Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Asymmetric Price Adjustments in a Deregulated Gasoline Market

This paper employs ordered probit, partial adjustment, and vector error correction models to characterize price adjustments in the Philippine retail gasoline market since its deregulation. It finds that pricing decisions of oil firms depend significantly on eight weeks of previous changes in crude cost. It shows that the speed of adjustment of retail prices to their long-run equilibrium relation with crude cost has been following an accelerating trend but is vulnerable to intervening factors. Lastly, it provides empirical evidence that pump prices respond more quickly and fully to increases in crude cost rather than to decreases.
DInSAR, GPS and gravity observation results in La Palma, Canary islands

We review several results from geodetic observations carried out in La Palma Island during the period 1992-2007. A gravity survey was done for structural studies, and InSAR and GPS observations techniques were applied to study the existence of deformation areas in the Island. Gravity anomalies have been inverted using a non-linear three-dimensional gravity inversion approach to obtain the geometry of the anomalous bodies. The main structural feature is a large high density body interpreted as a dense intrusive plutonic body and the pliocene-age uplifted seamount. An elongated minimum is detected below the Cumbre Vieja according to the rift structure. InSAR results show two areas of subsidence, a mild long wavelength signal on the western part of Cumbre Vieja and clear subsidence located on the Teneguia volcano where the last eruption took place in 1971. A GPS network composed by 26 stations covering the island has been defined. Vertical displacements determined by comparing the GPS coordinates obtained in 2007 and in 1994 are consistent with the InSAR results. From the comparison of 2006 and 2007 coordinates we conclude that more time span is needed to obtain clearly significant displacements, but observed trends are also consistent with InSAR results. All the observed significant displacements are at stations located outside of the large high density central body.
Involvement of Genes on a Megaplasmid in the Acid-Tolerant Phenotype of Rhizobium leguminosarum Biovar Trifolii

The acid-tolerant Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii strain ANU1173 exhibited several new phenotypes when cured of its symbiotic (Sym) plasmid and the second largest megaplasmid. Strain P22, which has lost these two plasmids, had reduced exopolysaccharide production and cell mobility on TY medium. The parent strain ANU1173 was able to grow easily in laboratory media at pH 4.5, whereas the derivative strain P22 was unable to grow in media at a pH of <4.7. The intracellular pH of strain ANU1173 was 6.8 when the external pH was 4.5. In contrast, strain P22 had an acidic intracellular pH of <6.4 when the external pH was <5.5. Strain P22 had a dramatically increased membrane permeability to protons and decreased proton extrusion activity. Analysis with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels showed that strain P22 lacked a slow-migrating lipopolysaccharide (LPS) banding group which was present in the parent strain. Mobilization of the second largest megaplasmid of strain ANU1173 back into strain P22 restored the altered LPS structure and physiological characteristics of strain P22. Mobilization of the Sym plasmid of strain ANU1173 into strain P22 showed that the second largest megaplasmid of strain ANU1173 was required for the establishment of nitrogen-fixing nodules on Trifolium repens and Trifolium subterraneum. Furthermore, an examination of a large number of specific exopolysaccharide- or LPS-deficient Rhizobium mutants did not show a positive correlation between exopolysaccharide or LPS synthesis and acid tolerance.
Classification of a known sequence of motions and postures from accelerometry data using adapted Gaussian mixture models

Accelerometry shows promise in providing an inexpensive but effective means of long-term ambulatory monitoring of elderly patients. The accurate classification of everyday movements should allow such a monitoring system to exhibit greater ‘intelligence’, improving its ability to detect and predict falls by forming a more specific picture of the activities of a person and thereby allowing more accurate tracking of the health parameters associated with those activities. With this in mind, this study aims to develop more robust and effective methods for the classification of postures and motions from data obtained using a single, waist-mounted, triaxial accelerometer; in particular, aiming to improve the flexibility and generality of the monitoring system, making it better able to detect and identify short-duration movements and more adaptable to a specific person or device. Two movement classification methods were investigated: a rule-based Heuristic system and a Gaussian mixture model (GMM)-based system. A novel time-domain feature extraction method is proposed for the GMM system to allow better detection of short-duration movements. A method for adapting the GMMs to compensate for the problem of limited user-specific training data is also proposed and investigated. Classification performance was considered in relation to data gathered in an unsupervised, directed routine conducted in a three-month field trial involving six elderly subjects. The GMM system was found to achieve a mean accuracy of 91.3%, distinguishing between three postures (sitting, standing and lying) and five movements (sit-to-stand, stand-to-sit, lie-to-stand, stand-to-lie and walking), compared to 71.1% achieved by the Heuristic system. The adaptation method was found to offer a mean accuracy of 92.2%; a relative improvement of 20.2% over tests without subject-specific data and 4.5% over tests using only a limited amount of subject-specific data. While limited to a restricted subset of possible motions and postures, these results provide a significant step in the search for a more robust and accurate ambulatory classification system.
FOOD DEMAND IN SPAIN: AN APPLICATION OF THE ALMOST IDEAL SYSTEM

