Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Locational Dynamics of Manufacturing in China's Counties: Influence of Expressway Investment

This study investigates the impact of expressway investment in China's counties. By identifying expressway accessibility through toll station locations, we estimate the manufacturing distribution along expressways for 2001–2005. We find that expressway accessibility promotes manufacturing employment for inland counties by around 41 percent; however, for coastal counties that already have high road density and dense manufacturing layouts, the returns from new expressways are small. Furthermore, counties close to large cities benefit more from expressway accessibility than do counties that are far from them. The gap first increases in the period of expressway construction and then decreases as expressway effects are smoothed.
Differentiated Time Slot Pricing Under Routing Considerations in Attended Home Delivery

In this paper, we study an e-grocer’s tactical problem of differentiated time slot pricing in attended home delivery. The purpose of differentiating delivery prices is to influence customers’ choice behavior concerning the offered time slots, such that cost-effective delivery schedules on an operational level can be expected and overall profit is maximized. We present a mixed-integer linear programming formulation of the problem, in which delivery costs are anticipated by explicitly incorporating routing constraints, and we model customer behavior by a general nonparametric rank-based choice model. Concerning cost anticipation, we also propose a model-based approximation that enables application to real-world problem sizes. In a setup inspired by an industry partner operating in urban areas, we then perform a comprehensive computational study that reveals the value of the model-based approximation as a supporting instrument for an e-grocer’s pricing decisions in practice. In particular, we demonstrate the.
Evolution of traditional university business school into market-oriented knowledge provider

By accession to the European Union (EU) transition countries from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) entered a dynamic period of comprehensive change in their national societal context. Part of that changing context is the Bologna Process, by which higher education will be increasingly integrated into a unified European cross-border higher education area. Proposed harmonization of higher education structures is viewed as one of the key pillars in transforming Europe into a knowledge-driven society with more competitive businesses and higher education. In the process of dynamic transition of CEE countries university business schools are also confronted with a variety of external challenges, particularly with increased competitive pressure evolving from a globalization of knowledge production and business education which aff ect their future prosperity in the emerging European Higher Education Area. In the article we critically evaluate key strategic developments in a broader business education context from a perspective of their implications for the university business schools in transition countries in their effort to accomplish a proper strategic adjustment to changes in society. On the basis of comprehensive analysis of relevant institutional context, we present the conceptual framework for a strategic alignment of business schools with a changing European higher education reality.
France's Almost Public Private Schools

This paper characterizes the determinants and implications of private schooling in a large and detailed set of French data. Empirical models detect negative selection into private schooling on observable and unobservable ability, while State-provided education appears more suitable to students with culturally privileged family backgrounds and high observed ability. The estimated effects are small, as private schools are tightly regulated, but statistically significant and of some interest in a country that supplies abundant public funding to regulated private schools.
Analysis of the Intermediary Metabolism of a Reductive Chemoautotroph

All extant life forms depend, directly or indirectly, on the autotrophic fixation of the dominant elements of the biosphere: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur. We have earlier presented the canonical network of reactions that constitute the anabolism of a reductive chemoautotroph. Separating this network into subgraphs reveals several empirical generalizations: (1) acetate (acetyl-CoA), pyruvate, phosphoenol pyruvate, oxaloacetate, and 2-oxoglutarate serve as universal starting points for all pathways leading to the universal building blocks—20 amino acids and 4 ribonucleotide triphosphates; (2) all pathways are anabolic; (3) all reactions operate by complete utilization of outputs with no molecules left behind as waste, ensuring conservation of information; (4) the core metabolome of 120 compounds is acidic, consisting of compounds containing phosphoric or carboxylic acid or both; and (5) the core network is both brittle—vulnerable to a single break—and robust—having persisted for 4 billion years. Preliminary analysis of the chemical reactions and resultant structures reveals (a) a sparseness among possible molecular structures; (b) subdomains in the network; and (c) restriction of anabolism to a small set of rudimentary organic reactions with limited diversity in chemical mechanisms. These generalizations have implications for biogenesis and trophic ecology.
Temporal Bag-of-Features Learning for Predicting Mid Price Movements Using High Frequency Limit Order Book Data

