Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structure and tension in public and private sector governance: observations from the UK and Australian experience

The past decade has produced significant change in how the public and private sectors operate and the public expectations of their role. This paper claims that the pressures that have challenged the governance structures of key public and private organisations in the UK and Australia are common to both sectors. It argues that the ‘independent regulatory agencies’ of the public sector and publicly listed companies in the private sector have evolved in ways that point to a common template of organisational governance and response to crisis. The dynamic of both organisations was forged through the large-scale privatisations of the past decade and the reaction to the loss of collective public ownership. The paper assesses similarities in the governance of regulatory agencies and listed companies according to four broad criteria: performance, conformance, credibility and trust. It highlights the initial establishment of a principal-agent framework; the politicisation and placement of unrealistic expectations on CEO performance; the subsequent onset of forms of regulatory crisis; a process of restoring trust through a mix of tighter regulation and corporate governance standards; and greater participative consultation among stakeholders. Comparisons between public and private sector governance also identify similarities in the British and Australian experience.
Kinetic Analysis of 18F-FLT PET in Lung Tumors

TO THE EDITOR: The recent interesting and highly relevant article by Brockenbrough et al. (1) includes a significant methodologic misconception and mistake regarding PET measurements of tissue radiotracer uptake. On page 1183, column 1, final paragraph, the authors state “KFLT was not partial-volume–corrected because it represents a net movement over time of 18F-FLT through tissue compartments, with all time frames equally affected by partial-volume effect, and these are accounted for by the method defining the region of interest (full width at half maximum). ” The region-of-interest technique used to obtain tumor time– activity curves (lower threshold 5 50% of maximum voxel standardized uptake value) could not have compensated for the partial-volume effect (2). Uncorrected partial-volume effect would have introduced negative errors in measurements of standardized uptake value over time. Those errors would have varied from tumor to tumor within and among patients. The flux parameter KFLT (units of mL/min/g of tissue) is the clearance of 39-deoxy-39-18F-fluorothymidine (18F-FLT) from blood into 18F-FLT nucleotides within the tissue included in the region of interest. In terms of model rate coefficients, KFLT 5 K1k3/(k2 1 k3). A straightforward examination of the differential equations for the kinetic model and that relating the PET signal to the model (3) shows that any error in measured standardized uptake value produces a proportional error in K1. Since the kinetic parameters are correlated, that error would also propagate from K1 to the other model parameters (3). Accurate absolute image quantitation is no less essential for kinetic modeling than for static uptake measurements. To the extent that partial-volume effect varied among tumors, failure to correct for it may obscure the authors’ analyses of relationships between KFLT and tumor thymidine kinase-1 or Ki-67 (Fig. 5; Tables 4 and 5). Partial-volume correction for tumor images large enough to demonstrate irregular shapes or heterogeneous image intensity is a difficult and as yet unsolved problem (4). Although it may not have been feasible for the authors to make such corrections, they should have acknowledged the problem and its potential impact on their findings.
Comparison of Cognitive Symptoms in Subtypes of AlzheimerÃ¢ÂÂs disease (AD)-astudy from South East Asia (Kashmir, India)

Background: The heralding of baby boomers and a subsequent surge in elderly population, has led to immense research in unravelling the mysteries in the geriatric age group with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with varied cognitive dysfunctions. However no comprehensive study has been carried out in South East Asia (Kashmir, India) to investigate cognitive symptoms in subtypes of AD. Objectives: To assess cognitive symptoms in subtypes of AD in Kashmiri (Indian) population. Material and Methods: The study was conducted in Memory Clinic of Postgraduate Department of Psychiatry, Government Medical College, Kashmir (India) from January 2012 to March 2014. The diagnosis of AD patients was done according to NINCDS-ADRDA criteria . A total of 80 patients of AD were screened (40 with age of onset less than 65 and 40 with age of onset greater than 64) . Patients with age of onset less than 65 were called as Early Onset Alzheimer’s disease (EAD) and patients with age onset greater than 65 were called as Late onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD). MMSE (Mini Mental State Examination), CDR (Clinical Dementia Rating) and various other neuropsychological tests like verbal digit span, verbal fluency, the 15-item Mini- Boston Naming Test (Mini BNT),10- item Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Constructions, calculations, and similarities from the Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination were assessed in all the patients. The data was analysed using paired t test. Results: The mean age of EAD and LOAD was 63.10 and 84.28 respectively. There was significant difference in MMSE of both of the groups and was found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). Patients in the EAD group performed better than the LOAD group on all the tests of motor-execution (P<0.05). LOAD group had lower mean score of verbal fluency compared to EAD group. Conclusion: Wider dysfunctions in cognitive symptoms were present in LOAD compared to EAD.
Does Co-Movement of Conditional Volatility Matter in Asset Pricing? Further Evidence in the Downside and Conventional Pricing Frameworks