This paper provides an analysis of food demand in Spain for the period 1964–1989 estimating the Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) with annual time‐series of food expenditures divided into six categories. A dynamic version of the model incorporating habit effects captures the behaviour of the Spanish food consumer over the period investigated. The theoretical hypotheses of homogeneity and symmetry are rejected, but the model provides plausible expenditure and price elasticities.
Bargaining Over Tax Information Exchange

This paper empirically studies recent treaty signings between tax havens and OECD countries as the outcome of a bargaining process over treaty form. Havens can decide not to sign an agreement, to sign a tax information exchange agreement or to sign a double taxation convention. We use a highly stylized bargaining model to develop testable hypotheses with regards to the type of agreement signed. We show that the main determinants of treaty signing are a haven's bargaining power and good governance. We show that it is easier to renegotiate an already existent treaty to include information exchange than to pressure countries with no existent agreement.
Definition and Measurement of Tactical Voting: The Role of Rational Choice

There has been substantial debate on the measurement of tactical voting in this Journal, much of which has actually been concerned with the definition of a tactical vote. For this reason it is necessary to go ‘back to basics’ to examine the notion of a tactical vote within rational choice theory and follow its implications for the measurement of tactical voting. This Note has four aims: to elucidate the formal theoretical concepts behind the notion of tactical voting; to provide a practical definition of tactical voting based on those concepts; to examine and use the implications of the theory and definition to evaluate existing measures of tactical voting; and to further appraise measures of tactical voting from general methodological considerations. This Note focuses on tactical voting in single-member simple-plurality electoral systems. The following section argues that the range of situations where it may be optimal to vote tactically is both broader and less well defined than previous authors have generally realized. This implies that both the definition, and therefore the measurement, of tactical voting rest mainly on the criteria of voting for a party other than the first choice and doing so in order to best influence who wins. The empirical section examines various approaches to the measurement of tactical voting and argues that the Heath et al. measure is a priori the most attractive available. Furthermore, detailed analysis using British Election Study (BES) data from English voters in 1987, 1992 and 1997, shows that whilst the Heath et al. measure is relatively robust, it can be usefully revised to improve consistency with the strength-of-feeling scores. A corresponding method for identifying a voter's preferred party is also presented.
Full Insurance in the Presence of Aggregate Uncertainty

This paper tests implications of full consumption insurance. The object is to determine how much mileage can be obtained from a model with complete markets, with such features as private information or liquidity constraints omitted. The implication exploited is that individual consumption responds to aggregate risk but not to idiosyncratic risk. The test involves regressing the change in household consumption onto the change in aggregate consumption and other right-hand-side variables such as the change in household income and change in employment status. All variables other than the change in aggregate consumption are predicted to be insignificant in explaining the change in household consumption. With observations on consumption and income for 10,695 households from the Consumer Expenditure Survey, the results are mixed. The results for one specification (exponential utility) are mostly consistent with full consumption insurance; the results for the other specification (power utility) are not.
The potential role of wild rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus in the epidemiology of paratuberculosis in domestic ruminants

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, the organism responsible for paratuberculosis in cattle and sheep has been found in wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the east of Scotland. Few studies have investigated either the level of faecal contamination by rabbits on farms, or the potential infectivity of rabbit excreta. The rate of rabbit faecal contamination deposited and the numbers encountered were estimated for 21 fields on 4 farms with a paratuberculosis problem. 7357±2571 S.E. M. rabbit faecal pellets were deposited per hectare per day and up to 81000 pellets/ha (‘standing crop’) were encountered in October/November 1998. Where access to rabbits was restricted, the standing crop of faeces encountered fell to 22000 pellets/ha. The prevalence of infection with M. a. paratuberculosis was assessed for 83 rabbits from the four farms. M. a. paratuberculosis was isolated from rabbits on all farms with an overall prevalence of 17%. Out of 17 rabbits from which urine was available, M. a. paratuberculosis was isolated from two – the first reported isolation from urine in wild rabbits. The mean number of colony-forming units per gram of infected rabbit faeces was 7·6×105±5·2×105. A relative estimate of the input of M. a. paratuberculosis onto pasture, at the stocking levels found on the four farms, showed that sheep and cattle potentially contributed 4 and 125 times more organisms/ha per day respectively than rabbits. However, rabbits could still contribute millions of M. a. paratuberculosis organisms per ha per day. Existing rabbit control measures on farms may be inadequate in reducing the risk of transmission to livestock.
The Public Benefits of Higher Education: Examining the Relationship Between State Spending on Higher Education and the Formation of Human Capital

