Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-run social and economic responses of fertility in the United States.

The classic linear relationship of fertility rates, either in terms of completed family size or birth timing, to income fails to take adequately into consideration social variables, such as marriage rate, female unemployment rate, urban vs rural residence, divorce rate, and contraceptive sales levels. Even when only income is considered, its effect on fertility is not linear because the opportunity cost of children is high at both ends of a marriage -- during the 1st 2 years because income is low and during the last 6 years because income is high enough for other values, such as leisure, to compete with children. The relation between income and fertility is therefore parabolic. If one analyzes US census data from 1900 to 1977, the threshold level of permanent income at which the influence of income becomes negative is $2599. This value of permanent income occurs between 1958 and 1959, and the US birth rate began to decline in 1957. Income also affects fertility indirectly because it affects marriage rates and the timing of births. Divorce rates also affect fertility in 2 ways. They limit the completed family size of any 1 family, and they tend to have a conservative effect on risk-taking behavior, such as having children. Thus, increasing marriage rates have a positive effect on fertility; increasing divorce rate, a negative one. Female employment increases the opportunity cost of having a child, since a child may be considered as 1 kind of durable good, which competes for the woman's time. Migration from rural to urban areas also effects a decline in fertility. War affects fertility in at least 3 ways. It influences the number of men away, the number of men returning at the same time, and the amount of stress on a military family whether there is a war or not. What these various relationships indicate is that it would be premature to assume that as income increases fertility rates will necessarily decline. If the behavior of divorce and marriage rates remains stable and the rate of growth in permanent per capita income remains at 2.5%-3.0% per year, given the present age structure of the population, marriage rates, and thus fertility rates, will increase.
Characterization of acetylcholine receptors in the Schwann cell membrane of the squid nerve fibre.

1. The effects of alpha‐bungarotoxin, nicotine and muscarine on the Schwann cell membrane potential have been studied in the giant nerve fibre of the squid. The external application of alpha‐bungarotoxin (10(−6), 10(−8), 10(−9) M) irreversibly blocks the long‐lasting Schwann cell hyperpolarizations following the conduction of nerve impulse trains by the axon. It also blocks the Schwann cell hyperpolarizing response to the external application of carbamylcholine (10(−6)M) to the resting nerve fibre. 2. Externally applied D‐tubocurarine (10(−5)M) protects against the irreversible action of alpha‐bungarotoxin (10(−9)M) on the Schwann cell. Within 10 min of reimmersion in toxin‐free sea water there is complete recovery of the Schwann cell hyperpolarizing response to carbamylcholine (10(−6)M) which had been initially abolished. 3. Nicotine (10(−6)M) induces a prolonged hyperpolarization of the Schwann cells in the resting nerve fibre, wheras at the same concentration, muscarine has no appreciable effect on the Schwann cell membrane potential. 4. None of these drugs, at the concnetrations utilized in the present study, had any appreciable effect on the resting and action potentials of the axon. 5. These findings show the presence of acetylcholine receptors of the nicotinic type in the Schwann cell membrane, and give further support to the hypothesis on the role of the acetylcholine system in the genesis of the long‐lasting Schwann cell hyperpolarizations caused by the conduction of nerve impulse trains by the axon.
Influence of pipe filling, geometry and antenna polarisation on GPR measurements

The number of buried cables and pipes in urban areas has increased tremendously over the last decades. As the precise documentation of their layout is often missing, damage occurs frequently during construction work. Consequently there is urgent need for non-destructive methods providing reliable and fast prediction of their location. The Applied Geophysics Section of Frankfurt University takes part in the DETECTINO Project(Hildesheim, Germany) which aims at the development of an all-inclusive utility locating tool. The appraisal of GPR reflection patterns requires profound knowledge of the underlying physical processes. This is best achieved by deploying the locating tool on well defined objects, such as the Frankfurt utility detection test site providing a large variety of pipes and cables in different geotechnical settings. The exact knowledge of the geotechnical data allows the comparison of theoretical and observed data by adequate modelling. In this contribution we present modelled and measured data for pipes with varying depth, diameter and filling, for parallel and perpendicular source polarisation.
Circadian PER 2 : : LUC rhythms in the olfactory bulb of freely moving mice depend on the SCN but not on behavior rhythms

