Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Home Office – Salutary Action on Combining Work and Family?

Heimarbeit erhält nicht nur von Unternehmen als Mittel zur Personalgewinnung und -bindung, sondern auch von Politikern als Massnahme zur verbesserten Vereinbarkeit von Berufsund Privatleben immer mehr Aufmerksamkeit. Mit Daten des sozioökonomischen Panels (SOEP) untersucht diese Studie – mit Lebenszufriedenheit als Proxy-Maß für individuellen Nutzen – potenzielle Wohlfahrtseffekte von Heimarbeit im deutschen Kontext. Die Resultate zeigen, dass Menschen die von zu Hause arbeiten, im Durchschnitt zufriedener mit ihrem Leben sind als diejenigen, deren Beruf es generell erlaubt, die die Option jedoch nicht nutzen (dürfen). Dies gilt sowohl in einer für die deutsche Bevölkerung repräsentativen Stichprobe, als auch in einer für die Hauptzielgruppe repräsentativen Spezialstichprobe von Familien in Deutschland. Die ökonometrische Analyse zeigt jedoch dass die positive Assoziation zwischen Heimarbeit und Lebenszufriedenheit in beiden Stichproben durch sozio-demographische und berufliche Merkmale sowie individuelle Heterogenität erklärt werden kann. Die Erkenntnis dass die Nutzung von Heimarbeit nicht in Zusammenhang mit dem Familienstand oder einer Pflegeverpflichtung steht, sondern eher mit Autorität und Status am Arbeitsplatz, stellt den Wohlfahrtsnutzen einer potenziellen politischen Maßnahme zur Verbesserung der Work-Life-Balance daher in Frage.
Title Advances in immunomodulating therapy of HBV infection

Patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection have a higher risk of developing liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Interferon-α, lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil are the three approved treatment for chronic HBV infection and offers the only means of preventing the development of these complications. However, the efficacy of these agents, in terms of loss of Hepatitis B e antigen with or without seroconversion to Hepatitis B e antibody, normalization of serum alanine transaminase levels, loss of serum HBV DNA, and improvement in liver histology can only be achieved in 20-30% of those treated. Long-term treatment with either lamivudine or adefovir dipivoxil can result in the development of drug resistant mutants leading to an increased length of treatment with additional nucleoside analogues. These limitations of the current antiviral therapies underline the need for alternative therapies. Specific and nonspecific immunotherapeutic strategies to restore effective virus-specific T cell responses in those with chronic HBV infection offers an interesting alternative approach. These immunotherapeutic therapies include the adoptive transfer of HBV immunity, pegylated interferon and therapeutic
Nanocrystalline Hydroxyapatite Loaded with Resveratrol in Colloidal Suspension Improves Viability, Metabolic Activity and Mitochondrial Potential in Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Stem Cells (hASCs)

In response to the demand for new multifunctional materials characterized by high biocompatibility, hydrogel (HG) nanocomposites as a platform for bioactive compound delivery have been developed and fabricated. A specific crosslinking/copolymerization chemistry was used to construct hydrogels with a controlled network organization. The hydrogels were prepared using 3,6-anhydro-α-l-galacto-β-d-galactan (galactose hydrogel) together with resveratrol (trans-3,5,4′-trihydroxystilbene) and calcium hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. The resveratrol was introduced in three different concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, and 1 mM. Nanosized calcium hydroxyapatite was synthesized by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal technique, annealed at 500 °C for 3 h, and introduced at a concentration 10% (m/v). The morphology and structural properties of Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 and its composite were determined by using XRPD (X-ray powder diffraction) techniques, as well as the absorption and IR (infrared) spectroscopy. The average nanoparticle size was 35 nm. The water affinity, morphology, organic compound release profile, and cytocompatibility of the obtained materials were studied in detail. The designed hydrogels were shown to be materials of biological relevance and of great pharmacological potential as carriers for bioactive compound delivery. Their cytocompatibility was tested using a model of human multipotent stromal cells isolated from adipose tissue (hASCs). The biomaterials increased the proliferative activity and viability of hASCs, as well as reduced markers of oxidative stress. In light of the obtained results, it has been thought that the designed materials meet the requirements of the tissue engineering triad, and may find application in regenerative medicine, especially for personalized therapies.
Capturing the Motion of the Free Surface of a Fluid Stored within a Floating Structure

