Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Demand for cash balances in Germany: theoretical underpinnings and empirical evidence

The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a cash-in-advance model of an open economy. Following the contribution of Bohn (1991) and using intertemporal balance of payments theory we set up a currency demand function with real consumption expenditure, the foreign interest rate and exchange rate expectations as the core explaining variables. We test the model with the aid of the econometric techniques proposed by Hylleberg, Engle, Granger and Yoo (1990) and Engle, Granger, Hylleberg and Lee (1993) relying on quarterly seasonally unadjusted data for Germany in the period 1960: 1 to 1993: 4. The findings reported in the paper support the suggestions made by the theoretical model.
Unions, Work-Related Training, and Wages: Evidence for British Men

Using data for the years 1991–96 from the British Household Panel Survey, the authors investigate how union coverage affected work-related training and how the union-training link affected wages and wage growth for a sample of full-time men. Relative to non-covered workers, union-covered workers were more likely to receive training and also received more days of training. Among workers who received training, those with union coverage enjoyed greater returns to training and higher wage growth than did those without. While some of these results have been found in previous studies, others are new. The wage results, in particular, suggest a need for rethinking the conventional view that union wage formation in Britain reduces the incentives to acquire work-related training.
The role of enterocyte defects in the pathogenesis of congenital diarrheal disorders

ABSTRACT Congenital diarrheal disorders are rare, often fatal, diseases that are difficult to diagnose (often requiring biopsies) and that manifest in the first few weeks of life as chronic diarrhea and the malabsorption of nutrients. The etiology of congenital diarrheal disorders is diverse, but several are associated with defects in the predominant intestinal epithelial cell type, enterocytes. These particular congenital diarrheal disorders (CDDENT) include microvillus inclusion disease and congenital tufting enteropathy, and can feature in other diseases, such as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis type 5 and trichohepatoenteric syndrome. Treatment options for most of these disorders are limited and an improved understanding of their molecular bases could help to drive the development of better therapies. Recently, mutations in genes that are involved in normal intestinal epithelial physiology have been associated with different CDDENT. Here, we review recent progress in understanding the cellular mechanisms of CDDENT. We highlight the potential of animal models and patient-specific stem-cell-based organoid cultures, as well as patient registries, to integrate basic and clinical research, with the aim of clarifying the pathogenesis of CDDENT and expediting the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies. Summary: Overview of the recent progress in our understanding of congenital diarrheal disorders, and the available models to study these diseases.
Distinct Domains within APOBEC3G and APOBEC3F Interact with Separate Regions of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Vif

ABSTRACT Human APOBEC3G (A3G) and APOBEC3F (A3F) inhibit the replication of Vif-deficient human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). HIV-1 Vif overcomes these host restriction factors by binding to them and inducing their degradation. Thus, the Vif-A3G and Vif-A3F interactions are attractive targets for antiviral drug development, as inhibiting these interactions could allow the host defense mechanism to control HIV-1 replication. Recently, it has been reported that amino acids 105 to 156 of A3G are involved in the interaction with Vif; however, to date, the region of A3F involved in Vif binding has not been identified. Using our previously reported Vif mutants that are capable of binding to only A3G (3G binder) or only A3F (3F binder), in conjunction with a series of A3G-A3F chimeras, we have now mapped the APOBEC3-Vif interaction domains. We found that the A3G domain that interacts with the Vif YRHHY region is located between amino acids 126 and 132 of A3G, which is consistent with the conclusions reported in previous studies. The A3F domain that interacts with the Vif DRMR region did not occur in the homologous domain but instead was located between amino acids 283 and 300 of A3F. These studies are the first to identify the A3F domain that interacts with the Vif DRMR region and show that distinct domains of A3G and A3F interact with different Vif regions. Pharmacological inhibition of either or both of these Vif-A3 interactions should prevent the degradation of the APOBEC3 proteins and could be used as a therapy against HIV-1.
Repatriates as entrepreneurs? – A theoretical analysis

This contribution raises the question as to whether repatriates may pursue entrepreneurship and aims to theoretically determine if repatriates are particularly suitable candidates for venturing into self-employment. To address this research question, the Jack-of-all trades view and the human and social capital theories are employed. Research shows that insufficient repatriation strategies in international firms, lead these usually qualified, skilled and experienced employees to change employers after an international assignment. Clear insights into whether they also opt for self-employment as a career path are unavailable. To investigate this prospect, the opportunity recognition and development approach is applied because the realisation and exploitation of market opportunities is a precondition for venturing into self-employment. The above named theories are also employed to compare repatriates and start-up entrepreneurs as they have been found to facilitate the identification and exploitation of ideas. Profile similarities are found to prevail thus supporting our proposition.
Spaceborne applications of P band imaging radars for measuring forest biomass

