Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Removing the Veil of Ignorance in Assessing the Distributional Impacts of Social Policies

This paper summarizes our recent research on evaluating the distributional consequences of social programs. This research advances the economic policy evaluation literature beyond estimating assorted mean impacts to estimate distributions of outcomes generated by different policies and determine how those policies shift persons across the distributions of potential outcomes produced by them. Our approach enables analysts to evaluate the distributional effects of social programs without invoking the “Veil of Ignorance” assumption often used in the literature in applied welfare economics. Our methods determine which persons are affected by a given policy, where they come from in the ex-ante outcome distribution and what their gains are. We apply our methods to analyze two proposed policy reforms in American education. These reforms benefit the middle class and not the poor.
Beginning a Genetic Analysis of Conjugational Transfer Determined by the F Factor in Escherichia coli by Isolation and Characterization of Transfer-Deficient Mutants

Eighty-four transfer-deficient mutants of Flac have been isolated; 27 of these bear amber mutations and 1 mutant is temperature-sensitive. All the mutants transfer between 10−2 and <10−5% as well as wild-type Flac, all are curable by acridine orange treatment, and all are resistant to the female-specific phage φII. Some of the mutants are partially sensitive to female-specific phage tau. Sixty-three of the mutants are resistant to the male-specific phages f1, f2, and Qβ; 15 are resistant only to f2; and 6 are sensitive to all three male-specific phages. Most of the mutants are still poor recipients in conjugation, but four of the mutants resistant to f1, f2, and Qβ have become good recipients. Those mutants resistant to all three male-specific phages do not seem to make F-pili.
Respiratory syncytial virus infection in lower respiratory tract and asthma attack in hospitalized children in North Hokkaido, Japan

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is severe and life‐threatening in some infants. To investigate the epidemiology of RSV infection in hospitalized children in North Hokkaido, Japan, we tried to detect RSV antigen in nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) from those children with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) and asthma attack. From April 1991 to March 1992, 317 patients were hospitalized in our pediatric ward for the treatment of LRTI and asthma attack. The presence of RSV antigen in NPA taken from 283 patients (89.3%) were examined by enzyme immunoassay. RSV antigen was detected in 88 patients (31.1%). RSV LRTI were noted throughout the year, and the epidemic peak was observed in November and December. There was no significant correlation between the RSV antigen positive rate and mean temperature. RSV played an important role in LTRI in children in North Hokkaido, Japan. RSV LRTI in North Hokkaido was not rare in summer, indicating that RSV was transmitted commonly among children throughout the year.
Proximity Effect Modeling

The book (Operation and Modeling of the MOS Transistor, 3 rd Edition, by Yannis Tsividis and Colin McAndrew, Oxford University Press, 2011) discusses proximity effects (well proximity and stress effects) in Chap. 9. The models of these effects are highly empirical and are constantly changing, so no specific model forms were provided (see p. 581, Chap. 9); some details of presently used proximity effect models are provided here.
Accelerated evolution of Protocadherin11X/Y: A candidate gene‐pair for cerebral asymmetry and language

It has been argued that cerebral asymmetry (the “torque”) is the characteristic that defines the human brain and that morphological findings in psychosis are consistent with a deviation in this sex‐dependent dimension of brain growth. Evidence from sex chromosome aneuploidies and an association within families between sex and handedness is consistent with the presence of a determinant of cerebral asymmetry (a possible correlate of language) on the X and the Y chromosomes. During hominid evolution a 3.5 Mb translocation occurred from the ancestral X chromosome to the Y chromosome, resulting in duplication of the Protocadherin11X gene, such that it is represented on the X and Y chromosomes in man, whereas there is a single X‐linked gene in other mammals. We re‐date the duplicative translocation to 6 million years ago, that is, close to the chimpanzee–hominid bifurcation. Sequence comparisons with the chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla, and orangutan indicate that in contrast to earlier purifying selection there has been accelerated change in the Protocadherin11X ectodomain as well as the Protocadherin11Y sequence in the hominid lineage since the duplication. The evolutionary sequence of events together with the prior case for an X‐Y homologous gene suggests that this gene‐pair is a candidate for the evolution of hominid‐specific characteristics including the sexual dimorphism of cerebral asymmetry, a putative correlate of language. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Intra-articular distal radius fractures in elderly patients: a randomized prospective study of casting versus volar plating

