Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Who Suffers the Penalty?: A Panel Data Analysis of Earnings Gaps in Vietnam

Abstract In spite of its predominant economic weight in developing countries, little is known about the informal sector earnings structure compared to that of the formal sector. Taking advantage of the rich VHLSS dataset in Vietnam, in particular its three wave panel data (2002, 2004, 2006), we assess the magnitude of various formal–informal earnings gaps while addressing heterogeneity at three different levels: the worker, the job (wage employment vs. self-employment) and the earnings distribution. We estimate fixed effects and quantile regressions to control for unobserved individual characteristics. Our results suggest that the informal sector earnings gap highly depends on the workers’ job status and on their relative position in the earnings distribution. Penalties may in some cases turn into premiums. By comparing our results with studies in other developing countries, we draw conclusions highlighting Vietnam’s labour market specificity.
Detection of buildings using perceptual grouping and shadows

We describe a system for detection and description of buildings in aerial scenes. This is a difficult task as the aerial images contain a variety of objects. Low-level segmentation processes give highly fragmented segments due to a number of reasons. We use a perceptual grouping approach to collect these fragments and discard those that come from other sources. We use shape properties of the buildings for this. We use shadows to help form and verify the hypotheses generated by the grouping process. This latter step also provides 3-D descriptions of the buildings. Our system has been tested on a number of examples and is able to work with overhead or oblique views. <<ETX>>
EFFECTS OF MYCOPLASMAL UPPER-RESPIRATORY-TRACT DISEASE ON MOVEMENT AND THERMOREGULATORY BEHAVIOR OF GOPHER TORTOISES (GOPHERUS POLYPHEMUS) IN GEORGIA, USA

Abstract From 2011–12, we studied a gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) population with a historically high prevalence of antibodies to Mycoplasma agassizii to assess long-term effects of upper-respiratory-tract disease (URTD) on tortoise behavior. We radiotracked 30 adult tortoises (16 males, 14 females) from a long-term study site with the use of mark–recapture methods to determine site fidelity and to compare home-range size to that of a study in 1997. An additional 10 tortoises (six males, four females) with severe clinical signs of URTD from elsewhere in the study area were radiotracked and compared to tortoises that were asymptomatic or had only mild clinical signs. We also monitored thermoregulatory behavior of tortoises with the use of data loggers affixed to the carapace. There was no significant difference in home-range size between the asymptomatic tortoises and those with mild symptoms. Home ranges of tortoises with severe URTD were significantly larger than asymptomatic or mildly affected tortoises. Tortoises with severe clinical signs moved long distances over short periods, contradicting a hypothesis that chronically infected tortoises are less likely to emigrate. Prevalence of M. agassizii antibodies was similar among the three groups (98% overall), but prevalence of antibodies to a second pathogen associated with URTD, Mycoplasma testudineum, was lower in the asymptomatic (n = 14, 7%) and mild-symptoms (n = 7, 14%) groups than the severe-symptoms group (n = 8, 50%). Variation in the average carapacial temperatures of tortoises with severe URTD was significantly different from carapacial temperatures of mild and asymptomatic tortoises, suggesting differences in thermoregulatory behavior of severely ill tortoises. Our 15-yr recapture data suggest that, despite high prevalence of M. agassizii, population density has not decreased over time. However, emigration, especially of tortoises with severe clinical disease, may play an important role in dispersal and persistence of pathogens.
Delayed gastric emptying does not normalize after gluten withdrawal in adult celiac disease