Large floating structures, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships, are subject to both internal and external fluid forces. The internal fluid forces may also be detrimental to a vessel’s stability and cause excessive loading regimes when sloshing occurs. Whilst it is relatively easy to measure the motion of external free surface with conventional measurement techniques, the sloshing of the internal free surface is more difficult to capture. The location of the internal free surface is normally extrapolated from measuring the pressure acting on the internal walls of the vessel. In order to understand better the loading mechanisms of sloshing internal fluids, a method of capturing the transient inner free surface motion with negligible affect on the response of the fluid or structure is required. In this paper two methods will be demonstrated for this purpose. The first approach uses resistive wave gauges made of copper tape to quantify the water run-up height on the walls of the structure. The second approach extends the conventional use of optical motion tracking to report the position of randomly distributed free floating markers on the internal water surface. The methods simultaneously report the position of the internal free surface with good agreement under static conditions, with absolute variation in the measured water level of around 4 mm. This new combined approach provides a map of the free surface elevation under transient conditions. The experimental error is shown to be acceptable (low mm-range), proving that these experimental techniques are robust free surface tracking methods in a range of situations.
Resonance States of Hadronic Three-Body Ions: Stabilization Method

Bound and resonance states of symmetric three-body exotic \(pXX\) negative atomic ions \((X=\mu^{-}, \pi^{-}, K^{-})\) as well as exotic \(ppX\) positive molecular ions for total angular momentum \(J=0\), are studied in details under the framework of Stabilization method. The resonance states under consideration lie below \(N=2\) ionization threshold of the corresponding \(pX\) atom. The wave-function is expanded in correlated multi-exponent Hylleraas type basis set for explicit incorporation of \(p\)-\(p\), \(\mu\)-\(\mu\), \(\pi\)-\(\pi\) or \(K\)-\(K\) correlations. The methodology has been tested by estimating the parameters of the resonance states of \((p\mu\mu)^{-}\), \((pp\mu)^{+}\), \((p\pi\pi)^{-}\) and \((pp\pi)^{+}\) and comparing with the results existing in the literature. The interparticle interactions for all the systems under consideration are purely Coulombic.
Quantum dots with split enhancement gate tunnel barrier control

We introduce a silicon metal-oxide-semiconductor quantum dot architecture based on a single polysilicon gate stack. The elementary structure consists of two enhancement gates separated spatially by a gap, one gate forming a reservoir and the other a quantum dot. We demonstrate, in three devices based on two different versions of this elementary structure, that a wide range of tunnel rates is attainable while maintaining single-electron occupation. A characteristic change in slope of the charge transitions as a function of the reservoir gate voltage, attributed to screening from charges in the reservoir, is observed in all devices, and is expected to play a role in the sizable tuning orthogonality of the split enhancement gate structure. The all-silicon process is expected to minimize strain gradients from electrode thermal mismatch, while the single gate layer should avoid issues related to overlayers (e.g., additional dielectric charge noise) and help improve yield. Finally, reservoir gate control of the tunnel barrier has implications for initialization, manipulation and readout schemes in multi-quantum dot architectures.
The Benchmark Inclusion Subsidy

Abstract We argue that the pervasive practice of evaluating portfolio managers relative to a benchmark has real effects. Benchmarking generates additional, inelastic demand for assets inside the benchmark. This leads to a “benchmark inclusion subsidy:” a firm inside the benchmark values an investment project more than the one outside. The same wedge arises for valuing M&A, spinoffs, and IPOs. This overturns the proposition that an investment’s value is independent of the entity considering it. We describe the characteristics that determine the subsidy, quantify its size (which could be large), and identify empirical work supporting our model’s predictions.
MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF PARASITES ISOLATED FROM MEDITERRANEAN MUSSEL (Mytilus Galloprovincialis Lamarck 1819) SPECIMENS

