Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Merit Motives and Government Intervention: Public Finance in Reverse

A common view in public finance is that there is an efficiency-redistribution tradeoff in which distortions are tolerated in order to redistribute income. However, the fact that so much public- and private redistributive activity involves in-kind transfers rather than cash may be indicative of merit motives on the part of the payers rather than a preference for the well-being of the recipients. Efficiency-enhancing public policy in a merit good economy has the primary purpose of creating distortions and may only redistribute income from rich to poor in order to create those distortions the reverse of the conventional efficiency-redistribution tradeoff. We discuss why the largest programs on the federal and local level in the US including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and Public Schooling seem consistent with the reverse tradeoff rather than the classic one. Transfers are not lump sum in a merit good economy, and explicitly accounting for this when calculating tax incidence reduces the estimated progressivity of government policy. As one example, we calibrate the conventional life-cycle model to show how the amount of over-saving induced on the poor by Social Security hurts them at least as much as the progressive' benefits help them. When the distortions outweigh fiscal transfers in this manner, the classic efficiency-redistribution tradeoff cannot justify the program and the program is far less progressive than conventional analysis suggests.
Novel Investigations of Flavonoids as Chemopreventive Agents for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

We would like to highlight the application of natural products to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We will focus on the natural products known as flavonoids, which target this disease at different stages of hepatocarcinogenesis. In spite of the use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in treating HCC, patients with HCC still face poor prognosis because of the nature of multidrug resistance and toxicity derived from chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Flavonoids can be found in many vegetables, fruits, and herbal medicines that exert their different anticancer effects via different intracellular signaling pathways and serve as antioxidants. In this review, we will discuss seven common flavonoids that exert different biological effects against HCC via different pathways.
Quantifying the Economic Impact of Communication Inefficiencies in U.S. Hospitals

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Care delivery is a complex enterprise that involves multiple interactions among multiple stakeholders. Effective communication between these dispersed parties is critical to ensuring quality and safety and improves operational efficiencies. Time and motion studies in hospital settings provide strong evidence that care providers—doctors and nurses—spend a significant proportion of their time obtaining or providing information (i.e., communicating). Yet, surprisingly, no studies attempt to quantify the economic waste associated with communication inefficiencies in hospital settings at a national level. Our research focuses on developing models for quantifying the economic burden on hospitals of poor communications. We developed a conceptual model of the effects of poor communications in hospitals that isolates four outcomes: (1) efficiency of resource utilization, (2) effectiveness of core operations, (3) quality of work life, and (4) service quality, identifying specific metrics for each outcome. We developed estimates of costs associated with wasted physician time, wasted nurse time, and increase in length of stay caused by communication inefficiencies across all U.S. hospitals, using primary data collected from interviews in seven hospitals and secondary data from a literature review, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). We find that U.S. hospitals waste over $12 billion annually as a result of communication inefficiency among care providers. Increase in length of stay accounts for 53 percent of the annual economic burden. A 500‐bed hospital loses over $4 million annually as a result of communication inefficiencies. We note that our estimates are conservative as they do not include all dimensions of economic waste arising from poor communications. The economic burden of communication inefficiency in U.S. hospitals is substantial. Information technologies and process redesign may help alleviate some of this burden.
Regulatory effect of dopamine on spatial properties of horizontal cells in carp retina

Three types of light-induced response (L-, RG-, and YRB -type S- potentials) recorded from isolated retinas of the carp (Cyprinus carpio) were identified by their spectral response and later by morphological localization of the recording sites marked with an intracellular Lucifer Yellow (LY). Horizontal cells in a given layer, generating one of the above response types, are electrically coupled via gap junctions, so that the injected LY normally diffused to several neighboring cells. The spatial property of the three types of responses was examined by enlarging the diameter of a light spot (0.25 to 4.0 mm) and displacing the spot (0.5 mm diameter) along a straight 4-mm line which passed over the recording point at the middle. In normal retinas, the half-decay distance of response amplitude with spot displacement was shorter in the order of L-, RG-, and YRB -type responses, and correspondingly the dye diffusion area was narrower in the same order of cells. Dopamine (DA; 10 to 20 microM), applied to the vitreous fluid beneath the isolated retina, altered the spatial property of all types of responses by increasing the amplitude of responses to central spots and decreasing that of those to distant spots, and it restricted the intracellular LY to single injected cells. In contrast, in retinas from which DA interplexiform cells had been deprived by prior destruction with a neurotoxin, 6-hydroxydopamine, the amplitude of responses became smaller while the half-decay distance was longer by 1.1- to 1.6-fold, depending upon the cell type, and the dye diffusion area in all types of cells became wider by 2-fold as compared to those in normal retinas. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Hemispheric processing of idioms in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder

ABSTRACT Studies conducted on individuals with schizophrenia (SZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show that they find it difficult to comprehend figurative language, and have a tendency to interpret it literally. This study examines hemispheric processing of idioms in patients with SZ, in comparison to individuals with ASD. Seventeen adults with SZ and 18 adults with ASD participated in the study. The two clinical groups were matched in age, vocabulary scores and verbal executive function scores. Using the divided visual field paradigm, the participants performed a lexical decision task for a target word related to either a literal or a figurative interpretation of an idiom. Whereas SZ patients showed the typical right lateralisation for non-salient literal interpretations of idioms, adults with ASD showed atypical bilateral processing. These findings indicate different hemispheric lateralisation in idiom processing in the two clinical groups.
vNFC: A Virtual Networking Function Container for SDN-Enabled Virtual Networks

Software-defined networks (SDN) has gradually been deployed on commercial networks such as datacenter networks. Current SDN is based on OpenFlow technology that is a set ofnetwork flow control API for switch devices. For instance, network reachability between end-hosts (or virtual machines), packet filtering mechanisms, and status management of switches are enabled by the API. In practice, however, current OpenFlow-based SDN has following problems: no application-layer protocol support and switch-oriented flow control. Since OpenFlow targets L2-L4 flow handling, users have to arrange additional mechanism for upper-layer flow control. Furthermore, executing a lot of flow matching on a single switch (or virtual switch) can cause difficulty in network trace and overall performance degradation.This paper proposes a virtual networking function container (vNFC) that is a set of software implemented networking functions for VM-to-VM communications, and it is located between a virtual machine and a virtual network device of the host machine. vNFC enables not only lower-layer functions OpenFlow providing, but also upper-layer functions like application firewall in the same manner. That is, vNFC is a virtual machine dedicated flow handling function set. In addition, OpenFlow-compatible vNFC configuration protocol named OpenNF and vNFC controller are also presented. OpenNF provides communication path between each networking function and the controller for configuration and decision making.In this paper, architectural design and implementation of vNFC are presented, and also performance evaluation of using vNFC. The evaluation result shows that a lightweight networking function does not impact on the performance, but a function that frequently communicates with the controller incurs millisecond order cost per frame transmission.
A Two-State Model for the Dynamics of the Pyrophosphate Ion Release in Bacterial RNA Polymerase

The dynamics of the PPi release during the transcription elongation of bacterial RNA polymerase and its effects on the Trigger Loop (TL) opening motion are still elusive. Here, we built a Markov State Model (MSM) from extensive all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the mechanism of the PPi release. Our MSM has identified a simple two-state mechanism for the PPi release instead of a more complex four-state mechanism observed in RNA polymerase II (Pol II). We observed that the PPi release in bacterial RNA polymerase occurs at sub-microsecond timescale, which is ∼3-fold faster than that in Pol II. After escaping from the active site, the (Mg-PPi)2− group passes through a single elongated metastable region where several positively charged residues on the secondary channel provide favorable interactions. Surprisingly, we found that the PPi release is not coupled with the TL unfolding but correlates tightly with the side-chain rotation of the TL residue R1239. Our work sheds light on the dynamics underlying the transcription elongation of the bacterial RNA polymerase.
Correction to “Constraints on aerosol sources using GEOS‐Chem adjoint and MODIS radiances, and evaluation with multisensor (OMI, MISR) data”

[1] We present a new top-down approach that spatially constrains the amount of aerosol emissions using satellite (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)) observed radiances with the adjoint of a chemistry transport model (GEOS-Chem). This paper aims to demonstrate the approach through applying it to a case study that yields the following emission estimates over China for April 2008: 1.73 Tg for SO2, 0.72 Tg for NH3, 1.38 Tg for NOx, 0.10 Tg for black carbon, and 0.18 Tg for organic carbon from anthropogenic sources, which reflects, respectively, a reduction of 33.5%, 34.5%, 18.8%, 9.1%, and 15% in comparison to the prior bottom-up inventories of INTEX-B 2006. The mineral dust emission from the online dust entrainment and mobilization module is reduced by 56.4% of 19.02 to 8.30 Tg. Compared to the prior simulation, the posterior simulation shows a much better agreement with the following independent measurements: aerosol optical depth (AOD) measured by AERONET sun-spectrophotometers and retrieved from Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR), atmospheric NO2 and SO2 columnar amount retrieved from Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), and in situ data of sulfate-nitrate-ammonium and PM10 (particular matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 mm) mass concentrations over both anthropogenic pollution and dust source regions. Assuming the bottom-up (prior) anthropogenic emissions are the best estimates for their base year of 2006, the overwhelming reduction in the posterior (top-down) estimate indicates less emission in April 2008 especially for the SO2 tracer in the central and eastern parts of China, and/or an overestimation in the prior emission. The former is supported by the AOD change detected by MODIS and MISR sensors, while the latter is likely the case for NOx and NH3 emissions because no evidence shows that their atmospheric concentration has declined over China. With the promising results shown in this study, continuous efforts are needed toward a holistic and comprehensive inversion of emission using multisensor remote sensing data (of trace gases and aerosols) for constraining aerosol primary and precursor emissions at various temporal and spatial scales.
Groupware experiences in three-dimensional computer-aided design

