Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Jet fuel price variations and market value: a focus on low-cost and regular airline companies

We analyze the relationship between dynamics to stock prices and jet fuel prices, conditional on financial and company-specific variables, in the airline sector. In particular, our contribution to the literature is in the comparison between regular and low-cost airline companies. We run a set of fixed-effect regressions where the dependent variable, the stock daily return of the airline company (observed between 2008 and 2014) is regressed over three sets of explanatory variables (financial, company-specific and time variables). While large and small companies provide similar results, we find that the company price return â€“ among different variables â€“ correlates only with the jet fuel return and the stock market return. Our work also suggests that there is a difference between regular and low-cost companies. We speculate that this possibly arises because low-cost companies stock-pile in a more efficient way, which depends less on current jet fuel price. Our evidence then sheds light on the efficiency of the low-cost model and may suggest to export part of its practice among regular airline companies.
Hypertrophic chondrocytes can become osteoblasts and osteocytes in endochondral bone formation

Significance The possibility that terminally differentiated hypertrophic chondrocytes could survive and become osteoblasts in vivo has been debated for more than a century. We show that hypertrophic chondrocytes can survive the cartilage-to-bone transition and become osteoblasts and osteocytes during endochondral bone formation and in bone repair. Our discovery provides the basis for a conceptual change of a chondrocyte-to-osteoblast lineage continuum, with new insights into the process of endochondral bone formation, the ontogeny of bone cells, and bone homeostasis. Furthermore, our findings have implications for current concepts on mechanisms of skeletal disorders and bone repair and regeneration. According to current dogma, chondrocytes and osteoblasts are considered independent lineages derived from a common osteochondroprogenitor. In endochondral bone formation, chondrocytes undergo a series of differentiation steps to form the growth plate, and it generally is accepted that death is the ultimate fate of terminally differentiated hypertrophic chondrocytes (HCs). Osteoblasts, accompanying vascular invasion, lay down endochondral bone to replace cartilage. However, whether an HC can become an osteoblast and contribute to the full osteogenic lineage has been the subject of a century-long debate. Here we use a cell-specific tamoxifen-inducible genetic recombination approach to track the fate of murine HCs and show that they can survive the cartilage-to-bone transition and become osteogenic cells in fetal and postnatal endochondral bones and persist into adulthood. This discovery of a chondrocyte-to-osteoblast lineage continuum revises concepts of the ontogeny of osteoblasts, with implications for the control of bone homeostasis and the interpretation of the underlying pathological bases of bone disorders.
Interaction between smoking, GSTM1 deletion and colorectal cancer: results from the GSEC study

Cigarette smoking has inconsistently been associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. One of the enzymes responsible for the detoxification of the carcinogenic compounds present in tobacco smoke is glutathione S-transferase-μ (GST-μ). The gene that codes for this enzyme is GSTM1. In this study, we evaluated the associations and interaction between GSTM1 deletion, smoking behaviour and the development of colorectal cancer. We performed a pooled analysis within the International Collaborative Study on Genetic Susceptibility to Environmental Carcinogens (GSEC). We selected six studies on colorectal cancer, including 1130 cases and 2519 controls, and restricted our analyses to Caucasians because the number of patients from other races was too limited. In addition we performed a meta-analysis including the studies from the GSEC database and other studies identified on MEDLINE on the same subject. The prevalence of the GSTM1 null genotype was within the range reported in other studies: 51.8% of the cases had the GSTM1 null genotype versus 56.6% of the controls. No significant association between the GSTM1 null genotype and colorectal cancer was found (odds ratio 0.92, 95% confidence interval 0.73-1.14). Our results suggest a possible positive association between lack of the GST-μ enzyme and colorectal cancer for non-smoking women (odds ratio 1.47, 95% confidence interval 0.80-2.70). There was no interaction between the effects of smoking and GSTM1 genotype on colorectal cancer risk in men and women (χ2=0.007, p=0.97). Our findings do not support an association between the GSTM1 null genotype and colorectal cancer. In addition, we did not find any modification of the smoking-induced colorectal cancer risk by GSTM1 genotype
Dopamine-induced Endocytosis of Na+,K+-ATPase Is Initiated by Phosphorylation of Ser-18 in the Rat α Subunit and Is Responsible for the Decreased Activity in Epithelial Cells*

