Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
External Financial Flows, Policies and Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Despite the relatively mild external capital inflows, Sub-Saharan Africa is still bewildered with high rate of poverty, income inequality and decline in per capita income. Using panel data from 1981-2011 and applying Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) approach in SSA, the study shows that FDI inflows contribute more to economic growth compared to remittances; and ODA is positively and significantly related to growth. However, the interaction of external inflows and policy index yields opposite results. Specifically, FDI and remittance are insignificant and negatively related to growth while ODA is positive and significantly related to growth. The study concludes that for ODA to impact favourably on growth, monetary, fiscal and trade policies should be properly formulated and implemented, though, FDI and remittance are not affected by these policies.
Skewness preference, value and size effects

We test the Kraus–Litzenberger three-moment capital asset pricing model (CAPM) and the Fama–French (FF) three-factor (FF) model with the C-test proposed by Davidson and MacKinnon. We are unable to reject the null hypothesis that expected returns are described by either of the models in cross-sectional regressions. However, for size-sorted portfolios, both the FF three-factor and the three-moment CAPM significantly explain expected returns.
Correlation Between Anthropometric Measures and Biomarker Changes After Neoadjuvant Therapy With Tamoxifen or Anastrozole in Postmenopausal Women With Breast Cancer

Background Epidemiological studies have reported positive associations between anthropometric measures and risk for developing breast cancers that express hormone receptors and associated mortality. However, the impact of nutritional status on the molecular response to endocrine therapy has yet to be described. Methods Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HP), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were measured in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) before and after neoadjuvant treatment with either tamoxifen or anastrozole, and a possible correlation with prognostic factors, as estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), and proliferative index (Ki-67), was analyzed. Fifty-seven patients with palpable ER-positive IDC were randomized into three neoadjuvant treatment groups and received anastrozole or placebo or tamoxifen for twenty-one days. Biomarker status was obtained by comparing the immunohistochemical evaluation of samples collected before and after treatment, using the Allred scoring system. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results and Conclusions After treatment, the anastrozole group showed reduced ER and PgR expression (p < 0.05), and both the anastrozole and tamoxifen groups showed lower Ki-67 status. A significant reduction in PgR positivity (p < 0.05) was found in women with large WC and HC who were treated with anastrozole. Reduction in PgR positivity also tended to be associated with BMI (p = 0.09) in the anastrozole group. BMI, WC, HC and WHR correlated neither with biomarker levels in the tamoxifen and placebo groups nor with ER and Ki-67 status in the anastrozole group after primary endocrine treatment.
THE RANDOM WALK OF STOCK PRICES: IMPLICATIONS OF RECENT NONPARA-METRIC TESTS

This paper applies six recently developed nonparametric tests of serial independence to monthly US stock returns. Findings of previous studies based on the BDS test are sup-ported since most of the new tests also reject the random walk hypothesis. Furthermore, power properties of the new tests are compared with those of the BDS test. The latter has much power against ARCH and GARCH alternatives whereas some of the more recent tests are superior against other alternatives. Finally, the power study of this paper shows, contrary to common belief, that ARCH and GARCH effects do not seem to explain rejec-tion of the random walk.
In the Balance - the future of Australia's primary schools

The first surveyed the views of principals; the second examined the relative levels of funding of primary and secondary schools from the nineteenth century to the present; and the third presented intensive case studies of the level and use of resources in 30 primary schools. This study builds on the earlier studies and examines the capacity of Australian primary schools to meet the challenges facing them. Researchers from the Australian Council for Educational Research drew a random sample of 160 primary schools structured so that schools from each State and sector were included. All government and non-government education authorities gave permission for the schools in their jurisdictions to take part. It was agreed that there would be no reporting of differences among states or school systems and that individual schools would not be identified. The conclusions reached in the study therefore apply to Australian primary schools generally. The study focused on: curriculum coverage and assessment; targeted support in core curriculum areas for resource intensive students (students with special needs and/or behaviour disorders); teacher quality; and school discretion and control of resource allocation. The study finds that Australian primary schools do not have sufficient resources to achieve fully the goals set for them by governments; in many of the schools serving low socioeconomic communities, the shortage is acute. However, some of the challenges facing primary schools are not due to a resource insufficiency.
Dopamine Autoreceptors Modulate the Phosphorylation of Tyrosine Hydroxylase in Rat Striatal Slices

