Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Implicit Costs of Motherhood Over the Lifecycle: Cross-Cohort Evidence from Administrative Longitudinal Data

The explicit costs of raising a child have grown over the past several decades. Less well understood are the implicit costs of having a child, and how they have changed over time. In this paper we use longitudinal administrative data from over 70,000 individuals in the Synthetic SIPP Beta to examine the earnings gap between mothers and non-mothers over the lifecycle and between cohorts. We observe women who never have children beginning to out earn women who will have children during their 20s. Gaps increase monotonically over the lifecycle, and decrease monotonically between cohorts from age 26 onwards. In our oldest cohort, lifetime gaps approach $350,000 by age 62. Cumulative labor market experience profiles show similar patterns, with experience gaps between mothers and non-mothers generally increasing over the lifecycle and decreasing between cohorts. We decompose this cumulative gap in earnings (up to age 43) into portions attributable to time spent out of the labor force, differing levels of education, years of marriage and a number of demographic controls. We find that this gap between mothers and non-mothers declines from around $220,000 for women born in the late 1940s to around $160,000 for women born in the late 1960s. Over 80% of the change in this gap can be explained by variables in our model, with changes in labor force participation by far the best explanation for the declining gap. Comparing our oldest cohort as they approach retirement to the projected lifecycle behavior of the 1965 cohort, we find that the earnings gap is estimated to drop from $350,000 (observed) to $282,000 (expected) and that the experience gap drops from 3.7 to 2.1 years. We also explore the intensive margin costs of having a child. A decomposition of earnings gaps between mothers of one child and mothers of two children also controls for age at first birth. Here, we find a decline in the gap from around $78,000 for our oldest cohorts to around $37,000 for our youngest cohorts. Our model explains a smaller share of the intensive margin decline. Changes in absences from the labor market again explain a large amount of the decline, while differences in age at first birth widen the gap.
Time motion analysis of 2001 and 2002 super 12 rugby

The aim of this study was to quantify movements of Super 12 rugby players in competition because information on elite rugby players' movements is unavailable. Players were categorized into forwards [front (n = 16) and back row (n = 15)] and backs [inside (n = 9) and outside backs (n = 7)] and their movements analysed by video-based time motion analysis. Movements were classified as rest (standing, walking and jogging) and work (striding, sprinting, static exertion, jumping, lifting or tackling). The total time, number and duration of individual activities were assessed, with differences between groups evaluated using independent sample t-tests (unequal variances), while differences between halves were assessed with paired sample t-tests. Forwards had 7:47 min:s (95% confidence limits: 6:39 to 8:55 min:s, P<0.01) more time in static exertion than backs, but backs spent 0:52 (0:34 to 1:09, P = 0.01) min:s more time sprinting than forwards, and had a 0.7 (0.3 to 1.2, P = 0.01) s longer duration of each sprint. Forwards spent 7:31 (5:55 to 9:08) min:s more time in work activities (P = 0.01) and had 2.1 (1.3 to 2.8) s longer work durations (P<0.01) than backs. The results indicate frequent short duration (<4 s) work efforts followed by moderate duration (<20 s) rest for forwards, and extended (>100 s) rest duration for backs. High-intensity efforts involved static exertion for forwards (mean ± standard deviation frequency = 80 ± 17) and sprinting for backs (27 ± 9). In conclusion, after nearly a decade since becoming professional, elite rugby union is still characterized by highly intense, intermittent movement patterns and marked differences in the competition demands of forwards and backs.
L‐Carnitine suppresses oleic acid‐induced membrane permeability transition of mitochondria

