Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Indicator Properties of the PaperBill Spread: Lessons from Recent Experience

A feature of U.S. postwar business cycle experience that is by now widely documented is the tendency of the spread between the respective interest rates on commercial paper and Treasury bills to widen shortly before the onset of recessions. By contrast, the paperbill spread did not anticipate the 19901991 recession. Empirical work presented in this paper supports two (not mutually exclusive) explanations for this departure from past experience. First, at least part of the paperbill spread's predictive content with respect to business cycle fluctuations stems from its role as an indicator of monetary policy, but the 19901991 recession was unusual in postwar U.S. experience in not being immediately precipitated by tight monetary policy. Second, movements of the spread during the few years just prior to the 19901991 recession were strongly influenced by changes in the relative quantities of commercial paper, bank CDs, and Treasury bills that occurred for reasons unrelated to the business cycle. This latter finding in particular sheds light on the important role of imperfect substitutability of different short-term debt instruments in investors' portfolios, and highlights the burdens associated with using relative interest rate relationships as business cycle indicators.
Intramolecular homologous recombination in cells infected with temperature-sensitive mutants of vaccinia virus

I have used a plasmid containing two copies of the Saccharmyces cerevisiae his3 gene to study intramolecular homologous recombination in vaccina virus-infected cells. Recombination of the plasmid was monitored by restriction enzyme digestion and Southern blot hybridization in cells infected with representatives from each of 32 complementation groups of temperature-sensitive mutants ts42 and ts17 did not replicate nor detectably recombine the input plasmid. All except one of the mutants that synthesized normal amounts of viral DNA and protein replicated and recombined the plasmid in a manner indistinguishable from wild-type virus. The remaining mutant, ts13, only poorly replicated and recombined the input plasmid. Thus, the processes of replication and recombination could not be separated by using this battery of mutants. Viral mutants defective in late protein synthesis were unable to resolve the vaccinia virus concatemer junction in plasmids but carried out intramolecular homologous recombination with plasmids as efficiently as did wild-type virus at the conditionally lethal temperature. This result distinguishes homologous recombination, which requires early gene products, from resolution of concatemer junctions, which requires additional late gene products.
Genetic Algorithm Based Multi Product and Multi Agent Inventory Optimization in Supply Chain Management

−We propose a technique based on genetic algorithm to optimize inventory in supply chain management . We focus on to specifically determine the most probable excess stock level and shortage level required for inventory optimization in the supply chain such that the total supply chain cost is minimized. The complexity of the problem increases when more products and multiple agents are involved in inventory management process that has been resolved in this work. We apply our method on six member of supply chain studied model for optimization.
Everolimus Initiation and Early Calcineurin Inhibitor Withdrawal in Heart Transplant Recipients: A Randomized Trial

In a randomized, open‐label trial, everolimus was compared to cyclosporine in 115 de novo heart transplant recipients. Patients were assigned within 5 days posttransplant to low‐exposure everolimus (3–6 ng/mL) with reduced‐exposure cyclosporine (n = 56), or standard‐exposure cyclosporine (n = 59), with both mycophenolate mofetil and corticosteroids. In the everolimus group, cyclosporine was withdrawn after 7–11 weeks and everolimus exposure increased (6–10 ng/mL). The primary efficacy end point, measured GFR at 12 months posttransplant, was significantly higher with everolimus versus cyclosporine (mean ± SD: 79.8 ± 17.7 mL/min/1.73 m2 vs. 61.5 ± 19.6 mL/min/1.73 m2; p < 0.001). Coronary intravascular ultrasound showed that the mean increase in maximal intimal thickness was smaller (0.03 mm [95% CI 0.01, 0.05 mm] vs. 0.08 mm [95% CI 0.05, 0.12 mm], p = 0.03), and the incidence of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) was lower (50.0% vs. 64.6%, p = 0.003), with everolimus versus cyclosporine at month 12. Biopsy‐proven acute rejection after weeks 7–11 was more frequent with everolimus (p = 0.03). Left ventricular function was not inferior with everolimus versus cyclosporine. Cytomegalovirus infection was less common with everolimus (5.4% vs. 30.5%, p < 0.001); the incidence of bacterial infection was similar. In conclusion, everolimus‐based immunosuppression with early elimination of cyclosporine markedly improved renal function after heart transplantation. Since postoperative safety was not jeopardized and development of CAV was attenuated, this strategy may benefit long‐term outcome.
Algorithms for improving calculated streamlines in 3‐D phase contrast angiography