Abstract: The hypothesis that dopamine (DA) autoreceptors modulate the phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; EC 1.14.16.2) was investigated in rat striatal slices. Tissue was prelabeled with 32P inorganic phosphate, and TH recovered by immunoprecipitation with anti‐TH rabbit serum. The TH monomer was resolved on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels, and the extent of phosphorylation was determined by scanning densitometry of autoradiographs. Depolarization of striatal slices with 55 mM K+ markedly increased the incorporation of 32P into several proteins, including the TH monomer (Mr= 60,000). A similar increase in TH phosphorylation occurred in response to the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin and the cyclic AMP analog dibutyryl cyclic AMP. An increase in TH phosphorylation was not observed in response to the D1‐selective agonist SKF 38393. The D2‐selective DA autoreceptor agonist pergolide decreased the phosphorylation of TH below basal levels and blocked the increase in phosphorylation elicited by 55 mM K+. The inhibitory effect of pergolide was antagonized by the D2‐selective antagonist eticlopride. Changes observed in the phosphorylation of TH were mirrored by changes in tyrosine hydroxylation in situ. These observations support the hypothesis that a reduction in TH phosphorylation is the mechanism by which DA autoreceptors modulate tyrosine hydroxylation in nigrostriatal nerve terminals.
Toward a Macroeconomics of the Medium Run

My main goal in this essay is to say something about leftover open questions in macroeconomics, as well as new phenomena that need to be accommodated in early 21st century macroeconomics, and the sorts of ideas that might make progress possible. The essay first considers foundational questions and then the analysis of growth, fluctuations, wages and prices, and the medium run.
Robust Fault Detection and Diagnosis for a Multiple Satellite Formation Flying System Using Second Order Sliding Mode and Wavelet Networks

This paper presents a robust fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) scheme for abrupt and incipient faults in a class of nonlinear dynamic systems. A nonlinear observer which synthesizes second order sliding mode techniques and wavelet networks is proposed for online monitoring. The second order sliding mode is designed to eliminate the effect of system uncertainties on the state observation. Moreover, a bank of wavelet networks is constructed to isolate and estimate faults. Theoretically, the convergence of the state estimation using the second order sliding mode is analyzed. An adaptive algorithm is adopted to update the parameters of the wavelet networks, and its convergence is investigated as well. Finally, this robust FDD scheme is applied to a multiple satellite formation flying system, and simulation results illustrate its effectiveness.
G‐Quadruplexes with Tetra(ethylene glycol)‐Modified Deoxythymidines are Resistant to Nucleases and Inhibit HIV‐1 Reverse Transcriptase

G‐quadruplex formation in virally encoded templates arrests reverse transcription. Methods to stabilize this structure are promising for antiviral approaches. To stabilize G‐quadruplex formation, deoxythymidines were modified with tetra(ethylene glycol) (TEG). The TEG‐modified G‐quadruplexes were stabilized significantly relative to unmodified DNA. In the presence of a TEG‐modified oligonucleotide that is capable of forming an intermolecular G‐quadruplex with a template containing a hu‐ man immunodeficiency virus‐1 sequence, reverse transcription was inhibited by more than 70 % relative to the reaction in the absence of the TEG‐modified oligonucleotide. Moreover, the TEG‐modified deoxythymidines protected the DNA oligonucleotide from degradation by various nucleases in human serum. Thus, DNA oligonucleotides modified with TEG have potential in therapeutic applications.
Long-Run Purchasing Power Parity with Asymmetric Adjustment