We compared outcomes in elderly patients with intra-articular distal radius fractures treated by closed reduction and plaster immobilization or open reduction and internal fixation with a volar plate. Ninety-seven patients older than 60 years were randomly allocated to conservative (47 patients) or surgical (50 patients) treatment. Over a 2-year period, we assessed patient-rated wrist evaluation score, DASH (disability arm, shoulder and hand) questionnaire, pain, wrist range of motion, grip strength, and radiological parameters. The functional outcomes and quality of life were significantly better after volar plating fixation compared with conservative treatment. We found that restoration of the articular surface, radial inclination, and ulnar variance affected the outcomes, but the articular step-off did not. Twenty-five per cent of the patients with conservative treatment had secondary loss of reduction. We conclude that surgical plating leads to better outcomes than conservative treatment for elderly patients with intra-articular distal radius fractures. Level of evidence: I
BLSTM supported GEV beamformer front-end for the 3RD CHiME challenge

We present a new beamformer front-end for Automatic Speech Recognition and apply it to the 3rd-CHiME Speech Separation and Recognition Challenge. Without any further modification of the back-end, we achieve a 53% relative reduction of the word error rate over the best baseline enhancement system for the relevant test data set. Our approach leverages the power of a bi-directional Long Short-Term Memory network to robustly estimate soft masks for a subsequent beamforming step. The utilized Generalized Eigenvalue beamforming operation with an optional Blind Analytic Normalization does not rely on a Direction-of-Arrival estimate and can cope with multi-path sound propagation, while at the same time only introducing very limited speech distortions. Our quite simple setup exploits the possibilities provided by simulated training data while still being able to generalize well to the fairly different real data. Finally, combining our front-end with data augmentation and another language model nearly yields a 64 % reduction of the word error rate on the real data test set.
Validation of patient reports, automated pharmacy records, and pill counts with electronic monitoring of adherence to antihypertensive therapy.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the validity of patient report, pharmacy dispensing records, and pill counts as measures of antihypertensive adherence using electronic monitoring as the validation standard. METHODS The study was conducted among 286 members of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, a managed care organization, who were at least 18 years of age, on monotherapy for hypertension, and had prescription drug coverage. Prescription refill adherence during the 12 months before enrollment was determined from their automated pharmacy dispensing records. Participants were interviewed about their medication adherence before and after a 3-month electronic monitoring period during which pill counts were also performed. Adherence to both recommended number and timing of doses was estimated from electronic monitoring data. Data analysis was based on statistical correlation and analysis of variance. RESULTS Electronic adherence monitoring revealed that the proportion of prescribed doses consumed was higher (0.92) than the proportion of doses taken on time (0.63). The correlation between adherence to quantity and timing of doses was 0.32. Concurrent pill counts and earlier refilling patterns were moderately correlated with electronic monitoring (pill count: r = .52 with quantity and r = .17 with timing; refill adherence r = .32 with quantity and r = .22 with timing). There was considerable misclassification of adherence reported by patients, although nonadherence was generally accurately reported. CONCLUSIONS Deviation from recommended timing of doses appears to be greater than from prescribed number of doses. Pharmacy dispensing records demonstrate predictive validity as measures of cumulative exposure and gaps in medication supply. Adherence levels determined from pill counts and pharmacy dispensing records correlate more closely with quantity than with timing of doses. Nonadherence reported by patients can serve as a qualitative indicator and predictor of reduced adherence.
The Effect of Simvastatin Treatment on the Amyloid Precursor Protein and Brain Cholesterol Metabolism in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

