Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Working Paper No. 261-Inflation as a Global Phenomenon—Some Implications for Inflation-Dallas Fed

Abstract We model the influence of international trade linkages on local inflation determination using global inflation and domestic slack, motivated by a novel interpretation of the inflation modelling and forecasting implications of the workhorse open-economy New Keynesian model. We evaluate the performance of inflation forecasts based on the theoreticallyconsistent single-equation specification implied by the model, exploiting the spatial pattern of international propagation of inflation. We find that incorporating cross-country interactions yields significantly more accurate forecasts of local inflation in 14 advanced countries (including the U.S.) than either a simple autoregressive model or a closed-economy Phillips curve-based model that only capture the temporal dimension---but not the international spillovers---of the inflation dynamics. Moreover, we also find a larger role for global inflation than for domestic slack during our sample period (1984:Q1-2015:Q1) largely explained---according to theory---by the perceived flattening of the Phillips curve during this time of increased globalization.
II. TYPES AND DESIGN OF INDIRECT WINE TAXES

South Africa, Australia and France employ different indirect tax systems for wine that are a result of numerous factors such as economic, social, cultural and historical. This paper seeks to compare these wine taxes in these three countries. The aim of comparing these indirect taxes is to help inform the debate about the indirect taxation of wine. This is highly relevant given the rising importance of excise on alcohol associated with an increasing consciousness of the costs of excessive drinking and the growing competitiveness of the international wine market.
PII: S0925-4773(99)00184-7

Pitx-1 is a member of the family of bicoid-related vertebrate homeobox genes; it was originally identi®ed as a tissue-speci®c transcriptional regulator of the proopiomelacortin gene. Here we report on the embryonic expression of Xpitx-1, which is expressed in the anterior neural ridge and in the cement gland Anlage during late gastrulation/early neurulation. In tadpole stage embryos Xpitx-1 transcripts are primarily detected in the cement gland, stomodeal-hypophyseal Anlage, oral epithelia and lens placode. Therefore, Xpitx-1 may be part of the genetic network that controls the early development of these structures. q 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0925-4773(01)00387-2

The Notch (N) signalling pathway is recruited for segregation of cell fates in a number of Drosophila tissue types. We show here that N dependent segmentation of Drosophila legs is regulated by a dynamic pattern of expression of its ligand, DELTA (DL). During third larval instar and early stages of pupation, high levels of DL expression is seen in stripes of cells in the leg imaginal discs which later form the proximal borders of leg joints. These domains also displayed heightened Dl enhancer activity. During subsequent stages of pupation, following segmentation of the leg primordium, DL expression becomes uniform throughout these segments barring the joints. We further show that regulatory Dl mutations or mis-expression of DL abolish leg segmentation. Domains of N signalling for segmentation of legs of ̄ies are thus set up by a stringent spatial regulation of expression of its ligand at the segment border. Further, a comparable role of DL in antennal development reveals a common paradigm of DL-N signalling for segmentation of appendages in ̄ies. q 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0925-4773(01)00315-X

The tumor-suppressor protein p53 belongs to a small gene family that includes p63 and p73. While p53 and p73 regulate cell cycle progression and apoptosis, the major role of p63 appears to be in promoting ectodermal proliferation and differentiation. In this report we describe the cloning of a Xenopus orthologue of mammalian p63 that is extraordinarily conserved in sequence. The major sites of expression of Xenopus p63 mRNA are the epidermis and some neural crest and crest derivatives such as the branchial arches and tail ®n. Expression is also observed in the neural plate and in the stomodeal±hypophyseal anlage. Antibodies against p63 detect a nuclear protein that is distributed in a manner similar to that of Xp63 mRNA. Both mRNA and protein are conspicuously absent from regions of the epidermal sensorial layer that are induced to form a number of (but not all) ectodermal placodes and Xp63 protein levels are particularly dynamic in the epidermis of the eye as the lens forms. q 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
PII: S0925-4773(02)00042-4

