LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Inter-Industry Wage Differentials in Switzerland

Inter-industry wage differentials have recently been used quite extensively to discriminate between competitive and non-competitive theories of the labour market. In a competitive world, the law of one price ensures that workers with the same skills earn identical wages. This claim has however been challenged on empirical grounds by the strong evidence of inter-industry wage differentials (IWD hereafter) which subsist even after controlling for individual and job attributes. These empirical regularities have mainly been observed in the U.S. labour market. Some recent research on European labour markets tend to confirm such patterns, although the evidence is not as clear-cut. Proponents of non-competitive theories of the labour market have put forth the hypothesis that these differentials may arise as a consequence of efficiency wage behaviour from firms or in broader terms of rent sharing activities. On the other hand, some authors put such differentials in perfect accordance with a competitive approach by ascribing them to compensating differentials or unobserved attributes. As such, the question of the source of IWD remains open. We further address this issue with swiss micro data. To our knowledge, no such study has been undertaken for Switzerland before. The paper is organised as follows. Section 2 briefly sketches theoretical underpinnings for IWD. Section 3 discusses the evidence of IWD from other studies as well as some results based on aggregate industry data. Section 4 gives some informations on the Swiss Labour Force Survey and the specification used. Section 5 presents regressions results, where care is taken to control for most personal characteristics (human capital variables as well as demographic or regional factors). Finally section 6 includes a summary of the results and concludes with qualifications.
Artificial moral agents are infeasible with foreseeable technologies

For an artificial agent to be morally praiseworthy, its rules for behaviour and the mechanisms for supplying those rules must not be supplied entirely by external humans. Such systems are a substantial departure from current technologies and theory, and are a low prospect. With foreseeable technologies, an artificial agent will carry zero responsibility for its behavior and humans will retain full responsibility.
Single-channel speech enhancement using kalman filtering in the modulation domain

In this paper, we propose the modulation-domain Kalman filter (MDKF) for speech enhancement. In contrast to previous modulation domain-enhancement methods based on bandpass filtering, the MDKF is an adaptive and linear MMSE estimator that uses models of the temporal changes of the magnitude spectrum for both speech and noise. Also, because the Kalman filter is a joint magnitude and phase spectrum estimator, under non-stationarity assumptions, it is highly suited for modulationdomain processing, as modulation phase tends to contain more speech information than acoustic phase. Experimental results from the NOIZEUS corpus show the ideal MDKF (with clean speech parameters) to outperform all the acoustic and timedomain enhancement methods that were evaluated, including the conventional time-domain Kalman filter with clean speech parameters. A practical MDKF that uses the MMSE-STSA method to enhance noisy speech in the acoustic domain prior to LPC analysis was also evaluated and showed promising results.
Survey on wireless sensor network devices

Wireless sensor networks are networks of compact microsensors with wireless communication capability. These small devices are relatively cheap with the potential to be disseminated in large quantities. Emerging applications of data gathering range from the environmental to the military. As autonomous devices they can provide pervasive distributed and collaborative network of computer nodes. Architectural challenges are posed for designers such as computational power, energy consumption, energy sources, communication channels and sensing capabilities. Embedded Systems provide the computational platform for hardware and software components to interact with the environment and other nodes. This survey presents the current state-ofthe-art for wireless sensor nodes, investigating and analyzing these challenges. We discuss the characteristics and requirements for a sensor node mainly processing, communications, power and sensing components. In this survey we present a comprehensive comparative study of sensor nodes platforms, energy management techniques, offthe-shelf microcontrollers, battery types and radio devices.
From admission to death: prevalence and course of pain, agitation, and shortness of breath, and treatment of these symptoms in nursing home residents with dementia.

OBJECTIVES
Burdensome symptoms frequently develop as part of the dementia trajectory and influence quality of life. We explore the course of symptoms and their treatment during nursing home stay to help target adequate symptom management.


