Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thyroid-dependent maturation of neonatal brain but not lung epidermal growth factor receptors.

Although the role of thyroid hormones in enhancing lung and brain maturation during the perinatal period is well established, the cellular mechanisms involved in these processes are incompletely understood. Hypothyroidism retards the development of fetal pulmonary insulin, neonatal pulmonary beta-adrenergic and neonatal brain insulin receptors. In this study, we investigated the effect of hypo- or hyperthyroidism on the development of neonatal brain and lung epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors. The rabbit pups were rendered hypothyroid by adding 0.05% propylthiouracil to the drinking water starting at 23 days of gestation and thereafter. The neonatal hyperthyroid state was achieved by intramuscular administration of 100 micrograms/kg of synthroid to the rabbit doe on the 29th and 30th day of pregnancy. Neonatal plasma free thyroxine (T4) concentrations were quantitated by a radioimmunoassay. Brain and lung plasma membranes were isolated by differential centrifugation. EGF receptor characteristics were studied using 125I-EGF binding assays and Scatchard analysis. The plasma free T4 concentrations were 0.36 +/- (SEM) 0.02 (n = 6), p less than 0.01 (n = 7) and 1.76 +/- 0.1 (n = 6) ng/dl in the control, hypothyroid and hyperthyroid pups, respectively. The percent specific binding of 125I-EGF to 200 micrograms of brain plasma membrane (BPM) protein was significantly lower in the hypothyroid (0.62 +/- 0.03, n = 7, p less than 0.01), and higher in the thyroxine-treated (1.58 +/- 0.08, n = 6, p less than 0.01) group when compared to control (1.08 +/- 0.06, n = 6) animals. However, the percent specific binding of 125I-EGF to 100 micrograms of lung plasma membrane (LPM) protein was similar in all three groups (2.24 +/- 0.28, control; 2.01 +/- 0.5, hypothyroid, and 2.26 +/- 0.3, hyperthyroid). The number of EGF receptors per milligram of BPM protein (X 10(-10] were lower in the hypothyroid (2.24 +/- 0.03, n = 5) and higher in the hyperthyroid (6.6 +/- 0.02, n = 4) group when compared to control (4.4 +/- 0.05, n = 4) with no apparent difference in Kd. There was no difference in the number of EGF binding sites per milligram of LPM protein (X 10(-10] within the groups (6.6 +/- 0.8, n = 6, control; 7.9 +/- 0.4, n = 4, hypothyroid, and 7.3 +/- 0.3, n = 4, hyperthyroid). Presence of high affinity receptors for EGF in the neonatal brain as well as lung supports the hypothesis that EGF may play an important role in neonatal brain and lung maturation. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
ITER and JT-60SA Conductor Production at ICAS

The European and the Korean contributions to the ITER Project in terms of cable-in-conduit conductors have been assigned to the Italian Consortium for Applied Superconductivity (ICAS). ICAS' charter members are: ENEA, with the role of general supervision and monitoring, CRIOTEC Impianti S.r. l. , in charge of jacketing activities, and TRATOS Cavi S.p.A. , with the duty of cable manufacturing. The ITER production consists of about 40 km of Nb3Sn toroidal field (TF) conductor and 22 km of NbTi poloidal field (PF) conductor, for coils 1 and 6. As part of the EU contribution to the construction of the JT-60SA Japanese Tokamak Reactor, ICAS is also in charge of producing about 28 km of NbTi TF conductor, required for the whole TF magnet system. Thanks to the high level and unique expertise available at ICAS, the consortium has been also assigned to manufacture the ITER Central Solenoid conductor samples to be tested in SULTAN for the final, positive, assessment of the updated design. In the present paper, the steps leading to the successful qualification of the main production processes will be described. What is more, the manufacturing of the first conductor unit lengths of the “production phase,” i.e., the ones that will be wound to operate in the actual ITER TF and JT-60SA TF superconducting magnets, will be reported. The fabrication of the ITER CS conductor samples will be illustrated as well.
Forecasting Net Charge-Off Rates of Banks: A PLS Approach