Spatially and temporally regulated activity of Branchless/Breathless signaling is essential for trachea development in Drosophila. Early ubiquitous breathless (btl) expression is controlled by binding of Trachealess/Tango heterodimers to the btl minimum enhancer. Branchless/ Breathless signaling includes a Sprouty-dependent negative feedback loop. We show that late btl expression is a target of Branchless/ Breathless signaling and hence, Branchless/Breathless signaling contains a positive feedback loop, which may guarantee a continuous supply of fresh receptors to membranes of growing tracheal branch cells. Branchless/Breathless signaling activates MAP-kinase, which in turn, activates late btl expression and destabilizes Anterior-open, a repressor for late btl expression. Biochemical and genetic analysis indicated that the minimum btl enhancer includes binding sites of Anterior-open. q 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0925-4773(01)00618-9

Investigations into early muscle development have focused primarily on somite derived cells. Cranial mesoderm does not undergo somitogenesis, and muscle formation in this region is less well understood. In the present study, we have focused upon the expression of engrailed in mandibular arch myoblasts. We demonstrate that En-2 is expressed in mandibular arch myoblasts of the mouse. The activity of the En-2 enhancer is maintained in several functionally related muscles that arise from the first arch. Through the use of reporter transgenics, we demonstrate that local cell–cell interactions are important in maintaining En-2 expression in the mandibular arch cells. En-2 enhancer activity in the first arch requires a combination of cis-acting sequences that includes a motif which is identical to one found in the Otx2 enhancer and which is sufficient to direct expression in the first arch. These data support the notion that cranial muscle development is regulated by local cell– cell interactions which distinguish distinct anatomical and functional muscle groups.q 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0042-6989(96)00328-8

Transient retinal ischemia results in a delayed cell death of the inner retinal layers. This study demonstrates that this ischemic cell death occurs, at least in part, through apoptosis. The general endonuclease inhibitor, aurintricarboxylic acid, protected rat retinal cells from ischemic cell damage when administered before the onset of ischemia and, more importantly, when administered 6 hr after the insult. Thus, the demonstration that transient retinal ischemia results in cell damage as a result of apoptosis opens new therapeutic strategies aimed at lessening retinal damage as a result of this process. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd
PII: S0042-6989(98)00196-5

We measured Weber fractions for discriminating the speed of cyclopean gratings and Weber fractions for discriminating the speed of luminance gratings. Of our 14 observers, five were unable to see the cyclopean grating sufficiently well to discriminate its speed. One observer experienced great difficulty in discriminating the speed of cyclopean gratings, even though her threshold for detecting cyclopean gratings was low, and even though she discriminated the speed of luminance gratings on the basis of the task–relevent variable. But several observers based their speed discriminations on trial-to-trial variations of the task–relevent variable while ignoring associated trial-to-trial variations in all task–irrelevant variables (specifically: displacement; temporal frequency; spatial frequency; and presentation duration). We conclude that the visual systems of these observers contain a specialized neural mechanism for the speed of cyclopean gratings that supports acute discriminations of speed (Weber fractions were as low as 0.05–0.07). © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0042-6989(96)00238-6

Published experimental measurements of the ocular modulation transfer function (MTF) in the peripheral field m-capproximated by the expression T(f) = exp[--(~/~C)”],where T(j’), f, fc, and n are modulation transfer, spatial frequency, spatial frequency coustant aud MTI? index, respectively. Tt is shown that n (which describes the shape of the MTF) remains relatively constant at about 0.9 t-orfield angles out to 40 dcg but,fc(which defines the spatial frequency scaling) declines steeply over this range, depending upon the pupil diameter and conditions of’ fucus. The utdique astigmatism of the eye plays a major role in the off-axis changes in . ~~. at field angles >20 deg. The approximaliou may be useful in allowing the fol-mof”the degraded optical stimulus in studies of the peripheral retinal filnctinn to he evaluated. (Q 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0925-4773(99)00186-0