In this study, Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819) were collected from the most important mussel distribution/fishing areas in Turkish coastal waters (Canakkale, Balikesir, Izmir). The presence of parasite was investigated based on molecular methods. Molecular identification of parasite species was established by designing parasite-specific primers for PCR amplification and resulting nucleotide sequences were analysed. As a result of this study, four parasite species were identified as Mytilicola intestinalis Steuer 1902, Mytilicola orientalis Mori 1935, Urastoma cyprinae Graff 1882, Parvatrema duboisi Dollfus 1923 respectively. All identified species were found in Izmir (Agean Sea) specimens while Urastoma cyprinae and Parvatrema duboisi were found only in Canakkale (Dardanelle) and Balikesir (Marmara Sea) specimens. Nucleotide composition, pairwise genetic distance and phylogenetic trees of the detected species were given. This research takes place to be the first study on identifying mussel parasites by using molecular techniques. Also, Mytilicola orientalis is the first record from Turkish coastal waters.
When the Japanese Stock Market Meets COVID-19: Impact of Ownership, China and US Exposure, and ESG Channels

We identify factors affecting the Japanese stock market during the COVID-19 pandemic period. First, we focus on the ownership structure. We find that indirect ownership through the exchange-traded fund purchasing program by the Bank of Japan has a positive impact on abnormal returns. Foreign ownership is negatively associated with abnormal returns, whereas ownership by traditional business groups is positively associated with abnormal returns. Second, we examine the impact of global value chains and find that stock returns are lower for companies with China and U.S. exposure. Third, in terms of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) engagement, there is no evidence that firms that have highly rated ESG scores have higher abnormal returns, but firms with ESG funds outperform those without.
Impact of foreign direct investment and inflation on economic growth of five randomly selected Countries in Africa

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has been viewed as a major source of finance for developing countries and it has gained significant momentum since the sweep of globalization in the early 1990. This is because most of the developing countries see FDI as important in their strategy for growth. In this study, the impact of FDI and inflation on economic growth was examined. Five countries in Africa were selected randomly for the study. The variables used for this study are inflation rate, GDP per capita (economic growth), and FDI inflows. The study relied on IMF Data Mapper and UNCTAD stat for a period of 23-year time series 1996 to 2018 as the source of data for the study. Lastly unit root test and regression analysis were employed to estimate the objective of the study and output showed that FDI has a positive impact on economic growth in all the five countries under review. Except Egypt, Inflation has a negative impact on economic growth in four out of the five countries reviewed. This study recommended that Government should endeavor to create conducive environment that will enable FDI to thrive and also look into policies that will regulate money supply to encourage low and stable inflation rate, in order to absorb the maximum benefits of FDI inflows. Key words: Economic growth, FDI, inflation, 5 randomly selected countries in Africa.
Increasing Predictive Ability by Modeling Interactions between Environments, Genotype and Canopy Coverage Image Data for Soybeans

Phenomics is a new area that offers numerous opportunities for its applicability in plant breeding. One possibility is to exploit this type of information obtained from early stages of the growing season by combining it with genomic data. This opens an avenue that can be capitalized by improving the predictive ability of the common prediction models used for genomic prediction. Imagery (canopy coverage) data recorded between days 14–71 using two collection methods (ground information in 2013 and 2014; aerial information in 2014 and 2015) on a soybean nested association mapping population (SoyNAM) was used to calibrate the prediction models together with the inclusion of several types of interactions between canopy coverage data, environments, and genomic data. Three different scenarios were considered that breeders might face testing lines in fields: (i) incomplete field trials (CV2); (ii) newly developed lines (CV1); and (iii) predicting lines in unobserved environments (CV0). Two different traits were evaluated in this study: yield and days to maturity (DTM). Results showed improvements in the predictive ability for yield with respect to those models that solely included genomic data. These relative improvements ranged 27–123%, 27–148%, and 65–165% for CV2, CV1, and CV0, respectively. No major changes were observed for DTM. Similar improvements were observed for both traits when the reduced canopy information for days 14–33 was used to build the training-testing relationships, showing a clear advantage of using phenomics in very early stages of the growing season.
Step-Counting Validity of Wrist-Worn Activity Monitors During Activities With Fixed Upper Extremities

