Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Capabilities, Wealth, and Trade

We explore the relation between a country’s income and the mix of products it exports. Both are simultaneously determined by countries’ capabilities, that is, by countries’ productivity and quality levels for each good. Our theoretical setup has two features. (1) Some goods have fewer high-quality producers/countries than others, meaning that there is comparative advantage. (2) Imperfect competition allows high- and low-quality producers to coexist. These two features generate an inverted-U, general equilibrium relationship between a country’s export mix and its GDP per capita. We show that this inverted-U permeates the international data on trade and GDP per capita.
Arousal Rather than Basic Emotions Influence Long-Term Recognition Memory in Humans

Emotion can influence various cognitive processes, however its impact on memory has been traditionally studied over relatively short retention periods and in line with dimensional models of affect. The present study aimed to investigate emotional effects on long-term recognition memory according to a combined framework of affective dimensions and basic emotions. Images selected from the Nencki Affective Picture System were rated on the scale of affective dimensions and basic emotions. After 6 months, subjects took part in a surprise recognition test during an fMRI session. The more negative the pictures the better they were remembered, but also the more false recognitions they provoked. Similar effects were found for the arousal dimension. Recognition success was greater for pictures with lower intensity of happiness and with higher intensity of surprise, sadness, fear, and disgust. Consecutive fMRI analyses showed a significant activation for remembered (recognized) vs. forgotten (not recognized) images in anterior cingulate and bilateral anterior insula as well as in bilateral caudate nuclei and right thalamus. Further, arousal was found to be the only subjective rating significantly modulating brain activation. Higher subjective arousal evoked higher activation associated with memory recognition in the right caudate and the left cingulate gyrus. Notably, no significant modulation was observed for other subjective ratings, including basic emotion intensities. These results emphasize the crucial role of arousal for long-term recognition memory and support the hypothesis that the memorized material, over time, becomes stored in a distributed cortical network including the core salience network and basal ganglia.
Visualization of Uptake of Mineral Elements and the Dynamics of Photosynthates in Arabidopsis by a Newly Developed Real-Time Radioisotope Imaging System (RRIS)

Minerals and photosynthates are essential for many plant processes, but their imaging in live plants is difficult. We have developed a method for their live imaging in Arabidopsis using a real-time radioisotope imaging system. When each radioisotope, 22Na, 28Mg, 32P-phosphate, 35S-sulfate, 42K, 45Ca, 54Mn and 137Cs, was employed as an ion tracer, ion movement from root to shoot over 24 h was clearly observed. The movements of 22Na, 42K, 32P, 35S and 137Cs were fast so that they spread to the tip of stems. In contrast, high accumulation of 28Mg, 45Ca and 54Mn was found in the basal part of the main stem. Based on this time-course analysis, the velocity of ion movement in the main stem was calculated, and found to be fastest for S and K among the ions we tested in this study. Furthermore, application of a heat-girdling treatment allowed determination of individual ion movement via xylem flow alone, excluding phloem flow, within the main stem of 43-day-old Arabidopsis inflorescences. We also successfully developed a new system for visualizing photosynthates using labeled carbon dioxide, 14CO2. Using this system, the switching of source/sink organs and phloem flow direction could be monitored in parts of whole shoots and over time. In roots, 14C photosynthates accumulated intensively in the growing root tip area, 200–800 µm behind the meristem. These results show that this real-time radioisotope imaging system allows visualization of many nuclides over a long time-course and thus constitutes a powerful tool for the analysis of various physiological phenomena.
Opposite Role of Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 in Lung Cancers

