Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Free trade agreements and the environment with pre-existing subsidies

Countries that wish to erect trade barriers have a variety of instruments at their disposal. In addition to tariffs and quotas, countries can offer tax relief, low interest financing, reduced regulation ,and other subsidies to domestic industries facing foreign competition. In a trade agreement, countries typically agree to reduce not only tariffs, but also subsidies. We consider the effect of a trade agreement on pollution emissions. We show that while reducing tariffs may indeed increase pollution intensive production in a country, reductions in some subsidies required by the trade agreement reduce pollution in general equilibrium for reasonable parameter values. The reduction results from two effects. First, a reduction in subsidies to firms reduces pollution-causing capital accumulation. Second, if subsidized firms, industries, and/or state owned enterprises are sufficiently more pollution intensive, then reducing subsidies moves capital and labor from more to less pollution intensive firms. We calibrate the model to the case of China and show that pollution emissions after China's accession to the WTO are up to 22.9 percent lower than a baseline in which China does not enter the WTO, without any pollution abatement policy changes or environmental side agreements.
Behavioral modeling of the static transfer function of ADCs using INL measurements

In this paper, we present a modeling approach for analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) based on modeling the static transfer function using integral nonlinearity (INL) measurements. The methodology relies on applying a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) test to the output of a real ADC circuit and extracting the significant harmonics. These are used in a behavioral functional model to approximate the INL using a polynomial function. The resulting model is independent of the ADC type or structure, and is suitable for bottom-up system verification. We compare the performance of the new model with other models based on different modeling approaches, and show a gain in simulation speed of up to 300X.
Splenic γδ T Cells Regulated by CD4+ T Cells Are Required To Control Chronic Plasmodium chabaudi Malaria in the B-Cell-Deficient Mouse

ABSTRACT Little is known about the function and regulation of splenic γδ T cells during chronic Plasmodium chabaudi malaria. The splenic γδ T-cell population continues to expand, reaching levels equal to 4 times the number of splenocytes in an uninfected mouse. Splenic γδ T cells from JH−/− mice with chronic malaria expressed Vγ1+ or Vδ4+ in the same ratio as uninfected controls with Vγ1 cells dominating, but the Vγ2 ratio declined about twofold. γδ T cells from G8 mice specific for the TL antigen increased only 2-fold in number, compared with 10-fold in BALB/c controls, but G8 γδ T cells failed to express the B220 activation marker. Elimination of the parasite by drug treatment caused a slow depletion in the number of splenic γδ, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells. Following challenge, drug-cured JH−/− mice exhibited nearly identical parasitemia time courses as naïve controls. Depletion of either CD4+ T cells or γδ T cells from chronically infected JH−/− mice by monoclonal antibody treatment resulted in an immediate and significant (P < 0.05) exacerbation of parasitemia coupled with a marked decrease in splenic γδ T-cell numbers. The number of CD4+ T cells, in contrast, did not decrease in mice after anti-T-cell receptor γδ treatment. The results indicate that cell-mediated immunity against blood-stage malarial parasites during chronic malaria (i) requires the continued presence of blood-stage parasites to remain functional, (ii) is dependent upon both γδ T cells and CD4+ T cells, and (iii) lacks immunological memory.
Loop-Freeness in Multipath BGP through Propagating the Longest Path

The concurrent use of multiple paths through a communications network has the potential to provide many benefits, including better utilisation of the network and increased robustness. A key part of a multipath network architecture is the ability for routing protocols to install multiple routes over multiple paths in the routing table. In this paper we propose changes to local BGP processing that allow a BGP router to use multiple paths concurrently without compromising loop-freeness.
The effects of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in lepromatous lepra reaction.

