Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measuring Direct Discrimination in Labor Markets Using a Frontier Approach: Evidence from CPS Female Earnings Data*

Numerous studies of earnings differentials have attempted to measure discrimination against females (or minorities) by decomposing the total differential between males and females (or whites and non-whites) into an explained and unexplained portion. Typically, these studies follow the work of Oaxaca [8]. However a number of criticisms can be raised with these techniques [9; 5; 4] of which two are particularly important: that the reduced form wage equations for the two groups will not be identical in every case and that there may be large and unobservable differences between the characteristics of the two groups for which the wage equations cannot account. Either of these problems are sufficient to make it impossible to use residual analysis to measure discrimination. Attempts to address these problems and obtain reliable and consistent estimates of the extent of discrimination are important for policy purposes. Low and Villegas [7] address the first of these problems by suggesting the use of hedonic wage equations which contain only human capital characteristics (or proxies) and characteristics which directly affect the hedonic parameters. In this framework perfect substitution between the workers is assumed. Their work however, leaves the second problem unresolved. In this paper a stochastic earnings frontier' with a discrimination discount is used to estimate discrimination against women. An earnings frontier for females that depends upon marginal productivity (as measured by human capital and labor market characteristics) of females is estimated. Discrimination is assumed to be the amount female earnings are removed from the frontier, less any labor market inefficiency. Since these estimates will depend solely on female data they do not depend upon an assumption of similarity between males and females. This procedure allows
Theory of the Extent of the Market

The logarithm is the empirically best transformation for nominal prices. A log nominal price that clears a market is stochastically non-stationary, I(d) for d>0. The stationary relative price (SRP) criterion for the "law of one price" (LOP) for two nominal prices is: (1) the log of each nominal price is I(d) for d>0 for the same value of d and (2) the log of the corresponding relative price is stationary, i.e., logs of the two nominal prices satisfy a CI(d, d) relationship with cointegration coefficients (1, -1). Thus market delineation requires merely three compatible univariate time series analyzes for each pair of nominal prices, one for each log nominal price and one for the log relative price. Nominal prices integrated of different orders cannot arise from the same market. When SRP holds, the estimated mean log of relative price is of economic interest.
Hippocampal and Cortical Pyramidal Neurons Swell in Parallel with Astrocytes during Acute Hypoosmolar Stress

Normal nervous system function is critically dependent on the balance of water and ions in the extracellular space (ECS). Pathological reduction in brain interstitial osmolarity results in osmotically-driven flux of water into cells, causing cellular edema which reduces the ECS and increases neuronal excitability and risk of seizures. Astrocytes are widely considered to be particularly susceptible to cellular edema due to selective expression of the water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP4). The apparent resistance of pyramidal neurons to osmotic swelling has been attributed to lack of functional water channels. In this study we report rapid volume changes in CA1 pyramidal cells in hypoosmolar ACSF (hACSF) that are equivalent to volume changes in astrocytes across a variety of conditions. Astrocyte and neuronal swelling was significant within 1 min of exposure to 17 or 40% hACSF, was rapidly reversible upon return to normosmolar ACSF, and repeatable upon re-exposure to hACSF. Neuronal swelling was not an artifact of patch clamp, occurred deep in tissue, was similar at physiological vs. room temperature, and occurred in both juvenile and adult hippocampal slices. Neuronal swelling was neither inhibited by TTX, nor by antagonists of NMDA or AMPA receptors, suggesting that it was not occurring as a result of excitotoxicity. Surprisingly, genetic deletion of AQP4 did not inhibit, but rather augmented, astrocyte swelling in severe hypoosmolar conditions. Taken together, our results indicate that neurons are not osmoresistant as previously reported, and that osmotic swelling is driven by an AQP4-independent mechanism.
Population dynamics and economic growth in Asia.

