Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An estimable dynamic model of entry, exit, and growth in oligopoly retail markets

This paper presents an estimable dynamic structural model of an oligopoly retail industry. The model can be estimated using panel data of local retail markets with information on new entries, exits and the size and growth of incumbent firms. In our model, retail firms are vertically and horizontally differentiated, compete in prices, make investments to improve the quality of their businesses, and decide to exit or to continue in the market. The model extends in two important ways the entry-exit model estimated in Aguirregabiria and Mira (2007). First, it includes firm size and growth as endogenous variables. And second, the empirical model has two sources of permanent unobserved heterogeneity: local-market heterogeneity and firm heterogeneity. This allows the researcher to control for potentially important sources of bias when using firm panel data with many local markets and several time periods. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
Changes in Soil Organic Carbon and Carbon Fractions Under Different Land Use and Management Practices After Development From Parent Material of Mollisols

Abstract Soil organic carbon (SOC) is important to soil nutrient status in agroecosystems. Some of the soils of the Northeast of China, noted for their high SOC content, suffer from serious soil erosion to the point of having the parent material exposed or near the surface, which has raised concerns for food security. The Chinese Mollisols were derived from loamy Quaternary loess that developed from parent material. To effectively restore parent material to productive soils, information on the effects of land use/management practices on SOC concentration and C fractions in loess parent material of Chinese Mollisols is needed. The main objective of this study was to investigate the changes in C sequestration and C density fractions by physical and chemical fractionation (humic substances) occurring in the process of soil development from parent material under different management practices and land use. Six treatments were imposed in plots of loess parent material in a 5-year experiment: (1) natural fallow without weed control; (2) alfalfa; (3) soybean-maize rotation (S-M), straw of unfertilized maize removed; (4) S-M, straw of chemically fertilized maize removed; (5) S-M, straw of chemically fertilized maize and dried soybean powder incorporated; (6) S-M, biomass, including grain, of chemically fertilized maize incorporated. The SOC content increased by 15% to 77% depending on treatments. In the process of soil development, the C fractions of the parent material changed rapidly. The heavy fraction C pool accounted for a larger proportion of total SOC (78%–89%) than both the free light fraction (2.1%–10.2%) and the occluded light fraction (1.3%–12.9%) pools. The occluded light fraction was more sensitive than the free light fraction as indicator of soil C changes because of different land use and management practices. Humin accounted for a larger proportion (29.9%–54.7%) of SOC than fulvic acid (18.0%–34.4%), which was larger than the humic acid fraction (11.8%–14.8%). Our results indicate that SOC increase in loess parent material depends on types and amounts of organic matter inputs. The treatments, in which aboveground crop biomass and grain were incorporated, contributed more to C sequestration, distributions of density fraction, and humic substances than the treatments without organic matter. Management practices maximizing biomass inputs are recommended to restore SOC in degraded Chinese Mollisols in order to restore their fertility.
A New Solvent Extraction Process for Recovery of Rare Metals from Spent Hydrodesulfurization Catalysts.

PC-88Aのみの単一抽出剤を用いた溶媒抽出により使用済み水素化脱硫触媒の硫酸全溶解液から, モリブデン, バナジウム, コバルト, ニッケル並びにアルミニウムを分離・回収する新たなプロセスを研究した. モリブデン, バナジウムとアルミニウムの抽出平衡及び抽出速度の相違により低pHにおいて, モリブデンとバナジウムを優先的に抽出できた. 硫酸でバナジウムを有機相から選択的にスクラップすることによって, モリブデンと分離された. 有機相中のモリブデンはNH4OH+NH4Cl溶液で容易に逆抽出されると共に, 共抽出された少量の鉄と分離され, モリブデン酸アンモニウムとして回収される. 硫酸スクラップ液中のバナジウムはアンモニアでpHを約1. 5に調整した後, PC-88Aにより再度抽出し, 硫酸で逆抽出することによって, 微量のアルミニウムと分離され, 硫酸バナジルとして回収される. モリブデンとバナジウムを回収した後の抽残液はまず, アンモニアで中和したPC-88Aにより, アルミニウムを定量的に抽出し, コバルトとニッケルより完全に分離された. コバルトは新しいPC-88Aを用いて抽出され, CoSO4+H2SO4溶液で共抽出されたニッケルを除去した後希硫酸で逆抽出し, 高純度の硫酸コバルトを得た. 最後に抽残液中に残ったニッケルはPC-88Aで簡単に抽出・回収できた.
Quinazoline Marketed drugs - A Review

