Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
When Does Regulation Distort Costs? Lessons from Fuel Procurement in U.S. Electricity Generation

Under what conditions does cost-of-service regulation lead firms to distort costs? This paper analyzes changes in fuel procurement practices by coal- and natural gas-fired electricity generating plants in the United States following state-level legislation that ended cost-of-service regulation among investor-owned electric utilities in the late 1990s. I construct a detailed dataset that links confidential, shipment-level data on the price of virtually all of the fuel delivered to coal- and gas-fired electricity plants in the United States from 1990-2009, with plant-level data on operations and regulatory status. Using a matched difference-in-difference estimation strategy to account for confounding shipping costs, I find the price of coal drops by 12% at deregulated plants relative to matched plants that were not subject to any regulatory change, whereas there was no relative drop in the price of gas. Deregulated plants disproportionately switch to burning low-sulfur coal rather than install capital-intensive abatement equipment to comply with environmental regulations, and expand imports from out of state by 25% if they were initially burning in-state coal. I show how these results lend support to theories of asymmetric information between generators and regulators, regulatory capture, and capital-bias as important sources of distortion under cost-of-service regulation. I then show that the drop in the price of coal is associated with a reallocation of purchases to more productive mines, rather than simply a transfer of regulatory rents from coal producers to electricity generators. Although only one quarter of U.S. coal-fired capacity has been deregulated, the end of cost-of-service regulation has reduced the price of fuel by about one billion dollars per year for these plants.
The Collection and Use of Information by Some American Historians: A Study of Motives and Methods

Previous literature on the information needs and uses of historians has tended to focus on the use of libraries and specific types of materials, rather than on the motivations for, and results of, such use. Yet understanding this prior process of historical inquiry might help us to develop improved services and facilities for scholars. A study of twenty American historians was conducted in order to better understand the nature of research in history. Respondents were asked about their choice of research topics, specific projects in progress, use of archives, categorization of materials collected, writing habits, and use of computers. Interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using standard, qualitative techniques. The results are discussed in the light of previous investigations of historians and the published statements of classification experts regarding the organization of historical knowledge. Suggestions for future study of historians are offered, and implications for libraries are explored.
Evidence for determinism in species diversification and contingency in phenotypic evolution during adaptive radiation

Adaptive radiation (AR) theory predicts that groups sharing the same source of ecological opportunity (EO) will experience deterministic species diversification and morphological evolution. Thus, deterministic ecological and morphological evolution should be correlated with deterministic patterns in the tempo and mode of speciation for groups in similar habitats and time periods. We test this hypothesis using well-sampled phylogenies of four squamate groups that colonized the New World (NW) in the Late Oligocene. We use both standard and coalescent models to assess species diversification, as well as likelihood models to examine morphological evolution. All squamate groups show similar early pulses of speciation, as well as diversity-dependent ecological limits on clade size at a continental scale. In contrast, processes of morphological evolution are not easily predictable and do not show similar pulses of early and rapid change. Patterns of morphological and species diversification thus appear uncoupled across these groups. This indicates that the processes that drive diversification and disparification are not mechanistically linked, even among similar groups of taxa experiencing the same sources of EO. It also suggests that processes of phenotypic diversification cannot be predicted solely from the existence of an AR or knowledge of the process of diversification.
RANDOM INTERSECTION GRAPHS WITH TUNABLE DEGREE DISTRIBUTION AND CLUSTERING

A random intersection graph is constructed by assigning independently to each vertex a subset of a given set and drawing an edge between two vertices if and only if their respective subsets intersect. In this article a model is developed in which each vertex is given a random weight and vertices with larger weights are more likely to be assigned large subsets. The distribution of the degree of a given vertex is characterized and is shown to depend on the weight of the vertex. In particular, if the weight distribution is a power law, the degree distribution will be as well. Furthermore, an asymptotic expression for the clustering in the graph is derived. By tuning the parameters of the model, it is possible to generate a graph with arbitrary clustering, expected degree, and—in the power-law case—tail exponent.
Characterization of cultured dorsal root ganglion neuron P2X receptors

