Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Agglomeration Effects on Regional Economic Disparities: A Comparison between the UK and Japan

In this study, the reason and cause of regional economic disparities in terms of per capita value-added are investigated by comparing the UK and Japanese regions. Special attention is paid to agglomeration effects on the differences of regional productivities. The Gini coefficients of per capita values-added exhibit relatively higher levels for the UK regions than for Japanese regions over the period 1995—2003. The cause of this difference is found to be in labour productivities rather than employment rates or labour per population. Furthermore, a decomposition of labour productivity into main industries clarifies agglomeration effects on manufacturing and service-related industry between both countries. Based on these findings, the production functions are estimated by main industries and differences in agglomeration effects on industries between the two countries are examined. Taking a dynamic view of the changing disparities across regions, an increase in regional disparities is associated with the cumulative growth theory.
Characterization of the MexC-MexD-OprJ Multidrug Efflux System in ΔmexA-mexB-oprM Mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ABSTRACT Expression of the multidrug efflux system MexC-MexD-OprJ innfxB mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosacontributes to resistance to fluoroquinolones and the “fourth-generation” cephems (cefpirome and cefozopran), but not to most β-lactams, including the ordinary cephems (ceftazidime and cefoperazone). nfxB mutants also express a second multidrug efflux system, MexA-MexB-OprM, due to incomplete transcriptional repression of this operon by the mexR gene product. To characterize the contribution of the MexC-MexD-OprJ system to drug resistance in P. aeruginosa, a site-specific deletion method was employed to remove the mexA-mexB-oprM region from the chromosome of wild-type and nfxB strains ofP. aeruginosa. Characterization of mutants lacking themexA-mexB-oprM region clearly indicated that the MexC-MexD-OprJ efflux system is involved in resistance to the ordinary cephems as well as fluoroquinolones and the fourth-generation cephems but not to carbenicillin and aztreonam. Rabbit polyclonal antisera and murine monoclonal antibody against the components of the MexA-MexB-OprM system were prepared and used to demonstrate the reduced production of this efflux system in the nfxB mutants. Consistent with this, transcription of the mexA-mexB-oprM operon decreased in an nfxB mutant. This reduction appears to explain the hypersusceptibility of the nfxB mutant to β-lactams, including ordinary cephems.
In vivo pharmacokinetics, long-term biodistribution and toxicology study of functionalized upconversion nanoparticles in mice.

AIMS We investigated the in vivo pharmacokinetics, long-term biodistribution and toxicology of polymer-coated upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) in mice. MATERIALS & METHODS Near infrared emitting Yb(3+)/Tm(3+)-doped NaYF(4) UCNPs coated with either polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polyacrylic acid (PAA) were intravenously injected into mice. Blood levels of UCNPs were measured. Yttrium levels in various organs were measured to determine the biodistribution of UCNPs over 3 months. Serum biochemistry, hematology and histology assays were conducted for in vivo toxicology assays. RESULTS UCNP-PEG exhibited improved stability in physiological solutions and prolonged blood circulation half-lives more than UCNP-PAA. No noticeable toxic side effect was noticed for either UCNP-PAA or UCNP-PEG in our toxicology study, despite the long-term retention of those nanoparticles in the reticuloendothelial systems including the liver and spleen of mice. CONCLUSION Although more systematic investigations are still required, the absence of appreciable toxicity shown in our study encourages future explorations of UCNPs for in vivo biomedical applications.
Social Reporting by Islamic Banks

The last thirty years have witnessed the appearance and rapid expansion of Islamic banking both inside and outside the Islamic world. Islamic banks provide financial products that do not violate Sharia, the Islamic law of human conduct. The Islamic principles upon which the banks claim to operate give an important role to social issues. Applying these principles, we develop a benchmark set of social disclosures appropriate to Islamic banks. These are then compared, using a disclosure index approach, the actual social disclosures contained in the annual reports of twenty-nine Islamic banks (located in sixteen countries) to this benchmark. In addition, content analysis is undertaken to measure the volume of social disclosures. Our analysis suggests that social reporting by Islamic banks falls significantly short of our expectations. The results of the analysis also suggest that banks required to pay the Islamic religious tax Zakah provide more social disclosures than banks not subject to Zakah.
DETERMINANTS OF INSTRUCTORS TO APPLY IT IN TEACHING

