Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A New Empirical Study of the Mexican Treasury Securities Primary Auctions: Is There More Underpricing?

Examination of new data of the Mexican government securities primary auctions shows, not only that there exists underpricing with respect to the secondary market in CETES, the zero coupon Treasury bonds, of 28, 91, 182, and 365 days maturity, but also that such underpricing tends to increase over time, especially during the period of 1996-2000. This study also finds that changes to the auction format employed by the Mexican Treasury do not fully account for this pattern because in spite that since 1995 the discriminatory format is in place, some modifications have been adopted with the purpose of improving sales conditions in the primary auctions, like setting common maximum bidding limits for all participants or reopening securities issues with high observed interest rates. Usual factors assumed to affect auction prices by existing models, like competition level, bidder participation and market uncertainty seem to play a role. However, evidence is also found that some factors related to secondary market features suggested by the finance microstructure literature, like liquidity, inventory and adverse selection costs may be playing an even more important role. Overall, these findings provide confirmation of the relevance of resale markets and suggests that: 1) it may be fruitful to add some of these latter features in future theoretical models about government securities markets and 2) to improve secondary market conditions may be important to enhance efficiency in the primary market.
Connectivity, Pharmacology, and Computation: Toward a Mechanistic Understanding of Neural System Dysfunction in Schizophrenia

Neuropsychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia and bipolar illness alter the structure and function of distributed neural networks. Functional neuroimaging tools have evolved sufficiently to reliably detect system-level disturbances in neural networks. This review focuses on recent findings in schizophrenia and bipolar illness using resting-state neuroimaging, an advantageous approach for biomarker development given its ease of data collection and lack of task-based confounds. These benefits notwithstanding, neuroimaging does not yet allow the evaluation of individual neurons within local circuits, where pharmacological treatments ultimately exert their effects. This limitation constitutes an important obstacle in translating findings from animal research to humans and from healthy humans to patient populations. Integrating new neuroscientific tools may help to bridge some of these gaps. We specifically discuss two complementary approaches. The first is pharmacological manipulations in healthy volunteers, which transiently mimic some cardinal features of psychiatric conditions. We specifically focus on recent neuroimaging studies using the NMDA receptor antagonist, ketamine, to probe glutamate synaptic dysfunction associated with schizophrenia. Second, we discuss the combination of human pharmacological imaging with biophysically informed computational models developed to guide the interpretation of functional imaging studies and to inform the development of pathophysiologic hypotheses. To illustrate this approach, we review clinical investigations in addition to recent findings of how computational modeling has guided inferences drawn from our studies involving ketamine administration to healthy subjects. Thus, this review asserts that linking experimental studies in humans with computational models will advance to effort to bridge cellular, systems, and clinical neuroscience approaches to psychiatric disorders.
A novel role for the CBF3 kinetochore–scaffold complex in regulating septin dynamics and cytokinesis

In budding yeast, the kinetochore scaffold complex centromere binding factor 3 (CBF3) is required to form kinetochores on centromere DNA and to allow proper chromosome segregation. We have previously shown that SKP1 and SGT1 balance the assembly and turnover of CBF3 complexes, a cycle that we suggest is independent of its role in chromosome segregation (Rodrigo-Brenni, M.C., S. Thomas, D.C. Bouck, and K.B. Kaplan. 2004. Mol. Biol. Cell. 15:3366–3378). We provide evidence that this cycle contributes to a second, kinetochore-independent function of CBF3. In this study, we show that inhibiting the assembly of CBF3 causes disorganized septins and defects in cell polarity that give rise to cytokinesis failures. Specifically, we show that septin ring separation and disassembly is delayed in anaphase, suggesting that CBF3 regulates septin dynamics. Only mutations that affect the CBF3 cycle, and not mutants in outer kinetochore subunits, cause defects in septins. These results demonstrate a novel role for CBF3 in regulating cytokinesis, a role that is reminiscent of passenger proteins. Consistent with this possibility, we find that CBF3 interacts with Bir1p, the homologue of the passenger protein Survivin. Mutants in Bir1p similarly affect septin organization, leading us to propose that CBF3 and Bir1p act as passenger proteins to coordinate chromosome segregation with cytokinesis.
Modelling of slag foaming

