Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trade Across Countries and Manufacturing Sectors with Heterogeneous Trade Elasticities

Multi-sector versions of the international trade model of Eaton and Kortum (2002) usually restrict trade elasticities to be identical across sectors, with potentially distorting effects on the estimates of the model parameters. This paper allows for heterogeneous sectoral trade elasticities and quantifies them by estimating an equation for bilateral market shares, with tariffs and standard gravity variables used to model trade barriers. Results show that sectors differ signiftcantly in the size of trade elasticities. The paper proves that this heterogeneity matters at least in three different respects. First, it matters when inferring measures of relative productivity from trade and production data. Secondly, it matters when considering the trade-induced reallocations of production within and between sectors. When assessing their relative contribution to the productivity gains that each country obtains from opening to trade, gains turn out to be largely due to the reallocation within sectors, especially for richer countries. Finally, accounting for the heterogeneity in elasticities is crucial when running general equilibrium counterfactual studies, such as that performed in this paper, which assesses the effects on aggregate of sector-specific technology shocks.
Wii-habilitation as balance therapy for children with acquired brain injury

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Nintendo Wii compared to traditional balance therapy in improving balance, motivation, and functional ability in children undergoing acute rehabilitation after brain injury. Methods: A non-concurrent, randomized multiple baseline single-subject research design was used with three participants. Data were analyzed by visual inspection of trend lines. Results: Daily Wii balance training was equally motivating to traditional balance therapy for two participants and more motivating for one participant. While improvements in dynamic balance were observed, the results for static balance remain inconclusive. All participants demonstrated improvements in functional ability. Conclusion: Wii balance therapy is a safe, feasible, and motivating intervention for children undergoing acute rehabilitation after an acquired brain injury. Further research to examine the effectiveness of Wii balance therapy in this population is warranted.
Maternal nutritional history predicts obesity in adult offspring independent of postnatal diet

Significant alterations in maternal nutrition may induce long‐term metabolic consequences in offspring, in particular obesity and leptin and insulin resistance. Although maternal nutrient deprivation has been well characterized in this context, there is a relative paucity of data on how high fat (HF) nutrition impacts on the subsequent generation. The present study investigated the effects of maternal HF nutrition either throughout the mother's life up to and including pregnancy and lactation or HF nutrition restricted to pregnancy and lactation, on growth and metabolic parameters in male and female offspring. Virgin Wistar rats were assigned to one of three experimental groups: (1) controls (Cont): dams fed a standard chow diet throughout their life and throughout pregnancy and lactation; (2) maternal high fat (MHF) group: dams fed a HF diet from weaning up to and throughout pregnancy and lactation; and (3) pregnancy and lactation high fat (PLHF): dams fed a chow diet through their life until conception and then fed a HF diet throughout pregnancy and lactation. At weaning, all offspring were fed either a chow or HF diet for the remainder of the study (160 days). Litter size and sex ratios were not significantly different between the groups. MHF and PLHF offspring had significantly lower body weights and were hypoleptinaemic and hypoinsulinaemic at birth compared to Cont offspring. As adults however, chow‐fed MHF and PLHF offspring were significantly more obese than Cont offspring (DEXA scanning at day 150, P < 0.001 for maternal HF diet). As expected a postweaning HF diet resulted in increased adiposity in all groups; MHF and PLHF offspring, however, always remained significantly more obese than Cont offspring. Increased adiposity in MHF and PLHF offspring was paralleled by hyperinsulinaemia and hyperleptinaemia (P < 0.001; MHF and PLHF versus Cont). It is of interest that a lifetime of HF nutrition produced a similar offspring phenotype to HF nutrition restricted to pregnancy and lactation alone, thus suggesting that the postnatal sequelae of maternal HF nutrition occurs independent of preconceptional diet. These data further reinforce the importance of maternal nutrition during these critical windows of development and show that maternal HF feeding can induce a markedly obese phenotype in male and female offspring completely independent of postnatal nutrition.
Regulation by intestinal γδ T cells during establishment of food allergic sensitization in mice

