Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LoCuSS: first results from strong-lensing analysis of 20 massive galaxy clusters at z= 0.2

We present a statistical analysis of a sample of 20 strong lensing clusters drawn from the Local Cluster Substructure Survey, based on high-resolution Hubble Space Telescope imaging of the cluster cores and follow-up spectroscopic observations using the Keck-I telescope. We use detailed parametrized models of the mass distribution in the cluster cores, to measure the total cluster mass and fraction of that mass associated with substructures within R ≤ 250 kpc. These measurements are compared with the distribution of baryons in the cores, as traced by the old stellar populations and the X-ray emitting intracluster medium. Our main results include: (i) the distribution of Einstein radii is lognormal, with a peak and 1σ width of〈log_(10)θ_E(z=2)〉= 1.16 ± 0.28; (ii) we detect an X-ray/lensing mass discrepancy of〈M_(SL)/M_X〉= 1.3 at 3σ significance – clusters with larger substructure fractions displaying greater mass discrepancies, and thus greater departures from hydrostatic equilibrium and (iii) cluster substructure fraction is also correlated with the slope of the gas density profile on small scales, implying a connection between cluster–cluster mergers and gas cooling. Overall our results are consistent with the view that cluster–cluster mergers play a prominent role in shaping the properties of cluster cores, in particular causing departures from hydrostatic equilibrium, and possibly disturbing cool cores. Our results do not support recent claims that large Einstein radius clusters present a challenge to the cold dark matter paradigm.
Do Hedge Funds Ride Market Irrationality?

Utilizing a novel style identification procedure, we show that style-shifting is a dynamic strategy commonly employed by hedge fund managers. Three quarters of hedge funds shifted their investment styles at least once over the period from January 1994 to December 2013. We perform empirical tests of two hypotheses for the motivations of hedge fund style-shifting, namely backward-looking and forward-looking hypotheses. We find no evidence that style-shifting funds are backward-looking. Instead, we show evidence that managers of style-shifting funds exhibit both style-timing ability and the skill of generating abnormal returns in new styles. The new styles that hedge funds shift to on average outperform their old styles by 0.76% and style-shifting funds on average outperform their new style benchmark by 1.10% over the subsequent 12-month horizon. Finally, we show that small funds, winner funds, and funds with net inflows are more likely to shift styles.
Perils of Limiting the Coverage of Mandatory Pay Disclosure: The Korean Experience

This study documents the danger of limiting the coverage of mandatory pay disclosure. Exploiting the 2013 rule change in Korea, we find that its restrictive coverage, confined to board members with total annual pay exceeding 500 million Korean won, led a large fraction of executives to evade disclosure through deregistration (i.e., stepping down from the board) or pay-cuts. We also find that such evasion is mostly carried out by family executives in firms with high executive-to-worker pay ratios. If the original pay level is close to the threshold, we find that family executives choose pay-cuts over deregistration, as their preferred means of evasion.
Sustainable Consumption and Segmentation of Potential Low Emission Vehicle Buyers

Abstract In 2015 the Agenda 2030 was introduced, framed of 17 sustainable development goals (SDG) with 169 targets, which were adopted by the United Nations Member States and should bring prosperity and growth to the global society. In this paper a focus is given to the SDG 12 Sustainable consumption and production from the e-mobility perspective. SDG 12 aims to ensure sustainable consumption and production (SCP) patterns – it is about promoting resource and energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, and providing access to basic services, green and decent jobs, and a better quality of life for all. Many stakeholders from public and private sector are investing a lot of effort to identify consumer behaviour for future improvements in development of their green products and strategies Because sustainable mobility and consequently low emission vehicles (LEV) are closely related with sustainable consumption within the personal mobility this paper focuses on consumer segmentation of potential LEV buyers and their willingness to buy LEV. Results have revealed that the segment of potential alternative fuel vehicles buyers is much larger than we initially anticipated. Such vehicles are, surprisingly, also more attractive for the older population, according to our results.
Geometric Design of Microbolometers Made From CMOS Polycrystalline Silicon

