Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Government Expenditure and Economic Growth in Vietnam: Does Public Investment Matter in The Long-Term?

: Research aims : This study focuses on the correlation between public investment, current expenditure and payment for government debt, and economic growth in short-run and long-run estimations. Design/Methodology/Approach : Macro data of Vietnam in the period 1991-2020 were extracted from the World Bank and the Vietnam General Statistics Office. This research employed the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) for time series. Research findings : The results of this study uncovered that an improvement in public investment could enhance economic growth; it is also true of the gov ernment’s current spending. However, it is worth noting that the coefficients of changes in public investment and government current spending reduced the economic growth change in one and two periods ago. Moreover, debt payment was found to have a negative effect on the economy at all lags with different levels of significance. Theoretical contribution/Originality : This study provides empirical evidence on the role of government spending in economic growth, thereby confirming that Keynesian theory still holds in the case of Vietnam. The study also verifies the vital role of government activity in regulating economic development through investment and expenditure. Practitioner/Policy implication : Some important implications for policymakers focusing on government spending are: (i) The government needs to have an investment strategy that focuses on the important areas, such as infrastructure and technology foundation. (ii) Government needs to improve accountability and transparency in the management. (iii) Supportive policies on capital, technology, human resources, and the market must be continued to encourage economic investment activities. (iv) The selection, evaluation, and approval of investment portfolios should be carefully and appropriately made. Research limitation : This study was limited by looking at the overview of government spending with economic growth, ignoring the spending structure due to the lack of necessary data. Therefore, the following studies need to clarify the spending structure of Vietnam to determine which expenditure types have negative/positive impacts on economic growth, thereby providing incentive solutions and necessary support from the government.
pro-Assessment of Results of CPT Tests in Porous Lateritic Unsaturated Soil from Campinas, Brazil

Figure 1 shows a simplified geological ABSTRACT: This work is an analysis of the results obtained by means of mechanical (Begemann Cone) and electric cone penetration tests (CPT) performed in porous, unsaturated lateritic soil from the subsoil of the Experimental Site of Soil Mechanics and Foundations of the University of Campinas (Unicamp), State of São Paulo, Brazil. To this goal, a campaign of three mechanical and three electric CPTs was performed down to the depth of 10 m, which is the limit to get to the rocky massif. The local subsoil is characterized by a 2 m thick surface layer of silty-clayey sand, followed by a layer of silty sand. The average porosity of the local subsoil is approximately 62% and the index of voids is 1.64. Readings of the parameters of both tests indicated low dispersion (q c , f s , R f ) in the section between 2 m and 8 m. Variability in the initial section was high. The application of the abacus to classify the soil behavior by means of mechanical cone displayed some dispersion in the results. However, in the electric cone tests, the abacus displayed a good classification. All propositions that were used identified the transition from the surface soil to the residual soil between 7 and 8 m.
Bridging cognition and action: executive functioning mediates the relationship between white matter fiber density and complex motor abilities in older adults

Aging may be associated with motor decline that is attributed to deteriorating white matter microstructure of the corpus callosum (CC), among other brain-related factors. Similar to motor functioning, executive functioning (EF) typically declines during aging, with age-associated changes in EF likewise being linked to altered white matter connectivity in the CC. Given that both motor and executive functions rely on white matter connectivity via the CC, and that bimanual control is thought to rely on EF, the question arises whether EF can at least party account for the proposed link between CC-connectivity and motor control in older adults. To address this, diffusion magnetic resonance imaging data were obtained from 84 older adults. A fiber-specific approach was used to obtain fiber density (FD), fiber cross-section (FC), and a combination of both metrics in eight transcallosal white matter tracts. Motor control was assessed using a bimanual coordination task. EF was determined by a domain-general latent EF-factor extracted from multiple EF tasks, based on a comprehensive test battery. FD of transcallosal prefrontal fibers was associated with cognitive and motor performance. EF partly accounted for the relationship between FD of prefrontal transcallosal pathways and motor control. Our results underscore the multidimensional interrelations between callosal white matter connectivity (especially in prefrontal brain regions), EF across multiple domains, and motor control in the older population. They also highlight the importance of considering EF when investigating brain-motor behavior associations in older adults.
Comparative study of efficacy of treatment of varicose veins with Saphenofemoral ligation and Foam sclerotherapy compared to Saphenofemoral ligation and stripping

