Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Aging of the Baby Boomers: Demographics and Propagation of Tax Shocks

We study how the changing demographic composition of the US labor force has affected the response of the unemployment rate to marginal tax rate shocks. Using narratively identified tax changes as proxies for structural shocks, we establish that the responsiveness of the unemployment rates to tax changes varies significantly across age groups: the unemployment rate response of the young is nearly twice as large as that of the old. This heterogeneity is the channel through which shifts in the age composition of the labor force impact the response of the unemployment rate to tax cuts. We find that the aging of the baby boomers considerably reduces the effects of tax cuts on aggregate unemployment. (JEL E24, E62, H24, H31, J21)
Diagnosis of Herpes Simplex Virus Infections in the Clinical Laboratory by LightCycler PCR

ABSTRACT Herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes several clinical manifestations in both normal and immunocompromised hosts; this agent is the most frequently detected virus in diagnostic laboratories. Recovery of the virus in cell culture is considered the “gold standard” for detection of this virus from sources other than cerebrospinal fluid. LightCycler is a newly developed, commercially available system designed to rapidly perform PCR, with real-time detection of PCR products by a fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay. We compared the detection of HSV for 200 specimens (number of genital specimens, 160; number of dermal specimens, 38; number of ocular specimens, 2) by shell vial cell cultures (MRC-5) and by LightCycler PCR. Of a total of 88 (44%) HSV strains detected, 69 (78%) were detected by both shell vial cell cultures and LightCycler PCR (DNA polymerase target). A total of 19 (22%) specimens were detected exclusively by LightCycler PCR. No specimens were positive by the shell vial assay only. All 19 discrepant samples had HSV DNA detected by an independent PCR directed to the thymidine kinase gene of the virus. The melting curve analysis feature of the LightCycler instrument identified identical genotype results for HSV type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 from 84 of 88 (96%) positive samples. Specimens can be extracted, target HSV DNA can be amplified, and HSV PCR products can be identified by genotype within 2 h after receipt of specimen into the laboratory. The increased level of accurate identification (all 88 positive samples) compared with that of shell vial cell culture (69 of 88 samples identified as positive) and the agreement of LightCycler PCR results with all shell vial positive results indicate the potential for routine implementation of this technology for laboratory diagnosis of HSV infections.
Seasonal Variation of Visibility and the Relationship with Mass Concentration and Total Carbon of PM10 in Shijiazhuang, China

Shijiazhuang has been in visibility impairment situation for many years but with less studied. In this research, we collected the meteorology data and sampled PM10 to measure the mass concentration and total carbon content, in odor to discuss the possible relationship with visibility. The results show that the annually average visibility declines to 10.2-12.7km and monthly average visibility presents seasonal variations with the highest in spring and lowest in winter when the visibility declined abruptly from 2004 to 2006. The relative humidity is negative correlative to the visibility with r -0.694 in winter. Both the mass concentration and total carbon content of PM10 are negative to the visibility to the extent that the better visibilities (over 20km) correspond to the PM10 with mass concentration below 0.10mg/m3, and total carbon content below 0.02mg/m3; and the worse visibility (less than 10km), to the mass concentration over 0.45mg/m3 and total carbon content over 0.07mg/m3. And controlling the carbon particulate emission is more effective for the visibility improvement in Shijiazhuang.
Tissue and Serum Somatostatin-Like Immunoreactivity in Lean and Obese Zucker Rats

Tissue and serum somatostatin levels were measured in genetically lean and obese Zucker rats. Immunoreactive somatostatin content was decreased in three central nervous system regions (hypothalamus, septum and preoptic area and thalamus) of obese rats but was increased in cerebral cortex. No differences were observed in antral or colonic somatostatin content but obese animals had significantly elevated pancreatic levels. Portal vein somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in contrast was significantly lower in obese rats. The widespread alterations in tissue and serum somatostatin-like immunoreactivity suggest either a diffuse abnormality of somatostatin physiology or a response to a generalised feature of the obese hyperinsulinaemic state.
Efficacy and safety of once‐weekly glucagon‐like peptide 1 receptor agonist albiglutide (HARMONY 1 trial): 52‐week primary endpoint results from a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus not controlled on pioglitazone, with or without metformin

To show that albiglutide, a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist, is an effective and generally safe treatment to improve glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus whose hyperglycaemia is inadequately controlled with pioglitazone (with or without metformin).
Distribution of heat-labile and heat-stable inorganic pyrophosphatases among some bacteria.

