Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES DID THE STIMULUS STIMULATE? REAL TIME ESTIMATES OF THE EFFECTS OF THE AMERICAN READJUSTMENT AND RECOVERY ACT

We use state and county level variation to examine the impact of the American Readjustment and Recovery Act on employment. A cross state analysis suggests that one additional job was created by each $170,000 in stimulus spending. Time series analysis at the state level suggests a smaller response with a per job cost of about $400,000. These results imply Keynesian multipliers between 0.5 and 1.0, somewhat lower than those assumed by the administration. However, the overall results mask considerable variation for different types of spending. Grants to states for education do not appear to have created any additional jobs. Support programs for low income households and infrastructure spending are found to be highly expansionary. Estimates excluding education spending suggest fiscal policy multipliers of about 2.0 with per job cost of under $100,000. James Feyrer Department of Economics Dartmouth College 6106 Rockefeller Hall Hanover, NH 03755-3514 and NBER james.feyrer@dartmouth.edu Bruce Sacerdote 6106 Rockefeller Hall Department of Economics Dartmouth College Hanover, NH 03755-3514 and NBER Bruce.I. Sacerdote@dartmouth.edu
C5a contributes to intraocular inflammation by affecting retinal pigment epithelial cells and immune cells

Background The complement activation molecule C5a has been found in the eye and is implicated in the pathogenesis of ocular inflammatory diseases. In this study, the authors sought to investigate C5a's effects on human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and on the interaction between RPE cells and PBMCs. Methods Arising retinal pigment epithelia cell line-19 and PBMCs isolated from healthy donors were used in this study. Western blot, real-time PCR and cell surface receptor staining were used to detect C5a receptor expression. Real-time PCR was used to detect cytokine mRNA expression. A thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide assay was used to detect cell viability. Cells were stained with Annexin V and 7-aminoactinomycin D for an apoptosis assay. Cell proliferation was measured using a tritiated thymidine incorporation assay. Results C5a receptors were present on RPE cells, and receptor expression was increased by pro-inflammatory cytokines. C5a suppressed RPE cells' production of transforming growth factor β2, an important immunosuppressive agent in the eye. In addition, the viability of RPE cells was decreased in the presence of C5a, and this effect was not due to apoptosis. C5a increased proliferation of PBMCs and upregulated their production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Finally, C5a decreased RPE cells' ability to suppress immune cell proliferation. Conclusion The results provide a direct link between complement activation and intraocular inflammation. This line of information may help to understand the mechanism of the pathogenesis of intraocular inflammatory diseases. Moreover, the authors show that a close, reciprocal interaction between the innate immune system and the adaptive immune system may be involved in the development of such diseases.
Multiplier less fast loss less integer DCT for H.264

In the paper we propose a 4 times 4 2-D DCT transpose architecture for use in H.264 video coding standard. Using matrix decomposition the entire 2-D DCT architecture can be made parallel in nature such that the resulting circuit is purely combinational. The DCT values can then be computed in almost the one clock cycle. As the computation clock is independent of the data clock. The actual maximum operating frequency and the throughput of the design can be much higher than the data input rate. The reversible nature of the architecture helps to use the design for IDCT calculation without the change of the design. The FPGA implementation of the proposed design shows that the design throughput of 4.76 Gbps and maximum operating frequency of around 37.24 MHz can be achieved.
National Surveillance of Antimicrobial Susceptibility of CTX-M-positive and -Negative Clinical Isolates of Escherichia coli from Kuwait Government Hospitals

Abstract Antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli is becoming a complex therapeutic problem. Surveillance programs are valuable tools and offer important information on bacterial resistance trends. This study was undertaken to determine the susceptibility of clinically significant isolates of E. coli obtained from patients admitted to 8 Kuwait government hospitals and to examine how this was influenced by the production of CTX-M extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). The susceptibility of 876 consecutive clinically significant strains of E. coli to 13 antibiotics was determined by Etest. ESBL production was assessed by ESBL-Etest method and the presence of CTX-M β-lactamases was confirmed by PCR technique. Of the 876 isolates, 604 (69%) were highly non-susceptible to ampicillin with MIC90 of >256 μg/ml. Resistance to the 3rd-generation cephalosporins ranged from 7.5% in the maternity hospital to 29% in the Ibn Sina hospital; ciprofloxacin resistance rates ranged from 14% and 40%, respectively. Carbapenems and amikacin demonstrated excellent activity. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC90) of cefotaxime, ceftazidime, cefepime and ciprofloxacin were >256, 64, >256 and >32 μg/ml, respectively for CTX-M-positive isolates versus 0.5, 1, 025 and 0.125 μg/ml for CTX-M-negative strains. Frequencies of CTX-M-positive isolates within the cefotaxime MIC ranges of 1-2, 3-8, 9-16 and >16 μg/ml were 0, 4, 15 and 81%, respectively. In conclusion, the susceptibility of E. coli to the 3rd generation cephalosporins and ciprofloxacin was influenced by the presence of CTX-M ESBL and a high proportion of the CTX-M-producing isolates were in the susceptibility ranges of cefotaxime.
Information caching for delivery of personalized video programs on home entertainment channels

