Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Responses to Experiences of Rural Population Decline in the Social Capital of Families

Population decline in rural areas has an impact on rural villages. This research investigates to what extent families with children in rural villages experience consequences of population decline, in which ways they respond to these experiences, and how that plays a role in their individual social capital and the communal social capital of their village of residence. To answer these questions, 23 in-depth interviews with families with children were conducted in seven villages in the province of Groningen, the Netherlands. The results show that experienced consequences of population decline largely pertain to tangible aspects of the living environment, such as the decline of services. When meeting places are lost, individual and communal social capital may certainly be harmed. Nevertheless, experienced consequences of population decline can also trigger protective or entrepreneurial communal responses that are beneficial to social capital. For this latter type of response the presence of people who take the lead are more important than any other outside influence. A considerable concern of these community leaders is the decrease in investments of local governments and other institutions, because that is believed to put increasing pressure on already existent self-reliance.
Mükelleflerin Vergiden Kaçınma Algısı ve Demografik Belirleyicileri Üzerine Bir Araştırma: Isparta Örneği

In this study, a questionnaire has been created for measuring tax avoidance how find place in the minds of taxpayers, also attitudes and behaviors of taxpayers against to tax. Data of obtained from by using face-to-face questionnaires method applied are interpreted with frequency analysis and cross tables on 400 participants who the income taxpayers of Isparta province. According to the obtained results; the majority of the taxpayers have seen to tax avoidance as a rational behavior and they have expressed that their preferences can change for consumption or investment in order to pay less tax. Taxpayers, if low tax rates will be applied, express to reviewing the preferred investment location, whereas not take kindly to change the settlement. Attitudes and behaviors of towards the tax avoidance more affected from variables especially such as the education, age, gender.
RRMAC: A sensor network MAC for real time and reliable packet transmission

We designed RRMAC, a time division multiple access (TDMA) scheme guaranteeing hard real-time and reliable communication in a multi-hop convergecast network. We performed experiments to compare the performance of RRMAC and IEEE 802.15. 4 and showed the advantages of RRMAC is WSN applications which require highly reliable real-time data transmission.
Diagnostic Value of Neuron-Specific Enolase (NSE) and Cancer Antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3) in the Diagnosis of Pleural Effusions

Introduction: Pleural effusion diagnosis plays an important role in determining treatment strategies. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic capacity of tumor markers CA 15-3 and NSE solely or in combination in differentiating the nature of pleural fluid. Methods and Materials: In this cross-sectional study we evaluated 93 patients with pleural effusions (44 malignant and 49 benign). NSE and CA 15-3 serum and pleural levels were measured simultaneously using immunoenzyme assay kits. Diagnosis was established on the basis of cytological study. Results: Sensitivity and specificity of CA 15-3 serum and pleural level measurement were 70.4%, 49.0%, and 79.5% and 49.0%, respectively. Serum NSE levels had 75.0% sensitivity and 69.4% specificity while the respective pleural figures were 75.0% and 73.5%. The combination of NSE and CA 15-3 serum and pleural levels had the highest sensitivity (93.2%), although combined serum levels had the lowest sensitivity (47.7%). With an accuracy of 74.2%, pleural levels of NSE had the highest diagnostic potential. Conclusion: Measuring NSE and CA 15-3 tumor markers is a suitable approach to distinguish the nature of pleural effusions, with NSE pleural levels demonstrating the highest diagnostic accuracy.
Expected Returns and the Business Cycle: Heterogeneous Agents and Heterogeneous Goods