This chapter relies on a factor-based forecasting model for net charge-off rates of banks in a data-rich environment. More specifically, we employ a partial least squares (PLS) method to extract target-specific factors and find that it outperforms the principal component approach in-sample by construction. Further, we apply PLS to out-of-sample forecasting exercises for aggregate bank net charge-off rates on various loans as well as for similar individual bank rates using over 250 quarterly macroeconomic data from 1987Q1 to 2016Q4. Our empirical results demonstrate superior performance of PLS over benchmark models, including both a stationary autoregressive type model and a nonstationary random walk model. Our approach can help banks identify important variables that contribute to bank losses so that they are better able to contain losses to manageable levels.
Efficiency and Persistence of Spanish Absolute Return Funds

espanolLa medida de la performance es un area de crucial interes en la valoracion de activos y seleccion de inversiones. Elevadas volatilidades, asi como la agregacion temporal de rendimientos, entre otras caracteristicas, pueden distorsionar los resultados de las medidas convencionales de performance. En este trabajo, estudiamos la performance de 115 fondos de retorno absoluto espanoles en el periodo 2010–2015 usando los ratios de Sharpe, Treynor y Jensen y el ratio de Sharpe modificado. Posteriormente, para clasificar los fondos se aplica el Analisis Envolvente de Datos (Data Envelopment Analysis, DEA) en aras de evitar los problemas derivados de la no normalidad de los rendimientos, dado que rendimientos no gaussianos no suponen un problema a la hora de implementar el Analisis Envolvente de Datos. Adicionalmente, se aplica el test de Malkiel, Brown y Goetzman y el test de Rude y Khan en periodos anuales para determinar la existencia de persistencia. Finalmente. se estudia la relacion entre eficiencia y persistencia con objeto de determinar la relacion entre ambas medidas y apoyar el proceso de toma de decisiones. Los resultados muestran una significativa relacion entre eficiencia cruzada y el ratio de Sharpe modificado asi como la existencia de persistencia en periodos anuales. No obstante, los resultados no permiten concluir en ninguna relacion directa entre eficiencia y persistencia. EnglishPerformance measurement is an area of crucial interest in asset valuation and investment management. High volatility as well as time aggregation of returns, amongst other characteristics, may distort the results of conventional measures of performance. In this work, we study the performance of 115 Spanish Absolute Return Funds in the period 2010-2015, using the Sharpe, Treynor, Jensen and Modified Sharpe ratios. We then apply Data Envelopment Analysis to classify the funds in order to avoid the problems arising from the non-normality of their returns, since non-gaussian returns do not pose a problem in Data Envelopment Analysis implementation. In addition, we apply the Malkiel, Brown and Goetzman test and the Rude and Khan test in annual periods to determine the existence of persistence. Finally, we study the relationship between efficiency and persistence in order to determine the relationship between both measures and to support decision-making processes. The results show a significant relationship between cross efficiency and Modified Sharpe ratios as well as the existence of persistence for annual periods. Nevertheless, the results do not allow concluding any relationship amongst efficiency and persistence.
Temporal Stability and Biodiversity of Two Complex Antilisterial Cheese-Ripening Microbial Consortia

