Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fiscal and Externality Rationales for Alcohol Policies

Abstract Alcohol taxes are typically justified as a means to address externalities from alcohol abuse and to raise government revenue. Prior literature has focused on measuring the Pigouvian tax but has paid little attention to the fiscal rationale. This paper presents an analytical and simulation framework for assessing the optimal levels, and welfare effects, of alcohol taxes and drunk driver penalties, accounting for both externalities and how policies interact with the broader fiscal system.Under plausible parameter values and recycling possibilities, the fiscal component of the optimal alcohol tax may be as large, or larger, than the externality-correcting component. Therefore, fiscal considerations can significantly strengthen the case for higher alcohol taxes. They also raise the welfare gains from alcohol taxes relative to those from drunk driver penalties, and they warrant differential taxation of individual beverages on an alcohol equivalent basis.
Employee stock option plans and stock market reaction: evidence from Finland

This paper examines whether the adoption of stock option plans results in changes in shareholders’ wealth, and whether the stock market reactions to ESOP announcements could be explained by the target group of ESOP and the dilution effect. Short-horizon test methods are applied for this purpose. The sample consists of ESOP announcements of Finnish publicly quoted companies on the Helsinki Stock Exchange during the time period 1988–1998. The event study results show a slightly positive market reaction to announcements of ESOPs targeted to management and a negative market reaction in the case of ESOPs targeted to all employees. The results of regression analysis show that the ESOPs with limited dilution convey positive information to the stock market and the dilution effect has a negative impact on stock returns, especially in the case of ESOPs targeted to all employees.
The Weather Factor and Variability in China's Grain Supply

Abstract The variability of China's grain output due to uncertain weather conditions is quantified using disaggregate county-level data. Most studies of agricultural productivity growth in China focus on output growth in response to input growth and policy change; little attention has been given to the weather factor. A model is estimated to examine productivity growth, controlling for the impact of weather. The model is applied to five grain production regions in China. We study the slowdown in growth of China's grain production in the mid-1980's and find that it was due to less favorable weather conditions and to a loss in production efficiency after 1985. J. Comp. Econom. , September 1998, 26(3), pp. 529–543. University of California, Davis, California 95616.
SEWEL MOTIONS IN THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

One of the most controversial aspects of Scottish parliamentary procedure since devolution has been the use of Sewel motions, whereby the Scottish Parliament agrees to Westminster legislating in devolved matters. It was originally envisaged that this procedure would be exceptional, yet in the first session forty one were passed, provoking criticism that Holyrood was dodging its responsibility, becoming a ‘copycat Parliament’ and undermining the principles of devolution. Gerry Hassan (2002) makes much of the fact that the Scottish Parliament was passing almost as many Sewel motions as full Acts. The SNP have also been highly critical of the procedure on principle. They argue that more distinct Scottish solutions should be found for Scottish problems and that, even when Holyrood is adopting the same policy as Westminster, it should pass its own legislation . Academic commentators have criticized the procedure as weakening parliamentary scrutiny (Page 2002) and some lawyers and interest groups complain that the mixture of bits of Westminster and Holyrood legislation makes the statute book untidy and difficult to follow. Scottish ministers, on the other hand, have defended the practice, arguing that the opposition has exaggerated the problem and insisting on a pragmatic approach that saves parliamentary time by not duplicating legislation that is effectively identical on both sides of the border. Further, this debate shows no sign of abatement.
Residential Segregation and Social Integration: Do Blacks and Whites Differ?

While it is well known that racial residential segregation affects social behaviors and various outcomes of individuals, research about the relationship between residential segregation and social integration is limited. We examine how residential segregation is associated with three types of social integration: formal, informal, and advisory integration, and whether the associations differ for Blacks and Whites using data from the Americans’ Changing Lives survey. Our results show that residential segregation is negatively associated with advisory integration for both Blacks and Whites. It also predicts lower levels of formal integration for Blacks, but not for Whites. We did not find significant relationships between residential segregation and informal integration. Interestingly, the sizable associations between residential segregation and formal and advisory integration remain significant even after controlling for the prevalence of Blacks and poverty in counties. It suggests that the racial distribution is a substantial determinant of social relationships especially for Blacks.
EcoGene: a genome sequence database for Escherichia coli K-12