Membrane permeability transition (MPT) of mitochondria has an important role in apoptosis of various cells. The classic type of MPT is characterized by increased Ca2+ transport, membrane depolarization, swelling, and sensitivity to cyclosporin A. In this study, we investigated whether L‐carnitine suppresses oleic acid‐induced MPT using isolated mitochondria from rat liver. Oleic acid‐induced MPT in isolated mitochondria, inhibited endogenous respiration, caused membrane depolarization, and increased large amplitude swelling, and cytochrome c (Cyt. c) release from mitochondria. L‐Carnitine was indispensable to β‐oxidation of oleic acid in the mitochondria, and this reaction required ATP and coenzyme A (CoA). In the presence of ATP and CoA, L‐carnitine stimulated oleic acid oxidation and suppressed the oleic acid‐induced depolarization, swelling, and Cyt. c release. L‐Carnitine also contributed to maintaining mitochondrial function, which was decreased by the generation of free fatty acids with the passage of time after isolation. These results suggest that L‐carnitine acts to maintain mitochondrial function and suppresses oleic acid‐mediated MPT through acceleration of β‐oxidation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Managerial Performance And Its Influencing Factors Nowadays

In the first decades of the twenty-first century are becoming visible the interests of each manager to identify and promote performance, respectively the concerns of theorists and managers to clarify, conceptualize and develop ideas, policies and strategies intended for this purpose, thus putting the foundations for a science of performance management. In this new context, the managerial performance becomes crucial for any organization in its development and achieving the competitive advantage in an ever-changing society. Of course, managerial performance largely depends on numerous factors, some of them, whom we consider to be with major influence, being addressed in this paper, together with other relevant aspects of the concept of managerial performance.
Impact of Safety Issues and Hygiene Perceptions on Customer Satisfaction: A Case Study of Four and Five Star Hotels in Aqaba, Jordan

Impact of Safety Issues and Hygiene Perceptions on Customer Satisfaction: A Case Study of Four and Five Star Hotels in Aqaba, Jordan Nowadays, a large part of the Middle East is going through hard times and burning by the fire of conflicts, civil wars and political instability. The study intended to assess the tourist’s perceptions of safety issues (safety, security, privacy) and hygiene during their stay in Jordan’s hotels and its impact on their satisfaction. Data was collected from four and five stars hotels of Aqaba. The results indicated that the tourists asserted the importance of privacy in realizing their satisfaction, followed by the safety and security, while the third rank was taken by “hygiene”. Findings revealed that tourists are not satisfied regarding cleanliness of hotels’ bathrooms and the room furniture. The paper will be of value for researchers, stakeholders of hotel industry, and practitioners.
TNF-α inhibits SATB2 expression and osteoblast differentiation through NF-κB and MAPK pathways

Although the mechanisms of Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) on facilitating osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption is well known, the mechanisms behind the suppression of the osteoblast differentiation from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are still poorly understood. In this study, we observed a negative correlation between TNF-α levels and the expression of special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 (SATB2), a critical osteoblastogenesis transcription factor, in ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss and IL-1-induced arthritis animal model. We found that TNF-α treatment inhibited mesenchymal cell line C2C12 osteoblast differentiation and sharply decreased BMP2-induced SATB2 expression. Upon TNF-α treatment, the activity of smad1/5/8 was inhibited, by contrast, extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2) and P38 was increased in C2C12 cells, the inhibitor of ERK1/2 (U0126) was found to abrogate the TNF-α inhibition of SATB2 expression. Furthermore, the NF-κB signaling pathway in C2C12 cells was significantly activated by the treatment of TNF-α, and TNF-α induced NF-κB directly binds to SATB2 promoter to suppress its expression. These results suggest that TNF-α suppresses SATB2 expression through activating NF-κB and MAPK signaling and depressing smad1/5/8 signaling, which contributes to the inhibition of osteoblast differentiation and might be potential therapeutic targets for inflammation-induced bone loss.
Defining the Relevant Product Market: An Application of Price Tests to the Beer Market in Barbados

This paper attempts to determine if beer is a separate relevant product market from rum and soft drinks. Three conventional statistical tests - Pearson’s correlation, unit root and Granger causality - are applied to average monthly retail price data from Barbados for the three categories of beverages for the period January 2012 to July 2015. The results of both the correlation and Granger causality tests suggest that beer is a distinct product market from rum and soft drinks, while the result of the unit root test was inconclusive. The results of the paper should interest practitioners of competition law in the Caribbean region as it shows that price tests could be used as quantitative proof on market boundaries to support the intuition and evidence the traditional Small but Significant Non-transitory Increase in Price (SSNIP) test provides.
Risk of adverse effects of intensified treatment in insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus: a meta‐analysis

