Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Monetary Policy and Unemployment in Open Economies

After an expansionary monetary policy shock employment increases and unemployment falls. In standard New Keynesian models the fall in aggregate unemployment does not affect employed workers at all. However, Luchinger, Meier and Stutzer (2010) found that the risk of unemployment negatively affects utility of employed workers: An increases in aggregate unemployment decreases workers' subjective well-being, which can be explained by an increased risk of becoming unemployed. I take account of this effect in an otherwise standard New Keynesian open economy model with unemployment as in Gali (2010) and find two important results with respect to expansionary monetary policy shocks: First, the usual wealth effect in New Keynesian models of a declining labor force, which is at odds with the data as high-lighted by Christiano, Trabandt and Walentin (2010), is shut down. Second, the welfare effects of such shocks improve considerably, modifying the standard results of the open economy literature that set off with Obstfeld and Rogoff's (1995) redux model.
Translation and cultural adaptation of a patient handling assessment tool

A direct observation instrument for assessment of nurses' patient transfer technique (DINO) has recently been developed in Sweden. The instrument has satisfactory content and criterion-related validity as well as acceptable inter-observer reliability. This instrument was translated from Swedish into Greek according to international guidelines for instrument translation. This means that two independent forward translations were done by two bilingual physiotherapists who have experience in teaching nurses and physiotherapists in patient transfer technique and one back translation by a bilingual nurse. A first Greek version of the instrument emerged after a consensus meeting with the translators. In order to further detect errors of meaning and concept nonequivalence, this version of the instrument was finally discussed with a person with great experience in translation and appropriate modifications were made. Subsequently, the two physiotherapists used the final Greek version of the instrument to assess 36 patient transfers. The transfers were performed by nurses, nurse's aides, porters and physiotherapists in an authentic clinical setting in the intensive care unit and the wards in an acute hospital in Athens. The evaluation of the interobserver reliability was shown to be good.
Probability of Detecting an Earthquake

We present a new method for estimating earthquake detection proba- bilities that avoids assumptions about earthquake occurrence, for example, the event-size distribution, and uses only empirical data: phase data, station infor- mation, and network-specific attenuation relations. First, we determine the detection probability for each station as a function of magnitude and hypocentral distance, using data from past earthquakes. Second, we combine the detection probabilities of sta- tions using a basic combinatoric procedure to determine the probability that a hy- pothetical earthquake with a given size and location could escape detection. Finally, we synthesize detection-probability maps for earthquakes of particular magnitudes and probability-based completeness maps. Because the method relies only on detec- tion probabilities of stations, it can also be used to evaluate hypothetical additions or deletions of stations as well as scenario computations of a network crisis. The new approach has several advantages: completeness is analyzed as a function of network properties instead of earthquake samples; thus, no event-size distribution is assumed. Estimating completeness is becoming possible in regions of sparse data where meth- ods based on parametric earthquake catalogs fail. We find that the catalog of the Southern California Seismic Network (SCSN) has, for most of the region, a lower magnitude of completeness than that computed using traditional techniques, although in some places traditional techniques provide lower estimates. The network reliably records earthquakes smaller than magnitude 1.0 in some places and 1.0 in the seis- mically active regions. However, it does not achieve the desired completeness of mag- nitude ML 1:8 everywhere in its authoritative region. A complete detection is achieved at ML 3:4 in the entire authoritative region; thus, at the boundaries, earthquakes as large as ML 3:3 might escape detection.
Tumor and Stem Cell Biology JAK-STATBlockade Inhibits Tumor Initiation andClonogenic Recovery of Prostate Cancer Stem-like Cells

