Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Comparative Analysis of Public Support for Developing Regional Regime in East Sea Rim (Sea of Japan) Region

Abstract The East Sea (or Sea of Japan) (ESR/SOJ) Rim region, in which five countries – Japan, China, Russia, and North and South Korea – have their own coastal areas, is complex and dynamic, with many emerging regional security concerns. In this paper, the author tries to show that there is the possibility of a maritime regional regime in the ESR/SOJ region by investigating the level of public support, in Japan and South Korea, for the formation of a regional regime. Based on the theoretical assumptions of constructivism, the author analyzes what kinds of individual's social position factors influence the level of support for regional regime formation by conducting a nested regression model of survey datasets. The results of the statistical analysis suggest that people with a high level of national pride in South Korea are more likely to support a regional regime in the ESR/SOJ region. In contrast, for Japanese people, there is no relationship between people's national pride and the level of support for regional regime formation. The economic recession in Japan since the early 1990s has made public concern more about domestic policy than about foreign policy issues. Based on strong support of the bottom, public opinion towards regional regime formation, the South Korean government may play a leading role in developing a regional regime in the ESR/SOJ region (when the process of negotiation begins) as in the case of Japan in nineteenth century.
DYNAMICS IN THE MACROECONOMY AND THE U.S. AGRICULTURAL TRADE BALANCE

The effects of the exchange rate and the income and money supply of the United States and its major trading partners on the U.S. agricultural trade balance are examined using an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model. Results suggest that the exchange rate is the key determinant of the short- and long-run behavior of the trade balance. It is also found that the income and money supply in both the United States and the trading partners have significant impacts on the U.S. agricultural trade in both the short- and long-run.
Naturally occurring Staphylococcus epidermidis plasmid expressing constitutive macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance contains a deleted attenuator

A naturally occurring constitutive macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLS) resistance plasmid, pNE131, from Staphylococcus epidermidis was chosen to study the molecular basis of constitutive expression. Restriction and functional maps of pNE131 are presented along with the nucleotide sequence of ermM, the gene which mediates constitutive MLS resistance. Sharing 98% sequence homology within the 870-base-pair Sau3A-TaqI fragment, ermM appears to be almost identical to ermC, the inducible MLS resistance determinant from S. aureus (pE194). The two genes share nearly identical sequences, except in the 5' promoter region of ermM. Constitutive expression of ermM is due to the deletion of 107 base pairs relative to ermC; the deletion removes critical sequences for attenuation, resulting in constitutive methylase expression.
The Notion of "Sustainable Development"

The notion of ‘sustainable development’ was introduced on the political agenda by the World Commission on Environment and Development through its report (WCED, 1987), also called the Brundtland Report. Since the publication of the Brundtland Report the notion of sustainability has been used (and abused) a rich variety of ways. The present purpose is to give a clarifying interpretation of this notion. We will consider sustainability to be a requirement for a just distribution of quality of life between generations. The question of intergenerational justice has become a question of increasing importance in the latter years, since it is now in the capacity of the current generation to ruin the natural and environmental resource base of our descendants.
The search for the ideal tendon repair in zone 2: strand number, anchor points and suture thickness

This review article examines the mechanical factors involved in tendon repair by sutures. The repair strength, repair stiffness and gap resistance can be increased by increasing the number of core strands and anchor points, by increased anchor point efficiency and the use of peripheral sutures, and by using thicker sutures. In the future, laboratory tests could be standardized to a specific animal model and to a defined cyclic motion programme. Clinical studies support the use of multi-strand core and peripheral sutures, but two-strand core sutures are not adequate to ensure consistently good clinical results. Training surgeons in complex tendon repair techniques is essential.
Matrix metalloproteinases and TIMP‐1 production by peripheral blood granulocytes from COPD patients and asthmatics

Both asthmatic and COPD patients were found to have increased amounts of granulocytes and matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) in their sputum. The present study was conducted to investigate whether the elevated amounts of MMP‐9 and TIMP‐1 found in such patients' airways may be linked to an enhanced secretion by granulocytes. Blood granulocytes from asthmatics (n=10), COPD patients (n=11), and healthy controls (n=11) were isolated and cultured under basal conditions or after stimulation by phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) or N‐formyl‐l‐methionyl‐l‐leucyl‐l‐phenylalanine (fMLP). MMP‐9 activity was detected by zymography while MMP‐8 and TIMP‐1 levels were measured by ELISA. In zymography, pro‐ and activated forms of MMP‐9 were present in each group (healthy subjects, asthmatics, and COPD patients). Spontaneous release was not different between the three groups. Stimulation by fMLP and PMA increased to a similar extent the release of MMP‐9 by granulocytes in all the three groups. TIMP‐1 levels were also increased after stimulation by PMA and fMLP only in healthy subjects and COPD patients. MMP‐8 levels were barely detectable. We conclude that circulating granulocytes from COPD patients and asthmatics do not display an abnormal secretion of MMP‐9, and that granulocytes from asthmatics have an impaired ability to release TIMP‐1 upon stimulation.
Aqueous humor dynamics in monkeys in response to the kappa opioid agonist bremazocine.

