Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is There an Association Between Gasoline Prices and Physical Activity? Evidence from American Time Use Data

Obesity is epidemic in the U.S, and there is an imperative need to identify policy tools that may help fight this epidemic. A recent paper in the economics literature finds an inverse relationship between gasoline prices and obesity-risk --- suggesting that increased gasoline prices via higher gasoline taxes may have the effect of reducing obesity prevalence. This study builds upon that paper. It utilizes cross-sectional time-series data from the American Time Use Survey over 2003-2008, utilizes the increases that occurred in gasoline prices in this period due to Hurricane Katrina and to the global spike in gasoline prices as a ‘natural experiment’, and explores how time spent by Americans on different forms of physical activity is associated with gasoline price levels. Economic theory suggests that higher gasoline prices may alter individual behavior both via a ‘substitution effect’ whereby people seek alternatives to motorized transportation, and an ‘income effect’ whereby the effect of higher gasoline prices on the disposable family budget lead people to make various adjustments to what they spend money on. The latter may lead to some increase in physical activity (for example, doing one’s own yard work instead of hiring help), but may also lead to decreases in other physical activities that involve expenses, such as team sports or work-outs at the gym. Thus, ultimately, the relationship between gasoline prices and physical activity must be empirically determined. Results from multivariate regression models with state and time fixed-effects indicate that higher gasoline prices are associated with an overall increase of physical activity that is at least moderately energy intensive. The increases are most pronounced in periods where gasoline prices fluctuate more sharply. These results appear robust to a number of model specifications. One of the major components of this increase appear to be an increase in housework that is at least moderately energy intensive – such as interior and exterior cleaning, garden and yard work, etc. This tentatively suggests that there is an ‘income effect’ of higher gasoline prices. However, the increases in physical activity associated with increased gasoline prices are weaker among minorities and low socioeconomic status (SES) individuals. Hence, while a policy which increases gasoline prices via raised gasoline taxes may have benefits in terms of increasing overall physical activity levels in the U.S., one concern is that these benefits may not accrue to low SES individuals to the same extent as to their higher SES counterparts.
Effect of DJ-1 Downregulation on the Functions of the First Trimester Extravillous Trophoblasts

DJ-1 (PARK7) has been reported to be causative gene of Parkinson disease and also an oncogene. A loss in DJ-1 function can lead to cell death in neurodegenerative disease, or a gain of it can cause unregulated cell survival in cancer, respectively. DJ-1 protein is known to be expressed mainly in trophoblastic cells in the placenta with increased expression in the first trimester compared to later in term. However, its role in trophoblast regulation remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of DJ-1 regulation on a first trimester extravillous trophoblast cell line, HTR-8/SVneo. The effect of DJ-1 downregulation induced by small-interfering RNA on cell apoptosis, migration, and the pathway to regulate the cell function was assessed. Data of this study showed that DJ-1 downregulation increased apoptosis and reduced migration by regulating matrix metalloproteinase 2 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 in HTR-8/SVneo cells under both ambient and oxidative stress. Changes in cell function were demonstrated to be at least partly dependent on the AKT/S6 kinase beta-1 (S6K1) pathway. In summary, DJ-1 might play a protective role in maintaining trophoblastic cell functions through the AKT/S6K1-based pathway.
Development and Applications of a Bovine Coronavirus Antigen Detection Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

ABSTRACT We developed a monoclonal antibody-based, antigen capture sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for bovine coronavirus. We compared the ELISA with electron microscopy and the hemagglutination test and found a close correlation between them. The sensitivity of the ELISA was 104 bovine coronavirus particles per ml of 10% fecal suspension. Compared with electron microscopy, bovine coronavirus ELISA had 96% specificity.
Growth, Sporulation, and Enzyme Defects of Glucosamine Mutants of Bacillus subtilis

Two glucosamine (GCA)-requiring mutants have been isolated which grow on glucose minimal or nutrient sporulation medium only in the presence of either GCA or acetyl-GCA. They lack the l-glutamine-d-fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.13), which is repressible by GCA and whose activity in the standard strain decreases after cessation of growth. But the mutants can grow on GCA as sole carbon and ammonia source, because GCA induces the synthesis of 2-amino-2-deoxy-d-glucose-6-phosphate ketol-isomerase (deaminating) (EC 5.3.1.10). With respect to sporulation, the GCA-requiring mutants are in a serious dilemma, as GCA represses the onset of massive sporulation and yet a small amount of GCA-6-phosphate derivatives is necessary to allow sporulation. When GCA is continuously provided in small quantities, sporelike particles are produced which contain little or no spore cortex but a normal spore coat. Apparently, GCA derivatives are needed especially for cortex formation. Many of the sporelike particles can produce colonies after octanol, but not after heat treatment. When they are purified by treatment with lysozyme and sodium dodecylsulfate, they do not show the decrease in optical density at 600 nm typical of germination nor do they produce offspring.
Risk premiums and optimal combat-force levels in an all-volunteer army

