Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Department of Economics Unemployment Invariance

This paper provides a critique of the unemployment invariance hypothesis, according to which the behavior of the labor market ensures that the long-run unemployment rate is independent of the size of the capital stock, productivity, and the labor force. Using Solow growth and endogenous growth models, we show that the labor market alone need not contain all the equilibrating mechanisms to ensure unemployment invariance; in particular, other markets may perform part of the equilibrating process as well. By implication, policies that raise the growth path of capital or increase the effective working-age population may inßuence the long-run unemployment rate. JEL ClassiÞcations: J21, J23, J30, J38, J64, J68
May Measurement Month 2017: an analysis of the blood pressure screening campaign results in Pakistan—South Asia

Abstract Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a growing burden worldwide, leading to over 10 million deaths each year. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness of high BP and to act as a temporary solution to the lack of screening programs worldwide. Hypertension is a global health concern for developing countries. In Pakistan, apart from few population-based studies which evaluated the prevalence of hypertension, there is no current nationally representative study (the latest nationwide survey was conducted more than two decades ago). Pakistan Hypertension League, in accordance with the International Society of Hypertension directive under the banner of the May Measurement Month 2017 (MMM17) campaign, carried out a nationwide cross-sectional survey of volunteers aged ≥18 in May 2017 through its 14 regional chapters. Blood pressure measurement recorded through digital apparatus, the definition of hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg or being on BP-lowering treatment) and statistical analysis followed the standard MMM protocol. A total of 5333 individuals were screened during the MMM17 campaign with mean age 45.0 (11.6). Males had a higher rate (66.3%, n = 3536) in those screened than females (33.0%, n = 1757). A total of 55.2% (n = 2943) people had hypertension. This result shows very high rates of hypertension in Pakistani people. Therefore, there is an urgent need for federal implementation of BP screening as well as awareness programs across the nation.
A Flexible Primal-Dual Toolbox

\textbf{FlexBox} is a flexible MATLAB toolbox for finite dimensional convex variational problems in image processing and beyond. Such problems often consist of non-differentiable parts and involve linear operators. The toolbox uses a primal-dual scheme to avoid (computationally) inefficient operator inversion and to get reliable error estimates. From the user-side, \textbf{FlexBox} expects the primal formulation of the problem, automatically decouples operators and dualizes the problem. For large-scale problems, \textbf{FlexBox} also comes with a \cpp-module, which can be used stand-alone or together with MATLAB via MEX-interfaces. Besides various pre-implemented data-fidelities and regularization-terms, \textbf{FlexBox} is able to handle arbitrary operators while being easily extendable, due to its object-oriented design. The toolbox is available at \href{http://www.flexbox. im}{this http URL}
A Solution to a Problem of D. Lau: Complete Classification of Intervals in the Lattice of Partial Boolean Clones

The following natural problem, first considered by D. Lau, has been tackled by several authors recently: Let C be a total clone on 2 := {0, 1}. Describe the interval I(C) of all partial clones on 2 whose total component is C. We establish some results in this direction and combine them with previous ones to show the following dichotomy result: For every total clone C on 2, the set I(C) is either finite or of continuum cardinality.
A windup prevention scheme for multiple integrating plants allowing for arbitrary reference step inputs

Linear control, designed to obtain a desired disturbance rejection for unstable plants usually causes severe windup problems when input saturation becomes active. These windup effects may reduce the allowable reference signal amplitudes not causing closed loop instability to very small values. Based on a new structure proposed by Teel [12], a windup prevention scheme for multiple integrating plants is developed, which, given a nominal (linear) compensator, allows to apply arbitrary large reference step inputs. A model plant consisting of six integrators is used to demonstrate the results.
Selecting Members for Group Therapy: A Continued Validation Study of the Group Selection Questionnaire

