Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Monetary aggregates and core inflation: evidence from India

ABSTRACT This study constructs a model-based core inflation for India using Divisia monetary aggregates instead of traditional money measures with the methodology proposed by Bagliano and Morana (2003) and evaluates its forecasting abilities. The core inflation derived from Divisia monetary aggregates is found to be a better leading indicator of measured inflation than the core inflation derived from traditional money measures. These results argue for a case in favour of using monetary aggregates in the construction of core inflation for policy purposes.
Characterization of a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 variant with reduced sensitivity to an aminodiol protease inhibitor

Development of viral resistance to the aminodiol human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitor BMS 186,318 was studied by serial passage of HIV type 1 RF in MT-2 cells in the presence of increasing concentrations of compound. After 11 passages, an HIV variant that showed a 15-fold increase in 50% effective dose emerged. This HIV variant displays low-level cross-resistance to the C2 symmetric inhibitor A-77003 but remains sensitive to the protease inhibitors Ro 31-8959 and SC52151. Genetic analysis of the protease gene from a drug-resistant variant revealed an Ala-to-Thr change at amino acid residue 71 (A71T) and a Val-to-Ala change at residue 82 (V82A). To determine the effects of these mutations on protease and virus drug susceptibility, recombinant protease and proviral HIV type 1 clones containing the single mutations A71T and V82A or double mutation A71T/V82A were constructed. Subsequent drug sensitivity assays on the mutant proteases and viruses indicated that the V82A substitution was responsible for most of the resistance observed. Further genotypic analysis of the protease genes from earlier passages of virus indicated that the A71T mutation emerged prior to the V82A change. Finally, the level of resistance did not increase following continued passage in increasing concentrations of drug, and the resistant virus retained its drug susceptibility phenotype 34 days after drug withdrawal.
Accuracy, unbiasedness, and efficiency of current account growth forecast: Evidence from a large cross section of developed and developing economies

Abstract We use a previously unexploited consensus survey data set to compare accuracy, unbiasedness and efficiency of Current Account growth forecasts between two panels of 25 developed and 18 developing countries following the methodologies in the existing literature. Forecast errors are bigger for the developing country comparing to the developed country. Developed country forecast errors are unbiased but inefficient. The developing country forecast errors are biased but relatively more efficient. In both the panels, forecast revisions are efficient for the same forecast horizons, but inefficient for the adjacent horizons. Additionally, we find less evidence of forecast smoothing compared to some earlier studies. Forecasters do improve their forecasts as the horizons become shorter although the forecasts fall short of being unbiased and efficient statistically.
Forecasting the Distribution of Option Returns

We propose a method for constructing conditional option return distributions. In our model, uncertainty about the future option return has two sources: Changes in the position and shape of the implied volatility surface that shift option values (holding moneyness and maturity fixed), and changes in the underlying price which alter an option's location on the surface and thus its value (holding the surface fixed). We estimate a joint time series model of the spot price and volatility surface and use this to construct an ex ante characterization of the option return distribution via bootstrap. Our "ORB" (option return bootstrap) model accurately forecasts means, variances, and extreme quantiles of S&P 500 index conditional option return distributions across a wide range of strikes and maturities. We illustrate the value of our approach for practical economic problems such as risk management and portfolio choice. We also use the model to illustrate the risk and return tradeoff throughout the options surface conditional on being in a high or low risk state of the world. Comparing against our less structured but more accurate model predictions helps identify misspecification of risks and risk pricing in traditional no-arbitrage option models with stochastic volatility and jumps.
Dynamics of Volatility Spillover Between The Indian Stock Market and Foreign Exchange Market Return

A rapid increase is seen in the international equity investment since 1990. Numbers of empirical evidences are being found on volatility spillover effect of exchange rate return on stock market return in different forms and in different countries. Changes in exchange rate has got an effect on stock market whether it is export or import oriented or both. India being an emerging economy the changes in exchange rates and their impact on stock market return are significant and critical in Indian context and that too post financial crisis like subprime crisis. The objective of the paper is to study the spillover effect and to provide an idea how information is transmitted from exchange rate return to stock market return and vice versa. The scope of the study is to measure the relationship of volatility between Indian stock market return and the return from the four currency pairs actively traded in India. Two prominent stock indices (SENSEX and NIFTY) are chosen from two stock exchanges Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) and four currency pair selected for the study are USD-INR, EURO-INR, GBPINR and JPY-INR. The study takes daily log normal return for a period of 2008 to 2016 for all the variables chosen. GARCH and Cointegration methods are applied to test the volatility spillover and long term relationship between these two markets. The finding indicates that a bidirectional volatility spillover exists between Indian stock market and the foreign exchange market return and the markets move in tandem with each other. The study indicates that a long term relationship exists between these two markets and there is an information flow between these markets. The findings can be useful for international investors for effective hedging and portfolio diversification and also help the policy makers for taking important decisions. Keyword: Stock Market, Financial Crisis, Foreign Exchange Return
Local attendees' perceptions of festival impacts: A factor-cluster analysis approach to the Zanzibar International Film Festival

