Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mongolia's resources boom : a CGE analysis

Mongolia’s geographical location, its economic structure and its mineral wealth give it unique characteristics. Tapping its natural resources in a way that equally benefits the social and economic well-being of Mongolians is the greatest challenge. The resources boom in recent years directly impacted remarkable economic growth, and affected Mongolia’s economic structure, social welfare, institutional quality and environment. The unprecedented improvement in the terms of trade and the large inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) were driven by the industrialisation of Mongolia’s neighbour and a main trading partner, China. Externally generated growth is, however, a double-edged sword. The boom brought with it economic fragility and loss of international competitiveness. It made the economy vulnerable to commodity price slumps and adverse changes in FDI. The thesis constructs, tests and applies two economy-wide models for Mongolia: a comparative static CGE model, ORANIMON, and a dynamic CGE model, MONAGE. The models serve as laboratories for economic analysis in order to develop informed views on policy in Mongolia. The detailed nature of the models and the databases allow ORANIMON and MONAGE to capture salient features of the Mongolian economy. Short-, medium- and long-run simulations were undertaken for validating the modeling and evaluating the impact of the mining boom. Simulation results show that there were significant structural changes in the Mongolian economy over the period studied, 2005 to 2012. The shifts in foreign demand for Mongolian mineral export commodities contributed most of the economic growth. Maintaining flexible currency and wage adjustment, cultivating productivity through micro-economic reform and improving institutional quality are crucial for Mongolia to overcome the difficulties associated with the structural change. Areas for future research within an economic modelling framework emerge: an analysis of the impact of resources boom on poverty and inequality; a policy-relevant research related to the livestock sector; a long-term baseline for the Mongolian economy and an empirical assessment for examining the dynamic responses of macroeconomic policies to large capital outflows.
Inhibitory Effect of Circulating Insulin on Glucagon Secretion During Hypoglycemia in Type I Diabetic Patients

Objective –To clarify whether the circulating insulin level influences hormonal responses, glucagon secretion in particular, during hypoglycemia in patients with insulin-dependent (type I) diabetes. Research Design and Methods –Nine type I diabetic patients were studied. During two separate experiments, hypoglycemia was induced by low-dose (244 pmol.kg−1.h−1) and high-dose (1034 pmol.kg−1.h−1) intravenous insulin infusions for 180 min in each case. The arterial blood glucose level was directly monitored every 1.5 min, and glucose was infused in the high-dose test to clamp the arterial blood glucose level to be identical as in the low-dose test. Results –Despite the fact that the plasma insulin level was four times higher in the high-dose than in the low-dose test (740 ± 50 vs. 180 ± 14 pM), a close to identical arterial hypoglycemia of ∼ 3.3 mM was obtained in the two experiments. During hypoglycemia, a significant rise of the plasma glucagon level was found only in the low-dose test (188 ± 29 vs. 237 ± 37 ng/L, P < 0.05), and the incremental area under the glucagon curve was significantly greater in the low-dose than in the high-dose test (140 ± 19 vs. −22.7 ± 34 ng/L.h−1, P < 0.005). The responses of plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine, growth hormone, pancreatic polypeptide, and somatostatin were similar in both tests and, consequently, were not significantly modified by the circulating insulin level. Conclusions –This study demonstrates that, in type I diabetic patients, the glucagon response to hypoglycemia is suppressed by a high level of circulating insulin within the physiological range. Our findings may help to explain the impairment of glucagon secretion during hypoglycemia frequently seen in these patients.
Case Mix, Quality and High‐Cost Kidney Transplant Patients

