Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inverse Correlation between the Extent of N-Glycan Branching and Intercellular Adhesion in Epithelia

The majority of cell adhesion molecules are N-glycosylated, but the role of N-glycans in intercellular adhesion in epithelia remains ill-defined. Reducing N-glycan branching of cellular glycoproteins by swainsonine, the inhibitor of N-glycan processing, tightens and stabilizes cell-cell junctions as detected by a 3-fold decrease in the paracellular permeability and a 2-3-fold increase in the resistance of the adherens junction proteins to extraction by non-ionic detergent. In addition, exposure of cells to swainsonine inhibits motility of MDCK cells. Mutagenic removal of N-glycosylation sites from the Na,K-ATPase β1 subunit impairs cell-cell adhesion and decreases the effect of swainsonine on the paracellular permeability of the cell monolayer and also on detergent resistance of adherens junction proteins, indicating that the extent of N-glycan branching of this subunit is important for intercellular adhesion. The N-glycans of the Na,K-ATPase β1 subunit and E-cadherin are less complex in tight renal epithelia than in the leakier intestinal epithelium. The complexity of the N-glycans linked to these proteins gradually decreases upon the formation of a tight monolayer from dispersed MDCK cells. This correlates with a cell-cell adhesion-induced increase in expression of GnT-III (stops N-glycan branching) and a decrease in expression of GnTs IVC and V (promote N-glycan branching) as detected by real-time quantitative PCR. Consistent with these results, partial silencing of the gene encoding GnT-III increases branching of N-glycans linked to the Na,K-ATPase β1 subunit and other glycoproteins and results in a 2-fold increase in the paracellular permeability of MDCK cell monolayers. These results suggest epithelial cells can regulate tightness of cell junctions via remodeling of N-glycans, including those linked to the Na,K-ATPase β1-subunit.
Mitochondrial DNA and allozymes reveal high dispersal abilities and historical movement across drainage boundaries in two species of freshwater fishes from inland rivers in Queensland, Australia

This study used allozymes and mtDNA variation to test that: 1) populations of two fish species, Nematolosa erebi and Retropinna semoni, in lowland rivers in central Australia were highly connected within drainages, 2) populations in different drainages were highly differentiated and 3) there was evidence of historical connections between two major lowland drainages in inland Australia. Levels of genetic differentiation among populations within drainages were low, but still statistically significant, indicating that populations were not as highly connected as had been predicted. Populations from the Murray–Darling and the Lake Eyre drainages were highly differentiated, indicating no contemporary dispersal across drainage boundaries. Both species showed evidence of historical connections between the two drainage basins, although estimates of the time that these last occurred differed between the two species. Nematolosa erebi populations from the two drainages were estimated to have been separated c. 150 000 years ago, whereas populations of R. semoni, were estimated to have been separated c. 1.5 million years
EFFECTS OF CADMIUM TOXICITY ON GROWTH AND ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION OF MARINE PHYTOPLANKTON

Some classes of marine phytoplankton are believed to be more tolerant of high concentrations of trace metals than others, but the results of experimental tests of this hypothesis are ambiguous. Eleven species of phytoplankton representing five classes were grown in Aquil medium containing Cd concentrations between 10−8 and 10−5 M ([Cd2+]= 10−9.85 to 10−6.84 M), and growth rates and intracellular concentrations of Cd, C, N, and S were measured. The mean Cd2+ concentration (pCd50) that reduced the growth rate of each species to 50% of its maximum varied by 2.5 orders of magnitude, from 10−6.23 for Emiliania huxleyi to 10−8.79 for Synechococcus sp. Taxonomic trends in Cd resistance were not apparent in these data. Cadmium quotas (mol Cd·L−1 cell volume) were lowest in species of Bacillariophyceae (ANOVA, P < 0.001), suggesting that they might regulate Cd transport differently than other taxa. Cellular S:C molar ratios increased in four of seven phytoplankton grown at high pCd (7.37–6.84) compared to low Cd ion concentrations (no added Cd), a result of increases in S·L−1 cell volume. Nitrogen:carbon molar ratios were also higher in Cd‐exposed phytoplankton, as changes in N and S were highly correlated (r= 0.98, P < 0.0001). In two species that were examined, S:C ratios increased as a linear function of increasing Cd concentration. The results demonstrate large variability in Cd resistance among phytoplankton that is primarily a function of interspecific differences in Cd detoxification.
SEQUENCES OF THE LARGEST SUBUNIT OF RNA POLYMERASE II FROM TWO RED ALGAE AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR RHODOPHYTE EVOLUTION