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the internal and external determinants that affect vocational and technology instructor attitudes to apply IT in teaching. Internal factors include teacher computer knowledge, interest, perceived usefulness and perception of time applying IT in teaching. External factors include teaching climate, school policy, facility, and training in IT instruction. Teacher attitudes are defined as anxiety, beliefs and intention to use IT in teaching. As an empirical study, 141 valid science and technology university teachers were sampled in Taiwan. The results indicate almost all of the internal factors significantly influence the teacher attitudes to apply IT in teaching. Except climate factor, the other external factors did not have any significant effect on instructor attitudes to apply IT in teaching. The results could provide information for schools and human resource administrators to appropriately allocate teaching resources.
Exercise Enhances and Protects Brain Function

COTMAN, C.W. , and C. ENGESSER-CESAR. Exercise enhances and protects brain function. Exerc. Sport Sci. Rev., Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 75–79, 2002. Physical activity, in the form of voluntary wheel running, induces gene expression changes in the brain. Animals that exercise show an increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a molecule that increases neuronal survival, enhances learning, and protects against cognitive decline. Microarray analysis of gene expression provides further support that exercise enhances and supports brain function.
Use of cytokeratins 7 and 20 in determining the origin of metastatic carcinoma of unknown primary, with special emphasis on lung cancer

Metastatic carcinoma of unknown primary is a common problem, accounting for up to 10–15% of all solid tumours at presentation. Proper identification of the site of origin has prognostic and therapeutic significance. Prior immunohistochemical methods to identify the site of origin have been useful in a limited number of cases. Differential cytokeratin staining may be useful in this setting, particularly in identifying metastases from lung cancer. We have identified 144 cases of metastatic carcinoma of unknown primary to bone, lung or liver at Brigham and Women's Hospital between 1 January 1997 and 1 July 1998. Cytokeratin (CK) 7 and CK20 were used in 75 of these cases to narrow down the possible sites of the primary tumours. All of these cases were ambiguous as to the site of the primary tumour. Forty‐five cases were CK7+/CK20–, 15 cases were CK7–/CK20–, 9 cases were CK7–/CK20+ and 6 cases were CK7+/CK20+. Three of the cases were selected for detailed presentation and discussion as well as a discussion of the pertinent literature. Overall, the CK7+/CK20– phenotype favours a lung primary, the CK7+/CK20+ phenotype strongly favours transitional cells (urothelial) carcinoma, the CK7–/CK20+ phenotype favours colorectal carcinoma, while the CK7–/CK20– profile is not helpful.
Predictors in the treatment of difficult-to-control seizures by electrical stimulation of the centromedian thalamic nucleus.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of chronic electrical stimulation of centromedian thalamic nuclei (ESCM) in the treatment of difficult-to-control seizures. METHODS Thirteen patients underwent ESCM for periods ranging from 12 to 94 months (mean, 41.2 mo) with electrodes stereotactically placed in both centromedian nuclei and connected to internalized stimulation systems. Electrode placement was guided by ventriculography and confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging before stimulation systems were internalized. Anatomic and electrophysiological confirmation of the electrodes' position was accomplished by plotting electrode position on anatomic sections of Schaltenbrand and Bailey's atlas, and testing cortical recruiting responses and electroencephalogram desynchronization elicited by acute low- or high-frequency stimulation, respectively. RESULTS Improvement was highly significant for generalized tonicoclonic seizures and atypical absences. Better results were obtained for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. These results were accompanied by a significant decrease in generalized spike-wave and secondary synchronous discharges, as well as focal spikes in the frontal regions. In contrast, ESCM reduced neither complex partial seizures nor focal spikes in temporal regions. Outcomes using ESCM for generalized epilepsy were better in patients in whom anatomic and electrophysiological confirmation of electrode placement was correct than in those in whom the target was missed bilaterally (P < 0.001). The effect was sustained during the observation period and was better for longer-term than for shorter-term stimulation periods. CONCLUSION ESCM is an efficient and safe procedure for controlling certain seizure types, if patient selection and stereotactic placement are satisfactory.
The Social and Economic Determinants of Voter Behaviour: Evidence from the 1992 General Election In Scotland

