Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Determinants and the Selection of Mexico-US Migrations

Using data from the Mexican Family Life Survey (MxFLS), a panel of Mexican individuals interviewed in 2002 and 2005, we analyze the characteristics of migrants from Mexico to the US relative to non-migrates and those who migrated and subsequently returned to Mexico. Using preand post-migration earnings and their earnings in the US from the American Community Survey (ACS), we characterize the selection of migrants on observable and non-observable characteristics. Merging the data with US American Community Survey data, we can also measure the expected earnings premium of migration to the US and the earnings premium for those that returned to Mexico. We find that migrants respond to the expected earnings premium to migration, once we control for migration costs. Also, the structure of the premium across skill groups generates negative selection on average and it can explain selection on observable and unobservables. We also find that returnees are more positively selected over skills than migrants to the US. Initial poverty, old age and family ties are strong deterrents of migration to the US, once we account for the skill-specific migration premium. We also find a strong under-representation of college educated among migrants to the US, possibly a consequence of the fact that undocumented migration is not an attractive option for those individuals.
Notch ligands with contrasting functions: Jagged1 and Delta1 in the mouse inner ear

Each of the sensory patches in the epithelium of the inner ear is a mosaic of hair cells and supporting cells. Notch signalling is thought to govern this pattern of differentiation through lateral inhibition. Recent experiments in the chick suggest, however, that Notch signalling also has a prior function - inductive rather than inhibitory - in defining the prosensory patches from which the differentiated cells arise. Several Notch ligands are expressed in each patch, but their individual roles in relation to the two functions of Notch signalling are unclear. We have used a Cre-LoxP approach to knock out two of these ligands, Delta1 (Dll1) and Jagged1 (Jag1), in the mouse ear. In the absence of Dll1, auditory hair cells develop early and in excess, in agreement with the lateral inhibition hypothesis. In the absence of Jag1, by contrast, the total number of these cells is strongly reduced, with complete loss of cochlear outer hair cells and some groups of vestibular hair cells, indicating that Jag1 is required for the prosensory inductive function of Notch. The number of cochlear inner hair cells, however, is almost doubled. This correlates with loss of expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p27Kip1 (Cdkn1b), suggesting that signalling by Jag1 is also needed to limit proliferation of prosensory cells, and that there is a core part of this population whose prosensory character is established independently of Jag1-Notch signalling. Our findings confirm that Notch signalling in the ear has distinct prosensory and lateral-inhibitory functions, for which different ligands are primarily responsible.
Deep Video Deblurring

Motion blur from camera shake is a major problem in videos captured by hand-held devices. Unlike single-image deblurring, video-based approaches can take advantage of the abundant information that exists across neighboring frames. As a result the best performing methods rely on aligning nearby frames. However, aligning images is a computationally expensive and fragile procedure, and methods that aggregate information must therefore be able to identify which regions have been accurately aligned and which have not, a task which requires high level scene understanding. In this work, we introduce a deep learning solution to video deblurring, where a CNN is trained end-to-end to learn how to accumulate information across frames. To train this network, we collected a dataset of real videos recorded with a high framerate camera, which we use to generate synthetic motion blur for supervision. We show that the features learned from this dataset extend to deblurring motion blur that arises due to camera shake in a wide range of videos, and compare the quality of results to a number of other baselines.
Time-Frequency Relationship between Inflation and Inflation Uncertainty for the U.S.: Evidence from Historical Data

We provide new evidence on the relationship between inflation and its uncertainty in the U.S. on an historical basis, covering the period 1775-2014. First, we use a bounded approach for measuring inflation uncertainty, as proposed by Chan et al. (2013), and we compare the results with the Stock and Watson (2007) method. Second, we employ the wavelet methodology to analyze the co-movements and causal effects between the two series. Our results provide evidence of a relationship between inflation and its uncertainty that varies across time and frequency. First, we show that in the medium- and long-runs, the Freidman–Ball hypothesis holds when the measure of uncertainty is unbounded, while if the opposite applies, the Cukierman–Meltzer reasoning prevails. Second, we discover mixed evidence about the inflation–uncertainty nexus in the short-run, findings which explain the mixed results reported to date in the empirical literature.
Correlation of clinical and molecular features in spinal bulbar muscular atrophy

