Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alternative Measures of Rate of Capacity Utilization for the Turkish Economy: A Comparative Analysis in Means of Adequacy for Empirical Investigation and Growth Models

This study aims at calculating the rate of capacity utilization for the Turkish economy with the cointegration method which is based on the relation between capital stock and the output and compare it with several other measures. The cointegration method is developed in accordance with the long run perspective of the classical/Marxian conceptualization. It also takes into account the Keynesian short-run cycles. For comparative purposes the Wharton index and the output-capital ratio measures are also calculated. These three measures as well as the available series based on the survey data are compared and contrasted to each other. The cointegration measure proves to be the most adequate measure in means of the classical/Marxian long-run as well as the Keynesian short-run theoretical considerations. Together with its technical simplicity in compilation and calculation as compared to the widely used survey based series its theoretical advantages makes it the best measure for use in empirical investigations and macroeconomic modeling.
Chronic Progressive Deficits in Neuron Size, Density and Number in the Trigeminal Ganglia of Mice Latently Infected with Herpes Simplex Virus

Numerous epidemiological studies have proposed a link between herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection and several common chronic neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Experimental HSV infection of mice can lead to chronic behavioral and neurological deficits and chronic pain. While neuron injury and loss are well‐documented consequences of the acute phase of infection, the pathologic consequences of latent HSV infection are poorly understood. To determine whether latent HSV infection can cause neuronal injury in mice, trigeminal ganglia (TG) derived from adult BALB/c mice 1, 12 and 31 weeks after corneal HSV type 1 (HSV‐1) inoculation were analyzed for evidence of productive or latent HSV‐1 infection, inflammation and changes in neuron size, density and number. We found that latent HSV‐1 infection between 12 and 31 weeks after corneal virus inoculation was associated with inflammation and progressive deficits in mean neuron diameter, neuronal nucleus diameter, neuron density and neuron number in the TG relative to mock‐infected controls. The extent of neuronal injury during latent infection correlated with the extent of inflammation. These studies demonstrate that latent HSV infection is associated with progressive neuronal pathology and may lead to a better understanding of the role of HSV infections in chronic neurological diseases.
Information Structure, Trading Behavior and Stock Prices in the Thai Market

This study examines the information and trading behavior of investors in the Thai market. This market is an important emerging market in the Pacific Rim, whose structure is different from that of a more developed market. We propose a vector autoregression model to describe and test action and reaction of the portfolio reallocation of investors and the movement of stock prices over time. Using daily market data from January 3, 1995 to October 27 1997 , this study finds that, in the Thai market, the foreign investors bought stocks when prices had risen. This strategy was consistent with a positive autocorrelation in the stock return. The local individual investors bought stocks when prices had fallen, while the local institutional investors disregarded past price changes. These two investor groups also exhibited herd behavior of both informational cascades and interpersonal communications types. They followed each other and reacted negatively to an innovation in the stock return. It is interesting to find that the foreign investors brought new information into the market. The local individual and local institutional investors brought in noise, but the explanatory share of this noisy information in the stock volatility was small. So, the study concludes that the volatility in the Thai market was not excessive.
Television, Childhood, and the Home: A History of the Making of the Child Television Audience in Britain

This book, the first academic study of its kind, uncovers a history of the child television audience. Looking in detail at children's television and its audience in Britain in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, the book shows how an audience literally came into being, how it was given substance, and how it became the site of intervention.
New approaches for modelling sporadic genetic disease in the mouse

Sporadic diseases, which occur as single, scattered cases, are among the commonest causes of human morbidity and death. They result in a variety of diseases, including many cancers, premature aging, neurodegeneration and skeletal defects. They are often pathogenetically complex, involving a mosaic distribution of affected cells, and are difficult to model in the mouse. Faithful models of sporadic diseases require innovative forms of genetic manipulation to accurately recreate their initiation and pathogenesis. Such modelling is crucial to understanding these diseases and, by extension, to the development of therapeutic approaches to treat them. This article focuses on sporadic diseases with a genetic aetiology, the challenges they pose to biomedical researchers, and the different current and developing approaches used to model such disorders in the mouse.
Mechanics of surface area regulation in cells examined with confined lipid membranes