In this work, silicone oils of different viscosities were used to simulate slag foaming. The experimental results showed that the variations of foaming height with superficial gas velocity and liquid viscosity do not show simple increasing trends. At a constant viscosity, foaming height increased first and then started decreasing with increasing superficial velocity. Similarly, a maximum foaming height was observed at an optimum viscosity when a constant gas flowrate was applied. The foaming height started decreasing with further increasing viscosity. Based on the experimental data, a semiempirical equation of foaming height was developed. The predictions of the model agreed well with experimental data. The model could also reasonably well explain the industrial pilot trial experiments. The experimental results with paraffin particle additions indicated that a small amount of particle addition moved the onset of foaming to lower superficial velocity. However, the increase in viscosity due to the presence of solid particles was found not the main reason for the increase in foaming height.
Majority Support of Shareholders, Monitoring Incentive, and Dividend Policy

As an alternative version of the side-payment model, this paper presents a demonstration of how the necessity of winning majority support of shareholders influences the relation between a blockholder's monitoring incentive and a firm's dividend policy. When dividend-averse individuals collectively hold a majority stake in a dispersed ownership structure, a dividend-seeking blockholder might be compelled to propose lower dividends than the tax-optimum to dominate the zero-dividend proposal. Under such circumstances, the blockholder has an incentive to provide unprofitable monitoring activity as long as the private benefits of tax-saving are greater than the pecuniary loss from the monitoring activity.
Lipoproteins, Not Lipopolysaccharide, Are the Key Mediators of the Proinflammatory Response Elicited by Heat-Killed Brucella abortus1

Inflammation is a hallmark of brucellosis. Although Brucella abortus, one of the disease’s etiologic agents, possesses cytokine-stimulatory properties, the mechanism by which this bacterium triggers a proinflammatory response is not known. We examined the mechanism whereby heat-killed B. abortus (HKBA), as well as its LPS, induces production of inflammatory cytokines in monocytes/macrophages. Polymyxin B, a specific inhibitor of LPS activity, did not inhibit the production of TNF-α- and IL-6-induced HKBA in the human monocytic cell line THP-1. HKBA induced the production of these cytokines in peritoneal macrophages of both C3H/HeJ and C3H/HeN mice, whereas B. abortus LPS only stimulated cells from C3H/HeN mice. Anti-TLR2 Ab, but not anti-TLR4 Ab, blocked HKBA-mediated TNF-α and IL-6 production in THP-1 cells. Because bacterial lipoproteins, a TLR2 ligand, have potent inherent stimulatory properties, we investigated the capacity of two B. abortus lipoproteins, outer membrane protein 19 (Omp19) and Omp16, to elicit a proinflammatory response. Lipidated (L)-Omp16 and L-Omp19, but not their unlipidated forms, induced the secretion of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-12 in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. Preincubation of THP-1 cells with anti-TLR2 Ab blocked L-Omp19-mediated TNF-α and IL-6 production. Together, these results entail a mechanism whereby B. abortus can stimulate cells from the innate immune system and induce cytokine-mediated inflammation in brucellosis. We submit that LPS is not the cause of inflammation in brucellosis; rather, lipoproteins of this organism trigger the production of proinflammatory cytokines, and TLR2 is involved in this process.
Cell Death Mechanism and Protective Effect of Erythropoietin after Focal Ischemia in the Whisker-Barrel Cortex of Neonatal Rats

