Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hedging the fishy fishmeal prices : an investigation into the viability of a potential fishmeal futures contract

Salmon futures contracts have existed for more than a decade, and futures contracts for aquaculture feed ingredients such as corn, soybean meal and wheat have existed much longer. Fishmeal is also a key feed ingredient, and its industry has been argued to be one of the most volatile business environments of the food sector. Yet, efforts to establish a futures contract for fishmeal have not been seen. This thesis investigates the viability of a potential fishmeal futures contract, based on success factors for futures contracts identified by the literature. To do so, we conduct both quantitative and qualitative analysis. We utilise data on fishmeal prices and production statistics, in addition to prices and trading volumes of soybean meal and corn futures, between 2005 and 2017. The quantitative analysis consists of two separate approaches. First, we conduct a cointegration analysis to investigate whether fishmeal is homogenous and whether it has one or more markets. Second, as a proxy for futures contract success, we apply an empirical model developed by Bekkerman and Tejeda (2017) to predict the probability of a fishmeal futures contract already existing. To obtain estimates for variables included in this model, we conduct a survey of industry experts on fishmeal, in addition to empirically estimate and collect measures. The qualitative analysis takes into consideration the quantitative results and provides a thorough, more nuanced discussion of the viability of a fishmeal futures contract. The cointegration analysis indicates the existence of one fishmeal submarket in the Nordics and one in South America, and that fishmeal may be homogenous only within these submarkets. The model of Bekkerman and Tejeda (2017) predicts a zero percent probability of a fishmeal futures contract already existing. The qualitative analysis reveals that price risk, homogeneity, market size, storability, and lack of relevant and efficient cross-hedging alternatives speak in favour of the viability of a fishmeal futures contract. Optimal contract design can somewhat overcome identified issues, but the existence of market power, vertical integration and lack of transparency are assessed to outweigh the favourable characteristics. Therefore, we conclude that a fishmeal futures contract, under current market conditions, is not viable.
Developing a local innovation ecosystem through a university coordinated innovation platform: The University of Fort Hare

ABSTRACT This article builds on the concept of the ‘Development University’ and draws on findings from previous studies by the author on the transformation pathway and a university-coordinated intermediary platform at the University of Fort Hare. The article places the university at the centre of the development of an innovation ecosystem to facilitate the development of ecosystem platform architectures for engaged scholarship projects and their implementation for the benefit of local communities. The platform ecosystem design framework derived in this article approaches the analysis from three levels: (1) Contextual considerations and design requirements through a development pathway framework; (2) distinguishing between top-down creation of institutional mechanisms and the emergence of bottom-up engaged scholarship activities; and (3) some reflection on the governance and orchestration of the intermediary platform architectural design considerations.
On the Performance Analysis of Digital Communications over Weibull-Gamma Channels

In this work, the performance analysis of digital communications over a composite Weibull-Gamma (WG) multipath-fading and shadowing channel is presented wherein WG distribution is appropriate for modeling fading environments when multipath is superimposed on shadowing. More specifically, in this work, exact closed-form expressions are derived for the probability density function, the cumulative distribution function, the moment generating function, and the moments of a composite WG channel. Capitalizing on these results, new exact closed-form expressions are offered for the outage probability, the higher- order amount of fading, the average error rate for binary and M-ary modulation schemes, and the ergodic capacity under various types of transmission policies, mostly in terms of Meijer's G functions. These new analytical results were also verified via computer-based Monte-Carlo simulation results.
Cullin 4A-mediated Proteolysis of DDB2 Protein at DNA Damage Sites Regulates in Vivo Lesion Recognition by XPC*

