Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Research Department Staff Report 305 the Time Consistency of Optimal Monetary and Fiscal Policies *

We show that optimal monetary and fiscal policies are time consistent for a class of economies often used in applied work, economies appealing because they are consistent with the growth facts. We establish our results in two steps. We first show that for this class of economies, the Friedman rule of setting nominal interest rates to zero is optimal under commitment. We then show that optimal policies are time consistent if the Friedman rule is optimal. For our benchmark economy in which the time consistency problem is most severe, the converse also holds: if optimal policies are time consistent, then the Friedman rule is optimal. * For financial support, Alvarez and Neumeyer thank the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica and Alvarez and Kehoe thank the National Science Foundation and the Sloan Foundation. The authors thank Kathy Rolfe for editorial assistance. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis or the Federal Reserve System. A classic issue in macroeconomics is whether or not optimal monetary and fiscal policies are time consistent. In a monetary economy, Calvo (1978) shows that the incentive for the government to inflate away its nominal liabilities leads to a time consistency problem for optimal policies. In a real economy, Lucas and Stokey (1983) show that the incentive for the government to devalue its real debt typically also leads to a time consistency problem for optimal policies. They show that, with a carefully chosen maturity structure for real government debt, optimal policies can be made time consistent in a real economy. But they conjecture that the analogous result does not hold for a monetary economy with both nominal and real debt. Contrary to their conjecture, we show that for a class of monetary economies typically used in applied work, optimal policies are time consistent. Our benchmark model is an infinite horizon model with end-of-period money balances in the utility function of the representative consumer. In this model, the government has access to nominal and real debt of all maturities and must finance a given stream of government expenditures with a combination of consumption taxes and seigniorage. Following Lucas and Stokey (1983), we abstract from the well-understood problems arising from capital taxation by not including any kind of capital. We also discuss variations of our model, such as those with beginning-of-period balances
Training a Convolutional Neural Network for Appearance-Invariant Place Recognition

Place recognition is one of the most challenging problems in computer vision, and has become a key part in mobile robotics and autonomous driving applications for performing loop closure in visual SLAM systems. Moreover, the difficulty of recognizing a revisited location increases with appearance changes caused, for instance, by weather or illumination variations, which hinders the long-term application of such algorithms in real environments. In this paper we present a convolutional neural network (CNN), trained for the first time with the purpose of recognizing revisited locations under severe appearance changes, which maps images to a low dimensional space where Euclidean distances represent place dissimilarity. In order for the network to learn the desired invariances, we train it with triplets of images selected from datasets which present a challenging variability in visual appearance. The triplets are selected in such way that two samples are from the same location and the third one is taken from a different place. We validate our system through extensive experimentation, where we demonstrate better performance than state-of-art algorithms in a number of popular datasets.
Partial Dopamine D2/Serotonin 5-HT1A Receptor Agonists as New Therapeutic Agents~!2009-12-17~!2010-04-07~!2010-07-20~!

The therapeutic efficacy of current antipsychotic or antidepressant agents still present important drawbacks such as delayed onset of action and a high percentage of non-responders. Despite significant advancements in the devel- opment of new drugs with more acceptable side-effect profiles, patients with schizophrenia or major depression experi- ence substantial disability and burden of disease. The present review discusses the usefulness of partial dopamine D2/serotonin 5-HT1A receptors agonists in the treatment of schizophrenia, major depression and bipolar disorder as well as in Parkinson's disease. Partial agonists can behave as modulators since their intrinsic activity or efficacy of a partial ago- nist depends on the target receptor population and the local concentrations of the natural neurotransmitter. Thus, these drugs may restore adequate neurotransmission while inducing less side effects. In schizophrenia, partial DA D2/5-HT1A receptor agonists (like aripiprazole or bifeprunox), by stabilizing DA system via a preferential reduction of phasic DA re- lease, reduce side effects i.e. extrapyramidal symptoms and improve cognition by acting on 5-HT1A receptors. Aripipra- zole appears also as a promising agent for the treatment of depression since it potentiates the effect of SSRIs in resistant treatment depression. Concerning bipolar disorders aripiprazole may have only a benefit effect in the treatment of manic episodes. Conversely, treatment of Parkinson's disease with partial DA D2/5-HT1A receptor agonists remains still experi- mental. However several studies suggest that these drugs decrease usually observed side effects (dyskinesia, psychotic- like symptoms) in Parkinson's disease treatment. Hence, these relatively recent researches provide an exciting future in the discovery of novel stabilizators agents for the management of the latter diseases.
Application of the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior Model to Investigate Purchase Intention of Green Products among Thai Consumers

