Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Artemisinin Resistance at the China-Myanmar Border and Association with Mutations in the K13 Propeller Gene

ABSTRACT Artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum parasites in Southeast Asia is a major concern for malaria control. Its emergence at the China-Myanmar border, where there have been more than 3 decades of artemisinin use, has yet to be investigated. Here, we comprehensively evaluated the potential emergence of artemisinin resistance and antimalarial drug resistance status in P. falciparum using data and parasites from three previous efficacy studies in this region. These efficacy studies of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine combination and artesunate monotherapy of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in 248 P. falciparum patients showed an overall 28-day adequate clinical and parasitological response of >95% and day 3 parasite-positive rates of 6.3 to 23.1%. Comparison of the 57 K13 sequences (24 and 33 from day 3 parasite-positive and -negative cases, respectively) identified nine point mutations in 38 (66.7%) samples, of which F446I (49.1%) and an N-terminal NN insertion (86.0%) were predominant. K13 propeller mutations collectively, the F446I mutation alone, and the NN insertion all were significantly associated with day 3 parasite positivity. Increased ring-stage survival determined using the ring-stage survival assay (RSA) was highly associated with the K13 mutant genotype. Day 3 parasite-positive isolates had ∼10 times higher ring survival rates than day 3 parasite-negative isolates. Divergent K13 mutations suggested independent evolution of artemisinin resistance. Taken together, this study confirmed multidrug resistance and emergence of artemisinin resistance in P. falciparum at the China-Myanmar border. RSA and K13 mutations are useful phenotypic and molecular markers for monitoring artemisinin resistance.
Micro-strategies of Contextualization: Cross-national Transfer of Socially Responsible Investment

This paper examines how individuals select and mobilize local institutions when they transfer business practices across societies that are construed as dissimilar to one another. We investigate empirically how the American business practice of socially responsible investment (SRI) was transferred to France and Quebec. Our analysis identifies five micro-strategies that were employed to contextualize SRI, namely filtering, rerouting, stowing, defusing, and coupling. This repertoire of micro-strategies extends previous research on contextualization, translation, and institutional transfers and links them to one another. They may also help explain why some transfers succeed while others fail.
Iron Loss Characteristics Evaluation Using a High-Frequency GaN Inverter Excitation

Recently, novel magnetic materials have been developed for high-efficiency and high power density electric motors. In addition, next-generation semiconductor devices, like silicon carbide (SiC) or gallium nitride (GaN), have been introduced for power converters due to their high-frequency operation. Therefore, high-frequency operation of new magnetic materials is possible when they are driven by GaN or SiC inverters. Nevertheless, iron loss characterization of magnetic materials when they are excited by high-frequency signals have not been conducted yet. This paper introduces the iron losses characterization of a magnetic material at high carrier frequency excitation using a GANFET inverter. This characterization was carried out by the experimental evaluation of iron losses at carrier frequencies from 5 to 500 kHz at different deadtimes. As a result of the measurements, iron losses seem to have a trend to increase at high carrier frequencies and large deadtimes. In addition, filtering is introduced and it seems to be an effective technique for reducing iron losses.
On the Optimal Design of Unfair Contests

Contests are often unfair in the sense that outperforming the rival may not be enough to be the winner, because one contestant is favored by the allocation rule, while the other one is handicapped. We consider a discriminatory contest with handicaps and derive the contestants equilibrium behaviour. From a social point of view, the disadvantage of handicaps is that the prize may be awarded to an inferior contestant. However, there is also an advantage of handicaps, since the overall effort exerted to win the prize is decreasing in the degree of unfairness. We characterize situations in which it is optimal for an authority to either stipulate a fair contest, an interior degree of unfairness or even an infinitely unfair contest by awarding the prize directly to the favored contestant.
Consistency and Commitment in the Realisation of Extended Plans

This paper is concerned with the problems arising from the changing temporal perspective that accompanies the execution of extended plans. In particular it raises the question of the intertemporal consistency of a sequence of decisions, each consisting of the implementation of the early stages of an extended plan, when the passage of time leaves the underlying objective of the decisionmaker unchanged but nevertheless leads to revisions of the plans. The paper contains a discussion of the possibility of achieving intertemporal consistency in various ways: Through the prior commitment of actions (that is, the deliberate foreclosing of future options); through modifications in the procedure for discounting the future; and through the adoption of a dynamic-programming approach to the problem (that is, the construction of the plan by starting with the final element and successively choosing each previous element in the light of the subsequent sequence).
Equivalence scales for measuring poverty in transitional Russia: Engel's food share method and the subjective economic well-being method

