Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Uneven Distribution of Social Suffering: Documenting the Social Health Consequences of Neo-liberal Social Policy on Marginalized Youth

Wilkinson and Kate Pickett published "The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Strong", in which they argue that severely unequal societies produce high rates of ‘social pain”: adverse outcomes including school drop out, teen pregnancy, mental health problems, lack of social trust, high mortality rates, violence and crime, low social participation. Their volume challenges the belief that the extent of poverty in a community predicts negative outcomes. They assert instead that the size of the inequality gap defines the material and psychological contours of the chasm between the wealthiest and the most impoverished, enabling various forms of social suffering to saturate a community, appearing natural. In societies with large gaps, one finds rampant State and socially reproduced disregard, dehumanization, policy neglect and abuse. As you might guess, the income inequality gap of the US ranks the highest in their international comparisons. Furthermore, New York State ranks the highest among other states and a recent report published by the United Nations (UN-HABITAT, 2008) has found New York City to rank as one of the highest among other major cities in the country. Moving these notions into social psychology, we have been studying what we call circuits of dispossession and privilege (Fine & Ruglis, 2009) as they affect the uneven distribution of social health among privileged and marginalized youth in New York City.
Genetic and physical studies of lambda transducing bacteriophage carrying the beta subunit gene of the Escherichia coli ribonucleic acid polymerase

The prophage lambdac1857 was inserted into the bfe gene located near rif (the structural gene for the beta subunit of deoxyribonucleic acid [DNA]-dependent ribonucleic acid polymerase) on the Escherichia coli chromosome. Induced lysates (low-frequency transducing lysates) of such a lysogen contained defective lambda phage particles (lambdadrif+) that can specifically transduce the wild-type rif+ gene. Upon transduction into a recipient strain carrying recA, heterogenotes harboring both the wild-type and the mutant rif genes were isolated. Rec+ derivatives of these heterogenotes produce high-frequency transducing lysates that contain lambdadrif+ and normal active phages at a ratio of 1 to 2. The results of marker rescue experiments and of density determination with several transducing phages indicate that most of the late genes are deleted and replaced by a segment of the chromosomal DNA carrying the bfe-rif region. The length of the chromosomal segment seems to vary between approximately 0.5 and 0.6% of the total bacterial DNA among the three independently isolated lambdadrif+ phages. Electron microscopy of heteroduplex DNA consisting of one strand from lambdadrif+-6 and the other from lambdaimm-21 phages directly confirmed that most of the phage DNA of the "left arm" was replaced by the bacterial DNA. The heteroduplex study also demonstrated that the integration of prophage lambda into the bfe region occurred at the normal cross-over point within the phage attachment site.
Adaptive selection of surviving symbol replica candidates based on maximum reliability in QRM-MLD for OFCDM MIMO multiplexing

The paper proposes an adaptive selection algorithm for surviving symbol replica candidates based on the maximum reliability in ML detection with QR decomposition and M-algorithm (QRM-MLD) for OFCDM MIMO multiplexing. In the proposed algorithm, symbol replica candidates newly-added at each stage are ranked for each surviving symbol replica from the previous stage using multiple quadrant detection. Then, branch metrics are calculated only for the limited number of symbol replica candidates with high reliability based on an iterative loop in increasing order of the accumulated branch metrics from the candidate with the minimum one. Simulation results show that the computational complexity of the proposed algorithm from the viewpoint of the number of real multiplications is reduced to approximately 1/6 and 1/1900, respectively, compared to that of the original QRM-MLD and that of the conventional MLD with squared Euclidian distance calculations for all symbol replica candidates, assuming the identical achievable average block error rate (BLER) performance in 4-by-4 MIMO multiplexing with 16QAM data modulation. The results also show that 1-Gbps throughput is achieved at the E/sub b//N/sub 0/ per receiver antenna of approximately 9 dB using the adaptive selection algorithm in QRM-MLD associated with 16QAM modulation and turbo coding with coding rate of 8/9, assuming a 100-MHz bandwidth for a twelve-path Rayleigh fading channel (rms delay spread, 0.26 /spl mu/sec; maximum Doppler frequency, 20 Hz).
Macroeconomic Determinants of Relative Wheat Prices: Integrating the Short Run and Long Run

