Similarly, the VD at the macula was also greater in controls than glaucoma patients (superficial retina capillary plexus: 0.115±0.016 vs. 0.088±0.027, P<0.001; deep retina capillary plexus: 0.233±0.027 vs. 0.136±0.073, P<0.001; outer retinal capillary plexus: 0.190±0.057 vs. 0.136±0.105, P=0.036; and choriocapillaris: 0.225±0.053 vs. 0.153±0.068, P<0.001. The AUROC was highest for optic disc radial peripapillary capillary (0.96), followed by nerve head (0.92) and optic disc choroid (0.76). At the macula, the AUROC was highest for deep retina (0.86), followed by choroid (0.84), superficial retina (0.81), and outer retina (0.72). Conclusions: Microvascular density of the optic disc and macula in glaucoma patients was reduced compared with healthy controls. VD of both optic disc and macula had a high diagnostic ability in differentiating healthy and glaucoma eyes.
Evaluation of biological variation of glycated hemoglobin and glycated albumin in healthy Chinese subjects

Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and glycated serum albumin (GSA) are used to evaluate the mean blood glucose levels. To ensure safe clinical application of HbA1c and GSA, reliable biological variation (BV) data are required. The aim of this research was to define the BV of HbA1c and GSA employing stringent rules.
Pancreatic fibroblast growth factor 21 protects against type 2 diabetes in mice by promoting insulin expression and secretion in a PI3K/Akt signaling‐dependent manner

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is important in glucose, lipid homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. However, it remains unknown whether FGF21 is involved in insulin expression and secretion that are dysregulated in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this study, we found that FGF21 was down‐regulated in pancreatic islets of db/db mice, a mouse model of T2DM, along with decreased insulin expression, suggesting the possible involvement of FGF21 in maintaining insulin homeostasis and islet β‐cell function. Importantly, FGF21 knockout exacerbated palmitate‐induced islet β‐cell failure and suppression of glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Pancreatic FGF21 overexpression significantly increased insulin expression, enhanced GSIS, improved islet morphology and reduced β‐cell apoptosis in db/db mice. Mechanistically, FGF21 promoted expression of insulin gene transcription factors and soluble N‐ethylmaleimide‐sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins, the major regulators of insulin secretion, as well as activating phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling in islets of db/db mice. In addition, pharmaceutical inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling effectively suppressed FGF21‐induced expression of insulin gene transcription factors and SNARE proteins, suggesting an essential role of PI3K/Akt signaling in FGF21‐induced insulin expression and secretion. Taken together, our results demonstrate a protective role of pancreatic FGF21 in T2DM mice through inducing PI3K/Akt signaling‐dependent insulin expression and secretion.