Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Managing the Low-Carbon Transition - From Model Results to Policies

Model analysis within the ADAM project has shown that achieving low greenhouse gas concentration levels, e.g. at 400ppm CO2-eq, is technologically feasible at costs of a few percent of GDP. However, models simplify the dynamics involved in implementing climate policy and the results depend on critical model assumptions such as global participation in climate policy and full availability of current and newly evolving technologies. The design of a low stabilization policy regime in the real world depends on factors that can only be partly covered by models. In this context, the paper reflects on limits of the integrated assessment models used to explore climate policy and addresses the issues of (i) how global participation might be achieved, (ii) which kind of options are available to induce deep GHG reductions inside and outside the energy sector, and (iii) which risks and which co-benefits of mitigation options are not assessed by the models.
Effect of solution viscosity on intramolecular electron transfer in sulfite oxidase.

Our previous studies have shown that the rate constant for intramolecular electron transfer (IET) between the heme and molybdenum centers of chicken liver sulfite oxidase varies from approximately 20 to 1400 s(-1) depending upon reaction conditions [Pacheco, A. , Hazzard, J. T. , Tollin, G. , and Enemark, J. H. (1999) J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. 4, 390-401]. These two centers are linked by a flexible polypeptide loop, suggesting that conformational changes, which alter the Mo-Fe distance, may play an important role in the observed IET rates. In this study, we have investigated IET in sulfite oxidase using laser flash photolysis as a function of solution viscosity. The solution viscosity was varied over the range of 1.0-2.0 cP by addition of either polyethylene glycol 400 or sucrose. In the presence of either viscosogen, an appreciable decrease in the IET rate constant value is observed with an increase in the solvent viscosity. The IET rate constant exhibits a linear dependence on the negative 0.7th power of the viscosity. Steady-state kinetics and EPR experiments are consistent with the interpretation that viscosity, and not other properties of the added viscosogens, is responsible for the dependence of IET rates on the solvent composition. The results are consistent with the role of conformational changes on IET in sulfite oxidase, which helps to clarify the inconsistency between the large rate constant for IET between the Mo and Fe centers and the long distance (approximately 32 A) between these two metal centers observed in the crystal structure [Kisker, C. , Schindelin, H. , Pacheco, A. , Wehbi, W. , Garnett, R. M. , Rajagopalan, K. V. , Enemark, J. H. , and Rees, D. C. (1997) Cell 91, 973-983].
DIVERGENT FAS-133 AND IAS-39 INTEREST RATE RISK HEDGE EFFECTIVENESS: PROBLEM AND REMEDIES

Generally, it is presumed that an interest rate swap hedge of fixed income assets and liabilities will be 100% effective. Specifically, SFAS-133.68 actualizes this effectiveness through its short-cut method (SCM) interest rate risk hedge specification. We show that this presumption is false. This negative finding leads to a severe IAS-39 implementation problem because IAS-39 explicitly precludes the SCM. Furthermore, this problem has major implications for bank (and insurance) capital requirements. We specify a series of remedies for this problem. We believe that the best remedy falls in the fine print of IAS-39.F. 5.5 guidance. In this guidance, a "theoretical swap" hedge effectiveness method, (B), effectively, provides FAS-133 SCM treatment for analogous IAS-39 interest rate risk hedges.
Degenerate T-Cell Receptor Recognition, Autoreactive Cells, and the Autoimmune Response in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the leading cause of disability in the young adult population. While the immunopathogenetic mechanisms that drive the disease have been extensively studied, the autoantigens that trigger the chronic central nervous system inflammation are still not identified. Flexibility/ degeneracy of the T-cell receptor (TCR) in antigen recognition could have a physiological role in thymic selection and the development of comprehensive TCR repertoire and protection from infections. Here, the author explores the possibility that such flexibility/degeneracy may also play a role in the induction of autoimmune diseases. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II alleles of the DR2 haplotype DR2a (DRB5*0101) and DR2b (DRB1*1501) are genes associated with an increased risk for MS in Caucasian populations. Peptide binding to the MHC molecule is a prerequisite for recognition by TCRs, whereby the CD4+ T-cell response is restricted by specific MHC class II DR molecules. To selectively expand and characterize DR2-restricted T-cells with degenerate TCR (TCRdeg), the authors designed MHC class II DR2-anchored peptide mixtures, which preferentially bind to the DR2a and DR2b antigen-presenting molecules. Peptides in these mixtures have specific amino acids in the DR2 binding positions but have randomized amino acids at all other positions of the peptide. Due to the low concentration of individual peptides in these mixtures/libraries, the authors assume that only T-cells with TCRdeg will proliferate in response to these mixtures. The authors have recently identified an increased DR2 restricted TCRdeg T-cell frequency in MS patients in comparison to healthy controls, their cross-reactivity to myelin basic protein, and the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, all of which suggest that these cells may play a role in the development of the autoimmune response in MS.
Bénéfices de santé liés à la qualité de l'environnement. Peut-on négliger les coûts privés?