Interleukin (IL)-6 overexpression and constitutive STAT3 activation occur inmany cancers, including prostate cancer. However, their contribution to prostate stem and progenitor cells has not been explored. In this study, we show that stem-like cells from patients with prostate cancer secrete higher levels of IL-6 than their counterparts in non-neoplastic prostate. Tumor grade did not influence the levels of expression or secretion. Stem-like and progenitor cells expressed the IL-6 receptor gp80 with concomitant expression of pSTAT3. Blockade of activated STAT3, by either anti-IL-6 antibody siltuximab (CNTO 328) or LLL12, a specific pSTAT3 inhibitor, suppressed the clonogenicity of the stem-like cells in patients with high-grade disease. In a murine xenograft model used to determine the in vivo effects of pSTAT3 suppression, LLL12 treatment effectively abolished outgrowth of a patient-derived castrate-resistant tumor. Our results indicate that the most primitive cells in prostate cancer require pSTAT3 for survival, rationalizing STAT3 as a therapeutic target to treat advanced prostate cancer. Cancer Res; 73(16); 5288–98. 2013 AACR.
[Imaging of breast tumors using MR elastography].

PURPOSE Imaging of breast tumors using MR-Elastography. MATERIAL AND METHOD Low-frequency mechanical waves are transmitted into breast-tissue by means of an oscillator. The local characteristics of the mechanical wave are determined by the elastic properties of the tissue. By means of a motion-sensitive spin-echo-sequence these waves can be displayed within the phase of the MR image. Subsequently, these images can be used to reconstruct the local distribution of elasticity. In-vivo measurements were performed in 3 female patients with malignant tumors of the breast. RESULTS All patients tolerated the measurement set-up without any untoward sensation in the contact area of skin and oszillator. The waves completely penetrated the breast, encompassing the axilla and regions close to the chest wall. All tumors were localized by MRE as structures of markedly stiffer tissue when compared to the surrounding tissue. Furthermore, in one patient, a metastasis in an axillary lymph node was detected. In all patients, local regions of increased elasticity were found in the remaining parenchyma of the breast, which, however, did not reach the high levels of elasticity found in the tumors. CONCLUSION MRE is an imaging modality enabling adjunct tissue differentiation of mammary tumors.
A short survey on nonlinear models of the classic Costas loop: Rigorous derivation and limitations of the classic analysis

Rigorous nonlinear analysis of the physical model of Costas loop-a classic phase-locked loop (PLL) based circuit for carrier recovery, is a challenging task. Thus for its analysis, simplified mathematical models and numerical simulation are widely used. In this work a short survey on nonlinear models of the BPSK Costas loop, used for pre-design and post-design analysis, is presented. Their rigorous derivation and limitations of classic analysis are discussed. It is shown that the use of simplified mathematical models, and the application of non rigorous methods of analysis (e.g., simulation and linearization) may lead to wrong conclusions concerning the performance of the Costas loop physical model.
Methylcellulose as a rectal contrast agent for MR imaging of rectal carcinoma.

available; and easy to prepare, administer, and store safely. We also needed an endorectal contrast material that had high enough viscosity to ensure adequate distention of the bowel and had signal characteristics that would maximize the contrast between the bowel wall and the contrast agent itself on T1- and T2-weighted images. We considered the use of water as a rectal contrast agent, but no formal evaluation was performed. The images of three patients who had water instilled as a rectal contrast agent clearly showed insufficient distention attributable to the low viscosity of water. Methylcellulose is a compound familiar to radiologists because of its use for double-contrast barium studies of the small bowel. A search through MEDLINE [7] revealed the first report of its usage in MR imaging in 1992, albeit as an upper gastrointestinal contrast agent [8]. The compound we used was a pharmaceutical-grade sodium salt of carboxymethylcellulose (BDH Laboratory Supplies, Poole, England). The compound comes in the form of granules, so adjusting the viscosity of the solution for optimal distention was easily done. We conducted a preliminary study to determine the optimal volume and concentration of methylcellulose. Exact viscosity measurements were not performed. Instead, concentrations by weight and volume were titrated using the guidelines given by the methylcellulose manufacturer. We found that the normal concentrations of 0.5‐1.0% used in small-bowel enteroclysis provided inadequate viscosity. We decided that solutions of 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% were most likely to be suitable for our purpose. Solutions over 7.5%, such as 10%, were found to be too viscous to be easily delivered via a syringe; solutions with higher concentrations also resulted in severe clumping and inadequate distention. Therefore, we did not evaluate them. The carboxymethylcellulose was mixed in a ster
Two novel species of rapidly growing mycobacteria: Mycobacterium lehmannii sp. nov. and Mycobacterium neumannii sp. nov.