While the benefits of intensified insulin treatment in insulin‐dependent (Type 1) diabetes mellitus (IDDM) are well recognized, the risks have not been comprehensively characterized. We examined the risk of severe hypoglycaemia, ketoacidosis, and death in a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials. The MEDLINE database, reference lists, and specialist journals were searched electronically or by hand to identify relevant studies with at least 6 months of follow‐up and the monitoring of glycaemia by glycosylated haemoglobin measurements. Logistic regression was used for calculation of combined odds ratios and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI). The influence of covariates was examined by including covariate‐by‐treatment interaction terms. Methodological study quality was assessed and sensitivity analyses were performed. Fourteen trials were identified. These contributed 16 comparisons with 1028 patients allocated to intensified and 1039 allocated to conventional treatment. A total of 846 patients suffered at least one episode of severe hypoglycaemia, 175 patients experienced ketoacidosis and 26 patients died. The combined odds ratio (95 % CI) for hypoglycaemia was 2.99 (2.45–3.64), for ketoacidosis 1.74 (1.27–2.38) and for death from all causes 1.40 (0.65–3.01). The risk of severe hypoglycaemia was determined by the degree of normalization of glycaemia achieved (p = 0.005 for interaction term), with the results from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) in line with the other trials. Ketoacidosis risk depended on the type of intensified treatment used. Odds ratios (95 % CI) were 7.20 (2.95–17.58) for exclusive use of pumps, 1.13 (0.15–8.35) for multiple daily injections and 1.28 (0.90–1.83) for trials offering a choice between the two (p = 0.004 for interaction). Mortality was significantly (p = 0.007) increased for causes potentially associated with acute complications (7 vs 0 deaths, 5 deaths attributed to ketoacidosis, and 2 sudden deaths), and non‐significantly (p = 0.16) decreased for macrovascular causes (3 vs 8 deaths). We conclude that there is a substantial risk of severe adverse effects associated with intensified insulin treatment. Mortality from acute metabolic causes is increased; however, this is largely counterbalanced by a reduction in cardiovascular mortality. The excess of severe hypoglycemia in the DCCT is not exceptional. Multiple daily injection schemes may be safer than treatment with insulin pumps. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Minimum free energy pathways and free energy profiles for conformational transitions based on atomistic molecular dynamics simulations.

An efficient method for the calculation of minimum free energy pathways and free energy profiles for conformational transitions is presented. Short restricted perturbation-targeted molecular dynamics trajectories are used to generate an approximate free energy surface. Approximate reaction pathways for the conformational change are constructed from one-dimensional line segments on this surface using a Monte Carlo optimization. Accurate free energy profiles are then determined along the pathways by means of one-dimensional adaptive umbrella sampling simulations. The method is illustrated by its application to the alanine "dipeptide. " Due to the low computational cost and memory demands, the method is expected to be useful for the treatment of large biomolecular systems.
A role for RANTES in T lymphocyte proliferation.

An important feature of the immune response is lymphocyte accumulation and activation during inflammation or tissue injury. Chemokines are a superfamily of soluble mediators with shared structural motifs which act as chemoattractants of leucocytes [I]. RANTS, a member of this superfamily, is a potent inducer of migration and polarisation of human T lymphocytes with a parallel increase in phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) activity [2]. These RANTS-induced effects can be inhibited by the fungal metabolite, wortmannin. In addition, ligation of CD28 by B7 induces the formation of D-3 phosphoinositides in T lymphocytes [3] and the disruption of this PI 3-kinase pathway by wortmannin inhibits both T lymphocyte proliferation and production of IL-2 [4]. However, the role of RANTES in T lymphocyte proliferation has not been examined. Purified T lymphocytes were prepared from the peripheral blood of normal donors by density centrifugation and passed over a T cell enrichment column. The purified T lymphocytes were stimulated with either vehicle, antLCD3 (UCHT 1, 10 pg/ml), glutaraldehyde fixed CHO cells transfected with B7 (CHO-B7+) or a combination of the above for 0 48 hours. Cell free supernatants were harvested post stimulation and RANTES levels determined by ELISA. The concentration of RANTES produced was low in vehicle treated T lymphocytes and cells treated with either anti-CD3 or CHO-B7+ alone. The most effective stimulus for RANTES generation was a combination of anti-CD3 and CHO-B7+. (Fig. 1). Thus RANTES generation parallels IL-2 generation, as two signals are required for optimum production.
Intelligent automation and controls of power industry Microgrid solutions

