Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Divisions of Research & Statistics and Monetary Affairs Federal Reserve Board , Washington , D . C . Inferring the Shadow Rate from Real Activity

We estimate a shadow rate consistent with the paths of time series capturing real activity. This allows us to quantify the real effects of unconventional monetary policy in terms of equivalent short-term interest rate movements. We find that large-scale asset purchases and forward guidance had significant real effects equivalent of up to a four percent reduction in the federal funds rate. JEL Classification: E43, E47, E52
Optimal Fiscal Policy Without Commitment: Beyond Lucas-Stokey

This paper considers optimal fiscal policy in a deterministic Lucas and Stokey (1983) economy in the absence of government commitment. In every period, the government chooses a labor income tax and issues any unconstrained maturity structure of debt as a function of its outstanding debt portfolio. We find that the solution under commitment cannot always be sustained through the appropriate choice of debt maturities, a result which contrasts with previous conclusions in the literature. This is because a government today cannot commit future governments to a particular side of the Laffer curve, even if it can commit them to future revenues. We find that the unique stable debt maturity structure under no commitment is at, with the government owing the same amount of resources to the private sector at all future dates. We present examples in which the maturity structure converges to such a at distribution over time. In cases where the commitment and no-commitment solutions do not coincide, debt converges to the natural debt limit.
Reasons for use, potential use, or discontinued use of hookah among US young adult college students

INTRODUCTION Given the increase in hookah use among young adults, characteristics of hookah use/users, as well as reasons for its use or discontinuation among young adults, are critical to understand. METHODS Data from a study of 18–25 year olds from seven Georgia colleges/universities (n=2865) were analyzed to examined: 1) differences in socio-demographics and other substance use among current (past 4 months), never, and former hookah users; 2) use characteristics among current users (e.g. device types/flavors used, quit intentions); and 3) reasons for use, potential use, and discontinued use among current, never, and former users. RESULTS Of the students, 56.3% were never users, 12.4% were current, and 31.3% former users. Correlates of being a current (vs never) user included being ‘other race’ (vs White), attending a historically black college/university (HBCU vs technical college), and use of other substances. Correlates of being a former (vs never) hookah user included being older (vs younger), being ‘other race’ (vs White), attending an HBCU (vs technical college), and use of other tobacco products, marijuana, or alcohol. Among current users, 73.7% reported no intention to quit; 26.2% attempted to quit in the past year. Two factors were identified regarding reasons for current use (flavors, social reasons): one factor regarding potential use among never users (related to flavors and social factors), and three factors regarding discontinued use (inconvenience, anti-tobacco attitude, social reasons). CONCLUSIONS Findings indicate the risk factors for hookah use and the importance of particular factors (e.g. flavors, social influences) relevant to regulation/policy.
Behaviour of thin layer mortared concrete masonry under combined shear and compression

Abstract This paper presents experimental studies on the behaviour of a thin layer polymer mortared concrete masonry under combined shear–compression. Thirty thin layer mortared concrete masonry panels with five bed joint orientations were constructed and tested under vertical compression to generate a wide range of compression to shear ratios from zero to infinity at each of the bed joints of the panels. The strength and deformation characteristics are discussed in this paper. Unlike the conventional 10 mm thick cement mortared masonry, the thin layer polymer mortared masonry failed in a combined mechanism involving both the block and the mortar in some combination of shear–compression; however, similar to the conventional masonry, its strength and deformation were affected by the orientation of the bed joint to the direction of the applied loading. This paper reports a comparative study of the experimental results with a number of shear–compression tests on varied masonry systems reported in the literature; the thin layer mortared concrete masonry is shown trending towards isotropic behaviour compared to conventional masonry, which is distinctly orthotropic.
Reputations and Credit Ratings: Evidence from Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities

How do changes in a rating agency's reputation affect the ratings market? We study the dynamics of credit ratings after Standard & Poor's (S&P) was shut out of a large segment of the commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) ratings market following a procedural mistake. Exploiting the fact that most CMBS securities have ratings from multiple agencies, we show that S&P subsequently eased its standards compared to other raters. This coincided with a partial recovery in the number of deals S&P was hired to rate. Our findings are consistent with the view that an agency can regain market share after suffering reputational damage by issuing more optimistic ratings.
Vitamin E Bioavailability: Mechanisms of Intestinal Absorption in the Spotlight

