Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diet, diabetes and relatedness in a central Australian Aboriginal settlement: some qualitative recommendations to facilitate the creation of culturally sensitive health promotion initiatives.

ISSUE ADDRESSED At the request of chronically-ill Aboriginal patients in Central Australia with whom I have worked for the past 25 years, ethnographic research was conducted to provide a better understanding of how diabetes sufferers cope with their illness in everyday life for the creation of more culturally sensitive health promotion initiatives. METHODS Based on analyses of participant-observation data and semi-structured interviews over an eight month period with 84 Aboriginal diabetic sufferers and their kin, as well as conversations with medical staff working at the local clinic, this paper discusses contemporary Aboriginal contemporary dietary practices, postcolonial demand-sharing economy, deployment of various regimes of care and health promotion initiatives. RESULTS Diabetic patients lack access to what is determined key by health care providers to offset ill-health such as diabetic-friendly food. In order to cope and make sense of their chronic illness, diabetic patients oscillate between different regimes of care - biomedical, demand-sharing economy, and traditional and Christian religious institutions. CONCLUSION To ensure a certain measure of success, long-term health promotion initiatives need to be grounded in a Warlpiri caring praxis of 'looking after', and rely on realistic collaborations among patients and their kin, local health care providers, and other community-based organisations.
Validity test of purchasing power parity doctrine: An Indonesian case study

The goal of this study is to analyze the doctrine purchasing power parity (PPP) in Indonesia with the case study of the rupiah exchange rate to U.S. dollar. The autoregressive is used to estimate the relationship between the change of exchange rate and the difference Indonesia–USA inflation rate. The data used in this study are quarterly data obtained from the International Financial Statistics (IFS) and Bank Indonesia (BI) with the period 1997Q4-2013Q4. The exchange rate that used in this study is using the rate on rupiah to U S dollar. The price data used consumer price index in Indonesia and the United States with a base year of 2000. The results of this study show, that rupiah to the U.S. dollar is undervalued during the free floating exchange rate system and, the PPP doctrine to the case of the rupiah to the U.S. dollar is not valid in the period of this study.
Local Governments and Local Waste Management in the Czech Republic: Producers or Providers?

Abstract Local governments are responsible for the delivery of a large variety of very different public services. The article is focused on two issues: 1) we try to discover whether the local governments in the Czech Republic prefer to be “producers” or “providers” of the waste-collection services; 2) we test and compare the efficiency of “production” and the efficiency of “provision”, and for this purpose we take into account various factors, inter alia inter-municipal cooperation, the existence of hybrid organizations, economies of scale etc. A main goal is to find out what the local governments in the Czech Republic prefer if they decide on the delivery of local services linked to waste management and what factors are the most important ones from the perspective of their potential influence on efficiency. Concerning the data, we analyse linked open data on municipal solid waste expenditure collected by the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic and data relating to features of waste collection obtained via a questionnaire-based survey which was carried out at the turn of 2015 – 2016. The results of the presented analysis show a clear relationship of dependence between the inter-municipal cooperation and the relevant costs, and it confirms the assumption that the Czech local governments undoubtedly prefer the position of “providers” in the field of the local waste management. Paradoxically, the results show that neither internal nor external provision of waste-collection services is a key factor of cost-efficiency.
Attribution of hedge fund returns using a Kalman filter

ABSTRACT Hedge funds offer attractive investment possibilities because they engage in investment styles and opportunity sets which – because they are different from traditional asset class funds – generate different risk exposures. Conventional wisdom holds that hedge funds add value and provide unique investment opportunities because of their ability to invest in disparate risk exposures, and via the manager’s skill in selecting stocks and timing the market. In this article, a Kalman filter is used to decompose the time series of hedge fund returns into market timing and stock selection factors to establish whether fund managers really do generate statistically significant abnormal profits. Compelling evidence supports an alternative interpretation for the market timing return constituent. This work represents the first time the Kalman filter has been used to extract a time series of the capital asset pricing model’s dynamic variables for determining return component magnitudes.
The effect of enriched environment across ages: A study of anhedonia and BDNF gene induction