Prior empirical studies ignore that markets, subject to overshooting, determine farm prices and macroeconomic variables jointly. So, these elasticities are statistically unreliable. Using cointegration, with all variables determined simultaneously, we find that instantaneous wheat price elasticities with respect to the real exchange rate and interest rate are -127 and -197, respectively. Here, we measure the amount that the wheat price overshoots its equilibrium. The extent of overshooting differs for different monetary policy regimes. However, 57 percent of the deviation from longrun equilibrium is corrected within two quarters.
Parent–infant interactions among families with alcoholic fathers

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between fathers' alcoholism and the quality of parent–infant interactions during free play. A related goal was to study the potential mediating or moderating role of comorbid parental psychopathology, such as depression and antisocial behavior, difficult infant temperament, and parental aggression. The sample consisted of 204 families with 12-month-old infants (104 alcoholic and 100 control families), recruited from New York State birth records. Results indicated that fathers' alcoholism was associated with a number of other risk factors (depression, antisocial behavior, and family aggression). Fathers' alcoholism was also associated with more negative father–infant interactions as indicated by lower paternal sensitivity, positive affect, verbalizations, higher negative affect, and lower infant responsiveness among alcoholic fathers. As expected, fathers' depression mediated the relationship between fathers' alcoholism and sensitivity, while maternal depression mediated the association between maternal alcohol problems and maternal sensitivity. Parents' psychopathology did not moderate the association between alcoholism and parent-infant interactions. The results from the present study suggest that the origins of risk for later maladjustment among children of alcoholic fathers are apparent as early as infancy and highlight the role of comorbid parental risk factors.
Mechanistic insight into mycobacterial MmpL protein function

Mycobacterial cell walls are complex structures containing a broad range of unusual lipids, glycolipids and other polymers, some of which act as immunomodulators or virulence determinants. Better understanding of the enzymes involved in export processes would enlighten cell wall biogenesis. Bernut et al. ( ) present the findings of a structural and functional investigation of one of the most important transporter families, the MmpL proteins, members of the resistance‐nodulation‐cell division (RND) superfamily. A Tyr842His missense mutation in the mmpL4a gene was shown to be responsible for the smooth‐to‐rough morphotype change of the near untreatable opportunistic pathogen Mycobacterium bolletii due to its failure to export a glycopeptidolipid (GPL). This mutation was pleiotropic and markedly increased virulence in infection models. Tyr842 is well conserved in all actinobacterial MmpL proteins suggesting that it is functionally important and this was confirmed by several approaches including replacing the corresponding residue in MmpL3 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Structural modelling combined with experimental results showed Tyr842 to be a critical residue for mediating the proton motive force required for GPL export. This mechanistic insight applies to all MmpL proteins and probably to all RND transporters.
Isolation and characterization of yeast monomorphic mutants of Candida albicans

A method was devised for the isolation of yeast monomorphic (LEV) mutants of Candida albicans. By this procedure, about 20 stable yeast-like mutants were isolated after mutagenesis with ethyl methane sulfonate. The growth rate of the mutants in different carbon sources, both fermentable and not, was indistinguishable from that of the parental strain, but they were unable to grow as mycelial forms after application of any of the common effective inducers, i.e., heat shock, pH alterations, proline addition, or use of GlcNAc as the carbon source. Studies performed with one selected strain demonstrated that it had severe alterations in the chemical composition of the cell wall, mainly in the levels of chitin and glucans, and in specific mannoproteins, some of them recognizable by specific polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. It is suggested that these structural alterations hinder the construction of a normal hyphal wall.
Biomarker discovery and compound evaluation using two-hybrid proteomic systems

