Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Paneth Cell Hyperplasia and Metaplasia in Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Paneth cell dysfunction has been suggested in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). The aim of this study was to i) study Paneth cell presence, protein expression, and developmental changes in preterm infants with NEC and ii) determine Paneth cell products and antimicrobial capacity in ileostomy outflow fluid. Intestinal tissue from NEC patients (n = 55), preterm control infants (n = 22), and term controls (n = 7) was obtained during surgical resection and at stoma closure after recovery. Paneth cell abundance and protein expression were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. RNA levels of Paneth cell proteins were determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. In ileostomy outflow fluid, Paneth cell products were quantified, and antimicrobial activity was measured in vitro. In acute NEC, Paneth cell abundance in small intestinal tissue was not significantly different from preterm controls. After recovery from NEC, Paneth cell hyperplasia was observed in the small intestine concomitant with elevated human alpha-defensin 5 mRNA levels. In the colon, metaplastic Paneth cells were observed. Ileostomy fluid contained Paneth cell proteins and inhibited bacterial growth. In conjunction, these data suggest an important role of Paneth cells and their products in various phases of NEC.
Freedom and poverty in the fishery commons

Abstract In fisheries, alleviating poverty sometimes requires strategies that are inherently in conflict. When aiming to develop a fishery as a means to reduce poverty, its common pool resource basis might be undermined, resulting in greater poverty. But poverty in fisheries is also linked to, or a part of deeper social issues and processes, for instance, the marginalization and exclusion of certain communities. Poverty also has many factors— income, health, literacy, gender, power, security, etc.—all of which make poverty alleviation a particularly “wicked problem” that would require a broad process of political, social and institutional reform. In other words, poverty alleviation is not only an issue of sustainable resource management but also one of societal governance. Drawing from research in small-scale fisheries communities in Nicaragua, Tanzania, and Bangladesh, this paper describes how fishing people cope with poverty. The paper discusses what the governance implications are for alleviating poverty at individual, household and community levels, and argue that both the definition of poverty and poverty alleviation in small-scale fisheries must be rooted in real life experiences.
Testing For Unit Roots In The Presence Of Multiple Trend Breaks: An Application To Chilean Inflation Rate Series

This paper is an application of the subject of testing for unit roots in a time series in the presence of structural change. The series used is that of the Chilean monthly inflation rate. A characteristic of this series is that, with the exception of the 1972-1977 period during which the inflation rate in Chile greatly accelerated then decelerated, the Chilean inflation rate over the 40-year period of the study stayed within a limited range. In spite of this relatively stable performance, the application of the standard unit root tests to the series results in the inability to reject the unit root. However, when a test that allows for three endogenously determined breaks in the slope of the trend function of the series is used to account for the structural change of the 1972-1977 episode; the result is a strong rejection of the unit root in favor of a, more reasonable, stationary characterization of the series.
The UK Labour Market and the 2008-9 Recession

The recession of 2008–9 inflicted a larger cumulative loss of UK output than any of the other postwar recessions. Nevertheless, employment rates remained higher than might have been expected given the experience of previous recessions. The main reasons for this appear to be a combination of high firm profitability levels going into the recession, supportive monetary and fiscal policies during the recession, reductions in real producer wages and relatively buoyant real consumer wages. Unemployment had reached its lowest levels for 30 years going in to the latest recession and has also remained relatively subdued through the downturn, certainly compared to previous recessions. A combination of lower inflow rates into unemployment, allied with a relatively higher outflow rate into employment underlie this. As government support for the economy is scaled back, it may be however that it will take a long time for employment to return to levels last seen before the recession.
Iron-Binding E3 Ligase Mediates Iron Response in Plants by Targeting Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors1[OPEN]

An iron-binding protein causes degradation of proteins involved in the iron deficiency response. Iron uptake and metabolism are tightly regulated in both plants and animals. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), BRUTUS (BTS), which contains three hemerythrin (HHE) domains and a Really Interesting New Gene (RING) domain, interacts with basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors that are capable of forming heterodimers with POPEYE (PYE), a positive regulator of the iron deficiency response. BTS has been shown to have E3 ligase capacity and to play a role in root growth, rhizosphere acidification, and iron reductase activity in response to iron deprivation. To further characterize the function of this protein, we examined the expression pattern of recombinant ProBTS::β-GLUCURONIDASE and found that it is expressed in developing embryos and other reproductive tissues, corresponding with its apparent role in reproductive growth and development. Our findings also indicate that the interactions between BTS and PYE-like (PYEL) basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors occur within the nucleus and are dependent on the presence of the RING domain. We provide evidence that BTS facilitates 26S proteasome-mediated degradation of PYEL proteins in the absence of iron. We also determined that, upon binding iron at the HHE domains, BTS is destabilized and that this destabilization relies on specific residues within the HHE domains. This study reveals an important and unique mechanism for plant iron homeostasis whereby an E3 ubiquitin ligase may posttranslationally control components of the transcriptional regulatory network involved in the iron deficiency response.
The corporate governance of banks