This paper makes two contributions. First, we document that expected excess stock returns contain both low-frequency and high-frequency components; the two components interact. The low-frequency variation is associated with variables such as the dividend/price ratio, while the high-frequency variation is associated with variables such as GDP growth. In particular, we show that once we control for the low-frequency variation previously established in the literature, traditional real business cycle variables are signi…cant predictors of excess stock returns. Second, we argue that a general equilibrium model with heterogeneous agents and heterogeneous goods can account for these new empirical …ndings. Many existing consumption-based asset pricing � �
Arabidopsis Basic Leucine-Zipper Transcription Factors TGA9 and TGA10 Interact with Floral Glutaredoxins ROXY1 and ROXY2 and Are Redundantly Required for Anther Development1[C][W][OA]

ROXY1 and ROXY2 are CC-type floral glutaredoxins with redundant functions in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) anther development. We show here that plants lacking the basic leucine-zipper transcription factors TGA9 and TGA10 have defects in male gametogenesis that are strikingly similar to those in roxy1 roxy2 mutants. In tga9 tga10 mutants, adaxial and abaxial anther lobe development is differentially affected, with early steps in anther development blocked in adaxial lobes and later steps affected in abaxial lobes. Distinct from roxy1 roxy2, microspore development in abaxial anther lobes proceeds to a later stage with the production of inviable pollen grains contained within nondehiscent anthers. Histological analysis shows multiple defects in the anther dehiscence program, including abnormal stability and lignification of the middle layer and defects in septum and stomium function. Compatible with these defects, TGA9 and TGA10 are expressed throughout early anther primordia but resolve to the middle and tapetum layers during meiosis of pollen mother cells. Several lines of evidence suggest that ROXY promotion of anther development is mediated in part by TGA9 and TGA10. First, TGA9 and TGA10 expression overlaps with ROXY1/2 during anther development. Second, TGA9/10 and ROXY1/2 operate downstream of SPOROCYTELESS/NOZZLE, where they positively regulate a common set of genes that contribute to tapetal development. Third, TGA9 and TGA10 directly interact with ROXY proteins in yeast and in plant cell nuclei. These findings suggest that activation of TGA9/10 transcription factors by ROXY-mediated modification of cysteine residues promotes anther development, thus broadening our understanding of how redox-regulated TGA factors function in plants.
Academic Patent Licenses: Roadblocks or Signposts for Nonlicensee Cumulative Innovation?

Academic inventions are key drivers of technical progress in modern economies, and exclusive licensing has become the dominant means of transfer to the private sector. However, the strong licensee incentives generated by exclusive academic licensing are generally assumed to come at the expense of discouragement or diversion of research by nonlicensees. Using data from university campuses and national research laboratories we find that, after exclusive licensing, forward citations by private sector nonlicensees actually increase. An unanticipated exclusive license appears to be a signpost pointing to commercially relevant innovation pathways that nonlicensees follow with successful patented research. Tests using multiple pre-license information disclosures support this signaling hypothesis.
Mean-Semivariance Behavior: A Note

The most widely-used measure of an asset's risk, beta, stems from an equilibrium in which investors display mean-variance behavior. This criterion assumes that portfolio risk is measured by the variance (or standard deviation) of returns. However, the semivariance is a more plausible measure of risk (as Markowitz himself admits) and is backed by theoretical, empirical, and practical considerations. It can also be used to implement an alternative behavioral criterion, mean-semivariance behavior, that is almost perfectly correlated to expected utility and to the utility of mean compound return.
The Potential Pharmacological and Medicinal Properties of Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) in the Drug Development of Phytomedicine

An understanding of the chemistry of the secondary metabolites of neem plant (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) is essential and important due to its medicinal properties. Several studies have been done on the biological and pharmacological activities with a considerable progress made with respect to its biological activity and medicinal uses. The neem safety is known from its long communal ethno-pharmacological uses as a category one herbal product. It is readily available with great access to the local population at low cost and environmentally friendly. This paper attempts to give an insight into the biological activities of some of the compounds isolated, pharmacological actions of the extract, clinical studies and medicinal applications along with their safety evaluations. Issues on the active chemical constituents of various formulations, commercially available neem products, are also mentioned along with their respective application.
University of Birmingham Synaesthetic interactions across vision and audition

