Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Payroll and Financial Leverage

I examine how payroll rigidity affects corporate financing decisions by estimating a dynamic model in which investment, employment, and financing decisions are determined endogenously as a result of exogenous labor market frictions. I find that, after negative productivity shocks, firms' inability to reduce payroll leads them to reduce leverage; after positive productivity shocks, firms hire fewer workers in anticipation of payroll rigidity, allowing them to take on more leverage. A structural estimation ascertains the model's ability to fit the data. Model predictions are confirmed by a difference-in-differences analysis that exploits the Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act of 2000 as an exogenous shock to payroll rigidity.
Incidence and risk factors for the development of prolonged and severe intrahepatic cholestasis after liver transplantation

Predictive factors for intrahepatic cholestasis after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) have not yet been established. We sought to identify the incidence and risk factors associated with prolonged severe intrahepatic cholestasis (PSIC) after OLT. We assessed 428 consecutive patients undergoing their first OLT. PSIC was diagnosed if a serum bilirubin concentration was greater than 100 μmol/L and/or a 3‐fold increase of alkaline phosphatase occurred within the first month after OLT and was sustained for at least 1 week in the absence of biliary complications. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors independently associated with PSIC. PSIC developed in 107 patients (25%). Independent risk factors by multivariable analysis were intraoperative transfusion of cryoprecipitate and platelets; nonidentical blood group status; suboptimal organ appearance; inpatient status before transplantation; and bacteraemia in the first month after transplantation. In contrast, acute liver failure, older age, and higher levels of serum sodium and serum potassium were all associated with a reduced likelihood of developing PSIC in the first month. There were 47 deaths in the PSIC group (44%) as opposed to 65 deaths in the non‐PSIC group (20%) after OLT. A poor preoperative clinical status in conjunction with a suboptimal graft was associated with PSIC after OLT. Avoidance of suboptimal livers and ABO nonidentical grafts for young patients with poor synthetic function and for pretransplant inpatients may lessen this complication and reduce the associated early mortality. Liver Transpl, 2006. © 2006 AASLD.
Fenofibrate plus simvastatin (fixed-dose combination) for the treatment of dyslipidaemia

Introduction: Statin use results in a significant reduction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, patients still have residual CVD risk, even if they are receiving optimal statin treatment. Areas covered: This review, based on a Pubmed/Scopus search, discusses the available evidence regarding the use of a fixed-dose fenofibrate plus simvastatin combination. This combination is useful for patients with mixed dyslipidaemia because it improves the overall lipoprotein profile. Although in clinical trials the rate of adverse events was not significantly greater than monotherapy, patients who receive combination treatment should be monitored carefully. Furthermore, in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) Study, this combination did not result in a significant reduction of CVD events compared with simvastatin monotherapy. However, a possible benefit in this trial was observed in the subgroup of patients with high triglyceride and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Expert opinion: The fixed-dose fenofibrate plus simvastatin combination treatment produces additive results and is safe when patients are properly monitored. Existing evidence appears to support the addition of fenofibrate to simvastatin treatment for the reduction of residual CVD risk in patients with atherogenic dyslipidaemia. However, this combination did not lead to better clinical outcomes in the absence of dyslipidaemia.
Plasma dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate is related to personality and stress response.

OBJECTIVES Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEAS) physiologic relevance remains controversial. However, several central nervous system and behavioural effects of DHEAS have been described. We explored the relation between DHEAS and both pituitary-adrenal axis reactivity and personality in human subjects. DESIGN We studied 120 consecutive patients assisted at the out patient endocrine department of a public central hospital before medical treatment. Personality was evaluated with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the pituitary-adrenal axis reactivity was assessed with the CRH test. RESULTS Baseline DHEAS was inversely related to peak/basal cortisol (parcial r=-0.454, p<0.05) response to CRH infusion. DHEAS reactivity in the CRH test was directly related to the Deviant Behaviour triad (BD) (r=0.257, p<0.05) and type A personality (AP) (r=0.295, p<0.05). Basal ACTH was directly related to baseline DHEAS (r=0.366, p<0.001) and together with age and gender explained 34% of DHEAS variability. CONCLUSIONS DHEAS may be a protective factor against an excessive cortisol response when people are under stress situations. Personality may be related to DHEAS reactivity.
An implementation method of workspace observer considering fluctuation of equivalent mass matrix

This paper proposes an implementation method of a workspace observer (WOB) considering a fluctuation of an equivalent mass matrix. WOB is one of useful methods to achieve robust control systems. The stability and transient response of WOB is influenced from a modeling error of a nominal plant model. For a high performance of WOB, a precise modeling of a nominal plant model should be used. From this viewpoint, this paper modifies a nominal plant model in real time due to an estimation of an equivalent mass matrix. Here, a nominal plant model includes off-diagonal elements. An equivalent mass matrix is fluctuated due to a manipulator motion. This fluctuation is influenced to a control performance of WOB. Therefore, this fluctuation is compensated in this paper. In addition, a decoupling in an acceleration dimension is actualized, even if a nominal plant model includes off-diagonal elements. The validity of the proposed method was confirmed by simulation results.
Genomic organization and promoter analysis of mouse disabled 2 gene.