P2X receptors for adenosine 5′‐triphosphate (ATP) comprise a family of ligand‐gated cation channels with distinct characteristics which are dependent on the receptor subunits (P2X1–7) expressed, and the homomeric or heteromeric assembly of protein subunits in individual cells. We describe the properties of P2X receptors expressed by cultured adult rat dorsal root ganglion cells on the basis of the time course of responses to ATP, α,β‐methylene adenosine 5′‐triphosphate (α,β‐meATP) and 2‐methyl‐thioadenosine 5′‐triphosphate (2‐meSATP), and using the antagonists 2′,3′‐O‐(2,4,6‐trinitrophenyl) ATP (TNP‐ATP), a novel and highly selective purinoceptor antagonist, suramin and iso‐pyridocalphosphate‐6‐azophenyl‐2′,5′ disulphonic acid (PPADS). ATP (10 μm) evoked inward currents in ≈ 95% of neurons tested and > 80% responded with a fast transient inward current that rapidly inactivated during the continued presence of ATP. Of the remaining neurons, ≈ 4% showed a sustained response and ≈ 10% showed a combination of transient and sustained components. Rapid application of ATP, α,β‐meATP and 2meSATP demonstrated these to be full agonists of the rapidly inactivating P2X receptor (pA50 values = 5.83, 5.86 and 5.55, respectively), whilst uridine triphosphate (UTP) and 1‐β,γ‐methyleneadenosine 5′‐triphosphate (1‐β,γ‐meATP) were ineffective as agonists. These rapidly inactivating responses could be inhibited by TNP‐ATP, suramin and PPADS (pIC50 = 9.5, 6.5, 6.4, respectively). Using inactivation protocols, we demonstrate the presence of homomeric P2X3‐like receptors and non‐inactivating P2X receptors, which indicates that individual subsets of adult dorsal root ganglion neurons have distinct P2X receptor phenotypes, and that individual DRG neurons may express multiple P2X receptor subtypes.
The Empirical Evaluation of Clinical Practice

Four groups of social work practitioners were studied to find out the extent to which they empirically evaluated their clinical practice, and to assess the conditions under which practitioners are likely to evaluate their practice. Data were collected by a self-administered mail questionnaire. Results showed that the group using a behavioral approach evaluated practice to a greater extent than members of the other three groups. It is claimed that single-subject methodology is most appropriate with behavioral interventions and that the steps in empirical practice evaluation are concomitantly the components of behavioral practice. Predictors of practice evaluation-client, agency, and practitioner factors-were found to be important in determming whether practitioners empirically evaluate their clinical practice. Closer coordination is recommended between schools of social work and agency field scttings to determine both the competance and willingness of field supervisors and agency administrators to have emp.
Genetic Loss of Calcineurin Blocks Mechanical Overload-induced Skeletal Muscle Fiber Type Switching but Not Hypertrophy*

The serine/threonine phosphatase calcineurin is an important regulator of calcium-activated intracellular responses in eukaryotic cells. In higher eukaryotes, calcium/calmodulin-mediated activation of calcineurin facilitates direct dephosphorylation and nuclear translocation of the transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT). Recently, controversy has surrounded the role of calcineurin in mediating skeletal muscle cell hypertrophy. Here we examined the ability of calcineurin-deficient mice to undergo skeletal muscle hypertrophic growth following mechanical overload (MOV) stimulation or insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) stimulation. Two distinct models of calcineurin deficiency were employed: calcineurin Aβ gene-targeted mice, which show a ≈50% reduction in total calcineurin, and calcineurin B1-LoxP-targeted mice crossed with a myosin light chain 1f cre knock-in allele, which show a greater than 80% loss of total calcineurin only in skeletal muscle. Calcineurin Aβ-/- and calcineurin B1-LoxP(fl/fl)-MLC-cre mice show essentially no defects in muscle growth in response to IGF-1 treatment or MOV stimulation, although calcineurin Aβ-/- mice show a basal defect in total fiber number in the plantaris and a mild secondary reduction in growth, consistent with a developmental defect in myogenesis. Both groups of gene-targeted mice show normal increases in Akt activation following MOV or IGF-1 stimulation. However, overload-mediated fiber-type switching was dramatically impaired in calcineurin B1-LoxP(fl/fl)-MLC-cre mice. NFAT-luciferase reporter transgenic mice failed to show a correlation between IGF-1- or MOV-induced hypertrophy and calcineurin-NFAT-dependent signaling in vivo. We conclude that calcineurin expression is important during myogenesis and fiber-type switching, but not for muscle growth in response to hypertrophic stimuli.
Cluster analysis using a gradient evolution-based k-means algorithm

Cluster analysis is a very useful data analysis tool. It can reveal the hidden information stored inside a dataset. Therefore, many researches proposed different clustering algorithms. This paper intends to propose a gradient evolutionbased Ä-means algorithm. Ä-means algorithm is a well-known clustering algorithm. It offers a simple algorithm to divide the dataset into several clusters. Unfortunately, its results are highly influenced by the initial centroids. Unpromising initial centroid might lead the k-means to the bad clustering result. This paper aims to improve this drawback by adopting a new metaheuristic algorithm, named a gradient evolution (GE) algorithm. In this paper, we proposed a GE-based Ä-means algorithm for solving the clustering problems. The proposed algorithm is validated by using some benchmark datasets. The computation results showed that the proposed algorithm can obtain better results compared with some other metaheuristic-based k-means algorithms.
Urinary Tract Infections among HIV-Positive Pregnant Women in Mwanza City, Tanzania, Are High and Predicted by Low CD4+ Count

