Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ASEANi plus six and Successful FTAs: Can India propel intra-industry trade flows?

ABSTRACT:Recent trends suggest that countries have turned away from the multilateral process in favor of free trade agreements (FTAs). However, whether FTAs increase trade among their members or result in efficiencies through trade diversion to more inefficient trading partners has remained a debatable issue. This paper sheds fresh light on FTAs by incorporating new trade theories that explain Intra-Industry Trade (IIT) flows that have hitherto not received adequate attention in the current literature on FTAs. Further, regional trade integration among ASEAN+6 nations in goods through IIT has special significance in the context of regional production chains. A lack of emphasis on these issues has perpetuated ambiguities in the policy-making and negotiating processes. The paper analyzes the relationship between Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) and IIT, which is further divided into Horizontal IIT and Vertical IIT. Under Vertical IIT, trade can be explained through the traditional trade models of absolute or comparative advantage, as the creation of high quality products can be factor-specific. Considering that RCA can represent and capture the traditional theories of trade, RCA should be positively correlated with IIT, especially vertical IIT. On the other hand, horizontal IIT includes goods that are close to each other in terms of quality and price and can be explained by Krugman’s model. This brings up our hypothesis - Does India, as a source of IIT, impel higher trade among the ASEAN+6 region through an FTA? We investigate this by means of an augmented gravity model, tested through panel Tobit methodology. The findings suggest that an ASEAN+6 FTA in goods IIT can be sustained via the impact of such an FTA on trade-FDI nexus, efficiency-seeking economic restructuring, horizontal and vertical integration, economies of scale, competition, technological improvements, and product differentiation, all of which facilitate regional value chains. The paper also demonstrates—both theoretically and empirically—that combining an FTA in goods among ASEAN+6 countries under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) with greater trade integration, especially with India’s active role in the RCEP, both propels Intra-Industry type trade flows in the region as well as helps to sustain trade flows. These findings have important policy implications for India’s participation in RCEP negotiations with adept handling of Modalities of Tariff Reduction under RCEP; IIT-enhancing Trade in Services and Investment Negotiations; and Cooperation in Appropriate Technology.
Mitochondrial proteostasis as a shared characteristic of slowed aging: the importance of considering cell proliferation

Proteostasis is one of the seven “pillars of aging research” identified by the Trans‐NIH Geroscience Initiative and loss of proteostasis is associated with aging and age‐related chronic disease. Accumulated protein damage and resultant cellular dysfunction are consequences of limited protein repair systems and slowed protein turnover. When relatively high rates of protein turnover are maintained despite advancing age, damaged proteins are more quickly degraded and replaced, maintaining proteome fidelity. Therefore, maintenance of protein turnover represents an important proteostatic mechanism. However, measurement of protein synthesis without consideration for cell proliferation can result in an incomplete picture, devoid of information about how new proteins are being allocated. Simultaneous measurement of protein and DNA synthesis provides necessary mechanistic insight about proteins apportioned for newly proliferating cells versus for somatic maintenance. Using this approach with a number of murine models of slowed aging shows that, compared to controls, energetic resources are directed more toward somatic maintenance and proteostasis, and away from cell growth and proliferation. In particular, slowed aging models are associated with heightened mechanisms of mitochondrial proteostatic maintenance. Taking cell proliferation into account may explain the paradoxical findings that aging itself and slowed aging interventions can both be characterized by slower rates of protein synthesis.
Women and pharmacologic therapy in rural and remote Canada.