To cite this article: Bol‐Schoenmakers M, Marcondes Rezende M, Bleumink R, Boon L, Man S, Hassing I, Fiechter D, Pieters RHH, Smit JJ. Regulation by intestinal γδ T cells during establishment of food allergic sensitization in mice. Allergy 2011; 66: 331–340.
Effect of Fixative on Chromatin Structure and DNA Detection

In this study, we analyzed the chromatin ultrastructure in interphase cells after different chemical fixations. In light of the fact that there is little information regarding the fixation of biological samples in combination with molecular biology methods (such as DNA extraction and in situ hybridization methods) we analyzed the ultrastructure of chromatin in interphase cells fixed with different fixatives and tested under the same conditions for both DNA extraction and in situ hybridization. The results showed that, among the different combinations and concentrations we analyzed, the solution of 4% paraformaldehyde/0.1% glutaraldehyde was the best compromise in order to achieve a well‐preserved morphology, successful DNA extraction, and specific signaling of in situ hybridization, suggesting a low interference of this fixative with the chromatin organization. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The incidence of first-onset depression in a population followed from the age of 70 to 85

Background. Due to the limited data available, it is not clear whether the incidence of first-onset depression varies with age in the elderly. Methods. A representative sample of individuals born 1901–2 (N = 392) was examined at the ages of 70, 75, 79, 81, 83 and 85 years by psychiatrists using a semi-structured schedule. Information on depressive episodes was also collected from self-report and examination of case records. Depression was diagnosed according to the DSM-III-R criteria. Results. The incidence of depression was 12 per 1000 person-years in men and 30 per 1000 person-years in women between the ages of 70 and 85 (sex difference P = 0·001). The incidence increased from 17 per 1000 person-years (men 8·7, women 23·2, P = 0·007) between the ages of 70 and 79 to 44 per 1000 person years (men 27·0, women 52·8, P = 0·166) between 79 and 85 (age difference: RR 2·6, P < 0·001; men RR 3·1, P = 0·036; women RR 2·3, P = 0·003) . A diagnosis of depression was associated with increased mortality and refusal rate during the 15-year follow-up. Previous episodes of depression were associated with an increased risk of further episodes. The prevalence of depression increased from 5·6% at the age of 70 to 13·0% at the age of 85. The lifetime prevalence of depression was 23% in men and 45% in women. Conclusions. Both the incidence and prevalence of depression increased with age in this longitudinally followed birth cohort, and the incidence was higher in women than in men.
Hyperspectral Image Classification Using Kernel-based Nonparametric Weighted Feature Extraction

Usually feature extraction is applied for dimension reduction in hyperspectral data classification problems. Some studies show that nonparametric weighted feature extraction (NWFE; Kuo and Landgrebe, 2004) is a powerful tool to extract hyperspectral image features for classification. Recently, some studies also show that kernel-based methods are computationally efficient, robust and stable for pattern analysis. In this study, a kernel-based NWFE (KNWFE) is proposed for hyperspectral image classification. In this paper, we show that KNWFE is a generalization of original NWFE.
Thalamic involvement in paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia: A combined structural and diffusion tensor MRI analysis