In this paper, microbolometers with different geometric designs were fabricated using polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) films from TSMC 0.35 μm (D35 type) and 0.18 μm (T18 type). D35 microbolometers with high-resistance films showed negative temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) values, whereas T18 microbolometers with low-resistance films showed positive TCR values. Results indicate that conventional designs with large areas of infrared absorbers can be optimized using uniform suspended arms throughout the microbolometer in the two types of devices. Finite element modeling indicates that the heat flux of microbolometers with uniform beams is evenly distributed and thus results in improved TCR values.
Understanding suicide risk: identification of high-risk groups during high-risk times.

BACKGROUND The assessment of suicide risk is a complex task for mental health professionals. Certain demographic groups are associated with completed suicide including males, divorced adults, and Caucasians. However, demographic variables alone provide a crude assessment of suicide risk. Psychiatric diagnosis and recent life events might improve the identification of high-risk individuals. METHOD The current study evaluated 148 individuals who died by suicide compared with 257 adults who died suddenly from accidents or medical problems. Psychological autopsy was used to assess Axis I psychiatric diagnosis and recent stressful life events. RESULTS Suicide completers were significantly more likely than comparison subjects to have a depressive disorder, a substance abuse disorder, and to have experienced interpersonal conflict in the months leading up to their death. A discriminant function analysis revealed that the combination of demographic variables, recent stressful life events, and psychiatric diagnoses best discriminated between suicide completers and comparison subjects. CONCLUSIONS Proper assessment of suicide risk should include a comprehensive evaluation of demographic characteristics, recent life stressors, and psychiatric diagnosis.
Advantages and difficulties of brush cytology in the identification of early oral cancer

SUMMARY Background: Early oral cancer is asymptomatic and highly curable, but unfortunately most cancers are advanced by the time when they are discovered, so the mortality is relatively high. The aim of this study was to refer the advantages as well as the difficulties of brush cytology in the identification of early oral cancer. Methods: Cytological smears obtained from of the oral mucosa of 36 patients were evaluated. The materials were taken with a cytobrush by scraping the surface of the suspected lesions, fixed with cytospray fixative and stained with the Papanicolaou method, whereas the residual was prepared by the liquid-based technique Thin-Prep 2000. Results: There were 29 inflammatory and mild dysplastic lesions, three cases with mild dysplasia only and two cases with severe dysplasia possible carcinoma. Another two showed squamous cell carcinoma. Histological examination of possible malignant and malignant cases showed well differentiated squamous cell carcinomas, so wide excisions were performed. Conclusion: Oral cytology is well accepted by the patient and attractive option for the early diagnosis of the oral cancer. It is useful when the lesion is large or multiple or the patients refuse biopsy. However there are factors that contribute to a false negative diagnosis such as the selection of the site of biopsy, necrosis, blood crusting, lack of adequate training, and the fact that malignant features of squamous cell carcinoma can be subtle resembling dysplasia.
Spectral wide-field microscopic fluorescence resonance energy transfer imaging in live cells

Abstract. With its precise, sensitive, and nondestructive features, spectral unmixing-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy has been widely applied to visualize intracellular biological events. In this report, we set up a spectral wide-field microscopic FRET imaging system by integrating a varispec liquid crystal tunable filter into a wide-field microscope for quantitative FRET measurement in living cells. We implemented a representative emission-spectral unmixing-based FRET measurement method on this platform to simultaneously acquire pixel-to-pixel images of both FRET efficiency (E) and acceptor-to-donor concentration ratio (RC) in living HepG2 cells expressing fusion proteins in the presence or absence of free donors and acceptors and obtained consistent results with other instruments and methods. This stable and low-cost spectral wide-field microscopic FRET imaging system provides a new toolbox for imaging molecular events with high spatial resolution in living cells.
MicroRNA-125-5p targeted CXCL13: a potential biomarker associated with immune thrombocytopenia.