DESIGN
Data were collected as part of the Dutch End of Life in Dementia study, a longitudinal observational study with up to 3.5 years of follow-up. Physicians performed assessments at baseline, semiannually, and shortly after death of pain, agitation, shortness of breath, and treatment provided for these symptoms.


SETTING
Long-term care facilities (28) in the Netherlands.


PARTICIPANTS
Newly admitted nursing home residents (372) in variable stages of dementia.


MEASUREMENTS
We described prevalence and course of symptoms, and treatment provided for these symptoms. We used generalized estimating equations to evaluate the longitudinal change in symptoms and their treatment, and the associations between the symptoms of pain and agitation, as well as between stage of dementia and symptoms.


RESULTS
Pain was common (varying from 47% to 68% across the semiannual assessments) and frequently persistent (36%-41% of all residents); it increased to 78% in the last week of life. Agitation was the most common symptom (57%-71%), and also frequently persistent (39%-53%), yet it decreased to 35% in the last week of life. Shortness of breath was less common (16%-26%), but it increased to 52% at the end of life. Pain was not significantly associated with agitation. Advanced dementia was associated with more pain only. Treatment changed in particular at the end of life. Pain was treated mostly with acetaminophen (34%-52%), and at the end of life with parenteral opioids (44%). Agitation was mostly treated nonpharmacologically (78%-92%), and at the end of life anxiolytics were the most frequently prescribed treatment (62%). Overall, aerosolized bronchodilators were the most frequently prescribed treatment for shortness of breath (29%-67%), but at the end of life, this was morphine (69%).


CONCLUSION
Pain and agitation were common and frequently persisted in residents with dementia during nursing home stay, but symptom management intensified only at the end of life. Symptom control may be suboptimal from admission, and a stronger focus on symptom control is needed at an earlier stage than the end of life.
Noninvasive identification of patients with early coronary atherosclerosis by assessment of digital reactive hyperemia.

OBJECTIVES
We investigated the value of reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) as a noninvasive tool to identify individuals with coronary microvascular endothelial dysfunction.


BACKGROUND
Coronary endothelial dysfunction, a systemic disorder, represents an early stage of atherosclerosis; RH-PAT is a technique to assess peripheral microvascular endothelial function.


METHODS
Using RH-PAT, digital pulse volume changes during reactive hyperemia were assessed in 94 patients without obstructive coronary artery disease and either normal (n = 39) or abnormal (n = 55) coronary microvascular endothelial function; RH-PAT index, a measure of reactive hyperemia, was calculated as the ratio of the digital pulse volume during reactive hyperemia divided by that at baseline.


RESULTS
Average RH-PAT index was lower in patients with coronary endothelial dysfunction compared with those with normal coronary endothelial function (1.27 +/- 0.05 vs. 1.78 +/- 0.08: p < 0.001). An RH-PAT index <1.35 was found to have a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 85% to identify patients with coronary endothelial dysfunction.


CONCLUSIONS
Digital hyperemic response, as measured by RH-PAT, is attenuated in patients with coronary microvascular endothelial dysfunction, suggesting a role for RH-PAT as a noninvasive test to identify patients with this disorder.
A ROADMAP TO SAFE AND RELIABLE ENGINEERED BIOLOGICAL NANO-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

