Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Yield and income risk-efficiency analysis of alternative systems for rice production in the Guinea Savannah of Northern Ghana

Risk efficiency of rice grain yield and returns to farm operators' household resources generated from an improved short-duration cover crop fallow system were compared with (traditional) natural bush fallow, and continuous rice-cropping systems. The improved fallow system involved maintaining "Calopogonium mucunoides", seeded into a natural bush fallow for 2 years before planting to rice. With no chemical fertilizer application, which reflects farmers' practice in the area, average grain yield for continuous rice (1,185 kg/ha) and the cropping sequence incorporating a natural bush fallow (1,175 kg/ha) did not differ, but were higher for the improved fallow system (1,304 kg/ha). This suggests that nutrient contribution from the leguminous cover crop made up for critical crop N requirements in the improved fallow. Stochastic dominance of grain yield distributions from the improved fallow system, relative to the other two cropping systems, was more dramatic with no N fertilizer application compared to treatments with 30 kg/ha N. Average returns were highest for the improved fallow system, followed by the natural bush fallow-cropping system, and then continuous rice, under the no N fertilizer treatment regime. With 30 kg/ha N fertilizer, income risk efficiency was less clear (compared to treatments with no N fertilizer), especially between continuous rice and the improved fallow treatment, because of faster N mineralization effects on continuous rice. In contrast, the improved cover crop fallow system completely dominated the natural bush fallow treatment under both fertilizer regimes. Rice production systems that incorporated the leguminous cover crop fallow were superior to the natural bush fallow system, based on both grain yield and average farm income risk-efficiency considerations. Copyright 2005 International Association of Agricultural Economics.
Declining rates of return to education: evidence for Indonesia

In 1977, American labour economist Richard Freeman documented a fall in the return to education in the US, and attributed it to the expansion of the country's education sector. This article shows, similarly, that the returns to education in Indonesia generally declined between 1993 and 2007–08, following the large-scale expansion of the sector. The changes, however, were reasonably modest, and sometimes differed between males and females. This suggests that both recent growth in the education sector (which by itself could depress the return to education) and uneven growth across the Indonesian economy (which could differentially increase demand for graduates at various levels of education) have played a role in determining the pattern of change over time in the profitability of education in Indonesia.
Fisheries management in a sea of uncertainty: the role and responsibility of scientists in attaining a precautionary approach

On the political level, there is now an agreement that the fish stocks in the North Sea should be managed in accordance with the precautionary principle. The goal of this paper is to show that fisheries scientists will have to adapt to the new requirements represented by this principle, first and foremost by adjusting the model of decision-making in a way that facilitates communication of the uncertainties involved in their advice to the managers and stakeholders. The paper consists of three parts. First, a general description of fisheries management in the North Atlantic area managed by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) is presented; second, the collapse of the North Sea herring stock is used as a case to illustrate the uncertainty involved in fisheries management and how it has been handled by scientists and managers; finally, the obligation of scientists involved in fisheries research in relation to the political goal of a precautionary management is discussed.
Neonicotinoids and bees: What's all the buzz?

Neonicotinoid insecticides kill bees. Or do they? The European Union has approved a moratorium – though manufacturers say there is no evidence to implicate their product. But they demand experiments that cannot be performed, says Dave Goulson, subject their own data to no statistical analysis, and spuriously reject good evidence that does exist. So how strong is the link between these chemicals and the decline of our bees?
Perceptions of Federal Aid Impacts on State Agencies: Patterns, Trends, and Variations Across the 20th Century

American federalism is a dynamic process involving the views and interactions among state and national officials. Based on multiple mail surveys of state agency heads across 75 years, this article traces the perspectives of state executives toward a core component of state-national relationships—federal aid. The time frame dates from the 1920s and covers a period in which federal aid programs to the states grew enormously, as did state administrative establishments. There was a long-term rise in the perceived intrusiveness of federal aid as well as increased policy distortion effects. Despite substantial fluctuations in perceived aid impacts, there was a four-decade consistency in the penetration of federal aid into and across the existing 3,000 state agencies. Furthermore, when perceptions of national influence are combined in an index of perceived national fiscal influence, there was a roller coaster effect with an overall secular "decline" in national influence since 1974. Copyright 2007, Oxford University Press.
Heterogeneous Responses to Water Conservation Programs: The Case of Residential Users in