Purpose – To consider the implications of the banks fiduciary duty to their depositors (as well as the shareholders) and the government's fiscal duty to taxpayers (in the presence of deposit insurance) for the corporate governance (CG) of banks. Design/methodology/approach – Recent contributions to the literature are outlined and assessed in the context of the asymmetric information literature relating to banking. Findings – The good CG of banks requires regulation to balance the interests of depositors and taxpayers with those of the shareholders. Originality/value – Linking the bank regulation in literature based on information asymmetry to the CG literature.
The Influence of State Traveler Information Centers on Tourist Length of Stay and Expenditures

This article reports on a 1987 study of the effect of travel information centers (TIC) in Colorado. Stopping at the TIC resulted in a 2.2 day average increase in length of stay and an estimated $1,026,000 additional spending. The income groups most affected were middle and high income level groups. Most travelers who stopped did so to get information — a finding in contrast to earlier studies.
Genetic Basis for Lipopolysaccharide O-Antigen Biosynthesis in Bordetellae

ABSTRACT Bordetella bronchiseptica and Bordetella parapertussis express a surface polysaccharide, attached to a lipopolysaccharide, which has been called O antigen. This structure is absent from Bordetella pertussis. We report the identification of a large genetic locus in B. bronchiseptica and B. parapertussis that is required for O-antigen biosynthesis. The locus is replaced by an insertion sequence in B. pertussis, explaining the lack of O-antigen biosynthesis in this species. The DNA sequence of the B. bronchiseptica locus has been determined and the presence of 21 open reading frames has been revealed. We have ascribed putative functions to many of these open reading frames based on database searches. Mutations in the locus in B. bronchiseptica andB. parapertussis prevent O-antigen biosynthesis and provide tools for the study of the role of O antigen in infections caused by these bacteria.
Valuation of money-back guarantees for retail goods: a test of the real-option perspective

Purpose – The paper aims to develop an alternative valuation model for money‐back guarantees (MBG) using a real‐option approach and examine the validity of the proposed model with an experimental design. This study attempts to address how retailers appropriately price MBG from a consumer value‐based viewpoint.Design/methodology/approach – The study defines the perceived post‐purchase product value as a stochastic underlying process, and then MBG option value could be theoretically determined by the real‐option pricing approach. For the test of the real‐option perspective on MBG, a 2×2×2 factorial experimental design is conducted to examine the empirical effects.Findings – With model specification, the study investigated the effects of three key factors, i.e. price level, perceived risk level, and consumers' risk‐aversion, which are characterized by a two‐sided effect on MBG option value. The relationships among those factors also are clarified through theoretical analyses. The empirical results could be e.
Genetic Architecture of Natural Variation in Thermal Responses of Arabidopsis1[OPEN]

Allelic variation in a blue-light photoreceptor modulates temperature sensitivity. Wild strains of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) exhibit extensive natural variation in a wide variety of traits, including response to environmental changes. Ambient temperature is one of the major external factors that modulates plant growth and development. Here, we analyze the genetic architecture of natural variation in thermal responses of Arabidopsis. Exploiting wild accessions and recombinant inbred lines, we reveal extensive phenotypic variation in response to ambient temperature in distinct developmental traits such as hypocotyl elongation, root elongation, and flowering time. We show that variation in thermal response differs between traits, suggesting that the individual phenotypes do not capture all the variation associated with thermal response. Genome-wide association studies and quantitative trait locus analyses reveal that multiple rare alleles contribute to the genetic architecture of variation in thermal response. We identify at least 20 genomic regions that are associated with variation in thermal response. Further characterizations of temperature sensitivity quantitative trait loci that are shared between traits reveal a role for the blue-light receptor CRYPTOCHROME2 (CRY2) in thermosensory growth responses. We show the accession Cape Verde Islands is less sensitive to changes in ambient temperature, and through transgenic analysis, we demonstrate that allelic variation at CRY2 underlies this temperature insensitivity across several traits. Transgenic analyses suggest that the allelic effects of CRY2 on thermal response are dependent on genetic background suggestive of the presence of modifiers. In addition, our results indicate that complex light and temperature interactions, in a background-dependent manner, govern growth responses in Arabidopsis.
Privatized Default Risk and Real Estate Recessions: The U.K. Mortgage Market

