Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The heterogeneous relationship between income and inequality: a panel co-integration approach

We study the relationship between per-capita income and income inequality with a heterogeneous panel co-integration approach. We extend previous studies in two dimensions: first, we compile a more extensive data set for 61 countries over 26-51 years and consider measures for both pre-tax and post-tax income inequality; second, we take into account country heterogeneity rather than relying on average panel estimates alone. We find a negative group-mean based relationship using pre-tax income inequality, but no such relationship for post-tax income inequality. Moreover, we find estimates on the country level to be heterogeneous in both cases.
The Choice between Retirement and Bridge Employment: A Continuity Theory and Life Course Perspective

The rapid aging of the workforce in most developed countries, and the strengthening presence of bridge employment among older employees, has brought about a need for a deeper theoretical and practical understanding of this employment phenomenon. This study examined the concept of bridge employment from a continuity theory and life course perspective. Several personal and job-related antecedents of 539 middle-aged and older U.S. Federal Government employees' intentions of full retirement or engagement in bridge employment were investigated. A multinomial logistic regression analysis provided support for most of the hypotheses on the antecedents of full retirement and overall bridge employment intentions and hence offered several practical implications for the U.S. Federal Government, as well as other governmental employers. Implications of these results are discussed from a continuity theory and life course perspective.
Empirical evidence of market reactions based on signaling theory in Indonesia stock exchange

Signaling theory assumes that it is necessary to signal investors to how they perceive company’s prospects. One of them is dividend announcements. The announcement of dividends is predicted to be a signal for investors in the investment decision making process. This study aims to determine and analyze the effect of dividend announcements, both increases and decreases in dividends, on stock returns. This study is intended to find empirical evidence about market reactions based on signaling theory in Indonesia Stock Exchange on the period 2017. The analysis of this study uses the event study method and hypothesis testing carried out using different test paired sample t-test. The results of this study prove that the market reacts to the announcement of dividends. The market reaction is indicated by the value of abnormal returns, namely abnormal returns in the positive direction when the announcement of dividend increased and abnormal returns in the negative direction when the announcement of dividend decreased. The value of abnormal returns in a positive direction reflects the company’s performance in good condition, and vice versa. This result indicates that dividend announcements are a signal and contain information relevant to investors in the investment decision making process.
Patterns and processes in complex landscapes: testing alternative biogeographical hypotheses through integrated analysis of phylogeography and community ecology in Hawai'i

The Island of Hawai'i is a dynamic assemblage of five volcanoes with wet forest habitat currently existing in four distinct natural regions that vary in area, age and geographical isolation. In this complex landscape, alternative assumptions of the relative importance of specific habitat characteristics on evolutionary and ecological processes predict strikingly different general patterns of local diversity and regional similarity. In this study, we compare alternative a priori hypotheses against observed patterns within two distinct biological systems and scales: community composition of wet forest vascular plant species and mitochondrial and nuclear genes of Drosophila sproati, a wet‐forest‐restricted endemic. All observed patterns display strong and similar regional structuring, with the greatest local diversity found in Kohala and the windward side of Mauna Loa, the least in Ka'ū and Kona, and a distinctive pattern of regional similarity that probably reflects the historical development of this habitat on the island. These observations largely corroborate a biogeographical model that integrates multiple lines of evidence, including climatic reconstruction, over those relying on single measures, such as current habitat configuration or substrate age. This method of testing alternative hypotheses across biological systems and scales is an innovative approach for understanding complex landscapes and should prove valuable in diverse biogeographical systems.
Effects of carbohydrate and chromium ingestion during intermittent high-intensity exercise to fatigue.

PURPOSE This study was designed to test the hypothesis that addition of chromium (Cr) to a carbohydrate-electrolyte drink would enhance the reported benefits of carbohydrate on exercise capacity during intermittent high-intensity shuttle running. METHODS Eight physically active men performed 3 exercise trials while ingesting 6% carbohydrate-electrolyte (CHO), CHO plus chromium picolinate (400 mg) (CHO + Cr+3), or placebo (P) using a double-blind, counterbalanced design. Each trial consisted of 5 3 15 min bouts of shuttle running (walk, sprint, and run at 95 and 55% of estimated VáO2max, separated by 3-min rest). This was followed by a fatigue test (running alternating 20-m lengths at 55 and 95% of estimated VáO2 until fatigue). RESULTS During the standardized shuttle running, blood glucose was higher with both CHO and CHO + Cr+3 than P. Plasma free fatty acid was higher in P than both CHO and CHO + Cr+3 at 75 min of exercise and at fatigue. In the fatigue test, subjects ran longer with both CHO and CHO + Cr+3 than P. CONCLUSIONS The data confirm an ergogenic benefit of ingesting CHO during exercise designed to imitate sports like basketball, soccer, and hockey, but do not support the hypothesis that the addition of Cr would enhance this effect.
Explaining the European commission’s strategies in times of crisis