Objectives: To characterize the clinical and genetic features of spinal bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), a rare neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion of a CAG repeat in the first exon of the androgen receptor gene, in the United Kingdom. Methods: We created a national register for SBMA in the United Kingdom and recruited 61 patients between 2005 and 2013. In our cross-sectional study, we assessed, by direct questioning, impairment of activities of daily living (ADL) milestones, functional rating, and subjective disease impact, and performed correlations with both CAG repeat size and degree of somatic mosaicism. Ten patients were deceased, 46 patients participated in the study, and 5 declined. Results: Subjects had an average age at onset of 43.4 years, and weakness onset most frequently occurred in the lower limbs (87%). Impaired mobility was the most frequently reported problem by patients, followed by bulbar dysfunction. Age distribution of the impairment of ADL milestones showed remarkable overlap with a Japanese study. We have identified a significant correlation between the number of CAG repeats and both age at onset and ADL milestones. Somatic mosaicism also showed a correlation with CAG expansion size and age at onset. Conclusions: Clinical features in SBMA show a substantial overlap when comparing populations with different genetic backgrounds. This finding has major implications, because multicenter trials will be necessary to obtain sufficient power in future clinical trials. Clinical-genetic correlations are strong in SBMA and should inform any clinical research strategy in this condition.
Mix Design of Acid Resistant Alkali Activated Materials for Reconstruction of the Building Constructions Damaged by the War

The paper covers the results of development of alkali activated materials stable in the acid environment. Such materials can be used as main materials for reconstruction of the residential and industrial buildings, influenced by the acid pollution or exploitation conditions. It was shown possibility to obtain alkali activated cement able to be use in normal hardening conditions, meeting the requirements for normal cements (compressive strength up to 60 MPa, initial setting time over 45 minutes, coefficient of acid resistance over 0.8). Such results provide possibilities to develop acid resistant repairing mixes for reconstruction and various applications.
Scalable Computation of Stream Surfaces on Large Scale Vector Fields

Stream surfaces and streamlines are two popular methods for visualizing three-dimensional flow fields. While several parallel streamline computation algorithms exist, relatively little research has been done to parallelize stream surface generation. This is because load-balanced parallel stream surface computation is nontrivial, due to the strong dependency in computing the positions of the particles forming the stream surface front. In this paper, we present a new algorithm that computes stream surfaces efficiently. In our algorithm, seeding curves are divided into segments, which are then assigned to the processes. Each process is responsible for integrating the segments assigned to it. To ensure a balanced computational workload, work stealing and dynamic refinement of seeding curve segments are employed to improve the overall performance. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our parallel stream surface algorithm using several large scale flow field data sets, and show the performance and scalability on HPC systems.
Phytomedicine in Joint Disorders

Chronic joint inflammatory disorders such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis have in common an upsurge of inflammation, and oxidative stress, resulting in progressive histological alterations and disabling symptoms. Currently used conventional medication (ranging from pain-killers to biological agents) is potent, but frequently associated with serious, even life-threatening side effects. Used for millennia in traditional herbalism, medicinal plants are a promising alternative, with lower rate of adverse events and efficiency frequently comparable with that of conventional drugs. Nevertheless, their mechanism of action is in many cases elusive and/or uncertain. Even though many of them have been proven effective in studies done in vitro or on animal models, there is a scarcity of human clinical evidence. The purpose of this review is to summarize the available scientific information on the following joint-friendly medicinal plants, which have been tested in human studies: Arnica montana, Boswellia spp. , Curcuma spp. , Equisetum arvense, Harpagophytum procumbens, Salix spp. , Sesamum indicum, Symphytum officinalis, Zingiber officinalis, Panax notoginseng, and Whitania somnifera.
Effects of incorporation of lupin flour on the quality attributes of beef burger

Lupin flour is known as an alternative high-ptlant protein for meat products due to its nutritional, health, and functional properties. A factorial experiment was performed to investigate the effect of lupin seed flour treatment (without, steaming, and roasting), meat substitution level with lupin seed flour (0, 5, 10, and 15%), and the interaction between them on the quality attributes of cooked beef burger by measuring CIELAB color, texture profile analysis (TPA), chemical composition (before and after cooking), and cooking properties (cooking loss, fat and moisture retention, and shrinkage). Based on the results of the factorial experiment, a completely randomized design was used to evaluate the sensory attributes of selected treatments. The different substitution levels mainly affected CIELAB color values, chemical composition, and cooking properties. On the other hand, the interaction effect between substitution level and treatment affected TPA. Considering all results, steaming treatment and a substitution level of 10% were selected as the best treatment to produce beef burgers. In comparison to the control burger, the developed burger had higher values of L* (increased by 21.26%), b* (increased by 32.94%), and moisture retention (increased by 37.85%); lower values of fat (decreased by 16.11%), protein (decreased by 6.37%), cooking loss (decreased by 43.22%), shrinkage (decreased 19.69%), and moisture content (decreased by 2.64%); and nonsignificantly different values with other tests performed. This study demonstrated that the incorporation of lupin flour in beef burgers could have the potential to substitute meat, create an alternative high-plant protein burger, and expand the application of lupin flour in the food industry.
ANALYSIS OF CREATIVE THINKING SKILLS ON THE PHYTHAGOREAN THEOREM MATERIAL IN TERMS OF SELF-CONFIDENCE