Two rapidly growing mycobacteria with identical 16S rRNA gene sequences were the subject of a polyphasic taxonomic study. The strains formed a well-supported subclade in the mycobacterial 16S rRNA gene tree and were most closely associated with the type strain of Mycobacterium novocastrense. Single and multilocus sequence analyses based on hsp65, rpoB and 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains SN 1900T and SN 1904T are phylogenetically distinct but share several chemotaxonomic and phenotypic features that are are consistent with their classification in the genus Mycobacterium. The two strains were distinguished by their different fatty acid and mycolic acid profiles, and by a combination of phenotypic features. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values for strains SN 1900T and SN 1904T were 61.0 % and 94.7 %, respectively; in turn, the corresponding dDDH and ANI values with M. novocastrense DSM 44203T were 41.4 % and 42.8 % and 89.3 % and 89.5 %, respectively. These results show that strains SN1900T and SN 1904T form new centres of taxonomic variation within the genus Mycobacterium. Consequently, strains SN 1900T (40T=CECT 8763T=DSM 43219T) and SN 1904T (2409T=CECT 8766T=DSM 43532T) are considered to represent novel species, for which the names Mycobacteriumlehmannii sp. nov. and Mycobacteriumneumannii sp. nov. are proposed. A strain designated as 'Mycobacteriumacapulsensis' was shown to be a bona fide member of the putative novel species, M. lehmannii.
Binding of human C-reactive protein to bacteria

The binding of C-reactive protein to a variety of species of bacteria with potential clinical significance was studied to assess the potential function of C-reactive protein in nonimmune defense against infection. Purified, radioiodinated human C-reactive protein bound to all Streptococcus pneumoniae tested and to some viridans streptococci, but not to group A or group B streptococci or to any of eight different gram-negative rods and cocci.
Xetal-II: A 107 GOPS, 600 mW Massively Parallel Processor for Video Scene Analysis

Xetal-II is a single-instruction multiple-data (SIMD) processor with 320 processing elements. It delivers a peak performance of 107 GOPS on 16-bit data while dissipating 600 mW. A 10 Mbit on-chip memory is provided which can store up to four VGA frames, allowing efficient implementation of frame-iterative algorithms. A massively parallel interconnect provides an internal bandwidth of more than 1.3 Tbit/s to sustain the peak performance. The IC is realized in 90 nm CMOS and takes up 74 mm2.
Turnover of Molecular Species of Sphingomyelin in Microsomes and Myelin of Rat Brain

The metabolism of sphingomyelins containing short‐chain fatty acids (C18:sphingomyelin) and those containing long‐chain fatty acids (C24:sphingomyelin) in microsomes and myelin from rat brain were studied for periods from 1 to 60 days after intracisternal injection of [32P]Na2HPO4. In microsomes the half‐lives of both molecular species of sphingomyelin were 14 days. In myelin the half‐life of C18:sphingomyelins was 69 days, whereas C24: sphingomyelins exhibit a high degree of metabolic stability. The results suggest that in myelin the sphingomyelins containing short‐chain fatty acids may be located in the inner leaflet of the bilayer and those containing long‐chain fatty acids may be located in the outer leaflet.
Opening School-Based Health Centers in a Rural Setting: Effects on Emergency Department Use.