Cells are wrapped in inelastic membranes, yet they can sustain large mechanical strains by regulating their area. The area regulation in cells is achieved either by membrane folding or by membrane exo- and endocytosis. These processes involve complex morphological transformations of the cell membrane, i.e., invagination, vesicle fusion, and fission, whose precise mechanisms are still under debate. Here we provide mechanistic insights into the area regulation of cell membranes, based on the previously neglected role of membrane confinement, as well as on the strain-induced membrane tension. Commonly, the membranes of mammalian and plant cells are not isolated, but rather they are adhered to an extracellular matrix, the cytoskeleton, and to other cell membranes. Using a lipid bilayer, coupled to an elastic sheet, we are able to demonstrate that, upon straining, the confined membrane is able to regulate passively its area. In particular, by stretching the elastic support, the bilayer laterally expands without rupture by fusing adhered lipid vesicles; upon compression, lipid tubes grow out of the membrane plane, thus reducing its area. These transformations are reversible, as we show using cycles of expansion and compression, and closely reproduce membrane processes found in cells during area regulation. Moreover, we demonstrate a new mechanism for the formation of lipid tubes in cells, which is driven by the membrane lateral compression and may therefore explain the various membrane tubules observed in shrinking cells.
Pharmacophoric Fingerprint Method (TOPP) for 3D-QSAR Modeling: Application to CYP2D6 Metabolic Stability

The application of a new 3-point pharmacophore-fingerprinting package (TOPP, Triplets Of Pharmacophoric Points) to develop QSAR models is discussed. In the CYP2D6 metabolic stability case, these 3D pharmacophoric fingerprints have shown to be as valid as other 3D descriptors and 2D features. Interestingly, it was found in the 3D models that the use of more realistic substrate conformations, by an additional docking step, did not improve the statistical results significantly. A detailed analysis of the generated pharmacophoric hypotheses is consistent with the previously proposed dual interaction mode of substrates within the active site of CYP2D6.
Carboetomidate: An Analog of Etomidate That Interacts Weakly with 11&bgr;-Hydroxylase

BACKGROUND:Carboetomidate is a pyrrole etomidate analog that is 3 orders of magnitude less potent an inhibitor of in vitro cortisol synthesis than etomidate (an imidazole) and does not inhibit in vivo steroid production. Although carboetomidate’s reduced functional effect on steroid synthesis is thought to reflect lower binding affinity to 11&bgr;-hydroxylase, differential binding to this enzyme has never been experimentally demonstrated. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that carboetomidate and etomidate bind with differential affinity to 11&bgr;-hydroxylase by comparing their abilities to inhibit photoaffinity labeling of purified enzyme by a photoactivatable etomidate analog and to modify the enzyme’s absorption spectrum in a way that is indicative of ligand binding. In addition, we made a preliminary exploration of the manner in which etomidate and carboetomidate might differentially interact with this site using spectroscopic methods as well as molecular modeling techniques to better understand the structural basis for their selectivity. METHODS:The ability of azi-etomidate to inhibit cortisol synthesis was tested by assessing its ability to inhibit cortisol synthesis by H295R cells. The binding affinities of etomidate and carboetomidate to 11&bgr;-hydroxylase were compared by assessing their abilities to (1) inhibit photoincorporation of the photolabile etomidate analog [3H]azi-etomidate into the enzyme and (2) modify the absorption spectrum of the enzyme’s heme group. In silico docking studies of etomidate, carboetomidate, and azi-etomidate binding to 11&bgr;-hydroxylase were performed using the computer software GOLD. RESULTS:Similar to etomidate, azi-etomidate potently inhibits in vitro cortisol synthesis. Etomidate inhibited [3H]azi-etomidate photolabeling of 11&bgr;-hydroxylase in a concentration-dependent manner. At a concentration of 40 µM, etomidate reduced photoincorporation of [3H]azi-etomidate by 96% ± 1% whereas carboetomidate had no experimentally detectable effect. On addition of etomidate to 11&bgr;-hydroxylase, a type 2 difference spectrum was produced indicative of etomidate complexation with the enzyme’s heme iron; carboetomidate had no effect whereas azi-etomidate produced a reverse type 1 spectrum. Computer modeling studies predicted that etomidate, carboetomidate, and azi-etomidate can fit into the heme-containing pocket that forms 11&bgr;-hydroxylase’s active site and pose with their carbonyl oxygens interacting with the heme iron and their phenyl rings stacking with phenylalanine-80. However, additional unique poses were identified for etomidate and azi-etomidate that likely account for their higher affinities. CONCLUSIONS:Carboetomidate’s reduced ability to suppress in vitro and in vivo steroid synthesis as compared with etomidate reflects its lower binding affinity to 11&bgr;-hydroxylase and may be attributed to carboetomidate’s inability to form a coordination bond with the heme iron located at the enzyme’s active site.
The NAIRU reconsidered: why labour market deregulation may raise unemployment

