Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Intermediaries in Facilitating Trade PRELIMINARY DRAFT

Using a database that records the census of rm-level trade by Chinese rms, we provide systematic evidence that intermediaries play an important role in faciliating trade across borders. Intermediaries account for at least 20% of Chinas imports and exports in 2005. This implies that a large number of rms are able to engage in international trade without directly exporting or importing products. We modify a heterogenous rm trade model to allow rms to endogenously select their mode of exporteither directly or indirectly through an intemediary. The model predicts that intermediaries play a relatively more important role in markets that are more di¢ cult to penetrate. We provide empirical con rmation for this prediction as well as generate new facts regarding the activity of intermediaries. Keywords: China, Intermediaries, Heterogeneous Firms, Middlemen, Fixed Costs JEL classi cation: F1 We thank James Rauch and Peter Schott for helpful comments and suggestions. We thank the Social Enterprise Program and the Chazen Institute at Columbia Business School for nancial support. All errors are our own. yIntl. A¤airs Building, 420 West 118th St. New York, NY 10027. email : ja2264@columbia.edu. z3022 Broadway, Uris Hall, New York, NY 10027, tel : (2123) 854-7506, fax : (212) 316-9219, email : ak2796@columbia.edu x3022 Broadway, Uris Hall, New York, NY 10027, tel : (212) 854-9139, fax : (212) 316-9219, email : shangjin.wei@columbia.edu Facilitating Trade 2
Moore’s Law goes Multicore: The economic consequences of a fundamental change in how computers work PRELIMINARY: DO NOT CITE, QUOTE OR DISTRIBUTE WITHOUT THE AUTHOR’S PERMISSION

Computing performance doubles every couple of years” is the popular re-phrasing of Moore’s Law, a 50-year old prediction by one of the founders of Intel. Over that time, it has described the 500,000-fold increase in the number of components on modern computer chips that forms the basis for virtually all information technology used today. But what impact has this vast expansion of the technological frontier of computing had on the productivity of firms? This paper tries to answer this question by focusing on the mid-2000s, at a moment when the manifestation of Moore’s Law changed to ‘multicore’ chips. Unlike earlier chips that increased processor speed faster with each generation, these chips stayed the same speed but added more-and-more processors, or ‘cores,’ on each chip (e.g. Intel CORE Duo). But, taking advantage of multiple processors requires that software can split work amongst them. That is, the software must be parallelized. Software that is not designed that way cannot use the extra processors and thus its performance stagnates. Thus the switch to multiple-processors chips grows the technological frontier asymmetrically, disproportionately benefiting parallelized software and firms that use it. This paper estimates the productivity impact of this differential expansion on a panel of Swedish firms from 2001 to 2007 using a remarkably detailed dataset on Swedish I.T. usage and a novel survey of computer scientists carried out for this paper. It shows that prior to the switch to multicore, productivity growth was consistent with an equal expansion of the technological frontier across all firms, but that afterwards those that could take advantage of Moore’s Law in its multicore form grew productivity faster, becoming more productive over the 2005-2007 period. The paper then argues that this should be interpreted as a broad-based, causal estimate of the effect of information technology (I.T.) on firm productivity because the changeover to multicore chips was a surprise, and because of the similarity of the treatment and control groups prior to the changeover. Real-world examples are also presented that support the description of the phenomenon and the mechanism being described.
Endophytic Entomopathogenic Fungi: A Valuable Biological Control Tool against Plant Pests

Among the non-chemical insect control methods, biological control is one of the most effective human and environmentally friendly alternatives. One of the main biological control methods is the application of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF). Today, biological crop protection with EPF plays a key role in projects for the sustainable management of insect pests. EPF have several advantages over conventional insecticides, including cost-effectiveness, high yield, absence of harmful side-effects for beneficial organisms, fewer chemical residues in the environment and increased biodiversity in ecosystems. Apart from direct application as contact bioinsecticides, EPF are able to colonize plants as endophytes acting not only as pest and disease control agents but also as plant growth promoters. The present paper presents an outline of the biocontrol potential of several EPF, which could be harnessed for the development of new integrated pest Management (IPM) strategies. Emphasis is given on benefits of endophytic EPF, on issues for practical application and in fields in need of further research. Our findings are discussed in the context of highlighting the value of entomopathogenic fungal endophytes as an integral part of pest management programs for the optimization of crop production.
Bombing Good Bacteria? The Effect of Antibiotic Use on Child BMI

