Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structure and evolution of the actin crosslinking proteins

The actin crosslinking proteins exhibit marked diversity in size and shape and crosslink actin filaments in different ways. Amino acid sequence analysis of many of these proteins has provided clues to the origin of their diversity. Spectrin, α‐actinin, ABP‐120, ABP‐280, fimbrin, and dystrophin share a homologous sequence segment that is implicated as the common actin binding domain. The remainder of each protein consists of repetitive and non‐repetitive sequence segments that have been shuffled and multiplied in evolution to produce a variety of proteins that are related in function and in composition, but that differ significantly in structure.
Interpersonal predictors of stress generation: Is there a super factor?

Hammen's (1991, Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100, 555-561) seminal paper on stress generation highlighted the reciprocal relationship between stress and depression. Not only does stress predict depression, but women with a diagnosis of depression also experienced subsequent increased levels of stress. In the ensuing years, depression researchers have moved beyond clinical predictors and examined whether depression vulnerability factors also contribute to stress generation. This interest has led to a growing focus on interpersonal vulnerability factors that contribute to stress generation. To date, the research examining interpersonal predictors of stress generation has tended to examine vulnerability factors singly and thus potential overlap and unique predictions among vulnerability factors have not been determined. This study examines interpersonal vulnerability factors from various schools of thought (dependency, attachment, and unmitigated communion) as predictors of interpersonal stress generation. Three hundred and sixty-four young adults completed baseline measures of interpersonal vulnerabilities and provided weekly reports of depressive symptoms and stressful life events. Multilevel models were estimated to examine their unique predictions of interpersonal stress generation. Despite converging theories, there does not appear to be a single super factor. Of the interpersonal vulnerability factors tested, anxious attachment emerged as a consistent predictor of interpersonal stress generation both when examined singly and when in combination with related variables.
Infrastructure, Geographical Disadvantage, Transport Costs, and Trade

The authors use different data sets to investigate the dependence of transport costs on geography and infrastructure. Infrastructure is an important determinant of transport costs, especially for landlocked countries. Analysis of bilateral trade data confirms the importance of infrastructure and gives an estimate of the elasticity of trade flows with respect to the trade cost factor of around-3. A deterioration of infrastructure from the median to the 75th percentile raises transport costs by 12 percentage points and reduces trade volumes by 28 percent. Analysis of African trade flows indicates that their relatively low level is largely due to poor infrastructure.
A MODEL FOR STANDARD SETTING: HIGH DEFINITION TELEVISION

"This paper presents a model for high definition television (HDTV) standard setting that can be applied to other technologies. The analysis examines conflict and coordination in the standardization process at three levels: international, domestic, and market. While national governments and firms share common priorities, firms are more likely to require standardization than are governments but are less likely to achieve it unless side payments are possible. Collaboration in standard setting benefits all parties and should be encouraged by the government". Copyright 1994 Western Economic Association International.
Pricing and Hedging of American Knock-In Options

Barrier options are some of the most popular among the myriad of “exotic” derivative products. Although they are path-dependent, “out” options are easy to value in a standard binomial or other lattice model. The path-dependence of “in” options can not be handled using a tree, but for European-style contracts, by “in-out parity” an out option is equal to the value of the plain vanilla option minus the price of the matching out option. Unfortunately, the parity relation is broken by American exercise, since the complementary in and out contracts will not be rationally exercised early at the same time. In this article, AitSahlia, Imhof, and Lai show how to price an American knock-in option by decomposing it into corresponding European knock-in plus the early exercise premium, which can be approximated separately.
Fish consumption and markers of colorectal cancer risk : a multicenter randomized controlled trial 1 – 3

Background: Diet is a major factor in the etiology of colorectal cancer, with high fish consumption possibly decreasing colorectal cancer risk, as was shown in several observational studies. To date, no intervention trials have examined the possible beneficial effects of fish intake on colorectal cancer risk. Objective: The objective was to investigate the effects of a 6-mo intervention with oil-rich or lean fish on apoptosis and mitosis within the colonic crypt. Design: In a multicenter, randomized, controlled intervention trial, patients with colorectal polyps, inactive ulcerative colitis, or no macroscopic signs of disease were recruited (n = 242) and randomly allocated to receive dietary advice plus either 300 g oil-rich fish (salmon) per week (n = 82), 300 g lean fish (cod) per week (n = 78), or only dietary advice (DA) (n = 82). Apoptosis and mitosis were measured in colonic biopsy samples collected before and after intervention (n = 213). Results: The total number of apoptotic cells per crypt did not increase in the salmon or cod group: 20.10 (95% CI: 20.36, 0.16) and 20.06 (95% CI: 20.32, 0.20), respectively, compared with the DA group. The total number of mitotic cells per crypt decreased nonsignificantly in the salmon group (20.87; 95% CI: 22.41, 0.68) and in the cod group (21.04; 95% CI: 22.62, 0.53) compared with the DA group. Furthermore, the distribution of mitosis within the crypt did not significantly change in either group. Conclusion: An increase in the consumption of either oil-rich or lean fish to 2 portions weekly over 6 mo does not markedly change apoptotic and mitotic rates in the colonic mucosa. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials. gov as NCT00145015. Am J Clin Nutr 2009;90:354–61.
Release of acetylcholine from rat brain synaptosomes by various agents in the absence of external calcium ions.