BACKGROUND Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired and autoimmune disease of adults and children characterized by decreased platelet production. CXC chemokine ligand-13 (CXCL13) participates in multiple immunological responses. However, it is still unknown the relationship between CXCL13 and ITP. METHODS Plasma CXCL13 was detected in ITP (n = 30) children. CD4+ T cells was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy volunteers. Treated CD4+ T cells with dexamethasone and/or miR-125-5p mimic/inhibitor, to observe the regulation of CXCL13. RESULTS Compared with controls, ITP children had elevated plasma CXCL13, the concentration of which was reduced after treatment. In vitro, dexamethasone decreased CXCL13 level in in dose- dependent and in time-dependent manner. MiR-125-5p mimic decreased CXCL13 level and miR-125-5p inhibitor increased CXCL13 level in CD4+ T cells. CXCL13 was implied to be target gene of miR-125-5p. MiR-125-5p inhibitor also canceled dexamethasone induced decrease of CXCL13. CONCLUSION CXCL13 is the target gene of miR-125-5p, which is possibly involved in the pathological process of ITP.
Measurement of fractional flow reserve to assess the functional severity of coronary-artery stenoses.

BACKGROUND The clinical significance of coronary-artery stenoses of moderate severity can be difficult to determine. Myocardial fractional flow reserve (FFR) is a new index of the functional severity of coronary stenoses that is calculated from pressure measurements made during coronary arteriography. We compared this index with the results of noninvasive tests commonly used to detect myocardial ischemia, to determine the usefulness of the index. METHODS In 45 consecutive patients with moderate coronary stenosis and chest pain of uncertain origin, we performed bicycle exercise testing, thallium scintigraphy, stress echocardiography with dobutamine, and quantitative coronary arteriography and compared the results with measurements of FFR. RESULTS In all 21 patients with an FFR of less than 0.75, reversible myocardial ischemia was demonstrated unequivocally on at least one noninvasive test. After coronary angioplasty or bypass surgery was performed, all the positive test results reverted to normal. In contrast, 21 of the 24 patients with an FFR of 0.75 or higher tested negative for reversible myocardial ischemia on all the noninvasive tests. No revascularization procedures were performed in these patients, and none were required during 14 months of follow-up. The sensitivity of FFR in the identification of reversible ischemia was 88 percent, the specificity 100 percent, the positive predictive value 100 percent, the negative predictive value 88 percent, and the accuracy 93 percent. CONCLUSIONS In patients with coronary stenosis of moderate severity, FFR appears to be a useful index of the functional severity of the stenoses and the need for coronary revascularization.
Phase III study of second-line chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer with weekly compared with 3-weekly docetaxel.

PURPOSE A phase III study to determine whether a weekly docetaxel schedule improves the therapeutic index compared with the classic 3-weekly schedule. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with stage IIIB-IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were randomly assigned to docetaxel 75 mg/m2 on day 1 every 3 weeks (3-weekly) and 35 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 (weekly) for < or = eight cycles. End points included survival (primary), toxicity, and response. RESULTS Of 215 patients enrolled, 208 (103 in the 3-weekly arm and 105 in the weekly arm) were assessable for response. At baseline, 24.5% of patients (51 out of 208) had received prior paclitaxel therapy and 43.3% of patients (90 out of 208) had been progression-free for more than 3 months after first-line therapy. After 12 months' follow-up, median survival was 6.3 months (95% CI, 4.68 to 7.84 months) with 3-weekly docetaxel and 9.2 months (95% CI, 5.83 to 12.59 months) with weekly docetaxel (P = .07) after a median of four (range, one to eight) and two (range, one to eight) treatment cycles, respectively. Overall, response rates were 12.6% v 10.5% with 3-weekly versus weekly docetaxel. Significantly fewer patients reported grade 3 to 4 toxicities with weekly docetaxel versus 3-weekly docetaxel (P < or = .05). There were significantly lower rates of grade 3 to 4 anemia (P < or = .05), leucopenia (P < .0001), and neutropenia (P < or = .001) with weekly versus 3-weekly treatment. No grade 3 to 4 thrombocytopenia or mucositis was reported. CONCLUSION Weekly docetaxel 35 mg/m2 demonstrated similar efficacy and better tolerability than standard 3-weekly docetaxel 75 mg/m2 and can be recommended as a feasible alternative second-line treatment option for patients with advanced NSCLC.
The Legacies of Forced Freedom: China's Treaty Ports

