Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
COMPETITIVITÀ E DIVARI DI EFFICIENZA NELL'INDUSTRIA ITALIANA

This paper assesses the role of competition in explaining the efficiency in the Italian manufacturing. Technical efficiency differentials have been measured by applying Data Evelopment Analysis (D.E.A.) methods on a panel of 420 firms from 32 industries at 3- digit level, over the period 1983-1992. The analysis shows that a tougher competitive environment is efficiency enhancing . Consistent with previous empirical evidence we find a negative link between efficiency and concentration. Moreover efficiency declines more slowly when the level of concentration is highest, suggesting a non-linear relationship. The results have policy implications. The undergoing process of liberalisation and privatisation in Italy should take into account the beneficial effects of a more competitive environment.
Counterfeiters: Foes or Friends? How Counterfeits Affect Sales by Product Quality Tier

A key concern about counterfeits and weak intellectual property protection is that they may hamper innovation by displacing legitimate sales. This paper combines a natural policy experiment with randomized lab experiments to estimate the heterogeneous impacts of counterfeiting on the sales and consumer purchase intent related to branded products of various quality levels. I collect new product-line-level panel data (1993--2004) on Chinese shoe companies. I identify heterogeneous effects of counterfeit entry on sales of authentic products of three quality tiers, finding that counterfeits have both advertising effects for a brand and substitution effects for authentic products, additionally the effects linger for some years. The advertising effect dominates the substitution effect for high-end authentic product sales, and the substitution effect outweighs the advertising effect for low-end product sales. The positive effect of counterfeits is most pronounced for high-fashion products (such as women's high-leg boots and dress shoes), shoes tailored to young customers, and high-end products of brands not yet well-known at the time of counterfeiter entry. This paper was accepted by David Hsu, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Locoregional Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Transplantation, resection, and ablation are recommended for the treatment of very early (single <2 cm diameter) and early (single or <3 nodules <3 cm diameter) stage hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) as determined using the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system [1]. In addition, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is recommended for intermediate-stage multinodular HCCs, systemic therapy with sorafenib for advancedstage HCCs, and best supportive care for end-stage HCCs, respectively. In this issue, we review current locoregional therapeutic modalities including local ablation, TACE and arterial infusion chemotherapy. Although radiofrequency ablation (RFA) [2, 3] is the best current method for ablation, many differences exist between the techniques used in Japan and those used in other countries such as the United States and in Europe. In Japan, computed tomography is used to assess the outcome of RFA immediately after the procedure, and the technique is repeated until a sufficient ablative margin is obtained, which has been found to produce nearly a 100% tumor necrosis rate. In other words, the RFA is repeated to achieve a complete response (CR) in most cases, and this is markedly different from the RFA treatment performed in the United States and Europe, in which the outcome is usually assessed at one month after a single ablation. Consequently, necrosis rates of HCC following RFA are different between Japan and the other aforementioned countries, which is described in detail in the review articles by Drs. Kang and Rhim [4]. Furthermore, TACE, which is the representative regional therapy, has conventionally been performed by first infusing doxorubicin or epirubicin suspended in Lipiodol, followed by embolization with a gelatin sponge (conventional Lipiodol-TACE). Conversely, in the United States and Europe, drug-eluting beads TACE (DEB-TACE) with microspheres (DC beads) is frequently performed as the standard method. In addition, radioembolization with yttrium-90 for internal irradiation has also been performed proactively in recent years. We are proud of TACE, which was first developed in Japan and that has evolved markedly over the years, because the complete cure of HCC is now possible with the use of superselective or subsegmental TACE. However, conventional TACE is often ineffective, or it may even adversely affect hepatic functional reserve when used in patients with huge and/ © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel 2235-1795/15/0043-0163$39.50/0 www.karger. com/lic Liver Cancer 2015;4:163–164
Gene–gene and gene–environment interactions between alcohol drinking habit and polymorphisms in alcohol‐metabolizing enzyme genes and the risk of head and neck cancer in Japan