Selecting Members for Group Therapy: A Continued Validation Study of the Group Selection Questionnaire Elizabeth L. Baker Department of Psychology Doctor of Philosophy Group therapy has been demonstrated to be effective through a number of factors. Group theorists and researchers have attempted to identify client characteristics that would enable the clinician to determine a client’s appropriateness for group therapy. Reviews of research have identified client expectancies and positive and negative interpersonal skills as promising predictors of group process, outcome, and attrition. The Group Selection Questionnaire (GSQ) was created to provide clinicians with a short and useful tool to aid them in identifying potential members for therapy groups, and has shown positive preliminary results in the past. This study presents tentative support for the factor structure of the GSQ and compares the GSQ and the Group Therapy Questionnaire (GTQ), another well established pre-group selection measure. Convergent validity of the GSQ is generally supported. GSQ Demeanor, Expectancy and Total scale scores correlate significantly with the GTQ Expectations about Group scale. In addition, GSQ Participation, Expectancy and Total scale scores correlate with GTQ Interpersonal Problems, with more interpersonal problems indicating fewer positive interpersonal skills, better expectancies for group, and stronger overall group readiness. Implications of these findings are discussed as well as future research directions.
Cytomegalovirus exposure, immune exhaustion and cancer occurrence in renal transplant recipients

The role of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in carcinogenesis is controversial. We studied whether CMV may contribute to cancer occurrence in renal transplant recipients. We studied a prospective cohort of 455 consecutive patients who received a kidney transplant between January 1995 and December 2006. All cancers and types of cancers were assessed. Lymphocyte phenotype and cytokines production were analysed according to CMV status in a subset population of this cohort. Mean follow‐up was 84 ± 29 months. One hundred and nineteen cancers (26.2%) occurred during the study follow‐up. There was a higher cumulated incidence of cancers in CMV‐exposed patients (30.4% vs. 20%; P = 0.018). Mean time to cancer occurrence was shorter in CMV‐exposed patients than in CMV‐naïve patients (4.7 ± 2.6 vs. 6.7 ± 2.8; P = 0.001). Cox regression analysis revealed that both pretransplant CMV exposure (HR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.17–2.88; P = 0.009) and post‐transplant CMV replication (HR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.02–4.59; P = 0.044) were risk factors for cancer. Among CD8+ T cells, exhausted T cells assessed as CD57+CD28‐ were expanded in CMV‐exposed patients (26 ± 20 vs. 9 ± 8%; P < 0.0001), whereas CD8+CD57+IL2‐ cells were more frequent in CMV‐exposed patients. Our results highly suggest that CMV increases the risk of cancer after transplantation.
Approximation in Sobolev Spaces by Kernel Expansions

For interpolation of smooth functions by smooth kernels having an expansion into eigenfunctions (e.g., on the circle, the sphere, and the torus), good results including error bounds are known, provided that the smoothness of the function is closely related to that of the kernel. The latter fact is usually quantified by the requirement that the function should lie in the ''native'' Hilbert space of the kernel, but this assumption rules out the treatment of less smooth functions by smooth kernels. For the approximation of functions from ''large'' Sobolev spaces W by functions generated by smooth kernels, this paper shows that one gets at least the known order for interpolation with a less smooth kernel that has W as its native space.
Late adolescents' parental, peer, and romantic attachments as they relate to affect regulation and risky behaviors.

The current study examined the relationships among attachment styles to parent, peer, and romantic partner, ability to regulate emotion, as well as engagement in sexual behaviors and substance use. Attachment theory and previous research suggests that an individual learns how to manage emotions through the modeling of appropriate techniques and a stable sense of self-worth. These two aspects develop through a secure attachment bond with an important figure. When an individual does not have a secure attachment bond in which to practice adaptive affect regulation strategies, he/she may attempt to manage emotions through external means, such as sexual behaviors or substance use. Overall, results supported these associations, with some notable exceptions. Across attachment sources a secure attachment style was related to lower levels of psychological distress and less engagement in substance use. In contrast to the findings from earlier studies, affect regulation did not mediate the relationship between attachment and substance use, and engagement in sexual behaviors was not significantly related to either attachment style or affect regulation.
Intestinal Parasite Survey of Kindergarten Children in New Orleans

