Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of financial development on agricultural growth in Pakistan: New extensions from bounds test to level relationships and Granger causality tests

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between financial development and agriculture growth employing Cobb-Douglas function by incorporating financial development as an important factor of production over the period 1971-2011. Design/methodology/approach – The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach to cointegration with structural breaks is applied to examine long run relationship between the variables. The direction of causality is detected by vector error correction method (VECM) Granger causality test and robustness of causality analysis is tested through innovative accounting approach (IAA). Findings – The empirical analysis confirmed that the series are cointegrated for long run relationship between agriculture growth, financial development, capital and labor. The results indicated that financial development has positive effect on agricultural growth. This implies that financial development plays a significant role in stemming agricultural production and hence agricultural growth. Both capital and labour in the agriculture sector also add to agricultural growth. The Granger causality analysis revealed bidirectional causality between agricultural growth and financial development. The robustness of these results is confirmed by innovative accounting approach (IAA). Practical implications – This study has important policy implications for policy-making authorities to stimulate agricultural growth by improving the efficiency of the financial sector. Originality/value – This paper convincingly argues that there is a need for case-by-case study on such a project in view of each country's unique characteristics.
LABAC: A Location-Aware Attribute-Based Access Control Scheme for Cloud Storage

Data access control is a challenging issue in cloud storage. Ciphertext-Policy Attribute-based Encryption (CP-ABE) is a potential cryptographic technique to address the above issue, which is able to enforce data access control based on users' permanent characteristics. However, in some scenarios, access policies are associated with users' temporary conditions (such as access time and location) as well as their permanent ones. CP-ABE cannot deal with such situations commendably. In this paper, we focus on the scenario where users' access privilege is determined by their attributes, together with their locations. To cope with this data access control requirement, we propose a location-aware attribute-based access control mechanism (LABAC) for cloud. In LABAC, we uniquely integrate CP-ABE with location trapdoors to make up access policies. In this way, data owners can flexibly combine both users' attributes and locations to implement a fine-grained control of their data. A competitive advantage of LABAC is that it requires no any additional revocation mechanisms to revoke location-aware access privilege when user location changes. Security and performance analysis are presented which show the security and efficiency of LABAC for practical implementations.
Short-course corticosteroid-induced pulmonary and apparent cerebral aspergillosis in a patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

In a recent report on adults with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), Portielje et al[1][1] presented limited data on the morbidity and mortality attributed to the systemic effects of short-course corticosteroids in the context of initial treatment of ITP. [2][2] Certain patients may be at
Meta-Analysis of the New Keynesian

The New Keynesian Phillips Curve has become an inherent part of modern monetary policy models. It is derived from micro-founded models with rational expectations, sticky prices, and forward and backward-looking subjects on the market. Having reviewed about 200 studies, we analyze the weight of the forward-looking behavior in the hybrid New Keynesian Phillips Curve by means of meta regression. We show that selected data and method characteristics have signicant impact on reported results. Moreover, we nd a signicant publication bias including publications in top journals, while we document no bias for the most cited studies and the most cited authors.
The demand for oil products in developing countries

This paper examines the growth in oil product demand over the 1971-1993 period for 37 developing countries (outside the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe). These countries represent 90 percent of oil demand for the developing countries, and nearly 70 percent of the world's population. Relationships and changes over time for energy and total oil demand with respect to income and population are examined for each of the countries and presented graphically. The paper then focuses on the eight major petroleum products -liquefied petroleum gases (LPG), naphtha, gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene, diesel (gas oil), heavy fuel oil, and other products- which are similarly examined and presented. Some of the important phenomena affecting oil demand are analyzed. Income and price elasticities are calculated for each of the eight major oil products in all 37 countries. Based on these results, oil demand projections to 2010 are presented. According to the authors, the econometric results and analysis suggest that the medium term future will be like the past. With continued growth in real income in the developing countries, oil demand should grow about as fast as income. This implies a doubling of their oil demand by year 2010, relative to their 1993 levels. The largest growth will continue to be in Asia. However, different oil demand patterns may unfold, given many uncertainties with respect to technology, industrialization, urbanization, penetration of alternative fuels, macroeconomic and financial performance, and government policies.
Paying for Quietness: The Impact of Noise on Geneva Rents

