Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differentiation of HT22 neurons induces expression of NMDA receptor that mediates homocysteine cytotoxicity

Abstract Introduction: Neurotoxic homocysteine (Hcy) is thought to be an independent risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. This study is to determine whether HT22 cells, a murine hippocampal neuronal model, can be used as an in vitro model, besides the primary neuronal cultures, to investigate the effects of Hcy. Materials and methods: MTS assay and Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide discrimination were used to assess the cell viability and cell death on undifferentiated and differentiated HT22 cells. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot were used to determine the expression of N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Results: We found that undifferentiated and differentiated HT22 cells responded to Hcy toxicity differentially, with the undifferentiated cells resistant while the differentiated cells sensitive. The underlying mechanism appeared to be the differential expression levels of NMDA glutamate receptor between the undifferentiated and differentiated cells. Similar to what have been observed in primary neuronal cultures, the Hcy toxicity in the differentiated HT22 cells was largely attenuated by NMDA receptor antagonists, MK-801 and memantine. Conclusion: These results suggest for the first time that the differentiation of HT22 cells could induce the expression of NMDA receptors, which lead to Hcy mediate concentration-dependent apoptosis-necrotic continuum of HT22 cell death. The differentiation status of the HT22 cells is important for modeling neurons in vitro, with the differentiated HT22 neurons resembling more characteristics of primary hippocampal neurons while the undifferentiated HT22 cells being proliferating neuronal precursor cells. The differentiated HT22 neurons can be used as a platform to study Hcy toxicity.
Corruption Along Ethnic Lines: A Study of Individual Corruption Experiences in 17 African Countries

Abstract While a growing literature relates macro variation in corruption to ethnic divisions, existing studies have paid little attention to the possible existence of systematic micro variation in corruption along ethnic lines. This paper examines whether individual corruption experiences vary systematically depending on ethnic group affiliation and the nature of this possible variation. Empirical findings drawing on data for over 23,000 respondents in 17 African countries indeed suggest that individual corruption experiences vary systematically along ethnic lines. Belonging to influential ethnic groups – in terms of group size or economic/political standing – is associated with a greater probability of having experienced corruption.
Assessing the economic effects of Latin American independence

This paper discusses the economic consequences of independence in Latin America. Grand interpretations that assess Nineteenth Century Latin America by comparison to the U.S. performance are examined and the alternative approach of using African and Asian post-colonial experiences as the yardstick is explored. Empirical evidence on the consequences of removing the colonial burden and opening up to the international economy is, then, examined. The paper concludes with discussion of when Latin America fell behind.
Impact of board gender diversity on firm risk

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to study gender diversity on the board of directors and the relation to risk management and corporate performance as measured by the variability of stock market return. Design/methodology/approach - – The sample consists of companies from the RiskMetrics database from 2007 to 2011. This database contains information on corporate board of directors. Financial variables were collected from the Compustat database and CRSP database for the years 2005-2011. The authors then measure the effect of gender diversity on corporate performance in terms of firm risk, using the model by Cheng (2008) which measures the variability of stock market return. Findings - – The study shows that more gender diversity on the board of directors impacts firm risk by contributing to lower variability of stock market return. The higher the percentage of female directors on the board, the lower the variability of corporate performance. Originality/value - – The research design and findings assist in providing additional evidence about the role of women in corporate leadership positions and the association with corporate performance. The approach combines Cheng's (2008) model of stock market variability with the impact of gender diversity on the board of directors.
Comparative in Vitro Studies on Native and Recombinant Human Cationic Trypsins

Hereditary pancreatitis, an autosomal dominant disease is believed to be caused by mutation in the human trypsinogen gene. The role of mutations has been investigated by in vitro studies using recombinant rat and human trypsinogen (TG). In this study we compare the enzymatic properties and inhibition by human pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (hPSTI) of the native, postsynthetically modified and recombinant cationic trypsin, and found these values practically identical. We also determined the autolytic stability of recombinant wild type (Hu1Asn21) and pancreatitis-associated (Hu1Ile21) trypsin. Both forms were equally stable. Similarly, we found no difference in the rate of activation of the two zymogens by human cationic and anionic trypsin. Mesotrypsin did not activate either form. The rate of autocatalytic activation of Hu1Asn21 TG and Hu1Ile21 TG was also identical at pH 8 both in the presence and absence of Ca2+. At pH 5 Hu1Ile21 TG autoactivated about twice as fast as Hu1Asn21 TG. The presence of physiological amount of hPSTI completely prevented autoactivation of both zymogens at pH 8 and at pH 5 as well. Cathepsin B readily activated both zymogens although Hu1Ile21 TG was activated about 2.5–3 times as fast as Hu1Asn21 TG. The presence of hPSTI did not prevent the activation of zymogens by cathepsin B. Our results underlie the central role of cathepsin B in the development of different forms of pancreatitis.
RFID Based Acoustic Wake-Up System for Underwater Sensor Networks

This paper presents a new Acoustic-Triggered Wake-Up system specially useful to Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks built with low-power consumption architectures. The work includes both the wake-up system description and a comparison with previous works carried out under similar features. These comparisons demonstrate the energy benefits of this new system which requires no additional hardware within the transmission and a single but efficient AT-WUp module in the reception.
Sleep-disordered breathing and school performance in children.

OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of sleep-associated gas exchange abnormalities (SAGEA) on school academic performance in children. DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING Urban public elementary schools. PARTICIPANTS Two hundred ninety-seven first-grade children whose school performance was in the lowest 10th percentile of their class ranking. METHODS Children were screened for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome at home using a detailed parental questionnaire and a single night recording of pulse oximetry and transcutaneous partial pressure of carbon dioxide. If SAGEA was diagnosed, parents were encouraged to seek medical intervention for SAGEA. School grades of all participating children for the school year preceding and after the overnight study were obtained. RESULTS SAGEA was identified in 54 children (18.1%). Of these, 24 underwent surgical tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (TR), whereas in the remaining 30 children, parents elected not to seek any therapeutic intervention (NT). Overall mean grades during the second grade increased from 2.43 +/- 0.17 (SEM) to 2.87 +/- 0.19 in TR, although no significant changes occurred in NT (2.44 +/- 0.13 to 2.46 +/- 0.15). Similarly, no academic improvements occurred in children without SAGEA. CONCLUSIONS SAGEA is frequently present in poorly performing first-grade students in whom it adversely affects learning performance. The data suggest that a subset of children with behavioral and learning disabilities could have SAGEA and may benefit from prospective medical evaluation and treatment.
Entrepreneurial marketing – a historical perspective on development and practice

Entrepreneurial marketing is a term which is receiving increasing use. It essentially encompasses two very distinct areas of management: marketing and entrepreneurship. This article is dedicated to exploring the emergence of this area of theory, its history and the current developments in the interface between these two areas. Scholars from both the worlds of marketing and entrepreneurship have long identified similarities in the key issues concerning both. Recent years have seen the emergence of increased study in the area of overlap between the two disciplines. Academics working in this field are undertaking research in a number of key areas, namely entrepreneurial management, networking and the resource and skills implications of adopting an entrepreneurial approach to marketing activities. This research has now built up into a sizeable body of literature and this article introduces the reader to the essence of this research and identifies its usefulness in viewing many areas of management.
Mitochondrial biology, degenerative diseases and aging

The mitochondria are energy-generating organelles located in the cytoplasm of the cell. They are the descendants of an ancient bacterial (prokaryotic) cell that formed an association with a more complex nucleated (eukaryotic) cell about 1.5 billion years ago and established a highly successful symbiotic relationship which gave rise to the cells of all modern plants and animals. The eukaryotic cell contributed motility to the relationship while the proto-mitochondrion contributed a highly efﬁcient process for making energy called oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Because the mitochondria started as engulfed bacteria, they are still surrounded by a double membrane. They also retain their own DNA, the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and the ability to replicate and express their mtDNA genes.
A Simple Heuristic for Minimum Connected Dominating Set in Graphs

Let α2(G), γ(G) and γc(G) be the 2-independence number, the domination number, and the connected domination number of a graph G respectively. Then α2(G) ≤ γ (G) ≤ γc(G). In this paper , we present a simple heuristic for Minimum Connected Dominating Set in graphs. When running on a graph G excluding Km (the complete graph of order m) as a minor, the heuristic produces a connected dominating set of cardinality at most 7α2(G) - 4 if m = 3, or at most if m ≥ 4. In particular, if running on a planar graph G, the heuristic outputs a connected dominating set of cardinality at most 15α2(G) - 5.
The Heckscher-Ohlin-Samuelson Model, the Linder Hypothesis and the Determinants of Bilateral Intra-industry Trade

Theoretical rationales for the robust empirical relationships between the share of intraindustry trade between two countries and the average levels of, and inequalities between, their GDPs, per capita GDPs, and tariffs have either varied or not been demonstrated formally within a unified analytical framework. This study motivates theoretically the relationships between these six determinants, as well as the average level of, and inequality between, two countries' capital-labor endowment ratios and their share of intraindustry trade. Regression analysis supports, among other results, the presence of both demand and supply roles for per capita income influencing intraindustry trade. Copyright 1990 by Royal Economic Society.
A Competency‐Based Perspective on Entrepreneurship Education: Conceptual and Empirical Insights