In this paper we model country-specific equity market return and association between country-specific equity market volatility and that of the world market in the downside and conventional asset pricing frameworks. For this a Factor- ARCH type process is adopted where world market risk (beta) is estimated in the mean equation and exposure of country-specific market volatility to world market volatility (volatility beta) is estimated in the variance equation. Generally, the beta is estimated higher for developed markets than for emerging markets and the reverse is observed in volatility beta. Even though the two types of betas are positive and significant, a cross-sectional analysis reveals that volatility beta is not priced. We observe these results when the analysis is carried out from an international investor perspective. When we repeat the analysis in sub-periods delineated via breakpoints in the world market return series and with alternative specifications of the variance equation our findings remain largely unchanged.
Acceleration in turbulent channel flow

We use Direct Numerical Simulations of turbulent channel flow to study the acceleration A corresponding to the full fluid velocity u and the acceleration a corresponding to the fluctuating velocity u′≡u−⟨u⟩, where ⟨u⟩ is the mean flow. The mean acceleration ⟨A⟩=⟨a⟩ is not zero, and the fluctuations of the convective and local parts of ⟨A⟩ around their means approximately cancel in the intermediate log-like layer. The motions of stagnation points where u′=0 are controlled by a. In this intermediate layer, the fluctuations of a around its mean predominantly come from the fluctuations of its local part. Stagnation points move with an average velocity, which equals the average fluid velocity at these points. The fluctuations around this average stagnation point motion decrease in the log-like layer with increasing distance from the wall.
Transformed and normal cell surface glycoproteins that induce interferon production by nonsensitized lymphocytes

Nonsensitized human and mouse lymphocytes produce interferon (IFN)-alpha and IFN-alpha/beta, respectively, in response to most transformed cells, as well as normal xenogeneic cells. The treatment of transformed human (WISH) and mouse (L) or normal mouse embryo (ME) cells with trypsin, pepsin, or neuraminidase resulted in a loss of the cell's ability to induce IFN-alpha or alpha/beta. These findings suggested that a cell surface glycoprotein is responsible for the induction of IFN-alpha and alpha/beta. The sonication of WISH, L, and ME cells released glycoproteins which retained IFN-inducing activity in the soluble form. The inducing molecules from WISH, L, and ME cells had molecular weights of 130,000, 90,000, and 68,000, respectively. Further purification, plus a confirmation of the glycoprotein nature of the inducer molecule, was shown by specifically binding and eluting L cell inducer bioactivity from a concanavalin A-Sepharose affinity column.
A study of water clusters using the effective fragment potential and Monte Carlo simulated annealing

Simulated annealing methods have been used with the effective fragment potential to locate the lowest energy structures for the water clusters (H2O)n with n=6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20. The most successful method uses a local minimization on each Monte Carlo step. The effective fragment potential method yielded interaction energies in excellent agreement with those calculated at the ab initio Hartree–Fock level and was quite successful at predicting the same energy ordering as the higher-level perturbation theory and coupled cluster methods. Analysis of the molecular interaction energies in terms of its electrostatic, polarization, and exchange-repulsion/charge-transfer components reveals that the electrostatic contribution is the dominant term in determining the energy ordering of the minima on the (H2O)n potential energy surfaces, but that differences in the polarization and repulsion components can be important in some cases.
Taxation and Corporation Finance

This paper analyzes the effects of the federal tax structure on corporate financial and investment behavior. We first develop a model of corporate behavior given taxes, taking into account both uncertainty and costs of bankruptcy. Simpler models abstracting from bankruptcy costs had clear counterfactual implications. The forecasts from our model proved to be consistent with both the observed cross-sectional variation in debt-equity ratios and the time series pattern of debt-equity ratios (data that were constructed in the paper). We then attempted to measure the efficiency costs created by corporate tax distortions as implied by the model. The forecasted efficiency cost of the distortion favoring debt finance seemed to be quite large, while the tax distortion affecting investment seemed to be less important than others have claimed. The paper concludes with a study of the efficiency implications of various proposed corporate tax changes.
Availability of Volunteer-based Dynamic Ridesharing with Bipartite Group in a Low-density Small Community in Japan

