Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Employment Effect of Industry- Specific, Collectively Bargained Minimum Wages

Abstract This study estimates the employment effects of industry-specific, collectively bargained minimum wages in Germany for two occupations associated with the construction sector. I propose a truly exogenous control group in contrast to the control group design used in the literature. Further, a difference-in-differences-in-differences estimator is presented as a robustness test for occupation-specific and/or industry-specific, time-varying, unobserved heterogeneity. I do not find a significantly negative employment effect, even though the minimum wage is binding in (East) Germany. Possible explanations include substitution effects, non-compliance and models of monopsonic competition.
Biogas production performance of mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic co-digestion with fat, oil, and grease in semi-continuous flow digesters: effects of temperature, hydraulic retention time, and organic loading rate

Anaerobic co-digestions with fat, oil, and grease (FOG) were investigated in semi-continuous flow digesters under various operating conditions. The effects of hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 12 and 24 days, organic loading rates (OLRs) between 1.19 and 8.97 g TVS/Ld, and digestion temperatures of 37°C and 55°C on biogas production were evaluated. It was proposed that, compared to anaerobic digestion with wastewater treatment plant sludge (primary raw sludge), semi-continuous flow anaerobic co-digestion with FOG could effectively enhance biogas and methane production. Thermophilic (55°C) co-digestions exhibited higher biogas production and degradation of organics than mesophilic co-digestions. The best biogas production rate of 17.4±0.86 L/d and methane content 67.9±1.46% was obtained with a thermophilic co-digestion at HRT=24 days and OLR=2.43±0.15 g TVS/Ld. These were 32.8% and 7.10% higher than the respective values from the mesophilic co-digestion under similar operating conditions.
Emigration Orientation Of Juvenile Pond-breeding Amphibians In Western Massachusetts

Abstract We studied the emigration of juvenile age-class individuals of four species of pond-breeding amphibians at 14 seasonal ponds over four consecutive years in western Massachusetts. Emigration orientation of each species was non-uniform for the majority of pond-years examined. While orientation was decidedly non-uniform in most individual pond-years, combining data from successive years led to a more uniform distribution for each of the study species, although in no case did it actually become statistically uniform. Additionally, while the exact orientation of each species at each pond differed among years in almost all cases, there were some directions with consistently greater than or less than expected use across years for all ponds. Similarly, despite overall differences in orientation of individuals among ponds for a particular species, or among species at a particular pond, there were some consistent directional biases (positive and negative) across ponds and across species. Overall, our results suggest that while there are some consistent patterns in emigration among years, species, and ponds, variability in orientation over time and space is the norm. Thus, there is a need to acquire data over several years and several ponds before reaching conclusions regarding orientation patterns and making informed conservation decisions.
Hack weeks as a model for data science education and collaboration

Significance As scientific disciplines grapple with more datasets of rapidly increasing complexity and size, new approaches are urgently required to introduce new statistical and computational tools into research communities and improve the cross-disciplinary exchange of ideas. In this paper, we introduce a type of scientific workshop, called a hack week, which allows for fast dissemination of new methodologies into scientific communities and fosters exchange and collaboration within and between disciplines. We present implementations of this concept in astronomy, neuroscience, and geoscience and show that hack weeks produce positive learning outcomes, foster lasting collaborations, yield scientific results, and promote positive attitudes toward open science. Across many scientific disciplines, methods for recording, storing, and analyzing data are rapidly increasing in complexity. Skillfully using data science tools that manage this complexity requires training in new programming languages and frameworks as well as immersion in new modes of interaction that foster data sharing, collaborative software development, and exchange across disciplines. Learning these skills from traditional university curricula can be challenging because most courses are not designed to evolve on time scales that can keep pace with rapidly shifting data science methods. Here, we present the concept of a hack week as an effective model offering opportunities for networking and community building, education in state-of-the-art data science methods, and immersion in collaborative project work. We find that hack weeks are successful at cultivating collaboration and facilitating the exchange of knowledge. Participants self-report that these events help them in both their day-to-day research as well as their careers. Based on our results, we conclude that hack weeks present an effective, easy-to-implement, fairly low-cost tool to positively impact data analysis literacy in academic disciplines, foster collaboration, and cultivate best practices.
Assessment of hepatitis C virus RNA levels by quantitative competitive RNA polymerase chain reaction: high-titer viremia correlates with advanced stage of disease.