Background: Varicose veins affect 20 – 30% of adults. If symptoms persist, the main treatment options are sclerotherapy, surgery (usually stripping and ligation of the long or short saphenous veins and phlebectomies), and ablation (by laser or radiofrequency ablation). Present study was aimed to compare the efficacy of treatment of varicose veins with Saphenofemoral ligation and Foam sclerotherapy compared to Saphenofemoral ligation and stripping. Material and Methods: Present study was single-center, prospective, comparative, study, conducted in patients of either gender with varicose veins of the lower limbs, including those with venous ulcers. Patients were randomly allocated to group 1(SF ligation with foam sclerotherapy) &group 2 (SF ligation and stripping). Results: The demographic data of the patients included in this study showed no significant difference between both groups in terms of age and sex. The time taken to complete treatment was shorter in the foam sclerotherapy plus SFJ ligation group: 40 vs. 55 min. The rate of longer-term (>30 days) ulcer healing rate in the case series ranged from 75 to 85%. 6 (85.7%) of 7 ulcers healed in the foam sclerotherapy group compared with 6 (75%) of 8 in the SF ligation and stripping group. At 3 months, median CEAP class dropped from four preoperatively to one following treatment in both groups. 1 patient out of 25 treated by foam sclerotherapy reported venous recanalization at one year after treatment. Median time to return to normal activities was significantly reduced in the foam sclerotherapy group (4 days) compared to the surgical group (9 days). Rates of thrombophlebitis was 16%. skin staining/pigmentation at 8%, and pain at the site of injection ranged was 28%. Conclusion: Treatment of varicose veins with Foam sclerotherapy instead of stripping and avulsions reduces the operative and post operative recovery time.
T cell receptor V-alpha spectratype analysis of a CD4-mediated T cell response against minor histocompatibility antigens involved in severe graft-versus-host disease

Although CD4 + T cells can have an important role in mediating lethal graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) directed to multiple minor histocompatibility antigens (miHA) following bone marrow transplantation (BMT), their precise characterization and effector function remains elusive. In this regard, T cell receptor (TCR) V β spectratype analysis has been a powerful tool for identifying donor CD4 + T cell populations expanding to host miHA following BMT in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-matched C57BL/6 (B6)->C.B10-H2 b (BALB.B) model of lethal GVHD. Removal of all of the V β + T cell families containing these responding cells from the donor inoculum has proven to be an effective means of preventing the development of GVHD. Previous studies have also found that of the eleven miHA-responding B6 CD4 + V β + T cell families, transplantation of V β 2 + and V β 11 + T cells, together, into lethally irradiated BALB.B mice appeared primarily responsible for the severity of resultant GVHD. Further focusing on these critical CD4 responses, in this study, we demonstrate that B6 CD4 + V β 11 + T cells, alone, can induce lethal GVHD in BALB.B recipients. In addition, immunohistochemical staining of host lingual and intestinal epithelial tissues supported the capacity of V β 11 + T cells to infiltrate typical GVHD-associated target areas. To further characterize the specific CD4 + V β 11 + T cells involved in this anti-miHA response, TCR V α spectratype analysis was performed and indicated that six V α chains were utilized by this reactive population. These results provide further evidence that a restricted repertoire of T cell specificities, presumably recognizing a correspondingly low number of miHA, is sufficient for the induction of severe GVHD. further demonstrating that an allogeneic response of limited scope can be of profound consequence in the development of GVHD.
The Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Personality Traits Among College Students During COVID-19 Pandemic

The issue surrounding social media addiction has become prevalent in recent timed due to the rise of technological advancements. Thus, this refers to instances in which individuals develop an overwhelming need to interact with these platforms. Furthermore, one’s personality traits can be defined to represent one’s distinctive pattern of thinking, emotion, and are relatively deduced from one’s pattern of habits. Hence, the present study employed the descriptive-correlational approach to describe and analyze college students’ profile in terms of the present variables, as well as their relationship with one another. Additionally, two hundred and fifty (250) students currently enrolled in colleges and universities in the Philippines were selected to answer the disseminated Google forms. By using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and the Mini International Item Pool (Mini IPIP), the goals were achieved. The findings taken from the Pearson Coefficient Correlation indicated that the respondents’ social media addiction was significantly related to their personality. Moreover, the findings of this study were examined and reviewed, and recommendations for future studies were made to build on the current body of knowledge.
ShapOrator: Enabling Design Iteration for Young Designers Through Shape Verbalization

We investigate speech-based input as a means to enable reflective thinking for younger individuals (middle- and high-school students) during design iterations. Verbalization offers a unique way to externalize ideas in early design and could therefore lead to new pathways for exploration and iteration, especially for K-12 students who possess the creative potential but are not technically trained in the design process. Interactive design systems, however, by-and-large utilize sketching, multi-touch, and gestural inputs. As a result, (1) there is little know-how regarding how to operationalize verbal inputs as a meaningful way to facilitate idea exploration and (2) there is little fundamental understanding of the underlying cognitive mechanisms for iteration through verbal communication. We take the initial steps towards these gaps by first designing and implementing the ShapOrator interface that takes verbal descriptions of geometric parameters (shape, size, instances) in a semi-natural language form and determines the appropriate transformations to a given design artifact modeled as a shape assembly. Using ShapOrator as our experimental setup we conducted an in-depth observational study on 10 middle- and high-school students tasked with designing spaceships. Our study revealed that participants were able to create a variety of designs while associating functional and topical contexts to their spaceships throughout the design iteration process.
Carbon and Nitrogen Responses of Litterfall Components by NPK and PK Fertilizers in a Red Pine ( Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) Stand