This paper examines the linkages between population change and economic growth in Asia within a framework that permits bi- directional causality. It establishes the existence of strong two-way linkages between demographic change and economic growth which suggests that a multiplier mechanism partly determine both demography and income. Analysis is based on data for 70 countries from all regions of the world (all those for which the requisite data are available) and covers the period from 1965 to 1990. Overall results show that demographic variables have played a major role in East Asias economic success and South Asias economic failure. These influences include differences in health status dependency burdens and the spatial distribution and concentration of people. Increases in life expectancy have had a large effect on incomes in the region particularly during the period from 1965 to 1990. Such increase in life expectancy was independent of changes in average country income notwithstanding the fact that rich countries had higher life expectancies than poor countries. The presence of two-way causality between economic growth and the demographic transition means that care must be taken in interpreting correlations between demographic change and economic growth even correlations that account for non-demographic influences on growth and non-income influences on demography.
Collection, Evaluation, and Coagulum Dissolution of Semen from Goeldi's Monkey, Callimico goeldii

Research on Neotropical primates' reproduction is necessary due to the lack of available information and the increasing threat to these species. Callimico goeldii is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This study aimed to test rectal electrostimulation for semen collection and evaluate seminal characteristics. Therefore, semen from 6 captive Goeldi's monkeys was collected and, for the first time, seminal characteristics are described. Coagulum formation was noted in all ejaculates, and we obtained partial or complete liquefaction of the samples. Results were (means ± SD): volume = 26.9 ± 11.87 μL; pH = 7.61 ± 0.28; concentration = 143.18 ± 174.96 × 106 spermatozoa/mL; total sperm motility = 83.33 ± 5.16%; linear progressive motility = 46 ± 24.08%; plasma membrane integrity = 36.38 ± 16.11%; acrosome integrity using fast-green/bengal-rose staining = 63.41 ± 11.72%, and kit Spermac® = 69.36 ± 11.81%; abnormal sperm = 72.5 ± 17.7%, with 16.2 ± 7.7% major defects and 56.3 ± 10% minor defects; sperm with high mitochondrial activity class I = 16.45 ± 22.25%. Rectal electrostimulation was an efficient method for semen collection in this species. Investigations are required to improve semen collection and handling, including cryopreservation methods.
Rosiglitazone Promotes Bone Marrow Adipogenesis to Impair Myelopoiesis under Stress

Objective The therapeutic use of thiazolidinediones (TZDs) causes unwanted hematological side effects, although the underlying mechanisms of these effects are poorly understood. This study tests the hypothesis that rosiglitazone impairs the maintenance and differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, which ultimately leads to hematological abnormalities. Methods Mice were fed a rosiglitazone-supplemented diet or a normal diet for 6 weeks. To induce hematopoietic stress, all mice were injected once with 250 mg/kg 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) intraperitoneally. Next, hematopoietic recovery, hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) subsets, and myeloid differentiation after 5-Fu treatment were evaluated. The adipogenesis induced by rosiglitazone was assessed by histopathology and oil red O staining. The effect of adipocytes on HSPCs was studied with an in vitro co-culture system. Results Rosiglitazone significantly enhanced bone marrow adipogenesis and delayed hematopoietic recovery after 5-Fu treatment. Moreover, rosiglitazone inhibited proliferation of a granulocyte/monocyte progenitor (GMP) cell population and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) colonies, although the proliferation and mobilization of Lin-c-kit+Sca-1+ cells (LSK) was maintained following hematopoietic stress. These effects could be partially reversed by the selective PPARγ antagonist BADGE. Finally, we demonstrated in a co-culture system that differentiated adipocytes actively suppressed the myeloid differentiation of HSPCs. Conclusion Taken together, our results demonstrate that rosiglitazone inhibits myeloid differentiation of HSPCs after stress partially by inducing bone marrow adipogenesis. Targeting the bone marrow microenvironment might be one mechanism by which rosiglitazone impairs stress-induced hematopoiesis.
Clinical efficacy and safety of pimobendan in treatment of heart failure--experience in Japan.

