Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Empirical Validation of Agent Based Models: A Critical Survey

This paper addresses the problem of finding the appropriate method for conducting empirical validation in agent-based (AB) models, which is often regarded as the Achilles’ heel of the AB approach to economic modelling. The paper has two objectives. First, to identify key issues facing AB economists engaged in empirical validation. Second, to critically appraise the extent to which alternative approaches deal with these issues. We identify a first set of issues that are common to both AB and neoclassical modellers and a second set of issues which are specific to AB modellers. This second set of issues is captured in a novel taxonomy, which takes into consideration the nature of the object under study, the goal of the analysis, the nature of the modelling assumptions, and the methodology of the analysis. Having identified the nature and causes of heterogeneity in empirical validation, we examine three important approaches to validation that have been developed in AB economics: indirect calibration, the Werker-Brenner approach, and the history-friendly approach. We also discuss a set of open questions within empirical validation. These include the trade-off between empirical support and tractability of findings, the issue of over-parameterisation, unconditional objects, counterfactuals, and the non-neutrality of data.
Membrane Properties and the Balance between Excitation and Inhibition Control Gamma-Frequency Oscillations Arising from Feedback Inhibition

Computational studies as well as in vivo and in vitro results have shown that many cortical neurons fire in a highly irregular manner and at low average firing rates. These patterns seem to persist even when highly rhythmic signals are recorded by local field potential electrodes or other methods that quantify the summed behavior of a local population. Models of the 30–80 Hz gamma rhythm in which network oscillations arise through ‘stochastic synchrony’ capture the variability observed in the spike output of single cells while preserving network-level organization. We extend upon these results by constructing model networks constrained by experimental measurements and using them to probe the effect of biophysical parameters on network-level activity. We find in simulations that gamma-frequency oscillations are enabled by a high level of incoherent synaptic conductance input, similar to the barrage of noisy synaptic input that cortical neurons have been shown to receive in vivo. This incoherent synaptic input increases the emergent network frequency by shortening the time scale of the membrane in excitatory neurons and by reducing the temporal separation between excitation and inhibition due to decreased spike latency in inhibitory neurons. These mechanisms are demonstrated in simulations and in vitro current-clamp and dynamic-clamp experiments. Simulation results further indicate that the membrane potential noise amplitude has a large impact on network frequency and that the balance between excitatory and inhibitory currents controls network stability and sensitivity to external inputs.
Does Government Spending Really Crowd Out Charitable Contributions? New Time Series Evidence

We exploit the time series properties of charitable giving data to provide additional insights into the crowding out of charitable contributions in response to government spending. We find that the short-run and long-run government spending and charitable giving relationships are quite different - the long run relationship appears to be largely spurious, and estimates of the short-run relationship provide only weak evidence of crowding out. We also find that system estimation can improve upon the efficiency of single equation models used in previous works. Our results support the prestige theory of charitable giving and the rational ignorance of citizens.
High Risk of Severe Anaemia after Chlorproguanil-Dapsone+Artesunate Antimalarial Treatment in Patients with G6PD (A-) Deficiency

Background Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common inherited human enzyme defect. This deficiency provides some protection from clinical malaria, but it can also cause haemolysis after administration of drugs with oxidant properties. Methods The safety of chlorproguanil-dapsone+artesunate (CD+A) and amodiaquine+sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (AQ+SP) for the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria was evaluated according to G6PD deficiency in a secondary analysis of an open-label, randomized clinical trial [1]. 702 children, treated with CD+A or AQ+SP and followed for 28 days after treatment were genotyped for G6PD A- deficiency. Findings In the first 4 days following CD+A treatment, mean haematocrit declined on average 1.94% (95% CI 1.54 to 2.33) and 1.05% per day (95% CI 0.95 to 1.15) respectively in patients with G6PD deficiency and normal patients; a mean reduction of 1.3% per day was observed among patients who received AQ+SP regardless of G6PD status (95% CI 1.25 to 1.45). Patients with G6PD deficiency recipients of CD+A had significantly lower haematocrit than the other groups until day 7 (p = 0.04). In total, 10 patients had severe post-treatment haemolysis requiring blood transfusion. Patients with G6PD deficiency showed a higher risk of severe anaemia following treatment with CD+A (RR = 10.2; 95% CI 1.8 to 59.3) or AQ+SP (RR = 5.6; 95% CI 1.0 to 32.7). Conclusions CD+A showed a poor safety profile in individuals with G6PD deficiency most likely as a result of dapsone induced haemolysis. Screening for G6PD deficiency before drug administration of potentially pro-oxidants drugs, like dapsone-containing combinations, although seldom available, is necessary. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00461578
Functional Implications of MicroRNA-215 in TGF-β1-Induced Phenotypic Transition of Mesangial Cells by Targeting CTNNBIP1

