Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Macroeconomic Impacts of Canadian Immigration: Results from a Macro-Model

We use a macro-econometric forecasting model to simulate the impact on the Canadian economy of a hypothetical increase in immigration. Our simulations generally yield positive impacts on such factors as real GDP and GDP per capita, aggregate demand, investment, productivity, and government expenditures, taxes and especially net government balances, with essentially no impact on unemployment. This is generally buttressed by conclusions reached in the existing literature. Our analysis suggests that concern should be with respect to immigrants themselves as they are having an increasingly difficult time assimilating into the Canadian labour market, and new immigrants are increasingly falling into poverty.
Sediment loads and accumulation in a small riparian wetland system in northern Missouri

Sediment transport and deposition along a stream in an agricultural basin (65 km2) in northern Missouri, USA were quantified as part of a long-term study to evaluate effects of silvicultural practices on the hydrology, sediment, vegetation, and wildlife characteristics of remaining forested riparian systems. Median cumulative sediment deposition, measured using feldspar clay pads, increased from August 1995 to August 1998 at a rate of about 1 cm/yr. Median deposition amounts from single floods ranged from 0.03 cm to 0.64 cm. Floodplain and riparian maintenance flows corresponded to monitored floods with calculated recurrence intervals as low as <2 years. Simple linear regression models, using flood event suspendedsediment load or streamflow characteristics, explained up to 82 percent of variability in median event sediment deposition on the floodplain clay pads. There was little apparent correlation between cumulative shortterm deposition and site elevation, distance from channel, longitudinal distance, or fluvial landform type. This may be due to upstream channelization, floodplain complexity, short duration of events, or sedimentload characteristics of low-recurrence interval floods (<2 to 5 years) sampled in this study. Dendrogeomorphic measurements indicated a substantial increase in the mean rate of deposition on the Long Branch Creek floodplain from about 1950 through 1980. Eighty-nine percent of the clay pad monitoring sites and all dendrogeomorphic monitoring sites experienced net positive deposition emphasizing the role of this riparian area as a net sediment storage site.
Genome-wide analysis of influenza viral RNA and nucleoprotein association

Abstract Influenza A virus (IAV) genomes are composed of eight single-stranded RNA segments that are coated by viral nucleoprotein (NP) molecules. Classically, the interaction between NP and viral RNA (vRNA) is depicted as a uniform pattern of ‘beads on a string’. Using high-throughput sequencing of RNA isolated by crosslinking immunoprecipitation (HITS-CLIP), we identified the vRNA binding profiles of NP for two H1N1 IAV strains in virions. Contrary to the prevailing model for vRNA packaging, NP does not bind vRNA uniformly in the A/WSN/1933 and A/California/07/2009 strains, but instead each vRNA segment exhibits a unique binding profile, containing sites that are enriched or poor in NP association. Intriguingly, both H1N1 strains have similar yet distinct NP binding profiles despite extensive sequence conservation. Peaks identified by HITS-CLIP were verified as true NP binding sites based on insensitivity to DNA antisense oligonucleotide-mediated RNase H digestion. Moreover, nucleotide content analysis of NP peaks revealed that these sites are relatively G-rich and U-poor compared to the genome-wide nucleotide content, indicating an as-yet unidentified sequence bias for NP association in vivo. Taken together, our genome-wide study of NP–vRNA interaction has implications for the understanding of influenza vRNA architecture and genome packaging.
2012 Outstanding Paper: Runner-up Implications of adipose-derived stromal cells in a 3D culture system for osteogenic differentiation: an in vitro and in vivo investigation

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Healthy mammalian cells in normal tissues are organized in complex three-dimensional (3D) networks that display nutrient and signaling gradients. Conventional techniques that grow cells in a 2D monolayer fail to reproduce the environment that is observed in vivo. In recent years, 3D culture systems have been used to mimic tumor microenvironments in cancer research and to emulate embryogenesis in stem cell cultures. However, there have been no studies exploring the ability for adipose-derived stromal (ADS) cells in a 3D culture system to undergo osteogenic differentiation. PURPOSE: To characterize and investigate the in vitro and in vivo potential for human ADS cells in a novel 3D culture system to undergo osteogenic differentiation. STUDY DESIGN: Basic science and laboratory study. METHODS: Human ADS cells were isolated and prepared as either a 2D monolayer or 3D multicellular aggregates (MAs). Multicellular aggregates were formed using the hanging droplet technique. Cells were treated in osteogenic medium in vitro, and cellular differentiation was investigated using gene expression, histology, and microCT at 1-, 2-, and 4-week time points. In vivo investigation involved creating a muscle pouch by developing the avascular muscular interval in the vastus lateralis of male athymic rats. Specimens were then pretreated with osteogenic medium and surgically implanted as (1) carrier (Matrigel) alone (control), (2) carrier with human ADS cells in monolayer, or (3) human ADS cells as MAs. In vivo evidence of osteogenic differentiation was evaluated with micro computed tomography and histologic sectioning at a 2-week time point. RESULTS: Human ADS cells cultured by the hanging droplet technique successfully formed MAs at the air-fluid interface. Adipose-derived stromal cells cultured in monolayer or as 3D MAs retain
The pros and cons of a common European employment policy