I explore the effect of antibiotic usage on children’s body mass and propensity to obesity. I exploit variation in physicians’ prescribing behavior and implement an instrumental variable approach which uses the random assignment of patients to doctors within clinics, as well as a fixed-effects methodology, and find that receiving an additional antibiotic prescription significantly increases children’s BMI z-score and obesity propensity. I use data on about one million, overall healthy, children under 25 in Mexico City using a panel dataset from administrative and clinical records. I find that effects of antibiotics on body mass are considerably larger for girls and that they are stronger for children who suffer from malnutrition (wasting). Effects from antibiotic usage are cumulative, although they wear off over time. Antibiotics are the most commonly prescribed therapy to children. While the positive health impact of antibiotics for curing bacterial diseases is well known, antibiotic usage is also associated with substancial costs, such as the rise of superbug and antimicrobial resistance (Rogawski et al. 2017). An additional concern which has received relatively less attention is antibiotics’ effect on weight and body mass index (BMI), likely due to a known detrimental effect of antibiotics on the gut microbiota—the “good bacteria” present in the gastrointestinal tract—that plays a key role in digestion and metabolism (Allen et al. 2014). ∗email: fernanda.marquez@cide.edu I am very grateful to, Janet Currie, Ilyana Kuziemko, and Tadeja Gracner for their helpful suggestions, as well as to the seminar participants at CIDE’s internal seminar. Diana Flores provided useful research assistance.
RESPONSES OF SKIN AND COAT FIBRES IN BARKI EWES TO THE NUTRITION ON SALT PLANTS AND PROPIONIBACTERIAUNDER THE ARID CONDITIONS

The present study aimed at investigating the effect of using Barki sheep ewes. Forty-two animals were utilized in the experiment. 14 ewes served as control (given berseem hay as a basal roughage diet), 14 ewes were designed to be given mixture of salt plants at a percentage of (50% Atriplex Halimus and Nummularia and 50% Pearl Millet) and 14 ewes were fed the same diet with propionibacteria (1gm/h/day). Skin samples were taken from different feed trials and prepared for histological and histochemical studies. Wool fibre samples were also examined illustrating some wool traits under the same different feeding treatments. Results indicated a significant enhancement of the follicle activity due to the follicle dimensions, primary follicles exhibited less reaction than secondary follicles (P<0.05). The addition of propionibacteria decreased disturbances caused by salt plants on follicle dimensions. It also enhanced (P<0.05) the production of protein contents in both primary and secondary wool follicle sheathes. There were no differences in carbohydrate contents in the wool follicles of animals in the control group and those fed propionibacteria. Administration of propionibacteria resulted in an increased fibre diameter and wool traits. In conclusion, giving Barki ewes propionibacteria as feed additive enhanced the metabolic activity resulting in an increased wool follicle activity and decreased the negative effect of salt plants on their performance.
A Miniaturized Wideband Bandpass Filter Using Quarter-Wavelength Stepped-Impedance Resonators

In this paper, we present a simple method to design a miniaturized wideband bandpass filter with suppression of the third harmonic, using only two quarter-wavelength stepped-impedance resonators (SIRs). The resonant modes of the quarter-wavelength SIR, depending on the impedance ratio (K) and electrical length ratio (α), are discussed first. As to setting the resonant frequency of the SIR for the lower band edge of the required band, the size parameters of two quarter-wavelength SIRs can be determined by selecting the desired impedance ratio (K) and length ratio (α). By using the opposite directional arrangement of two SIRs with direct taped input/output ports, the wideband response can be formed. A filter example is shown in this study to address this simple design procedure. The measured results of the fabricated filter have a wide passband response from 3.3 to 5.8 GHz, with an insertion loss of 1.5 dB, a return loss of 20 dB, an extended bandwidth ration of 55%, a low-average group delay of less than 0.75 ns, and a stopband from 6 to 12 GHz, with an attenuation level of 20 dB. Due to the similar 0° feeding, a transmission zero at 8.3 GHz appears near the band edge; thus, improving the band selectivity. The proposed filter can have a very simple structure and a miniature size. Simulated results and measured results are in good agreement.
Diabetes Self-Management in the