The Rhodophyta are a widespread group of multicellular eukaryotes that occupy a range of habitats and exhibit a broad variety of morphologies and life histories. Unlike green plants, animals, and even brown algae, the red algae have attained this diversity without having evolved true tissue differentiation. Moreover, the relationship of red algae to other multicellular lineages remains controversial, and the molecular and biochemical mechanisms of their development are largely unexplored. We have isolated the 3′ end of the gene encoding the largest subunit (RPB1) of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) from two divergent red algae, Porphyra yezoensis Ueda and Bonnemaisonia hamifera Heriot. The Pol II largest subunit lies at the catalytic center of the enzyme responsible for mRNA transcription in eukaryotic cells. In plants, animals, and fungi, the 3′ distal region of the RPB1 gene encodes a carboxyl‐terminal domain (CTD) that is the organizing center for assembly of the RNA Pol II holoenzyme essential for developmentally regulated transcription. Examination of rhodophyte RPB1 C‐terminal regions as well as phylogenetic analyses based on conserved gene sequences suggest that the red algae emerged in the course of eukaryotic evolution before the CTD had been codified in the remaining crown taxa. The possibility that a causal relationship underlies the correlated lack of a CTD and absence of tissue differentiation in red algae is proposed as an intriguing subject for further study.
Effectiveness of tobramycin conjugated to iron oxide nanoparticles in treating infection in cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited childhood-onset life-shortening disease. It is characterized by increased respiratory production, leading to airway obstruction, chronic lung infection and inflammatory reactions. The most common bacteria causing persisting infections in people with CF is Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Superparamagnetic Fe3O4 iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) conjugated to the antibiotic (tobramycin), guided by a gradient of the magnetic field or subjected to an oscillating magnetic field, show promise in improving the drug delivery across the mucus and P. aeruginosa biofilm to the bacteria. The question remains whether tobramycin needs to be released from the NPs after the penetration of the mucus barrier in order to act upon the pathogenic bacteria. We used a zero-length 1-ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl] carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) crosslinking agent to couple tobramycin, via its amine groups, to the carboxyl groups on Fe3O4 NPs capped with citric acid. The therapeutic efficiency of Fe3O4 NPs attached to the drug versus that of the free drug was investigated in P. aeruginosa culture.
Aroma-Active Compounds in Kimchi during Fermentation

During fermentation, volatile flavor compounds in Kimchi prepared with (FS) and without (C) fish sauce were analyzed by vacuum simultaneous steam distillation−solvent extraction/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (V-SDE/GC/MS) and GC/olfactometry. On the basis of their high odor intensities (OI ≥ 3), eight sulfur-containing compounds having garlic-, garlic salt-, onion-, green onion-, and cooked cabbage-like odors and six unknowns with garlic-, onion-, and green onion-like odors were predominant in both FS and C during fermentation. The most intense odorants (OI ≥ 4.0) in Kimchi included dimethyl trisulfide, diallyl disulfide isomers, diallyl trisulfide, methylallyl disulfide, and an unknown (garlic salt- and/or mustard-like). In addition to these, other odorants (OI ≥ 3.5) such as 3-(methylthio)propanal (baked/boiled potato-like), (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal (cucumber-like), phenylacetaldehyde (honeysuckle-like), linalool (floral- and/or flower-like), (E,E)-2,4-decadienal (fatty and/or sweet), 2,3-butanedione.
Reply to Bortolini et al.

We would like to thank Giovanni Destro-Bisol, Valentina Coia, and Gabriella Spedini (Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology, Department of Animal and Human Biology, University of Rome “La Sapienza”) and Sandra Beleza, Leonor Gusmao, and Antonio Amorim (Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, Portugal), for allowing us the use of their unpublished and valuable data.
Alginate Content of Farmed Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar from the Three Bays of Iwate, Japan during Harvest Period

Abstract The alginate content of the blades, stipes and sporophylls of farmed Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar collected during harvest period (February–April 1999) from the three bays Otsuchi, Okirai and Hirota of Iwate Prefecture, Japan were analysed and compared. High values were obtained from the blades and less amounts from the sporophylls of the plants for all farm sites. The alginate content of the parts did not differ considerably between and among sites. Alginate content of the blades and stipes appeared to be higher before the appearance of sporophylls for the entire time of harvest, irrespective of site. This suggests that the development of reproductive structures has an effect on the alginate production of the plants. The nutrient, temperature and salinity of the water showed significant fluctuations within the harvest period in each bay. However, this does not vary between bays. Temperature and salinity changes of the water suggest a possible influence on the alginate content of the reproductive structures of the plants. The nitrate and nitrite concentrations of the water seemed to influence the alginate content of a specific part of the plants in a particular bay. This suggests that assimilation and metabolism of the different parts of the plants vary and other environmental factors prevailing in each bay might have brought about such an effect.
Classical Mean Variance Model Revisited: Pseudo Efficiency