Quinazoline is the main six-membered heterocyclic ring system reported for their biological activities, compounds with multiple pharmacophores, which bring together knowledge of a target with understanding of the molecule types that might interact with the target family. Robust, versatile and scalable chemistry must be employed to accomplish the task. This characteristic feature of quinazoline would make a good template for a lead generation library. The current review article focuses on biological actions done for various targets along with the brief description of the targets. Medicinal chemistry is concerned with discovery, development, synthesis in laboratory and identification of physical and chemical method s. Here most of activity is directed to new natural or synthetic organic compounds. Inorganic compounds continue to be important in therapy that is trace elements in nutritional therapy, antacids & radiopharmaceuticals. Development of organic compounds has now new synthetic methods that includes exciting new field of biotechnology using cell’s biochemistry to synthesize new compounds. Techniques ranging from recombinant DNA and site directed mutagenesis to fusion of cell lines have greatly broadened possibilities for new entities that treat the disease. By help of medicinal chemistry now pharmacist dispenses modified human insulin that provide more convenient dosing schedules, cell stimulating factors that have changed the dosing regimens for chemotherapy, humanized monoclonal antibodies that target specific tissues and fused receptors that intercept immune cell generated cytokines. For understanding principles of medicinal chemistry, it is necessary to consider physiochemical properties, used to develop new pharmacologically active constituents and their mechanism of action. Hundreds of thousands of new organic chemicals are prepared annually throughout world; many of them are entered to pharmacological screening for determining their biological activity. This random screening process has been inefficient, but it has resulted in identification of new lead compounds whose structures have been optimized to produce clinical agents. The main aim of medicinal chemist is to know the mode of action of drugs at molecular levels. Heterocyclic chemistry is a chemistry involving the heterocyclic compounds, which has atoms of at least two different elements as number of ring. The heterocyclic atoms may be inorganic, though the compound contains carbon atoms in the ring. The word hetero means “different from carbon and hydrogen”. Many heterocyclic compounds are biosynthesized by plants & animals are biologically active. Some heterocyclic compounds are fundamentals of life,
Distribution of the time of the maximum for stationary processes

We consider a one-dimensional stationary stochastic process of duration T. We study the probability density function (PDF) of the time at which reaches its global maximum. By using a path integral method, we compute for a number of equilibrium and nonequilibrium stationary processes, including the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process, Brownian motion with stochastic resetting and a single confined run-and-tumble particle. For a large class of equilibrium stationary processes that correspond to diffusion in a confining potential, we show that the scaled distribution , for large T, has a universal form (independent of the details of the potential). This universal distribution is uniform in the “bulk”, i.e., for and has a nontrivial edge scaling behavior for (and when ), that we compute exactly. Moreover, we show that for any equilibrium process the PDF is symmetric around , i.e., . This symmetry provides a simple method to decide whether a given stationary time series is at equilibrium or not.
Content-augmented feature pyramid network with light linear spatial transformers for object detection

As one of the prevalent components, Feature Pyramid Network (FPN) is widely used in current object detection models for improving multi-scale object detection performance. However, its feature fusion mode is still in a misaligned and local manner, thus limiting the representation power. To address the inherit defects of FPN, a novel architecture termed Content-Augmented Feature Pyramid Network (CA-FPN) is proposed in this paper. Firstly, a Global Content Extraction Module (GCEM) is proposed to extract multi-scale context information. Secondly, lightweight linear spatial Transformer connections are added in the top-down pathway to augment each feature map with multi-scale features, where a linearized approximate self-attention function is designed for reducing model complexity. By means of the self-attention mechanism in Transformer, there is no longer need to align feature maps during feature fusion, thus solving the misaligned defect. By setting the query scope to the entire feature map, the local defect can also be solved. Extensive experiments on COCO and PASCAL VOC datasets demonstrated that our CA-FPN outperforms other FPN-based detectors without bells and whistles and is robust in different settings.
Hydrogen-rich saline regulates the polarization and apoptosis of alveolar macrophages and attenuates lung injury via suppression of autophagy in septic rats

Background Hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) has a protective effect on sepsis-induced lung injury. However, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Polarization and apoptosis of macrophages are essential factors in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI). Moreover, autophagy is involved in the regulation of both macrophage polarization and apoptosis. Therefore, this study investigated the ability of HRS to attenuate ALI through regulation of the polarization and apoptosis of alveolar macrophages (AMs) during sepsis by modulating autophagy. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used to prepare the sepsis-induced lung injury animal model. Rat lung tissue was harvested after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment, in the presence or absence of HRS, and the AMs were analyzed for changes in polarization, apoptosis, and autophagy. The rat AM cell line NR8383 was used to examine these processes in vitro using Western blot analysis, flow cytometry, and transmission electron microscopy. Results LPS-induced ALI in rats was associated with an increase in autophagy, apoptosis, and M1 polarization but a decrease in M2 polarization in AMs. These effects were reversed by administration of HRS. Inhibition of AM autophagy with 3-methyladenine (3-MA) decreased apoptosis and M1 polarization and increased M2 polarization, paralleling the effects of HRS. Conclusions HRS could attenuate ALI in septic rats through regulation of AM polarization and a reduction in apoptosis by suppressing autophagy. This may represent a potential novel therapeutic target for the treatment of ALI caused by sepsis.
Establishing a patient registry study database of dust mite allergic asthma in children: design, methodology and preliminary exploration