© 2006 Society of Rural Physicians of Canada 296 M ost people who live in rural and remote settings in Canada experience compromised access to health care services and resources. However, women in these settings have unique health care needs and issues. Women are often the decision-makers, not only for themselves but for family members, regarding access to health care, including pharmacotherapy resources. In addition, women as a group are prescribed pharmacotherapy agents to a sometimes excessive degree. Women living in rural and remote settings are at risk of being prescribed or using drugs inappropriately and of not being able to obtain the medications and drug-related information they need. They are at risk because of limited access to health care and information, lack of transportation, limited finances, distance to nurses, physicians and pharmacists, the nature of rural physician practice, and local attitudes and beliefs. In this commentary we highlight pharmacological issues of women in rural and remote settings. Very little published research is focused on this topic. The scant literature that does exist suggests important directions in research and practice for pharmacists, physicians and nurses in rural and remote Canada. Health Canada defines rural and remote communities as those with populations of <10 000 and removed from many urban services and resources. Almost 9 million Canadians — 30% of the population and 1 in 5 women — live in rural and remote areas of the country. Overall, the health of rural residents, especially women, is worse than their urban counterparts. For example, life expectancy for Ontario women is the lowest in northern and rural areas of the province.
Biodegradable alginate microparticles developed by electrohydrodynamic spraying techniques for oral delivery of protein

In this study, alginate microparticles were prepared by cross-linking alginate with calcium chloride solution using an electrohydrodynamic spraying technique. The effects of alginate and calcium chloride concentration as well as electrical potential on particle size and shape were investigated. The results showed that 1 mg ml−1 alginate medium viscosity (AMV), 2.5 mg ml−1 CaCl2, electrical potential 18 kV (F1) and 0.5 mg ml−1 alginate low viscosity (ALV), 2.5 mg ml−1 CaCl2, electrical potential 20 kV (F2) yielded the spherical shape and small particles of 937 ± 158 nm and 1556 ± 51 nm, respectively. In bovine serum albumin (BSA) entrapment efficiency study, initial BSA of 5, 10, 20, 40 and 60% w/w to polymer was incorporated into these alginate microparticles. The results revealed that F2 with initial BSA 10% w/w showed the highest entrapment efficiency of 49.70 ± 0.01%. The result of BSA content revealed that F2'with the initial BSA of 20% w/w showed the highest amount of BSA content of 3.92 ± 0.02 mg g−1 of particles. F1 and F2 with the initial BSA of 5%, 20% and 40% w/w were chosen to evaluate for the release in PBS pH 7.4. It was found that F1 with the initial BSA of 40% w/w showed the slowest release rate and sustained release. The release of F1 in 0.1 N HCl solution (pH 1.2) was slower than that in pH 7.4. This electrohydrodynamic spray technique (EHDA) can be applied to prepare alginate in micro size and can encapsulate BSA. Alginate microparticles can further be optimized for oral delivery of several pharmaceutical peptides and proteins.
Modeling What We Sample and Sampling What We Model: Challenges for Zooplankton Model Assessment

Zooplankton are the intermediate trophic level between phytoplankton and fish, and are an important component of carbon and nutrient cycles, accounting for a large proportion of the energy transfer to pelagic fishes and the deep ocean. Given zooplankton’s importance, models need to adequately represent zooplankton dynamics. A major obstacle, though, is the lack of model assessment. Here we try and stimulate the assessment of zooplankton in models by filling three gaps. The first is that many zooplankton observationalists are unfamiliar with the biogeochemical, ecosystem, and size-based and individual-based models that have zooplankton functional groups, so we describe their primary uses and how each typically represents zooplankton. The second gap is that many modelers are unaware of the zooplankton data that are available, and are unaccustomed to the different zooplankton sampling systems, so we describe the main sampling platforms and discuss their strengths and weaknesses for model assessment. Filling these gaps in our understanding of models and observations provides the necessary context to address the last gap – a blueprint for model assessment of zooplankton. We detail two ways that zooplankton biomass/abundance observations can be used to assess models: data wrangling that transforms observations to be more similar to model output; and observation models that transform model outputs to be more like observations. We hope that this review will encourage greater assessment of zooplankton in models and ultimately improve the representation of their dynamics.
Metallothionein-III Inhibits Initial Neurite Formation in Developing Neurons as Well as Postinjury, Regenerative Neurite Sprouting

