Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Linear versus Nonlinear Macroeconomies: A Statistical Test

A statistical test based on the estimated bispectrum is presented, which can distinguish between the linear stochastic dynamics widely used in macroeconomic models and alternative nonlinear dynamic mechanisms, including both nonlinear stochastic models and nonlinear deterministic (chaotic) models. The test is applied to an aggregate stock market index and to an aggregate industrial production index. In both cases, the test easily rejects the null hypothesis of a linear stochastic generating mechanism. This result strongly suggests that nonlinear dynamics (deterministic or stochastic) should be an important feature of any empirically plausible macroeconomic model. Copyright 1989 by Economics Department of the University of Pennsylvania and the Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association.
Static and Dynamic Efficiency of Irreversible Health Care Investments Under Alternative Payment Rules

The paper studies the incentive for providers to invest in new health care technologies under alternative payment systems, when the patients' benefits are uncertain. If the reimbursement by the purchaser includes both a variable (per patient) and a lump-sum component, efficiency can be ensured both in the timing of adoption (dynamic) and the intensity of use of the technology (static). If the second instrument is unavailable, a trade-off may emerge between static and dynamic efficiency. In this context, we also discuss how the regulator could use control of the level of uncertainty faced by the provider as an instrument to mitigate the trade-off between static and dynamic efficiency. Finally, we calibrate the model to study a specific technology and estimate the cost of a regulatory failure.
The n‐dimensional hypervolume

Aim The Hutchinsonian hypervolume is the conceptual foundation for many lines of ecological and evolutionary inquiry, including functional morphology, comparative biology, community ecology and niche theory. However, extant methods to sample from hypervolumes or measure their geometry perform poorly on high-dimensional or holey datasets. Innovation We first highlight the conceptual and computational issues that have prevented a more direct approach to measuring hypervolumes. Next, we present a new multivariate kernel density estimation method that resolves many of these problems in an arbitrary number of dimensions. Main conclusions We show that our method (implemented as the ‘hypervolume’ R package) can match several extant methods for hypervolume geometry and species distribution modelling. Tools to quantify high-dimensional ecological hypervolumes will enable a wide range of fundamental descriptive, inferential and comparative questions to be addressed.
The neurofibromin recruitment factor Spred1 binds to the GAP related domain without affecting Ras inactivation

Significance Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and Legius syndrome (LS) are disorders characterized by deregulation of the Ras/MAPK pathway, which is central to a variety of cellular processes, including growth and differentiation. Both neurofibromin protein and Sprouty-related, EVH1 domain-containing protein 1 (Spred1) inhibit the Ras/MAPK pathway, and loss-of-function alterations in their encoding genes cause NF1 or LS, respectively. Such alterations are also often found in sporadic tumors unrelated to NF1 or LS. An earlier report described a cellular complex containing neurofibromin and Spred1; the details of these interactions remained unknown. Here we show that the EVH1 domain of Spred1 binds to the GTPase activating protein-related domain of neurofibromin without interfering with its catalytic activity. We further describe how a disease associated mutation in neurofibromin prevents Spred1 binding. Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and Legius syndrome are related diseases with partially overlapping symptoms caused by alterations of the tumor suppressor genes NF1 (encoding the protein neurofibromin) and SPRED1 (encoding sprouty-related, EVH1 domain-containing protein 1, Spred1), respectively. Both proteins are negative regulators of Ras/MAPK signaling with neurofibromin functioning as a Ras-specific GTPase activating protein (GAP) and Spred1 acting on hitherto undefined components of the pathway. Importantly, neurofibromin has been identified as a key protein in the development of cancer, as it is genetically altered in a large number of sporadic human malignancies unrelated to NF1. Spred1 has previously been demonstrated to interact with neurofibromin via its N-terminal Ena/VASP Homology 1 (EVH1) domain and to mediate membrane translocation of its target dependent on its C-terminal Sprouty domain. However, the region of neurofibromin required for the interaction with Spred1 has remained unclear. Here we show that the EVH1 domain of Spred1 binds to the noncatalytic (GAPex) portion of the GAP-related domain (GRD) of neurofibromin. Binding is compatible with simultaneous binding of Ras and does not interfere with GAP activity. Our study points to a potential targeting function of the GAPex subdomain of neurofibromin that is present in all known canonical RasGAPs.
EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA INFECTION IN PATIENTS TREATED AT A CYSTIC FIBROSIS CENTRE

