Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inequality rose from above, so it shall fall again: Income skewness trends in 16 OECD countries as evidence for a second Kuznets cycle

Advanced industrial democracies experience increasing inequalities or at least a new trade-off between equality and growth: liberal welfare states opted for growth and accepted rising inequality, while conservative welfare states tried to hold back inequality, thereby accepting lower growth. The rise in inequality is widely interpreted with regard to globalization and technological change. This article contrasts this interpretation with an alternative based on the argumentation of Kuznets’s inverted U-turn which is individually reformulated as some diffusion process of some qualification. While threats such as globalization can be reformulated as a ‘negative diffusion process’, a positive diffusion process is also possible. The two alternative mechanisms are identical regarding inequality measures as the Gini coefficient, but they are differentiated in their trend expectations with regard to income distributions’ skewness. In the globalization model, increasing inequality is accompanied first by a fall and later by a rise in skewness, while the qualification diffusion model shows the opposite sequence: rising to a maximum and falling back later on. Due to their different position in the inequality—growth trade-off, liberal and social democratic welfare states are assumed to be ahead in this evolution, while conservative welfare states lag behind. Based on the Luxembourg Income Study, skewness estimations of logged monetary income distributions form an unbalanced panel with 69 observations from 16 OECD countries. A fixed effects regression for the skewness time trend in conservative welfare states and the trend difference for the two other welfare state groups shows strong support for the positive diffusion model, giving rise to the expectation that inequality can and will decrease again.
Genome Analysis of Phage SMSAP5 as Candidate of Biocontrol for Staphylococcus aureus

In this study, we reported the morphogenetic analysis and genome sequence by genomic analysis of the newly isolated staphylococcal phage SMSAP5 from soil of slaughterhouses for cattle. Based on transmission electron microscopy evident morphology, phage SMSAP5 belonged to the Siphoviridae family. Phage SMSAP5 had a double-stranded DNA genome with a length of 45,552 bp and 33 % G+C content. Bioinformatics analysis of the phage genome revealed 43 open reading frames. A blastn search revealed that its nucleotide sequence shared a high degree of similarity with that of the Staphylococcus phage tp310-2. In conclusion, this study is the first report to show the morphological features and the complete genome sequence of the phage SMSAP5 from soil of slaughterhouses for cattle.
Hyperextension of Neck: An Uncommon Presentation of Dissecting Aneurysm of the Intracranial Vertebral Artery

: Dissecting intracranial vertebral artery aneurysm is a rare entity in clinical practice. Involvement of posterior circulation at the level of the foramen magnum even rarer.Vertebral artery aneurysm is usually presented with headache, neck pain and vertigo with vomiting. Here we are describing a rare case with uncommon presentation.
Is the social agenda driving sustainable property development in Melbourne, Australia?

Purpose – Sustainable property development has increased in market share over the past two to three years globally and locally. This research aims to analyze the drivers and barriers to sustainable property development in Melbourne using the triple bottom line (TBL) theoretical framework. The TBL posits that sustainability has social, economic and environmental aspects to fulfil.Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was sent out to 190 developers in Melbourne who promoted sustainable property development to ascertain their views about the drivers and barriers.Findings – This research indicates that in the 2007 Melbourne market the drivers were social rather than economic. The data reveal that social reasons are considered more than economic arguments for incorporating sustainability into developments. The business case, or the economic drivers for sustainability alone do not convince developers.Research limitations/implications – The questionnaire survey informed us about developers' views but not.
Creating a New System for Principal Preparation: Reflections on Efforts to Transcend Tradition and Create New Cultures

When selected as a pilot redesign site, we decided to both refocus the underlying assumptions guiding our program and to engage in processes allowing us to model best practices while creating a new program. This article summarizes key aspects of our redesign work and offers reflections on the processes used and challenges faced. Murphy's (2006) guiding principles for “fostering the reculturing of preparation programs” serves as our point of reference for conducting this programmatic critique, examining where we were, where we are now, and where we are headed.
Disposition effect and gender