Human metallothionein-III (MT-III) is an inhibitory factor deficient in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. MT-III has been identified as an inhibitor of neurite sprouting, and its deficiency has been proposed to be involved in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in the neuropathology of AD. However, there has been limited investigation of the proposed neurite growth inhibitory properties of MT-III. We have applied recombinant human MT-III to both single cell embryonic cortical neurons (to investigate initial neurite formation), as well as mature (21 days postplating) clusters of cortical neurons (to investigate the regenerative sprouting response following injury). We report that MT-III inhibited the initial formation of neurites by rat embryonic (E18) cortical neurons. This was based on both the percentage of neurite positive neurons and the number of neurites per neuron (45 and 30% inhibition, respectively). Neurite inhibition was only observed in the presence of adult rat brain extract, and was also reversible following replacement of MT-III-containing medium. MT-III inhibited the formation and growth of both axons and dendrites. Of more physiological significance, MT-III also inhibited the regenerative neurite sprouting response following axonal transection. The morphology of sprouting neurites was also altered, with the distal tip often ending in bulb-like structures. Based on these results, we propose that MT-III, in the presence of brain extract, is a potent inhibitor of neurite sprouting, and may be involved in abnormal sprouting potentially underlying both AD and epilepsy.
Prosthetic Implantation of the Human Vestibular System

Hypothesis A functional vestibular prosthesis can be implanted in human such that electrical stimulation of each semicircular canal produces canal-specific eye movements while preserving vestibular and auditory function. Background A number of vestibular disorders could be treated with prosthetic stimulation of the vestibular end organs. We have previously demonstrated in rhesus monkeys that a vestibular neurostimulator, based on the Nucleus Freedom cochlear implant, can produce canal-specific electrically evoked eye movements while preserving auditory and vestibular function. An investigational device exemption has been obtained from the FDA to study the feasibility of treating uncontrolled Ménière’s disease with the device. Methods The UW/Nucleus vestibular implant was implanted in the perilymphatic space adjacent to the three semicircular canal ampullae of a human subject with uncontrolled Ménière’s disease. Preoperative and postoperative vestibular and auditory function was assessed. Electrically evoked eye movements were measured at 2 time points postoperatively. Results Implantation of all semicircular canals was technically feasible. Horizontal canal and auditory function were largely, but not totally, lost. Electrode stimulation in 2 of 3 canals resulted in canal-appropriate eye movements. Over time, stimulation thresholds increased. Conclusion Prosthetic implantation of the semicircular canals in humans is technically feasible. Electrical stimulation resulted in canal-specific eye movements, although thresholds increased over time. Preservation of native auditory and vestibular function, previously observed in animals, was not demonstrated in a single subject with advanced Ménière’s disease.
Early child health in Lahore, Pakistan: II. Inbreeding

The prevalence of consanguineous marriages was studied in 940 families belonging to four different socio‐economic groups in and around Lahore, Pakistan. The births occurring in these families from September 1984 to March 1987 were also investigated for birth defects. The overall prevalence of consanguineous marriages was 46%. The first cousin marriages were most common (67%), followed by the marriages between second cousins, 19%. The prevalence of consanguineous marriages was clearly associated with the socio‐economic status of the study groups; 50% of the marriages was related in the periurban slum, 49% in the village, 44% in the urban slum and 31% in the upper middle class. The birth defects were also more prevalent in the poorer areas, being highest in the periurban slum (17.7%) followed by the urban slum (15.6%) and then the village (14.8%) and lowest in the upper middle class (12.3%). Although, the frequency of both consanguinity and birth defects were related with the socio‐economic levels of the study groups, there was no association between inbreeding and birth defects. Perhaps, deleterious recessive genes for birth defects have been “bred out”, because of continuous inbreeding over generations in this population. There was a significant predilection of major birth defects in boys without clear sex linkage. The conclusion is that the rate of consanguineous marriages was high, especially in the poorer areas, but the relationship between consanguineous marriages and birth defects was little or none. However, other child health indicators may be affected by consanguineous marriages.
Dynamically Consistent Online Adaptation of Fast Motions for Robotic Manipulators