Using a straight-forward and intuitive model of individual risk-wealth tradeoffs, we posit a labour market where a firm's total wage bill declines as it increases employment. Using value of statistical life estimates from Viscusi and Aldy (2003) and Mrozek and Taylor (2002), we analyze the market for security personnel in Iraq for both the US military and a private contractor. We conclude that the US military's marginal cost of labour is about $8000 less than the wage and that the marginal cost for the private contractor may actually be negative.
Labour Allocation in a Cooperative Enterprise

Two methods of income distribution have been particularly associated with socialist thinking, " to each according to his needs " and " to each according to his work ". In the literature on socialism it is the latter system that has been mostly studied. Marx felt the former system to be appropriate only at the " higher phase of the communist society," and emphasized the principle of distribution " proportional to the amount of labour they contribute ", in the " first phase " of the communist society.2 While discussions in the Marxist literature have concentrated mainly on distribution according to work, in particular on the utilisation of the wage system, actuat methods of payments in socialist economies have often departed from this rule, the most notable example of this being in Chinese agriculture. On the other plane of discussion, in the theoretical literature on resource allocation with decentralized planning, the emphasis has been on reaching Pareto-optimality, and that, with the usual assumptions, has been found to fit in well with a wage system.3 There have of course been discussions on correcting the distribution according to work towards the goal of distribution according to needs through a set of taxes and subsidies, but the basic method of payment that has been considered has always been some variant or other of the wage system. The actual organization of enterprises in communist countries tend to depart from a pure wage system in at least two different ways: (i) in the use of some variant of profitsharing over and above a wage system,4 and (ii) in having a part of the income distributed on some criteria other than that of work, e.g. some interpretation of " needs ". 5 There is not yet a distinct body of literature on the theory of non-wage allocation of labour; nevertheless, in the context of policy debates, the following questions have repeatedly cropped up. (1) What are the difficulties in having a system of distribution purely according to needs? While in the U.S.S.R. and in Eastern Europe there has not been any large-scale attempt to have payments primarily according to needs, the Chinese leaders have tried to break through the problem of incentives involved in this, and it has even been claimed that " ideally, the party leaders would like non-material incentives to become the main motive force impelling the masses on to greater output . 6 (2) What difficulties are there in having a system of distribution purely according to work, even profits being shared on that basis? Based on Yugoslav experience Ward [211
Improvement of logistics and supply chain management in the cement industry in Nigeria

 Abstract— Worldwide, Logistics and Supply Chain play important roles and also contribute immensely to the economy of a nation. In this paper, research was conducted to investigate how logistics and supply chains are implemented in cement factories in Nigeria, identify the problem areas and proffer solutions. The study was conducted by administering well-structured questionnaires. According to the investigation, it was confirmed that most of the investigated companies based their logistical system only on road-link transport system for delivering products to their customers or end-users. Furthermore, the survey revealed that 73% of the respondents prefer to continue with the road-link logistics system. Though there is railway infrastructure in the country but due to research finding, the rail system is obsolete due to negligence and poor maintenance on this logistics system. A new railway infrastructure will have to be put in place for effective and efficient operation; and this is going to be costly for individual company to bear.
Information and Control in Ventures and Alliances

This paper develops a theory of control as a signal of congruence of objectives, and applies it to financial contracting between an investor and a privately informed entrepreneur. We show that formal investor control is (i) increasing in the information asymmetries ex ante, (ii) increasing in the uncertainty surrounding the venture ex post, (iii) decreasing in the entrepreneur's resources, and (iv) increasing in the entrepreneur's incentive conflict. In contrast, real investor control-that is, actual investor interference-is decreasing in information asymmetries. Control rights are further such that control shifts to the investor in bad states of nature. Copyright 2005 by The American Finance Association.
Cloud adoption decision support for SMEs using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)

For a successful cloud adoption, decision makers need to consider numerous aspects before deciding to adopt cloud infrastructure. In this paper, we propose a framework to support cloud adoption decisions for SMEs in Tamil Nadu (India) using the established principles of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). This study is focused on SMEs in Tamil Nadu, one of the constituent states of the Indian Union. This paper reports on the findings of applying AHP to real data collected from decision makers and demonstrates its usefulness as a decision support tool for SMEs in Tamil Nadu.
Business Planning Practices of Family‐Owned Firms within a Quality Framework**

