Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Economist Sells Bagels: A Case Study in Profit Maximization

Profit maximizing behavior on the part of firms is a fundamental, but rarely tested, assumption of economics. In this paper, I analyze the decisions made by an MIT trained economist running a company that delivers bagels and donuts. The simplicity and transparency of the business (e.g. marginal cost is easily observed) allow for direct tests of profit maximization in the quantities delivered each day and the prices that are charged. Using thirteen years of data representing more than 80,000 deliveries, I find that the company is extremely adept at determining how many bagels and donuts to deliver to a particular customer on a given day. In stark contrast, the company appears to price on the inelastic portion of the demand curve for the entire period, thereby foregoing a substantial share of available profits. I argue that these results generalize well beyond this particular case study: firms are likely to be close to the efficient frontier on dimensions for which there is frequent and informative feedback regarding profits, but absent that feedback, systematic deviations from profit maximization are more likely.
Alternative Procedures for Revising Investment Portfolios

Investment management is a decision-making process which ranges from an individual managing his own small portfolio of securities to institutional investors who manage portfolios valued in millions of dollars. The importance of investment management is readily observed in the increased activity of the securities markets, the close scrutiny given by regulatory agencies to various institutional investors and professional investment managers, the growing market value of pension funds, trust funds, and investment companies, and finally, the increasing number of related research studies which are reported in the financial literature.
GM1 Ganglioside in the Nuclear Membrane Modulates Nuclear Calcium Homeostasis During Neurite Outgrowth

Abstract: GM1 in the nuclear membrane, previously shown to be up‐regulated during neurite outgrowth, has been found to influence nuclear Ca2+ flux during differentiation of Neuro‐2a cells. Nuclei were isolated from cultured Neuro‐2a cells before and after neuraminidase‐induced neuritogenesis and incubated with 45Ca2+ for varying periods to determine uptake/efflux of Ca2+. At 5, 10, and 15 min 45Ca2+ levels in nuclei from differentiated cells were significantly lower than those in nuclei from untreated cells. The same result was obtained when the GM1 level was elevated artificially by preincubation of the nuclei in 10 µM GM1. In experiments designed to measure efflux specifically, isolated nuclei preincubated in GM1 released 45Ca2+ more rapidly than untreated nuclei. We conclude that one role of GM1 in the nuclear membrane is to alter Ca2+ regulatory mechanisms in the nucleus following onset of neuronal process outgrowth.
Relações comerciais e de preços no mercado nacional de combustíveis

In January of 2002 the fuel sector entered definitively the free market. Fuel prices from refineries stopped being regulated and importation of derivatives of oil by private companies was allowed. Ethanol prices had been freed since the end of the 1990's. The aims of this study are: to characterize the functioning of the fuel market identifying the main factors that interfere on decision-taking of its agents; to estimate equations of demand for gasoline C, supply of anhydrous ethanol and gasoline and to figure the elasticities of transmission of prices. Results have shown inelasticity in relation to the income and to the price of the demand for gasoline and inelasticity-price for the supply of anhydrous ethanol and gasoline A. Considering the transmission elasticities, it was concluded that an increase in the demand for gasoline C tends to increase the price of anhydrous ethanol more than proportionally to the price of gasoline C; the price of the anhydrous ethanol will tend to vary more than proportionally to the price of gasoline C in case of shocks of supply of anhydrous ethanol and, in the case of variations in the supply of gasoline A, the prices of the anhydrous ethanol and of gasoline C tend to vary in opposing directions
Infusion of High-Dose Intravenous Immunoglobulin Fails to Lower the Strength of Human Leukocyte Antigen Antibodies in Highly Sensitized Patients

Background Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) sensitization presents a major obstacle for patients awaiting renal transplantation. HLA antibody reduction and favorable transplantation rates have been reported after treatment with high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). Methods We enrolled 27 patients whose median flow cytometric calculated panel reactive antibody (CPRA) was 100% and mean wait-list time exceeded 4 years in a protocol whereby high-dose IVIg was administered, HLA antibody profiles of sera obtained before and after treatment were characterized, and cross-match tests were performed with all blood group identical kidney offers. Results Whereas 12.8% of a similarly sensitized historic control cohort underwent transplantation in the course of a year, 41% of the IVIg-treated group underwent transplantation during the study period. Surprisingly, HLA antibody profiles, measured by CPRA, showed no significant change in response to IVIg treatment. In fact, retrospective cross-match testing using pretreatment sera of those receiving deceased-donor allografts showed that all patients would have been eligible for transplantation with their respective donors before IVIg infusions. Conclusions This study does not corroborate previous reports of CPRA reduction leading to increased deceased-donor transplantation rates in broadly sensitized patients undergoing desensitization with high-dose IVIg. The increased rate of transplantation relative to historic controls is not related to improved cross-match eligibility and likely resulted from frequent crossmatching using a cytotoxic strength threshold, improved medical readiness for transplantation, and newly recognized options for live-donor transplantation, all of which could have been achieved without IVIg treatment.
Strong genetic effects on cross-situational antisocial behaviour among 5-year-old children according to mothers, teachers, examiner-observers, and twins' self-reports.