Enriched environment treatment (EET) is a potential intervention for depression by inducing brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). However, its age dependency remains unclear. We recently found that EET during early‐life development (ED) was effective in increasing exploratory activity and anti‐despair behavior, particularly in promoter IV‐driven BDNF deficient mice (KIV), with the largest BDNF protein induction in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. Here, we further determined age dependency of EET effects on anhedonia and promoter‐specific BDNF transcription, by using the sucrose preference test and qRT‐PCR. Wild‐type (WT) and KIV mice received 2 months of EET during ED, young‐adulthood and old‐adulthood (0‐2, 2‐4 and 12‐14 months, respectively). All KIV groups showed reduced sucrose preference, which EET equally reversed regardless of age. EET increased hippocampal BDNF mRNA levels for all ages and genotypes, but increased frontal cortex BDNF mRNA levels only in ED KIV and old WT mice. Transcription by promoters I and IV was age‐dependent in the hippocampus of WT mice: more effective induction of exon IV or I during ED or old‐adulthood, respectively. Transcription by almost all 9 promoters was age‐specific in the frontal cortex, mostly observed in ED KIV mice. After discontinuance of EET, the EET effects on anti‐anhedonia and BDNF transcription in both regions persisted only in ED KIV mice. These results suggested that EET was equally effective in reversing anhedonia and inducing hippocampal BDNF transcription, but was more effective during ED in inducing frontal cortex BDNF transcription and for lasting anti‐anhedonic and BDNF effects particularly in promoter IV‐BDNF deficiency.
Ultrastructure of Spermatogonia and Primary Spermatocytes of C57BL6J Mice

The three types of spermatogonia were confirmed. Type A spermatogonia have a large nucleus and loose chromatin and are poor in endoplasmic reticulum. The second type, B spermatogonia, have rounded and smaller nuclei filled with more electron‐dense nucleoplasmic material. The endoplasmic reticulum has the aspect of round or elongated cisterns that are free in the cytoplasm or close to the basement membrane. In contrast, intermediate spermatogonia present chromatin material with intermediate condensation compared with the two previous cell types. Primary spermatocytes are characterized by the presence of intercellular bridges and a synaptonemal complex. In the late pachytene stages, the synaptonemal complex was found to be enveloped by chromatin material.
Income-expenditure elasticities of less-healthy consumption goods

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify how consumption of 12 goods – alcohol, cigarettes, fast food, items sold at vending machines, purchases of food away from home, cookies, cakes, chips, candy, donuts, bacon, and carbonated soft drinks – varies across the income distribution by calculating their income-expenditure elasticites. Design/methodology/approach Data on 22,681 households from 2009-2012 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Expenditure Survey were used. The data were analyzed using ordinary least squares regressions and Cragg’s double hurdle model which integrates a binary model to determine the decision to consume and a truncated normal model to estimate the effects for conditional (y>0) consumption. Findings Income had the greatest effect on expenditures for alcohol (0.314), food away from home (0.295), and fast food (0.284). A one percentage-point increase in income (approximately $428 at the mean) translated into a 0.314 percentage-point increase in spending on alcoholic beverages (approximately $1 annually at the mean). Income had the smallest influence on tobacco expenditures (0.007) and donut expenditures (−0.009). Research limitations/implications Percentage of a household’s discretionary budget spent on the studied goods falls substantially as income gets larger. Policies targeting the consumption of such goods will disproportionately impact lower income households. Originality/value This is the first manuscript to calculate income-expenditure elasticities for the goods studied. The results allow for a direct analysis of targeted consumption policy on household budgets across the income distribution.
Ca2+‐sensitive cytosolic nucleases prevent efficient delivery to the nucleus of injected plasmids

