Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Environmental Taxes Under International Duopoly

This paper studies a dynamic game of environmental taxes between two countries in the absence of explicit trade policies when both governments and firms act strategically. We demonstrate that the environmental tax in the steady-state equilibrium in a dynamic environmental tax game is lower than that in a static environmental one. Therefore, the dynamic behaviour of the governments results in an increase in the environmental damage. Further, as a result of international cooperation on environmental taxes between two countries in the beginning of policy competition, there is an increase in the optimal environmental tax. This implies that it is important to set cooperative environmental taxes in the beginning of policy competition because non-cooperative environmental taxes in the dynamic game result in the race-to-the-bottom, which does not lead to environmental improvement.
Case Visibility and the Electoral Connection in State Supreme Courts

Critics traditionally portray state Supreme Court elections as low-information events that fail to accomplish the stated goal of engendering accountability to the public. Recent changes in the intensity of contestable judicial elections have led scholars to consider the effect of public opinion on state court decision making. We delineate necessary conditions for judicial responsiveness to public opinion, integrating research on state court decision making with the broader literature on representation. We then empirically test our framework for judicial responsiveness. Our findings suggest that the strength of the electoral connection between state supreme court justices and their constituents is quite dependent on method of judicial retention and the visibility of the case.
IRIT-Université de Toulouse Romain Vergne University of Giessen Pascal Barla INRIA

Shading appearance in illustrations, comics and graphic novels is designed to convey illumination, material and surface shape characteristics at once. Moreover, shading may vary depending on different configurations of surface distance, lighting, character expressions, timing of the action, to articulate storytelling or draw attention to a part of an object. In this paper, we present a method that imitates such expressive stylized shading techniques in dynamic 3D scenes, and which offers a simple and flexible means for artists to design and tweak the shading appearance and its dynamic behavior. The key contribution of our approach is to seamlessly vary appearance by using a combination of shading primitives that take into account lighting direction, material characteristics and surface features. We demonstrate their flexibility in a number of scenarios: minimal shading, comics or cartoon rendering, glossy and anisotropic material effects; including a variety of dynamic variations based on orientation, timing or depth. Our prototype implementation combines shading primitives with a layered approach and runs in real-time on the GPU. CR Categories: I.3. 7 [Computer Graphics]: Three-Dimensional Graphics and Realism—Color, shading, shadowing, and texture;
Firm Performance and Managerial Succession in Family Managed Firms

This paper investigates whether the family status of a company's top officer affects managerial replacement decisions. We report evidence that family-managed companies are characterized by higher levels of board control and potentially weak internal governance systems. Family CEOs are less likely than non-family CEOs to depart their position following poor performance. Stock prices react favorably and operating performance improves when companies announce the departure of a family CEO. Overall, our evidence suggests that shareholders benefit when a powerful CEO leaves their position in the company.
Back to the Future: Implications for the Field of HRM of the Multistakeholder Perspective Proposed 30 Years Ago

Thirty years on from the seminal works on human resource management (HRM) by Beer et al., we examine how the subject has developed. We offer a normative review, based on that model and critique the assumption that the business of HRM is solely to improve returns to owners and shareholders. We identify the importance of a wider view of stakeholders to practitioners and how academic studies on the periphery of HRM are beginning to adopt such a view. We argue that the HRM studies so far have given us much valuable learning but that the subject has now reached a point where we need to take a wider, more contextual, more multilayered approach founded on the long-term needs of all relevant stakeholders. The original Beer et al. model remains a valuable guide to the next 30 years of HRM.
Genetic similarities and differences between discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus patients within the Polish population

Introduction Many studies have shown that some SNPs might be a risk factor for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but little is known about potential susceptibility loci of the skin types of the disease. Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is the most common form of the cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Nevertheless, a genetic contribution to DLE is not fully recognized. Aim We aimed to analyze three SNPs located in the STAT4 (rs7574865), ITGAM (rs1143679) and TNXB (rs1150754) genes in both DLE and SLE patients from Poland. Material and methods SNPs were genotyped using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Statistical significance of the differences between patient and control groups in both allele and genotype frequencies were calculated using two tailed Fisher’s exact test. The correction for multiple testing by the Bonferroni adjustment and odds ratio were also calculated. Results For the first time, we have shown that the polymorphisms located in the STAT4 (rs7574865), but not in the ITGAM (rs1143679) nor the TNXB (rs1150754) genes, might be associated with the development of DLE within the Polish population. The variation of the three investigated SNPs was found to be associated with SLE in our dataset. Conclusions The results of our study suggest differences in the molecular background between DLE and SLE within the Polish population.
Chaperoning prions: the cellular machinery for propagating an infectious protein?