PURPOSE To determine the effects of the kappa opioid agonist, bremazocine (BRE), on intraocular pressure (IOP) and aqueous humor dynamics in normotensive cynomolgus monkeys. METHODS IOP, pupil diameter, refraction, aqueous humor flow, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured following unilateral topical application of 1 to 100 microg BRE. IOP and MAP responses to 100 microg BRE were repeated during intravenous infusion of angiotensin II (ATII). IOP and MAP responses to BRE were also measured following pretreatment with the opioid receptor antagonists norbinaltorphimine (nor-BNI) or naloxone. Outflow facility was measured following unilateral intracameral exchange with 0.01 to 100 microg/mL BRE. IOP, aqueous humor flow, pupil, and MAP were measured after unilateral intracameral bolus injection of 1 microg of BRE. RESULTS Unilateral topical BRE caused a dose-related reduction in IOP and aqueous humor flow in both eyes and in MAP. Pupil miosis occurred at the 100-microg dose. There was no effect on refraction. IOP and MAP decreases after 100 microg of BRE were eliminated by ATII infusion. Differential IOP effects after 10-microg topical BRE doses were not eliminated by nor-BNI or naloxone. Unilateral intracameral bolus injection of BRE decreased IOP in both eyes but had no effect on MAP or aqueous humor flow. Outflow facility was unchanged after intracameral exchange with BRE. CONCLUSIONS The IOP response to high doses of BRE in monkeys can be attributed to peripheral or central effects on MAP. The IOP-lowering response to topical BRE is due to aqueous humor flow suppression via non-opioid receptor stimulation. Some components of the IOP response are mediated by unknown mechanisms.
Self-Funding: Taking Control of an Employer’s Health Benefits Destiny Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

In an era of rising health insurance costs and new mandates built into federal reform, employers of all sizes are discovering the advantages of controlling their own destinies with self-funded ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) health plans. With a large pool of employees, employers could expect to save about 10% by paying medical claims directly rather than purchasing fully insured coverage. The key is to pick the right partners, address outlier risk with stop-loss insurance and rigorously control costs.
Mechanisms of Postoperative Pain: Clinical Indications for a Contribution of Central Neuronal Sensitization

Background The relative importance of different nociceptive mechanisms for the intensity, duration, and character of postoperative pain is not well established. It has been suggested that sensitization of dorsal horn neurones may contribute to pain in the postoperative period. We hypothesized that wound hyperalgesia in postoperative patients and experimentally heat-induced secondary hyperalgesia share a common mechanism, sensitization of central neurones, and consequently, that the short-acting opioid remifentanil would have comparable effects on hyperalgesia in both conditions. Methods In a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial, we assessed mechanical hyperalgesia in skin bordering the surgical wound, and an area of experimentally heat-induced secondary hyperalgesia on the thigh, in 12 patients who underwent abdominal hysterectomy within 5 days prior to the investigation. Observations were made before and during a drug challenge with remifentanil, which has been demonstrated to reduce the area of heat-induced secondary hyperalgesia in volunteers. Results The area of skin with surgically-induced mechanical hyperalgesia, the area of heat-induced secondary hyperalgesia, and pain during cough, were significantly reduced during remifentanil infusion compared with placebo (P = 0.008, P = 0.006, and P = 0.002, respectively). The relative reduction (% of baseline) of the area of skin with surgically-induced hyperalgesia and heat-induced secondary hyperalgesia during infusion of remifentanil was significantly associated (R2 = 0.72, P = 0.001). Conclusions Although remifentanil is not a highly targeted “antihyperalgesic,” these results support the hypothesis that both wound hyperalgesia in postoperative patients and experimentally heat-induced secondary hyperalgesia may share common mechanisms, and that central neuronal sensitization may contribute to some aspects of postoperative pain. Antihyperalgesic drugs should be further developed and evaluated in clinical trials of postoperative pain.
Asymmetric Country-of-Origin Effects on Intraindustry Trade and the International Quality Race