The relationship between 86Rb+ distribution across synaptosomal membrane and [14C]acetylcholine (ACh) release have been studied in a rat brain cortex synaptosomal preparation using K+, ouabain and veratridine depolarization. Decrease in membrane potential, approximated from the 86Rb+ distribution, is accompanied by an increase in [14C]ACh release, but the extent of the increase at a certain depolarization is dependent on how the depolarization is induced. A substantial depolarization by K+ is necessary to enhance ACh release, as compared to ouabain and veratridine where only a slight depolarization is accompanied by an increase in ACh release. In Ca2+‐free, EGTA‐containing medium ouabain and veratridine can also increase [14C]ACh release. The relationship between membrane potential and ACh release is very similar in the presence of ouabain and veratridine both in Ca2+‐containing and Ca2+‐free medium. The effect of ouabain and veratridine on the Na‐K exchange pump is different; ouabain can completely abolish Na‐K‐ATPase activity and 86Rb+ uptake of synaptosomes, whereas veratridine does not seem to influence the activity of the pump. m‐Chloro‐carbonylcianid phenyl hydrazon (50‐500 nM) increases [14C]ACh release in a concentration‐dependent manner without a considerable change of membrane potential or Na‐K pump activity. The Ca2+ ionophore A 23187 induces a substantial increase in [14C]ACh release in the absence of external Ca2+. In this case neither Na‐K pump activity nor membrane potential of synaptosomes is changed. A possible role of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization as a consequence of increased intracellular Na+ concentration in some depolarization‐induced transmitter release is discussed.
Measuring and explaining poverty in six African countries: A long-period approach

In this paper, we create the beginnings of a database on indicators of poverty and deprivation in six African countries over the last 100 years, with the intention of explaining the long-term trend of policy. We argue that an important key to those trends is provided by the decision during the first decades of the twentieth century to allow, or not to allow, the occupation of agricultural land by European settlers. If allowed (as in the white settler-controlled economies of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya, where Africans were squeezed out of income-earning opportunities by competition and prohibition until the 1960s at least) the legacy, we show, was a lack of bargaining power by Africans in the labour market, a real wage static at the subsistence level until late in the century, a highly unequal income distribution, and a small asset base from which to reduce poverty during the liberalisations of the 1980s and 1990s. If forbidden, as in the peasant-export economies of Ghana and Uganda (and to some extent Ethiopia), the legacy was a floor under the labour market, from the 1920s on, which could serve as a basis for poverty-reducing reforms in later years. Thus the potential for poverty reduction during the current 'poverty reduction wave' was indeed determined by the historical inheritance of institutions and policies, in particular settlement policies; but in a quite different way from that adumbrated by the recent analysis of Acemoglu et al. (2001). In their analysis, colonies with a high density of European occupation in colonial times persistently generate higher growth potential in later years; we argue the reverse. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Supplier strategy and customer responsiveness: Managing the links

Responsiveness to the customer is a fine ideal. Making it a reality is increasingly critical to gaining competitive advantage. In practice, it often means more variety at shorter notice. Faced with these challenges, companies must look to their suppliers for support. Instant market intelligence and flexible manufacturing are worth little if they face bottlenecks in getting the right supplies. Becoming customer responsive therefore starts with supplier strategy. Success requires better ways of managing the commercial links.
Challenges and prospects of HRM in developing countries: testing the HRM–performance link in the Eritrean civil service

In this article, the authors examine how, when and to what extent HR practices affect performance at the employee level. As performance is a multi-faceted and complicated concept, HRM outcomes were used as mediating factors between HR practices and employee performance. The data were collected among civil servants in Eritrea, Africa's youngest and poorest country. Although the results generally are in line with previous studies using Western data, their implications in this particular country may be different. Therefore, the challenges and prospects of HR practices in Eritrean civil service organizations are critically analysed and discussed. In the authors' opinion, that the Eritrean economic and political environment within which HR practices operate has not been conducive in maximizing the impact of HR practices on performance. These findings highlight the situation of most developing countries.
Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Polymorphism in Childhood Primary Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C/T polymorphism and the prevalence and course of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in our pediatric population. Methods: Genotypes for MTHFR were determined in 15 primary FSGS patients (male/female, 6/9) and 238 control subjects (male/female, 110/128) by the polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Results: For the whole group, the genotype frequencies (CC/CT/TT) of MTHFR in FSGS and control subjects were almost comparable. The TT genotype was associated with early onset of the disease as compared with the CC genotype. Furthermore, all the patients with the TT genotype had steroid-resistant FSGS and developed into end-stage renal failure, while those carrying either CC or CT genotype did not. Conclusion: We speculate that the TT genotype may be associated with early development and progression of childhood FSGS. Confirmatory studies using larger and ethnically distinct populations are needed to reveal the role of homocysteine in FSGS with consideration of medical interventions.
Serum tumour necrosis factor-alpha is increased in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection and CagA antibodies.

