Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hurry or Wait – The Pros and Cons of Going Fast or Slow on Climate Change

Abstract Climate change risk will likely force the de-carbonization of our electricity sector and thus involve massive investments in long-lived assets using many new and emerging technologies. Since technological progress (independent or dependent on deployment) will likely lower the future cost of those technologies, investing early and rapidly forecloses saving money by installing those technologies at a lower cost later. There are thus benefits to waiting until the costs of renewables fall further. However, there are also costs to waiting. First, given the longevity of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, cumulative emissions matter and lowering greenhouse gas emissions earlier is beneficial. Second, there is significant uncertainty not only over the rate of change of the cost of low carbon technologies, but also over the cost of greenhouse gas emissions. The costs of waiting are complex in that the distributions themselves are unknown (and quite possibly have “fat” tails). There may also be complex timing issues such as points of no return in terms of global greenhouse gas concentrations, beyond which the costs of adapting to climate change effects become essentially infinite. Hurrying can therefore be considered an insurance policy against the unknown but perhaps increasing risk of catastrophic damage.
Planning for the Twenty-First Century: The California State University

The San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science and the Office of the Chancellor in cooperation with industry partners designed and implemented a broadband network prototype to explore leveraging human and instructional resources among the 22 campuses of the California State University. With its current OC‐3 capacity, the prototype network is capable of supporting near‐broadcast quality two‐way interactive video with simultaneous access to multi‐ and hypermedia resources across the network. Faculty and student collaborative work is facilitated by desktop video teleconferencing from faculty offices and student computer labs. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
SPR-Based Optical Fiber Sensors Using Gold–Silver Alloy Particles as the Active Sensing Material

A number of different gold–silver alloy particles, on a nanometre scale and ranging in size from 13 to 34 nm in diameter (nanoparticles), have been prepared and been investigated as the active elements of optical fiber sensor systems. This includes a gold-rich group with 25% silver and 75% gold (the A25 group) in content and a silver-rich group with 75% silver and 25% gold in content (the A75 group). Subsequently, the alloy nanoparticles that are synthesized are coated onto the surface of optical fibers to create surface plasmon resonance-based optical fiber sensors for refractive index measurement. The experimental results show that both the size of the alloys and the alloy content determine the sensitivity of the measurement probes created. In this paper reported, the A75 group sensors have demonstrated better performance than those of the A25 group, with similar particles sizes and a highest sensitivity of 611 nm/refractive index unit (RIU) being achieved with a sensor coated with A75 alloy with an average particle size of 34 nm.
Triple Jeopardy: Assessing Life Experiences of Black Nova Scotian Women from a Social Work Perspective

The CASE THAT RACISM and sexism combine their effects to produce a double negative status for visible minority women was suggested by us in 1981, at a Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work conference (Bernard et al., 1981). That paper was only an attempt; at the time, little attention had been paid to this topic, and we could find very few written sources to substantiate our perceptions. Those we did find were mostly written by Black or Asian women. The topic has since attracted increasing attention, from women in particular. Some have expanded the theme to focus on multiple disadvantages such as race, gender, class, location, and immigrant status. In
Phenylephrine Increases Cerebral Perfusion Pressure Without Increasing Intracranial Pressure in Rabbits With Balloon-Elevated Intracranial Pressure

Using a rabbit model of intracranial hypertension, we studied the effects of infusion of phenylephrine on intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). Seven New Zealand white rabbits were anesthetized with isoflurane and normocapnia was maintained. An extradural balloon was used to raise ICP to 25 ± 1 mm Hg. Infusion of phenylephrine increased mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) (77 ± 6 → 95 ± 8 mm Hg) and CPP (52 ± 7 → 70 ± 7 mm Hg). ICP was unchanged during infusion of phenylephrine (25 ± 1 vs. 25 ± 2 mm Hg). The phenylephrine infusion was stopped after 45 minutes and MAP returned to baseline (76 ± 8 mm Hg). We conclude that phenylephrine increased CPP because of its effect on MAP, but did not alter ICP. Phenylephrine may be used to increase CPP without raising ICP when autoregulation is intact.
Competitiveness of Polish Milk Processing Industry During the Integration to the European Union

