Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
1,25(OH)2-Vitamin D3 Inhibits Proliferation and Decreases Production of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1, Thrombopoietin, VEGF, and Angiogenin by Human Annulus Cells In Vitro

Study Design. Human lumbar anulus tissue and cultured human lumbar anulus cells were used in retrospective studies of the immunocytochemical localization of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in disc tissue, and of the in vitro effects of the active metabolite of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D3, on anulus cell proliferation, cytokine, and proteoglycan (PG) production. 24,25-D3 was also analyzed. Studies were approved by the authors' Human Subjects Institutional Review Board. Discs were obtained from surgical specimens and from control donors. Objectives. To determine if human anulus cells express the VDR in vivo, and to test the effect of in vitro exposure to 1,25(OH)2D3 and 24,25-D3 on anulus cell proteoglycan and cytokine production in 3-dimensional culture. Summary of Background Data. Intragenic polymorphisms in the VDR gene have been associated with disc degeneration. 1,25(OH)2D3 has well-recognized effects on calcium homeostasis and bone mineralization, and is a negative growth regulator of a variety of normal and tumor cells. Its effects on human disc cells, however, are unexplored. Methods. Immunocytochemistry was performed on human lumbar disc anulus tissue from 19 subjects; human disc cells were cultured to test the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on proliferation of anulus cells from 5 subjects. A paired experimental design was used to determine proteoglycan production in control or 1,25(OH)2D3-treated cells, or in control or 24,25-D3-treated cells using the dimethylmethylene blue assay. A paired experimental design was also used to identify differences in cytokine production in conditioned media from control or 1,25(OH)2D3-treated cells, or in control or 24,25-D3-treated cells using ELISA assays. Results. Immunocytochemistry documented expression of the VDR in anulus cells. Young donor discs (aged newborn, 15 years) showed positive localization in all cells of the outer anulus, and some inner anulus cells. In adults (mean age, 38.9 years), some, but not all anulus cells, showed positive localization. Exposure to 10−8M 1,25(OH)2D3 in monolayer significantly reduced cell proliferation in vitro (P = 0.03). PG production in 3-dimensional was unchanged from control in both 1,25(OH)2D3- and 24,25-D3-treated cells. Cytokine production differed, however. 1,25(OH)2D3-treated cells showed significantly decreased production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (P = 0.01), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (P = 0.0006), angiogenin (P = 0.002), and thrombopoietin (P = 0.03) compared with controls. 24,25-D3-treated cells showed significantly elevated vascular endothelial growth factor-D (P = 0.01), &bgr;-fibroblast growth factor (0.03), and significantly decreased interleukin-8, interferon-&ggr;, leptin, MCP-1, and TIMP-2 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2) compared with controls (P ≤ 0.01). Conclusion. Data suggest that 1,25(OH)2D3 and 24,25-D3 may play roles as regulators of cell proliferation and production of specific cytokines in the lumbar anulus.
Testing for Nonlinear Dependence in Daily Foreign Exchange Rates

The purpose of this article is to investigate whether daily changes in five major foreign exchange rates contain any nonlinearities. Although the data contain no linear correlation, evidence indicates the presence of substantial nonlinearity in a multiplicative rather than additive form. Further examination reveals that a generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity model can explain a large part of the nonlinearities for all five exchange rates. Copyright 1989 by the University of Chicago.
Effect of rhythmic gymnastics on volumetric bone mineral density and bone geometry in premenarcheal female athletes and controls.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Weight-bearing exercise during growth exerts positive effects on the skeleton. Our objective was to test the hypothesis that long-term elite rhythmic gymnastics exerts positive effects on volumetric bone mineral density and geometry and to determine whether exercise-induced bone adaptation is associated with increased periosteal bone formation or medullary contraction using tibial peripheral quantitative computed tomography and bone turnover markers. DESIGN AND SETTING We conducted a cross-sectional study at a tertiary center. SUBJECTS We studied 26 elite premenarcheal female rhythmic gymnasts (RG) and 23 female controls, aged 9-13 yr. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We measured bone age, volumetric bone mineral density, bone mineral content (BMC), cortical thickness, cortical and trabecular area, and polar stress strength index (SSIp) by peripheral quantitative computed tomography of the left tibia proximal to the distal metaphysis (trabecular) at 14, 38 (cortical), and 66% (muscle mass) from the distal end and bone turnover markers. RESULTS The two groups were comparable according to height and chronological and bone age. After weight adjustment, cortical BMC, area, and thickness at 38% were significantly higher in RG (P < 0.005-0.001). Periosteal circumference, SSIp, and muscle area were higher in RG (P < 0.01-0.001). Muscle area was significantly associated with cortical BMC, area, and SSIp, whereas years of training showed positive association with cortical BMC, area, and thickness independent of chronological age. CONCLUSIONS RG in premenarcheal girls may induce positive adaptations on the skeleton, especially in cortical bone. Increased duration of exercise is associated with a positive response of bone geometry.
Agency Conflicts, Controlling Owner Proximity, and Firm Value: An Analysis of Dual-Class Firms in the United States