ABSTRACT The temporal stability and diversity of bacterial species composition as well as the antilisterial potential of two different, complex, and undefined microbial consortia from red-smear soft cheeses were investigated. Samples were collected twice, at 6-month intervals, from each of two food producers, and a total of 400 bacterial isolates were identified by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis. Coryneform bacteria represented the majority of the isolates, with certain species being predominant. In addition, Marinolactobacillus psychrotolerans, Halomonas venusta, Halomonas variabilis, Halomonas sp. (106 to 107 CFU per g of smear), and an unknown, gram-positive bacterium (107 to 108 CFU per g of smear) are described for the first time in such a consortium. The species composition of one consortium was quite stable over 6 months, but the other consortium revealed less diversity of coryneform species as well as less stability. While the first consortium had a stable, extraordinarily high antilisterial potential in situ, the antilisterial activity of the second consortium was lower and decreased with time. The cause for the antilisterial activity of the two consortia remained unknown but is not due to the secretion of soluble, inhibitory substances by the individual components of the consortium. Our data indicate that the stability over time and a potential antilisterial activity are individual characteristics of the ripening consortia which can be monitored and used for safe food production without artificial preservatives.
Posthumanist Movement Art Pedagogy: Geolocative Awareness and Co-Figurative Agency With Mobile Learning

Mobile learning from a posthumanist critical perspective is the co-figuration of learner with geolocative mobile devices that blurs boundaries of the networked body. In this study, four art education researchers explore geolocative co-figurative possibilities of mobile learning. The authors theorize co-figurative agency and heighten awareness of the importance of sociospatial relationships afforded by the current milieu of networked geolocative knowledge to arts pedagogy. Through analysis of case studies of art practice, a new theoretical concept called posthumanist movement art pedagogy is developed to investigate movement as a posthumanist art practice, enacting agency through mobile data co-figuration within spaces of geolocative awareness. Case studies concentrate on mobile new media art utilizing photography, gamification, Global Positioning System drawing, and data collection/broadcasting. Impacts on the field of art and education focus on movement as being co-figured with the body and geolocation data as sites for potential transformation, embodiment, play, and data-identity constructions.
Electrical potentials of the sigmoid colon and rectum in irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis

Using a simple and rapid method, electrical potential differences across rectal and colonic mucosa have been measured at routine sigmoidoscopy in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis. In patients with irritable bowel syndrome, all of whom had diarrhoea, the mucosa was charged negatively on the luminal side and potential differences were not significantly different from those of normal subjects. In acute exacerbations of ulcerative colitis, the potential difference was reversed, the luminal side being positive. This characteristic change was seen even in mild attacks. The potential difference was usually restored to normal within a few weeks of commencing treatment. In some cases, however, it was persistently abnormal for months and failed to show the normal response to stimulation by the mineralocorticoid, fludrocortisone. The way in which measurements of potential difference can be useful in diagnosis, prognosis, and as a guide to treatment is discussed.
The Linear Quadratic Regulator with chance constraints

This paper is concerned with the design of linear state feedback control laws for linear systems with additive Gaussian disturbances. The objective is to find the feedback gain that minimizes a quadratic cost function in closed-loop operation, while observing chance constraints on the input and/or the state. It is shown that this problem can be cast as a semi-definite program (SDP), in which the chance constraints appear as linear or bilinear matrix inequalities. Both individual chance constraints (ICCs) and joint chance constraints (JCCs) can be considered. In the case of ICCs only, the resulting SDP is linear and can be solved efficiently as a convex optimization program. In the presence of JCCs the SDP becomes bilinear, however it can still be solved efficiently by an iterative algorithm, at least to a local optimum. The application of the method is demonstrated for several numerical examples, underscoring its flexibility and ease of implementation.
The Domestic Politics of World Power: Explaining Debates over the United States Battleship Fleet, 1890–91

Abstract The United States' 1890–91 decision to begin building a battleship fleet, an important point in its development as a world power, can illuminate the domestic sources of foreign policy ambition. An analysis of roll-call votes in the House of Representatives indicates that socioeconomic divisions arising from industrialization strongly influenced support and opposition to the battleship fleet. This relationship worked mainly through trade policy interests: members of Congress from import-competing states tended to support the effort, while those from export-oriented states tended to oppose it. The patriotic symbolism of battleships at a time of labor unrest also helped motivate support for the program, though evidence of this pattern is less conclusive. Although party affiliation was crucial, it was also partly a function of economic structure, which shaped the two parties’ electoral fortunes. The impact of trade interests during this period is a mirror image of what previous research has found concerning the post-World War II era, when export-oriented interests tended to support American global activism and import-competing interests to oppose it. The reason for the difference is the Republican Party's commitment to trade protection, which strongly influenced both the goals of the policy and the identity of its supporters.
Toward accommodating gender differences in multimedia communication