Extract: A survey of intestinal helminths and protozoa was conducted on 887 5-year-old Negro kindergarten children from New Orleans public schools. Thirty-one percent of the children were found to be infected with one or more species of parasites. Nineteen percent harbored one or more species of medically important parasites. Seven pathogenic and four nonpathogenic species were identified.Speculation: The prevalence of intestinal parasites in New Orleans kindergarten children was found to be high, although the average intensity of infection was found to be low. The prevalence of intestinal parasitism in the lower socioeconomic strata of the United States will continue to decline as living conditions and educational levels of this group are improved.
A multimodal approach to estimating vigilance using EEG and forehead EOG

Objective. Covert aspects of ongoing user mental states provide key context information for user-aware human computer interactions. In this paper, we focus on the problem of estimating the vigilance of users using EEG and EOG signals. Approach. The PERCLOS index as vigilance annotation is obtained from eye tracking glasses. To improve the feasibility and wearability of vigilance estimation devices for real-world applications, we adopt a novel electrode placement for forehead EOG and extract various eye movement features, which contain the principal information of traditional EOG. We explore the effects of EEG from different brain areas and combine EEG and forehead EOG to leverage their complementary characteristics for vigilance estimation. Considering that the vigilance of users is a dynamic changing process because the intrinsic mental states of users involve temporal evolution, we introduce continuous conditional neural field and continuous conditional random field models to capture dynamic temporal dependency. Main results. We propose a multimodal approach to estimating vigilance by combining EEG and forehead EOG and incorporating the temporal dependency of vigilance into model training. The experimental results demonstrate that modality fusion can improve the performance compared with a single modality, EOG and EEG contain complementary information for vigilance estimation, and the temporal dependency-based models can enhance the performance of vigilance estimation. From the experimental results, we observe that theta and alpha frequency activities are increased, while gamma frequency activities are decreased in drowsy states in contrast to awake states. Significance. The forehead setup allows for the simultaneous collection of EEG and EOG and achieves comparative performance using only four shared electrodes in comparison with the temporal and posterior sites.
Reduced-Complexity Robust MIMO Decoders

We propose a robust near maximum-likelihood (ML) decoding metric that is robust to channel estimation errors and is near optimal with respect to symbol error rate (SER). The solution involves an exhaustive search through all possible transmitted signal vectors; this search has exponential complexity, which is undesirable in practical systems. Hence, we also propose a robust sphere decoder to implement the decoding with substantially lower computational complexity. For a real 4 x 4 MIMO system with 256-QAM modulation and at SER of 10^{-3}, our proposed robust sphere decoder has a coding loss of only 0.5 dB while searching through 2360 nodes (or less) compared to a 65536 node search using the exact ML metric. This translates to up to 228 times fewer real multiplications and additions in the implementation. We derive analytical upper bounds on the pairwise codeword error rate and symbol error rate of our robust sphere decoder and validate these bounds via simulation.
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Depression in Korean Adult Patients with Asthma: Is There a Difference between Elderly and Non-Elderly Patients?

Depression is an important comorbidity of asthma. However, little information is available about depression and its potential impact on asthma control in Korean adult asthma patients. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors for depression in Korean adults with persistent asthma. The 127 non-elderly (20-64 yr) and 75 elderly (≥65 yr) patients with asthma were recruited. Demographic and clinical data were extracted, and the patients completed the Asthma Specific Quality of Life (AQOL) questionnaire and asthma control test (ACT). Depression status was defined using the Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Depression was more prevalent in non-elderly (18.9%) than in elderly patients with asthma (13.3%). Patients with depression were significantly younger, had lower economic status, shorter disease duration, poorer asthma control, and worse AQOL scores (P<0.05). Within the non-elderly group, younger age and shorter disease duration were significantly associated with depression (P<0.05). Within the elderly group, a higher body mass index and current smoking status were significantly associated with depression (P<0.05). The PHQ-9 score was significantly correlated with worse ACT and AQOL scores in both groups. In conclusion, depression is strongly associated with poor asthma control and quality of life in Korean adult asthma patients. Our results provide important clues that used to target modifiable factors which contribute to development of depression in asthma patients. Graphical Abstract
Transmit Designs for the MIMO Broadcast Channel With Statistical CSI