A quantitative competitive RNA polymerase chain reaction (QC-PCR) assay was developed for measuring absolute levels of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in the sera of 121 viremic persons, including 64 asymptomatic blood donors, 39 symptomatic patients referred for treatment of chronic hepatitis C, and 18 patients with end-stage liver disease referred for liver transplantation. Mean HCV RNA levels (log molecules per milliliter) were lowest among blood donors with normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values (5.8 +/- 1.5), higher among blood donors with elevated ALT (6.9 +/- 0.8) and clinic patients with chronic active hepatitis (6.9 +/- 0.7), and highest among patients with cirrhosis (7.1 +/- 0.8) or end-stage liver disease (7.6 +/- 1.0). High-titer viremia ( > or = 7.5 logs/mL) was more frequent among patients with end-stage liver disease (14/18; 78%) than either blood donors (10/64; P < .001) or patients with chronic active hepatitis (7/26; P < .001). Thus, 121 (94.5%) of 128 anti-HCV-positive persons were viremic. QC-PCR may be valuable for monitoring HCV infection status and selecting individuals for therapy.
Drug abuse: a new problem

SIR,-In their paper on accidental needlestick injuries to children from discarded syringes (29 August, p 526) Dr S S Walsh and colleagues state that "most of these [incidents] occurred after January 1987. " Are we to take it that they are presenting evidence of an increased rate of such accdental needlestick injuries among the general public? Is there any evidence from the recovered needles and syringes or from their location that this increased incidence is related to the new injecting equipment exchange scheme established in central Liverpool at the end of 1986, or has any increase in incidents been more gradual, indicating that it is related to a more general and gradual increase in intravenous drug abuse itself? The answers to these questions are important to the present debate about such exchange schemes, and DrWalshandcoworkers should beencouraged to provide any subsequent figures that may have become available. JOHN STmRNG
Expression of folate binding protein as a prognostic factor for response to platinum‐containing chemotherapy and survival in human ovarian cancer

Overexpression of the folate binding protein (FBP) is a common feature in epithelial ovarian cancer, but its prognostic significance is not clearly understood. We investigated whether FBP in epithelial ovarian cancer specimens is a predictor of response to chemotherapy and survival. Between 1990 and 1995, 99 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer underwent primary surgery and were treated with chemotherapeutic regimens including platinum derivatives. First‐line chemotherapy was performed in 58 patients with residual disease and in 41 patients without residual disease after primary laparotomy. FBP expression level was determined in frozen specimens by cyto‐fluorimetric assay using the MOv 18 monoclonal antibody (MAb). Association of FBP fluorescence index (FI) with clinical characteristics, response to chemotherapy, and survival was studied by univariate and multivariate analysis.
EU's Eastern Neighbours: Institutional Harmonisation and Potential Growth Bonus

This paper provides the quantitative estimate of the potential growth bonus for CIS countries, and in particular EU's Easter Neighbours, that can be a result of deeper institutional harmonisation with the EU. Econometric investigation involving instrumental variable, simultaneous equation and dynamic panel techniques documents the strong positive link between growth performance and reforms, as well as between reforms and European integration. The paper derives the range of possible values of growth bonus from the deepened neighbourhood cooperation between 1 and 3.8 with the median at 1.8 percentage points. The least growth bonus is expected through basic liberalization reforms, while countries with a considerable institutional gap are likely to gain the most.
The properties and connections of nerve cells in leech ganglia maintained in culture