484 isolates of P. aeruginosa were obtained from the respiratory tract of 45 out of 70 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients at monthly examinations during one year at the Danish CF Centre. All isolates were sero‐grouped (O‐antigens) and phage typed, and in this way 99 per cent of the isolates could be grouped and/or typed. The isolates from CF patients belonged to many different sero‐groups, but 55 per cent were polyagglutinable, and most of these belonged to the 0–3/9 complex. This was significantly different from the distribution into O‐groups of isolates obtained from non‐CF patients. The results of the combined phage typing and sero‐grouping of the isolates revealed the occurrence of 13 clusters of distinct epidemiological types of P. aeruginosa among small groups (2–10 individuals) of CF patients. The predominating endemic strain, which was isolated from 10 (22 per cent) of the patients, belonged to the 0–3/9 complex and was lysed by phage 109, either alone or in combination with a few other phages. Furthermore, in a few cases the eradication of another strain of P. aeruginosa by chemotherapy was followed by colonization of the lungs with the above‐mentioned predominating strain, and this strain was associated with high lethality. According to these results, measures should be undertaken to identify and eliminate routes of cross‐infection in CF centres in order to diminish the prevalence of P. aeruginosa infection and thereby reduce the lethality of CF patients.
Differential Modulation of Burkholderia cenocepacia Virulence and Energy Metabolism by the Quorum-Sensing Signal BDSF and Its Synthase

ABSTRACT Burkholderia cenocepacia produces the molecule cis-2-dodecenoic acid (BDSF), which was previously shown to play a role in antagonism against the fungal pathogen Candida albicans by interfering with its morphological transition. In this study, we show that production of BDSF is under stringent transcriptional control and the molecule accumulates in a cell density-dependent manner, typically found with quorum-sensing (QS) signals. B. cenocepacia mutant strain J2315 with a deleted Bcam0581 gene, which encodes an enzyme essential for BDSF production, exhibited a growth defect in minimal medium but not in rich medium, decreased virulence gene expression, and attenuated virulence in a zebrafish infection model. Exogenous addition of BDSF to the mutant rescues virulence gene expression but fails to restore its growth defect in minimal medium. We show that Bcam0581, but not BDSF, is associated with B. cenocepacia ATP biogenesis. We also provide evidence that some of the BDSF-regulated genes are also controlled by the acyl-homoserine-lactone-dependent QS system and are thus coregulated by two cell-to-cell signaling systems. These data demonstrate that in addition to the role in cross-kingdom signal interference, BDSF and its synthase are also important for the virulence and physiology of B. cenocepacia.
Syntactic annotation under dependency scheme on Chinese spontaneous speech

Syntactic or semantic annotation is an indispensable work for understanding the intention of the spoken discourses or dialogues. As we know that dependency relation annotation is a kind of syntactic or low shallow semantic annotation, however the present annotation schemes are almost all for text rather than spoken discourses or dialogues. By analysis the online spontaneous chatting data, this paper tries to propose a dependency scheme for spoken discourses. Based on the HIT scheme(Harbin Institute of Technology), we finally proposed 26 kinds of dependencies, where four dependencies are added as “Translocation”, “Repetition”, “Duplication” and “Omission”, and three are modified as “Independent Structure”, “Independent Clause” and “Dependent Clause”. The refined dependency scheme enriches the annotation to Chinese spontaneous speech, which would benefit for speech recognition, semantic comprehension and machine translation.
A critique of the expression of paediatric body composition data