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori causes gastric inflammation secondary to the mucosal release of cytokines and tumour necrosis factor-alpha. AIMS To investigate whether serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha correlate with Helicobacter pylori infection, CagA antibodies, 13C-urea breath test results, endoscopic, and histological findings. METHODS Endoscopy (with gastric biopsies), 13C-urea breath test, and serological assay of CagA antibodies and tumour necrosis factor-alpha were performed in 172 dyspeptic patients. RESULTS A total of 126 patients (73.2%) were infected; of the 126 patients, 84 with CagA antibodies (66.7%) showed a higher prevalence rate of duodenal ulcer (p = 0.03), more severe neutrophil infiltration (p = 0.03) and higher bacterial colonization (p = 0.03) than those without antibodies. CagA+ and CagA- groups differed also in 13C-urea breath test results (p = 0.03). A significant difference in serum tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels was observed between infected and uninfected individuals (p = 0.03) as well as between CagA+ and CagA- patients (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with increased serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha. Subjects who harbour CagA positive strains have more severe mucosal damage, higher bacterial colonization, higher probability of developing duodenal ulcer and higher serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha than those infected with CagA- strains.
Corporate Venture Capital, Disembodied Experimentation and Capability Development

Studies invoking a capabilities lens often ascribe deliberateness in organizational decisions to develop new capabilities. Drawing on five longitudinal case studies of large, global firms in the information and communication technology sector, we examine how firms engender cognizance of their future capability needs in situations characterized by high decision-making uncertainty. We develop a theoretical account of how firms use investments in start-ups to actively engage in experimentation outside organizational boundaries, a learning process which we term as disembodied experimentation. Disembodied experimentation creates awareness of voids in the capability base of an incumbent and helps to overcome inertial restraints thereby influencing the decision to invest in capability development. The relationship between learning from disembodied experimentation and the decision to develop capabilities is moderated by knowledge brokering functions and adaptation complexity.
Inequality, Volatility and Labour Market Efficiency

In the 1980s there was an increase in cross-sectional wage inequality while simultaneously there was a decrease in the time series volatility of aggregate output. This paper argues that increased efficiency of the labor market may help explain both features of the data. Increases in labor market efficiency or equivalently reduced search frictions increase wage inequality by increasing the degree of positive assortive matching. Simultaneously, aggregate volatility of output decreases as labor market efficiency increases since reduced frictions insulate the economy from shocks that affect employment. In a calibrated model the improvement in labor market efficiency explains around 20 percent of the decline in output volatility and roughly 40 percent of the increase in wage inequality after 1985.
Bending and Strain Sensitivities in a Helicoidal Long-Period Fiber Gratings

In this letter, we report bending and strain sensitivities of helicoidal long-period fiber gratings fabricated by twisting single-mode fibers during CO2 laser irradiation. Linear spectral shifts of the resonant wavelengths under the bending and tensile strain were observed with the sensitivities of -11.7 nm/m-1 and -1.1 pm/muepsiv, respectively. The corresponding transmission power variations at the resonance wavelength were 4.1 dB/m-1 and 2.2 times 10-4 dB/muepsiv, respectively. Detailed measurement techniques and sensor applications are discussed.
Modulation Spectrum Analysis for Speaker Personality Trait Recognition

We explore the utility of individually selected modulation spectral features for speech and speaker characterization in general, and speciﬁcally to prediction of the perceived speaker personality proﬁle. We suggest a method of construction of a sparse feature space and a method of ﬁnding the approximately best feature subset for attribut-ing a speciﬁc characteristic of speech or speaker. The current selection method is based on the Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistical test applied to individual features. We assume that the characterization task is deﬁned empiri-cally and no a-priory theory exist to explain characteristic attribution processes. Experimental results indicate that employment of selected modulation spectral features works better than the current state-of-the-art in prediction of personality traits.
Investment and Wages in the Absence of Binding Contracts: A Nash Bargining Approach

