Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DEREGULATION SHOCK IN PRODUCT MARKET AND UNEMPLOYMENT LUISITO BERTINELLI

In a dynamic general equilibrium model with endogenous markups and labor market frictions, we investigate the effects of increased product market competition. Unlike most macroeconomic models of search, we endogenize the labor supply along the extensive margin. We find numerically that a model with endogenous labor force participation decision produces a decline in the unemployment rate which is almost three times larger than that in a model with fixed labor force. For a calibration capturing alternatively European and the U.S. labor markets, a deregulation episode, which lowers the markup by 3 percentage points, results in a fall in the unemployment rate by 0.17 and 0.07 percentage point, respectively, while the labor share is almost unaffected in the long-run. The sensitivity analysis reveals that product market deregulation is more effective in countries where labor market regulation is high, product markets are initially highly regulated, unemployment benefits are smaller and labor force is more responsive.
The expression and significance of IL-6, IFN-γ, SM22α, and MMP-2 in rat model of aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVE To examine the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), smooth muscle 22α (SM22α), and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and their possible roles in aortic dissections (AD). MATERIALS AND METHODS Male SD rats (3 weeks) were induced for AD using 0.25% β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) treatment for 6 weeks and were subsequently divided into the model I (with AD) and model II (no AD). Aorta was separated and observed, while TUNEL staining observed apoptosis of aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining measured the positive expression of IL-6, IFN-γ and MMP-2 in aorta tissues, followed by Western blotting for protein expressions of IL-6, IFN-γ, SM22α, MMP-2, and signal transduction factors phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK) and p-c-Jun. RESULTS Under an 80% rate of AD formation in model rats, those with AD had significantly higher aorta diameter and apoptosis of aortic vascular smooth muscle cells compared to those without AD or control rats (p<0.05). Elastic fiber gap of model I group was increased, accompanied with elastin fiber breakage and disarrangement. Model rats had significantly higher IL-6, IFN-γ, MMP-2, p-JNK, and p-c-Jun expression than control ones, and lower SM22α expression. No significant difference has been found for these parameters between model I and model II subgroups (p>0.05). There were significantly positive correlations between IL-6 versus MMP-2, IL-6 versus p-JNK, IFN-γ versus MMP-2, IFN-γ versus p-c-Jun in the model I group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS IL-6, IFN-γ, and MMP-2 expressed highly in AD. During AD formation, IL-6 and IFN-γ may enhance MMP-2 expression and increase extracellular matrix degradation of aorta vascular wall via JNK signal pathway. The apoptosis and phenotype transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells is likewise correlated with AD formation.
Artificial neural networks for RF and microwave design - from theory to practice

Neural-network computational modules have recently gained recognition as an unconventional and useful tool for RF and microwave modeling and design. Neural networks can be trained to learn the behavior of passive/active components/circuits. A trained neural network can be used for high-level design, providing fast and accurate answers to the task it has learned. Neural networks are attractive alternatives to conventional methods such as numerical modeling methods, which could be computationally expensive, or analytical methods which could be difficult to obtain for new devices, or empirical modeling solutions whose range and accuracy may be limited. This tutorial describes fundamental concepts in this emerging area aimed at teaching RF/microwave engineers what neural networks are, why they are useful, when they can be used, and how to use them. Neural-network structures and their training methods are described from the RF/microwave designer's perspective. Electromagnetics-based training for passive component models and physics-based training for active device models are illustrated. Circuit design and yield optimization using passive/active neural models are also presented. A multimedia slide presentation along with narrative audio clips is included in the electronic version of this paper. A hyperlink to the NeuroModeler demonstration software is provided to allow readers practice neural-network-based design concepts.
The Molecular Genetic Architecture of Self-Employment

Economic variables such as income, education, and occupation are known to affect mortality and morbidity, such as cardiovascular disease, and have also been shown to be partly heritable. However, very little is known about which genes influence economic variables, although these genes may have both a direct and an indirect effect on health. We report results from the first large-scale collaboration that studies the molecular genetic architecture of an economic variable–entrepreneurship–that was operationalized using self-employment, a widely-available proxy. Our results suggest that common SNPs when considered jointly explain about half of the narrow-sense heritability of self-employment estimated in twin data (σg 2/σP 2 = 25%, h 2 = 55%). However, a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies across sixteen studies comprising 50,627 participants did not identify genome-wide significant SNPs. 58 SNPs with p<10−5 were tested in a replication sample (n = 3,271), but none replicated. Furthermore, a gene-based test shows that none of the genes that were previously suggested in the literature to influence entrepreneurship reveal significant associations. Finally, SNP-based genetic scores that use results from the meta-analysis capture less than 0.2% of the variance in self-employment in an independent sample (p≥0.039). Our results are consistent with a highly polygenic molecular genetic architecture of self-employment, with many genetic variants of small effect. Although self-employment is a multi-faceted, heavily environmentally influenced, and biologically distal trait, our results are similar to those for other genetically complex and biologically more proximate outcomes, such as height, intelligence, personality, and several diseases.
Song debugging: merging content and pedagogy in computer science education