Green products are among the widely used products worldwide due to their environmental benefits. However, information on the consumers’ purchase intention towards green products in developing countries, such as Thailand, is lacking. This study aims to investigate Thai consumers who are aged over 18 years, and whose base education is high school, on purchase intention for green products by using an extended framework of the theory of planned behavior (TPB). We derived and examined the model through structural equation modeling in a sample of 483 respondents in Thailand. The findings of this model indicated that consumer attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control have significant positive influences on the purchase intention for green products. Furthermore, our results indicated that environmental concerns have a significant effect on attitude, perceived behavioral control and purchase intention for green products, but subjective norm. Moreover, environmental knowledge had no significant effect on the purchase intention for green products. Instead, it had a distinct indirect effect through attitude towards purchasing green products, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control. The findings from this study contribute to improving the understanding of intention to purchase green products, which could play a major role towards sustainable consumption.
Salt-Induced Stabilization of EIN3/EIL1 Confers Salinity Tolerance by Deterring ROS Accumulation in Arabidopsis

Ethylene has been regarded as a stress hormone to regulate myriad stress responses. Salinity stress is one of the most serious abiotic stresses limiting plant growth and development. But how ethylene signaling is involved in plant response to salt stress is poorly understood. Here we showed that Arabidopsis plants pretreated with ethylene exhibited enhanced tolerance to salt stress. Gain- and loss-of-function studies demonstrated that EIN3 (ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3) and EIL1 (EIN3-LIKE 1), two ethylene-activated transcription factors, are necessary and sufficient for the enhanced salt tolerance. High salinity induced the accumulation of EIN3/EIL1 proteins by promoting the proteasomal degradation of two EIN3/EIL1-targeting F-box proteins, EBF1 and EBF2, in an EIN2-independent manner. Whole-genome transcriptome analysis identified a list of SIED (Salt-Induced and EIN3/EIL1-Dependent) genes that participate in salt stress responses, including several genes encoding reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers. We performed a genetic screen for ein3 eil1-like salt-hypersensitive mutants and identified 5 EIN3 direct target genes including a previously unknown gene, SIED1 (At5g22270), which encodes a 93-amino acid polypeptide involved in ROS dismissal. We also found that activation of EIN3 increased peroxidase (POD) activity through the direct transcriptional regulation of PODs expression. Accordingly, ethylene pretreatment or EIN3 activation was able to preclude excess ROS accumulation and increased tolerance to salt stress. Taken together, our study provides new insights into the molecular action of ethylene signaling to enhance plant salt tolerance, and elucidates the transcriptional network of EIN3 in salt stress response.
A new learning automata‐based sampling algorithm for social networks

Recently, studying social networks plays a significant role in many applications of social network analysis, from the studying the characterization of network to that of financial applications. Due to the large data and privacy issues of social network services, there is only a limited local access to the whole network data in a reasonable amount of time. Therefore, network sampling arises to studying the characterization of real networks such as communication, technological, information, and social networks. In this paper, a sampling algorithm for complex social networks that is based on a new version of distributed learning automata (DLA) reported recently called extended DLA (eDLA) is proposed. For evaluation purpose, the eDLA‐based sampling algorithm has been tested on several test networks and the obtained experimental results are compared with the results obtained for a number of well‐known sampling algorithms in terms of relative error and Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. It is shown that eDLA‐based sampling algorithm outperforms the existing sampling algorithms. Experimental results further show that the eDLA‐based sampling algorithm in comparison with the DLA‐based sampling algorithm has a 26.93% improvement for the average of Kolmogorov–Smirnov value for degree distribution taken over all test networks. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The coffee-machine system: how international selection really works

The literature on expatriate selection tends to present lists of criteria, with the implicit assumption that the process is formal and rational. The limited empirical work there is in this area suggests that these criteria have little impact on selection in practice. This paper argues that a deeper understanding of selection systems is needed and presents research showing the outcomes of different kinds of systems, suggesting that closed, informal systems predominate and outlining the practical and research implications of such systems.
An experimental evaluation of collision detection packages for robot motion planning

Randomized motion planners are greatly affected by the efficiency and robustness of algorithms for collision checking of robot configurations. A number of powerful collision detection algorithms are currently available to the research community although their relative capabilities and performance cannot be easily compared due to the many factors involved. We have experimentally evaluated collision detection packages within the context of motion planning for rigid and articulated robots in 3D workspaces. Artificial and realistic problems have been chosen as benchmarks to assess package behavior with different object models. Reported experimental results should help the user in choosing the appropriate collision detection package. In this paper we also present the framework we exploited in our planner to allow pluggable distance computation functions and keep the code simple and easy to maintain.
Clubs de lectura: ¿Una práctica relevante hoy?

