Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the Social Efficiency in Monopolistic Competition Models

We consider standard monopolistic competition models in the spirit of Dixit and Stiglitz or Melitz with aggregate consumer's preferences defined by two wellknown classes of utility functions – the implicitly defined Kimball utility function and the variable elasticity of substitution utility function. These two classes generalize classical constant elasticity of substitution utility function and overcome its lack of flexibility. It is shown in [Dhingra, Morrow, 2012] that for the monopolistic competition model with aggregate consumer’s preferences defined by the variable elasticity of substitution utility function the laissez-faire equilibrium is efficient (i.e. coincides with social welfare state) only for the special case of constant elasticity of substitution utility function. We prove that the constant elasticity of substitution utility function is also the only one which leads to efficient laissezfaire equilibrium in the monopolistic competition model with aggregate consumer’s preferences defined by the utility function from the Kimball class. Our main result is following: we find that in both cases a special tax on firms' output may be introduced such that market equilibrium becomes socially efficient. In both cases this tax is calculated up to an arbitrary constant, and some considerations about the «most reasonable» value of this constant are presented.
Revisiting the Phillips Curve and the Lucas Critique

Many OECD countries are facing problems of high government debt and high unemployment. Consequently, a monetary stimulus is being increasingly viewed as a solution to curb the rising debt burden and stimulate economic growth. Some OECD countries are setting inflation target at 2% or even higher. In this paper we investigate the likely impact of inflation on unemployment for a panel of 10 highincome OECD countries, namely, Australia, Denmark, Iceland, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. The period of study is 1970-2012. Results indicate a significantly positive long-run impact of inflation on unemployment. Granger causality indicates long-run bi-directional causality between inflation and unemployment. For the 10 OECD countries and the period of this study, the empirical findings support the Lucas critique: inflation and unemployment are positively correlated. A monetary stimulus, therefore, will most likely aggravate the unemployment scenario in the 10 OCED countries under study.
Outcomes, evidence, and learning experiences for interdisciplinary graduate engineering education

Interdisciplinary approaches are cited as critical to solving some of the most pressing technological challenges. Despite the proliferation of graduate programs designed to fill this need, there is virtually no archival literature identifying learning outcomes, methods, or benchmarks for evaluating interdisciplinary programs and associated student learning. The US National Science Foundation's Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program is aimed squarely at advancing interdisciplinary graduate education of scientist and engineers, and funded programs are often viewed nationally as a source of best practices. In this paper, we report on analysis of 130 proposals for funded IGERT sites. Using an instructional design framework, we focus on desired learning outcomes, evidence, and learning experiences. As US programs rely on coursework to inject interdisciplinarity into traditional disciplinary programs, the authors are particularly interested in discussing alternative models with engineering professors in other countries that rely less on coursework at the graduate level.
In Vivo Translation Studies of Plant Viral RNAs Using Reporter Genes

This unit describes the analysis of the translation‐regulating properties of viral RNAs in cell‐based assays using a luciferase reporter system. Electroporation and polyethylene glycol–mediated introduction of luciferase reporter RNA into cowpea protoplasts are also presented. The Commentary section discusses employing the luciferase reporter system to study translational control by the 5′‐ and 3′‐untranslated regions of a viral mRNA. Inoculum RNA quality and half‐life after delivery to the protoplasts should be monitored closely for careful investigation of translational regulation elements.
α-Synuclein Amyloid Fibrils with Two Entwined, Asymmetrically Associated Protofibrils*