Vitamin E is an essential fat-soluble micronutrient whose effects on human health can be attributed to both antioxidant and non-antioxidant properties. A growing number of studies aim to promote vitamin E bioavailability in foods. It is thus of major interest to gain deeper insight into the mechanisms of vitamin E absorption, which remain only partly understood. It was long assumed that vitamin E was absorbed by passive diffusion, but recent data has shown that this process is actually far more complex than previously thought. This review describes the fate of vitamin E in the human gastrointestinal lumen during digestion and focuses on the proteins involved in the intestinal membrane and cellular transport of vitamin E across the enterocyte. Special attention is also given to the factors modulating both vitamin E micellarization and absorption. Although these latest results significantly improve our understanding of vitamin E intestinal absorption, further studies are still needed to decipher the molecular mechanisms driving this multifaceted process.
Cervical Spine Movement and Ease of Intubation Using Truview or McCoy Laryngoscope in Difficult Intubation

Study Design. Prospective, observational, analytical, randomized control trial. Objective. To compare cervical spine movement for best laryngoscopic view and ease of intubation using Truview or McCoy laryngoscope in anticipated difficult intubation. Summary of Background data. The addition of modified laryngoscope blade to the anesthesiologist's armamentarium adds flexibility and improves the skill of the anesthetist, which benefits the patients. Methods. One hundred patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists status I and II with predicted difficult intubation score ≥5 were divided into two groups: Group A (n = 50): intubation done with McCoy laryngoscope and Group B (n = 50): intubation done with Truview laryngoscope and compared for the ease of intubation using intubation difficulty scale (IDS), cervical spine movement, and hemodynamic alterations. Results. The total IDS determining the ease of tracheal intubation was better in Group B than Group A. On comparing the variables of IDS score, there was no difference between the two groups except 14 (28%) patients in Group A required application of external laryngeal pressure, whereas only five (10%) patients had this difficulty in Group B. It was seen that craniocervical extension was significantly less (2.5 times) in Group B as compared to Group A. Conclusion. In anticipated difficult intubation, Truview improves the laryngeal view, causes less movement at cervical spine, which could be more helpful in patients with restricted neck mobility, and has lesser complications. Level of Evidence: 2
Changes in Immunogenicity during the Development of Urinary Bladder Cancer: A Preliminary Study

In the present study, we evaluated tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and blood regulatory T lymphocyte (Tregs, CD4+/CD25+/FoxP3+) expression in bladder cancer patients. The number of CD4+, CD8+, CD25+, FoxP3+ and CD20+ TILs was analyzed in association with clinico-pathomorphological features. In more advanced metastasizing tumors, showing non-classic differentiation (ND) and a more aggressive tissue invasion type (TIT), the number of TILs decreased. A low number of CD4+ TILs was associated with poor prognosis. Similarly, Treg frequency before surgery and after surgical treatment was significantly lower in more advanced tumors. The changes in TILs, as well as of local and systemic Tregs, were accompanied by changes in the histological phenotype of urothelial carcinoma regarding pT stage, NDs, TIT, and clinical outcomes. The number of TILs and the frequency of blood Tregs (indicators of antitumor response) may be essential for choosing an immunotherapy that is adjusted to the immune status according to the phase of tumor growth. Moreover, a significant reduction in the number of CD4+ and CD8+ TILs with the development of NDs in more advanced tumors may be associated with lower tumor immunogenicity, resulting in immune tolerance towards tumor tissue. These observations and the tendency of urothelial bladder carcinoma to undergo NDs in a heterogeneous manner during tumor progression suggest complex interactions between bladder cancer immunogenicity and stages of tumor progression.
Antiscatter grid use in pediatric digital tomosynthesis imaging†

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of antiscatter grid use on tomosynthesis image quality. We performed an observer study that rated the image quality of digital tomosynthesis scout radiographs and slice images of a Leeds TO.20 contrast‐detail test object embedded in acrylic with and without a grid. We considered 10, 15, 20 and 25 cm of acrylic to represent the wide range of patient thicknesses encountered in pediatric imaging. We also acquired and rated images without a grid at an increased patient dose. The readers counted the total number of visible details in each image as a measure of relative image quality. We observed that the antiscatter grid improves tomosynthesis image quality compared to the grid‐out case, which received image quality scores similar to grid‐in radiography. Our results suggest that, in order to achieve the best image quality in exchange for the increase in patient dose, it may often be appropriate to include an antiscatter grid for pediatric tomosynthesis imaging, particularly if the patient thickness is greater than 10 cm. PACS number: 87.57. ‐s
Yoghurt Production from Powdered Milk using Mixed Lactic Acid Bacteria Starter Cultures

Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus fermentum isolated from fermented foods: yoghurt, “ugba” and “kunu-zaki” using MRS agar and a commercially acquired lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were used to produce yoghurts samples A-H from Milksi Powered milk in a 5 hour fermentation process. The three LAB isolates were used singly and in combinations as starter cultures. There was a maximum drop in pH (4-4.8) between the second and third hour of fermentation while the yoghurt produced using S. thermophilus had the lowest pH (5.2) at the temperature of 40 o C. The optimum pH for the yoghurt production was 5.5 while the optimum temperature was 40 o C. Yoghurt samples B and F had the highest moisture level (P<0.05) while Samples C, E and G had the highest dry matter content. The highest ash content (0.8 ±0.01; P<0.05) was from sample F while Samples D and E had the highest crude fibre content. Sample A had the highest crude fat value (3.95 a ±0.01; P<0.05), Sample F the highest crude protein content (3.95 a ±0.01; P<0.05) while the highest carbohydrate content was from Samples C, E, G and H (control). The control Sample (H) had the highest and Hedonic test for sensory properties of the eight yoghurt samples showed that the eight yoghurt samples were acceptable to the panelist indicating that the samples would compete favourably in the market with commercially sold yoghurts.
β-blockers: a novel class of antitumor agents

β-adrenergic signaling modulates key signaling pathways that are important for tumor-promoting processes, and numerous mechanisms of action have been elucidated. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that β-adrenergic antagonists, or β-blockers, can block multiple fundamental biologic processes underlying the progression and metastasis of tumors, including the inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, invasion, resistance to programmed cell death, and tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. Human pharmacoepidemiologic studies suggest that β-blockers have a role in inhibiting cancer progression and metastasis in combination with standard therapies. Furthermore, a number of prospective studies have demonstrated that β-blockers are effective at halting infantile hemangioma growth. These findings shed light on the novel perspective of using β-blockers as a class of potential antitumor agents in clinical oncology.
Common non-synonymous SNPs associated with breast cancer susceptibility: findings from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium

Candidate variant association studies have been largely unsuccessful in identifying common breast cancer susceptibility variants, although most studies have been underpowered to detect associations of a realistic magnitude. We assessed 41 common non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) for which evidence of association with breast cancer risk had been previously reported. Case-control data were combined from 38 studies of white European women (46 450 cases and 42 600 controls) and analyzed using unconditional logistic regression. Strong evidence of association was observed for three nsSNPs: ATXN7-K264R at 3p21 [rs1053338, per allele OR = 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04–1.10, P = 2.9 × 10−6], AKAP9-M463I at 7q21 (rs6964587, OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.03–1.07, P = 1.7 × 10−6) and NEK10-L513S at 3p24 (rs10510592, OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.07–1.12, P = 5.1 × 10−17). The first two associations reached genome-wide statistical significance in a combined analysis of available data, including independent data from nine genome-wide association studies (GWASs): for ATXN7-K264R, OR = 1.07 (95% CI = 1.05–1.10, P = 1.0 × 10−8); for AKAP9-M463I, OR = 1.05 (95% CI = 1.04–1.07, P = 2.0 × 10−10). Further analysis of other common variants in these two regions suggested that intronic SNPs nearby are more strongly associated with disease risk. We have thus identified a novel susceptibility locus at 3p21, and confirmed previous suggestive evidence that rs6964587 at 7q21 is associated with risk. The third locus, rs10510592, is located in an established breast cancer susceptibility region; the association was substantially attenuated after adjustment for the known GWAS hit. Thus, each of the associated nsSNPs is likely to be a marker for another, non-coding, variant causally related to breast cancer risk. Further fine-mapping and functional studies are required to identify the underlying risk-modifying variants and the genes through which they act.
Sponge biodiversity of South Georgia island with descriptions of fifteen new species

Sponge samples were taken by SCUBA diving from sixteen sites on the north coast of South Georgia island, south westSouthern Ocean. Fifteen new species are described: Iophon husvikensis sp. nov., Clathria (Clathria) stromnessa sp.nov., Clathria (Axosuberites) rosita sp. nov., Clathria (Microciona) matthewsi sp. nov., Lissodendoryx (Ectyodoryx) collinsi sp. nov., Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) barnesi sp. nov., Hymedesmia (Stylopus) pharos sp. nov., Myxilla (Burtoanchora) ponceti sp. nov., Tedania (Tedaniopsis) aurantiaca sp. nov., Tedania (Tedaniopsis) wellsae sp. nov., Mycale (Mycale) brownorum sp. nov., Mycale (Mycale) cartwrighti sp. nov., Haliclona (Soestella) crowtheri sp. nov., Microxina myxa sp. nov. and Calyx shackletoni sp. nov. Information is also provided on the distribution and in situ external appearance of other sponge species such as Cinachyra barbata Sollas 1886, Polymastia invaginata Kirkpatrick1907, Iophon unicorne Topsent 1907, Phorbas glaberrimus (Topsent 1917), Myxilla (Ectyomyxilla) kerguelensis (Hentschel 1914) and Rossella nuda Topsent 1901. These results increase the previously reported low spongeendemicity in South Georgia, which now better aligns with the high endemicity of other groups. However, because wesampled areas that have been poorly sampled in the Southern Ocean / Antarctic region (shallow subtidal, rocky), manyof these species may have wider polar distributions. The effect of the Polar Front as a dispersal barrier to neighbouring biogeographic regions is discussed.
Convergent, incremental, and criterion-related validity of multi-informant assessments of adolescents' fears of negative and positive evaluation.