Mesangial cell (MC) phenotypic transition is crucial for the progression of diabetic nephropathy. A major stimulus mediating high glucose-induced MC phenotypic transition is TGF-β1. Our current study focuses on microRNA-215 (miR-215) and investigates its role in TGF-β1-mediated MC phenotypic transition. Using real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and northern blotting, we determined that the miR-192/215 family is dramatically upregulated under diabetic conditions both in vitro and in vivo. Gain- and loss-of-function approaches demonstrated that miR-215 inhibition significantly inhibited TGF-β1-induced mouse mesangial cell (MMC) phenotypic transition, whereas miR-215 upregulation promoted MMC phenotypic transition. Interestingly, these changes were not detected in cells that were treated with TGF-β1 and miR-192 mimics or inhibitors. These results suggest that miR-215 participates in TGF-β1-induced MMC phenotypic transition. Luciferase reporter assays were used to identify whether catenin-beta interacting protein 1 (CTNNBIP1) is a direct target of miR-215, which was predicted by bioinformatic analysis. Mechanistic studies revealed that CTNNBIP1 suppresses Wnt/β-catenin signaling and that miR-215 promotes β-catenin activation and upregulates α-SMA and fibronectin expression in TGF-β1-treated MMCs by targeting CTNNBIP1. In addition, in vivo miR-215 silencing with a specific antagomir significantly increased CTNNBIP1 protein expression, resulting in reduced β-catenin activity and decreased α-SMA and fibronectin expression in db/db mouse kidney glomeruli. Taken together, our findings indicate that miR-215 plays an essential role in MC phenotypic transition by regulating the CTNNBIP1/β-catenin pathway, which is related to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.
Analysis of Brain Activation during Motor Imagery Based on fMRI

Brain activation during motor imagery (MI) has been studied extensively for years. Based on studies of brain activations of MI, in present study, a complex finger tapping imagery and execution experi- ment is designed to test the brain activation during MI. The experiment results show that during MI, brain activation exists mainly in the supplementary motor area (SMA) and precentral area where the dorsal premotor area (PMd) and the primary motor area (M1) mainly located; and some activation can be also observed in the primary and secondary somatosensory cortex (S1), the inferior parietal lobule (IPL) and the superior parietal lobule (SPL). Additionally, more brain activation can be observed during left-hand MI than during right-hand MI, this difference probably is caused by asymmetry of brain.
The independent effects of phonotactic probability and neighbourhood density on lexical acquisition by preschool children

The goal of this research was to disentangle effects of phonotactic probability, the likelihood of occurrence of a sound sequence, and neighbourhood density, the number of phonologically similar words, in lexical acquisition. Two-word learning experiments were conducted with 4-year-old children. Experiment 1 manipulated phonotactic probability while holding neighbourhood density and referent characteristics constant. Experiment 2 manipulated neighbourhood density while holding phonotactic probability and referent characteristics constant. Learning was tested at two time points (immediate vs. retention) in both a naming and referent identification task, although only data from the referent identification task were analysed due to poor performance in the naming task. Results showed that children were more accurate in learning rare sound sequences than common sound sequences and this was consistent across time points. In contrast, the effect of neighbourhood density varied by time. Children were more accurate in learning sparse sound sequences than dense sound sequences at the immediate test point but accuracy for dense sound sequences significantly improved by the retention test without further training. It was hypothesised that phonotactic probability and neighbourhood density influenced different cognitive processes that underlie lexical acquisition.
Compelling in the Shadow of Power

Power, defined as the ability to longer sustain a mutually damaging situation, determines both the outcome of the game and the way this outcome is reached. In our model, inspired from the Theory of moves (Brams, 1994), two agents, each facing two choices at their respective decision nodes, play a sequential game over an infinite time horizon. We show that the player who is most able to incur losses -the power wielder- imposes on his opponent the strategy he wants him to adopt, the latter finding himself forced to choose between complying and being punished. These equilibrium strategies are proved to be subgame perfect and unique. In most game configurations, the power wielder can even decide the identity of the endogenously determined first mover. To make the link with a widely analyzed real world conflict situation, we apply our model to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Myocardial fibrosis: biomedical research from bench to bedside

Myocardial fibrosis refers to a variety of quantitative and qualitative changes in the interstitial myocardial collagen network that occur in response to cardiac ischaemic insults, systemic diseases, drugs, or any other harmful stimulus affecting the circulatory system or the heart itself. Myocardial fibrosis alters the architecture of the myocardium, facilitating the development of cardiac dysfunction, also inducing arrhythmias, influencing the clinical course and outcome of heart failure patients. Focusing on myocardial fibrosis may potentially improve patient care through the targeted diagnosis and treatment of emerging fibrotic pathways. The European Commission funded the FIBROTARGETS consortium as a multinational academic and industrial consortium with the primary aim of performing a systematic and collaborative search of targets of myocardial fibrosis, and then translating these mechanisms into individualized diagnostic tools and specific therapeutic pharmacological options for heart failure. This review focuses on those methodological and technological aspects considered and developed by the consortium to facilitate the transfer of the new mechanistic knowledge on myocardial fibrosis into potential biomedical applications.
Low temperature Si/Si wafer direct bonding using a plasma activated method