This article suggests a song debugging activity that brings together two key ideas - the analogy between learning and debugging and the pedagogical potential of music in Computer Science Education (CSE). The paper can be viewed as the fourth in a series of papers published in inroads about the course Methods of Teaching Computer Science in the High School, but it can also stand on its own merit, since it discusses issues that are relevant to CSE in general.
Rapid Development of an Efficacious Swine Vaccine for Novel H1N1

Recombinant hemagglutinin (HA) from a novel H1N1 influenza strain was produced using an alphavirus replicon expression system. The recombinant HA vaccine was produced more rapidly than traditional vaccines, and was evaluated as a swine vaccine candidate at different doses in a challenge model utilizing the homologous influenza A/California/04/2009 (H1N1) strain. Vaccinated animals showed significantly higher specific antibody response, reduced lung lesions and viral shedding, and higher average daily gain when compared to non-vaccinated control animals. These data demonstrate that the swine vaccine candidate was efficacious at all of the evaluated doses.
Para-prosthetic Leaks Following Mitral Valve Replacement: Case Analysis on a 20-year Period

Background: Mitral para-prosthetic leaks are rare but major complications of mitral heart valve replacements. When they must be re-operated, they are burdened with high mortality rates. We proposed to review our surgical experience in terms of approach and type of operation carried out. Methods: Demographic, preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative characteristics of 34 patients benefited from a surgical treatment of mitral paravalvular leak, at the Brugmann University Hospital between 1996 and 2016, have been analysed retrospectively. We analysed the data to identify the risk factors of postoperative mortality. We then compared the data depending on the approach and the type of surgical treatment in order to compare the morbidity-mortality. Results: The postoperative mortality rate was 11.7%. The presence of endocarditis and increase in lactate dehydrogenase were predictive factors of mortality. Cardiac complications and acute kidney failure were significantly more common in the decease population. Direct mitral paravalvular leak su-turing was more frequently performed on early apparition, anterior and isolated leaks, whereas a mi-tral heart valve replacement was most often performed to cure active primary endocarditis. The inci-dence of complications and mortality rates were identical according to the approach and the type of operation performed. A mitral para-prosthetic leak recurrence was observed in 33% of the cases. Conclusion: Surgical treatment of mitral para-prosthetic leaks is accompanied by a high mortality rate. The operative strategy plays a major role and can influence the morbidity-mortality encountered in those patients.
Behavioural Lateralization in Budgerigars Varies with the Task and the Individual

Handedness/footedness and side biases are a well-known phenomenon in many animals, including humans. However, these so-called biases have mostly been studied at the population level - individual biases have received less attention, especially with regard to consistency over different tasks. Here we investigate behavioral lateralization in 12 male Budgerigars, Melopsittacus undulatus, a social parrot inhabiting the Australian bushlands. We performed 5 types of experiments to investigate lateralization, in tasks that involved climbing onto a perch, or landing on perches arranged in various configurations. The birds displayed highly significant, individually varying biases. The bias displayed by any particular individual varied with the task, in strength as well as polarity. Analysis of the data revealed that the preferred foot used for climbing did not coincide with the foot that was used while landing. Thus, landing choices are probably not determined by foot bias. Furthermore, these individual preferences were overridden completely when a bird had to perform a task simultaneously with another bird.
The clinical characteristics and the features of immunophenotype of peripheral lymphocytes of adult onset chronic active Epstein-Barr virus disease at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Beijing

Abstract Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (CAEBV) infection is a rare disease with high mortality. Most of CAEBV patients have been reported from Japan and are pediatric cases. The goal was to describe the clinical characteristics and the immunophenotypic features of peripheral lymphocytes in adult onset CAEBV patients. We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed all adult onset CAEBV cases admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) between 2012 and 2016. Demographic, clinical, laboratory data, and the immunophentyping data of peripheral lymphocytes were collected. There were 28 adult onset CAEBV patients. The median age was 45 (range, 20–81). Most of the patients presented with fever; splenomegaly; lymphadenopathy and hepatitis. Unlike pediatric cases reported, the manifestations of cardiovascular diseases in our patients were pulmonary arterial hypertension, decreased cardiac function and aorta vasculitis. Prevalence of interstitial pneumonitis in our patients were comparatively higher and prevalence of hypersensitivity to mosquito bites were comparatively lower than that reported by Japan. In this study, CAEBV patients had decreased B cell, NK cell, CD4 cell and CD8 cell counts. The prevalence of low level of B cells, NK cells, CD4 cells was relatively higher than reported ever. Chinese adult onset CAEBV patients have different clinical characteristics and are featured by an immunosuppression status as demonstrated by decreased B cell, NK cell, CD4 cell and CD8 cell.
Examining Mobile SNS Continuance from a Dual Perspective of Social Capital and Privacy Concern