Alcohol consumption is a strong risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The genetic polymorphisms aldehyde dehydrogenase2 (ALDH2) Glu487Lys and alcohol dehydrogenase 2 (ADH2) His47Arg, which have a strong impact on alcohol metabolism, are common in the Japanese population. To clarify the significance of these polymorphisms in SCCHN carcinogenesis, we conducted a matched case‐control study with 239 incident SCCHN subjects and 716 non‐cancer controls. Both ADH2 Arg/Arg and ALDH2 Glu/Lys were found to be independently associated with increased risk, with odds ratios (OR) of 2.67 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.51–4.57) and 1.66 (95% CI 1.20–2.31), respectively. Further, compared with subjects having both ADH2 His/His and ALDH2 Glu/Glu, the adjusted OR and its 95% CI for those with both ADH2 Arg/Arg and ALDH2 Glu/Lys was 5.00 (2.32–10.71) in all subjects. This combination effect was evident in heavy drinkers (OR 11.3, 95% CI 2.97–43.3) but not in moderate or non‐drinkers. Statistically significant gene–environment interactions between the two polymorphisms and drinking level were seen (ADH2 P = 0.035, ALDH2, P = 0.013). Furthermore, we also found a statistically significant gene–gene interaction between the two polymorphisms (P = 0.042). In conclusion, this case‐control study showed a significantly increased risk of SCCHN in subjects with the ADH2 Arg/Arg and ALDH2 Glu/Lys polymorphisms in a Japanese population. In addition, our results also demonstrated that this risk was associated with significant gene–gene interactions between ADH2 and ALDH2 polymorphisms, as well as gene–environment interactions between these polymorphisms and alcohol drinking. (Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 1087–1091)
Multiplex reverse transcription-PCR for surveillance of influenza A and B viruses in England and Wales in 1995 and 1996

Multiple-target (multiplex) reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) for detection, typing, and subtyping of the hemagglutinin gene of influenza type A (H3N2 and H1N1) and type B viruses was developed and applied prospectively to virological surveillance of influenza in England in the 1995-1996 winter season. During this season both influenza A H3N2 and H1N1 viruses were circulating, although at different times. Six hundred nineteen combined nose and throat swabs taken by general practitioners in sentinel practices from individuals presenting with "influenzalike illness" were analyzed by culture, multiplex RT-PCR, and immunofluorescence. Of the 619 samples, 246 (39.7%) were positive by multiplex RT-PCR compared with 200 (32.3%) which yielded influenza viruses on culture. There was 100% correlation between multiplex RT-PCR typing and subtyping and the influenza types and subtypes obtained from culture. There was also excellent correlation between the temporal detection of influenza A H3N2 and H1N1 viruses by multiplex RT-PCR and by culture. During the peak weeks of influenza virus activity, a total of 259 specimens were received, of which 101 (38.9%) yielded influenza viruses on culture while 149 (57.5%) were positive in multiplex RT-PCR, providing an increase in detection of influenza viruses of approximately 20%. The increased detection of influenza virus occurred in all the age groups sampled. Samples which were positive by multiplex RT-PCR but negative by culture were not detected significantly earlier or later in the winter of 1995-1996 but were detected during the peak weeks of clinical influenza virus activity. Multiplex RT-PCR was successfully used in surveillance of influenza to provide accurate, sensitive diagnosis directly on clinical specimens sent through the post.
Relationship between Frontotemporal Dementia and Corticobasal Degeneration/Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD) were described as separate entities, but prior to that an extrapyramidal variety of Pick’s disease was recognized. Subsequently a pathological overlap between these conditions and clinical overlap between frontotemporal dementia, primary progressive aphasia, corticobasal degeneration syndrome and more recently PSP was recognized. Initially only the movement disorder had been emphasized, but now the behavioral and language symptoms are considered common. The syndromes of frontotemporal dementia/Pick’s disease can be produced by underlying CBD, PSP or Pick pathology as well as with neural inclusions of the motor neuron disease type. The concept of this overlap has been confirmed genetically finding a similar spectrum of pathology with different tau mutations and even with tau negative pathology, which could be a deficiency of normal tau. The overlap of CBD with PSP and both with PPA and FTD allows to consider these relatively rare conditions as part of a more commonly occurring degenerative disease than previously recognized.
Evidence Summaries and Synthesis: Necessary but Insufficient Approach for Determining Clinical Practice of Integrated Medicine?

The heart of evidence-based practice is in fact to be found in the use of evidence gained from systematic reviews or more correctly in the synthesis of evidence from systematic reviews. But just as studies vary in the quality of the design so do systematic reviews, and it is therefore necessary for those wishing to make clinical decisions based on this evidence to evaluate the evidence summaries and synthesis themselves. This article examines the criteria available for evaluating the quality of the evidence summary and synthesis. It provides a set of questions for doing this: who did the review; w hat was the objective of the review; how was the review done? Together these questions allow us to determine the trustworthiness of the review. However, that by itself is insufficient for making clinical decisions. The article suggests that this occurs because the very studies that improve the quality of reviews, that is, the randomized controlled trials, deal with efficacy and not effectiveness. Because they tend to be conducted under ideal conditions, they seldom provide the type of information needed to make a decision vis-à-vis an individual patient. The article suggests that observation studies provide much better information in this regard. The challenge here, however, is to develop standards for judging quality observation studies. In conclusion, systematic reviews and syntheses of evidence are a necessary but an insufficient method for making clinical decisions.
Pathophysiological effects of RhoA and Rho-associated kinase on cardiovascular system