The planning and execution of real-world robotic tasks largely depends on the ability to generate feasible motions online in response to changing environment conditions or goals. A spline deformation method is able to modify a given trajectory so that it matches the new boundary conditions, e.g., on positions, velocities, accelerations, etc. At the same time, the deformed motion preserves velocity, acceleration, jerk, or higher derivatives of motion profile of the precalculated trajectory. The deformed motion possessing such properties can be expressed by translation of original trajectory and spline interpolation. This spline decomposition considerably reduces the computational complexity and allows real-time execution. Formal feasibility guarantees are provided for the deformed trajectory and for the resulting torques. These guarantees are based on the special properties of Bernstein polynomials used for the deformation and on the structure of the chosen computed-torque control scheme. The approach is experimentally evaluated in a number of planar volleyball experiments using 3 degree-of-freedom robots and human participants.
Factors of the Term Structure of Sovereign Yield Spreads

We investigate the term structure of sovereign yield spreads for five advanced economies against the US and provide novel insights on the key drivers of the term structure. We show that the spread term structure dynamics are driven by three latent factors which can be labeled as spread level, slope and curvature similar to common interpretations found in the yield curve literature. We further show that these estimated spread factors have predictive power for exchange rate movements and excess returns, above the predictability of an uncovered interest rate parity approach. As the yield curve contains information about expected future economic conditions we conjecture that these yield spread factors reflect expected macroeconomic differentials which in turn drive exchange rates. Using the information content of yield spread curves may thus be a promising approach to improve the forecasting accuracy of exchange rate models.
Identifying baldcypress-water tupelo regeneration classes in forested wetlands of the Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana

Baldcypress-water tupelo (cypress-tupelo) swamps are critically important coastal forested wetlands found throughout the southeastern U.S. The long-term survival and sustainability of these swamp forests is unknown due to large-scale changes in hydrologic regimes that prevent natural regeneration following logging or mortality. We used NWI wetland maps and remotely sensed hydrologic data to map cypress-tupelo communities, surface water, and the extent and location of proposed regeneration condition classes for cypress-tupelo swamps in the Atchafalaya Basin, LA. Only 6,175 ha (5.8%) of the 106,227 ha of cypress-tupelo forest in the Lower Atchafalaya Basin Floodway was classified as capable of naturally regenerating. Over 23% (24,525 ha) of the forest area was mapped as unable to regenerate either naturally or artificially. The loss and conversion of nearly 25,000 ha of cypress-tupelo forest would have significant and long-lasting impacts on ecosystem services such as wildlife habitat for birds and Louisiana black bears. Given the landscape-scale changes in surface elevations and flooding depths and durations throughout southern Louisiana, similar conditions and impacts are likely applicable to all coastal cypress-tupelo forests in Louisiana. Better data on flooding during the growing season are needed to more accurately identify and refine the location and spatial extent of the regeneration condition classes.
Melphalan hydrochloride for the treatment of multiple myeloma

ABSTRACT Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable disease characterized by clonal plasma cell proliferation and overproduction of monoclonal paraprotein, hypercalcemia, renal failure, anemia, osteolytic bone lesions, and infections. Melphalan, a nitrogen mustard, is an alkylating agent synthesized in 1953, and it has been used in multiple myeloma therapy for fifty years. Although novel agents have been introduced in the past few decades improving prognosis of the disease, melphalan still maintains a crucial role in the treatment of MM acting both as cytotoxic agent through damage to DNA, and as immunostimulatory drug by inhibiting Interleukin-6, as well as interaction with dendritic cells, and immunogenic effects in tumor microenvironment. Areas covered: This review focuses on available data about melphalan pharmacology and its role in clinical practice. Expert opinion: Melphalan remains crucial in therapy of multiple myeloma because of its good manageability, safety profile, efficacy, and economic sustainability. These characteristics make it pivotal also for new regimens in combination with novel agents.
The impact of CEO servant leadership on firm performance in the hospitality industry