Efficient gene delivery by synthetic vectors is a major challenge in gene therapy. However, inefficient nuclear delivery of cDNA is thought to be a major limiting step in gene transfer using non‐viral vectors. It is commonly thought that, in the cytosol, cDNA has to be released from its vector before importation to the nucleus. The stability of naked cDNA in the cytoplasm is not well established.
Transfusion of RhD-incompatible blood components in RhD-negative blood marrow transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND Transfusion-dependent bone marrow transplant recipients are routinely transfused with ABO group and RhD-compatible blood components. However, because of the scarcity of RhD-negative blood components, particularly platelets, a policy was developed to transfuse RhD-positive blood components to RhD-negative patients during periods of shortage. METHODS We reviewed the records of 78 RhD-negative patients with hematologic malignancies who received RhD-negative bone marrow and/or peripheral blood stem cells, from June 1995 to August 2000. The patients transfused with RhD-incompatible blood components were screened periodically for evidence of the development of red blood cell (RBC) alloimmunization. RESULTS Three of 78 patients (4%) developed anti-D antibodies after receiving RhD-incompatible platelet transfusions. One of the patients developed evidence of anti-RhD antibodies after receiving 42 units of RhD-positive random donor platelets; the second patient developed such evidence after receiving 6 apheresis platelets and 2 infusions of intravenous immunoglobulin G (positive for anti-RhD). The third patient received 206 RhD-positive random donor platelets and 5 apheresis units. All patients were discharged from the hospital. The overall immunization rate was 4%. Six patients received Rh-incompatible packed RBCs and showed no evidence of neither anti-RhD nor any other anti-RBC antibodies. All 78 patients had received RhD-incompatible platelets throughout their engraftment period. CONCLUSION Transfusion of RhD-positive blood components to Rh-negative patients with hematologic cancers, who have received RhD-negative bone marrow and/or peripheral blood stem cells, are at low risk of developing RhD antibodies. These findings allow for a flexible strategy of blood component therapy support for this special patient population during periods of shortage.
Role of the 25-, 27-, and 29-kilodalton flagellins in Caulobacter crescentus cell motility: method for construction of deletion and Tn5 insertion mutants by gene replacement

Caulobacter crescentus incorporates two distinct, but related proteins into the polar flagellar filament: a 27-kilodalton (kDa) flagellin is assembled proximal to the hook and a 25-kDa flagellin forms the distal end of the filament. These two proteins and a third, related flagellin protein of 29 kDa are encoded by three tandem genes (alpha-flagellin cluster) in the flaEY gene cluster (S.A. Minnich and A. Newton, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84: 1142-1146, 1987). Since point mutations in flagellin genes had not been isolated their requirement for flagellum function and fla gene expression was not known. To address these questions, we developed a gene replacement protocol that uses cloned flagellin genes mutagenized by either Tn5 transposons in vivo or the replacement of specific DNA fragments in vitro by the antibiotic resistance omega cassette. Analysis of gene replacement mutants constructed by this procedure led to several conclusions. (i) Mutations in any of the three flagellin genes do not cause complete loss of motility. (ii) Tn5 insertions in the 27-kDa flagellin gene and a deletion mutant of this gene do not synthesize the 27-kDa flagellin, but they do synthesize wild-type levels of the 25-kDa flagellin, which implies that the 27-kDa flagellin is not required for expression and assembly of the 25-kDa flagellin; these mutants show slightly impaired motility on swarm plates. (iii) Mutant PC7810, which is deleted for the three flagellin genes in the flaEY cluster, does not synthesize the 27- or 29-kDa flagellin, and it is significantly more impaired for motility on swarm plates than mutants with defects in only the 27-kDa flagellin gene. The synthesis of essentially normal levels of 25-kDa flagellin by strain PC7810 confirms that additional copies of the 25-kDa flagellin map outside the flaEY cluster (beta-flagellin cluster) and that these flagellin genes are active. Thus, while the 29- and 27-kDa flagellins are not absolutely essential for motility in C. crescentus, their assembly into the flagellar structure is necessary for normal flagellar function.
Depletion of Resident Chlamydia pneumoniae through Leukoreduction by Filtration of Blood for Transfusion