According to the mainstream theory of equilibrium unemployment, persistent unemployment is caused mainly by ‘excessive’ labour market regulation, whereas aggregate demand, capital accumulation and technological progress have no lasting effect on unemployment. We show that the mainstream non‐accelerating inflation rate of unemployment (NAIRU) model is a special case of a general model of equilibrium unemployment, in which aggregate demand, investment and endogenous technological progress do have long‐term effects. It follows that labour market deregulation does not necessarily reduce steady‐inflation unemployment. Theoretically, if the decline in real wage growth claims owing to deregulation is smaller than the ensuing decline in labour productivity growth and in the warranted real wage growth, then in that case steady‐inflation unemployment may increase. Empirical evidence for 20 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries (1984–1997) indicates that the impact of labour market deregulation on OECD unemployment is zero, and possibly negative (causing a higher rate of unemployment).
Spironolactone ameliorates podocytic adhesive capacity via restoring integrin α3 expression in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Podocyte responses to various injuries include detachment from the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) with impaired adhesion ability. Growing evidence suggests inappropriately enhanced aldosterone levels in glomeruli may contribute to podocytic injury and subsequently glomerulosclerosis in diabetic nephropathy (DN). In the present study, we aimed to investigate podocytic integrin α3 expression and urinary podocyte excretion in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, and to evaluate their responses to spironolactone (SPL). STZ-induced male diabetic Wistar rats were treated with vehicle (the STZ group, n=7), or spironolactone (the STZ+SPL group, n=6) for 12 weeks, six additional rats of similar body weight serving as control. Urine specimens were obtained for measurement of urine albumin concentration and urinary podocyte quantitation upon completion of the 12 weeks. Urinary podocyte excretion was quantified by immunofluorescence and expression of integrin α3 was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. At 12 weeks, rats given STZ alone revealed an increase in blood glucose and were unaffected by spironolactone, whereas the STZ+SPL group showed considerable improvement in urine albumin and podocyte excretion, as well as up-regulation of integrin α3. Our results suggest that spironolactone ameliorates impaired podocytic adhesion capacity and prevents STZ-induced DN progression.
Educating Europe

The mobility of labor reduces national incentives to invest in internationally applicable education. The European Union could overcome this by allowing member states to institute graduate taxes or income-contingent loans, collected also from migrants. Graduate taxes or income-contingent loans result in higher welfare than financing education with employment-based taxes. (JEL H 24, H 52, I 28, F 22)
Authorship Analysis of Xenophon's Cyropaedia

In the past several decades, many authorship attribution studies have used computational methods to determine the authors of disputed texts. Disputed authorship is a common problem in Classics, since little information about ancient documents has survived the centuries. Many scholars have questioned the authenticity of the final chapter of Xenophon's Cyropaedia, a 4th century B.C. historical text. In this study, we use N-grams frequency vectors with a cosine similarity function and word frequency vectors with Naive Bayes Classifiers (NBC) and Support Vector Machines (SVM) to analyze the authorship of the Cyropaedia. Although the N-gram analysis shows that the epilogue of the Cyropaedia differs slightly from the rest of the work, comparing the analysis of Xenophon with analyses of Aristotle and Plato suggests that this difference is not significant. Both NBC and SVM analyses of word frequencies show that the final chapter of the Cyropaedia is closely related to the other chapters of the Cyropaedia. Therefore, this analysis suggests that the disputed chapter was written by Xenophon. This information can help scholars better understand the Cyropaedia and also demonstrates the usefulness of applying modern authorship analysis techniques to classical literature.
Economic analysis of a stopping-rule in branch coverage testing

This paper argues that software testing can be less thorough yet more cost-efficient if applied in a well-managed, empirical manner across the entire Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). This is done by showing the cost-benefit analyses among other criteria. To ensure success, testing must be planned and executed within an Earned Value Management (EVM) paradigm as the experiment is conducted on a statistical-process controlled mindset. The Stopping Rule (MESAT) is applied to an actual embedded-chip software development cycle to show potential gains compared to archaic testing methods or none that were used. The result is that a considerable percentage of the particular testing effort could have been saved under usual circumstances, had the testing been planned and executed under EVM with the MESAT algorithm.
Mean platelet volume could be a useful biomarker for monitoring epithelial ovarian cancer

Abstract New studies show that inflammatory markers and blood cells may be related to epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). We aimed to examine whether mean platelet volume would be a useful marker for EOC patients to predict tumour burden and prognosis, and investigate the difference in MPV values between EOC patients and healthy controls. We retrospectively investigated 113 ovarian cancer patients who underwent surgery between January 2008 and July 2012 and 90 healthy subjects. MPV levels were significantly higher in preoperative EOC patients compared with healthy subjects (8.26 fl vs 7.71 fl; p = 0.004). Also NLR and PLR values were significantly higher in EOC patients (NLR, 3.48 vs 2.37; p = 0.000; PLR, 241 vs 148; p = 0.000). Surgical tumour resection resulted in a significant decrease in MPV levels (8.26 fl vs 7.61 fl; p = 0.001). NLR values also decreased after tumour resection significantly similar to CA125 (NLR, 3.48 vs 2.49; p = 0.000). Our data suggests that MPV could be a promising and easily available biomarker for monitoring EOC patients.
Why do macro wage elasticities diverge