Parkinson disease and other progressive neurodegenerative conditions are characterized by the intracerebral presence of Lewy bodies, containing amyloid fibrils of α-synuclein. We used cryo-electron microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) to study in vitro-assembled fibrils. These fibrils are highly polymorphic. Focusing on twisting fibrils with an inter-crossover spacing of 77 nm, our reconstructions showed them to consist of paired protofibrils. STEM mass per length data gave one subunit per 0.47 nm axial rise per protofibril, consistent with a superpleated β-structure. The STEM images show two thread-like densities running along each of these fibrils, which we interpret as ladders of metal ions. These threads confirmed the two-protofibril architecture of the 77-nm twisting fibrils and allowed us to identify this morphotype in STEM micrographs. Some other, but not all, fibril morphotypes also exhibit dense threads, implying that they also present a putative metal binding site. We propose a molecular model for the protofibril and suggest that polymorphic variant fibrils have different numbers of protofibrils that are associated differently.
Validation of the National Institutes of Health Consensus Definition of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Objective. A number of definitions of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), or chronic lung disease, have been used. A June 2000 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Workshop proposed a severity-based definition of BPD for infants <32 weeks’ gestational age (GA). Mild BPD was defined as a need for supplemental oxygen (O2) for ≥28 days but not at 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age (PMA) or discharge, moderate BPD as O2 for ≥28 days plus treatment with <30% O2 at 36 weeks’ PMA, and severe BPD as O2 for ≥28 days plus ≥30% O2 and/or positive pressure at 36 weeks’ PMA. The objective of this study was to determine the predictive validity of the severity-based, consensus definition of BPD. Methods. Data from 4866 infants (birth weight ≤1000 g, GA <32 weeks, alive at 36 weeks’ PMA) who were entered into the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network Very Low Birth weight (VLBW) Infant Registry between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 1999, were linked to data from the Network Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) Follow-up Program, in which surviving ELBW infants have a neurodevelopmental and health assessment at 18 to 22 months’ corrected age. Linked VLBW Registry and Follow-up data were available for 3848 (79%) infants. Selected follow-up outcomes (use of pulmonary medications, rehospitalization for pulmonary causes, receipt of respiratory syncytial virus prophylaxis, and neurodevelopmental abnormalities) were compared among infants who were identified with BPD defined as O2 for 28 days (28 days definition), as O2 at 36 weeks’ PMA (36 weeks’ definition), and with the consensus definition of BPD. Results. A total of 77% of the neonates met the 28-days definition, and 44% met the 36-weeks definition. Using the consensus BPD definition, 77% of the infants had BPD, similar to the cohort identified by the 28-days definition. A total of 46% of the infants met the moderate (30%) or severe (16%) consensus definition criteria, identifying a similar cohort of infants as the 36-weeks definition. Of infants who met the 28-days definition and 36-weeks definition and were seen at follow-up at 18 to 22 months’ corrected age, 40% had been treated with pulmonary medications and 35% had been rehospitalized for pulmonary causes. In contrast, as the severity of BPD identified by the consensus definition worsened, the incidence of those outcomes and of selected adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes increased in the infants who were seen at follow-up. Conclusion. The consensus BPD definition identifies a spectrum of risk for adverse pulmonary and neurodevelopmental outcomes in early infancy more accurately than other definitions.
A Repressor Protein, PhaR, Regulates Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Synthesis via Its Direct Interaction with PHA

ABSTRACT Phasins (PhaP) are predominantly polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) granule-associated proteins that positively affect PHA synthesis. Recently, we reported that the phaR gene, which is located downstream of phaP in Paracoccus denitrificans, codes for a negative regulator involved in PhaP expression. In this study, DNase I footprinting revealed that PhaR specifically binds to two regions located upstream of phaP and phaR, suggesting that PhaR plays a role in the regulation of phaP expression as well as autoregulation. Many TGC-rich sequences were found in upstream elements recognized by PhaR. PhaR in the crude lysate of recombinant Escherichia coli was able to rebind specifically to poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] [P(3HB)] granules. Furthermore, artificial P(3HB) granules and 3HB oligomers caused the dissociation of PhaR from PhaR-DNA complexes, but native PHA granules, which were covered with PhaP or other nonspecific proteins, did not cause the dissociation. These results suggest that PhaR is able to sense both the onset of PHA synthesis and the enlargement of the granules through direct binding to PHA. However, free PhaR is probably unable to sense the mature PHA granules which are already covered sufficiently with PhaP and/or other proteins. An in vitro expression experiment revealed that phaP expression was repressed by the addition of PhaR and was derepressed by the addition of P(3HB). Based on these findings, we present here a possible model accounting for the PhaR-mediated mechanism of PHA synthesis. Widespread distribution of PhaR homologs in short-chain-length PHA-producing bacteria suggests a common and important role of PhaR-mediated regulation of PHA synthesis.
Improvement of cytotoxic and apoptogenic properties of crocin in cancer cell lines by its nanoliposomal form

