Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trade, overeducation, and wage inequality

Contrary to the predictions of the 2x2x2 Heckscher-Ohlin model, empirical evidence shows that trade openness causes the skill premium to increase in some developing countries and to decrease in others. This paper introduces a North-South setup, where the labor force is divided into skilled and unskilled workers. There are two types of firms: producers of final goods and producers of intermediate goods. There are two types of final goods: a complex good and a simple good. The former is produced utilizing skilled workers who completed their training, and a range of complex complementary intermediates. The latter is produced utilizing skilled workers who did not complete their training, unskilled workers, and a range of simple complementary intermediates. Complex and simple intermediates are produced by technology monopolists in the North, and used by producers of final goods both in the North and in the South. The results suggest that the skill premium increases in the North after trade liberalization if and only if the employment in the complex sector relative to the simple sector in the North is higher than that in the South. On the other hand, the effect of trade liberalization on the skill premium in the South depends on the level of overeducation. The skill premium is the ratio of the weighted average wage of all skilled workers to that of the unskilled workers. The wage of skilled workers is a weighted average of the wage of the skilled workers in the complex sector and in the simple sector. In the South, trade openness causes a decrease in the wage of the former and an increase in the wage of the latter. If the portion of the latter is higher than that of the former, the weighted average wage of skilled workers and the skill premium increase after trade liberalization. Otherwise, the skill premium declines. Therefore, the effect of trade liberalization on the skill premium in the South depends on the level of skill mismatch, or the portion of skilled workers in the simple sector. The empirical estimation using a threshold estimation technique provides evidence to support the theoretical findings.
Non-mono-exponential attenuation of water and N-acetyl aspartate signals due to diffusion in brain tissue.

Diffusion measurements were performed on water and N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) molecules in excised brain tissue using a wide range of b-values (up to 28.3 x 10(6) and 35.8 x 10(6) s cm-2 for water and NAA, respectively). The attenuation of the signals of water and NAA due to diffusion was measured at fixed diffusion times (tD). These measurements, in which the echo time (TE) was set to 70 ms, were repeated for several diffusion times ranging from 35 to 305 ms. Signal attenuations were fitted to mono-, bi-, and triexponential functions to obtain the apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of these molecules at each diffusion time. From these experiments the following observations and conclusions were made: (1) Signal attenuation of water and NAA due to diffusion over the entire range of b values examined is not monoexponential and the extracted ADCs depend on the diffusion time; (2) In the case of water the experimental data are best fitted by a triexponential function, while for b values up to 1 x 10(6) s cm-2, a biexponential function seems to reproduce the experimental data as well as the triexponential function; (3) If only the low range of b values are fitted (up to 0.5 x 10(6) s cm-2) signal attenuation of water is monoexponential and insensitive to tD; (4) Water ADCs decreased with the increase in tD but the relative population of the fast diffusing component increases such that at a tD of 305 ms there is nearly a single population; (5) The major fast diffusion component of the water shows only very limited restriction; (6) NAA signal attenuation is biexponential and analysis of the low b-value range gives only monoexponential decay, but the obtained ADC is sensitive to the diffusion time; (7) The ADCs obtained from fitting the data with a biexponential function decrease as diffusion time increases; (8) The relative population of the slow-diffusing component decreases with increasing tD; (9) Both the fast and the slow diffusing components of NAA show a considerable restriction by what seems to be a nonpermeable barrier from which two compartments, one of 7-8 micron and one of approximately 1 micron, were calculated using the Einstein equation. It is suggested that the two compartments represent the NAA in cell bodies and in the intra-axonal space. The effect of the range of the b value used in the diffusion experiments on the results is discussed and used to reconcile some of the apparent discrepancies obtained in different experiments concerning water diffusion in brain tissue. The potential of NAA diffusion experiments to probe cellular structure is discussed.
Influence of Surgical Margins on Outcome in Patients With Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Multicenter Study by the AFC-IHCC-2009 Study Group

