Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Which incentives work and when? An experimental analysis of incentives for trainers

One conjecture in the theory of incentives is that incentives based on broader outcomes may be better at motivating agents than incentives based on narrow measures. We designed an experiment to test these hypotheses using a ""prospective randomized evaluation procedure"" (PREP). We then apply PREP to training programs as typically funded by donors of economic development assistance. We randomly assigned 274 participating entrepreneurs in the Philippines to one of 26, simultaneous, one-day, training classes in marketing. Trainers were given cash incentives based on the average score of their ""students"" on a standardized test containing an alternative number of questions, which were randomly assigned to each class. We then examined outcomes based on student satisfaction ratings of the trainer. Our results suggest that incentives based on broad outcomes are more effective than incentives based on narrow outcomes. We conclude with ways to improve our approach as well as with a discussion of the implications for using prospective randomized evaluation for improving the evaluation of donor projects.
Anthropic pollution in aquatic environment: Development of a caffeine indicator

This study aimed to evaluate the co-occurrence of caffeine and the extent of its influence front to other traditional water quality parameters (microbiological indicator data) in way to characterize it as an efficient pollution indicator of anthropogenic origin in urban aquatic environments. Caffeine is a constituent of a variety of beverages (coffee, tea and caffeinated soft drinks) and of numerous food products (chocolate, pastries and dairy desserts). Although the human body is efficient at metabolising this stimulant, between 0.5 – 10% is excreted, mostly in urine. In addition, caffeine from domestic use may find its way directly into the sewer system due to the disposal of unconsumed drinks. The analysis of samples from Leopoldina Hydrographic Basin and Guanabara Bay revealed a significant difference areas not commonly affected by nutrient enrichment or sewage inputs versus areas chronically influenced by sewage discharges. Monitoring caffeine will be fundamental in urban-stressed aquatic environments where frequent accidental ruptures of sewage lines, pump station overflows or elevated numbers of inefficient septic tank systems are common.
Microcrystalline and "micromorph" solar cells and modules: status and potential

Motivation and scope for introduction of microcrystalline silicon within thin-film silicon solar cells is described. Requirements for intrinsic layers in microcrystalline silicon solar cells are listed. The concept of a /spl mu/c-Si:H/a-Si:H or "micromorph" tandem solar cell is presented, together with factors limiting efficiency increase, and above all J/sub sc/. To increase J/sub sc/, it is necessary to increase light trapping and reduce optical absorption in contact and reflector layers. Costs associated with module production are strongly influenced by the investment for plasma deposition. To reduce costs, use of professional production equipment and deposition rate increase are critical elements. For the latter, PE-CVD with higher deposition pressures has so far been the most successful method.
Intimal Retention of Cholesterol Derived From Apolipoprotein B100– and Apolipoprotein B48–Containing Lipoproteins in Carotid Arteries of Watanabe Heritable Hyperlipidemic Rabbits

Objectives—The arterial retention of apolipoprotein (apo) B100- and apoB48-containing lipoproteins was simultaneously determined in a rabbit model of human hypercholesterolemia using 3D confocal microscopy. Methods and Results—Lipoproteins containing apoB100 (LDL) and apoB48 (chylomicron remnants) were differentially conjugated with fluorophores and simultaneously perfused at equivalent concentrations under physiological conditions in situ through carotid vessels of Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits and compared with controls. Retention of lipoproteins was defined as the amount remaining after an extensive washout phase. LDL and chylomicron remnants were both retained, primarily within the subendothelial space. Without a concomitant increase in exposure to lipoproteins, we found a marked increase in the retention of cholesterol within the intima of Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits compared with controls, specifically because of increased entrapment of apoB48-containing lipoproteins. Conclusions—Collectively, our data suggest that hypercholesterolemia induced as a consequence of LDL receptor deficiency differentially influences retention of LDL and of chylomicron remnants.
Reduced bone mineral density is not associated with significantly reduced bone quality in men and women practicing long‐term calorie restriction with adequate nutrition