In three sites of boreal and temperate forests, P band HH, HV, and W polarization data combined estimate total aboveground dry woody biomass within 12 to 27% of the values derived from allometric equations, depending on forest complexity. Biomass estimates derived from HV-polarization data only are 2 to 14% less accurate. When the radar operates at circular polarization, the errors exceed 100% over flooded forests, wet or damaged trees and sparse open tall forests because double-bounce reflections of the radar signals yield radar signatures similar to that of tall and massive forests. Circular polarizations, which minimize the effect of Faraday rotation in spaceborne applications, are therefore of limited use for measuring forest biomass. In the tropical rain forest of Manu, in Peru, where forest biomass ranges from 4 kg m/sup -2/ in young forest succession up to 50 kg m/sup -2/ in old, undisturbed floodplain stands, the P band horizontal and vertical polarization data combined separate biomass classes in good agreement with forest inventory estimates. The worldwide need for large scale, updated, biomass estimates, achieved with a uniformly applied method, justifies a more in-depth exploration of multi-polarization long wavelength imaging radar applications for tropical forests inventories. >
Invirtiendo en entrenamiento general: el Programa de Formación Dual

In the Human Capital Theory developed by Becker (1964) firms have no incentives to provide general training unless workers are willing to finance it. In this paper, we argued that under certain conditions (either asymmetric information or strategic complementarity between general and specific training) firms are willing to pay for general training. Using data from the Chilean apprenticeship program, which consists on a joint educational program between schools and productive firms under which students spend a fraction of their time in the firms and a fraction on formal education, we cannot reject the hypothesis that firms pay for general training.
Association of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorgamma gene Pro12Ala and C161T polymorphisms with metabolic syndrome.

UNLABELLED BACKGROUND Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is involved mainly in adipocyte differentiation and has been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance (IR) and atherosclerosis. The frequencies of 2 common polymorphisms of the PPARgamma gene, Pro12Ala single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon B and C161T SNP in exon 6, were investigated in 792 subjects and the correlations between the different genotypes, IR and metabolic syndrome (MS) were analyzed. METHODS AND RESULTS Anthropometric measurements, fasting glucose, insulin and lipid profiles were measured in 792 people of the Han population in Beijing, China. Homeostatic model assessments and quantitative insulin sensitivity check indices were calculated. MS was diagnosed according to the IDF guidelines (2005) for a Chinese population. Polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism were performed for DNA genotyping. For the C161T polymorphism, allele frequencies were 0.804 for the C allele and 0.196 for the T allele. For Pro12Ala, allele frequencies were 0.947 for proline and 0.053 for alanine. There was no Ala12Ala homozygote in the population. No differences were seen in the mean values of age, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure or fasting blood glucose level among different genotypes when analyzed as a whole. Subjects with an A or T allele had lower fasting insulin levels, HOMA-IR levels, and a lower level QUICKI trend. Further analysis by age was conducted, and A or T allele carriers in the <60 year group showed a trend of lower triglyceride and a higher high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level, but this was not statistically significant. When subjects were divided into 4 groups according to the combination of genetic alleles of the 2 polymorphisms, the subjects with Pro12Ala and a T allele simultaneously showed a significantly higher BMI than those without the Ala allele. The presence of a T allele in the C161T polymorphism and Pro12Ala polymorphism seems to affect body weight, which is similar to the results found in previous studies. CONCLUSIONS Both polymorphisms showed a significant association with IR, but failed to show an association with MS components. Those with an A allele of Pro12Ala and a T allele of the C161T polymorphism showed a higher BMI, which requires further investigation.
Formation of the Sinus Node Head and Differentiation of Sinus Node Myocardium Are Independently Regulated by Tbx18 and Tbx3