Résumé Les évaluations des coûts sanitaires, réalisées jusqu'à présent en France, se basent sur les coûts « socialisés », c'est-à-dire les coûts de traitement et la perte de salaire. Or, le coût économique global de la maladie correspond à la somme du coût socialisé et du coût « privé », le coût privé représentant essentiellement le coût de la gêne. Nous montrons que, pour une évaluation complète, les méthodes du coût de la maladie et d'évaluation contingente sont parfaitement complémentaires. Nous les avons appliquées à l'évaluation des coûts liés à des pathologies bénignes dues à la pollution atmosphérique. Dans ce cas, le coût privé s'avère au moins aussi important que le coût socialisé. Négliger le coût privé entraîne une sous-estimation des coûts sanitaires, qui, dans une optique d'analyse coût-bénéfice, est susceptible d'en modifier les conclusions.
Increased Na+ and decreased Mg2+ intracellular concentrations in vascular smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats.

1. Although in blood cells decreased magnesium concentrations and increased sodium concentrations in essential hypertension have often been described, only sparse data exist on cellular magnesium or sodium content and exchange in vascular smooth muscle cells.2. Therefore in aortic smooth muscle cells from 10 spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) of the Münster strain and 10 normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) aged 3 and 8-10 months, the intracellular magnesium and sodium content was measured.3. Electron-probe X-ray microanalysis was used to determine intracellular Mg2+ and Na+ concentrations in aortic cryosections 3 micron thick. The Mg2+ content was 47+/-13 mmol/kg dry weight in SHR versus 48+/-19 mmol/kg dry weight in WKY aged 3 months, and 37+/-6 mmol/kg dry weight in SHR versus 47+/-4 mmol/kg dry weight in WKY aged 8-10 months (P<0. 05). Vascular smooth muscle Na+ content was 283+/-59 mmol/kg dry weight in WKY and 402+/-123 mmol/kg dry weight in SHR aged 3 months (P<0.05), and 289+/-17 mmol/kg dry weight in WKY versus 548+/-39 mmol/kg dry weight in SHR aged 8-10 months (P<0.05). 4. Aortic smooth muscle cells from SHR are characterized by a markedly lower intracellular Mg2+ content in 8-10-month-old animals and increased Na+ concentrations compared with normotensive cells in 3- and 8-10-month-old rats. The results may be due to genetically determined disturbances in transmembrane Mg2+ and Na+ transport. Cellular magnesium and sodium handling may be disturbed in SHR aortic smooth muscle as it is in hypertensive blood cells. In addition, it is concluded that vascular smooth muscle cell Mg2+-Na+ exchanger can be altered in a subgroup of SHR.
Aid fungibility in Assessing Aid: red herring or true concern?