A mortgage pricing model is developed when a borrower goes through a series of distress states, including delinquency, long-term nonpayment and ultimate default. These steps are sequential, and depend on prices and alternatives faced by the borrower. The multistate default model is applied to the mortgage market in the United Kingdom. As a byproduct, a pricing structure for the U.K. endowment mortgage, which combines a good and a life insurance policy, is developed. Income and liquidity constraints are shown to affect the decision to keep a mortgage current in different states of distress. Solvent borrowers may thus keep their mortgages current, even when equity is negative. Copyright American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association.
The circadian oscillator gene GIGANTEA mediates a long-term response of the Arabidopsis thaliana circadian clock to sucrose

Circadian clocks are 24-h timing devices that phase cellular responses; coordinate growth, physiology, and metabolism; and anticipate the day–night cycle. Here we report sensitivity of the Arabidopsis thaliana circadian oscillator to sucrose, providing evidence that plant metabolism can regulate circadian function. We found that the Arabidopsis circadian system is particularly sensitive to sucrose in the dark. These data suggest that there is a feedback between the molecular components that comprise the circadian oscillator and plant metabolism, with the circadian clock both regulating and being regulated by metabolism. We used also simulations within a three-loop mathematical model of the Arabidopsis circadian oscillator to identify components of the circadian clock sensitive to sucrose. The mathematical studies identified GIGANTEA (GI) as being associated with sucrose sensing. Experimental validation of this prediction demonstrated that GI is required for the full response of the circadian clock to sucrose. We demonstrate that GI acts as part of the sucrose-signaling network and propose this role permits metabolic input into circadian timing in Arabidopsis.
Effect of Long-Term Estrogen Replacement on Bladder Function in Old Female Rats

The effects of estradiol (E2) on urodynamic parameters were studied with twenty 16-month-old female Wistar rats. They were divided into 4 groups, i.e., Group I: untreated; Groups II and III: treated with E2 for 4 and 8 weeks, respectively; Group IV: treated with a placebo for 8 weeks. After treatment, we measured their plasma E2 levels, and recorded their voiding behavior for 24 h. Cystometry was performed and urodynamic parameters were analyzed. Particularly, bladder capacity as well as voided volume and frequency were surveyed. The results obtained were compared among groups. Levels of bladder capacity in the E2-replaced groups (Groups II, 0.52 ± 0.14 mL and Groups III, 0.58 ± 0.09 mL) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than in the other groups (Group I, 0.38 ± 0.09 mL and Group IV, 0.40 ± 0.11 mL) respectively. The average voided volume was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the E2-replaced groups (Groups II, 1.06 ± 0.22 mL and Groups III, 1.01 ± 0.16 mL) than in Group IV (0.79 ± 0.15 mL), respectively. Concerning the number of daily micturition per day, a significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed only between Group III (14.2 ± 2.7) and Group IV (18.8 ± 3.7). This suggests that E2-replacement therapy positively affects bladder function.
Current control strategy for six-phase PMSM based on MPC under open-circuit fault condition

Six-phase PMSM with double Y 30 degree shift connection can continue to run under open-circuit fault condition. Based on hysteresis control with expression of phase current or PI regulator with incomplete decoupling mathematical model, the current control effect is not as satisfied as normal condition, resulting in the electromagnetic torque ripple. According to incomplete decoupling feature, Model Predictive Control (MPC) is applied to the current control. The predictive model is established from the mathematical model of six-phase PMSM, on which rolling optimization calculation is done. The output voltage is calculated from the reference value and the predictive model. The corresponding realization method of MPC is presented, which is suitable for the current control. The different optimization is realized in real time by tuning the controller parameter including the object function and weighting factor. The simulation and experiment analysis show that the current control strategy based on MPC for six-phase PMSM under fault condition are feasible and effective.
Games Businesses Play: Cases and Models

Game theory has come to dominate industrial organization economics, but business strategists continue to debate its usefulness. So far, empirical work on the application of game theory to business strategy has been too limited to force a consensus. As a (partial) remedy, Games Businesses Play uses detailed case studies of competitive interaction to explore the uses and limits of game theory as a tool for business strategists. Because they are analytical rather than descriptive, the case studies are not typical teaching cases. The cases are paired with customized game-theoretic models that cover a wide range of commitment decisions, from short-run commitments such as price to longer-run commitments such as capacity expansion and reduction, product and process innovation, and battles for market share. A variety of quantitative and qualitative techniques are used to test the models' predictions on case data. In addition the book sheds light on a number of other issues important to strategic management, including the resource-based view of the firm and the emergent theory of dynamic capabilities.
Minimum sample sizes for population genomics: an empirical study from an Amazonian plant species