: This study was conducted to determine the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) response of litterfall components as affected by N addition in compound fertilizer in a Korean red pine ( Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) stand in southern Korea. Litterfall in a mature red pine stand was collected for two years following compound fertilizer application (N 3 P 4 K 1 ; P 4 K 1 ) and no fertilization (control). The C concentration of litterfall components was not significantly ( P > 0.05) different between the N 3 P 4 K 1 and the control plots, whereas the N concentration of the litterfall components was significantly higher in the N 3 P 4 K 1 plot than in the control plot. The N 3 P 4 K 1 and P 4 K 1 additions induced a lower C/N ratio of litterfall components compared with the control plot. Annual C and N fluxes via litterfall components were not affected by the N 3 P 4 K 1 addition over the study period, except for reproduction litter. Annual N fluxes via reproduction litter were significantly higher in the N 3 P 4 K 1 plot than in the control plot. Thus, the N 3 P 4 K 1 and P 4 K 1 additions could modify differently nutrient distribution of the forest floor and mineral soils in a red pine stand. These results indicate that N concentration and C/N ratio in litterfall components are more susceptible to fertilizer application than the C response in litterfall components.
Development of N 2 O-MTV for low-speed flow and in-situ deployment to an integral effect test facility

A molecular tagging velocity (MTV) technique is developed to non-intrusively measure velocity in an integral effect test (IET) facility simulating a high temperature helium-cooled nuclear reactor in accident scenarios. In these scenarios, the velocities are expected to be low, on the order of 1 m/s or less, which forces special requirements on the MTV tracer selection. Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) is identified as a suitable seed gas to generate NO tracers capable of probing the flow over a large range of pressure, temperature, and flow velocity. The performance of N 2 O-MTV is assessed in the laboratory at temperature and pressure ranging from 295 to 781 K and 1 to 3 atm. MTV signal improves with a temperature increase, but decreases with a pressure increase. Velocity precision down to 0.004 m/s is achieved with a probe time of 40 ms at ambient pressure and temperature. Measurement precision is limited by tracer diffusion, and absorption of the tag laser beam by the seed gas. Processing by cross-correlation of single shot images with high signal-to-noise ratio reference images improves the precision by about 10% compared to traditional single shot image correlations. The instrument is then deployed to the IET facility. Challenges associated with heat, vibrations, safety, beam delivery, and imaging are addressed in order to successfully operate this sensitive instrument in-situ. Data are presented for an isothermal depressurized conduction cool-down. Velocity profiles from MTV reveal a complex flow transient driven by buoyancy, diffusion, and matandre@gwu.edu. instability taking place over short (<1 s) and long (>30 min) time-scales at sub-meter per second speed. The precision of the in-situ results is estimated at 0.027, 0.0095, and 0.006 m/s for a probe time of 5, 15, and 35 ms, respectively.
alpha-Synuclein Pathology in Parkinson’s Disease and Related alpha-Synucleinopathies

Over 20 years ago, the synaptic protein alpha-synuclein was identified as the primary component of the Lewy bodies (LBs) that are a sine qua non of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Since that time, extensive research has demonstrated that alpha-synuclein pathology is not only a hallmark of PD, but can also cause neuronal dysfunction and death. Detailed staging of alpha-synuclein pathology in the brains of patients has revealed a progressive pattern of pathology that correlates with the symptoms of disease. Early in the disease course, PD patients exhibit motor dysfunction, and alpha-synuclein pathology at this stage is primarily found in regions controlling motor function. At later stages of disease as patients’ cognitive function deteriorates, alpha-synuclein pathology can be found in cortical structures responsible for higher cognitive processing. The stereotypical progression of alpha-synuclein pathology through the brain over time suggests that there may be a physical transmission of pathological alpha-synuclein from one area of the brain to another. The transmission hypothesis posits that an initial seed of pathological alpha-synuclein in one neuron may be released and taken up by another vulnerable neuron and thereby initiate pathological misfolding of alpha-synuclein in the recipient neuron. In recent years, convergent evidence from various studies has indicated that pathological protein transmission can occur in the human brain. Cell and animal models based on the transmission hypothesis have shown not only that pathological alpha-synuclein can be transmitted from cell-to-cell, but that this pathology can lead to neuronal dysfunction and degeneration. The alpha-synuclein transmission hypothesis has profound implications for treatment of what is currently an intractable neurodegenerative disease. In this review, we explore the evidence for cell-to-cell transmission of pathological alpha-synuclein, the current understanding of how pathological alpha-synuclein can move to a new cell and template misfolding, and the therapeutic implications of alpha-synuclein transmission.
Approach to the patient with eosinophilia