Investors seem to hold on to their losing stocks to a greater extent than they hold on to their winning stocks. This well-document behavioral regularity is termed disposition effect (Shefrin and Statman 1985). We set an experiment to replicate results from a previous study of the disposition effect (Weber and Camerer 1998), and further show that a subject’s gender may interfere with the effect’s detection.
Involving Children and Teenagers With Bilateral Cochlear Implants in the Design of the BEARS (Both EARS) Virtual Reality Training Suite Improves Personalization

Older children and teenagers with bilateral cochlear implants often have poor spatial hearing because they cannot fuse sounds from the two ears. This deficit jeopardizes speech and language development, education, and social well-being. The lack of protocols for fitting bilateral cochlear implants and resources for spatial-hearing training contribute to these difficulties. Spatial hearing develops with bilateral experience. A large body of research demonstrates that sound localisation can improve with training, underpinned by plasticity-driven changes in the auditory pathways. Generalizing training to non-trained auditory skills is best achieved by using a multi-modal (audio-visual) implementation and multi-domain training tasks (localisation, speech-in-noise, and spatial music). The goal of this work was to develop a package of virtual-reality games (BEARS, Both EARS) to train spatial hearing in young people (8–16 years) with bilateral cochlear implants using an action-research protocol. The action research protocol used formalized cycles for participants to trial aspects of the BEARS suite, reflect on their experiences, and in turn inform changes in the game implementations. This participatory design used the stakeholder participants as co-creators. The cycles for each of the three domains (localisation, spatial speech-in-noise, and spatial music) were customized to focus on the elements that the stakeholder participants considered important. The participants agreed that the final games were appropriate and ready to be used by patients. The main areas of modification were: the variety of immersive scenarios to cover age range and interests, the number of levels of complexity to ensure small improvements were measurable, feedback, and reward schemes to ensure positive reinforcement, and an additional implementation on an iPad for those who had difficulties with the headsets due to age or balance issues. The effectiveness of the BEARS training suite will be evaluated in a large-scale clinical trial to determine if using the games lead to improvements in speech-in-noise, quality of life, perceived benefit, and cost utility. Such interventions allow patients to take control of their own management reducing the reliance on outpatient-based rehabilitation. For young people, a virtual-reality implementation is more engaging than traditional rehabilitation methods, and the participatory design used here has ensured that the BEARS games are relevant.
3-Isobutyl 5-methyl 2,6-dimethyl-4-(2-nitrophenyl)pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate

The title nitrophenyl pyridine compound, C20H22N2O6 was synthesized as a degradation product of the hypertension medication nisoldipine. The dihedral angle between the nitro-substituted phenyl ring and the pyridine ring is 75.5 (4)°. There are a number of C—H⋯O interactions between symmetry-related molecules>.
Responses of Functional Traits of Macrobenthic Communities to Human Activities in Daya Bay (A Subtropical Semi-Enclosed Bay), China

The biological trait analysis (BTA) is regarded as a promising approach to unravel how ecosystem functions respond to human-induced disturbances. This study considered the four sampling locations associated with different human activities in Daya Bay, that is, the domestic and industrial sewage discharge area (SED), mariculture area (MRC), nuclear power plants thermal discharge area (NTD), and an area with relatively low human disturbance as a reference (REF). Thirty modalities of nine traits were selected in BTA. Our results showed a clear shift in the functional structure of macrobenthic communities between the sampling locations, except for the case between NTD and REF. The trait composition in the communities did not highlight any seasonal patterns. Bioturbation, longevity, tolerance, body size, feeding habit, and environmental position were the key traits to characterize the functional structure of macrobenthic communities and demonstrated predictable responses along the environmental gradients. Water depth, DO, Chl-a, NH4 +, and petroleum contaminants in sediments were the main variables influencing the trait composition. In addition, the taxonomic index (H′) and functional diversity index (Rao’s Q) showed clear differences among the sampling locations. Although there were no significant differences between NTD and REF in terms of the trait composition and functional diversity, a potential function loss in NTD still can be detected through the integrated analysis with taxonomic diversity. We suggest that the traits (except for fragility, larval development, and living habits) selected and the diversity indices (H′ and Rao’s Q) could serve as promising indicators of ecological conditions in Daya Bay.
A Prospective Study on Role of Supplemental Oral Calcium and Vitamin D in Prevention of Postthyroidectomy Hypocalcemia