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) complementation group E gene product, damaged DNA-binding protein 2 (DDB2), is a subunit of the DDB heterodimeric protein complex with high specificity for binding to a variety of DNA helix-distorting lesions. DDB is believed to play a role in the initial step of damage recognition in mammalian nucleotide excision repair (NER) of ultraviolet light (UV)-induced photolesions. It has been shown that DDB2 is rapidly degraded after cellular UV irradiation. However, the relevance of DDB2 degradation to its functionality in NER is still unknown. Here, we have provided evidence that Cullin 4A (CUL-4A), a key component of CUL-4A-based ubiquitin ligase, mediates DDB2 degradation at the damage sites and regulates the recruitment of XPC and the repair of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers. We have shown that CUL-4A can be identified in a UV-responsive protein complex containing both DDB subunits. CUL-4A was visualized in localized UV-irradiated sites together with DDB2 and XPC. Degradation of DDB2 could be blocked by silencing CUL-4A using small interference RNA or by treating cells with proteasome inhibitor MG132. This blockage resulted in prolonged retention of DDB2 at the subnuclear DNA damage foci within micropore irradiated cells. Knock down of CUL-4A also decreased recruitment of the damage recognition factor, XPC, to the damaged foci and concomitantly reduced the removal of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers from the entire genome. These results suggest that CUL-4A mediates the proteolytic degradation of DDB2 and that this degradation event, initiated at the lesion sites, regulates damage recognition by XPC during the early steps of NER.
The global transcriptional response of Bacillus subtilis to manganese involves the MntR, Fur, TnrA and σB regulons

We have used DNA microarrays to monitor the global transcriptional response of Bacillus subtilis to changes in manganese availability. Mn(II) leads to the MntR‐dependent repression of both the mntH and mntABCD operons encoding Mn(II) uptake systems. Mn(II) also represses the Fur regulon. This repression is unlikely to be a direct effect of Mn(II) on Fur as repression is sensitive to 2,2′‐dipyridyl, an iron‐selective chelator. We suggest that elevated Mn(II) displaces iron from cellular‐binding sites and the resulting rise in free iron levels leads to repression of the Fur regulon. Many of the genes induced by Mn(II) are activated by σB or TnrA. Both of these regulators are controlled by Mn(II)‐dependent enzymes. Induction of the σB‐dependent general stress response by Mn(II) is largely dependent on RsbU, a Mn(II)‐dependent phosphatase that dephosphorylates RsbV, ultimately leading to release of active σB from its antisigma, RsbW. The activity of TnrA is inhibited when it forms an inactive complex with feedback‐inhibited glutamine synthetase. Elevated Mn(II) reduces the sensitivity of glutamine synthetase to feedback inhibitors, and we suggest that this leads to the observed increase in TnrA activity. In sum, three distinct mechanisms can account for most of the transcriptional effects elicited by manganese: (i) direct binding of Mn(II) to metalloregulators such as MntR, (ii) perturbation of cellular iron pools leading to increased Fur activity and (iii) altered activity of Mn(II)‐dependent enzymes that regulate the activity of σB and TnrA.
Instruction set customization for area-constrained FPGA designs

Custom instructions are commonly used to meet the strict design constraints in high performance systems. This paper extends the application space of our previously proposed FPGA-aware custom instruction enumeration and selection technique for area-constrained designs that maximizes the logic utilization of the available FPGA space. Results indicate a factor of 4 improvement in cycle savings over conventional selection techniques and an average runtime reduction of over 31% and 50% in the enumeration and selection phases respectively.
Le cannabis et ses effets délétères : pour un débat plus nuancé

