Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EXTENDED GRAVITY PANEL DATA MODEL OF POLISH FOREIGN TRADE

The goal of this article is to investigate the determinants of the pattern of bilateral trade flows of Poland with its major trade partners with the use of trade gravity model approach. The analysis is carried out for 181 trade partners of Poland in the period 1999-2006. In the basic version of the trade gravity model we take into account only the standard factors as suggested by the literature of the subject. In its extended version we control for several additional factors including: quality of institutions, impact of regional and bilateral trade agreements or exchange rate volatility. In order to obtain unbiased results we utilize the Prais-Winsten regression with Panel Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE). In most of the cases the coefficients for the traditional gravity determinants are economically sensible and their impact on the dependant variable is statistically significant. The impact of market size, distance or quality of institutions are in line with our expectations. The role of migrants as proxied by the size of Polish diaspora is rather large. Increase in the size of Polish diaspora of 1 per cent increases bilateral trade by approx. 0.2 per cent. Foreign exchange rate volatility has an adversely negative impact on the trade flows. The unrealized potential of a membership in the eurozone could be judged relatively high. The results concerning trade agreements are however rather unanticipated.
Carbon-based dots co-doped with nitrogen and sulfur for high quantum yield and excitation-independent emission.

Helpful elements: A facile bottom-up method using citric acid and L-cysteine as a precursor has been developed to prepare graphene quantum dots (GQDs) co-doped with nitrogen and sulfur. A new type and high density of surface state of GQDs arises, leading to high yields (more than 70 %) and excitation-independent emission. FLQY = fluorescence quantum yield.
A Prodrug of a Selective Inhibitor of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase is Neuroprotective in the Rat Model of Glaucoma

PurposeTo test the hypothesis that nitric oxide, synthesized by inducible nitric oxide synthase, causes degeneration of retinal ganglion cells in an animal model of glaucoma. MethodsRats with unilateral, chronic, moderately elevated intraocular pressure were treated orally with L-N6-(1-iminoethyl)lysine 5-tetrazole amide, a prodrug of an inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase. The loss of retinal ganglion cells was quantitated as an indicator of glaucomatous damage. ResultsAt the end of seven months, rat eyes with chronic, moderately elevated intraocular pressure lost approximately 20,000 retinal ganglion cells. Treatment with L-N6-(1-iminoethyl)lysine 5-tetrazole amide for seven months completely prevented the loss of retinal ganglion cells in eyes with chronic, moderately elevated intraocular pressure. When treatment with L-N6-(1-iminoethyl)lysine 5-tetrazole amide was delayed and started after three months of chronic, moderately elevated intraocular pressure, further loss of retinal ganglion cells was prevented. ConclusionPharmacological neuroprotection with a selective inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase may be useful for the treatment of glaucoma.
Higher education policy, enrollment, and income inequality

Objective. The objective of this article is to examine whether public expenditure on higher education has an effect on income inequality by increasing enrollment. Methods. Combining data from the World Bank Development Indicators with data from the World Income Inequality Database version 2, we study the relation between government education expenditure and enrollment rates, as well as the relation between government education expenditure and the change in income inequality during the 1980s and the 1990s. Results. We find that public expenditure on higher education has no positive effect on enrollment. Increased enrollment is mainly explained by higher GDP per capita. Using carefully selected Gini coefficients to ensure comparability over time, we do not find a robust relation between higher education expenditure and lower income inequality, contrary to some previous studies. Conclusions. Government expenditure on higher education has very limited effects on enrollment and inequality. This finding, however, does not imply that there are no social benefits from such subsidies. For example, in countries where high marginal tax rates decrease the economic returns to education, governments may wish to compensate for this through subsidies.
The Future of Capital Income Taxation

The Future of Capital Income Taxation Alan J. Auerbach * University of California, Berkeley September 4, 2006 This paper was prepared for the 2006 Institute for Fiscal Studies Annual Lecture. I am grateful to Anne Moore for research assistance and to Ethan Auerbach, Len Burman, Michael Graetz, Jim Hines, Joel Slemrod, and Al Warren for helpful discussions and suggestions.
Identification of MET 10-932 and Characterization as an Allele Reducing Hydrogen Sulfide Formation in Wine Strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae †

A vineyard isolate of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, UCD932, was identified as a strain producing little or no detectable hydrogen sulfide during wine fermentation. Genetic analysis revealed that this trait segregated as a single genetic determinant. The gene also conferred a white colony phenotype on BiGGY agar (bismuthglucose-glycine-yeast agar), which is thought to indicate low basal levels of sulfite reductase activity. However, this isolate does not display a requirement for S-containing amino acids, indicating that the sulfate reduction pathway is fully operational. Genetic crosses against known mutations conferring white colony color on BiGGY agar identified the gene leading to reduced H2S formation as an allele of MET10 (MET10-932), which encodes a catalytic subunit of sulfite reductase. Sequence analysis of MET10-932 revealed several corresponding amino acid differences in relation to laboratory strain S288C. Allele differences for other genes of the sulfate reduction pathway were also detected in UCD932. The MET10 allele of UCD932 was found to be unique in comparison to the sequences of several other vineyard isolates with differing levels of production of H2S. Replacing the MET10 allele of high-H2S-producing strains with MET10-932 prevented H2S formation by those strains. A single mutative change, corresponding to T662K, in MET10-932 resulted in a loss of H2S production. The role of site 662 in sulfide reduction was further analyzed by changing the encoded amino acid at this position. A change back to threonine or to the conservative serine fully restored the H2S formation conferred by this allele. In addition to T662K, arginine, tryptophan, and glutamic acid substitutions similarly reduced sulfide formation.
The Past in the Present: A Cleavage Theory of Party Response to European Integration

This article explains the positions taken by national political parties on the issue of European integration over the period 1984â€“96. Based on the theory of party systems developed by Lipset and Rokkan, we develop a cleavage account of party response to new political issues. We hypothesize that European integration is assimilated into pre-existing ideologies of party leaders, activists and constituencies that reflect long-standing commitments on fundamental domestic issues.
Heart Pacemaker Wear Life Model for Psychological Health Based on Frequent Properties

Large-scale application about heart pacemaker makes researchers pay more attention to its using life and user's psychological health. In this paper, a heart pacemaker wear life model is introduced by using frequency property and a life distribution is presented. The parametric properties of the density are studied. The moment estimator with negative order is used, which is just the maximum likelihood estimator. A new method of parameter estimate, F estimate of parameter, is proposed. This method is suitable to both truncated samples and complete samples, whether or not the distribution can be transformed into a standard distribution without any parameters.
Comparative Genomic Analysis of Neutrophilic Iron(II) Oxidizer Genomes for Candidate Genes in Extracellular Electron Transfer

Extracellular electron transfer (EET) is recognized as a key biochemical process in circumneutral pH Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB). In this study, we searched for candidate EET genes in 73 neutrophilic FeOB genomes, among which 43 genomes are complete or close-to-complete and the rest have estimated genome completeness ranging from 5 to 91%. These neutrophilic FeOB span members of the microaerophilic, anaerobic phototrophic, and anaerobic nitrate-reducing FeOB groups. We found that many microaerophilic and several anaerobic FeOB possess homologs of Cyc2, an outer membrane cytochrome c originally identified in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. The “porin-cytochrome c complex” (PCC) gene clusters homologous to MtoAB/PioAB are present in eight FeOB, accounting for 19% of complete and close-to-complete genomes examined, whereas PCC genes homologous to OmbB-OmaB-OmcB in Geobacter sulfurreducens are absent. Further, we discovered gene clusters that may potentially encode two novel PCC types. First, a cluster (tentatively named “PCC3”) encodes a porin, an extracellular and a periplasmic cytochrome c with remarkably large numbers of heme-binding motifs. Second, a cluster (tentatively named “PCC4”) encodes a porin and three periplasmic multiheme cytochromes c. A conserved inner membrane protein (IMP) encoded in PCC3 and PCC4 gene clusters might be responsible for translocating electrons across the inner membrane. Other bacteria possessing PCC3 and PCC4 are mostly Proteobacteria isolated from environments with a potential niche for Fe(II) oxidation. In addition to cytochrome c, multicopper oxidase (MCO) genes potentially involved in Fe(II) oxidation were also identified. Notably, candidate EET genes were not found in some FeOB, especially the anaerobic ones, probably suggesting EET genes or Fe(II) oxidation mechanisms are different from the searched models. Overall, based on current EET models, the search extends our understanding of bacterial EET and provides candidate genes for future research.
Auctions with Resale Markets: An Application to U.S. Forest Service Timber Sales