BACKGROUND Previous studies of urban school-based health centers (SBHCs) have shown that SBHCs decrease emergency department (ED) utilization. This study seeks to evaluate the effect of SBHCs on ED utilization in a rural setting. METHODS This retrospective, controlled, quasi-experimental study used an ED patient data set from the Bassett Healthcare Network in rural New York to compare ED visits between school-aged children from 12 SBHC schools before and after the SBHC opening. Time series analysis was used to determine trends in SBHC schools and 2 control schools without SBHCs over the 18-year study period. RESULTS ED visit incidence densities for all 12 school districts combined showed a significant increase in ED visits post-SBHC (Rate ratio (RR) = 1.15; p < . 0001). This increase may, in part, be explained by the upward trend of ED visits in the region, as seen in the small, but significant, positive slope (RR = 0.0033, p < .0001) for control schools. There was variation in the change in incidence density post-SBHC among school districts, with increases in 78% of schools. CONCLUSIONS The opening of SBHCs in rural settings results in a slight, but significant, increase in ED use, which is contrary to previous cross-sectional studies in urban settings.
Insulin-Like Growth Factors and Coronary Heart Disease

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I), the primary mediator of growth hormone (GH) effects, is an important regulator of cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. GH and IGF-I deficiency is known to be associated with premature atherosclerosis and elevated cardiovascular disease mortality. Recent evidence suggests that cardiovascular disease risk may also be elevated among apparently healthy individuals who have serum IGF-I levels in the low-normal range. In this review, we appraise the epidemiologic and clinical studies implicating low IGF-I level as a risk factor for incident myocardial infarction and other manifestations of coronary heart disease. Potential mechanisms that may underlie this association include beneficial effects of IGF-I on myocyte survival after ischemia, stability of atherosclerotic lesions, and endothelial function. We conclude that additional confirmatory data from prospective studies are needed to confirm low IGF-I level as an independent cardiovascular risk factor. However, if this finding is confirmed, this would support the rationale for intervention trials aimed at reducing cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality among older adults by targeting the GH/IGF-I pathway.
Quantitative performance evaluation of RFID applications in the supply chain of the printing industry

Purpose – Seeks to carry out an empirical study to reveal the business characteristics of the printing industry and to accomplish a quantitative analysis of costs and benefits for RFID applications in different logistics activities.Design/methodology/approach – The business operation requirements and RFID acceptance of distinct roles in the printing supply chain are explored via interviews and questionnaires. The printing supply chain is classified into six fundamental models and RFID application scenarios for the six models are also provided.Findings – The ideal approach for RFID application in the printing supply chain is the item‐tagging mechanism.Practical implications – The decision maker can refer to the cost and efficiency look‐up tables to quickly evaluate the feasibility for RFID implementation.Originality/value – This paper provides useful reference information for enterprises to evaluate the RFID implementation in the supply chain.
Does nanocrystalline silver have a transferable effect?

This study examined the mechanism of nanocrystalline silver antiinflammatory activity, and tested nanocrystalline silver for systemic antiinflammatory effects. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy of skin treated directly with nanocrystalline silver for 24 hours showed that at skin surfaces there were significant deposits at weights corresponding to Ag, AgO, AgCl, AgNO3, Ag2O, and silver clusters Ag2‐6, but silver penetration was minimal. To test for translocation of the effect, a porcine contact dermatitis model in which wounds were induced on one side of the back and then treated with nanocrystalline silver on the opposite side of the back was used. Visual and histological data showed improvement relative to animals treated with saline only. Significantly increased induction of apoptosis in the inflammatory cells present in the dermis was observed with remote nanocrystalline silver treatments. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis showed decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐8, and increased levels of antiinflammatory cytokine interleukin‐4, epidermal growth factor, keratinocyte growth factor, and keratinocyte growth factor‐2. Thus, the antiinflammatory effects of nanocrystalline silver appear to be induced by interactions with cells in the top layers of the skin, which then release biological signals resulting in widespread antiinflammatory activity.
Apoptotic Cells Activate AMP-activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) and Inhibit Epithelial Cell Growth without Change in Intracellular Energy Stores*

