Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulating product markets: a growing challenge for open economies – with special references to agro-food product markets

In the present phase of internationalisation, processes of social construction of product markets are under stress. On one hand, the internationalisation of production processes gives more room for manoeuvre to the producers. On the other hand, the development of scientific technologies, embedded with new risks and uncertainties, makes it difficult to control the quality of products and production processes. The drive for competitiveness in a world where only free trade arguments seem to be heard limits the willingness of individual countries to take action. International institutions have been unable to launch the international co-ordination that could have helped countries to get out of this deadlock, though they need to fight climate change and pollution as well as the pressing new environmental hazards, which are illustrated with the case of the agro-food product markets in Europe. They should foster international processes of social construction of product markets to learn how to strike a better balance between free trade and safe trade principles before it is too late.
Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 9: cytogenetic, FISH, and DNA studies

A cytogenetic survey and follow‐up studies were performed in eight cases of full, mosaic, and pseudomosaic trisomy 9 prenatally diagnosed among 36 213 prenatal samples in our department between August 1970 and July 1996. Besides conventional chromosome analysis, interphase fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) was employed. FISH turned out to be a rapid and accurate method for verification of trisomy cell lines and could provide additional information to the prenatal cytogenetic results. FISH also enables the study of uncultured specimens of amniotic fluid, not accessible for traditional cytogenetic analysis. In three cases, retrospective DNA analysis showed the supernumerary chromosome 9 to be of maternal origin. The disomic cell lines in both mosaic trisomy 9 cases showed maternal uniparental disomy. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Automatic Instrumentation Technique of Embedded Software for High Level Hardware / Software Co-Simulation

We propose an automatic instrumentation method for embedded software annotation to enable performance modeling in high level hardware/software co-simulation environments. The proposed ”cross-annotation” technique consists of extending a retargetable compiler infrastructure to allow the automatic instrumentation of embedded software at the basic block level. Thus, target and annotated native binaries are guaranteed to have isomorphic control flow graphs (CFG). The proposed method takes into account the processor-specific optimizations at the compiler level and proves to be accurate with low simulation over-
Social Security and Retirement

A critical question for Social Security policy is how program incentives affect retirement behavior. We use the wealth of new data available through the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS) to examine the impact of Social Security incentives on male retirement. We implement forward-looking models of retirement whereby individuals consider not just the incentives to work in the next year but in all future years as well. We find that such forward looking incentive measures for Social Security are significant determinants of retirement decisions. Our findings suggest that Social Security policies which increase the incentives to work at older ages can significantly reduce the exit rate of older workers from the labor force.
Exchange Rate Pass-Through When Market Share Matters

We investigate pricing to market when the exchange rate changes in cases where firms' future demands depend on their current market shares. We show that i) profit maximizing foreign firms may either raise or lower their domestic currency export prices when the domestic exchange rate appreciates temporarily (i.e. the "pass-through" from exchange rate changes to import prices may be perverse); ii) current import prices may be more sensitive to the expected future exchange rate than to the current exchange rate; iii) current import prices fall in response to an increase in uncertainty about the future exchange rate. We present evidence that suggests the behavior of expected future exchange rates may provide a clue to the puzzling behavior of U.S. import prices during the 1980s.
Intracranial heart rate detection using UWB radar

Microwave imaging is a promising technique for non-invasive imaging of brain activity. A multistatic array of body coupled antennas and single chip pulsed ultra-wideband radars should be capable of detecting local changes in cerebral blood volume, a known indicator for neural activity. As an initial verification that small changes in the cerebrovascular system can indeed be measured inside the skull, we recorded the heart rate intracranially using a single radar module and two body coupled antennas. The obtained heart rate was found to correspond to ECG measurements. To confirm that the measured signal was indeed from within the skull, we performed simulations to predict the time-of-flight of radar pulses passing through different anatomical structures of the head. Simulated time-of-flight through the brain corresponded to the measured delay of heart rate modulation in the radar signal. The detection of intracranial heart rate using microwave techniques has not previously been reported, and serves as a first proof that functional neuroimaging using radar could lie within reach.
Interaural Level Differences and Sound Source Localization for Bilateral Cochlear Implant Patients