Summary This paper considers the advantages and disadvantages of having common employment policies within the EU. It argues that the adoption of common employment policies presupposes both shared objectives and the existence of inter-country spillovers. The paper suggests, however, that member states retain different political and social objectives, and these differences account for the very different labour market outcomes observed. The main argument for harmonisation of policies is to avoid policy-induced distortions in competition. The paper suggests that where labour markets are flexible, the costs of labour market regulations are incident on labour and hence different regulatory regimes in different countries will not distort competition between them. The paper notes a movement towards greater labour market flexibility in some countries or towards wage policies giving greater weight to market forces in others. The paper recognises a case for some harmonisation of labour market reforms, in that such reforms constitute nation-specific supply shocks which are difficult to accommodate in a single currency area. The final section of the paper looks at the case for policies encouraging greater nominal wage flexibility as a mechanism to replace exchange rate flexibility, but suggests that the magnitude of short-run exchange rate fluctuations observed over the recent past makes this an unrealistic aspiration. The paper concludes that there is neither sufficient commonality of objectives nor sufficiently large inter-country spillover to justify a common employment policy for the EU.
Age-Related Differences in Serum Insulin-like Growth Factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-Binding Protein-3 Levels in Congenital Hypothyroidism

It is well established that thyroid hormones play a fundamental role in normal growth and development. The complex relationship between thyroid hormone and the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor axis is not completely understood. We investigated age-related differences in serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels in 43 patients with primary congenital hypothyroidism. These patients were classified into five age groups (Group I: 0-1 month, Group II: 1 month-1 year, Group III: 1-5 years, Group IV: 5-9 years, Group V: 9-13 years). Patients diagnosed in the first month of life did not display a significant difference in serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels compared to age-matched controls (p > 0.05). However, in groups II to V, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were significantly lower than in controls (p < 0.05). Thyroid hormone replacement therapy increased serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels significantly in 26 hypothyroid children (p < 0.05). Although serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels increase in an age dependent manner in normal children, this increment was not observed in hypothyroid children.
Functional polymorphisms in the NBS1 gene and acute lymphoblastic leukemia susceptibility in a Chinese population

As a component of the MRN complex (which is a heterotrimeric protein complex consisting of MRE11, RAD50 and NBS1), NBS1 plays an important role in cellular response to DNA damage and the maintenance of chromosomal integrity. Leukemia is common in NBS1 germ line–mutated patients. The NBS1 E185Q polymorphism (8360G>C, rs1805794) has been frequently studied in some cancers with discordant results, but its association with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Chinese population has not been investigated. Besides, there is no report about the association between NBS1 3′UTR variant rs2735383 and ALL risk. In this study, a multiple centre case–control analysis was performed to assess the association between NBS1 polymorphisms and ALL risk. The genotypes and haplotypes were determined in 175 cases and 350 controls, and the associations with risk of ALL were estimated by logistic regression. We observed significant difference in genotype frequencies at the rs1805794 C/G site between cases and controls (Ptrend < 0.0001). The allele C increases the risk of ALL in a dose‐dependent response manner. These findings suggest that E185Q polymorphism in NBS1 may be a genetic modifier for developing ALL.
Inflammation stimulates myelination by transplanted oligodendrocyte precursor cells

Inflammation associated with CNS demyelination provides an important stimulus for the activation of endogenous oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and subsequent remyelination. This view is largely based on “loss‐of‐function” studies, whereby remyelination is impaired following depletion of inflammatory cells or mediators. However, “gain‐of‐function” approaches, asking whether inflammation directly enhances remyelination, have received less attention. We have addressed this issue using a model in which OPCs transplanted into the adult rat retina myelinate retinal ganglion cell axons around the point of injection. Inflammation (characterized by increased expression of the macrophage marker ED1 and the astrocyte marker GFAP, and the up‐regulation of multiple cytokines) was induced in the retina by the administration of the TLR‐2 ligand zymosan. Myelination, revealed by MBP+ myelin sheaths, was substantially increased when OPCs were injected into the inflamed retina compared to that achieved following transplantation into the normal, noninflamed retina. Our results have important implications for the development of immunomodulatory treatments for acute demyelinating disease and for the therapeutic creation of proremyelination environments in chronic demyelinating disease. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ranolazine Improves Abnormal Repolarization and Contraction in Left Ventricular Myocytes of Dogs with Heart Failure by Inhibiting Late Sodium Current

