Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Study to Quantify and Analyse the VAT Gap in the EU-27 Member States

This report presents and discusses the findings of the “Study to quantify and analyse the VAT Gap in the EU-27 Member States” (Contract TAXUD/2012/DE/316, FWC No. TAXUD/2010/CC/104), conducted by CASE and CPB.The structure of this report is as follows. In Chapter 1, we discuss the structure of the VAT systems in the EU, the broad trends in the EU economy over the period 2000-2011, and review the behaviour of VAT revenues, as well as the changes in VAT rates and exemptions that have occurred as a response to economic events or policy decisions. We pay particular attention to the events following the onset of the economic crisis in 2008. In Chapter 2, we discuss the definition of VAT Gaps that has been used in this study, as well as other alternatives existing in the literature. We review possible shortcomings associated with different concepts. In Chapter 3 we present the results of the estimations for EU-26 countries for the period 2000-2011. The estimates are first discussed for the EU-26 as a whole, and then for each country individually. Chapter 4 provides an econometric analysis of the determinants of VAT Gaps for the period under consideration. Appendix A discusses the methodology followed with regard to the estimates, and Appendix B reviews the differences with other, official and unofficial, estimates of the Gaps. Appendix C provides additional statistical material.
A human brain network derived from coma-causing brainstem lesions

Objective: To characterize a brainstem location specific to coma-causing lesions, and its functional connectivity network. Methods: We compared 12 coma-causing brainstem lesions to 24 control brainstem lesions using voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping in a case-control design to identify a site significantly associated with coma. We next used resting-state functional connectivity from a healthy cohort to identify a network of regions functionally connected to this brainstem site. We further investigated the cortical regions of this network by comparing their spatial topography to that of known networks and by evaluating their functional connectivity in patients with disorders of consciousness. Results: A small region in the rostral dorsolateral pontine tegmentum was significantly associated with coma-causing lesions. In healthy adults, this brainstem site was functionally connected to the ventral anterior insula (AI) and pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pACC). These cortical areas aligned poorly with previously defined resting-state networks, better matching the distribution of von Economo neurons. Finally, connectivity between the AI and pACC was disrupted in patients with disorders of consciousness, and to a greater degree than other brain networks. Conclusions: Injury to a small region in the pontine tegmentum is significantly associated with coma. This brainstem site is functionally connected to 2 cortical regions, the AI and pACC, which become disconnected in disorders of consciousness. This network of brain regions may have a role in the maintenance of human consciousness.
Mood Induction in Depressive Patients: A Comparative Multidimensional Approach

Anhedonia, reduced positive affect and enhanced negative affect are integral characteristics of major depressive disorder (MDD). Emotion dysregulation, e.g. in terms of different emotion processing deficits, has consistently been reported. The aim of the present study was to investigate mood changes in depressive patients using a multidimensional approach for the measurement of emotional reactivity to mood induction procedures. Experimentally, mood states can be altered using various mood induction procedures. The present study aimed at validating two different positive mood induction procedures in patients with MDD and investigating which procedure is more effective and applicable in detecting dysfunctions in MDD. The first procedure relied on the presentation of happy vs. neutral faces, while the second used funny vs. neutral cartoons. Emotional reactivity was assessed in 16 depressed and 16 healthy subjects using self-report measures, measurements of electrodermal activity and standardized analyses of facial responses. Positive mood induction was successful in both procedures according to subjective ratings in patients and controls. In the cartoon condition, however, a discrepancy between reduced facial activity and concurrently enhanced autonomous reactivity was found in patients. Relying on a multidimensional assessment technique, a more comprehensive estimate of dysfunctions in emotional reactivity in MDD was available than by self-report measures alone and this was unsheathed especially by the mood induction procedure relying on cartoons. The divergent facial and autonomic responses in the presence of unaffected subjective reactivity suggest an underlying deficit in the patients' ability to express the felt arousal to funny cartoons. Our results encourage the application of both procedures in functional imaging studies for investigating the neural substrates of emotion dysregulation in MDD patients. Mood induction via cartoons appears to be superior to mood induction via faces and autobiographical material in uncovering specific emotional dysfunctions in MDD.
Ethnic and Regional Differences in Prevalence and Correlates of Chronic Diseases and Risk Factors in Northern Canada