Calorie restriction (CR) reduces bone quantity but not bone quality in rodents. Nothing is known regarding the long‐term effects of CR with adequate intake of vitamin and minerals on bone quantity and quality in middle‐aged lean individuals. In this study, we evaluated body composition, bone mineral density (BMD), and serum markers of bone turnover and inflammation in 32 volunteers who had been eating a CR diet (∼35% less calories than controls) for an average of 6.8 ± 5.2 years (mean age 52.7 ± 10.3 years) and 32 age‐ and sex‐matched sedentary controls eating Western diets (WD). In a subgroup of 10 CR and 10 WD volunteers, we also measured trabecular bone (TB) microarchitecture of the distal radius using high‐resolution magnetic resonance imaging. We found that the CR volunteers had significantly lower body mass index than the WD volunteers (18.9 ± 1.2 vs. 26.5 ± 2.2 kg m−2; P = 0.0001). BMD of the lumbar spine (0.870 ± 0.11 vs. 1.138 ± 0.12 g cm−2, P = 0.0001) and hip (0.806 ± 0.12 vs. 1.047 ± 0.12 g cm−2, P = 0.0001) was also lower in the CR than in the WD group. Serum C‐terminal telopeptide and bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase concentration were similar between groups, while serum C‐reactive protein (0.19 ± 0.26 vs. 1.46 ± 1.56 mg L−1, P = 0.0001) was lower in the CR group. Trabecular bone microarchitecture parameters such as the erosion index (0.916 ± 0.087 vs. 0.877 ± 0.088; P = 0.739) and surface‐to‐curve ratio (10.3 ± 1.4 vs. 12.1 ± 2.1, P = 0.440) were not significantly different between groups. These findings suggest that markedly reduced BMD is not associated with significantly reduced bone quality in middle‐aged men and women practicing long‐term calorie restriction with adequate nutrition.
Perceptions Toward Downtown: Surveying City Managers in Smaller Texas Towns

2 Chapter One: Project Introduction Perceived Need . 4 Purpose . 5 Chapter Organization . 6 Chapter Two: Fundamental Elements of Downtown Revitalization Category One: Infrastructure . 7 Category Two: Leadership . 8 Category Three: Multi-Functionality . 12 Category Four: Implementation Tools . 15 Chapter Three: Challenges of Downtown Revitalization Category One: Infrastructure . 20 Category Two: Leadership . 21 Category Three: Multi-Functionality . 22 Category Four: Implementation Tools . 24 Chapter Four: Setting Texas cities: legal definitions . 27 The City Manager . 28 The General Setting for Downtown Revitalization in Texas . 30 Chapter Five: Methodology and Conceptual Framework/Operationalization Conceptual Framework . 32 Methodology and Techniques . 40 Data Sources and Sample . 42 Issues . 44 Chapter Six: Results Introduction . 45 Fundamental Elements . 46 Challenges . 56 Individual Experiences . 60 Chapter Seven: Conclusions and Recommendations . 64 Chapter Eight: Appendix Bibliography . 70 Raw Data . 74 Survey . 79 Interview questions . 86
Mechanisms that produce rapid damage to myofilaments of amphibian skeletal muscle

The system causing myofilament damage is separate from the phospholipase A2 pathway, Ca activation of which ultimately causes sarcolemma breakdown in muscle cells. Mitochondrial agents cause myofilament damage in saponin‐skinned frog pectoris cutaneous muscle when [Ca] = 0. There are parallels with other systems that generate oxygen radicals. However, a variety of protectors against oxygen radicals, or anoxia, failed to protect; Ca‐activated damage was not augmented by diethylthicarbamate, nor was it accompanied by a respiratory burst. Thus, there is no firm evidence implicating oxygen radicals in myofilament damage. Thiol‐oxidizing agents cause contraction damage in skinned muscle that resembles the quasirigor induced in myosin by N‐ethylmaleimide. Activation of transmembrane dehydrogenases and electron flow produced damage and increased Ca sensitivity in skinned muscle, and it is suggested that this enzyme system may be implicated in characteristic damage to the myofilaments via redox cycling and modification of sulphydryl groups; its possible location on the sarcoplasmic reticulum is discussed.
Characterizing Value and Growth Investing in Institutional Portfolios