This paper presents a model of voter choice which embodies less restrictive assumptions than those previously applied to UK elections and opinion polls, relaxing the standard assumption of the ‘Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives’ and allowing for voters to ‘group’ electoral alternatives perceived to be particularly similar to each other. Application of the model to the Scottish General Election results for 1992 indicates that relaxation of this assumption is necessary. In addition, the paper provides evidence on the socio-economic determinants of voter choice, and the relative magnitudes of the effects of income, local unemployment and social class.
Chartism and exchange rate volatility

The purpose of this paper is to implement theoretically, the observation that the relative importance of fundamental versus technical analysis in the foreign exchange market depends on the time horizon in currency trade. For shorter time horizons, more weight is placed on technical analysis, while more weight is placed on fundamental analysis for longer horizons. The theoretical framework is the Dornbusch overshooting model, where moving averages is the technical trading technique used by the chartists. The perfect foresight path near long-run equilibrium is derived, and it is shown that the magnitude of exchange rate overshooting is larger than in the Dornbusch model. Specifically, the extent of overshooting depends inversely on the time horizon in currency trade. How changes in the model's structural parameters endogenously affect this time horizon and the magnitude of overshooting along the perfect foresight path are also derived. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Export Processing Zones, Backward Linkages, and Variable Returns to Scale

This paper investigates the effects of forming export processing zones on factor rewards, national income, and the intermediate-good-producing sector under variable returns to scale (VRS). It is shown that the results obtained in the model under constant returns to scale are substantially modified if VRS is incorporated into the model. Copyright 2000 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Serologic Evidence of Infection with Ehrlichia spp. in Wild Rodents (Muridae: Sigmodontinae) in the United States

ABSTRACT Rodent (Muridae: Sigmodontinae) blood and sera collected from 14 states were tested for seroreactivity to a cultured isolate of the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) agent by using an indirect immunofluorescence assay. Of the 1,240 samples tested, 136 (11%) were found to be reactive at titers of ≥32. Rodents with HGE agent-specific antibodies were found in New York (23% of 491 samples; geometric mean endpoint titer [GMT] = 441), Connecticut (11% of 100 samples; GMT = 481), California (9% of 32 samples; GMT = 323), Colorado (2% of 212 samples; GMT = 256), Florida (7% of 27 samples; GMT = 362), Maryland (7% of 15 samples; titer = 64), New Jersey (4% of 76 samples; titer = 256), and Wisconsin (13% of 8 samples; titer = 128). Samples from Georgia (n = 16), Illinois (n = 27), Nevada (n = 27), North Carolina (n = 52), Ohio (n = 57), and Utah (n = 100) were not reactive. The earliest seroreactive sample was from aPeromyscus leucopus mouse collected in June 1986 in Connecticut, and the majority of the seroreactive samples (68%) were from this species. Samples from other Peromyscus species (P. boylii, P. maniculatus, and P. gossypinus) were also found to be reactive, with a GMT for the genus of 410. Several species of Neotoma woodrats (N. fuscipes, N. lepida, N. albigula, and N. mexicana) from California and Colorado had antibodies that reacted with the HGE agent (genus GMT = 194), suggesting that enzootic cycles of Ehrlichia spp. exist outside of the areas of confirmed human disease. Attempts to amplify and detect ehrlichial DNA from the limited tissues available (n = 40 animals) were unsuccessful. Further studies are needed to determine the identity of the organisms inducing antibody production in these rodent species and to elucidate the epidemiology and public health importance of these agents.
Converging human resource management: a comparative analysis of Hungary and Turkey