This paper critically reviews Assessing Aid (World Bank, 1998), focussing on Chapter 3, which looks at public sector aspects of aid, specifically the issue of aid fungibility. Whilst Assessing Aid's focus on public sector aspects of aid is highly appropriate, it is based on a partial review of the literature and draws conclusions not entirely supported by the literature. We argue that fungibility itself is not an important concern, and distracts attention from what donors can do to ensure that more of their aid is allocated to areas that they want to support. Insufficient attention is paid to how aid impacts on public sector behaviour overall and how fiscal management can be improved. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Putting a spin on Photons

The efficient conversion of photons into matter degrees of freedom is a hallmark of almost all quantum technology. Quantum communication for example relies on storing, retrieval as well as processing of photonic quantum information in matter qubits and quantum sensing is greatly facilitated by converting quantum signals into photon states. The talk will describe a novel matter-photon interface based on defects in solids. Efficient spin to photon conversion and multimode optical storage as well as processing will be described. Quite intriguingly, the same spin-photon interfaces can be used for novel quantum sensors converting e.g. magnetic and electric fields or even force into photonics signals with unprecedented sensitivity.
Impairment of heart rate recovery index in autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease patients without hypertension

Abstract Background. We aimed to determine the status of the autonomic nervous system in patients with autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) who were normotensive and had normal renal function. Methods. A total of 28 normotensive ADPKD patients with normal renal function and 30 healthy control subjects consented to participate in the study. Heart rate recovery (HRR) indices were defined as the reduction in heart rate from the rate at peak exercise to the rate at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th minutes after the cessation of the exercise stress test; these results were indicated HRR1, HRR2, HRR3 and HRR5, respectively. Results. The 1st- and 2nd-minute HRR indices of patients with ADPKD were significantly lower than those of the healthy control group (27.1±7.9 vs 32.0±7.9; p=0.023 and 46.9±11.5 vs 53.0±9.0; p=0.029, respectively). Similarly, HRR indices after the 3rd and 5th minutes of the recovery period were significantly lower in patients with ADPKD when compared with indices in the control group (56.7±12.0 vs 65.1±11.2; p=0.008 and 62.5±13.8 vs 76.6±15.5; p =0.001, respectively). Conclusion. Impaired HRR index is associated with normotensive early-stage ADPKD patients. Increased renal ischemia and activation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) may contribute to impairment in the autonomic nervous system in these patients before the development of hypertension. Even if ADPKD patients are normotensive, there appears to be an association with autonomic dysfunction and polycystic kidney disease.
Impact of Beef Quality on Market Signals Transmitted by Grid Pricing

Value-based marketing is shaping cattle production; however, market signals differ dramatically depending on carcass quality. This study applies a two-stage coefficients of separate determination procedure to four regional fed cattle datasets sorted by grid value and by carcass quality attributes. Weight is the strongest signal sent when higher valued cattle and better quality cattle are sold on a grid. Quality characteristics send stronger signals when lower valued cattle and poorer quality cattle are sold on a grid. Producers of lower quality cattle can potentially gain $52 to $149 per head by improving quality and $113 to $150 per head by adding weight.
The Exchange and Enforcement of Property Rights

Our economic system, with its specialization of economic activities into separate ownership and decision units, requires both control over goods and exchange of goods if it is to cope with the diversity of wants of specialist producers. This paper is concerned with the fact that the exchange of goods and the maintenance of control over the use of goods impose costs on traders and owners. It is also concerned with the cost of govern­ment alternatives to the market place. We seek to establish both the importance and the wide role of these costs in economic life.
CUMULATIVE PROSPECT THEORY: A STUDY OF THE FARMERS' DECISION BEHAVIOR IN THE ALENTEJO DRYLAND REGION OF PORTUGAL

The mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy will change the way the European Union supports its farm sector. The new Common Agricultural Policy will be geared towards consumers, and taxpayers, while giving farmers the freedom to produce what the market wants. In the future, the majority of the subsidies will be paid independentlty from the volume of production. To avoid abandonment of production, Member States may choose to maintain a limited link between subsidy and production under well conditions and within clear limits. These new "single farm payment" will be linked to the respect of environmental, food safety and animal welfare standards. Severing the link between subsidies and production will make farmers more competitive and market oriented, while providing the necessary income stability. As the subsidy becomes a common component of all the alternatives of decision, the farmer will segregate that common component of the problem in the edition phase, starting to make decisions with base in negative results, what can determine the abandonment of the farming activity. This research work intends to know, to characterize and to identify the farmers' behavior in the Alentejo dryland region of Portugal, when they face to the emerging reality of the new Common Agricultural Policy. The Cumulative Prospect Theory allows to model the farmers' behavior, because besides defining that the results are appraised in agreement with variations in relation to the initial wealth, this theory treats in a differentiated way gains and losses. The value functions and the weighting probabilities are elicited by the Trade-off and Certainty Equivalent methods for a group of farmers in the Alentejo dryland region. These functions will constitute the objective function of a discrete sequential stochastic programming model, whose restrictions describe the crop and livestock farms in their productive, financial, commercial and taxes components. Model results show that the introduction of the total decoupling payments leads to the abandonment of the crop production in the Alentejo dryland region and an increase of the livestock production in the natural pastures. The crop farms stop producing, except the farms that have good soils continue to produce, although these farms do not produce durum wheat and they start to produce barley and oats. With respect to the beef cattle farms, these farms maintain the number of cattle heads, they increase the pasture and forage areas and they substitute durum wheat for oats and barley. The sheep farms reduce the number of cattle heads drastically and they substitute durum wheat for barley and oats.
The Iroquois Homeobox Gene Irx2 Is Not Essential for Normal Development of the Heart and Midbrain-Hindbrain Boundary in Mice

ABSTRACT The Iroquois homeobox (Irx) genes have been implicated in the specification and patterning of several organs in Drosophila and several vertebrate species. Misexpression studies of chick, Xenopus, and zebra fish embryos have demonstrated that Irx genes are involved in the specification of the midbrain-hindbrain boundary. All six murine Irx genes are expressed in the developing heart, suggesting that they might possess distinct functions during heart development, and a role for Irx4 in normal heart development has been recently demonstrated by gene-targeting experiments. Here we describe the generation and phenotypic analysis of an Irx2-deficient mouse strain. By targeted insertion of a lacZ reporter gene into the Irx2 locus, we show that lacZ expression reproduces most of the endogenous Irx2 expression pattern. Despite the dynamic expression of Irx2 in the developing heart, nervous system, and other organs, Irx2-deficient mice are viable, are fertile, and appear to be normal. Although chick Irx2 has been implicated in the development of the midbrain-hindbrain region, we show that Irx2-deficient mice develop a normal midbrain-hindbrain boundary. Furthermore, Irx2-deficient mice have normal cardiac morphology and function. Functional compensation by other Irx genes might account for the absence of a phenotype in Irx2-deficient mice. Further studies of mutant mice of other Irx genes as well as compound mutant mice will be necessary to uncover the functional roles of these evolutionarily conserved transcriptional regulators in development and disease.
Ultrastructural localization of estrogen receptor β immunoreactivity in the rat hippocampal formation

Several lines of evidence indicate that estrogen affects hippocampal synaptic plasticity through rapid nongenomic mechanisms, possibly by binding to plasma membrane estrogen receptors (ERs). We have previously shown that ERα immunoreactivity (ir) is in select interneuron nuclei and in several extranuclear locations, including dendritic spines and axon terminals, within the rat hippocampal formation (Milner et al., [ 2001 ] J Comp Neurol 429:355). The present study sought to determine the cellular and subcellular locations of ERβ‐ir. Coronal hippocampal sections from diestrus rats were immunolabeled with antibodies to ERβ and examined by light and electron microscopy. By light microscopy, ERβ‐ir was primarily in the perikarya and proximal dendrites of pyramidal and granule cells. ERβ‐ir was also in a few nonprincipal cells and scattered nuclei in the ventral subiculum and CA3 region. Ultrastructural analysis revealed ERβ‐ir at several extranuclear sites in all hippocampal subregions. ERβ‐ir was affiliated with cytoplasmic organelles, especially endomembranes and mitochondria, and with plasma membranes primarily of principal cell perikarya and proximal dendrites. ERβ‐ir was in dendritic spines, many arising from pyramidal and granule cell dendrites. In both dendritic shafts and spines, ERβ‐ir was near the perisynaptic zone adjacent to synapses formed by unlabeled terminals. ERβ‐ir was in preterminal axons and axon terminals, associated with clusters of small, synaptic vesicles. ERβ‐labeled terminals formed both asymmetric and symmetric synapses with dendrites. ERβ‐ir also was detected in glial profiles. The cellular and subcellular localization of ERβ‐ir was generally similar to that of ERα, except that ERβ was more extensively found at extranuclear sites. These results suggest that ERβ may serve primarily as a nongenomic transducer of estrogen actions in the hippocampal formation. J. Comp. Neurol. 491:81–95, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Antidepressants and driver impairment: empirical evidence from a standard on-the-road test.