Introduction We investigated ethnic and geographic variations in major chronic diseases and risk factors in northern Canada, an area that is undergoing rapid changes in its social, cultural, and physical environments. Methods Self-report data were obtained from the population-based Canadian Community Health Survey in 2000-2001 and 2005-2006 for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal respondents from the 3 regions of northern Canada: Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. Crude prevalence estimates, adjusted odds ratios (AORs), and confidence intervals were calculated for multiple chronic diseases and risk factors. Results The percentage of Aboriginal respondents who reported having any chronic health condition increased between the 2 cycles of data collection, but did not change for non-Aboriginal respondents. AORs for heart disease, arthritis, and asthma varied by ethnicity or region. AORs for overweight, obesity, daily smoking, regular and binge drinking, and infrequent physical/leisure activity were also substantially different for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal respondents or among respondents from the 3 northern regions. Conclusion The changing profile of health in northern Canada suggests a need for action on health policy about the delivery of community-based primary prevention interventions and further research about the determinants of health and health care use.
Identification of a Novel Cryptochrome Differentiating Domain Required for Feedback Repression in Circadian Clock Function*

Background: Mammalian CRY1 and CRY2 have distinct functions in circadian clock mechanisms. Results: A core domain within the photolyase homology region of CRY1 differentiates CRY1 from CRY2 in clock function. Conclusion: The CRY1/2 differentiating domain is required for strong transcriptional repression and rhythm generation, whereas the divergent tail domain fine tunes clock function. Significance: This study provides novel insights into functional evolution of photolyase/cryptochrome flavoproteins. Circadian clocks in mammals are based on a negative feedback loop in which transcriptional repression by the cryptochromes, CRY1 and CRY2, lies at the heart of the mechanism. Despite similarities in sequence, domain structure, and biochemical activity, they play distinct roles in clock function. However, detailed biochemical studies have not been straightforward and Cry function has not been examined in real clock cells using kinetic measurements. In this study, we demonstrate, through cell-based genetic complementation and real-time molecular recording, that Cry1 alone is able to maintain cell-autonomous circadian rhythms, whereas Cry2 cannot. Using this novel functional assay, we identify a cryptochrome differentiating α-helical domain within the photolyase homology region (PHR) of CRY1, designated as CRY1-PHR(313–426), that is required for clock function and distinguishes CRY1 from CRY2. Contrary to speculation, the divergent carboxyl-terminal tail domain (CTD) is dispensable, but serves to modulate rhythm amplitude and period length. Finally, we identify the biochemical basis of their distinct function; CRY1 is a much more potent transcriptional repressor than CRY2, and the strength of repression by various forms of CRY proteins significantly correlates with rhythm amplitude. Taken together, our results demonstrate that CRY1-PHR(313–426), not the divergent CTD, is critical for clock function. These findings provide novel insights into the evolution of the diverse functions of the photolyase/cryptochrome family of flavoproteins and offer new opportunities for mechanistic studies of CRY function.
Ecosystem Services, Governance, and Stakeholder Participation: an Introduction

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, GOVERNANCE, AND STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION: AN INTRODUCTION The ecosystem services approach has gained popularity, and novel incentive-based ecosystem conservation strategies are increasingly being used. This calls for the reassessment and transformation of conceptual-theoretical, natural resource management, and governance approaches to conservation. In the past, conservation efforts focused on distinct components of ecosystems without regard for long-term human well-being. Natural resource management in turn sought to control nature to harvest products for direct consumption or for sale at markets. However, this singular focus on management ignored that ecosystems are complex, dynamic, adaptive systems with nonlinear feedback and thresholds (Costanza 2008) and are tightly interlinked with human systems (Menzel and Teng 2010).
SPESS: A New Instrument for Measuring Student Perceptions in Earth and Ocean Science

ABSTRACT This paper discusses the development and results of a new tool used for measuring shifts in students' perceptions of earth and ocean sciences called the Student Perceptions about Earth Sciences Survey (SPESS). The survey measures where students lie on the novice–expert continuum, and how their perceptions change after taking one or more earth and ocean science course(s). The survey is composed of 29 statements that have been validated with expert responses and student interviews. Factor analysis was used to group statements into seven categories, which provide instructors with valuable information to guide pedagogical change in their classes. Overall student perceptions in earth and ocean sciences show little change over the course of the term, in contrast to novice shifts in perceptions seen in other science disciplines. Students in earth and ocean sciences also do not display any gender differences, unlike those seen in these other disciplines. However, differences are seen between face-to-face and distance education versions of a course, between earth and ocean science majors and nonmajors, and between a community college and a large research institution. The former of each pair are more expert-like.
Social Integration and Student Proactivity: Precursors to Improved Academic Outcomes in a First-Year Experience Basic Communication Course

Based on interactionalist theory, we longitudinally examined first-year experience basic communication courses for students’ social integration and academic outcomes. Participants completed measures of proactivity, instructor rapport, classroom connectedness, participation, self-regulated and peer learning, and likelihood to persist in college. Results reveal that students’ perceptions of proactivity, instructor rapport, and peer connectedness all increased over the course of a semester. Instructor rapport predicted self-regulated learning, participation, and likelihood to persist. Connectedness predicted participation. Student proactivity predicted likelihood to persist. Generally, results suggest social integration (i.e., rapport and connectedness) and proactivity are important to student success.
FastHenry: A Multipole-Accelerated 3-D Inductance Extraction Program