In regions of Japan, in small, low-density communities that have inadequate public transport services, the lack of support systems for persons of limited mobility is emerging as a social issue. To complement this, this study focuses on volunteer-based dynamic ridesharing. In this paper, the feasibility of ridesharing is analyzed by pre-survey data and the availability is examined through a field experiment. The pre-survey showed that the field suited the ridesharing experiment, due to some results of a proper proportion between demanders and suppliers for rideshare, and a synchronicity of trip destinations and travel times, etc. The experiment, however, revealed issues such as worry and hesitation of volunteer-based suppliers who have no opportunity to match other demanders except stable-matching pairs, incentives for their participation and their reservation, and sudden cancellation of the suppliers at the matching locations after their reservations. This paper describes improvements of the proposed ridesharing system.
Gender Differences in the Fashion Consumption and Store Characteristics in Swedish Clothing Stores

The study examined gender differences in fashion consumption in reflecting to retailingstore characteristics. Observation was conducted in the five different retailing-stores to notice various store displays and consumer behaviors between women and men. Information from various sources including journals, books, stores’ magazines, and stores’ websites were used as additional data in complementing to observation technique. The study found that female were gather shoppers who went shopping for reasons of enjoyment and relaxation. Thus, they like spending time browsing for comparing price, products, and quality. On the other hand, men were hunter shoppers who went shopping for need-driven. As a result, men preferred shop where they can search for their intended items easily. Similarly, shop characteristics were found to reflect and adapt to consumer behavior by gender.
Sustaining practice change one year after completion of the national depression management leadership initiative.

OBJECTIVE This report describes the sustainability of quality improvement interventions for depression care in psychiatric practice one year after the completion of the National Depression Management Leadership Initiative (NDMLI) in 2006. The main intervention involved continued use of the nine-item depression scale of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for routine care of patients with depressive disorders. METHODS One year after project completion, lead psychiatrists from the 17 participating practices were surveyed about the sustainability of key practice interventions and dissemination of the interventions. RESULTS All 14 practices that provided baseline and follow-up data reported sustained use of the PHQ-9 for screening, diagnosis, or monitoring purposes. Moreover, practices reported dissemination of this approach to clinicians within and outside their practices. CONCLUSIONS Psychiatrists reported sustainability and dissemination of PHQ-9 use one year after the conclusion of the NDMLI. The model has potential as a depression care improvement strategy and is worthy of additional study.
Regional environmental pressure influences population differentiation in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)

Unravelling the factors shaping the genetic structure of mobile marine species is challenging due to the high potential for gene flow. However, genetic inference can be greatly enhanced by increasing the genomic, geographical or environmental resolution of population genetic studies. Here, we investigated the population structure of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) by screening 17 random and gene‐linked markers in 999 individuals at 290 geographical locations throughout the northeast Atlantic Ocean. A seascape genetics approach with the inclusion of high‐resolution oceanographical data was used to quantify the association of genetic variation with spatial, temporal and environmental parameters. Neutral loci identified three subgroups: an Atlantic group, a Baltic Sea group and one on the Irish Shelf. The inclusion of loci putatively under selection suggested an additional break in the North Sea, subdividing southern from northern Atlantic individuals. Environmental and spatial seascape variables correlated marginally with neutral genetic variation, but explained significant proportions (respectively, 8.7% and 10.3%) of adaptive genetic variation. Environmental variables associated with outlier allele frequencies included salinity, temperature, bottom shear stress, dissolved oxygen concentration and depth of the pycnocline. Furthermore, levels of explained adaptive genetic variation differed markedly between basins (3% vs. 12% in the North and Baltic Sea, respectively). We suggest that stable environmental selection pressure contributes to relatively strong local adaptation in the Baltic Sea. Our seascape genetic approach using a large number of sampling locations and associated oceanographical data proved useful for the identification of population units as the basis of management decisions.
Indian government bans smoking in new films and TV serials

galantamine, the randomisation procedure was the sole indicator of methodological quality of the included trials, and the higher rates of dropouts in patients treated with galantamine did not lead to a different interpretation of results. Also, dropout rates up to 35% did not influence conclusions in the systematic review on rivastigmine by Birks et al. Whitehead et al performed a meta-analysis of individual patients’ data from randomised controlled trials on donepezil, and Ritchie et al carried out a meta-analysis of published data from randomised controlled trials on donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine. No attempt was made in either meta-analysis to consider the quality of the included trials. Since all individual trials show considerable methodological shortcomings, the results of both meta-analyses are questionable as well. The same lack of assessment of methodological quality of the reviewed trials is found in the review of the American Academy of Neurology.
Genetic similarity of natural populations and plantations of Pinus roxburghii Sarg. in Nepal