ABSTRACT Appraising residents' perceptions of the impacts of festivals is imperative to festival success. Such residents can rightly claim ownership of the place where the festival is staged and the cultural aspects the festival showcases. This study aimed at elucidating local attendees' perceived festival impacts at the annual Zanzibar International Film Festival. Data for this study were collected using a structured questionnaire that yielded 263 responses conveniently drawn from festival-goers, which were then subjected to factor-cluster analysis. The results reveal the presence of three clusters (advocates, ambivalents, and cautious-advocates) that differ significantly on their perceived impacts of the festival with respect to its environmental, socio-cultural, and economic contributions. These results have both managerial and policy implications on the inclusion of the locals in planning and managing festivals.
Mismatch Negativity in First-Episode Schizophrenia

Mismatch negativity (MMN) to deviant stimuli is robustly smaller in individuals with chronic schizophrenia compared with healthy controls (Cohen’s d > 1.0 or more), leading to the possibility of MMN being used as a biomarker for schizophrenia. However, there is some debate in the literature as to whether MMN is reliably reduced in first-episode schizophrenia patients. For the biomarker to be used as a predictive marker for schizophrenia, it should be reduced in the majority of cases known to have the disease, particularly at disease onset. We conducted a meta-analysis on the fourteen studies that measured MMN to pitch or duration deviants in healthy controls and patients within 12 months of their first episode of schizophrenia. The overall effect size showed no MMN reduction in first-episode patients to pitch-deviants (Cohen’s d < 0.04), and a small-to-medium reduction to duration-deviants (Cohen’s d = 0.47). Together, this indicates that pitch-deviant MMN is not a candidate biomarker for schizophrenia prediction, while duration-deviant MMN may hold some promise, albeit nearly a third as large an effect as in chronic schizophrenia. Potential causes for discrepancies between studies are discussed.
The role of UGT1A1 promoter polymorphism and exon-1 mutations in neonatal jaundice

Abstract Objective: In the present study, we investigated the effects of promoter polymorphism and an exon-1 mutation (G71R) in the UGT1A1 gene in neonates with unexplained hyperbilirubinemia and direct Coombs-negative [DC(–)] ABO incompatibility. Methods: Two-hundred term neonates in their first week of life and without additional icterogenic factors were included in the study. Neonates with a serum total bilirubin (STB) level ≥17 mg/dL constituted the hyperbilirubinemia group (n = 100), while the control group comprised healthy neonates with a STB level <12.9 mg/dL (n = 100). The cases were further subdivided into unexplained hyperbilirubinemia (n = 50), ABO(+) hyperbilirubinemia (n = 50), ABO(–) control (n = 50), and ABO(+) control (n = 50) groups on the basis of the presence or absence of DC(–) ABO incompatibility. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood and amplified by PCR, and UGT1A1 gene promoter and exon-1 were sequenced to verify sequence alterations. Results: The frequency of TA6/6, TA6/7, TA7/7, and GGA/GGA, GGA/AGA, AGA/AGA genotypes was found to be 63.5%, 21%, 15.5%, and 91.5%, 8%, 0.5%, respectively. While both heterozygous and homozygous TA7 polymorphism increased risk of hyperbilirubinemia in the ABO(+) hyperbilirubinemia group (heterozygous OR 16.76, 95% CI:3.52-79.70, p < 0.0001; homozygous OR 6.81, 95% CI:1.98-23:42, p = 0.002), only heterozygous TA7 polymorphism increased jaundice risk (OR 5.08 95% CI:76-14.65, p = 0.003) in unexplained hyperbilirubinemia. But, the coexistence of G71R mutation and promoter polymorphism or G71R mutation and DC(–) ABO incompatibility did not increase the severity of hyperbilirubinemia (p > 0.05). Conclusions: UGT1A1 gene promoter polymorphism and G71R mutation are possible risk factors for Turkish neonates with DC(–) ABO incompatibility and unexplained hyperbilirubinemia.
Isolation and Sequence of a cDNA Clone of β‐Nerve Growth Factor from the Guinea Pig Prostate Gland

