Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the welfare and distributional effects of implementing an expenditure fiscal rule

The aim of this paper is to study the welfare and distributional effects of implementing an expenditure fiscal rule in a developing country. Particularly, I want to measure these effects in a transitional dynamics environment, triggered by a negative and transitory aggregate shock. To accomplish this objective, I use an environment of incomplete markets and heterogeneous agents, following closely the frameworks developed by Aiyagari (1994) and Huggett (1993) and the spirit of Aguirre (2015). I found that, on average, agents will prefer an expenditure fiscal rule framework rather than a discretionary counter-cyclical fiscal policy. In the benchmark case, the government uses transfers to increase the consumption of agents during the aggregate shock. However, in the long run the opposite effect brought by the interest rate mechanism is stronger. Nevertheless, this effect is not the same for all agents: richer agents benefit from the increase in the interest rate while poorer agents will lose. With the fiscal rule, transfers decrease during the aggregate shock before coming back at their original level. As the interest rate does not change, the only effect is the one brought by transfers. The total effect is then smaller than in the benchmark case.
The Contributions of Self-reported Injury Characteristics and Psychiatric Symptoms to Cognitive Functioning in OEF/OIF Veterans with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) affects a significant number of combat veterans returning from Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF). Although resolution of mTBI symptoms is expected over time, some individuals continue to report lingering cognitive difficulties. This study examined the contributions of self-reported mTBI injury characteristics (e.g., loss of consciousness, post-traumatic amnesia) and psychiatric symptoms to both subjective and objective cognitive functioning in a sample of 167 OEF/OIF veterans seen in a TBI clinic. Injury characteristics were not associated with performance on neuropsychological tests but were variably related to subjective ratings of cognitive functioning. Psychiatric symptoms were highly prevalent and fully mediated most of the relationships between injury characteristics and cognitive ratings. This indicates that mTBI characteristics such as longer time since injury and loss of consciousness or post-traumatic amnesia can lead to increased perceived cognitive deficits despite having no objective effects on cognitive performance. Psychiatric symptoms were associated with both cognitive ratings and neuropsychological performance, illustrating the important role that psychiatric treatment can potentially play in optimizing functioning. Finally, subjective cognitive ratings were not predictive of neuropsychological performance once psychiatric functioning was statistically controlled, suggesting that neuropsychological assessment provides valuable information that cannot be gleaned from self-report alone. (JINS, 2012, 18, 576–584)
On a Stochastic Leaky Integrate-and-Fire Neuronal Model

The leaky integrate-and-fire neuronal model proposed in Stevens and Zador (1998), in which time constant and resting potential are postulated to be time dependent, is revisited within a stochastic framework in which the membrane potential is mathematically described as a gauss-diffusion process. The first-passage-time probability density, miming in such a context the firing probability density, is evaluated by either the Volterra integral equation of Buonocore, Nobile, and Ricciardi (1987) or, when possible, by the asymptotics of Giorno, Nobile, and Ricciardi (1990). The model examined here represents an extension of the classic leaky integrate-and-fire one based on the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process in that it is in principle compatible with the inclusion of some other physiological characteristics such as relative refractoriness. It also allows finer tuning possibilities in view of its accounting for certain qualitative as well as quantitative features, such as the behavior of the time course of the membrane potential prior to firings and the computation of experimentally measurable statistical descriptors of the firing time: mean, median, coefficient of variation, and skewness. Finally, implementations of this model are provided in connection with certain experimental evidence discussed in the literature.
An assessment of the effects of unconventional monetary policies on the cost of credit to non-financial companies in the eurozone

[eng] The aim of this paper is to assess the effects of unconventional monetary policies (UMPs) on the cost of credit to non-financial companies in the eurozone. We analyse the direct effects of these UMPs using a multiple linear regression, then we seek to highlight the existence of a complementarity between these policies and the interest rate policy - an indirect effect of UMPs - using an interaction term. We show that the direct effects of UMPs are limited, indeed nil depending on the country, and are always weaker than their indirect effects. After having highlighted the heterogeneity of the indirect effects of UMPs in the eurozone, we offer diverse interpretations – macroeconomic, financial or banking differences, depending on the country – using a Panel Conditionally Homogenous VAR model (PCHVAR). The indirect effects of UMPs, depending on the economies considered, were countered by large public debt, a banking sector in poor health and/or a high level of systemic risk or risk of default.
Biomarker-based risk stratification for previously untreated medullary thyroid cancer.