A model of North-South intraindustry trade in quality differentiated products is proposed to examine the role of country-of-origin reputation in determining the competitive edge of emerging industries. It is shown that if consumers rationally harbor negative expectations about the quality of Southern products, economic progress in either the North or the South shifts the terms of trade against Southern exports, and worsens Southern producers' incentive to produce high-quality products. In addition, the paper illustrates the role of income redistributive policies in shifting consumer's demand in favor of Southern high-quality products. Copyright 1998 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Design of distributed H∞ consensus filters for uncertain systems via dissipativity theory

The paper addresses a problem of design of distributed robust filters using the dissipativity theory of distributed systems. The main result is a sufficient condition which guarantees a suboptimal H∞ level of disagreement of estimates in a network of estimators. The condition is formulated in terms of feasibility of certain linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). It is shown using an example that the proposed approach leads to an improved consensus performance.
Judicial Activism and the Court of Justice: How Should Academics Respond?

Do academics have a role to play in responding to judicial activism by the European Court of Justice? If so, what should that role be? Should they seek to defend the Court against accusations of judicial activism? Should they align themselves with the Court's critics in an attempt to persuade the Court to change its ways? Or should they adopt a more reserved posture, criticizing the Court on technical grounds where a decision appears to be legally unsound but at the same time recognizing the special features of the EU legal order and the role attributed to the Court under the Treaties? In an attempt to answer these questions, this paper begins by considering the perception academics have of themselves and what we mean by judicial activism. It then examines whether, and if so to what extent, the Court may be considered activist. It concludes with some tentative suggestions about the role academics might play in responding to the Court's case law.
Management Accounting in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Current Knowledge and Avenues for Further Research

ABSTRACT: Management accounting in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has been an issue of growing interest in the management accounting literature in recent years. However, published research is fragmented, spanning various fields such as accounting, small business and entrepreneurship, general management, and production and operations management. This paper aims to synthesize extant knowledge on management accounting in SMEs and provide concrete suggestions on how to proceed. We performed a systematic literature review, synthesized the results, and identified research gaps. Our findings show that usage of management accounting is not only lower but also different in SMEs compared to larger entities. Based on a comparison of SMEs, the review explains how environmental, staff, and organizational factors significantly influence the organization of management accounting in SMEs and that SME performance in general benefits from proper management accounting. We conclude with several concrete research q.
A novel POZ/zinc finger protein, champignon, interferes with gastrulation movements in Xenopus

We have cloned a novel krüppel‐like transcription factor of Xenopus that encodes POZ/zinc finger protein by expression cloning. Overexpression of mRNA resulted in interference with gastrulation. Because the injected embryo looks like a mushroom in appearance at the neurula stage, we have named this gene champignon (cpg). In cpg‐injected embryos, the blastopore appeared normally, but regressed thereafter. The injected embryos then elongated along the primary dorsoventral axis during the tailbud stage. Histologic sections and reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that cpg had no effect on the cell differentiation. The animal pole region of cpg‐injected embryos was thick during the gastrula stage, and mesodermal cells remained in the marginal zone. Furthermore, neither Keller‐sandwich explants nor activin‐treated animal cap explants excised from cpg‐injected embryos elongated. These results suggest that cpg acts as a potent inhibitor of cell migration and cell intercalation during gastrulation. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Supply Chain Rationalization

This article reviews the implementation of supply chain management within the Australian food and grocery industry and examines the workplace implications of this new form of industry rationalization within the manufacturing, distribution and retailing components of the grocery supply chain. Based upon documentary sources and interviews with employers, consultants and trade union officials, we find the dominant workplace trend involves a focus on increased labour flexibility amongst upstream suppliers in response to the strategic power of the dominant supermarket chains. However, variations in labour use strategies and union responses across the supply chain also highlight the continued diversity of workplace regimes that result even within a highly concentrated product market. The implications of this case for broader debates on the process of `systemic rationalization' are explored.
Análise do "efeito tamanho" nos retornos das ações de empresas listadas na Bovespa

This study analyzes the performance of stocks listed on Bovespa - the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange - between 03/17/1998 and 08/03/2004. First, stationarity was tested in order to check whether these stocks followed the random walk model. The results showed that all returns were stationary. In relation to prices, 90% of all stock prices revealed a unit root, that is, they followed the random walk model at level. The other 10% were rarely traded. These findings suggest that the Brazilian stock market is efficient in its weak form. Then, the efficiency of the Brazilian market in its semi-strong form was also tested in terms of the firm's size, by estimating a conditional CAPM. The traditional proxy used to measure a firm's size is the market value. However, other size proxies like book value and profit were also used. The results revealed that, independently of the proxy used, no size portfolio was capable of obtaining systematically abnormal returns. Finally, a significant correlation was found between beta and size only when book value is used as a size proxy. Nevertheless, its coefficients were low and their signals were inconsistent. In general terms, these results suggest that the Brazilian market is also efficient in its semi-strong form.
A model of multinational enterprise subsidiary staffing composition