The EcoGene database provides a set of gene and protein sequences derived from the genome sequence of Escherichia coli K-12. EcoGene is a source of re-annotated sequences for the SWISS-PROT and Colibri databases. EcoGene is used for genetic and physical map compilations in collaboration with the Coli Genetic Stock Center. The EcoGene12 release includes 4293 genes. EcoGene12 differs from the GenBank annotation of the complete genome sequence in several ways, including (i) the revision of 706 predicted or confirmed gene start sites, (ii) the correction or hypothetical reconstruction of 61 frame-shifts caused by either sequence error or mutation, (iii) the reconstruction of 14 protein sequences interrupted by the insertion of IS elements, and (iv) pre-dictions that 92 genes are partially deleted gene fragments. A literature survey identified 717 proteins whose N-terminal amino acids have been verified by sequencing. 12 446 cross-references to 6835 literature citations and s are provided. EcoGene is accessible at a new website: http://bmb.med.miami.edu/EcoGene/EcoWeb. Users can search and retrieve individual EcoGene GenePages or they can download large datasets for incorporation into database management systems, facilitating various genome-scale computational and functional analyses.
Trust as the key to relational commitment

The point of view of customers has been neglected by most of the relationship marketing literature. This paper, which draws on the Morgan and Hunt's commitment-trust theory (1994), proposes a model that explains the causal origins of relational commitment and highlights the role of trust as a central antecedent rather than other economic variables. In fact, consumer's trust in the firm's intentions and values turns out to be the most significant antecedent of a solid and lasting commitment. The model is tested for the relationship that customer develops with their usual garages.
Transforming growth factors in the regulation of malignant cell growth and invasion.

AbstractINTRODUCTION The interactions between cells and their extracellular matrices are controlled by various intracellular and exogenous signals. The control of these interactions by polypeptide growth factors appears to involve different levels of regulation. Growth factors can, in addition to the regulation of cell proliferation, direct cell migration and movement, alter the production of different connective tissue components, and regulate extracellular proteolysis. Of particular interest are the autocrine and paracrine growth factors produced by both normal and malignant cells (1-5).
Synthesis, characterization and antiviral evaluation of some novel N-[2-(substitutedphenyl)-5-methyl-4-oxo-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl]benzamides

Summary A series of novel N-[2-(substitutedphenyl)-5-methyl-4-oxo-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl]benzamides (4a-g) were synthesized and structurally confirmed by elemental analysis, IR, 1 H NMR and MS spectral spectral data. All the synthesized 1,3-thiazolidin-4-one analogues (4a-g) at various concentrations (10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 mcg/ml) have been evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against Dalton’s lymphoma ascites (DLA) cancer cell line by trypan blue exclusion method, in comparison with standard drug doxorubicin hydrochloride. Out of these seven compounds, three compounds (N-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-5-methyl-4-oxo-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl]benzamide (4c), N-[5-methyl-2 -(4-nitrophenyl)-4-oxo-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl]benzamide (4g) and N-[2-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-5methyl-4-oxo-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl]benzamide (4b)) inhibited 100%, 86% and 85% DLA tumor cells at 100 mcg/ml concentration, whereas standard drug doxorubicin exhibit 100% DLA inhibition at a concentration of 100 mcg/ml. From the above study, compound 4b and compound 4c which showed better results (> 60% inhibition) at lowest concentration were further selected for screening in vivo anticancer activity against Dalton’s lymphoma ascites (DLA) cancer cell line at the dose of 50 mg/kg body weight/i.p. in comparison with 5fluorouracil (20 mg/kg body weight/i.p.) by determining different parameters like body weight analysis, packed cell volume, viable tumor cell count, increase in life span (%), followed by hematological profiles [red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), hemoglobin (Hb) and platelet count] and serum biochemical parameters [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG)] of DLA bearing mice. In the in vivo anticancer evaluation, among three compounds screened, compound 4c emerged as more potent inhibitor of DLA with an increase in life span (ILS) of 74.01%, whereas standard drug 5-fluorouracil exhibit ILS of 92.20%. The in vivo anticancer experimental results indicated that, compound 4c (p < 0.05) and 5-fluorouracil showed significant (p < 0.01) decrease in body weight gain, packed cell volume, viable tumor cell count and increased the life span of DLA tumor bearing mice, followed by hematological and serum biochemical profiles were significantly restored to normal levels in compound 4c (p < 0.05) and 5-fluorouracil (p < 0.01) treated groups as compared to DLA control mice.
The total influenza vaccine failure of 1947 revisited: Major intrasubtypic antigenic change can explain failure of vaccine in a post-World War II epidemic