Lepra reaction in lepromatous leprosy is a most troublesome acute incident in the chronic, drawn-out course of the disease. So far, there has been no way of controlling satisfactorily the characteristic fever, malaise, joint and muscle aches, and cutaneous lesions' which periodically beset many of these patients. Since adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) has produced marked symptomatic benefit in conditions regarded as "allergic" (5,7), its trial in lepra reaction appeared to us logical. A small supply of the purified substance was 'obtained,2 and a group of patients at the Cabo Blanco colony who were suffering from lepromatous leprosy and were undergoing reactions of varying degrees of severity and duration were selected for treatment. All patients were kept in the infirmary under careful medical and nursing supervision. Most of them were receiving antileprosy medication; this was continued unchanged during the period of observation, but all other medication was discontinued. ACTH was administered intramuscularly every six hours, dissolved in sterile saline solution. Eosinophil counts were performed by the direct method (4). The determination of 17ketosteroid were made according to the method of Callow and co-workers (1). Sedimentation rates were measured by the method of Westergren. Changes in the more important laboratory findings are indicated in Table 1.
A New Method for Load Identification of Nonintrusive Energy Management System in Smart Home

In response to the governmental policy of saving energy sources and reducing CO2, and carry out the resident quality of local; this paper proposes a new method for a non-intrusive energy management (NIEM) system in smart home to implement the load identification of electric equipments and establish the electric demand management. Non-intrusive energy management techniques were often based on power signatures in the past, these techniques are necessary to be improved for the results of reliability and accuracy of recognition. By using neural network (NN) in combination with genetic programming (GP) and turn-on transient energy analysis, this study attempts to identify load demands and improve recognition accuracy of non-intrusive energy-managing results. The turn-on transient energy signature can improve the efficiency of load identification and computational time under multiple operations.
Inflammatory breast cancer: what we know and what we need to learn.

PURPOSE We review the current status of multidisciplinary care for patients with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and discuss what further research is needed to advance the care of patients with this disease. DESIGN We performed a comprehensive review of the English-language literature on IBC through computerized literature searches. RESULTS Significant advances in imaging, including digital mammography, high-resolution ultrasonography with Doppler capabilities, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography-computed tomography, have improved the diagnosis and staging of IBC. There are currently no established molecular criteria for distinguishing IBC from noninflammatory breast cancer. Such criteria would be helpful for the diagnosis and development of novel targeted therapies. Combinations of neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy have led to an improved prognosis; however, the overall 5-year survival rate for patients with IBC remains very low (∼30%). Sentinel lymph node biopsy and skin-sparing mastectomy are not recommended for patients with IBC. CONCLUSION Optimal management of IBC requires close coordination among medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists, as well as radiologists and pathologists. There is a need to identify molecular changes that define the pathogenesis of IBC to enable eradication of IBC with the use of IBC-specific targeted therapies.
A role for constitutive androstane receptor in the regulation of human intestinal MDR1 expression

Abstract MDR1/P-glycoprotein is an efflux transporter determining the absorption and presystemic elimination of many xenobiotics in the gut. Thus, interindividual differences in MDR1 expression may affect the efficacy of drug treatment. The expression of MDR1 is partially controlled by the pregnane X receptor (PXR), which mediates induction by many xenobiotics. Since it has been described that the nuclear receptors PXR and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) can bind to the same binding sites, we investigated the role of CAR in the regulation of MDR1 gene expression. We demonstrate here by gel shift and transfection experiments that CAR binds to distinct nuclear receptor response elements in the -7.8 kbp enhancer of MDR1 and transactivates MDR1 expression through DR4 motifs to which the receptor binds as a heterodimer with RXR or as a monomer, respectively. Expression of the endogenous MDR1 gene is elevated in cells stably expressing CAR, thus arguing for the functional relevance of CAR-dependent activation of MDR1. The physiological relevance of the regulation of MDR1 by CAR is further suggested by correlation of the expression of CAR and MDR1 in the human small intestine. In summary, our data suggest that CAR plays a role in the regulation of intestinal MDR1 expression.
Mode-Locked Soliton Fiber Laser Using an Intracavity Polarization Maintaining Photonics Crystal Fiber

