Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proposed diagnostic criteria for internet addiction.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to develop diagnostic criteria for internet addiction disorder (IAD) and to evaluate the validity of our proposed diagnostic criteria for discriminating non-dependent from dependent internet use in the general population. METHODS This study was conducted in three stages: the developmental stage (110 subjects in the survey group; 408 subjects in the training group), where items of the proposed diagnostic criteria were developed and tested; the validation stage (n = 405), where the proposed criteria were evaluated for criterion-related validity; and the clinical stage (n = 150), where the criteria and the global clinical impression of IAD were evaluated by more than one psychiatrist to determine inter-rater reliability. RESULTS The proposed internet addiction diagnostic criteria consisted of symptom criterion (seven clinical symptoms of IAD), clinically significant impairment criterion (functional and psychosocial impairments), course criterion (duration of addiction lasting at least 3 months, with at least 6 hours of non-essential internet usage per day) and exclusion criterion (exclusion of dependency attributed to psychotic disorders). A diagnostic score of 2 + 1, where the first two symptoms (preoccupation and withdrawal symptoms) and at least one of the five other symptoms (tolerance, lack of control, continued excessive use despite knowledge of negative effects/affects, loss of interests excluding internet, and use of the internet to escape or relieve a dysphoric mood) was established. Inter-rater reliability was 98%. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that the proposed diagnostic criteria may be useful for the standardization of diagnostic criteria for IAD.
Impaired Decision-Making as a Young Adult Outcome of Girls Diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Childhood

Abstract We examined decision-making in young adulthood in a follow-up study of females diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) between 6 and 12 years. Participants with childhood ADHD (n = 114) and matched comparison females (n = 77), followed prospectively for 10 years, performed the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) at ages 17–25 years. This task assesses preference for high-reward/high-risk chances that result in lower overall gains (disadvantageous decks of cards) compared to low-reward/low-risk chances that result in higher overall gains (advantageous decks of cards). Relative to comparison participants, young adult females with a history of ADHD did not increase their preference for advantageous decks across time blocks, suggesting difficulties in learning to change behavior over the course of the IGT. Overall, childhood diagnoses of ADHD were associated with disadvantageous decision-making in young adulthood. These results extend findings on decision-making in males with ADHD by demonstrating comparable levels of impairment in an all-female sample. (JINS, 2013, 19, 1–5)
Stimulation with thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptor agonist enhances ICAM‐1, VCAM‐1 or ELAM‐1 expression by human vascular endothelial cells

A previous study reported that intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) expression by human vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) is augmented by intracellular signal transmission mainly through the protein kinase C (PKC) system stimulated by TXA2 receptors. In the present study, we show that a TXA2 receptor agonist, U46619, augments the expression of not only ICAM‐1, but also vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1) or endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule‐1 (ELAM‐1) in HUVEC both at protein and mRNA levels. Pretreatment with SQ29,548 (a TXA2 receptor antagonist) or PKC inhibitors greatly diminished the extent of U46619‐induced mRNA accumulation and surface expression of the adhesion molecules. An inhibitor of nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) activation, PDTC, diminishes U46619‐induced VCAM‐1 mRNA accumulation. NAC, which inhibits NF‐κB and activation protein 1 (AP‐1) binding activity, inhibits the expression of ICAM‐1 or ELAM‐1 at protein and mRNA levels. These findings suggest that ICAM‐1 or ELAM‐1 expression of HUVEC stimulated via TXA2 receptors is augmented by induction of NF‐κB and AP‐1 binding activity through the PKC system, and that VCAM‐1 expression is augmented by induction of NF‐κB binding activity.
Price-Setting, Monetary Policy and the Contractionary Effects of Productivity Improvements

This paper adds to the large literature on the e¤ects of technology shocks empirically and theoretically. Using a SVEC model, we rst show that not only hours but also investment decline temporarily following a technology improvement. This result is robust with respect to important data and identi cation issues addressed in the literature. We then show that the negative response of inputs is consistent with an estimated monetary DSGE model in which the presence of strategic complementarity in price setting, in addition to nominal rigidities, lowers the sensitivity of prices to marginal costs, and monetary policy does not fully accommodate the shock.
Accounting conservatism and the cost of equity capital: UK evidence