Using the hedonic approach, this paper analyses housing market data to infer the impact of noise on rents in Geneva, Switzerland. Using three different databases, including a geographical information system (GIS), structural, accessibility and environmental variables were obtained for a large proportion of apartments rented in Geneva. The paper is thus in line with the new generation hedonic models, which exploit the vast potential of GIS to obtain large databases including detailed characteristics of the apartments. In addition, different and original measures of noise were used in order to assess possible differences of the noise impact on rents, while existing studies typically refer to a single noise index. This paper assesses the impacts of noise related to all sources, but also to airport noise only, while existing studies usually refer to road or aircraft noise. The results can be summarised as follows. First, it is shown that the impact of all sources of noise on rents at the level of the whole canton is about 0.7 per cent per dB(A) and about 1 per cent when considering exclusively airplane noise, in the airport area. Secondly, this impact does not change fundamentally depending on the different measures of noise used in the estimations. Thirdly, the impact of noise does not depend on the institutional structure of the market-i.e. it is relatively similar in the private rental sector and in apartments directly under government control, although in the former the dynamic of noise has a greater impact. Fourthly, the results show that noise also has a higher economic impact, when the background noise level is lower. And fifthly, air pollution has a distinct impact on rents, in addition to noise.
Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 Envelope Glycoprotein gp46 Interacts with Cell Surface Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans

ABSTRACT The major receptors required for attachment and entry of the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) remain to be identified. Here we demonstrate that a functional, soluble form of the HTLV-1 surface envelope glycoprotein, gp46, fused to an immunoglobulin Fc region (gp46-Fc) binds to heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) on mammalian cells. Substantial binding of gp46-Fc to HeLa and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) K1 cells that express HSPGs was detected, whereas binding to the sister CHO lines 2244, which expresses no HSPGs, and 2241, which expresses no glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), was much reduced. Enzymatic removal of HSPGs from HeLa and CHO K1 cells also reduced gp46-Fc binding. Dextran sulfate inhibited gp46-Fc binding to HSPG-expressing cells in a dose-dependent manner, whereas chondroitin sulfate was less effective. By contrast, dextran sulfate inhibited gp46-Fc binding to GAG-negative cells such as CHO 2244, CHO 2241, and Jurkat T cells weakly or not at all. Dextran sulfate inhibited HTLV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env)-pseudotyped virus infection of permissive, HSPG-expressing target cells and blocked syncytium formation between HTLV-1 Env-expressing cells and HSPG-expressing permissive target cells. Finally, HSPG-expressing cells were more permissive for HTLV-1 Env-pseudotyped virus infection than HSPG-negative cells. Thus, similar to other pathogenic viruses, HTLV-1 may have evolved to use HSPGs as cellular attachment receptors to facilitate its propagation.
Equal Pay for Equal Work? Willingness to Tolerate Wage Discrimination in the Lab

We experimentally test whether intentional and observable discriminatory pay of symmetric agents in the Winter (2004) game causes low paid agents to reduce eort. We control for intentionality of wages by either allowing a principal to determine wages or by implementing a random process. Our main observations are that discrimination has no negative eect on eorts and principals do not shy away from using discriminatory pay if it is observable. Rather with experience, discrimination enhances eciency as it facilitates coordination among agents as induced by the game. The only evidence for reciprocity is that subjects receiving a low payment from a principal (discriminatory or not) exert signicantly
Effects of Selected Phytoestrogens and Their Mixtures on the Function of the Thyroid Hormone and the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor

Phytoestrogens (PEs) are natural plant components, which can induce biologic responses in vertebrates by mimicking or blocking the actions of natural hormones or influencing the hormone production in the body. This study investigated the effect of different mixtures composed of food-relevant PEs on the thyroid hormone (TH) system assessing the proliferation of the 3,3′,5-triiodi-L-thryonine (T3) dependent rat pituitary GH3 cells using the T-screen assay, and the effect on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) transactivation using an AhR-luciferase reporter gene assay. Most tested PEs and their mixtures showed effect on both the TH and AhR system. Single isoflavonoid metabolites and their mixture and coumestrol induced GH3 cell growth and AhR transactivity dose-dependently. Isoflavonoid metabolites elicited an additive effect on the T3-dependent GH3 cell growth, and a synergistic effect on the AhR transactivity. In conclusion, nutrition-relevant PEs, alone and in mixture may possess endocrine-disrupting potential by interfering with TH and AhR functions, which need to be considered when assessing the effects on human health.
Organizations’ commitment to and communication of CSR activities: insights from Ghana

– The purpose of this paper is to examine organizations’ commitment and communication of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in a developing country’s context. , – The study employed an empirical quantitative approach by surveying 193 managers from multiple organizations in Ghana, and used independent sample t-test as well as descriptive statistics to examine the phenomenon. , – The study established that firms operating in Ghana know about CSR and are committed to it. But the level of understanding of the concept as evidenced by their practices is limited to philanthropic activities. The study further revealed that firms operating in Ghana communicate their CSR activities to stakeholders in many forms. Additionally, organizations employ equally varied channels in communicating their CSR initiatives. , – The study contributes the Ghanaian perspective of CSR to the Sub-Sahara African literature, and by that it enhances our present understanding of the commitment and communication channels of CSR activities by companies operating in Ghana. , – Empirical Literature on CSR communication in developing countries is limited. The paucity of academic enquiry on the issue has stimulated this research, based on the perceptions of managers of firms operating in Ghana about their principles of CSR, their way to disclose these activities and the kind of CSR activities done. Further research directions are also articulated.
Globalization and Trade Unions Challenges: Nigerian Manufacturing Sector Experience.