This article will present an in-depth exploration and synthesis of current literature that informs nursing knowledge of diabetes self-management for the migrant Latino population. Extensive research in diabetes care has been conducted, however, there is a significant knowledge gap related to the factors that influence the achievement of glycemic control and self-management practices of the Latino population. Based on well-documented disparities in complications and health outcomes among Latinos when compared with White Americans, there is sufficient evidence to question whether traditional White beliefs about self-management are successful or appropriate for the Latino population in general and migrants specifically. Traditional models view self-management as an individual’s responsibility. Whether this view is congruent with the collectivist cultural tradition held by many Latinos is unclear. Equally unclear is the degree to which using traditional models of self-management in teaching about managing type 2 diabetes influences health outcomes in this population. Culturally congruent care and nursing interventions involve much more than an understanding of language and dietary preferences.
b Cell dysfunction during progression of metabolic syndrome to type 2 diabetes

In a society where physical activity is limited and food supply is abundant, metabolic diseases are becoming a serious epidemic. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a cluster of metabolically related symptoms such as obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and carbohydrate intolerance, and significantly increases type 2 diabetes mellitus risk. Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia are consistent characteristics of MetS, but which of these features is the initiating insult is still widely debated. Regardless, both of these conditions trigger adverse responses from the pancreatic b cell, which is responsible for producing, storing, and releasing insulin to maintain glucose homeostasis. The observation that the degree of b cell dysfunction correlates with the severity of MetS highlights the need to better understand b cell dysfunction in the development of MetS. This Review focuses on the current understanding from rodent and human studies of the progression of b cell responses during the development of MetS, as well as recent findings addressing the complexity of b cell identity and heterogeneity within the islet during disease progression. The differential responses observed in b cells together with the heterogeneity in disease phenotypes within the patient population emphasize the need to better understand the mechanisms behind b cell adaptation, identity, and dysfunction in MetS. Review Series
ENHANCEMENT OF EMBRYONIC AND HATCHING PERFORMANCE OF RHODE-ISLAND RED CHICKEN BY EXPOSING INCUBATED EGGS TO LIGHT PULSES IN RELATION TO THEIR SHELL PIGMENTATION

Light pulses (PS) could be an effective tool to decontaminate and improve the hatching of incubated eggs. So, this study assessed the role of PS during incubation in improving embryonic development and hatching performance of Rhode Island Red chicken in relation to eggshell pigment. A total of 900 eggs were randomly divided into three groups according to their eggshell pigmentation (light, medium and heavy) and incubated with or without being exposed to PS. The exposure to PS significantly (p<0.05) increased the final embryo weight, egg weight loss, chick's weight at day 7 post-hatch, relative weights of chick internal organs (breast, liver and ovary) and decreased hatching time. However, no significant differences were observed in hatchability, chick characteristics, hatch chick weight, chick weight loss and residual yolk sac. Regarding eggshell pigments, there was a positive relationship between chick length, relative weight of liver and chick quality with the density of eggshell pigments. However, there were no differences recorded among different egg shell pigmentation groups in embryo weight percentages, hatchability, egg weight loss, culled chicks, hatch time, body temp. , chick sex, weight gains of chick and percentages of most internal organs. There were significant differences in most studied traits (percentages of embryo weight, hatching performance, chick quality, chick weight loss, relative weight gain, chick breast and liver), due to the interaction effects of pulses with eggshell pigment. It could be concluded that the medium to heavily pigmented eggs exposed to PS during incubation showed favourable results of hatchability and hatch time. Therefore, the application of pulses could be successful in hatchery with no negative effect on chick's quality.
Using machine learning techniques for Data Quality Monitoring in CMS and ALICE