CONTEXT Preoperative neck ultrasonography may yield false-negative findings in more than one-third of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) patients. If not cleared promptly, cervical lymph node metastases may emerge subsequently. Reoperations entail an excess risk of surgical morbidity and may be avoidable. OBJECTIVE This comprehensive investigation aimed to evaluate in a head-to-head comparison the clinical utility of pretherapeutic biomarker serum levels (basal calcitonin; stimulated calcitonin; carcinoembryonic antigen) for indicating extent of disease and providing biochemical stratification of pretherapeutic MTC risk. DESIGN This was a retrospective analysis. SETTING The setting was a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS Included were 300 consecutive patients with previously untreated MTC. INTERVENTIONS The intervention was compartment-oriented surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Stratified biomarker levels were correlated with histopathologic extent of disease. RESULTS Higher biomarker levels reflected larger primary tumors and more lymph node metastases. Stratified basal calcitonin serum levels correlated better (r = 0.59) with the number of lymph node metastases than carcinoembryonic antigen (r = 0.47) or pentagastrin-stimulated calcitonin (r = 0.40) levels. Lymph node metastases were present in the ipsilateral central and lateral neck, contralateral central neck, contralateral lateral neck, and upper mediastinum, respectively, beyond basal calcitonin thresholds of 20, 50, 200, and 500 pg/ml. Bilateral compartment-oriented neck surgery achieved biochemical cure in at least half the patients with pretherapeutic basal calcitonin levels of 1,000 pg/ml or less but not in patients with levels greater than 10,000 pg/ml. CONCLUSIONS Most newly diagnosed MTC patients, i.e. those with pretherapeutic basal calcitonin levels greater than 200 pg/ml, may need bilateral compartment-oriented neck surgery to reduce the number of reoperations.
Green Fluorescent Protein as a Novel Indicator of Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Aureobasidium pullulans

ABSTRACT Presently there is no method available that allows noninvasive and real-time monitoring of fungal susceptibility to antimicrobial compounds. The green fluorescent protein (GFP) of the jellyfishAequoria victoria was tested as a potential reporter molecule for this purpose. Aureobasidium pullulans was transformed to express cytosolic GFP using the vector pTEFEGFP (A. J. Vanden Wymelenberg, D. Cullen, R. N. Spear, B. Schoenike, and J. H. Andrews, BioTechniques 23:686–690, 1997). The transformed strain Ap1 gfp showed bright fluorescence that was amenable to quantification using fluorescence spectrophotometry. Fluorescence levels in Ap1 gfp blastospore suspensions were directly proportional to the number of viable cells determined by CFU plate counts (r2 > 0.99). The relationship between cell viability and GFP fluorescence was investigated by adding a range of concentrations of each of the biocides sodium hypochlorite and 2-n-octylisothiozolin-3-one (OIT) to suspensions of Ap1gfp blastospores (pH 5 buffer). These biocides each caused a rapid (<25-min) loss of fluorescence of greater than 90% when used at concentrations of 150 μg of available chlorine ml−1 and 500 μg ml−1, respectively. Further, loss of GFP fluorescence from A. pullulanscells was highly correlated with a decrease in the number of viable cells (r2 > 0.92). Losses of GFP fluorescence and cell viability were highly dependent on external pH; maximum losses of fluorescence and viability occurred at pH 4, while reduction of GFP fluorescence was absent at pH 8.0 and was associated with a lower reduction in viability. When A. pullulanswas attached to the surface of plasticized poly(vinylchloride) containing 500 ppm of OIT, fluorescence decreased more slowly than in cell suspensions, with >95% loss of fluorescence after 27 h. This technique should have broad applications in testing the susceptibility of A. pullulans and other fungal species to antimicrobial compounds.
THE LACK OF MEMORY B CELLS IN IMMUNE BONE MARROW