A better understanding of high‐cost kidney transplant patients would be useful for informing value‐based purchasing strategies by payers. This retrospective cohort study was based on the Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) files from 2003 to 2006. The focus of this analysis was high‐cost kidney transplant patients (patients that qualified for Medicare outlier payments and 30‐day readmission payments). Using regression techniques, we explored relationships between high‐cost kidney transplant patients, center‐specific case mix, and center quality. Among 43 393 kidney transplants in Medicare recipients, 35.2% were categorized as high‐cost patients. These payments represented 20% of total Medicare payments for kidney transplantation and exceeded $200 million over the study period. Case mix was associated with these payments and was an important factor underlying variation in hospital payments high‐cost patients. Hospital quality was also a strong determinant of future Medicare payments for high‐cost patients. Compared to high‐quality centers, low‐quality centers cost Medicare an additional $1185 per kidney transplant. Payments for high‐cost patients represent a significant proportion of the total costs of kidney transplant surgical care. Quality improvement may be an important strategy for reducing the costs of kidney transplantation.
Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Latency-Associated Nuclear Antigen Induces a Strong Bend on Binding to Terminal Repeat DNA

ABSTRACT During latency, the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus genome is maintained as a circular episome, replicating in synchrony with host chromosomes. Replication requires the latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) and an origin of latent DNA replication located in the viral terminal repeats, consisting of two LANA binding sites (LBSs) and a GC-rich sequence. Here, we show that the recruitment of a LANA dimer to high-affinity site LBS-1 bends DNA by 57° and towards the major groove. The cooccupancy of LBS-1 and lower-affinity LBS-2 induces a symmetrical bend of 110°. By changing the origin architecture, LANA may help to assemble a specific nucleoprotein structure important for the initiation of DNA replication.
Growth, nutritional, and gastrointestinal aspects of focal dermal hypoplasia (Goltz–Gorlin syndrome)

Focal dermal hypoplasia (FDH) is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the PORCN gene located on the X‐chromosome. In the present study, we characterized the pattern of growth, body composition, and the nutritional and gastrointestinal aspects of children and adults (n = 19) affected with this disorder using clinical anthropometry and a survey questionnaire. The mean birth length (P < 0.06) and weight (P < 0.001) z‐scores of the participants were lower than the reference population. The mean head circumference (P < 0.001), height (length) (P < 0.001), weight (P < 0.01), and BMI (P < 0.05) for age z‐scores of the participants were lower than the reference population. The height‐for‐age and weight‐for‐age z‐scores of the participants did not differ significantly between birth and current measurements. Three‐fourths of the group reported having one or more nutritional or gastrointestinal problems including short stature (65%), underweight (77%), oral motor dysfunction (41%), gastroesophageal reflux (24%), gastroparesis (35%), and constipation (35%). These observations provide novel clinical information about growth, body composition, and nutritional and gastrointestinal aspects of children and adults with FDH and underscore the importance of careful observation and early clinical intervention in the care of individuals affected with this disorder. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lower Provider Volume is Associated With Higher Failure Rates for Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

Background:Among physicians who perform endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), the relationship between procedure volume and outcome is unknown. Objective:Quantify the ERCP volume-outcome relationship by measuring provider-specific failure rates, hospitalization rates, and other quality measures. Research Design:Retrospective cohort. Subjects:A total of 16,968 ERCPs performed by 130 physicians between 2001 and 2011, identified in the Indiana Network for Patient Care. Measures:Physicians were classified by their average annual Indiana Network for Patient Care volume and stratified into low (<25/y) and high (≥25/y). Outcomes included failed procedures, defined as repeat ERCP, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography or surgical exploration of the bile duct⩽7 days after the index procedure, hospitalization rates, and 30-day mortality. Results:Among 15,514 index ERCPs, there were 1163 (7.5%) failures; the failure rate was higher among low (9.5%) compared with high volume (5.7%) providers (P<0.001). A second ERCP within 7 days (a subgroup of failure rate) occurred more frequently when the original ERCP was performed by a low-volume (4.1%) versus a high-volume physician (2.3%, P=0.013). Patients were more frequently hospitalized within 24 hours when the ERCP was performed by a low-volume (28.3%) versus high-volume physician (14.8%, P=0.002). Mortality within 30 days was similar (low=1.9%, high=1.9%). Among low-volume physicians and after adjusting, the odds of having a failed procedure decreased 3.3% (95% confidence interval, 1.6%–5.0%, P<0.001) with each additional ERCP performed per year. Conclusions:Lower provider volume is associated with higher failure rate for ERCP, and greater need for postprocedure hospitalization.
Technology commercialization in energy-smart industries