A passively mode-locked soliton fiber laser assisted with an interference filter is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Self-started mode-locked soliton generation is based on the nonlinear polarization evolution (NPE). Of which, a polarization maintaining photonics crystal fiber (PM-PCF) is incorporated as an interference filter with tunable transmission bandwidth by controlling length of PM-PCF. In the experiment, we achieve a clean spectrum of dissipative soliton (DS) without sidebands, and a corresponding repetition rate of 6.554 MHz. Further adjusting the intracavity polarization with two polarization controllers (PCs) can transform the conventional DS to a vector DS with a rectangular spectrum. It is seen that the soliton operation regime can be dynamically managed by controlling the intracavity polarizations and net birefringence.
Blue flash ERG PhNR changes associated with poor long-term glycemic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

PURPOSE To investigate the relationship between long-term glycemic control and photopic negative response (PhNR) changes in the blue flash ERG in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) without diabetic retinopathy (DR). METHODS After light adaptation, ERG responses to 1.60 cd·s/m(2) blue (420 nm) flashes (blue flash ERG) and 3.0 cd·s/m(2) white flashes (LA 3.0 ERG) were recorded in 22 patients (age range, 12 to 19 years) and 28 age-similar control subjects. The primary outcome measure was the amplitude of the PhNR. Secondary outcome measures were the amplitude and implicit time of the a-wave and b-wave. Multiple regression analyses were conducted with glycated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) values and the time since diagnosis of T1D as covariates. RESULTS Blue flash ERG PhNR amplitudes were reduced (P = 0.005) in patients compared with control subjects. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that a 1-unit increase in HbA(1c) was associated with a 15% decrease in the blue flash ERG PhNR amplitude (r = 0.61, P = 0.003). Compared with controls blue flash ERG a-waves (P = 0.03) and b-waves (P = 0.02) were delayed in patients but were not significantly associated with HbA(1c) or time since diagnosis of T1D. None of the ERG measures in the LA 3.0 ERG were significantly different in patients compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS Poorer long-term glycemic control is associated with worsening inner retinal dysfunction involving short-wavelength cone pathways of adolescents with T1D and no clinically visible DR. Future studies are warranted to determine whether changes in the blue flash ERG PhNR are a predictive marker of subclinical DR.
Identification of the Iron-Responsive Genes of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by Microarray Analysis in Defined Medium

ABSTRACT To ensure survival, most bacteria must acquire iron, a resource that is sequestered by mammalian hosts. Pathogenic bacteria have therefore evolved intricate systems to sense iron limitation and regulate gene expression appropriately. We used a pan-Neisseria microarray to examine genes regulated in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in response to iron availability in defined medium. Overall, 203 genes varied in expression, 109 up-regulated and 94 down-regulated by iron deprivation. In iron-replete medium, genes essential to rapid bacterial growth were preferentially expressed, while iron transport functions, and predominantly genes of unknown function, were expressed in low-iron medium. Of those TonB-dependent proteins encoded in the FA1090 genome with unknown ligand specificity, expression of three was not controlled by iron availability, suggesting that these receptors may not be high-affinity transporters for iron-containing ligands. Approximately 30% of the operons regulated by iron appeared to be directly under control of Fur. Our data suggest a regulatory cascade where Fur indirectly controls gene expression by affecting the transcription of three secondary regulators. Our data also suggest that a second MerR-like regulator may be directly responding to iron availability and controlling transcription independent of the Fur protein. Comparison of our data with those recently published for Neisseria meningitidis revealed that only a small portion of genes were found to be similarly regulated in these closely related pathogens, while a large number of genes derepressed during iron starvation were unique to each organism.
A long-term follow-up of male alcohol abuse.

