Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adverse Selection and Wage Gains

The paper shows that for severe enough search frictions, a market for employed workers with wage gains emerges despite the presence of adverse selection. Asymmetric information about a worker’s productivity between the worker’s current employer and the outside market enables the current employer to keep its best employees from joining the outside market by promoting them or by making them counter offers. Since outside wage offers are uncertain, firms promote or make counter offers only to their best workers. The resulting adverse selection, though, leads to an initial breakdown of the market for employed workers. As low-productivity workers are laid off over time, tenure serves as a positive signal about a worker’s productivity. After enough badly performing workers were laid off, the signal is strong enough to counteract the negative effect of adverse selection and a market for employed workers emerges. ∗I wish to thank the seminar participants at Munich University, and in particular Klaus Schmidt, for their useful comments. The usual disclaimer applies. Email: holzner@ifo.de
Deep Learning on Attributed Graphs

A graph is a powerful concept for representation of relations between pairs of entities. Data with underlying graph structure can be found across many disciplines, describing chemical compounds, surfaces of three-dimensional models, social interactions, or knowledge bases, to name only a few. There is a natural desire for understanding such data better. Deep learning (DL) has achieved significant breakthroughs in a variety of machine learning tasks in recent years, especially where data is structured on a grid, such as in text, speech, or image understanding. However, surprisingly little has been done to explore the applicability of DL on arbitrary graph-structured data directly. The goal of this thesis is to investigate architectures for DL on graphs and study how to transfer, adapt or generalize concepts that work well on sequential and image data to this domain. We concentrate on two important primitives: embedding graphs or their nodes into a continuous vector space representation (encoding) and, conversely, generating graphs from such vectors back (decoding). To that end, we make the following contributions. First, we introduce Edge-Conditioned Convolutions (ECC), a convolution-like operation on graphs performed in the spatial domain where filters are dynamically generated based on edge attributes. The method is used to encode graphs with arbitrary and varying structure. Second, we propose SuperPoint Graph, an intermediate point cloud representation with rich edge attributes encoding the contextual relationship between object parts. Based on this representation, ECC is employed to segment large-scale point clouds without major sacrifice in fine details. Third, we present GraphVAE, a graph generator allowing us to decode graphs with variable but upper-bounded number of nodes making use of approximate graph matching for aligning the predictions of an autoencoder with its inputs. The method is applied to the task of molecule generation.
Assessing Farmers Risk Attitudes and Coping Strategies Among Apple Growers

Multidimensional exogenous and endogenous factors are introducing a high degree of uncertainty and inversely impacts farmers’ income as well as the gross national product of the country. This study elucidates apple growers’ risk attitudes and risk-smart options, in Ahmad Aba, Paktia. The study applies Risk Behavioral Model (RBM) and regression analysis using 85 samples among apple farming households, from January to February 2020. The study reveals that 76.47% of the farmers have been deprived of access to extension services, meanwhile the extension work are positive and significantly related to farmers’ risk attitudes. Also, the result shows that 55.29% of the respondents are risk-averse; moreover, 44 and 20 percent of the respondents have experienced mild and sever risk, respectively. Besides, the result of regression analysis shows that production, age of the farming household head, education, gender, and off-farm income are significant in explaining farmers’ risk attitudes in the selected area. The risk smart-arts chosen by farmers to mitigate the prevalence risk level include intercropping, off-farm employment, decrease in expenditures, participation in unions, post-harvest management, and financial/credit reserve strategies.
Cell organization of barb ridges in regenerating feathers of the quail: implications of the elongation of barb ridges for the evolution and diversification of feathers