BACKGROUND Early childhood antisocial behaviour is a strong prognostic indicator for poor adult mental health. Thus, information about its etiology is needed. Genetic etiology is unknown because most research with young children focuses on environmental risk factors, and the few existing studies of young twins used only mothers' reports of behaviour, which may be biased. METHOD We investigated genetic influences on antisocial behaviour in a representative-plus-high-risk sample of 1116 pairs of 5-year-old twins using data from four independent sources: mothers, teachers, examiner-observers previously unacquainted with the children, and the children themselves. RESULTS Children's antisocial behaviour was reliably measured by all four informants; no bias was detected in mothers', teachers', examiners', or children's reports. Variation in antisocial behaviour that was agreed upon by all informants, and thus was pervasive across settings, was influenced by genetic factors (82%) and experiences specific to each child (18%). Variation in antisocial behaviour that was specific to each informant was meaningful variation, as it was also influenced by genetic factors (from 33% for the children's report to 71% for the teachers' report). CONCLUSIONS This study and four others of very young twins show that genetic risks contribute strongly to population variation in antisocial behaviour that emerges in early childhood. In contrast, genetic risk is known to be relatively modest for adolescent antisocial behaviour, suggesting that the early-childhood form has a distinct etiology, particularly if it is pervasive across situations.
Endothelin‐1 receptor antagonists regulate cell surface‐associated protein disulfide isomerase in sickle cell disease

Increased endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) levels, disordered thiol protein status, and erythrocyte hydration status play important roles in sickle cell disease (SCD) through unresolved mechanisms. Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is an oxidoreductase that mediates thiol/disulfide interchange reactions. We provide evidence that PDI is present in human and mouse erythrocyte membranes and that selective blockade with monoclonal antibodies against PDI leads to reduced Gardos channel activity (1.6±0.03 to 0.56±0.02 mmol·1013 cell–1 ·min–1, P< 0.001) and density of sickle erythrocytes (D50: 1.115±0.001 to 1.104±0.001 g/ml, P=0.012) with an IC50 of 4 ng/ml. We observed that erythrocyte associated‐PDI activity was increased in the presence of ET‐1 (3.1 ± 0.2 to 5.6 ± 0.4%, P<0.0001) through a mechanism that includes casein kinase II. Consistent with these results, in vivo treatment of BERK sickle transgenic mice with ET‐1 receptor antagonists lowered circulating and erythrocyte associated‐PDI activity (7.1±0.3 to 5.2±0.2%, P<0.0001) while improving hematological parameters and Gardos channel activity. Thus, our results suggest that PDI is a novel target in SCD that regulates erythrocyte volume and oxidative stress and may contribute to cellular adhesion and endothelial activation leading to vasoocclusion as observed in SCD. —Prado, G. N. , Romero, J. R. , Rivera, A. Endothelin‐1 receptor antagonists regulate cell surface‐associated protein disulfide isomerase in sickle cell disease. FASEB J. 27, 4619–4629 (2013). www.fasebj. org
Cost analysis of adverse events associated with non-small cell lung cancer management in France

Background Adverse events (AEs) related to medical treatments in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are frequent and need an appropriate costing in health economic models. Nevertheless, data on costs associated with AEs in NSCLC are scarce, particularly since the development of immunotherapy with specific immune-related AEs. Objective To estimate the costs of grades 3 and 4 AEs related to NSCLC treatments including immunotherapy in France. Methods Grades 3 and 4 AEs related to treatment and reported in at least 1% of patients in Phase III clinical trials for erlotinib, ramucirumab plus docetaxel, docetaxel, pemetrexed plus carboplatin plus bevacizumab, platinum-based chemotherapies, nivolumab and pembrolizumab were identified. When no cost evaluation was reported in literature, estimates on standard treatments and medical resource use for each AE were obtained thanks to an expert panel. Total cost per AE was calculated from a French national health insurance perspective and updated in 2017 Euros. Hospital stay costs were estimated based on public and private weighted tariffs and data from the French Medical Information System (Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d’Information). Costs of tests, consultations and treatments were calculated based on national reimbursement tariffs. Results Overall, costs of grades 3 and 4 AEs related to treatment ranged from €46 per event to €7,742 per year. Fourteen out of 24 AEs identified had a mean estimated cost over €2,000. The highest mean costs were related to type 1 diabetes (€7,742 per year) followed by pneumonitis (€5,786 per event), anemia (€5,752 per event), dehydration (€5,207 per event) and anorexia (€4,349 per event). Costs were mostly driven by hospitalization costs. Conclusion Among the AEs identified, a majority appeared to have an important economic impact, with a management cost of at least €2,000 per event mainly driven by hospitalization costs. This study may be of interest for economic evaluations of new interventions in NSCLC.
Option pricing and Greeks via a moving least square meshfree method