Alors que plusieurs Etats americains ont fait le choix d’assouplir la legislation entourant l’usage recreatif du cannabis et qu’au Canada, cette substance est encadree par un programme federal pour son utilisation therapeutique, le debat sur l’utilisation du cannabis et ses effets nefastes continue de faire couler beaucoup d’encre. S’eloignant souvent des donnees probantes, ce debat est generalement marque par des positions clivees qui ne rendent pas compte des nuances recemment apportees par les donnees scientifiques sur le sujet. Afin de pouvoir bien evaluer les risques que pose cette substance, nous suggerons ici de delaisser le questionnement dichotomique quant au fait que le cannabis cause, ou pas, certains problemes de sante au profit d’une discussion sur les facteurs modulant la relation entre le cannabis et certains effets deleteres potentiels, notamment sur le plan de la cognition, de la psychose et de la toxicomanie. Nous discutons ainsi de certaines donnees sur la composition du cannabis, son mode d’utilisation, le type de population en faisant usage et la presence de stresseurs environnementaux, qui semblent tous moduler les risques associes a la consommation de cannabis. Devant les donnees indiquant que le cannabis est une substance psychoactive possedant a la fois des effets deleteres et benefiques, et au regard du fait qu’une minorite d’individus eprouveront des difficultes apres en avoir consomme, il nous semble crucial de faire bon usage et d’approfondir la litterature scientifique portant sur ces facteurs modulateurs. Nous pensons que cela pourrait permettre de mieux informer la population et prendre des decisions plus eclairees, notamment quant aux modalites entourant un eventuel changement au statut legal du cannabis.
Assessing realistic gains of Massive MIMO

Spectral efficiency gains of MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) systems with physically realizable channels are presented. Results are based on normalized analytical channel models, using antenna theory and electromagnetic theory from the perspective that a MIMO channel model cannot be a source of energy. That is, the average received power cannot exceed the total average radiated power. The assessment of capacity/throughput calculations necessitates an accurate determination of the average received power. Analysis of MIMO systems under study show that important scaling factors are needed to render a channel model realistic, giving rise to realistic received average powers. The analysis and results are important for the assessment of realistic gains for Massive MIMO systems. Additionally, there is an upper limit on the number of receive antennas with a given aperture, where each receive antenna captures the same amount of average power. Above this limit, the conservation of energy is violated. Performance results for downlink (DL) MIMO system spectral efficiencies are presented for power normalized channel models compared with traditional channel models.
Challenges of implementing a primary health care strategy in a context of a market-oriented health care system: the experience of Bogota, Colombia.

BACKGROUND Although Colombia has a health system based on market and neoliberal principles, in 2004, the government of the capital-Bogota-took the decision to formulate a health policy that included the implementation of a comprehensive primary health care (PHC) strategy. This study aims to identify the enablers and barriers to the PHC implementation in Bogota. METHODS The study used a qualitative multiple case study methodology. Seven Bogota's localities were included. Eighteen semi-structured interviews with key informants (decision-makers at each locality and members of the District Health Secretariat) and fourteen FGDs (one focus group with staff members and one with community members) were carried out. Data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. RESULTS The main enablers found across the district and local levels showed a similar pattern, all were related to the good will and commitment of actors at different levels. Barriers included the approach of the national policies and a health system based on neoliberal principles, the lack of a stable funding source, the confusing and rigid guidelines, the high turnover of human resources, the lack of competencies among health workers regarding family focus and community orientation, and the limited involvement of institutions outside the health sector in generating intersectoral responses and promoting community participation. CONCLUSION Significant efforts are required to overcome the market approach of the national health system. Interventions must be designed to include well-trained and motivated human resources, as well as to establish available and stable financial resources for the PHC strategy.
Characterization of two independent modes of action of ATP on human erythrocyte sugar transport.

Intracellular ATP has been reported either to stimulate [Jacquez, J.A. (1983) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 727, 367-378] or to inhibit [Hebert, D. N. , & Carruthers, A. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 10093-10099] human erythrocyte sugar transport. This current study provides a rational explanation for these divergent findings. Protein-mediated 3-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (3OMG) uptake by intact human red blood cells (lacking intracellular sugar) at ice temperature in isotonic KCl containing 2 mM MgCl2, 2 mM EGTA, and 5 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4 (KCl medium), is characterized by a Km(app) of 0.4 +/- 0.1 mM and a Vmax of 114 +/- 20 mumol L-1 min-1. Lysis of red cells in 40 volumes of EGTA-containing hypotonic medium and resealing in 10 volumes of KCl medium increase the Km(app) and Vmax for uptake to 7.1 +/- 1.8 mM and 841 +/- 191 mumol L-1 min-1, respectively. Addition of ATP (4 mM) to the resealing medium restores Michaelis and velocity constants for zero-trans 3OMG uptake to 0.42 +/- 0.11 mM and 110 +/- 15 mumol L-1 min-1, respectively. Addition of CaCl2 to extracellular KCl medium (calculated [Ca2+]o = 101 microM) reduces the Vmax for zero-trans 3OMG uptake in intact cells and ATP-containing ghosts by 79 +/- 4% and 61 +/- 9%, respectively. Intracellular Ca2+ (15 microM) reduces the Vmax for 3OMG uptake by ATP-containing ghosts by 38 +/- 12%. In nominally ATP-free ghosts, extracellular (101 microM) and intracellular (11 microM) Ca2+ reduce the Vmax for 3OMG uptake by 96 and 94%, respectively. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Effect of Independent Director Reputation Incentives on Corporate Social Responsibility: Evidence from China

