Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development, trade, and the environment: how robust is the Environmental Kuznets Curve?

This paper assesses the strength of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) which posits an inverted-U relationship between per capital income and pollution. Specifically, answers are sought to the following related questions: (1) How robust is the EKC relationship? ; (2) To what extent can the EKC relationship be explained by changing trade patterns as opposed to growth-induced pollution abatement? With regard to question (1), the alleged weaknesses with the EKC are assessed and new EKCs are estimated using more appropriate econometric techniques. Turning to question (2), it is argued that the impact of trade liberalization on the environment will differ from country to country depending on whether or not they have a comparative advantage in pollution-intensive production. In turn, it is argued that this depends on a country's relative factor endowments and/or its relative environmental regulations. EKCs are therefore estimated in a manner that allows the impact of trade liberalization on pollution to depend on these country characteristics. The results indicate that the inverted-U relationship between per capita income and emissions is reasonably robust and little evidence is found to suggest that trade patterns are a significant determinant of the inverted-U shape.
Vertical signal transmission by non-contact technology application for 3DIC

In order to solve the problem of process and cost in 3D-IC, novel non-contact signal transmission with coupling loops have been presented. In this study, we design the broadband, well reproducibility, well directivity and low loss coupling loops to transmit signal between different chips or ICs in 3DIC application, and establishing physical model up to 10GHz with coupling effect and loop effect to restore the signal radiation. By this method, the overall signal transmission of TSV can be the same as the non-contact technology. People can use this design to replace the TSV technology in the future.
Normal human embryonic stem cell lines were derived from microsurgical enucleated tripronuclear zygotes

A normal fertilized human zygote contains two pronuclei, but zygotes may also display one, three, or even more pronuclei resulting from irregular insemination or meiotic division. Today diploid and triploid human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines have been derived from tripronuclear (3PN) triploid zygotes, and an in‐vitro fertilization (IVF) baby was born from a rescued diploid zygote by removing the extra male pronucleus of the 3PN zygote. However, whether hESCs can be derived from a rescued 3PN zygote is still unknown. Here, by microsurgical pronuclear removal, we restored 61 diploid zygotes from 3PN zygotes donated by 35 couples, and 11 blastocysts developed with a blastocyst rate of 18.0%, which seems higher than that of nonrescued 3PN zygotes according to previous reports. After the whole zona pellucida free embryos were plated onto feeder cells to grow and passage, 2 hESC lines (CCRM‐hESC‐22 and CCRM‐hESC‐23) were generated and both carried normal karyotype (46, XY). The hESC lines were then characterized by morphology, expansion in vitro, and expression of specific markers of alkaline phosphatase, OCT4, SSEA4, TRA‐1‐60 and TRA‐1‐81. Furthermore, the pluripotency of these 2 hESC lines was confirmed by in vitro embryoid body formation and in vivo teratoma production. Our study indicates that depronucleared 3PN zygotes can improve the blastocysts formation rate, and normal hESC lines can be derived from those corrected 2PN embryos. Based on their multi‐directional differentiation potential in vitro, the established hESC lines could be applied to the developmental risk assessment for IVF babies born from restored zygotes. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 2016–2023, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An Analytical Model of the Forward I– V Characteristics of 4H-SiC p-i-n Diodes Valid for a Wide Range of Temperature and Current

The forward I-V characteristics of 4H-SiC p-i-n diodes are studied in a wide range of currents and temperatures by means of an analytical model that allows us to highlight the minority current contributions in various diode regions, namely, the highly doped regions, the neutral base, and the space charge layer. By accounting for the doping dependence of various physical parameters, such as bandgap narrowing, incomplete doping activation, carrier lifetime, and mobility, the model turns useful to investigate the role of various material properties at different current levels and temperatures. The accuracy of the model is verified by comparisons with numerical simulations and experimental data in a wide range of currents and temperatures, so that this model turns very useful for better understanding the impact of technological parameters on the steady-state behavior of diodes and obtaining an accurate circuital model of diodes.
A combined method to model microwave scattering from a forest medium