This study is a comparative examination of human resource management (HRM) in Turkey, as an EU candidate country, and Hungary, as a recent member of the EU. After a brief review of the literature on the convergence and divergence debate in HRM, the similarities and differences in HRM in Turkey and Hungary are empirically investigated. In the research, HRM in the two countries is compared in four dimensions: the HR departments' structure; the top HR managers' characteristics and qualifications; the strategic nature of HRM; and HR practices. The research was conducted in the banking sector. In total 50 banks (32 banks from Turkey and 18 banks from Hungary) participated in the research with an overall response rate of 53%. The data obtained are analyzed via the Mann–Whitney U test. The results are descriptive in nature. Except for the differences observed, especially in HR departments' organizational structures, the findings provide evidence for convergence of HRM in the two countries.
Wrapping in Images: Tattooing in Polynesia

Wrapping in Images is the first comparative analysis of tattooing in Polynesia in its original setting, based on a comprehensive survey of both written and visual documentary sources. Drawing on modern social theory, psychoanalysis, and contemporary anthropology, Alfred Gell shows how tattooing formed part of a complex array of symbolic techniques for controlling sacredness and protecting the self. He uses this framework to examine the iconographic meaning of tattoo motifs, the rich corpus of mythology surrounding tattooing in some Polynesian societies, and the complex rituals associated with the tattoing operation. he also demonstrates how not all ancient Polynesian societies placed an equal emphasis on tattooing, or exploited the basic metaphors in the same way. Gell's wide-ranging, comparative political analysis shows consistent correlations between forms of political structure and different tattooing institutions, offering a new perspective on Polynesian comparative sociology.
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS DISCUSSION PAPER SERIES Airline Competition in the British Isles

We study the relationship between pricing and market structure on the routes connecting the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Because in 2007 the European Commission prohibited the takeover of Aer Lingus by Ryanair, the analysis focuses on their pricing strategies in particular. We use an original dataset of fares posted on-line, which allows to control for the fares’ intertemporal pattern for each specific flight and each carrier’s specific yield management system. Our evidence supports the European Commission’s view that the elimination of a competitor in the Irish airline market is likely to have harmful consequences for consumers.
Comparison of genotypes C and D of the hepatitis B virus in Japan: A clinical and molecular biological study

The genotype‐related differences between genotype C and genotype D of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) remain unknown. The relationship was studied between the HBV genotypes and their clinical features, paying special attention to genotypes C and D. Serum samples from 413 HBV carriers were genotyped using an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and by restriction fragment length polymorphism. The nucleotide sequences at the basic core promoter (BCP) and precore (PreC) regions were analysed by direct sequencing. The full genome sequences of three HBV genotype D cases were also examined. Almost all carriers with HBV genotype D were asymptomatic carriers (84.2%). Genotype D was not found in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In contrast, carriers with genotype C had mainly chronic liver disease (63.2%; P < 0.001). The ratio of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)/anti‐HBe was significantly higher in genotype C than in genotype D in the young age‐matched group (P < 0.01). The mutation at BCP (T1762, A1764) was significantly lower in genotype D than in genotype C among HBeAg‐negative patients (P < 0.05). The HBV full‐genome sequences are very similar to certain HBV genotype D sequences from Europe. In conclusion, genotype C was associated with chronic liver disease, whereas genotype D was related to asymptomatic carriers with earlier HBeAg seroconversion. Thus, the outcome of chronic HBV infection may be different in persons infected with HBV genotypes C and D. J. Med. Virol. 72:551–557, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Role of Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV in the Cleavage of Glucagon Family Peptides

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DP-IV) is a cell surface serine dipeptidase that is involved in the regulation of the incretin hormones, glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). There is accumulating evidence that other members of the glucagon family of peptides are also endogenous substrates for this enzyme. To identify candidate substrates for DP-IV, a mass spectrometry-based protease assay was developed that measures cleavage efficiencies (kcat/Km) of polypeptides in a mixture, using only a few picomoles of each substrate and physiological amounts of enzyme in a single kinetic experiment. Oxyntomodulin and the growth hormone-(1–43) fragment were identified as new candidate in vivo substrates. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-(1–38) (PACAP38), a critical mediator of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, was also determined to be efficiently processed by DP-IV in vitro. The catabolism of exogenously administered PACAP38 in wild type and DP-IV-deficient C57Bl/6 mice was monitored by tandem mass spectrometry. Animals lacking DP-IV exhibited a significantly slower clearance of the circulating peptide with virtually complete suppression of the inactive DP-IV metabolite, PACAP-(3–38). These in vivo results suggest that DP-IV plays a major role in the degradation of circulating PACAP38.
Collagen incorporation within electrospun conduits reduces lipid oxidation and impacts conduit mechanics