Abstract Despite the growing debate over the European Commission’s (hereafter, Commission) role in crises, there are few systematic explanations for the variety of actions undertaken by the Commission in times of crisis. This article outlines a heuristic device to explain the Commission’s actions during crises, based on the variables ‘Commission mandate’ and ‘member state engagement’. To this end, it examines two crisis events that affected two strategically important policy areas for European Union integration: the early stages of the financial crisis that began in 2008 and the migration following the 2011 Arab Spring. Based on analysis of these cases, this study identifies four strategies applied by the Commission: doer, follower, cooperator and recycler. Our study concludes that member state engagement and Commission mandate are important variables in explaining under which circumstances these strategies are used by the Commission.
Cloning, overexpression, and characterization of the functional dihydroorotase domain of the mammalian multifunctional protein CAD.

Mammalian dihydroorotase (DHOase) is part of a large multidomain protein called CAD, which initiates the first three steps in the de novo pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway. DHOase activity is carried out by a 44-kDa structural domain which could be isolated in active form from elastase digests. A core domain the same size as monofunctional dihydroorotases was defined, although the domain borders were uncertain. Two recombinants were overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The first encoded the core domain with 55 and 13 residues added to the amino and carboxyl ends, respectively, and was expressed in insoluble form. The recombinant protein was refolded from urea into a soluble form which was resistant to protease digestion but was catalytically inactive. In contrast, the proteolytic fragment from CAD could be unfolded and refolded with recovery of 40-100% catalytic activity. The second construct, which approximated the proteolytic fragment, had 21 residues on the amino end and 65 residues on the carboxyl end of the core domain. A 46-kDa soluble protein was expressed at 4% of the total soluble protein. The recombinant protein was catalytically active and had the expected amino-terminal sequence. The protein was purified to homogeneity. Dihydroorotase saturation curves gave a Km = 41.9 +/- 3.5 microM and a kcat = 2.79 +/- 0.06 s-1, parameters that were similar to those obtained for the proteolytic fragment. The Km was 6-fold higher and the kcat 2-fold lower than the values obtained for the parent protein, which suggests that interdomain interactions stabilize the active conformation. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Correlation Between the Transdermal Permeation of Ketoprofen and its Solubility in Mixtures of a pH 6.5 Phosphate Buffer and Various Solvents

The passage of a drug through the skin is directly proportional to the concentration of the drug in the donor phase and to the permeability coefficient constant Kp. Kp is determined essentially by two factors: the dissolution of the drug in the stratum corneum (measured by the partition coefficient P) and the diffusion in the same stratum (measured by the diffusion constant D). In our study, several saturated solutions of ketoprofen in mixtures of a pH 6.5 phosphate buffer and various co-solvents were studied to find correlations between the solubility of the ketoprofen in the mixtures and its permeation parameters in in vitro permeation studies with Franz cells. The results show that D does not change in the different mixtures; the diffusion of the drug into the stratum corneum is not influenced by the presence of the co-solvents, whereas the partition coefficient is strongly influenced. In particular, Kp and P were found to be inversely proportional to solubility, meaning that when the co-solvent increases the solubility, the partition of the drug and consequently Kp decrease. These findings were confirmed in some developed gels, and the developed gels were found to enhance the ketoprofen permeation with respect to the formulation in a commercial Fastum gel.
Plant Peroxisomes, Reactive Oxygen Metabolism and Nitric Oxide

In plant cells, as in most eukaryotic organisms, peroxisomes are probably the major sites of intracellular H2O2 production, as a result of their essentially oxidative type of metabolism. Like mitochondria and chloroplasts, peroxisomes also produce superoxide radicals (O2.−) and there are, at least, two sites of superoxide generation: one in the organelle matrix, the generating system being xanthine oxidase, and another site in the peroxisomal membranes dependent on NAD(P)H. In peroxisomal membranes, three integral polypeptides (PMPs) with molecular masses of 18, 29, and 32 kDa have been shown to generate O2. − radicals. Besides catalase, several antioxidative systems have been demonstrated in plant peroxisomes, including different superoxide dismutases, the four enzymes of the ascorbate‐glutathione cycle plus ascorbate and glutathione, and three NADP‐dependent dehydrogenases. A CuZn‐SOD and two Mn‐SODs have been purified and characterized from different types of plant peroxisomes. The presence of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and its reaction product, nitric oxide (NO.), has been recently demonstrated in plant peroxisomes. Different experimental evidence has suggested that peroxisomes have a ROS‐mediated cellular function in leaf senescence and in stress situations induced by xenobiotics and heavy metals. Peroxisomes could also have a role in plant cells as a source of signal molecules like NO., O2. − radicals, H2O2, and possibly S‐nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). It seems reasonable to think that a signal molecule‐producing function similar to that postulated for plant peroxisomes could also be performed by human, animal and yeast peroxisomes, where research on oxy radicals, antioxidants and nitric oxide is less advanced than in plant peroxisomes.
What are the implications of the Paris Agreement for inequality?