Data Quality Assurance plays an important role in all high-energy physics experiments. Currently used methods rely heavily on manual labour and human expert judgements. Hence, multiple attempts are being undertaken to develop automatic solutions especially based on machine learning techniques as the core part of Data Quality Monitoring systems. However, anomalies caused by detector malfunctioning or sub–optimal data processing are difficult to enumerate a priori and occur rarely, making it difficult to use supervised classification. Therefore, researchers from different experiments including ALICE and CMS work extensively on semi–supervised and unsupervised algorithms in order to distinguish potential outliers without manually assigned labels. In this contribution, we will discuss several projects whose that aim at solve this task. Machine learning based solutions bring several advantages and may provide fast and reliable data quality assurance, simultaneously reducing the manpower requirements. A good example of this approach is a model based on deep autoencoder employed in the CMS experiment which has been successfully qualified on CMS data collected during the 2016 LHC run . Tests indicate that this solution is able to detect anomalies with high accuracy and low fake rate when compared against the outcome of the manual labelling by experts. Researchers from the ALICE experiment are currently working on a similar task. They intend to perform a data quality checks in much higher granularity. The current approach is limited to run classification based on manually set cut–offs on descriptive data statistics. More sophisticated machine learning based methods may enable more accurate data selection, on high granularity level of 15-minutes data acquisition periods.
An Optimum Data Warehouse for Epidemiological Analysis using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims of Japan

Background: While administrative databases for health care are increasingly used as research tools, such databases generally contain only health insurance claims data, the contents of which are insufficient for conducting epidemiological research. Creating a dataset appropriate for specific analysis requires technical expertise and familiarity with data analysis. The aim of our research is to develop a data warehouse (DW) accessible to researchers of epidemiology without this expertise. Methods: We began by adding commonly used attributes in the epidemiological field to the National Database of Health Insurance Claims of Japan (NDB), to construct a Research Question Oriented DB. Secondly, we developed a versatile analysis unit schema by which the Research Question Oriented DW was reconstructed as perpatient units, covering demographics including sex, age group etc. We then proposed a pattern relational calculus by which research-specific attributes can be added without expert knowledge of SQL. Finally, we applied the DW in two epidemiological studies. Results: In both studies, the coverage of attributes constructed only by the versatile analysis unit schema was limited. The versatile analysis unit schema covered 12% (3/25) of the attributes used for the one study as well as 15% (3/20) in the other study. On the other hand, the pattern relational calculus we proposed covered all remaining attributes which researchers used for their study. Conclusion: As the versatile analysis unit schema and the pattern relational calculus were able to cover all attributes used in the two epidemiological studies, this shows that even within a limited scope, our method allows researchers who have little knowledge of SQL to tackle respective epidemiological study. Abbreviations and Terminologies: NDB-SD: NDB Sampling Data set; DW: Data Warehouse; Shema: design of attributes in relations in the relational model theory; Relation: table with no duplicate tuple; Attribute: column name or variable name in relations; Primary key: one or more attributes that uniquely identify each tuple in a relation; Tuple: combination of attributes in a relation, almost the same meaning as row; Tuple relational calculus: logical expression used in the relational model theory; SQL: database language based on the relational model theory
RESEARCH ON THE EFFECT OF THE FERTILIZATION REGIME ON DECORATIVE AND MORPHO-ANATOMIC PECULIARITIES OF PITTOSPORA TOBIRA PLANTS

It is known that the nutrition regime is strongly influencing the plant`s productive potential. The present work continues with an older theme, with works that have enjoyed a very good international appreciation. The species subject to the observations in this paper was Pittospora tobira, much appreciated for its distinctive decorative qualities. Plants, obtained by knockout, were fertilized with three different products: Osmocote, Almagerol and Atonic. The elements of growth and development of plants were studied and recorded dynamically at the macroscopic and microscopic level. For all the observation series and the monitored elements, the Osmocote fertilizer is strongly influenced. This has led to significant increases in the quantitative aspects of plant organs observed both at macroscopic and microscopic levels. Regarding the qualitative aspects of growth, it was found that Almagerol and Atonic products determined the highest values, especially at microscopic level.
Modifications du profil tensionnel nycthéméral associées à la réduction de la variabilité de la fréquence cardiaque chez le diabétique de type 1