We apply a meshfree method using the fast moving least squares approximation to option pricing, particularly for the purpose of obtaining high-order Greeks. The method is shown to be accurate and efficient in obtaining prices and Greeks of European, Asian and Barrier options. We also include a complicated Equity Linked Security (ELS) from the Korean OTC market, as a real-world example.
Characterization of human T lymphocytes that express the C3b receptor.

The presence of the C3b receptor (C3bR) on human peripheral blood T lymphocytes was recognized by the capacity of rabbit F(ab')2 anti-C3bR and tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate (TRITC)-conjugated goat F(ab')2 anti-rabbit F(ab')2 to stain 14.5 +/- 3.7% (mean +/- SEM; n = 5) of lymphocytes forming rosettes with sheep erythrocytes (E). The F(ab')2 anti-C3bR also blocked the capacity of peripheral blood lymphocytes stained with OKT11 to form rosettes with bovine E bearing C3b and immunoprecipitated a single membrane protein having a m.w. of approximately 250,000 from detergent lysates of 125I-labeled, purified T cells. Measurement by fluorescent flow cytometry of the quantitative expression of the C3bR indicated that T cells had slightly more antigenic sites/cell than did E and approximately 10-fold fewer sites than were present on B cells. The surface constituents of the peripheral blood T cells expressing the C3bR were assessed in an assay that employed simultaneously three markers: rosette formation with sheep E, TRITC staining with anti-C3bR and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-staining with a panel of monoclonal antibodies or with aggregated IgG. Among lymphocytes forming rosettes with sheep E and expressing the C3bR, 99.6 +/- 0.4%, 65.0 +/- 5.8%, 17.2 +/- 6.2%, and 15.3 +/- 5.0% of the cells expressed antigens detected by OKT3, OKT4, OKT8, and OKM1 monoclonal antibodies, respectively. Ninety-seven per cent of the C3bR-bearing T cells were also capable of specifically binding aggregated IgG, indicating the presence of Fc receptors for IgG (Fc gamma R) on these cells. The T cells expressing the C3bR had large nuclei, thin rims of basophilic cytoplasm and no azurophilic granules. Thus, the C3bR is present on some T cells, all of which have a typical lymphocyte morphology, the T3 antigen and the Fc gamma R.
Revisiting the Role of Regional Integration in China from 1978–1992: Incentive, Pattern, and Growth

We reexamine the role of regional integration (or local protectionism) in China, by exploring its effect on local growth rates from 1978–1992, the first fifteen years of China’s economic reform and “open door” period. Our results show that at least in the initial period of China’s reform, domestic interregional trade was the main factor driving regional growth, much higher than corresponding international trade. Additionally, given such circumstances, the paper studies the effects that could have been obtained if regional, i.e., provincial, governments had put different restrictions on interregional trade, and what the incentives would be for such a policy. We find that any form of economic integration always makes both regions better off, as long as the level of technology in each region is different. We also explore other protectionist policies such as a prohibition on local human capital out-flows, and local intellectual property protection within a region. We include a discussion of relevant policies.
The effect of health improvements due to tobacco control on earnings in the United States

There is minimal evidence causally estimating the relationship between tobacco tax policy, population health and earnings. This article uses state tobacco taxes as an instrument for life expectancy to estimate the effect on earnings per capita in a panel of almost 3000 counties in the United States over the period 1970 to 2000. In the first stage of the model, we find that a one dollar increase in state tobacco taxes significantly increases life expectancy between 1.9% and 2.1%. Despite showing that tobacco tax is correlated with higher life expectancy and that, theoretically, improvements in health from reductions in smoking should lead to increased earnings, we find an insignificant impact of the induced gains in life expectancy from tobacco policy on county level earnings per capita over the period 1970 to 2000. The lack of significance is explained through local average treatment effects and the smaller economic impact of certain policies that impact health later in life. These results provide further evidence that the most effective interventions for improving income later in life are policy interventions with a direct impact on the health of younger cohorts rather than older cohorts.
Molecular genetic alterations in carcinoma ex‐pleomorphic adenoma: A putative progression model?

