Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
North-South Trade, Employment and Inequality: Changing Fortunes in a Skill-Driven World

Drawing on three fields of economics (international, labour, and development), this study shows that expansion of North-South trade in manufactures has had a far greater impact on labour markets than earlier work suggested. In the South, unskilled workers have benefited most from this trade, but in the North, the gains have been concentrated on skilled labour, while unskilled workers have suffered falling wages and rising unemployment. This decline in the economic position of unskilled workers has increased inequality, and aggravated crime and other forms of social erosion, on both sides of the Atlantic. The failure of Northern governments to recognize that trade with the South has these adverse side-effects, and to take appropriate counter-measures, has fuelled the rise of protectionism - the worst possible response, which slows economic progress in both regions. The best solution for the longer term in the North is more investment in education, to raise the supply of skilled labour. However, the benefits of this investment will emerge slowly. During the next one or two decades, Professor Wood argues, other measures are also urgently needed to boost the demand for, and incomes of, unskilled workers.
Decomposing wage gaps across the pay distribution : Investigating inequalities of ethno-religious groups and disabled people

This paper provides a contemporary account of inequ alities in pay of disabled people and those from selected minority ethno-religious groups . We aim to understand the causes for differences in pay by ethno-religious group and dis ability status and type. We investigate whether pay gaps are a consequence of individual ea rning potential as represented, for example, by educational qualifications, or whether y appear to stem from the particular occupations or types of occupation that the minorit y groups are concentrated into; or whether they are largely unaccounted for. In the case of re maining unexplained gaps in pay, we consider how far they might provide evidence of emp loyer discrimination.
Altered SDF-1-mediated differentiation of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells in diabetes mellitus

In diabetic patients and animal models of diabetes mellitus (DM), circulating endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) number is lower than in normoglycaemic conditions and EPC angiogenic properties are inhibited. Stromal cell derived factor‐1 (SDF‐1) plays a key role in bone marrow (BM) c‐kit+ stem cell mobilization into peripheral blood (PB), recruitment from PB into ischemic tissues and differentiation into endothelial cells. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of DM in vivo and in vitro, on murine BM‐derived c‐kit+ cells and on their response to SDF‐1. Acute hindlimb ischemia was induced in streptozotocin‐treated DM and control mice; circulating c‐kit+ cells exhibited a rapid increase followed by a return to control levels which was significantly faster in DM than in control mice. CXCR4 expression by BM c‐kit+ cells as well as SDF‐1 protein levels in the plasma and in the skeletal muscle, both before and after the induction of ischemia, were similar between normoglycaemic and DM mice. However, BM‐derived c‐kit+ cells from DM mice exhibited an impaired differentiation towards the endothelial phenotype in response to SDF‐1; this effect was associated with diminished protein kinase phosphorylation. Interestingly, SDF‐1 ability to induce differentiation of c‐kit+ cells from DM mice was restored when cells were cultured under normoglycaemic conditions whereas c‐kit+ cells from normoglycaemic mice failed to differentiate in response to SDF‐1 when they were cultured in hyperglycaemic conditions. These results show that DM diminishes circulating c‐kit+ cell number following hindlimb ischemia and inhibits SDF‐1‐mediated AKT phosphorylation and differentiation towards the endothelial phenotype of BM‐derived c‐kit+ cells.
Changes in functional properties of A-type but not C-type sensory neurons in vivo in a rat model of peripheral neuropathy

Background The aim of this study was to compare primary sensory neurons in controls and in an animal neuropathic pain model in order to understand which types of neurons undergo changes associated with peripheral neuropathy. On the basis of intracellular recordings in vivo from somata, L4 sensory dorsal root ganglion neurons were categorized according to action potential configuration, conduction velocity, and receptive field properties to mechanical stimuli. Methods Intracellular recordings were made from functionally identified dorsal root ganglion neurons in vivo in the Mosconi and Kruger animal model of peripheral neuropathic pain. Results In this peripheral neuropathy model, a specific population of Aβ-fiber low threshold mechanoreceptor neurons, which respond normally to innocuous mechanical stimuli, exhibited differences in action potential configuration and conduction velocity when compared with control animals. No abnormal conduction velocity, action potential shapes, or tactile sensitivity of C-fiber neurons were encountered. Conclusion This study provides evidence for defining a potential role of Aβ-fiber low threshold mechanoreceptor neurons that might contribute to peripheral neuropathic pain.
Opportunities for Low-Income Students at Top Colleges and Universities: Policy Initiatives and the Distribution of Students