Rights This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Ono, D. , Honma, S. , Honma, K. -i. (2015), Circadian PER2::LUC rhythms in the olfactory bulb of freely moving mice depend on the suprachiasmatic nucleus but not on behaviour rhythms. European Journal of Neuroscience, 42: 3128‒3137. , which has been published in final form at http://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.13111. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving. Type article (author version)
MPBC: A Mobility Prediction-Based Clustering Scheme for Ad Hoc Networks

Creating a hierarchical structure by clustering has been considered an effective method to improve the performance of ad hoc networks, such as scalability and stability. This is particularly important for networks with mobile nodes, where the mobility can cause randomly and dynamically changed network topology. In this paper, we propose a mobility prediction-based clustering (MPBC) scheme for ad hoc networks with high mobility nodes, where a node may change the associated cluster head (CH) several times during the lifetime of its connection. The proposed clustering scheme includes an initial clustering stage and a cluster maintaining stage. The Doppler shifts associated with periodically exchanged Hello packets between neighboring nodes are used to estimate their relative speeds, and the estimation results are utilized as the basic information in MPBC. In the initial clustering stage, the nodes having the smallest relative mobility in their neighborhoods are selected as the CHs. In the cluster maintaining stage, mobility prediction strategies are introduced to handle the various problems caused by node movements, such as possible association losses to current CHs and CH role changes, for extending the connection lifetime and providing more stable clusters. An analytical model is developed to find the upper and lower bounds of the average connection lifetime and to find the average association change rate of MPBC. Numerical results verify the analysis and further show that the proposed clustering scheme outperforms the existing clustering schemes in ad hoc networks with high mobility nodes.
Adaptive Multi-scale Prognostics and Health Management for Smart Manufacturing Systems

The Adaptive Multi-scale Prognostics and Health Management (AM-PHM) is a methodology designed to enable PHM in smart manufacturing systems. In application, PHM information is not yet fully utilized in higher-level decision-making in manufacturing systems. AM-PHM leverages and integrates lower-level PHM information such as from a machine or component with hierarchical relationships across the component, machine, work cell, and assembly line levels in a manufacturing system. The AM-PHM methodology enables the creation of actionable prognostic and diagnostic intelligence up and down the manufacturing process hierarchy. Decisions are then made with the knowledge of the current and projected health state of the system at decision points along the nodes of the hierarchical structure. To overcome the issue of exponential explosion of complexity associated with describing a large manufacturing system, the AM-PHM methodology takes a hierarchical Markov Decision Process (MDP) approach into describing the system and solving for an optimized policy. A description of the AM-PHM methodology is followed by a simulated industry-inspired example to demonstrate the effectiveness of AM-PHM.
Caching of intermediate results in DHT-based RDF stores

In the recent past, several peer-to-peer based RDF stores have emerged in order to cope with large amounts of RDF data that are queried by many clients concurrently. Efficient query evaluation is a central issue in order to exploit the benefits of such a decentralised approach. This paper shows how caching of intermediate results can significantly reduce the utilisation of network communication, which is currently among the most serious bottlenecks of Distributed Hash Table (DHT)-based RDF stores. The approach presented uses a combination of query shipping and online query planning to follow paths of cached intermediate results from previous queries.
Microtubule-Targeted Chemotherapeutic Agents Inhibit Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) Signaling

The transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is inappropriately activated in the majority of breast tumors, especially in aggressive and invasive ones. In addition to driving the expression of genes promoting malignancy, STAT3 associates with tubulin and can promote cell migration. Because microtubule-targeted drugs are among the most active agents used in the treatment of breast cancer, we examined whether microtubule-based chemotherapy modulates STAT3 activity. When treated with paclitaxel or vinorelbine, breast cancer cells with constitutive activation of STAT3 display a loss of STAT3 phosphorylation, and paclitaxel disrupts the interaction of STAT3 with tubulin. Paclitaxel also inhibits cytokine-induced STAT3 activation. This effect is specific for microtubule-targeted agents, because other chemotherapeutic drugs, such as doxorubicin, have no effect on STAT3. The loss of STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation is also reflected in an inhibition of expression of STAT3 target genes. This effect is not restricted to breast cancer, because similar effects are also seen in ovarian cancer and prostate cancer cells. Thus, in addition to their role in disrupting microtubule function, microtubule-targeted agents also suppress STAT3 signaling. This may be an important component of their activity, raising the possibility that microtubule targeted therapy may be particularly effective in tumors characterized by STAT3 activation.
A novel method for three‐dimensional observation of the vascular networks in the whole mouse brain

A novel method for acquiring serial images suitable for three‐dimensional reconstruction of vascular networks in the whole brain of mouse was developed. The brain infused with a White India ink‐gelatin solution was fixed and embedded in paraffin containing Sudan Black B through xylene also containing Sudan Black B. Each sliced surface of the paraffin block was coated with liquid paraffin and its image was serially acquired. Coating with liquid paraffin extremely improved the quality of the image. The series of serial images was free of distortion and a three‐dimensional image was reconstructed without the problem of the alignment and registration of adjacent images. The volume‐rendered image indicated three‐dimensional distribution of blood vessels in a whole brain. No ghost or shadow was observed on a volume‐rendered image of the White India ink‐gelatin infused brain. The z‐axial resolution examined on the orthogonal sections reconstituted from serial images obtained at an interval of 5 μm showed no cross talk, indicating that the z‐axial resolution was no larger than 5 μm. A proper understanding of the vascular system in a whole brain is indispensable to reveal the development of the vascular system in the brain of normal and genetically manipulated mouse and vascular alterations in pathological situation, such as stroke and neurodegenerative disease. Although simple and inexpensive, this method will provide fundamental information on the vascular system in a whole brain. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evidence that macrophages transfer arachidonic acid and cholesterol to tissues in vivo

Our previous studies have shown that [14C]‐labelled cholesterol (CHOL) and arachidonic acid (AA) are transferred from macrophages (Mϕ) to lymphocytes (LY) when these cells are co‐cultured. In this study, we investigated whether these lipids can be transferred from control and thioglycollate‐elicited Mϕ (THIO‐elicited Mϕ) to various tissues and organs in vivo. For this purpose, control and THIO‐elicited Mϕ were pre‐treated with [14C]‐AA and [3H]‐CHOL and then injected into the jugular vein of adult rats. More than 75% of the radioactivity injected was found in the liver of rats treated with [14C]‐AA labelled‐Mϕ either control and THIO‐stimulated. The radioactivity of [3H]‐CHOL labelled Mϕ was transferred mainly to the liver (51% in the control Mϕ and 23% in the thioglycollate Mϕ7) but it was also found in the kidney, lung and spleen. These results support the proposition that the transfer of lipids between cells also occurs in vivo. The full significance of this phenomenon however remains to be elucidated. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adaptational responses of the human Achilles tendon by modulation of the applied cyclic strain magnitude