Mankind is living in the technology era and is seeing the influence of technology in every aspect of life, and in communities and societies. The technology commercialization (TC) marketplace for energy-smart industries plays a crucial role in increasing technology-related developments and the demand for energy. As part of a new focus on sustainability, this study examined the effects of technological attributes, market potential and environmental factors on the technology commercialization of energy-smart industries. A survey was conducted on two of Taiwan's promising high-tech industries: solar photovoltaic (PV) and light emitting diodes (LEDs). It was found that if the technologies possess the specific attributes required by the potential adopters, namely, innovativeness, generics, simplicity and compatibility, the level of market potential will be more favorable and the TC probability will be higher. Furthermore, the results of the regression analysis indicated that environmental requirements play a moderating role in affecting the relationships between market potential and TC probability. The empirical findings highlighted the role of market potential as a mediator between technological attributes and the likelihood of commercialization. Furthermore, environmental factors were found to moderate the influence of market potential on technology commercialization in energy-smart industries.
A 40 Gb/s Serial Link Transceiver in 28 nm CMOS Technology

A 40 Gb/s serial link interface is presented that includes four lanes of transceiver optimized for chip-to-chip communication while compensating for 20 dB of channel loss. Transmit equalization consists of a 2-tap feed-forward equalizer (FFE) while receive equalization includes a 2-tap FFE using a transversal filter, a 3-stage continuous-time linear equalizer with active feedback, and discrete-time equalizers consisting of a 17-tap decision feedback equalizer (DFE) and a 3-tap sampled FFE. The receiver uses quarter-rate double integrate-and-hold sampling. The clock and data recovery (CDR) unit uses a split-path CDR/DFE design which facilitates wider bandwidth and lower jitter simultaneously. A phase detection scheme that filters out edges affected by residual inter-symbol interference allows recovering a low-jitter clock from a partially-equalized eye. A fractional-N PLL is implemented for frequency offset tracking. Combining these techniques, the digital CDR recovers a stable 10 GHz clock from an eye containing 0.8 UI p-p input jitter and achieves 1-10 MHz of tracking bandwidth. The transceiver achieves horizontal and vertical eye openings of 0.27 UI and 120 mV, respectively, at BER = 10-9. The quad SerDes is realized in 28 nm CMOS technology. Amortizing common blocks, it occupies 0.81 mm2 per lane and achieves 23.2 mW/Gb/s power efficiency at 40 Gb/s.
Lipoteichoic acid selectively induces the ERK signaling pathway in the cornea.

PURPOSE To identify signal transduction pathways and gene expression induced by the bacterial cell wall component lipoteichoic acid (LTA) in human corneal keratocytes. METHODS Human corneal keratocytes were cultured in the presence of 6.25 to 50 microg/ml LTA from Staphylococcus aureus. Induced DNA-binding of NF-kappaB was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs). Activation of MAP-kinase signaling pathways (p38, JNK-1/2, ERK-1/2, Elk 1, MEK-1/2, c-Raf) was evaluated by Western blotting using phospho-specific antibodies. To investigate the effect of LTA signaling on gene expression, keratocytes were transfected with a luciferase reporter gene under the control of serum response elements (SREs). LTA-induced gene expression was quantified using luciferase assays. RESULTS Exposure of various concentrations of LTA up to 24 hours did not lead to activation of NF-kappaB, whereas TNF-alpha potently induced this transcription factor. A systematic analysis of LTA-activated MAPK pathways revealed no significant effects on JNK and p38, but a dose- and time-dependent phosphorylation of members of the ERK pathway. Analysis of the ERK-activating signaling cascade showed LTA-induced phosphorylation of ERK-1, MEK1/2, and c-Raf. ERK activity resulted in an enhanced transcription of an SRE-controlled reporter gene. CONCLUSIONS LTA induces SRE-enhanced gene transcription in corneal keratocytes that is selectively mediated by the ERK pathway. Therefore, it seems possible that components of the bacterial cell wall such as LTA can alter the transcriptional program within the corneal stroma and thereby trigger an inflammatory response.
Pathophysiologic Correlation Between 62Cu-ATSM and 18F-FDG in Lung Cancer