Although vaccine-induced immunity to influenza A virus is continually challenged by progressively selected mutations in the virus's major antigens (antigenic drift), virus strains within a subtype (e.g., H1N1) are antigenically cross-reactive. Although cross-immunity diminishes as further mutations accumulate, necessitating frequent changes in vaccine strains, older vaccines are usually partially protective. The post-World War II epidemic of 1947 is notable for the total failure of a vaccine previously effective in the 1943–44 and 1944–45 seasons. We have combined extensive antigenic characterization of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase antigens of the 1943 and 1947 viruses with analysis of their nucleotide and amino acid sequences and have found marked antigenic and amino acid differences in viruses of the two years. Furthermore, in a mouse model, vaccination with the 1943 vaccine had no effect on infection with the 1947 strain. These findings are important, because complete lack of cross-immunogenicity has been found previously only with antigenic shift, in which antigenically novel antigens have been captured by reassortment of human and animal strains, sometimes leading to pandemics. Although the 1947 epidemic lacked the usual hallmarks of pandemic disease, including an extensive increase in mortality, it warns of the possibility that extreme intrasubtypic antigenic variation (if coupled with an increase in disease severity) could produce pandemic disease without the introduction of animal virus antigens.
Smallholder Participation in Large Forestry Programmes

In recent years, many forestry projects have been implemented in developing countries. In China, a variety of large-scale afforestation and reforestation programmes have been carried out with multiple objectives, such as livelihood improvement and carbon sequestration. As in many developing countries, these projects have been implemented in a smallholder context. This paper investigates the determinants of smallholder participation in large forestry projects. Using the case of camellia, it explores the determinants of smallholder participation using a probit regression model. To distinguish between participation in international and government-run projects, a bivariate probit regression model is used. The findings show that only 37% of households in the sample had participated in the Camellia project; a major reason for the low participation rate is perceived tenure insecurity. The results of the bivariate probit model show that the education level of the household head and household size have a positive impact on the likelihood of household participation. The more ‘off-farm’ activities are taken up in a household, the less likely a household is to participate in an international project. For a government project, household size also has a positive impact on the likelihood of participation. Chinese forestry is diversifying since the devolution of forestland use rights, with a majority of households hesitating to invest, while some risk investment and others depend on government subsidies. The main policy implication is that, if the Chinese government wishes to achieve its goal of 1.68 million hectares of camellia, then improving tenure security is crucial.
Can Companies Maintain Their Initial Innovation Thrust? A Study of the PC Software Industry

This paper identifies a number of patterns in the sales of products within firms and over time in the PC software industry. For example, the authors find that a firm's initial product tends to be its most successful. There is also some indication that a firm's initial product sells better than its second, its second better than its third, and so on. The authors sketch some simple models consistent with these results. Copyright 1994 by MIT Press.
Survival of Overconfidence in Currency Markets

Abstract This paper tests the influential hypothesis that irrational traders will be driven out of financial markets by trading losses. The paper’s main finding is that overconfident currency dealers are not driven out of the market. Dealers with extensive experience are neither more nor less overconfident than their junior colleagues. We set the stage for this investigation by providing evidence that currency dealers display two forms of overconfidence: They underestimate uncertainty, and they overestimate their professional success. This is notable because one might have expected the opposite: currency dealers face strong incentives for accuracy, they have access to comprehensive information, and they have extensive experience.
Induction of Neoplasms by Viruses in Marmoset Monkeys 1

C‐type RNA viruses of avian, feline and simian origin induce sarcomas in marmosets and a simian herpesvirus induces lymphomas and/or lymphocytic leukemias. Virus genome expression is usually repressed to various degrees in vivo, but becomes derepressed if the tumor cells are grown in vitro. The high susceptibility of marmosets to oncogenic viruses and the hematopoietic chimerism between offspring make them ideal animals for studying not only the oncogenic activity of animal tumor viruses and of potentially oncogenic materials but also the immune response to the viral‐induced neoplastic diseases.
On traffic locality and QoE in hybrid CDN-P2P networks

Hybrid CDN-P2P applications, such as P2P applications, tend to sometimes ignore traffic costs at ISPs and generate large amounts of undesirable cross-ISP traffic. As blocking the traffic does not seem to solve the problem, some simple cooperation between the neighboring peers will be beneficial. In this case, some biased neighbor selection helps peers connecting to others within the same Autonomous System, hence keeping communication local. We developed a detailed simulation model to evaluate the problem and discovered that using a biased neighborhood selection in a hybrid CDN-P2P content network can even enhance user's quality of experience (QoE) and fundamentally reduce the cross-ISP traffic even with the presence of a transit ISP making de-localization decisions.
Complications Associated with Pulmonary Artery Catheters: A Comprehensive Clinical Review