A novel method, which employs both a matrix doubling algorithm and the first-order solution of a radiative transfer (RT) equation for modeling microwave backscattering from forest, is presented in the paper. The method is based on the assumption that a forest canopy can be divided into a number of distinct horizontal vegetation layers over a dielectric half-space rough surface. The scattering phase matrix of each layer is calculated by either matrix doubling to account for the multiple-scattering effect or first-order solution of an RT equation, depending on the scattering characteristics of the layer. The first-order solution of the RT equation is used for the trunk layer while the matrix doubling technique is applied to both the crown layer and understory. The advanced integral equation model and reflectivity matrix are used to calculate the noncoherent and coherent surface boundary conditions. Comparisons between model predictions and field measurements on radar backscattering coefficients for a walnut orchard showed a good agreement at both L-band and X-band and for all three polarizations. Comparative analyses of model predictions for backscattering from a forest medium calculated using the combined model, first-order RT model, and the standard matrix doubling model were also presented. Understory effects, that can significantly change the weight of each scattering mechanism, were also evaluated by using the combined method.
Sarcomas Often Express Constitutive Nitric Oxide Synthases (NOS) But Infrequently Inducible NOS

Nitric oxide (NO) has a dual action in tumors, with both pro-tumor and anti-tumor activities. NO is produced by nitric oxide synthases (NOS). There are three enzyme isoforms: two of them are constitutively produced (neuronal or brain NOS and endothelial NOS), and one is an inducible form (iNOS). NOS expression has been shown in several epithelial tumors, but there is no report addressing NOS expression in sarcomas. The authors evaluated the expression of NOS in 97 cases of various sarcomas spotted in duplicate in a tissue array paraffin block. Eighty-four of the 97 tumor specimens (86.6%) expressed nNOS, and most of them showed a strong expression of the isoenzyme. Only chondrosarcomas and liposarcomas had significant numbers of negative cases, and all pleomorphic sarcomas, alveolar soft part sarcomas, angiosarcomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and synovial sarcomas showed some degree of positivity. Forty-three cases (44.4%) showed eNOS immunostaining, but only 15.5% showed a strong signal, with emphasis on angiosarcomas, chondrosarcomas, alveolar soft part sarcomas, and synovial sarcoma. Strong expression of iNOS was observed in only 9 cases (9.3%), with weak expression in another 26 cases (26.8%). Strong expression of iNOS was found in malignant peripheral nerve sheet tumors, liposarcomas, pleomorphic sarcomas, fibrosarcomas, chondrosarcomas, and synovial sarcomas. Apparently alveolar soft part sarcomas are unusual in their capacity of expression of NOS isoforms, and in a very peculiar pattern. In conclusion, sarcomas in general commonly express constitutive NOS, and only a few types of sarcomas can express iNOS, the isoenzymes capable of releasing large amounts of NO. More comprehensive studies should be performed to better understand the clinical importance of NOS expression and NO production in sarcomas.
A Quasi-Analytical Tool for the Characterization of Transmission Lines at High Frequencies [EM Programmer's Notebook]

In this article, we present a freely accessible software tool that allows for fast characterization of dynamic phenomena in a wide variety of transmission lines that include characteristic impedance, effective dielectric constant, and losses, such as radiation into space and surface waves. For printed transmission lines, the radiation effects are of particular importance when the transverse dimensions of the transmission lines become significant in terms of wavelength. Generally, dispersion and losses of the line due to these dynamic phenomena are predicted by full-wave simulations as quasi-static formula do not suffice. The presented software tool, freely downloaded from http://terahertz.tudelft. nl, is capable of accurately analyzing the most widely used transmission lines at high frequencies.
Outcomes of Manualized Cognitive-Behavioral Body Image Therapy with Eating Disordered Women Treated in a Private Clinical Practice