BACKGROUND This study attempted to determine the course of male alcohol abuse from the age of 40 years to 60 or 70 years, to estimate the duration of abstinence required for stable remission and to study the hypothesis of progression of symptoms in chronic alcohol abuse. METHODS The subjects were 268 former Harvard University (Cambridge, Mass) undergraduates (college sample) and 456 nondelinquent inner-city adolescents (core city sample) who had been repeatedly studied in multidisciplinary fashion since 1940. Since 47 years of age, these men have been followed up biennially by questionnaire and every 5 years by physical examination. At some point during their lives, 55 (21%) of the college and 150 (33%) of the core city men met DSM-III criteria for alcohol abuse. The college cohort has been followed until the age of 70 years, the core city cohort until age 60 years. The dependent variables were mortality and alcohol abuse status every 5 years. RESULTS By 60 years of age, 18% of the college alcohol abusers had died, 11% were abstinent, 11% were controlled drinkers, and 59% were known to be still abusing alcohol. By 60 years of age, 28% of the core city alcohol abusers had died, 30% were abstinent, 11% were controlled drinkers, and only 28% were known to be still abusing alcohol. CONCLUSIONS In three respects the two socially divergent samples resembled each other. After abstinence had been maintained for 5 years, relapse was rare. In contrast, return to controlled drinking without eventual relapse was unlikely. Alcohol abuse could continue for decades without remission or progression of symptoms. The samples differed in that the core city men began to abuse alcohol when younger and, although they were more likely than the college men to become alcohol dependent, the core city men were twice as likely to achieve stable abstinence.
Severe Allergy to Sharon Fruit Caused by Birch Pollen

Background: Allergy to sharon fruit (persimmon) has been only rarely reported. Cross-reactivity with pollen (profilin and Bet v 6) appeared to be involved, but Bet v 1 has not been implicated previously. Objective: It is our aim to identify whether Bet v 1 sensitization is linked to sharon fruit allergy. Methods: Two patients with a reaction upon first exposure to sharon fruit were included in the study, as well as 7 patients with birch-pollen-related apple allergy. Sensitivity was assessed by skin prick testing (SPT), a radio-allergosorbent test (RAST) and immunoblotting. RAST analysis was performed for Bet v 1, Bet v 2 and Bet v 6. Cross-reactivity was evaluated by RAST and immunoblot inhibitions. Biological activity of IgE was measured by basophil histamine release. Sharon fruit allergy was evaluated by double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) or open challenge (OC). Results: Both sharon-fruit-allergic patients demonstrated positive reactions in the RAST (8.6 and 6.2 IU/ml, respectively) and SPT (wheal area 37 and 36 mm2). Sharon fruit allergy was confirmed by DBPCFC in 1 patient. The second patient refused a challenge because of the severe initial reaction. Sera from both patients were reactive to Bet v 1 and Bet v 6, which was cross-reactive with sharon fruit by inhibition assays. The patient with the severest reactions was reactive to profilin on immunoblotting. However, profilin did not induce significant histamine release, nor did Bet v 6. Bet v 1 induce approximately 60% histamine release. An OC with sharon fruit in 7 patients allergic to birch pollen and apple, who had not eaten sharon fruit previously, was positive in 6/7 cases. Conclusions: Birch-pollen-related allergy to sharon fruit is mediated by the known cross-reactive pollen allergens including Bet v 1 and may become more of a problem should sharon fruit consumption increase.
A Methodological Framework on Knowledge Systems Engineering with Four Dimensions Structure

The development situation of knowledge systems engineering discipline in domestic was reviewed firstly for clarifying the research contents and goals on knowledge systems engineering. Based on the Hall three dimensions structure and Knowledge Management Maturity Model, a methodological framework on knowledge systems engineering was established to guide the implementation of project. Secondly, according to the practical demand of support system of collaborative product design in Manufacturing Supply Chain, the design principles of knowledge management system were analyzed. The practice shows this methodological framework could provide a clear theoretical basis and method for the research and development of knowledge management system. Keywords-Knowledge Systems Engineering; Methodology; Dimensions Structure; Knowledge Management System; Design Principle
Maximum power extracting in a solar plant with multilevel inverters and fuzzy method

Multilevel inverters are one of the most popular and useful type among all and have lots of usage like less disturbance and the possibility to function at higher switching frequencies than ordinary two-Level inverters. They can be used at different applications like electronic derivers, wind turbines and solar plants. In order to feed the DC current produced by PV panels to the inverters, power electronic converters have to be used. The current - voltage characteristics of a photovoltaic (PV) array depends on the cell temperature and solar irradiation. Maximum power point of converter is the point that converter is working in the highest voltage. Nowadays different methods used to track this point, in this article, with the use of MATLAB simulation, we are aimed to simulate sepic converter which uses fuzzy methods to track maximum power point1. Initially, with comparing different levels of CMLI and their THD analysis, we are aimed to find the best CMLI, then with combination of a sepic converter (use fuzzy method for MMPT) and one panel, power plant will be simulated and Maximum power of such a plant is going to be extracted.
Ultra low power bandpass sampling architectures using Lamb Wave filters