This study estimates the equivalence scales for measuring poverty in transitional Russia using the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey data of 1994 and 2002, i.e. before and after the 1998 economic crisis. To examine the robustness and plausibility of the two estimates, we compared the estimate results in both the periods. For constructing the equivalence scales, the costs of children and additional adults are estimated. Further, in order to investigate the most plausible equivalence scales for measuring poverty, the following two methods are employed for the estimations: Engel's food share method (Engel method) and the subjective economic well-being method (SW method). The estimation results show that the equivalence scales for a child, obtained from the Engel and SW methods, could be similar; however, the results for an additional adult are very different. It reveals that poverty evaluation is highly underestimated when the SW method is used. In conclusion, although the Engel method has a theoretical flaw, it might be more plausible than the SW method in the context of poverty evaluation for transitional Russia.
The Role of Industrial Classification in the Micro-Macro Integration: The Case of the Banking Business in the 1997 North American Industrial Classification System

Although economic classification is not part of the Ruggles's prodigious contributions to the System of National Accounts, it is certainly meant to help achieve the integration and linking of macrodata with microdata. Unfortunately, economic classification is a component of the statistical infrastructure that often remains unquestioned by the existing industrial organization literature. This paper fills this gap using the banking business under the 1997 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) as an example. More specifically, the paper ascertains the extent to which NAICS succeeds at combining the various activities performed by Canadian banks into homogeneous industries. Assuming that producing units within the same industry should display more similar cost structure than those in less similar industries, we find that NAICS-at least for the banking sector-is successful at identifying and grouping producing units into homogeneous economic activities. This result is particularly helpful for empirical research that relies on microdata to draw inferences on the structures, conduct and economic performance of the banking sector as whole. Copyright 2004 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Molecular cloning of rat SH2-containing inositol phosphatase 2 (SHIP2) and its role in the regulation of insulin signaling.

SH2-containing inositol 5'-phosphatase (SHIP) plays a negative regulatory role in hematopoietic cells. We have now cloned the rat SHIP isozyme (SHIP2) cDNA from skeletal muscle, which is one of the most important target tissue of insulin action. Rat SHIP2 cDNA encodes a 1183-amino-acid protein that is 45% identical with rat SHIP. Rat SHIP2 contains an amino-terminal SH2 domain, a central 5'-phosphoinositol phosphatase activity domain, and a phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) consensus sequence and a proline-rich region at the carboxyl tail. Specific antibodies to SHIP2 were raised and the function of SHIP2 was studied by stably overexpressing rat SHIP2 in Rat1 fibroblasts expressing human insulin receptors (HIRc). Endogenous SHIP2 underwent insulin-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation and phosphorylation was markedly increased when SHIP2 was overexpressed. Although overexpression of SHIP2 did not affect insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor beta-subunit and Shc, subsequent association of Shc with Grb2 was inhibited, possibly by competition between the SH2 domains of SHIP2 and Grb2 for the Shc phosphotyrosine. As a result, insulin-stimulated MAP kinase activation was reduced in SHIP2-overexpressing cells. Insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1, IRS-1 association with the p85 subunit of PI3-kinase, and PI3-kinase activation were not affected by overexpression of SHIP2. Interestingly, although both PtdIns-(3,4,5)P3 and PtdIns(3,4)P2 have been implicated in the regulation of Akt activity in vitro, overexpression of SHIP2 inhibited insulin-induced Akt activation, presumably by its 5'-inositol phosphatase activity. Furthermore, insulin-induced thymidine incorporation was decreased by overexpression of SHIP2. These results indicate that SHIP2 plays a negative regulatory role in insulin-induced mitogenesis, and regulation of the Shc. Grb2 complex and of the downstream products of PI3-kinase provides possible mechanisms of SHIP2 action in insulin signaling.
Filler Leachability of Composites Stored in Distilled Water or Artificial Saliva

Though dental composite materials leach filler elements when stored in distilled water, it is not known whether similar leaching occurs in saliva. The hypothesis to be tested was that due to ion exchange occurring at the filler surfaces, more filler elements leach from composites stored in a salt solution simulating saliva than from composites stored in distilled water. Another aim was to determine how matrix selection, filler composition, and filler silanization affect filler leachability of composites after storage in the simulated saliva and water media. We made 128 batches of experimental composites. Half of these used a bis-GMA/TEGDMA matrix and the other a UEDMA/TEGDMA matrix. Either silica or barium glass filler particles were incorporated into these matrices. Filler silanization was followed by a filler drying at 60°C for 24 h. Half of the silanized particles received an additional heat treatment for 1 h at 110°C in vacuum. One specimen per batch was stored in distilled water and the other in artificial saliva at 37°C. After each 30-day interval for one year, the specimens were transferred to either freshly distilled water or newly mixed artificial saliva. The "old" solutions were analyzed by ICP for determination of the Si, Ba, and Al concentrations. Analysis of variance revealed that storage solution, filler composition, and total time in the storage solution had strong effects on the leachability (p < 0.0001 in all cases). The average monthly leakage of Si for quartz-filled composites was 0.22 ± 0.20 μg/mL (distilled water) and 2.80 ± 1.20 μg/mL (artificial saliva). For barium-glass-filled composites, the corresponding Si leaching values were 0.73 ± 0.48 μg/mL and 5.00 ± 2.20 ug/mL. The monthly means of the barium leaching values were 2.00 ± 1.00 ug/mL (distilled water) and 3.10 ± 1.80 ug/mL (artificial saliva). The large difference between leaching in artificial saliva and in distilled water, as well as the interaction between storage medium and filler, cast doubt on the clinical relevance of in vitro studies using distilled water.
ECB Policy Making and the Financial Crisis