This ultrastructural study on the regenerating feathers of quail describes the cellular organization of the barb ridges responsible for the ramification of adult feathers. Bilateral symmetry of the barb ridges determines the organization of feather cells into feather branching. The length of the barb ridges, derived from the number of cells associated to form the barbule plates, determines the length of the barbule branching. Long chains of barb cells form long barbs that branch from the rachis with an increase of feather size. Supportive cells function as spacers between the barbule cells. New cells derive from stem cells localized in the collar region of the feather follicle, as indicated from the re-organization of collar cells into barb ridges (a morphogenetic process inherited from that of embryonic feathers), production of an embryonic type of keratin (feather keratin), permanence of periderm granules (typical embryonic organelles) in barb vane ridge cells. Variations in the process of barb ridge morphogenesis allow the fusion of ridges into a rachis. The differentiation of hooklets contributes to the origin of planar feathers. Separation between rachis and merging barb ridges is by supportive cells, derived from the marginal plates of the barb ridges. Speculations on the evolution and diversification of feathers are presented.
In Search of Community in Rural China

Change in China’s urban areas is dramatic, as cityscapes emerge from rice paddies. China’s rural areas reflect the impact of globalization, especially as villagers leave home for work in towns and cities. Much of the current research on migration out of China’s countryside has noted its negative consequences for village life, a phenomenon often dubbed “hollowing out. ” Our qualitative research on “hollowing out,” undertaken by a student-faculty team from Dickinson College, focused on village sustainability in an area that has experienced substantial out-migration. Given the time constraints of our funding, we concentrated on village activities that were by and large public and observable – farm ecology and local culture. The village “stay-behinds” did most of the community’s agricultural labor and cultural work, the latter especially manifest in religious activities. Based on a combination of fieldwork and available published materials, we found evidence for optimism about the sustainability of the village community in the age of migration.
HIGH-PRESSURE JET ASSISTED TURNING PROCESS MODELLED WITH EVOLUTIONARY ALGORITHM

: Genetic algorithms present an efficient way of machining processes modelling. They have proven this on numerous occasions so it was assumed that they can be used in this advanced machining system. Inconel 718 was machined with high-pressure jet assisted turning process and the main cutting force F v was measured. Model for calculating the cutting force F v depending on the process parameters was used to, with genetic algorithms adapt constants figuring in this function so that modelled results were as much as possible closer to experimental values
Microcolony formation as a viability index for ammonia-oxidizing bacteria: Nitrosomonas europaea and Nitrosospira sp.

A microcolony technique was developed to estimate viability of autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. The technique was based on the ability of cells to divide on membrane filters. The numbers of microcolony-forming units were followed in liquid batch cultures of two different type strains of Nitrosomonas europaea (ATCC 19718 and NCIMB 11850) and two isolates of Nitrosospira sp. In the Nitrosomonas europaea ATCC 19718 it was observed that a relatively small (<0.5%) fraction of the cells was able to form microcolonies when harvested during exponential phase, while this fraction became larger (10–25%) when the culture entered stationary phase. The same trend was observed for the Nitrosomonas europaea NCIMB 11850 and Nitrosospira isolates. By comparison, a larger and apparently constant fraction of cells showed viability as judged by conventional most probable number counts. The results indicate that a specific fraction of the cell population in batch culture is capable of microcolony formation. This fraction is strongly growth phase-dependent and may represent a sessile cell type which is capable of surface growth on membrane filters.
The growth of barley grass (Hordeum leporinum) in annual pasture. 1. Germination and establishment in comparison with other annual pasture species

Several experiments were carried out to examine aspects of the germination and establishment of seeds of barley grass (Hordeum leprinum), and several of its companions in annual pastures. These indicated that freshly-matured seed of barley grass had considerable dormancy the first summer. While day temperatures remained high it did not germinate readily, but had no marked advantage over its companions. Compared with Wimmera ryegrass (Lolium rigidum), the seeds and seedlings were much larger and it geminated and established mere successfully cr. compact surfaces. Plants arising from surface-sown seeds were compared with those from buried seeds : with barley grass they were much larger, but with Wimmera ryegrass they were not.
Estimating genetic diversity in Greek durum wheat landraces with RAPD markers