The results of Japanese studies on the clinical efficacy and safety of pimobendan in the treatment of heart failure are summarized in this paper. In patients with acute heart failure, a single oral 2.5 mg dose of pimobendan produced a significant increase in cardiac index (27.9%) and stroke volume index (24.4%), as well as a significant decrease in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (-21.3%). A single oral 5.0 mg dose of pimobendan increased anaerobic threshold during exercise (7.3%). In a multicentre, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, 8 weeks of treatment with pimobendan 2.5 mg b.i. d. , which was suggested to be the optimal dose in a preceding dose-finding study, definitely improved symptoms and signs of heart failure in 52.6% of patients, and New York Heart Association function class in 64.1% of patients. This regimen was also associated with a significantly greater increase in physical activity than placebo. Furthermore, another double-blind, placebo-controlled study suggested that pimobendan 1.25 mg and 2.5 mg b.i. d. may have long-term beneficial effects on morbidity and quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure. Adverse reactions developed in 26 of 241 (10.8%) patients receiving multiple doses of pimobendan, but none of the reactions were serious. It is concluded that pimobendan may be useful in the treatment of patients with heart failure.
Memory and Working-with-Memory: A Component Process Model Based on Modules and Central Systems

A neuropsychological model of memory is proposed that incorporates Fodor's (1983) idea of modules and central systems. The model has four essential components: (1) a non-frontal neocortical component that consists of perceptual (and perhaps interpretative semantic) modules that mediate performance on item-specific, implicit tests of memory, (2) a modular medial temporal/hippocampal component that mediates encoding, storage, and retrieval on explicit, episodic tests of memory that are associative/cue dependent, (3) a central system, frontal-lobe component that mediates performance on explicit tests that are strategic and on procedural tests that are rule-bound, and (4) a basal ganglia component that mediates performance on sensorimotor, procedural tests of memory. The usefulness of the modular/central system construct is explored and evidence from studies of normal, amnesic, agnosic, and demented people is provided to support the model.
Targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome to Reduce Diet-induced Metabolic Abnormalities in Mice

Although the molecular links underlying the causative relationship between chronic low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance are not completely understood, compelling evidence suggests a pivotal role of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Here we tested the hypothesis that either a selective pharmacological inhibition or a genetic downregulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome results in reduction of the diet-induced metabolic alterations. Male C57/BL6 wild-type mice and NLRP3−/− littermates were fed control diet or high-fat, high-fructose diet (HD). A subgroup of HD-fed wild-type mice was treated with the NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor BAY 11-7082 (3 mg/kg intraperitoneally [IP]). HD feeding increased plasma and hepatic lipids and impaired glucose homeostasis and renal function. Renal and hepatic injury was associated with robust increases in profibrogenic markers, while only minimal fibrosis was recorded. None of these metabolic abnormalities were detected in HD-fed NLRP3−/− mice, and they were dramatically reduced in HD-mice treated with the NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor. BAY 11-7082 also attenuated the diet-induced increase in NLRP3 inflammasome expression, resulting in inhibition of caspase-1 activation and interleukin (IL)-1 β and IL-18 production (in liver and kidney). Interestingly, BAY 11-7082, but not gene silencing, inhibited nuclear factor (NF)-κB nuclear translocation. Overall, these results demonstrate that the selective pharmacological modulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome attenuates the metabolic abnormalities and the related organ injury/dysfunction caused by chronic exposure to HD, with effects similar to those obtained by NLRP3 gene silencing.
A Scalable Parallel Q-Learning Algorithm for Resource Constrained Decentralized Computing Environments

The Internet of Things (IoT) is more and more becoming a platform for mission critical applications with stringent requirements in terms of response time and mobility. Therefore, a centralized High Performance Computing (HPC) environment is often not suitable or simply non-existing. Instead, there is a need for a scalable HPC model that supports the deployment of applications on the decentralized but resource constrained devices of the IoT. Recently, Reinforcement Learning (RL) algorithms have been used for decision making within applications by directly interacting with the environment. However, most RL algorithms are designed for centralized environments and are time and resource consuming. Therefore, they are not applicable to such constrained decentralized computing environments. In this paper, we propose a scalable Parallel Q-Learning (PQL) algorithm for resource constrained environments. By combining a table partition strategy together with a co-allocation of both processing and storage, we can significantly reduce the individual resource cost and, at the same time, guarantee convergence and minimize the communication cost. Experimental results show that our algorithm reduces the required training in proportion of the number of Q-Learning agents and, in terms of execution time, it is up to 24 times faster than several well-known PQL algorithms.
Effect of simvastatin on plasma homocysteine levels and its modification by MTHFR C677T polymorphism in Chinese patients with primary hyperlipidemia.