Manuscript Type: Empirical Research Question/Issue: The study seeks to understand whether the proximity of the largest shareholder (controller) to the locus of management – whether the controller is a top executive, a board member, or an outsider – determines the value of US dual-class firms. Research Findings/Insights: Using a sample of 209 US dual class firms from the year 2000 and a corresponding control sample of single-class firms, we run cross-sectional regressions to determine the effect of the controller on firm value. We present robust evidence that dual-class firm value is negatively related to controller proximity. Dual-class structure overall is unrelated to firm value, because despite its negative effects with high proximity controllers there appear to be benefits when controller proximity is low (when the largest shareholder is an outsider). Theoretical/Academic Implications: Ownership structure is a widely studied subject but most studies focus on insider ownership. More nuanced aspects of ownership such as controller proximity are needed in empirical studies and theoretical models. These nuances could help us better understand the interplay between the incentive of various parties (e.g., managers, large shareholders) and the opportunity available for extraction of private benefits. Practitioner/Policy Implications: A practitioner implication is that shareholder of high-proximity dual-class firms must seek additional control mechanisms to curb agency costs. A policy implication is that investor protection (laws and institutional structure protecting shareholders) works only to a limited extent – it curbs overt acts of expropriation, but cannot eliminate acts engineered by insiders.
Delay of the Software Commands in the Path PC-Measurement Instruments

On the basis of the standard IEEE 1588, the PC co-operating in the distributed measurement system can work on synchronized modality. Nevertheless, the hardware and the software architecture of the path involved in the communication PC-measurement instrument (MI) can delay the commands. The research aims to investigate about the time delay occurring in the communication between the PC and the MI. In particular, the criteria to modify and to set up the software to reduce both the mean value and the standard deviation of the time delay occurring in the processing steps performed into the PC is taken into account. Experimental tests are performed with different setting up of the Linux operating system and using different Mis . The experimental results highlight that delay characterized by sub-microsecond mean value and nanosecond standard deviation can be achieved.
The Decision to Persist with Underperforming Alliances: The Role of Trust and Control

We draw on theories of persistence to develop a model of alliance managers' decisions towards persisting in underperforming alliances based on their concomitant consideration of the control and trust in those alliances. We test the model using experimental data based on 2,816 decisions nested within 88 alliance managers. We find that output, behavioural and social control, competence and goodwill trust, and interactions between trust and control variables significantly explain alliance managers' decisions to persist in underperforming alliances. We discuss the implications of these findings for the control, trust and strategic alliance literatures.
An Analysis of Social Features Associated with Room Sales of Airbnb

Lately, collaborative consumption has emerged as an important socio-economic model because of its economic and environmental impacts. Airbnb, an online hospitality rental service provider, is a fast growing company that utilizes rich social communications. In this paper, we aim to quantitatively characterize collaborative consumption behaviors in Airbnb. We collected and analyzed a total of 4,178 room data, and investigated which features are more strongly associated with room sales. Besides the well-recognized room features like price, minimum stay, and amenities, our result shows that social features such as responsiveness of host, count of Wish List, number of reviews, and membership seniority are significantly associated with room sales. On the other hand, some of the conventional social features such as overall rating and number of references turned out to be not so critical for room sales.
Bone-Grafting for Severe Patellar Bone Loss During Revision Knee Arthroplasty

Background: Severe patellar bone loss may preclude adequate fixation of another patellar prosthesis as a part of revision knee replacement. The purpose of this study was to describe the surgical technique and early clinical results of an alternative to the conventional treatment options of either patellectomy or retention of the remaining patellar osseous shell. The goals of this procedure are to restore patellar bone stock and potentially to improve the functional outcome. Methods: Severe patellar bone loss had left a "patellar shell" that precluded insertion of another patellar implant in nine of 100 consecutive knees undergoing revision total knee arthroplasty. Rather than performing a patellectomy or simply retaining the patellar osseous shell in these nine knees (eight patients), I performed a surgical procedure in which a tissue flap was secured to the patellar rim to contain cancellous bone graft inserted into the patellar bone defect. Final follow-up was at a mean of 36.7 months (range, twenty-four to fifty-five months) after the patellar bone-grafting procedure. Results: The mean preoperative Knee Society scores for function and pain were 39 points (range, 18 to 82 points) and 40 points (range, 20 to 80 points), respectively. At the time of final follow-up, the Knee Society function and pain scores had improved significantly, to a mean function score of 91 points (range, 80 to 98 points) and a mean pain score of 84 points (range, 65 to 100 points) (p < 0.05). The point of greatest patellar thickness measured intraoperatively ranged from 7 to 9 mm. Patellar thickness on immediate postoperative Merchant radiographs averaged 22 mm (range, 20 to 25 mm) whereas, at the time of final follow-up, patellar thickness averaged 19.7 mm (range, 17 to 22.5 mm). Conclusions: In contrast with other treatment alternatives, this surgical procedure imparts the potential for restoring patellar bone stock and may improve functional outcome by facilitating patellar tracking and improving quadriceps leverage. On the basis of satisfactory short-term to mid-term clinical results, this technique of patellar bone-grafting appears to be an important addition to the armamentarium of surgeons performing revision knee arthroplasties.
Updating the Determinants of Firm Performance: Estimation using the 1998 UK Workplace Employee Relations Survey