BACKGROUND AND METHOD The current review summarizes the major results from all published studies from 1983 to 2000 (9 double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled studies in healthy volunteers and 1 double-blind, baseline-controlled study in patients) that have determined the effects of antidepressants on actual driving performance using a standard test. That test measures driving impairment from vehicular "weaving" (i.e., standard deviation of lateral position [SDLP]) during 1 hour of on-the-road driving in normal traffic. RESULTS Changes in SDLP after acute doses of sedating antidepressants (i.e., amitriptyline, imipramine, doxepin, and mianserin) were comparable to those seen in drivers conducting the same test with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.8 mg/mL or more. Driving performance of subjects returned to placebo levels after 1 week of treatment, except after treatment with mianserin, for which the impairing effect lasted unabated over treatment. Nocturnal doses of sedating antidepressants (i.e., dothiepin, mianserin, and mirtazapine), however, did not produce residual driving impairment when measured the next day. Nonsedating antidepressants (i.e., moclobemide, fluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine, and nefazodone) generally did not affect SDLP. However, SDLP rose to unacceptable levels after administration of combinations of nonsedating antidepressants and benzodiazepines with incompatible pharmacokinetic profiles. Correlational analyses demonstrated that conventional tests of psychomotor performance or self-ratings of side effects did not strongly predict antidepressant effects on SDLP. Regression analysis revealed a strong linear relation between antidepressant effects in the standard driving test and the number of patients reporting somnolence in clinical trials with the same antidepressants. CONCLUSION Application of actual driving tests remains essential to conclusively defining the potential hazard of drugs for driving.
Examining consumer acceptance of green innovations using innovation characteristics: A conceptual approach

In the wake of global warming and environmental preservation, all processes and actions are now being directed along the lines of creating a greener environment. Household solar equipments are one such initiative, whereby people around the world are being encouraged to adopt green innovations even within homes. Recent emphasis is particularly along the usage of solar energy for home lighting, heating, and cooking. To achieve increased adoption of these green innovations, it is important to understand the behaviours of various factors that may influence consumers in forming favourable intentions towards such innovations. This article aims to develop a theory-based conceptual framework for examining user adoption of household solar innovations. Attributes from Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theory, Tornatzky and Klein’s meta-analysis, and Moore and Benbasat’s perceived characteristics of innovating theory will be used to design the intended framework for examining the adoption of household solar and other green innovations.
Environmental disclosure in the Brazilian electricity sector

This study aims to analyse the importance of the disclosure of ANEEL's social and environmental report to the Level of Disclosure of Environmental Information of Brazilian companies in the electricity sector in the period from 2006 to 2009. The analysis was focused on 60 companies dedicated to various activities in the value chain of the electricity industry. The metric totals 90 indicators, including 34 from the global reporting initiative (GRI) and 56 from the National Agency of Electrical Energy. In this research content analysis and correspondence analysis in panel were the used techniques, respectively. As data collection and analysis technique, the research used content analysis and correspondence analysis in panel techniques, respectively. Results showed a significant evolution in the disclosure level of the entities under study, as a result of ANEEL's social and environmental report disclosure. Despite the growth in the voluntary disclosure of the GRI model, it does not reach the level of disclosure resulting from the Brazilian regulatory agency's guideline.