Objective: Saffron Crocus sativus L. (Iridaceae) is known for anticancer properties. However, limited effort has been made to correlate these effects to the active ingredients of saffron. In the present study, cytotoxic effects of crocin, the major coloring compound in saffron, and its nanoliposomal form for better cellular delivery are investigated. Methods: HeLa and MCF-7 cells were cultured and exposed to crocin (1, 2, and 4 mM) and liposomal crocin (0.5 and 1 mM). The 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed to assess cytotoxicity. Apoptotic cells were determined using propidium iodide (PI) staining of DNA fragmentation by flow cytometry. Results: MTT assay revealed a remarkable and concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect of crocin on HeLa and MCF-7 cells in comparison with non-malignant cell line (L929). Crocin liposomal forms (IC50 values after 48 h: 0.61, 0.64, and 1.2 mM) showed enhanced cytotoxic effect compared with the crocin (IC50 after 48 h: 1.603 mM) in HeLa cells. Crocin and its liposomal form induced a sub-G1 peak in flow cytometry histogram of treated cells indicating apoptosis is involved in this toxicity. Liposomal encapsulation enhances apoptogenic effects of crocin on cancerous cells. Conclusion: It might be concluded that crocin and its liposomes could cause cell death in HeLa and MCF-7 cells, in which liposomal encapsulation improved cytotoxic effects. They could be also considered as a promising chemotherapeutic agent in cancer treatment in future.
Exploring Competitiveness of the Indian Health Sector

Purpose The Indian health care industry, on account of its cost advantage, is fast emerging as the first choice of patients throughout the globe. The modern day Indian health care industry, as a matter of fact, has a dual role to play. First, coming up to the expectations of global and elite Indian patients. Second, fulfilling its social obligations by catering to the needs of a huge lower-middle class of people suffering from various ailments. The litmus test for the Indian health care industry is the way in which strikes a balance in between its commercial and social obligations. The best way under the prevailing situation is to keep patients’ faith intact by rendering quality services without bothering too much about the profit. Service quality, in fact, is dependent upon the service performance and how far it is able to satisfy customers. The present study makes an endeavour to gauge the service quality in selected multi-specialty hospitals of India by garnering the views of the patients/observers pertaining to their expectations and actual perception about the services being rendered to them. The study assumes a greater importance as the players chosen for the study represent both public as well as private sector. Research Type Empirical Findings There exists a difference in the perception and expectations of the patients/observers as far as their evaluation of the hospitals on various dimensions of service quality is concerned. Both the selected hospitals have been found to be struggling on the service quality dimensions such as accessibility, promptness and timeliness. The public hospital enjoys an edge over its private counterpart on the security, accuracy and reliability aspects. The private hospital, meanwhile, has a better rating on the impressiveness front. Both hospitals have done reasonably well on the competence, customization and ambience fronts. Practical Implications The administrative wing of the hospitals may start viewing service quality from the clients’ perspective and make necessary changes in their service quality endeavours. Research Limitations Technicalities involved in understanding of the concept of service quality might have acted as a handicap for the patients/observers in giving prompt and accurate answers to the questions in hand.
Systematic deletion analyses of the fla genes in the flagella operon identify several genes essential for proper assembly and function of flagella in the archaeon, Methanococcus maripaludis