Background: Ventricular repolarization and contractile function are frequently abnormal in ventricular myocytes from human failing hearts as well as canine hearts with experimentally induced heart failure (HF). These abnormalities have been attributed to dysfunction involving various steps of the excitation–contraction coupling process, leading to impaired intracellular sodium and calcium homeostasis. We previously reported that the slow inactivating component of the Na+ current (late INa) is augmented in myocytes from failing hearts, and this appears to play a significant role in abnormal ventricular myocytes repolarization and function. We tested the effect of ranolazine, a novel drug being developed to treat angina, on (1) action potential duration (APD), (2) peak transient and late INa (INaT and INaL, respectively), (3) early afterdepolarizations (EADs), and (4) twitch contraction (TC), including aftercontractions and contracture.
Catastrophic Spine Injuries in American Football, 1977–2001

OBJECTIVECervical spinal cord injuries have been the most common catastrophic football injury and the second leading direct cause of death attributable to football skills. This study looks at the 25-year (1977–2001) experience with catastrophic neck injuries and examines not only the incidence but also the cause of injury and variables that have either increased or decreased these injuries. METHODSData were collected on a national level from all organized football programs, including public school, college, professional, and youth programs, through personal contact and questionnaires on each catastrophic football injury. Funded by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the National Federation of State High School Associations, and the American Football Coaches Association, data were collected by the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Frederick O. Mueller, Director, and Robert C. Cantu, Medical Director). RESULTSTeaching the fundamental techniques of the game, equipment standards, and improved medical care both on and off the playing field have led to a 270% reduction in permanent spinal cord injury from a peak of 20 per year during the period 1971 to 1975 to 7.2 per year during the past 10 years. CONCLUSIONThe type of injury, activity at the time of injury, level of play, and whether the injury was incurred in a game or practice are presented. On the basis of the data, recommendations are given for reducing catastrophic cervical spine injury in football.
Arterial oxygen saturation and breathing movements during the first year of life.

Sixteen healthy term infants underwent 12 hour tape recordings of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2)(Nellcor N100 in beat to beat mode) and breathing movements at around 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months of age. Six of these infants had an additional recording at around their first birthday. Recordings were analysed throughout for pauses in breathing movements of greater than or equal to 4 s (apnoeic pauses), episodes in which SaO2 fell to 80% (desaturations), and (only during regular breathing) baseline SaO2. In the 16 infants studied at 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months, the median frequency of both apnoeic pauses (5.6, 5.7, and 6.1/h, respectively) and desaturations (0.7, 0.4 and 0.5/h, respectively) showed little change. The majority of desaturations followed an apnoeic pause (median 73.2, 86.2 and 93.8% of desaturations). The median proportion of apnoeic pauses followed by a desaturation did not change significantly (9.0, 7.5 and 9.1%), despite an increase in the proportion of apnoeic pauses of greater than or equal to 8 s in duration from 2.0% at 6 weeks to 5.3% at 3 months (P less than 0.01). Baseline SaO2 was 97.3% or higher in all recordings. Median baseline SaO2 increased from 99.6 to 99.9% between 6 weeks and 3 months (P less than 0.02) and remained unchanged thereafter. In the subgroup of infants studied also at one year of age, again no significant differences were found with increasing age in the frequency of either apnoeic pauses or desaturations. The data show that in healthy subjects no major changes occur between 6 weeks and 1 year of life in apnoeic pause frequency or arterial oxygenation. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A comparative analysis of surveyors from six hospital accreditation programmes and a consideration of the related management issues.

PURPOSE To gather data on how accreditors manage surveyors, to compare these data and to offer them to the accreditors for improvement and to the scientific community for knowledge of the accreditation process and reinforcement of the credibility of these processes. DATA SOURCE The data were gathered with the aid of a questionnaire sent to all accreditors participating in the study. RESULTS An important finding in this comparative study is the different contractual relationships that exist between the accreditors and their surveyors. CONCLUSION Surveyors around the world share many common features in terms of careers, training, work history and expectations. These similarities probably arise from the objectives of the accreditors who try to provide a developmental process to their clients rather than an 'inspection'.
Gait asymmetry in patients with limb length discrepancy