Using a unique money manager database that allows managers to identify their own investment styles, we examine 4,754 non mutual fund value- and growth-oriented portfolios over the period 1999-2003. Consistent with style definitions, we find that on average, growth funds have price-earnings ratios, price-to-book ratios and earnings growth rates that are twice as large as those for value funds. We find that large and mid-cap value funds hold stocks of companies with significantly higher financial leverage than those held by growth funds. We measure style adherence relative to Russell indexes as well as the funds’ own benchmarks, and find that large cap funds tend to stay closer to their own benchmarks
How changes in managers’ sensemaking influence a strategic change : strategizing in a private equity context

The study builds on the belief that change has become a normal state of affairs in business life, and that one highly contemporary actor – the private equity firm – has evolved to become specialized in change through repetitively changing its portfolio firms in its quest to generate value. The quest of reshaping a portfolio firm in order to optimize its strategic position, profitability, and financial structure in order to generate value has consequently been this study’s starting point.This dissertation presents how sensemaking, which is about the interplay of action and interpretation, changes over time and how it affects the strategic change of a portfolio firm. By studying and directly observing the communication and interaction between the portfolio firms’s CEO, board, and management team in real-time during a prolonged period when change occurs at a revolutionary pace, this dissertation seeks to examine the development and influence of this sensemaking.The study demonstrates how certain traits of private equity firms influence the timeline, risk profile, and governance of strategic change, how the presence of an idiosyncratic language influences the strategic change by transcending one mindset into a diametrically opposed ditto, and how the materialization of a mental iron cage affects the boundaries of the potential changes as well as adaptations and worldviews.
Globalization, FDI and employment in Vietnam

The article considers the impact of foreign direct investment on employment in Viet Nam, a country that received considerable inflows of foreign capital in the 1990s as part of its increased integration with the global economy. Despite the significant share of foreign firms in industrial output and exports, the direct employment generated has been very limited because of the high labour productivity and low ratio of value added to output of much of this investment. The article also shows that the indirect employment effects have been minimal and possibly even negative because of the limited linkages which foreign investors create and the possibility of “crowding out” of domestic investment.
Intra‐pancreatic, Extra‐tumoral Perineural Invasion (nex)

A histopathologic study of 65 resected malignant lesions of the pancreas was done to search for a histologic predictor for the presence of extra‐pancreatic neural plexus involvement by carcinoma cells. Extra‐pancreatic neural plexus invasion by pancreas carcinoma cells, p/x(+), was detected in 28 of 65 cases (43%). plx(+) was not significantly associated with tumor location, tumor size, histologic type, or lymph vessel invasion (ly) by carcinoma cells but was significantly associated with rpe. P/x(+) was also significantly associated with mixed moderate and severe degrees of intra‐pancreatic neural invasion (ne2/ne3 group), but not with mixed no and slight degrees (ne0/ne, group). However, fourteen p/x(+) cases were excluded in the ne2/ne3 group; they were found in the ne, group. Therefore, ne factors appear to have a certain but limited usefulness for the prediction of plx(+). When a perineural invasion by tumor cells was found within the pancreas but outside of the major mass of cancer, it was designated “intra‐pancreatic, extra‐tumoral perineural invasion (nex)”. The presence of nex(+) was found in 37 cases, in which 24 out of the 28 p/x(+) cases (85.7%) were included. A statistically significant association was found between p/x(+) and nex(+). In particular, 12 out of the 14 p/x ‐ positive ne, cases were nex(+). In ne, cases, 33.3% (14/42) were p/x(+), whereas in ne1 and nex(+) cases, 60% (12/20) were p/x(+). There was a statistical significance between these two figures (p < 0.05). Thus, nex(+) appears to be a useful indicator for p/x(+), particularly in ne, cases.
Localization of acetylcholine receptor by 125I-labeled alpha-bungarotoxin binding at mouse motor endplates.