Streamline display is a unique alternative to cross‐sectional slice or projection display, because streamlines more clearly show the patterns of blood flow within the vessel. Flow patterns associated with atherosclerosis, such as streamline separation and recirculation, can be quickly identified with this display. Streamlines can be calculated using velocity data obtained from 3‐D phase contrast angiographic pulse sequences. However, these streamlines often pass through the wall of vessel or show intraluminal sources and sinks of blood. The author has developed iterative least squares algorithms to improve the realism of streamlines. The velocity data is modified so that the resulting streamlines do not pass through the vessel wall and there are no intraluminal sources or sinks. He has applied the algorithms to velocity data obtained from a flow phantom and the carotid arteries of normal volunteers. Streamlines derived from the processed velocity fields are more realistic and provide more precise flow quantitation.
Combined biomarkers evaluation for diagnosing kidney injury in preeclampsia

Objective: To identify novel potential biomarkers and evaluate combined biomarkers for diagnosing kidney injury with considerable accuracy in preeclampsia. Methods: The level of serum and urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), retinol-binding protein (RBP) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The level of serum cystatin C, urine RBP, urine NGAL and urine KIM-1 in preeclampsia group were higher than that in the normal pregnancy group. When four biomarkers are combined, the sensitivity and specificity are 100%/98.20%. Conclusion: Urine KIM-1 is the most potential biomarker for renal injury in preeclampsia. The more biomarkers combined, the more sensitivity and specificity were increased.
Development of species-specific hybridization probes for marine luminous bacteria by using in vitro DNA amplification

By using two highly conserved region of the luxA gene as primers, polymerase chain reaction amplification methods were used to prepare species-specific probes against the luciferase gene from four major groups of marine luminous bacteria. Laboratory studies with test strains indicated that three of the four probes cross-reacted with themselves and with one or more of the other species at low stringencies but were specific for members of their own species at high stringencies. The fourth probe, generated from Vibrio harveyi DNA, cross-reacted with DNAs from two closely related species, V. orientalis and V. vulnificus. When nonluminous cultures were tested with the species-specific probes, no false-positive results were observed, even at low stringencies. Two field isolates were correctly identified as Photobacterium phosphoreum by using the species-specific hybridization probes at high stringency. A mixed probe (four different hybridization probes) used at low stringency gave positive results with all of the luminous bacteria tested, including the terrestrial species, Xenorhabdus luminescens, and the taxonomically distinct marine bacterial species Shewanella hanedai; minimal cross-hybridization with these species was seen at higher stringencies.
On peak to average power ratio of generalized frequency division multiple access

We propose a generalized frequency division multiple access (GFDMA) scheme which realizes a low PAPR characteristic compared with OFDMA, maintaining the sufficient capability of the frequency scheduling. GFDMA transmits the data with one or more frequency resources which can be divided into several pieces in the frequency domain. We can adaptively configure GFDMA between PAPR-oriented configuration like as SC-FDMA and throughput-oriented configuration like as OFDMA, depending on requirements. We focus on the investigation on the PAPR characteristic of GFDMA. Computer simulation confirms that GFDMA has a low PAPR property compared with OFDMA, still keeping sufficient frequency resource allocation capability.
Salmonella mutagenicity tests: IV. Results from the testing of 300 chemicals

Three hundred chemicals were tested for mutagenicity, under code, in Salmonella typhimurium, using a preincubation protocol. All tests were performed in the absence of exogenous metabolic activation, and in the presence of liver S‐9 from Aroclor‐induced male Sprague‐Dawley rats and Syrian hamsters. The results and data from these tests are presented.
mathFISH, a Web Tool That Uses Thermodynamics-Based Mathematical Models for In Silico Evaluation of Oligonucleotide Probes for Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization

ABSTRACT Mathematical models of RNA-targeted fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for perfectly matched and mismatched probe/target pairs are organized and automated in web-based mathFISH (http://mathfish.cee.wisc.edu). Offering the users up-to-date knowledge of hybridization thermodynamics within a theoretical framework, mathFISH is expected to maximize the probability of success during oligonucleotide probe design.
Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies - A Comprehensive Introduction

Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies provides a comprehensive introduction to the revolutionary yet often misunderstood new technologies of digital currency. Whether you are a student, software developer, tech entrepreneur, or researcher in computer science, this authoritative and self-contained book tells you everything you need to know about the new global money for the Internet age. How do Bitcoin and its block chain actually work? How secure are your bitcoins? How anonymous are their users? Can cryptocurrencies be regulated? These are some of the many questions this book answers. It begins by tracing the history and development of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, and then gives the conceptual and practical foundations you need to engineer secure software that interacts with the Bitcoin network as well as to integrate ideas from Bitcoin into your own projects. Topics include decentralization, mining, the politics of Bitcoin, altcoins and the cryptocurrency ecosystem, the future of Bitcoin, and more. An essential introduction to the new technologies of digital currency Covers the history and mechanics of Bitcoin and the block chain, security, decentralization, anonymity, politics and regulation, altcoins, and much more Features an accompanying website that includes instructional videos for each chapter, homework problems, programming assignments, and lecture slides Also suitable for use with the authors' Coursera online course Electronic solutions manual (available only to professors)
[The effect of VDT polarity and target size on pupil area].