The archaeal flagellum is a unique motility apparatus in the prokaryotic domain, distinct from the bacterial flagellum. Most of the currently recognized archaeal flagella‐associated genes fall into a single fla operon that contains the genes for the flagellin proteins (two or more genes designated as flaA or flaB), some variation of a set of conserved proteins of unknown function (flaC, flaD, flaE, flaF, flaG and flaH), an ATPase (flaI) and a membrane protein (flaJ). In addition, the flaD gene has been demonstrated to encode two proteins: a full‐length gene product and a truncated product derived from an alternate, internal start site. A systematic deletion approach was taken using the methanogen Methanococcus maripaludis to investigate the requirement and a possible role for these proposed flagella‐associated genes. Markerless in‐frame deletion strains were created for most of the genes in the M. maripaludis fla operon. In addition, a strain lacking the truncated FlaD protein [FlaD M(191)I] was also created. DNA sequencing and Southern blot analysis confirmed each mutant strain, and the integrity of the remaining operon was confirmed by immunoblot. With the exception of the ΔFlaB3 and FlaD M(191)I strains, all mutants were non‐motile by light microscopy and non‐flagellated by electron microscopy. A detailed examination of the ΔFlaB3 mutant flagella revealed that these structures had no hook region, while the FlaD M(191)I strain appeared identical to wild type. Each deletion strain was complemented, and motility and flagellation was restored. Collectively, these results demonstrate for first time that these fla operon genes are directly involved and critically required for proper archaeal flagella assembly and function.
The MIMO transmission equation

Multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) antenna systems offer capacity benefits over their single-input single-output (SISO) counterparts, thus attracting considerable current research. MIMO performance depends on a wide range of parameters including radiation efficiency, correlation, mutual coupling, matching efficiency and polarization misalignment. No single simulation method has been described that includes each of these effects so critical to handset array designs. This work synthesizes a comprehensive model to incorporate each of these effects. In order to manage the complexity of such a model, the MIMO Transmission Equation is introduced - similar to the well-known Friis transmission equation.
Application of a network reduction approach on an energy system model and the impact of different node aggregations on the curtailment of renewable energy generation

Diese Arbeit befasst sich mit der Abbildung von Last und Erzeugern an den Ubertragungsnetzknoten eines Energiesystemmodells. Dazu wird eine Recherche zu bereits vorhandenen Losungen der Lastfussberechnung durchgefuhrt und untersucht, ob sich die Ansatze auf das Optimierungsmodell REMix (Renewable Energy Mix) anwenden lassen. Die Integration eines Lastflussmodells in ein Modell zur Energiesystemoptimierung stellt dabei besonders hohe Anforderungen an die Berechnungszeit. Wahrend die Berechenungszeit fur eine hohe Anzahl Knoten so niedrig wie moglich bleiben soll, durfen Lastfluss und Eigenschaften wie Ubertragungsverluste und -kapazitaten des Netzmodells nicht zu stark von denen des realen Netzes abweichen. Aus diesem Grund mussen aus der Elektrotechnik bekannte Anwendungen abgewandelt werden. Mehrere Methoden zur Netzwerkreduktion, die die obigen Anforderungen erfullen, wurden evaluiert. Gewahlt wurde ein Ansatz von Di Shi und Daniel Tylavski, der Gebrauch von Power Transfer Distribution Factors (PTDF) macht. Im Zuge dessen wird eine Methode fur die Zusammenfassung von Ubertragungsleitungen zwischen zusammengefassten Knoten implementiert. Mithilfe der Methode werden unterschiedliche Zoneneinteilungen des deutschen Stromnetzes untersucht. Ein Ergebnis sind signifkante Anderungen des Kraftwerkseinsatzes in Abhangigkeit der Zonenanordnung. Zudem identifziert die Arbeit Ubertragungskapazitaten und die Positionen der Stromeinspeisung als zwei wichtige Einflussfaktoren des Lastflusses.
Role of Patient and Disease Factors in Adjuvant Systemic Therapy Decision Making for Early-Stage, Operable Breast Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Endorsement of Cancer Care Ontario Guideline Recommendations.