We propose a detailed analysis of heterogeneity in households’ responses to water conservation programs (price increase, voluntary and mandatory conservation) during periods of water shortage. Using a unique dataset covering water consumption of all residential users in Los Angeles (California) during the drought (1988-1992), we show that households generally were responsive to the conservation measures but that the magnitude of households’ responses varies depending on the instrument and on households’ characteristics, in particular the size of their lot. Price elasticity is estimated between –0.29 and –0.47 in the high season (June-October), and between 0 and –0.19 in the low season (November-May). Results suggest that the voluntary conservation program [resp. mandatory conservation program] induced a reduction in water use which varies from 1 to 13% [resp. 21% to 29%] depending on the season and the size of the lot. The achieved reduction in consumption is however very similar across households. These data also allow us to compare the effectiveness of price and nonprice policies in terms of water savings. Finally, welfare calculations suggest that households with the smallest lot sizes (and lowest income) suffered the greatest loss during the implementation of the water conservation programs.
Food Security, Agricultural Efficiency and Regional Integration

Food security remains a major concern among the APEC member economies. A simple and crude exercise shows that the region collectively could supply each member economy’s demands for rice, maize and wheat. Thus, there is a potential role for enhanced intra-APEC agricultural trade to address food security issues. However, economies may be reluctant to abandon a policy of pursuing self-sufficiency because of “political sensitivities” and because of the uncertainties that trade is sometimes associated with. While tariffs and subsidies have been addressed, nontrade barriers such as sanitary and phyto-sanitary conditions are imposed on agricultural commodities. Hence, regional cooperation must also be pursued along other grounds such as institutional support and the dissemination of technological advancements. In addition, a collective definition of food security must be answered by the 21 member economies.
An improved glucose transport assay system for isolated mouse skeletal muscle tissues

There is a growing demand for a system in the field of sarcopenia and diabetes research that could be used to evaluate the effects of functional food ingredients that enhance muscle mass/contractile force or muscle glucose uptake. In this study, we developed a new type of in vitro muscle incubation system that systemizes an apparatus for muscle incubation, using an electrode, a transducer, an incubator, and a pulse generator in a compact design. The new system enables us to analyze the muscle force stimulated by the electric pulses and glucose uptake during contraction and it may thus be a useful tool for analyzing the metabolic changes that occur during muscle contraction. The system may also contribute to the assessments of new food ingredients that act directly on skeletal muscle in the treatment of sarcopenia and diabetes. Graphical abstract Development of the new in vivo skeletal muscle contraction systems.
Willingness to pay for pesticides’ reduction in E.U: nothing but organic?

Using Experimental auctions carried out on apples in different European countries, we contribute to the assessment of consumer willingness to pay for the reduction of pesticides. We study several systems of good agricultural practices, possibly signaled to consumers, ranging from public and private Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies to organic production methods. The results suggest a relatively homogeneous behavior of European consumers and we show how improving the information on pesticides reduction could have unexpected consequences. Results also show that sensory characteristics or reference to an origin of production should not be overlooked.
Matchmaking: community and business unit racial/ethnic diversity and business unit performance

Past studies examining how the match between organization and community racial/ethnic proportions influences performance have relied on the social categorization perspective on diversity, but have not offered strong significant results. However, the information and decision-making perspective on diversity suggests that organizational diversity fit based on variety, rather than a match of demographic proportions, leads to greater performance. This study considered both perspectives to test how both racial/ethnic proportions matching and diversity fit influence business unit financial performance. This was tested on a sample of 51 business units of a restaurant chain in the USA. The results show that business unit diversity was associated with higher performance in diverse communities but not in homogeneous communities. This suggests that racial/ethnic diversity is a valuable human resource conducive to greater performance but this is contingent upon community diversity. Implications for organizational diversity research and human resource management are discussed.
Cigarette smoking and breast cancer: a case-control study in Serbia.

BACKGROUND Despite the fact that breast cancer is the most common female cancer worldwide, more than half of the breast cancer risk factors remained unexplained. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of cigarette smoking with risk of breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS A case-control study was conducted in the Clinical Centre of Kragujevac, Serbia, covering 382 participants (191 cases and 191 controls). In the analysis of data logistic regression was used. RESULTS Breast cancer risk was significantly increased in those who quit smoking at ≤ 50 years of age (OR=2.72; 95% confidence interval - 95%CI=1.02-7.27) and in those who quit smoking less than 5 years before diagnosis of the disease (OR=4.36; 95%CI=1.12-16.88). When smokers were compared with nonsmokers without passive exposure to smoking, former smoking significantly increased breast cancer risk (OR=2.37; 95%CI=1.07-5.24). Risk for breast cancer was significantly increased in those who quit smoking at ≤ 50 years of age (OR=3.29; 95%CI=1.17-9.27) and in those who quit smoking less than 5 years before diagnosis of the disease (OR=5.46; 95%CI=1.34-22.28). CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that cigarette smoking is associated with an elevated risk of breast cancer among former smokers in Serbia.
TLR4‐dependent recognition of lipopolysaccharide by epithelial cells requires sCD14