Objectives: The aims of this study were (i) to determine the magnitude of the interaural level differences (ILDs) that remain after cochlear implant (CI) signal processing and (ii) to relate the ILDs to the pattern of errors for sound source localization on the horizontal plane. Design: The listeners were 16 bilateral CI patients fitted with MED-EL CIs and 34 normal-hearing listeners. The stimuli were wideband, high-pass, and low-pass noise signals. ILDs were calculated by passing signals, filtered by head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) to a Matlab simulation of MED-EL signal processing. Results: For the wideband signal and high-pass signals, maximum ILDs of 15 to 17 dB in the input signal were reduced to 3 to 4 dB after CI signal processing. For the low-pass signal, ILDs were reduced to 1 to 2 dB. For wideband and high-pass signals, the largest ILDs for ±15 degree speaker locations were between 0.4 and 0.7 dB; for the ±30 degree speaker locations between 0.9 and 1.3 dB; for the 45 degree speaker locations between 2.4 and 2.9 dB; for the ±60 degree speaker locations, between 3.2 and 4.1 dB; and for the ±75 degree speaker locations between 2.7 and 3.4 dB. All of the CI patients in all the stimulus conditions showed poorer localization than the normal-hearing listeners. Localization accuracy for the CI patients was best for the wideband and high-pass signals and was poorest for the low-pass signal. Conclusions: Localization accuracy was related to the magnitude of the ILD cues available to the normal-hearing listeners and CI patients. The pattern of localization errors for the CI patients was related to the magnitude of the ILD differences among loudspeaker locations. The error patterns for the wideband and high-pass signals, suggest that, for the conditions of this experiment, patients, on an average, sorted signals on the horizontal plane into four sectors—on each side of the midline, one sector including 0, 15, and possibly 30 degree speaker locations, and a sector from 45 degree speaker locations to 75 degree speaker locations. The resolution within a sector was relatively poor.
Bureaucracy and state intervention: Parkinson's Law?

Parkinson's Law is the popular idea that bureaucrats or administrators are bound to multiply. The basis for the Law was Parkinson's observation that, in some organizations, the number of administrators continued to increase even when the organization, as measured either by its output or the size of its direct labour force, was declining. This paper first considers two popular explanations of this phenomenon: the political monopoly model and the model of bureaucrats as budget maximizers. The authors show that neither of these theories is capable of providing a satisfactory explanation of Parkinson's observations. They then outline a new and more general theory of bureaucracy, in which bureaucrats maximize power, not by maximizing budgets, but by accumulating the loyalty of their subordinates and that of interest groups and the media. The paper then shows that this model does provide a consistent and indeed commonsense explanation of Parkinson's observations. All declining organizations might be expected to become top-heavy with administrators, as Parkinson predicted, but the process need have nothing to do with bureaucratic expansionism. The paper concludes by stressing the important policy implications of Parkinson's Law for the rational administration of government in an era of declining budgets. Sommaire. Selon une conception populaire, les bureaucrates ou les administrateurs sont regis par la loi de Parkinson: ils tendent a se multiplier. Cette loi decoule de l'observation de Parkinson suivant laquelle, dans certaines organisations, le nombre des administrateurs continue a augmenter meme lorsque la taille de l'organisation, mesuree par sa production ou par l'importance de sa main-d'oeuvre directe, diminue. Nous considerons deux explications populaires de ce phenomene: le modele du monopole politique et celui des bureaucrates maximiscurs de budgets. Nous montrons que ni l'une ni l'autre de ces theories est capable d'expliquer de facon satisfaisante les observations de Parkinson. Nous offrons done une nouvelle theorie, plus generale, de la bureaucratic, d'apres laquelle les bureaucrates maximisent le pouvoir et non les budgets, en accumulant la loyaute de leurs subordonnes, celle des groupes impliques et celle des media. Nous demontrons ensuite que ce modele fournit une explication coherente et en fait logique, des observations de Parkinson. Nous nous attendons a ce que toutes les organisations en perte de vitesse aient une quantite disproportionnee d'administrateurs, comme l'a predit Parkinson, mais ce processus n'a rien a voir avec l'expansionnisme bureaucratique. Nous concluons cet article en insistant sur les consequences importantes de la loi de Parkinson pour l'administration rationnelle du gouvernement en periode de restrictions budgetaires. ‘Work expands to fill the time available for its completion. ’-C. N. Parkinson.
Occurrence probability of lightning failure rates at substations in consideration of lightning stroke current waveforms

To estimate lightning stroke overvoltages exactly, the occurrence probability of lightning stroke current waveforms must be accurately evaluated. This paper firstly formulated the occurrence probability distribution of lightning stroke current waveforms, taking into account the correlation between the current amplitude and the front duration. Next, lightning overvoltages were calculated, with the current amplitude and the front duration of lightning current as statistical parameters for Gas Insulated Switchgears (GIS's) and transformers in UHV substations. While overvoltages caused by back-flashovers at GIS's are affected by the front duration of lightning current, overvoltages at transformers are relatively less dependent on the front duration. Finally the failure rate was evaluated by considering not only the current amplitude but also the front duration. These values were smaller than those evaluated from the frequency of occurrence of current amplitude alone. Further, the proposed front duration of 1.7 μs was examined.
Gut commensal microvesicles reproduce parent bacterial signals to host immune and enteric nervous systems