To determine the genetic changes associated with the development of carcinoma ex‐pleomorphic adenoma (Ca Ex‐PA), we analyzed 15 microsatellite loci at chromosome arms 8q, 12q, and 17p on DNA from 26 neoplasms (including 8 microdissected benign and malignant components), and 13 pleomorphic adenomas for comparison. Pleomorphic adenomas and the adenoma component of Ca Ex‐PAs showed a higher incidence of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at chromosome arms 8q (52%) and 12q (28%) than at 17p (14%) loci. In the carcinoma component, the combined LOH at chromosome arm 8q, 12q, and 17p regions was 69%, 50%, and 69%, respectively; within these chromosomal regions, 8q11.23–q12 (42%), 12q23–qter (39%), 17p13 (41%), and 17p11 (45%) loci manifested the highest incidence of LOH. Eight carcinomas (30.7%) showed loss at all three chromosomal arms tested. Of the eight microdissected Ca Ex‐PAs analyzed, four adenoma and corresponding carcinoma components (50%) had the same LOH at 12q loci and additional LOH at 17p loci only in carcinomas. Chromosome arm 17p alterations correlated significantly with high disease stage and an increased proliferative rate in these tumors. Our results indicate that alterations at regions on chromosome arms 8q and/or 12q may constitute early events associated with pleomorphic adenomas; that LOH at 12q loci may identify a subset of adenoma with potential progression to carcinoma; that acquisition of additional alterations at chromosome arm 17p loci might represent an event preceding malignant transformation and progression; and that 8q, 12q, and 17p regions may harbor tumor suppressor genes involved in the genesis of PA and Ca Ex‐PA. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 27:162–168, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevalence of depression among health workers in Enugu, South East Nigeria.

AIMS Determination of the prevalence and distribution of depression among health workers at tertiary level of health care delivery in Enugu South East Nigeria. SETTINGS AND DESIGN A cross-sectional descriptive survey of depression in health workers at tertiary level. SUBJECTS AND METHODS By proportional quota sampling, the sample size of 309 was used. Ethical issues were given full consideration. A structured self-administered questionnaire including the Zung self-rating depression scale was used to collect data. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED Data entry and analysis were done using SPSS statistical package version 15. Statistical significance was considered present when P < 0.05. RESULTS The total of 46 of the 309 workers (14.9%) were found to be depressed. Of the health workers found to be depressed, there were more females (18.0%) than males (8.7%). A feeling of sadness over family, living and working conditions was more consistent among the depressed. CONCLUSIONS The condition of depression is present among health workers in this part of the world. Being a female health worker, may be associated with depression in South East Nigeria. Studies to investigate the determinants and effects of depression in the Nigerian health work force are necessary.
A Rank-Based Similarity Metric for Word Embeddings

Word Embeddings have recently imposed themselves as a standard for representing word meaning in NLP. Semantic similarity between word pairs has become the most common evaluation benchmark for these representations, with vector cosine being typically used as the only similarity metric. In this paper, we report experiments with a rank-based metric for WE, which performs comparably to vector cosine in similarity estimation and outperforms it in the recently-introduced and challenging task of outlier detection, thus suggesting that rank-based measures can improve clustering quality.
Foreign Ownership and Productivity in the United Kingdom - Some Issues When Using the Ard Establishment Level Data

In a recent paper, Griffith (1999) reviews the scope and usefulness of the recently released micro data underlying the UK Annual Census of Production (the ARD). In particular, she produces estimates of the Cobb-Douglas production function that show that foreign owned establishments in the motor vehicle industry do not have higher levels of productivity, after taking account of different levels of factor inputs. This is an important result, since much recent work has suggested that multinational firms have a significant impact on productivity and technical progress in host countries. However, there are a number of issues that can be raised regarding the Griffith study and which are important in any work involving the ARD. Firstly, there are problems with the raw data used since a significant number of establishments have been omitted. Secondly, Griffith uses unweighted data and therefore her parameter estimates are not representative of the underlying population of establishments operating in the UK motor vehicle industry. There is also an issue of whether plant level data should be used as opposed to establishment data. Finally, and most importantly, I do find that foreign-owned plants are significantly more productive than UK-owned plants, when using the same econometric approach as that adopted by Griffith. For comparative purposes, the analysis is extended beyond motor vehicles to include the next four largest and most important foreign-owned sectors in UK manufacturing.
Is the composition of public expenditures converging in EMU countries?

The literature on fiscal policy is paying increasing attention to the impact of the composition of public expenditures on long-term economic growth. Public policy endogenous growth models recommend to change the composition of public expenditures to items considered as productive expenditures. Based on these models, European institutions are encouraging to increase the share of outlays, such as public investments, research and development, active labor market policies, and so on. This paper analyzes whether a convergence to a new pattern of public finances with a higher share of productive expenditures is arising in the euro zone.