Study purpose is to investigate the contribution of an integrated, interfunctional approach to quality management, inclusive of family/business interface management, to the success of 572 small family firms, using multiple measures of success (congruity and business revenues). A positive customer reputation was the most important business goal for 44.6 percent of firms. Interface and business management significantly explained business revenue and congruity between business and family while controlling for owner and business characteristics. Family/business interface management explained 9.7 percent of congruity variance and 8.2 percent of gross revenue variance, whereas business management explained 3.3 percent of congruity variance and 2.2 percent of gross revenue variance.
South African Unit Trusts: Selection Ability and Information Effects

Abstract Research into unit trusts are often concerned with the ability of fund managers to achieve superior performance. However, the growing popularity of unit trusts as an investment vehicle may also lead one to question the ability of individual unit trust investors themselves. The main research objective of this study is to establish whether South African unit trust investors display selection ability, i.e. whether investors are smart ex ante, in that they move to funds that will perform better. The secondary research objective is to establish whether investors’ moves (in the form of cash flows into and out of funds) contain information that can be utilised to earn abnormal returns - the so-called information effect. The analysis is based on a performance test introduced by Grinblatt and Titman (1993) and further developed and applied by Zheng (1999). Evidence is presented that confirm that investors display selection ability, although this ability is very weak. There is, however, no significant evidence to support the information effect. Tests conducted to examine the information effect provide some evidence that money flows from funds that subsequently underperform the market.
Normal Ranges of Continuous pH Monitoring in the Proximal Esophagus

Background To determine normal ranges of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in the proximal esophagus, measured with continuous pH monitoring. Normal ranges in the distal esophagus have been published. Because esophageal pH monitoring is frequently performed in children with atypical manifestations such as chronic respiratory disease, and because one of the possible pathophysiologic mechanisms may be (micro-)aspiration, it may be relevant to establish normal ranges in the proximal esophagus. Methods Twenty-four-hour pH monitoring was performed in 200 children with suspected GER disease. The mean age of the patients was 4.5 months (range, 0.5–17.0 months). After initial analysis, patients were divided into three groups according to the reflux index (RI) in the distal esophagus, because it could be speculated that the amount of reflux reaching the proximal esophagus depends on the amount of reflux in the distal esophagus: Group I (n:120) children had a distal RI of less than 5% and were considered normal, group II (n:50) had a distal RI of 5% to 10% and was considered to have intermediate disease, and group III (n:30) had a distal RI of more than 10% and was regarded as pathologic. The following parameters are calculated: the RI, the total number of reflux episodes, the number of reflux episodes lasting more than 5 minutes, the duration of the longest reflux episode, and the acid clearance time (ACT). Results The median RI in the distal esophagus was 3.8 ± 0.34 (standard error of the mean [SEM]), and in the proximal esophagus, the RI was 1.2 ± 0.23. In group I patients, the RI in the proximal esophagus was 0.5% ± 0.09%, in group II the RI increased significantly to 2.75% ± 0.34% (P [group I compared with group II] < 0.01), and in group III the RI was 6.15% ± 0.96% (P [II-III] < 0.01). The number of acid reflux episodes in group I was 17.0 ± 2.27, in group II the number increased to 62.5 ± 8.18 (P [I-II] < 0.01), and in group III it reached 102.0 ± 23.9 (P [II-III] < 0.05). Also the duration of the longest reflux episodes and the number of reflux episodes lasting more than 5 minutes increased from group I to group II, and from group II to group III. The ACT was shorter in the proximal esophagus (group I 0.3 ± 0.06 minutes; group II 0.48 ± 0.07 minutes, P [I-II] = not significant [NS]; group III 0.56 ± 0.17 minutes P [II-III] = NS) than in the distal esophagus (group I 0.49 ± 0.03 minutes, P [proximal ACT compared with distal ACT] < 0.05; Group II 0.76 ± 0.05 minutes, P [proximal-distal] < 0.01; Group III 0.89 ± 0.09 minutes, P [proximal-distal] = NS) suggesting more effective esophageal clearance in the proximal esophagus. Conclusions Protection of the proximal esophagus from acid reflux is significantly related to the incidence and duration of reflux measured in the distal esophagus. These normal ranges in the upper esophagus will be helpful in the interpretation of upper esophageal pH monitoring data.
An adaptive semantic approach to personal information management

It is becoming increasingly difficult for knowledge workers to keep track of what they know and to organize their knowledge such that it can be retrieved, annotated, changed, and augmented. Most knowledge workers manage their personal information flow via their email client, Web browser, and the Windows file system. While user interfaces may have improved over time, the information management capability has not appreciably advanced. These systems do not understand the information they contain, so are unable to help the user manage it. The goal of the effort described here is to better help knowledge workers understand, manage, and use the overwhelming amount of information they receive and store. Two key features of this approach are capturing the basic semantic relationships of the user's personal information, and building intelligent tools to assist with the capture and management of these relationships.
A FINITE-DIMENSIONAL HJM MODEL: HOW IMPORTANT IS ARBITRAGE-FREE EVOLUTION?