This study analyses macro wage elasticities on labour productivity, payroll taxes, average and marginal income tax, consumer and producer prices, the replacement ratio and the unemployment rate. The data have been analyzed in a meta analysis that relates differences in each elasticity of pay to variations in study characteristics, economic or institutional variables and the econometric specification of underlying wage equations. The results indicate that notably the econometric specification of the reported wage equation matters. The dynamic specification, the choice of explanatory variables and restrictions on estimated coefficients all have their impact on estimated elasticities. The reported value of the output price elasticity of pay is sensitive to restrictions on the consumer price and vice versa. In case of tax elasticities the dynamic specification matters, and the value of the replacement ratio elasticity of pay based on sectoral data is higher than the one obtained from macro data. The results for the unemployment elasticity of pay are close to those found in the wage curve literature. Finally, we generate benchmark values for each type of elasticity.
Indigenous knowledge in the Australian national curriculum for science: from conjecture to classroom practice

Abstract In most countries of the world, a culturally-specific (Western) form of science has masqueraded as universal, true and irrefutable. With the introduction of the first national Australian curriculum, Western science and its epistemological base have been challenged by formal expectations that Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges be included in formal school science programs. This paper draws upon two studies that have addressed the preparedness of the educational community to take up the challenges and opportunities this development offers. The first study drew on the reactions of heads of science departments in secondary schools and the second looked at ways in which a group of educators are working to meet the expectation.
Global staffing: a review and thematic research agenda

This paper provides the context for the current special issue on global staffing and provides an up to date review of the state of the art in the literature in the area. We explore the key role played by global staffing in strategic international human resource management, with a particular focus on innovation, organisational learning and corporate integration. We then consider the evolution of global staffing research over time. Finally, we point to a number of key contemporary issues which could help to guide future research in global staffing.
Una revisión de los meta-análisis sobre responsabilidad social corporativa y rendimiento financiero

A pesar de que la Responsabilidad Social Corporativa (RSC) ha traspasado el ambito academico y se ha afianzado con fuerza en las empresas, siguen existiendo multiples controversias acerca de su concepto, voluntariedad, conveniencia y relacion con el rendimiento financiero (RF). En este trabajo vamos a centrarnos en el ultimo de estos debates, tratando de encontrar una respuesta a traves de una revision de los meta-analisis publicados que estudian la relacion entre RSC y RF. Como conclusion principal podemos decir que en los trabajos analizados se constata que existe una relacion positiva entre la RSC y el RF, aunque su correlacion es significativa o no significativa, dependiendo del estudio concreto analizado. Por ultimo, es necesario poner de manifiesto que las limitaciones de caracter temporal y espacial de los estudios pueden haber influido sobre los resultados. ABSTRACT While Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has passed the academic world and has established itself firmly in the companies, there are still many controversies about its concept, voluntary, convenience, and their relationship with Financial Performance (FP). In this paper we focus on the last of these debates, trying to find an answer through a review of published meta-analysis to study the relationship between CSR and RF. As main conclusion we can say that in the studies analyzed found that there is positive relationship between CSR and FP, although it correlation is significant or insignificant depending on the particular study examined. Finally, it is necessary to point out the limitations of temporal and spatial character of the studies might have influenced the results.
Transmembrane orientation and possible role of the fusogenic peptide from parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5) in promoting fusion

Membrane fusion is required for diverse biological functions ranging from viral infection to neurotransmitter release. Fusogenic proteins increase the intrinsically slow rate of fusion by coupling energetically downhill conformational changes of the protein to kinetically unfavorable fusion of the membrane–phospholipid bilayers. Class I viral fusogenic proteins have an N-terminal hydrophobic fusion peptide (FP) domain, important for interaction with the target membrane, plus a C-terminal transmembrane (C-term-TM) helical membrane anchor. The role of the water-soluble regions of fusogenic proteins has been extensively studied, but the contributions of the membrane-interacting FP and C-term-TM peptides are less well characterized. Typically, FPs are thought to bind to membranes at an angle that allows helix penetration but not traversal of the lipid bilayer. Here, we show that the FP from the paramyxovirus parainfluenza virus 5 fusogenic protein, F, forms an N-terminal TM helix, which self-associates into a hexameric bundle. This FP also interacts strongly with the C-term-TM helix. Thus, the fusogenic F protein resembles SNARE proteins involved in vesicle fusion by having water-soluble coiled coils that zipper during fusion and TM helices in both membranes. By analogy to mechanosensitive channels, the force associated with zippering of the water-soluble coiled-coil domain is expected to lead to tilting of the FP helices, promoting interaction with the C-term-TM helices. The energetically unfavorable dehydration of lipid headgroups of opposing bilayers is compensated by thermodynamically favorable interactions between the FP and C-term-TM helices as the coiled coils zipper into the membrane phase, leading to a pore lined by both lipid and protein.