Many proteomic technologies require a heavy investment in expertise and technology, which place these approaches beyond many labs and small companies. However, proteomic approaches are ideal for pilot experiments, identifying relevant biomarkers and protein pathways for development or analysis of therapeutic compounds. The two-hybrid proteomic systems are available and affordable to most researchers, requiring little more than standard microbiological equipment. The screens rapidly generate data, identifying protein interactions that can be used to construct small local protein networks. Using data from large-scale projects, these small local protein networks can be used to identify the larger cellular pathways that are being affected by therapeutic compounds in the screen. The foundation for the two-hybrid proteomic systems are commercially available, as are high quality cDNA libraries. The straightforwardness of the two-hybrid proteomic system allows smaller groups to focus their resources on critical cellular pathways and molecular targets by taking advantage of a trusted molecular assay and an ever growing set of postgenomic era databases.
Mechanism of the medium‐duration afterhyperpolarization in rat serotonergic neurons

Most serotonergic neurons display a prominent medium‐duration afterhyperpolarization (mAHP), which is mediated by small‐conductance Ca2+‐activated K+ (SK) channels. Recent ex vivo and in vivo experiments have suggested that SK channel blockade increases the firing rate and/or bursting in these neurons. The purpose of this study was therefore to characterize the source of Ca2+ which activates the mAHP channels in serotonergic neurons. In voltage‐clamp experiments, an outward current was recorded at −60 mV after a depolarizing pulse to +100 mV. A supramaximal concentration of the SK channel blockers apamin or (‐)‐bicuculline methiodide blocked this outward current. This current was also sensitive to the broad Ca2+ channel blocker Co2+ and was partially blocked by both ω‐conotoxin and mibefradil, which are blockers of N‐type and T‐type Ca2+ channels, respectively. Neither blockers of other voltage‐gated Ca2+ channels nor DBHQ, an inhibitor of Ca2+‐induced Ca2+ release, had any effect on the SK current. In current‐clamp experiments, mAHPs following action potentials were only blocked by ω‐conotoxin and were unaffected by mibefradil. This was observed in slices from both juvenile and adult rats. Finally, when these neurons were induced to fire in an in vivo‐like pacemaker rate, only ω‐conotoxin was able to increase their firing rate (by ~30%), an effect identical to the one previously reported for apamin. Our results demonstrate that N‐type Ca2+ channels are the only source of Ca2+ which activates the SK channels underlying the mAHP. T‐type Ca2+ channels may also activate SK channels under different circumstances.
Election analysis in Colombia and Venezuela 2015 through sentiment analysis and Twitter

This paper presents an analysis of the accounts of the main candidates in the regional elections on October 25, 2015 in Colombia (Bogota, Medellin and Cali) and the official hashtags of the two main parties for parliamentary elections on December 6, 2015 in Venezuela (PSUV and MUD) in order to determine the positive or negative trends and compare them with the results of the respective elections. To develop the analysis, we resorted to the technique of sentiment analysis own of data mining and the use of descriptive statistics, concluding that sentiment analysis for estimating trends requires processes to monitor retweets , if you want acceptable results.
Radial Basis Function Neural Network Based on Ant Colony Optimization

To settle the problem that the cluster results of k-mean clustering radial basis function (RBF) is easy to be influenced by selection of initial characters and converge to local minimum, ant colony optimization (ACO) for the RBF neural networks which will optimize the center of RBF neural networks and reduce the number of the hidden layer neurons nodes and a model based on this method were presented in this paper. Compared with k-mean clustering RBF algorithm, the result demonstrates that the accuracy of ant colony optimization for the radial basis function (RBF) neural networks is higher, and the extent of fitting has been improved.
Establishment and characterization of adriamycin-resistant human colorectal adenocarcinoma HCT-15 cell lines with multidrug resistance

The multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype, either intrinsic and/or acquired, is discussed in relation to several MDR-associated markers such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp) encoded by mdr1, multidrug-resistance-associated protein (MRP) encoded by MRP and lung-resistance-associated protein (LRP) encoded by LRP. Well-characterized in vitro models are required to elucidate the mechanisms of MDR. The aim of the present study is the establishment of a drug-resistant subline from human colorectal adenocarcinoma HCT-15 that intrinsically expresses moderate levels of P-gp, MRP and LRP. Three adriamycin-resistant sublines (HCT-15/ADM1, HCT-15/ADM2 and HCT-15/ADM2-2) were established by stepwise exposure in growth medium that was supplemented with 25-200 ng/ml adriamycin - resulting in a 2.2- to 7.8-fold increase in IC50 values by using the XTT assay. They were cross-resistant to MDR-related drugs, epirubicin, mitoxantrone, vincristine, etoposide and taxol, but not the MDR-unrelated drug, mytomycin C. The resistance to adriamycin was confirmed in vivo by a lack of sensitivity in athymic nude mice. Gene expression data for mdr1/P-gp, MRP/MRP and LRP/LRP on both mRNA and protein levels demonstrated that the molecules contributing to MDR in resistant sublines are mainly P-gp and partially MRP. The newly established adriamycin-resistant sublines of HCT-15 will provide clinically relevant tools to investigate how to overcome drug resistance and elucidate possible mechanisms of acquired MDR in human colon cancer.
Effects of testosterone replacement in men with opioid-induced androgen deficiency: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Symptomatic androgen deficiency is common in patients taking opioid analgesics, as these drugs potently suppress the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. However, the efficacy of testosterone replacement in this setting remains unclear. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the efficacy of testosterone replacement on pain perception and other androgen-dependent outcomes in men with opioid-induced androgen deficiency. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, parallel placebo-controlled trial at an outpatient academic research center. Participants were men aged 18 to 64 years on opioid analgesics for chronic noncancer pain, and total testosterone levels were <350 ng/dL. Participants were randomly assigned to 14 weeks of daily transdermal gel that contained 5 g of testosterone or placebo. Primary outcomes were changes in self-reported clinical pain and objectively assessed pain sensitivity. Sexual function, quality of life, and body composition were also assessed. The mean age was 49 years. The median total and free testosterone levels at baseline were 243 ng/dL and 47 pg/mL and 251 ng/dL and 43 pg/mL in the testosterone and placebo arm, respectively. Of the 84 randomized participants, 65 had follow-up data on efficacy outcomes. Compared with men assigned to the placebo arm, those assigned to testosterone replacement experienced greater improvements in pressure and mechanical hyperalgesia, sexual desire, and role limitation due to emotional problems. Testosterone administration was also associated with an improvement in body composition. There were no between-group differences in changes in self-reported pain. In conclusion, in men with opioid-induced androgen deficiency, testosterone administration improved pain sensitivity, sexual desire, body composition, and aspects of quality of life.
Do Pro-environmental Appeals Trigger Pro-environmental Behavior in Hotel Guests?

Appeals to people’s pro-environmental values have been shown to trigger pro-environmental behavior across a range of contexts. The present study tests the potential of such interventions in a hedonic context where behavioral change does not generate utilitarian benefits (tourism). Results from a field experiment in a four-star hotel in Slovenia indicate that appeals to people’s pro-environmental values fail to significantly increase tourists’ hotel towel reuse and decrease room electricity consumption, suggesting that interventions in hedonic contexts—such as tourism—may require the use of more tangible benefits in order to change behavior.
A High-Frequency Resonant Converter Based on the Class Phi2 Inverter for Wireless Power Transfer

This paper presents the design and implementation of high frequency resonant converter based on the Class Φ2 inverter for inductive power transfer. MHz frequency operation can allow for higher power density than conventional switching frequencies. The converter is based on the Class Φ2 inverter, reducing the voltage stress across the switch compared to other resonant topologies. A prototype of converter and a few cm airgap inductive coupling system with resistive load was implemented. We will demonstrate a greater than hundred Watt push-pull resonant converter for inductive power transfer at 13.56MHz.
Modern Monetary Policy Evaluation and the Lucas Critique