We examine the determinants of establishment performance in the UK, using cross‐sectional data from the 1998 Workplace Employee Relations Survey to replicate research by Fernie and Metcalf (1995) who used data from the 1990 Workplace Employee Relations Survey; specifically, we test whether employee representation, contingent pay and efforts to boost employee participation affect a set of economic and industrial relations outcome indicators in the manner they suggest. We also re‐estimate the influential WERS90‐based study of Machin and Stewart (1996) on the links between union status and financial performance. In both cases we report very different results.
Optimal Contracts with Lock-In

The authors analyze incomplete long-term contracts when buyers incur relationship-specific set-up costs and sellers choose product or service quality that is not verifiable to third parties. If set-up costs are observable, the first-best outcome can be achieved even though contracts cannot enforceably specify quality; this does not even require long-term contracts. If set-up costs are unobservable, however, then long-term price contracts can strictly outperform short-term contracts. Equilibrium may involve either inefficiently low quality with no buyer switching or efficient quality with inefficient switching. A policy of taxing switching, or the availability of "budget-breaking" third parties, can improve welfare. Copyright 1989 by American Economic Association.
Low speed control improvements for classic Direct Torque Control of a 2-level 5-phase inverter-fed induction machine

A novel technique that improves the low-speed performance of a 5-phase induction machine driven by a 2-level inverter using the classic DTC technique is presented. Demagnetization of the stator flux using DTC is investigated when the induction machine runs at lower speeds and a solution is provided to overcome this phenomenon. The proposed technique reduces the demagnetization phenomenon by using the ±36° displaced voltage vectors during low-speed operation but employs the ±72° displaced voltage vectors otherwise. Demagnetization of the stator flux is shown by simulation to be eliminated using the proposed technique and this is confirmed through experiment. The proposed technique improves the rate of change of stator flux and the torque response at low speeds compared to the traditional method.
Finding All Maximal Cliques in Very Large Social Networks

The detection of communities in social networks is a challenging task. A rigorous way to model communities considers maximal cliques, that is, maximal subgraphs in which each pair of nodes is connected by an edge. State-of-the-art strategies for nding maximal cliques in very large networks decompose the network in blocks and then perform a distributed computation. These approaches exhibit a trade-o between eciency and completeness: decreasing the size of the blocks has been shown to improve eciency but some cliques may remain undetected since high-degree nodes, also called hubs, may not t with all their neighborhood into a small block. In this paper, we present a distributed approach that, by suitably handling hub nodes, is able to detect maximal cliques in large networks meeting both completeness and eciency. The approach relies on a two-level decomposition process. The rst level aims at recursively identifying and isolating tractable portions of the network. The second level further decomposes the tractable portions into small blocks. We demonstrate that this process is able to correctly detect all maximal cliques, provided that the sparsity of the network is bounded, as it is the case of real-world social networks. An extensive campaign of experiments conrms the
Monetary Policy Surprises and the Bank Bill Term Premium

Has Australia's shift to an inflation-targeting monetary policy regime had a significant impact on investors' perception of interest-rate risks in the market? We find that since 1990, unanticipated adjustments to monetary policy have had a significantly larger impact on the term premium. This coincides with Australia's adoption of an inflation-targeting monetary policy. Since its implementation, unanticipated adjustments have conveyed more information to financial markets regarding the interest-rate risks in the economy. This new information is immediately assessed and accounted for in the term structure, consequently influencing the term premium in the direction of the unanticipated cash rate adjustment.
Functions of Early (AP-2) and Late (AIP1/ALIX) Endocytic Proteins in Equine Infectious Anemia Virus Budding*