Power is one of the fundamentals in developing and developed nations world-wide. Over 80% of the world's population does not have reliable power. Without guaranteed power, nations quickly lose capabilities, efficiencies, and other critical infrastructure to their people and livelihood. The barrier for reliable power, in the past was the large investment requirement for centralized bulk generation. Additionally, the belief was that without large centralized power, the nation would not get efficiencies needed to provide reliable power. Across the world today, still many countries have inconsistent power and see rolling brown or black outs hourly or daily. At best developed countries have, reliable and secure power that is centrally managed through a bulk power grid and sometime governed by central government or large corporations. However with the advancement of distributed generation, substation automation, Microgrid (“MG”) control software, the industry is going through a fundamental change. The change is bringing on smaller Microgrid pockets, smaller generation due with less capital investment, and higher efficiency solutions that can compete neck and neck with large bulk generation. All of these items, while critical for the new “World Power Infrastructure” still lack some basic building blocks for the transformation to take its final shape. This paper will describe some of the concepts, barriers, lessons learned, and next steps to move from either unreliable Power structures or Central Bulk Power to Microgrid solutions with Distributed Automated Intelligent Power solutions.
WAVELENGTH DEPENDENT FORMATION OF THYMINE DIMERS AND (6‐4)PHOTOPRODUCTS IN DNA BY MONOCHROMATIC ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT RANGING FROM 150 TO 365 nm

Abstract—We investigated the wavelength dependence of cyclobutane thymine dimer and (6‐4)photo‐product induction by monochromatic UV in the region extending from 150 to 365 nm, using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay with two monoclonal antibodies. Calf thymus DNA solution was irradiated with254–365 nm monochromatic UV from a spectrograph, or with220–300 nm monochromatic UV from synchrotron radiation. Thymine dimers and (6‐4)photoproducts were fluence‐dependently induced by every UV wavelength tested so far. We also examined the induction of both types of DNA damage by UV below 220 nm extending to 150 nm under dry condition. We detected the efficient formation of both types of damage in the shorter UV region, as well as at 260 nm, which had been believed to be the most efficient wavelength for the formation of UV lesions. The action spectra for the induction of thymine dimers and (6‐4)photoproducts were similar from 180 to 300 nm, whereas the action spectrum values for thymine dimer induction were about 9‐ and 1.4‐fold or more higher than the values for (6‐4)photoproduct induction below 160 nm and above 313 nm, respectively.
IL-4 Is a Mediator of IL-12p70 Induction by Human Th2 Cells: Reversal of Polarized Th2 Phenotype by Dendritic Cells1

IL-12 is a key inducer of Th1-associated inflammatory responses, protective against intracellular infections and cancer, but also involved in autoimmune tissue destruction. We report that human Th2 cells interacting with monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC) effectively induce bioactive IL-12p70 and revert to Th0/Th1 phenotype. In contrast, the interaction with B cells preserves polarized Th2 phenotype. The induction of IL-12p70 in Th2 cell-DC cocultures is prevented by IL-4-neutralizing mAb, indicating that IL-4 acts as a Th2 cell-specific cofactor of IL-12p70 induction. Like IFN-γ, IL-4 strongly enhances the production of bioactive IL-12p70 heterodimer in CD40 ligand-stimulated DC and macrophages and synergizes with IFN-γ at low concentrations of both cytokines. However, in contrast to IFN-γ, IL-4 inhibits the CD40 ligand-induced production of inactive IL-12p40 and the production of either form of IL-12 induced by LPS, which may explain the view of IL-4 as an IL-12 inhibitor. The presently described ability of IL-4 to act as a cofactor of Th cell-mediated IL-12p70 induction may allow Th2 cells to support cell-mediated immunity in chronic inflammatory states, including cancer, autoimmunity, and atopic dermatitis.
MR-Based Statistical Atlas of the Göttingen Minipig Brain