The most obvious phenotype of Ft/1 mice is a syndactyly of fore limbs characterised by a fusion of the tips of digits 1 to 4. The tempospatial expression of genes involved in limb development revealed that patterning of Ft/1 limb buds is not affected by the mutation. However, an upregulation of Bmp4 in the anterior-distal region of the limb bud at d12.0 of embryonic development is accompanied by a loss of Fgf8 expression in the distal part of the AER. Downstream target genes of Bmp action such as Msx1 and 2 are upregulated. This induction of the signalling cascade indicates ectopic expression of functional Bmp4. Nevertheless, analysis of physical parameters of bones from adult mice revealed a reduction of the bone mass of the autopod. The data suggest a negative effect of Bmp4 on Fgf8 expression and a positive in ̄uence on the induction of bone elements. q 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0925-4773(00)00383-X

The human IGF-II mRNA-binding proteins (IMPs) 1±3, and their Xenopus homologue Vg1 RNA-binding protein (Vg1-RBP) are RNAbinding proteins implicated in mRNA localization and translational control in vertebrate development. We have sequenced the Drosophila homologue (dIMP) of these genes, and examined its expression pattern in Drosophila embryos by in situ hybridization. The study shows that dIMP exhibits a biphasic expression pattern. In the early stages of development, a maternal pool of dIMP mRNA is evenly distributed in the embryo and degraded by the end of stage 4. Expression reappears in the developing central nervous system, where dIMP is expressed throughout neurogenesis. In addition, dIMP is present in the pole cells. q 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0925-4773(00)00536-0

Here we describe of a novel Drosophila LTR-type retrotransposon that is expressed in the embryonic CNS midline glia and in the embryonic germ cells. The element is related to the gypsy and burdock retrotransposons and was termed midline-jumper. In addition to cDNA clones generated from internal retrotransposon sequences, we have identi®ed one cDNA clone that appears to re ̄ect a transposition event, indicating that the midline-jumper retrotransposon is not only transcribed but also able to transpose during Drosophila development. q 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0042-6989(98)00135-7

The temporal frequencies underlying character localization and identification tasks are measured, as suggested by a model that assumes that the two tasks are processed in different cortical pathways and receive contributions from different populations of visual cortical neurons. Data from two-pulse and temporal contrast sensitivity experiments demonstrate that character localization depends upon much higher temporal frequencies than character identification when both are tested in the periphery. Foveal presentations demonstrate that detection and identification tasks rely on the same temporal frequencies. In a control experiment, the letters were blurred to restrict the range of spatial frequencies. However, these stimuli replicated earlier results and demonstrates that the use of higher temporal frequencies by the localization tasks cannot be attributed to the use of different spatial frequencies for different tasks. In addition, near-foveal presentations of the localization task replicate findings from the far periphery, suggesting that the localization task may be processed differently from the detection task regardless of location on the retina. Finally, the temporal frequency differences persist when a single sine-wave grating is used in localization and identification tasks. The results are consistent with any anatomical model that assumes that the neural substrates underlying localization receive or maintain a higher range of temporal frequencies than areas responsible for identification. The findings demonstrate how the time-course of different stimulus attributes can be quantified, and have implications for theories of information processing in which different stimulus attributes are combined. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0925-4773(00)00268-9

We describe the identi®cation and detailed expression pattern of a second Drosophila Sox gene, SoxNeuro (SoxN), highly related to mammalian group B Sox1, 2, 3 genes. SoxN is expressed in a highly dynamic pattern during embyogenesis, being associated with the development of the central nervous system (CNS), from the early steps onwards. We present strong evidence that the early SoxN neuroectoderm expression is controlled by the zygotic dorso-ventral patterning genes (dpp, sog, brk, twi). q 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0925-4773(99)00119-7