In everyday life our senses are exposed to a constant influx of sensory signals. The brain binds signals into a coherent percept based on temporal, spatial or semantic correspondences. In addition, synesthetic correspondences may form important cues for multisensory binding. This study focussed on the synesthetic correspondences between auditory pitch and visual size. While high pitch has been associated with small objects in static contexts, recent research has surprisingly found that increasing size is linked with rising pitch. The current study presented participants with small/large visual circles/discs together with high/low pitched pure tones in an intersensory selective attention paradigm. Whilst fixating a central cross participants discriminated between small and large visual size in the visual modality or between high and low pitch in the auditory modality. Across a series of five experiments, we observed convergent evidence that participants associated small visual size with low pitch and large visual size with high pitch. In other words, we observed the pitch-size mapping that has previously been observed only for dynamic contexts. We suggest that these contradictory findings may emerge because participants can interpret visual size as an index of permanent object size or distance (e.g. in motion) from the observer. Moreover, the pitch-size mapping may depend not only on relative but also on the absolute levels of pitch and size of the presented stimuli.
THE CONSUMER RESPONSE TO HOUSE PRICE FALLS

Movements in house prices and consumer spending are closely correlated in many developed nations. Much debate exists on whether this relationship is in any way causal arising from either wealth effects or collateral effects. This paper uses a unique survey question on self-reported responses to house price falls to explain the relationship between house price movements and consumer spending among households in the United Kingdom. 30% of households report they would cut back their spending as a direct response to house price falls. Econometric analysis suggests that among homeowners this response is driven by collateral effects. However, perhaps surprisingly, one third of those reporting they would cut back their consumption are renters. We argue this reaction is also driven by credit availability: both renters and homeowners who report they face credit constraints are more likely to cut back their consumption when house prices decrease, suggesting they perceive house price movements as indicative of aggregate financial market conditions.
Nonlinear optical loop mirror with an optical bias controller for achieving full-swing operation of gate switching

Cross-phase modulation between counterpropagating lights degrades the extinction ratio of nonlinear optical-loop-mirror (NOLM) switches. To suppress such effect, we propose an NOLM with an optical-bias controller that can give a proper amount of optical bias between lights propagating through an NOLM in opposite directions. Implementing such optical bias controller in a conventional NOLM composed of a polarization-maintaining fiber, we demonstrate, for the first time, wavelength conversion of a nonreturn-to-zero signal under the full-swing condition with the maximum extinction ratio.
Spontaneous Disaggregation of Methanosarcina mazei S-6 and Its Use in the Development of Genetic Techniques for Methanosarcina spp

When monomethylamine was the growth substrate, spontaneous disaggregation of Methanosarcina mazei S-6 commenced at the mid-exponential phase and resulted in the formation of a suspension containing 108 to 109 free cells per ml. Free cells were osmotically fragile and amenable to extraction of DNA. Hypertonic media for the manipulation and regeneration of free cells into aggregates were developed, and plating efficiencies of 100% were achieved for M. mazei S-6 and LYC. Free cells of strain S-6 required MgCl2 (10 mM) for growth, whereas aggregates did not. Specific growth rates of strains S-6 and LYC were increased by MgCl2. Treatment with pronase caused sphere formation and removal of the protein wall of cells of strain S-6, but protoplasts could not be regenerated. The disaggregating enzyme produced by strain S-6 facilitated the preparation of suspensions of free cells of some strains of Methanosarcina barkeri. Although this provided a means of extracting high-molecular-weight DNA from M. barkeri, less than 0.1% of free cells were viable.
Novel Approach to the Formulation of an Epstein-Barr Virus Antigen-Based Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Vaccine