The purpose of this study is to describe the ability of students' creative thinking processes on the Pythagorean theorem material which is reviewed based on self-confidence. The subjects of this study were Junior High School students at grade VIII in Jakarta, as many as 120 students. This study uses a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. The stages carried out are: filling out a self-confidence questionnaire, testing creative thinking skills with Pythagoras theorem questions, interviews, analyzing data, drawing conclusions. Based on the results obtained, the high self-confidence classification of students affects the students' high mathematical creative thinking skills as well. Classification of self-confidence is moderate, then the students' mathematical creative thinking ability is quite good. Conversely, if the classification of a student's self-confidence is low, then a student’s mathematical creative thinking skills is also low. Keywords: Creative Thingking Skill, Pythagorean Theorem, Self-Confidence
IL-8/CXC Ligand 8 Survives Neonatal Gastric Digestion as a Result of Intrinsic Aspartyl Proteinase Resistance

The human fetus and neonate swallow biologically significant quantities of IL-8/CXC ligand 8 (CXCL8) in amniotic fluid and breast milk, and this remains measurable through simulated neonatal gastric and proximal intestinal digestions. We sought to confirm the structural and functional integrity of IL-8/CXCL8 in digestates and determine the mechanisms underlying this protease resistance. We observed that in comparison with BSA, IL-8/CXCL8 is highly resistant to pepsin and can be detected intact in assays for structural, immunologic, and functional integrity. In a computational molecular docking simulation, IL-8/CXCL8 was observed to fit poorly in the pepsin active site. On the basis of simulated mutation analyses, we hypothesized that this protease resistance is due to disulfide bond-related tertiary folding in IL-8/CXCL8. This was confirmed on chemical reduction of these groups.
Simulation of Zeno hybrid automata

Zeno hybrid automata are hybrid systems that can exhibit infinitely many discrete transitions in a finite time interval. Such automata arise due to modeling simplifications and may deteriorate simulation efficiency and accuracy considerably. Some basic properties of Zeno hybrid automata are explored. Possible ways to extend a simulation beyond the Zeno time are suggested.
BlogCrypt: Private Content Publishing on the Web

Voluntary disclosure of personal information is becoming more and more widespread with the advent of Web 2.0 services. Publishing such information constitutes new kinds of threats, such as further reinforcing already existing profiling techniques through correlation of perceived user activities to those publicly disclosed, but the most obvious of all is the intrinsic threat that malicious third parties collect and combine information we publish about ourselves. In this paper, we evaluate currently existing solutions that are destined for addressing this issue, then propose a model of our own for providing access control for a user over information she published and analyse our implementation thereof.
Perceptual Effect on Motor Learning in the Serial Reaction-Time Task

ABSTRACT Although the Serial Reaction-Time Task has been an effective tool in studying procedural learning, there is still a debate as to whether learning in the task is effector-based, stimulus-based, or response-based. In this article, the authors contribute to this debate by contrasting response- and stimulus-based learning by manipulating them selectively and simultaneously. Results show that (a) participants learned response sequences in the absence of stimulus-specific perceptual sequence information but (b) not stimulus sequences without corresponding response information. In a third condition, response sequence and stimulus frequency information were in conflict, and each effect decreased learning in the other domain. Overall, our findings show that learning in these tasks is primarily motor-based, but it is also constrained by relatively salient perceptual information. Together with earlier findings in the literature, the findings also suggest a task and stimulus-arrangement-specific interaction between motor and perceptual learning, where relevance and salience of the specific information plays a crucial role.
Myopathy and peripheral neuropathy associated with the 3243A>G mutation in mitochondrial DNA