In past decades, growing evidence from basic and clinical researches reveal that small guanosine triphosphate binding protein ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA) and its main effector Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) play central and complex roles in cardiovascular systems, and increasing RhoA and ROCK activity is associated with a broad range of cardiovascular diseases such as congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. Favorable outcomes have been observed with ROCK inhibitors treatment. In this review, we briefly summarize the pathophysiological roles of RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway on cardiovascular system, displaying the potential benefits in the cardiovascular system with controlling RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway.
Quality of life after adopting compared with childbirth with or without assisted reproduction

Objective. This study compares quality of life among couples who had adopted a child 4–5.5 years previously with couples whose conception was spontaneous, as well as with couples who had successful or unsuccessful in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Design. Cross‐sectional study. Setting. Tertiary level university hospital. Sample. From the following groups, 979 responses were obtained: adoption; successful IVF; unsuccessful IVF–living with children; unsuccessful IVF–living without children; and childbirth after spontaneous conception (controls). Methods. Quality of life was studied with the Psychological General Well Being (PGWB) and Sense of Coherence (SOC) instruments. Demographic, socio‐economic and health data were obtained with additional questionnaires. Multiple variance analysis was applied. Main outcome measures. The PGWB and SOC scores. Results. After adjustment for seven confounders, the adoption group had higher PGWB scores than the unsuccessful IVF–living without children and the controls and higher SOC scores than all other groups. The unsuccessful IVF–living without children had lower PGWB and SOC scores than all other groups. The PGWB and SOC scores among controls did not differ from those with successful IVF or unsuccessful IVF–living with children. Conclusions. Adjusted PGWB and SOC scores revealed a high quality of life in the adoption group. However, the group unsuccessful IVF–living without children had low quality of life scores. Quality of life appears to be independent of the outcome of IVF treatment as long as there are children in the family.
Numerical Solutions of Two-factor Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman Equations in Finance

In this thesis, we focus on solving multidimensional HJB equations which are derived from optimal stochastic control problems in the financial market. We develop a fully implicit, unconditionally monotone finite difference numerical scheme. Consequently, there are no time step restrictions due to stability considerations, and the fully implicit method has essentially the same complexity per step as the explicit method. The main difficulty in designing a discretization scheme is development of a monotonicity preserving approximation of cross derivative terms in the PDE. We primarily use a wide stencil based on a local coordination rotation. The analysis rigorously show that our numerical scheme is `∞ stable, consistent in the viscosity sense, and monotone. Therefore, our numerical scheme guarantees convergence to the viscosity solution. Firstly, our numerical schemes are applied to pricing two factor options under an uncertain volatility model. For this application, a hybrid scheme which uses the fixed stencil as much as possible is developed to take advantage of its accuracy and computational efficiency. Secondly, using our numerical method, we study the problem of optimal asset allocation where the risky asset follows stochastic volatility. Finally, we utilize our numerical scheme to carry out an optimal static hedge, in the case of an uncertain local volatility model.
Endophyte Chaetomium globosum D38 Promotes Bioactive Constituents Accumulation and Root Production in Salvia miltiorrhiza

Salvia miltiorrhiza is known for tanshinones and salvianolic acids, which have been shown to have a protective effect against ROS, especially for cardiovascular diseases and other various ailments of human organs. Due to the low yield of tanshinones and their analogs in S. miltiorrhiza, multiple stimulation strategies have been developed to improve tanshinones production in plant tissue cultures. Endophytic fungi have been reported to form different relationships with their host plants, including symbiotic, mutualistic, commensalistic, and parasitic interactions. Thus we take the assumption that endophytic fungi may be a potential microbial tool for secondary metabolism promotion in medicinal plants. We recently isolated Chaetomium globosum D38 from the roots of S. miltiorrhiza and our study aimed to examine the effects of this live endophytic fungus D38 and its elicitor on the accumulation of tanshinones in the hairy root cultures of S. miltiorrhiza. Our results revealed that C. globosum D38 mainly colonized in the intercellular gap of xylem parenchyma cells of S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots during the long term co-existence without any toxicity. Moreover, both of the live fungus and its mycelia extract could increase the production of tanshinones, especially for dihydrotanshinone I and cryptotanshinone. The effect of the mycelia extract was much stronger than that of the live fungus on tanshinones synthesis, which significantly increased the transcriptional activity of those key genes in tanshinone biosynthetic pathway. Furthermore, the live C. globosum D38 could also be made into biotic fertilizer used for S. miltiorrhiza seedlings culture, which not only significantly promoted the growth of the host plant, but also notably enhanced the accumulation of tanshinones and salvianolic acids. We thus speculated that, in the soil environment D38 could form bitrophic and mutual beneficial interactions with the host and enhance the plant growth and its secondary metabolism on the whole so as to have facilitative effects on both tanshinones and salvianolic acids accumulation. In conclusion, Chaetomium globosum D38 was a highly beneficial endophytic fungus for the growth and metabolism of S. miltiorrhiza.
Price Efficiency and Welfare