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the economic consequences of different dimensions of accounting conservatism: Design/methodology/approach - The cost of equity capital estimates are based on the Ohlson and Juettner-Nauroth model. The paper applies a regression model to examine the relationship between the cost of equity capital and accounting conservatism controlling for other risk factors. Findings - The findings indicate that Research limitations/implications - The firm-level conservatism measures may suffer from measurement error. Future studies can be more specific in determining proxies for Practical implications - The results imply that conservative accounting signals information to investors about the quality of a firm's current and future earnings. Investors' required rates of returns may be higher for conservative reporting firms that are more susceptible to opportunistic management discretion. Originality/value - The paper provides the first UK evidence on the effect of different dimensions of conservatism on equity investors' required rates of return.
Economic and Environmental Impacts of Limiting Nitrogen Use to Protect Water Quality: A Stochastic Regional Analysis

Potential economic and environmental effects of broad versus targeted nitrogen use policies are evaluated in five Central High Plains subregions. Results indicate that per-acre restrictions are more effective than total nitrogen restrictions in reducing expected nitrogen losses in runoff and percolation, and reducing percolation losses at all probability levels. Because of the distribution of soils within subregions, targeting nitrogen reductions to more permeable soils may not produce the anticipated reductions in percolation. It may be more effective to target nitrogen restrictions on production systems than on soil types. Reductions in producer income are less for targeted than for broad policies.
Parkinson’s Disease Severity at 3 Years Can Be Predicted from Non-Motor Symptoms at Baseline

Objective The aim of this study is to present a predictive model of Parkinson’s disease (PD) global severity, measured with the Clinical Impression of Severity Index for Parkinson’s Disease (CISI-PD). Methods This is an observational, longitudinal study with annual follow-up assessments over 3 years (four time points). A multilevel analysis and multiple imputation techniques were performed to generate a predictive model that estimates changes in the CISI-PD at 1, 2, and 3 years. Results The clinical state of patients (CISI-PD) significantly worsened in the 3-year follow-up. However, this change was of small magnitude (effect size: 0.44). The following baseline variables were significant predictors of the global severity change: baseline global severity of disease, levodopa equivalent dose, depression and anxiety symptoms, autonomic dysfunction, and cognitive state. The goodness-of-fit of the model was adequate, and the sensitive analysis showed that the data imputation method applied was suitable. Conclusion Disease progression depends more on the individual’s baseline characteristics than on the 3-year time period. Results may contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of PD including the non-motor manifestations of the disease.
State restructuring, urban competitiveness policies and technopole building in Finland: a critical view on the glocal state thesis

Abstract This article examines processes of state restructuring and technopole formation in Finland and in the Helsinki region and takes a critical stand towards the glocal state thesis. The relationship between the nation state and the capital region cities is analysed by focusing on the implications of recent national technology, regional and economic policy measures on the Helsinki region cities and on their responses to national policies. The characteristics of new urban competitiveness policies of the Helsinki region cities are scrutinized with particular attention to the efforts of constructing technopoles as new technology-based agglomerations of research and business activities. The article concludes that the glocal state thesis is inaccurate to describe the Finnish situation as it provides a picture of the nation state that is monolithic and too rigid. In some respects, the developments in Finland have moved in an almost opposite direction.
The optical sensitivity of compound eyes: theory and experiment compared

The Land sensitivity equation is a well-known tool for comparing optical performance between eyes. Despite this, the equation has never been experimentally tested. Here, we present, to our knowledge, the first experimental validation of the equation. We have investigated different insect species active at different intensities, and possessing different types of compound eyes, to compare ratios of calculated sensitivities to ratios determined experimentally. Experimental optical sensitivities were measured by adjusting the intensity of an external light source until photoreceptors in the different eyes produced roughly equal numbers of photon responses (‘bumps’) per second. The sensitivity ratios obtained in this manner agree well with those obtained using the equation. We conclude that the Land equation remains an excellent tool for comparing sensitivities between different eyes.
Corynebacterium humireducens sp. nov., an alkaliphilic, humic acid-reducing bacterium isolated from a microbial fuel cell.

A novel halotolerant, alkaliphilic, humic acid-reducing bacterium, designated MFC-5(T), was isolated from a microbial fuel cell that was fed continuously with artificial wastewater (pH 10.0). Cells were Gram-positive-staining, facultatively anaerobic, non-fermentative, non-motile rods and had a G+C content of 59.0 mol%. Microbial growth was observed with <13 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 10 %), at pH 7.0-11.0 (optimum pH 9.0) and at 25-45 °C (optimum 37 °C). Strain MFC-5(T) was active in the anaerobic reduction of a humic acid analogue, anthraquinone-2,6-disulphonate, with lactate, formate, acetate, ethanol or sucrose as the electron donor. The major cellular fatty acids were C(18 : 1)ω9c (42.68 %), C(16 : 0) (33.69 %), C(18 : 0) (7.56 %), C(17 : 1)ω8c (5.14 %) and C(17 : 0) (3.39 %). Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that strain MFC-5(T) displayed >3 % 16S rRNA gene sequence divergence from its closest relatives. Based on phenotypic, genetic and phylogenetic analysis, a novel species, Corynebacterium humireducens sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is MFC-5(T) ( = NBRC 106098(T) = CGMCC 2452(T) = DSM 45392(T)).
ANALYSIS OF FERTILIZER PROFITABILITY AND USE IN KENYA