Today, the globalization of the world market has brought about several competitions on local companies which invariably have an adverse effect on trade union density due to unfavourable macro-economic policies used for the promulgation of globalization. The movement from Social regulation to Labour Market Control, created this competition all in the name of productivity enhancement and efficiency creation. The study examines the challenges brought by globalization and all what accompany the concept while the role of Trade Unions was also measured to overcome the flexibility brought by globalization. The study uses secondary information with discourse analysis of existing literatures on the subject matter to have a position. It was revealed that globalization created more vacuums than integration among Workers of the North and South due to competition postulated by globalization. Study of this nature becomes significant to the Nigeria government to rethink and have a second thought on globalization before its continual adoption while trade union leaders have to revitalize their strategies in order to swim alone with globalization thus membership density will keep declining.
Sinus Node Response to Premature Atrial Stimulation in the Rabbit Studied with Multiple Microelectrode Impalements

In this study we investigated the response of the isolated rabbit sinus node to ectopic atrial premature beats elicited late in the atrial cycle. In three experiments the response of at least 45 different fibers of the sinus node was recorded, whereas, in other experiments, investigation was less extensive. In this way the spread of activation of the total pacemaker area could be mapped accurately both during spontaneous beating and the induction of ectopic atrial beats of different degrees of prematurity. We found that: (1) The conduction of an impulse from the dominant pacemaker area to the atrium during spontaneous rhythm (antegrade conduction) is slower than the conduction of an ectopic atrial impulse towards the center of the sinus node (retrograde conduction). (2) The action potential of the dominant pacemaker fibers in the sinus node is shortened because of premature activation caused by an ectopic impulse from the atrium. Late premature beats had no effect on diastolic depolarization. If the retrograde activation wave did not reach the area of the dominant pacemaker before the spontaneous discharge of these fibers, there was electrotonic influence demonstrable over a distance of about 0.5 mm. (3) Comparison of the true sinoatrial conduction time with the estimated sinoatrial conduction calculated indirectly from the length of the postextrasystolic atrial cycle revealed that, in the isolated rabbit heart, the calculated value is a serious underestimation of the true antegrade sinoatrial conduction time.
A Spatial Structural Decomposition Analysis of Chinese and Japanese Energy Demand: 1985–1990

This paper proposes a spatial structural decomposition analysis to measure the effects of the changes in intra- and inter-country linkages on the embodied energy demand in the concerned country. For the empirical analysis, we have used the China- Japan inter-country input–output tables for 1985 and 1990, expressed in constant prices of 1990. The empirical results reveal that (1) at least for the period between 1985 and 1990, the effects of the non-competitive input structural changes in China on the primary energy requirements of Japan were negligible, and (2) the contribution of the Japanese final demand shifts on the total change in Chinese primary energy demand was 40 times larger than that of the Chinese final demand shifts on the primary energy requirements of Japan. The Japanese policy makers should concentrate on the energy impacts of the changes in the domestic production structure rather than the changes in the Chinese production structure.
Preoperative multimodal motor mapping: a comparison of magnetoencephalography imaging, navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation, and direct cortical stimulation.

OBJECT Direct cortical stimulation (DCS) is the gold-standard technique for motor mapping during craniotomy. However, preoperative noninvasive motor mapping is becoming increasingly accurate. Two such noninvasive modalities are navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) imaging. While MEG imaging has already been extensively validated as an accurate modality of noninvasive motor mapping, TMS is less well studied. In this study, the authors compared the accuracy of TMS to both DCS and MEG imaging. METHODS Patients with tumors in proximity to primary motor cortex underwent preoperative TMS and MEG imaging for motor mapping. The patients subsequently underwent motor mapping via intraoperative DCS. The loci of maximal response were recorded from each modality and compared. Motor strength was assessed at 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS Transcranial magnetic stimulation and MEG imaging were performed on 24 patients. Intraoperative DCS yielded 8 positive motor sites in 5 patients. The median distance ± SEM between TMS and DCS motor sites was 2.13 ± 0.29 mm, and between TMS and MEG imaging motor sites was 4.71 ± 1.08 mm. In no patients did DCS motor mapping reveal a motor site that was unrecognized by TMS. Three of 24 patients developed new, early neurological deficit in the form of upper-extremity paresis. At the 3-month follow-up evaluation, 2 of these patients were significantly improved, experiencing difficulty only with fine motor tasks; the remaining patient had improvement to 4/5 strength. There were no deaths over the course of the study. CONCLUSIONS Maps of the motor system generated with TMS correlate well with those generated by both MEG imaging and DCS. Negative TMS mapping also correlates with negative DCS mapping. Navigated TMS is an accurate modality for noninvasively generating preoperative motor maps.
Challenges in Translating Evidence to Practice: The Provision of Intrauterine Contraception