Objective:Define the optimal surgical margin in patients undergoing surgery for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC). Background Data:Surgery is the most effective treatment for IHCC. However, the influence of R1 resection on outcome is controversial and that of margin width has not been evaluated. Methods:We studied 212 patients undergoing curative resection of mass-forming–type IHCC. The respective influences on survival of resection status (R0 vs R1), surgical margin width, pTNM stage, and the latter's components were evaluated. Results:Incidence of R1 resection was 24%. Overall, R1 resection was not an independent predictor of survival [odds ratio (OR) 1.2 (0.7–2.1)] in contrast to the pTNM stage [OR 2.10 (1.2–3.5)]. In the 78 pN+ patients, survival was similar after R0 and R1 resections (median: 18 vs 13 months, respectively, P = 0.1). In the 134 pN0 patients, R1 resection was an independent predictor of poor survival [OR 9.6 (4.5–20.4)], as was the presence of satellite nodules [OR 1.9 (1.1–3.2)]. In the 116 pN0 patients with R0 resections, median survival was correlated with margin width (⩽1 mm: 15 months; 2–4 mm: 36 months; 5–9 mm: 57 month; ≥10 mm: 64 month, P < 0.001) and a margin >5 mm was an independent predictor of survival [OR 2.22 (1.59–3.09)]. Conclusion:Patients undergoing surgery for IHCC are at high risk of R1 resections. In pN0 patients, R1 resection is the strongest independent predictor of poor outcome and a margin of at least 5 mm should be created. The survival benefits of resection in pN+ patients and R1 resection in general are very low.
Transitions in marital status and functional health and patterns of intergenerational coresidence among China's elderly population.

OBJECTIVES Transitions from marriage to widowhood are consequential and fraught with risk in developing country contexts. We investigate whether transitions to widowhood, as well as transitions to worsened functional health, predict transition into coresidential living arrangements with children in a rapidly aging China. We also inquire whether coresidence transitions vary by older adults' gender and the presence of grandchildren in skip generation households. METHODS Longitudinal prospective analyses of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Surveys (1998-2005) assess whether transition to widowhood and transition to relatively poor functional health influence elderly coresidence with children. Several logistic regression models are estimated using robust standard error estimation to address data clustering at the person level. RESULTS When coresidence shifts occur, they are shaped by the needs of older adults. Specifically, a significant rise in coresidential living follows widowhood as well as deterioration in functional health. Among older adults coresiding with grandchildren, shifts to coresidence with own children following widowhood and worsened functional health are attenuated, suggesting that skip generation households may be supportive arrangements for older adults. DISCUSSION Results are interpreted in light of the adaptability of living arrangements, novel forms such as skip generation households, and intergenerational support for China's elderly population.
Slab‐selective, BOLD‐corrected VASO at 7 Tesla provides measures of cerebral blood volume reactivity with high signal‐to‐noise ratio

MRI methods sensitive to functional changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV) may map neural activity with better spatial specificity than standard functional MRI (fMRI) methods based on blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) effect. The purpose of this study was to develop and investigate a vascular space occupancy (VASO) method with high sensitivity to CBV changes for use in human brain at 7 Tesla (T).
Commercial behaviours of smallholder farmers in wheat seed use and its implication for demand assessment in Ethiopia

The article presents the commercial behaviour and its determinants of smallholder farmers in wheat seed use, and its implication for seed demand assessment, based on primary data from 524 wheat farmers in the major wheat growing areas covering 22 woredas in 11 zones in the Amhara, Oromiya, SNNP, and Tigray regions of Ethiopia. Although 69% of farmers use improved varieties, the overwhelming majority use seed from informal sources: own saved seed (52%) or purchased seed from local sources (32%). The article documents the distribution of wheat growers into different wheat seed market positions (autarkic, buying, or selling), and identifies the key determinants of these market behaviours. The results can serve as a guide in assessing the wheat seed demand from the formal sector at a national level.
YSPSL (rPSGL‐Ig) for improvement of early renal allograft function: a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, multi‐center Phase IIa study 1,2,3