There is increasing interest in body composition in paediatric research, as distinct from growth and nutritional status, as almost all diseases have adverse effects on either fatness or the fat-free mass. However, the approaches used to assess growth and nutritional status are not appropriate for separate evaluations of body fatness and lean mass. Traditional measurements such as body mass index and skinfold thickness do not measure fat in accurate quantitative terms. Various techniques have been used in recent years which divide body weight into fat mass and fat-free mass; however, the data tend not to be appropriately expressed. Body fatness is generally expressed as a percentage of weight, while fat-free mass typically remains unadjusted for size. A more appropriate approach is to normalise both body fatness and fat-free mass for height. This recommendation is relevant both to studies comparing patients with controls and to the expression of new reference data on body composition which are needed to allow informative comparisons. The same approach is appropriate for the classification of childhood obesity.
The Link between the Economic Structure and Financial Development

There is now considerable evidence that a range of institutional, legal, cultural, political and religious variables determine financial development. But economists have conjectured that the presence of diversification opportunities in the real economy can also shape the development of the financial sector. This paper finds evidence in support of this conjecture. Both the OLS estimates, and the IV results, which use instruments derived from topographical characteristics, suggest that increased economic concentration can impede financial development. Thus, financial underdevelopment might have not only socio-cultural and political causes. Risk diversification opportunities in the real economy might also be key.
Further Evidence for the Structure of the Subtilisin Propeptide and for Its Interactions with Mature Subtilisin

Evidence is presented for some secondary structure, very likely alpha-helical, of the propeptide of subtilisin E in aqueous salt solution, as well as for strong intermolecular interactions between the propeptide and the mature sequence both in the processed and unprocessed states (i.e. in prosubtilisin). Prosubtilisin is shown to exist as a dimer according to size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography under nondenaturing conditions; that dimer may be on the autoprocessing pathway. According to such a model, the prosequence of one prosubtilisin molecule is the template for the refolding of the mature sequence of the second, and, in turn, the hydrolytic process is intermolecular as well. Support for such an intermolecular folding model also includes potent slow binding inhibition of subtilisin by the propeptide, specific proteolysis of the propeptide by subtilisin, and evidence for intermolecular processing under a variety of conditions.
Human Papillomavirus-16 Modifies the Association between Fruit Consumption and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Human papillomavirus-16 (HPV-16) is a risk factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). HPV-positive cancers have distinct disease cofactors and improved survival following treatment. There is conflicting evidence of a protective association of fruit consumption with HNSCC. As HPV-related disease is clinically distinct, we investigated whether the association between fruit consumption and HNSCC risk was modified by exposure to HPV-16. We studied 270 cases and 493 controls with fruit intake information and known HPV-16 antibody status. Cases were identified at nine Boston-area medical facilities between 1999 and 2003. Controls were randomly selected from the greater population and frequency matched to cases by age, gender, and town of residence. Controlling for age, gender, race, smoking, alcohol, total energy intake, body mass index, and education, the seronegative individuals had a significantly lower risk of HNSCC with increasing total fruit consumption [odds ratio (OR)tertile 2, 0.60; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.38-0.95; ORtertile 3, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.35-0.95] and specifically increasing citrus fruit consumption (ORtertile 2, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.39-0.97; ORtertile 3, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.37-0.96). However, among the seropositive, risk increased with greater fruit consumption (ORtertile 2, 2.27; 95% CI, 0.92-5.58; ORtertile 3, 1.40; 95% CI, 0.55-3.59) and citrus fruit consumption (ORtertile 2, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.36, 8.24; ORtertile 3, 3.15; 95% CI, 1.23-8.08). This interaction was statistically significant (P < 0.05), showing that fruit consumption was associated with a reduced HNSCC risk among HPV-16-seronegative individuals but an increased HNSCC risk among the HPV-16-seropositive individuals. These findings suggest that dietary factors dramatically alter the pattern of occurrence of HPV-associated HNSCC and show that viral-related disease is clinically and etiologically distinct. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(12):3419–26)
A novel CD11c.DTR transgenic mouse for depletion of dendritic cells reveals their requirement for homeostatic proliferation of natural killer cells