A large proportion of the multinational enterprise (MNE) literature focuses on parent country national (PCN) expatriates. The high costs of managing and supporting PCNs on foreign assignments, however, have made these assignments less attractive for MNEs and, as a result, MNEs are more actively exploring ways to effectively utilize third country nationals (TCNs) and host country nationals (HCNs), as well as PCNs to satisfy international subsidiary staffing needs. Grounded in the person–environment (P–E) fit theory, we delineate three environmental dimensions (strategic, national and organizational) to offer some propositions that may serve to guide this exploration. These propositions are based on an integrative model that examines the MNE subsidiary staffing composition under different combinations of strategic, national and organizational dimensions. We conclude with suggestions for future research.
The Place of Economics in the Curriculum of a School of Business

What is the place of economics in the curriculum of a school of business? In terms of prevailing practice the answer is a varying one. There seems to be general agreement, often perfunctory, that economics should have a place in our educational scheme. The four-year type of school usually attempts to meet its obligation in this relation by providing a general required course in the first or second year. The two-year type of school usually assumes that its entrants have had an introductory course in one of their two pre-professional years, and the graduate and near-graduate types of school make an equivalent assumption. The introductory course in question is commonly based on the conventional textbook-Ely, Taussig, Seager, or some other of their kind. The results are unfortunately formalistic, not vital, so far as information and point of view are concerned, even in the most successful instances of student attainment; and in most instances residual effects are negligible. This failure may be due in part to inherent inadequacies of current extbook treatments of economics; but I suspect it is attributable less to such shortcomings than to deficiencies of background and to immaturity of mental outlook on the part of students. Our educational scheme has put the cart before the horse. We have attempted to build up a body of sweeping abstractions in the minds of students, interesting enough as reflecting a stage in the development of economic thought, but vitally related neither to current economic or business life nor to the needs of students who have still to acquire those facts and experiences which must form the raw material of effective generalization. The academic college is struggling with this problem; but we shall have to solve it on our own account unless we are satisfied to divorce our offering from partnership with social studies and to regard our educational scheme merely as preparation for those private acquisitive employments which form the main body of interest and activity on the part of business men. In a number of instances attempts to meet this situation have been made by the formulation of courses in Business Economics. The term, although somewhat anomalous, suggests either a treatment of economics from a business angle, or a consideration of business activ-
Ertapenem use and antimicrobial resistance to group 2 carbapenems in Gram-negative infections: a systematic review

The authors sought to evaluate the impact of ertapenem use on the resistance of Gram-negative bacteria (in general and in specific species) to group 2 carbapenems. PubMed and Scopus databases were systematically searched. Eight studies were included; all reported on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and four reported on Enterobacteriaceae. Five studies did not show any difference in group 2 carbapenem resistance for P. aeruginosa, while three reported a significant decline after ertapenem introduction. Three studies did not show any difference in group 2 carbapenem resistance between the compared periods for Enterobacteriaceae and one study did not present a statistical analysis. In conclusion, the currently available data suggest that ertapenem use does not affect the resistance of Gram-negative bacteria to group 2 carbapenems.
Is nocturnal panic a distinct disease category? Comparison of clinical characteristics among patients with primary nocturnal panic, daytime panic, and coexistence of nocturnal and daytime panic.

OBJECTIVE Many patients with panic disorder (PD) experience nocturnal panic attacks. We investigated the differences in demographic variables and symptom characteristics as well as response to treatment among patients with primary day panic (DP), primary nocturnal panic (NP), and the coexistence of DP and NP (DP/NP), and discuss whether NP is a distinct disease category. METHOD One hundred one consecutive untreated patients with PD were enrolled and subsequently divided into the NP, DP, and DP/NP groups. The presence of 13 panic attack symptom items as well as scores on the Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were compared among the groups. After 3 months of regular treatment, PDSS scores were assessed again to evaluate treatment response. RESULTS Nocturnal panic attacks of the participants were mostly reported to occur in the first tertile of nocturnal sleep. The number of males, onset age, and presence of choking sensation were significantly higher, and the PDSS score was significantly lower in the NP group compared with the other groups. The DP/NP group showed the highest PDSS score, and participants in this group were prescribed the highest doses of medication among all groups. Only diagnostic sub-category was significantly associated with treatment response. The total score for PDSS and PSQI correlated significantly only in the NP group. CONCLUSIONS DP/NP could be a severe form of PD, while primary NP could be a relatively mild subcategory that may partially share common pathophysiology with adult type night terror.