We study the effects of institutional instability on growth. Using principal components analysis, we construct measures of institutional quality and instability from the political risk index of the International Country Risk Guide. A panel-data analysis of 132 countries during 1984–2004 reveals that institutional quality, especially with regard to the legal system and the protection of property ri

Humour is becoming an increasingly prevalent topic in organization studies. On the one hand, humour is said to enable workers to undermine management control; on the other hand, humour is said to provide managers with a resource for ensuring compliance with corporate objectives. This paper seeks to challenge the duality found in the literature between rebellious and disciplinary forms of humour by

Abstract Background: Eleven years ago we had described three patients with missing nexin links as a possible cause of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). The assumption was substantiated last year by finding a mutation in these patients. Materials and Methods: We counted the nexin links, inner (IDA) and outer (ODA) dynein arms and microtubuli in each of, if possible, 50 cilia in 41 patients with nor

Previous studies indicate that the predictive value of atrial fibrillatory rate in patients undergoing cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (AF) of long duration is limited. The present study investigates signal entropy in this setting. Standard 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) were recorded from 66 consecutive patients with AF undergoing cardioversion and sample entropy estimated. Patients were

BACKGROUND: T-wave alternans (TWA) is associated with prognosis after myocardial infarction (MI), however its link to the extent of ischemic injury has not been clarified. We analyzed the course of TWA and its relation to myocardial damage in experimental myocardial infarction. METHODS: In 21 pigs, infarction was induced by 40-minute long balloon inflation in LAD under continuous 12-lead ECG monit

Previous global RNA analysis was restricted to known transcripts in species with a defined transcriptome. Next generation sequencing has transformed transcriptomics by making it possible to analyse expressed genes with an exon level resolution from any tissue in any species without any a priori knowledge of which genes that are being expressed, splice patterns or their nucleotide sequence. In addi

Using the well-known exoelectrogen Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, an osmium redox polymer modified anode exhibited ca. 4-fold increase in current generation. Additionally, a significant decrease in the start-up time for electrocatalysis was observed. The findings suggest that the inherent extracellular electron transfer capabilities of electrogens coupled with such polymers could enhance electrocatal

The biosynthesis of Fe-S clusters is a vital process involving the delivery of elemental iron and sulfur to scaffold proteins via molecular interactions that are still poorly defined. We reconstituted a stable, functional complex consisting of the iron donor, Yfh1, and the Fe-S cluster scaffold, Isu1, with 1:1 stoichiometry, [Yfh1]24 ·: [Isu1]24. Using negative staining transmission EM and single

Healthy first-degree relatives with heredity of type 2 diabetes (FH+) are known to have metabolic inflexibility when compared to subjects without heredity for diabetes (FH-). In this study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that FH+ individuals have an impaired response to exercise compared to FH-. 16 FH+ and 19 FH- insulin sensitive men similar in age, VO2peak and BMI completed an exercise interven

Almost all animals, no matter how humble, possess eyes. Only those that live in total darkness, such as in a pitch-dark cave, may lack eyes entirely. Even at tremendous depths in the ocean - where the only lights that are ever seen are rare and fitful sparks of bioluminescence - most animals have eyes, and often surprisingly well-developed eyes. And despite their diversity (there are currently ten

The light-dependent regulation of stromal enzymes by thioredoxin (Trx)-catalysed disulphide/dithiol exchange is known as a classical mechanism for control of chloroplast metabolism. Recent proteome studies show that Trx targets are present not only in the stroma but in all chloroplast compartments, from the envelope to the thylakoid lumen. Trx-mediated redox control appears to be a common feature

The questions about why and how senescence occurs in the wild are among the most pertinent ones in evolutionary ecology. Telomere length is a commonly used marker for aging, while other biomarkers of aging have received considerably less attention. Here we studied how another potent indicator of aging-skin pentosidine concentration-relates to age and blood telomere length in a long-lived seabird w

Objectives: To characterize the utility of nitrotyrosine (NT) as a biomarker for arthritis and joint injury. Design: Synovial fluid, plasma, and urine from patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, meniscus injury and pseudogout, and knee-healthy volunteers were analyzed for concentrations of NT, nitrate and nitrite (NOx), matr

Swifts Apus apus are renowned for their fast flight manner which has fascinated people in all times. However, previous studies of swifts in flight during migration and roosting flights have shown that the birds operate over a narrow range of flight speeds compared with most other birds studied. In this study we have focused on the special flight behavior often called 'screaming parties'. During th

OBJECTIVE: To gain a deeper understanding of the content of 4 fear of falling (FOF) rating scales by linking them to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). DESIGN: Linking study according to the ICF linking rules. SETTING: Not applicable. PATIENTS: Not applicable. METHODS: The rating scales were the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), the Swedish vers

The frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) technique, based on the beat signal of a Mach– Zehnder interferometer employing a frequency-ramped light source, is studied for solid scattering media applications. The method is used to evaluate the mean time-of-flight (MTOF) of light traveling in scattering media, specifically polystyrene foams. We assume that each the time-of-flight (TOF) time corr

EU forest biomass demand is increasing rapidly under policy stimuli, as biofuels are important for EU utilities to reach EU 2020 renewables goal. The import of large amounts will be required, but stakeholders have sustainability concerns. Utilities are adopting self-regulatory certification schemes to reduce stakeholder pressures but the interplay between these efforts, stakeholder and policy dyna

We present results from a paleomagnetic study of the previously undated Erayinia dykes intruding the south-western Yilgarn Craton. The U-Pb TIMs baddeleyite age of these dykes is now 2401 +/- 1 Ma, which is about 10 m.y. younger than the 2418-2410 Ma Widgiemooltha dyke swarm. The paleomagnetic study isolated a stable primary remanence with steep downward direction, and the paleomagnetic pole (22.7