Thedomestic pig is increasingly being used as an experimental model for brain imaging studies with positron emission tomography (PET). The recording of radiotracer uptake by PET gives functional and physiological information, but with poor spatial resolution. To date, anatomical regions of interest in pig brain have been defined in MR images obtained for each individual animal, because of the lack of a standard stereotaxic coordinate system for the pig brain. In order to define a stereotaxic coordinate system, we coregistered T1-weighted MR images from 22 male Göttingen minipigs and obtained a statistically defined surface rendering of the average minipig brain in which stereotaxic zero is defined by the position of the pineal gland. The average brain is now used as a target for registration of dynamic PET data, so that time-activity curves can be extracted from standard volumes of interest. In order to define these volumes, MR images from each individual pig were manually segmented into a total of 34 brain structures, including cortical regions, white matter, caudate and putamen, ventricular system, and cerebellum. The mean volumes of these structures had variances in the range of 10-20%. The 34 brain volumes were transformed into the common coordinate system and then used to generate surface renderings with probabilistic threshold greater than 50%. This probabilistic threshold gave nearly quantitative recovery of the mean volumes in native space. The probabilistic volumes in stereotaxic space are now being used to extract time-radioactivity curves from dynamic PET recordings.
Immunomodulation of T-cell responses with Vibrio cholerae O135 capsular polysaccharide and its protein conjugate, novel cholera vaccine study models.

We studied T-cell immune responses to surface capsular polysaccharide (CPS) of Vibrio cholerae O135 and its protein conjugate. CPS and CPS-bovine serum albumin (BSA) activation and presentation are characterized with induced alterations in expression and upregulation of membrane antigens CD25, CD11b, CD16/32, MHCII and CD45 on blood- and spleen-derived T cells. Expression of the early activation marker CD25 revealed efficient CPS-BSA conjugate activation especially of CD4(+) CD3(+) and CD8(+) CD3(+) cells. Specific CPS-BSA-induced CD25(+) T-cell subsets in blood were observed after the first application, i.e. a 4.2-fold increase of CD4(+) CD25(+) and 7.6-fold increase of CD8(+) CD25(+) vs. preimmune levels was determined. The upregulation of surface antigens MHCII and CD45 involved in antigen presentation and cell activation of CD3(+) cells and their significant reciprocal correlation (R(2) = 0.92) observed only with CPS-BSA conjugate suggested efficient T-cell dependency and presentation. The pattern of accelerated T-cell activation and engagement of T cells as antigen-presenting cells throughout CPS-BSA immunization contrary to CPS alone was also confirmed in CD4(+) /CD8(+) /CD3(+) splenic cells. The results revealed different T-cell antigen presentation and activation following administration of CPS and CPS-BSA conjugates, as supported also by evaluation of CD45, MHCII and CD25 expression on CD19(+) B cells.
China's Impact on Mongolian Economy

In recent years, Mongolian and Chinese relationship is becoming stronger. China is the biggest trading partner that it takes 84% of total Mongolian export and the largest country that invests in our mining sector, which is the main export, is China. Tourists from China are also growing and around 60% of all tourists in Mongolia are from Mainland China. All these data show the necessity to study China’s impact on Mongolian economy. We aimed to find the impact through channels such as inflation, gross domestic products and exports. Our results suggest that as Chinese inflation rate increases Mongolian inflation increases in the same direction, China’s GDP growth and commodity price index growth has positive impact on Mongolian’s GDP growth, China’s domestic investments has impact in Mongolian imports with lags, and commodity prices and China’s domestic investments granger cause Mongolian exports.