Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temporal Causal Relationship Between Resource Use and Economic Growth in East China

The present paper attempts to combine cointegration theory and the material flow analysis approach to examine the causal relationship between resource use and real GDP in Jiangsu Province in East China. The study considers the period from 1990 to 2007. We use direct material input as the proxy variable for resource use. Our estimation indicates that real GDP and resource use are cointegrated and there is only unidirectional long-run Granger causality running from resource use to real GDP, but not vice versa. The estimation results mean that resources are a limiting factor in terms of economic growth, and, therefore, strategies should be adopted for more vigorous economic development and consistent resource use in East China. Furthermore, the novel idea and methodology involved in the present study can be readily extended to cover other regions for the analysis of the relationship between resource use and economic growth.
Stabilisation, Policy Targets and Unemployment in Imperfectly Competitive Economies

This paper argues that the rate of equilibrium unemployment depends on the objectives of the central bank. In a model where the central bank uses monetary policy to stabilize the economy, the authors show that unemployment and inflation will be lower with an inflation target than with targets for output, money, or nominal GDP. The intuition for this is that the elasticities of demand in both the product and the labor markets are greater when there is an inflation target; they show that this leads to a lower mark-up of price over marginal cost and makes wages more sensitive to unemployment. Copyright 1999 by The editors of the Scandinavian Journal of Economics.
Specific Nucleoprotein Complexes within Adenovirus Capsids

Abstract Adenoviral DNA was examined within capsids by dimethyl sulfate footprinting. ProteinDNA interactions were visualized through ligationmediated PCR (LMPCR). Signals for protein binding were found adjacent to both inverted terminal repeats (ITR). There were no indications of close protein binding at several other loci of the viral genome. Therefore, adenovirus type 5 seems to contain sequence or locusspecific DNA binding proteins within the virion.
Contrasting effects of presynaptic alpha2-adrenergic autoinhibition and pharmacologic augmentation of presynaptic inhibition on sympathetic heart rate control.

Presynaptic alpha2-adrenergic receptors are known to exert feedback inhibition on norepinephrine release from the sympathetic nerve terminals. To elucidate the dynamic characteristics of the inhibition, we stimulated the right cardiac sympathetic nerve according to a binary white noise signal while measuring heart rate (HR) in anesthetized rabbits (n = 6). We estimated the transfer function from cardiac sympathetic nerve stimulation to HR and the corresponding step response of HR, with and without the blockade of presynaptic inhibition by yohimbine (1 mg/kg followed by 0.1 mg.kg(-1). h(-1) iv). We also examined the effect of the alpha2-adrenergic receptor agonist clonidine (0.3 and 1.5 mg.kg(-1). h(-1) iv) in different rabbits (n = 5). Yohimbine increased the maximum step response (from 7.2 +/- 0.8 to 12.2 +/- 1.7 beats/min, means +/- SE, P < 0.05) without significantly affecting the initial slope (0.93 +/- 0.23 vs. 0.94 +/- 0.22 beats.min(-1). s(-1)). Higher dose but not lower dose clonidine significantly decreased the maximum step response (from 6.3 +/- 0.8 to 6.8 +/- 1.0 and 2.8 +/- 0.5 beats/min, P < 0.05) and also reduced the initial slope (from 0.56 +/- 0.07 to 0.51 +/- 0.04 and 0.22 +/- 0.06 beats.min(-1). s(-1), P < 0.05). Our findings indicate that presynaptic alpha2-adrenergic autoinhibition limits the maximum response without significantly compromising the rapidity of effector response. In contrast, pharmacologic augmentation of the presynaptic inhibition not only attenuates the maximum response but also results in a sluggish effector response.
Anti-CCL2 treatment inhibits Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus-induced demyelinating disease

Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus induces a demyelinating disease (TMEV-IDD) of the central nervous system (CNS) in susceptible mouse strains with accompanying histopathology characterized by mononuclear cell infiltrates. In susceptible strains of mice such as SJL, virus establishes a persistent infection in macrophages, induces a CNS infiltration by macrophages, T cells, and B cells, which results in chronic-progressive paralysis. In the present report the authors have investigated the functional role of CCL2 (monocyte chemotactic protein-1) in the induction and progression of demyelinating disease. Treatment of infected mice at day 0, 14, or 28 with anti-CCL2 resulted in a significant decrease in the clinical disease progression. Further analysis of anti-CCL2-treated mice revealed decreased CNS inflammation and mononuclear cell infiltration with an accompanying change in inflammatory cytokine responses. There was an overall decrease in the absolute numbers of CNS-infiltrating CD4+ T cells, macrophages, and B cells. Finally, anti-CCL2 treatment resulted in decreased viral load in the CNS. These data directly demonstrate a role for CCL2 in the pathogenesis of TMEV-IDD.
Engagement and Disengagement in Online Service Failure: Contrasting Problem and Emotional Coping Effects

Users are likely to cope with service loss depending on how integrated the services are. In this study, we manipulate the degree of service involvement by comparing users of highly integrated cloud storage services against users of low integration storage services. We find that users of high integration services are more likely to engage with the provider following service failure. When emotional coping mechanisms are used, both high and low integration users are equally prone to disengagement, but low integration users are significantly less likely to display engagement behaviors.
New D-Flip-Flop Design in 65 nm CMOS for Improved SEU and Low Power Overhead at System Level

A new latch architecture based on a switchable hysteresis mechanism to improve the SEU hardness in hold mode and limit the delay penalty during write operation is proposed. This latch relies on the Schmitt trigger inverter schematic and has been named the Robust Schmitt Trigger (RST) latch. RST latch has been implemented in a 65 nm radiation test vehicle and upset rates have been measured during proton irradiations. Our design solution enhanced the SEU cross-section and divides by 2 the system level power consumption penalty compared to a DICE based design. The RST latch is an alternative between the DICE latch and the reference latch for soft radiative environments.
Research Productivity and Social Capital in Australian Higher Education

This study investigates the role of social capital in raising research productivity in academic institutions. Social capital as a strategic resource embedded in social relationships can be utilised towards decreasing pressures from external environmental conditions, such as the global financial crisis. A survey was sent to academic staff in five universities in Victoria, to collect data regarding their frequency of communications and research productivity. The findings indicated that there is a significant and positive correlation between social interactions and research productivity. Regression analysis demonstrated that social interactions as an independent variable predict research productivity of academics.
Subunit Interactions at the V1-Vo Interface in Yeast Vacuolar ATPase*

Background: The activity of the proton pumping vacuolar ATPase is regulated by reversible enzyme dissociation. Results: The ATPase and proton channel domains are held together by several intermediate affinity interactions. Conclusion: Intermediate affinity subunit-subunit interactions may play an important role in reversible enzyme dissociation. Significance: Targeting subunit-subunit interactions may be a means of modulating aberrant V-ATPase activity involved in human disease. Eukaryotic vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) is regulated by a reversible dissociation mechanism that involves breaking and reforming of protein-protein interactions at the interface of the V1-ATPase and Vo-proton channel domains. We found previously that the head domain of the single copy C subunit (Chead) binds one subunit EG heterodimer with high affinity (Oot, R.A. and Wilkens, S. (2010) J. Biol. Chem. 285, 24654–24664). Here we generated a water-soluble construct of the N-terminal domain of the Vo “a” subunit composed of amino acid residues 104–372 (aNT(104–372)). Analytical gel filtration chromatography and sedimentation velocity analysis revealed that aNT(104–372) undergoes reversible dimerization in a concentration-dependent manner. A low-resolution molecular envelope was calculated for the aNT(104–372) dimer using small angle x-ray scattering data. Isothermal titration calorimetry experiments revealed that aNT(104–372) binds the Cfoot and EG heterodimer with dissociation constants of 22 and 33 μm, respectively. We speculate that the spatial closeness of the aNT, Cfoot, and EG binding sites in the intact V-ATPase results in a high-avidity interaction that is able to resist the torque of rotational catalysis, and that reversible enzyme dissociation is initiated by breaking either the aNT(104–372)-Cfoot or aNT(104–372)-EG interaction by an as-yet unknown signaling mechanism.
Essays in Corporate Finance