This study contributes to the literature on the economic value of higher education by examining the extent to which a set of independent variables, including two measures of state spending on higher education predict the formation of human capital. The findings suggest that, in most states, increases in state spending per full-time equivalent enrollment in public higher education predict decreases in the formation of human capital, while increases in state spending per capita on public and private higher education predict increases in the formation of human capital. This suggests that the relationship between state spending on higher education and the formation of human capital is dependent on the measure of state spending used. Attempts to increase the formation of human capital should focus on increasing state spending per capita on public and private higher education. This study also analyzes time-series data from states, grouped by income inequality and changes in productivity, to examine the extent to which changes in a single measure of state spending on higher education predict changes in the formation of human capital. The results indicate that increases in state higher education spending do not benefit all states. Increases in state higher education spending predict increases in the formation of human capital in states with low productivity growth and in states with low levels of income inequality. In states with high productivity growth, increases in state higher education spending predict decreases in the formation of human capital. State Spending and the Formation of Human Capital iii TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION ABSTRACT DEDICATION v ACKNOWLDEGEMENTS vi LIST OF TABLES viii LIST OF FIGURES ix CHAPTER 1
The methanogenic archaeon Methanosarcina thermophila TM-1 possesses a high-affinity glycine betaine transporter involved in osmotic adaptation

Methanogenic Archaea are found in a wide range of environments and use several strategies to adjust to changes in extracellular solute concentrations. One methanogenic archaeon, Methanosarcina thermophila TM-1, can adapt to various osmotic conditions by synthesis of alpha-glutamate and a newly discovered compatible solute, Ne-acetyl-beta-lysine, or by accumulation of glycine betaine (betaine) and potassium ions from the environment. Since betaine transport has not been characterized for any of the methanogenic Archaea, we examined the uptake of this solute by M. thermophila TM-1. When cells were grown in mineral salts media containing from 0.1 to 0.8 M NaC1, M. thermophila accumulated betaine in concentrations up to 140 times those of a concentration gradient within 10 min of exposure to the solute. The betaine uptake system consisted of a single, high-affinity transporter with an apparent K3 of 10 microM and an apparent maximum transport velocity of 1.15 nmol/min/mg of protein. The transporter appeared to be specific for betaine, since potential substrates, including glycine, sarcosine, dimethyl glycine, choline, and proline, did not significantly inhibit betaine uptake. M. thermophila TM-1 cells can also regulate the capacity for betaine accumulation, since the rate of betaine transport was reduced in cells pregrown in a high-osmolarity medium when 500 microM betaine was present. Betaine transport appears to be H+ and/or Na+ driven, since betaine transport was inhibited by several types of protonophores and sodium ionophores.
Juvenile Xanthogranuloma with Central Nervous System Involvement

Abstract: An 18‐year‐old men has been followed in our department since age 10 years when he began to develop numerous yellow, papular lesions on the scalp, face, neck, trunk, and upper extremities. The lesions enlarged slowly to form yellow‐brown nodules measuring up to 6 cm. During this period five of the nodules and two small papules were excised. Histopathology was consistent with juvenlle xanthograuloma (JXG). Recently, the patient complained of significant loss of memory, and a computed tomography scan was performed showing several cerebral and cerebellar lesions. The cutaneous lesions In our patient were almost identical to those described elsewhere as being characteristic of progressive nodular histiocytoma. The many clinical and histopathologic similarities between lesions of progressive nodular histiocytoma and JXG suggest that they may represent a continuum rather than two distinct disease processes. Given the fact that there are no histopathologic differences with JXG, as well as the wide range of clinical lesions that JXG may adopt, there Is no reason to separate the entities. Although JXG lesions are usually believed to be benign and self‐healing, targe nodular forms can be associated with visceral lesions. Only four previous cases of cutaneous JXG with central nervous system involvement were found in a review of the literature.
The intellectual capital model: the resource-based theory application

The research deepens the understanding of the definitions and role of intellectual capital in enhancing wealth potential from the viewpoint of Malaysian public listed companies. The research applied the resource-based theory in measuring each of the intellectual capital dimension (human, relational and structural capital) themes or sub-classification. The resource-based theory emphasises that in order to achieve and sustain competitive advantage, the resources must be unique which means valuable, scarce, inimitable and difficult to substitute. Thus, to acknowledge the differing economic potential of each intellectual capital dimension, the current research proposes that the 'resource uniqueness' quality should be embedded in each of the intellectual capital dimension which in turn will enhance firm's performance. Based on the perception of 155 public listed companies managers, the research found that the 'resource uniqueness' quality is strongly embedded in structural capital only and not relevant to human and relational capital. This implies that organisation processes, systems, patents and innovation can be related to the rare, imperfectly imitable and non-substitutable criteria. Human capital come and go from the firms and as they leave, they may take away the relationships which have been established with their customers, hence makes it is difficult to ascertain the uniqueness quality.
A new matching algorithm for Chinese place names