We can divide modern mainstream approaches to monetary policy evaluation in roughly four groups: large-scale Keynesian macroeconometrics, Monetarism, New Classical macroeconomics, and the most recent consensus approach of New Keynesian DSGE modeling. In a brief historical overview it is shown that the overarching element in all four approaches is a distinctly positivistic framework of mathematical model building and testing in light of continuously gathered macro data. It is argued that this is precisely the reason why the modern consensus approach cannot be seen as an adequate solution to the fundamental problem indicated by the Lucas Critique. The latter must not be seen as a critique of any particular modeling approach within modern mainstream macroeconomics, but rather as one addressing its positivistic research program in general. A more radical critique of positivism is presented in order to clarify the core problem implicit in the Lucas Critique and to hint at a more promising route to circumvent it – a route that has been mostly neglected by mainstream economics.
Time-varying correlation and common structures in volatility

This thesis studies time series properties of the covariance structure of multivariate asset returns. First, the time-varying feature of correlation is investigated at the intraday level with a new correlation model incorporating the intraday correlation dynamics. Second, the thesis develops a multivariate factor model where the common factors are imposed directly on volatility. Third, the pricing implications of the volatility factors are shown by applications on option returns.
Power Equalization for SOA-Based Dual-Loop Optical Buffer by Optical Control Pulse Optimization

In this paper, a theoretical study and experimental demonstration are applied to achieve power equalization for semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)-based dual-loop optical buffers (DLOBs). It is found that, due to the gain saturation and limited linewidth-enhancement factor of the SOA, the peak power of a packet pulse with an optically controlled delay of 9.9 mus is 4.83 dB lower than that of a packet pulse without storage. In order to eliminate the 4.83-dB output power fluctuation of the DLOB, a simple power-equalization method based on the optimization of an optical control pulse is proposed. By injecting a negative optical control pulse, the output power fluctuation of a packet pulse can be effectively reduced to zero. We have also investigated the peak power level of the optical control pulse required to fulfil the buffer function. It is found that the SOA with larger linewidth-enhancement factor and larger small-signal gain should be used to reduce the peak power of the optical control pulse. It is also theoretically found that, due to the negative optical-control pulse injection, the packet signal with Gaussian profile has some distortion after storage. However, the distortion effect is mitigated when the shape of the input pulse is more similar to the square profile. Finally, the proposed method for achieving power equalization in an SOA-based optical buffer has been justified by carrying out a 2.5-Gb/s 2times2 exchange-bypass optical switch experiment. We believe that this power-equalization method can be also applied to other SOA cross-phase modulation-based applications
Parkinson's Disease Skin Fibroblasts Display Signature Alterations in Growth, Redox Homeostasis, Mitochondrial Function, and Autophagy

The discovery of biomarkers for Parkinson's disease (PD) is challenging due to the heterogeneous nature of this disorder, and a poor correlation between the underlying pathology and the clinically expressed phenotype. An ideal biomarker would inform on PD-relevant pathological changes via an easily assayed biological characteristic, which reliably tracks clinical symptoms. Human dermal (skin) fibroblasts are accessible peripheral cells that constitute a patient-specific system, which potentially recapitulates the PD chronological and epigenetic aging history. Here, we compared primary skin fibroblasts obtained from individuals diagnosed with late-onset sporadic PD, and healthy age-matched controls. These fibroblasts were studied from fundamental viewpoints of growth and morphology, as well as redox, mitochondrial, and autophagic function. It was observed that fibroblasts from PD subjects had higher growth rates, and appeared distinctly different in terms of morphology and spatial organization in culture, compared to control cells. It was also found that the PD fibroblasts exhibited significantly compromised mitochondrial structure and function when assessed via morphological and oxidative phosphorylation assays. Additionally, a striking increase in baseline macroautophagy levels was seen in cells from PD subjects. Exposure of the skin fibroblasts to physiologically relevant stress, specifically ultraviolet irradiation (UVA), further exaggerated the autophagic dysfunction in the PD cells. Moreover, the PD fibroblasts accumulated higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) coupled with lower cell viability upon UVA treatment. In essence, these studies highlight primary skin fibroblasts as a patient-relevant model that captures fundamental PD molecular mechanisms, and supports their potential utility to develop diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for the disease.