Using the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method, the genetic diversity of 19 Greek landraces and 9 cultivars of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum (Desf.)) was studied. Two commercial bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars and one genotype of Triticum monococcum L. were also included in the study. Eighty-seven arbitrary primers (10-mer) were evaluated in a preliminary experiment and 15 of them were selected for the main experiments based on the quality and reliability of their amplification and the polymorphism they revealed. A total of 150 DNA bands were obtained, 125 (83.3%) of which were polymorphic. On average, 10 DNA bands were amplified per primer, 8.3 of which were polymorphic. The genetic similarity between all pairs of genotypes was evaluated using the Jaccard's or Nei and Li's coefficients; the values of the former ranged from 0.153 to 0.973 while those of the latter were slightly higher (0.265-0.986). Cluster analysis was conducted by the UPGMA and the Njoin methods. Both methods broadly placed 26 durum genotypes into 1 branch while the other branch consisted of 2 subgroups: 1 included the 2 bread wheat cultivars; the other 1 consisted of 2 durum landraces, 'Kontopouli' and 'Mavrotheri-Chios', which showed an intruiging behaviour sharing bands with the bread wheat cultivars. The T. monococcum cultivar stood apart from all other genotypes. Additional keywords: biodiversity, dendrogram, DNA markers, genetic relationships, germplasm, plant genetic resources.
Genetic relationships within the Cucurbitaceae as assessed by consensus chloroplast simple sequence repeats (ccSSR) marker and sequence analyses

To investigate genetic relationships in Benincaseae (19 accessions), Cucurbiteae (1), Joliffieae (2), Melothrieae (2), and Sicyeae (3) tribes of the family Cucurbitaceae, consensus chloroplast simple sequence repeats (ccSSR) primer pairs obtained from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) chloroplast DNA were used. Variation in the length and putative sequence substitution events of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were analyzed. Sequencing of four fragments (ccSSR-1, -7, -8, and -19) revealed that convergence in fragment length occurs in more distant species comparisons. In ccSSR-1 and -8, the same fragment lengths occurred as the result of different insertion and deletion events. Nevertheless, the examination of a large number of ccSSR fragments suggested that this apparent homoplasy could be overshadowed by evolutionary relationships among taxa. This hypothesis is supported by the relative degree of positive congruence of taxon groupings after cluster and principal components analyses performed on bot.
DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN SALES IN ITALY DURING THE GLOBAL CRISIS AND BEFORE: COMPLEMENTS OR SUBSTITUTES?

Are a firm’s foreign and domestic sales complements, substitutes or uncorrelated? The question is relevant both to assess the international transmission of shocks and in the context of the European sovereign debt crisis: it has been argued that the 2012-2013 recession was prompted by domestic demand but had in turn relevant adverse effect for the exporting capacity of Italian firms. Standard international trade theory predicts no interdependency between foreign and domestic sales; recent literature shows that different channels may justify either a negative (through capacity constraints) or a positive (through economies of scale or liquidity constraints) correlation, both at the aggregate and at the micro level; the evidence, however, is rather mixed. Using microdata on a sample of Italian manufacturing firms from 2001 to 2012, we show that: i) the sign of the correlation changes over the business cycle, being negative in the first part of the past decade and positive after the 2008 crisis burst; ii) all the channels suggested by the literature are at play and they may explain the time-varying correlation; iii) the drop of domestic sales by Italian firms in 2012 contributed negatively to the firms’ ability to export, due to its interaction with liquidity constraints, curtailing, in our sample, exports growth by 0.6 percentage points out of 4.7 per cent and in particular affecting those exporters that also had a substantial presence on the domestic market. JEL: F10, F12, F14, L11
Burial efficiency of phosphorus and the geochemistry of iron in continental margin sediments