To analyse competitiveness of Polish milk processing industry during Poland's integration to the EU the study employs the concept of comparative advantage of international trade theory. It has been shown that the mechanism of comparative advantage can explain much of the competitive performance both in the recent past and in the near future, given the technological and structural characteristics of the industry (technological gap and pending restructuring) as well as the properties of the macroeconomic environment associated with the recent market reforms, realized economic growth and ongoing integration with the European Union (appreciating real exchange rate, rising wages and high real interest rates). Empirical tools used involve: domestic resource cost ratio (DRC), private cost ratio (PCR) and policy analysis matrix (PAM). These have been used first to estimate and decompose recent comparative advantages for the industry (as a whole and its selected product-specific activi! ties), and then, to project future (dynamic) comparative advantages up to 2010. The later is based on a set of consistent assumptions as regards future macroeconomic performance as well as sector-specific assumptions concerning the prospected harmonization of domestic market policies with the Common Agricultural Policy of EU and conditions for the industry to realize necessary improvements in factor productivity and product quality.
How Much Do We Understand About Asymmetric Effects of Monetary Policy

TEERAWUT SRIPINIT: How Much Do We Understand About Asymmetric Effects of Monetary Policy? (Under the direction of Richard Froyen.) Whether monetary policy has symmetric effects on economy has been discussed for decades. Particularly, the evidences of the asymmetric effects are sparse and depend on the econometric technique used. Three possible causes of asymmetry have been predominant including a convex supply curve, a credit market imperfection, and a change in economic outlook. However, the proposed theories are either analyzed in a partial equilibrium framework or a linearized general equilibrium framework making the mechanism by which the asymmetric effects are created remain unclear. This study examines the asymmetric effects of monetary policy in a new Keynesian dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model. Among the three groups of theories, this study considers a role of a convex supply curve and a credit market imperfection. The Calvo (1983) pricing mechanism and Bernanke et al. (1998)’s financial accelerator model are devised to create a convex supply curve and financial friction, respectively. The second-order perturbation method is then employed to find the solutions and to preserve the nonlinearity of the model. Three types of asymmetric effects of monetary policy are examined: 1) expansionary versus contractionary policies; 2) moderate versus aggressive policies; and 3) policies implemented in recessions versus ones implemented in expansions. The simulation exercise using either the first-order perturbation method or a linearization does not exhibit any asymmetric effects. When the solutions are obtained by the second-order perturbation method with a certain range of parameter values, the model shows a potential to account for asymmetric effects of monetary policy and conveys that the major source of the
Effect of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors on chronic allograft rejection.

BACKGROUND Although chronic rejection is the most important cause of late allograft loss, none of the currently available immunosuppressive agents successfully target this problem. Clinical and laboratory studies suggest that 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl co-enzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (HRIs) may decrease the incidence of and pathophysiologic factors leading to chronic rejection. METHODS A number of clinical and laboratory investigations have been designed to evaluate the effect of HRIs on chronic rejection. RESULTS Clinical trials in heart transplant patients suggest that HRIs decrease the incidence of chronic rejection in a manner that may be independent of lipid lowering. Subsequent studies in animal transplant models confirm that HRIs reduce chronic rejection. In further studies to elucidate the possible mechanisms of this effect, it has been observed that HRIs have an inhibitory effect on an number of lymphoid cell lines and vascular smooth muscle cells. HRIs may also prevent chronic rejection by protecting the endothelium from injury and dysfunction, perhaps by up-regulating nitric oxide synthesis. CONCLUSIONS HRIs may be the first agents to be effective in preventing chronic rejection. Although the mechanism behind this protective effect is unclear, it seems likely that HRIs may affect multiple factors that could lead to chronic rejection.
Corneal collagen cross-linking: ectasia and beyond