Significant biochemical differences were found in the inorganic pyrophosphatases from different bacteria. All of the Gram-positive sporeforming rods tested possessed a constitutive, heat-labile enzyme, and all of the Gram-negative rods tested possessed a constitutive, heat-stable enzyme. Of the enzymes from the Gram-positive cocci studied, the enzymes from two species of the genus Streptococcus were constitutive and heat labile, the enzyme from Micrococcus lysodeikticus was inducible and heat stable, and that from Staphylococcus aureus was inducible and heat labile. The enzyme from Mycobacterium phlei, the only acid-fast organism studied, was constitutive and heat labile.
Factors Moderating Students Adoption Decisions of Mobile Commerce

This research employs the TAM to examine student’s perceived benefits and perceived barriers of using m-commerce in relation to student demographic factors such as gender, age, year of study, and college of study that moderate students adoption decisions of m-commerce. The study adopts a quantitative approach based on questionnaire development and distribution that resulted in a total sample of 1000 students. Empirical data was analyzed using SPSS-20 software program. First, in relation to gender results indicate that overall male students perceive more benefits in dealing with m-commerce than the female student feel. Second, concerning age, results show that students who are in the age group of ‘17~19’ feel more benefits in dealing with m-commerce than the students who are in the age group of ‘20~more’ feel. Third, concerning year of study, findings show that students who are in the year of study of ‘freshman or sophomore’ feel more benefits in dealing with m-commerce than the students who are in the in the later years of study ‘junior or senior’. Fourth, concerning the college of study, results show that students who are studying in Public Universities feel more benefits in dealing with m-commerce than the students who are studying in the private universities feel.
Pregnant rats are refractory to the natriuretic actions of atrial natriuretic peptide.

Normal pregnant women and rats undergo a volume expansion. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is involved in volume homeostasis and is stimulated in response to volume expansion in nonpregnant animals, resulting in natriuresis and diuresis. The conscious, chronically catheterized rat was used to measure mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and renal responses to administered ANP (160 ng.kg-1.min-1 i.v.) to determine if the actions of ANP are altered by pregnancy. These experiments examined virgin (n = 7) and pregnant rats, studied on gestational days 7-9 (n = 9) and 15-17 (n = 7). Renal clearance studies (with inulin and p-aminohippurate) were conducted in control conditions and during 60 min of ANP infusion. After the ANP infusion, plasma ANP concentrations were measured in virgin and pregnant rats. MABP fell with ANP infusion to similar absolute values in virgins (112 +/- 2 to 80 +/- 6 mmHg), 7- to 9-day pregnant (114 +/- 2 to 91 +/- 3 mmHg), and 15- to 17-day pregnant (107 +/- 2 to 88 +/- 4 mmHg) rats although the percent decline in MABP in 15- to 17-day pregnant rats was less than in virgins. Plasma ANP concentrations were similar in all groups. ANP had no effect on glomerular filtration rate, renal plasma flow, or renal vascular resistance in virgin or pregnant rats. ANP increased sodium excretion in virgins and in 7- to 9-day pregnant rats (+102 +/- 27 and +135 +/- 47%, respectively) but not in 15- to 17-day pregnant animals (+23 +/- 22%). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Inbreeding depression influences lifetime breeding success in a wild population of red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Evolutionary and conservation biologists have a long-standing interest in the consequences of inbreeding. It is generally recognized that inbred individuals may experience reduced fitness or inbreeding depression. By the same token, relatively outbred individuals can have greater than average fitness, i.e. heterosis. However, nearly all of the empirical evidence for inbreeding depression comes from laboratory or domestic species. Inbreeding depression and heterosis are difficult to detect in natural populations due to the difficulties in establishing pedigrees. An alternative method is to correlate heterozygosity, which is measured using genetic markers, with a trait related to fitness. The typically studied traits, such as juvenile survival and growth rates, either cover only early life or are weakly correlated with lifetime breeding success (LBS). In this paper we show that heterozygosity is positively associated with male and female adult LBS in a wild population of red deer (Cervus elaphus) on the Isle of Rum, Scotland. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that inbreeding depression and/or heterosis have been detected for a trait highly correlated with overall fitness in both sexes in a wild population.
Molecular and cellular basis: Insights from experimental models of Dravet syndrome