Whether the nation's most selective and resource-intensive colleges and universities are successful in serving as "engines of opportunity" rather than "bastions of privilege" depends on the extent to which they increase the educational attainment of students from the most economically disadvantaged backgrounds (Bowen, Kurzweil, and Tobin, 2005). Less than 11 percent of first-year students matriculating at 20 highly selective institutions were from the bottom income quartile of the income distribution, leading to significant concerns from higher education leaders and policy makers about the role of higher education in reducing intergenerational inequality, particularly in an era of high returns to education. Responding to what Lawrence Summers described as the "manifest inadequacy of higher education's current contribution to equality of opportunity in America," Harvard University and other public and private universities have introduced new initiatives designed to encourage the enrollment of students from low-and moderateincome families. One question addressed in this paper is whether the population of low-income students with high observed academic achievement is sufficiently large that aggressive institutional policies will be an effective tool in increasing the representation of low-income students at the most highly ranked colleges and universities. Using data on test-taking outcomes, we also examine where students currently send scores (as a proxy for application) and then consider the extent to which differences in family income affect students'choice sets. While the problem of the underrepresentation of low-income students affects both public and private universities, the effect of outreach and financial aid policies on outcomes is likely to differ appreciably across institutions.
Compact, Polyvalent Mannose Quantum Dots as Sensitive, Ratiometric FRET Probes for Multivalent Protein–Ligand Interactions

Abstract A highly efficient cap‐exchange approach for preparing compact, dense polyvalent mannose‐capped quantum dots (QDs) has been developed. The resulting QDs have been successfully used to probe multivalent interactions of HIV/Ebola receptors DC‐SIGN and DC‐SIGNR (collectively termed as DC‐SIGN/R) using a sensitive, ratiometric Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay. The QD probes specifically bind DC‐SIGN, but not its closely related receptor DC‐SIGNR, which is further confirmed by its specific blocking of DC‐SIGN engagement with the Ebola virus glycoprotein. Tuning the QD surface mannose valency reveals that DC‐SIGN binds more efficiently to densely packed mannosides. A FRET‐based thermodynamic study reveals that the binding is enthalpy‐driven. This work establishes QD FRET as a rapid, sensitive technique for probing structure and thermodynamics of multivalent protein–ligand interactions.
Interval Training Normalizes Cardiomyocyte Function, Diastolic Ca2+ Control, and SR Ca2+ Release Synchronicity in a Mouse Model of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

Rationale: In the present study we explored the mechanisms behind excitation–contraction (EC) coupling defects in cardiomyocytes from mice with type-2 diabetes (db/db). Objective: We determined whether 13 weeks of aerobic interval training could restore cardiomyocyte Ca2+ cycling and EC coupling. Methods and Results: Reduced contractility in cardiomyocytes isolated from sedentary db/db was associated with increased diastolic sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR)-Ca2+ leak, reduced synchrony of Ca2+ release, reduced transverse (T)-tubule density, and lower peak systolic and diastolic Ca2+ and caffeine-induced Ca2+ release. Additionally, the rate of SR Ca2+ ATPase–mediated Ca2+ uptake during diastole was reduced, whereas a faster recovery from caffeine-induced Ca2+ release indicated increased Na+/Ca2+-exchanger activity. The increased SR-Ca2+ leak was attributed to increased Ca2+-calmodulin–dependent protein kinase (CaMKII&dgr;) phosphorylation, supported by the normalization of SR-Ca2+ leak on inhibition of CaMKII&dgr; (AIP). Exercise training restored contractile function associated with restored SR Ca2+ release synchronicity, T-tubule density, twitch Ca2+ amplitude, SR Ca2+ ATPase and Na+/Ca2+-exchanger activities, and SR-Ca2+ leak. The latter was associated with reduced phosphorylation of cytosolic CaMKII&dgr;. Despite normal contractile function and Ca2+ handling after the training period, phospholamban was hyperphosphorylated at Serine-16. Protein kinase A inhibition (H-89) in cardiomyocytes from the exercised db/db group abolished the differences in SR-Ca2+ load when compared with the sedentary db/db mice. EC coupling changes were observed without changes in serum insulin or glucose levels, suggesting that the exercise training–induced effects are not via normalization of the diabetic condition. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that aerobic interval training almost completely restored the contractile function of the diabetic cardiomyocyte to levels close to sedentary wild type.
Fat Mass Centile Charts for Brazilian Children and Adolescents and the Identification of the Roles of Socioeconomic Status and Physical Fitness on Fat Mass Development