During the last years, several clinical studies have been published trying to elucidate the effect of statin treatment on amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing and metabolism of brain cholesterol in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in humans. We present an open biochemical study where 19 patients with AD have been treated with simvastatin (20 mg/day) for 12 months. The aim was to further investigate the effect of simvastatin treatment on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of APP processing, AD biomarkers as total tau and tau phosphorylated at threonine 181, brain cholesterol metabolism as well as on cognitive decline in patients with AD. Despite biochemical data suggesting that treatment with 20 mg/day of simvastatin for 12 months does affect the brain cholesterol metabolism, we did not find any change in CSF or plasma levels of β-amyloid (Aβ)1–42. However, by analysis of APP isoforms, we found that statin treatment may favor the nonamyloidogenic pathway of APP processing. The relevance and mechanism between statin treatment and AD has to be further elucidated by using statins of different lipophility in different dosages over a longer period of time.
Discovery, Primary, and Crystal Structures and Capacitation-related Properties of a Prostate-derived Heparin-binding Protein WGA16 from Boar Sperm*

Background: Mechanisms of glycoprotein redistribution during sperm capacitation remain unclear. Results: Prostate-specific ZG16-like lectin WGA16 was discovered in sperm lipid rafts. Its primary and crystal structure and GalT- and heparin-binding properties were characterized. Conclusion: Attachment to sperm via surface GalT and capacitation-induced detachment involve unique N-glycans and the heparin-binding domain. Significance: This is the first demonstration of a glycan-mediated mechanism for transient existence of seminal plasma glycoprotein on the sperm surface. Mammalian sperm acquire fertility through a functional maturation process called capacitation, where sperm membrane molecules are drastically remodeled. In this study, we found that a wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-reactive protein on lipid rafts, named WGA16, is removed from the sperm surface on capacitation. WGA16 is a prostate-derived seminal plasma protein that has never been reported and is deposited on the sperm surface in the male reproductive tract. Based on protein and cDNA sequences for purified WGA16, it is a homologue of human zymogen granule protein 16 (ZG16) belonging to the Jacalin-related lectin (JRL) family in crystal and primary structures. A glycan array shows that WGA16 binds heparin through a basic patch containing Lys-53/Lys-73 residues but not the conventional lectin domain of the JRL family. WGA16 is glycosylated, contrary to other ZG16 members, and comparative mass spectrometry clearly shows its unique N-glycosylation profile among seminal plasma proteins. It has exposed GlcNAc and GalNAc residues without additional Gal residues. The GlcNAc/GalNAc residues can work as binding ligands for a sperm surface galactosyltransferase, which actually galactosylates WGA16 in situ in the presence of UDP-Gal. Interestingly, surface removal of WGA16 is experimentally induced by either UDP-Gal or heparin. In the crystal structure, N-glycosylated sites and a potential heparin-binding site face opposite sides. This geography of two functional sites suggest that WGA16 is deposited on the sperm surface through interaction between its N-glycans and the surface galactosyltransferase, whereas its heparin-binding domain may be involved in binding to sulfated glycosaminoglycans in the female tract, enabling removal of WGA16 from the sperm surface.
Ultrasound finding predictive of malignant pleural effusion.

Can Respir J Vol 20 No 1 January/February 2013 Pleural effusion is a highly common clinical presentation in malignant and benign diseases. The differential diagnosis is broad and includes heart failure, parapneumonic effusion, empyema, pulmonary emboli, inflammatory disease and malignancies, among others. Pleural ultrasound is often used to identify the most appropriate anatomical location to perform a diagnostic or therapeutic thoracentesis. It has been shown to decrease the rate of complications associated with the procedure (1). The use of ultrasound for any pleural procedure is part of official guidelines and was given a strong recommendation in the 2010 British Thoracic Society guideline (2). Typical findings on ultrasound have been associated with malignancy. In a study involving 54 patients with pleural effusion (3), the presence of nodular thickening of the diaphragm was associated with malignancy in all cases (15 of 15). Transthoracic ultrasound correctly diagnosed malignancy in 26 of 33 patients (sensitivity 73%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%, negative predictive value 79%). A 74-year-old woman presented with a left-sided pleural effusion on chest radiography, and ultrasound images revealed the presence of nodules on the diaphragm as well as the mediastinal pleura (Figures 1 and 2A). The patient underwent thoracentesis. The cytology was positive for a metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung to the pleura. Although a computer tomography scan (Figure 2B) was performed two weeks later, a diagnosis of stage 4 adenocarcinoma of the lung was already made.
Delayed detection of cleft palate: an audit of newborn examination