The purpose of this study was to delineate the differences in intratumoral uptake and tracer distribution of 62Cu-diacetyl-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) (62Cu-ATSM), a well-known hypoxic imaging tracer, and 18F-FDG in patients with lung cancer of pathohistologically different types. Methods: Eight patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 5 with adenocarcinoma underwent 62Cu-ATSM and 18F-FDG PET within a 1-wk interval. For 62Cu-ATSM PET, 10-min static data acquisition was started at 10 min after a 370- to 740-MBq tracer injection. After image reconstruction, 62Cu-ATSM and 18F-FDG images were coregistered, and multiple small regions of interest were drawn on tumor lesions of the 2 images to obtain standardized uptake values (SUVs). The regression lines were determined between SUVs for 62Cu-ATSM and 18F-FDG in each tumor. The slope values were compared between SCC and adenocarcinoma to observe pathohistologic differences in intratumoral distribution of the tracers. Results: SUVs for 62Cu-ATSM were lower than those for 18F-FDG in both SCC and adenocarcinoma. SCC tumors showed high 62Cu-ATSM and low 18F-FDG uptakes in the peripheral region of tumors but low 62Cu-ATSM and high 18F-FDG uptakes toward the center (spatial mismatching). The relationship of SUVs for the 2 tracers was negatively correlated with a mean regression slope of −0.07 ± 0.05. On the other hand, adenocarcinoma tumors had a spatially similar distribution of 62Cu-ATSM and 18F-FDG, with positive regression slopes averaging 0.24 ± 0.13. The regression slopes for 62Cu-ATSM and 18F-FDG differed significantly between SCC and adenocarcinoma (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The intratumoral distribution patterns of 62Cu-ATSM and 18F-FDG were different between SCC and adenocarcinoma in lung cancers, indicating that intratumoral regions of high glucose metabolism and hypoxia could differ with the pathohistologic type of lung cancer. The identification of regional biologic characteristics in tumors such as hypoxia, energy metabolism, and proliferation could play a significant role in the clinical diagnosis and therapy planning for non–small cell lung cancer patients.
Identifying systematic errors in quantitative dynamic‐susceptibility contrast perfusion imaging by high‐resolution multi‐echo parallel EPI

Several obstacles usually confound a straightforward perfusion analysis using dynamic‐susceptibility contrast‐based magnetic resonance imaging (DSC‐MRI). In this work, it became possible to eliminate some of these sources of error by combining a multiple gradient‐echo technique with parallel imaging (PI): first, the large dynamic range of tracer concentrations could be covered satisfactorily with multiple echo times (TE) which would otherwise result in overestimation of image magnitude in the presence of noise. Second, any bias from T1 relaxation could be avoided by fitting to the signal magnitude of multiple TEs. Finally, with PI, a good tradeoff can be achieved between number of echoes, brain coverage, temporal resolution and spatial resolution. The latter reduces partial voluming, which could distort calculation of the arterial input function. Having ruled out these sources of error, a 4‐fold overestimation of cerebral blood volume and flow remained, which was most likely due to the completely different relaxation mechanisms that are effective in arterial voxels compared with tissue. Hence, the uniform tissue‐independent linear dependency of relaxation rate upon tracer concentration, which is usually assumed, must be questioned. Therefore, DSC‐MRI requires knowledge of the exact dependency of transverse relaxation rate upon tracer concentration in order to calculate truly quantitative perfusion maps. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Demographic spatial genetic structure of the Neotropical tree, Jacaranda copaia

