Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Redistributive policies and technology diffusion

Abstract In this paper we examine the effects of redistributive policies in a transition economy in the presence of technology diffusion on labor and education decisions, and skill-premium. We set a micro-founded dynamic general equilibrium model with a skill-biased technology diffusion, elastic leisure/labor decisions, and investments in education. The economy is populated by two types of households – skilled and unskilled, which become skilled through investments in education. We highlight the importance of the general equilibrium effects of redistributive policies over the leisure/labor and education decisions and wages. Lump-sum transfers reduce investments in education, raising the share of unskilled individuals, decreasing their wage and, raising the skill-premium. Education subsidies raise investments in education, the skills supply, and unskilled wages and reduce the skill-premium during the slowdown of the technology diffusion.
Selective Fair Behavior as a Function of Psychopathic Traits in a Subclinical Population

Psychopathy is a group of personality traits that are associated with violations of social norms. Previous studies have suggested that people with psychopathic traits in subclinical populations do not necessarily display antisocial, self-defeating behaviors, and instead may strategically show adaptive behaviors in response to cues during reciprocal social interactions. Therefore, in the present study, we examined whether the association between psychopathic traits and unfair behavior can be moderated by a potential for punishment and social distance (anonymity), which are known to facilitate fair behavior. We focused on two psychopathic traits: primary and secondary psychopathy. Primary psychopathy is characterized by callousness, shallow affect, manipulation, and superficial charm. In contrast, secondary psychopathy is associated with impulsivity and lack of long-term goals, and is related to hostile behavior. A total of 348 undergraduate students determined the amounts of money that they would offer to strangers or friends at their university in hypothetical scenarios of the ultimatum game (UG) and the dictator game (DG). While gender affected decisions in the hypothetical scenarios of the DG, it did not interact with psychopathic traits. The score for primary psychopathy on the Levenson self-report psychopathy scale predicted unfair monetary offers to strangers in the DG, where participants could not be punished. However, compared with their offers in the DG, individuals with higher scores for primary psychopathy made larger offers in the UG, where low offers could trigger punishment from the recipient. Moreover, primary psychopathy did not decrease the amounts of offers in either game when the participant considered the recipient to be a friend. On the other hand, secondary psychopathy was not associated with differences in behavioral fairness depending on a potential for punishment or social distance. Based on these findings, we discuss strategic social skills as a function of primary psychopathy.
Hydraulic pressure inducing renal tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation in vitro

ObjectiveThe effects of hydraulic pressure on renal tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation (TEMT) were investigated.MethodsWe applied hydraulic pressure (50 cmH2O) to normal rat kidney tubular epithelial cells (NRK52E) for different durations. Furthermore, different pressure magnitudes were applied to cells. The morphology, cytoskeleton, and expression of myofibroblastic marker protein and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) of NRK52E cells were examined. Results: Disorganized actin filaments and formation of curling clusters in actin were seen in the cytoplasm of pressurized cells. We verified that de novo expression of α-smooth muscle actin induced by pressure, which indicated TEMT, was dependent on both the magnitude and duration of pressure. TGF-β1 expression was significantly upregulated under certain conditions, which implies that the induction of TEMT by hydraulic pressure is related with TGF-β1. ConclusionWe illustrate for the first time that hydraulic pressure can induce TEMT in a pressure magnitude- and duration-dependent manner, and that this TEMT is accompanied by TGF-β1 secretion.
Initiation of heteroduplex‐loop repair by T4‐encoded endonuclease VII in vitro.

Heteroduplex DNAs with single‐stranded loops of 51 nt or 8 nt were constructed in vitro and used in reactions with purified endonuclease VII (endo VII) from phage T4. The enzyme makes double‐strand breaks by introducing pairs of staggered nicks flanking the loops. Regardless of loop‐size the nicking sites map exclusively at the 3′ side of the loop in the looping strand and at the 3′ side of the base of the loop in the non‐looping strand. The number of potential cleavage sites is small (less than 5) and their distribution depends on DNA sequence. The two closest staggered nicks are 4 bp apart, 2 bp on either side of the loop. Nicking always occurs in the double‐stranded part of the molecules; the single‐stranded loops are not attacked by endo VII. The nicks are introduced in a stepwise fashion and selection of the strand for the first nick depends on the sequence of 31 base pairs flanking the loops.
Experiments With Fundamental Aspects Performed in a Small ECR Ion Source for a New Carbon Therapy Facility