Gaber AO, Mulgaonkar S, Kahan BD, Woodle ES, Alloway R, Bajjoka I, Jensik S, Klintmalm GB, Patton PR, Wiseman A, Lipshutz G, Kupiec‐Weglinski J, Gaber LW, Katz E, Irish W, Squiers EC, Hemmerich S. YSPSL (rPSGL‐Ig) for improvement of early renal allograft function: A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, multi‐center Phase IIa study. Clin Transplant 2011: 25: 523–533. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Chemistry, Pharmacology and Health Benefits of Anthocyanins

Anthocyanins are naturally occurring molecules belonging to the flavonoid class characterized by the presence of chromophores. Apart from their well‐known antioxidant activity, they show a wide variety of health‐promoting properties for human health, ranging from cytoprotective, antimicrobial and antitumour activities to neuroprotective, anti‐obesity and lipidomic potential, properties for which anthocyanins have been prescribed as medicines in several countries for thousands of years. Despite this, these phytochemicals have received less attention than other flavonoids, and there is still a gap in the literature, particularly regarding pharmacological and toxicological aspects. Moreover, epidemiological evidence suggests a direct correlation between anthocyanin intake and a lower incidence of chronic and degenerative diseases. In light of this, the aim of this review is to cover the current literature on anthocyanins, their biological in vitro and in vivo effects and their potential therapeutic applications, as well as their bioavailability and pharmacokinetics, all of which are essential to gain a better understanding of their biological effectiveness and potential toxicity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sialic Acid-Mediated Gene Expression in Streptococcus pneumoniae and Role of NanR as a Transcriptional Activator of the nan Gene Cluster

ABSTRACT In this study, we investigated the transcriptomic response of Streptococcus pneumoniae D39 to sialic acid (N-acetylneuraminic acid [Neu5Ac]). Transcriptome comparison of wild-type D39 grown in M17 medium with and without sialic acid revealed the elevated expression of various genes and operons, including the nan gene cluster (nan operon I and nanA gene). Our microarray analysis and promoter-lacZ fusion studies showed that the transcriptional regulator NanR acts as a transcriptional activator of nan operon I and the nanA gene in the presence of sialic acid. The putative regulatory site of NanR in the promoter region of nan operon I is predicted and confirmed by promoter truncation experiments. Furthermore, the role of CcpA in the regulation of the nan gene cluster is demonstrated through microarray analysis and promoter-lacZ fusion studies, suggesting that in the presence of sialic acid and glucose, CcpA represses the expression of nan operon I while the expression of the nanA gene is CcpA independent.
Iterative precoding for MIMO wiretap channels using successive convex approximation

In this paper, we study the precoding problem for physical layer security in a general multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wiretap channel. Since the resultant secrecy capacity maximization (SCM) problem is nonconvex in general, we solve it by employing a successive convex approximation method, where the nonconvex part of the formulated problem is approximated by its first-order Taylor expansion. Thus, the SCM problem can be iteratively solved through convex programming of its convexified version. Finally, an iterative precoding algorithm with provable convergence is presented. Numerical simulations are also provided to verify the proposed algorithm.
Clinical Actionability of Multigene Panel Testing for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk Assessment.