Synthetic biology has the potential to benefit society with novel applications that can improve soil quality, produce biofuels, grow customized biological tissue, and perform intelligent drug delivery, among many other possibilities. Engineers are creating techniques to program living cells, inserting new logic, and leveraging cell-to-cell communication, which result in changes to a cell's core functionality. Using these techniques, we can now create synthetic biological organisms (SBOs) with entirely new (potentially unseen) behaviors, which, similar to silicon devices, can sense, ac-tuate, perform computation, and interconnect with other networks at the nanoscale level. SBOs are programmable evolving entities, and can be likened to self-adaptive programs that read inputs, process them, and produce outputs, reacting differently to different environmental conditions. With the increasing complexity of potential programs for SBOs, as in any new technology, there will be both beneficial as well as malicious uses. Although there has been much discussion about the potential safety and security risks of SBOs, and some research on predicting whether engineered life will be harmful, there has been little research on how to validate or verify safety of SBOs. In this thesis, we lay a foundation for validating and verifying safety for SBOs. We first present two case studies where we give insight into the difficulties of determining whether novel SBOs will be harmful given the vast combinatorial search space available for their engineering. Second, we explain how the current U.S. regulatory environment is fragmented with respect to the multiple dimensions of SBOs. Finally, we present a way forward for formalizing the architecture of SBOs and present a case study to show how we might utilize assurance cases to reason about SBO safety. 3 Acknowledgments I would like to personally thank my parents, Mark and Sandy Firestone, for supporting my academic career and neverending pursuit of knowledge. I also thank my advisors, Dr. Myra Cohen and Dr. Massimiliano Pierobon for all of the helpful comments which made this thesis much more focused and coherent. I finally wish to thank Dr. Jitender Deogun for encouraging me to pursue graduate studies in Computer Science. Introduction The emerging science of synthetic biology and the advent of synthetic biological organisms (SBOs) offer great hope for benefitting society through applications such as the enhancement of soil quality [9], the creation of new sources for biofuels [132], the development of engineered biological tissue [88, 104], and the synthesis of biocompatible intelligent drug delivery systems …
Seroprevalence of Leptospirosis in Working Dogs.

Working dogs are canine animals that have been trained to assist human beings in carrying out various tasks. They help in guarding property, performing rescues, assisting the visually impaired or physically handicapped, searching for drugs, explosives, and others. Leptospirosis is one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases in the world and a commonly occurring disease of the tropics and subtropics. In Malaysia, all working dogs are normally vaccinated with serovars, Pomona, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Canicola, and Grippotyphosa based on protocols recommended from other countries. The duration of immunity in vaccinated dogs for Leptospira can last up to 13 months; however, there is no full crossprotection between the different serovars. Five representative canine units from different government agencies in Malaysia (n = 96 dogs) were recruited in this study. For detection, the microscopic agglutination test was performed by incubating the serum from dogs with various serovars of leptospires, namely, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Canicola, Pomona, Grippotyphosa, Australis, Bataviae, Javanica, Tarassovi, Hebdomadis, Lai, and Pyrogenes. The plasma obtained was used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, for the detection of 16S rRNA, and lipL 32 genes of Leptospira. Out of the 96 dogs sampled, only 3 dogs were positive toward serovars, Australis, Bataviae, and Javanica, based on the cutoff point at 1:80. The seroprevalence of canine leptospirosis in this population was 3.1% (n = 3/96). However, all 96 blood samples of working dogs tested negative for both pathogenic and nonpathogenic Leptospira genes. The results revealed that, by vaccination alone, working dogs were not fully protected against leptospirosis and could pose a risk to dog handlers. A preventative and control protocol for leptospirosis is warranted, and its implementation should be monitored and improved accordingly from time to time, in order to maintain a healthy condition in both working dogs and their handlers.
A population pharmacokinetic model of valproic acid in pediatric patients with epilepsy: a non-linear pharmacokinetic model based on protein-binding saturation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Valproic acid (VPA) follows a non-linear pharmacokinetic profile in terms of protein-binding saturation. The total daily dose regarding VPA clearance is a simple power function, which may partially explain the non-linearity of the pharmacokinetic profile; however, it may be confounded by the therapeutic drug monitoring effect. The aim of this study was to develop a population pharmacokinetic model for VPA based on protein-binding saturation in pediatric patients with epilepsy.


METHODS
A total of 1,107 VPA serum trough concentrations at steady state were collected from 902 epileptic pediatric patients aged from 3 weeks to 14 years at three hospitals. The population pharmacokinetic model was developed using NONMEM(®) software. The ability of three candidate models (the simple power exponent model, the dose-dependent maximum effect [DDE] model, and the protein-binding model) to describe the non-linear pharmacokinetic profile of VPA was investigated, and potential covariates were screened using a stepwise approach. Bootstrap, normalized prediction distribution errors and external evaluations from two independent studies were performed to determine the stability and predictive performance of the candidate models.