We estimate Taylor rule models for the euro area using Consensus Economics forecasts of inflation and output growth for the period 1998.6-2010.8. We first examine whether the recent financial crisis has affected ECB policies. Our results indicate that the ECB puts stronger emphasis on maintaining price stability than earlier point estimates suggested. Next, we analyse whether economic developments in individual euro area countries affect ECB decisions. Despite the diverging economic developments in the countries in the euro area, notably during the recent financial crisis, we do not find support for the view that policy decisions have been influenced by regional developments.
Multifactorial analysis of the aetiology of craniomandibular dysfunction in children.

OBJECTIVES It is generally accepted that the aetiology of craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD) is multifactorial. Different types of malocclusion, oral parafunctions especially bruxism, trauma of the mandible or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and emotional stress are known aetiologic factors. Research has been conducted into the relationship between each of these aetiologic factors and the signs and symptoms of CMD. However, such an approach does not control for the simultaneous effect of other factors responsible for the development of the dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of each aetiologic factor on the signs and symptoms of CMD in children, controlling for the effect of all other known factors by means of a multifactorial analysis. METHODS A sample of 314 children, aged 6-8 years, was examined clinically for signs of CMD and morphologic and functional malocclusion. Symptoms of CMD and oral parafunctions were recorded by the same investigator in an interview. Emotional stress was measured through urinary catecholamines including epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine, detected in a 24-h urine sample, using high performance liquid chromatography. A questionnaire was distributed to the parents to collect information regarding socioeconomic factors and the history of dentofacial injuries. A logistic multiple regression was carried out to estimate the partial effect of each aetiologic factor. A 95% probability level was used. RESULTS Posterior crossbite with lateral shift significantly affected the probability of child developing deviation of the mandible on opening. Similarly, posterior crossbite and epinephrine had a significant impact on TMJ tenderness, overjet had an effect on clicking, clenching and biting of objects had an effect on muscle tenderness, and lip/cheek biting influenced dysfunctional opening. Of the symptoms reported, pain on wide opening was affected significantly by lip/cheek biting. CONCLUSION On the basis of these results, it can be suggested that parafunctional and some structural and psychological factors may increase the probability of the child developing the signs and symptoms of CMD.
Tissue Culture Studies of the Glioblastoma Multiforme.

As a part of the examination of each intracranial tumor verified at operation in this clinic, tissue culture preparations are made by the hanging drop method I in order, if possible, to further our knowledge of the histiogenesis of the tumors. Growths have been observed in the cultures of certain of the gliomas, acoustic nerve tumors, metastatic epithellal tumors, adenomas of the hypophysis and ependymal tumors. However, the best results and the most content in type of growth are obtained from the operative speimn of the glioblastoma multforme,t a rapidly growing invasive glioma of the cerebral hemispheres. This tumor is the most common type among the 496 verified and cassified gliomas studied in this cinic. Up to February I, 1929, there were r6o verified examples of this type of glioma From ten to fifteen of these turs are available in this dinic for study h year. The purpose of this report is to present the results of the cultures made from the tissue of tumrs diagnosed as glioblastoma multiforme, ten of which have been studied by the tissue culture method. Of these ten separate tumors, five showed excellent growth in vitro, but no oomparable growths were obtained from the remaining five although the same technique was used. Although many difficulties are met with in tissue culture preparations, it did seem that the lack of growth could be explained in some other manner. When the cinical histories and operative findings of the ten cases were studied, they were found to be similar to those of previously verified cases of the same type of gioma But when histological studies of the paraffin sections were made there was found a considerable vaiation in cell type and arrangement. The histological sections of the five cases showing excellent growth in culture showed quite similar
Audit Firm Lobbying on Proposed Disclosure Requirements