This paper considers a dynamic market with a strategic, price setting firm that knows the quality of the product it sells to an infinite set of rational consumers who enter the market sequentially and observe conditionally independent private signals about the quality. In equilibrium, the price converges to the realized quality almost surely if and only if the price is asymptotically informationally efficient, i.e., eventually represents all public information. The second result establishes that welfare and informational efficiency are inversely related. The higher the degree of informational efficiency of the price path, the lower is expected total welfare.
Power divider with substrate integrated waveguide and CSRR for C band application

A Miniaturised power divider with SIW and CSRR has been designed for C band applications. Half mode SIW structure reduces the size, loss and improves the performance, whereas CSRR exhibits band pass response. The power dividers response can be changed by changing CSRR dimensions. The proposed power divider exhibits pass band filter response and an equal power division at 6.8 GHz. The dimension of the power divider is 12mm × 9.8mm × 0.5mm.
Isolated in A Technologically Connected World?: Changes in the Core Professional Ties of Female Researchers in Ghana, Kenya, and Kerala, India

Using panel data gathered across two waves (2001 and 2005) from researchers in Ghana, Kenya, and Kerala, India, we examine three questions: (1) To what extent do gender differences exist in the core professional networks of scientists in low-income areas? (2) How do gender differences shift over time? (3) Does use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) mediate the relationship between gender and core network composition? Our results indicate that over a period marked by dramatic increases in access to and use of various ICTs, the composition and size of female researchers core professional ties have either not changed significantly or have changed in an unexpected direction. Indeed, the size of women's ties are retracting over time rather than expanding.
Dynamic Structure of Neural Variability in the Cortical Representation of Speech Sounds

Accurate sensory discrimination is commonly believed to require precise representations in the nervous system; however, neural stimulus responses can be highly variable, even to identical stimuli. Recent studies suggest that cortical response variability decreases during stimulus processing, but the implications of such effects on stimulus discrimination are unclear. To address this, we examined electrocorticographic cortical field potential recordings from the human nonprimary auditory cortex (superior temporal gyrus) while subjects listened to speech syllables. Compared with a prestimulus baseline, activation variability decreased upon stimulus onset, similar to findings from microelectrode recordings in animal studies. We found that this decrease was simultaneous with encoding and spatially specific for those electrodes that most strongly discriminated speech sounds. We also found that variability was predominantly reduced in a correlated subspace across electrodes. We then compared signal and variability (noise) correlations and found that noise correlations reduce more for electrodes with strong signal correlations. Furthermore, we found that this decrease in variability is strongest in the high gamma band, which correlates with firing rate response. Together, these findings indicate that the structure of single-trial response variability is shaped to enhance discriminability despite non–stimulus-related noise. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Cortical responses can be highly variable to auditory speech sounds. Despite this, sensory perception can be remarkably stable. Here, we recorded from the human superior temporal gyrus, a high-order auditory cortex, and studied the changes in the cortical representation of speech stimuli across multiple repetitions. We found that neural variability is reduced upon stimulus onset across electrodes that encode speech sounds.
Pivot-and-bond model explains microtubule bundle formation

During mitosis, bundles of microtubules form a spindle, but the physical mechanism of bundle formation is still not known. Here we show that random angular movement of microtubules around the spindle pole and forces exerted by passive cross-linking proteins are sufficient for the formation of stable microtubule bundles. We test these predictions by experiments in wild-type and ase1Δ fission yeast cells. In conclusion, the angular motion drives the alignment of microtubules, which in turn allows the cross-linking proteins to connect the microtubules into a stable bundle.
Constructing and Testing a Framework for Dynamic Risk Assessment

This paper describes the construction and testing of a framework for dynamic risk assessment. A review of previous studies identified 4 domains into which dynamic risk factors for sexual offending seem to fall. These were sexual interests, distorted attitudes, socioaffective functioning, and self-management. Psychometric indicators for 3 of the domains were identified, and 2 studies are reported using these indicators to test the framework. Study 1 divided men serving a prison sentence for a sexual offense against a child into 2 groups—those with a previous conviction of this kind (Repeaters) and those for whom this was the only time they had been sentenced for such an offense (Current Only). The Repeaters were found to show more distorted attitudes, worse socioaffective functioning, and poorer self-management than did the Current Only group. Study 2 used a simple algorithm to combine these psychometric indicators into an overall “Deviance” classification. Reconviction data was obtained for offenders classified as high, moderate, or low on Deviance. Sexual reconviction was found to be monotonically associated with the Deviance classification. Logistic regression analysis showed that both static variables (Static-99) and the Deviance classification made independent contributions to prediction. It is suggested that risk assessment procedures should combine these 2 approaches.