Abstract• Genetic structures of five population pairs each consisting of one natural population and one neighbouring plantation of Pinus roxburghii Sarg. in Nepal were assessed using nuclear (nSSRs) and chloroplast microsatellite loci (cpSSRs). • The mean number of alleles at nSSRs loci in natural populations was 5.0 compared to 4.93 in plantations while the average observed heterozygosities were the same in both groups (H0 = 0.50). Most of the alleles were common to all the populations, indicating that the populations correspond to a single genetic entity. Similarly forty-seven haplotypes were observed in natural populations compared to fifty haplotypes in plantations. Mean haplotype diversities of natural populations (0.953) and plantations (0.955) were very similar. Genetic diversity of Pinus roxburghii was relatively high with low or no evidence of inbreeding while genetic differentiation among all populations was very low (about 1%). • The very low differentiation among natural populations indicates efficient long-distance gene flow among populations resulting in homogeneous genetic structures at least at selectively neutral loci. Even though the harvest and production of seeds and seedlings was largely uncontrolled, genetic structures of most plantations show no signs of reduced variation, inbreeding or other negative effects compromising the adaptedness or adaptability of planted forests. Résumé• Les structures génétique de cinq paires de populations composées chacune d’une population naturelle et d’une plantation voisine de Pinus roxburghii Sarg. au Népal ont été évalués à l’aide de loci nucléaires (nSSRs) et de loci microsatellites chloroplastiques (cpSSRs). • Le nombre moyen d’allèles à loci nSSRs dans les populations naturelles était de 5,0 comparé à 4,93 dans les plantations alors que la moyenne des hétérozygoties observées étaient les mêmes dans les deux groupes (H0 = 0,50). La plupart des allèles étaient communs à toutes les populations, indiquant que les populations correspondent à une seule entité génétique. De même, quarante-sept haplotypes ont été observés dans les populations naturelles par rapport à cinquante haplotypes dans les plantations. La diversité moyenne des haplotypes des populations naturelles (0,953) et des plantations (0,955) étaient très similaires. La diversité génétique de Pinus roxburghii a été relativement importante, avec peu ou pas de preuve de consanguinité tandis que la différenciation génétique entre les populations était très faible (environ 1 %). • Le très faible différenciation entre les populations naturelles indique des flux de gènes efficaces à longue distance entre les populations issues de structures génétiques homogènes avec au moins une sélectivité neutre des loci. Même si la récolte et la production de semences et de plants ont été largement incontrôlées, les structures génétiques de la plupart des plantations ne montrent aucun signe de réduction de la variation de la consanguinité ou d’autres effets négatifs compromettant la faculté d’adaptation des forêts plantées.
A Simple and Accurate Deep Submicron Mismatch Model

In this paper a physics based deep submicron mismatch model is presented. It is demonstrated on a 0.25 μm technology. The simple model describes the whole region of operation of the MOS transistor. It contains four mismatch parameters, the threshold voltage and the drain current. The model is very flexible in its use.
Phosphorylation of the Nuclear Form of Varicella-Zoster Virus Immediate-Early Protein 63 by Casein Kinase II at Serine 186

ABSTRACT Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) open reading frame (ORF) 63 is abundantly transcribed in latently infected human ganglia and encodes a 278-amino-acid protein, IE63, with immediate-early kinetics. IE63 is expressed in the cytoplasm of neurons during VZV latency and in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus during productive infection; however, the mechanism(s) involved in IE63 nuclear import and retention has remained unclear. We constructed and identified a recombinant monoclonal antibody to detect a posttranslationally modified form of IE63. Analysis of a series of IE63 truncation and substitution mutants showed that amino acids 186 to 195 are required for antibody binding. Synthetic peptides corresponding to this region identified IE63 S186 as a target for casein kinase II phosphorylation. In addition, acidic charges supplied by E194 and E195 were required for antibody binding. Immunofluorescence analysis of VZV-infected MeWo cells using the recombinant monoclonal antibody detected IE63 exclusively in the nuclei of infected cells, indicating that casein kinase II phosphorylation of S186 occurs in the nucleus and possibly identifying an initial molecular event operative in VZV reactivation.
Bankruptcy, Subsidized Loans, and Exit Decisions of Start-up Firms

This dissertation consists of three essays on exit decisions of start-up firms and the evaluation of firm financing policies. The first essay on exit of start-up firms focuses on two competing exit mechanisms: bankruptcy selection based on insolvency regulation and entrepreneurial self-selection via voluntary liquidation. Microeconometric evaluation studies of start-up assistance in form of subsidized loans are provided in both the other essays. In the second essay the effects of start-up assistance on firm size, investment and survival are analyzed. In order to disentangle the causal effects of interest and the effects of selective loan assignment, non-parametric propensity score matching is applied. A multiple treatment framework is used in the third essay to compare the effects of different modes of start-up assistance on firm survival. The validity of effect estimates based on propensity score matching are assessed in this study by exploiting a natural experiment caused by a major policy change.