Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential roles for NSF and GRIP/ABP in AMPA receptor cycling

α-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid receptor (AMPAR) stability and movement at synapses are important factors controlling synaptic strength. Here, we study the roles of proteins [N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein (NSF), glutamate receptor AMPAR binding protein (ABP)-interacting protein (GRIP)/(ABP), and protein interacting with C-kinase-1 (PICK1) that interact with the GluR2 subunit in the control of the surface expression and cycling of AMPARs. Epitope-tagged GluR2 formed functional receptors that exhibited targeting to synaptic sites. Constructs in which binding to NSF, PDZ proteins (GRIP/ABP and PICK1), or GRIP/ABP alone was eliminated each exhibited normal surface targeting and constitutive cycling. The lack of NSF binding, however, resulted in receptors that were endocytosed to a greater extent than wild-type receptors in response to application of AMPA or N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA). Conversely, the behavior of the GluR2 mutants incapable of binding to GRIP/ABP suggests that these PDZ proteins play a role in the stabilization of an intracellular pool of AMPARs that have been internalized on stimulation, thus inhibiting their recycling to the synaptic membrane. These results provide further evidence for distinct functional roles of GluR2-interacting proteins in AMPAR trafficking.
Trading Mechanisms and Stock Returns: An Empirical Investigation

This paper examines the effects of the mechanism by which securities are traded on their price behavior. We compare the behavior of open-to-open and close-to-close returns on NYSE stocks, given the differences in execution methods applied in the opening and closing transactions. Opening returns are found to exhibit greater dispersion, greater deviations from normality and a more negative and significant autocorrelation pattern than closing returns. We study the effects of the bid-ask spread and the price-adjustment process on the estimated return variances and covariances and discuss the associated biases. We conclude that the trading mechanism has a significant effect on stock price behavior.
No pills for poor people

The recent amendment to the Patent Act, 1970 brings India into full compliance with its obligations under the Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights agreement, in particular allowing for product patents in the area of pharmaceuticals and agri-chemicals. This amendment, the third to the 1970 Act, was characterised by a relatively muted rhetoric and a remarkable level of shared consensus amongst campaigners and critics. Focusing largely on domestic compulsions, as opposed to the global, the paper explores whether the shared consensus sets too narrow an agenda for patent reform. The paper suggests that the limits to implementing TRIPs are equally on account of ambivalence within the government with respect to intellectual property and the changing self-interest of sections of Indian pharma. Thus, despite a favourable international climate in the area of intellectual property (read Seattle, Doha and Cancun), patent reform in India has been doubly constrained by the narrow agenda and domestic factors.
Building high performance employment relationships in small firms

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to present research into the employment relationship in small firms and to examine its link to high performance. A psychological contract framework is adopted, it being argued that this supports a more nuanced analysis than existing perspectives on the small firm employment relationship which are limited and do not give sufficient insight into performance issues.Design/methodology/approach – The paper employs a case study approach, carrying out 41 interviews involving both owner managers and employees in three firms. A critical incident technique (CIT) is adopted in the interviews.Findings – The paper finds that high performance derives from a relational psychological contract and that transactional contracts impact negatively on performance. It is also demonstrated that, contrary to what is implied in much of the existing small firm literature, small firms are capable of building relational contracts.Research limitations – The research in this paper is drawn from a s.
Comprehensive Review on Colorectal Cancer and Transplant

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy worldwide. Some studies suggest that organ recipients are at a higher risk for CRC than the general population. The underlying transplant indications and their inherent risk factors for CRC may drive the variation in incidence rates that are seen in patients receiving different allografts. Recipients with cystic fibrosis are now recognized as a population at high risk for CRC at a young age. Transplant recipients have high mortality following a CRC diagnosis, even if it is detected at an early stage. Certain types of immunosuppression have been shown to accelerate cancer transformation and may contribute to the more aggressive phenotype seen in organ recipients. Given the high incidence and progressive nature of posttransplant CRC, shorter screening intervals with a modality that can detect early‐stage polyps may be essential to prevent mortality. Future research is needed to better elucidate the role of immunosuppression in carcinogenesis. This comprehensive review examines CRC risk, screening, and management specific to organ transplant candidates and recipients.
The chemokine‐binding protein encoded by the poxvirus orf virus inhibits recruitment of dendritic cells to sites of skin inflammation and migration to peripheral lymph nodes