Dravet syndrome is caused by mutations of the SCN1A gene that encodes voltage‐gated sodium channel alpha‐1 subunit. SCN1A‐knock‐in mouse with a disease‐relevant nonsense mutation that we generated well reproduced the disease phenotypes. Both homozygous and heterozygous knock‐in mice developed epileptic seizures within the first postnatal month. In heterozygotes, trains of evoked action potentials in fast‐spiking, inhibitory cells exhibited pronounced spike amplitude decrement late in the burst but not in pyramidal neurons. Furthermore, our immunohistochemical studies showed that in wild‐type mice Nav1.1 is expressed in parvalbumin‐positive inhibitory interneurons (PV cells), dominantly in its axons and moderately in somata, and not expressed in pyramidal cells nor other types of interneurons including somatostatin‐positive and calretinin‐positive cells. These results so far suggest that Nav1.1 expression is largely confined to PV cells and plays critical roles in their spike output, and that impaired function of PV cells would be the cellular basis of Dravet syndrome.
Spinal Surgery: Variations in Health Care Costs and Implications for Episode-Based Bundled Payments

Study Design. Retrospective, observational. Objective. To simulate what episodes of care in spinal surgery might look like in a bundled payment system and to evaluate the associated costs and characteristics. Summary of Background Data. Episode-based payment bundling has received considerable attention as a potential method to help curb the rise in health care spending and is being investigated as a new payment model as part of the Affordable Care Act. Although earlier studies investigated bundled payments in a number of surgical settings, very few focused on spine surgery, specifically. Methods. We analyzed data from MarketScan. Patients were included in the study if they underwent cervical or lumbar spinal surgery during 2000–2009, had at least 2-year preoperative and 90-day postoperative follow-up data. Patients were grouped on the basis of their diagnosis-related group (DRG) and then tracked in simulated episodes-of-care/payment bundles that lasted for the duration of 30, 60, and 90 days after the discharge from the index-surgical hospitalization. The total cost associated with each episode-of-care duration was measured and characterized. Results. A total of 196,918 patients met our inclusion criteria. Significant variation existed between DRGs, ranging from $11,180 (30-day bundle, DRG 491) to $107,642 (30-day bundle, DRG 456). There were significant cost variations within each individual DRG. Postdischarge care accounted for a relatively small portion of overall bundle costs (range, 4%–8% in 90-day bundles). Total bundle costs remained relatively flat as bundle-length increased (total average cost of 30-day bundle: $33,522 vs. $35,165 for 90-day bundle). Payments to hospitals accounted for the largest portion of bundle costs (76%). Conclusion. There exists significant variation in total health care costs for patients who undergo spinal surgery, even within a given DRG. Better characterization of impacts of a bundled payment system in spine surgery is important for understanding the costs of index procedure hospital, physician services, and postoperative care on potential future health care policy decision making. Level of Evidence: N/A
Spaces of Morphisms From a Projective Space to a Toric Variety

In this note we study the space of morphisms from a complex projective space to a compact smooth toric variety X. It is shown that the first author's stability theorem for the spaces of rational maps from CPm to CPn extends to the spaces of continuous morphisms from CPm to X, essentially, with the same proof. In the case of curves, our result improves the known bounds for the stabilization dimension.
Management of tumors arising in the parapharyngeal space

