Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Potential Competition in Industrial Organization

Potential competition has been recognized as a mechanism to control the exploitation of market power at least since the work of J.B. Clark (1902), but it was not until 50 years later that economists, most notably Joe Bain and Paolo Sylos-Labini, refocused attention on the idea. With inputs from the theories of imperfect competition, optimal control, and dynamic games, their work evolved into ever more sophisticated models of the reactions of existing competitors to the threat of new competition. Although the most appropriate models of competitive interaction are those which begin with a specific industry, a number of theories have been proposed which attempt to develop more general conclusions. My purpose in this paper is to develop an understanding of the strengths and limitations of these alternative theories by examining the available theoretical, empirical and institutional knowledge. Rather than attempt the Sisyphean task of recounting every model which relates conditions of entry and market performance, I have partitioned the analysis into four major schools of thought, according to their most central propositions. These are the traditional model of limit pricing, dynamic limit pricing, the theory of contestable markets, and the market efficiency model. Traditional limit pricing models rest on the assumption that firms respond to entry, but are able to earn persistent profits when the structural characteristics of markets make entry difficult. Dynamic limit pricing is similar, but emphasizes that markets can only be temporarily protected from entry. Contestability theory, in its pure form, asserts that potential competition is as effective as actual competition in controlling market performance. The efficient markets hypothesis, broadly interpreted, states that markets are workably competitive and that the market structure reflects differential efficiency, not strategic behavior. While one can construct many other hypotheses about potential competition, these classifications
Time-Varying NAIRU and Some of Its Determinants—A Semi-Structural Approach: Evidence from Eastern European Economies

The results of structural estimates of the hybrid New Keynesian Phillips curve are used to calibrate a semistructural state-space model that is then used to estimate a time-varying NAIRU. In the first version, the NAIRU is estimated as a simple autoregressive process. In the second, the state equation is enriched by two exogenous variables: long-term unemployment rate and labor costs. The results show that very long-term unemployment plays a statistically significant role in the explanation of the NAIRU, but even so, the majority of the fluctuations of the estimated NAIRU are explained by the autoregressive process itself.
Consideration about negative controls for LC3 and expression vectors for four colored fluorescent protein-LC3 negative controls

A cytosolic form of LC3 is conjugated to phosphatidylethanolamine by Atg7, an E1-like enzyme, and Atg3, an E2-like enzyme, during autophagy. To monitor intracellular autophagosomes and autolysosomes, GFP-LC3 is a useful tool. However, GFP-LC3 can aggregate without being conjugated to phosphatidylethanolamine, especially when GFP-LC3 is transiently expressed (Kuma A, Matsui M, Mizushima N. Autophagy 2007; 3:323–8). Therefore, as a negative control, we investigated a mutant human LC3ΔG protein in which the C-terminal Gly120 essential for LC3-lipidation is deleted, and generated a set of expression plasmids for wild-type human LC3 and mutant LC3ΔG fused to either CFP, GFP, YFP, or HcRed at the N terminus. We found that the mutant LC3ΔG protein does not react with human Atg7 and Atg3, indicating that LC3-lipidation does not occur, and few puncta containing mutant LC3ΔG form under starvation conditions. As observed with wild-type HcRed-LC3, mutant HcRed-LC3ΔG also co-localizes with polyQ150-aggregates suggesting that the colocalization of HcRed-LC3 to polyQ150-aggregates is independent of LC3-lipidation. These mutant LC3ΔG proteins will be useful negative controls in recognizing non-specific fluorescent protein-LC3 aggregates.
High School Principals' Perceptions of Central Office Administrator Support for Planning, Coordinating, and Evaluating Teaching and the Curriculum.

High School Principals‟ Perceptions of Central Office Administrator Support for Planning, Coordinating, and Evaluating Teaching and the Curriculum. (August 2011) Kimberly Kelleher Lawson, B. S. , Texas A&M University; M. S. , Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Linda Skrla This dissertation was designed to gain insight in the area of central office instructional leadership support from the perception of the high school principal. With increasing standards and high student performance expectations coupled with strict federal and state accountability measures, it is impossible for the high school principal to bear the sole responsibility of meeting the needs of their students, staff, and community without further support. Central office is a critical factor in school improvement. The primary aim of this study was to provide insight and a deep understanding how successful high school principals feel supported as the instructional leader specifically in the area of planning, coordinating, and evaluating teaching and the curriculum. The research was guided by a single overarching question: What are high school principal perceptions of support given to them by district central office administrators in the areas of planning, coordinating, and evaluating teaching and the curriculum?
Anisotropic polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel phantom for shear wave elastography in fibrous biological soft tissue: a multimodality characterization