Background: Nonprofessional phagocytes, like epithelial cells, recognize apoptotic cells. Results: Apoptotic cells mimic the effects of intracellular energy depletion and inhibit the growth (cell size) of epithelial cells with which they interact. Conclusion: Apoptotic cells activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibit cell growth. Significance: By acting as sentinels of environmental stress, apoptotic targets enable nearby cells to monitor and adapt to local change. Apoptosis plays an indispensable role in the maintenance and development of tissues. We have shown that receptor-mediated recognition of apoptotic target cells by viable kidney proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) inhibits the proliferation and survival of PTECs. Here, we examined the effect of apoptotic targets on PTEC cell growth (cell size during G1 phase of the cell cycle). Using a cell culture model, we show that apoptotic cells potently activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a highly sensitive sensor of intracellular energy stores. AMPK activation leads to decreased activity of its downstream target, ribosomal protein p70 S6 kinase (p70S6K), and concomitant inhibition of cell growth. Importantly, these events occur without detectable change in intracellular levels of AMP, ADP, or ATP. Inhibition of AMPK, either pharmacologically by compound C or molecularly by shRNA, diminishes the effects of apoptotic targets and largely restores p70S6K activity and cell size to normal levels. Apoptotic targets also inhibit Akt, a second signaling pathway regulating cell growth. Expression of a constitutively active Akt construct partially relieved cell growth inhibition but was less effective than inhibition of AMPK. Inhibition of cell growth by apoptotic targets is dependent on physical interaction between apoptotic targets and PTECs but independent of phagocytosis. We conclude that receptor-mediated recognition of apoptotic targets mimics the effects of intracellular energy depletion, activating AMPK and inhibiting cell growth. By acting as sentinels of environmental change, apoptotic death may enable nearby viable cells, especially nonmigratory epithelial cells, to monitor and adapt to local stresses.
Foveal blur discrimination of the human eye

Although the effect of retinal defocus on the foveal blur detection threshold has been well investigated, knowledge regarding the foveal blur discrimination threshold is limited. In the present study, both thresholds were assessed psychophysically using the ascending method of limits at the fovea with accommodation paralyzed. The unidirectional blur detection threshold was 0.87 ± 0.18 D (±1 S.E.M.). The subsequent blur discrimination thresholds were relatively constant and significantly smaller than the blur detection threshold, with an average value of 0.48 ± 0.006 D (±1 S.E.M.). We speculate that the difference in magnitude between these two thresholds may be attributed to the defocus‐related change in the ocular modulation transfer function (MTF) and its interaction with contrast discrimination ability, as well as to the presence of a neuroperceptual blur buffering mechanism.
Job strain and arteriosclerosis in three different types of arteries among male Japanese factory workers.

OBJECTIVES This study evaluated the association between job strain and subclinical indicators of arteriosclerosis simultaneously in the cerebral artery, the aorta, and the carotid artery. METHODS The participants in this cross-sectional study consisted of 352 male factory workers between the ages of 24.9 to 55.8 (mean 41.7) years who had not been exposed to any hazardous chemicals in Japan. Job strain was measured using a Japanese version of the Job Content Questionnaire developed by Karasek. The following subclinical indicators of arteriosclerosis were examined by noninvasive procedures: hyperintense spots in T2-weighted images in brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), pulse wave velocity of the aorta, and the stiffness parameter of the carotid artery using ultrasound and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. RESULTS After control for potential confounders, high job strain was associated with an increased prevalence of hyperintense spots (adjusted odds ratio 2.53, 95% confidence interval 1.14-5.63), and elevated pulse-wave velocity (adjusted increase in percent 3.5, 95% confidence interval 0.0-6.9). The stiffness parameter tended to be elevated in the high job-strain group although this trend was not statistically significant. Job strain showed no relation to blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS In this study, job strain was associated with subclinical indicators of arteriosclerosis in different arteries although the association was not statistically significant for the carotid artery. New information is offered by brain MRI for arteriosclerosis in the cerebral artery. An increase in hyperintense spots may explain the link between job strain and cerebrovascular disease.