Tumors originating in the parapharyngeal space are rare. During the period of January 1977 to July 1989, 51 patients underwent surgery for parapharyngeal space tumors at the University of Pittsburgh's Eye and Ear Hospital. Eighty percent of the parapharyngeal space neoplasms were benign; 20% were malignant. Fifty‐seven percent (31/54) were of neurogenic origin, 30% (16/54) were of salivary origin, and 13% (7/54) were of miscellaneous origin. The use of computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging, and selective use of angiography, allowed us to ascertain the location, size, vascularity, and relation of parapharyngeal space tumors to surrounding anatomical structures. Imaging techniques established the site of origin of these tumors with 96% accuracy. This information was essential in planning surgical approaches and predicting prognoses. Details of the surgery, morbidity, and outcome of these patients are presented.
Dimensionality of the 9-Item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9)

Despite wide-spread use, questions remain about the dimensionality of the 9-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9). Theoretical underpinnings of the UWES-9 point toward a hierarchical structure with a general factor and three group or primary factors: Dedication, Vigor, and Absorption. To date, researchers have failed to model the general factor, which contributes to the lack of consensus about the dimensionality of the scale. Bi-factor analysis was used to demonstrate the presence of a very strong general factor and, in comparison, two weak group factors. The results shed additional light on the meaning of the work engagement construct. The implications for research with the UWES-9 are discussed.
Translating 2A Research into Practice

Viruses have evolved a number of unconventional translation strategies to amplify the coding potential of their condensed genetic information. Leaky stop codons may be readthrough to produce either the predicted translation product, or at a very low level an extended “read-through” protein. Overlapping (e.g. –UAAUG-; -UGAUG-; AUGA-), or highly proximal stop/start codons may give rise to termination accompanied by a low level of re-initiation. There are a number of cases where a single mRNA is translated into more than one protein by recoding, where the rules for decoding are altered through specific sites and signals in the mRNA such as frameshifting and readthrough. Ribosomal “skipping”, first identified in the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), represents yet another translational trick to deliver multiple gene products from limited primary sequence. Briefly, when a ribosome encounters 2A within an open reading frame (ORF), the synthesis of a specific peptide bond is “skipped”. The process gives rise to two alternative outcomes: either (i) translation terminates at the end of 2A, or (ii) translation of the downstream sequence occurs. In this manner discrete translation products can be synthesized from a single ORF (for in-depth reviews of recoding see Atkins & Gesteland, 2010).
Direct dissociative recombination of ground-state HeH+

[sup 3]HeH[sup +] molecular ions have been stored in an ion storage ring and allowed to interact with electrons from an electron cooler. Neutral reaction products have been counted and an absolute cross section for dissociative recombination has been measured. The spectrum reveals a prominent peak at about 18 eV and a weaker one at about 30 eV. The origin of the low-energy dissociative recombination of [sup 3]HeH[sup +] is discussed, and the mechanism responsible for the high-energy peak is modeled by calculating the vibrational overlap between the ground state of the molecular ion and several repulsive states. It is concluded that ions populate primarily the singlet electronic ground state, and that the peaks at 18 and 30 eV arise predominantly from direct dissociative recombination of vibrationally cold [sup 3]HeH[sup +].
A Review of Antarctic Surface Snow Isotopic Composition : Observations, Atmospheric Circulation, and Isotopic Modeling

A database of surface Antarctic snow isotopic composition is constructed using available measurements, with an estimate of data quality and local variability. Although more than 1000 locations are documented, the spatial coverage remains uneven with a majority of sites located in specific areas of East Antarctica. The database is used to analyze the spatial variations in snow isotopic composition with respect to geographical characteristics (elevation, distance to the coast) and climatic features (temperature, accumulation) and with a focus on deuterium excess. The capacity of theoretical isotopic, regional, and general circulation atmospheric models (including “isotopic” models) to reproduce the observed features and assess the role of moisture advection in spatial deuterium excess fluctuations is analyzed.
Ion multi-nose structures observed by Cluster in the inner Magnetosphere