Shear wave elastography imaging techniques provide quantitative measurement of soft tissues elastic properties. Tendons, muscles and cerebral tissues are composed of fibers, which induce a strong anisotropic effect on the mechanical behavior. Currently, these tissues cannot be accurately represented by existing elastography phantoms. Recently, a novel approach for orthotropic hydrogel mimicking soft tissues has been developed (Millon et al J. Biomed. Mater. Res. B 305–11). The mechanical anisotropy is induced in a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) cryogel by stretching the physical crosslinks of the polymeric chains while undergoing freeze/thaw cycles. In the present study we propose an original multimodality imaging characterization of this new transverse isotropic (TI) PVA hydrogel. Multiple properties were investigated using a large variety of techniques at different scales compared with an isotropic PVA hydrogel undergoing similar imaging and rheology protocols. The anisotropic mechanical (dynamic and static) properties were studied using supersonic shear wave imaging technique, full-field optical coherence tomography (FFOCT) strain imaging and classical linear rheometry using dynamic mechanical analysis. The anisotropic optical and ultrasonic spatial coherence properties were measured by FFOCT volumetric imaging and backscatter tensor imaging, respectively. Correlation of mechanical and optical properties demonstrates the complementarity of these techniques for the study of anisotropy on a multi-scale range as well as the potential of this TI phantom as fibrous tissue-mimicking phantom for shear wave elastographic applications.
An Analytical Treatment of Root-to-Shoot Ratio and Plant Competition for Soil Nutrient and Light

By restricting biomass allocation to two compartments only-roots and leaves-we are able to treat plant resource competition analytically. We derive A*i, the optimum allocation strategy for invasion into a bare habitat, and A*f, the allocation strategy of the dominant species in an equilibrium habitat. Furthermore, we prove that in a given habitat succession proceeds from species A*i to species A*f, as long as enough intermediate species are present. Analysis of the relationship between A*i and A*f and the soil nutrient supply and disturbance rates of a habitat predicts that a dichotomy exists in succession. Low soil nutrient supply and disturbance rates favor successions from rooty to leafy species, and high soil nutrient supply and disturbance rates favor the converse. Experimental research is needed to determine whether this pattern exists in nature. Light "consumption" by plants is fundamentally different from soil nutrient consumption in our model. This difference in light and nutrient consumption makes all possible two-species equilibria unstable and leads to founder control. In our model founder control can result in arrested succession and contributes to community diversity.
Frail Patient in Hemodialysis: A New Challenge in Nephrology—Incidence in Our Area, Barcelonès Nord and Maresme

Introduction Labeling a patient as “frail” may be useful in assessing the prognosis and therapeutic approach. Objective The aim of the study is to define a pattern of frailty among our dialysis population, to analyse the incidence and clinical evolution of these patients. Materials and Methods We analysed a total of 320 patients with stage V chronic kidney disease (CKD) who were on hemodialysis between September 2014 and September 2015. To define a patient as frail we used the Fried phenotype model, and we added a new criteria-dialysis session length longer than 12 hours/week. Results 5.6% of the 320 patients were frail. We found statistically significant differences regarding body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin (Hgb), and serum albumin, as well as the ability to perform the basic activities of daily living (p < 0.005), ability to ambulate (p = 0.01) and perform transfers (p < 0.005). We found statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of hospital admissions (p = 0.005) and mortality (p < 0.005). Conclusion 5.6% of the study population were frail, with lower BMI, serum albumin and hemoglobin, lower capacity for basic activities of daily living, ambulation, and transference, as well as higher morbidity and mortality.
Neuropeptides and electroconvulsive treatment.

Neuropeptides: corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and somatostatin (STS) have been associated with depression and anxiety, while neurotensin (NT), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and tachykinins [neurokinin A (NKA) and substance P (SP)] are presumed to also play a role in the function of the dopaminergic system. Moreover, investigations in the past decade have shown that psychotomimetics and antipsychotic drugs as well as lithium affect brain synthesis, tissue concentrations, and release of some neuropeptides. In view of the above, experiments were carried out to explore whether changes in neuropeptides constitute one of the mechanisms of action of electroconvulsive treatment (ECT). Human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was studied before and after ECT, and brains from healthy and models of depression rats were investigated in electroconvulsive stimuli (ECS)-treated and sham-treated animals. The major findings were that a series of ECTs, in parallel to clinical recovery, increased CSF concentrations of NPY-like immunoreactivity (-LI), STS-LI, and CRF-LI, and in one study endothelin-LI. A series of ECS, but not a single treatment, reproducibly elevated concentrations of NPY-LI, NKA-LI, and STS-LI--but not NT-LI, SP-LI, galanin-LI, or CGRP-LI--in hippocampus, frontal cortex, and occipital cortex. No changes were measured in other regions, e.g., striatum. NPY and STS mRNAs were also increased indicating that ECS affects peptide synthesis. Generalized seizures induced by, e.g., kainic acid or pentylenetetrazole, had similar effects on neuropeptides. The changes persisted for at least 1 week after the last treatment. Pretreatment with compounds reducing seizures, such as benzodiazepines and MK-801; had no effect on magnitude of neuropeptide changes although the seizure duration was decreased by > 50%. On the basis of these findings, it is suggested that neuropeptides are involved in ECT's mechanisms of action. Since ECT is therapeutically efficient in both schizophrenia and depression and, taking into account that antipsychotic drugs and psychotomimetics as well as lithium selectively affect some neuropeptides, it is hypothesized that distinct combinations of neuropeptide and monoamine changes in selected neuronal populations constitute the underpinnings of ECT's effects on specific disease symptoms, conceivably independent of diagnosis.
[Urinary incontinence].