The synergy between computing and information systems promises to herald a new epoch in which users not only have access to mundane services, such as television, radio, and telephones, but they also have access to an entirely new variety of entertainment services that are automatically customized to suit their individual needs. The authors explore the architectural considerations that underlie the realization of personalized multimedia entertainment services over metropolitan-area broadband networks, and devise near-optimal information caching strategies to determine when, where, and for how long video programs must be cached, so as to minimize the cumulative storage and network costs borne by users. <<ETX>>
Vicariance and Oceanic Barriers Drive Contemporary Genetic Structure of Widespread Mangrove Species Sonneratia alba J. Sm in the Indo-West Pacific

Patterns of genetic structure are essential for a comprehensive understanding of the evolution and biogeography of a species. Here, we investigated the genetic patterns of one of the most widespread and abundant mangrove species in the Indo-West Pacific, Sonneratia alba J. Sm. , in order to gain insights into the ecological and evolutionary drivers of genetic structure in mangroves. We employed 11 nuclear microsatellite loci and two chloroplast regions to genotyped 25 S. alba populations. Our objectives were to (1) assess the level of genetic diversity and its geographic distribution; and (2) determine the genetic structure of the populations. Our results revealed significant genetic differentiation among populations. We detected a major genetic break between Indo-Malesia and Australasia, and further population subdivision within each oceanic region in these two major clusters. The phylogeographic patterns indicated a strong influence of vicariance, oceanic barriers and geographic distance on genetic structure. In addition, we found low genetic diversity and high genetic drift at range edge. This study advances the scope of mangrove biogeography by demonstrating a unique scenario whereby a widespread species has limited dispersal and high genetic divergence among populations.
A study on textures and their perceptual visual dimensions as application for flexible and effective scientific visualization

The use of textures is fundamental in several areas of Computer Graphics, Computer Vision and Image Processing. In this work, we focus on their main relevant attributes, in order to define and design textures as effective visual representations for use in scientific visualization. We concentrate on the problem of visualizing complex multivariate and multi-dimensional datasets as well as in synthesizing multi-fields and temporal evolution of vectorial datasets visualization. Textures features, such as directionality, color and shape are particularly suited for use in a synthesis algorithm, and they serve as effective seed primitives, which can incorporate many visual dimensions for intuitive and flexible data mapping and encoding. As special application, we propose a level-based visualization approach, with a special focus on systematic layering of information for scientific datasets.
Kaposi's sarcoma of internal organs. A multiparameter study of 86 cases

Background. During the past decade, Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), one of the most common acquired immune deficiency syndrome‐defining diseases, has been the subject of sustained research. However, basic questions about its etiology, histogenesis, growth, and dissemination remain unanswered. Even its nature, whether hyperplasia or neoplasia, is still controversial. Most studies and concepts to date have been based on dermatologic KS. The present study, in contrast, examines by various parameters a series of patients with KS of internal organs.
Effect of the Gut Microbiota on Obesity and Its Underlying Mechanisms: an Update.

Obesity has become one of the most prevalent health issues of our time.According to a 2012 WHO report,around 3.4 million adults die each year as a result of being overweight or obese[1]. Humans are in fact superorganisms composed of both human and microbial cells with 2 sets of genes,those encoded in
Updated Clinical Practice Guidelines on Heart Failure: An International Alignment.

[ This editorial refers to ‘2016 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure’[†][2], by P. Ponikowski et al . , on page 2129. ][2] The American College of Cardiology (ACC), the American Heart Association (AHA), and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
The Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Neural Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are special types of cells with the potential for self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation. NSCs are regulated by multiple pathways and pathway related transcription factors during the process of proliferation and differentiation. Numerous studies have shown that the compound medicinal preparations, single herbs, and herb extracts in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have specific roles in regulating the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs. In this study, we investigate the markers of NSCs in various stages of differentiation, the related pathways regulating the proliferation and differentiation, and the corresponding transcription factors in the pathways. We also review the influence of TCM on NSC proliferation and differentiation, to facilitate the development of TCM in neural regeneration and neurodegenerative diseases.
Differential Scanning Calorimetry as tool in observing thermal and storage stability of recombinant Bromelain