Competencies necessary for entrepreneurial action are investigated. Building on structuration theory, competencies are approached as an outgrowth of the learning of scripts deriving from interactions between the individual and environment. Managerial and entrepreneurial competencies are distinguished, with the latter helping to define the domain of entrepreneurship education. Employing a elphi methodology, evidence is provided of a core set of 13 entrepreneurial competencies. Measures are then developed with a pilot study involving students in an international education program. Based on pre‐ and post‐measures, findings demonstrate significant improvement on the competencies. Implications are drawn for the role of entrepreneurship education in competency development.
Still a Coordinated Model? Market Liberalization and the Transformation of Employment Relations in the German Telecommunications Industry

This paper examines recent changes in collective bargaining and employer strategies in the German telecommunications industry following market liberalization in the late 1990s. Germany's distinctive co-determination and vocational training institutions encouraged large firms to adopt employment systems in technician and call center workplaces that relied on high levels of worker skill and discretion. However, organizational restructuring is undermining these gains, as firms use outsourcing and the creation of subsidiaries to escape or weaken company-level collective agreements. These trends have substantially weakened unions and contributed to the further disorganization of coordinated bargaining structures. Findings are based on interviews with union and works council representatives, managers, and employees at Deutsche Telekom and its major competitors conducted between 2003 and 2007, as well as secondary analysis of company documents and industry reports.
Remittances and economic growth in developing countries

This paper examines the effect of workers' remittances on economic growth in a sample of 39 developing countries using panel data from 1980–2004 resulting in 195 observations. A standard growth model is estimated using both fixed-effects and random-effects approaches. The empirical results show a significant overall fit based on the fixed-effects method as the random-effects model is rejected in statistical tests. Remittances have a positive impact on growth. Since official estimates of remittances used in our analysis tend to understate actual numbers considerably, more accurate data on remittances is likely to reveal an even more pronounced effect of remittances on growth.Cet article examine l'impact des transferts monétaires effectués par les travailleurs migrants sur la croissance économique d'un échantillon de 39 pays en voie de développement, à partir de données de panel, constitué de 195 observations allant de 1980 à 2004. Deux modèles de croissance standard sont proposés afin d'analyser ces données empiriques, l'un basé sur un modèle à effets fixes, et l'autre sur un modèle à effets aléatoires. Les tests statistiques démontrent que le premier modèle est plus significatif que le second, ce qui suggère que les transferts monétaires effectués par les travailleurs migrants ont bien un impact positif sur la croissance économique du pays d'origine de ces derniers. Puisque les estimations officielles utilisées dans notre étude ont tendance à minimiser considérablement le volume de ces transferts, des données plus précises sont susceptibles de révéler un effet encore plus prononcé.
Effects of Ionic Strength on Bacterial Adhesion and Stability of Flocs in a Wastewater Activated Sludge System

The success of biological wastewater treatment is to a large extent governed by the ability of bacteria to induce floc formation, thereby facilitating the separation of particles from the treated water. We performed studies on the dynamics of floc stability, the desorption of cells from the flocs, and the reflocculation of detached material. The floc stability was affected by the ionic strength of the medium in a way that strongly suggests that the interactions between the floc components can be explained by the theory of Derjaugin, Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek (DLVO theory). At increasing concentrations of electrolytes, the stability of the flocs increased. However, above an ionic strength of about 0.1 the floc stability decreased, and it seems that at this high electrolyte concentration the DLVO theory cannot be applied. The reversibility of the electrostatic double-layer effects was experimentally shown by treating the sludge repeatedly with a low-ionic-strength solution until parts of the flocs detached. When salt was added at this point, flocs re-form, resulting in a dramatic decrease in the turbidity of the supernatant liquid. Both reflocculation and detachment of floc material were seen with calcium as well as with potassium. This finding clearly indicates that the reflocculation and destabilization of flocs were due to changes in double-layer thickness rather than bridging effects of multivalent ions such as calcium. The results indicate that the ionic strength may well be an important factor for the floc stability in wastewater in situ.
Does Part-Whole Bias Exist? An Experimental Investigation

The existence of part-whole bias has been hotly disputed in the recent contingent valuation literature. This paper reports on an experiment into part-whole bias. Employing vouchers for parts of a restaurant meal and using an incentive compatible procedure, valuations of the parts and of the whole were elicited. The sum of the valuations of the parts consistently exceeded that of the whole, providing evidence of the existence of part-whole bias in a context where traditional explanations would not have predicted it. Coauthors are Alistair Munro, Bruce Rhodes, Chris Starmer, and Robert Sugden. Copyright 1997 by Royal Economic Society.
Lip signatures for automatic person recognition

This paper evaluates lip features for person recognition, and compares the performance with that of the acoustic signal. Recognition accuracy is found to be equivalent in the two domains, agreeing with the findings of Chibelushi (1997). The optimum dynamic window length for both acoustic and visual modalities is found to be about 100 ms. Recognition performance of the upper lip is considerably better than the lower lip, achieving 15% and 35% identification error rates respectively, using a single digit test and training token.
A novel three-dimensional tissue equivalent model to study the combined effects of cyclic mechanical strain and wear particles on the osteolytic potential of primary human macrophages in vitro