Time-series forecasting has various applications in a wide range of domains, e.g., forecasting stock markets using limit order book data. Limit order book data provide much richer information about the behavior of stocks than its price alone, but also bear several challenges, such as dealing with multiple price depths and processing very large amounts of data of high dimensionality, velocity, and variety. A well-known approach for efficiently handling large amounts of high-dimensional data is the bag-of-features (BoF) model. However, the BoF method was designed to handle multimedia data such as images. In this paper, a novel temporal-aware neural BoF model is proposed tailored to the needs of time-series forecasting using high frequency limit order book data. Two separate sets of radial basis function and accumulation layers are used in the temporal BoF to capture both the short-term behavior and the long-term dynamics of time series. This allows for modeling complex temporal phenomena that occur in time-series data and further increase the forecasting ability of the model. Any other neural layer, such as feature transformation layers, or classifiers, such as multilayer perceptrons, can be combined with the proposed deep learning approach, which can be trained end-to-end using the back-propagation algorithm. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated using a large-scale limit order book dataset, containing over 4.5 million limit orders, and it is demonstrated that it greatly outperforms all the other evaluated methods.
Turning on the male – SRY, SOX9 and sex determination in mammals

The decision of the bi-potential gonad to develop into either a testis or ovary is determined by the presence or absence of the Sex-determining Region gene on the Y chromosome (SRY). Since its discovery, almost 13 years ago, the molecular role that SRY plays in initiating the male sexual development cascade has proven difficult to ascertain. While biochemical studies of clinical mutants and mouse genetic models have helped in our understanding of SRY function, no direct downstream targets of SRY have yet been identified. There are, however, a number of other genes of equal importance in determining sexual phenotype, expressed before and after expression of SRY. Of these, one has proven of central importance to mammals and vertebrates, SOX9. This review describes our current knowledge of SRY and SOX9 structure and function in the light of recent key developments.
The U-Shape Autocorrelation Pattern in International Stock Markets

Employing monthly data from twenty stock markets, this paper tests for the international applicability of a U-Shape autocorrelation pattern of stock market returns. It is demonstrated that the U-Shape autocorrelation pattern in stock returns is typical of many stock markets, an observation that may be exploited in an attempt to generate a trading strategy which yields an abnormal return. The paper constructs several trading strategies which differ from one another along three dimensions: the sources of information, the weights set for an international portfolio and hedging strategies of foreign exchange risk exposure. The results clearly indicate that above normal returns can be obtained from past autocorrelation patterns in different markets.
Variability in Pollen Load: Implications for Reproduction and Seedling Vigor in a Rare Plant, Silene douglasii var. Oraria

Habitat fragmentation can markedly influence the levels of pollen deposition and seed production in natural populations, and rare plants may be especially susceptible to any associated reductions in pollen quantity and quality. In order to ascertain the potential for pollen limitation of maternal fitness in a rare plant, Silene douglasii var. oraria, which is endemic to western coastal prairies, we counted ovules and measured conspecific and heterospecific pollen deposition on stigmas collected from open‐pollinated plants. We further investigated the effect of increasing pollen intensity on fruit production, seed number and weight, as well as several measures of progeny vigor. Three levels of outcross pollen were added to plant stigmas for comparison with autogamous and open pollination in the largest naturally occurring population. Both seed and fruit production were significantly greater ( \documentclass{aastex} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{bm} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pifont} \usepackage{stmaryrd} \usepackage{textcomp} \usepackage{portland,xspace} \usepackage{amsmath,amsxtra} \usepackage[OT2,OT1]{fontenc} \newcommand\cyr{ \renewcommand\rmdefault{wncyr} \renewcommand\sfdefault{wncyss} \renewcommand\encodingdefault{OT2} \normalfont \selectfont} \DeclareTextFontCommand{\textcyr}{\cyr} \pagestyle{empty} \DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6} \begin{document} \landscape $$P< 0.05$$ \end{document} ) for supplemented versus nonsupplemented stigmas, but flowers receiving different levels of pollen addition were statistically indistinguishable. Seed germination and seedling survival were also lowest for the offspring of nonsupplemented flowers; however, in natural populations, opportunities for pollen competition are very limited since open‐pollinated flowers averaged fewer viable pollen grains than ovules. Seed production was equivalent for open‐ and autogamously pollinated flowers in 1996, indicating that natural pollen transfer may have involved mostly self pollen. Overall, the low reproductive success of var. oraria likely reflects both low pollen quantity and quality. Multiyear empirical studies of pollen intensity in field populations are needed so that we can better understand the fitness consequences of pollen limitation in rare perennials.
Glasgow Coma Scale and Outcomes after Structural Traumatic Head Injury in Early Childhood