The mouse disabled 2 (mDab2) gene is a mouse homolog of the Drosophila disabled gene. It is markedly up regulated in retinoic acid (RA)-treated F9 cells, suggesting a role for mDab2 in the cell differentiation. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms that regulate RA-treated F9 cells specific expression of mDab2, we cloned and analyzed its genomic structure. The mDab2 gene spans over 55 kilobases and has 13 exons. The transcription start site, mapped by primer extension and 5'RACE, was located at 53 base pairs (bp) upstream of the most 5'-end of the published cDNA. Using reporter gene transfection analysis, we found that a 1-kb mDab2 5'-flanking sequence directed a high level of promoter activity in RA-treated F9 cells but not in untreated cells. Further deletion and mutation analyses identified a direct repeat of 5'-AGGAGGCGC-3' motif as novel positive regulatory element. Gel retardation assay showed that this element was needed to form specific DNA-protein complexes with factors present in RA-treated F9 cell extracts.
Customizing Structure-Function Displacements in the Macula for Individual Differences.

PURPOSE In the macula, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are displaced from their receptive fields. We used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to customize displacements for individual eyes by taking into account macular shape parameters, and determined the likely effect of individual anatomical differences on structure-function mapping in the central visual field. METHODS Using the population average model of Drasdo et al. as a starting point, we altered the RGC count in that model based on the ratio of an individual's RGC layer plus inner plexiform layer thickness to the population average on a pointwise basis as a function of eccentricity from the fovea. For 20 adults (age, 24-33; median age, 28) with normal vision, we computed displacements with the original model and our customized approach. We report the variance in displacements among individuals and compare the effects of such displacements on structure-function mapping of the commonly used the 10-2 visual field pattern. RESULTS As expected, customizing the displacement using individual OCT data made only a small difference on average from the population-based values predicted by the Drasdo et al. model. However, the range between individuals was over 1° at many locations, and closer to 2° at some locations in the superior visual field. CONCLUSIONS Individualizing macular displacement measurements based on OCT data for an individual can result in large spatial shifts in the retinal area corresponding to 10-2 locations, which may be important for clinical structure-function analysis when performed on a local, spatial scale.
An improved global analysis for program bug checking

Property simulation is an efficient approach that checks if a program satisfies certain temporal safety properties, and inter-procedural property simulation terminates in polynomial time and space. This paper first proposes a general framework for bug checking. Then, it defines function summary as a stand-in for the function. It improves property simulation and gives a new global analysis approach, in which the execution state is described in extended intervals. Experiments show that the testing tool based on this new approach has a higher accuracy rate for program bug checking.
Follow‐up of children with brain tumors

One hundred two patients were evaluated for late effects of brain tumor in childhood by a medical record review and follow‐up questionnaire. The patients had survived brain tumor for 5 to 47 years (median, 18 years). Among 30 patients who had received brain irradiation, 3 were successfully treated for second neoplasms that developed within the radiotherapy field 11,16, and 29, years later, respectively. Moderate or severe functional deficits were present in 24 patients (24%), more commonly among those treated before 2 years of age and among those with cerebral astrocytoma. The other 78 patients (76%) had mild or no gross deficits, and all but 1 of them were attending school or were employed. Twenty‐one patients in the series reported a total of 41 offspring, none of whom had cancer or mental retardation. Although markedly diverse performance levels were found among the 102 long‐term survivors of childhood brain tumors, the majority had an acceptable quality of life.
Freshness Control of XML Documents for Query Load Balancing

We introduce Tira (text-based information retrieval architecture), a software architecture for the rapid prototyping of tailored information retrieval (IR) tools. Tira allows to compose personal IR tools from atomic IR services, following the model driven architecture (MDA) paradigm: In a first step, an IR process is defined independently from platforms, by means of a UML activity diagram. In a second step, the activity diagram is transformed to a platform specific model, which is executed in a distributed environment. Major driving force behind our research is the question of personalization: We see a large gap between information retrieval theory and algorithms on the one hand and their implementation and deployment to satisfy a personal information need on the other. This gap can be closed with adequate software engineering means, and Tira shall contribute in this respect.
Multi-document Summarization via Information Extraction : A Revisit