Epithelial cells lining the urinary bladder mucosa are engaged in numerous functions that act in concert to prevent exposure of the sensitive upper urinary tract to bacteria. This protective effect was recently suggested to be achieved mainly by compartmentalized, organ‐specific expression of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 4 within epithelial cells of the urogenital tract. Here, we show that bladder epithelial cells recognize similarly low amounts of LPS as macrophages. LPS responsiveness measured as secretion of the chemoattractant interleukin 8 demonstrates a dependency on TLR4 in epithelial cells, which is similar to the situation in macrophages. The TLR4‐mediated LPS response in bladder epithelial cells also uses the co‐receptor CD14 for efficient LPS signalling. However, bladder epithelial cells do not express endogenous CD14 and are therefore dependent on the soluble form of CD14 that is present in body fluids. Furthermore, we demonstrate that epithelial chemokine production is augmented by type 1‐mediated attachment of uropathogenic Escherichia coli in the absence, but not in the presence, of CD14. Collectively, our findings strengthen the role for bladder epithelial cells as important players in the innate immune system within the urinary tract.
Different radiosensitivity of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells and effector T cells to low dose gamma irradiation in vitro

Purpose: To determine the radiosensitivity difference of human Cluster of Differentiation (CD)4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) and effector T cells to low dose gamma ray and elucidate the underlying mechanisms in vitro. Materials and methods: Blood samples were collected from five health subjects and five patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Treg and CD4+CD25− T cells were selected using magnetic microbeads. The proliferative profiles, cytokine secretion, and differential expressions of apoptosis-related proteins in Treg and CD4+CD25− T cells were compared using [3H]-thymidine incorporation, Luminex assay and flow cytometry when treated with various low doses of γ-ray. Results: A dose-dependent reduction of proliferation in response to irradiation which paralleled the induction of apoptosis existed in Treg and CD4+CD25− T cells. Treg were more radiosensitive to low-dose irradiation (0.94 Gray [Gy]) than effector T cells. The interferon-γ (IFNγ) was significantly upregulated and interleukin 10 (IL-10) was significantly downregulated in irradiated Treg. An enhanced immune response to low dose gamma ray existed in the peripheral blood in patients with advanced HCC. Higher levels of active caspase-3, CD95, B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X protein (Bax) expression were observed in Treg compared to CD4+CD25− T cells. In addition, gamma irradiation activated CD4+CD25− T cells to express CD25. Conclusions: These studies revealed that Treg were more radiosensitive than CD4+CD25− T cells to low dose irradiation. Higher expressions of apoptosis-related proteins such as caspase-3, CD95 and Bax were observed in Treg when compared to CD4+CD25− T cells. Our results suggest that treatment with low doses of gamma irradiation may be a viable strategy to enhance immune response in patients with advanced HCC.
Effects of bile acids on neurological function and disease

Bile acids are synthesized from cholesterol and are known to be involved with the emulsification and digestion of dietary lipids and fat‐soluble vitamins. Outside of this role, bile acids can act as cell signaling effectors through binding and activating receptors on both the cell membrane and nucleus. Numerous reports have investigated these signaling pathways in conditions where the liver is damaged. More recently, effort has been made to investigate the role of bile acids in diseases out side of those associated with liver damage. This review summarizes recent findings on the influences that bile acids can exert in normal neurological function and their contribution to diseases of the nervous system, with the intent of highlighting the role of these metabolites as potential players in neurological disorders. —McMillin, M. , DeMorrow, S. Effects of bile acids on neurological function and disease. FASEB J. 30, 3658–3668 (2016) www.fasebj. org
Output Costs of Sovereign Crises: Some Empirical Estimates

Avoiding the broader output losses to their economy is likely to be the key reason why governments avoid debt crises. Despite this, there has been little work that seeks to quantify output losses associated with such crises. This paper seeks to fill this gap. We find that debt crisis episodes last for long - on average by about ten years - and are associated with large output losses (of at least 5% per year). Sovereign crises rarely occur in isolation - more often than not they are associated with currency crises or banking crises or both. It is the occurrence of a potent cocktail of 'twin' or 'triple' crises that is strongly associated with output losses rather than sovereign crisis per se.
U.S. Shrimp Market Integration

Abstract Recent supply shocks in the Gulf of Mexico—including hurricanes, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the seasonal appearance of a large dead zone of low oxygen water (hypoxia)—have raised concerns about the economic viability of the U.S. shrimp fishery. The ability of U.S. shrimpers to mediate supply shocks through increased prices hinges on the degree of market integration, both among shrimp of different sizes classes and between U.S. wild caught shrimp and imported farmed shrimp. We use detailed data on shrimp prices by size class and import prices to conduct a co-integration analysis of market integration in the shrimp industry. We find significant evidence of market integration, suggesting that the law of one price holds for this industry. Hence, in the face of a supply shocks, prices do not rise; instead, imports of foreign farmed fish increase. JEL Classification Code: Q22
Participation in Supervised Agricultural Experience Programs: A Synthesis of Research.