It is important to know the thermal and storage behavior of produced protein for the purpose of storage, transport and shelve life during industrial application. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is used to measure the thermal and storage stability of recombinant bromelain produced in our laboratory. Recombinant bromelain thermal and storage stability were measured and compared to the commercial bromelain. The purified recombinant bromelain was powderized using freeze drying method and its transition midpoint, crystallinity and enthalpy were recorded. Recombinant bromelain is more stable than commercial bromelain at higher temperature but the stability reduced after 7 days of storage at 4oC although its activity is lower than commercial at day 1 and 7. Higher energy is needed to break the bond between amino acid chains in recombinant bromelain showing by the enthalpy recorded suggesting that recombinant bromelain has good protein structure and conformation compared to commercial.
A Methodology Study to Validate a Structured Diagnostic Method Used to Diagnose Female Sexual Dysfunction and Its Subtypes in Postmenopausal Women

The currently accepted gold standard for diagnosis of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a nonstandardized interview by a clinician whose field of expertise is FSD. However, the limited number of experts in the field has implications for running efficient large-scale clinical trials. Therefore, we developed a structured diagnostic method (SDM) to enable diagnosis of FSD in postmenopausal women by health care professionals who are not FSD experts. Our study objectives were to evaluate both convergent validity and intrarater reliability of the SDM. The results showed that the method had good convergent validity and excellent intrarater reliability. Thus, we conclude that the SDM can reliably diagnose FSD status and FSD subtypes in postmenopausal women.
Intragenomic base content variation is a potential source of biases when searching for horizontally transferred genes.

Horizontal transfers in bacteria have been extensively studied, and most of the methods developed to identify transferred sequences are based on the assumption that exogenous genes have characteristics that differ from those shared by endogenous ones. Up to now, the most common way to look at the peculiar characteristics exhibited by ‘‘alien’’ sequences has been to analyze biases in synonymous codon usage (Medigue et al. 1991; Lawrence and Ochman 1997, 1998; Aravind et al. 1998; Karlin, Campbell, and Mrazek 1998; Karlin, Mrazek, and Campbell 1998; Nelson et al. 1999). The main underlying hypothesis of this approach is that synonymous codons presented by genes coming from distantly related species are different from those shared by endogenous sequences. In this paper, we show that the results obtained may be biased due to intragenomic base content variations that may occur in bacterial genomes. As the most complete studies on horizontal transfer have been realized on Escherichia coli (Lawrence and Ochman 1997, 1998; Karlin, Mrazek, and Campbell 1998), we decided to center our analysis on this species. Moreover, as a detailed list of putatively transferred genes was available (Lawrence and Ochman 1998), it was possible to use it as a reference. In the study published by Lawrence and Ochman (1998), two codon usage indices were used to identify transferred genes: the codon adaptation index (CAI) (Sharp and Li 1987) and a x2 of codon usage (Lawrence and Ochman 1997). The selection of sequences that showed atypical values for combinations of these two indices led them to identify 755 putatively horizontally transferred genes in E. coli (i.e., 17.6% of the total number of genes). From among these genes, we used in our study only those that were annotated in the complete genome. This corresponds to a total of 317 genes out of 4,254 E. coli genes of length . 150 nt. These genes are referred to as HT* in this paper, while the others are referred to as non-HT*. All coding sequences were extracted from the EMGLib database (Perriere, Labedan, and Bessieres 2000). To discriminate HT* from non-HT* genes, we used three different codon usage indices: the CAI, bias in codons (BC); (Karlin, Campbell, and Mrazek 1998), and G1C contrast in codon third positions (G1C3c). This
Individuals’ experience of living with osteoarthritis of the knee and perceptions of total knee arthroplasty

This study investigated the physical and psychosocial consequences of living with osteoarthritis (OA) in daily life and peoples’ views of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and the role of physiotherapy. In-depth interview data were used from a prospective qualitative study conducted by the senior author (KY). Participants were 15 volunteers with knee OA who were awaiting TKA at a specialized orthopaedic tertiary care facility in Toronto. A modified grounded theory method approach was used to analyze the interview data. The findings showed that experiences for the participants with OA were conceptualized as a “breakpoint. ” The breakpoint was centred on the experiences/processes of living with unremitting pain, the limitations of mobility, leisure and social activities, and the resulting consequences to the participant's physical and psychological well-being. In addition to the above experiences, participants also discussed their perceptions of TKA surgery. The findings showed that expectations of TKA were linked to participants’ knowledge of the procedure and its outcomes. The participants listed acquaintances, friends, family members, and doctors as the main sources of knowledge for TKA. On the basis of the above analysis, recommendations are made for developing a preoperative physiotherapy program that would focus on minimizing preoperative disability and maximizing postoperative recovery.
A discrete economic growth model with endogenous labor

This paper proposes an alternative approach to economic growth with endogenous labor supply. The production side is the same as the Solow model, the Ramsey model, and the Diamond model. But we deal with the behavior of consumers differently from the traditional approaches by proposing a concept of disposable income (which is the sum of the wealth available for use, the current income from interest income, and the wage payment) and a utility function which depends on the current consumption, savings, and leisure. The model provides a mechanism of endogenous saving and labor supply which the Solow model lacks, avoids the assumption of adding up utility over a period of time upon which the Ramsey approach is based, and does not need the assumption of two-period agents which the Diamond model and many of its extensions accept.
The physiology of striated muscle.