Abstract. During the last 30 years, several magnetospheric missions have recorded the presence of narrow proton structures in the ring current region. These structures have been referred as "nose-like" structures, due to their appearance when represented in energy-time spectrograms, characterized by a flux value increase for a narrow energy range. Cluster's polar orbit, with a 4 RE perigee, samples the ring current region. The ion distribution functions obtained in-situ by the CIS experiment (for energies of ~5 eV/q to 40 keV/q) reveal the simultaneous presence of several (up to 3) narrow nose-like structures. A statistical study (over one year and a half of CIS data) reveals that double nose structures are preferentially observed in the post-midnight sector. Also, the characteristic energy of the nose (the one observed at the lower energy range when several noses occur simultaneously) reveals a clear MLT dependence during quiet events (Kp Numerical simulations of particles trajectories, using large-scale electric and magnetic field models are also presented. Most of the features have been accurately reproduced (namely the single and double noses), but the triple noses cannot be produced under these conditions and require to consider a more complex electric field model.
Stress Sonography of the Ulnar Collateral Ligament of the 1 Elbow in Professional Baseball Pitchers : 2 A 10 Year Experience

23 Background: Injury to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the elbow is potentially career threatening for elite 24 baseball pitchers. Stress ultrasound (SUS) of the elbow allows for evaluation of both the UCL and the ulnohumeral 25 joint space at rest and with stress. 26 Hypothesis: Stress ultrasound can identify morphologic and functional UCL changes and may predict risk of UCL 27 injury in elite pitchers. 28 Study design: Cross-sectional study; level of evidence III 29 Methods: Three hundred and sixty-eight asymptomatic professional baseball pitchers underwent preseason SUS of 30 their dominant and non-dominant elbows over a 10-year period (2002–2012). Stress ultrasounds were performed in 31 30° of flexion at rest and with 150 Newton of valgus stress by a single musculoskeletal radiologist. Ligament 32 thickness, ulnohumeral joint-space width, and ligament abnormalities (hypoechoic foci and calcifications) were 33 documented. Players who subsequently incurred a UCL injury had prior SUS findings compared to the 34 asymptomatic players. 35 Results: There were 736 SUS studies. Mean UCL thickness in the dominant elbow (6.15mm) was significantly 36 greater than the non-dominant elbow (4.82 mm; P < 0.0001). The dominant-elbow stressed ulnohumeral joint-space 37 width (4.56mm) was statistically greater than the non-dominant elbow (3.72 mm; P < 0.02). In the dominant arm, 38 hypoechoic foci and calcifications were both statistically more prevalent (28% vs. 3.5% and 24.9% vs. 1.6%, 39 respectively; P < 0.001). In the 12 players that incurred a UCL injury, there were non-significant increases in 40 baseline ligament thickness, ulnohumeral joint-space gapping with stress, and incidence of hypoechoic foci and 41 calcifications. One hundred and thirty-one players had more than one SUS with an average increase of . 78 mm in 42 joint-space gapping with subsequent evaluations. 43 Conclusion: Stress ultrasound indicates that the UCL in the dominant elbow of elite pitchers is thicker, more likely 44 to have hypoechoic foci and/or calcifications, and has increased laxity with valgus stress over time. Players with a 45 UCL injury may have increased baseline SUS abnormalities in their dominant elbow compared to asymptomatic 46 players. 47 48
Electron- and muon-neutrino content of the atmospheric flux.

Neutrino interactions from a 7.7 kton yr exposure of the IMB-3 detector are analyzed. A total of 935 contained events radiating over {similar to}50 MeV of {hacek C}erenkov-equivalent energy and consistent with atmospheric neutrino interactions are identified. Of these, 610 have a single {hacek C}erenkov ring. Single-ring interactions are efficiently separated into those containing a showering particle (produced mainly by {nu}{sub {ital e}}) and those containing a nonshowering particle (produced mainly by {nu}{sub {mu}}). In the momentum range 100{lt}{ital p}{sub {ital e}}{lt}1500 MeV/{ital c} and 300{lt}{ital p}{sub {mu}}{lt}1500 MeV/{ital c}, the fraction of nonshowering events is 0.36{plus minus}0.02(stat){plus minus}0.02(syst). Based on detailed models of neutrino production and interaction, a fraction of 0.51{plus minus}0.01(stat){plus minus}0.05(syst) is expected. This deficit of nonshowering, or excess of showering, events relative to the total is supported by an independent analysis of muon decay signals. In the same sample 33{plus minus}2(stat)% of events are accompanied by one or more muon decays, while 43{plus minus}1(stat)% are expected. Further studies that could reduce systematic errors and discover the cause of these discrepancies are suggested.