Orf virus (ORFV) is a zoonotic parapoxvirus that induces acute pustular skin lesions in sheep and humans. ORFV can reinfect its host and the discovery of several secreted immune modulatory factors that include a chemokine‐binding protein (CBP) may explain this phenomenon. Dendritic cells (DC) are professional antigen presenting cells that induce adaptive immunity and their recruitment to sites of infection in skin and migration to peripheral lymph nodes is critically dependent on inflammatory and constitutive chemokine gradients respectively. Here we examined whether ORFV‐CBP could disable these gradients using mouse models. Previously we established that ORFV‐CBP bound murine inflammatory chemokines with high affinity and here we show that this binding spectrum extends to constitutive chemokines CCL19 and CCL21. Using cell‐based chemotaxis assays, ORFV‐CBP inhibited the movement of both immature and mature DC in response to these inflammatory and constitutive chemokines respectively. Moreover in C57BL/6 mice, intradermally injected CBP potently inhibited the recruitment of blood‐derived DC to lipopolysaccharide‐induced sites of skin inflammation and inhibited the migration of ex vivo CpG‐activated DC to inguinal lymph nodes. Finally we showed that ORFV‐CBP completely inhibited T responsiveness in the inguinal lymph nodes using intradermally injected DC pulsed with ovalbumin peptide and transfused transgenic T cells.
Network externality : an uncommon tragedy

Economists have defined 'network externality' and have examined putative inframarginal market failures associated with it. This paper distinguishes between network effects and network externalities, where the latter are market failures. The authors argue that while network effects are important, network externalities are theoretically fragile and empirically undocumented. Some network externalities are merely pecuniary. Network ownership or transactions among network participants can internalize some network effects. The type of market failure that has been associated with these externalities is a transition problem that has little to do with externality.
Antigen Presentation by the CD4 Positive Monocyte Subset

Although CD4 antigen is expressed on monocytes (MØ), its functional role is uncharacterized. In this study, isolated human MØ were separated into CD4+ and CD4‐ MØ subsets and assessed for presentation of tetanus toxoid. The CD4‐ MØ subset had decreased antigen presenting cell (APC) capacity as well as increased PGE2 production when compared to the CD4+ MØ subset. Addition of a cyclo‐oxygenase inhibitor (Indo‐methacin) did not restore the CD4‐ MØ subset's APC capacity to that of the similarly treated CD4+ MØ subset, eliminating differential PGE2 production as the primary cause of differential APC capacity. Production of monokines such as IL‐1 and plasminogen activator, which affect APC capacity, was similar in the CD4 MØ subsets. However, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production (IFNγ plus MDP‐induced) of the CD4+ MØ subset was slightly greater than that of the CD4‐ MØ. CD4‐ MØ's lower APC capacity is not totally explained by their differential IL‐1, TNF, or PGE2 production.
Typhoid fever: pathogenesis and immunologic control.

TYPHOID fever is a disease unique to man. No other animal species acquires an illness simulating typhoid fever after oral ingestion of the organism. This lack of a suitable experimental animal has hindered the acquisition of knowledge on pathogenesis and control. This presentation will summarize the experience gained in the study of healthy volunteers infected with typhoid bacilli. The purpose of these ongoing investigations has been to develop better methods of prevention and control of disease. The primary objective has been the quantitative evaluation of experimental and conventional vaccines. Such studies have permitted a careful analysis of pathogenesis. Typhoid vaccine .
Total Factor Productivity Growth and its Determinants for West Bengal Agriculture

The present study is concerned with the measurement of total factor productivity growth (TFPG) using the non-parametric approach for seven major crops--aus, aman, boro, jute, wheat, rapeseed-mustard, and potato--in West Bengal, from 1980 to 2003. TFPG is decomposed into the components of technical change, efficiency change, and scale change. A second stage regression analysis highlights the favorable role of factors (i.e., public expenditure, credit, irrigation, regulated markets, and inequality reduction in the distribution of operational land holdings) in fostering TFPG.
The service quality of e-banks: an exploratory study

This study develops a model for measuring the service quality of e-banks. Our model's seven factors are very consistent with the four core factors of the generic e-SERVQUAL model, but less consistent with its three non-core factors. Appearances and staff qualities, being new factors identified in this study, should be useful to e-bank management because they are factors uniquely relevant for e-bank customers. The seven factors emerged from a content analysis of comments made by consumers about their e-banking experiences.
Integrin-Mediated Mechanotransduction in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells: Frequency and Force Response Characteristics