A small permanent magnet electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS) has been developed for the production of C4+ ions for the third carbon-therapy facility in Japan. The emphasis of the design is on stability, easy operation and prevention of maintenance, where high charge state production is not a requirement. Tests with different feed-gases have shown that carbon-hydrogen compounds are favorable, in particular with carbon to hydrogen ratio of 1:1. A parallel study of (highly charged) C5+ production revealed that the various compounds of feed-gas are behaving as if feeding the two components separately. This includes the behavior of replacing hydrogen by deuterium. From these a plausible reason was found for the observed failure of hydrogen as a mixing gas. Other experiments with the small source were performed to study the effect of inserting an aluminum (-oxide) cylinder inside the electron cyclotron resonance plasma-chamber. Earlier research found an increase in production of high charge states, but a good explanation was still missing. By adapting an insulated cylinder that can be biased positively, it was shown that ion diffusion to the side walls can be reduced, in particular when the cylinder is made of strips covering the pole pieces of the hexapole magnet. The new tool can be used to study the mechanism in more detail and also has possibilities of further improving a source for higher charge state production.
Inhibition of Graft-Versus-Host Disease by Double-Negative Regulatory T Cells1

Pretransplant infusion of lymphocytes that express a single allogeneic MHC class I Ag has been shown to induce tolerance to skin and heart allografts that express the same alloantigens. In this study, we demonstrate that reconstitution of immunoincompetent mice with spleen cells from MHC class I Ld-mismatched donors does not cause graft-vs-host disease (GVHD). Recipient mice become tolerant to skin allografts of lymphocyte donor origin while retaining immunity to third-party alloantigens. The mechanism involves donor-derived CD3+CD4−CD8− double-negative T regulatory (DN Treg) cells, which greatly increase and form the majority of T lymphocytes in the spleen of recipient mice. DN Treg cells isolated from tolerant recipient mice can suppress the proliferation of syngeneic antihost CD8+ T cells in vitro. Furthermore, we demonstrate that DN Treg cells can be generated in vitro by stimulating them with MHC class I Ld-mismatched lymphocytes. These in vitro generated Ld-specific DN Treg cells are able to down-regulate the activity of antihost CD8+ T cells in vitro by directly killing activated CD8+ T cells. Moreover, infusing in vitro generated Ld-mismatched DN Treg cells prevented the development of GVHD caused by allogeneic CD8+ T cells. Together these data demonstrate that infusion of single MHC class I locus-mismatched lymphocytes may induce donor-specific transplantation tolerance through activation of DN Treg cells, which can suppress antihost CD8+ T cells and prevent the development of GVHD. This finding indicates that using single class I locus-mismatched grafts may be a viable alternative to using fully matched grafts in bone marrow transplantation.
Pharmacological properties of YM264, a potent and orally active antagonist of platelet-activating factor.

The anti-platelet-activating factor effect of YM264 was examined in a variety of in vitro and in vivo test systems. YM264 inhibited [3H] platelet-activating factor binding to rabbit platelet membranes with a pKi value of 8.85. YM264 inhibited the platelet-activating factor-induced human, rabbit and guinea-pig platelet aggregation with pA2 values of 8.68, 8.33 and 8.14, respectively. However, at 10(-4) M the compound did not affect rabbit and human platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen arachidonic acid and epinephrine. YM264 reversed a platelet-activating factor-induced hypotension is anesthetized rats with an ED50 value of 0.005 mg/kg, i.v. Administered orally, YM264 inhibited platelet-activating factor-induced death in mice, hemoconcentration in rats and increase in vascular permeability in guinea-pigs with ED50 values of 0.19, 0.30 and 0.49 mg/kg, p.o. , respectively. YM264, at 1 and 3 mg/kg, p.o. , showed a significant anti-platelet-activating factor effect in a rat hemoconcentration model up to 6 hr after treatment. Moreover, in ex vivo experiments in guinea-pigs, YM264, at the doses of 0.3 to 3 mg/kg, p.o. , shifted the dose-response curves of platelet-activating factor-induced platelet aggregation to the right in a parallel manner. These results indicate that YM264 is a selective, potent and orally active platelet-activating factor antagonist.
Antidepressant Use and the Risk of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Psychiatric Patients: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Taiwan