IMPORTANCE The practice of genetic testing for hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer (HBOC) is rapidly evolving owing to the recent introduction of multigene panels. While these tests may identify 40% to 50% more individuals with hereditary cancer gene mutations than does testing for BRCA1/2 alone, whether finding such mutations will alter clinical management is unknown. OBJECTIVE To define the potential clinical effect of multigene panel testing for HBOC in a clinically representative cohort. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Observational study of patients seen between 2001 and 2014 in 3 large academic medical centers. We prospectively enrolled 1046 individuals who were appropriate candidates for HBOC evaluation and who lacked BRCA1/2 mutations. INTERVENTIONS We carried out multigene panel testing on all participants, then determined the clinical actionability, if any, of finding non-BRCA1/2 mutations in these and additional comparable individuals. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES We evaluated the likelihood of (1) a posttest management change and (2) an indication for additional familial testing, considering gene-specific consensus management guidelines, gene-associated cancer risks, and personal and family history. RESULTS Among 1046 study participants, 40 BRCA1/2-negative patients (3.8%; 95% CI, 2.8%-5.2%) harbored deleterious mutations, most commonly in moderate-risk breast and ovarian cancer genes (CHEK2, ATM, and PALB2) and Lynch syndrome genes. Among these and an additional 23 mutation-positive individuals enrolled from our clinics, most of the mutations (92%) were consistent with the spectrum of cancer(s) observed in the patient or family, suggesting that these results are clinically significant. Among all 63 mutation-positive patients, additional disease-specific screening and/or prevention measures beyond those based on personal and family history alone would be considered for most (33 [52%] of 63; 95% CI, 40.3%-64.2%). Furthermore, additional familial testing would be considered for those with first-degree relatives (42 [72%] of 58; 95% CI, 59.8%-82.2%) based on potential management changes for mutation-positive relatives. This clinical effect was not restricted to a few of the tested genes because most identified genes could change clinical management for some patients. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In a clinically representative cohort, multigene panel testing for HBOC risk assessment yielded findings likely to change clinical management for substantially more patients than does BRCA1/2 testing alone. Multigene testing in this setting is likely to alter near-term cancer risk assessment and management recommendations for mutation-affected individuals across a broad spectrum of cancer predisposition genes.
Role for Upf2p Phosphorylation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay

ABSTRACT Premature termination (nonsense) codons trigger rapid mRNA decay by the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway. Two conserved proteins essential for NMD, UPF1 and UPF2, are phosphorylated in higher eukaryotes. The phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of UPF1 appear to be crucial for NMD, as blockade of either event in Caenorhabditis elegans and mammals largely prevents NMD. The universality of this phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cycle pathway has been questioned, however, because the well-studied Saccharomyces cerevisiae NMD pathway has not been shown to be regulated by phosphorylation. Here, we used in vitro and in vivo biochemical techniques to show that both S. cerevisiae Upf1p and Upf2p are phosphoproteins. We provide evidence that the phosphorylation of the N-terminal region of Upf2p is crucial for its interaction with Hrp1p, an RNA-binding protein that we previously showed is essential for NMD. We identify specific amino acids in Upf2p's N-terminal domain, including phosphorylated serines, which dictate both its interaction with Hrp1p and its ability to elicit NMD. Our results indicate that phosphorylation of UPF1 and UPF2 is a conserved event in eukaryotes and for the first time provide evidence that Upf2p phosphorylation is crucial for NMD.
Bacteriocins inhibit glucose PEP:PTS activity in Listeria monocytogenes by induced efflux of intracellular metabolites

Glucose transport by the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)‐dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS) of Listeria monocytogenes is inhibited by the bacteriocins nisin, pediocin JD and leuconocin S. To investigate the mechanism of inhibition, PTS activity assays were performed with permeabilized, bacteriocin‐treated L. monocytogenes Scott A cells. In the presence of exogenous PEP, nisin stimulated the PTS while both pediocin JD and leuconocin S partially inhibited its activity. These results suggested that PTS enzymes were still active in bacteriocin‐treated cells and that bacteriocin‐induced PEP efflux may be a mechanism for inhibition of the PTS. To verify that PEP did efflux from bacteriocin‐treated L. monocytogenes Scott A cells, intracellular and extracellular PEP were measured by HPLC. All three bacteriocins induced efflux of PEP. Nisin, pediocin JD and leuconocin S also induced efflux of AMP, ADP and ATP. These studies indicate that bacteriocin inhibition of the glucose PEP:PTS in L. monocytogenes is due to efflux of intracellular metabolites, particularly PEP.
Immunoblockage of 9-O-Acetyl GD3 Ganglioside Arrests the In Vivo Migration of Cerebellar Granule Neurons