SUMMARY Tendons are able to remodel their mechanical and morphological properties in response to mechanical loading. However, there is little information about the effects of controlled modulation in cyclic strain magnitude applied to the tendon on the adaptation of tendon's properties in vivo. The present study investigated whether the magnitude of the mechanical load induced as cyclic strain applied to the Achilles tendon may have a threshold in order to trigger adaptation effects on tendon mechanical and morphological properties. Twenty-one adults (experimental group, N=11; control group, N=10) participated in the study. The participants of the experimental group exercised one leg at low-magnitude tendon strain (2.85±0.99%) and the other leg at high-magnitude tendon strain (4.55±1.38%) of similar frequency and volume. After 14 weeks of exercise intervention we found a decrease in strain at a given tendon force, an increase in tendon-aponeurosis stiffness and tendon elastic modulus and a region-specific hypertrophy of the Achilles tendon only in the leg exercised at high strain magnitude. These findings provide evidence of the existence of a threshold or set-point at the applied strain magnitude at which the transduction of the mechanical stimulus may influence the tensional homeostasis of the tendons. The results further show that the mechanical load exerted on the Achilles tendon during the low-strain-magnitude exercise is not a sufficient stimulus for triggering further adaptation effects on the Achilles tendon than the stimulus provided by the mechanical load applied during daily activities.
Determination of glycyrrhetic acid in human plasma by HPLC‐MS method and investigation of its pharmacokinetics

Objective: To develop a high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS) method for the determination of the glycyrrhetic acid (GA) in human plasma and for the investigation of its pharmacokinetics after the oral administration of 150 mg diammonium glycyrrhizinate test and reference capsule formulations.
Continuous Hidden Markov Model based dynamic Persian Sign Language recognition

This study proposes a vision based Persian Sign Language (PSL) recognition system. Continuous Hidden Markov Model (HMM) with Gaussian mixture state observation densities is used to classify 15 dynamic signs. The proposed feature extraction approach is based on the spline interpolation of the sign trajectories. The efficiency of the system was assessed with a large set of videos collected by the authors. The system achieved the recognition rate of 98%. For signer-dependent and signer-independent experiments, the accuracy rates of 95.3% and 78% were obtained, respectively.
Multi-objective search for optimal multi-robot planning with finite LTL specifications and resource constraints

We present an efficient approach to plan action sequences for a team of robots from a single finite LTL mission specification. The resulting execution strategy is proven to solve the given mission with minimal team costs, e.g., with shortest execution time. For planning, an established graph-based search method based on the multi-objective shortest path problem is adapted to multi-robot planning and extended to support resource constraints. We further improve planning efficiency significantly for missions which consist of independent parts by using previous results regarding LTL decomposition. The efficiency and practicality of the ROS implementation of our approach is demonstrated in example scenarios.
Effect of two volume responsiveness evaluation methods on fluid resuscitation and prognosis in septic shock patients

Background Few studies have reported the effect of different volume responsiveness evaluation methods on volume therapy results and prognosis. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of two volume responsiveness evaluation methods, stroke volume variation (SVV) and stroke volume changes before and after passive leg raising (PLR‐&Dgr;SV), on fluid resuscitation and prognosis in septic shock patients. Methods Septic shock patients admitted to the Department of Critical Care Medicine of Zhejiang Hospital, China, from March 2011 to March 2013, who were under controlled ventilation and without arrhythmia, were studied. Patients were randomly assigned to the SVV group or the PLR‐&Dgr;SV group. The SVV group used the Pulse Indication Continuous Cardiac Output monitoring of SVV, and responsiveness was defined as SVV ≥12%. The PLR‐&Dgr;SV group used &Dgr;SV before and after PLR as the indicator, and responsiveness was defined as &Dgr;SV ≥15%. Six hours after fluid resuscitation, changes in tissue perfusion indicators (lactate, lactate clearance rate, central venous oxygen saturation (SCVO2), base excess (BE)), organ function indicators (white blood cell count, neutrophil percentage, platelet count, total protein, albumin, alanine aminotransferase, total and direct bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, serum creatine kinase, oxygenation index), fluid balance (6‐ and 24‐hour fluid input) and the use of cardiotonic drugs (dobutamine), prognostic indicators (the time and rate of achieving early goal‐directed therapy (EGDT) standards, duration of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit stay, and 28‐ day mortality) were observed. Results Six hours after fluid resuscitation, there were no significant differences in temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, SpO2, organ function indicators, or tissue perfusion indicators between the two groups (P >0.05). The 6‐ and 24‐hour fluid input was slightly less in the SVV group than in the PLR‐&Dgr;SV group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P >0.05). The SVV group used significantly more dobutamine than the PLR‐&Dgr;SV group (33.3% vs. 10.7%, P =0.039). There were no significant differences in the time ((4.8±1.4) h vs. (4.3±1.3) h, P=0.142) and rate of achieving EGDT standards (90.0% vs. 92.9%, P = 0.698), or in the length of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay. The 28‐day mortality in the SVV group (16.7% (5/30)) was slightly higher than the PLR‐&Dgr;SV group (14.3% (4/28)), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.788). Conclusions In septic shock patients under controlled ventilation and without arrhythmia, using SVV or PLR‐&Dgr;SV methods to evaluate volume responsiveness has a similar effect on volume therapy results and prognosis. The evaluation and dynamic monitoring of volume responsiveness is more important for fluid resuscitation than the evaluation methods themselves. Choosing different methods to evaluate volume responsiveness has no significant influence on the effect of volume therapy and prognosis.
The Effects of Mirror Reflections and Planar Rotations of Pictures on the Shape Percept of the Depicted Object