Care for the critically ill patient requires maintenance of adequate tissue perfusion/oxygenation. Continuous hemodynamic monitoring is frequently utilized to achieve these objectives. Pulmonary artery catheters (PAC) allow measurement of hemodynamic variables that cannot be measured reliably or continuously by less invasive means. Inherent to every medical intervention are risks associated with that intervention. This review categorizes complications associated with the PAC into four broad groups — Complications of central venous access; complications related to PAC insertion and manipulation; complications associated with short- or long-term presence of the PAC in the cardiovascular system; and errors resulting from incorrect interpretation/use of PAC-derived data. We will discuss each of these four broad categories, followed by in-depth descriptions of the most common and most serious individual complications.
Technological variety, technological change and a geography of production techniques

How much heterogeneity in techniques of production exists within the economy, and how does that heterogeneity move over time? In this paper we show that the range of production techniques employed by establishments within individual manufacturing industries is large. We go on to show that technological heterogeneity persists over time: there is no evidence of convergence to best-practice or some other point in technology space. Next, we explore the geography of variety and reveal that there are significant spatial differences in the production techniques employed by manufacturing plants in the same industry. Finally, we examine how these geographical differences move over time, measuring the processes that drive the creation and destruction of the range of production techniques across industries and regions in the US economy. Copyright 2006, Oxford University Press.
Defect of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production and TNF-alpha-induced ICAM-1-expression in BRCA1 mutations carriers.

BACKGROUND Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a potent cytokine secreted primarily by activated cells from the monocyte/macrophage lineage which exhibits various antitumoral effects including the induction of apoptosis, necrosis, activation of lytic effector cells as well as upregulation of the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) which is of decisive importance in the interaction with lymphokine activated killer cells. Previous studies from our laboratory have indicated impaired production of TNF-alpha by monocytes as well as decreased expression of ICAM-1 on monocytes derived from patients with various stages of breast cancer. METHODS In the present experiments, we have assessed spontaneous as well as lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of TNF-alpha by as well as expression of ICAM-1 on monocytes derived from healthy females with germline mutations of BRCA1 and from healthy age-matched control females. RESULTS We report that monocytes derived from healthy women with various germline mutations of BRCA1 had significantly decreased spontaneous (p = 0.03) and LPS-induced (p < 0.001) production of TNF-alpha, as compared to monocytes derived from healthy age-matched control females. In contrast, no difference in LPS- or TNF-alpha-induced production of interleukin-6 was found. Whereas unstimulated monocytes derived from healthy women with germline mutations of BRCA1 and from healthy control women had similar expression of ICAM-1, stimulation with cytokines TNF-alpha and/or interleukin-1 led to a significant increase of ICAM-1 expression on monocytes derived from control females only, but not from BRCA1 germline mutation carriers (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION We conclude that the presence of germline mutations of BRCA1 was associated with a selective deficiency in spontaneous and LPS-induced production of TNF-alpha and of TNF-alpha-induced ICAM-1 expression on peripheral blood monocytes.
Customer satisfaction with tour leaders' performance: A study of Taiwan's package tours

This study aims to investigate the elements that affect customer satisfaction/dissatisfaction through the service offered by the tour leader in on-tour service encounters. It also analyzed the role of the tour leader within a long-haul escorted group. The relationship between overall satisfaction with a travel agency and the generation of repeat business was also investigated. The primary data were collected using three methods: semi-structured face-to-face interviews with managers from randomly selected Taiwanese travel agencies; participant observation of a Taiwanese guided package tour; and semi-structured international telephone interviews with tour group participants. The results revealed that the service attitude of the tour leader is sufficient to satisfy tour participants but interpretation skills will enhance the customers' level of satisfaction. However, Taiwan's tour leaders are tip-sensitive and the issue of tipping plays a crucial factor in influencing the tour leaders' job performance as well as customer satisfaction. Findings also revealed that tour leaders have a good opportunity to develop personal relationships with tour members and that the tour leader is only a partial factor influencing the future return of customers. A reasonable price of the tour is also essential. The results suggested that travel agencies should be aware of the importance of the tour leaders' welfare and should help them to improve their presentation and communication (social) skills – to explain to customers the reason why “negative incidents of low significance” occur and consequently to help reduce customer dissatisfaction when problems occur on the tour.
Subcellular Fractionation of Tissue Culture Cells

Development of cell fractionation techniques over the last few decades has provided the means to analyze the composition and properties of purified cellular elements. In particular, subcellular fractionation is essential for the development of cell‐free assays that reconstitute complicated cellular processes. These assays have provided new and important tools to understand the molecular mechanisms of complex cellular functions, permitting these functions to be studied in the test tube as a series of biochemical reactions. The protocols in this unit describe fractionation of tissue culture cells to immunoisolate early and late endosomes under conditions where these compartments retain their capacity to support membrane transport in vitro.