Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Entrepreneurship, Bequests, and the Distribution of Wealth

Entrepreneurs hold a significant fraction of the total wealth in the economy; they are approximately 8% of the population but hold 39% of total net worth. In this paper, we construct and solve numerically a life cycle optimization model with intergenerational transmission of bequests to study the choice of starting an entrepreneurial activity, and its effect on the wealth accumulation of entrepreneurs and on the distribution of wealth in the population. We examine two forces that determine self selection into an entrepreneurial activity: initial wealth and attitudes to risk. Starting a business requires initial funds, and entrepreneurs may have to invest part of their own wealth into the business activity. Some of this initial funds may come from parental transfers and bequests. Entrepreneurial income has higher return, but is riskier than labor income: more risk averse households may decide not to become entrepreneurs, despite the expected gains from such activity. We calibrate our model to the US economy. We find that the possibility of an entrepreneurial activity increases by 50% the fraction of wealth held by the top 1%. We also show that increasing the coefficient of risk aversion significantly decreases the percentage of entrepreneurs, and even in the absence of initial funding requirements, we cannot match the percentage of 8.6% of entrepreneurs. We also study the effects of changes in the initial funding requirements and in the degree of intergenerational altruism.
RETROSPECTIVE: Cache Decay: Exploiting Generational Behavior to Reduce Cache Leakage Power

The story behind the 2001 ISCA paper, “Cache Decay,” takes us back a few years prior to 2001. During that time, there were clear indications that a significant portion (about 90% in some cases) of the data in a cache was not going to be accessed before being replaced (Doug Burger, Alain Kagi and Jim Goodman [1]). However, finding what to do with this was a challenge. Concurrently, the rise of leakage power consumption was becoming a growing concern within the computer architecture community. One of the early papers on leakage power, “GatedVdd,” introduced a mechanism that could be used by architects to address leakage at the architectural level [5]. The case study for GatedVdd was to downsize the cache by turning off parts of it, but that meant that performance degraded quickly. The concept of cache decay originated within this backdrop.
Improved Algorithms for Linear Stochastic Bandits

We improve the theoretical analysis and empirical performance of algorithms for the stochastic multi-armed bandit problem and the linear stochastic multi-armed bandit problem. In particular, we show that a simple modification of Auer's UCB algorithm (Auer, 2002) achieves with high probability constant regret. More importantly, we modify and, consequently, improve the analysis of the algorithm for the for linear stochastic bandit problem studied by Auer (2002), Dani et al. (2008), Rusmevichientong and Tsitsiklis (2010), Li et al. (2010). Our modification improves the regret bound by a logarithmic factor, though experiments show a vast improvement. In both cases, the improvement stems from the construction of smaller confidence sets. For their construction we use a novel tail inequality for vector-valued martingales.
Acupuncture for the Treatment of Dry Eye: A Multicenter Randomised Controlled Trial with Active Comparison Intervention (Artificial Teardrops)

Purpose To evaluate the effects of acupuncture compared to a control group using artificial tears. Methods Setting & design: multicenter randomised controlled trial (three local research hospitals of South Korea). Study Population: 150 patients with moderate to severe dry eye. Intervention: Participants were randomly allocated into four weeks of acupuncture treatment (bilateral BL2, GB14, TE 23, Ex1, ST1, GB20, LI4, LI11 and single GV23) or to the artificial tears group (sodium carboxymethylcellulose). Main Outcome Measure(s): The ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear film break-up time (TFBUT), Schirmer Ι test, visual analogue scale (VAS) for self-assessment of ocular discomfort, general assessment (by both acupuncture practitioners and participants) and quality of life (QOL) through the Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile-2 (MYMOP-2). Results There was no statistically significant difference between two groups for the improvement of dry eye symptoms as measured by OSDI (MD −16.11, 95% CI [−20.91, −11.32] with acupuncture and −15.37, 95% CI [−19.57, −11.16] with artificial tears; P = 0.419), VAS (acupuncture: −23.84 [−29.59, −18.09]; artificial tears: −22.2 [−27.24, −17.16], P = 0.530) or quality of life (acupuncture: −1.32 [−1.65, −0.99]; artificial tears: −0.96 [−1.32, −0.6], P = 0.42) immediately after treatment. However, compared with artificial tears group, the OSDI (acupuncture: −16.15 [−21.38, −10.92]; artificial tears: −10.76 [−15.25, −6.27], P = 0.030) and VAS (acupuncture: −23.88 [−30.9, −16.86]; artificial tears: −14.71 [−20.86, −8.55], P = 0.018) were significantly improved in the acupuncture group at 8 weeks after the end of acupuncture treatment. TFBUT measurements increased significantly in the acupuncture group after treatment. Conclusions Acupuncture may have benefits on the mid-term outcomes related to dry eye syndrome compared with artificial tears. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01105221.
Asbestos Burden Predicts Survival in Pleural Mesothelioma