Foot loading patterns and neuromuscular function of both limbs during walking were investigated on 25 patients with limb length discrepancy. Plantar pressures and 2‐D ground reaction forces were recorded simultaneously with electromyographic activities at two different walking speeds. Bilateral comparison indicated that moderate limb length discrepancies resulted in asymmetrical gait patterns. The duration of the stance phase was reduced in the short limb in both walking speeds. The vertical ground reaction force (F) in the push‐off phase was greater in the long limb both at normal (1.33 (SO, 0.05 BW) vs. 1.29 (SD, 0.09 BW)) (P=0.0027) and fast walking speed (1.55 (SD, 0.11) vs. 1.48 (SD, 0.15 BW)) (P=0.001). Peak plantar pressures were higher under the big toe in the long leg and the heel‐off occurred faster. The push‐off phase was initiated earlier in the short leg. The maximum isometric torque of the long limb was considerably greater (673 Nm vs. 239 Nm) (P=0.026). The results imply that the loading of the long limb is greater and the foot loading patterns shifted more to the forefoot in the long, limb to compensate walking disturbances caused by limb length discrepancies.
Characteristics of production and consumption of organic trout in Italy

The evolution of life-styles has made the modern consumers increasingly at tentive to issue of environmental, health and safety. In addition consumers re quire a blend of characteristics inspired by concepts of quality and distinc tiveness. These requirements have led to the formation of a whole series of new laws and the consequent establishment of new categories of certified products (organic food, controlled production chains, typical and/or regional specialities, etc.) both in Europe and throughout the world. The Italian agrifood system must now interpret these trends, also in view of the profound changes involving market organization of markets and growing competition. The present paper aims at analysing the principal characteristics of organic trout breeding and its potential in Italy from the aspects both of supply and de mand. Particular attention was paid to investigate on consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for trout from organic breeding farms through the application of a two-equation generalization of the Tobit model .
Annual costs of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors using real-world data in a commercially insured population in the United States

Abstract Objective: To calculate annual cost per treated patient of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors etanercept, adalimumab, and infliximab for common approved indications, based on actual TNF-inhibitor use in clinical practice. Methods: Adults with ≥1 claim for etanercept, adalimumab, or infliximab between January 2005 and March 2009 were identified from the IMS LifeLink™ Health Plan Claims Database. Patients new to therapy or continuing therapy (i.e., a prior claim for a TNF-inhibitor) were analyzed separately. Included patients had been enrolled from 180 days before the first TNF-inhibitor claim (index date) through 360 days after the index date and had a diagnosis during the pre-index period for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis. Patients with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or juvenile idiopathic arthritis were excluded. Annual costs were calculated using wholesale acquisition costs for the TNF-inhibitor and Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for drug administration. Costs from restarting or switching TNF-inhibitor therapy during the first year were included. Results: A total of 27,704 patients (11,528 new, 16,176 continuing) had claims for etanercept, adalimumab, or infliximab, most commonly (65%) for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The most commonly used agent was etanercept (14,777 patients; 53%), followed by adalimumab (6862 patients; 25%) and infliximab (6065 patients; 22%). Annual cost per treated patient was etanercept $14,873, adalimumab $17,766, and infliximab $21,256 across all indications. Annual cost per treated patient by disease was (etanercept/adalimumab/infliximab): rheumatoid arthritis ($14,314/$17,700/$20,390), psoriasis ($17,182/$17,682/$23,935), psoriatic arthritis ($15,030/$18,483/$24,974), and ankylosing spondylitis ($14,254/$16,925/$23,056). New and continuing patients showed similar results, with etanercept having the lowest costs. Limitations: This analysis is limited to three TNF-inhibitors and a US managed-care population. Conclusions: Based on this analysis of real-world use of TNF-inhibitors among patients in nationwide clinical practice settings, the annual TNF-inhibitor cost per treated patient was lowest for etanercept across all indications.
Structural Analysis of Bacillus subtilisSpore Peptidoglycan during Sporulation

ABSTRACT A major structural element of bacterial endospores is a peptidoglycan (PG) wall. This wall is produced between the two opposed membranes surrounding the developing forespore and is composed of two layers. The inner layer is the germ cell wall, which appears to have a structure similar to that of the vegetative cell wall and which serves as the initial cell wall following spore germination. The outer layer, the cortex, has a modified structure, is required for maintenance of spore dehydration, and is degraded during spore germination. Theories suggest that the spore PG may also play a mechanical role in the attainment of spore dehydration. Inherent in one of these models is the production of a gradient of cross-linking across the span of the spore PG. We report analyses of the structure of PG found within immature, developing Bacillus subtilis forespores. The germ cell wall PG is synthesized first, followed by the cortex PG. The germ cell wall is relatively highly cross-linked. The degree of PG cross-linking drops rapidly during synthesis of the first layers of cortex PG and then increases two- to eightfold across the span of the outer 70% of the cortex. Analyses of forespore PG synthesis in mutant strains reveal that some strains that lack this gradient of cross-linking are able to achieve normal spore core dehydration. We conclude that spore PG with cross-linking within a broad range is able to maintain, and possibly to participate in, spore core dehydration. Our data indicate that the degree of spore PG cross-linking may have a more direct impact on the rate of spore germination and outgrowth.