ABSTRACT Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with several malignant diseases including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a common neoplasm throughout southeast Asia. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy can achieve remission, but a reemergence of disease is not uncommon. Therefore, there is a need for specific therapies that target the tumor through the recognition of EBV antigens. In NPC, latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) and LMP2 offer the best opportunity for specific targeting since they are typically expressed and T-cell determinants in each of these proteins have been defined. We have attempted to maximize the opportunity of incorporating every possible CD4 and CD8 determinant in a single formulation. We have achieved this by generating a scrambled protein incorporating random overlapping peptide sets from EBNA1, LMP1, and LMP2, which was then inserted into a replication-deficient strain of adenovirus (adenovirus scrambled antigen vaccine [Ad-SAVINE]). This report describes the construction of this Ad-SAVINE construct, its utility in generating LMP1 and LMP2 responses in healthy individuals as well as NPC patients, and its capacity to define new epitopes. This formulation could have a role in NPC immunotherapy for all ethnic groups since it has the potential to activate all possible CD4 and CD8 responses within EBNA1 and LMPs.
Extracellular potassium and chemosensitivity in the rat carotid body, in vitro.

1. The effects of raising extracellular potassium concentration ([K+]o) from 3.0 to 5.3, 9.5 or 16.8 mM on chemoreceptor responses to hypoxia, hypercapnia and asphyxia were examined in a superfused in vitro rat carotid body preparation. 2. Single‐exponential functions with offset were fitted to the chemoreceptor discharge responses to ramp decreases in Po2. Increasing [K+]o was without effect upon the rate constants of the fitted exponential functions (P > 0.20). Increasing [K+]o, significantly increased the horizontal asymptote (chemoreceptor discharge in hyperoxia) in a non‐linear fashion when all levels of [K+]o were included in the analysis (P < 0.001) but not when a comparison was made only between 3.0 and 5.3 mM Ko+ (P > 0.40). The rightward position of the response curves, as quantified by the Po2 at 50% maximum discharge, was linearly related to [K+]o but only when all levels of [K+]o were included in the analysis (P < 0.03). Chemoreceptor sensitivity to [K+]o increased non‐linearly as [K+]o was increased but this effect was not dependent upon the Po2 (P > 0.90). 4. Increasing PCO2 in hyperoxia increased chemoreceptor discharge linearly at all levels of [K+]o. Whilst discharge at any level of PCO2 was elevated by increased levels of [K+]o, raising [K+]o did not increase CO2 sensitivity (P > 0.20). Similarly, increasing PCO2 did not increase chemosensitivity to [K+]o. The lack of effect of [K+]o upon CO2 chemosensitivity was also observed as Po2 was decreased to hypoxic levels (P > 0.10). 5. Our data demonstrate that an elevation of [K+]o can increase chemoreceptor discharge in the in vitro carotid body in a PO2‐ and PCO2‐independent manner, suggesting that the PO2‐dependent effects of [K+]o, previously reported in vivo may be due to other indirect effects of [K+]o or hypoxia.
Impact and complementarity of public support to business funded R&D: the importance of policy-mix and policy stability

Investment in R%D is established as an important factor to economic growth and governments aim to encourage the national level of R%D using different policy instruments. The purpose of this paper is to obtain new evidence about a fundamental question of empirical studies on innovation policy. Does public spending on R%D contributes to increase private finance to R%D, that is, it has an additionality effect, or alternatively it substitutes the private investment? This study contributes to this debate, analysing the impact of different forms of public funding to R%D on R%D performed and financed by the private sector. Doing so we add to previous research by exploring how the policy-mix and instability are likely to influence the effectiveness of the instruments. This work applies the Arellano-Bond difference GMM estimator to analyse the impact of public support as a stimulus to private funded R%D in 16 OECD countries over 27 years (1981 to 2008), being unique in this respect. After studying the results of a baseline model, we extend the analysis in order to explore successively, the existence of non-linear effects, the effects of the instability of the instruments over time, and the interaction between the various incentive instruments.
The effects of N‐acetylcysteine and anti‐intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 monoclonal antibody against ischemia‐reperfusion injury of the rat steatotic liver produced by a choline‐methionine‐deficient diet