This article contends that due to the intense competition, it is crucial for mobile social networking services (SNS) providers to retain users and facilitate their continuance. Integrating both perspectives of social capital and privacy concern, this research examined mobile SNS continuance. Social capital includes three dimensions: structural capital, relational capital and cognitive capital. The results indicated that both social capital and privacy concerns have significant effects on continuing usage. The results imply that service providers need to develop social capital and curb privacy concerns in order to facilitate users' continuance usage of mobile SNS.
Histogenesis of human colorectal adenomas and hyperplastic polyps: the role of cell proliferation and crypt fission

Background: The histogenesis of human colorectal hyperplastic polyps and colorectal adenomas is poorly understood even now. Method: Human colorectal adenomas, hyperplastic polyps, and normal colorectal mucosae (patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal carcinoma were excluded) were obtained during colonoscopy and microdissected into individual crypts. Morphology, cell proliferation characteristics, and fission indices of crypts isolated from these lesions were then studied. Results: Crypts isolated from colorectal adenomas and colorectal hyperplastic polyps were significantly larger (p<0.001) than crypts from normal colorectal mucosae. Crypt fission was an uncommon event in normal colonic mucosae but common in crypts isolated from adenomas and hyperplastic polyps (p<0.001). Analysis of the distribution of mitoses suggested an upward expansion of the proliferation compartment in adenomas to the surface of the crypt with no reversal of proliferating cell distribution, as has previously been described. Conclusions: Sporadic human colorectal adenomas and hyperplastic polyps grow by the process of crypt fission. Expansion of the proliferative compartment was demonstrated in crypts from adenomas, consistent with deregulation of cell cycle control.
Hepatoprotective Effect of Polyphenol-Enriched Fraction from Folium Microcos on Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury in Mice

Folium Microcos (FM), the leaves of Microcos paniculata L. , shows various biological functions including antioxidant activity and α-glucosidase inhibitory effect. However, its therapeutic potential in acute liver injury is still unknown. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effect and underlying mechanisms of the polyphenol-enriched fraction (FMF) from Folium Microcos. FMF exhibited strong free radical scavenging activities and prevented HepG2/Hepa1–6 cells from hydrogen peroxide- (H2O2-) induced ROS production and apoptosis in vitro. Antioxidant activity and cytoprotective effects were further verified by alleviating APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Western blot analysis revealed that FMF pretreatment significantly abrogated APAP-mediated phosphorylation of MAPKs, activation of proapoptotic protein caspase-3/9 and Bax, and restored expression of antiapoptotic protein Bcl2. APAP-intoxicated mice pretreated with FMF showed increased nuclear accumulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) and elevated hepatic expression of its target genes, NAD(P)H:quinine oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and hemeoxygenase-1(HO-1). HPLC analysis revealed the four predominantly phenolic compounds present in FMF: narcissin, isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside, isovitexin, and vitexin. Consequently, these findings indicate that FMF possesses a hepatoprotective effect against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity mainly through dual modification of ROS/MAPKs/apoptosis axis and Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response, which may be attributed to the strong antioxidant activity of phenolic components.
Development of liposomal pemetrexed for enhanced therapy against multidrug resistance mediated by ABCC5 in breast cancer

Purpose Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Pemetrexed, a new generation antifolate drug, is one of the primary treatments for breast cancer. However, multidrug resistance (MDR) in breast cancer greatly hampers the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapies such as pemetrexed. Nanomedicine is emerging as a promising alternative technique to overcome cancer MDR. Thus, pemetrexed-loaded d-alpha tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (vitamin E TPGS) liposomes (liposomal pemetrexed) were developed as a strategy to overcome MDR to pemetrexed in breast cancer. Materials and methods Liposomal pemetrexed was developed using the calcium acetate gradient method. The cytotoxic effects, apoptosis-inducing activity, in vivo distribution, and antitumor activity of liposomal pemetrexed were investigated. Results Liposomal pemetrexed was small in size (160.77 nm), with a small polydispersity of <0.1. The encapsulation efficacy of liposomal pemetrexed was 63.5%, which is rather high for water-soluble drugs in liposomes. The IC50 of liposomal pemetrexed following treatment with MDR breast cancer cells (MCF-7 cells overexpressing ABCC5) was 2.6-fold more effective than pemetrexed. The in vivo biodistribution study showed that the liposomes significantly accumulated in tumors 24 h after injection. The antitumor assay in mice bearing MDR breast cancer xenograft tumors confirmed the superior antitumor activity of liposomal pemetrexed over pemetrexed. It was also found that the improved therapeutic effect of liposomal pemetrexed may be attributed to apoptosis through both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Conclusion Liposomal pemetrexed represents a potential therapeutic approach for overcoming breast cancer MDR.
Application of Thermal Insulation in Landfill Liners