Background Asthma is a heterogeneous disease with different phenotypes, endotypes and responses to treatment. Dust mite allergic asthma (DMAA) is the most common type in children. Compared with randomized control trials, a patient registry study (PRS) can reflect the real physical condition and clinical diagnosis more comprehensively. Methods Children who visited the asthma clinic of the Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between August 2018 and August 2020, and met the inclusion criteria and also agreed to participate, were enrolled in the registry study. Clinical information, laboratory tests and peripheral blood samples were collected after informed consent was given by guardians. Results To date, 208 children have been enrolled in the patient registry database of DMAA. They are mainly male, with >50% having a history of allergic rhinitis, cesarean section, positive family history and passive smoking. Eosinophils and total immunoglobulin E levels were all significantly higher than normal. According to results for the childhood asthma control test (c-ACT) and ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to predicted value after inhaled corticosteroid treatment, the uncontrolled group had higher hemoglobin (Hb) levels than the control group. The group exhibiting abnormal pulmonary function was older, and had longer disease duration, higher fractional exhaled nitric oxide and Hb than the group in which pulmonary function was restored. Conclusions We have preliminarily established a registered study database of children with DMAA. By cluster analysis and using blood samples, we can further study the different pathophysiological mechanisms in order to provide more individualized and targeted treatments for all children.
Characterization of Chromatin Accessibility and Gene Expression upon Cold Stress Reveals that the RAV1 Transcription Factor Functions in Cold Response in Vitis Amurensis

Abstract Cold tolerance is regulated by a variety of transcription factors (TFs) and their target genes. Except for the well-characterized C-repeat binding factors (CBFs)-dependent transcriptional cascade, the mechanisms of cold tolerance mediated by other transcriptional regulatory networks are still largely unknown. Here, we used the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq) and RNA-seq to identify cold responsive TFs in Vitis amurensis, a grape species with high cold hardiness. Nine TFs, including CBF4, RAV1 and ERF104, were identified after cold treatment. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that these TFs may regulate cold response through different pathways. As a prime candidate TF, overexpression of VaRAV1 in grape cells improved its cold tolerance. The transgenic cells exhibited low electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content and high peroxidase activity. Moreover, the TF gene TCP8 and a gene involving in homogalacturonan biosynthesis were found to be regulated by VaRAV1, suggesting that the contribution of VaRAV1 to cold tolerance may be achieved by enhancing the stability of cell membrane and regulating the expression of target genes involved in plant cell wall composition. Our work provides novel insights into plant response to cold stress and demonstrates the utility of ATAC-seq and RNA-seq for the rapid identification of TFs in response to cold stress in grapevine. VaRAV1 may play an important role in adaption to cold stress.
Acknowledging and overcoming barriers to entry into radiation science for women

Abstract Purpose Radiation science is a unique field that brings together various disciplines to understand nature, develop new technologies, and cure diseases. Our field is a prime example of advancement through a diverse pool of competencies. Similarly, studies show that the power of diversity requires proportionate representation of sex and gender, minorities, or other groups. Nevertheless, women are still underrepresented in the radiation sciences, although disparities and underlying mechanisms were first described decades ago. This review summarizes barriers to entry and retention and suggests strategies for overcoming disparities in our field. We also highlight a concerted effort by young professionals to promote the underrepresented and underserved within the radiation science community. Conclusion The radiation science community should avoid losing diverse perspectives among its ranks due to sex bias or gender disparity among others. Through targeted efforts, we can cultivate change and harness the talent of researchers, practitioners, and other professionals for the benefit of scientific progress, health-care improvement, and societal advancement overall.
Sexual rights and sexual pleasure: Sustainable Development Goals and the omitted dimensions of the leave no one behind sexual health agenda

ABSTRACT This commentary explores the missing discourse of sexual rights and sexual pleasure in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that purport to leave no one behind. The SDG propose a welcome focus on sexual health and human rights for all, expanding beyond the Millennium Development Goals. While promising in many ways for advancing global sexual and reproductive health, and reproductive rights, the omission of sexual rights is troubling. So too is the erasure of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) persons, and sex workers, from the SDG discussions of social inequities. Illustrative examples are provided to demonstrate how a sexual rights focus could advance SDG 3 focused on healthy lives and well-being for all. First, sexual rights are presented as integral to realizing Target 3.3’s focus on ending the HIV pandemic among LGBTQ persons and sex workers (and LGBTQ sex workers). Second, sexual pleasure is introduced as an integral component of sexual health and sexual rights that could facilitate the realization of Target 3.7’s aim to provide universal access to sexual and reproductive health information and education. To truly leave no one behind and realize sexual health for all, the SDG need to begin from a foundation of sexual rights.
The role of seven autoantibodies in lung cancer diagnosis

