Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Resource Rent and Interregional Inequality in Russia

The article examines the reasons for interregional inequality in average incomes and wages from the standpoint of the new economic geography and issues of the distribution of resource rent. Based on an analysis of nominal wages in the regions of Russia, a conclusion is drawn about the rent reason for income differences and about the need to improve the system for using and distributing rent.
[Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema].

Smoking is the principal risk factor for emphysema,and may be also associated with many kinds of interstitial lung diseases.The co-existence of lower lung fibrosis and upper lung emphysema is being increasingly recognized as a distinct clinical entity in some smokers,so called combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema(CPFE). CPFE can be presented by relatively normal lung volume,however.impairment of gas exchange is severe.A high prevalence of pulmonary hypertension is seen in CPFE.The pathogenesis of CPFE is not known,so further studies need to explore effective treatment strategy and prognosis judgement. Key words: Smoking; Emphysema; Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema
Beyond the Principle of Relative Constancy: Determinants of Consumer Mass Media Expenditures in Belgium

This article goes beyond the principle of relative constancy (PRC) by testing 2 new models of consumer mass media spending using 1953-1991 Belgian data. Unlike traditional PRC models, which have focused exclusively on the long-term relationship between income and mass media spending, these 2 models contain additional regressors (price, population, unemployment, and interest rate) in current (Model 1) and lagged (Model 2) form. Time-series regression analyses were performed to determine which variables significantly predict changes in consumer mass media expenditures. Model 1 regressions revealed that price and population were better predictors of mass media expenditures than income, stressing the importance of developing models of consumer mass media spending that go beyond a simple mass media expenditures-income relation. Model 2 regressions showed that lagged variables played an important role in explaining changes in mass media expenditures, indicating the need for incorporating lags in future mass media spending work.
A shaping technique of substrate lens antennas with genetic algorithm

A powerful optimization procedure of substrate lens antennas has been proposed at millimeter wave frequencies. Compared to previous works, this approach is global and thus does not require the a priori knowledge of an initial lens profile computed with conventional GO-based synthesis techniques. Our design methodology combines a genetic algorithm with an efficient asymptotic analysis of the radiation characteristics of 3D substrate lens antennas.
Suitable treatment period in patients with virological response during combination therapy of peginterferon and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the suitable treatment period in patients who achieve virological response during combination therapy of peginterferon and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C virus infection. METHODS Inclusion criteria were HCV-genotype 1b, serum HCV RNA level of > or =100 KIU/ml before treatment, and negativity of serum HCV RNA during treatment. The 366 patients were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. Patients were classified into four groups according to difference of response: rapid-virological response (RVR) at week 4 after the initiation of treatment (n=37), early-virological response (EVR) at week 5-12 (n=161), late-virological response (LVR) at week 13-24 (n=131), and superlate-virological response (SLVR) at week 25-48 (n=37). A non-relapse in patients with undetectable HCV RNA during therapy was defined as clearance of HCV RNA 6 month after the cessation of therapy. RESULTS Of the 366 patients, 241 had non-relapse and the non-relapse rate in each group was 89% (33/37) in RVR, 79% (127/161) in EVR, 54% (71/131) in LVR, and 27% (10/37) in SLVR. In RVR, 26 of 27 patients with continuance of negative HCV RNA of > or =30 weeks during treatment had non-relapse. In EVR, patients with period of negative HCV RNA of > or =40 weeks had non-relapse rate of 90% (71/79). In LVR and SLVR, all nine patients with continuance of negative HCV RNA of > or =60 weeks had non-relapse. CONCLUSION A suitable treatment period of combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C should be determined based on the time of attainment of negative HCV RNA.
Urbanization and Economic Growth in Asia

Few social institutions have been judged by poets and philosophers in such contradictory fashion as cities: they are represented as the source of moral evils; they are painted as the zenith of human achievement. How can these two images be reconciled? What was the role of cities in the unfolding of civilization? In what way can or must the experiences of the Western world be repeated if the present underdeveloped countries are to attain high levels of material welfare ? Industrialization and urbanization have been regarded as closely related processes. The presence of large cities and of systems of cities is thought by some a measure of the degree of economic "maturity" of a country. This view implies that not merely urbanization as such, but a particular pattern of urbanization, is associated with economic growth. But the question may be raised whether there exists a necessary strict correlation between the two processes, whether industrial growth cannot take place by a process of planned decentralization, and whether, on the other hand, urbanization can appear without concomitant industrialization.
INFLATION TARGETING IN PRACTICE: FURTHER EVIDENCE