Newly made polypeptide chains require the help of molecular chaperones not only to rapidly reach their final three‐dimensional forms, but also to unfold and then correctly refold them back to their biologically active form should they misfold. Most prions are an unusual type of protein that can exist in one of two stable conformations, one of which leads to formation of an infectious alternatively folded form. Studies in Baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) have revealed that prions can exploit the molecular chaperone machinery in the cell in order to ensure stable propagation of the infectious, aggregation‐prone form. The disaggregation of yeast prion aggregates by molecular chaperones generates forms of the prion protein that can seed the protein polymerisation that underlies the prion propagation cycle. In this article, we review what we have learnt about the role of molecular chaperones in yeast prion propagation, describe a model that can explain the role of various classes of molecular chaperones and their co‐chaperones, and speculate on the possible involvement of chaperones in the propagation of mammalian prions. BioEssays 27:823–832, 2005. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Transcriptome and Metabolite Changes during Hydrogen Cyanamide-Induced Floral Bud Break in Sweet Cherry

Release of bud dormancy in perennial woody plants is a temperature-dependent process and thus flowering in these species is heavily affected by climate change. The lack of cold winters in temperate growing regions often results in reduced flowering and low fruit yields. This is likely to decrease the availability of fruits and nuts of the Prunus spp. in the near future. In order to maintain high yields, it is crucial to gain detailed knowledge on the molecular mechanisms controlling the release of bud dormancy. Here, we studied these mechanisms using sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.), a crop where the agrochemical hydrogen cyanamide (HC) is routinely used to compensate for the lack of cold winter temperatures and to induce flower opening. In this work, dormant flower buds were sprayed with hydrogen cyanamide followed by deep RNA sequencing, identifying three main expression patterns in response to HC. These transcript level results were validated by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction and supported further by phytohormone profiling (ABA, SA, IAA, CK, ethylene, JA). Using these approaches, we identified the most up-regulated pathways: the cytokinin pathway, as well as the jasmonate and the hydrogen cyanide pathway. Our results strongly suggest an inductive effect of these metabolites in bud dormancy release and provide a stepping stone for the characterization of key genes in bud dormancy release.
Hypothalamic Integration of Metabolic, Endocrine, and Circadian Signals in Fish: Involvement in the Control of Food Intake

The regulation of food intake in fish is a complex process carried out through several different mechanisms in the central nervous system (CNS) with hypothalamus being the main regulatory center. As in mammals, a complex hypothalamic circuit including two populations of neurons: one co-expressing neuropeptide Y (NPY) and Agouti-related peptide (AgRP) and the second one population co-expressing pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) is involved in the integration of information relating to food intake control. The production and release of these peptides control food intake, and the production results from the integration of information of different nature such as levels of nutrients and hormones as well as circadian signals. The present review summarizes the knowledge and recent findings about the presence and functioning of these mechanisms in fish and their differences vs. the known mammalian model.
Validity of Carminatti's Test to Determine Physiological Indices of Aerobic Power and Capacity in Soccer and Futsal Players

Dittrich, N, da Silva, JF, Castagna, C, de Lucas, RC, and Guglielmo, LGA. Validity of Carminatti's test to determine physiological indices of aerobic power and capacity in soccer and futsal players. J Strength Cond Res 25(11): 3099–3106, 2011—The aim of this study was to verify the validity of a new progressive distance and fixed time test (Carminatti's test [TCAR]) in estimating the main physiological indices of aerobic fitness in team-sport players. Thirty professional national level team-sport players (n = 12 futsal players and 18 soccer players) volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects performed the TCAR and a laboratory incremental treadmill test (ITT). The TCAR required subjects to complete repeated sets of 5 × 12-second shuttle-running bouts at progressive speed until volitional exhaustion. Each 12-second bout and series were separated by a 6- and 90-second recovery periods, respectively. The initial distance was set at 15 m and was progressively increased by 1 m each set. The ITT commenced at a velocity of 9.0 km·h−1 and was increased by 1.2 km·h−1 each 3 minutes until volitional exhaustion. Peak TCAR running velocity resulted not significantly (p > 0.05) different from speed at &OV0312;O2max (v&OV0312;O2max) during ITT. Peak TCAR running velocity was significantly correlated (p < 0.01) with v&OV0312;O2max (r = 0.55) and &OV0312;O2max (r = 0.51). No significant differences were found (p > 0.05) among the mean values of velocity and heart rate at the anaerobic threshold, estimated in the TCAR test and measured in the ITT. In light of this study results, the TCAR can be considered as a viable field test to estimate aerobic power and capacity in team-sports players. The limited devices and space required by TCAR warrant consideration for those strength and conditioning professionals who deal with team sports.
Statistical Considerations for Improved Signal Identification from Repeated Measurements at Low Signal-to-background Ratios