OBJECTIVE: Intrauterine contraception is used by many women worldwide, however, it is rarely used in the United States. Although available at no cost from the state family planning program for low-income women in California, only 1.3% of female patients obtain intrauterine contraceptives annually. This study assessed knowledge and practice patterns of practitioners regarding intrauterine contraception. METHODS: We conducted a survey among physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants (n=1,246) serving more than 100 contraceptive patients per year in the California State family planning program. The response rate was 65% (N=816). We used multiple logistic regression to measure the association of knowledge with clinical practice among different provider types. RESULTS: Forty percent of providers did not offer intrauterine contraception to contraceptive patients, and 36% infrequently provided counseling, although 92% thought their patients were receptive to learning about the method. Regression analyses showed younger physicians and those trained in residency were more likely to offer insertions. Fewer than half of clinicians considered nulliparous women (46%) and postabortion women (39%) to be appropriate candidates. Evidence-based views of the types of patients who could be safely provided with intrauterine contraception were associated with more counseling and method provision, as well as with knowledge of bleeding patterns for the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system and copper devices. CONCLUSION: Prescribing practices reflected the erroneous belief that intrauterine contraceptives are appropriate only for a restricted set of women. The scientific literature shows intrauterine contraceptives can be used safely by many women, including postabortion patients. Results revealed a need for training on updated insertion guidelines and method-specific side effects, including differences between hormonal and nonhormonal devices. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III
Redesigning African civil service reforms

Since the late 1980s, many African countries have been reforming their civil services as a part of the process of state redesign. Unfortunately, these reforms have not been very successful because of faulty diagnosis and prognosis. They have failed to tackle the major problems confronting African civil services. These include serious human resource management issues of leadership, merit pay and related governance reforms, the appropriate strategy for mobilising resources for civil service reform (CSR) and for implementing such reforms. These issues must be adequately addressed before African countries can make significant progress in CSR and in development.
Vitamin Deficiency and Tuberculosis: Need for Urgent Clinical Trial for Managment of Tuberculosis

The scenario of tuberculosis is getting complicated due to the emergence of multiple drug resistant and extensively drug resistant strains. The advent of BCG vaccination is understood to be a failure as far as primary prevention of the disease. In this context, there is a considerable current interest of development of host based chemotherapies for management of the disease. Since malnutrition is a recognized associate of tuberculosis from times immemorial the role of vitamin deficiency is reviewed keeping in view the molecular pathogenesis of the disease. Considering the recent evidences relevant to the subject, we have concluded that there is an urgent need for clinical trial of several vitamins for the management of tuberculosis.
The Unending Search for a New Global Monetary and Financial Architecture

After the 2007–2009 economic deluge, the policy and theoretical case for a New Global Monetary and Financial Architecture gained momentum. This article analyzes some key features of the global crisis that severely limited the range of action of modern central banking. Earlier episodes of concerted institutional or implicit collective efforts to “anchor” a global system and the search for a stable international key currency in a cooperative atmosphere have, in general, failed. The incentives to reinvent a new Gold Standard or Bretton Woods are always inversely related to the international business cycle. Questions regarding the heterodox political open economy stance of the new emerging economies during the contemporaneous crisis are also discussed.
A two-factor model of the term structure with optimal filtering behaviour

The rates of return of financial variables observed at high frequency are not normally distributed, mainly because of positive excess kurtosis; thus, most of the models developed in financial economics need be modified to take into account such characteristics of the data. On this respect GARCH models provide an appropriate modelling framework. Building on the convergence of an AR(1)-GARCH(1,1) model to a bivariate Ito process, we present a two-factor model for the term structure of interest rates and derive the closed-form solution for the price of zero-coupon bonds. The estimation of such a model can be carried out by means of an AR(1)-GARCH(1,1) scheme, which represents its discrete-time version.