After defining U.I. as a symptom, sign and condition, the author claims, through epidemiological studies, that this reflects a major medical, social and economic problem. On the other hand the physiopathology of U.I. can be explained in a context of balance between the retention and emptying forces during the filling phase. Therefore the author explains U.I. as an urgency due to overactive bladder as well as hypermobility of the bladder neck and/or injury of the intrinsic sphincter. The diagnosis and severity of the different types of U.I. are based on clinical history, the pad test, the diurnal fictional record and the Q tip test. The abnormal continence factors are measured by the following tests: plain XR of the urinary system, urinoculture, urodynamic studies, transvaginal ultrasound. The treatment of U.I. can be explained by the physiopathology and exemplified with clinical cases in a systematic way.
CD40 signaling in human dendritic cells is initiated within membrane rafts

Despite CD40's role in stimulating dendritic cells (DCs) for efficient specific T‐cell stimulation, its signal transduction components in DCs are still poorly documented. We show that CD40 receptors on human monocyte‐derived DCs associate with sphingolipid‐ and cholesterol‐rich plasma membrane microdomains, termed membrane rafts. Following engagement, CD40 utilizes membrane raft‐associated Lyn Src family kinase, and possibly other raft‐associated Src family kinases, to initiate tyrosine phosphorylation of intracellular substrates. CD40 engagement also leads to a membrane raft‐restricted recruitment of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor‐associated factor (TRAF) 3 and, to a lesser extent, TRAF2, to CD40's cytoplasmic tail. Thus, the membrane raft structure plays an integral role in proximal events of CD40 signaling in DCs. We demonstrate that stimulation of Src family kinase within membrane rafts initiates a pathway implicating ERK activation, which leads to interleukin (IL)‐1α/β and IL‐1Ra mRNA production and contributes to p38‐dependent IL‐12 mRNA production. These results provide the first evidence that membrane rafts play a critical role in initiation of CD40 signaling in DCs, and delineate the outcome of CD40‐mediated pathways on cytokine production.
Technological Change, Technological Catch-up, and Capital Deepening: Relative Contributions to Growth and Convergence

We decompose labor-productivity growth into components attributable to (1) technological change (shifts in the world production frontier), (2) technological catch-up (movements toward or away from the frontier), and (3) capital accumulation (movement along the frontier). The world production frontier is constructed using deterministic methods requiring no specification of functional form for the technology nor any assumption about market structure or the absence of market imperfections. We analyze the evolution of the cross-country distribution of labor productivity in terms of the tripartite decomposition, finding that technological change is decidedly nonneutral and that both growth and bipolar international divergence are driven primarily by capital deepening. (JEL O30, O47, D24)
Is There a 'Double Bonus' from Reducing Inequality?

We study the effect of inequality on growth in an overlapping generations (OLG) model where inequality affects growth through accumulation of human capital and endogenous fertility. In contrast to much of the existing literature, we argue that the effect of inequality on growth might be non‐monotonic. Our model suggests that the effect depends on the demographic stage of development: inequality impedes growth in low‐fertility (high human capital) economies, but enhances growth in high‐fertility (low human capital) economies. Our finding casts doubt on a “double bonus” from reducing inequality in developing countries which are typically characterized by high fertility.
Accounting Ratios and the Cross-Section of Expected Stock Returns

Under clean-surplus accounting, the log return on a stock can be decomposed into a linear function of the contemporaneous log return on equity, the contemporaneous log dividend–price ratio (if the stock pays a dividend), and both the contemporaneous and lagged values of the log book-to-market equity ratio. This paper studies the implications of this decomposition for the cross-section of conditional expected stock returns. The empirical analysis reveals that the log accounting ratios capture cross-sectional variation in both the conditional mean and conditional variance of log stock returns, which is consistent with the decomposition. It also brings fresh insights to the relation between firm size (market equity) and conditional expected stock returns. The evidence indicates that the conditional median return increases with firm size, while the conditional return skewness decreases with firm size. Empirically, the skewness effect outweighs the median effect, leading to the well-documented inverse relation between size and average returns. The results of out-of-sample tests suggest that investors could use the information provided by the observed values of the log accounting ratios to formulate more effective portfolio strategies.
Terahertz surface plasmons in optically pumped graphene structures