Adolescents who experience social anxiety tend to hold fears about negative evaluations (e.g., taunting) and may also hold fears about positive evaluations (e.g., praise from a teacher). The Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation (BFNE) scale and Fear of Positive Evaluation Scale (FPES) are 2 widely used measures of adults' evaluative concerns. Yet we know little about their psychometric properties when assessing adolescents. In a mixed clinical/community sample of 96 adolescents (66.7% female; M = 14.50 years, SD = 0.50; 63.3% African American), we examined both self-report and parent report versions of the BFNE and FPES. Adolescents and parents also provided reports about adolescents on survey measures of social anxiety and depressive symptoms. Adolescents participated in multiple social interactions in which they self-reported their state arousal before and during the tasks. Adolescent and parent BFNE and FPES reports distinguished adolescents who displayed elevated social anxiety from those who did not. Both informants' reports related to survey measures of adolescent social anxiety, when accounting for domains that commonly co-occur with social anxiety (i.e., depressive symptoms). Further, both the BFNE and FPES displayed incremental validity in relation to survey measures of adolescent social anxiety, relative to each other. However, only adolescents' BFNE and FPES reports predicted adolescents' self-reported arousal within social interactions, and only adolescents' FPES displayed incremental validity in predicting self-reported arousal, relative to their BFNE. Adolescent and parent BFNE and FPES reports display convergent validity and in some cases incremental and criterion-related validity. These findings have important implications for evidence-based assessments of adolescents' evaluative concerns.
VITON: An Image-Based Virtual Try-on Network

We present an image-based VIirtual Try-On Network (VITON) without using 3D information in any form, which seamlessly transfers a desired clothing item onto the corresponding region of a person using a coarse-to-fine strategy. Conditioned upon a new clothing-agnostic yet descriptive person representation, our framework first generates a coarse synthesized image with the target clothing item overlaid on that same person in the same pose. We further enhance the initial blurry clothing area with a refinement network. The network is trained to learn how much detail to utilize from the target clothing item, and where to apply to the person in order to synthesize a photo-realistic image in which the target item deforms naturally with clear visual patterns. Experiments on our newly collected Zalando dataset demonstrate its promise in the image-based virtual try-on task over state-of-the-art generative models.1
The International Journal of Biostatistics Dose-Finding Designs : The Role of Convergence Properties

It is common for novel dose-finding designs to be presented without a study of their convergence properties. In this article we suggest that examination of convergence is a necessary quality check for dose-finding designs. We present a new convergence proof for a nonparametric family of methods called “interval designs,” under certain conditions on the toxicity-frequency function F. We compare these conditions with the convergence conditions for the popular CRM one-parameter Phase I cancer design, via an innovative numerical sensitivity study generating a diverse sample of dose-toxicity scenarios. Only a small fraction of scenarios meet the ShenO'Quigley convergence conditions for CRM. Conditions for “interval design” convergence are met more often, but still less than half the time. In the discussion, we illustrate how convergence properties and limitations help provide insight about small-sample behavior.
Absorption measurements for a carbon fibre couch top and its modelling in a treatment planning system

Introduction Full carbon couch tops are widely used for radiotherapy treatments on linear accelerators. In contrast to their predecessors which were constructed with metal bars they have almost no limitations in choosing beam angles in treatment planning. In this work we have measured the absorption for the new Varian Exact IGRT couch top ® for different setups. With the latest version of our treatment planning system (TPS), it is possible to model the couch top as a supporting structure with different options for parameter settings. We investigated the quality of the modelling of the couch top in the TPS and the influence on clinical dose distributions were analysed.
In vivo visualization of dermal collagen fiber in skin burn by collagen-sensitive second-harmonic-generation microscopy

Abstract. Optical assessment of skin burns is possible with second-harmonic-generation (SHG) microscopy due to its high sensitivity to thermal denaturation of collagen molecules. In contrast to previous studies that were performed using excised tissue specimens ex vivo, in vivo observation of dermal collagen fibers in living rat burn models with SHG microscopy is demonstrated. Changes in signal vanishing patterns in the SHG images are confirmed to be dependent on the burn degree. Comparison of the SHG images with Masson’s trichrome-stained images indicated that the observed patterns were caused by the coexistence of molten and fibrous structures of dermal collagen fibers. Furthermore, a quantitative parameter for burn assessment based on the depth profile of the mean SHG intensity across the entire SHG image is proposed. These results and discussions imply a potential of SHG microscopy as a minimally invasive, highly quantitative tool for skin burn assessment.