Segmental ganglia of the central nervous system of the leech were maintained in culture medium outside the animal for several weeks at 16°C, and electrical recordings made from identified sensory and motor nerve cells. Ganglia were isolated and cultured singly, in chains and connected to the skin and muscles they normally innervate. Such preparations are suitable for a study of relatively long-term changes that occur as a result of denervation. The changes resemble those seen in isolated ganglia that had been kept in situ in the animal. (1) Resting and action potentials in sensory and motor neurones of isolated ganglia appear normal for up to ten weeks. The same cells can be tested at intervals of a few days. (2) Sensory cells, classified as touch (T), pressure (P) or nociceptive (N) according to their morphology and electrical properties, continue to respond selectively to stimuli of the appropriate modality applied to their receptive fields in the skin; action potentials in motor cells cause contractions in the appropriate muscles. (3) Chemical synaptic transmission between sensory and motor nerve cells changes markedly over the first three weeks; excitatory and inhibitory synaptic potentials can double in size and duration over a period of about two weeks in culture. (4) The balance between excitatory and inhibitory synaptic influences changes sequentially after isolation in culture. For example, P or N cells innervating a cell which erects skin annuli normally cause small depolarizing excitatory potentials. After 5 days in culture they initiate large inhibitory synaptic potentials, while by 15 days the balance between excitation and inhibition changes again, so that the predominant synaptic action is an abnormally large prolonged excitatory potential. (5) After more than three weeks synaptic potentials disappear and ganglia lose transparency. (6) The morphological appearance of T, P and N sensory cells has been compared in cultured and normal ganglia after injection of horseradish peroxidase. In cultured ganglia the major branching pattern appears normal but presumed sites of transmitter release become more conspicuous.
Characterization and prevalence of cataracts in Labrador Retrievers in The Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence and distribution of types of cataract, investigate the effects of selective breeding on cataract development, and identify the relationship between posterior polar cataract and other types of cortical cataracts in Labrador Retrievers in The Netherlands. ANIMALS 9,017 Labrador Retrievers. PROCEDURES Records of 18,283 ophthalmic examinations performed by veterinary ophthalmologists from 1977 through 2005 were reviewed. There were 522 dogs affected by hereditary cataracts in 1 or both eyes without progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and 166 PRA-affected dogs with cataracts. These cataracts were divided into 3 groups: posterior polar (triangular) cataract, extensive immature and mature cataract, and a miscellaneous group. Dogs with PRA were analyzed separately. RESULTS From 1980 through 2000, the prevalence of hereditary cataracts was stable at 8%. The prevalence of cataracts in offspring of cataract-affected dogs was significantly increased, compared with the prevalence in offspring of nonaffected dogs. The distribution of types of cataract was significantly different between dogs with primary cataracts and PRA-affected dogs. Dogs with posterior polar (triangular) cataracts produced affected offspring with the same distribution of types of cataracts as the entire population of primary cataract-affected dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Cataract development in the Labrador Retriever population in The Netherlands appears to be a predominantly genetic disorder. Posterior polar (triangular) cataracts appear to be related to other types of hereditary cataract. Although there is no conclusive evidence, it seems valid to continue exclusion of all Labrador Retrievers affected by any type of primary cataract from breeding.
Transcriptional Regulator LsrB of Sinorhizobium meliloti Positively Regulates the Expression of Genes Involved in Lipopolysaccharide Biosynthesis

ABSTRACT Rhizobia induce nitrogen-fixing nodules on host legumes, which is important in agriculture and ecology. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produced by rhizobia is required for infection or bacteroid survival in host cells. Genes required for LPS biosynthesis have been identified in several Rhizobium species. However, the regulation of their expression is not well understood. Here, Sinorhizobium meliloti LsrB, a member of the LysR family of transcriptional regulators, was found to be involved in LPS biosynthesis by positively regulating the expression of the lrp3-lpsCDE operon. An lsrB in-frame deletion mutant displayed growth deficiency, sensitivity to the detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate, and acidic pH compared to the parent strain. This mutant produced slightly less LPS due to lower expression of the lrp3 operon. Analysis of the transcriptional start sites of the lrp3 and lpsCDE gene suggested that they constitute one operon. The expression of lsrB was positively autoregulated. The promoter region of lrp3 was specifically precipitated by anti-LsrB antibodies in vivo. The promoter DNA fragment containing TN11A motifs was bound by the purified LsrB protein in vitro. These new findings suggest that S. meliloti LsrB is associated with LPS biosynthesis, which is required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation on some ecotypes of alfalfa plants.
Postglacial intra‐lacustrine divergence of Icelandic threespine stickleback morphs in three neovolcanic lakes