Abstract The effects of cyclic mechanical strain and challenge with physiologically relevant doses of submicrometre-size polyethylene (PE) particles on the osteolytic potential of primary human mononuclear phagocytes were investigated. Cells were seeded into a three-dimensional tissue matrix and co-cultured with particles (mean size 0.21 μ) at particle volume to cell number ratios of 7.5, 15, 30 and 100μm3/cell. Matrices were then either cultured statically or subjected to 20 per cent cyclic compressional strain in the ‘ComCell’ for 16 h prior to the assessment of cell viability and quantification of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). The MTT (3-[5-5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazdium bromide) assay was shown to be too insensitive to detect changes in cell viability. However, when quantified by the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assay, cell viability was demonstrated to be reduced following exposure to cyclic strain. Macrophages cultured in the static three-dimensional tissue equivalent model produced very high levels of TNFα in response to submicrometre PE particles at a ratio of 100 μm3/cell. Cyclic strain in the absence of particles gave only a small increase in TNFα production. However, the combined effects of strain and particle stimulation at a ratio of 30 μm3/cell resulted in the secretion of significantly more TNFα than was produced by macrophages subjected to strain alone, or the cells-only control. This synergy between cyclic strain and PE particle stimulation was only evident when the volume of particles was reduced below the volume that maximally stimulated cells. These results suggest that while cyclic strain may not be the primary factor responsible for macrophage activation and periprosthetic osteo-lysis, at low particle load, it may contribute significantly to the osteolytic potential of macrophages in vitro or in vivo.
Cloning and Characterization of a Novel Murine β Chemokine Receptor, D6

The β-chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α) is chemotactic for many hemopoietic cell types and can inhibit hemopoietic stem cell (HSC) proliferation, effects mediated through G-protein coupled heptahelical receptors. We have isolated cDNAs for seven chemokine receptors, CCR-1 to -5, MIP-1αRL1, and a novel cDNA, D6. Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing CCR-1, -3, -5, and D6 bound 125I-murine MIP-1α: the order of affinity was D6 > CCR-5 > CCR-1 > CCR-3. Each bound a distinct subset of other β-chemokines: the order of competition for 125I-murine MIP-1α on D6 was murine MIP-1α > human and murine MIP-1β > human RANTES∼JE > human MCP-3 > human MCP-1. Human MIP-1α and the α-chemokines did not compete. Like other chemokine receptors, D6 induced transient increases in [Ca2+] in HEK 293 cells upon ligand binding. D6 mRNA was abundant in lung and detectable in many other tissues. Bone marrow cell fractionation demonstrated T-cell and macrophage/monocyte expression of D6, and CCR-1, -3, and -5. Moreover, we could detect expression of CCR-3, CCR-5, and to a greater extent D6 in a cell population enriched for HSCs. Thus, we have characterized four murine β chemokine receptors that are likely involved in mediating the pro-inflammatory functions of MIP-1α and other chemokines, and we present D6, CCR-3, and CCR-5 as candidate receptors in MIP-1α-induced HSC inhibition.
The implications of the national minimum wage for training practices and skill utilisation in the United Kingdom hospitality industry

Abstract Two key issues thrown up by the 1999 introduction of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) in the United Kingdom are its likely impact on employers’ training practices in low paying sectors of the economy and the implications for skills. Based on a study of the hospitality industry, this article assesses the limited significance of the differential, ‘subminimum’ NMW rates as devices for promoting skills development and considers the absence of any direct impact on training practices of the statutory floor of wages in general. The weaknesses of a policy framework dominated by a supply-side ethos in which the importance of incentives for employers to provide training and employment opportunities is prioritised, rather than one in which an opportunity is taken to use the NMW as part of a wider strategy to generate greater demand for skills in low-paying industries are attested
Same Differences: Comparing Social Service Policy Networks in the US and Korea

Abstract Though many polities have adopted collaborative approaches to policy decision processes, few cross-national comparative studies exist. To fill that gap the article presents a comparative study of the US and Korea, posing this question: to what extent are differences in the structure of Korean and US policy networks explained by differences in political-institutional and cultural contexts? A set of propositions regarding this question are generated through the analysis of two policy networks related to public service delivery: (1) an adult basic education (ABE) policy network in a US state, and (2) a transportation policy network in a major South Korean city. The analysis suggests that (1) public policy decision-making in the US and Korea is developing differentiated power and network structures, (2) structural differences may be traced to differences in the constitution of formal authority, and (3) culture seems to play a role in structuring organizational type-based collaborative patterns.