The proline-rich L domains of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) and other retroviruses interact with late endocytic proteins during virion assembly and budding. In contrast, the YPDL L domain of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is apparently unique in its reported ability to interact both with the μ2 subunit of the AP-2 adaptor protein complex and with ALG-2-interacting protein 1 (AIP1/Alix) protein factors involved in early and late endosome formation, respectively. To define further the mechanisms by which EIAV adapts vesicle trafficking machinery to facilitate virion production, we have examined the specificity of EIAV p9 binding to endocytic factors and the effects on virion production of alterations in early and late endocytic protein expression. The results of these studies demonstrated that (i) an ∼300-residue region of AIP1/Alix-(409-715) was sufficient for binding to the EIAV YPDL motif; (ii) overexpression of AIP1/Alix or AP-2 μ2 subunit specifically inhibited YPDL-mediated EIAV budding; (iii) virion budding from a replication-competent EIAV variant with its L domain replaced by the HIV PTAP sequence was inhibited by wild type or mutant μ2 to a level similar to that observed when a dominant-negative mutant of Tsg101 was expressed; and (iv) overexpression or siRNA silencing of AIP1/Alix and AP-2 revealed additive suppression of YPDL-mediated EIAV budding. Taken together, these results indicated that both early and late endocytic proteins facilitate EIAV production mediated by either YPDL or PTAP L domains, suggesting a comprehensive involvement of endocytic factors in retroviral assembly and budding that can be accessed by distinct L domain specificities.
Accounting for spatial-social influence in environmental management decisions and endogeneity in a panel discrete choice model

Preference surveys typically look at individuals’ preferences as independent from other individuals’. However, when looking at the management of common land, this assumption may be questioned as decisions are typically taken together. The aim of this study is to formulate and validly account for spatial-social interaction (SSI) among land users and to evaluate how these affect the joint preferences of private and common land management alternative. We use a new approach to account for SSI among respondents in a stated preference discrete choice experiment. Our approach combines the framework of hybrid choice model with the approach to apply as measure of SSI i.e. the Proportion of Individuals in a Peer Group with similar choice as the respondent in focus. We use a data set collected in erosion hot-spot area of the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia and investigate the presence of SSI, its effect choice behavior and determinants of SSI.
The economic life of seriously mentally ill people in the community.

OBJECTIVE The study examined economic disincentives and incentives to work among people with serious mental illness. METHODS Fifty people with severe and persistent mental illness who were living in the community were interviewed about the amount and sources of their income and expenses. In addition, a randomly selected group of 100 people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder was interviewed about work, income, and wage requirements. RESULTS In the first sample, the mean total cash and noncash income of unemployed subjects ($929 a month), which was derived mainly from disability supports and rent subsidies, was only slightly lower than that of subjects with part-time employment ($1,028 a month). The limited difference was largely a consequence of reductions in entitlement income when subjects worked. To overcome these disincentives, most subjects in the second sample felt they needed to earn between $5 and $6 an hour to make working worthwhile. The mean monthly cost of psychiatric treatment for unemployed subjects was $2,083, compared with $910 for those with part-time employment and $292 for those working full time. CONCLUSIONS The findings emphasize the importance of developing higher-paying jobs for this population and reforming entitlement programs to incorporate work incentives for the mentally disabled population.
Resolving the Presidential Puzzle

Many financial economists are puzzled by the fact that stock returns are higher under Democratic than Republican presidencies. In this paper, we test whether this return differential is explained by risk using a conditional version of the Fama and French (1993) model that allows risk to vary across political cycles. We find that the presidential puzzle can be explained when risk is properly taken into account. Much of the return differential can be attributed to the fact that Democratic presidencies are associated with higher market and default risk premiums than their Republican counterparts.
Relationship between response rates and measures of reinforcing strength using a choice procedure in monkeys

Concurrent schedules of reinforcement are increasingly being used to investigate the reinforcing strength of abused drugs. A purported advantage of concurrent schedules is that the primary dependent measure, percentage of responses emitted on the drug-associated manipulandum, is independent of the rate-altering effects of drugs. Data supporting this hypothesis are, however, rarely presented, which was one goal of this study. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that drug-induced decreases in response rates provides an additional index to characterize abuse liability of drugs. This study examined the relationship between response rate and response allocation (i.e. drug choice) when 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 0.03–0.3 mg/kg/inj) or cocaine (0.003–0.1 mg/kg/inj) was the alternative to food under concurrent fixed-ratio reinforcement schedules in rhesus (n=4) and cynomolgus (n=16) monkeys, respectively. Increasing doses of MDMA or cocaine resulted in increased drug choice and dose-dependent decreases in overall response rates. For both drugs, response rates on the drug-associated lever were not affected by dose and were not different from saline. Furthermore, at most doses, rates of responding on the food-associated lever were significantly higher than response rates on the drug-associated lever. Finally, MDMA but not cocaine decreased food-reinforced responding, providing evidence for potential differences between the drugs. These results demonstrate that under concurrent food–drug reinforcement schedules, response rates on the drug-associated lever are independent of measures of reinforcement, whereas disruptions in food-maintained responding may be inversely related to abuse liability.