Purpose of review Corneal collagen cross-linking has recently emerged as a novel approach for management of ectasia. This article reviews the literature published in the past 3 years about the expanding spectrum of cross-linking as a therapeutic modality and its complications. Recent findings Recent studies have confirmed the beneficial effects of cross-linking in stabilization and to a lesser extent, regression of keratoconus and postrefractive surgery ectasia. Other applications include cross-linking as a combined procedure with intracorneal ring segments, and photorefractive keratectomy for ectasia, corneal edema, and infectious keratitis. Animal studies of chemical cross-linking of sclera as a potential treatment for progressive myopia have also been performed. Various modifications of the technique to increase the safety profile of cross-linking have been reported, including the use of hypoosmolar riboflavin, transepithelial cross-linking, customized epithelial debridement, and higher fluence shorter duration ultraviolet A light exposure. Reported complications include keratitis, corneal haze, endothelial cell loss and failure of treatment. Summary Cross-linking has been shown to be an effective modality for corneal ectasia, the regression being less in patients with postrefractive ectasia than keratoconus. In a few studies, it has been found to be effective in symptomatic improvement of bullous keratopathy, and infectious keratitis but further studies are required. Cross-linking with epithelial debridement is found to be most effective but various modifications are being investigated for an improved, and better safety outcome.
Developmental-stage-dependent radiosensitivity of neural cells in the ventricular zone of telencephalon in mouse and rat fetuses.

Pregnant ICR mice were treated with single whole-body X-radiation at a dose of 0.24 Gy on day 10, 13, or 15 of gestation. Fetuses were obtained from mothers during 1 and 24 hours after irradiation. Pyknotic cells in the ventricular zone of telencephalon were counted in serial histological sections. Incidence of pyknotic cells peaked during 6 and 9 hours after irradiation in each gestation day group. Then, dose-response curves were obtained 6 hours after 0-0.48 Gy of irradiation. All three dose-response curves showed clear linearity in the dose range lower than 0.24 Gy. Ratios of radiosensitivity estimated from the slopes of dose-response curves in day 10, 13, and 15 groups were 1, 1.4, and 0.4, respectively. These demonstrated that ventricular cells in the day 13 fetal telencephalon were the most radiosensitive among the three different age groups. In order to confirm the presence of the highly radiosensitive stage common to mammalian cerebral cortical histogenesis, pregnant F344 rats were treated with single whole-body gamma-irradiation at a dose of 0.48 Gy on day 13, 14, 15, 17, or 19 of gestation. The incidence of pyknotic cells in the ventricular zone of telencephalon was examined microscopically during 1 and 24 hours after irradiation. The peak incidence was shown 6 hours after irradiation in all the treated groups, and the highest peak incidence was shown in day-15-treated group. The developmental stage of telencephalon of day 15 rat fetuses was comparable to that of day 13 mouse fetuses. Thus, the highest radiosensitivity in terms of acute cell death was shown in the same developmental stage of brain development, i.e., the beginning phase of cerebral cortical histogenesis, in both mice and rats.
Variation in incidence and survival by ethnicity for patients with myeloma in England (2002–2008)

Incidence and relative survival of myeloma by ethnic group was estimated using data from cancer registries in England (2002–2008). Multiple imputation was used to address missing ethnicity data. In total 24 361 cases of myeloma were identified. Age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) (per 100 000) was higher in the Black ethnic category at 15.00 (95% confidence interval [CI] 13.50–16.40), than amongst South Asians (ASIR = 5.45, 95% CI 4.76–6.14) or the White group (ASIR = 6.11, 95% CI 6.00–6.22). There was a lower risk of death in the Black group for both 1- and 3-year survival (hazard ratio [HR]1 year = 0.66, 95% CI 0.55–0.79; HR3 year = 0.69, 95% CI 0.58–0.83) and South Asians at 1, 3 and 5 years (HR1 year = 0.65, 95% CI 0.51–0.82; HR3 year = 0.72, 95% CI I 0.57–0.90; HR5 year = 0.68, 95% CI 0.50–0.92) when compared to the White population. Further study of differences in myeloma and precursor biology between population groups is important.
Intrinsic properties of limb bud cells can be differentially reset