Matching algorithm for Place Names is one of the most important research topics in the construction of digital gazetteers. Taking account of the morphological characteristics of Chinese Place Names and ontology method, we first pretreat the Chinese Place Names to remove illegal characters, decompose the Chinese Place Names into special names and generic terms, and then use both the Levenshtein Distance(LD) method and the semantic distance method to calculate relationship of similarity between them. Finally, we get the comprehensive similarity for Chinese Place Names by calculating the weighted average for both similarity of special names and that of generic terms. In this study, the example shows that similarity index for special names, generic terms and the overall place names, enhance the completeness and accuracy of the place names matching theory.
Echocardiographic Assessment of the Interventricular Delay of Activation and Correlation to the QRS Width in Dilated Cardiomyopathy

ROULEAU, F. , et al.: Echocardiographic Assessment of the Interventricular Delay of Activation and Correlation to the QRS Width in Dilated Cardiomyopathy. The aim of the study was to define criteria for left ventricular pacing in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) using an echocardiographic evaluation of interventricular electromechanical delay (IMD) and a correlation of IMD to QRS duration. Standard 12‐lead ECG and echocardiography with pulsed Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) were recorded in 35 DCM patients (mean age 58 ± 11 years) with QRS duration from narrow (80 ms) to broad (222 ms) patterns. The time for left ventricular activation was evaluated from the onset of QRS to the onset of aortic flow (Q‐Ao) by standard pulsed Doppler (SP) or to the onset of mitral annulus systolic wave (Q‐Mit) (DTI). The time for right ventricular activation was determined from the onset of QRS to the onset of pulmonary flow (Q‐Pulm) (SP) or to the onset of tricuspid annulus systolic wave (Q‐Tri) (DTI). (Q‐Ao)–(Q‐Pulm) and (Q‐Mit)–(Q‐Tri) determined IMD for each method, respectively. QRS width and IMD showed correlation coefficients of r = 0.86 ([Q‐Ao]‐[Q‐Pulm]) and r = 0.82 ([Q‐Mit]‐[Q‐Tri]) (P ≤ 0.001). Mean IMD of 77 ± 15 ms (SP) and 88 ± 26 ms (DTI) were noted for QRS width above 150 ms. Left ventricle delayed activation was positively correlated to QRS widening with both methods, (r = 0.90, [Q‐Ao]), (r = 0.83, [Q‐Mit]) (P ≤ 0.001). In conclusion, QRS duration is a good marker of an interventricular mechanical asynchrony. According to IMD correction, left ventricular pacing may be mainly proposed to symptomatic DCM patients with QRS duration > 150 ms.
Role for the obesity-related FTO gene in the cellular sensing of amino acids

SNPs in the first intron of FTO (fat mass and obesity associated) are strongly associated with human obesity. While it is not yet formally established that this effect is mediated through the actions of the FTO protein itself, loss of function mutations in FTO or its murine homologue Fto result in severe growth retardation, and mice globally overexpressing FTO are obese. The mechanisms through which FTO influences growth and body composition are unknown. We describe a role for FTO in the coupling of amino acid levels to mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling. These findings suggest that FTO may influence body composition through playing a role in cellular nutrient sensing.
Mesh-star Hybrid NoC architecture with CDMA switch

The Network-on-Chip (NoC) concept has been proposed to replace conventional bus-based system architectures to create scalable and flexible future SoC designs. A 2D-mesh topology is one of the most frequently mentioned topologies for an NoC design due to its natural layout mapping onto an SoC. However, the 2D-mesh topology NoC has a hot-spot problem at the center of the network and presents difficulties in multicasting. In this paper, we propose a novel multicastable CDMA switch and an efficient mesh-star hybrid topology. This approach leads to reduced traffic at the center of the network and better performance with multicasting. Our switch has been synthesized using a 0. 13µm CMOS technology library.
Towards a Successful CRM Implementation in Banks: An Integrated Model

In recent years, customer relationship management (CRM) has been the favoured theme for numerous studies and reports. Yet, there is a lack of systematic empirical evidence regarding the critical success factors (CSFs) for the CRM implementation, the activities that are affected by the use of the CRM programmes, and their consequent performance outcomes. In this article, we document the role of the CRM programmes in the banking sector and identify marketing activities that are affected by CRM usage. Taking a sample of 159 banks that utilise a CRM system, we found a substantial positive effect of the CRM usage on relationships effectiveness and marketing objectives. The results of this study have major implications for marketing people, as they suggest the notion that the CRM critical success factors should be implemented holistically rather than piecemeal to achieve the full potential of the CRM. The findings also stress the central role of customer services in the successful implementation of CRM programmes within banks.