Objective To assess the association of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) with radiological evidence of head injury (the Abbreviated Injury Scale for the head region, AIS-HR) in young children hospitalized with traumatic head injury (THI), and the predictive value of GCS and AIS-HR scores for long-term impairment. Methods Our study involved a 10-year retrospective review of a database encompassing all patients admitted to Starship Children’s Hospital (Auckland, New Zealand, 2000–2010) with THI. Results We studied 619 children aged <5 years at the time of THI, with long-term outcome data available for 161 subjects. Both GCS and AIS-HR scores were predictive of length of intensive care unit and hospital stay (all p<0.001). GCS was correlated with AIS-HR (ρ=-0.46; p<0.001), although mild GCS scores (13–15) commonly under-estimated the severity of radiological injury: 42% of children with mild GCS scores had serious–critical THI (AIS-HR 3–5). Increasingly severe GCS or AIS-HR scores were both associated with a greater likelihood of long-term impairment (neurological disability, residual problems, and educational support). However, long-term impairment was also relatively common in children with mild GCS scores paired with structural THI more severe than a simple linear skull fracture. Conclusion Severe GCS scores will identify most cases of severe radiological injury in early childhood, and are good predictors of poor long-term outcome. However, young children admitted to hospital with structural THI and mild GCS scores have an appreciable risk of long-term disability, and also warrant long-term follow-up.
Growth and Trend in Area, Production and Yield of Major Crops of Bangladesh

The present study was conducted with a view to analyze growth and trend in area, production and yield of major crops of Bangladesh. The scope of this study was to determine/ assess the growth pattern in the context of total cultivable area, gross production and yield rate which has been followed by some economically important crops of our country such as rice, wheat, pulse, rape and mustard, jute, sugarcane & tea. Collecting time series data from 1969-74 to 2004-2009 (40 years) of those crops from reliable source and using semi-log trend function here the researchers tried to find out the trend and estimate the growth rate of area, production and yield of the above mentioned crops. The compound growth rate as well as trend analysis indicated that the production of rice during 1969-74 to 2004-09 was increased due to the corresponding increase in per hectare yield of rice crop in Bangladesh. The results show that area, production and yield of wheat was increased over the time the reason is that more area was brought under wheat production except the year 2004-2009. It was revealed from the results that area, production and yield of pulse were increased over the time. The results shows that area, production and yield of rape and mustard was increasing a rate of 1.21 percent, 2.33 percent and 1.11 percent per annum, respectively, whereas, the area, production and yield of jute was decreasing. It was revealed from the analysis that the trend co-efficient of area, production and yield of sugarcane and tea was positive.
Asymmetric Segregation of Polarized Antigen on B Cell Division Shapes Presentation Capacity

Antigen Polarity in B Cell Differentiation Communication received through cell contact is critical for the differentiation of specialized effector cell populations during the immune response. For example, B lymphocytes acquire antigen that they present to helper T lymphocytes. T lymphocytes, in turn, provide key differentiation signals to B lymphocytes. In order to learn more about this process, Thaunat et al. (p. 475; see the Perspective by Dustin and Meyer-Hermann) used multiphoton microscopy and imaging flow cytometry to visualize the localization of antigen in B lymphocytes during an immune response. Antigen acquired by B lymphocytes exhibited a polarized distribution that was sustained over several rounds of cell division. This produced a population of activated B lymphocytes that contained very low levels of antigen. Daughter cells that received more antigen were better able to stimulate T cells. Because cues received through T lymphocyte interactions are likely to influence B lymphocyte fate decisions, unequal distribution of antigen in dividing B lymphocytes may influence their differentiation. Antigen distribution across activated B cells influences B-T lymphocyte interactions. During the activation of humoral immune responses, B cells acquire antigen for subsequent presentation to cognate T cells. Here we show that after mouse B cells accumulate antigen, it is maintained in a polarized distribution for extended periods in vivo. Using high-throughput imaging flow cytometry, we observed that this polarization is preserved during B cell division, promoting asymmetric antigen segregation among progeny. Antigen inheritance correlates with the ability of progeny to activate T cells: Daughter cells receiving larger antigen stores exhibit a prolonged capacity to present antigen, which renders them more effective in competing for T cell help. The generation of progeny with differential capacities for antigen presentation may have implications for somatic hypermutation and class switching during affinity maturation and as B cells commit to effector cell fates.
Pathological Aspects of Certain Cardiomyopathies