Until recently the temperature of landfill liners and its effects on the servicelife of composite liners have received relatively little attention. However, there is growing evidence that the temperature may be sufficient to significantly reduce the service-life of the liner components, in particular that of the high-density polyethylene geomembrane. This paper presents a numerical study of the use of expanded polystyrene (EPS) geofoam and shredded tires as thermal insulators between primary and secondary liners. The temperature level on the secondary geomembrane is shown to be lower than the case without thermal insulation. Accordingly, the service-life is longer. The paper also highlights some of the challenges that would be associated with the potential use of geofoam or shredded tires and suggests that while using geofoam or shredded tires warrants consideration, much care would be required in the detailed design and construction of the liner.
Uneven Large-Scale Movement Patterns in Wild and Reintroduced Pre-Adult Bearded Vultures: Conservation Implications

After the quasi-extinction of much of the European vertebrate megafauna during the last few centuries, many reintroduction projects seek to restore decimated populations. However, the future of numerous species depends on the management scenarios of metapopulations where the flow of individuals can be critical to ensure their viability. This is the case of the bearded vulture Gypaetus barbatus, an Old World, large body-sized and long-lived scavenger living in mountain ranges. Although persecution in Western Europe restrained it to the Pyrenees, the species is nowadays present in other mountains thanks to reintroduction projects. We examined the movement patterns of pre-adult non-breeding individuals born in the wild population of the Pyrenees (n = 9) and in the reintroduced populations of the Alps (n = 24) and Andalusia (n = 13). Most birds were equipped with GPS-GSM radio transmitters, which allowed accurate determination of individual dispersal patterns. Two estimators were considered: i) step length (i.e., the distance travelled per day by each individual, calculated considering only successive days); and ii) total dispersal distance (i.e., the distance travelled between each mean daily location and the point of release). Both dispersal estimators showed a positive relationship with age but were also highly dependent on the source population, birds in Andalusia and Alps moving farther than in Pyrenees. Future research should confirm if differences in dispersal distances are the rule, in which case the dynamics of future populations would be strongly influenced. In summary, our findings highlight that inter-population differences can affect the flow of individuals among patches (a key aspect to ensure the viability of the European metapopulation of the endangered bearded vulture), and thus should be taken into account when planning reintroduction programs. This result also raises questions about whether similar scenarios may occur in other restoration projects of European megafauna.
Adhesive bonding of wood treated with ACQ and copper azole preservatives

Treated wood has generally been more difficult to bond than untreated wood for a variety of reasons. Alkaline copper quat (ACQ) and copper azole (CA-B), the most prominent substitutes for chromated copper arsenate (CCA), are difficult to bond consistently. Using a phenol-resorcinol-formaldehyde (PRF) adhesive formulated for bonding to CCA-treated wood, we examined the bonding of southern yellow pine treated with CCA, ACQ, or CA-B. In durability tests, bonds were not as durable in the ACQ- or CA-B-treated southern yellow pine as in the CCA-treated or untreated pine as measured by delamination. Using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), we determined that the adhesive tends to react more quickly with ACQ- or CA-B-treated southern yellow pine than with untreated or CCA-treated southern yellow pine. A hydroxymethylated resorcinol primer (HMR) did not penetrate as well into ACQ- or CA-B-treated southern yellow pine as into untreated wood, suggesting that PRF penetration is not as effective in treated wood. However, the HMR primer was able to reduce the extent of bond delamination of treated southern yellow pine bonded with PRF.
Comparison of statistical approaches dealing with time-dependent confounding in drug effectiveness studies

In longitudinal studies, if the time-dependent covariates are affected by the past treatment, time-dependent confounding may be present. For a time-to-event response, marginal structural Cox models are frequently used to deal with such confounding. To avoid some of the problems of fitting marginal structural Cox model, the sequential Cox approach has been suggested as an alternative. Although the estimation mechanisms are different, both approaches claim to estimate the causal effect of treatment by appropriately adjusting for time-dependent confounding. We carry out simulation studies to assess the suitability of the sequential Cox approach for analyzing time-to-event data in the presence of a time-dependent covariate that may or may not be a time-dependent confounder. Results from these simulations revealed that the sequential Cox approach is not as effective as marginal structural Cox model in addressing the time-dependent confounding. The sequential Cox approach was also found to be inadequate in the presence of a time-dependent covariate. We propose a modified version of the sequential Cox approach that correctly estimates the treatment effect in both of the above scenarios. All approaches are applied to investigate the impact of beta-interferon treatment in delaying disability progression in the British Columbia Multiple Sclerosis cohort (1995–2008).