A system that allows people to simultaneously modify a common design in a graphically rich environment was developed to identify and examine groapware interface issues unique to three-dimensional computer-aided design. Experiments confirmed that a simultaneous mode of edit access is preferred over a turn-taking mode for two-person interactions. Also, independent points of view (e.g., isometric versus top view) between designers optimized parallel activity. Further experiments that aimed to transfer software-usage knowledge through the groupware system led to the development of the viewpoint. The viewpoint is a tool that indicates the points of view of different designers as well as provides a method of pointing effective in an environment where arbitrary, contrasting points of views are allowed.
HOXA11 hypermethylation is associated with progression of non-small cell lung cancer

This study was aimed at understanding the functional significance of HOXA11 hypermethylation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). HOXA11 hypermethylation was characterized in six lung cancer cell lines, and its clinical significance was analyzed using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from 317 NSCLC patients, and Ki-67 expression was analyzed using immunohistochemistry. The promoter region of HOXA11 was highly methylated in six lung cancer cell lines, but not in normal bronchial epithelial cells. The loss of expression was restored by treatment of the cells with a demethylating agent, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC). Transient transfection of HOXA11 into H23 lung cancer cells resulted in the inhibition of cell migration and proliferation. HOXA11 hypermethylation was found in 218 (69%) of 317 primary NSCLCs. HOXA11 hypermethylation was found at a higher prevalence in squamous cell carcinoma than in adenocarcinoma (74% vs. 63%, respectively). HOXA11 hypermethylation was associated with Ki-67 proliferation index (P = 0.03) and pT stage (P = 0.002), but not with patient survival. Patients with pT2 and pT3 stages were 1.85 times (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04-3.29; P = 0.04) and 5.47 times (95% CI = 1.18-25.50; P = 0.01), respectively, more likely to show HOXA11 hypermethylation than those with pT1 stage, after adjusting for age, sex, and histology. In conclusion, the present study suggests that HOXA11 hypermethylation may contribute to the progression of NSCLC by promoting cell proliferation or migration.
Choking under pressure of top performers: Evidence from Biathlon competitions

Psychological pressure affects performance. This is especially true for individuals completing precision tasks in decisive situations, such as assessment tests, job talks, or sports competitions. In this paper, I shed light on detrimental effects of pressure on performance, a phenomenon known as "choking under pressure". I analyze a unique setting in which the effect of pressure on performance is naturally observable: Biathlon World Cup competitions. As the last shot in the final bout of shootings is regularly decisive for the victory, pressure is highest on the leader of the competition not to miss this last shot. Using event data from 11 seasons of Biathlon World Cup, I find strong evidence for "choking under pressure", implying that especially leaders are more likely to fail decisive shots. Furthermore, taking more time for the last shootings bout leads to a decrease in performance. Finally, I show suggestive evidence for a momentum effect - after missing a shot during the last shooting bout, the probability of missing the last shot decreases.
Dihydromyricetin induces mouse hepatoma Hepal-6 cell apoptosis via the transforming growth factor-β pathway

Dihydromyricetin (DHM) is a flavonoid compound which possesses potent antitumor activity. In the present study, it was demonstrated that DHM significantly inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in mouse hepatocellular carcinoma Hepal-6 cells. Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is recognized as a major profibrogenic cytokine and is therefore a common target for drugs in the treatment of liver disease. The present study aimed to investigate whether TGF-β was involved in DHM-triggered cell-viability inhibition and apoptosis induction. An MTT assay was used to evaluate the viability of Hepal-6 cells following DHM treatment. TGF-β signalling is mediated by Smads and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 (NOX4) is a crucial regulator of reactive oxygen species ROS production. TGF-β, Smad3, phosphorylated (p)-Smad2/3 and NOX4 protein expression levels were evaluated by western blot analysis. TGF-β and NOX4 gene expression levels were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results indicated that DHM downregulated TGF-β, Smad3, p-Smad2/3 and NOX4 in a concentration-dependent manner. A cell counting assay indicated that DHM also inhibited Hepal-6 cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner. TGF-β expression was significantly decreased following DHM treatment. In conclusion, the results of the present study defined and supported a novel function for DHM, indicating that it induced cell apoptosis by downregulating ROS production via the TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathway in mouse hepatocellular carcinoma Hepal-6 cells.
Multipacket reception in random access wireless networks: from signal processing to optimal medium access control