OBJECTIVE We investigate the effect of simvastatin on plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels and whether genetic factor affects the effect of simvastatin. METHODS A total of 338 patients with hyperlipidemia were enrolled. Simvastatin was orally administered at a dose of 20 mg/day for 8 weeks. Plasma Hcy levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment. Genotyping of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism was performed by TaqMan probe technique. RESULTS Serum total Hcy levels were positively correlated with serum creatinine (r = 0.332, P < 0.001). Among total subjects, simvastatin treatment resulted in a significant reduction in serum Hcy levels after 8 weeks (-0.37 ± 2.21 μmol/L, P = 0.003), and this effect was dependent on the initial levels of serum Hcy. The individuals with 677TT genotype had a significantly higher baseline Hcy level and a greater change in Hcy levels. After stratification by body mass index (BMI), we observed a significant increase in Hcy levels among the TT genotype group in adjusted model (beta±SE: 2.64 ± 0.84 μmol/L; P = 0.002) among patients with BMI ≥ 25 (kg/m(2) ). CONCLUSIONS Simvastatin can cause a marked decrease in plasma Hcy levels. MTHFR C677T genetic variant contributes to simvastatin's effects among Chinese subjects with primary hyperlipidemia.
Lipoprotein(a) concentration and the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and nonvascular mortality.

CONTEXT Circulating concentration of lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]), a large glycoprotein attached to a low-density lipoprotein-like particle, may be associated with risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. OBJECTIVE To assess the relationship of Lp(a) concentration with risk of major vascular and nonvascular outcomes. STUDY SELECTION Long-term prospective studies that recorded Lp(a) concentration and subsequent major vascular morbidity and/or cause-specific mortality published between January 1970 and March 2009 were identified through electronic searches of MEDLINE and other databases, manual searches of reference lists, and discussion with collaborators. DATA EXTRACTION Individual records were provided for each of 126,634 participants in 36 prospective studies. During 1.3 million person-years of follow-up, 22,076 first-ever fatal or nonfatal vascular disease outcomes or nonvascular deaths were recorded, including 9336 CHD outcomes, 1903 ischemic strokes, 338 hemorrhagic strokes, 751 unclassified strokes, 1091 other vascular deaths, 8114 nonvascular deaths, and 242 deaths of unknown cause. Within-study regression analyses were adjusted for within-person variation and combined using meta-analysis. Analyses excluded participants with known preexisting CHD or stroke at baseline. DATA SYNTHESIS Lipoprotein(a) concentration was weakly correlated with several conventional vascular risk factors and it was highly consistent within individuals over several years. Associations of Lp(a) with CHD risk were broadly continuous in shape. In the 24 cohort studies, the rates of CHD in the top and bottom thirds of baseline Lp(a) distributions, respectively, were 5.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.4-5.9) per 1000 person-years and 4.4 (95% CI, 4.2-4.6) per 1000 person-years. The risk ratio for CHD, adjusted for age and sex only, was 1.16 (95% CI, 1.11-1.22) per 3.5-fold higher usual Lp(a) concentration (ie, per 1 SD), and it was 1.13 (95% CI, 1.09-1.18) following further adjustment for lipids and other conventional risk factors. The corresponding adjusted risk ratios were 1.10 (95% CI, 1.02-1.18) for ischemic stroke, 1.01 (95% CI, 0.98-1.05) for the aggregate of nonvascular mortality, 1.00 (95% CI, 0.97-1.04) for cancer deaths, and 1.00 (95% CI, 0.95-1.06) for nonvascular deaths other than cancer. CONCLUSION Under a wide range of circumstances, there are continuous, independent, and modest associations of Lp(a) concentration with risk of CHD and stroke that appear exclusive to vascular outcomes.
Virulence of Streptococcus mutans: a sensitive method for evaluating cariogenicity in young gnotobiotic rats