Background: Postoperative transient hypocalcemia is sequelae of total thyroidectomy (TT), which is observed in up to 50% of patients. Routine oral calcium and Vitamin D supplementation have been proposed to prevent symptomatic hypocalcemia preventing morbidity and facilitating early discharge. Patients and Methods: A total of 208 patients with nontoxic benign thyroid disorders, undergoing TT, were serially randomized into four groups: Group A (no supplements were given), Group B (oral calcium - 2 g/day given), Group C (calcium and calcitriol - 1 mcg/day are given), and Group D (calcium, calcitriol, and cholecalciferol - 60,000 IU/day are given). Patients were monitored for clinical and biochemical hypocalcemia (serum calcium, [Sr. Ca] <8 mg/dl), along with serum intact parathormone (Sr. PTH) and magnesium 6 h after surgery and Sr. Ca every 24 h. Intravenous (IV) calcium infusion was started, if any of the above four groups exhibit frank hypocalcemia. Patients are followed up with Sr. Ca and Sr. PTH at 3 and 6 months. Results: All groups were age and sex matched. Hypocalcemia was observed in 72/208 (34.61%) cases. Incidence of hypocalcemia was higher in Group A (57.69%) and Group B (50%) compared to Group C (15.38%) and Group D (15.38%). Hypocalcemia necessitating IV calcium occurred in 31/208 (14.90%) patients. IV calcium requirement exceeded in Group A (26.92%) and Group B (23.07%) compared to Group C (5.76%) and Group D (3.84%). There was no statistical difference in basal levels of serum Vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, intact PTH, and 6 h after surgery. Permanent hypoparathyroidism developed in five patients on follow-up. Conclusion: Routine postoperative supplementation of oral calcium and Vitamin D will help in the prevention of postthyroidectomy transient hypocalcemia significantly. Preoperative Vitamin D levels do not predict postoperative hypocalcemia.
Targeted Delivery of Immunogen to Primate M Cells with Tetragalloyl Lysine Dendrimer1

Effective uptake of Ags by specialized M cells of gut-associated lymphoid tissues is an important step in inducing efficient immune responses after oral vaccination. Although stable nontoxic small molecule mimetics of lectins, such as synthetic multivalent polygalloyl derivatives, may have potential in murine M cell targeting, it remains unclear whether synthetic multivalent polygalloyl derivatives effectively target nonhuman and human M cells. In this study, we evaluated the ability of a tetragalloyl derivative, the tetragalloyl-d-lysine dendrimer (TGDK), to target M cells in both in vivo nonhuman primate and in vitro human M-like cell culture models. TGDK was efficiently transported from the lumen of the intestinal tract into rhesus Peyer’s patches by M cells and then accumulated in germinal centers. Oral administration of rhesus CCR5-derived cyclopeptide conjugated with TGDK in rhesus macaque resulted in a statistically significant increase in stool IgA response against rhesus CCR5-derived cyclopeptide and induced a neutralizing activity against SIV infection. Furthermore, TGDK was specifically bound to human M-like cells and efficiently transcytosed from the apical side to the basolateral side in the M-like cell model. Thus, the TGDK-mediated vaccine delivery system represents a potential approach for enabling M cell-targeted mucosal vaccines in primates.
Stereopsis Based on Vernier Acuity Cues Alone

Random-line stereograms were generated in which the only monocular cues were minute breaks occurring at random in thin vertical (or horizontal) line grids. The breaks were binocularly correlated. The stereograms yielded global stereopsis (of a square standing out in front of a surface) even with monocular breaks of as little as 16 seconds of arc, which is below the threshold for resolving two lines. This technique led to the clarification of relations between local and global stereopsis.
On the Effect of Practice on Exploration and Exploitation of Options and Strategies