on the characters or figures on the CRT display. Thus, the size, color, flicker, resolution and other factors involved with the characters have been studied from many different standpoints4,5). CRT polarity has been much discussed as well. The oft-used negative displays, for example, have a low mean luminance which results in a large luminance contrast between the bright characters and dark display background. The resulting greater visual load has been pointed out in the literature6). There has yet to be any published study on the effects on pupillary area of factors such as polarity or target-size. In the present study, we compared positive and negative CRT display conditions, varying the size of the target in the center of the screen, to determine the effect on the pupil area.
Effects of Strains and Defects on the Internal Quantum Efficiency of InGaN/GaN Nanorod Light Emitting Diodes

The internal quantum efficiency of GaN-based nanorod light emitting diode (LED) arrays is determined by the effects of reduced quantum confined Stark effect and sidewall-defect-related non-radiative recombination. Here we report the characterizations of light output of nanorod LED arrays with different rod etching depths. During the definition of nanorods, the effect of strain relaxation is accompanied by the formation of sidewall defects picked up from dry etching. The sample with shallower nanorods possesses fewer defects and thus a higher light output power. On the other hand, the device with longer nanorods has more relaxed strain and smaller efficiency droop. This paper indicates that a shorter nanorod etching depth is preferred for a higher light output. However, the longer nanorod structure has a less severe droop effect and a higher operating current, which may eventually lead to higher optical output if the defects can be properly suppressed.
Developmental changes of free amino acid concentrations in fetal fluids of pigs.

Free amino acid concentrations were determined in amniotic and allantoic fluids and in fetal and maternal uterine plasma of pigs during gestation. Glycine and glutamine were the most abundant free amino acids in maternal uterine arterial and fetal umbilical venous plasma, respectively. Plasma fetal/maternal ratios were remarkably < 1 for glycine, > 2 for glutamine and = 1 for total free alpha-amino acids. Glutamine was the most abundant free amino acid in amniotic fluid during the first 3 mo of gestation. The concentrations of most amniotic fluid amino acids progressively decreased with increasing gestational age from 45 to 110 d. Glycine was the most predominant amino acid in allantoic fluid on d 30 of gestation but decreased on d 45 and 60 of gestation. This decrease in allantoic fluid glycine coincided with a marked increase in concentrations of both ornithine and arginine, which accounted for 34-36% of total free alpha-amino acids in allantoic fluid. Such an abundance of ornithine and arginine in allantoic fluid has not been reported for any other biological fluid. On d 90 and 110 of gestation, glycine again became the most abundant amino acid in allantoic fluid, or 47 and 29% of total free alpha-amino acids, respectively. Urea concentrations in amniotic and allantoic fluids progressively increased during the second half of pregnancy, indicating enhanced fetal protein metabolism. Our results demonstrate the abundance of glutamine in fetal plasma, the unusual abundance of ornithine, arginine and glycine in allantoic fluid and developmental changes in plasma fetal/maternal ratios of amino acids. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Substance use initiation: the role of simultaneous polysubstance use.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Simultaneous polysubstance use (SPU) is a common phenomenon, yet little is known about its role in substance use initiation. DESIGN AND METHODS In the present study, 226 cannabis users completed structured interviews about their substance use history. For each substance ever used, participants provided details of their age of first use, their use in the preceding 30 days and whether they co-administered any other licit or illicit substances the first time they used the substance. RESULTS For most illicit substances [powder cocaine, crack, amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ecstasy), heroin, opium, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), ketamine, psilocybin (magic mushrooms), mescaline, phencyclidine (PCP), peyote and inhalants], results showed that a clear majority of participants (≥75%) reported SPU during their first-ever use of the substance. While SPU was less common on occasions of first use of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis, a high proportion of SPU on occasions of first use of 'harder' drugs could be accounted for by the co-use of alcohol, tobacco and/or cannabis. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Such findings raise the possibility that specific alcohol, tobacco and/or cannabis use episodes might directly contribute to the initiation of new substance use. Understanding the role of SPU on occasions of first use might help better identify risk factors for substance use progression and improve intervention efforts.
Identification of Quality Improvement Strategies using COPQ in Software Industry

Software COPQ is one of the most important performance measures in Six Sigma or any key improvement effort. However, in practice, many software development organizations are having difficulty in estimating their valid software COPQ. Thus, in this paper, we investigate the methods, COnstructive QUALity MOdel (COQUALMO) and Defect Amplification Model (DAM) that are commonly used as the quality estimation model, to estimate software COPQ in a software development organization that starts establishing software quality improvement strategies. In addition, we derive software COPQ from the software defect data that collected from the organization and make an analysis of the additional experimental results by using the data. This study is currently being used for making decisions to set software quality improvement strategies in the organization.
Childhood leukaemia and socioeconomic status: what is the evidence?

