Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The adaptor protein TRAF3 inhibits interleukin-6 receptor signaling in B cells to limit plasma cell development

TRAF3 tamps down B cell responsiveness to IL-6 to prevent excessive generation of antibody-producing cells. TRAF3 restrains plasma cells Upon exposure to antigen, B cells differentiate to generate antibody-secreting cells called plasma cells. Multiple myeloma is an incurable malignancy characterized by the accumulation of abnormal numbers of plasma cells. Noting that mutations in the gene encoding the adaptor protein TRAF3 are associated with some cases of multiple myeloma, Lin et al. found that plasma cell numbers were increased in mice with a B cell–specific deficiency in TRAF3. Loss of TRAF3 in B cells resulted in increased responsiveness to the cytokine IL-6, which mediates the development and survival of plasma cells under normal conditions. In B cells from wild-type mice, TRAF3 associated with a phosphatase that targeted a transcription factor downstream of the IL-6 receptor, suggesting that TRAF3 limits the accumulation of plasma cells by inhibiting IL-6 signaling. Tumor necrosis factor receptor–associated factor 3 (TRAF3) is an adaptor protein that inhibits signaling by CD40 and by the receptor for B cell–activating factor (BAFF) and negatively regulates homeostatic B cell survival. Loss-of-function mutations in TRAF3 are associated with human B cell malignancies, in particular multiple myeloma. The cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) supports the differentiation and survival of normal and neoplastic plasma cells. We found that mice with a deficiency in TRAF3 specifically in B cells (B-Traf3−/− mice) had about twice as many plasma cells as did their littermate controls. TRAF3-deficient B cells had enhanced responsiveness to IL-6, and genetic loss of IL-6 in B-Traf3−/− mice restored their plasma cell numbers to normal. TRAF3 inhibited IL-6 receptor (IL-6R)–mediated signaling by facilitating the association of PTPN22 (a nonreceptor protein tyrosine phosphatase) with the kinase Janus-activated kinase 1 (Jak1), which in turn blocked phosphorylation of the transcription factor STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3). Consistent with these results, the number of plasma cells in the PTPN22-deficient mice was increased compared to that in the wild-type mice. Our findings identify TRAF3 and PTPN22 as inhibitors of IL-6R signaling in B cells and reveal a previously uncharacterized role for TRAF3 in the regulation of plasma cell differentiation.
Comparative physiology and fermentation performance of Saaz and Frohberg lager yeast strains and the parental species Saccharomyces eubayanus

Two distinct genetic groups (Saaz and Frohberg) exist within the hybrid Saccharomyces pastorianus (S. cerevisiae × S. eubayanus) taxon. However, physiological/technological differences that exist between the two groups are not known. Fermentative capability of the parental S. eubayanus has likewise never been studied. Here, 58 lager strains were screened to determine which hybrid group they belonged to, and selected strains were characterized to determine salient characteristics. In 15 °P all‐malt wort fermentations at 22 °C, Frohberg strains showed greater growth and superior fermentation (80% apparent attenuation, 6.5% alcohol by volume in 3–4 days) compared to all other strains and maintained highest viability values (>93%). Fermentation with S. eubayanus was poor at the same temperature (33% apparent attenuation, 2.7% alcohol by volume at 6 days and viability reduced to 75%). Saaz strains and S. eubayanus were the least sensitive to cold (10 °C), though this did not translate to greater fermentation performance. Fermentation with S. eubayanus was poor at 10 °C but equal to or greater than that of the Saaz strains. Performance of Saaz yeast/S. eubayanus was limited by an inability to use wort maltotriose. [14C]‐Maltotriose transport assays also showed negligible activity in these strains (≤0.5 µmol min−1 g−1 dry yeast). Beers from Saaz fermentations were characterized by two‐ to sixfold lower production of the flavour compounds methyl butanol, ethyl acetate and 3‐methylbutyl acetate compared to Frohberg strains. Higher alcohol and ester production by S. eubayanus was similar to that of Frohberg strains. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hierarchical Modelling of Disparities in Preferences for Redistribution