Background Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rapidly fatal asbestos-associated malignancy with a median survival time of < 1 year following diagnosis. Treatment strategy is determined in part using known prognostic factors. Objective The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between asbestos exposure and survival outcome in MPM in an effort to advance the understanding of the contribution of asbestos exposure to MPM prognosis. Methods We studied incident cases of MPM patients enrolled through the International Mesothelioma Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, using survival follow-up, self-reported asbestos exposure (n = 128), and a subset of cases (n = 80) with quantitative asbestos fiber burden measures. Results Consistent with the established literature, we found independent, significant associations between male sex and reduced survival (p < 0.04), as well as between nonepithelioid tumor histology and reduced survival (p < 0.02). Although self-reported exposure to asbestos was not predictive of survival among our cases, stratifying quantitative asbestos fiber burden [number of asbestos bodies per gram of lung (wet weight)] into groups of low (0–99 asbestos bodies), moderate (100–1,099), and high fiber burden (> 1,099), suggested a survival duration association among these groups (p = 0.06). After adjusting for covariates in a Cox model, we found that patients with a low asbestos burden had a 3-fold elevated risk of death compared to patients with a moderate fiber burden [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.95–9.5; p = 0.06], and patients with a high asbestos burden had a 4.8-fold elevated risk of death (95% CI, 1.5–15.0; p < 0.01) versus those with moderate exposure. Conclusion Our data suggest that patient survival is associated with asbestos fiber burden in MPM and is perhaps modified by susceptibility.
Variations in Helicobacter pylori Lipopolysaccharide To Evade the Innate Immune Component Surfactant Protein D

ABSTRACT Helicobacter pylori is a common and persistent human pathogen of the gastric mucosa. Surfactant protein D (SP-D), a component of innate immunity, is expressed in the human gastric mucosa and is capable of aggregating H. pylori. Wide variation in the SP-D binding affinity to H. pylori has been observed in clinical isolates and laboratory-adapted strains. The aim of this study was to reveal potential mechanisms responsible for evading SP-D binding and establishing persistent infection. An escape variant, J178V, was generated in vitro, and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) structure of the variant was compared to that of the parental strain, J178. The genetic basis for structural variation was explored by sequencing LPS biosynthesis genes. SP-D binding to clinical isolates was demonstrated by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analyses. Here, we show that H. pylori evades SP-D binding through phase variation in lipopolysaccharide. This phenomenon is linked to changes in the fucosylation of the O chain, which was concomitant with slipped-strand mispairing in a poly(C) tract of the fucosyltransferase A (fucT1) gene. SP-D binding organisms are predominant in mucus in vivo (P = 0.02), suggesting that SP-D facilitates physical elimination. Phase variation to evade SP-D contributes to the persistence of this common gastric pathogen.
London penetration depth measurements in Ba (Fe1-xTx)2As2(T=Co,Ni,Ru,Rh,Pd,Pt,Co+Cu) superconductors