Abstract This paper investigates the long-run development of China's treaty ports from the mid-eighteenth century until today. Focusing on a sample of prefectures on the coast or on the Yangtze River, I document the dynamic development paths of treaty ports and their neighbors in alternate phases of closedness and openness. I also provide suggestive evidence on migration and sector-wise growth to understand the advantage of treaty ports in the long run.
Numerical Investigation of the Interaction Between Land Surface Processes and Climate

The close connection between land surface ecosystem and climate is an important element in the Earth’s environmental system, and land surface is very important to regional and global climates (Dickinson & Henderson-Sellers, 1988; Avissar & Pielke, 1989; Sato et al., 1989; Shukla et al., 1990; Bonan et al., 1992; Lofgren, 1995). The land surface is the lower boundary for the atmosphere, and energy and greenhouse gases are exchanged between the land surface and the atmosphere. Vegetation on the land surface is an important determinant of these fluxes. Snow on the ground also acts as a very important boundary condition for the atmosphere, and influences the hydrological cycle both directly and indirectly (Barnett et al., 1989; Yasunari et al., 1991; Vernekar et al., 1995).
Wipe and flexion reflexes of the frog. II. Response to perturbations.

1. To evaluate the hypothesis that the neural control of sensorimotor transformations may be simplified by using a single control variable, we compared the movement kinematics and muscle activity patterns [electromyograms (EMGs)] of the frog during flexion withdrawal and the hind limb-hind limb wipe reflex before and after adding an external load. In addition, the flexibility of spinal cord circuitry underlying the hind limb-hind limb wipe reflex was evaluated by comparing wipes before and after removal of one of the contributing muscles by cutting a muscle nerve. 2. The kinematics of the movements were recorded using a WATSMART infrared emitter-detector system and quantified using principal-components analysis to provide a measure of the shape (eigenvalues) and orientation (eigenvector coefficients) of the movement trajectories. The neural pattern coordinating the movements was characterized by the latencies and magnitudes of EMGs of seven muscles acting at the hip, knee, and ankle. These variables were compared 1) during flexion withdrawal and the initial movement segment of the limb during the hind limb-hind limb wipe reflex in both unrestrained movements and in movements executed when a load equal to approximately 10% of the animal's body weight was attached to a distal limb segment and 2) during the initial movement segment of the wipe reflex before and after cutting the nerve to the knee flexor-hip extensor, iliofibularis. 3. Addition of the load had no discernible effect on the end-point position of the foot during either reflex. However, during the loaded flexion reflex, the ankle joint did not move until after the hip and knee joints had moved to their normal positions. This delayed flexion of the ankle was accompanied by large increases in the magnitude of EMG activity in two ankle muscles that exceeded the levels found during unrestrained movements. Significant changes in the temporal organization of the EMG pattern accompanied the change in joint angle relations during flexion withdrawal. 4. Despite the addition of an external load, all animals successfully and reliably removed the stimulus during the wipe reflex, and the relative timing of both the EMG pattern and joint angle motion was preserved. 5. Immediately after section of the nerve to a single muscle (iliofibularis), all animals successfully and reliably removed the stimulus during the wipe reflex. The relative timing of muscle activation was preserved, accompanied by a reduction in the activity level of gluteus magnus, a muscle with action reciprocal to iliofibularis. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Explanatory Power of Pre-Issue Financial Strength for Long-Term Market Performance: Evidence From Initial Equity Offerings on an Emerging Market