This article analyzes the use Lamb Wave Resonators (LWR) for IF filtering in RF Band pass Sampling (BPS) receivers. A filtering mask applicable to a bi-mode (Bluetooth Low Energy and IEEE 802.15.4) receiver is derived for the proposed BPS architecture and is used as design target for an IF filters based on LWR technology. A system-level design method is employed to analyze the impact of three different configurations for the analog IF filter: no filter, medium performance filter, and optimized filter. It is shown how block specifications can be relaxed thanks to the use of LWR filters.
CytotoxicPropertiesofaDEPTOR-mTORInhibitor in Multiple Myeloma Cells

DEPTOR is a 48 kDa protein that binds to mTOR and inhibits this kinase in TORC1 and TORC2 complexes. Overexpression of DEPTOR specifically occurs in a model of multiple myeloma. Its silencing in multiple myeloma cells is sufficient to induce cytotoxicity, suggesting that DEPTOR is a potential therapeutic target. mTORC1 paralysis protects multiple myeloma cells against DEPTOR silencing, implicating mTORC1 in the critical role of DEPTOR in multiple myeloma cell viability. Building on this foundation, we interrogated a small-molecule library for compounds that prevent DEPTOR binding to mTOR in a yeast-twohybrid assay. One compound was identified that also prevented DEPTOR–mTOR binding in human myeloma cells, with subsequent activation of mTORC1 andmTORC2. In a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay, the compound bound to recombinant DEPTOR but not to mTOR. The drug also prevented binding of recombinant DEPTOR to mTOR in the SPR assay. Remarkably, although activating TORC1 and TORC2, the compound induced apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in multiple myeloma cell lines and prevented outgrowth of humanmultiplemyeloma cells in immunodeficient mice. In vitro cytotoxicity against multiple myeloma cell lines was directly correlated with DEPTOR protein expression and was mediated, in part, by the activation of TORC1 and induction of p21 expression. Additional cytotoxicity was seen against primarymultiplemyeloma cells, whereas normal hematopoietic colony formation was unaffected. These results further support DEPTOR as a viable therapeutic target in multiple myeloma and suggest an effective strategy of preventing binding of DEPTOR to mTOR. Cancer Res; 76(19); 5822–31. 2016 AACR.
Paired synovium and lymph nodes from rheumatoid arthritis patients differ in dendritic cell and chemokine expression

The aim of this study was to compare the cellular composition and organization of rheumatoid (RA) synovium, which has several of the characteristics of lymphoid organs, with lymph nodes. To clarify further whether RA synovium can be classified as an ectopic lymphoid organ, paired RA synovium and lymph node (LN) tissues from 11 patients were compared in terms of T‐cell–B‐cell and germinal centre (GC) organization, dendritic cell (DC) subsets, and chemokine expression. Tonsil, a normal secondary lymphoid organ, was used as a tissue control. In paired RA LN and synovium, more follicular DC‐positive GCs were observed in LN, but when observed in synovium, they shared the same T‐cell–B‐cell organization and mean GC size. In LN, a predominance of mature DC‐LAMP‐positive DCs of myeloid (CD11c‐positive) or lymphoid (CD123‐positive) origin was observed, whereas paired RA synovium was characterized by the relative accumulation of immature CD1a‐positive DCs. In the same way, CCL19–CCL21/CCR7, a chemokine/chemokine receptor complex involved in mature DC migration, was more frequently seen in LN than in paired RA synovium. In synovium, such expression was associated with lymphoid follicle formation, with or without a GC. Conversely, CCL20, a chemokine involved in immature DC migration, was expressed in RA synovium and tonsils but not in paired LNs. In conclusion, although similarities were observed, this study, using paired samples, indicates that the RA synovium lacks some of the features that are characteristic of a lymphoid organ. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.