Relevant reading practices nowadays are framed under the paradigm of dialogic reading, giving relevance not only to reading but also the interaction among readers. One of these practices is a book club. They have been developed in Spain for thirty-five years in public libraries, bookstores, community centers, etc. Despite their long excistence in practice, empirical research on reading clubs is practically incipient. In this article we present the results of a qualitative research (open questionnaire, interviews and participant observation), in which we analyzed five aspects, in our opinion, fundamental: (1) the relevance of reading for those involved in clubs, (2) their reasons for participating in them, (3) selected readings, (4) the development of face meetings among its members, and (5) their current status and suggestions for their improvement. The final conclusion is that, today, book clubs are relevant.
Fields in human motor areas involved in preparation for reaching, actual reaching, and visuomotor learning: a positron emission tomography study

The purpose of this study was to examine the functional organization of motor cortices in the human brain involved in reaching and visuomotor learning. All subjects were asked to learn the positions of seven circular targets projected on a screen. Each time the targets were turned off, they were required to close their eyes and keep them closed, and, after a delay, to point to the center of the targets in a prescribed order using their right hand. The regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured with 15O-butanol and positron emission tomography in 20 subjects during a rest state, an initial learning stage, and a later learning stage. Ten subjects constituted the reaching group in which rCBF was measured during actual reaching; the 10 other subjects constituted the preparation group in which rCBF was measured in the delay period between target exposure and actual reaching. Individual subtraction images (each stage minus rest) were calculated and transformed into a standard size and shape brain image by the adjustable computerized brain atlas and averaged, after which significant changes of rCBF were identified. In all reaching and preparation for reaching phases, cortical fields were activated in the left primary motor area (M1) and the left premotor area (PMA). Within M1, fields active in the delay phases were adjacent to the fields active only during actual reaching movements. During the course of learning, additional fields of activity appeared in both M1 and PMA. The results indicate that three types of fields occur in M1 and PMA: (1) fields directly engaged in the efferent control of peripheral muscle contraction, (2) fields engaged in preparatory activity for reaching, and (3) fields appearing after learning of the task has taken place.
Internalizing Symptoms and Friendship Stability: Longitudinal Actor-Partner Effects in Early Adolescent Best Friend Dyads

The present study investigated the stability of friendship nominations over the course of a school year as a function of early adolescents’ and their classroom best friends’ internalizing symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety, and somatization). Sample consisted of 156 early adolescents (57.1% female; X ¯ age = 12.62; SD = 0.62) involved in 78 same-sex best friendship dyads. We assessed best friendship (classroom) nominations at beginning (T1) and end (T2) of the school year. Results of longitudinal analyses performed with the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model indicated adolescents’ and their classroom best friends’ depressive symptoms predicted lower stability of best friendships over time, whereas best friends’ somatization emerged as a predictor of higher friendship stability. In addition, positive dyadic friendship quality predicted greater stability over time. These findings highlight the importance of employing a dyadic framework when examining the role of internalizing symptoms in friendship stability.
Uncertainty Associated with Pre-Defined Correlative Expressions of Various In-Situ Test Outputs

The paper deals with the following full-scale and small-scale strength and stiffness measuring devices: Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP), Vane-Shear Strength (VSS), Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD), and the Light Drop Weight (LDW) tests. Various established correlative expressions between CBR and each of the following testing outputs are given in the technical literature: (a) DCP index, (b) VSS, (c) MR (backcalculated Resilient Modulus from FWD testing or Resilient Modulus from direct laboratory testing), (d) MFWD (Resilient Surface Modulus, also known as Stiffness, from FWD testing), and (e) MLDW (Resilient Surface Modulus, also known as Stiffness, from LDW testing). The paper presents a comparison of local correlative expressions with some of those described. It indicates that the variation in the correlative expression output results for each type of test makes their use entirely uncertain, at least for the studies carried out in Israel. Although some good correlations have been obtained in various cases, the results have been found to be material dependent, and so the equations should be used with care and only with a full understanding of the material properties of the soils on which the correlative expressions were developed and of the soil being tested.
Effect of bystander initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation on ventricular fibrillation and survival after witnessed cardiac arrest outside hospital.