Adoptive transfers of lymphoid populations between Ig-congenic strains of mice were performed to evaluate the presence of memory cells in the bone marrow of immune animals. Transfer of immune splenic B cells or immune peripheral blood mononuclear cells effectively transferred antigen-specific IgG1 antibody responses of donor origin. In contrast, BM from immune animals did not transfer a memory response. The lack of memory transfer with immune BM was not due to a suppressive activity of BM since (1) Purified antigen-specific B cells from BM did not transfer memory while purified antigen-specific B cells from immune spleen was a potent source of memory cells, and (2) cotransfer of immune BM with a source of memory B cells (immune PB) did not suppress the transfer of memory. Although immune BM did not have cells capable of transferring antigen-specific memory, copious amounts of antigen-specific antibody were spontaneously produced by immune BM in vitro. These studies suggest that the transfer of immunological memory observed in human BM transplant cases may be the consequence of PB contamination of BM preparations when collected.
Fetal Endothelial Cells Express Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule in the Setting of Chorioamnionitis

PROBLEM: In intrauterine infection, inflammatory mediators may be released into the fetal circulation prior to fetal infection. We hypothesize that, in chorioamnionitis, inflammation alters fetal blood vessels. To test this, fetal endothelial cells were examined for vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM). METHOD OF STUDY: Umbilical cords (n=9) from placentas with chorioamnionitis were immunostained for VCAM. Controls from preterm preeclamptic pregnancies (n=7) without histologic inflammation were selected, and matched for gestational age and method of delivery. VCAM sections were reviewed by a pathologist blinded to clinical diagnoses. RESULTS: All endothelial cells from each of the nine cords from placentas with chorioamnionitis had strong VCAM staining. Two of nine samples also had acute cord vasculitis. No cord endothelial cells from preeclamptic placentas demonstrated similar VCAM staining (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Histologic chorioamnionitis was associated with VCAM expression of the umbilical cord vessels. In chorioamnionitis, inflammatory mediators may have entered the fetal circulation to activate endothelial cells. Intrauterine inflammation was not restricted to the chorioamnion, but also involved the fetal circulation.
Mycotoxins in cattle feeds and carry-over to dairy milk: A review

The complex diet of ruminants, consisting of forages, concentrates, and preserved feeds, can be a source of very diverse mycotoxins that contaminate individual feed components. A number of mycotoxins are successfully inactivated by the rumen flora, whereas others pass unchanged or are converted into metabolites that retain biological activity. Hence, the barrier function of the rumen largely determines the susceptibility of dairy cows and other ruminant species towards individual mycotoxins. An impairment of this barrier function due to diseases or the direct antimicrobial effect of certain mycotoxins may increase absorption rates. The rate of absorption determines not only the internal dose and risk for adverse health effects, but also the excretion of mycotoxins and the biologically active metabolites into milk.
Enhanced tumorocidal effect of chemotherapy with preoperative radiotherapy for rectal cancer: preliminary results--EORTC 22921.

PURPOSE The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) trial evaluated the addition of chemotherapy (CT) to preoperative radiation (preop RT) and the value of postoperative CT for improving the survival in patients with T3-4 resectable rectal cancer. Patients were allocated to the following four arms: arm 1, preop RT 45 Gy in 5 weeks; arm 2, preop RT plus two 5-day CT courses (fluorouracil 350 mg/m2/d and leucovorin 20 mg/m2/d) in the first and fifth week of RT; arm 3, preop RT plus four postoperative CT courses; and arm 4, preop RT and CT plus postoperative CT. We investigated the effect of adding CT on the pathologic parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS One thousand eleven patients were entered onto the trial; 505 received preop RT (arms 1 and 3), and 506 received preop RT-CT (arms 2 and 4). We analyzed the differences in tumor size, tumor node stage, number of retrieved nodes, and histologic features such as lymphatic, venous, and perineural invasions, tumor differentiation, and tumor type. RESULTS After preop RT-CT, tumors were smaller (P < .0001), had less advanced pT (P < .001) and pN stages (P < .001), had small numbers of examined nodes (P = .046), and less frequent LVN invasions (P < or = .008). Mucinous tumors increased after preop RT-CT (P < .001). CONCLUSION In patients with rectal cancer, preliminary results of EORTC Trial 22921 indicate that the addition of CT to preop RT induces down-sizing, downstaging, and significant changes in histologic characteristics. Longer follow-up is needed to assess the impact on local control and survival.
The association between RFC1 G80A polymorphism and cancer susceptibility: Evidence from 33 studies