Insufficient exploration of one’s surroundings is at the root of many real-life problems, as demonstrated by many famous biases (e.g., the status quo bias, learned helplessness). The current work focuses on the emergence of this phenomenon at the strategy level: the tendency to under-explore the set of available choice strategies. We demonstrate that insufficient exploration of strategies can also manifest as excessive exploration between options. In such cases, interventions aimed at improving choices by reducing the costs of exploration of options are likely to fail. In Study 1, participants faced an exploration task that implies an infinite number of choice strategies and a small sub-set of (near) optimal solutions. We manipulated the amount of practice participants underwent during the first, shorter game and compared their performance in a second, longer game with an identical payoff structure. Our results show that regardless of the amount of practice, participants in all experimental groups tended to under-explore the strategy space and relied on a specific strategy that implied over-exploration of the option space. That is, under-exploration of strategies was manifested as over-exploration of options. In Study 2, we added a constraint that, on a subset of practice trials, forced participants to exploit familiar options. This manipulation almost doubled the per-trial average outcome on the comparable longer second game. This suggests that forcing participants to experience the effects of different (underexplored) strategy components during practice can greatly increase the chance they make better choices later on.
MdBBX21, a B-Box Protein, Positively Regulates Light-Induced Anthocyanin Accumulation in Apple Peel

The red coloration of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) is due to the accumulation of anthocyanins in the fruit peel. Light is essential for anthocyanin biosynthesis in apple. In this study, we performed a transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of apple fruit exposed to light after unbagging. The identified differentially expressed genes included MdBBX21, which is homologous to Arabidopsis BBX21, suggesting it may be involved in light-induced anthocyanin biosynthesis. Additionally, MdBBX21 was localized in the nucleus and its gene was expressed earlier than MdMYB1 in apple peel treated with light. Overexpressing MdBBX21 in Arabidopsis and apple calli under light increased anthocyanin accumulation. Dual-luciferase and yeast one-hybrid assays confirmed that MdBBX21 binds to the MdHY5, MdBBX20, and MdBBX22-1/2 promoters and induces expression. At the same time, MdHY5 can also activate the expression of MdBBX21. Furthermore, bimolecular fluorescence complementation and yeast two-hybrid assays demonstrated that MdBBX21 can interact with MdHY5. This interaction can significantly enhance MdMYB1 promoter activity. These findings clarify the molecular mechanism by which MdBBX21 positively regulates light-induced anthocyanin accumulation in apple.
On The Dynamic Incentive of Price-Quality Differentiation By A Monopolist Firm

When consumers are theterogeneous in their preferences about the quality of a product, a monopolist firm can take advantage of this heterogeneity, thereby, increase the profit by offering different price-quality pairs. This business practice is called the second degree price discrimination or non-linear pricing. This paper extends the static non-linear pricing problem into the dynamic one where the monopolist firm cannot precommit in advance. The main result is that the dynamic non-linear pricing outcome is the same as the static non-linear pricing outcome so that additional opportunities to transact neither benefits nor hurts the monopolist firm. [L12]
Landscape structure and genetic architecture jointly impact rates of niche evolution