OBJECTIVE--To describe the proportion of patients who were discharged from hospital after witnessed cardiac arrest outside hospital in relation to whether a bystander initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation. PATIENTS--All patients with witnessed cardiac arrest outside hospital before arrival of the ambulance and in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation was attempted by the emergency medical service in Gothenburg during 1980-92. RESULTS--Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated by a bystander in 18% (303) of 1,660 cases. In this group 69% had ventricular fibrillation at first recording compared with 51% in the remaining patients (P < 0.001). Among patients in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation had been initiated by a bystander 25% were discharged alive versus 8% of the remaining patients (P < 0.001). Independent predictors of survival were in order of significance: initial arrhythmia (P < 0.001), interval between collapse and arrival of first ambulance (P < 0.001), cardiopulmonary resuscitation initiated by a bystander (P < 0.001), and age (P < 0.01). Among patients who were admitted to hospital alive 30% of patients in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation had been initiated by a bystander compared with 58% of remaining patients (P < 0.001) had brain damage and died in hospital. Corresponding figures for death in association with myocardial damage were 18% and 29% respectively (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS--Cardiopulmonary resuscitation initiated by a bystander maintains ventricular fibrillation and triples the chance of surviving a cardiac arrest outside hospital. Furthermore, it seems to protect against death in association with brain damage as well as with myocardial damage.
Communications in Mathematical Physics Equivalence of the ( Generalised ) Hadamard and Microlocal Spectrum Condition for ( Generalised ) Free Fields in Curved Spacetime

We prove that the singularity structure of all n-point distributions of a state of a generalised real free scalar field in curved spacetime can be estimated if the twopoint distribution is of Hadamard form. In particular this applies to the free field and the result has applications in perturbative quantum field theory, showing that the class of all Hadamard states is the state space of interest. In our proof we assume that the field is a generalised free field, i.e. that it satisfies scalar (c-number) commutation relations, but it need not satisfy an equation of motion. The same arguments also work for anti-commutation relations and for vector-valued fields. To indicate the strengths and limitations of our assumption we also prove the analogues of a theorem by Borchers and Zimmermann on the self-adjointness of field operators and of a weak form of the Jost-Schroer theorem. The original proofs of these results make use of analytic continuation arguments. In our case no analyticity is assumed, but to some extent the scalar commutation relations can take its place.
Blind Speech Separation and Enhancement With GCC-NMF

We present a blind source separation algorithm named GCC-NMF that combines unsupervised dictionary learning via non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) with spatial localization via the generalized cross correlation (GCC) method. Dictionary learning is performed on the mixture signal, with separation subsequently achieved by grouping dictionary atoms, at each point in time, according to their spatial origins. The resulting source separation algorithm is simple yet flexible, requiring no prior knowledge or information. Separation quality is evaluated for three tasks using stereo recordings from the publicly available SiSEC signal separation evaluation campaign: 3 and 4 concurrent speakers in reverberant environments, speech mixed with real-world background noise, and noisy recordings of a moving speaker. Performance is quantified using perceptually motivated and SNR-based measures with the PEASS and BSS Eval toolkits, respectively. We evaluate the effects of model parameters on separation quality, and compare our approach with other unsupervised and semi-supervised speech separation and enhancement approaches. We show that GCC-NMF is a flexible source separation algorithm, outperforming task-specific approaches in each of the three settings, including both blind as well as several informed approaches that require prior knowledge or information.
The Hare and the Tortoise: a comparative review of the drive towards inclusive education policies in England and Cyprus

ABSTRACT This paper explores the process of policy formulation and implementation in relation to children commonly described as having ‘special educational needs’ and disability (SEND), in Cyprus and in England. Drawing on qualitative research evidence from key primary documentary sources including legislation, statutory and non-statutory guidance and reports, it provides a comparative analysis of the content and the spirit of policy in both countries over the cycle of a century. The findings indicate that Cypriot policymakers have engaged in a process of ‘policy snatching’ from England, following four phases: charitable segregation and categorisation; enlightened legitimisation and categorisation; integration, ‘special educational needs’ and categorisation; inclusion, SEND and categorisation. Using the analogy of Aesop’s well-known fable ‘The Hare and the Tortoise’, the paper concludes that England, symbolically characterised as the hare, appears, overtly at least, to have moved ahead; while Cyprus, characterised as the tortoise, has been following slowly behind. However, progress has been slow in both countries, and the hare may well have fallen asleep. It is argued that whilst some common ground exists between the two countries, there is an inherent danger in transplanting selected elements of policy texts from one socio-cultural historical context to another.