Gnotobiotic rats infected with Streptococcus mutans 6715 at 19 days of age and fed a purified diet (305) containing 5% sucrose developed extensive caries lesions on all molar surfaces within 16 days (35 days of age). Approximately twice as many lesions developed when infected rats were maintained until 45 days of age, whereas noninfected rats did not develop caries when fed diet 305. Gnotobiotic rats infected with S. mutans 6715 and fed a purified diet containing no sucrose (300) until day 25 and subsequently fed diet 305 for 10 days developed lesions similar to rats fed diet 305 for 16 days. Furthermore, rats infected with S. mutans 6715 and fed diet 300 until 45 days of age developed approximately one-half the smooth surface lesions as infected rats fed diet 305 for the same length of time. The level of caries on buccal and proximal molar surfaces in 45-day-old gnotobiotic rats varied when animals were infected with S. mutans AHT, BHT, NCTC 10449, 6715, or LM-7. Animals infected with S. mutans AHT showed more severe lesions on the buccal surfaces than those observed in animals infected with the other strains of S. mutans tested, whereas S. mutans 6715 caused significantly more caries on proximal surfaces. On the other hand, rats infected with S. mutans LM-7 exhibited the lowest level of caries on all molar surfaces of the five strains of S. mutans tested.
Epidemiology of dermatomycoses of humans in Central Poland. Part I—Superficial infections caused by yeasts and moulds

This work presents the epidemiology of dermatomycoses and their etiological agents of people living in the Łódź region, Central Poland, over the years 1987–1996. The analysis involved subjects referred by physicians to three major mycological laboratories in Łódź (covering the entire mycological diagnostics of the Łódź region). The study comprised a total of 25 737 persons aged 1–82. Positive results of mycological examinations were obtained for 14 084 (54.7%) patients. The total number of 14 295 positive mycological results included 6902 (48.3%) isolations of non‐dermatophyte fungi. The non‐dermatophytes included: Candida‐like (69.8%), moulds (26.9%) and lipophilic yeasts (3.3%). The distribution of non‐dermatophytes was characterized by dependence on sociodemographic features such as subjects’ age, place of residence, education and occupation. Candida‐like fungi are etiological factors of superficial infections of all clinical types whereas moulds were found to cause infections of finger and toe nails and periungual walls.
Leptin-Induced Leptin Resistance Reveals Separate Roles for the Anorexic and Thermogenic Responses in Weight Maintenance.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether leptin induces leptin resistance by examining the temporal attenuation of the anorexic and energy expenditure responses to leptin. We administered recombinant adeno-associated virus encoding rat leptin cDNA or control viral vector into mildly obese rats for 138 d and compared these results with those from pair-fed rats. We measured food consumption, body weight, oxygen consumption, leptin signal transduction, and brown adipose tissue uncoupling protein 1. The anorexic response attenuated by d 25, whereas the increase in energy expenditure persisted for 83 d before attenuating. Despite attenuation of physiological responses, phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 remained elevated for the duration of the study. The temporal differential attenuation of the anorexic and thermogenic responses allowed us to determine the relative contributions of each response to weight maintenance. The anorexic response predominantly mediated the initial loss of body weight, but only the energy expenditure response was necessary to maintain the reduced weight. This study provides evidence that leptin induces leptin resistance. The leptin resistance was associated with persistent elevation in hypothalamic phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 and was characterized by a rapid attenuation of the anorexic response and slower onset for the attenuation of the energy expenditure response. We propose that both elevated leptin and obesity may be necessary for the development of leptin resistance.