We have examined the distributions of phosphorus and iron in sediments from well‐oxygenated environments on the Atlantic Canadian and the Portuguese continental margins and from the anoxic region of the Chesapeake Bay. The measurements include total, citrate‐dithionite‐bicarbonate (CDB) extractable, ascorbate extractable, and dissolved P and Fe; acid volatile sulfide; and pyrite. A surface layer (varying in thickness between 2 and 4 cm) enriched in P and Fe was revealed by both the CDB and the ascorbate extractions in all sediments except those from the Chesapeake Bay. The amount of phosphate extracted by the two reagents was similar, but more iron was extracted by the CDB reagent, probably because of its ability to dissolve crystalline iron oxides. Within the Fe and P‐enriched surface layer, the Fe : P ratio in the ascorbate extract varied within a narrow range (6–14), as did the soluble‐reactive phosphate (SRP) concentration (5–16 µM), suggesting that SRP is in sorption equilibrium with the solid phase. Our data are consistent with a dynamic cycling of P and strong interactions between the cycles of P, Fe, and sulfur in many marine environments. The reductive dissolution of amorphous Fe during burial and the formation of pyrite diminish the capacity of the sediment to sequester P, and only a portion of the P that arrives at the sediment–water interface actually gets buried with the sediment.
Advance Care Planning for Older Australians Living in the Community: The Impact of a Group Education Session

To evaluate the impact of advance care planning (ACP) education with people aged ≥ 60 years living in the community. The interactive workshop explored all aspects of ACP—legal, emotional, physical, spiritual, role of significant others—and allowed reflection time, questions, and group discussion. Evaluation of knowledge and attitudes toward ACP were completed pre- and post-training. Readiness-to-change and feedback about the workshop quality were collected post-training. Eleven workshops were delivered in Queensland (132 matched pre- and post-questionnaires compared for analysis). Participant’s ACP knowledge and confidence increased significantly (12/13 statements, p <0.05) alongside some shift in attitudes (4/12 statements, p <0.05) after training. Participants were engaged and rated the workshop positively. Single ACP workshops are an effective intervention for healthy older people in the community. Training should focus on demystifying legislation and documentation, the importance of planning and communicating wishes while still healthy, and the need to regularly review and update plans. Follow-up is required to assess translation of education into ACP action.
Static Extended Trailing Edge for Lift Enhancement: Experimental and Computational Studies

A static extended trailing edge attached to a NACA0012 airfoil section is studied for achieving lift enhancement at a small drag penalty. It is indicated that the thin extended trailing edge can enhance the lift while the zero-lift drag is not significantly increased. Experiments and calculations are conducted to compare the aerodynamic characteristics of the extended trailing edge with those of Gurney flap and conventional flap. The extended trailing edge, as a simple mechanical device added on a wing without altering the basic configuration, has a good potential to improve the cruise flight efficiency.
Self-assembled hyaluronic acid nanoparticles as a potential drug carrier for cancer therapy: synthesis, characterization, and in vivo biodistribution

To develop a nano-sized drug delivery system for cancer therapy, amphiphilic hyaluronic acid conjugates were synthesized by chemical conjugation of hydrophobic 5β-cholanic acid to the backbone of hyaluronic acid (HA). The HA conjugates could form nano-sized self-aggregates under physiological conditions (PBS, pH = 7.4, 37 °C) via the hydrophobic interaction among 5β-cholanic acids. The HA nanoparticles were spherical in shape and their sizes were in the range of 350–400 nm, depending on the degree of substitution of 5β-cholanic acid. From a cellular experiment using Cy5.5-labeled HA nanoparticles, it was demonstrated that they are efficiently taken up by SCC7 cancer cells which over-express CD44, the receptor for HA. When the Cy5.5-labeled HA nanoparticles were systemically administrated into the tail vein of tumor-bearing mice, most of the nanoparticles were found in tumor and liver sites. In particular, the fluorescence intensity of nanoparticles at the tumor site was 4-fold higher than that of pure HA polymer, which was confirmed by a non-invasive near-infrared fluorescence imaging system. The high tumor targeting ability of HA nanoparticles might result from both their prolonged circulation in blood and high affinity to tumor cells. These results reveal the promising potential of HA nanoparticles as a stable and effective nano-sized drug delivery system for cancer treatment.
Title: Objective and Quantitative Assessment of Caries Lesion Activity Short Title: Objective Caries Lesion Activity Assessment