"This paper empirically investigates the plausibility, which has been argued but not fully established, that the efficacy of the inflation-targeting strategy recently implemented by New Zealand, Canada, and the U.K. has been an artifact of a global disinflationary environment. A data decomposition procedure, which involves cointegration and canonical correlation analysis, is used to remove common trend and cyclical components from historical data that these three countries share with their nontargeting neighboring countries, namely, Australia, the U.S., and Germany, respectively. Simulations based on resulting country-specific data for inflation and other economic aggregates reveal scant evidence of regime-shift effects as exhibited in observed data. This contrast in findings highlights the extent to which cross-country synchronization in economic activity has on the performance of small open economies. (JEL" C32, E52, E58) Copyright 1999 Western Economic Association International.
Absence of the ERBB2 kinase domain mutation in lung adenocarcinomas in Korean patients

Dear Sir, Protein tyrosine kinases regulate cell-signaling pathways that mediate a number of processes in tumor survival and growth activity. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a prototypical receptor tyrosine kinase, and the EGFR gene is the mammalian equivalent of the avian viral oncogene v-erb. Two research groups have discovered that lung adenocarcinomas (including bronchioloalveolar carcinomas) harbor EGFR gene mutations. In addition, the EGFR gene mutations in lung cancers could predict significant clinical responses to gefitinib (Iressa), an orally active EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has given significant clinical benefit to a subset of lung cancer patients. EGFR mutations have been detected in the exons that encode the intracellular kinase domain.
Mensuration of spermatozoa from different levels of the reproductive tract of the buffalo-bull (Bubalus bubalis)

The dimensions of spermatozoa from different levels of the reproductive tract were measured in 6 buffalo-bulls castrated under local anesthesia ; the same measurements were taken in the semen of 6 breeding buffalo-bulls. During transit from caput to cauda epididymis the sperm showed a significant increase in the length of head and main piece. However, a significant decrease was observed in middle piece length. In ejaculated sperm there was a significant decrease in total length and in head and main piece length.
Multi-channel MAC protocol with Directional Antennas in wireless ad hoc networks

IEEE 802.11 Distributed Coordination Function (DCF) is based on Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA). However, the CSMA-based access protocol with omnidirectional antennas can cause the serious unfairness or flow starvation. By exploiting the multiple channels and using the directional antennas, nodes located in each other's vicinity may communicate simultaneously. This helps to increase the spatial reuse of the wireless channel and thus increase the network performance. In this paper, we propose a Multi-channel MAC protocol with Directional Antennas (MMAC-DA) that adopts IEEE 802.11 Power Saving Mechanism (PSM) and exploits multiple channel resources and directional antennas. Nodes have to exchange control packets during the Announcement Traffic Indication Message (ATIM) window to select data channels and determine the beam directions which are used to exchange data packets during the data window. The simulation results show that MMAC-DA can improve the network performance in terms of aggregate throughput, packet delivery ratio and energy efficiency.
Induction of Emetic Response to Staphylococcal Enterotoxins in the House Musk Shrew (Suncus murinus)

ABSTRACT The emetic responses induced by staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), SEB, SEC2, SED, SEE, SEG, SEH, and SEI in the house musk shrew (Suncus murinus) were investigated. SEA, SEE, and SEI showed higher emetic activity in the house musk shrew than the other SEs. SEB, SEC2, SED, SEG, and SEH also induced emetic responses in this animal model but relatively high doses were required. The house musk shrew appears to be a valuable model for studying the mechanisms of emetic reactions caused by SEs.
A Comparative Study of Effect of Propofol, Etomidate and Propofol Plus Etomidate Induction on Hemodynamic Response to Endotracheal Intubation: A RCT

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of 3 different anesthesia induction approach (Inj. Propofol, Inj. Etomidate and Inj. propofol plus Inj Etomidate) in maintaining hemodynamic stability during induction and following endotracheal intubation in elective surgery. Material and method: Ethical committee clearance taken, 90 patients aged 15 to 60 years of either sex and ASA physical status I or II scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia were taken for study. Written and informed consent was taken. The patients were randomly placed into three groups. Group I induced with Inj. Propofol (2.5 mg/kg) intravenous, Group II with Inj. Etomidate (0.3 mg/kg) intravenous and Group III with Inj. Propofol (1 mg/kg) plus Inj. Etomidate (0.2 mg/kg) intravenous. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and oxygen saturation (SPO2) were noted at different time interval. Results: Heart rate in all study groups decreases after induction and it was more in group I compared to group II and III (p<0.000) and after intubation HR increases in all three groups but this increase is greater in group II than other two groups. MAP among all three groups decreases after induction and it was more in group I than group II and III. Significant increase in MAP was seen at 1 min after intubation in all three groups but this increase was not sustained and returned to baseline in group II and III. Conclusion: The combination of etomidate plus propofol has better hemodynamic stability than etomidate alone at 1 min after intubation, though etomidate was equally stable at other points of time. The combination proved to be significantly better than either propofol or etomidate alone.
The canine bilateral groove model of osteoarthritis