We evaluate the magnitude of the disparities in the demand for redistribution across European countries and American states during the 2000s. Modelling the demand for redistribution in a multilevel framework, we identify the determinants that contribute the most in predicting support for redistribution. We observe that individual characteristics and contextual variables are associated with demand for redistribution in the same way in Europe and in the US, whereas others exert different influences on the probability of supporting redistribution. We find important differences from some well-established evidence obtained from data collected for the 1980s and the 1990s.
Price Earning Ratio Effect: A Test of the Semi Strong Form of Efficient Market Hypothesis in Indian Stock Market

Proponents of Semi strong form of Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) claim that security prices fully reflect all publicly available information in a rapid and unbiased manner. Opponents of this Hypothesis question its validity by explaining various anomalies in stock markets. One such anomaly that they elucidate is Price Earning (P/E) ratio Effect, which is based on the premise that P/E ratios are indicators of the investment performance of a security and low P/E stocks have a tendency to outperform high P/E stocks even after adjusting for underlying risks.The purpose of the study is to empirically test the relationship between P/E ratios and equity returns in Indian stock market based on monthly stock returns of 90 companies during the period April 2006 – June 2012 and thereby to examine the validity of semi strong form of EMH. The study applies Jensen, Sharpe and Treynor measures, which are based on Sharpe-Linter Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) to test the risk- return relationships of these portfolios and to compare whether portfolio of low P/E stocks outperforms the portfolio of High P/E stocks. The study attempts to test, if there is any statistically significant difference between the returns of such a portfolio and a simple buy and old strategy. The study also attempts to examine if there is any statistically significant difference between the returns of Lowest P/E portfolio and Highest P/E portfolio using an alternative specification of CAPM. The findings of the study explain the superior performance of low P/E portfolio to high P/E portfolio, indicating the premium associated with cheap stock.
A review of occupational regulation and its impact

This Evidence Report develops a deeper understanding of the nature and impact of occupational regulation in the UK. The term, occupational regulation, is a broad heading for various mechanisms (including licence to practice and voluntary forms) through which minimum skill standards are applied within occupations. As such, occupational regulation is one of a range of levers, or best market solutions, which are designed to encourage employers to train on a collective basis. The use of occupational regulation as a mechanism for increasing the demand for, and supply of, skills was considered alongside other measures, as part of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills’ Review of Employer Collective Measures. However, that Review acknowledged the general topic of occupational regulation was under researched in the UK. This research, conducted by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, helps to address this and deepens our knowledge of the area by: providing a discussion on the existing theory on occupational regulation by examining existing economic literature; providing a detailed review of the existing evidence on occupational regulation in the UK, America, Canada and Europe (Germany, France and Italy), again via existing literature; providing a comprehensive map of occupational regulation in the UK, through the mapping of managerial, professional and non-professional occupations at the Unit Group level of the Standard Occupational Classification (2000); producing estimates of the labour market impact of occupational regulation in the UK. Its prevalence is estimated by comparing the mapping output with Unit Group data obtained from the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS). Further analysis, via cross-sectional analysis, produces estimates on levels of qualifications, wages and rates of job-related training between workers in regulated and unregulated occupations. This uses QLFS 2010 data. And a Difference-in-Differences analysis is employed to evaluate the impact of switches in regulation status on skill levels, job-related education and training, wages and employment. This uses QLFS data between 2001 and 2010.
Aggregate Innovation Fluctuations and Complementary Ideas