The objectives of this investigation were to synthesize research related to participation in supervised agricultural experience (SAE) programs and to identify areas of deficiency in SAE-related research. Findings showed that research in this area was primarily descriptive, survey, and nonprogrammatic. They revealed that SAE programs lacked definition, focus, and direction. No empirical studies were found to suggest that SAE programs were educationally beneficial, warranting student participation. Teacher attitudes and expectations strongly influence SAE participation. While teachers claim to support the concept of SAE, many fail to implement the programs fully, resulting in decreased participation by students. Participation varies widely by state, is demographically dependent, and is lacking by all parties.
DISCUSSION OF: Examining Shareholder Value Creation over CEO Tenure: A New Approach to Testing Effectiveness of Executive Compensation

ABSTRACT: The executive compensation literature has explored the executive pay-for-performance relation in various contexts and reported mixed findings. As a result, the question of whether executive incentives, and particularly stock options, are effective continues to pose a puzzle to researchers. Gong (2011) uses a long window to examine effectiveness of executive compensation. This note discusses several broad aspects of pay-for-performance studies and their potential manifestation in this line of research and in Gong's study. Specifically, I elaborate on measurement issues and on each of the following aspects: (1) the underlying paradigm: arm's-length contracting versus managerial power; (2) the distinction between the pay-for-performance relationship and CEO overpay; (3) market efficiency; and (4) the settling-up problem.
[Analysis of expression of LGALS3BP gene in thyroid tissues and peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with papillary thyroid cancer].

INTRODUCTION Galectin-3 (Gal-3), coding by LGALS3BP gene, is a protein of the lectin family that has been associated with neoplastic processes and seems to play an important role in a variety of cell biological processes. In the thyroid gland, the high expression of this protein has been described in differentiated carcinomas, especially in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). AIM Analysis of Gal-3 protein expression in PTC and nodular goiters; investigation of Gal-3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in patients with PTC and nodular goiter; analysis of correlation between Gal-3 protein expression in PTC and Gal-3 mRNA in PBL of the same patient. MATERIAL AND METHODS Gal-3 protein was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in benign (27 multinodular goiters) and malignant (30 papillary carcinomas) thyroid tissues and galectin-3 mRNA expression by real-time PCR in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from 90 patients with multinodular goiter (n = 27), papillary carcinoma (n = 30) and healthy controls (n = 33). RESULTS In PTC we observed increased expression of Gal-3 protein (all 30 cases) in cytoplasm, nucleus and cell membranes of cancer cells. 23 of 27 benign thyroid nodular goiters were negative for Gal-3 expression. In all examined blood samples we observed higher LGALS3BP gene expression than GAPDH (house keeping gene) with no difference between both groups, without relation to the Gal-3 expression in PTC. CONCLUSIONS There is no difference in Gal-3 expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with papillary thyroid cancer in relation to nodular goiter.
Business Transformation Based on Cloud Services

The list of authors suggested an alternative view on business modeling using public business services in order to meet variable business demands by means of creating the prototype of app store - is-store in network where services of various vendors are collected and simultaneous feedback from the users that attached their personal experience (rating) is received.In this work, the advanced view on the topic is provided with attempt to install a virtual SOA torrent that catches services from the Internet and makes them available to customers. The attempt to unite technical and management approaches in business architecture solving flexibility problem was impossible several years ago when technical possibilities of service-oriented architecture were not able to allow its serious projections on managerial tasks.
Crying wolf: Repeat responses to hurricane evacuation orders

This article examines the evacuation behavior of residents in two South Carolina communities, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach, during the 1996 hurricane season. Two hurricanes that approached South Carolina but hit in North Carolina allowed us to study the impact of repeated “false alarms”; (evacuations ordered based on expectations of a hurricane landfall that proved to be wrong). Differences in evacuation behavior, specific information and concerns prompting evacuation, and the reliability of information sources between hurricane events are examined to determine the impact of false alarms on the credibility of warning systems. Data were derived from a face‐to‐face survey of residents 2 weeks after Hurricane Fran in September 1996. We found that the role of official advisories was more limited than reported in previous research as people sought information on more diverse sets of concerns in their decision making. Reliance on the media and the Weather Channel, in particular, for storm characteristics and ad.