ABSTRACT Objective Delayed gastric emptying has been frequently detected in patients with untreated celiac disease. According to several studies, gluten withdrawal showed to be effective in normalizing the gastric emptying rate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the gastric emptying rate of solids in patients with celiac disease before and after a gluten-free diet. Methods Twelve adult patients with celiac disease (age range 20–57 years) and 30 healthy controls (age range 30–54 years) underwent a 13C-octanoic acid breath test to measure gastric emptying. Half emptying time (t1/2) and lag phase (tlag) were calculated. After at least 12 months of a gluten-free diet, celiac patients underwent a new 13C-octanoic acid breath test. A symptom score was utilized to detect dyspeptic and malabsorption symptoms in all the patients. Results The gastric motility parameters, t1/2 and tlag, were significantly longer in patients than in controls. On a gluten-free diet, surprisingly, the gastric emptying did not normalize despite an improvement of symptom score. No significant correlation between abnormal gastric emptying and specific symptom patterns, anthropometric parameters or severity of histological damage was found. Conclusions This finding supports the hypothesis that gluten-driven mucosal inflammation might determine motor abnormalities by affecting smooth muscle contractility or impairing gut hormone function. The persistence of these abnormalities on a gluten free diet suggests the presence of a persistent low-grade mucosal inflammation with a permanent perturbation of the neuro-immunomodulatory regulation.
Personality traits as moderators of the associations between deployment experiences and PTSD symptoms in OEF/OIF service members

Abstract This investigation examined traits from the five-factor model of personality as moderators of the associations of combat and aftermath of battle experiences with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 214 National Guard/Reserve service members deployed to operations enduring and Iraqi freedom. Extraversion significantly moderated the associations of both combat experiences and aftermath of battle experiences with PTSD severity, with associations weakening as levels of extraversion increased. The relation between aftermath of battle experiences and PTSD was also moderated by the other four personality factors, with the relation being weaker at higher levels of agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness, and lower levels of neuroticism. These results suggest that personality traits may impact individual responses to war trauma, particularly war-related experiences that are not directly threatening to one's safety (i.e., aftermath of battle events vs. actual combat events). Although this investigation was cross-sectional, these findings indicate that personality traits are an important risk/resiliency factor to consider in people's responses to traumatic events.
Intermittency in the solar wind turbulence through probability distribution functions of fluctuations

Intermittency in fluid turbulence can be emphasized through the analysis of Probability Distribution Functions (PDF) for velocity fluctuations, which display a strong non‐gaussian behavior at small scales. Castaing et al. (1990) have introduced the idea that this behavior can be represented, in the framework of a multiplicative cascade model, by a convolution of gaussians whose variances is distributed according to a log‐normal distribution. In this letter we have tried to test this conjecture on the MHD solar wind turbulence by performing a fit of the PDF of the bulk speed and magnetic field intensity fluctuations calculated in the solar wind, with the model. This fit allows us to calculate a parameter λ² depending on the scale, which represents the width of the log‐normal distribution of the variances of the gaussians. The physical implications of the obtained values of the parameter as well as of its scaling law are finally discussed.
Direct Torque Control Scheme for a Six-Phase Induction Motor With Reduced Torque Ripple

This paper presents an improved direct torque control (DTC) method for an asymmetrical six-phase induction motor using a two-level six-phase inverter. As is well known, a simple extension of three-phase DTC technique to an asymmetrical six-phase motor, using large vectors only, introduces significant current harmonics of the order 6 n±1 (n = 1, 3, 5,…), which are mapped into the nonflux/torque producing (xy) plane. These harmonics cause only losses in the motor winding as they do not take part in torque production. Hence, a number of different improved DTC techniques have been developed in the past for multiphase motor drives. The paper takes one such DTC method as the starting point and improves it further by using the concept of virtual voltage vectors. Developed vector selection algorithm, based on two virtual voltage vectors, requires the information on position of the flux in the auxiliary (xy) subspace and provides stator current quality commensurate with the currently available best DTC algorithm for six-phase drives. However, use of two virtual voltage vectors enables a substantial reduction of the torque ripple, which is achieved by means of a five-level torque comparator. Extensive experimentation is performed and it is shown that the reduction of the current harmonics is in essence almost the same as in another recently developed DTC scheme, based on the use of a single virtual voltage vector. However, the achieved torque ripple reduction, which is verified experimentally, makes the scheme superior when compared to the existing approaches. At the same time, developed scheme retains qualities of conventional DTC schemes, such as simple structure and fast response. Its additional beneficial feature is the easiness of implementation.
Polyglycolic acid sheets with fibrin glue can prevent esophageal stricture after endoscopic submucosal dissection