Physicians may encounter blood or tissue eosinophilia through a routine CBC with differential or a tissue pathology report. In this article, the basic biology of eosinophils will be reviewed and definitions of blood eosinophilia as well as the challenges of defining tissue eosinophilia will be discussed. Conditions associated with eosinophilia will be briefly discussed as well as a general approach to evaluating eosinophilia. Future challenges include determining which eosinophil-associated diseases benefit from eosinophil-targeted therapy and identifying biomarkers for disease activity and diagnosis.
Integral Equation Theory for the Conformational Properties and Static Structure Factor of Polyelectrolyte Solutions

A theory is presented for the conformational properties and static structure factor of polyelectrolyte solutions. Predictions of the theory for the mean square end-to-end distance and static structure factor are in very good agreement with molecular dynamics simulations. The theory predicts that chain collapse occurs at concentrations much smaller than the overlap threshold concentration. The static structure factor displays a peak at small wave vectors which diminishes in intensity and moves to higher wave vectors as the concentration or charge fraction is increased. The scaling of the peak position with concentration and charge fraction is consistent with experiments.
Targeted small molecule degradation of a hypoxia-associated non-coding RNA enhances the selectivity of an RNA targeted small molecule

SUMMARY Small molecule targeted recruitment of nucleases to RNA is a powerful method to affect RNA biology. Inforna, a sequence-based design approach to target RNA, enables the design of small molecules that bind and cleave RNA in a selective and substoichiometric manner. Herein, we investigate the ability of RNA targeted degradation to improve the selectivity of small molecules targeting RNA. The microRNA-210 hairpin precursor (pre-miR-210) is overexpressed in hypoxic cancers. Previously, a small molecule (Targapremir-210, TGP-210) targeted this RNA in cells, but with only a 5-fold window for DNA binding. Appendage of a nuclease recruitment module onto TGP-210 locally recruited ribonuclease L onto pre-miR-210, triggering its degradation. The chimera has enhanced selectivity compared to TGP-210 with nanomolar binding to the pre-miR-210, but no DNA binding, and is broadly selective for affecting RNA function in cells. Importantly, it cleaved pre-miR-210 substoichiometrically and induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Costales et. al. study the selectivity of a bifunctional molecule that binds a hypoxia-associated microRNA and recruits local latent ribonuclease, enabling its targeted degradation and apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Applying this chimeric recruitment strategy increases potency and the selectivity window compared to the parent compound.
Optimal design of multi-channel transmultiplexers with stopband energy constraints

Optimal design incorporating filters' stopband energy constraints for multi-channel, uniform and non-uniform transmultiplexers is studied. Central to the development is a reformulation of the design problem as a quadratically constrained quadratic programming problem where the stopband energy requirements are met by imposing a systems of quadratic constraints while the composite distortion measure proposed for reconstruction is minimized. An iterative optimal design procedure for FIR, synthesis filters and analysis filters is developed and applied to two design examples, one for the uniform case and the other for the nonuniform case.
A molecular basis for Estrogen Receptor- α deficiency in BRCA1-linked breast cancer

Background: BRCA1 mutant breast tumors, in contrast to most sporadic tumors are typically Estrogen Receptor-alpha (ER α ) negative. The purpose of this study was to provide a mechanism for the observed ER α deficiency in BRCA1 mutant tumors. Methods: Using a Breast Cancer Disease Specific Microarray, we identified differentially regulated transcripts between BRCA1 mutant and sporadic paraffin-embedded breast tumors. Using qPCR we specifically measured ER α mRNA expression in these tumor samples. Regulation of ER α transactivation, mRNA and protein expression in a BRCA1-dependent manner was also assessed in human breast cancer cell lines. Finally, we investigated cellular proliferation in response to anti-estrogen treatment in the presence and absence of functional BRCA1. Results: We show that ER α mRNA expression is reduced in the absence of functional BRCA1 in both BRCA1 deficient tumors and breast cancer cell lines. We demonstrate that the transcription factor Oct-1 recruits BRCA1 to the ER α promoter and that both BRCA1 and Oct-1 are required for ER α expression. We also provide evidence to demonstrate that the response of breast cancer cell lines to anti-estrogen treatment is dependent on functional BRCA1, an effect that is directly related to the ability of BRCA1 to modulate ER α expression levels. Conclusions: In this study we identify a novel mechanism to explain the link between mutation or aberration of BRCA1 expression and ER α deficiency. We demonstrate that BRCA1 can alter and The as the ± (n=3) of three response Fulvestrant. 40 values were from the respective dose response curves. The results are as the average ± SD (n=3)