Dopamine inhibits Na+,K+-ATPase activity in renal tubule cells. This inhibition is associated with phosphorylation and internalization of the α subunit, both events being protein kinase C-dependent. Studies of purified preparations, fusion proteins with site-directed mutagenesis, and heterologous expression systems have identified two major protein kinase C phosphorylation residues (Ser-11 and Ser-18) in the rat α1 subunit isoform. To identify the phosphorylation site(s) that mediates endocytosis of the subunit in response to dopamine, we have performed site-directed mutagenesis of these residues in the rat α1subunit and expressed the mutated forms in a renal epithelial cell line. Dopamine inhibited Na+,K+-ATPase activity and increased α subunit phosphorylation and clathrin-dependent endocytosis into endosomes in cells expressing the wild type α1 subunit or the S11A α1 mutant, and both effects were blocked by protein kinase C inhibition. In contrast, dopamine did not elicit any of these effects in cells expressing the S18A α1 mutant. While Ser-18 phosphorylation is necessary for endocytosis, it does not affectper se the enzymatic activity: preventing endocytosis with wortmannin or LY294009 blocked the inhibitory effect of dopamine on Na+,K+-ATPase activity, although it did not alter the increased α subunit phosphorylation induced by this agonist. We conclude that dopamine-induced inhibition of Na+,K+-ATPase activity in rat renal tubule cells requires endocytosis of the α subunit into defined intracellular compartments and that phosphorylation of Ser-18 is essential for this process.
Contemporary Employer Interest Representation in the United Kingdom

Focusing on employers’ organizations in the United Kingdom, this article contributes to the literature on employer interest representation by advancing three interrelated arguments, which reflect how the methods, structure and interests of employer representation have evolved. First, the primary method of collective interest representation has shifted from collective bargaining, nowadays only pursued by a minority of employers’ organizations, to political representation, now the most frequent form of collective interest representation. Second, the structure of employer interest representation has evolved and is fragmented between a small number of large, general employers’ organizations, a large majority of sectoral employers’ organizations, regional interest representation in the devolved nations, which has become more important, and a new type of employer body, the employer forum, which focuses on corporate social responsibility. Third, the shift in collective interest representation is complemented by a broadening of individual interest representation, with employers’ organizations having developed a wide range of services.
Single-resource capacity control with random-fuzzy demand

This paper studies the capacity control problem in revenue management with single resource, where the decision maker can only estimate the type of probability distribution of uncertain demand, but they do not have the necessary historic data to estimate the parameters of these distributions. We model these uncertainty parameters with fuzzy variables. Based on the theory of fuzzy satisfaction degree for objectives, the fuzzy nonlinear programming model in this paper is transformed into a convex programming problem. By using the lagrangian multiplier and the Kuhn-Tucker conditions we obtain the optimal solution of the model. Owing to the information for demand in random-fuzzy environment is less than only in the random environment, the paper reveals that the protection level for the highest class with random-fuzzy demand are more than only in random environment and it depends on the membership of the fuzzy environment, what's more, if and only if the membership equals 1, the protection level in these two situations are the same to each other. The model in this paper can be viewed as a generalization of single-resource capacity control with random demand.
Early "step-down" transfer of low-risk patients with chest pain. A controlled interventional trial.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether providing private practitioners with triage criteria for their low-risk chest pain patients would safely enhance bed utilization efficiency in coronary and intermediate care units. DESIGN Prospective, controlled, interventional trial using an alternate month study design. SETTING A large teaching community hospital. PATIENTS Cohort of 404 low-risk patients with chest pain for whom a diagnosis of myocardial infarction has been excluded and who have not sustained complications, required interventions, or developed unstable comorbidity. INTERVENTIONS During intervention months, private practitioners caring for low-risk patients in the coronary and intermediate care units were contacted 24 hours after admission. Physicians were informed that the transfer of low-risk patients to nonmonitored beds could probably be done safely, based on the results of a pilot study. The practitioner had the option of agreeing to or deferring patient transfer. During control months, physicians were not contacted in this way. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Use of the triage criteria by private practitioners reduced lengths of stay in the intermediate and coronary care units by 36% and 53%, respectively. Bed availability increased by 744 intermediate and 372 coronary care unit bed-days per year. Charges decreased by $2.6 million per year and profits improved by $390,000 per year. There were not significant differences in complications between control and intervention patients and in no case (95% CI, 0% to 1.6%) did the triage criteria adversely affect quality of care. CONCLUSIONS The early transfer triage criteria may be a safe and efficacious decision aid for improving bed utilization in intermediate and coronary care units. In addition, this study shows the feasibility of and potential benefits from applying practice guidelines at a community hospital.
A Comparison of Cost Structures in Japan and the U.S.