High‐throughput DNA sequencing facilitates the analysis of large portions of the genome in nonmodel organisms, ensuring high accuracy of population genetic parameters. However, empirical studies evaluating the appropriate sample size for these kinds of studies are still scarce. In this study, we use double‐digest restriction‐associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq) to recover thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for two physically isolated populations of Amphirrhox longifolia (Violaceae), a nonmodel plant species for which no reference genome is available. We used resampling techniques to construct simulated populations with a random subset of individuals and SNPs to determine how many individuals and biallelic markers should be sampled for accurate estimates of intra‐ and interpopulation genetic diversity. We identified 3646 and 4900 polymorphic SNPs for the two populations of A. longifolia, respectively. Our simulations show that, overall, a sample size greater than eight individuals has little impact on estimates of genetic diversity within A. longifolia populations, when 1000 SNPs or higher are used. Our results also show that even at a very small sample size (i.e. two individuals), accurate estimates of FST can be obtained with a large number of SNPs (≥1500). These results highlight the potential of high‐throughput genomic sequencing approaches to address questions related to evolutionary biology in nonmodel organisms. Furthermore, our findings also provide insights into the optimization of sampling strategies in the era of population genomics.
Contagion in Financial Markets After September 11 - Myth or Reality?

Major global events can lead to a change in the cross-country correlation of assets. Using stock prices from 25 economies, we test whether the terrorist attack in the United States on September 11, 2001, resulted in a contagion—an increase in correlation across global financial markets. Unlike prior works on contagion, we model the intrinsic heteroskedasticity. Our results indicate that international stock markets, particularly in Europe, responded more closely to U.S. stock market shocks in the three to six months after the crisis than before. Our evidence suggests that the benefits of international diversification in times of crisis are substantially diminished.
Determinants of Foreign Workers' Wages in Two Italian Regions with High Illegal Immigration

Since the end of the 1970s Italy has moved from being an out-migration country to being a foreign immigration country, but very few studies have addressed the factors determining the wages of immigrant workers, owing to the lack of available data. In this paper we analyse the determinants of the wages of immigrants in some areas of Latium and Campania, where the share of illegal immigration is relatively high, using the results of a set of sample surveys which collected information on several aspects of the immigration process in the years 1993-94. The purpose of the article is to shed some light on the factors underlying wage distribution among the immigrants using an estimation method that controls for sample selection problems. According to the empirical results, income differences seem to be relatively high among immigrants. Differences in labour market integration among sexes and area of origin clearly emerge from the results. Moreover, legal status plays an important role in the explanation of the wage gap between documented and undocumented immigrants, also because of the different occupational sector structure in the two groups. Copyright Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini and Blackwell Publishers Ltd 1999.
Jit Manufacturing: a Survey of Implementations in Small and Large U.S. Manufacturers

Since the early 1980s, the diffusion of Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing from Japanese manufacturers to U.S. manufacturers has progressed at an accelerated rate. At this stage of the diffusion process, JIT implementations are more common and more advanced in large U.S. manufacturers than in small; consequently, U.S. businessmen's understanding of issues associated with JIT implementations in large manufacturers is more developed than that of small manufacturers. When small manufacturers represent about 96 percent of all U.S. manufacturers, investigation of JIT impleme ntations in small, as well as large, manufacturers is warranted. This survey study investigates JIT implementation differences between small and large U.S. manufacturers. Ten management practices that constitute the JIT concept are used to examine implementation of JIT manufacturing systems. Odds ratio were constructed to determine if an association exists between implemented versus not implemented and manufacturer size for each JIT practice. Ten changes in performance attributed to JIT implementation are also assessed and examined in the study. Logistic regression models are used to examine the relationships between implementation status of each of the JIT practices and of each of the changes in performance in small and large manufacturers. The results of the study show that the frequencies of the 10 JIT management practices implemented differ between the two groups of manufacturer size, and an association exists between the JIT practices implemented and manufacturer size. Moreover, the changes in performance attributed to JIT implementation vary, depending on implementation status of specific JIT management practices and manufacturer size.
Job Security and Labour Market Flexibility

This paper discusses the desirability of government-legislated job security. Job security may be beneficial to employed workers, but it can also impose a cost on unemployed workers by lowering labour market turnover and thereby increasing the average duration of unemployment spells. This externality can lead to self-reinforcing behaviour between workers at different firms: If most workers in the economy have job security then turnover will be low and the duration of unemployment following a layoff is likely to be high. As a result, other workers will also desire job security. Even in the absence of legislation, therefore, the externality may result in more job security being provided than is socially desirable.