Cette etude se propose de caracteriser les modifications tensionnelles des diabetiques de type 1 qui presentent une reduction de la variabilite de la FC. Patients et methodes : Cette etude repose sur 70 patients d'âge moyen 42 ± 13 ans, suivis pour un diabete de type 1 qui evolue depuis 13,2 ± 9 ans. Ils sont indemnes de complication degenerative et ne suivent pas d'autre traitement que l'insuline. La variabilite de la FC est evaluee par analyse spectrale de l'Holter ECG de 24 heures. Cet examen permet de separer les patients en deux groupes selon que la transformee logarithmique de la puissance spectrale dans les hautes frequences (PS HF 24 heures) est inferieure (groupe 1, N = 36) ou superieure (groupe 2, N = 34) a la moyenne des 70 sujets. Les donnees cliniques, biologiques et les MAPA sont comparees entre ces deux groupes. Resultats : Les patients du groupe 1 sont plus âges que ceux du groupe 2 (47,8 ± 11,2 vs 35,7 ± 12,2 ans, p < 0,0001) et leur diabete evolue depuis plus longtemps (16,9 ± 8,4 vs 9,4 ± 8 ans, p < 0,001). L'IMC et l'Hb A1c ne different pas entre les deuxgroupes. La moyenne des PA nocturnes est plus elevee dans le groupe 1 (PAS: 112±13 vs 103±11 mmHg, p < 0,01 et PAD: 66 ± 8 vs 60 ± 7 mmHg, p < 0,001). La difference de PA entre le jour et la nuit (APA) est moins marquee chez les sujets du groupe 1 (ΔPAS: 10±9 vs 15±7 mmHg, p < 0,02 et ΔPAD: 9 ± 7 vs 12 ± 5 mmHg, p < 0,04). APAS et APAD sont correles a la PS HF 24 heures (r = 0,356, p < 0,003), qui explique 11,8 % et 12 % de leur variance. Enfin, l'excretion urinaire d'albumine est plus elevee chez les patients du groupe 1 (8 ± 4 vs S ± 3 mg/24 h, p < 0,01). Conclusion: Chez le diabetique de type 1 indemne de complication, la reduction de la variabilite de la FC liee a l'âge et a l'anciennete du diabete s'associe a une reduction de la chute nocturne de la PA. Ces deux composantes de la neuropathie vegetative vont favoriser l'apparition de la nephropathie incipiens.
EFFECTS OF LIVE YEAST (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) SUPPLEMENTATION ON NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY, RUMEN FERMENTATION AND RUMEN MICROBIAL POPULATION COUNT IN SHEEP

This study investigated the impacts of dietary yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplementation on rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility and rumen microbial population in sheep. Three digestibility trials were carried out using fifteen Sohagi rams randomly assigned into three groups (5 rams/ each). Each trial lasted for three weeks, the firsttwo weekswere considered as a preliminary period followed by one week collection period.The groups were a control group fed basal diet without yeast supplement and treated groups fed either 0.5 (T1) or 1% (T2) yeast culture (YC) mixed with concentrate diet. All animals were fed 60% of their requirements as concentrate mixture while, chopped corn stover was given as roughages ad libitum. The results pointed out, the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fibre, neutral detergent fibre and hemicellulose were significantly (P<0.05) improvedfor yeast treated diets compared with basal diet.Live yeast culture either 0.5or 1% in concentrate diet increased (P <0.05) the pH,volatile fatty acids (VFAs), acetate and propionate, while rumen ammonia nitrogen on centration was decreased (P<0.05). Live yeast supplementation (0.5 or 1%) improved (P<0.05) N retention.The rumenal bacterial and protozoal counts increased (P<0.05) due to YC supplementation. In conclusion, dietary live yeast culture (S. cerevisiae) particular1% of concentrate mixture may improve nutrient digestibility, fermentation patterns and rumen microbial population.