In [1], it was shown that an equation formulation based on mesh analysis can be combined with a GMRES-style iterative matrix solution technique to make a reasonably fast 3-D frequency dependent inductance and resistance extraction algorithm. Unfortunately, both the computation time and memory required for that approach grow faster than n/sup 2/, where n is the number of volume-filaments. In this paper, we show that it is possible to use multipole-acceleration to reduce both required memory and computation time to nearly order n. Results from examples are given to demonstrate that the multipole acceleration can reduce required computation time and memory by more than an order of magnitude for realistic packaging problems.
Supporting a Light-Weight Data Management Layer over HDF5

Scientific simulations are now being performed at finer temporal and spatial scales, leading to an explosion of the output data, and challenges in storing, managing, disseminating, analyzing, and visualizing these datasets. Tools commonly used today for disseminating and visualizing such data have inherent limitations, making it extremely hard to deal with larger datasets. We have developed a light-weight data management tool, which allows server-side sub setting and aggregation on scientific datasets stored in HDF5, one of the most popular scientific data formats. To support a variety of queries efficiently, our tool generates code for hyper slab selector and content-based filtering, and parallelizes selection and aggregation queries efficiently using novel algorithms. Additionally, our tool also supports certain most recent HDF5 features including dimension scale and compound data type. Through extensive evaluation, we show that our system is capable of efficiently supporting a variety of queries, scaling performance by parallelizing the queries, and reducing wide area data transfers through server-side data aggregation. We demonstrate that even for sub setting queries that are directly supported in OPeNDAP, a tool widely used by data dissemination portals, the sequential performance of our system is better.
Closed-form capacity expressions of orthogonalized correlated MIMO channels

Space-time block codes are known to orthogonalize the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless channel, thus reducing the space-time vector detection to a simpler scalar detection problem. The capacity over orthogonalized ergodic correlated Rayleigh and Ricean flat-fading MIMO channels has so far only been given in integral form. This letter derives a closed form capacity expression over such channels, hence avoiding numerical integrations or Monte Carlo simulations.
Efektivitas Pelatihan Mindfulness Dengan Pendekatan Spiritual Terhadap Peningkatan Psychological Wellbeing Penderita Diabetes Mellitus Tipe 2

Abstract. This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness training with a spiritual approach for improving the psychological wellbeing of people with diabetes mellitus type 2. The variables used in this study consisted of a free variable mindfulness training with a spiritual approach and callisthenics for patients with diabetes mellitus; and the dependent variable, which is the psychological wellbeing. The subjects were patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This research method is experimental research, with the design non-equivalent group design, pre-test – post-test control group design, consisting of the experimental group and the control group which were not selected randomly. Researchers used 33 participants were divided into 3 groups: the experimental mindfulness training group with a spiritual approach (KE 1), the experimental group 2 (KE 2) and the control group (KK). The analysis of data used the Friedman test KE 1, and it was determined there are significantly different levels of psychological wellbeing by chi square 14.114; asymp sig 0,001;p < 0,05. The increase occurred in 4 aspects of psychological wellbeing: autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, and purpose in life. The analysis of data on the KE 2 using the Friedman Test determined significant differences of psychological wellbeing with chi square 14.308; asymp.sig 0,001; p < 0,05. The increase occurred in one aspect of psychological wellbeing: selfacceptance. 3 different test groups used Kruskal Walis, and the post-test measurement data obtained was Chi Square of 8.075 with Asymp. Sig of 0,018; p < 0,05. Follow up measurement: Chi Square of 9,552 with Asymp.Sig of 0,008; p < 0,05. Mean rank post-test data KE 1 of 19,94 KE 2 of 12.20 and KK of 9,56. Follow up mean rank data KE 1 of 20,61 KE 2 of 11,40 and KK of 9,81. Mindfulness training with a spiritual approach more effectively improved the psychological wellbeing than callisthenics in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Keywords: mindfulness training with a spiritual approach, callisthenics for diabetes mellitus, psychological wellbeing.
Genetic Characterization of HIV-1 Strains Among the Injecting Drug Users in Nagaland, India

Global HIV-1 surveillance has led to the detection of its new recombinant forms. This study was carried out for the first time to elucidate the genetic characterization and evolutionary relationship of HIV-1 strains among injecting drug users of Nagaland, northeastern India. A total of 156 injecting drug users participated in this study voluntarily. Among them 18 were seropositive for HIV-1 (11.5%). The Heteroduplex Mobility Assay (HMA) of HIV-1 based on p24-p7 region of gag gene and C2-V3 region of env gene revealed 11 samples to be subtype C (gag/env), 1 sample as subtype B (gag/env) and 6 samples to be recombinants between subtype C and B. Also, the sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of gag (p24-p7) and env (C2-V3) genes from eighteen samples of Nagaland IDUs with different global HIV-1 strains showed the presence of Indian, African, Thai and their recombinant forms. However, more recombinant strains based on different genomic regions of HIV-1 were detected using Multiregional Hybridization Assay (MHA) where 8 out of 18 samples were found to be recombinants between subtype C and B. Thus, multiregional hybridization assay along with heteroduplex mobility assay can serve as an efficient tool in the characterization of recombination pattern among the newly emerging HIV-1 recombinants.
On Event-Based Middleware for Location-Aware Mobile Applications