In studies aimed at local treatment of experimental osteoarthritis (OA) it is optimal to have an internal (untreated) OA control. Such an approach excludes interanimal variation, and allows paired statistical evaluation of treatment efficacy. For this purpose, we developed and characterized a bilateral version of the canine Groove model. We hypothesized that the bilateral version of the canine Groove model would show consistent and clear development of features of OA similar to those found in the unilateral version. In six Beagle dogs, grooves were surgically made in the articular cartilage of the femoral condyles of both knee joints. Six additional dogs underwent bilateral sham surgery. The degree of OA was quantified 20 weeks after surgery and was compared in retrospect to 23 animals that undergone the same procedure in a single knee joint with the contralateral knee serving as a non‐OA control. Bilateral groove surgery resulted in OA. This was based on the observed ineffective repair response in which an increase in proteoglycan synthesis, a diminished retention of these newly formed proteoglycans, and an enhanced loss of resident proteoglycans resulted in a decreased cartilage proteoglycan content. These biochemical effects were corroborated by clear histological features of OA. All these effects were found in femor as well as in the (surgically untouched) tibia. Interestingly, features of OA were slightly more severe in the bilateral model than in the unilateral variant. The bilateral canine Groove model showed consistent and clear development of features of OA, comparable to the unilateral model. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 26:1471–1477, 2008
Effect of nicotine replacement therapy on quitting by young adults in a trial comparing cessation services.

CONTEXT Young adult smokers have the highest smoking prevalence among all US age groups but are least likely to use evidence-based cessation counseling or medication to quit. OBJECTIVE Use and effectiveness of nicotine patch were explored in a randomized trial evaluating smoking cessation interventions with this population. PARTICIPANTS Smokers aged 18 to 30 (n = 3094) were recruited through online and off-line methods and from telephone quit lines and analyzed. DESIGN Smokers were enrolled in a pretest-posttest trial, and randomized to 1 of 3 cessation services. SETTING Trial delivering counseling services by self-help booklet, telephone quit lines, or online expert system in the 48 continental United States. INTERVENTION Smokers could request a free 2-week course of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) patches from the project. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Follow-up surveys at 12 and 26 weeks assessed smoking abstinence, use of NRT, counseling, and other cessation medications, and smoking-related variables. RESULTS Overall, 69.0% of smokers reported using NRT (M = 3.2 weeks) at 12 weeks and 74.8% (M = 3.3 weeks) at 26 weeks. More smokers who were sent the free nicotine patches (n = 1695; 54.8%) reported using NRT than those who did not receive them (12 weeks: 84.3% vs 41.9%, P < .001; 26 weeks: 87.6% vs 51.1%, P < .001). The use of NRT was associated with greater smoking abstinence at 12 weeks (P < .001) and 26 weeks (P < .05), especially if used for more than 2 weeks (P < .001). Smokers assigned to a self-help booklet or cessation Web site and heavier smokers were most likely to use NRT (P < .05), whereas those reporting marijuana use and binge drinking used NRT less (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Many young adults were willing to try NRT, and it appeared to help them quit in the context of community-based cessation services. Strategies should be developed to make NRT available to this age group and support them in using it to prevent lifelong smoking.
Government Subsidies of R&D in a Product Cycle Framework: US-Japan Simulations

The welfare effects of R&D subsidies are examined using a product cycle model of trade between two developed countries. Simulations are done for steady-state welfare in Japan and the USA for high- and low-skilled labor over different combinations of subsidy rates. Japanese subsidies to R&D usually benefit Americans owing to an increase in product variety. However, because Japanese R&D reduces wages in the US high-tech sector, American high-skilled workers are hurt if Japanese subsidies are too large. Large American subsidies may cause Japanese innovation to cease. However, Japanese steady-state welfare would be maximized in this case. Copyright 1998 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Citizenship, civicness and social capital in local agenda 21

Abstract Local Agenda 21s are now being widely produced throughout Britain. Whilst there is wide variation in the nature of such exercises, many are exceeding original expectations and opening up important new opportunities for community involvement in sustainable development. This paper argues that, if LA21s unlock the energies necessary to engage widespread participation in local quality of life issues, they can become an influential and enduring part of the governance of the local state. This raises a number of theoretical and practical issues relating to types of citizenship, social capital, appropriate participatory mechanisms, and the respective contributions of lay and technical expertise. Individual people who are pivotal to the dynamics of local sustainability strategies must themselves be sustained and supported throughout the process.
Geodesic round trips by parallel transport in quantum gravity.