The sinus node (or sinoatrial node [SAN]), the pacemaker of the heart, is a functionally and structurally heterogeneous tissue, which consists of a large “head” within the right caval vein myocardium and a “tail” along the terminal crest. Here, we investigated its cellular origin and mechanism of formation. Using genetic lineage analysis and explant assays, we identified T-box transcription factor Tbx18-expressing mesenchymal progenitors in the inflow tract region that differentiate into pacemaker myocardium to form the SAN. We found that the head and tail represent separate regulatory domains expressing distinctive gene programs. Tbx18 is required to establish the large head structure, as seen by the existence of a very small but still functional tail piece in Tbx18-deficient fetuses. In contrast, Tbx3-deficient embryos formed a morphologically normal SAN, which, however, aberrantly expressed Cx40 and other atrial genes, demonstrating that Tbx3 controls differentiation of SAN head and tail cardiomyocytes but also demonstrating that Tbx3 is not required for the formation of the SAN structure. Our data establish a functional order for Tbx18 and Tbx3 in SAN formation, in which Tbx18 controls the formation of the SAN head from mesenchymal precursors, on which Tbx3 subsequently imposes the pacemaker gene program.
Diffusion of materials technology-based products in bio industry

Bio industry has special characteristics. First, the industry is a science-based industry in which research in scientific community is directly linked to industry. Second, the industry has borderline transgressive properties across many technological disciplines. Many technologies in the industry are incorporated from different fields, including information technology, mechanics and materials. However, products based on plural technologies do not easily diffuse in the industry due to their radical innovative features.
Tunable semiconductor lasers: a tutorial

Tunable semiconductor lasers have been listed in numerous critical technology lists for future optical communication and sensing systems. This paper summarizes a tutorial that was given at OFC '03. It includes some discussion of why tunable lasers might be beneficial, an outline of basic tuning mechanisms, some examples of tunable lasers that have been commercialized, and a discussion of control techniques. More extensive data is given for the widely-tunable sampled-grating distributed-Bragg-reflector (SGDBR) type of laser, including data for such lasers integrated monolithically with modulators to form complete transmitter front ends. A summary of reliability data for the SGDBR laser is also given. It is concluded that tunable lasers can reduce operational costs, that full-band tunability is desirable for many applications, that monolithic integration offers the most potential for reducing size, weight, power and cost, and that sufficient reliability for system insertion has been demonstrated.
Regulation of mouse glutathione S-transferases by chemoprotectors. Molecular evidence for the existence of three distinct alpha-class glutathione S-transferase subunits, Ya1, Ya2, and Ya3, in mouse liver.

Liver cytosol from mice fed on a normal diet contains Alpha-class glutathione S-transferase (GST) subunits of Mr 25,800, Mu-class GST subunits of Mr 26,400 and Pi-class GST subunits of Mr 24,800. Feeding female mice with a diet containing the anticarcinogenic antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) causes induction of the constitutively expressed Mu-class and Pi-class subunits. BHA also induces an Alpha-class GST comprising subunits of Mr 25,600, which is not expressed at detectable levels in normal mouse liver [McLellan & Hayes (1989) Biochem. J. 263, 393-402]. Data are now presented that show that administration of the anticarcinogen beta-naphthoflavone (BNF), like BHA, induces the Alpha-class 25,600-Mr subunits but not the constitutive Alpha-class GST with subunits of Mr 25,800. The effects of BNF on expression of hepatic GST were studied in both DBA/2 and C57BL/6 mice; these studies revealed a preferential induction of the Alpha-class 25,600-Mr subunits and of the Pi-class 24,800-Mr subunits in those mice in possession of a functional Ah receptor. The BHA/BNF-inducible Alpha-class GST can be resolved into two separate, non-interconvertible peaks by reverse-phase h.p.l.c. Automated amino acid sequence analysis of CNBr-derived peptides from each of these h.p.l.c. -purified peaks showed that the peaks contained at least two very similar subunits. These have been named Ya1 and Ya2. The amino acid sequence of the Ya1 subunit was compared with sequences deduced from a genomic clone, lambda mYa1 (Daniel, Sharon, Tichauer & Sarid (1987) DNA 6, 317-324], and a cDNA clone, pGT41 [Pearson, Reinhart, Sisk, Anderson & Adler (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 13324-13332]. Our data suggest that the Ya1 subunit represents the subunit encoded by the genomic clone, lambda mYa1. Sequence analysis of the constitutive Alpha-class Ya3 subunit (Mr 25,800) shows that, although it is a member of the same gene family as the Ya1 and Ya2 subunits, it represents a distinct sub-family of Alpha-class GST, containing subunits that are more similar to rat Yc. Our data indicate that, of these Alpha-class GST subunits, the two with Mr 25,600 (Ya1 and Ya2) are selectively induced by BHA or BNF in mouse liver; neither BHA nor BNF induces significantly the GST subunit with Mr 25,800 (Ya3).
Longterm effects of problem‐based learning: a comparison of competencies acquired by graduates of a problem‐based and a conventional medical school