Lung cancer is highly heterogenous and is composed of various subtypes that are in diverse differential stages. The newly identified integrin-interacting proteins Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 are the activators of transmembrane receptor integrins that play important roles in cancer progression. In this report we present the expression profiles of Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 in lung cancers using patient specimens and established their correlation with lung cancer progression. We found that Kindlin-1 was expressed in epithelia-derived non-small-cell lung cancer, especially in squamous cell lung cancer but expressed at low levels in poorly differentiated large cell lung cancer. However, Kindlin-2 was highly expressed in large cell lung cancer. Both Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 were found not expressed or expressed at very low levels in neuroendocrine-derived small cell lung cancer. Importantly, the Kindlin-1 expression level was positively correlated with the differentiation of squamous cell lung cancer. Surprisingly, we found that the very homologous Kindlin family proteins, Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2, displayed counteracting functional roles in lung cancer cells. Ectopic expression of Kindlin-1 in non-small-cell lung cancer cells inhibited in vitro cell migration and in vivo tumor growth, while Kindlin-2 promoted these functions. Mechanistically, Kindlin-1 prohibited epithelail to mesenchymal transition in non-small-cell lung cancer cells, while Kindlin-2 enhanced epithelail to mesenchymal transition in these cells. Taken together, we demonstrated that Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 differentially regulate lung cancer cell progression. Further, the expression levels of Kindlin-1 might be potentially used as a marker for lung cancer differentiation and targeting Kindlin-2 might block the invasive growth of large cell lung cancer.
The Disc Approach to Spoken Language Systems Development and Evaluation

The paper reviews recent progress in the DISC project on developing a systematic and general scheme for in-depth characterisation of current practice in the development and evaluation of spoken language dialogue systems and their components. This scheme consists of a ‘grid’ which serves to characterise the properties of any particular spoken language dialogue system or component, and a life cycle model which accounts for how that system or component was developed and evaluated. The work reported forms part of the wider DISC agenda of developing and testing a best practice methodology which will contribute to the establishment of dialogue engineering as a sub-discipline of software engineering.
SOCIAL EXCLUSION IN RURAL AREAS

Further copies of this report are available priced £5.00. Cheques should be made payable to The Stationery Office and addressed to: The Stationery Office 71 Lothian Road Edinburgh EH3 9AZ Order line and General Enquiries 0870 606 5566 The views expressed in this report are those of the researchers and do not necessarily represent those of the Department or Scottish Ministers.
Phase II trial of the novel taxane BMS-184476 as second-line in non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of BMS-184476, an analog of paclitaxel, in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progressing or relapsing following at least one prior chemotherapy regimen. PATIENTS AND METHODS Fifty-six previously treated advanced NSCLC patients received BMS-184476 at a dose of 60 mg/m(2) administered intravenously over 1 h every 21 days. RESULTS The median number of cycles delivered per patient was five (range one to 17). Dose reduction was required in only 3.8% of cycles. Grade 4 neutropenia occurred in 19.6% of patients, but no grade 4 thrombocytopenia or anemia was reported. Febrile neutropenia was observed in only two (3.6%) patients and there were no life-threatening events. Grade 3/4 peripheral sensory-motor neuropathy was reported in 9% of patients. Other non-hematological toxicities, such as nausea and vomiting, myalgia and arthralgia, diarrhea, and mucositis, were uncommon. Partial responses were observed in eight (14.3%) patients and stable disease in 33 (58.9%). Median progression-free survival was 3.7 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.7-5.4] and median overall survival was 10 months (95% CI 6-13.4). CONCLUSIONS BMS-184476 was well tolerated at the dose of 60 mg/m(2) and showed evidence of antitumor activity in previously treated NSCLC.
Accelerating Consensus Gossip Algorithms: Sparsifying Networks Can Be Good for You

In this paper, we consider the problem of improving the convergence speed of an average consensus gossip algorithm by sparsifying a sufficiently dense network graph. Thus, instead of adding links, as usually proposed in the literature, or globally optimizing the mixing matrix of the gossip algorithm for a given network, which requires global knowledge at every node, we find a sparser network that has better spectral properties and faster convergence than the original denser one. This allows to reduce simultaneously both the convergence time and the communication cost involved in the execution of the gossip algorithm. We first show why it is possible to sparsify a network while increasing its convergence rate and also that there exists an optimal fraction of links to be removed. As a benchmark, we devise a centralized method that selects in an optimal way the set of links to be removed from the original network. Then, we propose a low complexity and scalable decentralized protocol requiring only local information at each node, which also generates a sparser network having a substantially better convergence rate. Simulation results are presented to verify and show clearly the efficiency of our approach.
Connective tissue growth factor stimulates the proliferation, migration and differentiation of lung fibroblasts during paraquat-induced pulmonary fibrosis