Modulating the host response, including the accumulation of oxidized lipid species, is important for improving tissue engineered vascular graft (TEVG) viability. Accumulation of oxidized lipids promotes smooth muscle cell (SMC) hyper-proliferation and inhibits endothelial cell migration, which can lead to several of the current challenges for small-diameter TEVGs. Generating biomaterials that reduce lipid oxidation is important for graft survival and this assessment can provide a reliable correlation to clinical situations. In this study, we determined the collagen to poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) ratio required to limit the production of pro-inflammatory species, while maintaining the required mechanical strength for the graft. Electrospun conduits were prepared from 0%, 10%, and 25% blends of collagen/PCL (w/w) and implanted in the rat peritoneal cavity for four weeks. The results showed that adding collagen to the PCL conduits reduced the accumulation of oxidized lipid species within the implanted conduits. In addition, the ratio of collagen had a significant impact on the recruited cell phenotype and construct mechanics. All conduits exhibited greater than 44% yield strain and sufficient tensile strength post-implantation. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that incorporating collagen into synthetic electrospun scaffolds, both 10% and 25% blend conditions, appears to limit the pro-inflammatory characteristics after in vivo implantation.
Protein glycation, oxidation and nitration adduct residues and free adducts of cerebrospinal fluid in Alzheimer's disease and link to cognitive impairment

Increased damage to proteins by glycation, oxidation and nitration has been implicated in neuronal cell death leading to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Protein glycation, oxidation and nitration adducts are consequently formed. Quantitative screening of these adducts in CSF may provide a biochemical indicator for the diagnosis of AD. To assess this, we measured 11 glycation adducts, three oxidation adducts and a nitration adduct, determining both protein adduct residues and free adducts, in CSF samples of age‐matched normal healthy subjects (n = 18) and subjects with Alzheimer's disease (n = 32). In CSF protein, the concentrations of 3‐nitrotyrosine, Nɛ‐carboxymethyl‐lysine, 3‐deoxyglucosone‐derived hydroimidazolone and N‐formylkynurenine residues were increased in subjects with Alzheimer's disease. In CSF ultrafiltrate, the concentrations of 3‐nitrotyrosine, methylglyoxal‐derived hydroimidazolone and glyoxal‐derived hydroimidazolone free adducts were also increased. The Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) score correlated negatively with 3‐nitrotyrosine residue concentration (p < 0.05), and the negative correlation with fructosyl‐lysine residues just failed to reach significance (p = 0.052). Multiple linear regression gave a regression model of the MMSE score on 3‐nitrotyrosine, fructosyl‐lysine and Nɛ‐carboxyethyl‐lysine residues with p‐values of 0.021, 0.031 and 0.052, respectively. These findings indicate that protein glycation, oxidation and nitration adduct residues and free adducts were increased in the CSF of subjects with Alzheimer's disease. A combination of nitration and glycation adduct estimates of CSF may provide an indicator for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
Prediction in Marketing Using the Support Vector Machine

Many marketing problems require accurately predicting the outcome of a process or the future state of a system. In this paper, we investigate the ability of the support vector machine to predict outcomes in emerging environments in marketing, such as automated modeling, mass-produced models, intelligent software agents, and data mining. The support vector machine SVM is a semiparametric technique with origins in the machine-learning literature of computer science. Its approach to prediction differs markedly from that of standard parametric models. We explore these differences and benchmark the SVM's prediction hit-rates against those from the multinomial logit model. Because there are few applications of the SVM in marketing, we develop a framework to position it against current modeling techniques and to assess its weaknesses as well as its strengths.