Patents are frequently used to measure innovation, but their dramatic increase since the mid-eighties has brought this claim into question. I argue they still serve this function, despite what appears to be a negative relationship between patents and a standard measure of patent quality. Surprisingly, patent number and quality are unrelated within industries. The aggregate and disaggregated relationships differ, because innovation is highly correlated across industries. A multi-sector innovation model with heterogeneous idea quality is constructed to explain these observations. New ideas in one sector alter the returns to developing ideas in complementary sectors, and endogenously change the marginal ideas used in innovation throughout the economy. Empirical support is provided that the relationships across industries strengthen with complementarities. Large innovation changes in less-innovative industries are found to be responsible for the negative aggregate relationship in the short-run. The model is calibrated to match cross-industry innovation differences and changes in patenting are argued to be significant for long-run economic growth.
Homing on a moving dock for a quadrotor vehicle

A homing control law for a quadrotor is presented to drive the vehicle towards a moving target at constant longitudinal velocity. The vehicle is driven to the homing point through force control with an inner-outer loop control strategy. For the outerloop, the position and velocity features are exploited to derive a control law that directs the vehicle to the homing target while ensuring it never collides with ground. The fast inner-loop sets the appropriate thrust and aligns the vehicle thrust direction with the reference force direction. In order to reject wind disturbances, the homing control law is augmented with an estimator for constant, or slowly time-varing, unknown inertial forces. The control law guarantees the exponential convergence of the distance to zero and that the vertical approach and landing is smooth.
Eriksson on Critical Realism: a rejoinder

Abstract In this response to Andrew Mearman I argue that his critique suffers from a series of misrepresentations of my paper. For example, Mearman generalizes my arguments about Keynes to be about Critical Realism (CR), and he challenges my criticism of Tony Lawson's arguments by claiming that I have misrepresented CR. In fact the text of my 1998 paper does not support Mearman's claims. Furthermore, since (i) the principal aim of my paper was to question the interpretation of Keynes as a realist, and (ii) Mearman does not present any arguments suggesting how CR in its current form would refute my conclusions, his criticism must be judged doubly misdirected.
Cryoglobulinemia is associated with steatosis and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C

The relationship between cryoglobulin and severity of liver lesions is debated. No study has focused on the relationship between cryoglobulin, liver steatosis, and fibrosis. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between cryoglobulins and liver lesions (necroinflammation, fibrosis, and steatosis) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Four hundred and thirty‐seven consecutive patients with untreated chronic hepatitis C who had been admitted for liver biopsy were included in the study. Risk factors for fibrosis and steatosis were assessed. The mean age was 50.9 ± 13.8 years, and 49% were male. Cryoglobulin was present in 286 patients, 103 of whom had vasculitis. One hundred and eighty‐six patients (43%) had steatosis greater than 10%, and 110 (25%) had advanced fibrosis (Metavir score F3‐F4). On multivariate analysis, cryoglobulin increased by nearly threefold the risk of having advanced fibrosis and steatosis greater than 10%. Steatosis greater than 10% was associated with a higher body mass index (P < .001), HCV genotype 3 (P < .001), cryoglobulin (P = .002), and advanced liver fibrosis (P = .009). Advanced fibrosis (F3‐F4) was associated with a higher level of γ‐glutamyltransferase (P = .04), cryoglobulin (P < .001), a high grade of necroinflammation (Metavir score A2‐A3) (P < .001), and steatosis higher than 10% (P = .04). In conclusion, our study shows an independent association between cryoglobulin and steatosis as well as advanced fibrosis. (HEPATOLOGY 2006;43:1337–1345.)
Hypermineralization and High Osteocyte Lacunar Density in Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type V Bone Indicate Exuberant Primary Bone Formation