This paper summarizes necropsy observations in patients with three types of cardiomyopathy: idiopathic, infiltrative, and endomyocardial disease. The idiopathic variety is subdivided into two types depending on the size of the ventricular cavity. In the dilated ventricular type, the left ventricular wall is frequently < 1.5 cm thick, intracardiac thrombi are common, the atrioventricular valve rings may be dilated, and focal myocardial and endocardial scars are common. In the nondilated type, the ventricular septum is usually thicker than the left ventricular free wall, which is also thick (> 1.5 cm). When the septum is of similar thickness to the left ventricular free wall (symmetrical), left ventricular outflow obstruction does not occur. When the septum is thicker than the left ventricular free wall (asymmetrical), left or right ventricular outflow obstruction may or may not be present. The orientation of myocardial fibers to one another in the ventricular septum in the nondilated (hypertrophic) type is abnormal, whereas it is normal in the dilated ventricular type. Intracardiac thrombi are rare, and atrioventricular valve rings are never dilated in the nondilated type of idiopathic cardiomegaly. The infiltrative types of cardiomyopathies include iron, calcium, lipids, mucopolysaccharides, granulomas, amyloid, and neoplasms. The first four are usually located within myocardial cells, and the latter three between myocardial cells. It is probable that all these myocardial infiltrates are capable if producing cardiac dysfunction, primarily on a restrictive basis. Endomyocardial disease may or may not be associated with eosinophilia. When the latter occurs the eosinophils are structurally normal. Death is related to congestive cardiac failure. This category is actually also idiopathic.
Lifetime cumulative exposure to secondhand smoke and risk of myocardial infarction in never smokers: results from the Western New York health study, 1995-2001.

BACKGROUND Although many epidemiologic studies have investigated the association between exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), few of these studies have assessed exposure measures from different sources over a lifetime. Therefore, we sought to test the association between lifetime cumulative exposure to SHS and risk of myocardial infarction (MI) (as an indication of CHD) among never smokers. METHODS A population-based case-control study in which participants were 1541 never smokers (284 cases and 1257 controls) drawn from 1197 women and men with incident MI and 2850 healthy controls (aged 35-70 years) identified from 2 Western New York counties between 1995 and 2001. Study subjects were asked to report their exposure to SHS at home, at work, and in public settings from childhood to their present age. Exposure histories from each source were combined to form a cumulative lifetime exposure measure. Multiple logistic regression analysis estimated the association between SHS exposure and case status adjusted for age, sex, education, body mass index, race, drinking status, lifetime physical activity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolemia. RESULTS After adjustment for covariates, exposure to SHS was not significantly associated with an increased risk of MI. Compared with participants in the bottom tertile of SHS exposure, those in the top tertile had an odds ratio of 1.19 [95% confidence interval, 0.78-1.82] for MI. Virtually all subjects reported some exposure to SHS over their lifetime, but self-reported exposures declined over time, especially in the period closest to the interview. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to SHS has declined sharply among nonsmokers in recent years. In the absence of high levels of recent exposure to SHS, cumulative lifetime exposure to SHS may not be as important a risk factor for MI as previously thought.
Liposome composition is important for retention of liposomal rhodamine in P-glycoprotein-overexpressing cancer cells

Multidrug resistance (MDR) caused by high expression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) in cancer patients remains one of the major obstacles to successful therapy of cancer. Earlier studies have shown that the incorporation of Pgp-substrate drugs in liposomes may provide a strategy to circumvent Pgp-mediated drug efflux. The present study investigated the impact of liposome composition on the efflux of Pgp-substrate incorporated in liposomes. Liposomes with varying compositions were loaded with rhodamine 123, a fluorescent probe frequently used as a Pgp-substrate, and the retention of rhodamine was compared in two breast cancer cell lines: wild-type cells with no detectable Pgp expression (MCF-7/WT) and Pgp-expressing cells resulting from stable transfection of the MDR1 gene (MCF-7/Pgp). Pgp-expression decreased the rhodamine retention in MCF-7 cells, suggesting that Pgp is functional. Liposome loading increased rhodamine retention in MCF-7/Pgp cells, but not in MCF-7/WT cells. Surface charge of liposomes did not affect the rhodamine retention, whereas the incorporation of cholesterol and polyethyleneglycol-attached lipids was effective in further increasing the rhodamine retention in MCF-7/Pgp cells. Since further study demonstrated that the rate of rhodamine release from liposomes tended to be inversely correlated with rhodamine retention by cells, it seems likely that more rigid liposomes are able to sequester rhodamine more efficiently, thereby inhibiting direct interactions of rhodamine with Pgp proteins. Taken together, these findings suggest that Pgp-mediated MDR in cancer cells may be more effectively modulated by optimizing the composition of liposomes for loading Pgp-substrate anti-cancer drugs.