While there have been measurable improvements in the technical development of multimedia, research from a socio-technical viewpoint suggests that the benefits of multimedia technology, especially in fulfilling user requirements, do not always live up to initial promises. This paper aims to address one of the fundamental but often neglected areas in user requirements, i.e., gender-related issues. The paper identifies and discusses gender differences in multimedia communication and recommends how the differences can be addressed. It proposes a model for accommodating gender differences in multimedia communication.
Hybrid Flying-Capacitor-Based Active-Neutral-Point-Clamped Five-Level Converter Operated With SHE-PWM

A five-level flying-capacitor (FC)-based active-neutral-point-clamped (ANPC) converter is an arrangement of a three-level ANPC converter and a two-level cell. In this paper, a control strategy is proposed to regulate the voltage across the FCs at their respective reference voltage levels by swapping the switching patterns of the switches based on the polarity of the output current, the polarity of the FC voltage, and the polarity of the fundamental line-to-neutral voltage under selective harmonic elimination pulsewidth modulation. The voltage across the FCs and the dc-link capacitors are simultaneously controlled at their reference voltage levels. The proposed control strategy is applied using power system computer aided design/electromagnetic transients including dc on a static synchronous compensator operating under a power-factor-correction mode to verify its performance. Experimental results are also presented for low and high number of angles per quarter period using a low-power laboratory prototype.
Determinants of protein–protein recognition by four helix bundles: changing the dimerization specificity of Tet repressor

Homo‐ and heterodimerization is essential for the activity of many proteins, particularly transcription factors. One widely distributed structural motif for protein recognition is the four helix bundle. To understand the molecular details determining specificity of subunit recognition in a dimer formed by a four helix bundle, we investigated Tet repressor (TetR) sequence variants TetR(B) and TetR(D), which do not form heterodimers. We used molecular modeling to identify residues with the potential to determine recognition of subunits. Directed mutagenesis of these residues in TetR(B) by the TetR(D) sequence resulted in chimeric TetR(B/D) repressors with new subunit recognition specificities. The single LS192 exchange in TetR(B/D)192 in the center of the helix bundle leads to a relaxed specificity since this variant dimerizes with TetR(B) and (D). To construct a variant with a new specificity it was not sufficient to mutate the contacting residue, F197, in the other subunit. Instead, it was necessary to exchange two more residues in the vicinity of F197 and S192. The resulting TetR(B/D)188, 192,193,197 forms dimers with TetR(D) but not with TetR(B), indicating that four amino acid exchanges are sufficient to change subunit recognition. These results establish that targeted alterations in the structural complementarity of protein–protein interaction surfaces can be used to construct new recognition specificities. However, it is not sufficient to adjust the complementary residues since the surrounding amino acids contribute essentially to protein–protein recognition.
Implementation of Cradle to Cradle diversity principles in business site development schemes

ABSTRACT The conventional linear ‘end-of-pipe’ approach to development of business site schemes is associated with high energy consumption, waste generation, air pollution and land contamination. These schemes are also not always sufficiently diverse to meet changing future needs, resulting in the legacy of derelict brownfield sites at the end of their service life. It is argued that by applying the diversity criteria of Cradle to Cradle (C2C) design philosophy to business site development, positive contributions can accrue to the natural and human environment, whilst maintaining flexibility and adaptability to meet changing future needs. This study investigates the development and integration of C2C diversity criteria on two pilot case study business sites, using an action research strategy. The study finds that essential ingredients for successful integration of C2C diversity criteria are co-creation, innovative procurement practices, good governance and willingness to accept risk. These parameters inform guidelines for achieving diversity on business sites.
Wheat Gluten Causes Dendritic Cell Maturation and Chemokine Secretion1