The purpose of this article is to present current views on the physiology of striated muscle, and in particular on the mechanism of contraction and the way in which the contractile machinery is activated. The preparation which has been most extensively studied is the isolated living muscle fibre of the frog, and this fact has governed the choice of the experimental evidence cited. The plan of the article is to give a brief outline of structure, a description of the processes involved in activation, and an account of the development of ideas about the mechanism of contraction, starting from the sliding filament theory and A. F. Huxley's 1957 model.
Latent tuberculosis needs attention.

T UBERCULOSIS (TB) IS ONE OF THE MOST COMmon infections in the world. It is estimated that one-third of the world’s population is currently infected with TB. The majority of those infected have latent tuberculosis (LTBI). Following infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the organism replicates, most commonly in the lung as the portal of entry, then spreads through lymphatics to the blood stream where virtually any organ in the body can become infected. By the time this has occurred (2-3 months after infection) the host immune response develops in 95% of otherwise healthy persons and sets up granulomas that wall off the MTB organisms wherever they have settled. Many of these organisms remain viable in a dormant or latent state with the potential to reactivate at a later date when the immune system may weaken. The percentage of otherwise healthy persons who eventually reactivate varies from 5% to 15%; the younger the age at initial infection, the higher the risk of reactivation. Latent tuberculosis can be effectively treated with a completed course of therapy with either isoniazid or rifampin. Therefore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Thoracic Society have designated the identification and treatment of patients with LTBI as one of the major goals in eliminating TB from the United States. It is estimated that 10 to 15 million persons in the United States currently have LTBI.
Novel reversible division hardware

This paper presents a novel design of sequential division circuit using reversible logic, which is a promising research area nowadays. The proposed hardware has its application in the design of reversible arithmetic logic unit. In order to show the efficiency, lower bounds of the proposed design are shown in terms of number of gates required, garbage outputs produced and quantum cost needed. As far as it is known, this is the first attempt to apply reversible logic to implement division hardware. As the works in the field of reversible logic has only started to bloom, the contribution of this paper will engender a new thread of research in the field of reversible division circuit.
DeepProp: Extracting Deep Features from a Single Image for Edit Propagation

Edit propagation is a technique that can propagate various image edits (e.g., colorization and recoloring) performed via user strokes to the entire image based on similarity of image features. In most previous work, users must manually determine the importance of each image feature (e.g., color, coordinates, and textures) in accordance with their needs and target images. We focus on representation learning that automatically learns feature representations only from user strokes in a single image instead of tuning existing features manually. To this end, this paper proposes an edit propagation method using a deep neural network (DNN). Our DNN, which consists of several layers such as convolutional layers and a feature combiner, extracts stroke‐adapted visual features and spatial features, and then adjusts the importance of them. We also develop a learning algorithm for our DNN that does not suffer from the vanishing gradient problem, and hence avoids falling into undesirable locally optimal solutions. We demonstrate that edit propagation with deep features, without manual feature tuning, can achieve better results than previous work.
Robust controller design for course changing / course keeping control of a ship using PSO enabled automated quantitative feedback theory

This paper presents the design of a robust course controller for a cargo ship interacting with an uncertain environment using particle swarm optimization (PSO) enabled automated quantitative feedback theory. The plant model considers here is Nomotopsilas second order model, with structure parametric variation. In the present paper we have taken Nomotopsilas second order model as it is valid for high frequencies also, while first order model is restricted to low frequencies. In the present paper, the automated PSO enabled QFT design method is used to synthesize a robust course controller that can undertake the exact amount of plant uncertainty and can ensure a proper trade off between robust stability specifications and tracking performance over the entire range of frequencies. The present work is the continuation of the work done by the first author where controller is synthesized manually with the consideration of same process model. But in this article the PSO technique has been employed to tune the controller automatically that can greatly reduces the computational effort compared to manual graphical techniques. It has also been demonstrated that this methodology not only automates loop-shaping but also improves design quality and, most usefully, improves the quality with a reduced order controller.