Exposed sternomastoid muscles of anaesthetized mice were bathed in (125)I-labeled alpha-bungarotoxin until all neurally evoked muscle contractions were eliminated. The distribution of label was then determined by electron microscope autoradiography. It was found that the label was localized at the top of the junctional folds, i.e., at the postjunctional membrane nearest the axon. Since the alpha-bungarotoxin had fully eliminated the physiological muscle response, these results indicate that the active acetylcholine receptor occupies a limited area of the junctional folds and is not distributed uniformly throughout this membrane. Specialized membrane densities seem to coincide with the labeled regions.
The role of title insurance under recording and registration

This article outlines a transaction cost theory of ‘title insurance’ and analyses the role it plays in countries with recording and registration of land titles. Title insurance indemnifies real estate right holders for losses caused by pre-existing title defects that are unknown when the policy is issued. It emerged to complement the ‘errors and omissions’ insurance of professionals examining title quality. Poor organization of public records led title insurers in the USA to integrate title examination and settlement services. Their residual claimant status motivates insurers to screen, cure and avoid title defects. Firms introducing title insurance abroad produce little information on title quality, however. Their policies are instead issued on a casualty basis, complementing and enforcing the professional liability of conveyancers. Future development in markets with land registration is uncertain because of adverse selection, competitive reactions from established conveyancers and the ability of larger banks to self-insure title risks.
Segregation of Visual Features Is Not the Basis of Visual Orientation Relative to Gravity

A strong deviation of the subjective vertical (SV) of humans lying in a horizontal body position can be caused by an inducing pattern (IP) presented at different orientations. The dependence of the effect on time and space relations between the test pattern (TP), which is used to measure the SV, and the IP1s2 as well as the insensitivity of the effect to changes of the geometric form of the TP3 furnishes evidence that besides pure visual interactions between TP and IP, the connection of visual and otolith afferents is the essential mechanism. The visual input extracted from the IP for this mechanism is considered. A first experiment shows that a homogeneous texture consisting of randomly positioned small lines (length, 0.24"; mean distance, 0.34") with two orthogonal orientations is an effective IP. In this pattern statistic dependence is limited to a local neighborhood of 0.5". Thus the hypothesis arises that the dependence of second order (i.e., the power spectrum of the pattern) contains the information to affect the SV. By addition of a low-frequency orientation (low-pass filtered randomly positioned large lines, frequency cutoff at 3 cpd) to the IP of the first experiment, it was found that in the event of conflict between low and high frequency the orientation of structures of low frequency is dominant.
Pervasive Liquidity Risk

While there is no equilibrium framework for defining liquidity risk per se, several plausible arguments suggest that liquidity risk is pervasive and thus may be priced. For example, market frictions increase the cost of hedging strategies requiring frequent portfolio rebalancing. Also, liquidity risk is likely to play a role whenever the market declines and investors are prevented from hedging via short positions. Using monthly return data from 1963-2000, and a broad set of test assets, we examine six candidate factor representations of aggregate liquidity risk, and test whether any one of these are priced. The results are interesting. First, with the surprising exception of the recent measure proposed by Pastor and Stambaugh (2001), liquidity factor shocks induce co-movements in individual stocks' liquidity measure (commonality in liquidity). The commonality is similar to that found in the extant literature (Chordia, Roll, and Subrahmanyam (2000)), which so far has been restricted to a single year of data. Second, again with the exception of the Pastor-Stambaugh measure, the liquidity factors receive statistically significant betas when added to the Fama-French model. Third, maximum-likelihood estimates of the risk premium are significant for the measure based on bid-ask spreads, contemporaneous turnover, as well as the Pastor-Stambaugh measure, which exploits price reversals following volume shocks. Overall, the simple-to-compute, low-minus-high turnover factor first proposed by Eckbo and Norli (2000) appears to do as least as well as the other factor measures.
Alcohol consumption , drinking patterns , and ischaemic heart disease : a review of meta-analyses