Cell death induced by the combined insult of hypoxia-ischemia in neonatal rodents has been extensively investigated. Ischemia-only-induced cell death, however, has been much less characterized. Based on the notion that 1) ischemic stroke is a relatively common disorder in human neonates, and 2) developing cells are more susceptible to apoptosis, the present study examined whether typical apoptosis was induced by cerebral ischemia in a new neonatal rat model. Erythropoietin (EPO; Epoetin) was tested for its protective effect against ischemia-induced cell death. Postnatal day 7 rats were subjected to permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery branch supplying the right whisker-barrel cortex. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end-labeled-positive cells in the ischemic region were detectable 4 h after ischemia and reached a peak level 16 h later. The cell death was preceded by caspase activation and cytochrome c release. Cell body shrinkage was evident among damaged cells. Agarose gel electrophoresis showed DNA damage with a smear pattern as well as DNA laddering. Electron microscopy demonstrated apoptotic features such as cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and fragmentation; meanwhile, necrotic alterations coexisted in the cytoplasm. EPO treatment increased signal transducers and activators of transcription-5 and Bcl-2 levels, markedly attenuated apoptotic cell death, and reduced ischemic infarct in the cortex. It is suggested that focal ischemia in the developing brain causes cell death with prominent apoptotic features coexisting with some characteristics of necrosis. This is consistent with the concept of hybrid death described previously in cultures and adult or developing brain. EPO may be explored as a potential therapy for neonatal ischemic stroke.
FOXO3a-dependent regulation of Pink1 (Park6) mediates survival signaling in response to cytokine deprivation

Loss-of-function mutations of phosphatase/tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN)-induced putative kinase 1 (Pink1) (also known as Park6) identified in familial forms of Parkinson's disease (PD) are associated with compromised mitochondrial function. Emerging data suggest that Pink1 is an essential pro-survival factor that is induced in response to oxidative stress. However, the mechanisms regulating Pink1 expression under stress conditions remain unknown. Forkhead box, subgroup O (FOXO) transcription factors carry out distinct biological functions in response to different extracellular signals. Notably, FOXO factors possess evolutionarily conserved roles in protecting cells from oxidative stress-induced death. Here we report that the FOXO family member FOXO3a controls Pink1 transcription in both mouse and human cells subjected to growth factor deprivation and that this regulation is exerted through evolutionarily conserved FOXO binding elements. Induction of Pink1 by FOXO3a is crucial for survival signals in lymphocytes, as depletion of Pink1 sensitizes these cells to death induced by deprivation of an essential growth factor. Our data reveal that the role of FOXO factors in protecting cells from growth factor deprivation-triggered apoptosis has been underestimated and that FOXOs mediate this protection by transactivating anti-apoptotic effectors like Pink1. Given the essential role of Pink1 in combating cell death, our findings may help to dissect the mechanisms by which FOXO proteins function as anti-oxidative stress factors.
Facilitated Transport of the Neurotoxin, β‐N‐Methylamino‐l‐Alanine, Across the Blood‐Brain Barrier

Abstract: β‐N‐Methylamino‐l‐alanine (BMAA) is a neuro‐toxic plant amino acid that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of the high incidence amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and related parkinsonism dementia of the western Pacific. Previous studies have demonstrated that BMAA is taken up into brain following intravenous or oral administration. To examine the kinetics and mechanism of brain transfer, BMAA influx across the blood–brain barrier was measured in rats using an in situ brain perfusion technique. BMAA influx was found to be saturable with a maximal transfer rate (Vmax) of 1.6 ± 0.3 × 10–3μmol/s/g and a half‐saturation constant (Km) of 2.9 ± 0.7 mM based on total perfusate BMAA concentration. Uptake was sodium independent and inhibitable by excess l‐leucine, but not by l‐lysine, l‐glutamate, or methylaminoisobutyric acid, indicative of transfer by the cerebrovascular large neutral amino acid carrier. l‐BMAA competitively reduced brain influx of l‐[14C]leucine, as expected for cross‐inhibition. The results demonstrate that BMAA is taken up into brain by the large neutral amino acid camer of the blood‐brain bamer and suggest that uptake may be sensitive to the same factors that affect neutral amino acid transport, such as diet, metabolism, disease, and age.
Intrinsic Architecture Underlying the Relations among the Default, Dorsal Attention, and Frontoparietal Control Networks of the Human Brain