There has been considerable interest in the idea of cross-layer design of wireless networks. This is motivated by the need to provide a greater level of adaptivity to variations of wireless channels. This article examines one aspect of the interaction between the physical and medium access control layers. In particular, we consider the impact of signal processing techniques that enable multipacket reception on the throughput and design of random access protocols.
Building Linked Data For Both Humans and Machines

In this paper we describe our experience with building the riese dataset, an interlinked, RDF-based version of the Eurostat data, containing statistical data about the European Union. The riese dataset (http://riese.joanneum.at), aims at serving roughly 3 billion RDF triples, along with millions of high-quality interlinks. Our contribution is twofold: Firstly, we suggest using RDFa as the main deployment mechanism, hence serving both humans and machines to effectively and efficiently explore and use the dataset. Secondly, we introduce a new way of enriching the dataset with high-quality links: the User Contributed Interlinking, a Wiki-style way of adding semantic links to data pages.
Frameworks for fostering cross-agency interoperability in eGovernment initiatives

Interoperability has been identified as a major issue to be addressed by every egovernment initiative. In order to tackle this issue, egovernment agencies have developed tools to facilitate the interchange of information between agencies when providing public services to citizens and businesses through internet. The tools are called frameworks. The chapter surveys a sample of egovernment agencies in Europe and the United States that have developed different frameworks, which are classified as either interoperability frameworks or enterprise architecture frameworks. The survey includes a comparative analysis which shows the common features and differences between both types of frameworks. The survey also shows concrete cases of application of the frameworks and focuses on the use of the frameworks as catalists of cross-agency interoperability. Finally, the chapter proposes an explanation to the adoption of each kind of frameworks by the egovernment agencies.
Main-Memory Databases for Real-Time Telecom Applications *

Disk-based database systems are widely used, offering a great set of functionalities perfectly suited for most kinds of applications. However, when high performance is the priority, such databases are unable to produce satisfactory results. Telecom applications demand high performance especially for their real-time applications. Location management is one of many telecom applications that fall into this category. Currently, location information is managed by custom-developed applications requiring the use of proprietary API’s and custom data models to achieve the performance expectations. This paper summarizes some possible approaches to handle the location problem in the telecom industry using main-memory database systems. Such systems have been proven able to deliver high response-time, throughput and reliability.
Commentary Epithelial Na Channels Why All the Subunits?

Epithelial Na channels mediate Na reabsorption in the distal segments of the kidney, gut, and other organs (Garty and Palmer, 1997). They are vital to the control of blood volume and arterial blood pressure, as evi-denced by various forms of hypertension involving defects in the channels themselves or the renin–angio-tensin–aldosterone axis regulating them (Lifton, 1996). Several years ago the molecules comprising these channels were cloned and sequenced (Canessa et al. The first clone, called ␣ rENaC, was sufficient to produce amilo-ride-sensitive Na currents when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. The physiological and pharmacological properties of these channels resembled those in the kidney and other native epithelia, but the magnitude of the currents was small. Much larger currents were obtained when ␣ rENaC was coexpressed with two additional sub-units termed ␤ rENaC and ␥ rENaC. The ␤ and ␥ sub-units themselves did not produce measurable currents. A molecular basis for this synergism was suggested by measurements of the surface expression of the subunits (Firsov et al., 1996). Coexpression of all three subunits was essential to have a significant number of any of the subunits in the plasma membrane of the oocyte. The question of how the subunits interacted with each other was unresolved in the earlier studies. On the one hand, many properties of the holochannels were similar to those of the ␣ subunit expressed by itself. These included ion selectivity (Li Ͼ Na ϾϾ K), current voltage relationship, and the affinity for the ca-nonical blocker amiloride (K I ‫ف‬ 100 nM). This suggests that the ␣ subunit might form the pore by itself, while the other subunits could serve to help transport ␣ to or stabilize it in the membrane. On the other hand, the three subunits are very similar in structure. They are all about the same size, they have two predicted membrane-spanning regions (M1 and M2) separated by a large ex-tracellular domain, and share ‫ف‬ 30% overall homology. This situation is more reminiscent of the nicotinic ACh receptor, in which 5 subunits arrange themselves pseudo-symmetrically around a central pore (Brisson and Unwin, 1985). A similar structure was proposed early on for ENaC (Jentsch, 1994), but until recently there was little or no direct support for this model. In the January issue of The Journal of General Physiology Schild et al. reported results which argue strongly in favor of the three subunits making similar contributions to the formation of the …