This paper examines the effect of independent director reputation incentives on corporate social responsibility (CSR). Using an unbalanced panel of 3765 Chinese-listed firms between 2009 and 2014, this study suggests that independent director reputation incentives improve CSR. Furthermore, it is found that this effect is more pronounced in non-state-owned enterprises (non-SOEs) than in state-owned enterprises (SOEs). In addition, our results also show that the effect of independent director reputation incentives on CSR is moderated by firm size, and this effect is much stronger in relatively larger firms. Together, these results suggest that reputation is an effective mechanism that can motivate independent directors to fulfill their role of monitoring and advising CSR, especially in non-SOEs and relatively larger firms. We add new insights to the research on the topics of independent director system, protection of the stakeholders’ interests, and CSR enhancement.
A policy analysis of Nevada's middle school retention legislation

A Policy Analysis of Nevada's Middle School Retention Legislation by Julie Ann Abeyta Dr. Gerald Kops, Examination Committee Chair Professor of Education University o f Nevada, Las Vegas In 1997, the Nevada State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 376 permitting the State Board of Education to adopt credit requirements that students must meet prior to being promoted from eighth grade to high school. A resulting State Board of Education regulation requires that a student earn one-and-one-half credits in language and one-andone-half credits in mathematics during seventh and eighth grades to merit promotion to high school. While much attention has been given to the issue of retention and social promotion in large urban school districts such as Chicago and New York City, little investigation has been directed to smaller, rural school districts. This study investigates the effect that AB376 and the ensuing regulation have had upon school district policies, programs, instructional practices, and retention rates in Nevada's rural school districts. Through interviews with public ofBcials and site administrators of Nevada's school districts, it seeks to identify the motivation and intended consequences of the legislation, determine
Transmitter-gated currents of GABAergic amacrine-like cells in chick retinal cultures

Abstract A subpopulation of cells developing in dissociated neuronal cultures prepared from 8-day-old embryonic chick retinae can be identified as putative in vitro counterparts of GABAergic amacrine cells by immunocytochemical and autoradiographic markers and by their electrophysiological responses to transmitter agonists. In the present study, transmitter-gated conductances expressed by these neurons were examined using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. At negative holding potentials, the excitatory amino acid agonists N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), kainate quisqualate, and glutamate induced inward currents with reversal potentials close to 0 mV in most of the cells selected for recording. NMDA-evoked responses were selectively blocked by the noncompetitive inhibitor MK 801 and by Mg2+ (in a voltage-dependent manner) and were potentiated in the presence of submicromolar concentrations of glycine. Glutamate apparently interacted with both NMDA and non-NMDA type receptors. All cells tested responded to the inhibitory transmitters GABA and glycine. Both inhibitory agonists could be shown to activate chloride conductances. Responses to GABA and glycine were specifically inhibited in the presence of bicuculline and strychnine, respectively. Thus, GABAergic neurons in retinal cultures express at least two different excitatory amino acid receptors–NMDA and non-NMDA–and two different inhibitory amino acid receptors–the GABAA and the glycine receptor. The results demonstrate the ability of the cultured neurons to develop an apparently mature phenotype and contribute to the understanding of the functional properties of GABAergic amacrine cells in the vertebrate retina.
A cortical network for directed attention and unilateral neglect