AbstractContinuously repeated or frequent periodic measurements of the radiation environment in the absence of an identified source of ionizing radiation provide large data sets on the ambient background. Statistical evaluation of these data allows for the identification and quantification of the relevant background distribution parameters paramount to establishing a well characterized background distribution. Given this distribution, the determination of characteristic limits, such as the decision threshold, follows standard procedures. However, the data used to establish these characteristic limits contain additional information on the probabilities for future individual measurement results, which can be employed to improve the detection system capabilities for signal identification at low signal-to-background ratios. In particular, a statistical evaluation of the time history of individual, independent measurements allows for the establishment of new decision thresholds with the same prescribed probability of error of the first kind but with a lower value than the decision threshold obtained from standardized procedures. A rigorous mathematical and statistical treatment of multiple data from a well characterized background distribution is presented, together with an analysis of the relevant operational restrictions and statistical conditions for which an improved lower decision threshold can be obtained. A set of initial projections toward the application of appropriate statistical algorithms is intended to provide a basis for further investigation of these statistical considerations for their implementation in continuous scanning or screening operations or in individual or environmental monitoring programs.
Dounomycin in the Treatment of Experimental Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy Effective Doses In Vitro and In Vivo

In previous studies the authors have shown that daunomycin, an anthracycline antibiotic, when injected into the vitreous effectively controls experimental proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Here we show that by administering daunomycin intravitreally it is possible to achieve in vivo concentrations that prevent fibroblast proliferation in vitro. The authors have also determined that the half-life of daunomycin in the vitreous is 131 min, indicating that a critical concentration is maintained in the eye for longer than 4 hr after a single injection. Using H-daunomycin, the authors have found that the drug is eliminated across the retina; no significant binding of the drug to vitreous components occurs. These studies demonstrate that it is possible to define the kinetics of drugs injected into the vitreous; and a knowledge of the distribution of any drug in ocular tissues is necessary to effectively determine whether such drug is of therapeutic value. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 26:719-725, 1985
LEVOFLOXACIN AND CEFTRIAXONE IN COMBINATION 1 ATTENUATES LUNG INFLAMMATION IN A MOUSE MODEL OF 2 BACTEREMIC PNEUMONIA BY MULTI-DRUG RESISTANT 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae VIA INHIBITION OF CYTOLYTIC 4 ACTIVITIES OF PNEUMOLYSIN AND AUTOLYSIN 5 6

21 Objectives: Whether synergistic antimicrobial combination in vitro would be beneficial in 22 down regulation of pneumococcal virulent genes and associated inflammation of the lung 23 tissue induced by multi-drug resistant S. pneumoniae infection in vivo needs to be elucidated 24 for considering this mode of therapy in case of severe pneumococcal infection. 25 Methods: We investigated the in vivo changes in expression of these virulence determinants 26 using an efficacious combination predetermined by in vitro studies. Balb/C mice were 27 infected with 10 6 CFU of bacteria. Intravenous levofloxacin at 150 mg/kg and/or ceftriaxone 28 at 50 mg/kg were initiated 18 h post infection; animals were sacrificed from 0 – 24 h after 29 initiation of treatment. Levels of cytokines, chemokines and CRP in serum and in lungs, 30 along with myeloperoxidase, nitric oxide, inflammatory cell count in broncho alveolar lavage 31 fluid (BALF), changes in pneumolysin and autolysin gene expression and COX-2 and iNOS 32 protein expression in lungs were estimated. 33 Results: Combination therapy down regulated inflammation and promoted bacterial 34 clearance. Pneumolysin and autolysin expression was down regulated with concomitant 35 decrease in expression of COX-2 and iNOS in lung tissue. 36 Conclusion: Thus this combination can be considered for therapeutic use even in cases of 37 pneumonia caused by drug resistant isolates. 38
Uplink massive MIMO systems under statistical-queueing constraints

Cross-layer design is a suitable approach that can address some of throughput challenges for future multimedia applications. In this regard, effective capacity concept offers a suitable metric to assess the implications that physical layer design may have on link layer performance. However, most reported studies in this aspect consider the case of downlink scenario for convenience multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems. This paper analyses the uplink-effective capacity in a multi user massive MIMO system considering the quality of service (QoS) statistical-exponent constraints. A location-dependent and a location-independent (averaged out) closed form expressions are derived for the effective capacities in asymptotically large receive antenna system with perfect and imperfect channel state information (CSI) scenarios. In addition, expressions for the asymptotically high signal-to-noise ratio regimes are provided. Obtained results show that the effective capacity performance is a monotonically increasing function of the base station receive antennas (Nr) and the large scale shadowing parameter. Moreover, increasing Nr by almost 74 antennas for imperfect CSI, can compensate for system capacity degradation due to queueing delay constraint of θ = 1.9×10−4 per bit.
Rebuttal from Nevin A. Lambert and Jonathan A. Javitch