The VegT/Antipodean (Apod) gene is important for germ layer formation in Xenopus. To investigate the role of this gene at the protein level, as opposed to the RNA level, we have generated af®nity puri®ed polyclonal antibodies to Apod, and for comparison, to the other early T-box proteins Xbrachyury and Eomesodermin. An anti-VegT/Apod antibody reveals that there are two protein isoforms in Xenopus, one that we refer to as VegT and a smaller molecular weight isoform that we refer to as Apod. These isoforms have different N-terminal domains resulting from developmentally regulated alternative splicing of a primary transcript arising from a single VegT/Apod gene. VegT is maternally expressed. Its translation is blocked during oogenesis but the protein is present from the egg until gastrulation in the presumptive endoderm. There is no evidence for zygotic expression of this isoform. Conversely, the Apod protein isoform is expressed only after the onset of zygotic transcription in the presumptive mesoderm and is inducible by activin. We conclude that the developmental role of VegT/Apod is mediated by two different proteins, with entirely different patterns of expression and response to growth factors. q 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0925-4773(01)00413-0

This review focuses on the striking differences in the patterns of transcription and translation in somatic and spermatogenic cells in mammals. In early haploid cells, mRNA translation evidently functions to restrict the synthesis of certain proteins, notably protamines, to transcriptionally inert late haploid cells. However, this does not explain why a substantial proportion of virtually all mRNA species are sequestered in translationally inactive free-messenger ribonucleoprotein particles (free-mRNPs) in meiotic cells, since most mRNAs undergo little or no increase in translational activity in transcriptionally active early haploid cells. In addition, most mRNAs in meiotic cells appear to be overexpressed because they are never fully loaded on polysomes and the levels of the corresponding protein are often much lower than the mRNA and are sometimes undetectable. A large number of genes are expressed at grossly higher levels in meiotic and/or early haploid spermatogenic cells than in somatic cells, yet they too are translated inef®ciently. Many genes utilize alternative promoters in somatic and spermatogenic cells. Some of the resulting spermatogenic cell-altered transcripts (SCATs) encode proteins with novel functions, while others contain features in their 5 0-UTRs, secondary structure or upstream reading frames, that are predicted to inhibit translation. This review proposes that the transcriptional machinery is modi®ed to provide access to speci®c DNA sequences during meiosis, which leads to mRNA overexpression and creates a need for translational ®ne-tuning to prevent deleterious consequences of overproducing proteins. q 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0925-4773(99)00345-7

Receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (RPTPs), are involved in axon outgrowth and guidance not only in the Drosophila visual system (Garrity et al., 1999. Neuron 22, 707±717) but also in the developing vertebrate retina (Ledig et al., 1999a. J. Cell Biol. 147, 375±388). We have cloned a variety of Xenopus RPTPs, including four RPTPs expressed in the developing visual system (LAR, PTP-d , CRYP-a and PTPr ). These four RPTPs are transcribed in the developing optic vesicle during differentiation and in overlapping but distinct patterns in the developing retina during retinal layer formation. LAR, PTP-d , and CRYP-a are also expressed in retinal ganglion cells during axonogenesis and during axon guidance from the retina to the optic tectum. q 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0925-4773(99)00292-0

The actin cytoskeleton is implicated in many cellular processes, such as cell adhesion, locomotion, contraction and cytokinesis, which are central to any development. The extent of polymerization, cross-linking, and bundling of actin is regulated by several actin-binding proteins. Knock-out mutations in these proteins have revealed in many cases only subtle, if any, defects in development, suggesting that the actin system is redundant, with multiple proteins sharing overlapping functions. The apparent redundancy may, however, re ̄ect limitations of available laboratory assays in assessing the developmental role of a given protein. By using a novel assay, which reproduces conditions closer to the natural ones, we have re-examined the effects of disruption of many actin-binding proteins, and show here that deletion of a-actinin, interaptin, synexin, 34-kDa actin-bundling protein, and gelation factor affect to varying degrees the ef®ciency of Dictyostelium cells to complete development and form viable spores. No phenotypic defects were found in hisactophilin or comitin null mutants. q 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0042-6989(00)00171-1