Tests of purchasing power parity (PPP) that use panel data are more supportive of the theory than are bilateral tests. The article uses threshold cointegration to explore long-run PPP. Using data from the post-Bretton Woods period, we show that cointegration with threshold adjustment holds for a number of European countries on a bilateral basis. Focusing on France and Germany as base countries, we show that the error-correction model has important nonlinear characteristics in that prices and the exchange rate have markedly different adjustment patterns for positive gaps from PPP than negative gaps.
Influence of Age at Diagnosis and Time-Dependent Risk Factors on the Development of Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

Aim. To determine the influence of age at onset of type 1 diabetes and of traditional vascular risk factors on the development of diabetic retinopathy, in a cohort of patients who have been followed up after onset. Methods. Observational, retrospective study. The cohort consists of 989 patients who were followed up after diagnosis for a mean of 10.1 (SD: 6.8) years. The influence of age at diagnosis, glycemic control, duration of diabetes, sex, blood pressure, lipids, BMI, and smoking is analyzed using Cox univariate and multivariate models with fixed and time-dependent variables. Results. 135 patients (13.7%) developed diabetic retinopathy. The cumulative incidence was 0.7, 5.9, and 21.8% at 5-, 10-, and 15-year follow-up, respectively. Compared to the group with onset at age <10 years, the risk of retinopathy increased 2.5-, 3-, 3.3-, and 3.7-fold in the groups with onset at 10–14, 15–29, 30–44, and >44 years, respectively. During follow-up we also observed an association between diabetic retinopathy and HbA1c levels, HDL-cholesterol, and diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion. The rate of diabetic retinopathy is higher in patients who were older at type 1 diabetes diagnosis. In addition, we confirmed the influence of glycemic control, HDL-cholesterol, and diastolic blood pressure on the occurrence of retinopathy.
Neutralizing Endogenous IL-6 Renders Mast Cells of the MCT Type from Lung, but Not the MCTC Type from Skin and Lung, Susceptible to Human Recombinant IL-4-Induced Apoptosis 1

Human cord blood-derived mast cells undergo apoptosis upon exposure to recombinant human (rh)IL-4 and become resistant to rhIL-4-induced apoptosis when cultured in the presence of rhIL-6. The current study extends these effects of rhIL-4 to different populations of human mast cells, namely fetal liver-derived mast cells, lung-derived mast cells, and skin-derived mast cells. Endogenous production of IL-6 appears to protect fetal liver-derived mast cells and those of the MCT phenotype from rhIL-4-mediated apoptosis, because neutralization of IL-6 renders these mast cells sensitive. In contrast, mast cells of the MCTC phenotype from skin and lung were resistant to IL-4-mediated apoptosis, even after neutralization of endogenous IL-6. MCTC cells were CD124low, whereas those of the MCT cells were CD124high. These observations extend the phenotypic differences between MCT and MCTC types of human mast cells to include different functional responses to IL-4.
Technology acceptance in public sector: an empirical study of a Knowledge Management System in Kaohsiung City Government

This research investigates the applicability of the extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to user acceptance of a Knowledge Management System (KMS) in the public sector. Significant positive relationships between perceived usefulness, ease of use, behavioural intention, and behaviour were consistent with previous research results. The observed mediating role of perceived usefulness in the relationship between ease of use and behavioural usage was also in consonance with earlier findings of similar research in the private sector. Cognitive instrumental processes, including job relevance, output quality, result demonstrability, and perceived ease of use significantly affect perceived usefulness. Policy implications and recommendations for promoting KMSs in the public sector are further discussed.
Commodity Prices and Stock Market Behavior in South American Countries in the Short Run