The London penetration depth has been measured in various doping levels of single crystals of Ba(Fe1−xTx)2As2 (T=Co,Ni,Ru,Rh,Pd,Pt,Co+Cu) superconductors by utilizing a tunnel diode resonator (TDR) apparatus. All in-plane penetration depth measurements exhibit a power law temperature dependence of the form ∆λab(T ) = CT n, indicating the existence of low-temperature, normal state quasiparticles all the way down to the lowest measured temperature, which was typically 500 mK. Several different doping concentrations from the Ba(Fe1−xTx)2As2 (T=Co,Ni) systems have been measured and the doping dependence of the power law exponent, n, is compared to results from measurements of thermal conductivity and specific heat. In addition, a novel method has been developed to allow for the measurement of the zero temperature value of the in-plane penetration depth, λab(0), by using TDR frequency shifts. By using this technique, the doping dependence of λab(0) has been measured in the Ba(Fe1−xCox)2As2 series, which has allowed also for the construction of the doping-dependent superfluid phase stiffness, ρs(T ) = [λ(0)/λ(T )] 2. By studying the effects of disorder on these superconductors using heavy ion irradiation, it has been determined that the observed power law temperature dependence likely arises from pair-breaking impurity scattering contributions, which is consistent with the proposed s±-wave symmetry of the superconducting gap in the dirty scattering limit. This hypothesis is supported by the measurement of an exponential temperature dependence of the penetration depth in the intrinsically clean LiFeAs, indicative of a nodeless superconducting gap.
Quantitative Detection of Porcine Torque Teno Virus in Porcine Circovirus-2–Negative and Porcine Circovirus–Associated Disease-Affected Pigs

Torque teno virus (TTV) is a recently identified virus that has a wide range of host tropisms from humans to shrews. Human TTV and Torque teno mini virus are distributed worldwide, and their high prevalence in human populations has been reported. Pigs have their own species-specific TTV, and like human TTV, a high prevalence of porcine TTV also has been reported. Despite its high prevalence, the role of TTV-related disease or syndrome in humans and pigs has not been determined. In the swine industry, TTV is thought to be one of the agents that aggravate clinical manifestation of Porcine circovirus–associated disease (PCVAD), a newly emerging, economically devastating disease. The purpose of the current study was to quantify TTV viral load in serum obtained from Porcine circovirus-2–negative pigs and PCVAD-affected pigs with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays and to compare TTV viral load between these groups. Results of this study indicate that there are no statically remarkable differences in TTV viral load between the 2 groups, which indicates that TTV might not be an agent of aggravation in PCVAD.
Social Media In-Feed Advertising: the Impacts of Consistency And Sociability On Ad Avoidance

This study examines the success of in-feed advertisements on social media. As social media is growing in popularity, advertisers have increased their spending on these media. Out of various forms of advertising in-feed advertising has been especially successful in generating click-through rates and comments as compared to other forms of advertising, such as banner ads, pop-up ads. This study attempts to focus on two types of in-feed ad features, namely, consistency and sociability and to evaluate their effects on consumers’ perceptions of goal impediment, ad clutter and ad avoidance. We find that consistency helps to minimize both perceived goal impediment and perceived ad clutter. However, this influence is insignificant among telic users. Perceived sociability is found to mitigate users’ perceptions of in-feed ads as interruptions(ad clutter and goal impediment) as well as avoidance of these ads. Implication for research and theory are presented.
A Log(N) Distributed Mutual Exclusion Algorithm Based on Path Reversal

In this paper, we present a distributed algorithm for mutual exclusion based on path reversal. The algorithm does not use logical clocks to serialize the concurrent events, and all the variables are bounded. When a process invokes a critical section, it sends a request to the tail of a queue. A dynamical rooted tree gives the path to this tail. The algorithm requires onlyO(log(n)) messages on average, wherenis the number of processes in the network. The performance analysis of the algorithm is based on generating formal power series.
The Extensive Margin of Exporting Products: A Firm-Level Analysis

To quantify trade frictions, we examine multiproduct exporters. We build a flexible general-equilibrium model and estimate market entry costs using Brazilian firm-product-destination data under rich demand and market access cost shocks. Our estimates show that additional products farther from a firm’s core competency come at higher production costs, but there are substantive economies of scope in market access costs. Market access costs differ across destinations, falling more rapidly in scope at nearby regions and at destinations with fewer nontariff barriers. We evaluate a counterfactual scenario that harmonizes market access costs across destinations and find global welfare gains similar to eliminating all current tariffs. (JEL D22, F12, F13, F14, O14, O19)
High-frequency stimulation-induced peptide release synchronizes arcuate kisspeptin neurons and excites GnRH neurons