PURPOSE An American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) panel considered the Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) recommendations on the role of patient and disease factors in selecting adjuvant therapy for women with early-stage breast cancer for endorsement. METHODS ASCO staff reviewed the CCO guideline for methodologic rigor, and an ASCO panel of content experts reviewed the content of the recommendations. CCO RECOMMENDATIONS For making decisions regarding adjuvant therapy, nodal status, tumor size, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, tumor grade, and lymphovascular invasion are relevant; Oncotype DX score and Adjuvant! Online may be used as risk stratification tools; and age, menopausal status, and medical comorbidities should be considered. Chemotherapy should be considered for patients with positive lymph nodes, ER-negative disease, HER2-positive disease, Adjuvant! Online mortality greater than 10%, grade 3 lymph node-negative tumors (T > 5 mm), triple-negative (ER-negative, PgR-negative, HER2-negative) tumors, lymphovascular invasion positivity, or estimated distant relapse risk of greater than 15% at 10 years based on Oncotype DX recurrence score (RS). Chemotherapy may not be beneficial or required for small node-negative tumors (T < 5 mm) without high-risk features or for patients with HER2-negative, strongly ER-positive, and PgR-positive cancer with micrometastatic nodal disease, T less than 5 mm, or Oncotype DX RS with an estimated distant relapse risk of less than 15% at 10 years. ASCO PANEL CONCLUSION The ASCO panel endorses the recommendations with minor suggested revisions and highlights three areas that warrant further consideration: tumor histology and adjuvant therapy recommendations, risk stratification tools and proposed Oncotype DX RS thresholds to guide decisions about chemotherapy, and patient factors in decision making.
Bacillus subtilis Locus Encoding a Killer Protein and Its Antidote

ABSTRACT We have isolated mutations that block sporulation after formation of the polar septum in Bacillus subtilis. These mutations were mapped to the two genes of a new locus, spoIIS. Inactivation of the second gene,spoIISB, decreases sporulation efficiency by 4 orders of magnitude. Inactivation of the first gene, spoIISA, has no effect on sporulation but it fully restores sporulation of aspoIISB null mutant, indicating that SpoIISB is required only to counteract the negative effect of SpoIISA on sporulation. An internal promoter ensures the synthesis of an excess of SpoIISB over SpoIISA during exponential growth and sporulation. In the absence of SpoIISB, the sporulating cells show lethal damage of their envelope shortly after asymmetric septation, a defect that can be corrected by synthesizing SpoIISB only in the mother cell. However, forced synthesis of SpoIISA in exponentially growing cells or in the forespore leads to the same type of morphological damage and to cell death. In both cases protection against the killing effect of SpoIISA can be provided by simultaneous synthesis of SpoIISB. The spoIIS locus is unique to B. subtilis, and since it is completely dispensable for sporulation its physiological role remains elusive.
The Potential of Relaxation-Weighted Sodium Magnetic Resonance Imaging as Demonstrated on Brain Tumors

Objectives:Total tissue sodium (23Na) content is associated with the viability of cells and can be assessed by 23Na magnetic resonance imaging. However, the resulting total sodium signal (23NaT) represents a volume-weighted average of different sodium compartments assigned to the intra- and extracellular space. In addition to the spin-density weighted contrast of 23NaT imaging, relaxation-weighted (23NaR) sequences were applied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of 23NaR imaging for tissue characterization and putative additional benefits to 23NaT imaging. Materials and Methods:For 23NaT and 23NaR imaging, novel magnetic resonance imaging sequences were established and applied in 16 patients suffering from brain tumors (14 WHO grade I–IV and 2 metastases). All 23Na sequences were based on density-adapted three-dimensional radial projection reconstruction to obtain short echo times and high signal-to-noise ratio efficiency. Results:23NaT imaging revealed increased signal intensities in 15 of 16 brain tumors before therapy. In addition, 23NaR imaging enabled further differentiation of these lesions; all glioblastomas demonstrated higher 23NaR signal intensities as compared with WHO grade I–III tumors. Thus, 23NaR imaging allowed for correct separation between WHO grade I–III and WHO grade IV gliomas. In contrast to the 23NaT signal, the 23NaR signal correlated with the MIB-1 proliferation rate of tumor cells. Conclusions:These results serve as a proof of concept that 23NaR imaging reveals important physiological tissue characteristics different from 23NaT imaging. Furthermore, they indicate that the combined use of 23NaT and 23NaR imaging might add valuable information for the functional in vivo characterization of brain tissue.