ANALYSIS OF FERTILIZER PROFITABILITY AND USE IN KENYA By Megan Britney Sheahan Despite upward trends in fertilizer use on maize fields in Kenya over the past twenty years, it is still widely viewed that fertilizer use is not expanding quickly enough and that application rates are not high enough to meet national food security and agricultural development goals. This thesis takes a critical look at the profitability and use of fertilizer with respect to maize in Kenya using five waves of household level panel data across thirteen years. I estimate a maize yield response model at the field level to ascertain district and soil group level fertilizer response rates by year, then use these estimates to calculate marginal and average value cost ratios under a number of household specific relative price scenarios including consideration of the transport cost of fertilizer and both the buying and selling prices of maize. I compare these profitability metrics and calculated optimal fertilizer application rates to actual fertilizer use values to learn that households in the highest potential areas are using fertilizer at or beyond the most profitable levels while households in the more marginal lowlands areas have steadily approached optimal use levels, with a small gap remaining in 2010. While fertilizer use could be expanded in the lowlands areas, lower application rates might be the most profitable strategy in other areas. When limiting my sample to only areas where fertilizer use is profitable, I estimate a probit model to determine the factors associated with not using commercial fertilizer on maize fields. I find that long distances to the nearest fertilizer seller and relatively adverse nitrogen to maize price ratios are the major deterrents to fertilizer use where otherwise profitable.
Cell‐to‐cell movement and assembly of a plant closterovirus: roles for the capsid proteins and Hsp70 homolog

Diverse animal and plant viruses are able to translocate their virions between neighboring cells via intercellular connections. In this work, we analyze the virion assembly and cell‐to‐cell movement of a plant closterovirus and reveal a strong correlation between these two processes. The filamentous virions of a closterovirus possess a long body formed by the major capsid protein (CP) and a short tail formed by the minor capsid protein (CPm). Genetic and biochemical analyses show that the functions of these virion components are distinct. A virion body is required primarily for genome protection, whereas a tail represents a specialized device for cell‐to‐cell movement. Furthermore, tail assembly is mediated by the viral Hsp70 homolog (Hsp70h) that becomes an integral part of the virion. Inactivation of the ATPase domain of Hsp70h results in assembly of tailless virions that are incapable of translocation. A dual role for the viral molecular chaperone Hsp70h in virion assembly and transport, combined with the previous finding of this protein in intercellular channels, allowed us to propose a model of closteroviral movement from cell to cell.
E‐Procurement Infusion and Operational Process Impacts in MRO Procurement: Complementary or Substitutive Effects?

The procurement of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) goods has remained a relatively understudied topic in the literature. Though vital cost efficiencies can be extracted from procurement processes through investments in e‐procurement systems, there is little empirical work that addresses how such systems should be deployed within organizations. In this study, we focus on the role of e‐procurement systems in MRO procurement and study two critical aspects of infusion. The first dimension captures the depth of e‐procurement use within the procurement function, while the second dimension depicts the breadth of use. We argue that these two dimensions of e‐procurement use, and their interaction, will be related to the performance of the MRO procurement process. Using survey data from 193 service organizations and structural equation modeling techniques, we show that the two infusion dimensions are significantly associated with improved process performance. Additionally, we show a substantial substitutive effect between the two use dimensions on performance. Our work has significant implications for managers who seek to gain efficiencies by the deployment of Internet‐based technologies within operational processes. Our conceptualization of e‐procurement infusion along two dimensions provides a more fine‐grained analysis of performance benefits accruing from the infusion of information technologies within organizations.
“Working rules for financial statements” and pre-Second World War financial reporting of Japanese industrial firms: the case of chemical firms

The purpose of this study is (1) to explore how financial reporting was practised under the condition of shareholders' effective governance that operated in Japanese industrial firms in the pre-Second World War period and (2) to investigate reasons why the Working Rules for Financial Statements issued in 1934 had no important impact upon financial reporting practice by examining empirical data for the pattern of reporting adopted by 18 chemical firms. The study demonstrates that the reason for the absence of practical impact of the Working Rules was not simply the lack of enforcement power, as suggested in prior studies, but that financial reporting practice was influenced by: an extreme concealment policy founded on the unfinished separation of management from ownership; the formation of the new business concerns in the Japanese chemical industry; and a prolonged industrial slump in the chemical industry during the 1920s and the early 1930s.
A spectrophotometric assay for superoxide dismutase activities in crude tissue fractions.