We study the vacuum correlations of a gravitational field in any dimension $Ng2$ using the perturbative expansion to order $G$. It is known that the usual Green's functions are meaningless in quantum gravity; moreover, we show that the traces of the holonomies of the Christoffel connection vanish, revealing a striking difference between gravity and Yang-Mills theories. In order to define meaningful holonomies we make two physical requirements: (1) the contours of the loop integrals must have "geodesic form and size;" (2) the full rotation matrices, not just their traces, must be averaged. Following these ideas we compute a "dumbbell correlation function" which turns out to behave like $\frac{G}{{D}^{N+2}}$, where $D$ is the geodesic distance. Finally, we write a gauge-invariant quantity which could replace the Wilson loop in reproducing the static potential energy between two sources.
Serum neuron-specific enolase as a prognostic marker for irreversible brain damage in comatose cardiac arrest survivors.

OBJECTIVE To assess the use of serum neuron-specific enolase (S-NSE) level as a noninvasive predictor of CNS injury irreversibility in comatose cardiac arrest survivors. METHODS An observational, prospective clinical study was performed in a community hospital ED and intensive care unit. All cardiac arrest survivors (n = 52) with impaired neurologic status admitted between February 1994 and May 1995 were followed until return of consciousness (1) or death due to CNS failure (0). Serum samples for S-NSE determination (ng/mL) using the radioimmunoassay technique were obtained 24 hours after cardiac arrest. Data were analyzed using stepwise logistic regression with dichotomized predictors to validate the correlation between S-NSE (X) and outcome (Y), where X = 0 if < or = median and 1 if > median S-NSE level. Adjustment was made for the following variables: glucose level on admission, total epinephrine dose used before return of spontaneous circulation, and best Glasgow Coma Scale score on admission. These data were all available in 34 cases. In 16 cases, CSF enzymes at 48 hours postarrest were obtained and compared with S-NSE. RESULTS The logistic equation determining the influence of S-NSE (X) on outcome (Y) was: Y = 0.606-1.785X (odds ratio = 6; p = 0.020). There was no confounding effect of the other variables related to survival. The mean S-NSE value for all the patients was 34 (7.9-188). All the patients recovering consciousness (n = 15) had an S-NSE mean +/- SEM value of 17.5 +/- 2.4, with a maximum of 47. CONCLUSION These data support the conclusion that measurement of S-NSE at 24 hours post-cardiac arrest may supplement clinical assessment of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy after cardiac arrest.
Gliomas: predicting time to progression or survival with cerebral blood volume measurements at dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast-enhanced perfusion MR imaging.

PURPOSE To retrospectively determine whether relative cerebral blood volume (CBV) measurements can be used to predict clinical outcome in patients with high-grade gliomas (HGGs) and low-grade gliomas (LGGs) and specifically whether patients who have gliomas with a high initial relative CBV have more rapid progression than those who have gliomas with a low relative CBV. MATERIALS AND METHODS Approval for this retrospective HIPAA-compliant study was obtained from the Institutional Board of Research Associates, with waiver of informed consent. One hundred eighty-nine patients (122 male and 67 female patients; median age, 43 years; range, 4-80 years) were examined with dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast material-enhanced perfusion magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and were followed up clinically with MR imaging (median follow-up, 334 days). Log-rank tests were used to evaluate the association between relative CBV and time to progression by using Kaplan-Meier curves. Binary logistic regression was used to determine whether age, sex, and relative CBV were associated with an adverse event (progressive disease or death). RESULTS Values for the mean relative CBV for patients according to each clinical response were as follows: 1.41 +/- 0.13 (standard deviation) for complete response (n = 4), 2.36 +/- 1.78 for stable disease (n = 41), 4.84 +/- 3.32 for progressive disease (n = 130), and 3.82 +/- 1.93 for death (n = 14). Kaplan-Meier estimates of median time to progression in days indicated that patients with a relative CBV of less than 1.75 had a median time to progression of 3585 days, whereas patients with a relative CBV of more than 1.75 had a time to progression of 265 days. Age and relative CBV were also independent predictors for clinical outcome. CONCLUSION Dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast-enhanced perfusion MR imaging can be used to predict median time to progression in patients with gliomas, independent of pathologic findings. Patients who have HGGs and LGGs with a high relative CBV (>1.75) have a significantly more rapid time to progression than do patients who have gliomas with a low relative CBV.
Older workers and organizational change: corporate memory versus potentiality

Purpose - Drawing on the recent work of Sennett and others who considered the position of older workers in dynamic economies subject to rapid change, this paper aims to examine the perceived fit between employees of different ages and their employing organizations in four Australian workplaces. Design/methodology/approach - Analysis of qualitative data, collected among workers and managers in four Australian organizations, was performed. Findings - Results suggests that potentiality tended to be prized as an asset over corporate memory. While managers were frequently paternalistic towards their older employees, ageing human capital was often devalued as managers tried to balance operational budgets and organizations sought to remain responsive to changing market demands. Originality/value - The paper discusses the implications for the prolongation of working lives.