Mirror reflections and planar rotations of a picture do not result in any variations concerning the internal geometrical layout of the objects depicted in the picture. We examined to what extent these picture plane transformations gave rise to perceptual differences. A large set of pictures was generated by mirror-reflecting and rotating a set of six original photographs in the picture plane. We externalised the percepts of the depicted objects by using a direct perceptual method: the gauge-figure method. Participants had to adjust a gauge figure so that it seemed to be painted on the surface of the depicted object. From an extensive set of settings collected this way, we computed for each picture the three-dimensional interpretation—or pictorial relief—of the depicted object. On the basis of this set of pictorial reliefs, we addressed the effects of mirror reflections and rotations of pictures on the shape percept of the depicted object. Mirror-reflecting a picture around the horizontal axis resulted in large differences in pictorial reliefs, whereas mirror-reflecting pictures around the vertical axis resulted in only small differences in pictorial reliefs. Clockwise 90°, 180°, and 270° rotation affected the pictorial relief significantly. In all cases, the differences between the pictorial reliefs could be resolved by affine transformations, and could thus be ascribed to different solutions of the depth ambiguities inherent in pictures.
Effect of antigen-dependent clearance on pharmacokinetics of anti-heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) monoclonal antibody

Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a member of the EGF family and is an important therapeutic target in some types of human cancers. KM3566 is a mouse anti-HB-EGF monoclonal antibody that neutralizes HB-EGF activity by inhibiting the binding of HB-EGF to its receptors. Based on the results of our pharmacokinetics study, a humanized derivative antibody, KHK2866, is rapidly cleared from serum and shows nonlinear pharmacokinetics in cynomolgus monkeys. In this study, we examined the antigen-dependent clearance of an anti-HB-EGF monoclonal antibody in vivo and in vitro in order to pharmacokinetically explain the rapid elimination of KHK2866. We revealed tumor size-dependent clearance of KM3566 in in vivo studies and obtained good fits between the observed and simulated concentrations of KM3566 based on the two-compartment with a saturable route of clearance model. Furthermore, in vivo imaging analyses demonstrated tumor-specific distribution of KM3566. We then confirmed rapid internalization and distribution to lysosome of KM3566 at a cellular level. Moreover, we revealed that the amounts of HB-EGF on cell surface membrane were maintained even while HB-EGF was internalized with KM3566. Recycled or newly synthesized HB-EGF, therefore, may contribute to a consecutive clearance of KM3566, which could explain a rapid clearance from serum. These data suggested that the rapid elimination in pharmacokinetics of KM3566 is due to antigen-dependent clearance. Given that its antigen is expressed in a wide range of normal tissue, it is estimated that the rapid elimination of KHK2866 from cynomolgus monkey serum is caused by antigen-dependent clearance.