RESULTS
The age-dependent exponent model described the effects of body weight and age on the clearance well. Co-medication with carbamazepine was identified as a significant covariate. The DDE model best fitted the aim of this study, although there were no obvious differences in the predictive performances. The condition number was less than 500, and the precision of the parameter estimates was less than 30 %, indicating stability and validity of the final model.


CONCLUSION
The DDE model successfully described the non-linear pharmacokinetics of VPA. Furthermore, the proposed population pharmacokinetic model of VPA can be used to design rational dosage regimens to achieve desirable serum concentrations.
Complex coronal shear fractures of the distal humerus.

This is a retrospective review of nine coronal shear fractures of the distal humerus. Two were isolated fractures and seven were associated with other peri-articular elbow injuries, termed "complex" coronal shear fractures. All cases underwent immediate open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) and were then followed for an average of 14 months (range: 6.5 to 23 months) with outcomes evaluated using the Mayo Elbow Performance Scoring system. There was a significant difference found between injuries limited to the radiocapitellar (RC) joint (isolated coronal shear fractures, or those associated only with radial head fractures) and the complex injuries extending beyond the RC joint. Scores for the RC injuries were 100 and other complex injuries had an average score of 69 (range: 35 to 95; p = .025). All complications were limited to the group with the complex injuries, including stiffness, nonunion, pain, and gross instability. Much of the current thinking in treatment of this fracture was upheld in this study; computed tomography aids in diagnosis, ORIF is a necessity, and there is a need for anatomic reduction. When a coronal shear fracture is complicated by a concomitant injury outside the RC joint, both the surgeon's and patient's expectation need to be adjusted accordingly.
The blockchain: a new framework for robotic swarm systems

Swarms of robots will revolutionize many industrial applications, from targeted material delivery to precision farming. However, several of the heterogeneous characteristics that make them ideal for certain future applications — robot autonomy, decentralized control, collective emergent behavior, etc. — hinder the evolution of the technology from academic institutions to real-world problems. Blockchain, an emerging technology originated in the Bitcoin field, demonstrates that by combining peer-topeer networks with cryptographic algorithms a group of agents can reach an agreement on a particular state of affairs and record that agreement without the need for a controlling authority. The combination of blockchain with other distributed systems, such as robotic swarm systems, can provide the necessary capabilities to make robotic swarm operations more secure, autonomous, flexible and even profitable. This work explains how blockchain technology can provide innovative solutions to four emergent issues in the swarm robotics research field. New security, decision making, behavior differentiation and business models for swarm robotic systems are described by providing case scenarios and examples. Finally, limitations and possible future problems that arise from the combination of these two technologies are described. I. THE BLOCKCHAIN: A DISRUPTIVE
Kangaroo mother care for low birth weight infants: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE
To compare the effect of Kangaroo mother care (KMC) and conventional methods of care (CMC) on growth in LBW babies (> 2000 g).


STUDY DESIGN
Randomized controlled trial.


SETTING
Level III NICU of a teaching institution in western India.


SUBJECTS
206 neonates with birth weight < 2000 g.


INTERVENTION
The subjects were randomized into two groups: the intervention group (KMC-103) received Kangaroo mother care. The control group (CMC: 103) received conventional care.


OUTCOME MEASURES
Growth, as measured by average daily weight gain and by other anthropometrical parameters at 40 weeks postmenstrual age in preterm babies and at 2500 g in term SGA infants was assessed.