It is well established that paraquat (PQ) poisoning can cause severe lung injury during the early stages of exposure, finally leading to irreversible pulmonary fibrosis. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is an essential growth factor that is involved in tissue repair and pulmonary fibrogenesis. In the present study, the role of CTGF was examined in a rat model of pulmonary fibrosis induced by PQ poisoning. Histological examination revealed interstitial edema and extensive cellular thickening of interalveolar septa at the early stages of poisoning. At 2 weeks after PQ administration, lung tissue sections exhibited a marked thickening of the alveolar walls with an accumulation of interstitial cells with a fibroblastic appearance. Masson’s trichrome staining revealed a patchy distribution of collagen deposition, indicating pulmonary fibrogenesis. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining of tissue samples demonstrated that CTGF expression was significantly upregulated in the PQ-treated group. Similarly, PQ treatment of MRC-5 human lung fibroblast cells caused an increase in CTGF in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the addition of CTGF to MRC-5 cells triggered cellular proliferation and migration. In addition, CTGF induced the differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, as was evident from increased expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen. These findings demonstrate that PQ causes increased CTGF expression, which triggers proliferation, migration and differentiation of lung fibroblasts. Therefore, CTGF may be important in PQ-induced pulmonary fibrogenesis, rendering this growth factor a potential pharmacological target for reducing lung injury.
Housing Collateral and Household Indebtedness: Is there a Household Financial Accelerator?

We examine the ‘financial accelerator’ model of household behaviour, whereby shocks to household balance sheets increase the amplitude of fluctuations in consumer spending by tightening or unbinding collateral constraints. We construct an alternative model where households have access to both secured and unsecured debt, and examine the consequences of shocks to household balance sheets (primarily, the value of housing wealth) in this augmented setting. We demonstrate that our alternative model considerably reduces the amplitude of fluctuations in debtfinanced consumer spending arising from fluctuations in household asset values. The paper tests the applicability of the two models using household panel data for the United Kingdom.
Facets of Website Content

Content is of primary importance in the World Wide Web. In particular, subjective perceptions of content are known to influence a variety of user evaluations, thereby altering attitudes and behavioral outcomes. Thus, it is essential that individually experienced facets of content can be adequately assessed. In a series of seven studies, we create, validate, and benchmark a measure for users’ subjective view on web content. In the first six studies, a total of 3106 participants evaluated a sum of 60 websites. The resulting Web-CLIC questionnaire is a 12-item measure based on prior research on web content. It encloses four main facets of users’ content experience: clarity, likeability, informativeness, and credibility – jointly representing a general factor subjective content perception. Very high internal consistencies and high short- to medium-term retest reliabilities are demonstrated. Strong evidence for construct validity in terms of factorial, convergent, divergent, discriminative, concurrent, experimental, and predictive validity is found. In a seventh study, encompassing 7379 ratings on 120 websites, benchmarks for 10 different content domains and optimal cut points are provided. Overall, the present research suggests that the Web-CLIC is a sound measure of subjective content perception of both practical and theoretical benefit.
Mortality in randomized trials of antioxidant supplements for primary and secondary prevention: systematic review and meta-analysis.