We investigate the multiple-input multiple-output broadcast channel with statistical channel state information available at the transmitter. The so-called linear assignment operation is employed, and necessary conditions are derived for the optimal transmit design under general fading conditions. Based on this, we introduce an iterative algorithm to maximize the linear assignment weighted sum-rate by applying a gradient descent method. To reduce complexity, we derive an upper bound of the linear assignment achievable rate of each receiver, from which a simplified closed-form expression for a near-optimal linear assignment matrix is derived. This reveals an interesting construction analogous to that of dirty-paper coding. In light of this, a low-complexity transmission scheme is provided. Numerical examples illustrate the significant performance of the proposed low complexity scheme.
Localization of a putative low‐penetrance ependymoma susceptibility locus to 22q11 using a chromosome 22 tiling‐path genomic microarray

Ependymomas frequently display allelic loss of chromosome 22 in the absence of mutations in the known tumor‐suppressor genes on chromosome 22, suggesting the role of an alternative predisposing gene or genes from this chromosome. In an effort to localize these genes, 37 ependymomas derived from 33 patients were analyzed for the presence of copy number changes by use of a high‐resolution chromosome 22 genomic microarray. Eighteen ependymomas (49%) displayed an array‐CGH profile consistent with monosomy of chromosome 22. However, in 10 of these tumors, the fluorescence ratios for 22q clones scored as deleted were different from those at the single gene copy level. This suggests either analysis of mixed populations of tumor and normal stromal cells or analysis of mixed tumor cell populations with different genetic profiles. Four ependymomas derived from two patients showed overlapping interstitial deletions of 2.2 Mb and ∼510 kb. Further analyses revealed that these deletions were present in the constitutional DNA of these two patients as well as in some of their unaffected relatives. Detailed microsatellite analysis of these families refined the commonly deleted segment to a region of 320 kb between markers RH13801 and D22S419. Our results provide additional evidence for the involvement of genes on chromosome 22 in the development of ependymoma and suggest the presence of a low‐penetrance ependymoma susceptibility locus at 22q11. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression and permeation properties of the K+ channel Kir7.1 in the retinal pigment epithelium

1 Bovine Kir7.1 clones were obtained from a retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)‐subtracted cDNA library. Human RPE cDNA library screening resulted in clones encoding full‐length human Kir7.1. 2 Northern blot analysis indicated that bovine Kir7.1 is highly expressed in the RPE. 3 Human Kir7.1 channels were expressed in Xenopus oocytes and studied using the two‐electrode voltage‐clamp technique. 4 The macroscopic Kir7.1 conductance exhibited mild inward rectification and an inverse dependence on extracellular K+ concentration ([K+]o). The selectivity sequence based on permeability ratios was K+ (1.0) ≈ Rb+ (0.89) > Cs+ (0.013) > Na+ (0.003) ≈ Li+ (0.001) and the sequence based on conductance ratios was Rb+ (9.5) >> K+ (1.0) > Na+ (0.458) > Cs+ (0.331) > Li+ (0.139). 5 Non‐stationary noise analysis of Rb+ currents in cell‐attached patches yielded a unitary conductance for Kir7.1 of ≈2 pS. 6 In whole‐cell recordings from freshly isolated bovine RPE cells, the predominant current was a mild inwardly rectifying K+ current that exhibited an inverse dependence of conductance on [K+]o. The selectivity sequence based on permeability ratios was K+ (1.0) ≈ Rb+ (0.89) > Cs+ (0.021) > Na+ (0.003) ≈ Li+ (0.002) and the sequence based on conductance ratios was Rb+ (8.9) >> K+ (1.0) > Na+ (0.59) > Cs+ (0.23) > Li+ (0.08). 7 In cell‐attached recordings with Rb+ in the pipette, inwardly rectifying currents were observed in nine of 12 patches of RPE apical membrane but in only one of 13 basolateral membrane patches. 8 Non‐stationary noise analysis of Rb+ currents in cell‐attached apical membrane patches yielded a unitary conductance for RPE Kir of ≈2 pS. 9 On the basis of this molecular and electrophysiological evidence, we conclude that Kir7.1 channel subunits comprise the K+ conductance of the RPE apical membrane.
A Tlx2‐Cre mouse line uncovers essential roles for hand1 in extraembryonic and lateral mesoderm