The objectives of this systematic review are to summarise the current literature on socioeconomic status (SES) and the risk of childhood leukaemia, to highlight methodological problems and formulate recommendations for future research. Starting from the systematic review of Poole et al. (Socioeconomic status and childhood leukaemia: a review. Int. J. Epidemiol. 2006;35(2):370-384. ), an electronic literature search was performed covering August 2002-April 2008. It showed that (1) the results are heterogeneous, with no clear evidence to support a relation between SES and childhood leukaemia; (2) a number of factors, most importantly selection bias, might explain inconsistencies between studies; (3) there is some support for an association between SES at birth (rather than later in childhood) and childhood leukaemia and (4) if there are any associations, these are weak, limited to the most extreme SES groups (the 10-20% most or least deprived). This makes it unlikely that they would act as strong confounders in research addressing associations between other exposures and childhood leukaemia. Future research should minimise case and control selection bias, distinguish between different SES measures and leukaemia subtypes and consider timing of exposures and cancer outcomes.
bcl‐2 and bak may play a pivotal role in sodium butyrate‐induced apoptosis in colonic epithelial cells; however overexpression of bcl‐2 does not protect against bak‐mediated apoptosis

Butyrate, a short chain fatty acid produced in the colon as a result of fermentation of dietary fibre by symbiotic bacteria, induces apoptosis in colonic tumour cell lines. Three human colonic adenoma cell lines (AA/C1, RG/C2 and BH/C1) and one carcinoma cell line (S/KS/FI) were used to determine the effects of butyrate on the expression of bcl‐2, bax and bak to examine the possible role of these proteins in the induction of apoptosis. RG/C2 and BH/C1 cells express p‐26‐bcl‐2 and butyrate treatment decreased p26‐bcl‐2 levels in association with apoptosis, whereas bax and bak levels remained constant. AA/C1 and S/KS/FI cells have no detectable p26‐bcl‐2. In S/KS/FI cells, bax or bak levels did not change in response to butyrate. However, in AA/C1 cells, butyrate‐induced apoptosis was associated with increased bak levels. Therefore, in AA/C1 cells butyrate‐induced apoptosis appears to be mediated through bak. Furthermore, butyrate also induced apoptosis and increased bak levels in AA/C1 cells transfected with a bcl‐2 expression vector which expressed high levels of p26‐bcl‐2. For S/KS/FI cells, two bcl‐2 transfectants gave different results. bcl‐2 protected against apoptosis in one transfectant in which bak levels were not elevated in response to butyrate, whereas it did not protect in the other transfectant in which bak levels were increased after butyrate treatment. The results suggest that expression of constitutively high levels of p26‐bcl‐2 only conferred protection against apoptosis when bak levels were not elevated in response to butyrate and that expression of constitutively high levels of p26‐bcl‐2 does not counter the effects of bak. Different mechanisms appear to be involved in cell death signalling in different tumours since butyrate may induce apoptosis via elevated levels of bak or reduced levels of p26‐bcl‐2. Int. J. Cancer 72:898–905, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Using COMSOL Multiphysics for Biomechanical Analysis of Stent Technology in Cerebral Aneurysms

This work presents new fluid-structure interaction (FSI) models in both 2D and 3D of the effect of using vascular stents as treatment of cerebral berry aneurysms. The stent is positioned inside the cerebral artery covering the neck of the aneurysm. The stent is expected to alter the blood flow into the aneurysm such that the blood coagulates due to low blood velocity, and rupture of the aneurysm is prevented. A 3D FSI model consisting of three domains (blood, arterial, and aneurismal) is used to investigate the effect of the aneurysm on blood flow. Aspects of stent design such as pore size and shape and strut size, shape, and position are modeled in 2D and 3D FSI models. The models show that pore size and strut shape both have significant influence on stent efficiency.
Parikh Matrices and Strong M-Equivalence

Parikh matrices have been a powerful tool in arithmetizing words by numerical quantities. However, the dependence on the ordering of the alphabet is inherited by Parikh matrices. Strong M-equivalence is proposed as a canonical alternative to M-equivalence to get rid of this undesirable property. Some characterization of strong M-equivalence for a restricted class of words is obtained. Finally, the existential counterpart of strong M-equivalence is introduced as well.