Using Geweke feedback measures, we present empirical evidence that largely supports the hypothesis that the stock markets of South American countries are highly affected by changes in commodity prices after controlling for changes in exchange rates, interest rates, and North American stock market changes. In total, six different Goldman Sachs commodity price indexes are tested against the unexplained variation in stock market returns for Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela, covering the period 1995-2007. The Argentinian, Brazilian, and Peruvian stock markets are significantly affected by changes in commodity prices the same day. Venezuela's stock market, however, does not react to changes in commodity prices, even including energy prices. Stock market returns for Chile show a contemporaneous relation with energy and metals prices, whereas Colombia's equity market is affected by price changes for agricultural and industrial metals. In all cases, we find a contemporaneous relation and no indication of a lead or lag relationship.
Predicting Presence at the Intersections

Over the past several decades, women’s office holding at the state level has grown substantially, but there is still a large range of electoral service across the 50 states. In this article, I revisit the most common explanations provided by the literature in helping us understand this variation and assess whether these explanations can be effectively applied to different racial/ethnic groups of female legislators. Using data from a 20-year time span, I find that there are differences between the factors that predict white women and women of color’s state legislative presence.
THE OBESE SURGICAL PATIENT IN THE CRITICAL CARE UNIT

Throughout the economically developed world, the incidence of obesity is rising at epidemic proportions. University medical centers are reporting that 25% of routine surgical patients are obese, and at least 10% of all patients are morbidly obese. Given the increasing prevalence of obesity in the general population, it is not surprising that many morbidly obese patients undergoing surgery are treated in intensive care units (ICU). Nevertheless, the real prevalence of critically ill morbidly obese patients, even in the United States, is not known. A retrospective study has allowed researchers to estimate that the incidence rate of morbidly obese patients requiring nonsurgical intensive care treatment approaches 14 cases per 1,000 ICU admissions annually. Bariatric surgical procedures alone have increased in the United States from 37,000 cases in 2000 up to 200,000 in 2006 as reported by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (1). The critically ill morbidly obese surgical patient presents the critical care team with many unique problems (2). As a result, every health care provider eventually involved in surgical procedures must be familiar with the management of morbidly obese patients, not only for bariatric procedures, but also for all types of surgery (3,4). Morbidly obese patients have an eightfold higher mortality rate after blunt trauma than nonobese patients presenting with the same diagnosis (5). Retrospective reviews of morbidly obese patients—hospitalized with or without ICU requirements—have shown significant increases in length of ICU stay, mortality, and duration of mechanical ventilation (6–9). The pathophysiologic consequences of obesity involve all major organ systems (10). Conditions such as diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia are associated with obesity and contribute to chronic morbidity in the obese. However, the main concerns for the intensivist, anesthesiologist, and surgeon have been the same for over three decades: the derangements of the cardiopulmonary system (11,12). The perioperative care of these patients must be understood as a continuous, indivisible, and dynamic process that requires multidisciplinary involvement from surgeons, anesthesiologists, internists, and intensivists. Collaborative and coordinated activity within the surgical team is vital in these scenarios involving the morbidly obese (13). In this chapter, we will discuss cardiac and respiratory diseases in the morbidly obese patient undergoing a surgical procedure, following the above-mentioned focus, from preoperative assessment to postoperative care. SPECIFIC SURGICAL ISSUES
Demand Response Assessment and Modelling of Peak Electricity Demand in the Residential Sector: Information and Communcation Requirements

Peak demand is an issue in power supply system when demand exceeds the available capacity. Continuous growth in peak demand increases the risk of power failures, and increases the marginal cost of supply. The contribution of the residential sector to the system peak is quite substantial and has been a subject of discussion internationally. For example, a study done in New Zealand in 2007 attributed about half of system peak load to the residential sector. International research has attributed a significant influence of human behaviour on households energy use. “Demand Response” is a demand side management tool aimed at achieving peak energy demand reduction by eliciting behaviour change. It encompasses energy needs analysis, information provision to customers, behaviour induction, smart metering, and new signalling and feedback concepts. Demand response is far advanced in the industrial and commercial demand sectors. In the residential sector, information barriers and a lack of proper understanding of consumers’ behaviour have impeded the development of effective response strategies and new enabling technologies in the sector. To date, efforts to understanding residential sector behaviour for the purpose of peak demand analysis has been based on pricing mechanism. However, not much is known about the significance of other factors in influencing household customers’ peak electricity demand behaviour. There is a tremendous amount of data that can be analyzed and fed back to the user to influence behaviour. These may
Stock Returns, Expected Returns, and Real Activity