Abstract The magnitude of risk between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is still unknown in patients with psychiatric diseases. The aim of this study was to quantify the risk of UGIB induced by use of antidepressants with different affinities for serotonin transporters in psychiatric patients using Taiwan’s nationwide health insurance claims database. We conducted a propensity score- matched retrospective cohort study and identified 304,606 psychiatric patients who initiated antidepressant treatment during the 2005–2006 period. Antidepressants were classified as high- (HA group), intermediate- (IA group), or low-affinity (LA group) serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Patients in the LA group were matched 1:1 to those in the HA and IA groups according to their propensity scores. Subjects who were successfully matched were followed up from the date of antidepressant initiation to first hospitalization for UGIB, drug discontinuation, transition to or addition of antidepressants in another group, or the study’s end (whichever occurred first). A total of 153,486 psychiatric patients were successfully matched, and 498 first UGIB events were identified. Compared with the LA group, patients in the HA group had a higher risk for UGIB (hazard ratio [HR], 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11–1.71). The HR (95% CI) of the IA group was 1.11 (95% CI, 0.88–1.41). The trend for elevated UGIB risk with increasing affinity of serotonin transporters was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Elderly patients and those with prior UGIB history were more susceptible to the harmful effects. Our findings suggest that the use of high-affinity serotonin reuptake inhibitors may increase the risk for UGIB in psychiatric patients.
The Rise and Fall and Resurgence of Thromboangiitis Obliterans (Buerger's Disease)

Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO; or Buerger's disease) is a nonarteriosclerotic, segmental, occlusive inflammatory disease of medium‐sized and small arteries and veins of unknown cause, occurring predominantly in young male habitual tobacco users. Less than 2% of the patients with TAO are women or elderly persons. TAO is a treatable disease when diagnosed early and if strict abstinence from tobacco is observed. Otherwise progression and exacerbation of limb ischemia may lead to multiple and repeated amputations, and rarely visceral or cerebral ischemia.
Modeling of biomechanics and biorheology of red blood cells in type-2 diabetes mellitus

Erythrocytes in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are associated with reduced cell deformability and elevated blood viscosity, which contribute to impaired blood flow and other pathophysiological aspects of diabetes related vascular complications. In this study, by using a two-component red blood cell (RBC) model and systematic parameter variation, we perform detailed computational simulations to probe the alteration of the biomechanical, rheological and dynamic behavior of T2DM RBCs in response to morphological change and membrane stiffening. First, we examine the elastic response of T2DM RBCs subject to static tensile forcing and their viscoelastic relaxation response upon release of the stretching force. Second, we investigate the membrane fluctuations of T2DM RBCs and explore the effect of cell shape on the fluctuation amplitudes. Third, we subject the T2DM RBCs to shear flow and probe the effects of cell shape and effective membrane viscosity on their tank-treading movement. In addition, we model the cell dynamic behavior in a microfluidic channel with constriction and quantify the biorheological properties of individual T2DM RBCs. Finally, we simulate T2DM RBC suspensions under shear and compare the predicted viscosity with experimental measurements. Taken together these simulation results and their comparison with currently available experimental data are helpful in identifying a specific parametric model the first of its kind that best describes the main hallmarks of T2DM RBCs, which can be used in future simulation studies of hematologic complications of T2DM patients.
Interacting domains of E2F1, DP1, and the adenovirus E4 protein

Recent experiments demonstrate that a family of related proteins constitute the E2F transcription factor activity and that the interaction of two of these gene products, E2F1 and DP1, generates a heterodimer with DNA binding and transcriptional activating capacity. Previous experiments have shown that the adenovirus E4 19-kDa protein facilitates the formation of a stable E2F dimer on the adenovirus E2 promoter. We now show that coexpression of the E2F1 and DP1 products in transfected SAOS-2 cells, together with the E4 product, generates a multicomponent complex with specificity to the adenovirus E2 promoter. Using a yeast two-hybrid assay system, we find that the E2F1 hydrophobic heptad repeat (E2F1 amino acid residues 206 to 283) allows interaction with a corresponding domain of the DP1 protein (amino acids 196 to 245). We also find that the adenovirus E4 protein interacts with the DP1 hydrophobic heptad repeat domain, but we could not detect a direct interaction between E2F1 and E4. Additional assays demonstrate that the E4 protein can dimerize. Since our previous experiments have shown that mutations within the E2F1 hydrophobic heptad repeat element abolish the E4-mediated transcription enhancement in transfection assays, we conclude that the E4 protein likely interacts with the E2F1-DP1 heterodimer by directly binding to the DP1 product. As a consequence of the ability of E4 to dimerize, we propose that the stable complex formed on the two E2F sites within the E2 promoter is composed of two E2F1-DP1 heterodimers held together by an E4 dimer.
Resource allocation for the wire-tap multi-carrier broadcast channel