Background Problem‐based learning (PBL) as an approach to the instruction of medical students has attracted much attention in recent years. However, its effect on the performance of its graduates is the subject of considerable debate. This article presents data from a large‐scale study among graduates of a problem‐based medical school and those of a conventional medical school to contribute to this discussion.
Reflective Practice for Educators: Professional Development to Improve Student Learning

Written for teachers, administrators, and professional development specialists in schools and universities, this book is an educators' guide to reflective practice. In clear, accessible language, the authors explain the potential to create meaningful change in schools and show you how to integrate reflective practice effectively into the daily work of schools. The book: - Explains reflective practice as a professional development strategy and its importance for school reform - Offers ideas and practical strategies to facilitate collaborative, data-based inquiry, dialogue, and problem-solving in schools - Describes reflective practice in action and illustrates its power to create meaningful change in classrooms - Shows how reflective practice is an important step in creating professional learning organizations Reflective practice has the potential to renew your sense of optimism, commitment, and efficacy as you learn how to support meaningful professional growth, shape a culture of learning, and make important changes in students' learning.
Use of an artificial neuroadaptive robot model to describe adaptive and learning motor mechanisms in the central nervous system

Based on previous physiological information, this paper proposes a model of cerebellum motor learning based on a neuroadaptive robot manipulator controller. Compliance (or impedance) control is chosen as the basis of the model in preference to alternative robot control strategies because muscles do not act like pure force generators such as torque motors nor as pure displacement devices such as stepper motors but instead act more like tunable springs or compliance devices. Compliance control has the further advantage that it is applicable for a variety of motor tasks, and is both more robust and simple than alternative control strategies. Simulation results are presented to verify the performance of the proposed model. Specific results are presented for the applications of impedance control to the case where the end-effector is interacting with surfaces. By setting the equilibrium position of the end-effector beyond the obstacle (wall), it can be assured that the end-effector will touch the surface rather than crush it. The power of the phase spare to analyze the behavior of the system during movement is demonstrated.
Allometric modelling of peak oxygen uptake in male soccer players of 8–18 years of age

Abstract Background: Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) is routinely scaled as mL O2 per kilogram body mass despite theoretical and statistical limitations of using ratios. Aim: To examine the contribution of maturity status and body size descriptors to age-associated inter-individual variability in VO2peak and to present static allometric models to normalize VO2peak in male youth soccer players. Subjects and methods: Total body and estimates of total and regional lean mass were measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in a cross-sectional sample of Portuguese male soccer players. The sample was divided into three age groups for analysis: 8–12 years, 13–15 years and 16–18 years. VO2peak was estimated using an incremental maximal exercise test on a motorized treadmill. Static allometric models were used to normalize VO2peak. Results: The independent variables with the best statistical fit explained 72% in the younger group (lean body mass: k = 1.07), 52% in mid-adolescent players (lean body mass: k = 0.93) and 31% in the older group (body mass: k = 0.51) of variance in VO2peak. The inclusion of the exponential term pubertal status marginally increased the explained variance in VO2peak (adjusted R2 = 36–75%) and provided statistical adjustments to the size descriptors coefficients. Conclusion: The allometric coefficients and exponents evidenced the varying inter-relationship among size descriptors and maturity status with aerobic fitness from early to late-adolescence. Lean body mass, lean lower limbs mass and body mass combined with pubertal status explain most of the inter-individual variability in VO2peak among youth soccer players.
The influence of work time adjustment on joint activities and the demand for child care

In this paper we examine if partners in households coordinate their working times. Also we examine how this coordination influences the (in)formal demand for child care and the time spent on joint activities. The activities that we distinguish are the time that partners spent together, spent jointly on household tasks and spent jointly on child care. We find that partners de-synchronize their work times when there are children present in the household while they synchronize their work times when there are no children present in the household. Households where women are higher educated tend to synchronize there work times. Partners who synchronize their work times spent more joint hours on household tasks. Partners who de-synchronize their work times less spent more time together. We do not find a relation between work timing and the time that parents spent together caring for their children. The demand for (in)formal child care is affected by the coordination of work schedules by partners. Partners who de-synchronize their work times more, demand less (in)formal child care. Moreover, active work time desynchronization and the demand for child care appear to be substitutes.
Seizures Decrease Postnatal Neurogenesis and Granule Cell Development in the Human Fascia tDentata

Summary: Purpose: There is considerable controversy whether childhood seizures damage existing neurons and/or adversely affect neurogenesis and synaptogenesis. This study addressed this question by examining fascia dentata neurogenesis, cell death, and aberrant axon connections in hippocampi from children with extratemporal seizure foci.