Since Markowitz published his seminal work on mean-variance portfolio selection in 1952, almost all literature in the past half century adhere their investigation to a binding budget spending assumption on this classical investment issue. In the mean-variance world for a market of all risky assets, however, the common belief of monotonicity does not hold, i.e., not the larger amount you invest, the larger expected future wealth you can expect for a given risk (variance) level. We introduce in this paper the concept of pseudo efficiency to remove from the candidates such efficient mean-variance policies which can be achieved by less initial investment level. By relaxing the binding budget spending restriction in investment, we derive an optimal scheme in managing initial wealth which dominates the traditional mean-variance efficient frontier.
Preculture sugarcane tissue in sucrose-supplemented culture medium to induce desiccation tolerance

Cryopreservation is a promising technique for long term conservation of sugarcane's genetic resources which could be used in breeding programs. Preculture is a key step for success this technique. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of sucrose concentrations and preculture period on dessication tolerance of sugarcane tissue dehydrated to 30, 20 and 10 % moisture. Sugarcane shoot tips were encapsulated in sodium alginate and precultured in a liquid culture medium with 0.3, 0.5, and 0.75 M sucrose. Preculturing in 0.3 M sucrose was ideal to induce desiccation tolerance in tissue. This sucrose concentration reduced the percentage of electrolytic leakage. Shoot tips were sensitive to a sucrose concentration of 0.75 M, resulting in low survival rates after desiccation. Preculturing in 0.5 M sucrose resulted in a higher survival rate after drying for 5.7 and 7.45 h. The percentage of electrolytic leakage was high when shoot tips were desiccated after preculturing in 0.5 and 0.75 M sucrose.
Analysts' Use of Non-Financial Information Disclosures

In this study I examine how analysts process non-financial information and how their processing is affected by the patterns of non-financial information disclosures by firms. More specifically, I examine the association between analyst earnings forecast errors and the persistence of non-financial disclosures, both across information content and over time. The study focuses on firms in the wireless industry for the period 1997 – 2007. The results show that analysts tend to under-react to the information contained in customer acquisition cost, average revenue per user, and the number of subscribers. These are the performance measures which have significant predictive ability for future earnings of wireless firms. Distinguishing between persistently and non-persistently disclosing firms reveals that the above findings are driven primarily by firms with irregular disclosures of non-financial information. There is no evidence of analysts’ inefficiency in evaluating the content of non-financial metrics provided by persistently disclosing firms. This implies that the lack of systematic disclosures of performance measures restricts financial analysts’ ability to fully analyze the contributions of these metrics for future earnings.
Have the Tax Benefits of Debt Been Overestimated?

We re-examine the claim that many corporations are underleveraged in that they fail to take full advantage of debt tax shields. We show prior results suggesting underleverage stems from biased estimates of tax benefits from interest deductions. We develop improved estimates of marginal tax rates using a non-parametric procedure that produces more accurate estimates of the distribution of future taxable income. We show that additional debt would provide firms with much smaller tax benefits than previously thought, and when expected distress costs and difficult-to-measure non-debt tax shields are also considered, it appears plausible that most firms have tax-efficient capital structures.
Monetary Policy Reaction Dynamics in a Developing Economy: Evidence for the Dominican Republic

This paper investigates the central bank's behaviour in a developing economy through a nominal monetary policy feedback rule (NFR) that embodies an inflation targeting mechanism. Particularly, the Dominican Republic is modelled by allowing the hypothetical NFR to receive feedback from inflation and exchange rate (market and official rates differential) gaps. The findings show that, on average, an 'accommodative' monetary policy was pursued during the period investigated. However, some evidence of monetary tightening in response to adverse developments in the exchange rate indicator is also unveiled.
Top Management Turnover, Firm Performance and Government Control: Evidence from China’s Listed State-Owned Enterprises

Using a sample of 916 Chinese listed state-owned enterprises (SOEs) from 2001 to 2005, we find the likelihood of top management turnover is negatively associated with firm performance, suggesting the existence of an effective market-based corporate governance mechanism in an emerging economy that is highly controlled by government. We also find that the negative turnover-performance relationship is stronger when the SOE is held by central government, directly held by local government, holds a monopolistic position in local economy or in a strategic/regulated industry. The results indicate that the market-based corporate governance mechanism that punishes top executives as a result of poor performance is not only used in Chinese SOEs, but is more frequently used when the governance control of SOEs is more intensive. Our findings support the notion that government control strengthens rather than weakens the turnover-performance governance mechanism. Our additional analysis shows that this complementary effect persists in the regions lack of pro-market institutions such as investor protections and functioning capital market.
Momentum Strategy and Bombay Stock Exchange