As mobile applications become more widespread, programming paradigms and middleware architectures designed to support their development are becoming increasingly important. The event-based programming paradigm is a strong candidate for the development of mobile applications due to its inherent support for the loose coupling between components required by mobile applications. However, existing middleware that supports the event-based programming paradigm is not well suited to supporting location-aware mobile applications in which highly mobile components come together dynamically to collaborate at some location. This paper presents a number of techniques including location-independent announcement and subscription coupled with location-dependent filtering and event delivery that can be used by event-based middleware to support such collaboration. We describe how these techniques have been implemented in STEAM, an event-based middleware with a fully decentralized architecture, which is particularly well suited to deployment in ad hoc network environments. The cost of such location-based event dissemination and the benefits of distributed event filtering are evaluated.
Why Do Online Product Reviews Have a J-Shaped Distribution? Overcoming Biases in Online Word-of-Mouth Communication

Online word-of-mouth communication in the form of product reviews is a major information source for consumers and marketers about product quality. The literature has used the mean of online reviews to predict product sales, assuming that the mean reflects product quality. However, using a combination of econometric, experimental, and analytical results, we show that the mean is a biased estimator of product quality due to two self-selection biases (purchasing and under-reporting bias). First, econometric results with secondary data from Amazon.com show that almost all products have an asymmetric bimodal (J-shaped) distribution with more positive than negative reviews. Second, experimental results where all respondents wrote reviews show that their reviews have an approximately normal distribution with roughly equal number of positive and negative reviews. This implies two biases: (1) purchasing bias - only consumers with favorable disposition towards a product purchase the product and have the opportunity to write a product review, and (2) under-reporting bias - consumers with polarized (either positive or negative) reviews are more likely to report their reviews than consumers with moderate reviews. This results in a J-shaped distribution of online product reviews that renders the mean a biased estimator of product quality. Third, we develop an analytical model to derive the conditions for the mean to become an unbiased estimator of product quality. Based on these conditions, we build a new model that integrates three distributional parameters - mean, standard deviation, and the two modes of the online product reviews (to overcome under-reporting bias) and product price (to overcome purchasing bias). This model is shown to be a superior predictive model of future product sales compared to competing models.
Novel supervised fuzzy adaptive resonance theory (SF-ART) neural network for pattern recognition

This paper introduces a novel two-stage artificial neural network so-called supervised fuzzy adaptive resonance theory (SF-ART) which is utilized for training as well as for recall. First stage, pre-classification level, includes an unsupervised neural network called fuzzy adaptive resonance theory (K-ART) to roughly classify input data to M classes. M is variable and it depends to input features scattering and learning parameters of F-ART. The second stage, post (affine)-classification level, only includes an array with M cells called affine look-up table (ALT), By representing input data to the F-ART (first stage), one of F-ART output neurons are wined. The index of this wined output is used as reference address to call and upload output desired value in the related cell of ALT in training mode (supervised learning), or to recall and introduce its value as the final decision (wined class) in testing mode. The SF-ART is evaluated and compared with existing supervised neural networks on a variety of some well-known pattern classification problems.
Safety of a new conjugate meningococcal C vaccine in infants

BACKGROUND Group C conjugate meningococcal vaccines (Men C) were introduced into the UK primary immunisation schedule in November 1999. There has been extensive professional and public interest in their efficacy and safety. AIM To determine the occurrence of at least one uncommon adverse event in infants related to the administration of the Chiron Men C vaccine. METHODS A total of 2796 infants aged approximately 2 months were recruited into the study from areas in and around Sheffield and from Scotland. They were vaccinated with the Chiron Men C vaccine at 2, 3, and 4 months along with routine immunisations. Data on adverse events occurring one month after each dose were collected actively and prospectively and reviewed for possible relation to the vaccine. RESULTS There were no deaths. There were no serious adverse events considered definitely or probably caused by the vaccine. Four infants developed serious adverse events (hypotonia, screaming syndrome, maculopapular rash, and agitation, respectively) that were considered possibly related to the vaccine. All recovered completely. Adverse events were seen in 1804 children but were considered possibly related to the vaccine in only 49 (1.8%). On subsequent immunisation there were no recurrences of adverse events considered to be possibly related to the vaccine.