Manufacturing and integration of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) devices and integrated circuits (ICs) by wafer bonding often generate problems caused by thermal properties of materials. This paper presents a low temperature wafer direct bonding process assisted by O2 plasma. Silicon wafers were treated with wet chemical cleaning and subsequently activated by O2 plasma in the etch element of a sputtering system. Then, two wafers were brought into contact in the bonder followed by annealing in N2 atmosphere for several hours. An infrared imaging system was used to detect bonding defects and a razor blade test was carried out to determine surface energy. The bonding yield reaches 90%–95% and the achieved surface energy is 1.76 J/m2 when the bonded wafers are annealed at 350 °C in N2 atmosphere for 2 h. Void formation was systematically observed and elimination methods were proposed. The size and density of voids greatly depend on the annealing temperature. Short O2 plasma treatment for 60 s can alleviate void formation and enhance surface energy. A pulling test reveals that the bonding strength is more than 11.0 MPa. This low temperature wafer direct bonding process provides an efficient and reliable method for 3D integration, system on chip, and MEMS packaging.
The theory of the growth of the firm twenty-five years after

There are not many books that are genuine classics, and only a handful in business and management whose insights and ideas last for 50 years and more. This book is one of the very few 'must reads' for anybody seriously interested in the role of management within the firm. Originally published in 1959, The Theory of the Growth of the Firm has illuminated and inspired thinking in strategy, entrepreneurship, knowledge creation, and innovation. Edith Penrose's tightly-argued classic laid the foundations for the resource based view of the firm, now the dominant framework in business strategy. She analyses managerial activities and decisions, organizational routines, and also the factors that inevitably limit a firm's growth prospects. For this new anniversary edition, Christos Pitelis has written a new introduction which both tells the story of Penrose's extraordinary life, and provides a balanced assessment of her key ideas and their continuing relevance and freshness.
A high-fructose diet impairs basal and stress-mediated lipid metabolism in healthy male subjects

The effects of a 7 d high-fructose diet (HFrD) or control diet on lipid metabolism were studied in a group of six healthy lean males. Plasma NEFA and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations, net lipid oxidation (indirect calorimetry) and exogenous lipid oxidation (13CO2 production) were monitored in basal conditions, after lipid loading (olive oil labelled with [13C]triolein) and during a standardised mental stress. Lactate clearance and the metabolic effects of an exogenous lactate infusion were also monitored. The HFrD lowered plasma concentrations of NEFA and β-hydroxybutyrate as well as lipid oxidation in both basal and after lipid-loading conditions. In addition, the HFrD blunted the increase in plasma NEFA and exogenous lipid oxidation during mental stress. The HFrD also increased basal lactate concentrations by 31·8 %, and lactate production by 53·8 %, while lactate clearance remained unchanged. Lactate infusion lowered plasma NEFA with the control diet, and net lipid oxidation with both the HFrD and control diet. These results indicate that a 7 d HFrD markedly inhibits lipolysis and lipid oxidation. The HFrD also increases lactate production, and the ensuing increased lactate utilisation may contribute to suppress lipid oxidation.
Can the HEART score safely reduce stress testing and cardiac imaging in patients at low risk for major adverse cardiac events?

BACKGROUND Patients with low-risk chest pain have high utilization of stress testing and cardiac imaging, but low rates of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The objective of this study was to determine whether the HEART score could safely reduce objective cardiac testing in patients with low-risk chest pain. METHODS A cohort of chest pain patients was identified from an emergency department-based observation unit registry. HEART scores were determined using registry data elements and blinded chart review. HEART scores were dichotomized into low (0-3) or high risk (>3). The outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACE); a composite end point of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization during the index visit or within 30 days. Sensitivity, specificity, and potential reduction of cardiac testing were calculated. RESULTS In a span of 28 months, the registry included 1070 low-risk chest pain patients. MACE occurred in 0.6% (5/904) of patients with low-risk HEART scores compared with 4.2% (7/166) with a high-risk HEART scores (odds ratio = 7.92; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 2.48-25.25). A HEART score of >3 was 58% sensitive (95% CI: 32-81%) and 85% specific (95% CI: 83-87%) for MACE. The HEART score missed 5 cases of ACS among 1070 patients (0.5%) and could have reduced cardiac testing by 84.5% (904/1070). Combination of serial troponin >0.065 ng/mL or HEART score >3 resulted in sensitivity of 100% (95% CI: 72-100%), specificity of 83% (95% CI: 81-85%), and potential reduction in cardiac testing of 82% (879/1070). CONCLUSIONS If used to guide stress testing and cardiac imaging, the HEART score could substantially reduce cardiac testing in a population with low pretest probability of ACS.
Swedish Stock and Bond Returns, 1856–2012