Alteration of basal ganglia‐thalamocortical circuit has been hypothesized to play a role in the pathophysiology underlying paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD). We investigated macrostructural and microstructural changes in PKD patients using structural and diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analyses. Twenty‐five patients with idiopathic PKD and 25 control subjects were prospectively studied on a 3T magnetic resonance (MR) scanner. Cortical thickness analysis was used to evaluate cortical gray matter (GM) changes, and automated volumetry and shape analysis were used to assess volume changes and shape deformation of the subcortical GM structures, respectively. Tract‐based spatial statistics (TBSS) was used to evaluate white matter integrity changes in a whole‐brain manner, and region‐of‐interest (ROI) analysis of diffusion tensor metrics was performed in subcortical GM structures. Compared to controls, PKD patients exhibited a reduction in volume of bilateral thalami and regional shape deformation mainly localized to the anterior and medial aspects of bilateral thalami. TBSS revealed an increase in fractional anisotropy (FA) of bilateral thalami and right anterior thalamic radiation in patients relative to controls. ROI analysis also showed an increase in FA of bilateral thalami in patients compared to controls. We have shown evidence for thalamic abnormalities of volume reduction, regional shape deformation, and increased FA in patients with PKD. Our novel findings of concomitant macrostructural and microstructural abnormalities in the thalamus lend further support to previous observations indicating causal relationship between a preferential lesion in the thalamus and development of PKD, thus providing neuroanatomical basis for the involvement of thalamus within the basal ganglia‐thalamocortical pathway in PKD. Hum Brain Mapp 36:1429–1441, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Furin Protease Cleavage Recognition Sequence of Sindbis Virus PE2 Can Mediate Virion Attachment to Cell Surface Heparan Sulfate

ABSTRACT Cell culture-adapted Sindbis virus strains attach to heparan sulfate (HS) receptors during infection of cultured cells (W. B. Klimstra, K. D. Ryman, and R. E. Johnston, J. Virol. 72:7357–7366, 1998). At least three E2 glycoprotein mutations (E2 Arg 1, E2 Lys 70, and E2 Arg 114) can independently confer HS attachment in the background of the consensus sequence Sindbis virus (TR339). In the studies reported here, we have investigated the mechanism by which the E2 Arg 1 mutation confers HS-dependent binding. Substitution of Arg for Ser at E2 1 resulted in a significant reduction in the efficiency of PE2 cleavage, yielding virus particles containing a mixture of PE2 and mature E2. Presence of PE2 was associated with an increase in HS-dependent attachment to cells and efficient attachment to heparin-agarose beads, presumably because the furin recognition site for PE2 cleavage also represents a candidate HS binding sequence. A comparison of mutants with partially or completely inhibited PE2 cleavage demonstrated that efficiency of cell binding was correlated with the amount of PE2 in virus particles. Viruses rendered cleavage defective due to deletions of portions or all of the furin cleavage sequence attached very poorly to cells, indicating that an intact furin cleavage sequence was specifically required for PE2-mediated attachment to cells. In contrast, a virus containing a partial deletion was capable of efficient binding to heparin-agarose beads, suggesting different requirements for heparin bead and cell surface HS binding. Furthermore, virus produced in C6/36 mosquito cells, which cleave PE2 more efficiently than BHK cells, exhibited a reduction in cell attachment efficiency correlated with reduced content of PE2 in particles. Taken together, these results strongly argue that the XBXBBX (B, basic; X, hydrophobic) furin protease recognition sequence of PE2 can mediate the binding of PE2-containing Sindbis viruses to HS. This sequence is very similar to an XBBXBX heparin-HS interaction consensus sequence. The attachment of furin protease cleavage sequences to HS may have relevance to other viruses whose attachment proteins are cleaved during maturation at positively charged recognition sequences.
Abnormal neural activity and functional connectivity in amnestic Mild cognitive impairmet: A resting state fMRI study

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a brain-function syndrome involving the onset and evolution of cognitive impairments which are not significant enough to interfere with daily activities. In this study, we used resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to detect the whole brain fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and functional connectivity in 32 amnestic MCI subjects (aMCIs) and 28 healthy elderly normal controls (NCs). Compared to NCs, aMCIs showed significant decreases of fALFF value in right inferior temporal gyrus, left inferior occipital gyrus and left postcentral gyrus, while increases were found mainly in the right lingual and precunues. The functional connectivity decreased in the regions of left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, the right orbital frontal gyrus and left inferior temporal gyrus. These findings may be helpful to understand the pathophysiological mechanism of mild cognitive impairment.
Balanced Macrophage Activation Hypothesis: A Biological Model for Development of Drugs Targeted at Macrophage Functional States