Unilateral neglect reflects a disturbance in the spatial distribution of directed attention. A review of unilateral neglect syndromes in monkeys and humans suggests that four cerebral regions provide an integrated network for the modulation of directed attention within extrapersonal space. Each component region has a unique functional role that reflects its profile of anatomical connectivity, and each gives rise to a different clinical type of unilateral neglect when damaged. A posterior parietal component provides an internal sensory map and perhaps also a mechanism for modifying the extent of synaptic space devoted to specific portions of the external world; a limbic component in the cingulate gyrus regulates the spatial distribution of motivational valence; a frontal component coordinates the motor programs for exploration, scanning, reaching, and fixating; and a reticular component provides the underlying level of arousal and vigilance. This hypothetical network requires at least three complementary and interacting representations of extrapersonal space: a sensory representation in posterior parietal cortex, a schema for distributing exploratory movements in frontal cortex, and a motivational map in the cingulate cortex. Lesions in only one component of this network yield partial unilateral neglect syndromes, while those that encompass all the components result in profound deficits that transcend the mass effect of the larger lesion. This network approach to the localization of complex functions offers an alternative to more extreme approaches, some of which stress an exclusive concentration of function within individual centers in the brain and others which advocate a more uniform (equipotential or holistic) distribution.
Does Prolonged Oral Treatment with Sustained-Release Morphine Tablets Influence Immune Function?

Opioids such as morphine are the mainstay of acute and chronic pain treatment.The purpose of this study was to investigate the immunosuppressive effects of morphine in patients with pain syndromes. We investigated 10 patients with chronic pain syndromes undergoing treatment with oral sustained-release morphine (30-240 mg/d) before and after 1, 4, and 12 wk of treatment compared with healthy control subjects without morphine treatment. Immunological variables of the cellular and humoral immune axis showed that 1) total lymphocyte counts and the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations, including helper T-cell/suppressor cytotoxic T-cell ratios (CD4/CD8 ratios), did not change compared with baseline or healthy control subjects; 2) proliferation of peripheral mononuclear cells (PMC) was not impaired by morphine treatment; 3) interleukin 2 production increased after 4 wk of treatment with morphine; and 4) immunoglobulin (Ig) production was reduced before initiation of therapy in pain patients and decreased further during morphine treatment, whereas Ig concentrations in the circulation remained at normal levels. These results indicate that treatment with oral, sustained-release morphine does not have a suppressive effect on overall PMC function. On the other hand, Ig production was impaired in patients with chronic pain and was further suppressed by morphine. Whether this suppression of humoral immune function has a clinical impact on the immune system as a whole remains to be determined. Implications: Treatment of patients with chronic pain with oral, sustained-release morphine does not influence cellular immune function, but it suppresses the already attenuated production of immunoglobulins.
Determining a diagnostic cut-off on the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) for cocaine dependence.

AIM The study aimed to assess the efficacy of the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) as a diagnostic measure of cocaine dependence and determine the cut-off score that best discriminates between the presence and absence of a DSM-IV diagnosis of cocaine dependence. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. SETTING Sydney, Australia. PARTICIPANTS One hundred and forty-two cocaine users. MEASUREMENTS The diagnostic performance of the SDS was measured via ROC analysis against DSM-IV diagnoses of cocaine dependence, as measured by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). FINDINGS ROC analysis revealed the SDS to be a test of high diagnostic utility for the measurement of cocaine dependence. The cut-off point on the SDS at which there is optimal discrimination between the presence and absence of a DSM-IV diagnosis of cocaine dependence was found to be 3 (i.e. a score of 3 or more). CONCLUSIONS The study statistically validated the utility of the SDS as a diagnostic measure of cocaine dependence and has determined an appropriate cut-off point. The SDS is recommended as a brief screening instrument for cocaine dependence that can be used in addition to more comprehensive measures, such as the CIDI.