Human cognition is increasingly characterized as an emergent property of interactions among distributed, functionally specialized brain networks. We recently demonstrated that the antagonistic “default” and “dorsal attention” networks—subserving internally and externally directed cognition, respectively—are modulated by a third “frontoparietal control” network that flexibly couples with either network depending on task domain. However, little is known about the intrinsic functional architecture underlying this relationship. We used graph theory to analyze network properties of intrinsic functional connectivity within and between these three large-scale networks. Task-based activation from three independent studies were used to identify reliable brain regions (“nodes”) of each network. We then examined pairwise connections (“edges”) between nodes, as defined by resting-state functional connectivity MRI. Importantly, we used a novel bootstrap resampling procedure to determine the reliability of graph edges. Furthermore, we examined both full and partial correlations. As predicted, there was a higher degree of integration within each network than between networks. Critically, whereas the default and dorsal attention networks shared little positive connectivity with one another, the frontoparietal control network showed a high degree of between-network interconnectivity with each of these networks. Furthermore, we identified nodes within the frontoparietal control network of three different types—default-aligned, dorsal attention-aligned, and dual-aligned—that we propose play dissociable roles in mediating internetwork communication. The results provide evidence consistent with the idea that the frontoparietal control network plays a pivotal gate-keeping role in goal-directed cognition, mediating the dynamic balance between default and dorsal attention networks.
Film thickness and traction measurements of refrigerant R1233zd used as lubricant in elastohydrodynamic conditions

This study presents film thickness and friction measurements of the refrigerant R1233zd (E-1-chloro-3,3,3,trifluoropropene-1) in a tribological contact. For the film thickness, optical interferometry technique with glass–steel contact is used in a ball-disc configuration, whilst for the traction measurements (Stribeck and traction curves), a contact ceramic ball–steel disc is used. In both cases, the Wedeven Associates Machines-5 tribometer is employed. An attempt to model the film thickness results is also carried out. The model gives a reasonably good prediction with respect to the experiments.
Spinal Fracture in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis: Cohort Definition, Distribution of Injuries, and Hospital Outcomes

Study Design. A retrospective cohort. Objective. The aim of this study was to characterize spinal fractures in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Summary of Background Data. Patients with ankylosing spondylitis are susceptible to fractures of the spinal column, even from minor trauma. However, the literature describing patients with ankylosing spondylitis and spinal fractures consists largely of case reports and small case series. The purpose of this study is to better characterize fractures of the ankylosed spine, including the patient population, locations of fracture, and outcomes in a large, nationally representative sample. Methods. All patients with diagnoses of both fracture of the spinal column and ankylosing spondylitis admitted between 2005 and 2011 were identified in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS). Patient demographics, fracture regions, and complications were characterized with descriptive statistics. The associations between injury characteristics and outcomes were assessed using Poisson regression. Results. A total of 939 patients with ankylosing spondylitis admitted with a spinal fracture were identified in NIS. The average age was 68.4 ± 14.7 years, and 85% of patients were male. Cervical fractures were the most common (53.0%), followed by thoracic (41.9%), lumbar (18.2%), and sacral (1.5%). Spinal cord injury was present in 27.5% of cervical fractures, 16.0% of thoracic fractures, and 21.1% of cases overall. Fractures involving more than 1 region of the spine occurred in 13.1% of patients. Patients were treated with fusion in 49.9% of cases. In-hospital adverse events occurred in 29.4% of patients, and 6.6% of patients died during their admission. Conclusion. More than 10% of patients had fractures in more than 1 region of the spine. There is a high risk of adverse events in this population, and 6.6% of patients died during their inpatient stay. These results provide clinicians with a better understanding of the distribution and the high morbidity and mortality of fractures in the ankylosed spine. Level of Evidence: 3
Alteration in Endoglin-Related Angiogenesis in Refractory Cytopenia with Multilineage Dysplasia