Blood vessels are continuously exposed to mechanical forces that lead to adaptive remodeling and atherosclerosis. Although there have been many studies characterizing the responses of vascular cells to mechanical stimuli, the precise mechanical characteristics of the forces applied to cells to elicit these responses are not clear. We designed a magnetic exposure system capable of producing a defined normal force on ferromagnetic beads that are specifically bound to cultured cells coated with extracellular matrix proteins or integrin-specific antibodies. Rat aortic smooth muscle cells were incubated with engineered fibronectin–coated ferromagnetic beads and then exposed to a magnetic field. With activation of extracellular signal–regulated mitogen-activated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2MAPK) used as a prototypical marker for cell responsiveness to mechanical forces, Western blot analysis demonstrated an increase in phosphorylated ERK 1/2MAPK expression reaching a maximal response of a 3.5-fold increase at a total force of ≈2.5 pN per cell. The peak response occurred after 5 minutes of exposure and slowly decreased to baseline after 30 minutes. A cyclic, rather than static, force was required for this activation, and the frequency-response curve increased ≈2-fold between 0.5 and 2.0 Hz. Vitronectin- and &bgr;3 antibody–coated beads showed a response nearly identical to those coated with engineered fibronectin, whereas forces applied to beads coated with &agr;2 and &bgr;1 antibodies did not significantly activate ERK 1/2MAPK. Mechanical activation of the ERK 1/2MAPK system in rat aortic smooth muscle cells occurs through specific integrin receptors and requires a cyclic force with a magnitude estimated to be in the piconewton range.
Employers' attitudes, practices and policies towards older workers

Despite policy emphasis on the importance of older workers (i.e. those aged 50 and above) to current and future labour markets, relatively little is known about the ways in which employers' attitudes, policies and practices influence their recruitment and retention. Drawing upon previous work by Taylor and Walker, this article reports qualitative research among employers across Scotland, which sought to investigate further the relationships between employers' policies, practices and attitudes towards older workers. The findings indicate a complex set of relationships, and challenge the simplistic causal link between attitudes and practice. The conclusions discuss the implications of these findings for the future employment of older workers, and assess the extent to which the forthcoming age discrimination legislation in the UK is likely to tackle discriminatory attitudes, practices and policies.
Economic growth and social indicators: The case of Taiwan

The paper analyzes selected social indicators to determine whether people in Taiwan have become better or worse off during the process of economic growth. The authors find that residents in Taiwan experienced better education, more political freedom, better health care, better nutrition, more welfare programs and benefits, greater home ownership, improved environment, more income inequality, more crimes, more traffic congestion, and more divorces. Therefore, economic growth brought mixed outcomes in social development. The impacts of the recent change in the regime on economic growth, federal budget, domestic and overseas investment spending, employment, the financial market, corruption and bribery, and social justice may deserve further study.
Generalization of search state equivalence for automatic test pattern generation

We present a generalization of the equivalent search state (EST) approach for test generation. A search state represents the current search status based on prior search decisions. The generalized EST identifies 56% more previously-searched decision spaces than its predecessor on the 1985 ISCAS benchmarks. We present the enabling theorem with a proof, results and an example for sequential circuit test generation.
The news model of asset price determination – an empirical examination of the Danish football club Brøndby IF

According to the news model of asset price determination, only the unexpected component of an information should drive the stock price. We use the Danish publicly listed football club Brøndby IF to analyse how match outcome impacts the stock price. To disentangle gross news from net news, betting odd information is used to control for the expected match outcome.
Aspectos macroeconomicos del pensamiento de Alfred Marshall: Teoria monetaria

RESUMEN Alfred Marshall ha pasado a la historia de la teoría económica como maestro en el campo microeconómico. Sus aportaciones a las teorías del valor, la demanda, la oferta, la distribución o la organización industrial han eclipsado otras, no menos significativas, a las teorías del dinero, los ciclos, o del comercio internacional. El presente trabajo quiere recoger algunas de esas contribuciones, si bien se centra en su teoría monetaria que, formulada por encima de intereses prácticos o de política, ha resultado ser un eslabón esencial en la trasmisión de la teoría monetaria que ha llegado hasta nuestros días. ABSTRACT Alfred Marshall has long been recognized as an important figure in the development of rigorous microeconomic theory. His contributions to the theories of value, demand, supply, distribution and industrial organization have often overshadowed his other, no less significant, contributions to theories of money, business cycles, and international trade. This paper concentrates on Marshall's influence on monetary dieory, which carries forward to this day, and argues diat his theory of money did not arise from his role as an adviser to the British Parliament.
An evaluation of the decline in goods inflation