ABSTRACT Climate change is a major planetary challenge. Its consequences threaten the provision of Earth-system services and sustainable development. The impacts and the capacities to adapt vary across countries and different incomes, as do the historical and current emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and thus the responsibility for anthropogenic climate change. This has generated a complex debate about the inequities inherent in the climate challenge. This paper analyses the potential implications of the full implementation of the first round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of the Paris Agreement for countries’ per capita GHG emissions and the related inequality measures of the Gini coefficient and Lorenz curve. The distribution of annual and cumulative GHG emissions per capita for selected years and periods pre- and post-Paris of two NDC scenarios are assessed to derive implications for desired increases in ambition levels. The results show that the NDCs, while not meeting the Paris targets to limit temperature increase if levels of ambition remain the same after 2030, lead towards a more equitable future in terms of GHG emissions. Key policy insights The NDCs lead to decreases in GHG emissions inequality (lower Gini coefficients) across countries compared to 1990. The rate of decrease in inequality 2016–2030 slows down compared to 1990–2015. Conditional pledges in the NDCs lead to smaller reductions in GHG emissions inequality than unconditional pledges. This highlights tension between the pursuit of decreasing GHG emissions inequality and the ambition to lower overall global GHG emissions.
Inside the regional innovation system black box: Evidence from French data

The paper aims to support regional policy-makers who seek to understand the determinants of regional innovation dynamics. The challenge is to penetrate the black box of the RIS (Regional Innovation System) by identifying the building blocks and interaction processes that stimulate innovation at the regional level. Thanks to a creative database, the main originality of this study is to analyse regional innovation as a process of competences building. To test this explanatory model, a Knowledge Production Function is estimated at the regional level in France by using a simultaneous equations setting. Our results validate the systemic dimension of regional innovation and identify the most valuate input-output transmission mechanisms.
Why should we use the non-existent? Advantages of application of unconventional computing to processing of noisy medical images

This paper presents the approach for medical imaging problem solving by application of P systems which are branch of unconventional computing. Presented results show the advances of this approach. P system computing allows development of algorithms significantly reduced related to classic one. These new algorithms nevertheless produce better results and even resolve the problems just unsolvable for classic algorithms. Despite these evident advances, unconventional computing approaches remain less popular in medical imaging domain mostly because their hardware is mostly "virtual" that supposes computing on simulator. Concerning this obstacle the perspective of direct implementation of unconventional computing solutions on today HPC hardware is discussed.
Comparison of the Effect of Class IA Antiarrhythmic Drugs on Transmembrane Potassium Currents in Rabbit Ventricular Myocytes

Background: The blockade of cardiac transmembrane potassium channels, which is commonly seen with vanous antiarrhythmic drugs, plays an important role in their mechanism of action. We studied and compared the less-explored effects of three Class IA antiarrhythmics on the transient outward current (It.) and on the inward rectifier (Ikl), ATP sensitive (I), and delayed rectifier (IK) potassium currents in rabbit ventricular myocytes. Methods and Results: Transmembrane currents were measured by applying the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique at 37°C in myocytes enzymatically isolated from rabbit ventricular preparations. Quinidine (10,uM), disopyramide (10 itM), and procainamide (50,uM) were studied at concentrations close to or exceeding the therapeutic plasma level. All studied drugs significantly decreased the amplitude of I”, (activated by 50,uM pinacidil) and IK currents. None of them influenced significantly Lk. The amplitude of I, was decreased by quinidine and disopyramide but was not considerably altered by procainamide. The fast inactivation of I,o was not changed by procainamide and was significantly accelerated by quinidine and disopyramide. Conclusion: Although quinidine, disopyramide, and procainamide are all classified as Class IA antiarrhythmics, these drugs had different effects on various potassium currents, which may partially explain their distinct effect on repolarization in various cardiac tissues and on cardiac arrhythmias in clinical settings.
Polycystin-1 Activation of c-Jun N-terminal Kinase and AP-1 Is Mediated by Heterotrimeric G Proteins*