This paper presents fat mass centile charts for Brazilian youth and investigates the roles of socioeconomic status and physical fitness (PF) on fat mass (FM) development. Two northeast Brazilian samples were used: a cross-sectional sample of 3659 (1921 girls) aged 8 to 16 years and a mixed-longitudinal series of cohorts (8–10, 10–12, 12–14, 14–16 years) with 250 boys and 250 girls. A measure of somatic maturity was used as a marker of biological maturation; PF comprised agility, explosive and static strength, and aerobic capacity. Socioeconomic status was based on school attended; public or private. Slaughter’s anthropometric equations were used to estimate FM. Percentile charts was constructed using the LMS method. HLM (Hierarchical Linear Model) 7 software modeled FM changes, identifying inter-individual differences and their covariates. Girls and boys had different FM percentile values at each age; FM increased nonlinearly in both girls and boys. Higher PF levels reduced FM changes across time in both sexes. Sex-specific non-linear FM references were provided representing important tools for nutritionists, pediatriciann and educators. Physical fitness levels were found to act as a protective factor in FM increases. As such, we emphasize PF importance as a putative health marker and highlight the need for its systematic development across the school years.
THE STATE OF THE COLD DARK MATTER MODELS ON GALACTIC AND SUBGALACTIC SCALES

The Lambda-Cold Dark Matter (ΛCDM) model describes successfully our Universe on large scales, as has been verified by a wide range of observations. A number of apparent inconsistencies have arisen between observations and ΛCDM predictions on small scales. In this work, the current status of observations on galactic and subgalactic scales is reviewed. Theoretical predictions and recent observations are brought together in order to reveal the nature and severity of the inconsistencies. Lastly, the progress towards the resolution of each one of these conflicts is briefly reviewed.
Tax Avoidance and Ex Ante Cost of Capital

We investigate the relationship between tax avoidance and ex ante cost of capital. We provide evidence that investors perceive tax avoidance differently at different levels of tax avoidance. We find that, if low tax-avoidance firms increase tax avoidance, ex ante cost of capital declines. In contrast, if high tax-avoidance firms increase tax avoidance, ex ante cost of capital increases. These findings suggest a nonlinear, convex relationship between tax avoidance and ex ante cost of capital. We then estimate a firm-year-specific, expected level of tax avoidance for each sample observation and find that ex ante cost of capital increases as firms deviate from their expected levels of tax avoidance. On average, when firms deviate from their expected levels of tax avoidance in one year, they revert back toward their expected levels of tax avoidance in the following year.
Measurement invariance of maternal ratings of ADHD symptoms across clinic referred children’s with and without ADHD

The study examined the measurement invariance (configural, metric, scalar, and error variances) and factor mean scores equivalencies of a modified version of the Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD-Symptoms and Normal Behavior Scale (SWAN-M) across ratings provided by mothers of clinic-referred children and adolescents, diagnosed with (N = 666) and without (N = 202) ADHD. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of these ratings provided support for the bi-factor model of ADHD [orthogonal general and specific factors for inattention (IA) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI) symptoms]. Multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the bi-factor model supported full measurement invariance. Findings also showed that for latent mean scores, the ADHD group had higher scores than the non-ADHD group for the ADHD general and IA specific factors. The findings indicate that observed scores (based on maternal ratings of the SWAN-M) are comparable, as they have the same measurement properties. The theoretical, psychometric and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.
Splitting and Matrix Exponential Approach for Jump-Diffusion Models with Inverse Normal Gaussian, Hyperbolic and Meixner Jumps

This paper is a further extension of the method proposed in Itkin (2014) as applied to another set of jump-diffusion models: Inverse Normal Gaussian, Hyperbolic and Meixner. To solve the corresponding PIDEs we accomplish few steps. First, a second-order operator splitting on financial processes (diffusion and jumps) is applied to these PIDEs. To solve the diffusion equation we use standard finite-difference methods. For the jump part, we transform the jump integral into a pseudo-differential operator and construct its second order approximation on a grid which supersets the grid used for the diffusion part. The proposed schemes are unconditionally stable in time and preserve positivity of the solution which is computed either via a matrix exponential, or via its Pade approximation. Various numerical experiments are provided to justify these results.
Differentiable Functional Program Interpreters

Programming by Example (PBE) is the task of inducing computer programs from input-output examples. It can be seen as a type of machine learning where the hypothesis space is the set of legal programs in some programming language. Recent work on differentiable interpreters relaxes the discrete space of programs into a continuous space so that search over programs can be performed using gradient-based optimization. While conceptually powerful, so far differentiable interpreter-based program synthesis has only been capable of solving very simple problems. In this work, we study modeling choices that arise when constructing a differentiable programming language and their impact on the success of synthesis. The main motivation for the modeling choices comes from functional programming: we study the effect of memory allocation schemes, immutable data, type systems, and built-in control-flow structures. Empirically we show that incorporating functional programming ideas into differentiable programming languages allows us to learn much more complex programs than is possible with existing differentiable languages.
A Multivariate Stochastic Volatility Model