This paper describes a novel approach of improving multi-document summarization based on cross-document information extraction (IE). We first show that IE itself is not sufficient to produce fluent and coherent summaries. Then we attempt various methods to automatically incorporate IE results into sentence ranking. Experiments have shown our integration methods can significantly improve a high-performing multi-document summarization system, according to the ROUGE-2 and ROUGE-SU4 metrics (7.38%-7.58% relative improvement on ROUGE-2 recall), and the generated summaries are preferred by human subjects (0.78 higher TAC Content score and 0.11 higher Readability/Fluency score).
Serotonergic axons in monkey prefrontal cerebral cortex synapse predominantly on interneurons as demonstrated by serial section electron microscopy

Anatomical approaches were used to describe the distribution, appearance, and synaptic interactions of serotonin (5‐HT)‐immunoreactive axons in monkey prefrontal cortex. A plexus of 5‐HT axons was found throughout the gray matter, with an especially high density in layer I and a slight increase in layer IV. They were strikingly heterogeneous, with a gradient of morphologies ranging from fine and nonvaricose to highly varicose or thick and nonvaricose. Electron microscopy showed that both varicose and nonvaricose axons were typically filled with clear vesicles and less abundant dense core vesicles. A serial section analysis of 5‐HT varicosities in layers I, III, and V showed consistent results across layers. Only about 23% of labeled varicosities formed identifiable synapses. These synapses were consistently asymmetric and were 2–5 serial sections (or 0.08–0.38 μ) in diameter. Targets of identified 5‐HT synapses were dendritic shafts with the exception of one cell soma. Followed in serial sections, postsynaptic dendrites typically had morphological features of interneurons, i.e. they lacked spines, had a high density of synaptic inputs, and often had a varicose morphology. Only 8% of postsynaptic shafts were classified as pyramidal dendrites. This is in striking contrast to our previous study in this cortex of dopamine axons, which synapsed predominantly on pyramidal dendrites. These are the first results to indicate that interneurons are the major recipient of identifiable 5‐HT synapses in the monkey prefrontal cortex. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Panoramic annular lens design of endoscope

The previous design of a 360-degree side view (panoramic) endoscope uses many mirrors/lenses to capture side view and forward view simultaneously. This paper proposed a lower-complexity panorama image system at the endoscope. We propose a parabolic mirror as a reflector in the new endoscope for a 360-degree side view. The proposed scheme has less mirrors/lenses, thus less lens msialignment and image distortion problem, and therefore better reliability than the previous design.
Using Lunar Observations to Validate In-Flight Calibrations of Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System Instruments

The validation of in-orbit instrument performance requires both stability in calibration source and also calibration corrections to compensate for instrument changes. Unlike internal calibrations, the Moon offers an external source whose signal variance is predictable and nondegrading. This paper describes a method of validation using lunar observations scanning near full moon by the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Flight Model (FM)-1 and FM-2 aboard the Terra satellite, FM-3 and FM-4 aboard the Aqua satellite, and, as of 2012, FM-5 aboard Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership. Given the stability of the source, adjustments within the data set are based entirely on removing orbital effects. Lunar observations were found to require a consistent data set spanning at least two to three years in length to examine instrument stability due to the final step when lunar libration effects are addressed. Initial results show a 20% annual variability in the data set. Using this method, however, results show trends per data channel of 1.0% per decade or less for FM-1 through FM-4. Results for FM-5 are not included in this paper because a sufficient data record has not yet been collected.
An interprofessional socialization framework for developing an interprofessional identity among health professions students

Abstract Although health professional educational programs have been successful in equipping graduates with skills, knowledge and professionalism, the emphasis on specialization and profession-specific education has enhanced the development of a uniprofessional identity, which has been found to be a major barrier to interprofessional collaborative person-centred practice (IPCPCP). Changes within healthcare professional education programs are necessary to enable a shift in direction toward interprofessional socialization (IPS) to promote IPCPCP. Currently, there is a paucity of conceptual frameworks to guide IPS. In this article, we present a framework designed to help illuminate an IPS process, which may inform efforts by educators and curriculum developers to facilitate the development of health professions students’ dual identity, that is, an interprofessional identity in addition to their existing professional identity, as a first step toward IPCPCP. This framework integrates concepts derived from social identity theory and intergroup contact theory into a dual identity model of IPS.
Intracellular pH and Ca2+ homeostasis in the pH paradox of reperfusion injury to neonatal rat cardiac myocytes.