Body image change is an important component of the treatment of eating disorders, and cognitive behavioral body image therapy has substantial empirical support as efficacious in the improvement of body image difficulties and disorders. Most evidence comes from randomized, controlled, outcome studies and does not examine effectiveness for persons with clinical eating disorders in the context of “usual care” settings. The present study was conducted in a private practice and assessed 30 women with a range of eating disorder diagnoses. Following manualized group treatment based on Cash's (1997) The Body Image Workbook, clients reported reduced body image dysphoria, greater body and appearance satisfaction on several dimensions, less psychological investment in their appearance, and a better evaluation of their fitness/health. The study's limitations and implications are discussed.
Employment, Motherhood and School Continuation Decisions Of Young White, Black and Hispanic Women

We examine the empirical relationship between early employment activity and school continuation decisions for young American women using a dynamic, sequential discrete‐choice framework that estimates schooling, labor supply, and birth decisions jointly, controlling for unobserved heterogeneity and the endogeneity of these life cycle decisions. That the rate of school withdrawal increases as work intensity rises helps explain the higher departure rates of Hispanic girls from secondary school and the premature departure of young black women from college. The disturbing implication is that youth employment induces long‐run wage stagnation for early school leavers and potentially increases race and ethnic inequities.
Identification of human adenovirus early region 1 products by using antisera against synthetic peptides corresponding to the predicted carboxy termini

Synthetic peptides were prepared which corresponded to the carboxy termini of the human adenovirus type 5 early region 1B (E1B) 58,000-molecular-weight (58K) protein (Tyr-Ser-Asp-Glu-Asp-Thr-Asp) and of the E1A gene products (Tyr-Gly-Lys-Arg-Pro-Arg-Pro). Antisera raised against these peptides precipitated polypeptides from adenovirus type 5-infected KB cells; serum raised against the 58K carboxy terminus was active against the E1B 58K phosphoprotein, whereas serum raised against the E1A peptide immunoprecipitated four major and at least two minor polypeptides. These latter proteins migrated with apparent molecular weights of 52K, 50K, 48.5K, 45K, 37.5K, and 35K, and all were phosphoproteins. By using tryptic phosphopeptide analysis, the four major species (52K, 50K, 48.5K, and 45K) were found to be related, as would be expected if all were products of the E1A region. The ability of the antipeptide sera to precipitate these viral proteins thus confirmed that the previously proposed sequence of E1 DNA and mRNA and the reading frame of the mRNA are correct. Immunofluorescent-antibody staining with the antipeptide sera indicated that the 58K E1B protein was localized both in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm, especially in the perinuclear region. The E1A-specific serum also stained both discrete patches in the nucleus and diffuse areas of the cytoplasm. These data suggest that both the 58K protein and the E1A proteins may function in or around the nucleus. These highly specific antipeptide sera should allow for a more complete identification and characterization of these important viral proteins.
Recordkeeping alters economic history by promoting reciprocity