Introduction. Urinary tract infection (UTI) among pregnant women can lead to adverse maternal and foetal outcomes. UTI has been widely studied in the general obstetric population in Tanzania; the present study evaluated the magnitude, antimicrobial resistance, and predictors of UTI among HIV-positive pregnant women. Methods. Between March and May 2016 midstream urine samples from 234 women attending prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) clinics were analyzed using standard methods. Data was analyzed by STATA version 11.0. Results. The prevalence of UTI was 21.4%, 50/234 [95% CI: 16.1–26.6]. The asymptomatically significant bacteriuria was higher than symptomatically significant bacteriuria (16.6% versus 4.7%, p < 0.001). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, single marital status (OR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.1–6.1, and p = 0.026), low CD4+ counts of <200/μL (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.1–7.7, and p = 0.031), and having UTI symptoms (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.1–6.0, and p = 0.03) were independent predictors of UTI. Escherichia coli predominated (57.7%) and exhibited a low prevalence of resistance to nitrofurantoin (16.7%), gentamicin (10.0%), and ceftriaxone (13.3%). Four (13.3%) of these were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producers. Conclusions. A considerable proportion of HIV-positive pregnant women in Mwanza have significant bacteriuria which calls for the need to introduce routine UTI screening at PMTCT clinics to guide specific treatment and prevent associated complications.
Analysis of Postgraduate Programs in the EHEA and the USA

In 2010 the period that the countries of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) had to adapt their university education ended. Due to this it is now necessary to look at the current situation of postgraduate programs, in order to examine the level of convergence between countries. The current legislation regulating postgraduate programs in the 47 countries of the EHEA and the USA, a country with great prestige in doctorate studies, was analyzed, using 154 indicators related to general program regulations, characteristics of the education systems, characteristics of the doctoral thesis and the requirements to be a thesis director or evaluator. The level of adaptation of these programs to the principles of the EHEA and the situation in the USA can be observed in the results. The convergence process between countries is discussed, establishing differences between European and American postgraduate studies. Finally, guidelines are proposed for the improvement of programs.
Correlation of E protein binding with cell susceptibility to dengue 4 virus infection.

Supernatant culture fluids from dengue virus type 4 (DEN-4)-infected cultures of monkey kidney Vero cells and Aedes albopictus C6/36 cells contained the virion structural proteins; secreted NS1 was found only in supernatants from infected Vero cells. Using supernatant culture fluids from [35S]methionine-labelled, virus-infected Vero and C6/36 cells, binding of radiolabelled viral proteins was examined with various cell lines varying in susceptibility to DEN-4 infection. Binding of viral E protein was observed with the highly infectible Vero and LLC-MK2 cell lines, whereas a very small degree of binding was seen with four other cell lines (mouse fibroblast L929, bovine kidney MDBK, human hepatoma Hep G2 and primary human endothelial cells) which are less susceptible to DEN-4 infection. The results suggest that cell susceptibility to DEN-4 may be determined largely at the stage of virus binding, i.e. by the presence of a cell receptor capable of binding viral E protein.
Rich Media, Poor Democracy: Communication Politics in Dubious Times

Some argue that any effort to limit capitalist domination of media is an underhanded backdoor effort to eliminate capitalism. It is true that for those who are socialists or who are critical of capitalism, having a commercial media system is problematic; the track record is that such a system will not have much enthusiasm for hard-edged social criticism, especially from the Left. But even those who believe in the legitimacy of capitalism need not believe that media should be the sole province of capitalists. Indeed, they should not, if they value democracy. Market economies can survive, arguably even prosper, without having U.S.-style commercial media systems. The real question is whether democracy can survive as anything more than a fig leaf covering concentrated private power. As for the argument that new digital technologies render regulation-! J meaning regulation that might impede private interests, not regulation that assists them-obsolete, it does not even pass rudimentary analysis. Merely being able to launch a Web site is wonderful and it has opened up the media system, but what is striking is how little effect it has had on the commercial media system so far. Not a single new commercially viable media content concern has been introduced on the Internet. The power of the market trumps the magic of the technology. If we want the Internet to spawn a new generation of viable media content providers, we cannot look to the market to produce that outcome. It will require explicit policies to generate such an outcome. Moreover, however one might want the Internet to develop, policy decisions will go a long way in pointing it in its ultimate direction. Global trade agreements, intellectual property laws and regulations, traditional media subsidies and regulations, and the like will be decisive in ,determining the future of the Internet. As with media writ large, the question is not whether we want regulation, but what type of regulation we want. It is worth noting as an addendum, that the Internet itself is a tremendous testament to public sector policymaking and cooperative economic and social activity. The Internet would never have developed if left to the market. The same is true of many other innovations in communication. in short, the public sector has a cornerstone role in communication, and fundamental interests to protect. This also suggests that the positive economic benefits from devel~ oping the media-information sector can, shou.ld, and do come from signifi~t public sector involvement. 20
Dietary conjugated linoleic acid differentially alters fatty acid composition and increases conjugated linoleic acid content in porcine adipose tissue