The functional mechanisms involved in angiogenesis and the potential role of endoglin (ENG), recently described as a new marker for this process, have not been explored in Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS). In order to gain insight in MDS angiogenesis a combined analysis in bone marrow (BM) of gene expression levels, angiogenesis-related soluble factors and functional angiogenesis-related studies was carried out. Ninety-seven MDS patients and forty-two normal BM samples were studied. The morphology of the capillary-like structures originated by two endothelial cells lines in the BM environment of patients with refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia (RCMD) was different from those of the remaining MDS. In addition, the BM mononuclear cells from RCMD patients displayed over-expression of VEGF, HIF and FN1 while they showed reduced expression of ENG in contrast to the normal ENG expression of the remaining low-risk MDS and the high expression of ENG in high-risk MDS subtype. Moreover, higher soluble ENG and soluble FLT-1 levels in BM microenvironment were observed in RCMD cases, which distinguished them from other individuals. Therefore, the present study suggests that the patterns of angiogenesis are different between the MDS subtypes. The differences in angiogenesis observed in RCMD patients could be related to ENG abnormalities.
Consumption of Pornographic Materials among Hong Kong Early Adolescents: A Replication

Consumption of pornographic materials was examined in 3,638 secondary 2 students in Hong Kong. Results showed that over 80% of the respondents had never consumed pornographic materials in the past year. Internet pornography was the most common medium that adolescents used when viewing pornographic materials. Males reported a higher level of pornography consumption than did females. Participants who were born in mainland China were more likely to consume pornographic materials than their Hong Kong counterparts. Regardless of the types of pornographic materials, the levels of pornography consumption significantly increased over time. Results also showed that higher levels of positive youth development and better family functioning were concurrently related to a lower level of pornography consumption at secondary 2. The relative contribution of positive youth development and family factors to pornographic material consumption was also explored.
Post-editing a chapter of a specialized textbook into 7 languages: importance of terminological proximity with English for productivity

Access to textbooks in one’s own language, in parallel with the original version in the instructional language, is known to be quite helpful for foreign students studying abroad. Cooperative post-editing (PE) of specialized textbook pretranslations by the foreign students themselves is a good way to produce the ”target” versions, if the students find it rewarding, and not too time-consuming, that is, no longer than about 15-20 minutes per standard page (of 1400 characters or 250 words). In the experiment reported here, PE has been performed on a whole chapter of 4420 words (in English), or about 18 standard pages, into 7 languages (Portuguese, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Bengali, Hindi, Marathi), native tongues of the participants. Average PE time has been measured, and when possible correlated with primary PE time (the time spent in editing a MT pre-translation in the PE text area). When terms are cognates of English terms (as in French, Spanish, Portuguese, and even Russian or Japanese), because neologisms are directly borrowed from English, or built using similar roots (often Latin or Greek) and similar word formation mechanisms (composition, affixation of special prefixes and suffixes), target terms can be ”guessed” and PE time is in the order of 15 minutes per page, even if the target language is considered ”distant” from English. On the other hand, PE times increase by a factor of 3 to 5 when the target language is terminologically distant from English. We found that ∗Ritesh.Shah@imag.fr †Christian.Boitet@imag.fr ‡pb@cse.iitb. ac.in is the case of Hindi, Bengali and Marathi, and probably of all Indic languages. Previous experiments seem to have missed that important point, because they were performed on too short texts (often, only a few paragraphs), and on ”easy” pairs like English-French. A consequence is that, for terminologically distant language pairs, one should begin by separately collecting, or if necessary coining, the terms in the target languages.