*Corresponding author Author affiliations: 1 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada 2 Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH), University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada 3 Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada 4 Institute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany 5 Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Downregulation of the Hexokinase II Gene Sensitizes Human Colon Cancer Cells to 5-Fluorouracil

Background: Extensive trials have indicated that cancer cells with high glycolytic activity exhibit decreased sensitivity to anticancer agents. Moreover, recent research has proven that specific inhibitors of hexokinase (HK) II, a key glycolytic enzyme, may enhance the activity of anticancer drugs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and mechanisms of HK II on chemosensitivity of a colon cancer cell line (LoVo) to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Methods: HK II gene expression was downregulated by RNA interference in the colon cancer cell line LoVo, which was detected by Western blot analysis. Then the IC50 value of 5-FU was determined in LoVo cells via MTT assay. In addition, cell apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were assessed by flow cytometry and caspase-3 activity by its substrate color reaction. Results: In LoVo cells, HK II downregulation resulted in a decreased IC50 value of 5-FU and increased apoptosis. Furthermore, HK II downregulation resulted in a decreased MPP and activation of caspase-3. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that targeting HK II may be beneficial for patients with colon cancer treated with 5-FU.
The Ser96Ala variant in histidine-rich calcium-binding protein is associated with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Aims To investigate whether genetic variants of the histidine-rich calcium (HRC)-binding protein are associated with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and its progression. Methods and results We screened 123 idiopathic DCM patients and 96 healthy individuals by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and direct sequencing for genetic variants in HRC. Six polymorphisms were detected: Leu35Leu (A/G), Ser43Asn (G/A), Ser96Ala (T/G), Glu202_Glu203insGlu (−/GAG), Asp261del (GAT/−), and an in-frame insertion of 51 amino acids at His321. The analysis of their frequencies did not reveal any significant correlation with DCM development. However, the Ser96Ala polymorphism exhibited a statistically significant correlation with the occurrence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. During a follow-up of 4.02 ± 2.4 years, the risk for ventricular arrhythmias was higher (HR, 9.620; 95% CI, 2.183–42.394; P = 0.003) in the Ala/Ala patients, compared with Ser/Ser homozygous patients. On multivariable Cox regression analysis, the Ser96Ala polymorphism was the only significant genetic arrythmogenesis predictor in DCM patients (HR, 4.191; 95% CI, 0.838–20.967; P = 0.018). Conclusion The Ser96Ala genetic variant of HRC is associated with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in idiopathic DCM and may serve as an independent predictor of susceptibility to arrhythmogenesis in the setting of DCM.
Status consumption in cross-national context: socio-psychological, brand and situational antecedents

Purpose – Limited attention has been paid to the issue of status consumption in cross‐national context. The purpose of this paper is to address the issue of status consumption among British and Indian consumers, using the industry context of alcoholic beverages, focusing on three antecedents namely, the socio‐psychological, brand and situational antecedents.Design/methodology/approach – The paper employed a cross‐sectional, survey‐based methodology. The British sample included 271 respondents residing in the Southeast of the UK. The Indian sample included 273 respondents residing in the North and Northwest regions of India.Findings – The findings reveal that socio‐psychological, brand and situational antecedents significantly influence status consumption.Practical implications – The findings support the notion that some key status consumption characteristics may be common among all cultures and countries however, their degree of influence may differ dramatically. Furthermore, others key variables may be s.
Synaptic connections of the narrow‐field, bistratified rod amacrine cell (AII) in the rabbit retina

The synaptic connections of the narrow‐field, bistratified rod amacrine cell (All) in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) of the rabbit retina were reconstructed from electron micrographs of continuous series of thin sections. The All amacrine cell receives a large synaptic input from the axonal endings of rod bipolar cells in the most vitreal region of the IPL (sublamina b, S5) and a smaller input from axonal endings of cone bipolar cells in the scleral region of the IPL (sublamina a, S1–S2). Amacrine input, localized at multiple levels in the IPL, equals the total number of synapses received from bipolar cells.