ABSTRACT Current studies indicate that a significant percentage of healthy blood donors carry Chlamydia pneumoniae in their blood. Although the clinical significance of such findings is unknown, eradication of such bacteria from blood components may contribute to transfusion safety. Deletion of C. pneumoniae in Red Blood Cell (RBC) units was accomplished through leukoreduction by filtration. The presence of bacteria in RBC units before and after leukoreduction was assessed by real-time PCR using primers specific for C. pneumoniae 16S rRNA. The eluates of filters used for leukoreduction were also assessed by PCR and immunostaining with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated chlamydial monoclonal antibodies specific for C. pneumoniae determination. Nineteen of 30 RBC units tested showed the presence of C. pneumoniae DNA. Leukofiltration resulted in a marked reduction of leukocytes as well as C. pneumoniae in terms of bacterial number and positive rate for the bacteria. The eluates of filters showed trapped bacteria determined by both PCR and immunostaining assays. Thus, leukoreduction with a filter is an effective method to significantly reduce resident C. pneumoniae levels in RBC components but may not be completely sufficient for total eradication of this pathogen.
Sedentariness and weight status related to SES and family characteristics in Italian adults: exploring geographic variability through multilevel models

Aim: In this study, our aim was to assess the prevalence of sedentariness and overweight/obesity, two modifiable risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and to investigate the geographic variability in their association with socio-economic status (SES) and family characteristics in Italian adults. Methods: The Multipurpose Survey on Health Conditions and the Recourse to Health Services (MSHC), 2012/2013 edition, conducted by the National Institute of Statistics was used as data source. The sample for this study included 99,479 interviewed people aged 18 and over, which are representative of about 50 million persons. For the scope of this analysis, data were considered as individuals nested within families within regions and analysed through multilevel models. Results: It was estimated that 39.8% of Italian adults are sedentary, 38.1% are partially active and 22.1% are physically active; 11.3% of Italian adults are obese and the 34.5% are overweight. There was evidence of inverse socio-economic gradient for both sedentariness and body mass index (BMI). There was higher risk of sedentariness for one-parent (odds ratio (OR) = 1.10; 95% confidence interval (CI) = (1.02; 1.20)) and other family types (OR = 1.34; 95% CI = (1.20; 1.48 )) compared with couples with children. Also, the relative variation of BMI was statistically significant for one-parent, one-person and other families (p < 0.05). An increasing north–south gradient was suggested for BMI, but not for sedentariness. Conclusions: Policy interventions could be addressed to reduce BMI levels in the southern area and to encourage physical activity in regions with high sedentariness. The Italian family is the key driver to promote virtuous healthy behaviours.
Inhibition of tumor formation and redirected differentiation of glioblastoma cells in a xenotypic embryonic environment

Background: Tissue microenvironment plays key roles in regulating the progression of aggressive tumors. Tumors are uncommon in the early embryo, suggesting that embryonic tissue microenvironments are nonpermissive for tumors. Yet, the effects of embryonic tissue microenvironments on tumor cells have not been extensively studied. We have, therefore, tested the behavior of human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells transplanted into a central neural tissue microenvironment in the chicken embryo. Results: GBM cells were cultured as spheres to enrich for GBM stem cells (GSCs) and transduced with GFP for identification. Within the proliferative embryonic neural tissue, GSC‐enriched GBM cells exhibited reduced proliferation and survival, altered gene expression, and formed no tumors, in marked contrast to their aggressive behavior in vitro and tumor formation in other tissue microenvironments including the chorioallantoic membrane of the chicken embryo and the brain of adult severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. Surviving cells in the spinal neural tube exhibited tumor‐atypical expression profiles of neuron‐, glia‐, stem cell‐, and tumor‐related genes. Conclusions: Embryonic neural tissue provides a poor environment for GBM cell survival and tumor formation, and redirects differentiation toward a more benign phenotype. Understanding the anti‐tumorigenic effects of this embryonic tissue microenvironment could provide opportunities to develop novel therapies for GBM treatment. Developmental Dynamics 242:1078‐1093, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Essays in public economics