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) have been shown to decrease body fat content in pigs. It is possible that feeding pigs diets rich in CLA may increase carcass lipid CLA to levels that could provide health benefits when included as a part of a healthy diet. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine whether dietary CLA supplementation has any effect on the fatty acid composition of subcutaneous and intramuscular adipose tissue in pigs. Thirty-five female cross bred (Large White×Landrace) pigs (initial weight 57·2kg and initial P2 back fat 11·5mm) were used in the present study. Pigs were housed individually and randomly allocated to one of six dietary treatments (0·00, 1·25, 2·50, 5·00, 7·50 and 10·00g CLA55 (55g CLA isomers/100g total fatty acids; Natural Lipids Ltd, Hovdebygda, Norway)/kg) and fed their respective diets for 8 weeks. Twelve CLA isomers in the diet and in pig tissue lipids were separated by Ag+-HPLC. CLA was incorporated at fivefold higher levels in subcutaneous fat as compared with intramuscular fat and in a dose-dependant manner. Overall, the transfer efficiency of CLA was maximized at 5·00g CLA55/kg. However, there was clear selectivity in the uptake or incorporation of cis,trans-9,11 isomer over the trans,cis-10,12 isomer. In general, CLA supplementation produced significant changes in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue fatty acid composition, indicating that dietary CLA had a potent affect on lipid transport and metabolism in vivo. Significant increases in myristic, palmitic and palmitoleic acids and a reduction in arachidonic acid were observed, suggesting an alteration in activity of Δ5-, Δ6- and Δ9-desaturases in pig adipose tissue. In conclusion, feeding pigs diets supplemented with CLA increases carcass lipid CLA, but also results in changes in the fatty acid profile in pig fat that could potentially outweigh the benefits of CLA.
Practicum Experiences in an Educational Program for Teachers of the Gifted

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of a practicum course in an educational program for teachers of the gifted. A total of 209 teachers served as subjects. Results indicated that the teachers found the practicum teaching, observations of their teaching, and papers they wrote effective learning experiences. Observer's ratings of the teachers indicated that a majority performed well in the practicum. The overall conclusion is that the practicum was effective in preparing teachers for work with the gifted.
Increased Compliance With Supervised Rehabilitation Improves Functional Outcome and Return to Sport After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Recreational Athletes

Background: Successful return to sport is an important outcome measure after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and a reason for patients’ decisions to elect surgery. Rehabilitation programs supervised by physical therapists are routinely prescribed after ACL reconstruction surgery. However, the added advantage of supervised physical therapy after ACL reconstruction is still debatable. Hypothesis: Attending more supervised physical therapy sessions after arthroscopic ACL reconstruction in recreational athletes increases their chance of successful return to sport. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The authors analyzed 93 recreational athletes who underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. After arthroscopic single-bundle ACL reconstruction, patients were advised to attend 20 supervised physical therapy sessions. Patients’ demographics, surgical details, and outcome measures (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [KOOS], Lysholm scale, and Short Form–36 Health Survey [SF-36]) were recorded presurgery and at 1-year follow-up. Ability to return to sports was documented through patients’ self-report. The attendance at physical therapy by each patient was obtained by examining database records and assessed as fully compliant (>15 sessions), moderately compliant (6-15 sessions), or noncompliant (<6 sessions). Results: Patients in the fully compliant group had significantly greater odds (odds ratio [OR], 18.5; 95% CI, 1.9-184.5; P = .013) of a successful return to sport as compared with the noncompliant group. Patients in the moderately compliant group also had greater odds of returning to sport as compared with the noncompliant group (OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 1.0-16.6; P = .043). Patients in the fully compliant group had significantly greater scores on the Lysholm (P < .001), KOOS Sports and Recreation subscale (P = .021), KOOS Symptoms subscale (P = .040), and SF-36 physical component summary (PCS) (P = .012) as compared with the noncompliant group. Moderately compliant patients had significantly greater scores on the Lysholm (P = .004), KOOS Sports and Recreation (P = .026), KOOS Symptoms (P = .041), KOOS Quality of Life (P = .022), and SF-36 PCS (P = .004) as compared with noncompliant patients. Conclusion: In recreational athletes, moderate to full compliance with a supervised physical therapy program predicts improved knee function and a greater chance of returning to sport 1 year after ACL reconstruction.