We used genotypes from six microsatellite loci and demographic data from a large mapped forest plot to study changes in spatial genetic structure across demographic stages, from seed rain to seedlings, juveniles, and adult diameter classes in the Neotropical tree, Jacaranda copaia. In pairwise comparisons of genetic differentiation among demographic classes, only seedlings were significantly differentiated from the other diameter classes; FST values ranged from 0.006 to 0.009. Furthermore, only seedlings showed homozygote excess suggesting biparental inbreeding in the large diameter reproductive adults. We found very low levels of relatedness in the first distance class of trees, 1–26 cm diameter (Fij = 0.011). However, there was a 5‐ to 10‐fold rise in relatedness in the smallest distance class, from the smallest to the largest tree diameter classes (Fij = 0.110 for individuals > 56 cm diameter). A variety of non‐mutually exclusive mechanisms have been invoked perviously to explain such a pattern, including natural selection, history, or nonequilibrium population dynamics. The long‐term demographic data available for this species allow us to evaluate these mechanisms. Jacaranda is a fast‐growing, light‐demanding species with low recruitment rates and high mortality rates in the smaller diameter classes. It successfully regenerates only in large light gaps, which occur infrequently and stochastically in space and time. These factors contribute to the nonequilibrium population dynamics and observed low genetic structure in the small size classes. We conclude that the pattern of spatial genetic transitions in Jacaranda is consistent with overlapping related generations and strong but infrequent periods of high recruitment, followed by long periods of population decline.
Factors associated with patient-satisfaction in student-led physiotherapy clinics: A qualitative study

ABSTRACT Background and Purpose: Student-led physiotherapy clinics are a valuable means for providing clinical education opportunities for student learning and providing cost-effective services to the public. Understanding patient satisfaction within the student-led physiotherapy clinic setting is important to inform organizational, educational, and clinical processes that aim to balance both student learning experiences and quality patient care. Design: A cross-sectional qualitative design using semi-structured interviews. Results: A total of 20 patients from three different university student-led physiotherapy clinics were interviewed. Five major themes were associated with patient satisfaction, style of supervision, student–supervisor relationship, quality of physiotherapy care, student qualities and cost, and location of the service. Conclusion: The results emphasize the importance placed by patients on effective communication, as well as the relationship between the supervisor and student overseeing their care. The findings highlight the influence of both the student and supervisor on patient satisfaction and provide insight into the style of student supervision from the perspective of the patient.
Channel Estimation on 60GHz Wireless System Based on Subspace Pursuit

Due to the channel with characteristic of sparse multi-path in the 60 GHZ wireless communication system, the channel estimation problem can be attributed to that of sparse signals recovery. And with the consideration of the subspace pursuit (SP) algorithm is superior to the orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) at reconstruction precision, the channel estimation technique based on the SP algorithm is presented in the 60 GHZ wireless communication system, First, design the OFDM multi-carrier modulation communication system. Then, establish the channel estimation mathematical model with indoor Line-of-sight. Finally, complete the reconstruction of sparse signals using SP algorithm. The experimental results and comparison analysis show that the presented technique based on the SP algorithm provides better channel estimation performances in the same pilot conditions, and it is superior to the technique based on OMP algorithm and the technique based on least square (LS) algorithm.
The power of intuitive thinking: a devalued heuristic of strategic marketing

Historically, the value of intuition in strategic marketing has been devalued. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to investigate empirically and articulate the ways in which the heuristic of intuition can prove, and is proving, helpful to marketing managers involved in making strategic-level decisions. Drawing upon extensive interviews conducted with marketing managers, we explore the extent to which intuitive insights are privileged over systematic, rational, logical evaluations. Our data evidence how intuition-led decision making becomes a powerful tool in instances where there is a paucity of data, when options are manifold, when the future is uncertain and when the logic of strategic choice needs to be confirmed. Ultimately, the paper seeks to place a new and affirmative subjectivity within the realm of marketing strategy that respects and legitimises the power of intuitive insight.