In contrast to “classical” forms of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) types I to IV, caused by a mutation in COL1A1/A2, OI type V is due to a gain‐of‐function mutation in the IFITM5 gene, encoding the interferon‐induced transmembrane protein 5, or bone‐restricted interferon‐inducible transmembrane (IFITM)‐like protein (BRIL). Its phenotype distinctly differs from OI types I to IV by absence of blue sclerae and dentinogenesis imperfecta, by the occurrence of ossification disorders such as hyperplastic callus and forearm interosseous membrane ossification. Little is known about the impact of the mutation on bone tissue/material level in untreated and bisphosphonate‐treated patients. Therefore, investigations of transiliac bone biopsy samples from a cohort of OI type V children (n = 15, 8.7 ± 4 years old) untreated at baseline and a subset (n = 8) after pamidronate treatment (2.6 years in average) were performed. Quantitative backscattered electron imaging (qBEI) was used to determine bone mineralization density distribution (BMDD) as well as osteocyte lacunar density. The BMDD of type V OI bone was distinctly shifted toward a higher degree of mineralization. The most frequently occurring calcium concentration (CaPeak) in cortical (Ct) and cancellous (Cn) bone was markedly increased (+11.5%, +10.4%, respectively, p < 0.0001) compared to healthy reference values. Treatment with pamidronate resulted in only a slight enhancement of mineralization. The osteocyte lacunar density derived from sectioned bone area was elevated in OI type V Ct and Cn bone (+171%, p < 0.0001; +183.3%, p < 0.01; respectively) versus controls. The high osteocyte density was associated with an overall immature primary bone structure (“mesh‐like”) as visualized by polarized light microscopy. In summary, the bone material from OI type V patients is hypermineralized, similar to other forms of OI. The elevated osteocyte lacunar density in connection with lack of regular bone lamellation points to an exuberant primary bone formation and an alteration of the bone remodeling process in OI type V. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Does Internal Finance Matter for R&D? New Evidence from a Panel of Italian Firms

This paper investigates the relationship between finance and R&D for a panel of more than 1000 Italian manufacturing firms. While Italian firms obtain a significant share of their financing from debt, the results from a unique survey show that firms use virtually no debt to finance R&D. Because Italian firms typically do not receive external equity, the obvious source of innovation financing is internal cash flow. The sensitivity of capital investment to cash flow for small and medium-large firms is estimated, testing for the presence of informational frictions in the credit market for companies performing R&D activities. A GMM method that controls for unobserved firm-specific effects and endogenous explanatory variables is used. Cash flow plays an important role in explaining capital investment, especially for small firms. Interestingly, when the measure of firms' innovative activities is considered, significant differences are found between the sub-samples of small and medium-large firms. While small innovative firms are subject to relevant financing constraints, larger companies investing in R&D have easier access to external financing.
The Modulated Emission of the Ultraluminous X-Ray Source in NGC 3379

We report recent Chandra observations of the ULX in the elliptical galaxy NGC 3379 that clearly detect two flux variability cycles. Comparing these data with the Chandra observation of ~5 years ago, we measure a flux modulation with a period of ~12.6 hr. Moreover, we find that the emission undergoes a correlated spectral modulation, becoming softer at low flux. We argue that our results establish this source as a ULX binary in NGC 3379. Given the old stellar population of this galaxy, the ULX is likely to be a soft transient; however, historical X-ray sampling suggests that the current "on" phase has lasted ~10 yr. We discuss our results in terms of ADC and wind-feedback models. If the flux modulation is orbital, we can constrain the donor mass and orbital period at the onset of mass transfer within 1.15-1.4 M☉ and 12.5-17 hr, respectively. The duration of the mass transfer phase so far is probably ~1 Gyr, and the binary has been a soft X-ray transient throughout this time. These constraints are insensitive to the mass of the accretor.
Hearing loss as a public health matter – why not everyone wants their deafness or hearing loss cured