Objectives: Evaluate the ability of objectively measured specular reflection, roughness, and fluorescence change during dehydration to assess caries lesion activity. Methods: One hundred ninety-five ground/polished 3x3x2mm sound human enamel specimens were divided into three groups and demineralized using a multispecies microbial caries model for 3, 6, or 9 days; and then remineralized with 1,100 ppm-F as NaF solution for 10 days using a pH-cyclic model. Reflection (amplitude: %), roughness (Ra: μm), fluorescence change during dehydration (ΔQ: %mm), and microfocus computed tomography [μ-CT: lesion volume (μm)] were measured for sound, demineralized and remineralized enamel. The surface was hydrated and fluorescence images were acquired at 1s intervals for 10s (ΔQ10). During image acquisition, surface was dehydrated with continuous compressed air. Changes-in-ΔQ per second (ΔQD: %mm/sec) at 5 (ΔQD5) and 10s (ΔQD10) were obtained. Results: Reflection decreased from sound to AC CE PT ED M AN US CR IP T ___________________________________________________________________ This is the author's manuscript of the article published in final edited form as: Ando, M. , Fontana, M. , Eckert, G. J., Arthur, R. A. , Zhang, H. , & Zero, D. T. (2018). Objective and quantitative assessment of caries lesion activity. Journal of dentistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent. 2018.08. 009 demineralized groups (p<0.0001); remineralized groups were higher than demineralized groups (p<0.001), but not different from sound (p>0.32). Roughness increased from sound to demineralized groups (p<0.0001) and remineralized groups were also higher than sound (p<0.0001). ΔQ10, ΔQD5 and ΔQD10 increased from sound to demineralized groups (p<0.0001), and remineralized groups decreased compared to demineralized groups (p<0.05), but was higher than sound (p<0.0001). The correlations of μ-CT with reflection, roughness, and ΔQ10 were -0.63, 0.71, and 0.82, respectively (p<0.0001). Conclusions: Reflection, roughness and ΔQ could distinguish between sound and demineralized enamel. Reflection and ΔQ were able to distinguish between demineralized and remineralized enamel. Clinical significance: Determination of caries activity, whether a lesion is active or inactive, is an essential and critical component of caries diagnosis. However, especially for enamel lesions, it is difficult to estimate without longitudinal follow-up. Reflection, roughness and fluorescence change during dehydration have the potential to measure caries lesion activity at a-single-appointment.
Volume Assessment in Hemodialysis: A Comparison of Present Methods in Clinical Practice with Sonographic Lung Comets

Dry weight assessment in dialysis patients remains a challenging endeavor owing to the limitations of the available methods for volume assessment. Lung ultrasound is emerging as an invaluable tool to assist in the appropriate assessment and assignment of dry weight. The objectives of this study are (1) to determine the reliability of clinical signs and symptoms for volume assessment, (2) to compare lung ultrasound with High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) chest-A noninvasive gold standard tool for detecting pulmonary congestion and with inferior vena cava diameter (IVCD) – another time-tested volume assessment method, and (3) to analyze if lung ultrasound could detect dialysis induced fluid status variations. The cross-sectional study involves 50 patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Lung ultrasound for B line estimation and ultrasonographic measurement of IVCD performed before and after hemodialysis by a nephrologist trained in ultrasonography. Limited HRCT was obtained just before hemodialysis. Edema, crackles, and dyspnea had a poor sensitivity of 37.9%, 11.5%, and 52.6%, respectively, to detect clinically significant pulmonary congestion by lung ultrasound. A highly significant correlation was obtained between B-line score and HRCT signs of pulmonary congestion (P < 0.001) before dialysis. B lines showed statistically significant reduction with dialysis. The absolute reduction of B lines showed significant correlation with ultrafiltration volume and weight loss. Bedside lung ultrasound appears a sensitive tool for evaluating real-time changes in extravascular lung water and would serve to optimize volume status in dialysis patients.