Macrophages play a central role in the immune response and are major targets for chronic infection with viruses such as HIV. Recent studies on macrophage differentiation have shown the existence of classical activation and the counter-balancing anti-inflammatory alternative activation states. In the ‘balanced macrophage activation hypothesis’ we propose that macrophage activation is a cyclic process that balances these two states to achieve proper immunologic function. Dysregulation of this cycle would, therefore, be associated with various forms of chronic disease. This model has been utilized in the drug development of WF10, a novel macrophage-targeted drug, currently in advanced clinical testing for the treatment of HIV disease.
Design and characterization of effective antennas for K-band rectennas

This paper addresses the design and the characterization of an innovative antenna so-called crossed dipoles array antenna which is integrated into a broadband compact rectenna operating in the K-band. A dedicated methodology design is presented in order to take into account the impact of the rectifier part of the rectenna on the antenna performances. Simulation and experimental results as well as design considerations relative to such antenna are presented with a focus on the trade-off between frequency bandwidth, antenna gain and the beamwidth.
Maximal Fat Oxidation During Exercise in Trained Men

Fat oxidation increases from low to moderate exercise intensities and decreases from moderate to high exercise intensities. Recently, a protocol has been developed to determine the exercise intensity, which elicits maximal fat oxidation rates (Fat(max)). The main aim of the present study was to establish the reliability of the estimation of Fat(max) using this protocol (n = 10). An additional aim was to determine Fat(max) in a large group of endurance-trained individuals (n = 55). For the assessment of reliability, subjects performed three graded exercise tests to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer. Tests were performed after an overnight fast and diet and exercise regime on the day before all tests were similar. Fifty-five male subjects performed the graded exercise test on one occasion. The typical error (root mean square error and CV) for Fat(max) and Fat(min) was 0.23 and 0.33 l O(2) x min(-1) and 9.6 and 9.4 % respectively. Maximal fat oxidation rates of 0.52 +/- 0.15 g x min(-1) were reached at 62.5 +/- 9.8 % VO(2)max, while Fat(min) was located at 86.1 +/- 6.8 % VO(2)max. When the subjects were divided in two groups according to their VO(2)max, the large spread in Fat(max) and maximal fat oxidation rates remained present. The CV of the estimation of Fat(max) and Fa(min) is 9.0 - 9.5 %. In the present study the average intensity of maximal fat oxidation was located at 63 % VO(2)max. Even within a homogeneous group of subjects, there was a relatively large inter-individual variation in Fat(max) and the rate of maximal fat oxidation.
Local cholera immunity in mice: intestinal antitoxin-containing cells and their correlation with protective immunity

Methods for light and electron microscopic identification and characterization of intestinal cholera antitoxin-containing cells (ACC) using peroxidase-labeled immunoreagent are described and used to study the ACC response in mice after immunizations with cholera toxin. Specific ACC appeared in significant numbers after two oral immunizations and increased six- to eightfold with two additional oral boosters, whereas further oral immunizations caused no additional stimulation. Intravenous immunizations had to be repeated seven times before ACC could be detected. After two oral immunizations, most of the ACC were found in the proximal part of the small intestine and no ACC were seen in the colon. This uneven distribution of ACC within the small intestine was eliminated after four oral immunizations, when ACC could also be detected in the colon. The ACC response after four oral immunizations demonstrated a peak at 4 days with far fewer cells present at 2 and 7 days. Electron microscopic studies showed that the ACC were mature plasma cells with the staining localized to the endoplasmic reticulum. Regression analysis of the relationship between the number of ACC and the magnitude of protective immunity against intestinal challenge with cholera toxin indicates a highly significant correlation (r = 0.91, P less than 0.001).
Chapter 8 Alternative Methods for Forecasting GDP