References 1. National Health and Medical Research Council. A Review of the Evidence to Address Targeted Questions to Inform the Revision of the Australian Dietary Guidelines. Canberra (AUST): NHMRC; 2011. 2. Doidge JC, Segal L, Gospodarevskaya E. Attributable risk analysis reveals potential healthcare savings from increased consumption of dairy products. J Nutr. 2012;142(9):1772-80. 3. National Health and Medical Research Council. Australian Dietary Guidelines. Canberra (AUST): NHMRC; 2013. 4. Doidge J, Segal L. Most Australians do not meet recommendations for dairy consumption: findings of a new technique to analyse nutrition surveys. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2012;36(3):236-40. 5. Rangan AM, Flood VM, Denyer G, Webb K, Marks GB, Gill TP. Dairy consumption and diet quality in a sample of Australian children. J Am Coll Nutr. 2012;31(3):185-93. 6. Dieticians Association of Australia. A Modelling System to Inform the Revision of the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. Canberra (AUST): National Health and Medical Research Council; 2011. 7. Bonthuis M, Hughes MCB, Ibiebele TI, Green AC, van der Pols JC. Dairy consumption and patterns of mortality of Australian adults. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2010;64(6):569-77.
The Adoption Process of Ricefield-Based Fish Seed Production in Northwest Bangladesh: An Understanding through Quantitative and Qualitative Investigation

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of the study was to understand the adoption process of ricefield based fish seed production (RBFSP) that has been developed, promoted and established in Northwest Bangladesh. Design/Methodology/Approach: Quantitative investigation based on regression analysis and qualitative investigation using semi-structured interview were carried out to enhance understanding of the adoption process of RBFSP. Findings: A quantitative investigation showed two variables, the area of rice-plot stocked and access to tilapia broodfish, predicted 57% of variability of RBFSP adoption. A later qualitative investigation with different groups of people from communities where RBFSP was established showed ecological and complex socio-cultural factors to be responsible for its adoption or rejection by farming households. In an ecological context, the development of the rice-plot environment and increased fish production in rice-plots and ponds were major factors influencing adoption by farming households. In the case of farming families, the technology helped to meet the basic food needs of household members, particularly women, children and the elderly. There was an important temporal aspect of the benefits delivered by the approach, since fish consumed and income provided for households occurred during the ‘hungry gap’; RBFSP can be regarded as a coping mechanism for households' seasonal vulnerability. Development of networks among seed producers and fry traders reinforced the adoption process. Practical Implications: Loss in access to suitable ricefields through land tenure change was identified as the most important factor constraining sustained adoption of RBFSP by farming households. Originality/Value: The quantitative investigation showed that the two variables possessed limited explanatory power for the adoption process of RBFSP, however, the qualitative investigation identified complex factors that contributed to the adoption process of the technology.
A real time embedded novel finger-vein recognition system for authenticated on teller machine

In this project, a real-time embedded finger-vein recognition system for authentication on teller machine. The system is implemented on an embedded platform and equipped with a novel finger-vein recognition algorithm. The proposed system consists of three hardware modules: image acquisition module, embedded main board, and human machine communication module. The structure diagram of the system is, the image acquisition module is used to collect finger-vein images. The Embedded main board including the Microcontroller chip, memory (flash), and communication port is used to execute the finger-vein recognition algorithm and communicate with the peripheral device. The human machine communication module (LED or keyboard) is used to display recognition results and receive inputs from users. Our proposed system is intelligent security system. Here we developed teller machine concept. If finger vein matched, means transaction successful via GSM technology.
Foreign Direct Investment, R&D Mobility and the New Economic Geography: A Survey

type="main" xml:id="twec12208-abs-0001"> This paper surveys several strands of the economics literature focusing on the international mobility of FDI in general, and the offshoring and outsourcing of R&D activities in particular. The paper outlines key findings, identifies common features and existing divergences and addresses the relevant research gaps emerging from the R&D offshoring and outsourcing literatures. The aim is to investigate the main drivers of R&D (re)location and the possible impact that the offshoring and outsourcing of R&D activities might have on the competitiveness and growth of both firms and countries. Factor price differences, trading costs, countries' size and openness, relative skill endowments, productivity differentials, completeness and enforceability of contracts, knowledge production and spillovers and IPR regimes all shape foreign sourcing and the specific R&D location patterns that emerge. The overall impact of offshoring and outsourcing in general—and of R&D in particular—cannot be seen in isolation, as it is part of more complex globalisation dynamics.