Kisspeptin (Kiss1) and neurokinin B (NKB) neurocircuits are essential for pubertal development and fertility. Kisspeptin neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (Kiss1ARH) co-express Kiss1, NKB, dynorphin and glutamate and are postulated to provide an episodic, excitatory drive to gonadotropin-releasing hormone 1 (GnRH) neurons, the synaptic mechanisms of which are unknown. We characterized the cellular basis for synchronized Kiss1ARH neuronal activity using optogenetics, whole-cell electrophysiology, molecular pharmacology and single cell RT-PCR in mice. High-frequency photostimulation of Kiss1ARH neurons evoked local release of excitatory (NKB) and inhibitory (dynorphin) neuropeptides, which were found to synchronize the Kiss1ARH neuronal firing. The light-evoked synchronous activity caused robust excitation of GnRH neurons by a synaptic mechanism that also involved glutamatergic input to preoptic Kiss1 neurons from Kiss1ARH neurons. We propose that Kiss1ARH neurons play a dual role of driving episodic secretion of GnRH through the differential release of peptide and amino acid neurotransmitters to coordinate reproductive function. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.16246. 001
SUPPRESSION OF SEX‐RATIO MEIOTIC DRIVE AND THE MAINTENANCE OF Y‐CHROMOSOME POLYMORPHISM IN DROSOPHILA

Like several other species of Drosophila, D. quinaria is polymorphic for X‐chromosome meiotic drive; matings involving males that carry a “sex‐ratio” X chromosome (XSR) result in the production of strongly female‐biased offspring sex ratios (Jaenike 1996). A survey of isofemale lines of D. quinaria from several populations reveals that there is genetic variation for partial suppression of this meiotic drive. Crossing experiments show that there is Y‐linked, and probably autosomal, variation for suppression of drive. Y‐linked suppressors of X‐chromosome drive have now been described in several species of Diptera. I develop a simple model for the maintenance of Y‐chromosome polymorphism in species polymorphic for X‐linked meiotic drive. One interesting feature of this model is that, if there is a stable Y‐chromosome polymorphism, then the equilibrium frequency of the standard and sex‐ratio X chromosomes is determined solely by Y‐chromosome parameters, not by the fitness effects of the different X chromosomes on their carriers. This model suggests that Y‐chromosome polymorphism may be easier to maintain than previously thought, and I hypothesize that karyotypic variation in Y chromosomes will be found to be associated with suppression of sex‐ratio meiotic drive in other species of Drosophila.
Percutaneous Treatment of Extrahepatic Bile Duct Stones Assisted by Balloon Sphincteroplasty and Occlusion Balloon

Objective To describe the technical feasibility and usefulness of extrahepatic biliary stone removal by balloon sphincteroplasty and occlusion balloon pushing. Materials and Methods Fifteen patients with extrahepatic bile duct stones were included in this study. Endoscopic stone removal was not successful in 13 patients, and two patients refused the procedure due to endoscopy phobia. At first, all patients underwent percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). A few days later, through the PTBD route, balloon assisted dilatation for common bile duct (CBD) sphincter was performed, and then the stones were pushed into the duodenum using an 11.5 mm occlusion balloon. Success rate, reason for failure, and complications associated with the procedure were evaluated. Results Eight patients had one stone, five patients had two stones, and two patients had more than five stones. The procedure was successful in 13 patients (13/15). In 12 of the patients, all stones were removed in the first trial. In one patient, residual stones were discovered on follow-up cholangiography, and were subsequently removed in the second trial. Technical failure occurred in two patients. Both of these patients had severely dilated CBD and multiple stones with various sizes. Ten patients complained of pain in the right upper quadrant and epigastrium of the abdomen immediately following the procedure, but there were no significant procedure-related complications such as bleeding or pancreatitis. Conclusion Percutaneous extrahepatic biliary stone removal by balloon sphincteroplasty and subsequent stone pushing with occlusion balloon is an effective, safe, and technically feasible procedure which can be used as an alternative method in patients when endoscopic extrahepatic biliary stone removal was not successful.
Detecting Hidden Violence: The Spatial Distribution of Excess Mortality in Rwanda