Anastasios Plataniotis and Petros Dellaportas tasosp@aueb.gr petros@aueb.gr Department of Statistics, Athens University of Economics and Business, Greece Summary: We introduce a broad class of multivariate stochastic volatility models where transformed eigenvalues and Givens rotation angles are assumed to be AR(1) processes. This decomposition retains the required positive definite structure of a fully time-varying covariance matrix. We provide detailed guidelines for a nested Laplace estimation procedure that exploits an efficient numerical maximization strategy. The methodology is implemented for a real financial dataset with 100 stocks and its forecasting power is compared to other existing multivariate volatility models. There is evidence that our models are superior in terms of both fitting and predicting to other specifications that model time-varying covariance matrices. Some key words: Givens angles, MCMC, Nested Laplace Approximation, Spectral decomposition
Partitioning of aromatic constituents into water from gasoline and other complex solvent mixtures

Variations in gasoline composition (source variations) as well as complexity (nonideal behavior, cosolvent effects) contributing to variability in gasoline-water partitioning of aromatic hydrocarbon constituents were examined. Aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in water extracts of 31 gasoline samples varied over 1 order of magnitude, reflecting the diversity in gasoline composition. However, the gasoline-water partition coefficients (K{sub fw}) varied by less than 30% among these samples. Partitioning between water and known mixtures of aromatic and aliphatic solvents was measured and used to estimate the upper and lower bounds of K{sub fw} values for more complex solvent mixtures such as gasoline and diesel fuel. Oxygenated additives, such as methanol and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), were shown to have minimal cosolvent effects on hydrocarbon partitioning. The observed inverse, log-log linear dependence of K{sub fw} values on aqueous solubility could be well predicted by assuming gasoline to be an ideal solvent mixture (i.e., Raoult's law is valid).
Replacement of dopaminergic medication with subthalamic nucleus stimulation in Parkinson's disease: Long‐term observation

Stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is an effective treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD), but the medication requirements after implant are poorly known. We performed a long‐term prospective evaluation of 20 patients maintained at stable dopaminergic therapy for 5 years after bilateral STN implants, who were evaluated 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years after surgery. We measured, during the entire observation period, the effect of deep brain stimulation on motor and functional outcome measures, the levodopa equivalent daily dose and the total electrical energy delivered. At 5 years, the UPDRS motor score had improved by 54.2% and levodopa equivalent dose was reduced by 61.9%, compared with preimplant. Dopaminergic medication remained stable during the observation period, but energy was progressively increased over time. Rest tremor, rigidity, gait, lower and upper limb akinesia, and total axial score were improved in decreasing order. Postural stability and speech improved transiently, whereas on‐period freezing of gait, motor fluctuations and dyskinesias recovered durably. Functional measures did not show improvement in autonomy and daily living activities after STN implant. Chronic STN stimulation allows to replace for dopaminergic medications in the long‐term at the expense of an increase of the total energy delivered. This is associated with marked improvement of motor features without a matching benefit in functional measures. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Brain Size and Morphology of the Brood-Parasitic and Cerophagous Honeyguides (Aves: Piciformes)

Honeyguides (Indicatoridae, Piciformes) are unique among birds in several respects. All subsist primarily on wax, are obligatory brood parasites and one species engages in ‘guiding' behavior in which it leads human honey hunters to bees' nests. This unique life history has likely shaped the evolution of their brain size and morphology. Here, we test that hypothesis using comparative data on relative brain and brain region size of honeyguides and their relatives: woodpeckers, barbets and toucans. Honeyguides have significantly smaller relative brain volumes than all other piciform taxa. Volumetric measurements of the brain indicate that honeyguides have a significantly larger cerebellum and hippocampal formation (HF) than woodpeckers, the sister clade of the honeyguides, although the HF enlargement was not significant across all of our analyses. Cluster analyses also revealed that the overall composition of the brain and telencephalon differs greatly between honeyguides and woodpeckers. The relatively smaller brains of the honeyguides may be a consequence of brood parasitism and cerophagy (‘wax eating'), both of which place energetic constraints on brain development and maintenance. The inconclusive results of our analyses of relative HF volume highlight some of the problems associated with comparative studies of the HF that require further study.
Market Power, Fully Revealing Prices and Welfare

This paper considers a dynamic duopoly market with strategic, price setting firms and an infinite set of fully rational, privately informed consumers who enter the market sequentially. I show that there exists a sequential equilibrium in which prices converge to their realized product qualities with probability one, hence perfectly aggregating the privately held information. This fully revealing equilibrium is shown to be welfare inferior to a fixed price equilibrium in which perfect information aggregation might fail. Therefore, one has to be careful not to equate fully revealing prices with welfare optimality.