We experimentally demonstrate a causal link between recordkeeping and reciprocal exchange. Recordkeeping improves memory of past interactions in a complex exchange environment, which promotes reputation formation and decision coordination. Economies with recordkeeping exhibit a beneficially altered economic history where the risks of exchanging with strangers are substantially lessened. Our findings are consistent with prior assertions that complex and extensive reciprocity requires sophisticated memory to store information on past transactions. We offer insights on this research by scientifically demonstrating that reciprocity can be facilitated by information storage external to the brain. This is consistent with the archaeological record, which suggests that prehistoric transaction records and the invention of writing for recordkeeping were linked to increased complexity in human interaction.
Feasibility, Procedural Morbidity and Mortality, and Long-Term Follow-Up of Endovascular Treatment of 321 Unruptured Aneurysms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the technical feasibility, morbidity and mortality, and durability of occlusion of unruptured aneurysms treated with Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs) with a long-term follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1998 and January 2005, we treated 321 unruptured aneurysms with GDCs in 5 neuroradiologic institutions. During this period, 63% of unruptured aneurysms were treated by endovascular technique. Procedural feasibility, technical complications, morbidity and mortality, and acute and long-term angiographic occlusion were assessed. RESULTS: Overall technical feasibility of coiling treatment was 94%; 302 aneurysms were treated by endovascular technique. At the end of the initial procedure, acute occlusion was classified as complete in 207 cases (70%), subtotal in 84 cases (26.1%), and incomplete in 11 cases (3.9%). Ischemic complications were observed in 28 patients (9%); 8 patients (2.6%) had perforation of their aneurysms. Treatment-related morbidity was 14.4%, and morbidity with clinical complications was evaluated at 7.7% (n = 23 patients). Five patients (1.7%) died as a result of aneurysm perforation. Final follow-up angiograms, after 9 secondary treatments, demonstrated complete occlusion in 193 patients (69.5%), subtotal in 80 aneurysms (28.5%), and incomplete occlusion in 5 (1.8%). Nineteen patients were lost to follow-up (6.3%). CONCLUSION: Endovascular coiling with detachable coils is an attractive option for treatment of unruptured aneurysms. This method of treatment is safe with a low rate of complications. Prospective studies with longer follow-up periods are needed to assess the long-term durability of occlusion in unruptured aneurysms.
HPV8-E6 Interferes with Syntenin-2 Expression through Deregulation of Differentiation, Methylation and Phosphatidylinositide-Kinase Dependent Mechanisms

The E6 oncoproteins of high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV) of genus alpha contain a short peptide sequence at the carboxy-terminus, the PDZ binding domain, with which they interact with the corresponding PDZ domain of cellular proteins. Interestingly, E6 proteins from papillomaviruses of genus beta (betaPV) do not encode a comparable PDZ binding domain. Irrespective of this fact, we previously showed that the E6 protein of HPV8 (betaPV type) could circumvent this deficit by targeting the PDZ protein Syntenin-2 through transcriptional repression (Lazic et al., 2012). Despite its high binding affinity to phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2), very little is known about Syntenin-2. This study aimed to extend the knowledge on Syntenin-2 and how its expression is controlled. We now identified that Syntenin-2 is expressed at high levels in differentiating and in lower amounts in keratinocytes cultured in serum-free media containing low calcium concentration. HPV8-E6 led to a further reduction of Syntenin-2 expression only in cells cultured in low calcium. In the skin of patients suffering from Epidermodysplasia verruciformis, who are predisposed to betaPV infection, Syntenin-2 was expressed in differentiating keratinocytes of non-lesional skin, but was absent in virus positive squamous tumors. Using 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine, which causes DNA demethylation, Syntenin-2 transcription was profoundly activated and fully restored in the absence and presence of HPV8-E6, implicating that E6 mediated repression of Syntenin-2 transcription is due to promoter hypermethylation. Since Syntenin-2 binds to PI(4,5)P2, we further tested whether the PI(4,5)P2 metabolic pathway might govern Syntenin-2 expression. PI(4,5)P2 is generated by the activity of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate-5-kinase type I (PIP5KI) or phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate-4-kinase type II (PIP4KII) isoforms α, β and γ. Phosphatidylinositide kinases have recently been identified as regulators of gene transcription. Surprisingly, transfection of siRNAs directed against PIP5KI and PIP4KII resulted in higher Syntenin-2 expression with the highest effect mediated by siPIP5KIα. HPV8-E6 was able to counteract siPIP4KIIα, siPIP4KIIβ and siPIP5KIγ mediated Syntenin-2 re-expression but not siPIP5KIα. Finally, we identified Syntenin-2 as a key factor regulating PIP5KIα expression. Collectively, our data demonstrates that Syntenin-2 is regulated through multiple mechanisms and that downregulation of Syntenin-2 expression may contribute to E6 mediated dedifferentiation of infected skin cells.
Atrial veins of the human heart