Hand1 regulates development of numerous tissues within the embryo, extraembryonic mesoderm, and trophectoderm. Systemic loss of Hand1 results in early embryonic lethality but the cause has remained unknown. To determine if Hand1 expression in extraembryonic mesoderm is essential for embryonic survival, Hand1 was conditionally deleted using the HoxB6‐Cre mouse line that expresses Cre in extraembryonic and lateral mesoderm. Deletion of Hand1 using HoxB6‐Cre resulted in embryonic lethality identical to systemic knockout. To determine if lethality is due to Hand1 function in extraembryonic mesoderm or lateral mesoderm, we generated a Tlx2‐Cre mouse line expressing Cre in lateral mesoderm but not extraembryonic tissues. Deletion of Hand1 using the Tlx2‐Cre line results in embryonic survival with embryos exhibiting herniated gut and thin enteric smooth muscle. Our results show that Hand1 regulates development of lateral mesoderm derivatives and its loss in extraembryonic mesoderm is the primary cause of lethality in Hand1‐null embryos. genesis 48:479–484, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Glycopyrrolate in children.

The effects of glycopyrrolate 10 microgram kg-1 i.v. given at induction of anaesthesia were compared with those of atropine 20 microgram kg-1 i.v. given at induction and oral atropine 30 microgram kg-1 given 90 min before operation. Antisialagogue effect, changes in axillary temperature, heart rate, frequency of cardiac arrhythmia and postoperative restlessness were determined. Patients who had received oral atropine had more pharyngeal secretions, a lower heart rate and a greater frequency of cardiac arrhythmia than when either atropine or glycopyrrolate was given i.v. Secretions were significantly less during operation when i.v. glycopyrrolate was used.
AUT3, a serine/threonine kinase gene, is essential for autophagocytosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Autophagocytosis is a starvation-induced process, carrying proteins destined for degradation to the lysosome. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the autophagic process is visualized by the appearance of autophagic vesicles in the vacuoles of proteinase yscB-deficient strains during starvation. aut3-1 mutant cells which exhibit a block in the autophagic process have been isolated previously. By using the drastically reduced sporulation frequency of homozygous aut3-1 diploid cells, the AUT3 gene was cloned by complementation. The Aut3 protein consists of 897 amino acids. The amino-terminal part of the protein shows significant homologies to serine/threonine kinases. aut3 null mutant cells are fully viable on rich media but show a reduced survival rate upon starvation. They are unable to accumulate autophagic vesicles in the vacuole during starvation. Starvation-induced vacuolar protein breakdown is almost completely impaired in aut3-deficient cells. Vacuolar morphology and acidification are not influenced in aut3-deficient cells. Also, secretion of invertase, endocytic uptake of Lucifer Yellow, and vacuolar protein sorting appear wild type like in aut3-deficient cells, suggesting autophagocytosis as a novel route for the transport of proteins from the cytosol to the vacuole. By using a fusion of Aut3p with green-fluorescent protein, Aut3p was localized to the cytosol.
Extracellular growth factors and mitogens cooperate to drive mitochondrial biogenesis

Cells generate new organelles when stimulated by extracellular factors to grow and divide; however, little is known about how growth and mitogenic signalling pathways regulate organelle biogenesis. Using mitochondria as a model organelle, we have investigated this problem in primary Schwann cells, for which distinct factors act solely as mitogens (neuregulin) or as promoters of cell growth (insulin-like growth factor 1; IGF1). We find that neuregulin and IGF1 act synergistically to increase mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial DNA replication, resulting in increased mitochondrial density in these cells. Moreover, constitutive oncogenic Ras signalling results in a further increase in mitochondrial density. This synergistic effect is seen at the global transcriptional level, requires both the ERK and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signalling pathways and is mediated by the transcription factor ERRα. Interestingly, the effect is independent of Akt-TOR signalling, a major regulator of cell growth in these cells. This separation of the pathways that drive mitochondrial biogenesis and cell growth provides a mechanism for the modulation of mitochondrial density according to the metabolic requirements of the cell.