Aims: To identify prevalence of delayed detection of cleft palate, and associated factors that could lead to improved identification at neonatal clinical examination. Methods: Audit of hospital notes, parental questionnaire incorporating open ended questions, and telephone questionnaire of junior doctors in the referring hospitals incorporating fixed choice questions. Results: Of 344 cleft palate patients without cleft lip or submucous cleft palate, the day the cleft was detected was recorded in 92%. Delayed detection, after the first day, was 28% overall, distributed as 37% with isolated cleft palate and 23% with syndromic cleft palate. Narrow V shaped clefts were more likely to be delayed in detection compared with broad U shaped clefts, as were soft palate clefts compared with hard palate clefts. Five with isolated cleft palates were not detected until after the first year. Babies born at home were unlikely to be detected on day 1. Symptoms were significantly increased in the delayed detection group for feeding problems and nasal regurgitation. A telephone questionnaire of trainee paediatricians in referring units revealed that digital examination was more commonly practised than visual inspection, and few recalled receiving specific instruction on examination of the palate. Conclusion: Delayed detection of cleft palate was not uncommon, and the features of those more likely to be missed suggested digital examination was related. Trainee doctors and midwives should be instructed to inspect visually using a light and tongue depressor, then digitally if submucous cleft palate is suspected.
Phénomènes de localisation et d'universalité pour des polymères aléatoires

Le modele d'accrochage de polymere decrit le comportement d'une chaine de Markov en interaction avec un etat donne. Cette interaction peut attirer ou repousser la chaine de Markov et elle est modulee par deux parametres, h et β. Quand β = 0 on parle de modele homogene, qui est completement solvable. Le modele desordonne, i.e. quand β > 0, est mathematiquement le plus interessant. Dans ce cas, l'interaction depend d'une source d'alea exterieur independant de la chaine de Markov, appelee desordre. L'interaction est realisee en modifiant la loi originelle de la chaine de Markov par une mesure de Gibbs et la probabilite obtenue definit le modele d'accrochage de polymere. Le but principal est d'etudier et de comprendre la structure des trajectoires typiques de la chaine de Markov sous cette nouvelle probabilite. Le premier sujet de recherche concerne le modele d'accrochage de polymere ou le desordre est a queues lourdes et ou le temps de retour de la chaine de Markov suit une distribution sous-exponentielle. Dans notre deuxieme resultat nous etudions le modele d'accrochage de polymere avec un desordre a queues legeres et le temps de retour de la chaine de Markov avec une distribution a queues polynomiales d'exposant α > 0. On peut demontrer qu'il existe un point critique, h(β). Notre but est comprendre le comportement du point critique quand β -> 0. La reponse depend de la valeur de α. Dans la litterature on a des resultats precis pour α 1. Nous montrons que α ∈ (1/2, 1) le comportement du modele dans la limite du desordre faible est universel et le point critique, opportunement change d'echelle, converge vers la meme quantite donnee par un modele continu
Multiple Conducting Systems in the Cubomedusa Carybdea marsupialis