We analyze the surface plasmons (SPs) propagating along optically pumped single-graphene layer (SGL) and multiple-graphene layer (MGL) structures. It is shown that at sufficiently strong optical pumping when the real part of the dynamic conductivity of SGL and MGL structures becomes negative in the terahertz (THz) range of frequencies due to the interband population inversion, the damping of the THz SPs can give way to their amplification. This effect can be used in graphene-based THz lasers and other devices. Due to the relatively small SP group velocity, the absolute value of their absorption coefficient (SP gain) can be large, substantially exceeding that of optically pumped structures with dielectric waveguides. A comparison of SGL and MGL structures shows that to maximize the SP gain the number of graphene layers should be properly chosen.
The clinical characteristics of juvenile-onset systemic sclerosis in Japanese patients

Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10165-013-0884-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Correspondence to: Minoru Hasegawa, Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641, Japan. Tel: 81-76-2652341. Fax: 81-76-2344270. E-mail: minoruha2005@yahoo.co.jp LETTER
Psychological Aspects of Redundancy: An Australian Case Study

This study provides empirical evidence in support of the literature that contends that, following redundancy, unemployment has a deleterious psychological impact. First, the present study found that, following redundancy, those who remained unemployed were negatively affected with respect to mental health, while those who gained new employment reported improved mental health. Second, and associated with the first finding, those who remained unemployed reported less life satisfaction following redundancy, while those who gained new employment experienced improvement in life satisfaction. This negative impact of redundancy and ensuing unemployment was consistent over time but was apparently ameliorated by obtaining new employment.
Reproduction, medicine, and the socialist state

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IMPACT OF OPERATION MURAMBATSVINA (RESTORE ORDER) ON FLEA MARKETS IN MUTARE: IMPLICATIONS FOR ACHIEVING MDG 1 AND SUSTAINABLE URBAN LIVELIHOODS

This study set out to assess the socio-economic impacts of ‘Operation Murambatsvina’ (Restore Order) on flea market operators in Mutare, and examine the implications of these impacts on achieving the first Millennium Development Goal and sustainable livelihoods among the urban poor. A questionnaire survey and interviews were used as complementary primary data collection methods. The main findings were that females dominate flea market trading and therefore were worst affected by Operation Restore Order. Lower income, poor infrastructure and services, high rentals and competition for customers were the main costs of Operation Restore Order. The null hypothesis was accepted that Operation Restore Order did not improve the life of flea market traders in Mutare, thereby posing serous challenges to the achievement of MDG 1 and sustainable urban livelihoods. There is need for the government to revise the outdated Regional Town and Country Planning Act and other retrogressive pieces of legislation, to align them with prevailing social, economic and cultural realities. It is therefore imperative that government and municipal authorities consider informal activities as important for poverty reduction and the achievement of sustainable urban livelihoods. Government should also demonstrate genuine political commitment to solving the unemployment problem. Relocation of traders to rural areas to engage in farming should not be viewed as a solution to reduce illegal informal market activities since it is simply a retrogressive measure going against global urbanization trends. Background to the study The concept of the informal sector has been debated since the emergence of informal sector activities in Africa in the early 1970s (International Labour Organization (ILO), 2002). The concept has continued to be used by many policy makers, labour
Transient Hyperopia after Intensive Treatment of Hyperglycemia in Newly Diagnosed Diabetes

Purpose: Our aim was to observe the transient hyperopia during the intense glucose reduction in patients with newly diagnosed diabetes and severe hyperglycemia. Study Design: Consecutive cases were observed. Results: Totally 4 men and 1 woman with a mean age of 48 years were enrolled. In the 4 patients who received insulin, the hyperopia developed at 4.2 days after the initiation of treatment on average and reached a peak at 11.7 days; they recovered at 64.0 days. The other subject who received oral hypoglycemia agents revealed a peak change at 17 days and recovered at 70 days. A broader hyperopic change of 6.25 dpt was found in the patient with high myopia (–16 dpt). No significant difference was observed in the corneal curvature, axial length, lens thickness or depth of the anterior chamber during the course. The stable value of the accommodation amplitude and lens thickness may indicate that the cause of refraction change was due to the alteration in the reflection index of the lens. Conclusion: Intensive glucose reduction may cause transient hyperopia changes in newly diabetic patients and results in blurred vision.