In their review Bouvier and Hebert (2014) demonstrate how ‘dimer-coloured’ glasses can filter perception, impair recall, and perhaps blind us to alternative hypotheses and contradictory findings. For example, Whorton et al. (2008) demonstrated that rhodopsin monomers reconstituted from detergent into nanodiscs activate transducin as rapidly as native rod membranes, not that reconstituted oligomers activate more quickly than monomers, which was what our colleagues somehow took away. Indeed, forced dimerization of rhodopsin if anything slows transducin activation (Bayburt et al. 2007). Likewise, rows of rhodopsin dimers were cited as structural evidence for oligomerization (Fotiadis et al. 2003), but older observations suggesting that such rows may be related to sample preparation were overlooked (Roof & Heuser, 1982). Large receptor arrays are also very difficult to reconcile with rapid lateral and rotational diffusion of rhodopsin in intact outer segments (Poo & Cone, 1974). Redka et al. (2013) observed some degree of binding cooperativity for most agonists even in detergent, where the receptors they studied were thought to be monomers. Nevertheless, since cooperativity was greater in phospholipid than in detergent it was said to be ‘lost’ when receptors were monomerized. This is a generous interpretation, particularly since detergent also decreased the affinities of both high- and low-affinity sites by 10- to 20-fold. Fonseca & Lambert (2009) was cited as evidence for transient dimers, although this study failed to detect evidence of dimers of any sort. In our view these examples illustrate the degree to which oligomerization has become the default explanation for many observations, and a concept that is more widely accepted than a careful consideration of all available evidence warrants. There is little doubt that class A GPCRs can and do interact in the membrane, but despite initial inferences that these interactions are stable and constitutive, new more discriminating methods suggest that these interactions are transient (Hern et al. 2010; Kasai et al. 2011). Using highly-engineered approaches we and others (Mesnier & Baneres, 2004; Vilardaga et al. 2008; Han et al. 2009; Urizar et al. 2011) have shown that receptors in proximity can affect each other, but whether this is relevant in native systems is extraordinarily difficult to establish and simply not yet clear. The potential of heterodimers for improved pharmacotherapies is exciting and has drawn many of us to the field. We certainly agree with our colleagues that ‘much work remains to irrefutably demonstrate [the] functional importance [of dimers] in vivo’, but we must continue to approach this work with unfettered vision, without preconception, and with healthy skepticism.
Parity Balancing Path Flow Decomposition and Routing

We examine a new approach to finding efficient routing paths in large networks (e.g. inter-datacenter networks). Such networks carry many simultaneous data transmissions and efficient routing paths need to be found for each transmission. One way this problem can be solved is by first finding a multi-commodity flow solution for all source-sink pairs. This provides traffic flow information for each connection but does not specify specific routing paths to use. We consider the problem of decomposing these flow solutions into a small numbers of routing paths. The specific problem we consider is the following: Given a flow with source and sink nodes s and t, we wish to exactly represent the flow as the sum of a small number of path flows. In this work, we describe a novel approach to finding good flow decomposition solutions using parity balancing path flows. We present two new algorithms termed OddCover and JointOdd-Cover that provide theoretical performance guarantees and are effective in practice. Our experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithms are competitive with the best heuristic approach.
Effect of site characteristics on the productivity and economic returns from cassava legume intercropping in Ghana

In a 2-year field study, cassava was intercropped with four legumes (cowpea, pigeon pea, soyabean and Stylosanthes at three locations with different soil and environmental conditions, to determine the effect of site characteristics on the agronomic and economic advantage of the intercrop. The trial was a factorial experiment in a split plot design with three replications. A cost benefit analysis was conducted for the trial on the different crop arrangements. Root yield of cassava in the mixed cassava legume treatment across location during the first year was significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to the stripped treatment. Root yield of cassava cowpea mixed intercrop for example ranged from 38 to 88 t/ha. In the second year however, considerable variations were observed among the treatments with NPK treatment giving the highest yield of 84 t/ha. This influenced the overall economic net benefits and showed that the intercrop advantage depended on the interaction of component crops, the growth environment and to some extent agronomic manipulations, suggesting that the best combination of crops under a particular system of management in one environment with a particular set of climate and soil conditions may not necessarily be suitable in another environment.
The Advocacy Coalition Framework and the Policy Process Analysis: The Case of Smoking Control in Japan

This study examined the process of smoking control policymaking in Japan, employing the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) and the Policy Process Analysis (PPA). In the view of the ACF, changes in policies and policymaking are explained as resulting from the emergence of, and the competition among, two advocacy coalitions, either protobacco or antitobacco. On the other hand, the PPA conceives of the process of policy change as a set of processes and gives a closer look into the important aspects of policymaking that the ACF does not well examine.