Functional analysis of polycystin-1, the product of the gene most frequently mutated in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, has revealed that this protein is involved in the regulation of diverse signaling pathways such as the activation of the transcription factor AP-1 and modulation of Wnt signaling. However, the initial steps involved in the activation of such cascades have remained unclear. We demonstrated previously that the C-terminal cytosolic tail of polycystin-1 binds and activates heterotrimeric G proteins in vitro. To test if polycystin-1 can activate cellular signaling cascades via heterotrimeric G protein subunits, polycystin-1 C-terminal tail-mediated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and AP-1 activities were assayed in transiently transfected 293T cells in the presence of dominant-negative, G protein inhibiting constructs, and in the presence of cotransfected Gα subunits. The results showed that polycystin-1-mediated JNK/AP-1 activation is mediated by Gα and Gβγ subunits. Polycystin-1-mediated AP-1 activity could be significantly augmented by cotransfected Gαi, Gαq, and Gα12/13 subunits, suggesting that polycystin-1 can couple with and activate several heterotrimeric G protein families.
STRENGTHENING THE STATE BY MEANS OF GOVERNANCE BEYOND STATE

The concept of governance has become omnipresent since 1980s. There were several issues in the world which attracted people to be aware to this governance notion. Beforehand, it could be described as social and political processes which exist only in hierarchical and formal institutions. Nowadays, it is related to all processes of governing which is not only carried out by hierarchically set of actors, but also by the other actors such as market and informal organization. Both of them can govern, produce coordination, and make decision. Governance concept emphasizes on the steering society by decision-making process for a collective problem and the interaction among actors involved behind it. As a result, governance lead to the production, enforcement, or recreating of norms to control the community included in those particular social norms and institutions. Interest in the notion of governance is mostly originated from the reforms in public sector which is began in the 1980s. There are several new forms of governance which has arisen to replace the state-centred management policy making and its implementation. Although, according to Torfing et al. these new governance forms still have general conception with respect to steering and controlling society and economy, there is a shifting in the style of steerage. The shifting occurred is from legal rigid approach to more interactive governance; from formal state actors and governmental procedures to the routes where individuals and various organizations work together. In other word, the form of governance beyond state started to emerge in both theoretical and practical. More than thirty years have elapsed since the reforms in public sector started. The new governance involves many stakeholders in the governing process. The apparent of non-state actors following upon these reforms. It is indicated by the interdependence between formal and informal authority which are able to constitute, supplement, and supplant each other. Thus, it can be a challenge to the state which has become the only central on governance. Thus, with the weak distinction between states and other domains of social order makes it relevant to raise the question whether or not the new governance (beyond state) undermines the state itself. The primary argument of this essay is state will not be disrupted by the existence of the new governance beyond state. This argument relies on two theoretical reasons. First of all, in order to gain legitimacy on its power, nation state must embody three distinct elements according to Beetham. These three elements can be achieved by state through using the new form of governance. The essay will use the dynamic on global climate governance as an example to bolster this argument, specifically for the legal conformity element. Secondly, the state can play four different faces of power from Torfing et al. in exercising its power over other actors in interactive governance to control the agenda to match with state interest.
Transgenic expression of an altered angiotensin type I AT1 receptor resulting in marked modulation of vascular type I collagen

The angiotensin II (AngII) type I receptor (AT1) was modified by replacing its third intracellular loop and C‐terminal tail with the corresponding regions from the bradykinin B2 receptor. Transgenic mice were produced that overexpress this mutated receptor (AB3T). Considerably less collagen content in the intact aorta and in primary aortic smooth muscle cells (aSMCs) cultures was observed in the transgenic mice. On the other hand, elastin content remained unchanged as measured by Western blot, and insoluble amino acid quantitation. The contraction of isolated aortas also remained unaltered. The aSMCs derived from the transgenic mice showed a reduction in AngII responsive type I collagen production. In aSMCs from transgenic mice, the cascade of Akt to the mammalian target rapamycin (mTOR) to p70 S6 kinase (p70S6K) was not AngII activated, while in the aSMCs from wild‐type (WT) mice the cascade was AngII activated. Angiotensin activation of Smad2 and Stat3 was also reduced in the AB3T aSMCs. However, no change in the effect of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) on type I collagen production was observed. Also, the activation of ERK and JNK and G‐protein linked signaling remained unaltered in response to AngII. Akt and PI3K activation inhibitors blocked AngII‐stimulated type I collagen expression in WT aSMCs, whereas ERK inhibitor had no such effect. Our results point to an Akt/mTOR/p70S6K regulation of collagen production by AngII with participation of Smad2 and Stat3 cascades in this process. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 2013–2021, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.