CONTEXT Antioxidant supplements are used for prevention of several diseases. OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of antioxidant supplements on mortality in randomized primary and secondary prevention trials. DATA SOURCES AND TRIAL SELECTION: We searched electronic databases and bibliographies published by October 2005. All randomized trials involving adults comparing beta carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin E, and selenium either singly or combined vs placebo or vs no intervention were included in our analysis. Randomization, blinding, and follow-up were considered markers of bias in the included trials. The effect of antioxidant supplements on all-cause mortality was analyzed with random-effects meta-analyses and reported as relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Meta-regression was used to assess the effect of covariates across the trials. DATA EXTRACTION We included 68 randomized trials with 232 606 participants (385 publications). DATA SYNTHESIS When all low- and high-bias risk trials of antioxidant supplements were pooled together there was no significant effect on mortality (RR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.98-1.06). Multivariate meta-regression analyses showed that low-bias risk trials (RR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.04[corrected]-1.29) and selenium (RR, 0.998; 95% CI, 0.997-0.9995) were significantly associated with mortality. In 47 low-bias trials with 180 938 participants, the antioxidant supplements significantly increased mortality (RR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.08). In low-bias risk trials, after exclusion of selenium trials, beta carotene (RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.11), vitamin A (RR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.10-1.24), and vitamin E (RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.07), singly or combined, significantly increased mortality. Vitamin C and selenium had no significant effect on mortality. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with beta carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E may increase mortality. The potential roles of vitamin C and selenium on mortality need further study.
Tomographic Inversion of Pn Travel Times in China: Implications for lithosphere thinning and deformation of North China

[1] Pn travel times are useful for studying crustal and uppermost mantle structure and regional tectonics because they are affected by crustal velocity and thickness as well as uppermost mantle velocity and anisotropy. We obtained 57,740 Pn travel time picks from 5433 earthquakes and 307 stations from Chinese national and provincial earthquake bulletins and the International Seismological Center bulletins to invert for Pn velocity variation and anisotropy and station delays in China. Our inversion reveals significant features that correlate with surface geology. The main results are as follows: (1) The Pn velocities show a mosaic of very fast and very slow anomalies, mirroring the heterogeneous geology of China at the surface. The Pn velocities are high beneath the major basins in the west (Sichuan, Qaidam, west Tarim, Tulufan, and Junggar) and low in areas of active volcanoes (Myanmar and western Yunnan) and Quaternary volcanism in northern Tibet, in seismically active areas in north China and Tien Shan, and in the southern part of south China (the Hainan plume). (2) The Pn anisotropy beneath the major basins in the west is generally weak. Strong anisotropy is found beneath high-deformation regions (the Tibetan Plateau, southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, western Tien Shan, and part of north China), suggesting the anisotropy is likely related to recent large-scale tectonic activity. (3) A large area of north China shows prominent low Pn velocity beneath Archean basement with thin crust. Our observations are consistent with rifting, lithospheric thinning, and mantle upwelling in the region. The Pn anisotropy is consistent with a dextral simple shear in the NNE direction in the lithosphere mantle during the last (and ongoing) major deformation period. (4) The Pn velocity in northern Tibet is generally lower than that in the south. Southern Tibet has significant E-W structure. Low-velocity anomalies can be traced from northern Tibet across southwestern Tibet and south central Tibet to near the India plate. Anisotropy is absent beneath much of the Himalaya block, but consistent anisotropy with E-W fast direction is present beneath the Lhasa block and large anisotropy (up to 4%) is observed in low-velocity regions of the northern and western Tibet. Complex station delays in the eastern margin of the plateau suggest that the whole crust may be highly deformed. The anisotropy pattern in the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau suggests a mantle lithospheric deformation similar to the clockwise rotation of material observed at the surface. (5) Crustal thicknesses inferred from our station delays are consistent with previous models, which correlate well with surface topography.
Targeting and mistargeting of plasma membrane adaptors in vitro