When bidders anticipate an opportunity for resale trade, the value of winning an auction is determined in part by the option values of buying and selling in the secondary market. One implication is that a bidder's willingness to pay at an auction increases with the expected level of competition between resale buyers. Empirical evidence from auctions of timber contracts supports this prediction and rejects standard models that ignore resale. The estimated effect is smaller after policy changes expected to diminish the prevalence of resale. Additional evidence supports the predicted presence of a common value element introduced by the resale opportunity.
Tibiofemoral and Patellofemoral Kinematics After Reconstruction of an Isolated Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Background The actual in vivo tibiofemoral and patellofemoral kinematics of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)-reconstructed knee joint are unknown. Hypothesis Current single-bundle PCL reconstruction is unable to correct the abnormal tibiofemoral and patellofemoral kinematics caused by rupture of the ligament. Study Design Controlled laboratory study/case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods Seven patients with an isolated PCL injury in 1 knee and the contralateral side intact were included in the study. Magnetic resonance and dual fluoroscopic imaging techniques were used to compare the tibiofemoral and patellofemoral kinematics between the intact contralateral (control group), PCL-deficient, and PCL-reconstructed knee during physiologic loading with a single-legged lunge. Data were collected preoperatively and 2 years after single-bundle reconstruction. Results The PCL reconstruction reduced the abnormal posterior tibial translation in PCL-deficient knees to levels not significantly different from those of the intact knee. Posterior cruciate ligament deficiency resulted in an increased lateral tibial translation between 75° and 120° of flexion, and reconstruction was unable to restore these values to normal. No differences were detected among the groups in varus-valgus and internal-external rotation. The PCL reconstruction reduced the increased patellar flexion of PCL-deficient knees between 90° and 120° of knee flexion and the lateral shift at 120°. The abnormal patellar rotation and tilt seen in PCL deficiency at flexion angles of 75° and greater persisted after reconstruction. Conclusion Single-bundle PCL reconstruction was successful in restoring normal anteroposterior translation of the tibia, as well as the patellar flexion and shift. However, single-bundle PCL reconstruction was unable to achieve the same success in mediolateral translation of the tibia or in the patellar rotation and tilt. Clinical Relevance The persistent abnormal mediolateral translation of the tibia, as well as decreased patellar rotation and tilt, provide a possible explanation for the development of cartilage degeneration after reconstruction of an isolated PCL injury.
New Labour in the Global Economy: Partisan Politics and the Social Democratic Model

Drawing on a framework developed by Geoffrey Garrett in his recent book Partisan Politics in the Global Economy, I examine the ‘policy space’ that is available for the social democratic project in the United Kingdom. Garrett is optimistic about the possibilities for reformism: he emphasises the ability of an ‘encompassing’ labour movement to exchange wage restraint for reformist policies. Given the absence of such an encompassing labour movement in the United Kingdom, his conclusion apparently offers little support to those seeking reformist measures in these circumstances. I discuss three reasons why Garrett's model may still be applicable in the British context. First, social democrats may be able to offer policies desirable to capital. Second, wage moderation may be possible without the existence of an encompassing labour movement. Third, and most ambitious, it may be possible to develop an encompassing labour movement within the United Kingdom. My tentative conclusion is that a variant of the Garrett model is potentially a plausible one for a reformist party in the United Kingdom.
Use and Abuse of Authority - A Behavioral Foundation of the Employment Relation

Employment contracts give a principal the authority to decide flexibly which task his agent should execute. However, there is a tradeoff, first pointed out by Simon (1951), between flexibility and employer moral hazard. An employment contract allows the principal to adjust the task quickly to the realization of the state of the world, but he may also abuse this flexibility to exploit the agent. We capture this tradeoff in an experimental design and show that principals exhibit a strong preference for the employment contract. However, selfish principals exploit agents in one-shot interactions, inducing them to resist entering into employment contracts. This resistance to employment contracts vanishes if fairness preferences in combination with reputation opportunities keep principals from abusing their power, leading to the widespread, endogenous formation of efficient long-run employment relations. Our results inform the theory of the firm by showing how behavioral forces shape an important transaction cost of integration – the abuse of authority – and by providing an empirical basis for assessing differences between the Marxian and the Coasian view of the firm, as well as Alchian and Demsetz’s (1972) critique of the Coasian approach.
Theory and Practice for Coping with Economic Downturns at the Local Level: Part I

Introduction Local governments are stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place when it comes to coping with recessions and economic downturns. Theory and research show that they are too small to stimulate their economies (Fisher 2008; Musgrave and Musgrave 1980) and that their best course of action to weather economic storms is to maintain spending levels, increase infrastructure spending, and avoid tax increases (Fisher 1997; Marlowe 2009; Miller and Svara 2009). However, this is not a simple task for local governments—for both fiscal and political reasons— and they do not often take these actions (Chapman 2009). Legal restrictions such as tax and expenditure limitations, mandatory spending dictated by state and federal governments, and balanced budget requirements all make budgeting during economic downturns a challenging task for local governments. The difficulties created by the legal restrictions in place are exacerbated by the increased demand for public services that often accompanies economic downturns. Because of the restrictions and pressures simultaneously placed on local governments, it is important to know what best practices are suggested by the academic literature, where these practices differ from what local governments are actually doing, and which practices lead to success. This bulletin summarizes the relevant literature on strategies available to local governments during economic downturns. Additionally, it reports the results of a survey of county commissioners in California and Georgia conducted during the Great Recession. The survey provides insights on actual practices in other states and shows how county commissioners viewed the impact of the recession on their governments and how they responded to it.1
Electrostatic Discharge Ground Test of a Polar Orbit Satellite Solar Panel