Background To investigate the expression and diagnostic value of seven autoantibodies (P53, PGP9.5, SOX2, GAGE7, GBU4-5, MAGE, and CACE) in lung cancer patients. Methods A total of 370 patients were admitted to the Thoracic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University from 2017 to 2019, including 305 patients with lung cancer and 65 patients with benign lesions. The concentrations of the seven autoantibodies were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of each antibody were compared between the two groups, and the levels of each antibody between lung cancer patients with different pathological types were also compared. We aimed to analyze the diagnostic efficiency of single antibody detection combined with seven antibodies, and also to explore whether there were differences among the positive rates of each antibody in sex, age, smoking history, pathological classification, and clinical stages in the lung cancer group. Results The expression levels of seven autoantibodies in the lung cancer group were higher than those in the benign lesion group. In the lung cancer group, the expression levels of the seven autoantibodies did not vary statistically among different pathological types. The area under the curve of combined detection of the seven antibodies reached 0.735, and the Y-index reached 0.35, which was higher than that of single antibody detection. P53 exhibited the highest sensitivity and lowest specificity; meanwhile, PGP9.5, SOX2, GAGE7, GBU4-5, and MAGEA1 exhibited low sensitivity and high specificity. The sensitivity and specificity of the CAGE were approximately 60%, respectively. There was no statistical difference in the positive rate of each antibody in age, smoking history, and clinical stage. The positive rate of MAGEA1 and CAGE was statistically different in sex, and the positive rate of MAGEA1 was statistically different in pathological classification. Conclusions The seven autoantibodies of lung cancer can potentially be used as an auxiliary examination method for the early diagnosis of lung cancer.
Subjective executive function deficits in hazardous alcohol drinkers

Background: Dependent alcohol drinkers exhibit differences in the structure and function of the brain, and impairments in cognitive function, including executive functions (EFs). Less is known about the impact of non-dependent but hazardous use (that which raises the risk of harm), and it is also unclear to what extent executive impairments in this cohort affect real-world function. The current study examines the relationship between alcohol use, EF and alcohol-related problems, in the general population. Methods: A between-groups cross-sectional design assessed EF across two levels of drinking; hazardous (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score of ⩾8) and non-hazardous. Alcohol drinkers (n = 666; 136 male; 524 female; six not disclosed; aged 28.02 ± 10.40 years) completed validated questionnaires online assessing subjective EF, alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. Results: Organisation, Strategic Planning, Impulse Control and overall function were significantly impaired in hazardous drinkers. Furthermore, the effect of alcohol on EF, partially mediated the relationship between alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. Conclusion: Hazardous drinking was associated with lower subjective EF, and this mediated the effect of alcohol on alcohol-related problems. This may be due to changes in prefrontal brain regions, which could indicate greater risk for the development of alcohol dependence (AD). Future research should use additional means to assess EF in hazardous drinkers, including recovery of function, development of AD and the relationship between cognition and alcohol-related daily problems.
Beta-1 syntrophin (SNTB1) regulates colorectal cancer progression and stemness via regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Background Beta-1 syntrophin (SNTB1) is an intracellular scaffold protein that provides a platform for the formation of signal transduction complexes, thereby modulating and coordinating various intracellular signaling events and crucial cellular processes. However, the physiological role of SNTB1 is poorly understood. This study aims to explore the role of SNTB1 in colorectal cancer (CRC) tumorigenesis and progression, with particular focus on SNTB1’s expression pattern, clinical relevance, and possible molecular mechanism in CRC development. Methods SNTB1 expression was analyzed in both clinical tissues and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Western blot, and immunohistochemical assays were used to detect the relative mRNA and protein levels of SNTB1. Statistical analysis was performed to examine the correlation between SNTB1 expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with CRC. Bioinformatics gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), Western blot, luciferase assay, and agonist recovery assays were conducted to evaluate the relevance of SNTB1 and the β-catenin signaling pathway in CRC. A flow cytometry-based Hoechst 33342 efflux assay was applied to assess the proportion of the side population (SP) within total CRC cells. Results Elevated levels of SNTB1 were identified in CRC tissues and cell lines. The elevation of SNTB1 was positively correlated with the degree of malignancy and poor prognosis in CRC. We further revealed that, by modulating the β-catenin signaling pathway, silencing SNTB1 expression suppressed tumor growth and cancer stemness in vitro, as well as tumorigenesis in vivo. Conclusions These findings suggest that SNTB1 plays a crucial role in colorectal tumorigenesis and progression by modulating β-catenin signaling and the stemness maintenance of cancer cells.