Aberrant folate metabolism is closely related to tumorigenesis. Genetic variations in the Reduced folate carrier 1 (RFC1) may alter the progress of folate metabolism, and thereby cause the initiation and progress of the cancer. Considerable studies have performed to investigate the association between RFC1 G80A (rs1051266) polymorphism and cancer susceptibility, but the conclusions were conflicting. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to reevaluate the association of RFC1 G80A polymorphism with cancer risk. PubMed and EMBASE were searched for eligible studies. The association of RFC1 G80A polymorphism and cancer risk was evaluated by the pooled odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The significant association was found between RFC1 G80A polymorphism and hematological malignance susceptibility (A vs. G: OR=1.11, 95%CI=1.003-1.23, P=0.045; GA vs. GG: OR=1.18, 95%CI=1.06-1.31, P=0.002; AA+GA vs. GG: OR=1.18, 95%CI=1.07-1.29, P=0.001). Stratified analysis by ethnicity indicated that the association became more prominent among Caucasians (GA vs. GG: OR=1.28, 95%CI=1.12-1.45, P<0.001; AA+GA vs. GG: OR=1.21, 95%CI=1.08-1.36, P=0.001). In term of the cancer type, this polymorphism significantly increased the risk of acute lymphoblast leukemia (GA vs. GG: OR=1.13, 95%CI=1.001-1.28, P=0.048; AA+GA vs. GG: OR=1.28, 95%CI=1.13-1.46, P<0.001) and acute myeloid leukemia (GA vs. GG: OR=2.57, 95%CI=1.37-4.85, P=0.003). No significant association between RFC1 G80A polymorphism and overall solid cancer risk was observed, but a protective association with digestive cancer risk was found (GA vs. GG: OR=0.89, 95%CI= 0.81-0.99, P=0.030). The comprehensive meta-analysis encouraged the notion that RFC1 G80A polymorphism may play an important role in hematopoietic system malignance. These findings need further validation in the large multicenter investigations.
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) Overexpression in Meningiomas: Real Time PCR and Immunohistochemistry

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is the inducible form of the enzyme involved in the first steps of the prostaglandins and thromboxane synthesis. COX-2 up-regulation is demonstrated in tumors where it can modulate tumoral progression, metastasis, multidrug resistance, and angiogenesis. Experimental data suggest a possible therapeutic use of the COX-inhibitors nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs can block tumor growth through many mechanisms, especially through antiangiogenic and proapoptotic effects. Moreover, NSAIDs can also improve the efficacy of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy. This study reviews the COX-2 expression as evaluated through immunohistochemistry and real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 23 meningiomas [14 World Health Organization (WHO) grade I; 5 WHO grade II; 3 WHO grade III; 1 oncocytic meningioma]. At immunohistochemistry all the lesions but 4 (83%) were COX-2 positive. At RT-PCR 9 meningiomas, 8 WHO grade I and 1 WHO grade II, showed a COX-2 expression greater than the reference value (average expression of all meningiomas that we studied). The association between tumor grade and immunohistochemical or RT-PCR COX-2 expression was not significant (P=0.427 and P=0.251, respectively). In conclusion, even if further studies on larger series are necessary, the common COX-2 overexpression in meningiomas may suggest considering the COX-2 inhibitors, alone or in combination with radiotherapy, a potential area of therapeutic intervention in some selected meningiomas.
Prereceptor regulation of glucocorticoid action by 11β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase: a novel determinant of cell proliferation