The paper uses a generalized Nash bargain to analyze input levels, profits, and wages in the absence of binding contracts, and compares these with the convenitional binding contracts model. It is shown that if the union has any power, investment is lower in the absence of binding contracts. The associated input levels and shareholders' profits are identical to those that emerge if contracts are binding and the firm acts as if it faces a cost of capital which is a linear combination of the purchase price of capital and the resale value. This implicit cost is greater than the purchase price, is an increasing function of union power, and is independent of the profit function and the alternative wage. Increases in union power reduce shareholders' profits but may increase wages at some points and decrease wages at others. In the absence of binding contracts, shareholders' profits are lower but there is a critical level of union power (depending on the profit function) such that the union is worse off if its power is higher than this level and better off if it is lower.
A smorgasbord of agricultural technologies: farmers' choices and lessons from Chalite, Panama

Patronato de Nutrición introduced a range of 18 optional agricultural technologies in the indigenous community of Chalite, Panama. Three of the technologies were adopted by more than half of the farmers surveyed, while an additional eight technologies were adopted by between 20 per cent and 50 per cent of the farmers. Farmers were more likely to adopt technologies associated with familiar crops, previously promoted by other groups, or requiring limited labour or financial resources. The article shows how development groups can quickly reduce the number of technologies promoted in order to deliver services more effectively.
Removal of Different Classes of Uremic Toxins in APD vs CAPD: A Randomized Cross-Over Study

♦ Aim: In this study, we investigated, and this for the different classes of uremic toxins, whether increasing dialysate volume by shifting from continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) to higher volume automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) increases total solute clearance. ♦ Methods: Patients on peritoneal dialysis were randomized in a cross-over design to one 24-hour session of first a CAPD regimen (3*2 L of Physioneal 1.36% and 1*2 L of icodextrin) or APD (consisting of 5 cycles of 2 L Physioneal 1.36 and 1 cycle of 2 L Extraneal), and the other week the alternate regime, each patient serving as his/her own control. Dialysate, blood and urine samples were collected and frozen for later batch analysis of concentrations of urea, creatinine, phosphorus, uric acid, hippuric acid, 3-carboxy-4-methyl-5-propyl-2-furanpropionic acid, indoxyl sulfate, indole acetic acid, and p-cresyl sulfate. For the protein-bound solutes, total and free fractions were determined. Total, peritoneal and renal clearance (K) and mass removal (MR) of each solute were calculated, using validated models. ♦ Results: In 15 patients (11 male, 3 diabetics, 56 ± 16 years, 8 on CAPD, time on peritoneal dialysis 12 ± 14 months, and residual renal function of 9.9 ± 5.4 mL/min) dialysate over plasma ratio for creatinine (D/Pcrea) was 0.62 ± 0.10. Drained volume and obtained ultrafiltration were higher with APD vs CAPD (13.3 ± 0.5 L vs 8.5 ± 0.7 L and 1.3 ± 0.5 L vs 0.5 ± 0.7 L), whereas urine output was lower (1.0 ± 0.5 L vs 1.4 ± 0.6 L). Total clearance and MR tended to be higher for CAPD vs APD for all small and water soluble solutes, but mainly because of higher renal contribution, with no difference in the peritoneal contribution. For the protein-bound solutes, no differences in clearance or mass removal were observed. ♦ Conclusion: Although the drained dialysate volume nearly doubled, APD did not result in better peritoneal clearance or solute removal vs classic CAPD. APD resulted in better ultrafiltration, but at the expense of residual urinary output and clearance.
Regulation, Taxes, and Share Repurchases in the United Kingdom

We examine share repurchase activity in the United Kingdom over a period when the tax and regulatory environment changed drastically. We find that the form and intensity of repurchase activity in the United Kingdom is influenced by the tax consequences for pension funds. We also find that firms announcing share repurchases earn smaller excess returns, both in the short run and the long run, than those earned by firms in the United States. This is because of regulatory provisions in the United Kingdom that make it less likely that firms can use superior information to buy back shares when their shares are undervalued.
Are golden parachutes an optimal contracting response or evidence of managerial entrenchment?: Evidence from successful takeovers

Two models that attempt to explain the adoption of golden parachutes are examined. The first model views golden parachutes as an optimal contracting response to a takeover, the other perceives them as an outgrowth of severe managerial entrenchment that results in contracts for the benefit of managers. Using a sample of 169 successful acquisitions of NYSE targets from 1981 through 1989, I document that targets that have adopted golden parachutes experience significantly higher excess returns around the announcement of a takeover than targets without these contracts. I find similar increased excess returns for the bidder/target portfolios. In addition, bidder excess return is independent of the existence of golden parachutes in targets. Additional results suggest that golden parachutes do not reduce managerial resistance to takeovers. The results are consistent with the managerial entrenchment hypothesis and inconsistent with the optimal contracting hypothesis. Sensitivity tests confirm these results. Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd 2001.