Ischemia is characterized by anoxia and a large decrease of tissue pH. After a critical period of ischemia, reperfusion precipitates irreversible injury. Previous work showed that reperfusion injury to cultured neonatal myocytes was precipitated by a rapid return to physiological pH, a "pH paradox" (Bond, J., B. Herman, and J. Lemasters. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 179: 798-803, 1991). The aim of this study was to measure intracellular pH (pHi) and cytosolic free Ca2+ during the pH paradox of reperfusion injury to cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. pHi and free Ca2+ were measured by ratio imaging of 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein and fura 2 fluorescence. To simulate ATP depletion and acidosis of ischemia, myocytes were incubated with 20 mM 2-deoxyglucose plus 2.5 mM NaCN at pH 6.2. During simulated ischemia, pHi dropped to < 6.5 and subsequently remained constant. During this time, some blebbing but little hypercontraction occurred. After 3 or 4 h of simulated ischemia, inhibitors were removed and cells were incubated at pH 7.4 to simulate reperfusion. pHi began to increase, blebbing accelerated, and myocytes hypercontracted. As pHi increased, viability was lost. The same occurred if pH was increased but metabolic inhibitors were not removed. Monensin, a Na(+)-H+ ionophore, accelerated the increase of pH after reperfusion and hastened cell killing. Hypercontraction, blebbing, and loss of viability did not occur when inhibitors were removed at pH 6.2 or in the presence of dimethylamiloride, an inhibitor of Na(+)-H+ exchange. Protection was associated with maintenance of an acidotic pHi. Free Ca2+ progressively increased during simulated ischemia. After simulated reperfusion, free Ca2+ increased further. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Carbon flow from 13 C-labeled clover and ryegrass residues into a residue-associated microbial community under field conditions

Microbial colonization of soil-incorporated, C-labeled, crimson clover and ryegrass straw residues was followed under western Oregon field conditions from late summer (September) to the following early summer (mid-June) by measuring the C content of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) extracted from residues recovered from soil. Residue type influenced the rate of appearance of specific PLFA during early decomposition, with branch chain bacterial PLFA (i15:0, a15:0, i16:0) appearing on clover and ryegrass residues in October and November, respectively. By April, additional PLFA (16:1o5, 16:1o7, cy17:0, 18:0, 18:1o9) had appeared on both residues. Between April and June, microbial community structure shifted again with significant increases (cy17:0, 18:0, 18:1o9), and decreases (18:1o7+10Me18:0) detected in the quantities of specific PLFA on both residue types. In the case of clover, the PLFA-C was derived primarily from residue C (85–100%), whereas in the case of ryegrass, both residue C (57–66%), and soil C contributed substantially to the PLFA-C. r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Validation of the Persian Translation of the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. Validation of the Persian Translation of the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale Soudabeh Sarabi
Gradient based path optimization method for autonomous driving

This paper discusses the possibilities of extending and adapting the CHOMP motion planner [1] to work with a non-holonomic vehicle such as an autonomous truck with a single trailer. A detailed study has been done to find out the different ways of implementing these constraints on the motion planner. CHOMP, which is a successful motion planner for articulated robots produces very fast and collision-free trajectories. This nature is important for a local path adaptor in a multi-vehicle path planning for resolving path-conflicts in a very fast manner and hence, CHOMP was adapted. Secondly, this paper also details the experimental integration of the modified CHOMP with the sensor fusion and control system of an autonomous Volvo FH-16 truck and a set of experiments conducted on a real-time environment. Finally, additional simulations were also conducted to compare the performance of the different approaches developed to study the feasibility of employing CHOMP to autonomous vehicles.
Adaptive Social Skills for Robots Interacting with Virtual Characters in Real Worlds

We propose the implementation of a new interaction type that allows the creation of adaptive social relationships between robots and virtual characters in a real world environment, using reinforcement learning. We present the implementation of a storytelling scenario, which results in an immersion experience for the robot. The robot is able to interact and learn dynamically from the virtual character
MRI Contributes to the Differentiation Between MS and HTLV-I Associated Myelopathy in British Columbian Coastal Natives

Background: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) in British Columbian Coastal Natives has, to date, been a clinical and laboratory diagnosis. However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities have been well-described in other populations in which HAM/TSP is endemic. Methods: In order to assess the usefulness of MRI as a diagnostic tool in this population, we compared scans of HAM/TSP patients with those of HTLV-I positive non-HAM/TSP British Columbian Coastal Natives (carriers) and multiple sclerosis patients presenting with progressive paraparesis. Results: The typical nonspecific findings of thoracic cord atrophy and increased signal in the periventricular and subcortical white matter on T2-weighted images were confirmed in the HAM/TSP patients. Despite a lack of specificity of the MRI findings between HAM/TSP patients and HTLV-I carriers, criteria that could effectively differentiate HAM/TSP patients from multiple sclerosis patients with similar clinical presentations were determined. Conclusions: Clinical and radiological correlations suggest that longitudinal MRI investigations charting the course of HAM/TSP may reveal the clinical significance of these lesions and further define the role of MRI in the diagnosis of this entity. Magnetic resonance imaging is an important supplement to immunological and clinical data in differentiating multiple sclerosis from HAM/TSP.