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to draw on the theory of servant leadership to examine the influence of chief executive officer (CEO) servant leadership on firm performance in the hospitality industry. It examined the mediating role of the service climate and the moderating role of competitive intensity in the relationship between CEO servant leadership and firm performance. Design/methodology/approach Multiple regression was used to analyze multi-wave, multi-source data from 92 hotels in China. A moderated path analysis was used to test the moderating effects. Findings CEO servant leadership positively influenced firm performance via the service climate in the hospitality industry. Competitive intensity strengthened the direct effect of the service climate on firm performance, and the indirect effect of CEO servant leadership on firm performance via service climate. Research limitations/implications The findings offer managerial insights into CEO succession, service management and human resource management. Originality/value This is one of the first studies to investigate how and when CEO servant leadership might shape firm outcomes in the hospitality industry. Theoretically, the findings enrich our understanding of how CEO leadership might shape firm-level outcomes.
IL-10 Helps Control Pathogen Load during High-Level Bacteremia1

During relapsing fever borreliosis, a high pathogen load in the blood occurs at times of peak bacteremia. Specific IgM Abs are responsible for spirochetal clearance so in absence of B cells there is persistent high-level bacteremia. Previously, we showed that B cell-deficient mice persistently infected with Borrelia turicatae produce high levels of IL-10 and that exogenous IL-10 reduces bacteremia. This suggested that IL-10 helps reduce bacteremia at times of high pathogen load by a B cell-independent mechanism, most likely involving innate immunity. To investigate this possibility, we compared B. turicatae infection in RAG2/IL-10−/− and RAG2−/− mice. The results showed that IL-10 deficiency resulted in significantly higher bacteremia, higher TNF levels, and early mortality. Examination of the spleen and peripheral blood showed markedly increased apoptosis of immune cells in infected RAG2/IL-10−/− mice. Neutralization of TNF reduced apoptosis of leukocytes and splenocytes, increased production of IFN-γ by NK cells, increased phagocytosis in the spleen, decreased spirochetemia, and rescued mice from early death. Our results indicate that at times of high pathogen load, as during peak bacteremia in relapsing fever borreliosis, IL-10 protects innate immune cells from apoptosis via inhibition of TNF resulting in improved pathogen control.
Sequence of the phosphoprotein gene of pneumonia virus of mice: expression of multiple proteins from two overlapping reading frames

The gene encoding the phosphoprotein of the pneumovirus pneumonia virus of mice (PVM) has been cloned and sequenced. The gene is 903 nucleotides in length and contains a long open reading frame (ORF) capable of encoding a polypeptide of 295 amino acid residues. A smaller, second, overlapping ORF encoding a polypeptide 137 amino acids in length was also present. The large ORF directed the synthesis of a 39-kDa polypeptide and four additional polypeptides with masses of 37 kDa, 26 kDa, 23 kDa, and 16 kDa in vitro. The smaller polypeptides were generated by internal initiation on in-frame AUG initiation codons to generate carboxy co-terminal products. Western immunoblot analysis indicated that at least two of these proteins and several other related polypeptides are present in infected cells, and the possible origins of these are discussed. Western blot analysis using antiserum raised against a synthetic peptide and specific for the predicted second ORF product identified a polypeptide of 23 kDa in PVM-infected cells. The pattern of PVM P gene expression is unlike that of the closely related respiratory syncytial virus and is reminiscent of that of paramyxoviruses such as Sendai virus. This is the first example of a pneumovirus encoding multiple polypeptide products from a single mRNA in vivo.