Modern anatomical description divides the cardiac veins into two groups: tributaries of the greater cardiac vascular system (GCVS) and tributaries of the smaller cardiac vascular system (SCVS), consisting of the Thebesian vessels. Both systems intercom municate extensively. With the exception of the oblique vein of the left atrium (Marshall's vein), veins draining the walls of both the left and right atrium have not been well illustrated or described in anatomical atlases and textbooks. Consequently, we do not know exactly to which of the two groups (GCVS or SCVS) the atrial veins belong. There are three groups of left atrial veins: (1) tributaries of the left coronary vein and the coronary sinus; (2) special veins draining the right‐sided walls of the left atrium that terminate via intramural sinuses in the right atrium, which vessels occur in 92% of cases and belong to the GCVS; (3) in 81% of cases special veins drain the myocardium of the posterior and superior walls of the left atrium. In most cases they empty into the left atrium itself; in almost 40% of the cases they are connected with mediastinal veins. These veins, also belonging to tributaries of the GCVS, constitute a distinctly separate category of cardiac veins and should be designated proper veins of the left atrium. The veins draining the walls of the right atrium fall also into three groups: (1) In most cases there are short or large intramural tunnels or sinuses in the basic walls of the auricle and atrioventricular node area. The generally valveless openings of all the venous tunnels and sinuses are lined up on a circle just above the tricuspid valve and between the openings of both venae cavae. (2)There are also thin veins at the junction of the right atrium with both the superior and inferior vena cava. (3) In addition, there are numerous cardiac veins of the “smallest size” (real Thebesian veins). © 1995 WiIey‐Liss, Inc.
Trying to understand gestational diabetes

Women with normal glucose tolerance pre‐gravid and developing gestational diabetes in late gestation have subclinical metabolic dysfunction prior to conception compared with women with normal glucose tolerance. Because of the 60% decrease in insulin sensitivity with normal pregnancy, these women develop clinical hyperglycaemia/gestational diabetes in late gestation. The metabolic dysfunction includes impaired insulin response, decreased hepatic suppression of glucose production during insulin infusion and decreased insulin‐stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle, i.e. peripheral insulin resistance. The insulin resistance in normal glucose tolerance pregnancy is related to a decrease in the post‐receptor insulin signalling cascade, specifically decreased insulin receptor substrate 1 tyrosine phosphorylation. In women with normal glucose tolerance this is reversed post‐partum. In contrast, in gestational diabetes, in addition to the decrease in insulin receptor substrate 1 tyrosine phosphorylation, there is an additional decrease in tyrosine phosphorylation of the intracellular portion of the insulin receptor that is not related to the insulin receptor protein content. Post‐partum women with gestational diabetes, who had retention of gestational weight gain, had no significant improvement in insulin sensitivity and increased inflammation expressed as increased plasma and skeletal muscle tumour necrosis factor alpha. The increased inflammation or meta‐inflammation is a hallmark of obesity and during pregnancy develops in both white adipose tissue and placenta. Last gene array studies of placenta were associated with alterations in gene expression relating primarily to lipid in contrast to glucose metabolic pathways in gestational diabetes compared with Type 1 diabetes. Future studies are directed at decreasing inflammation prior to and during pregnancy using various lifestyle and nutritional interventions.
A standardised approach to the world? IKEA in China

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the marketing strategy in China of the furnishing retailer IKEA in the context of standardisation and adaptation of marketing activities. IKEA's strategy in China is compared to its corporate strategy throughout the rest of the world.Design/methodology/approach – The four P classifications are used as a framework to compare the central marketing strategies of IKEA with marketing strategies used in China. The paper builds on both primary and secondary data. Interviews with senior managers at IKEA are conducted and studies on business and retailing in China are used.Findings – The marketing strategies used by IKEA in China are found to be different from the standardised strategies it uses throughout the rest of the world. Several of the changed strategies are central to the business concept of IKEA.Research limitations/implications – The present paper shows the challenges for a standardised marketing concept and its implications.Originality/value – The paper.