Ingestion of a commensal bacteria, Lactobacillus rhamnosus JB‐1, has potent immunoregulatory effects, and changes nerve‐dependent colon migrating motor complexes (MMCs), enteric nerve function, and behavior. How these alterations occur is unknown. JB‐1 microvesicles (MVs) are enriched for heat shock protein components such as chaperonin 60 heat‐shock protein isolated from Escherichia coli (GroEL) and reproduce regulatory and neuronal effects in vitro and in vivo. Ingested labeled MVs were detected in murine Peyer's patch (PP) dendritic cells (DCs) within 18 h. After 3 d, PP and mesenteric lymph node DCs assumed a regulatory phenotype and increased functional regulatory CD4+25+Foxp3+ T cells. JB‐1, MVs, and GroEL similarly induced phenotypic change in cocultured DCs via multiple pathways including C‐type lectin receptors specific intercellular adhesion molecule‐3 grabbing non‐integrin‐related 1 and Dectin‐1, as well as TLR‐2 and ‐9. JB‐1 and MVs also decreased the amplitude of neuronally dependent MMCs in an ex vivo model of peristalsis. Gut epithelial, but not direct neuronal application of, MVs, replicated functional effects of JB‐1 on in situ patch‐clamped enteric neurons. GroEL and anti‐TLR‐2 were without effect in this system, suggesting the importance of epithelium neuron signaling and discrimination between pathways for bacteria‐neuron and ‐immune communication. Together these results offer a mechanistic explanation of how Gram‐positive commensals and probiotics may influence the host's immune and nervous systems. —Al‐Nedawi, K. , Mian, M. F. , Hossain, N. , Karimi, K. , Mao, Y. ‐K. , Forsythe, P., Min, K. K. , Stanisz, A. M. , Kunze, W. A. , Bienenstock, J. Gut commensal microvesicles reproduce parent bacterial signals to host immune and enteric nervous systems. FASEB J. 29, 684‐695 (2015). www.fasebj. org
Bicycle Commuting in Melbourne During the 2000s Energy Crisis: A Semiparametric Analysis of Intraday Volumes

Cycling is attracting renewed attention as a mode of transport in western urban environments, yet the determinants of usage are poorly understood. In this paper we investigate some of these using intraday bicycle volumes collected via induction loops located at ten bike paths in the city of Melbourne, Australia, between December 2005 and June 2008. The data are hourly counts at each location, with temporal and spatial disaggregation allowing for the impact of meteorology to be measured accurately for the first time. Moreover, during this period petrol prices varied dramatically and the data also provide a unique opportunity to assess the cross-price elasticity of demand for cycling. Over-dispersed Poisson regression models are used to model volumes at each location and at each hour of the day. Seasonality and the impact of weather conditions are modelled as semiparametric and estimated using recently developed multivariate penalized spline methodology. Unlike previous studies that use aggregate data, the empirical results show a substantial meteorological and seasonal component to usage. They also suggest there was substitution into cycling as a mode of transport in response to increases in petrol prices, particularly during peak commuting periods and by commuters originating in wealthy and inner city neighbourhoods. Last, we extend the approach to a multivariate longitudinal count data model using a Gaussian copula estimated by Bayesian data augmentation. We find first order serial dependence in the hourly volumes and a ‘return trip’ effect in daily bicycle commutes.
Democracy and Arab political culture

It is a triumph of analysis and scholarship . Democracy and Arab Political Culture is sweeping in range and succinct in style: it is a tour de force. The Times Political Studies, Vol 44, No 1, March 96 "Elegantly written . stated energetically and with an extreme self-confidence. " Dialogue "A short, concise but none the less authoritative monograph . Elie Kedourie is one of the masters of modern Middle Eastern history.
Anatomy of a New Ethnic Settlement: The Chinese Ethnoburb in Los Angeles

This paper proposes a new model of ethnic settlement, the ethnoburb. Ethnoburbs are suburban ethnic clusters of residential areas and business districts in large American metropolitan areas. They are multi-ethnic communities, in which one ethnic minority group has a significant concentration, but does not necessarily comprise a majority. The paper operationalises the ethnoburb model via an analysis of the demographic profiles and socioeconomic characteristics of the ethnoburban Chinese population in Los Angeles in order to understand the ethnoburb's role as a global economic outpost. This analysis also highlights social stratification by country of origin, and the micro-geographies of neighbourhood and workplace, features which reveal the ethnoburb's character as an urban mosaic.
Value-driven customer share of visits