Written in the wake of the 2007-08 financial crisis, the following essays explore the nature and implications of firm-level financial distress. The first essay examines the external effects of financial distress, while the second and third essays examine its internal consequences. The first essay investigates the potential contagion effects of financial distress among retail firms using a novel measure of retailers’ geographic exposure to one another and, in particular, to liquidated chain stores. The second essay draws on new, hand-collected data on firm-level layoff instances to look into the ways in which financial distress impinges on firms’ employment behavior. Building on the second essay, the third essay considers financial market reactions to layoff decisions, particularly those resulting from financial strain. Each essay sheds additional light on the ways in which financial distress propagates through to affect the economy at large. Overall, the picture that emerges is one in which firm-level financial distress appears to be an important factor behind the long and protracted nature of the current economic recovery.
Attitude similarity and familiarity and their links to mental health: An examination of potential interpersonal mediators

ABSTRACT Similarity and familiarity with partner’s attitudes are linked to positive relationship outcomes, while interpersonal variables have been linked to mental health. Using multilevel models (MLMs), we modeled the associations between these attitudinal variables and mental health outcomes in 74 married couples. We found that higher levels of attitude similarity in couples were linked to lower depression, while higher levels of attitude familiarity in couples were associated with greater satisfaction with life. Mediational analyses indicated marital satisfaction and interpersonal stress mediated the link between attitude similarity and depression. Marital satisfaction also mediated the link between familiarity and satisfaction with life. This study is the first linking attitude familiarity to mental health and provides evidence that familiarity and similarity have mental health effects partly due to their interpersonal consequences.
miR-509-5p inhibits cellular proliferation and migration via targeting MDM2 in pancreatic cancer cells

Objective This study aimed to explore the effect of miR-509-5p on pancreatic cancer progression and clarify the underlying mechanisms. Methods Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was employed to determine miR-509-5p expression in pancreatic cancer tissues and noncancerous adjacent tissues. CCK-8 and Transwell experiments were employed to examine cellular proliferation, migration, and invasion after miR-509-5p mimic or inhibitor transfection. Bioinformatics tools were used to identify the target gene of miR-509-5p, and cotransfection of the target gene and miR-509-5p mimic was performed to determine the effect on the proliferation and migration of pancreatic cancer cells. A xenograft mouse model and histological analysis were also used to test the effect of miR-509-5p on tumor growth in vivo. Results miR-509-5p expression was dramatically downregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues and in pancreatic cancer cell lines. miR-509-5p mimic markedly inhibited PANC-1 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Conversely, miR-509-5p inhibitor promoted PANC-1 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, the 3′UTR–specific target site luciferase reporter assay also showed that miR-509-5p negatively regulated MDM2 at the post-transcriptional level. miR-509-5p effectively reversed the MDM2 overexpression-induced increase in PANC-1 cell proliferation and invasion. Moreover, miR-509-5p inhibited tumor growth and accelerated cell death in the tumor samples. Conclusions Our results suggested that miR-509-5p served as a new tumor suppressor via targeting the MDM2 gene, inhibiting pancreatic cancer progression.
Optimization of Goat Milk with ACE Inhibitory Peptides Fermented by Lactobacillus bulgaricus LB6 Using Response Surface Methodology