Abundant fat in the liver has been implicated in poor outcome after liver transplantation or liver surgery, but the reasons for this association are still unclear. The aim of the present study was to examine mechanisms that may be involved in hepatic dysfunction after ischemia‐reperfusion (I/R) of the steatotic rat liver. Steatosis was produced by a choline‐methionine‐deficient (CMDD) diet. In the first experiment, isolated perfused rat livers, subjected to 24‐hour cold storage followed by 120‐minute reperfusion, were used to investigate hypothermic I/R injury of the steatotic rat liver. In the second experiment, livers were subjected to 60‐minute partial left lobar vascular clamping to allow study of normothermic I/R injury. In the first experiment, compared with normal nonsteatotic liver, steatotic livers showed significantly greater injury, as assessed by amounts of hepatic enzymes released into the perfusate, bile production, the concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH) in the perfusate, as well as in the livers themselves, and electron microscopic findings of sinusoidal microcirculatory injury. The addition of N‐acetylcysteine (NAC), a precursor of glutathione, to the liver before cold storage significantly improved these parameters in steatotic livers. The second experiment showed that, compared with nonsteatotic livers, steatotic livers had lower concentrations of GSH and impaired rates of bile production. There was also evidence of increased oxidative stress in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) in liver or peripheral blood of rats with fatty livers. An anti‐rat intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) monoclonal antibody inhibited neutrophil infiltration into pericentral sinusoids and improved these parameters in the steatotic rats. We conclude that sinusoidal microcirculatory injury is involved in hypothermic I/R injury, that oxidative stress produced by PMNLs is involved in normothermic I/R injury, and that NAC and anti‐rat ICAM‐1 monoclonal antibody restore liver integrity in I/R injury.
Enzyme secretion in Escherichia coli: synthesis of alkaline phosphatase and acid hexose phosphatase in the absence of phospholipid synthesis

De novo synthesis of two periplasmic enzymes in Escherichia coli, alkaline phosphatase and acid hexose phosphatase, have been studied in the presence and absence of new phospholipid synthesis. Alkaline phosphatase synthesis was initiated by a temperature shift in a strain carrying a phoA amber mutation and a temperature-sensitive suppressor mutation; acid hexose phosphatase was studied after relief of catabolite repression. Glycerol auxotrophs (gpsA) were used to control phospholipid synthesis. Synthesis of both enzymes proceeded at a normal rate for 0.5 to 1.0 generation of growth, although it was then curtailed. It is concluded that secretion of these enzymes is not obligatorily coupled to new net phospholipid synthesis.
The Hsp90 Molecular Chaperone Modulates Multiple Telomerase Activities

ABSTRACT The Hsp90 molecular chaperone is a highly abundant eukaryotic molecular chaperone. While it is understood that Hsp90 modulates a significant number of proteins, the mechanistic contributions made by Hsp90 to a client protein typically are not well understood. Here we investigate the yeast Hsp90 regulatory roles with telomerase. Telomerase lengthens chromosome termini by specifically associating with single-stranded telomeric DNA and appending nucleotides by reverse transcription. We have found that the yeast Hsp90 homolog Hsp82p promotes both telomerase DNA binding and nucleotide addition properties. By isolating telomerase from different allelic backgrounds we observed distinct defects. For example, in an hsp82 T101I strain telomerase displayed decreased nucleotide processivity, whereas both DNA binding and extension activities were lowered in a G170D background. The decline in telomerase DNA binding correlated with a loss of Hsp82p association. No matter the defect, telomerase activity was recovered upon Hsp82p addition. Importantly, telomere length and telomerase telomere occupancy was yeast Hsp90 dependent. Taken together, our results indicate that Hsp82p promotes telomerase DNA association and facilitates DNA extension once telomerase is engaged with the DNA.