ABSTRACT An intrinsic timing mechanism specifies the positional values of the zeugopod (i.e. radius/ulna) and then autopod (i.e. wrist/digits) segments during limb development. Here, we have addressed whether this timing mechanism ensures that patterning events occur only once by grafting GFP-expressing autopod progenitor cells to the earlier host signalling environment of zeugopod progenitor cells. We show by detecting Hoxa13 expression that early and late autopod progenitors fated for the wrist and phalanges, respectively, both contribute to the entire host autopod, indicating that the autopod positional value is irreversibly determined. We provide evidence that Hoxa13 provides an autopod-specific positional value that correctly allocates cells into the autopod, most likely through the control of cell-surface properties as shown by cell-cell sorting analyses. However, we demonstrate that only the earlier autopod cells can adopt the host proliferation rate to permit normal morphogenesis. Therefore, our findings reveal that the ability of embryonic cells to differentially reset their intrinsic behaviours confers robustness to limb morphogenesis. We speculate that this plasticity could be maintained beyond embryogenesis in limbs with regenerative capacity. Summary: Grafting experiments in chick wing buds show that autopod fate is intrinsically defined, while early but not late autopod cells can adopt host proliferation rates when transplanted into the zeugopod.
Assessment of the toxicity of triasulfuron and its photoproducts using aquatic organisms

The toxicological effects of the sulfonylurea herbicide triasulfuron and its photoproducts were assessed on four aquatic organisms. Toxicity varied with tested organism and with triasulfuron irradiation time. Triasulfuron and its photoproducts had no significant effects on the crustacean (Cladocera) Daphnia magna (causing 50% effective concentration [EC50] [48 h] = 49 ± 1 mg/L) and the marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri (EC50 [30 min] > 100 mg/L). In contrast, primary producers (the duckweed Lemna minor, the microalgae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, and Chlorella vulgaris) were very sensitive to triasulfuron (EC50s < 11 μg/L). For these organisms, triasulfuron photoproducts were less toxic than the parent compound but the residual toxicity observed still represented a potential environmental hazard.
Comparative Study on 5G Communication Channel Coding Technology

The fifth-generation mobile communication network (5G) technology is a hot topic in the current mobile communication field, and the channel coding technology is the foundation to realize the reliable communication of 5G mobile system. This paper introduces the development of 5G technology and the development of standards, with emphasis on the features and applications of Turbo, LDPC and Polar codes, and compares these three technologies. Finally, the future development of 5G channel coding standard is prospected.
ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES AND THE COBALAMIN (VITAMIN B12) METABOLISM

Abstract. The mean concentrations of serum (S)‐cobalamin (vitamin B12) and S‐unsaturated B12 binding capacity (UBBC) were significantly decreased in 101 women (mean age: 30.4 years) taking oral contraceptives (OC) of the combination type, compared to 113 controls. OC users more frequently showed decreased concentrations of S‐cobalamin (<200 pmol/1) than did their controls. However, the incidence of particularly low concentrations (< 150 pmol/1) in OC users was not increased. To study a possible dose‐dependent effect, 27 women (mean age: 50.5 years) given high‐dose estrogen preparations (1‐4 mg estrogen) were compared with 31 controls. The two groups showed no difference with regard to S‐cobalamin, but the mean S‐ and plasma‐UBBC levels were significantly decreased in the high‐dose estrogen group. 12 OC users with decreased S‐cobalamin (<200 pmol/1), 9 OC users with normal S‐cobalamin and 10 controls were studied more intensively. The mean hemoglobin concentration was significantly decreased in those OC users having decreased S‐cobalamin. On the contrary, the absorption and excretion of radiolabel‐led cobalamin and the concentrations of erythrocyte‐folate, S‐iron and ‐transferrin did not show any difference between the groups, and all results were normal, by and large. No characteristic changes in plasma volume were found. It is concluded that routine measurement of S‐cobalamin in women taking OC is not justified.
Alkalizing Drugs Induce Accumulation of Amyloid Precursor Protein By-products in Luminal Vesicles of Multivesicular Bodies*