This paper attempts to explain why prices are systematically higher in Japan than in the U.S. It is aimed at measuring direct and indirect productivity and input-price components of sectorial costs of production in Japan relative to the U.S. and presenting a methodology for a bilateral comparison of cost structure by using harmonized input-output tables and Purchasing Power Parity data. The empirical application reveals new elements that explain the difference in costs of production between Japan and the U.S. The main finding is that only in a few industries was the "direct" cost efficiency higher in Japan than in the U.S. during 1985, but even in these industries the "indirect" productivity component was significantly lower than that in the U.S.
ACO-Based Thermal-Aware Thread-to-Core Mapping for Dark-Silicon-Constrained CMPs

The limitation on thermal budget in chip multiprocessor (CMP) results in a fraction of inactive silicon regions called dark silicon, which significantly impacts the system performance. In this paper, we propose a thread-to-core mapping method for dark-silicon-constrained CMPs to address their thermal issue. We first propose a thermal prediction model to forecast CMP temperature after the CMP executes a forthcoming application. Then, we develop an ant colony optimization-based algorithm to conduct the thread-to-core mapping process, such that the CMP peak temperature is minimized and, consequently, the probability of triggering CMP dynamic thermal management is decreased. Finally, we evaluate our method and compare it with the baseline (a standard Linux scheduler) and other existing methods (NoC-Sprinting, DaSiM mapping, and TP mapping). The simulation results show that our method gains good thermal profile and computational performance, and performs well with chip scaling. Specifically, it eliminates all thermal emergency time, outperforming all other methods, and gains million instructions per second improvement up to 12.9% against the baseline.
An overview of tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer

Introduction: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy and the fifth most common cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Initial treatment with surgery and chemotherapy has improved survival significantly. However, the disease progresses or recurs in most patients. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop more effective treatment strategies. Areas covered: This article provides an overview of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for the treatment of EOC, which is based on English peer-reviewed articles on MEDLINE and related abstracts presented at major conferences. The authors highlight the data from the published clinical trials in EOC patients who were treated with TKIs or TKI-based regimens. Expert opinion: EOC is responsive to most chemotherapeutic drugs and/or biological agents and represents an ideal disease model for investigating novel anti-cancer agents. Numerous small-molecule TKIs targeting the VEGFR, PARP, PI3K-AKT-mTOR, MAPK, Src, PKC, Wee1 and HER1/2 signaling pathways are currently being tested in clinical trials. Research is needed for devising regimens combining TKIs with other agents in an optimal timing schedule and for identifying potential biomarkers predictive of response and survival.
Market-Based Measurement for School Achievement

Over the last thirty years, state governments have paid ever-increasing attention to the results of standardized testing to identify successful schools, rewarding those with better performance by allocating to them a greater share of resources. Although traditional, high-stakes, standardized testing has been shown to be effective at measuring discrete skills or a predetermined list of facts, the overwhelming majority of research into its effectiveness shows not only that these tests fail to measure educational quality but also that their use tends to negatively affect the intellectual development of students in the classroom. This article argues for an alternative mechanism to evaluating school achievement. We claim that a free-market approach to education, one that includes central features of market systems—profits, market entry, price changes, product differentiation, and competition—not only provides a better mechanism than the use of high-stakes testing by which to allocate limited financial resources and motivate academic achievement but also serves as a more accurate tool to measure the quality of school programs. Phillip Magness and Chris W. Surprenant, "Market-Based Measurement for School Achievement," Journal of Markets & Morality 22, no. 1 (Spring 2019): 81-98.
Predictors of hematoma enlargement in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage treated with rapid administration of antifibrinolytic agents and strict blood pressure control.

OBJECT Hematoma enlargement is a major cause of poor outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). A combination of rapid administration of antifibrinolytics and strict blood pressure (BP) control for prevention of hematoma enlargement has been recently reported. The authors examined the incidence and predictors of hematoma enlargement in patients with ICH who were treated with this therapy. METHODS Rapid administration of antifibrinolytic agents consisted of intravenous administration of 2 g tranexamic acid over 10 minutes. Systolic BP was strictly maintained below 150 mm Hg using intravenous nicardipine. Immediately after diagnosis of ICH on computed tomography (CT), 188 patients who were admitted within 24 hours of symptom onset were treated with a combination of rapid administration of antifibrinolytic agents and BP control. Hematoma enlargement was determined on the basis of a second CT scan performed the day after admission. Several factors, including those that have been reported to affect hematoma enlargement, were compared between patients with and without hematoma enlargement. Hematoma enlargement (> or =20% volume increase) was observed in eight (4.3%) of 188 patients. Previous use of antiplatelet agents was significantly more frequent in patients with hematoma enlargement (p < 0.05). No significant between-group difference was found for any other factors Conclusions. Previous use of antiplatelet agents was a predictor of hematoma enlargement in patients with ICH treated with rapid administration of antifibrinolytic agents and BP control.
Co-creation of social innovations and new professional institutions: diffusion of therapeutic patient education (TPE) for diabetes in Austria