Background and study aims: Suitable techniques for the prevention of stricture formation after esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) are still lacking. We investigated the efficacy of polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheets with fibrin glue to prevent post-ESD stricture. Patients and methods: We conducted a pilot study on a total of eight consecutive patients who underwent esophageal ESD that left a mucosal defect of more than three-quarters of the esophageal circumference. PGA sheets were attached to the defect with fibrin glue immediately after the completion of ESD. The primary endpoint was the incidence of post-ESD stricture. The secondary endpoints were the number of sessions of endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) required to resolve any stricture and the rate of complications. Results: There were no adverse events related to the use of PGA sheets and fibrin glue. Post-ESD stricture occurred in 37.5 % of the subjects and 0.8 ± 1.2 sessions of EBD were required. Conclusion: The use of PGA sheets and fibrin glue after esophageal ESD is a novel method that radically decreases the incidence of esophageal stricture and the number of EBD sessions subsequently required. University Hospital Medical Network Clinical Trial Registry (UMIN000011058).
Commentary on “Critical Flaws in the FSFI and IIEF”

This invited commentary responds to recent criticisms of two validated and widely used sexual function questionnaires, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) (Forbes, Baillie, & Schniering, 2014). We take issue with the conceptual arguments presented, selective review of published literature on both instruments, and conclusions drawn from methodologically flawed findings from an Internet-based study in a nonrepresentative group of Australian men and women. Alternative perspectives on the IIEF and FSFI are presented.
Analysis of the long-run effect of e-Health intervention on chronic diseases: A DID-PSM approach

This paper analyzes the long-term effect of e-Health which transmits health data of elderly residents at home to the remote health center and monitors their health. Data includes blood pressure, ECG, plus, etc. This paper aims to examine the long-term effect of e-Health on medical expenditures and treatment days based on the data of the e-Health project in Nishiaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. The method of analysis is to compare the above outcomes of two groups, namely users (treatment) and non-users (control) of e-Health. In this paper, the sample period is 2002-2010, and the number of samples is 91 of users and 118 of non-users. Since the long-term data contain time trends and PSM does not necessarily capture these problems, this study therefore uses difference-in-difference propensity score matching (DID-PSM). The DID-PSM estimatorcan take care of not only biases between two groups but also time trends. The paper demonstrates that e-Health users with longer usage experience tend to have smaller medical expenditures and treatment days related to chronic diseases. The paper provides a basis of reimbursement from medical insurance to telemedicine for further diffusion.
In Vitro Pharmacological Characterization of a Novel Allosteric Modulator of α7 Neuronal Acetylcholine Receptor, 4-(5-(4-Chlorophenyl)-2-methyl-3-propionyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)benzenesulfonamide (A-867744), Exhibiting Unique Pharmacological Profile