This chapter presents historical evidence about Swedish stock prices, dividends, and yields on government fixed-interest securities. Monthly returns are presented since 1901 for stocks, since 1874 for government long-term bonds and since 1856 for short-term Treasury bills or central bank discount rates. Annual stock price and returns indices from 1870 are also presented. Altogether, these series comprise the longest financial asset price database for Sweden to date. An important ambition is to provide information about the quality of the financial data, how they are constructed and how they are modified so as to ensure consistency across time. The chapter also outlines the basic institutional and economic framework of the Swedish stock and money markets. Research has shown that asset prices are influenced by the extent of trading activity as well as by the legal setting and microstructural characteristics. Finally, the chapter offers some initial analysis of the new evidence: calculation of returns for different periods, examination of trends and trend breaks in returns, dividends, volatility and cross-country returns correlations, and computation of equity risk premia across holding periods and historical eras.
Spinning instability of gaseous detonations

We investigate hydrodynamic instability of a steady planar detonation wave propagating in a circular tube to three-dimensional linear perturbations, using the normal mode approach. Spinning instability is identified and its relevance to the well-known spin detonation is discussed. The neutral stability curves in the plane of heat release and activation energy exhibit bifurcations from low-frequency to high-frequency spinning modes as the heat release is increased at fixed activation energy. With a simple Arrhenius model for the heat release rate, a remarkable qualitative agreement with experiment is obtained with respect to the effects of dilution, initial pressure and tube diameter on the behaviour of spin detonation. The analysis contributes to the explanation of spin detonation which has essentially been absent since the discovery of the phenomenon over seventy years ago.
Differences in prognostic factors and outcomes between women and men undergoing coronary artery stenting.

CONTEXT Women with coronary artery disease (CAD) are believed to have a higher risk for adverse outcomes than men after conventional coronary interventions. The increasing use of coronary stenting has improved the outcome of patients undergoing coronary interventions, but little is known about the nature of outcomes in men vs women after this procedure. OBJECTIVE To examine whether there are sex-based differences in prognostic factors and in early and late outcomes among CAD patients undergoing coronary stent placement. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Inception cohort study, at 2 tertiary referral institutions in Germany. Consecutive series of 1001 women and 3263 men with symptomatic CAD who were treated with stenting between May 1992 and December 1998. Patients who underwent stenting in the setting of acute myocardial infarction were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The combined event rates of death and nonfatal myocardial infarction, assessed at 30 days and 1 year after stenting and compared by sex. RESULTS Compared with men, women undergoing coronary stenting were significantly older (mean age, 69 vs 63 years) and more likely to present with diabetes, arterial hypertension, or hypercholesterolemia. Women had less extensive CAD, a less frequent history of myocardial infarction and better preserved left ventricular function than men. Women presented an excess risk of death or nonfatal myocardial infarction only during the early period after stenting: the 30-day combined event rate of death or myocardial infarction was 3.1% in women and 1.8% in men (P =.02) and the multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for women was 2.02 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27-3.19). At 1 year, the outcome was similar for both women and men (combined event rate for women, 6.0%, and for men, 5.8% (P =.77); multivariate-adjusted HR for women, 1.06 [95% CI, 0.75-1.48]). There was a sex difference in the prognostic value of baseline characteristics: the strongest prognostic factors were diabetes in women and age in men. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study indicate that 1-year outcomes of women with CAD undergoing coronary artery stenting are similar to those of men. Despite the similarity in outcomes, there are several sex-specific differences in baseline characteristics, clinical course after the intervention, and relative weight of prognostic factors. JAMA. 2000;284:1799-1805.
Reduction of Large Circuit Models Via Low Rank Approximate Gramians

We describe a model reduction algorithm which is well-suited for the reduction of large linear interconnect models. It is an orthogonal projection method which takes as the projection space the sum of the approximate dominant controllable subspace and the approximate dominant observable subspace. These approximate dominant subspaces are obtained using the Cholesky Factor ADI (CF–ADI) algorithm. We describe an improvement upon the existing implementation of CF–ADI which can result in significant savings in computational cost. We show that the new model reduction method matches moments at the negative of the CF–ADI parameters, and that it can be easily adapted to allow for DC matching, as well as for passivity preservation for multi-port RLC circuit models which come from modified nodal analysis.