During development of the cerebellum, radial glial cells guide the migration of granule cell precursors from the external granular cell layer toward the internal granular cell layer. The cellular membranes of migrating neurons and glial fibers organize a specialized migration junction at the site of contact between these cells, and several molecules have been implicated in the control of this glial-guided neuronal migration program. The monoclonal antibody Jones (mAb Jones) recognizes the ganglioside 9-O-acetyl GD3, which is expressed in migratory profiles in the developing and adult CNS. Recently, this ganglioside was suggested to play a role in neuronal migration in cerebellar cultures. In this report, we use antibody perturbation assays to investigate a possible role of 9-O-acetyl GD3 in the neuronal migration program in vivo. The results show that chronic intracerebroventricular administration of mAb Jones arrests neuronal migration in the developing cerebellum of live animals. Proliferating granule cell precursors were labeled with 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU), and their migratory behavior was analyzed and compared with control groups. Immunoblockage of 9-O-acetyl GD3 arrests 43% of the BrdU-labeled granule precursors in the external granular cell layer. Together with our previous results, this report strongly suggests that the ganglioside 9-O-acetyl GD3 plays a crucial role in the migration of cerebellar granule cells along radial glial fibers in the developing rat cerebellum.
The signalling pathways of interleukin-6 and gamma interferon converge by the activation of different transcription factors which bind to common responsive DNA elements

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) induce a partially overlapping set of genes, including the genes for interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), and the acute-phase protein alpha 2-macroglobulin. We report here that the rat alpha 2-macroglobulin promoter is activated by IFN-gamma in human hepatoma (HepG2) cells and that the IFN-gamma response element maps to the same site previously defined as the acute-phase response element (APRE), which binds the IL-6-activated transcription factor APRF (acute-phase response factor). As was reported for fibroblasts, the IFN-gamma-regulated transcription factor GAF is phosphorylated at tyrosine after IFN-gamma treatment of HepG2 cells. IFN-gamma posttranslationally activates a protein which specifically binds to the alpha 2-macroglobulin APRE. This protein is shown to be identical or closely related to GAF. Although APRF and GAF are shown to represent different proteins, their binding sequence specificities are very similar. APRF and GAF bind equally well to the APRE sequences of various acute-phase protein genes as well as to the IFN-gamma response elements of the IRF-1, ICAM-1, and other IFN-gamma-inducible genes. Transient transfection analysis revealed that the IFN-gamma response elements of the IRF-1 and ICAM-1 promoters are able to confer responsiveness to both IFN-gamma and IL-6 onto a heterologous promoter. Therefore, APRF and GAF are likely to be involved in the transcriptional induction of these immediate-early genes by IL-6 and IFN-gamma, respectively. Taken together, these results demonstrate that two functionally distinct hormones, IL-6 and IFN-gamma, act through common regulatory elements to which different transcription factors sharing almost the same sequence specificity bind.
Feature Profiles from Attribute Filtering for Classification of Remote Sensing Images

This paper proposes a novel extension of morphological attribute profiles (APs) for classification of remote sensing data. In standard AP-based approaches, an input image is characterized by a set of filtered images achieved from the sequential application of attribute filters based on the image tree representation. Hence, only pixel values (i.e. gray levels) are employed to form the output profiles. In this paper, during the attribute filtering process, instead of outputting the gray levels, we propose to extract both statistical and geometrical features from the connected components (w.r.t. tree nodes) to build the so-called feature profiles (FPs). These features are expected to better characterize the object or region encoded by each connected component. They are then exploited to classify remote sensing images. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, supervised classification using the random forest classifier is conducted on the panchromatic Reykjavik image as well as the hyperspectral Pavia University data. Experimental results show the FPs provide a competitive performance compared against standard APs and thus constitute a promising alternative.