A sensitive and reliable assay method was developed to characterize crude cell homogenates and subcellular fractions with regard to their superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. The determination of SOD activities was based on the well-known spectrophotometric assay introduced by McCord & Fridovich [(1969) J. Biol. Chem. 244, 6049-6055], with partially succinylated (3-carboxypropionylated) rather than native ferricytochrome c as indicating scavenger. Partial succinylation of cytochrome c resulted in minimization of interference associated with the interaction of cytochrome c with mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase or cytochrome c reductases. The further increase in specificity, with regard to exclusion of cytochrome c oxidase interference, gained as a consequence of the high pH of 10 enabled the analysis of samples as rich in cytochrome c oxidase activity as the mitochondrial fraction in the presence or absence of membrane-disrupting detergents. Linear relationships for the dependence of the SOD activities with protein concentration were obtained with rat liver homogenate, mitochondrial and microsomal fractions, indicating negligible interference. Furthermore, by choosing a high pH for the assay medium, a 4-fold increase in sensitivity compared with the classical SOD assay, carried out at pH 7.8, was gained as well as a more precise resolution of Cu/Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD by 2 mM-KCN in samples with a high ratio of Mn-SOD to Cu/Zn-SOD, such as mitochondria. The complete trapping of the O2. - radicals, which was more feasible at pH 10 than at pH 7.8, enabled the application of a simple equation derived for the calculation of appropriately defined units of SOD activity from a single experiment.
Prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and attention at school age.

OBJECTIVE To examine the relation of prenatal polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure to child performance on neuropsychological tests of attention and information processing. Study design In this prospective, longitudinal study, assessment of prenatal PCB exposure was based on umbilical cord serum and maternal serum and milk concentrations. The children were tested in their homes at age 11 years. Multiple regression was used to examine the relation of this exposure to performance on 15 neuropsychological tests after controlling for a broad range of potential confounding variables. RESULTS Adverse effects were seen primarily in children who had not been breast fed. Among these children, prenatal PCB exposure was associated with greater impulsivity, poorer concentration, and poorer verbal, pictorial, and auditory working memory. There was no evidence of visual-spatial deficit or increased hyperactivity. CONCLUSIONS These findings are consistent with earlier reports of greater vulnerability to prenatal PCB exposure in children who were not breast fed. It is not clear whether the protection offered by breast-feeding is caused by nutrients in breast milk or better quality of intellectual stimulation often provided by breast-feeding mothers.
Identification, nuclear localization, and DNA-binding activity of the zinc finger protein encoded by the Evi-1 myeloid transforming gene

Activation of the Evi-1 zinc finger gene is a common event associated with transformation of murine myeloid leukemias. To characterize the gene product, we developed antisera against various protein domains. These antisera primarily detected a 145-kilodalton nuclear protein that bound double-stranded DNA. Binding was inhibited by chelating agents and partially restored by zinc ions.
Inclusion without Influence? NGOs in European Trade Policy

The actions of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) concerned with such issues as development, human rights, and the protection of the environment voicing concerns to public authorities raises the questions: Do these newly mobilised societal actors influence EU trade policy outcomes? We answer in the negative, arguing that such groups, which have diffuse costs and benefits from trade policies, do not dispose of resources with which they can threaten or enhance political actors' chances of re-election or re-appointment. A survey of NGOs and business groups as well as two in-depth case studies on the negotiations concerning the EU's Economic Partnership Agreements and the EU's policy on access to medicines in developing countries support our reasoning. The analysis shows that although NGOs have gained access to policy-makers, they have largely failed to shift policy outcomes in their favour.
Correcting for Cross-Sectional and Time-Series Dependence in Accounting Research

ABSTRACT: We review and evaluate the methods commonly used in the accounting literature to correct for cross‐sectional and time‐series dependence. While much of the accounting literature studies settings in which variables are cross‐sectionally and serially correlated, we find that the extant methods are not robust to both forms of dependence. Contrary to claims in the literature, we find that the Z2 statistic and Newey‐West corrected Fama‐MacBeth standard errors do not correct for both cross‐sectional and time‐series dependence. We show that extant methods produce misspecified test statistics in common accounting research settings, and that correcting for both forms of dependence substantially alters inferences reported in the literature. Specifically, several findings in the implied cost of equity capital literature, the cost of debt literature, and the conservatism literature appear not to be robust to the use of well‐specified test statistics.