Purpose – The purpose of this chapter is twofold: to forecast gross domestic product (GDP) using nonparametric method, known as multivariate k-nearest neighbors method, and to provide asymptotic properties for this method. Methodology/approach – We consider monthly and quarterly macroeconomic variables, and to match the quarterly GDP, we estimate the missing monthly economic variables using multivariate k-nearest neighbors method and parametric vector autoregressive (VAR) modeling. Then linking these monthly macroeconomic variables through the use of bridge equations, we can produce nowcasting and forecasting of GDP. Findings – Using multivariate k-nearest neighbors method, we provide a forecast of the euro area monthly economic indicator and quarterly GDP, which is better than that obtained with a competitive linear VAR modeling. We also provide the asymptotic normality of this k-nearest neighbors regression estimator for dependent time series, as a confidence interval for point forecast in time series. Originality/value of chapter – We provide a new theoretical result for nonparametric method and propose a novel methodology for forecasting using macroeconomic data.
Should delivery timing for repeat cesarean be reconsidered based on dating criteria?

Abstract Purpose: We sought to examine if the method of pregnancy dating at five increasing term gestational ages is associated with increasing neonatal morbidity. Materials and methods: A cohort of women who underwent elective repeat cesarean delivery at ≥37 weeks’ gestation were identified from the NICHD MFMU Network registry. We excluded women who were in labor, those carrying a fetus with a congenital anomaly, those with a non-reassuring fetal heart tracing, and those with preeclampsia, preexisting chronic hypertension or diabetes. Composite neonatal morbidity was defined for our study as any of the following: NICU admission, hypotonia, meconium aspiration, seizures, need for ventilator support, NEC, RDS, TTN, hypoglycemia, or neonatal death. We compared composite neonatal morbidity rates among infants born at five different gestational age cutoffs according to their method of pregnancy dating. Results: At 39 and 40 weeks’ gestation, the lowest rate of neonatal complications was seen in pregnancies dated by first trimester ultrasound (5.8% and 5.5%, respectively), while those with the highest neonatal morbidity rates were seen when dated by a second or third trimester ultrasound (8.1% and 6.0%, respectively); p < . 001. Additionally within each pregnancy dating category, the neonatal morbidity rates declined from 37 to 40 weeks’ gestation and then significantly increased at 41 + 0 weeks’ gestation. Conclusion: Even with suboptimal dating methods, amongst women undergoing elective repeat cesarean delivery, neonatal morbidity was lowest when delivery occurred between 40 and 40 + 6 weeks gestation.
Development of a novel loosely wound helical coil for interstitial radiofrequency thermal therapy

We have developed a novel, radiofrequency thermal therapy device designed to improve local control of large solid tumours using heat in the range 55–90°C. The device is a solenoid or helical coil designed to be loosely wound inside a tumour and excited with radiofrequency energy. Typically, we associate a uniform axially directed magnetic field with a solenoid coil, which when time varying, results in an electric field inside the coil, which lies mainly in the circumferential direction. In addition to this magnetically induced electric field, there exists a less familiar axially directed electric field inside the coil. Previous investigators have demonstrated the presence of this secondary axial electric field both experimentally and theoretically. Our design exploits the size and uniformity of these electric fields, for heating and coagulating a large tissue volume with a single applicator. The loosely wound solenoid is constructed from Nitinol, an electrically conductive shape memory alloy that permits the minimally invasive percutaneous insertion of the coil through a single cannulating delivery needle. To demonstrate the potential of this device and to determine the optimal frequency of operation, phantom tissue models and finite-element calculation models using COMSOL 3.2® were used to characterize frequency- and geometry-dependent trends in absorption rate density (ARD), which is proportional to electric field intensity. Radial and axial ARD profiles were measured, calculated and evaluated to determine the frequency and geometry best suited for producing large, homogenous coagulation volumes. Based on the trade-off between radial and axial uniformities of the ARD profiles, a 2 cm diameter coil with a 4 cm length and 1 cm pitch, operated at 27.12 MHz, produced the optimal heating pattern, as determined using tissue-mimicking phantom models.