RESULTS
The KMC babies had better average weight gain per day (KMC: 23.99 g vs CMC: 15.58 g, P< 0.0001). The weekly increments in head circumference (KMC: 0.75 cm vs CMC: 0.49 cm, P = 0.02) and length (KMC: 0.99 cm vs CMC: 0.7 cm, P = 0.008) were higher in the KMC group. A significantly higher number of babies in the CMC group suffered from hypothermia, hypoglycemia, and sepsis. There was no effect on time to discharge. More KMC babies were exclusively breastfed at the end of the study (98% vs 76%). KMC was acceptable to most mothers and families at home.


CONCLUSION
Kangaroo mother care improves growth and reduces morbidities in low birth weight infants. It is simple, acceptable to mothers and can be continued at home.
Pre-crash Sensing – Functional Evolution based on Short Range Radar Sensor Platform

Pre-crash functionality is defined in three functional steps: PRESET, PREFIRE and PREACT. The functional steps are in the order that they require a increasing situation analysis performance and an growing amount of application effort. Each functional step makes it necessary to define the appropriate range of view, the virtual barrier. It is subject to various constraints and the configurations possible in pre-crash sensing. Pre-crash sensing technology uses platform radar sensors being designed for the functional integration of all possible functions that rely on sensor information from the close surrounding of the vehicle. This approach guarantees a high cost efficiency, flexibility and modularity of the sensor system still guaranteeing the full pre-crash functionality.
Set theory objects: abstractions for computer-aided analysis and composition of serial and atonal music

Contents: Introduction - The Set Theoretical Approach to Music Analysis and Composition - Computer Tools Available for Set Theory - Designing User-Oriented Software for Set Theory - Implementing Software for Set Theory - Data Structures for Set Theory - Current Status and Future Goals - Set Class Tables - Definition and Theorems - Technical Documentation - Bibliography.
Leukocyte-reduced red blood cell transfusions in patients with anemia and human immunodeficiency virus infection: the Viral Activation Transfusion Study: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT
Allogeneic blood transfusions have immunomodulatory effects and have been associated with activation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in vitro and of HIV in small pilot studies. Retrospective studies suggest that transfusions adversely affect the clinical course of HIV. Data in selected non-HIV-infected patients requiring blood transfusion have suggested clinical benefit with leukocyte-reduced red blood cells (RBCs).


OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of leukoreduced and unmodified RBC transfusions on survival, complications of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and relevant laboratory markers in HIV-infected patients.


DESIGN AND SETTING
Double-blind randomized controlled trial conducted in 11 US academic medical centers from July 1995 through June 1999, with a median follow-up of 12 months (24 months in survivors).


PATIENTS
A total of 531 persons infected with HIV and CMV, aged 14 years or older, who required transfusions for anemia; 259 received leukoreduced transfusions and 262 received unmodified transfusions (10 did not receive the planned transfusion).


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Survival and change in plasma HIV RNA level 7 days after transfusion, compared by type of transfusion.


RESULTS
At entry, the groups were similar in demographic, clinical, and relevant laboratory characteristics. A total of 3864 RBC units were transfused. Two hundred eighty-nine deaths occurred (151 with leukoreduced transfusion; 138 with unmodified transfusion); median survival was 13.0 and 20.5 months, respectively (relative hazard [RH], 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95-1.51; log-rank P =.12). Analyses adjusted for prognostic factors suggested possible worse survival with leukoreduction (RH, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.06-1.72). There was no difference in time to new opportunistic event/death or frequency of transfusion reactions. No changes in plasma HIV RNA level were seen in either group at days 7, 14, 21, or 28, even in patients not taking antiretroviral drugs. There were no differences in trends between groups in CMV DNA, CD4 cell counts, activated (CD38% or human leukocyte antigen-DR) CD8 cell counts, or plasma cytokine levels.


CONCLUSIONS
We found no evidence of HIV, CMV, or cytokine activation following blood transfusion in patients with advanced HIV infection. Leukoreduction provided no clinical benefit in these patients. These data demonstrate the importance of conducting controlled studies of effects of leukoreduction in different patient populations, since smaller studies in other patient populations have suggested leukoreduction may be beneficial.