Measuring the total return variation explained by shocks to expected cash flows, time-varying expected returns, and shocks to expected returns is one way to judge the rationality of stock prices. Variables that proxy for expected returns and expected-return shocks capture 30 percent of the variance of annual NYSE value-weighted returns. Growth rates of production, used to proxy for shocks to expected cash flows, explain 43 percent of the return variance. Whether the combined explanatory power of the variables--about 58 percent of the variance of annual returns--is good or bad news about market efficiency is left for the reader to judge. Copyright 1990 by American Finance Association.
Analysis of the VPE sequences in the Caenorhabditis elegans vit-2 promoter with extrachromosomal tandem array-containing transgenic strains

The Caenorhabditis elegans vit genes, encoding vitellogenins, are abundantly expressed in the adult hermaphrodite intestine. Two repeated elements, vit promoter element 1 (VPE1 [TGTCAAT]) and VPE2 (CTGATAA), have been identified in the 5' flanking DNA of each of the vit genes of C. elegans and Caenorhabditis briggsae. These elements have previously been shown to be needed for correctly regulated expression of a vit-2/vit-6 fusion gene in low-copy-number, integrated transgenes. Here we extend the analysis of the function of VPE1 and VPE2 by using transgenic lines carrying large, extrachromosomal arrays of the test genes. The results validate the use of such arrays for transgenic analysis of gene regulation in C. elegans, by confirming previous findings showing that the VPE1 at -45 and both VPE2s are sites of activation. Additional experiments now indicate that when the -45 VPE1 is inverted or replaced by a VPE2, nearly total loss of promoter function results, suggesting that the highly conserved -45 VPE1 plays a unique role in vit-2 promoter function. In contrast, single mutations eliminating the three upstream VPE1s are without effect. However, in combination in double and triple mutants, these upstream VPE1 mutations cause drastic reductions in expression levels. The -150 VPE2 can be replaced by a XhoI site (CTCGAG), and the -90 VPE2 can be eliminated, as long as the overlapping VPE1 is left intact, but when these two replacements are combined, activity is lost. Thus, the promoter must have at least one VPE2 and it must have at least two VPE1s, one at -45 and one additional upstream element.
Neighbourhood Provision of Food and Alcohol Retailing and Social Deprivation in Urban New Zealand

Recent research has considered whether a range of social and physical characteristics of residential neighbourhoods are important in explaining social and spatial inequalities in health. One strand of this research has investigated the role of neighbourhood access to retail provision of healthy and affordable food. In this national study we used Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to examine the association between food retail (supermarkets, convenience stores and fast food outlets) and licensed alcohol outlet locations, and an area measure of deprivation for urban neighbourhoods across New Zealand. We found that contrary to the international evidence, for all outlet types, access to a range of retail options tended to be better in more deprived neighbourhoods. The implications of this socio-spatial distribution of food and alcohol retailing in reducing health inequalities are discussed.
Testing for Ongoing Convergence in Transition Economies, 1970 to 1998

Abstract In this paper, the authors use a time-varying parameters procedure to test for a common growth path in the ex-Communist bloc, both pre- and postreform. They test whether there has been convergence within the bloc or between the bloc as a group and the West. Surprisingly, there is little evidence of convergence within the bloc, which brings into question the effectiveness of policies to reduce differentials in income per capita under the Communists. There is also little evidence of convergence with respect to the West, either during the period from 1970 to 1990 or if the reform years are included (i.e., 1970 to 1998). J. Comp. Econ. , December 2001, 29 (4), pp. 677–691. © 2001 Elsevier Science Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: O40, C22, C23, C15.