Abstract The guinea pig prostate gland contains high levels of nerve growth factor similarly to the mouse submandibular gland. Nerve growth factor from the guinea pig prostate gland cross‐reacts weakly with antisera directed against mouse nerve growth factor, is associated with different proteins, and may be processed by a different mechanism. We have isolated a full‐length cDNA clone for nerve growth factor from a library prepared from RNA of the guinea pig prostate gland. The guinea pig cDNA contains 1,075 nucleotides and is very similar to the shorter of two predominant nerve growth factor transcripts present in the mouse submandibular gland. The cDNA sequence predicts a precursor protein of 241 amino acids that is 86% identical to the mouse amino acid sequence. Only 10 amino acid changes are present in the C‐terminal region corresponding to the mature 118 amino acid β‐nerve growth factor of the mouse. Dibasic amino acid processing sites that are present at the N‐ and C‐termini of the mature protein sequence and two other dibasic amino acid sites, representing potential processing sites within the propeptide, are all conserved, suggesting a similar mechanism of processing.
The Impact of the European Union on the Democratization of Civil-Military Relations in Turkey

This paper investigates the influence of Turkey’s European Union (EU) candidature on its civil-military relations. It argues that EU conditionality and adaptation pressure for the convergence and alignment of Turkey’s authoritarian political regime to the EU acquis communautaire have resulted in the democratization of civil-military relations and the empowerment of government in the Turkish political system. The findings indicate that harmonization reforms have deinstitutionalized and illegalized the coercive influence of the military in the Turkish political system and empowered the government in political decision-making by: (a) changing the functions, duties and composition of the National Security Council (NSC), (b) increasing the parliamentary control over, and transparency in, defense and military expenditure, and the civil judiciary control over the military, and (c) increasing the public support and trust to the civil institutions. It utilizes Europeanization, and the rational choice and historical versions of the new institutionalist theory as its theoretical framework.
Towards a conceptualisation of smart tourists and their role within the smart destination scenario

ABSTRACT ‘Smart tourism’ and ‘smart destinations’ have been gaining attention as new frameworks within which to understand the impact the latest information and communication technologies (ICTs) have on the relationship between businesses, destinations and tourists. However, there is a crucial element of the smart tourism ecosystem that has been rather neglected in research hitherto: the tourists themselves. By acknowledging a shift in tourists’ behaviour due to the advent of disruptive factors, this paper conceptualises the recently emerged notion of ‘the smart tourist’. This new type of tourist is profiled through a description of their attitudes and behaviours, and their role within the smart destination scenario is depicted. By taking a consumer-centric perspective and framing the conceptualisation within the relevant theories, this paper contributes to the current body of knowledge on tourism in a highly technological context and facilitates bridging smart tourism theoretical foundations with empirical research. The observed transformation in tourists’ behaviour and its encapsulation in the smart tourist conceptualisation reveal critical managerial implications for both destination management organisations and businesses in the rapidly changing smart tourism ecosystem.
ATP Reorients the Neck Linker of Kinesin in Two Sequential Steps*

Recent models of the kinesin mechanochemical cycle provide some conflicting information on how the neck linker contributes to movement. Some spectroscopic approaches suggest a nucleotide-induced order-to-disorder transition in the neck linker. However, cryoelectron microscopic imaging suggests instead that nucleotide alters the orientation of the neck linker when docked on the microtubule surface. Furthermore, since these studies utilized transition state or non-hydrolyzable nucleotide analogs, it is not clear at what point in the ATPase cycle this reorientation of the neck linker occurs. We have addressed this issue by developing a strategy to examine the effect of nucleotide on the orientation of the neck linker based on the technique of fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Transient kinetic studies utilizing this approach support a model in which ATP binding leads to two sequential isomerizations, the second of which reorients the neck linker in relation to the microtubule surface.
A Decision Support System framework for innovation management

In this paper, we present a Decision Support System (DSS) framework for innovation management. The proposed framework utilizes the data acquired by a web based questionnaire which is filled in by the upper managers of the manufacturing companies. The DSS compares their answers with the responds of the other companies existing in the database of the DSS and determines the weak points of the company which have room for further improvement and at the same time significantly affect innovativeness. Finally, the DSS automatically generates two reports. The first report benchmarks the company with the others and the second report suggests policies that might be helpful to improve the innovativeness of the company.
Beyond the Hox: how widespread is homeobox gene clustering?

The arrangement of Hox genes into physical clusters is fundamental to the patterning of animal body plans, through the phenomenon of colinearity. Other homeobox genes are often described as dispersed, implying they are not arranged into clusters. Contrary to this view, however, two clusters of non‐Hox homeobox genes have been reported: the amphioxus ParaHox gene cluster and the Drosophila 93D/E cluster (referred to here as the NKL cluster). Here I examine the antiquity of these gene clusters, their conservation and their pattern of evolution in vertebrate genomes. I argue that the ParaHox gene cluster arose early in animal evolution, and duplicated in vertebrates to give the four clusters in human and mouse genomes. The NKL cluster is also ancient, and also duplicated to yield four descendent clusters in mammalian genomes. The NKL and Hox gene clusters were originally chromosomal neighbours, within an ancient and extensive array of at least 30 related homeobox genes. There is no necessary relationship between clustering and colinearity, although it is argued that the ParaHox gene cluster does show modified spatial colinearity. A novel hypothesis for the evolution of ParaHox gene expression in deuterostomes is presented.
Alterations in Pharmacodynamics of Anxiolytics in Abstinent Alcoholic Men: Subjective Responses, Abuse Liability, and Electroencephalographic Effects of Alprazolam, Diazepam, and Buspirone