This study investigates incentives of audit firms to lobby on proposed disclosure requirements. The results are consistent with the proposition that higher expected costs of non-compliance with statutory disclosure requirements compared to professional standards provide less incentives for audit firms to lobby in favour of increased statutory disclosure requirements and more incentives to lobby in favour of increased professional disclosure requirements. Their lobbying in favour on either source of proposed disclosure requirements is not associated with increasing size of the audit firm, the amount of new auditing to be generated by the disclosure requirements or by whether they are specialised in the proposed requirements.
Contextual Spatiospectral Postreconstruction of Cloud-Contaminated Images

A general method has been proposed recently for the contextual reconstruction of cloud-contaminated areas in multitemporal multispectral images. It is based on the idea of making the prediction process learn from information available in the cloud-free neighborhood of contaminated areas. Though promising, this method does not fully exploit all available information, thus leaving room for further methodological enhancements. This letter presents a postreconstruction methodology for improving the contextual reconstruction process by opportunely capturing spatial and spectral correlations characterizing the considered image. In addition, we propose a solution to a problem that has not yet been addressed in the remote sensing literature, i.e., the generation of an error map beside the reconstructed images to provide end-users with helpful indications about reconstruction reliability. Thorough experiments conducted on a multitemporal sequence of Landsat-7 ETM+ images are reported and discussed.
On Governing Multilateral Transactions with Bilateral Contracts

Bilateral contracts, while neither negotiated nor enforced in an integrated way, are nevertheless often interrelated both economically and strategically owing to production or consumption complementarities and to asymmetric information. A set of bilateral contracts forms a mechanism with special properties. This mechanism forms a contract equilibrium if there is no joint incentive for a supplier and any individual customer unilaterally to alter the terms of their contract. If agents' preferences are risk neutral in money income, and if their private information is independent, then there exists a contract equilibrium that implements efficient transactions. If, in addition, preferences are strictly concave and differentiable in goods and services, and technologically feasible sets are suitably convex, then this equilibrium is essentially unique.
Public Housing, Housing Vouchers and Student Achievement: Evidence from Public Housing Demolitions in Chicago

There has been a substantial shift from public housing to voucher-based housing assistance over the past decade, largely in response to the rising cost of public housing and the high rates of crime, unemployment and school failure among public housing residents. Despite this shift, there is relatively little evidence on the impact of public housing or housing vouchers on educational outcomes. This paper utilizes a plausibly exogenous source of variation in housing assistance generated by public housing demolitions in Chicago to examine the impact of high-rise public housing on student outcomes. I find that children in households affected by the demolitions do no better or worse than their peers on a wide variety of achievement measures. Because the majority of households that leave public housing in response to the demolitions move to neighborhoods and schools that closely resemble those they left, the zero effect of the demolitions may be interpreted as the independent impact of public housing. These findings suggest that eliminating high-rise public housing will not necessarily lead to the benefits documented in housing mobility experiments such as Gautreaux or Moving to Opportunity
Statistical non-uniform sampling of Gabor wavelet coefficients for face recognition

A statistics based, non-uniform sampling of the Gabor wavelet decomposition coefficients for face recognition is presented in this paper. Gabor wavelets are popularly used to decompose face images into their spatial/frequency domains. The derived Gabor coefficients generate an augmented vector, e.g., 40 times larger than the original gray-scale vector. To reduce the dimensionality, uniform sampling of the Gabor coefficients is normally used. In this paper, we propose a non-uniform sampling method of the Gabor coefficients such that the coefficients corresponding to important face features are sampled much finer than those of the other parts of the image. The non-uniform sampling is based on the local statistics of the Gabor coefficients obtained from a set of training images. This adaptation is implemented in a hierarchical fashion; a coarse-to-fine strategy results in multi-level sampling rates. After the samples are obtained, the traditional principal component analysis (PCA) is used to code the samples for the final classification. The experimental results show that the proposed non-uniform sampling of Gabor coefficients outperforms the uniform one and the popular eigenfaces method.
Price discovery in the Hong Kong real estate market

This paper examines price discovery for four sectors of the Hong Kong property market. The Hong Kong property market is one of the deepest and most liquid markets in the world. In addition, a substantial proportion of the real estate sector is securitized in the local share market. This makes Hong Kong one of the better places to examine price discovery. The results show that the returns to securitized real estate in Hong Kong are a mirror of broader international capital market movements. Once international capital market variables are included in the regressions, the returns to securitized real estate in Hong Kong convey little information about the appraisal-based returns to Hong Kong real estate. In addition, the results show that both capital market variables and local economic variables are significant for explaining the appraisal-based returns to Hong Kong property. The two sets of variables account for from 58% and 87% of the total variation in returns, with capital market factors contributing between 32% and 75% to the explanatory power.