This study sought to verify the effect of perceived value on customer share of visits (CSOV) in a full-service restaurant context, using a dimension-level value approach and positing customer satisfaction and brand preference as mediators between them. The conceptual model of this study was tested based on responses from 288 general US full-service restaurant customers. This study found that among four value dimensions, excellence (in food and service) and customer return on investment had dominant effects on customer satisfaction and brand preference, whereas playfulness had a significant moderate effect only on brand preference; aesthetic appeals did not have significant effects on either. Affected by perceived value, customer satisfaction significantly enhanced brand preference and in turn brand preference contributed to CSOV and fully mediated the effect of customer satisfaction on CSOV. In essence, the findings highlight the significant antecedent role of perceived value in customers' satisfaction and brand preference formation and the pivotal role of customer brand preference in customers' purchase decision process.
The model of the absorption of innovative technologies in the financial services sector

The considerations contained in the article are based on the assumption that innovative technologies absorption as a way to improve a company's technological potential conditions the value of the company's market offer and becomes one of the key instruments of building its competitiveness. Their absorptive potential, in turn, impacts the level of the effectiveness of undertaken technology transfers. Taking into account the significance of the issue of technology absorption, the article seeks to analyse the subject literature and the results of empirical research with a view to designating framework conditions that need to be provided by companies to be capable of absorbing effectively innovative technologies from the environment, which enables them to succeed on the market. In particular, it is intended to identify the most essential stages in the process of technology absorption, the key constituents of absorptive potential as well as internal and external stimulants that create an environment friendly for the realisation of absorption potential.
An Exploration of the Differences in National Growth: Some Implications for Future Environmental Policy

This paper examines the role of energy in long-term growth. The authors estimate a translog production function in capital, labour, and energy, using data on 38 countries from 1965-1990. It is found that separating the countries into two groups, the high growth group and the rest of the world (ROW), yields slope coefficients that are statistically different. Furthermore, there are dramatic differences in the estimated production elasticities, returns to scale, and bias in technical change for the two country groups. Based on the estimated coefficients, the authors approximate the contributions ofthe factors ofproduction in explaining the observed growth in real GDP through a growth accounting exercise. Energy emerges as an important source of growth for both country groups, second only to increases in total factor productivity. In light ofthe negotiations over a Protocol to the Climate Change Convention, the authors estimate the capital and labour requirements for national energy reductions. Finally, the authors use the production function to provide analytical expressions for the elasticity of energy intensity with respect to other factor inputs, and also for autonomous energy efficiency improvements (AEEI). It is found that the deceleration ofthe AEEI in the ROW countries more than offsets the combined acceleration witnessed in Hong Kong, South Korea, and Thailand. -
The growth, equity, and risk implications of different retirement income policies

This paper evaluates four retirement income policies that could be adopted in response to increasing longevity in terms of their marginal effects on economic performance, equity, and risk. Compared to three alternative save-as-you-go funded retirement income policies (voluntary saving, a prefunded government superannuation scheme, or a supplementary mandatory saving scheme), a pay-as-you-go funded expansion of New Zealand Superannuation has disadvantages for all generations except currently middle-aged people. The other schemes provide different trade-offs between risk, economic growth, and equity. This paper considers arguments for the use of structured savings schemes in addition to New Zealand Superannuation.
Implied volatility formula of European Power Option Pricing

We derive the implied volatility estimation formula in European power call options pricing, where the payoff functions are in the form of $V=(S^{\alpha}_T-K)^{+}$ and $V=(S^{\alpha}_T-K^{\alpha})^{+}$ ($\alpha>0$)respectively. Using quadratic Taylor approximations, We develop the computing formula of implied volatility in European power call option and extend the traditional implied volatility formula of Charles J.Corrado, et al (1996) to general power option pricing. And the Monte-Carlo simulations are also given.
Development and Validation of a High-Content Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation Assay for Small-Molecule Inhibitors of HIV-1 Nef Dimerization

Nef is a human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) accessory factor essential for viral pathogenesis and AIDS progression. Many Nef functions require dimerization, and small molecules that block Nef dimerization may represent antiretroviral drug leads. Here we describe a cell-based assay for Nef dimerization inhibitors based on bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC). Nef was fused to nonfluorescent, complementary fragments of yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) and coexpressed in the same cell population. Dimerization of Nef resulted in juxtaposition of the YFP fragments and reconstitution of the fluorophore. For automation, the Nef-YFP fusion proteins plus a monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP) reporter were expressed from a single vector, separated by picornavirus “2A” linker peptides to permit equivalent translation of all three proteins. Validation studies revealed a critical role for gating on the mRFP-positive subpopulation of transfected cells, as well as use of the mRFP signal to normalize the Nef-BiFC signal. Nef-BiFC/mRFP ratios resulting from cells expressing wild-type versus dimerization-defective Nef were very clearly separated, with Z factors consistently in the 0.6 to 0.7 range. A fully automated pilot screen of the National Cancer Institute Diversity Set III identified several hit compounds that reproducibly blocked Nef dimerization in the low micromolar range. This BiFC-based assay has the potential to identify cell-active small molecules that directly interfere with Nef dimerization and function.