This study tests possible sources of long-term risk-adjusted returns on initial public offerings (IPO) in Poland under the calendar-time portfolio (CTP) approach. The moment of going public still remains a puzzle in many areas. Poland’s status as an emerging market has been indisputable for many years, though improvements in capital market infrastructure have led to its recent reclassification as a developed country. It is an important European equity market. Thus, research on IPO pricing explanation for Poland is important for both investors and academics. In this study, we estimate risk premiums and run regressions on four asset pricing models, including the latest innovation, which is the Fama-French 5-factor model. We also check the robustness. The research documents the existence of the long-run underperformance for Polish IPOs independently of the specification of the calendar-time portfolio approach as alphas range from -9.6% to -13.2% annually. We show that the underperformance is mainly driven by IPOs in a position of weak pre-issue financial health. More profitable IPOs experience less negative long-term returns and the underperformance is even absent in some specifications.
Low‐Density Lipoprotein Receptor on Endothelium of Brain Capillaries

Abstract: The presence of lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, and their receptors in the brain could provide a system for cholesterol homeostasis, as they do in other tissues. This study was undertaken to determine whether plasma low‐density lipoprotein, the major carrier of cholesterol, is involved in the delivery of lipids through the blood‐brain barrier. 125I‐Labeled low‐density lipoprotein bound to a specific receptor on the endothelium of brain capillaries when it was injected immediately postmortem into bovine brain circulation. In contrast, no specific binding of 125I‐low density lipoprotein was found when the incubations were performed with isolated capillaries. Incubations of endothelial or basement membranes of brain capillaries with 125I‐low density lipoprotein demonstrated a high‐affinity association of low‐density lipoprotein with the membranes of bovine cerebral endothelial cells. The specificity of the low‐density lipoprotein binding was determined in several ways using a dot blot assay. This receptor shows the same characteristics as the low‐density lipoprotein receptor on human fibroblasts. The molecular weight of the bovine brain capillary low‐density lipoprotein receptor (132,000) was determined by ligand blotting. These results demonstrated the occurrence of a low‐density lipoprotein receptor on the endothelial cells of brain capillaries.
Variation in healthcare expenditures fromconsultations provided by mental healthcarenurses explained by demand and supply-sidefactors in the Netherlands.

Since 2012, the position of the mental healthcare nurse (MHN) was introduced in primary care in the Netherlands with the aim to reduce costs and increase quality of care. The main function of the MHN is to provide basic mental healthcare in general practices. It is plausible that MHNs differ in their procedure, which is known as practice style variation. This is unwarranted since it may cause inequality or inefficiency of care. The objective of this thesis was to explain variation by studying healthcare expenditures from the demand and supply side regarding care provided by MHNs. This quantitative retro-perspective cohort study analysed data from 39,241 patients and 176 MHNs for the years 2016 and 2017. The annual healthcare expenditures per patient are significantly different: Noord-Brabant has a median of €50.80 (N=11,929 patients), whereas Limburg has a median of €41.56 (N=27,312). The variation is explained for 4.0% by demand factors, i.e. patient-related variables, and 4.6% is explained by supply factors, i.e. MHN-specific variables. Consequently, there was some proof to support the practice style hypothesis. Patient characteristics that were found to relate significantly to annual healthcare expenditures from consultations of MHNs are age, gender and degree of urbanisation. The results are robust.
An expanded Transactional Stress and Coping Model for siblings of children with sickle cell disease: family functioning and sibling coping, self-efficacy and perceived social support.

AIM To investigate the application of an expanded Transactional Stress and Coping Model for the psychological adjustment of non-chronically ill, African-American siblings of children with sickle cell disease (SCD). METHODS Ninety-seven siblings (M = 11.24 years) from 65 families who care for a child with SCD participated. Primary caregivers completed the Coping Health Inventory for Parents, the Family Relations Scale and the Child Behaviour Checklist, while siblings completed the Kidcope, the Children's Self-Efficacy for Peer Interaction Scale, and the Social Support Scale for Children. RESULTS Family processes were predictive of sibling adjustment, revealing that family coping, expressiveness and support improved adjustment, while family conflict predicted poor adjustment. CONCLUSION Findings suggest that family-centered interventions stressing family expressiveness and support, while minimizing conflict, will contribute to sibling psychological adjustment.