Targeting and recruitment of the plasma membrane (PM) clathrin-coated vesicle adaptor complexes has been studied using an in vitro system based on permeabilized acceptor cells and donor cytosol. Through the use of species- and/or tissue-specific antibodies, only newly recruited exogenous PM adaptors are visualized. Targeting of PM adaptors can be switched from the plasma membrane to a perinuclear compartment by GTP gamma S or excess calcium. Prior treatment with brefeldin A prevents GTP gamma S-induced mistargeting. Double-labeling immunofluorescence and immunogold EM indicate that the perinuclear PM adaptor binding compartment is late endosomal. We propose that receptors for PM adaptors cycle between the plasma membrane and an endosomal storage compartment. Normally the receptors would be switched on only at the plasma membrane, but both GTP gamma S and calcium are capable of reversing this switch. Intracellular sequestration of PM adaptor receptors may provide the cell with a mechanism for up-regulating endocytosis following a burst of exocytosis.
Large-Amplitude Periodic Oscillations in Suspension Bridges: Some New Connections with Nonlinear Analysis

This paper surveys an area of nonlinear functional analysis and its applications. The main application is to the existence and multiplicity of periodic solutions of a possible mathematical models of nonlinearly supported bending beams, and their possible application to nonlinear behavior as observed in large-amplitude flexings in suspension bridges. A second area, periodic flexings in a floating beam, also nonlinearly supported, is covered at the end of the paper.
Spectra probing the number ratio of C- to M-type AGB stars in the NGC 6822 galaxy

Aims. We calibrate spectroscopically the C- versus (vs.) M-type asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star selection made using nearIR photometry, and investigate the spatial distribution of the C/M ratio in NGC 6822, based on low resolution spectroscopy and near-IR photometry. Methods. We obtained low resolution multi-object spectroscopy with the VIMOS instrument at the ESO VLT of ∼800 stars in seven fields centred on NGC 6822. The spectroscopic classification of giant stars in NGC 6822 and foreground dwarf contaminants was made by comparing more than 500 good quality spectra with the spectroscopic atlas of Turnshek et al. (1985). The sample of spectroscopically confirmed AGB stars in NGC 6822 is divided into C- and M-rich giants to constrain the C vs. M AGB star selection criteria based on photometry. The larger near-IR photometric sample is then used to investigate the C/M ratio gradients across the galaxy. Results. We present the largest catalogue of near-IR photometry and spectra of AGB stars in NGC 6822 with 150 C-stars and 122 M-stars. Seventy-nine percent of the C-stars in our catalogue are redder than (J − K)0 = 1.2 mag, and 12% are brighter than K0 = 16.45 mag and bluer than (J − K)0 = 1.2 mag. The remaining 9% are mixed with the M-type AGB stars, 88% of which have colours (J − H)0 > 0.73 mag and (J − K)0 between 0.9 mag and 1.2 mag. The remainder are mixed with dwarfs and C-type stars. The foreground dwarfs have preferably colours (J − H)0 < 0.73 mag (95%). Using the proposed criteria, we estimate that the overall C/M ratio of the galaxy is around 0.8 with a spread between 0.2 < C/M < 1.8. These results suggest that the metallicity index [Fe/H] is between −1. 2d ex and−1.3 dex according to the different calibrations and that there is a significant spread of about 0.4 ÷0. 6d ex. We also discuss age rather than metallicity variations that could explain the C/M ratio trends.
Technology Evaluation: The Impact of e-Prescribing on Prescriber and Staff Time in Ambulatory Care Clinics: A Time-Motion Study

Electronic prescribing has improved the quality and safety of care. One barrier preventing widespread adoption is the potential detrimental impact on workflow. We used time-motion techniques to compare prescribing times at three ambulatory care sites that used paper-based prescribing, desktop, or laptop e-prescribing. An observer timed all prescriber (n = 27) and staff (n = 42) tasks performed during a 4-hour period. At the sites with optional e-prescribing >75% of prescription-related events were performed electronically. Prescribers at e-prescribing sites spent less time writing, but time-savings were offset by increased computer tasks. After adjusting for site, prescriber and prescription type, e-prescribing tasks took marginally longer than hand written prescriptions (12.0 seconds; -1.6, 25.6 CI). Nursing staff at the e-prescribing sites spent longer on computer tasks (5.4 minutes/hour; 0.0, 10.7 CI). E-prescribing was not associated with an increase in combined computer and writing time for prescribers. If carefully implemented, e-prescribing will not greatly disrupt workflow.