Isozymes of 11β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β‐HSD) act at a prereceptor level to regulate the tissue‐specific availability of active glu‐cocorticoids. To examine the effect of this on cell proliferation and differentiation, we have developed transfectant variants of a rat osteosarcoma cell line that express cDNA for 11β‐HSD1 (ROS 17/2.8β1) or 11β‐HSD2 (ROS 17/2.8β2). ROS 17/2. 8β1 showed net conversion of cortisone to cortisol whereas ROS 17/2. 8β2 showed only inactivation of cortisol to cortisone. There was no significant difference in glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression between the different clones. However, in proliferation and differentiation studies, ROS 17/2. 8β2 cells were completely resistant to cortisol. In contrast, ROS 17/2. 8β1 were sensitive to both cortisone and cortisol. Expression of 11β‐HSD1 de‐creased cell proliferation whereas 11β‐HSD2 increased proliferation. These responses appear to be due to metabolism of endogenous serum glucocorticoids; proliferation of ROS 17/2. 8β1 decreased further with exogenous cortisone or cortisol whereas ROS 17/2. 8β2 were resistant to both compounds. The pro‐prolifera‐tive effects of 11β‐HSD2 were abrogated by 18β‐glycyrrhetinic acid, an 11β‐HSD inhibitor, and in cells transfected with cDNA encoding inactive 11β‐HSD 2. Data indicate that differential regulation of 11β‐HSD1 and 2 (rather than GR expression) is a key determinant of cell proliferation. Dysregulated expression of 11β‐HSD2 may be a novel feature of tumorigenesis. —Rabbitt, E. H. , Lavery, G. G. , Walker, E. A. , Cooper, M. S. , Stewart, P. M. , Hewison, M. Prereceptor regulation of glucocorticoid action by 11β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase: a novel determinant of cell proliferation. FASEB J. 16, 36–44 (2002)
The relationship between trunk muscle activation and trunk stiffness: examining a non-constant stiffness gain

The relationship between muscle activation, force and stiffness needs to be known to interpret the stability state of the spine. To test the relationship between these variables, a quick release approach was used to match quantified torso stiffness with an EMG activation-based estimate of individual muscle stiffnesses. The relationship between activation, force and stiffness was modelled as , where k, F and l are muscle stiffness, force and length, respectively, and q is the dimensionless stiffness gain relating these variables. Under the tested experimental scenario, the ‘stiffness gain’, q, which linked activation with stiffness, demonstrated a decreasing trend with increasing levels of torso muscle activation. This highlights the likelihood that the choice of a single q value may be over simplistic to relate force to stiffness in muscles that control the spine. This has implications for understanding the potential for spine instability in situations requiring high muscular demand.
An Empirical Path Loss Model and Fading Analysis for High-Speed Railway Viaduct Scenarios

Based on the narrowband 930-MHz measurements taken along the “Zhengzhou-Xi'an” high-speed railway in China, an empirical path loss model is proposed. It is applicable to high-speed railway viaduct scenarios, considering the influences of viaduct height H and base station antenna relative height h, which are not well-covered by existing large-scale models. The path loss exponents are investigated, based on which the influence of viaduct on propagation is discussed. The fading depth up to 15.96 dB and the Ricean K -factor with mean value of 3.79 dB are obtained.
Laboratory methods for KRAS mutation analysis

The determination of KRAS mutational status from tumor samples has become an important tool for patient management in colorectal and non-small-cell lung cancers. Mutations in critical areas of the gene, such as codons 12 and 13, are a negative predictor of response to anti-EGF receptor antibodies in colorectal cancer, and similarly are indicators of resistance to small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small-cell lung cancer patients. A variety of laboratory methods have been developed to assess mutation status in key regions of the KRAS gene. Many of these methods, including allele-specific PCR, real-time PCR methods with melt–curve analysis, and nucleic acid sequencing techniques, provide the appropriate analytical performance to address tissue heterogeneity in tumor samples. The pathologist plays a key role in this process because assessment of morphological features of the tumor is important prior to molecular analysis. This article provides a summary of the performance characteristics of various molecular testing methods and addresses other key aspects of testing necessary to provide relevant information to help determine appropriate therapy choices.