Short term momentum effect claims that recent past winners tend to outperform the market whereas recent past losers tend to underperforms the market. Therefore by definition it challenges the efficient market hypothesis, which is of the view that future returns cannot be predicted by using past returns. This study examines whether short term momentum effect challenges the efficient market hypothesis or not. Momentum effect has been found in almost all the stock exchanges in the world and documented in the financial literature by many well-known scholars. For this purpose, Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has been chosen and stock prices of BSE 100 index have been downloaded for the period starting from 24 June, 2006 and ending on 24 June, 2011 to perform momentum calculations. BSE has been selected because of its rapidly growing nature. Many leading articles have mentioned Bombay Stock Exchange as one of the fastest emerging capital stock market in the world.
Informationless Trading

The recent paper by Goetzmann et al. (2002) suggests that fund managers subject to a performance review have an adverse incentive to engage in portfolio strategies that have the unfortunate attribute that they can expose the fund investor to significant downside risk. Weisman (2002) uses the term â¬Sinformationless investingâ¬? to describe this behavior, and argues that these strategies are â¬Speculiar to the asset management industry in general, and the hedge fund industry in particularâ¬? and that these strategies â¬Scan produce the appearance of return enhancement without necessarily providing any value to an investor. â¬? Just how prevalent are these practices in the fund management business? On the basis of a unique database of daily transactions and holdings of a set of forty successful Australian equity managers, we find evidence that individual managers do engage in this trading behavior, particularly when they form part of a team within a large decentralized money management operation and are compensated in the form of an annual bonus based on performance. This result is broadly consistent with the theoretical and empirical results of the principal agent literature which highlight the adverse consequences for the long term objectives of principals where agents are compensated based on observable short term performance. It is also consistent with recent results from the behavioral finance literature which suggest that agents narrowly focus on individual security gambles independent of overall portfolio value considerations.
Remodeling the Working-Kaldor Curve: The Roles of Scarcity, Time to Maturity and Time to Harvest

This paper proposes that, when modeling for the relation between the convenience yield and current scarcity, time to maturity and time to harvest should interact with current scarcity, i.e. the two should enter multiplicatively. In implementing this idea we also compare three models for current scarcity, based on inventory levels, the spot price or both. We use data for corn, wheat and soybeans, 1/1986 to 7/2007. The multiplicative model performs noticeably better than the traditional version, which only focuses on the measurement for scarcity and not on the nature of the relation between scarcity, time to maturity, harvest and convenience yield. More importantly, though the combination of spot price and inventory provides a better proxy for scarcity than either spot price or inventory separately, the pure spot-price version performs nearly as well as the spot/inventory combination, and much better than the pure inventory version. This is useful because inventory data are typically hard to obtain and increasingly noisy. Our model still exhibits a clear “Working curve”, albeit with slopes changing with time to maturity and harvest periods. We can also show that the multiplicative model still works better than the traditional model even during the government loan program period in the middle 1980’s and that the program seems to have little impact on modeling the convenience yield. Nor did the changing in the delivery system for corn and soybeans, as of 2000, have a big impact.
What Drives Index Options Exposure?

This paper documents the history of aggregate positions in U.S. index options and investigates the driving factors behind use of this class of derivatives. The goal is to identify basic properties of the level, trend, and covariates of options quantities in order to provide benchmark facts for equilibrium theories of derivatives usage. The outstanding quantity of options in terms of market value or volatility exposure is small, which may pose a challenge to models that invoke population heterogeneity to explain trading volume. The nonstationary component of aggregate options exposure is well described as driven by the stochastic trend in equity market activity, consistent with the latter being a general proxy for technology and heterogeneity. The notional quantity of outstanding options exhibits statistically strong risk effects. However, the sign of the response is different for different dimensions of risk. This suggests that theoretical models will need to include heterogeneity in investor risk perception.
Cultural Finance

Especially against the background of a Europe growing together more and more and in times of striking globalization, an emphasis of culture as an explanatory determinant in the context of economic issues would seem particularly attractive. This study intends to pursue this line of thought and to proclaim a new, autonomous discipline: Cultural Finance. This discipline aims to integrate cultural aspects into the analysis of financial questions. To this end, the importance of cultural values in financial decision-making is demonstrated on the basis of methods taken from Game Theory and Institutional Economics. Additionally, existing weak points in this research field are uncovered by a systematic overview of the current literature, and some future developments are indicated. Finally, this study shows that Cultural Finance can close the literature gap between the neighbouring disciplines of "Law and Finance" and "Behavioural Finance".