Resource allocation for the multi-carrier broadcast channel is well understood for a broad class of utility functions, under various quality-of-service constraints, and for different channel models. In this work, we also take security on the physical layer into account. We use the secrecy rate as the objective function for resource allocation and show the similarities and differences to the traditional power and sub-carrier allocations for sum capacity optimization. The sub-carrier selection is similar for both methods whereas the spectral power allocation shows different behavior. Finally, we demonstrate that rich multipath fading decreases the cost of security. All results are illustrated by numerical simulations and discussions.
Drug Misuse

1. Assessment by history and examination should include: a history of all drugs taken during each day for the previous 7 days (including alcohol), length of drug use and route (including the sharing of needles or syringes), the possibility of pregnancy if female, previous psychiatric history and treatment of drug misuse, social factors (including employment, family, friends, involvement in prostitution, legal problems), medical problems, including evidence of hepatitis, injection abscesses and other infections, suicide attempts, and weight loss. 2. Notification to the Chief Medical Officer of the Drug Branch of the Home Office is a legal obligation. 3. Investigations include: liver function tests (LFTs), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb), hepatitis C antibody, full blood count (FBC), and urine for drug screening. Consider HIV testing if at risk but it is usually better arranged at a later stage. 4. Prescribing may be considered for a variety of drugs but objectives will differ according to drug type and individual. 5. In the case of opioid users, prescribing may be useful to stabilize their lives and to promote attendance for professional help. It may reduce high risk behaviour for contracting and spreading HIV. 6. If medication is given to opioid users, methadone mixture 1 mg/ml given once a day is the prescription of choice. Dispensing should be on a daily basis and the blue prescription form FP10 (MDA) allows the chemist to dispense daily for up to 14 days. A maximum ceiling of 100 mg methadone/day should not be exceeded. The initial dose will depend on the amount of opioid consumed in the previous week. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Magic Wand: an intuitive gesture remote control for home appliances

Mickey Mouse controls several brooms using a magic wand in a Disney movie. Can we control home appliances in a similar way? MagicWand makes this dream comes true. Using MagicWand, we can operate more than one home appliance by intuitive actions. MagicWand has two 3-axis accelerometers to detect a control target by just pointing and to recognize command actions which are classified into some intuitive attributes common to multiple home appliances. It generates the control commands and sends them to the targeted home appliances via Bluetooth. We have connected it with the home network appliance system 'FEMINITY/spl trade/' and realized actual operation of air conditioner, lights, and so on.
Interregional Migration of Human Capital and Unemployment Dynamics: Evidence from Italian Provinces

Abstract Since the mid-1990s interregional migration flows in Italy have dramatically increased, especially from the South to the North. These flows are characterized by a strong component of human capital, involving a large number of workers with secondary and tertiary education. Using longitudinal data for the period 2002-2011 at NUTS-3 territorial level, we document that long-distance (i.e., South-North) net migration of high-skill workers has increased the unemployment at origin and decreased it at destination, thus deepening North-South unemployment disparities. On the other hand, long-distance net migration of low-skill workers has had the opposite effect, by lowering the unemployment at origin and raising it at destination. Further evidence also suggests that the diverging effect of high-skill migration dominates the converging effect of lowskill migration. Thus, concerns for an ‘internal brain drain’ from Southern regions look not groundless.
Mutation analysis with random DNA identifiers (MARDI) catalogs Pig‐a mutations in heterogeneous pools of CD48‐deficient T cells derived from DMBA‐treated rats

Identification of mutations induced by xenotoxins is a common task in the field of genetic toxicology. Mutations are often detected by clonally expanding potential mutant cells and genotyping each viable clone by Sanger sequencing. Such a “clone‐by‐clone” approach requires significant time and effort, and sometimes is even impossible to implement. Alternative techniques for efficient mutation identification would greatly benefit both basic and regulatory genetic toxicology research. Here, we report the development of Mutation Analysis with Random DNA Identifiers (MARDI), a novel high‐fidelity Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) approach that circumvents clonal expansion and directly catalogs mutations in pools of mutant cells. MARDI uses oligonucleotides carrying Random DNA Identifiers (RDIs) to tag progenitor DNA molecules before PCR amplification, enabling clustering of descendant DNA molecules and eliminating NGS‐ and PCR‐induced sequencing artifacts. When applied to the Pig‐a cDNA analysis of heterogeneous pools of CD48‐deficient T cells derived from DMBA‐treated rats, MARDI detected nearly all Pig‐a mutations that were previously identified by conventional clone‐by‐clone analysis and discovered many additional ones consistent with DMBA exposure: mostly A to T transversions, with the mutated A located on the non‐transcribed DNA strand. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 57:114–124, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.