During the nineties, Rwanda experienced several forms of internal violence, in- cluding civil war, genocide, reprisal killings and (counter-)insurgency. In addition, the armed con‡ict triggered of an unprecedented refugee crisis in the Great Lakes region. In order to assess the relative impact of the dierent forms of violence and the refugee crisis, this article derives a detailed spatial pattern of wartime excess mortality from pre- and post-con‡ict population census data. In line with previous evidence on the intensity of genocide, civil war and reprisal killings in Rwanda, we …nd signi…cant high-high excess mortality clusters in the southern province of Butare, in and around Kigali City, and in the eastern province Ki- bungo. Furthermore, we present the …rst quantitative evidence to date of high excess mortality in Gisenyi, the northwestern province which was the location of (counter-)insurgency and served as a corridor for more than a million refugees. A regression analysis indicates that both of these events contributed to a high death toll in Gisenyi.
Z-source DC-DC converter with cascade switched capacitor

The Z-source dc-dc converter has a unique topology which is called Z-source network. The Z-source network can boost up the input voltage and protect the devices against a short circuit. However it has disadvantages such as the low boost factor and the narrow power range. Therefore, enlarging the boost factor and the power range are required. This paper proposes the Z-source dc-dc converter with cascade switched capacitor circuit. The proposed converter is able to enhance the boost factor range and the power range by connecting the switched capacitor to the various types of Z source converters. The theoretical approach, simulation results with MATLAB/SIMULINK, and experimental results with prototype circuits are introduced and confirmed.
Synthesis and Characterizations of Silica Nanoparticles by a New Sol-Gel Method

Silica nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical methods from tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), polyethylene glycol 5% and hydrochloric acid 0.001 N. The sol-gel process was applied for the preparation of nano silica gel. This method is hydrolysis and condensation reactions of TEOS as precursor of silica. The optimal synthesis conditions for the preparation of silica nanoparticles were obtained and the produced silica nanoparticles were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results indicated that the silica nanoparticles were successfully formed. The prepared samples change from amorphous to α-crystallite phase. The XRD analysis indicated the amorphous structure of the synthesized silica nanoparticles while the SEM and TEM images exhibited monodispersedNano sized silica particles with a size about 34 nm. In this study, the soft process of sol-gel reaction is favourable from a view point of energy conservation. Additionally, the advantages of this technique were the purity of products and ability to control nanometer sized internal structure.
Combined glutathione S transferase M1/T1 null genotypes is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background Due to new genetic insights, a considerably large number of genes and polymorphic gene variants are screened and linked with the complex pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (DM). Our study aimed to investigate the association between the two isoforms of the glutathione S-transferase genes (Glutathione S transferase isoemzyme type M1- GSTM1 and Glutathione S transferase isoemzyme type T1-GSTT1) and the prevalence of DM in the Northern Romanian population. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional, randomized, case-control study evaluating the frequency of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null alleles in patients diagnosed with DM. A total of 106 patients diagnosed with DM and 124 healthy controls were included in the study. GSTM1 and GSTT1 null alleles genotyping was carried out using Multiplex PCR amplification of relevant gene fragments, followed by gel electrophoresis analysis of the resulting amplicons. Results Molecular analysis did not reveal an increased frequency of the null GSTM1 and GSTT1 alleles (mutant genotypes) respectively in the DM group compared to controls (p=0.171, OR=1.444 CI=0.852–2.447; p=0.647, OR=0.854, CI=0.436–1.673). Nevertheless, the combined GSTM1/GSTT1 null genotypes were statistically significantly higher in DM patients compared to control subjects (p=0.0021, OR=0.313, CI=0.149–0.655) Conclusions The main finding of our study is that the combined, double GSTM1/GSTT1 null genotypes are to be considered among the polymorphic genetic risk factors for type 2 DM.