Little is known about validity of wrist-worn physical activity monitors during activities when an arm-swing is not present. The purpose of this study was to compare the step-counting validity of wrist-worn activity monitors (Fitbit Charge HR Series 2, ActiGraph GT9X Link, Apple Watch Series 4) during functional physical activities with fixed upper extremities. Tasks included treadmill walking at 3 mph and five free-living tasks (walking with a baby doll on the left hip and the right hip, holding groceries, and pushing a stroller while walking and while jogging). Device step counts were compared to hand-counted steps from GoPro video footage. Fitbit Charge had less error when compared to the left ActiGraph in both stroller walking and jogging, treadmill walking, and grocery walking tasks (p < .001 to .020). For grocery walking, walking with a baby on the right, and walking with a baby on the left, device percentage errors ranged from 0 (0.5%) to −7.6 (15.8%). For stroller jogging, stroller walking, and treadmill walking, device percentage errors ranged from −8.3 (7.3%) to −94.3 (17.9%). Tasks with the hands fixed to an item that also had contact with the floor (stroller and treadmill) had more error than when participants held an item that was not in contact with the floor (doll and groceries). Though wrist-worn, consumer-grade step-counting devices typically undercount steps in general, consumers should be aware that their devices may particularly undercount steps during activities with the hands fixed. This may be especially true with items in contact with the floor.
Inference on semiparametric multinomial response models

We explore inference on regression coefficients in semiparametric multinomial response models. We consider cross‐sectional, and both static and dynamic panel settings where we focus throughout on inference under sufficient conditions for point identification. The approach to identification uses a matching insight throughout all three models coupled with variation in regressors: with cross‐section data, we match across individuals while with panel data, we match within individuals over time. Across models, we relax the Indpendence of Irrelevant Alternatives (or IIA assumption, see McFadden (1974)) and allow for arbitrary correlation in the unobservables that determine utility of various alternatives. For the cross‐sectional model, estimation is based on a localized rank objective function, analogous to that used in Abrevaya, Hausman, and Khan (2010), and presents a generalization of existing approaches. In panel data settings, rates of convergence are shown to exhibit a curse of dimensionality in the number of alternatives. The results for the dynamic panel data model generalize the work of Honoré and Kyriazidou (2000) to cover the semiparametric multinomial case. A simulation study establishes adequate finite sample properties of our new procedures. We apply our estimators to a scanner panel data set.
Usage of Differential Evolution Algorithm in the Calibration of Parametric Rainfall-Runoff Modeling

In recent years, global optimization algorithms are used in many engineering applications. Calibration of certain parameters at conceptualization of hydrological models is one example of these. An important issue in interpreting the effects of climate change on the basin depends on selecting an appropriate hydrological model. Not only climate change impact assessment studies, but also many water resources planning studies refer to such modeling applications. In order to obtain reliable results from these hydrological models, calibration phase of the models needs to be done well. Hence, global optimization methods are utilized in the calibration process. In this chapter, the differential evolution algorithm (DEA), which has rare application in the hydrological modeling literature, was explained. As an application, the use of the DEA algorithm in the hydrological model calibration phase was mentioned. DYNWBM, a lumped model with five parameters, was selected as the hydrological model. The calibration and then validation period performances of the DEA based DYNWBM model were tested and also compared with other global optimization algorithms. According to the results derived from the study, hydrological model appropriately reflects the rainfall-runoff relation of basin for both periods. Usage of Differential Evolution Algorithm in the Calibration of Parametric Rainfall-Runoff Modeling
Breeding activity of Scinax centralis (Anura, Hylidae) in Central Brazil