Targeting α7 neuronal acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) with selective agonists and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) is considered a therapeutic approach for managing cognitive deficits in schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we describe a novel type II α7 PAM, 4-(5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-methyl-3-propionyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)benzenesulfonamide (A-867744), that exhibits a unique pharmacological profile. In oocytes expressing α7 nAChRs, A-867744 potentiated acetylcholine (ACh)-evoked currents, with an EC50 value of ∼1 μM. At highest concentrations of A-867744 tested, ACh-evoked currents were essentially nondecaying. At lower concentrations, no evidence of a distinct secondary component was evident in contrast to 4-naphthalen-1-yl-3a,4,5,9b-tetrahydro-3H-cyclopenta[c]quinoline-8-sulfonic acid amide (TQS), another type II α7 PAM. In the presence of A-867744, ACh concentration responses were potentiated by increases in potency, Hill slope, and maximal efficacy. When examined in rat hippocampus CA1 stratum radiatum interneurons or dentate gyrus granule cells, A-867744 (10 μM) increased choline-evoked α7 currents and recovery from inhibition/desensitization, and enhanced spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic current activity. A-867744, like other α7 PAMs tested [1-(5-chloro-2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(2-chloro-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)urea (NS1738), TQS, and 1-(5-chloro-2,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-3-(5-methyl-isoxazol-3-yl)-urea (PNU-120596)], did not displace the binding of [3H]methyllycaconitine to rat cortex α7* nAChRs. However, unlike these PAMs, A-867744 displaced the binding of the agonist [3H](1S,4S)-2,2-dimethyl-5-(6-phenylpyridazin-3-yl)-5-aza-2-azoniabicyclo[2.2. 1]heptane (A-585539) in rat cortex, with a Ki value of 23 nM. A-867744 neither increased agonist-evoked responses nor displaced the binding of [3H]A-585539 in an α7/5-hydroxytryptamine3 (α7/5-HT3) chimera, suggesting an interaction distinct from the α7 N terminus or M2-3 loop. In addition, A-867744 failed to potentiate responses mediated by 5-HT3A or α3β4 and α4β2 nAChRs. In summary, this study identifies a novel and selective α7 PAM showing activity at recombinant and native α7 nAChRs exhibiting a unique pharmacological interaction with the receptor.
Factors promoting neurite outgrowth during deer antler regeneration

Every year male deers completely regenerate their antlers. During this process, antlers are reinnervated by sensory fibers, growing at the highest rate recorded for any adult mammal. Despite its clinical potential, only a few studies have dealt with this fascinating phenomenon. Among the possible factors underlying fast growth of the antler's innervation, the effects of the antler's endocrine and paracrine factors were evaluated, using an in vitro assay for sensory neurite growth. We found that soluble molecules secreted by the velvet, the modified skin that covers the antler, strongly promote neurite outgrowth. Using specific blocking antibodies, we demonstrated that nerve growth factor is partially responsible for these effects, although other unidentified molecules are also involved. On the contrary, neither endocrine serum factors nor antler substrates promoted neurite outgrowth, although antler substrata from deep velvet layers cause neurite outgrowth orientation. Taken together, our results point to the existence in the deep velvet of an environment that promotes oriented axon growth, in agreement with the distribution of the antler innervation. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
EEG-Informed fMRI Reveals Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Perceptual Decision Making

Single-unit and multiunit recordings in primates have already established that decision making involves at least two general stages of neural processing: representation of evidence from early sensory areas and accumulation of evidence to a decision threshold from decision-related regions. However, the relay of information from early sensory to decision areas, such that the accumulation process is instigated, is not well understood. Using a cued paradigm and single-trial analysis of electroencephalography (EEG), we previously reported on temporally specific components related to perceptual decision making. Here, we use information derived from our previous EEG recordings to inform the analysis of fMRI data collected for the same behavioral task to ascertain the cortical origins of each of these EEG components. We demonstrate that a cascade of events associated with perceptual decision making takes place in a highly distributed neural network. Of particular importance is an activation in the lateral occipital complex implicating perceptual persistence as a mechanism by which object decision making in the human brain is instigated.
Cost and Cost‐Effectiveness of Epilepsy Surgery