In the present study, the incubation conditions of goat milk fermented by Lactobacillus bulgaricus LB6 were optimized to increase the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, EC 3.4.15.1) inhibitory activity by Box–Behnken design of response surface methodology. Incubation temperature, whey powder, and calcium lactate had significant effects on ACE inhibition rate and viable counts of LB6 during incubation. The results showed that optimal conditions of fermentation were found to be 37.05 °C, 0.8% (w/w) whey powder and 0.50% (w/w) calcium lactate. ACE inhibition rate increased significantly from 71.04 ± 0.37% to 83.31 ± 0.45% and the viable counts of Lactobacillus bulgaricus LB6 reached to 8.03 × 107 cfu·mL−1 under the optimal conditions, which approached the predicted values 83.25% and 8.04 × 107 cfu·mL−1. The optimal fermentation conditions can be a good reference for preparing ACE inhibitory peptides from goat milk.
Assessment of transmission congestion cost and locational marginal pricing in a competitive electricity market

In an open access environment, transmission constraints can result in different energy prices throughout the network. These prices are, in fact, dependent on a number of factors such as the generating unit bid, system load level, network topology and security limits imposed on the transmission network due to thermal, voltage and stability considerations. Computing these energy prices at all buses in large transmission networks under given system operating conditions can be time consuming. This paper describes a methodology based on the analysis performed by the Hydro One inhouse computer program to calculate transmission congestion cost (TCC) and locational marginal pricing (LMP) in transmission systems. The assessment methodology is simple and efficient and computes LMPs at selected buses that represent the entire network. The proposed method can be used to compute hourly TCC and LMPs as well as average values over a specified period of time. Sensitivity studies are carried out to determine the impact of changes in system parameters and operating conditions on the LMPs. The proposed method is illustrated using the IEEE Reliability Test System (RTS).
Reemployment Probabilities and Returns to Matching

The assumption of constant returns in the matching function, embodied in most bilateral search models, is crucial to ensure the uniqueness of the unemployment rate along a steady‐state growth path. This article explores the empirical viability of this assumption by estimating individual reemployment probabilities on a sample of unemployment entrants. I apply hazard models to survey data on both completed and uncompleted unemployment durations. The hypothesis of constant returns to matching is not rejected, on the basis of the evidence that the job‐finding hazard depends only on local labor market tightness and is independent of its size.
DATA DRIVEN DESIGN OF HMM TOPOLOGY FOR ON LINE HANDWRITING

Although HMM is widely used for on-line handwriting recognition, there is no simple and well-established way of designing the HMM topology. We propose a data-driven systematic method to design HMM topology. Data samples in a single pattern class are structurally simplified into a sequence of straight-line segments, and then these simplified representations of the samples are clustered. An HMM is constructed for each of these clusters, by assigning a state to each straight-line segments. Then the resulting multiple models of the class are combined to form an architecture of a multiple parallel-path HMM , which behaves as a single HMM. To avoid excessive growing of the number of the states, parameter tying is applied in that structural similarity among patterns is reflected. Experiments on on-line Hangul recognition showed about 19% of error reductions, compared to the previous intuitive design methods.
Entropy-based robust spectrum sensing in cognitive radio

Sensitivity to noise uncertainty is a fundamental limitation of current spectrum sensing strategies in detecting the presence/absence of primary users in cognitive radio (CR). Because of noise uncertainty, the performance of traditional detectors such as matched filter, energy detector and even cyclostationary detectors deteriorates rapidly at low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Without accurate estimation of noise power, an absolute /SNR wall/ exists in traditional detectors below which robust detection is impossible, no matter how long the observations are. To counteract the effect of noise uncertainty in low SNR, the authors propose a blind frequency-domain entropy-based spectrum sensing scheme. The entropy of the sensed signal is estimated in the frequency domain with probability space partitioned into fixed dimensions. The authors prove that the entropy of noise is a constant and the proposed scheme is thus intrinsically robust against noise uncertainty. Monte Carlo experiments are carried out to verify the robustness and further show that the proposed scheme outperforms classical energy detector and cyclostationary detector in low SNR region with 6 and 4/dB performance improvement, respectively. In addition, the sensing time is reduced to about 75/ by the proposed scheme compared to energy detector under the same detection performance.
The Influence of Corporate Acquisitions on the Behaviour of Key Inventors