Subjective responses, including those associated with abuse liability and changes in frontal electroencephalographic activity, were assessed in abstinent alcoholic men and control subjects after administration of alprazolam, diazepam, buspirone, and placebo. Plasma concentrations of alprazolam, diazepam, and desmethyldiazepam also were determined. Abuse liability scales were elevated for alcoholic participants above control levels after alprazolam and diazepam. Areas under the concentration—time curve differed only for desmethyldiazepam, which was lower for the alcoholic participants. Compared with control subjects, alcoholic participants had greater declines in the absolute power of the alpha band after diazepam challenge. Alcoholic participants, unlike control subjects, had areas under the effect—time curve for alpha and theta bands that were lower after administration of alprazolam or diazepam than they were after receiving placebo. These results suggest that alprazolam and diazepam are more likely to be abused by alcoholic men than by nonalcoholic men and that alcoholic men have enhanced sensitivity to the effects of benzodiazepines on alpha and theta activity.
Revisiting the financial performance – corporate social performance link

Purpose The existing literature has focused heavily on investigating the effect of corporate social performance (CSP) on financial performance (FP) but has not paid sufficient attention to an inverse causation of the relationship. Moreover, while some of the literature argues that FP positively affects CSP, based on the slack resources theory, others have found negative effects of FP on CSP, supporting the managerial opportunism perspective. Thus, this paper aims to address the impact of FP on CSP. Further, this study examines the moderating role of franchising to better understand the relationship. Design/methodology/approach This study uses and expands the models derived from the CSP literature to confirm the effects of FP on CSP with the moderating role of franchising within the restaurant industry. Using two-way fixed effects models, it effectively addresses important problems embedded in the panel data. Findings The findings show a positive effect of FP on CSP, which is inconsistent with Park and Lee’s (2009) findings and supports the slack resources theory. Further, the interesting results show that the impact of FP on CSP diminishes as a firm franchises more, supporting the double-sided moral hazard framework of the agency theory. Originality/value This paper fills the lacuna in both the existing literature on the relationship between CSP and FP and the franchising. This study contributes to enhancing restaurant practitioners’ understanding of the double-sided moral hazard of agency theory unique to franchising context.
Fiscal Federalism and Economic Performance - New Evidence from Switzerland

The link between federalism and economic performance is still ambiguous. Aiming at clarification, we improve on a widespread shortcoming by measuring federalism not just by one variable but by various institutions that constitute it. To this end, Switzerland provides for a laboratory as its 26 cantons share a common framework, while the extent of federalism varies between the cantons and across time. By exploiting this setting, the paper provides evidence for the expected heterogeneity: The impact of federalism on economic performance differs conditional on the federal instrument considered. Overall, instruments of competitive federalism appear to improve economic performance of the cantons, while adverse effects are reported for cooperative elements.
Kinetic diversity of dopamine transmission in the dorsal striatum

Dopamine (DA), a highly significant neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, operates on multiple time scales to affect a diverse array of physiological functions. The significance of DA in human health is heightened by its role in a variety of pathologies. Voltammetric measurements of electrically evoked DA release have brought to light the existence of a patchwork of DA kinetic domains in the dorsal striatum (DS) of the rat. Thus, it becomes necessary to consider how these domains might be related to specific aspects of DA's functions. Responses evoked in the fast and slow domains are distinct in both amplitude and temporal profile. Herein, we report that responses evoked in fast domains can be further classified into four distinct types, types 1–4. The DS, therefore, exhibits a total of at least five distinct evoked responses (four fast types and one slow type). All five response types conform to kinetic models based entirely on first‐order rate expressions, which indicates that the heterogeneity among the response types arises from kinetic diversity within the DS terminal field. We report also that functionally distinct subregions of the DS express DA kinetic diversity in a selective manner. Thus, this study documents five response types, provides a thorough kinetic explanation for each of them, and confirms their differential association with functionally distinct subregions of this key DA terminal field. The dorsal striatum is composed of five significantly different dopamine domains (types 1–4 and slow, average ± SEM responses to medial forebrain bundle (MFB) stimulation are shown in the figure). Responses from each of these five domains exhibit significantly different ascending and descending kinetic profiles and return to a long lasting elevated dopamine state, termed the dopamine hang‐up. All features of these responses are modeled with high correlation using first‐order modeling as well as our recently published restricted diffusion model of evoked dopamine overflow. We also report that functionally distinct subregions of the dorsal striatum express selective dopamine kinetic diversity.