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolism is central to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease. We showed recently that the amyloid intracellular domain (AICD), which is released by γ-secretase cleavage of APP C-terminal fragments (CTFs), is strongly increased in cells treated with alkalizing drugs (Vingtdeux, V., Hamdane, M., Bégard, S., Loyens, A., Delacourte, A., Beauvillain, J.-C., Buée, L., Marambaud, P., and Sergeant, N. (2007) Neurobiol. Dis. 25, 686–696). Herein, we aimed to determine the cell compartment in which AICD accumulates. We show that APP-CTFs and AICD are present in multivesicular structures. Multivesicular bodies contain intraluminal vesicles (known as exosomes) when released in the extracellular space. We demonstrate that APP, APP-CTFs, and AICD are integrated and secreted within exosomes in differentiated neuroblastoma and primary neuronal culture cells. Together with recent data showing that amyloid-β is also found in exosomes, our data show that multivesicular bodies are essential organelles for APP metabolism and that all APP metabolites can be secreted in the extracellular space.
POLITICKÁ EKONOMIE ZAHRANIČNÍ OBCHODNÍ POLITIKY – INSTITUCE, REGULACE, SOCIÁLNÍ A POLITICKÝ KONTEXT

This paper aims to contribute to the theoretical discussion of free trade and protectionism in international trade within the context of International political economy. Presented approach broadens the standard political economy view of trade policy and goes beyond the redistribution consequences and the political consideration of policy makers. Our interpretation of trade policy works with broader economic values and preferences of individual actors and understands the nation state and its policies as institutions. Social, cultural and historical context is taken into consideration, when interpreting the trade policy. More complex understanding of these determinants helps to explain contemporary trade policies and also their dynamic change. Paper also discuss the links between the trade policy and other economic (structural and industrial) policies and attract attention to possible misunderstandings in contemporary free trade discourse.
LASCA-interconnect parasitic extraction tool for deep-submicron IC design

A fast capacitance and resistance extraction tool (wire extractor) is presented. Five models are implemented: ground capacitances, ground plus coupling capacitances and RC models (L, /spl pi/ and T lumped). The designer can choose one of these models according some criteria, such as accuracy, CPU time and circuit complexity. Comparisons between our wire extractor and Diva extractor (Cadence Design Systems) for C models, give an average difference of only 5% in the final delay of some benchmarks, being up to 30 times faster than Diva.
Delta 32 mutation in CCR5 gene and its association with breast cancer.

17 Background: Chemokine C-C motif receptor type 5 (CCR5) is a chemokine receptor protein, which is present on the cell surface. Its potential role in cancer progression and metastasis has been implicated. Deletion mutation of 32 base pairs (bp) in the open reading frame of the CCR5 gene (CCR5Δ32) may lead to the malformation of the protein. This study aimed to examine the role of CCR5Δ32 mutation and its association with breast cancer. METHODS Blood samples of 500 breast cancer patients were included in the study. The samples were compared with age and sex matched healthy controls. Mutation of CCR5Δ32 was analyzed by sequence specific primers by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). They were examined on agarose gel electrophoresis. Statistical analyses were performed using software SPSS 17.0 (Chicago, IL., USA). The genotypic frequencies of patients and controls were tested by applying the chi-square test. RESULTS Two types of CCR5 allelic mutations were found in the breast cancer samples. The mutation was of a 32 (bp) DNA fragment. Homozygous insertion (I/I) and heterozygous deletion (I/D) was found in the open reading frame of the regulatory region of the gene. The chi square analyses showed significant positive association between I/I and I/D allele in breast can patients with CCR5 delta 32 mutation (χ2 15.07, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS This deletion in the promoter region of the CCR5 gene produces a non-functional receptor which may increase inflammation, leading to the enhanced progression of tumor.
Use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with stage I to III breast cancer in the United States

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is the standard of care for patients with locally advanced breast cancer and can yield clinical advantages in individuals with lower stage cancers as well. To the authors' knowledge, the extent and patterns of use of NAC remain unknown. The objective of the current study was to assess temporal trends in NAC use and to examine what clinical, demographic, and treatment site characteristics influence its use.