Dendritic cells (DC) are known to support the activation of natural killer (NK) cells. However, little is known about the role for DC in NK‐cell homeostasis. In order to investigate this question, a novel bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mouse model was generated in which the diphtheria toxin receptor is expressed under the CD11c promoter. In these mice efficient DC depletion can be achieved over prolonged periods of time by multiple injections of diphtheria toxin. We show here that NK cells require DC for full acquisition of effector function in vivo in response to the bacterial‐derived TLR ligand CpG. Importantly, DC were found to play an instrumental role for maintaining normal homeostasis of NK cells. This is achieved by IL‐15 production by DC, which supports the homeostatic proliferation of NK cells.
Sample Size Calculation for Comparing Time-to-Event Data

This article discusses three commonly employed testing procedures: the exponential model, Cox's proportional hazard model, and the log-rank test. The sample size formula for testing equality, superiority, and equivalence are discussed for each method. Keywords: time-to-event; sample size; equality superiority; equivalence
Explaining Transitions into Self-Employment after (Early) Retirement

Governments that attempt to extend the working lives of their citizens may consider promoting bridge employment. Self-employment in particular, may be an instrument in postponing the age at which workers finally leave the labour market. A NIDI panel study among older workers in the Netherlands revealed that one in every three retirees re-entered the labor market after (early) retirement. Post-career transitions into self-employment are increasingly common. In this paper we explore the various trajectories older adults may choose in their pathway into full retirement. How common is the transition into self-employment after (early) retirement? What motives drives this transition? To what extent is the decision to become self-employed determined by the lack of opportunities for paid employment offered by employers. The results of this study do not support this ‘necessity hypothesis’. Instead, the results point in the direction of the ‘opportunity hypothesis’. At least in the period under study, the self-employment option was primarily chosen by retirees with relatively high social capital (wealth & educational attainment) as well as entrepreneurial attitudes (high scores on self-efficacy). The fact that their retirements were overall quite early, but not considered involuntary, suggests that the timing of the decision to retire may be driven by the emergence of new (business) opportunities.
Integrin-linked Kinase Modulates Lipopolysaccharide- and Helicobacter pylori-induced Nuclear Factor κB-activated Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Production via Regulation of p65 Serine 536 Phosphorylation*

Background: Aberrantly elevated integrin-linked kinase (ILK) activity is associated with inflammatory diseases and tumors. Results: In response to bacterial stimulus and infection, ILK modulates pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α production and activates nuclear factor κB signaling via p65 Ser-536 phosphorylation. Conclusion: ILK promotes pro-inflammatory signaling during immune responses to diverse stimuli. Significance: ILK is a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases. Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is a ubiquitously expressed and highly conserved serine-threonine protein kinase that regulates cellular responses to a wide variety of extracellular stimuli. ILK is involved in cell-matrix interactions, cytoskeletal organization, and cell signaling. ILK signaling has also been implicated in oncogenesis and progression of cancers. However, its role in the innate immune system remains unknown. Here, we show that ILK mediates pro-inflammatory signaling in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of ILK in mouse embryonic fibroblasts and macrophages selectively blocks LPS-induced production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). ILK is required for LPS-induced activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and transcriptional induction of TNF-α. The modulation of LPS-induced TNF-α synthesis by ILK does not involve the classical NF-κB pathway, because IκB-α degradation and p65 nuclear translocation are both unaffected by ILK inhibition. Instead, ILK is involved in an alternative activation of NF-κB signaling by modulating the phosphorylation of p65 at Ser-536. Furthermore, ILK-mediated alternative NF-κB activation through p65 Ser-536 phosphorylation also occurs during Helicobacter pylori infection in macrophages and gastric cancer cells. Moreover, ILK is required for H. pylori-induced TNF-α secretion in macrophages. Although ILK-mediated phosphorylation of p65 at Ser-536 is independent of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway during LPS stimulation, upon H. pylori infection this event is dependent on the PI3K/Akt pathway. Our findings implicate ILK as a critical regulatory molecule for the NF-κB-mediated pro-inflammatory signaling pathway, which is essential for innate immune responses against pathogenic microorganisms.
Analytical Grid Generation for accurate representation of clearances in CFD for Screw Machines