The behaviour of key inventors after the acquisition of their company is examined. Key inventors are identified on the basis of their patenting output. They account for a large number of their company? s high-quality patents. The analysis of 43 acquisitions shows that key inventors leave to a substantial extent their company or they significantly reduce their patenting performance after the acquisition. Factors influencing the behaviour of key inventors after acquisitions are identified. Implications for the effective management of acquisitions as well as suggestions for further research are outlined.
New considerations in the design of low-cost probe-fed truncated corner microstrip antennas for GPS applications

Antennas produce circularly polarized waves when two orthogonal field components with equal amplitude but in phase quadrature are radiated. Probe-fed microstrip patches, classified as resonator-type antennas, are able of satisfying these requirements [1]. Nowadays, design procedure for truncated corner square patches and also for the almost square radiators is available in the literature, for instance in [2, 3]. Following this procedure, antennas with excellent axial-ratio (AR) in the operating frequency can be synthesized. Unfortunately, their input impedances are inherently inductive, mainly if thick substrates are used. A useful method of compensating for the inductance is to etch a capacitive gap on the patch, concentric (or not) with the feed probe [4, 5]. In this paper, instead of applying this standard method, a new approach is used to design truncated corner patches, printed on thick substrates. The purpose is to get the best axial-ratio and return loss at the same frequency.
Preparation of imprinted cryogel cartridge for chiral separation of l-phenylalanine

Abstract l-Phe-imprinted cryogel cartridge was prepared for the chiral separation of l-Phe. N-Methacryloyl l-phenylalanine (MAPA) was used as a functional monomer for complexing with l-Phe. The selectivity of the membranes was investigated by using d-Phe, l-Trp, and d-Trp as competitor molecules. The PHEMAPA-l-Trp membranes were 6.4, 4.3, and 5.5 times more selective for l-Phe than d-Phe, l-Trp, and d-Trp, respectively. The PHEMAPA-l-Phe cryogel cartridge was incorporated into the fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) equipment and was able to separate D,l-Phe racemic mixture efficiently. The PHEMAPA-l-Phe membranes were shown to be reusable many times without significant loss of the adsorption capacity.
Do Higher Levels of Education Raise Earnings in Post-Reform Russia?

In this study, using the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Surveys data set, we investigate whether higher education has any effect on wages in post-reform Russia. In doing so, we test the hypothesis of Brainerd (1998) that returns should further increase in the future as Russia moves from government dominance toward a market democracy. The findings are based on a simple ordinary least squares model and instrumental variable estimation, exploiting institutional changes in the educational system. They suggest that returns grew significantly in 2000-2002. The results are in line with Brainerd's conjecture on the future evolution of returns to human capital in Russia.
Advancing “bio” sensor integration with Ocean Observing Systems to support ecosystem based approaches

The vision of the US Integrated Ocean Observing System (U.S. IOOS) is to provide information and services to the nation for enhancing our understanding of the ecosystem and climate; sustaining living marine resources; improving public health and safety; reducing impacts of natural hazards and environmental changes; and expanding support for marine commerce and transportation. In the last decade U.S. IOOS has made considerable progress in advancing physical and chemical observing systems, but only modest progress integrating biological observations from disparate data providers, and there remain challenges to fully integrate biological observing systems into U.S. IOOS. Recent technological advances in miniature, low power “bio” sensor can record everything from plankton greater than 20 micrometer with electro-optical technology, to hydroacoustic sensors that can record meso-zooplankton and nekton from mobile autonomous platforms, to satellite linked recorders that can record the movement and behavior of the largest marine predators. This opens up remarkable opportunities for observing the biotic realm at critical spatio-temporal scales that are most relevant to organisms, which have been out of reach until present. “bio”sensor technology is mature and proven to be operational and biological monitoring should be an integrated component of observing systems. Optimally, it should be clearly defined and implemented in close association with physical oceanographers. The integration of biological observing into U.S IOOS will only strengthen the national observing capabilities to respond to the growing needs for ecosystem observation to support ecosystem-based approaches and sustain our living marine resources.