Over the past decade, the worldwide average for inflation has plummeted from 30 percent to 4 percent. For many countries, especially those starting out with high inflation rates, falling inflation has been desirable. But the experiences of other countries have raised the question of whether inflation can be too low. In some economies, inflation has dipped to levels that risk disruption of the normal functioning of the economy. ; In the United States, many commentaries on the potential for deflation have noted the sharp contrast between goods and services prices. Excluding food and energy, goods prices as measured by the chain price index for personal consumption expenditures (PCE) dropped 2¼ percent in 2003. Yet nonenergy services prices rose nearly 2½ percent last year. Moreover, goods inflation has fallen sharply over the past decade or so, while services inflation has declined only modestly. In 1993, PCE inflation was about ¾ percent for goods and 3¼ percent for services. ; Clark assesses whether the decline in consumer goods inflation relative to services should be cause for concern in the United States. His analysis focuses on three interrelated questions about the decline in goods inflation relative to services: Was it unusual? What caused it? And is it likely to continue? He concludes that the fall in goods inflation relative to services over the past decade is most likely a temporary phenomenon due to dollar appreciation and, to a lesser extent, increased global competition.
Strategic framework for sustainable development in the period of transition towards market economy: Critical overview of the strategy of long-term development of Serbia

This paper offers a critical analysis of the strategic framework for long-term economic development of Serbia, of the role of strategic development in the success of the transition process, and the consequences of the lack of a development strategy. The strategy of long-term economic development of Serbia, as a programme intended to designate the economic and development policy of the state, is analyzed with the aim of finding an acceptable formulation of development strategy. The authors consider various approaches and propose a strategy for Serbia in the period of transition towards market economy. They also point out that, in the period of transition from a government-planned towards a market economy, strategy should be given greater importance than in periods that do not represent turning points, because of the greater possibility of incorrect policy making, potential conflicts of interest groups, reaching sustainable development, and maximizing prosperity. The authors take into account the advantages and disadvantages of the radical and of the gradualist approach to transition and propose formulating a development strategy that would contain combined elements of plan and market mechanisms. They believe that the process of transition lacks a clear development strategy, and that the quality of the existing development strategy of Serbia until 2010 is such that it cannot be understood as a serious approach to the transition issue. The authors stress the consequences of undergoing transition without a development strategy, that include inappropriate dynamic and sequence of reforms; a lack of coordination between development policy, macroeconomic policy, market reforms, and spatial planning policy; higher costs of transition, insufficient rate of economic growth, etc. They offer proposals for a comprehensive development framework (CDF) and for strategic planning of territorial industrial development.
Differences in Hours Worked in the OECD: Institutions or Fiscal Policies?

This paper studies the determinants of the level and the evolution of per capita hours worked in a panel of OECD countries since the 1970s. Following Pesaran (Econometrica, 2006), our empirical strategy allows for the possibility of cross-sectionally correlated error terms due to unobserved common factors which are potentially non-stationary. We find that much of the variation in hours worked across countries and over time can be explained by differences in fiscal policy, i.e. differences in the level and structure of taxes and in the structure of government expenditures. Hours worked rise when labour taxes and non-employment benefits fall and when the shares of productive government expenditures and government wage consumption increase. Differences in (the evolution of) labour and product market institutions have much less of a role to play. Our results show that a careful treatment of the time-series properties of the data is crucial.
Implementing a component approach to productivity measurement in a large public service organisation

Productivity measurement efforts in the public sector are complicated by two fundamental issues: 1) the role of qualitative factors in service provision; 2) the underdevelopment of measurement culture. This paper describes and implements a new approach for measuring productivity of large public service organisations. The qualitative multiple case study utilises data obtained through interviews and action research studies. It presents the main experiences from a large and intense research and development project carried out in the City of Helsinki, Finland during 2007 to 2010. The contribution of the paper relates to two issues. First, it presents a new measurement approach. The main idea is to first develop appropriate component measures for the operative level, after which the results can be aggregated for the purposes of decision-making at upper organisational levels. Second, the study illustrates factors that facilitated the success of implementing a new measurement and management control system.
Investment, Saving, and Taxation in an Open Economy

This paper surveys the literature on the relationship between domestic saving, domestic investment and international capital flows in an open economy. It addresses two related issues which appear to conflict with the standard open economy paradigm the high correlation of domestic saving and investment, first noted by Fildstein and Horioka (1980), and the claim, made by Feldstein (1994), that 1(British pound) of outward foreign direct investment reduces domestic investment by approximately 1 (British Pound). The interpretation of these empirical results is discussed, primarily with reference to the probable impact of alternative government policies aimed at stimulating the level of domestic investment. Copyright 1996 by Oxford University Press.