Epilepsy surgery (ES) should be considered when adequate antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy has failed. Any program planning for ES against intractable epilepsy should rely on the epidemiology of intractable partial/ secondarily generalized epilepsy. A recent survey concludes that remission is obtainable in 70-80% of newly diagnosed epilepsy patients (i.e., a 5515% higher remission rate compared with the earlier data), and 20% of children with epilepsy will continue to have seizures (1,2). One to two thirds of those with symptomatic partial seizures carry risk of drug resistance. The reported median prevalence of active epilepsy from adult populations largely medically untreated was 7.7/1,000; for the treated, 5.8/1,000 (3). A study on the natural history of epilepsy and its psychosocial outcome showed that 24% of the interviewed had monthly seizures, and 10-24% had psychosocial problems (4). A remission of 5 years in 68% of cases has been reported. In a specialized epilepsy center, 2-5% of the patients were said to be ES candidates, and 7-18% of epilepsy patients followed up by neurologists were estimated to be candidates (5,6). The epidemiology for palliative ES is less precise. A 55-60% risk of drug resistance in children with secondary generalized seizures is reported (2). Epidemiology is the basis for health economical estimations of epilepsy and its treatment (7). In this survey, aspects of the illness and the cost of ES are addressed. ES is a rather expensive high-technologic care, but not using it is even more costly to the community.
Convective plumes and the scarcity of Titan's clouds

We show that simple thermodynamic models of convective plumes predict the area fraction of convective plumes (i.e., updrafts) in Titan's atmosphere to be ∼12 smaller than on Earth. This result is in agreement with predictions by sophisticated dynamical models and with the relative tropospheric cloud cover, which is only ∼1% on Titan. Rainstorms on Titan, being so rare, may be violent.
D ec 2 01 4 Preprint typeset in JHEP style-HYPER VERSION Surface Operators

We give an introduction and a broad survey of surface operators in 4d gauge theories, with a particular emphasis on aspects relevant to AGT correspondence. One of the main goals is to highlight the boundary between what we know and what we don’t know about surface operators. To this end, the survey contains many open questions and suggests various directions for future research. Although this article is mostly a review, we did include a number of new results, previously unpublished.
Clinical Outcomes of Multicenter Domino Kidney Paired Donation

Domino kidney paired donation (KPD) is a method by which an altruistic living nondirected donor (LND) is allocated to a pool of incompatible donor–recipient pairs (DRP) and a series of KPDs is initiated. To evaluate the feasibility and clinical outcomes of multicenter domino KPD, we retrospectively analyzed a cohort of DRPs who underwent domino KPD between February 2001 and July 2007 at one of 16 transplant centers. One hundred seventy‐nine kidney transplants were performed, with 70 domino chains initiated by altruistic LND. There were 45 two‐pair chains, 15 three‐pair chains, 7 four‐pair chains, 2 five‐pair chains and 1 six‐pair chain. A majority of donors were spouses (47.5%) or altruistic LNDs (39.1%). DRPs with a blood type O recipient or an AB donor comprised 45.9% of transplanted DRPs. HLA mismatch improved in transplanted donors compared to intended donors in pairs enrolled to improve HLA mismatch (3.4 ± 0.7 vs. 4.8 ± 1.0, p < 0.001). One‐year and 5‐year graft survival rates were 98.3% and 87.7%, respectively, with a median follow‐up of 46 months. One‐year and 5‐year patient survival rates were 97.2% and 90.8%, respectively. In conclusion, multicenter domino KPD could multiply the benefits of donation from LNDs, with patients and graft survival rates comparable to those seen with conventional KPD.
DDT, HCH and PCB residues in fat of red deer [Cervus elaphus] from the region of Warmia and Mazury, 2000-2001

The authors presented the results of a study on the content of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorohexane (γ-HCH) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) in perirenal fat from red deer obtained from the region of Warmia and Mazury in the years 2000-2001. Separation of the analysed compounds was conducted by gas chromatography. The analyses showed the presence of DDT and DDE in all samples, whereas DDD was found only in 13 samples (24% of all the analyzed samples), predominantly in trace amounts. Concentrations of DDTs and their metabolites averaged: 16.5 μg/kg of DDTs, 8.2 μg/kg of DDT and trace amounts of DDD. The lowest concentrations of these compounds were found in hinds and the highest in calves. Of all the analyzed substances, γ-HCH residues appeared in the smallest amounts – average 0,6 μg/kg and whereas PCBs concentrations were the highest – average 23,7 μg/kg. The results show that the region of Warmia and Mazury is an area characterised by low levels of pollution caused by the analyzed xenobiotics.