Neurological features are common in mitochondrial diseases because tissues depending upon oxidative phosphorylation bear the brunt of the pathogenesis. The 3243A>G mutation in the MTTL1 gene in mitochondrial DNA is regarded as the most frequent mitchondrial point mutation and classically presents with mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). Myopathy and peripheral neuropathy have been documented in patients with mitochondrial diseases, but not properly characterised in patients with the 3243A>G mutation. We have previously determined the prevalence of patients with this mutation in a defined population in northern Finland. The clinical spectrum and molecular aspects of myopathy and peripheral neuropathy are analysed here in a population-based cohort of patients with 3243A>G. Fifty patients were examined neurologically in order to define the frequency of myopathy and its histological, ultrastructural and clinical features. The frequency and phenotypic variability of peripheral neuropathy were determined in 32 patients and muscle computed tomography findings recorded in 24 patients. Finally, variations in mutation heteroplasmy were analysed in 10 patients using single muscle fibre PCR analysis. The frequency of peripheral neuropathy was 22% (95% confidence interval (CI), 9–40%) and that of clinical myopathy 50% (95% CI, 36–64%). Moderate limb weakness was the most common myopathic feature, but mild weakness and external ophthalmoplegia were also present. CT scans revealed myopathic changes in 54% of the patients (95% CI, 33–76%), most frequently in the pelvic muscles. The incidence of myopathy was highest in the fifth decade of life, and higher age and male gender increased the risk of neuropathy. Muscle histology was abnormal in 72% of the cases examined (95% CI, 55–86%). The presence of intramitochondrial crystals and COX-negative fibres and variations in the size and shape of mitochondria were more common in the muscle of myopathic patients. Single muscle fibre analysis pointed to a correlation between the mutation load in ragged red fibres and in adjacent histologically normal fibres, and the proportion of 3243A>G in histologically normal muscle fibres showed a pattern compatible with random genetic drift. The results indicate that myopathy and peripheral neuropathy are common in patients with the 3243A>G and that myopathy is highly variable in presentation. Segregation of 3243A>G in individual muscle fibres showed a complex process with random and non-random elements.
Ferroelectric Oscillators and Their Coupled Networks

We propose ferroelectric field-effect transistor (FEFET)-based realization of non-linear, relaxation oscillators and their coupled networks. To control oscillations, we utilize a unique physics of FEFETs: the dynamic voltage controllabilityof the location and the width of the hysteresis loop. Such ferroelectric-basedcomplex, dynamical systems can lead to efficient physical platforms for alternative and neuromorphic computing paradigms.
Slowing down to speed up: Protecting users against massive attacks in content distribution systems

The Internet has become a large platform where users can interact and share contents. In this context, content distribution systems (CDS) have been designed to satisfy users needs. Peer-to-Peer (P2P) systems have emerged as a prominent solution to speed up CDS. In this kind of distributed system, a particular interesting challenge refers to mechanisms employed to match user's interests and published contents. The efficacy of CDS depends on the expertise of publishers to properly describe contents, which comprises an important task to guarantee good quality of experience (QoE) to users. Massive attacks may harm CDS if countermeasure mechanisms are not considered to fight content pollution. The main objective of the thesis is to devise a mechanism to provide users a good QoE and reduce the effect of malicious interference. To achieve that, three main steps guided the research work presented in the thesis and summarized in this paper: (i) we proposed a novel strategy that operates conservatively to avoid wide pollution dissemination, (ii) we extended our previous solution to cope with the subjectivity regarding content descriptions, and last, (iii) we proposed a generic model to investigate massive attacks (including content pollution) and conservative approaches.
On the Origin of DNA Genomes: Evolution of the Division of Labor between Template and Catalyst in Model Replicator Systems

The division of labor between template and catalyst is a fundamental property of all living systems: DNA stores genetic information whereas proteins function as catalysts. The RNA world hypothesis, however, posits that, at the earlier stages of evolution, RNA acted as both template and catalyst. Why would such division of labor evolve in the RNA world? We investigated the evolution of DNA-like molecules, i.e. molecules that can function only as template, in minimal computational models of RNA replicator systems. In the models, RNA can function as both template-directed polymerase and template, whereas DNA can function only as template. Two classes of models were explored. In the surface models, replicators are attached to surfaces with finite diffusion. In the compartment models, replicators are compartmentalized by vesicle-like boundaries. Both models displayed the evolution of DNA and the ensuing division of labor between templates and catalysts. In the surface model, DNA provides the advantage of greater resistance against parasitic templates. However, this advantage is at least partially offset by the disadvantage of slower multiplication due to the increased complexity of the replication cycle. In the compartment model, DNA can significantly delay the intra-compartment evolution of RNA towards catalytic deterioration. These results are explained in terms of the trade-off between template and catalyst that is inherent in RNA-only replication cycles: DNA releases RNA from this trade-off by making it unnecessary for RNA to serve as template and so rendering the system more resistant against evolving parasitism. Our analysis of these simple models suggests that the lack of catalytic activity in DNA by itself can generate a sufficient selective advantage for RNA replicator systems to produce DNA. Given the widespread notion that DNA evolved owing to its superior chemical properties as a template, this study offers a novel insight into the evolutionary origin of DNA.