From January, 1997 to April, 1998, we studied breeding activity in a population of Scinax centralis Pombal & Bastos, 1996, in the state of Goias, inside the Cerrado Biome, Brazil. The behavior of males and females in the choruses, the relationships between environmental variables and the presence of individuals, the spatial distribution pattern, amplexus and clutches were analyzed. The breeding season occurred from November to May. The majority of males began to call when they entered the chorus; they were defending their calling sites against other males. We found a positive correlation between the number of females and males in the choruses, but no significant correlation was observed between the operational sexual ratio (OSR, number of reproducing females/number of reproducing males) and the number of calling males. OSR was highly male-biased; on average, there were 40 males for each female. The presence of individuals was positively correlated with air temperature of two previous days and negatively correlated with rainfall on the observation day. Generally, males were non-randomly distributed and satellite males were observed. Females were larger and heavier than males. Egg number, but not diameter of the egg, was correlated with the female size.
Takeover Waves: Triggers, Performance and Motives

This paper reviews the vast academic literature on the market for corporate control.Our main focus is the cyclical wave pattern this market exhibits.From the perspective of takeover waves, we address questions such as: Why do mergers and acquisitions (M&As) occur? Does the ensuing transfer of control generate shareholder gains? What are the main profitability drivers in M&As by takeover wave? We find that the pattern of takeover activity and its profitability significantly vary across the various takeover waves.Despite such diversity, all waves have similarities: they are preceded by technological or industrial shocks, and occur in a positive economic and political environment, amidst rapid credit expansion and stock market booms.Takeovers towards the end of each wave are usually driven by non-rational, frequently selfinterested managerial decision-making.
Public Firm Borrowers of the US Paycheck Protection Program

We document that nearly half of public firms were eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), with 20.4% of those eligible choosing to borrow. Consistent with the program's objectives, borrowers tended to be smaller, have more employees, and fewer investment opportunities. In addition, they faced negative profits in the second quarter of 2020 and their firm values declined upon PPP loan announcement. We further document that 19.0% of PPP borrowers, in particular the healthier firms, returned their loan after public backlash. Overall, concerns of reputational harm from public disclosure appeared to prevent eligible firms from availing emergency government funding.
COPB2 promotes metastasis and inhibits apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cells through functioning as a target of miR-216a-3p

Background Lung adenocarcinoma is a non-small cell lung cancer with a high mortality. There is little published data on the role of coatomer protein complex subunit β (COPB2) in lung adenocarcinoma. The current study aimed to explore the effects of COPB2 on lung adenocarcinoma cells. Methods The differential expression of COPB2 in normal cells and lung adenocarcinoma cells was detected by quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. Then, cell viability assay, flow cytometry and Transwell experiments were performed to study the effects of COPB2 on cell growth, apoptosis, migration and invasion. MiRNA targeting COPB2 was predicted by TargetScan and validated by luciferase assay, qRT-PCR and Western blotting. The effects of miRNA inhibitor on siCOPB2 were analyzed by rescue experiments. Finally, apoptosis and metastatic marker proteins were detected by Western blotting. Results COPB2 was high-expressed in lung adenocarcinoma cells. Silencing COPB2 inhibited cell viability and cell metastasis, and significantly increased apoptosis. MiR-216a-3p was predicted to be able to target COBP2. Rescue experiment showed that miR-216a-3p inhibitor promoted cell viability, migration and invasion, and inhibited apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cells, partly reversed the effects of siCOPB2. Moreover, Western blotting showed that siCOPB2 up-regulated expressions of cleaved Caspase-3, Caspase-3, BCL2 associated X (Bax), and E-Cadherin, and down-regulated expressions of BCL2 apoptosis regulator (Bcl-2), N-Cadherin, and Vimentin, and the above effects were also partly reversed by miR-216a-3p inhibitor. Conclusions High-expressed COPB2 promotes metastasis and inhibits apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cells through functioning as a target of miR-216a-3p.