Abstract The paper examines the link between institutional change and the development and diffusion of social innovations. Patient-centred education in diabetes is a radical social innovation that alters the social and medical relationship between patients and medics. This paper discusses the ways in which institutional work conducted by national and international professional associations has shaped development and diffusion of this social innovation within the Austrian health system. The case study contributes to our understanding of social innovation and institutional change in two respects. First, it highlights the need for purposive institutional work in order to disrupt pre-existing institutions and, thereby, ensure the development and diffusion of a social innovation amongst a community of medical practitioners. Second, the case shows the overtly political work, policing and educating work that professional associations undertook with funding bodies and key policy-makers in order to develop a national programme for diabetes education.
Molecular Mechanisms of Go Signaling

Go is the most abundant G protein in the central nervous system, where it comprises about 1% of membrane protein in mammalian brains. It functions to couple cell surface receptors to intercellular effectors, which is a critical process for cells to receive, interpret and respond to extracellular signals. Go protein belongs to the pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi/Go subfamily of G proteins. A number of G-protein-coupled receptors transmit stimuli to intercellular effectors through Go. Go regulates several cellular effectors, including ion channels, enzymes, and even small GTPases to modulate cellular function. This review summarizes some of the advances in Go research and proposes areas to be further addressed in exploring the functional role of Go.
Approximating principal genetic components of subcortical shape

Optimal representations of the genetic structure underlying complex neuroimaging phenotypes lie at the heart of our quest to discover the genetic code of the brain. Here, we suggest a strategy for achieving such a representation by decomposing the genetic covariance matrix of complex phenotypes into maximally heritable and genetically independent components. We show that such a representation can be approximated well with eigenvectors of the genetic covariance based on a large family study. Using 520 twin pairs from the QTIM dataset, we estimate 500 principal genetic components of 54,000 vertex-wise shape features representing fourteen subcortical regions. We show that our features maintain their desired properties in practice. Further, the genetic components are found to be significantly associated with the CLU and PICALM genes in an unrelated Alzheimer's Disease (AD) dataset. The same genes are not significantly associated with other volume and shape measures in this dataset.
Circumstances of Falls Causing Hip Fractures in the Elderly

A prospective analysis was performed on 832 patients to determine the circumstances surrounding falls leading to hip fracture within a homogenous, elderly urban population. Special emphasis was placed on the season of year, time of day, location of fall, and other circumstances in which the fracture occurred. All patients were community dwelling, cognitively intact, previously ambulatory elderly who sustained a femoral neck or intertrochanteric fracture. Most fractures occurred at home, particularly in patients who were older, less healthy, and poorer ambulators. More than 75% of fractures resulted from a fall while the patient was standing or walking. Most falls occurred during daylight hours with a peak seen in the afternoon. No seasonal variation in the incidence of hip fractures was observed.
Performance evaluation and optimization of a solid oxide fuel cell system combined with solid oxide electrolysis cell

As solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems fueled with natural gas and biogas are applied widely, the capture and utilization of CO2 in SOFC exhaust gas are important issues. This paper proposes a new SOFC system combined with a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) stack, which absorbs renewable electrical power such as solar power and wind power to convert CO2 in SOFC exhaust gas into fuel by electrolysis reactions, and the SOFC-SOEC system model is built for in-depth steady state analysis and multi-objective performance optimization. After that, the performance of the SOFC-SOEC system is evaluated by comparing with a typical external steam-reforming SOFC system. The results show that the SOFC-SOEC system acquires significant advantages in high system efficiency, long time sustainable power supply and low CO2 emission.
Effect of tunicamycin on herpes simplex virus glycoproteins and infectious virus production

The antibiotic tunicamycin, which blocks the synthesis of glycoproteins, inhibited the production of infectious herpes simplex virus. In the presence of this drug, [14C]glucosamine and [3H]mannose incorporation was reduced in infected cells, whereas total protein synthesis was not affected. Gel electrophoresis of [2-3H]mannose-labeled polypeptides failed to detect glycoprotein D or any of the other herpes simplex virus glycoproteins. By use of specific antisera we demonstrated that in the presence of tunicamycin the normal precursors to viral glycoproteins failed to appear. Instead, lower-molecular-weight polypeptides were found which were antigenically and structurally related to the glycosylated proteins. Evidence is presented to show that blocking the addition of carbohydrate to glycoprotein precursors with tunicamycin results in the disappearance of molecules, possibly due to degradation of the unglycosylated polypeptides. We infer that the added carbohydrate either stabilizes the envelope proteins or provides the proper structure for correct processing of the molecules needed for infectivity.