This dissertation consists of two essays. The common theme is Public Economics: to understand the effects of government policies in order to improve their design and to understand how special interest groups affect the local fiscal policies. In the first chapter, I study the impact of student debt on the education, career, and marriage choices of female lawyers. Law students quite often take on substantial amounts of debt to finance their graduate education. There has been much concern in the legal profession and among policy-makers that this debt burden distorts career choices. The empirical analysis is based on a novel, nationally representative, longitudinal data set. In contrast to the previous literature that has largely focused on males and finds only small effects, these new data suggest that debt has large and significant negative effects on female career and marriage outcomes. To explore the likely causes of these negative debt effects, I develop and estimate a dynamic model of education, labor, and marriage markets. My findings suggest that a large part of the debt effect on schooling and career choices comes from the diminished marriage prospects associated with the debt burden. I then focus on policies that aim to reduce the debt burden while also encouraging female lawyers to pursue careers in the public sector. My policy experiments show that subsidizing student debt repayment earlier in the career is more effective than doing so later. In the second chapter, I study the impact of unions on municipal elections and urban fiscal policies. The efficient decentralized provision of public goods requires that special interest groups, such as municipal unions, do not exercise undue influence on the outcome of municipal elections and local fiscal policies. I have assembled a unique data set that is based on union endorsements that are published in leading local newspapers. My empirical analysis focuses on municipal elections in the 150 largest cities in the U.S. between 1990 and 2012. I find that challengers strongly benefit from endorsements in competitive elections. Challengers that receive union endorsements and successfully defeat an incumbent also tend to adopt more union friendly fiscal policies. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Economics First Advisor Holger Sieg
Effects of neonatal enucleation on the functional organization of the superior colliculus in the golden hamster.

1. The responses of visual, auditory and somatosensory superior collicular neurones were investigated using extracellular single unit recording techniques in hamsters which were subjected to the removal of one eye on the day of birth. 2. Neonatal enucleation resulted in a marked increase in the region of the colliculus from which visual neurones activated by stimulation of the ipsilateral eye could be recorded. In most cases the visuotopic representation in the colliculus ipsilateral to the remaining eye mirrored that observed in the contralateral tectum along both the rostrocaudal and mediolateral axes: in both colliculi temporal retina projected rostrally and inferior retina medially. In some animals, however, there appeared to be a dual mapping of the remaining eye onto the ipsilateral tectum. In these hamsters the central portion of the visual field was represented twice along the rostrocaudal axis of colliculus. 3. No changes in the topography of the somatosensory and auditory representations in the tectum were observed following neonatal enucleation. 4. The laminar distribution of visual neurones in the ipsilateral colliculus was markedly altered in the neonatally enucleated hamsters. Very few exclusively visual units were encountered in the layers ventral to the stratum opticum and almost all of the visual cells recorded in the ipsilateral colliculus were isolated within 150 microM of the tectal surface. 5. In the posterior half of the ipsilateral tectum a large number of extravisually responsive cells were encountered in the stratum griseum superficiale and stratum opticum. This was not the case in the colliculus contralateral to the remaining eye, nor has it ever been observed in normal hamsters. 6. Recordings from animals subjected to both neonatal enucleation and acute bilateral removal of somatosensory and auditory cortex indicated that the projections from these areas to the colliculus were not essential to the observed changes in laminar organization. 7. Recordings from normally reared hamsters which were subjected to removal of one eye at the time of the recording experiment suggested further that the isolation of extravisual cells in the superficial tectal aminae of the neonatal enucleates was probably not the result of the ‘unmasking’ of extravisual influences in the superficial layers which are present, but ineffective, in the normal case.