Wheat gluten causes gut inflammation in genetically predisposed individuals. We tested the hypothesis that wheat gluten is not only a target of adaptive immunity, but also modulates the function of APC. Dendritic cells (DC) derived from the bone marrow of BALB/c mice were exposed to chymotrypsin-treated wheat gluten. This induced DC maturation as estimated by all surface markers tested (MHC class II, CD40, CD54, and CD86). The effect was dose dependent, and, at 100 μg/ml gluten matched that caused by 10 ng/ml LPS. A role of endotoxin contamination was ruled out by demonstrating the resistance of wheat gluten effects to LPS antagonist polymyxin B. DC from LPS nonresponder strain C3H/HeJ were affected by wheat gluten, but not by LPS. Proteinase K-digested wheat gluten was unable to stimulate DC maturation. Wheat gluten induced a unique secretion pattern of selected cytokines and chemokines in DC. Classic pro- or anti-inflammatory mediators were not produced, in contrast to LPS. Rather, chemokines MIP-2 and keratinocyte-derived cytokine were secreted in large amounts. We conclude that wheat gluten lowers the threshold for immune responses by causing maturation of APC, by attracting leukocytes and increasing their reactivity state. In the presence of an appropriate genetic predisposition, this is expected to increase the risk of adverse immune reactions to wheat gluten or to other Ags presented.
Corruption, Cooperation, and the Evolution of Prosocial Institutions

This article describes how corruption can and ought to be viewed as competing scales of cooperation. Viewing corruption through the lens of the cooperation literature gives us a mature theoretical and empirical framework from which to derive predictions and make sense of existing findings. This article was originally posted online at Evonomics and ProMarket, The blog of the Stigler Center at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business as "Bribery, Cooperation, and the Evolution of Prosocial Instituions". I'm publishing a pre-print here for easier citation and for eventual expansion.
It’s Raining Men! Hallelujah? The Long-Run Consequences of Male-Biased Sex Ratios

We document the short- and long-run effects of male-biased sex ratios. We exploit a natural historical experiment where large numbers of male convicts and far fewer female convicts were sent to Australia in the 18th and 19th centuries. In areas with more male-biased sex ratios, women were historically more likely to get married and less likely to work outside the home. In these areas today, both men and women continue to have more conservative attitudes towards women working, and women work fewer hours outside the home. While these women enjoy more leisure, they are also less likely to work in high-ranking occupations. We demonstrate that the consequences of uneven sex ratios on cultural attitudes, labour supply decisions, and occupational choices can persist in the long run, well after sex ratios are back to the natural rate. We document the roles of vertical cultural transmission and marriage homogamy in sustaining this cultural persistence.
Influence of Environmental Oxygen on Development and Hatching of Aquatic Eggs of the Australian Frog, Crinia georgiana

The effect of oxygen partial pressure (Po2) on development and hatching was investigated in aquatic embryos of the myobatrachid frog, Crinia georgiana, in the field and in the laboratory. Eggs from 29 field nests experienced widely variable Po2 but similar temperatures. Mean Po2 in different nests ranged between 2.9 and 19.3 kPa (grand mean 12.9 kPa), and mean temperature ranged between 11.9° and 16.8°C (grand mean 13.7°C). There was no detectable effect of Po2 or temperature on development rate or hatching time in the field, except in one nest at 2.9 kPa where the embryos died, presumably in association with hypoxia. Laboratory eggs were incubated at 15°C at a range of Po2 between 2 and 25 kPa. Between 5 and 25 kPa, there was almost no effect of Po2 on development rate to stage 26, but the embryos hatched progressively earlier—at earlier stages and lower gut‐free body mass—at lower Po2. At 2 kPa, development was severely delayed, growth of the embryo slowed, and morphological anomalies appeared. A high tolerance to low Po2 may be an adaptation to embryonic development in the potentially hypoxic, aquatic environment.