The geographical context of divergence and local adaptation of lacustrine fish is controversial. Despite recent theoretical support for sympatric and parapatric divergence, empirical studies providing unequivocal support for this remain scant. An important component of such a case would be where multiple lakes have different morphs and a range of markers, both mitochondrial and nuclear, show monophyly within lakes. Here we describe such a situation for threespine sticklebacks in three lakes in Iceland. By analysing the variation at nuclear and mitochondrial markers in several freshwater and marine populations as well as three pairs of intra‐lacustrine morphs we infer their phylogenetic relationships and colonization pattern. There were high levels of microsatellite variation in all populations and no evidence was found for either repeated colonization of marine fish or colonization from distinct glacial refugia. Intra‐lacustrine threespine stickleback morphs in all three lakes show significant genetic divergence probably indicating restricted gene flow.
Cytopathological pattern of cervical Pap smear according to the Bethesda system in Southwestern Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE Cervical carcinoma is an important women's health problem worldwide. The aim of this study is to evaluate the abnormal cytological entities detected by cervical Pap smear in Al-Baha region of KSA, to reclassify the cytological findings according to the recently recommended Bethesda system and to discuss the significance of Pap smear's screening programs. METHODS A retrospective study was designed to review the Pap smears from the archives of the Department of Pathology, King Fahad Hospital, Al-Baha over the last 10 years starting from 1994 to 2003 with correlation to the Bethesda system. Cytopathological aspects of Pap smears were reviewed with age distribution. RESULTS Of the 2100 cases reviewed there were 166 cases (7.9%) with epithelial abnormalities that included: atypical squamous cells of undeterminate significance (ASCUS) were seen in 58 cases (2.76%) with age peak incidence (API) between 30-39 years; atypical squamous epithelium, cannot exclude high squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) was seen in 4 cases (0.19%); low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) including human papillomavirus was seen in 27 cases (1.3%) with API between 50-59 years and HSIL was seen in 14 cases (0.66%) with API between 40-49 years. Squamous cell carcinoma was seen in 7 cases (0.33%) with API between 50-59 years. There were 54 cases (2.57%) of atypical endocervical cells and 2 cases (0.09%) of atypical endometrial cells. CONCLUSION Atypical squamous cells of undeterminate significance, LSIL, HSIL, invasive cervical carcinoma and sexually related infectious diseases are less frequently encountered in Saudi women and occur at older age compared to the Western countries. Fewer women are screened for this disease in this region and health education is very important to encourage more Saudi female to have this important screening test particularly in this region of KSA.
Modulation of Aquaporins by dietary patterns and plant bioactive compounds.

Healthful dietary patterns and bioactive compounds supplementation can be adopted as simple and easy intervention to prevent, attenuate or cure clinical disorders, especially when it comes degenerative and chronic diseases. In the recent years, a growing body of evidence indicates Aquaporins (AQPs), a family of membrane channel proteins widely expressed in the human body, among the targets underlying the beneficial action played by some food nutrients and phytochemical compounds. Here, we provide an overview of what is known regarding the AQP modulation exerted by healthful dietary patterns and plant polyphenols.
Human Cytomegalovirus Infection Induces Specific Hyperphosphorylation of the Carboxyl-Terminal Domain of the Large Subunit of RNA Polymerase II That Is Associated with Changes in the Abundance , Activity , and Localization of cdk 9 and cdk 7