We consider a two-factor Heath–Jarrow–Morton (HJM) model under the risk neutral measure and show that it may be decoupled into a particular dynamic Nelson–Siegel (NS) model plus a somewhat counter-intuitive adjustment (lying outside the NS family) which keeps it arbitrage-free. We assess the importance of the adjustment for arbitrage-free pricing by comparing the HJM model with a novel NS model which is selected using projection techniques. We analyze forward curves and derivative prices generated by the HJM and projected NS model and consider two real-world case studies. Our analysis shows that the influence of the adjustment term on arbitrage-free evolution is small.
On the Estimation of Structural Hedonic Price Models

MANY COMMODITIES can be viewed as bundles of individual attributes for which no explicit markets exist. It is often of interest to estimate structural demand and supply functions for these attributes, but the absence of directly observable attribute prices poses a problem for such estimation. In an influential paper published several years ago, Rosen [3] proposed an estimation procedure to surmount this problem. This procedure has since been used in a number of applications (see, for example, Harrison and Rubinfeld [2] or Witte, et al. [4]). The purpose of this note is to point out certain pitfalls in Rosen's procedure, which, if ignored, could lead to major identification problems. In Section 2 we summarize briefly the key aspects of Rosen's method as it has been applied in the literature. Section 3 discusses the potential problems inherent in this procedure and provides an example. Section 4 concludes with a few suggestions for future research.
INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION Controls Floral Organ Abscission in Arabidopsis and Identifies a Novel Family of Putative Ligands in Plants Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at www.plantcell.org/cgi/doi/10.1105/tpc.014365.

Abscission is an active process that enables plants to shed unwanted organs. Because the purpose of the flower is to facilitate pollination, it often is abscised after fertilization. We have identified an Arabidopsis ethylene-sensitive mutant, inflorescence deficient in abscission (ida), in which floral organs remain attached to the plant body after the shedding of mature seeds, even though a floral abscission zone develops. The IDA gene, positioned in the genomic DNA flanking the single T-DNA present in the ida line, was identified by complementation. The gene encodes a small protein with an N-terminal signal peptide, suggesting that the IDA protein is the ligand of an unknown receptor involved in the developmental control of floral abscission. We have identified Arabidopsis genes, and cDNAs from a variety of plant species, that encode similar proteins, which are distinct from known ligands. IDA and the IDA-like proteins may represent a new class of ligands in plants.
Developing International Business Managers Through International Study Visits to China

Globalization is a key factor in the success of business organizations today, impacting many aspects of management performance. Understanding the global business environment has therefore become a key objective in the teaching of international business on Executive MBA programs. Drawing on the theory of experiential learning, this study examines the relationship between program structure and learning activities of an international study visit (ISV) to China and the learning experience for Executive MBA students. The findings indicate that learning experience may be most effective where the structure of an ISV incorporates certain activities that promote experiential and deep-level learning. Educational implications are discussed.
Plasmid complements of Streptococcus lactis NCDO 712 and other lactic streptococci after protoplast-induced curing

The production and regeneration of bacterial protoplasts promoted the loss of three different plasmid-specified traits in Streptococcus lactis subsp. diacetylactis strains. The loss of five different plasmids, including small multicopy molecules, was readily detected in Streptococcus lactis 712 by screening lysates of random protoplast regenerants on agarose gels. In this strain sequential rounds of protoplast regeneration were used to produce a plasmid-free strain and derivatives carrying only single molecules from the plasmid complement. During these experiments a 33-megadalton plasmid, pLP712, was found to encode genes for lactose and protein utilization. Only this plasmid was required for normal growth and acid production in milk; the remaining four plasmids appeared to be cryptic. Lactose-defective derivatives of a strain carrying only pLP712 were readily isolated. Although these derivatives included instances of plasmid loss, deletions of pLP712 were frequently found. Many different deleted derivatives of pLP712, including some in which the lactose or protein utilization determinant or both were lost, were isolated. The molecular instability of pLP712 largely accounted for previous observations of plasmid complements in S. lactis 712 after lactose determinant curing or transfer by conjugation and transduction. Curing of cryptic molecules from multiple plasmid complements by protoplast regeneration may prove to be generally valuable in lactic streptococci and other gram-positive species.
Partial Adjustment to Public Information and IPO Underpricing

Abstract We examine the extent to which offer prices reflect public information for 3,325 IPOs over the period 1990–1999. We focus primarily on four variables: share overhang, file range amendments, venture capital backing, and previous issue underpricing. We show that 35%–50% of the variation in IPO underpricing can be predicted using public information known before the offer date and therefore conclude that IPO offer prices underadjust to widely available public information to a much greater extent than previously documented.