The Advanced Land Observing Satellite that was launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in 2006 carries a large solar-array paddle of 22 times 3 m in polar orbit. The wake side of the solar paddle can be charged to a negative value exceeding -1000 V. Numerical simulations and laboratory experiments are carried out to investigate charging and arcing phenomena on the backside of the solar paddle that has exposed bypass diode boards and silver-Teflon thermal film. Possibility of secondary arc and surge voltage between hot and return ends of power circuit has been investigated. The authors irradiate solar-panel coupons with an electron beam to simulate charging situation near the North Pole. Surface flashover is observed once the insulator potential exceeds -7000 V. The authors have also tested charging situation near the South Pole where carbon fiber-reinforced plastics surface facing dense ionospheric plasma may arc easily once a satellite potential drops to -80 or -90 V. The solar-paddle design has been modified to increase the safety margin against arcing, and tests have been carried out to identify the strength limit under extremely harsh test environment
Interest Rate Pass-Through in Namibia

This paper examines the size and speed of the pass-through from policy interest rates to commercial bank interest rates and from commercial bank interest rates to commercial bank retail interest rates in Namibia. The study uses autoregressive distributed lag specification reparameterized as an error correction model and mean adjustment lag methods on monthly data covering the period 1998:01 to 2012:12. The results show incomplete interest rate pass-through but relatively lower in the long run in comparison with short-run pass-through for lending interest rates. However, the short-run pass-through for deposit interest rates is incomplete but moderate. Though incomplete in the long run, the coefficients are closer to one. The stickiness from policy rates to commercial bank rates is higher in the short run and lower in the long run for lending interest rates, while for deposit rate stickiness is moderate in the short run and relatively lower in the long run. The results show that there is some level of market efficiency in Namibia and in some instances interest rate pass-through is almost complete.
Unopposed interleukin-1 is necessary for increased plasma cytokine and eicosanoid levels to develop in severe sepsis.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the study was to identify the changes in plasma prostaglandin, leukotriene, and cytokine levels during clinical severe sepsis for which interleukin-1 was necessary. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Circulating prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and cytokines have been implicated as causative agents of systemic inflammation due to sepsis. However, interactions between interleukin-1 and the other cytokine and eicosanoid mediators of severe sepsis are not well-defined. METHODS As part of two sequential multisite, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials, 37 patients with severe sepsis received interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) 100-mg bolus followed by 2 mg/kg per hour intravenously for 72 hours (n = 20) or placebo (n = 17). Plasma thromboxane B2 (TxB2), prostaglandin 6-keto-F1alpha (PGI), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), leukotriene C4D4E4 (LTC4D4E4), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay before study drug infusion (baseline) and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the beginning of the study drug infusion. RESULTS Differences between placebo and IL-1ra for plasma LTB4 were not significant, but only IL-1ra LTB4 increased from baseline. Plasma TxB2, PGI, LTC4D4E4, TNF, and IL-6, expressed as % baseline, decreased significantly in patients receiving IL-1ra compared with the placebo group (p < 0.05), whereas plasma IL-1 increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS Interleukin-1 may be a necessary mediator of increased circulating PGI, TxB2, LTC4D4E4, TNF, and IL-6 levels in patients with severe sepsis. Plasma IL-1 and LTB4 are increased with infusion of IL-1 receptor antagonist. The clinical significance of IL-1 in modifying circulating eicosanoid and cytokine concentrations in clinical sepsis is not clear from the data.
Human Glucocorticoid Receptor β Regulates Gluconeogenesis and Inflammation in Mouse Liver

ABSTRACT While in vitro studies have demonstrated that a glucocorticoid receptor (GR) splice isoform, β-isoform of human GR (hGRβ), acts as a dominant-negative inhibitor of the classic hGRα and confers glucocorticoid resistance, the in vivo function of hGRβ is poorly understood. To this end, we created an adeno-associated virus (AAV) to express hGRβ in the mouse liver under the control of the hepatocyte-specific promoter. Genome-wide expression analysis of mouse livers showed that hGRβ significantly increased the expression of numerous genes, many of which are involved in endocrine system disorders and the inflammatory response. Physiologically, hGRβ antagonized GRα's function and attenuated hepatic gluconeogenesis through downregulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in wild-type (WT) mouse liver. Interestingly, however, hGRβ did not repress PEPCK in GR liver knockout (GRLKO) mice. In contrast, hGRβ regulates the expression of STAT1 in the livers of both WT and GRLKO mice. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that hGRβ binds to the intergenic glucocorticoid response element (GRE) of the STAT1 gene. Furthermore, treatment with RU486 inhibited the upregulation of STAT1 mediated by hGRβ. Finally, our array data demonstrate that hGRβ regulates unique components of liver gene expression in vivo by both GRα-dependent and GRα-independent mechanisms.