Human cytomegalovirus infection in the presence of the cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitor roscovitine leads to changes in differential splicing and the polyadenylation of immediate early IE1/IE2 and UL37 transcripts (V. Sanchez, A. K. McElroy, J. Yen, S. Tamrakar, C. L. Clark, R. A. Schwartz, and D. H. Spector, J. Virol. 78:11219-11232, 2004). To determine if this was associated with specific phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) large subunit by cdk7/cyclin H and cdk9/cyclin T1, we examined the expression and localization of these kinases and the various phosphorylated forms of RNAP II. Infection resulted in increased RNAP II CTD phosphorylated on serines 2 and 5 and increased levels of activity of cdk7 and cdk9. At early times, cdk9 localizes with input viral DNA, and aggregates of cdk9 and cdk7 and a subset of Ser2-phosphorylated RNAP II colocalize with IE1/IE2 proteins adjacent to promyelocytic leukemia protein oncogenic domains. Later, cdk9 and Ser2-phosphorylated RNAP II form a nuclear punctate pattern; cdk7 resides in replication centers, and Ser5-phosphorylated RNAP II clusters at the peripheries of replication centers. Roscovitine treatment leads to decreased levels of hyperphosphorylated RNAP II (RNAP IIo) in infected cells and of hypophosphorylated RNAP II in mock-infected and infected cells. The RNAP IIo decrease does not occur if roscovitine is added 8 h postinfection, as was previously observed for processing of IE transcripts. These results suggest that accurate IE gene expression requires specific phosphorylation of the RNAP II CTD early in infection.
The economic adaptation of Vietnamese refugees in Alberta: 1979-84.

During 1979 and 1980, about 7500 South East Asian refugees entered Alberta. The number has been steadily rising since 1982 due to the sponsoring of family and relatives by those who came earlier; by mid-1984, there were an estimated 15,000 South East Asian immigrants in Alberta, 92% from Vietnam. Montgomery explores the situation of the Vietnamese in Alberta by administering a survey consisting of a structured interview schedule containing 249 questions. The actual field work took from mid-November 1983 to March 31, 1984. A quota of 500 was targeted; it was decided to apportion the interviewers as 350 Edmonton and 150 non-Edmonton. Ultimately, the interviewers as 350 Edmonton and 150 non-Edmonton. Ultimately, the interviewers were able to interview 148 of all the non-Edmonton Vietnamese; 389 interviews were conducted in Edmonton. All of the dependent variables used in the survey were cross-tabulated or correlated with English skill on arrival, current English skill, progress in English, education or training level on arrival, current marital status, escape trauma (where applicable), gender, age, population of municipality in which currently residing, ethnicity, level of involvement in ethnic social network, type of sponsorship, and length of residence in Canada. Montgomery compares Richmond's 1981 summary generalization from the 25 studies he reviewed of immigrant economic adaptation to Canada to his own study. Montgomery's findings are almost completely congruent with Richmond's. Richmond found that immigrants from the developing countries experienced the highest unemployment rates and the slowest economic integration; this is because they must contend with more, and more severe, obstacles than do other immigrants. This is precisely what has happened to the Vietnamese in Alberta. Richmond found that after 3 years, at least 1/3 of newcomers had not reached their intended occupations. In the present study, the Vietnamese had only hazy notions of what kinds of work they would be doing in Canada; there is occupational mobility for those in Alberta for at least 3 years, although some of this is downward mobility due to the post oil boom recession. The Vietnamese in Alberta are highly motivated; this is reflected in their labor force participation rate, which is higher than that for Alberta as a whole. Richmond found the main obstacles to occupational mobility to be language, non-recognition of foreign qualifications, lack of Canadian experience, and discrimination by potential employers. The same was found true in the present study, except that respondents rarely cited discrimination. Preliminary data suggest that Vietnamese progress in Alberta is being made at a rate comparable to that of other groups in similar circumstances.