The contrast matching function (CMF) is the reciprocal of test contrast that perceptually matches the contrast of standard pattern, measured as a function of test spatial frequency (SF). Achromatic CMFs usually flatten as the contrast of the standard is raised, and are broader than the achromatic, bandpass, contrast sensitivity function (CSF). This report investigates whether chromatic CMFs have similar characteristics. For this purpose, the red–green color channel was defined using minimum flicker and hue cancellation techniques. Spatially localized (D6), vertical, equiluminant patterns (SFs: 0.063–8 cpd; contrast: 3–80%) were used to measure the CSF and CMF of isoluminant patterns presented with a temporal Gaussian envelope. CMFs were measured using a randomized double-staircase procedure and the two-interval forced choice technique. Two color-normal observers, whose task was to select the interval that had higher color contrast, participated in experiments. Results show that: (a) the color CMFs are lowpass functions of SF at low standard contrasts (3–12.5%), broad-bandpass at intermediate contrasts (6.25–60%), and near-flat at high contrasts (80%); and (b) isoluminant CMFs have higher upper cut-off frequencies than isoluminant CSFs. It is concluded that: (i) color-contrast-constancy (CMF independent of SF) is partly achieved at high contrasts because color CMFs flatten as contrast increases; (ii) the information processing at suprathreshold levels is different from that at the threshold levels; and (iii) the model that explained achromatic CMFs using achromatic threshold mechanisms could not explain chromatic CMFs using chromatic threshold mechanisms. © 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
ALLAN BALMAIN CANCER Exploring the bowels of DNA methylation Recent studies of mice lacking methyltransferase , and of genes that modify cancer susceptibility , have shed light on the long-standing problem of how DNA methylation affects carcinogenesis

The role DNA methylation is thought to have in cancer has become increasingly complex. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, it was shown that methylation of CpG sites in DNA can exert a negative influence on gene expression. Treatment of fibroblastic 10T1⁄42 cells in culture with demethylating agents, such as 5-azacytidine, facilitated the emergence of novel muscle or brain-related cell types, presumably by removing methyl groups from developmentally important genes, allowing their expression [1]. One of the genes responsible for the myogenesis programme, MyoD, was subsequently found to be methylated in the original 10T2 cells, but became demethylated (and expressed) in their muscle progeny. Relevance to cancer development was suggested by the observation that tumour cells tend to have hypomethylated DNA [2], and consequently begin to express genes that could confer a growth advantage. Obligingly, some genes that are hypomethylated in cancers turned out to be oncogenes [3], completing a satisfying hypothetical loop (Fig. la). This concept gained further support with the observation that carcinogenic alkylating agents can induce DNA hypomethylation, in addition to their known mutagenic effects, possibly by preventing cytosine methylation at sites adjacent to 06 -alkylguanosine residues [4]. The conclusion to be drawn from these studies was that hypomethylation of tumour DNA would allow uncontrolled or aberrant oncogene expression, with obvious advantages for tumour cell growth.
Identification of aroma profiles two pineapple varieties and their new genotype using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-olfactometry and sensory test

Two varieties of pineapples, Mahkota Bogor, Delika Subang and their new genotype (Pasir Kuda), were freshly extracted using liquid-liquid extraction and solid phase microextraction (SPME). The aroma compounds of the three samples were analyzed by GC-MS and GC-olfactometry using nasal impact frequency (NIF) method. A total of 14 odor-active compounds were associated with the aroma of pineapple. Methyl 2-methyl butanoate and ethyl 2-methyl butanoate with very high intensity were found to be responsible for the pineapple fruity sweet odor. Other odorants including methyl hexanoate, ethyl hexanoate, methyl octanoate, methyl 3-(methylthio) propanoate, 2,5-dimethyl-4-methoxy-3(2H)furanone, δ-hexalactone, γ-octalactone, 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone and δ-decalactone contribute to the overall aroma of pineapple. The main differences between the aroma of Mahkota Bogor, Pasir Kuda and Delika Subang could be attributed to the olfactory attributes (fruity, sweet, caramel, pineapplelike, coconut) which were perceived by most of the panelist in the Mahkota Bogor and Pasir Kuda but were not detected in the Delika Subang samples. This work is a prerequisite for effective selection of pineapple genotypes with optimal aroma profiles for high consumer acceptance.