One of the major factors affecting the performance prediction of twin screw compressors by use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is the accuracy with which the leakage gaps are captured by the discretization methods. The accuracy of mapping leakage flows can be improved by increasing the number of grid points on the profile. However, this method faces limitations when it comes to the complex deforming domains of a twin screw compressor because the computational time increases tremendously. In order to address this problem, an analytical grid distribution procedure is formulated that can independently refine the region of high importance for leakage flows in the interlobe space. This paper describes the procedure of analytical grid generation with the refined mesh in the interlobe area and presents a test case to show the influence of the mesh refinement in that area on the performance prediction. It is shown that by using this method, the flow domains in the vicinity of the interlobe gap and the blowhole area are refined which improves accuracy of leakage flow predictions.
An automated design methodology for layout generation targeting power leakage minimization

With the advent of deep sub-micron technologies, power consumption has become one of the most important research areas in microelectronics. This paper presents a design methodology for power leakage reduction in deep sub-micron digital circuits associated with an automated layout generator. The methodology consists of finding the channel length of transistors in the non-critical paths. The sizing algorithm is basically divided in two steps. First, transistors in the most non-critical paths are sized and then a refinement phase is employed. Different from the standard cell methodology, where several versions of each cell must be inserted in the library before synthesis, in our methodology the layout is generated after the channel length of transistors are defined. Results show that power leakage was reduced to 63% in a set of combinational benchmarks, without timing penalties.
Prophylactic Efficacy of Podophyllum hexandrum in alleviation of immobilization stress-induced oxidative damage in rat

Free radicals are generated in the body by means of various conditions such as exercise, pollution, stress, poor diet, and smoking. They are known to attack the cell components and increase the risk of heart disease, ulcer, stroke, or cancer. In this study, we evaluated whether podophyllum treatment has a prophylactic effect on the prooxidant–antioxidant state following immobilization stress treatment in rats. Immobilization stress caused an increase in free radical production as evidenced by an increase in the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and a decrease in the levels of glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in erythrocytes, liver and kidney. Both AL and AQ restored the increased LPO and decreased GSH and SOD significantly in immobilized rats and non-significantly in normal rats. Alcoholic extract was more efficacious in preventing excess free radical production as compared to aqueous extract. The potentiated antioxidant potential of erythrocytes due to Podophyllum administration can play an important role in the protective mechanism against immobilization induced oxidative damage.
Anomaly resilient node placement approach for pipelines monitoring

Wireless sensor network has proven to be a good candidate for many monitoring applications such as habitat monitoring, structural health monitoring, pipeline monitoring, etc. Pipeline monitoring is a challenging application where the sensors are placed in a linear topology. This linear topology requires careful attention in placing sensors to ensure robustness against anomaly, minimize the energy consumption and maximize the network lifetime. This paper investigates this problem by improving and evaluating the performance of two greedy node placement approaches. In contrast to existing work, we have validated experimentally the 31 power levels of CC2420 TelosB chipon and their corresponding transmission ranges. Having more power-level resolution yields less energy consumption and longer lifetime compared to traditional 8 power levels. Extensive simulation and real experiments have been conducted. The results demonstrate 23% extension in the lifetime when all power levels are adopted.