Acute responses to mechanical, electrical, and photic stimuli were used to describe neural conducting systems in the cubomedusan jellyfish Carybdea marsupialis underlying three behaviors: contractile responses of single tentacles, protective crumple responses, and alterations of swimming activity by the visual system. Responses of single tentacles consisted of tentacular shortening and inward pedalial bending, and were accompanied by bursts of extracellularly recorded spike activity that were restricted to the stimulated tentacle. With nociceptive stimuli delivered to the subumbrella or margin, all four tentacles produced similar responses in a crumple response. The spike bursts in all four tentacles showed coordinated firing as long as the nerve ring was intact. Crumples were still produced following cuts through the nerve ring, but the activity in individual tentacles was no longer coordinated. Responses to light-on stimulation of a rhopalium, as recorded from the pacemaker region, were weak and inconsistent, but when present, resulted in a stimulation of swimming activity. In comparison, light-off responses were robust and resulted in temporary inhibition of swimming activity. Light-off responses were conducted in the nerve ring to unstimulated rhopalia. In conclusion, three conducting systems have been described as components of the rhopalia-nerve ring centralized system in Carybdea: the swim motor system, the crumple coordination system, and the light-off response system.
Review article: the gut microbiome as a therapeutic target in the pathogenesis and treatment of chronic liver disease

Mortality from chronic liver disease is rising exponentially. The liver is intimately linked to the gut via the portal vein, and exposure to gut microbiota and their metabolites translocating across the gut lumen may impact upon both the healthy and diseased liver. Modulation of gut microbiota could prove to be a potential therapeutic target.
Interleukin 10 polymorphisms as predictors of sustained response in antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection

Host genetic factors have been reported to influence the natural history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We examined whether variation in interleukin 10 (IL‐10) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α) genes would predict the likelihood of sustained response to antiviral therapy. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and microsatellites at two loci encoding the cytokines IL‐10 and TNF‐α were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based techniques. Their relationship to the outcome of antiviral therapy for chronic HCV infection was studied in 49 white patients who had a virologically sustained response (SR) and in 55 white nonresponders (NR) to a combination of interferon alfa‐2b and ribavirin (IFN + R). Several IL‐10 variants were more frequent among SRs compared with NRs. Carriage of the −592A or the −819T SNP was associated with SR (odds ratio [OR] = 2.2; P = .016). The −592A/A and the exclusively linked −819T/T genotypes were also associated with SR (OR = 16.6; P = .013 for either). The haplotype consisting of the 108‐bp IL‐10.R microsatellite and −3575T, −2763C, −1082A, −819T, −592A was also associated with SR (OR = 2.65; P = .01). Stratification for viral genotype, baseline viral RNA concentration, and histologic status identified homozygosity for the haplotype as the principal determinant: all 5 homozygous individuals achieved SR (ORcrude = 13.7; P = .025; stratified ORs = 1.9‐7.0), whereas heterozygotes differed only slightly from wild‐type carriers. In contrast, TNF alleles defined by promoter sequences −238G/A and −308G/A were approximately equally distributed among SR and NR. In conclusion, homozygosity for −592A, −819T or the extended haplotype (108bp) − (−2575T) − (−2763C) − (−1082A) − (−819T) − (−592A) is associated with SR to IFN + R.
A Randomized Blocked Algorithm for Efficiently Computing Rank-revealing Factorizations of Matrices

This manuscript describes a technique for computing partial rank-revealing factorizations, such as, e.g, a partial QR factorization or a partial singular value decomposition. The method takes as input a tolerance $\varepsilon$ and an $m\times n$ matrix $A$, and returns an approximate low rank factorization of $A$ that is accurate to within precision $\varepsilon$ in the Frobenius norm (or some other easily computed norm). The rank $k$ of the computed factorization (which is an output of the algorithm) is in all examples we examined very close to the theoretically optimal $\varepsilon$-rank. The proposed method is inspired by the Gram-Schmidt algorithm, and has the same $O(mnk)$ asymptotic flop count. However, the method relies on randomized sampling to avoid column pivoting, which allows it to be blocked, and hence accelerates practical computations by reducing communication. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the accuracy of the scheme is for every matrix that was tried at least as good as column-pivoted QR, and is sometimes much better. Computational speed is also improved substantially, in particular on GPU architectures.