Evolutionary adaptation is a key driver of species’ range dynamics. Understanding the factors that affect rates of adaptation at range margins is thus crucial for interpreting and predicting changes in species’ ranges. The spatial structure of environmental conditions is one of the determinants of whether and how quickly adaptations occur. However, while landscape structures at range edges are typically complex, most theoretical work has so far focused on relatively simple environmental geometries. Using an individual-based allelic model, we explore the effects of different landscape structures on the rate of adaptation to novel environments and investigate how these structures interact with the genetic architecture of the trait governing adaptation and the dispersal capacity of the considered species. Generally, we find that rapid adaptation is favored by a good match between the coarseness of the trait's genetic architecture (many loci of small effects versus few loci of large effects) and the coarseness of the landscape (abruptness of transitions in environmental conditions). For example, in rugged landscapes, adaptation is quicker for genetic architectures with few loci of large effects, while for shallow gradients the opposite is true. Moreover, dispersal capacities affect the rate of adaptation by modulating the ‘apparent coarseness’ of the landscape: a gradient perceived as smooth by species with limited dispersal capacities appears rather steep for highly dispersive ones. We also find that the distribution of evolving phenotypes strongly depends on the interplay of landscape structure and dispersal capacities, ranging from two distinct phenotypes for most rugged landscapes, over the co-occurrence of an additional third phenotype for highly dispersive species, to the whole range of phenotypes on smooth gradients. By identifying basic factors that drive the fixation probability of newly arising beneficial mutations, we hope to further broaden the understanding of evolutionary adaptation at range margins and, hence, species’ range dynamics.
A Leptomycin B-sensitive Homologue of Human CRM1 Promotes Nuclear Export of Nuclear Export Sequence-containing Proteins inDrosophila Cells*

The Rev protein of human immunodeficiency virus is a nuclear shuttling protein that promotes nuclear export of mRNAs that encode the viral structural proteins Gag, Pol, and Env. Rev binds to a highly structured RNA motif, the Rev-responsive element (RRE), that is present in all Rev-responsive viral transcripts and facilitates their entry into a nuclear export pathway by recruiting cellular export factors. In mammalian and yeast cells, the principal export receptor engaged by Rev has been identified as the importin/transportin family member CRM1/exportin 1. CRM1 binds directly to a leucine-rich nuclear export sequence (NES) present in Rev, and similar motifs have been identified in a variety of cellular nuclear shuttling proteins. We and our colleagues previously demonstrated that, in transfected Drosophila cells, HIV-1 Rev is fully functional and promotes expression of the viral envelope glycoprotein. We now demonstrate that the fundamental mechanism of Rev action in insect cells is identical to that observed in the mammalian systems. In particular, we show that Drosophila cells express a leptomycin B-sensitive homologue of human CRM1 that supports Rev-dependent gene expression and is required for nuclear export of NES-containing proteins in insect cells.
Civil Conflicts as a Constraint to Regional Economic Integration in Africa

Regional economic integration is crucial for African countries, notably since they are characterized by small domestic markets. In this paper, we analyze how civil conflicts affect the economic fate of regional economic communities through its effect on the synchronicity of regional partners’ economies. We find that conflict decreases business cycle synchronicity when it occurs within a regional economic community, both for the directly affected countries and for their more peaceful regional peers. We therefore find an additional reason to recommend putting prevention and resolution of civil conflicts on the top of the political agenda of African RECs.
The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure.

OBJECTIVE While considerable attention has focused on improving the detection of depression, assessment of severity is also important in guiding treatment decisions. Therefore, we examined the validity of a brief, new measure of depression severity. MEASUREMENTS The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) is a self-administered version of the PRIME-MD diagnostic instrument for common mental disorders. The PHQ-9 is the depression module, which scores each of the 9 DSM-IV criteria as "0" (not at all) to "3" (nearly every day). The PHQ-9 was completed by 6,000 patients in 8 primary care clinics and 7 obstetrics-gynecology clinics. Construct validity was assessed using the 20-item Short-Form General Health Survey, self-reported sick days and clinic visits, and symptom-related difficulty. Criterion validity was assessed against an independent structured mental health professional (MHP) interview in a sample of 580 patients. RESULTS As PHQ-9 depression severity increased, there was a substantial decrease in functional status on all 6 SF-20 subscales. Also, symptom-related difficulty, sick days, and health care utilization increased. Using the MHP reinterview as the criterion standard, a PHQ-9 score > or =10 had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 88% for major depression. PHQ-9 scores of 5, 10, 15, and 20 represented mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression, respectively. Results were similar in the primary care and obstetrics-gynecology samples. CONCLUSION In addition to making criteria-based diagnoses of depressive disorders, the PHQ-9 is also a reliable and valid measure of depression severity. These characteristics plus its brevity make the PHQ-9 a useful clinical and research tool.