Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mixed frequency structural models : estimation, and policy analysis

In this paper we show analytically, with simulation experiments and with actual data that a mismatch between the time scale of a DSGE model and that of the time series data used for its estimation generally creates identfication problems, introduces estimation bias and distorts the results of policy analysis. On the constructive side, we prove that the use of mixed frequency data, combined with a proper estimation approach, can alleviate the temporal aggregation bias, mitigate the identfication issues, and yield more reliable policy conclusions. The problems and possible remedy are illustrated in the context of standard structural monetary policy models.
It takes a village: Community-based organizations and the availability and utilization of HIV/AIDS-related services in Nigeria

Community-based organizations (CBOs) have emerged as a vital part of the response to HIV/AIDs in Nigeria. The evaluation, on which this article is based, conducted in 28 communities in 6 states and the Federal capital Territory in Nigeria, assessed the effects of the CBO engagement on a set of outcomes related to HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices, stigma, service availably and utilization and social capital. It consisted of three components: a household survey conducted in all 28 communities, qualitative data collected from CBO staff and key informants (KIs), and a funding allocation study (qualitative interviews and the funding allocation study were conducted in a subset of 14 communities). This article focuses on the association between CBO engagement and reported availability and utilization of HIV/AIDS-related services. It shows that CBO engagement has a potential to add value to the national response to HIV/AIDS by increasing the awareness, availability, and utilization of HIV/AIDS-related services, especially in the area of prevention, care and support. The CBOs in the evaluation communities focused on prevention activities as well as on providing support for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and prevention and care and support were the highest expenditure categories reported by CBOs. Respondents in communities with a stronger CBO engagement were more likely to: (1) be aware of any HIV/AIDs-related services, (2) report that prevention and care services were available in their communities, and (3) have used any HIV/AIDS related services, prevention-related and care-related services than respondents in communities where CBO engagement was weaker. The association between service awareness and service use and CBO engagement was stronger in rural than in urban areas.
Gender, Poverty, and Nonfarm Employment in Ghana and Uganda

The authors provide evidence that women's non-farm activities help reduce poverty in two economically and culturally different countries, Ghana and Uganda. In both countries rural poverty rates were lowest - and fell most rapidly - for female heads of household engaged in non-farm activities. Participation in non-farm activities increased more rapidly for women, especially married women and female heads of household, than for men. Women were more likely than men to combine agriculture and non-farm activities. In Ghana it was non-farm activities (for which income data are available ) that provided the highest average incomes and the highest shares of income. Bivariate profit analysis of participation shows that in Uganda female heads of household and in Ghana women in general are significantly more likely than men to participate in non-farm activities and less likely to participate in agriculture.
The cadherins: cell-cell adhesion molecules controlling animal morphogenesis.

Cadherins are a family of glycoproteins involved in the Ca2+-dependent cell-cell adhesion mechanism which is detected in most kinds of tissues. Inhibition of the cadherin activity with antibodies induces dissociation of cell layers, indicating a fundamental importance of these molecules in maintaining the multicellular structure. Cadherins are divided into subclasses, including E-, N- and P-cadherins. While all subclasses are similar in molecular weight, Ca2+- and protease-sensitivity, each subclass is characterized by a unique tissue distribution pattern and immunological specificity. Analysis of amino acid sequences deduced from cDNA encoding these molecules showed that they are integral membrane proteins of 723-748 amino acids long and share common sequences; similarity in the sequences between subclasses is in a range of 50-60% when compared within a single animal species. L cells, with very little endogenous cadherin activity, transfected with the cadherin cDNA acquired high cadherin-mediated aggregating activity. Their colony morphology was altered by the ectopic expression of cadherins from the dispersed type to the compact type, providing direct evidence for a key role of cadherins in cell-cell adhesion. It has been suggested that cadherins bind cells by their homophilic interactions at the extracellular domain and are associated with actin bundles at the cytoplasmic domain. It appears that each cadherin subclass has binding specificity and this molecular family is involved in selective cell-cell adhesion. In development, the expression of each cadherin subclass is spatiotemporally regulated and associated with a variety of morphogenetic events; e.g. the termination or initiation of expression of a cadherin subclass in a given cell collective is correlated with its segregation from or connection with other cell collectives. Antibodies to cadherins were shown to perturb the morphogenesis of some embryonic organs in vitro. These observations suggest that cadherins play a crucial role in construction of tissues and the whole animal body.
Language games for autonomous robots

Integration and grounding are key AI challenges for human-robot dialogue. The author and his team are tackling these issues using language games and have experimented with them on progressively more complex platforms. A language game is a sequence of verbal interactions between two agents situated in a specific environment. Language games both integrate the various activities required for dialogue and ground unknown words or phrases in a specific context, which helps constrain possible meanings.
of the Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society Title Does pure water boil , when it ' s heated to 100 ° C ? : The associative Strength of Disabling Conditions in Conditional Reasoning Permalink

Reasoning with conditionals involving causal content is known to be affected by retrieval of alternative and disabling conditions. Recent evidence indicates that besides the number of stored conditions, the relative strength of association of the alternative conditions with the consequent term is another important factor that affects the retrieval process. In this study we examined the effect of the strength of association for the disabling conditions. We identified causal conditionals for which there exists only one highly associated disabler. With these conditionals we constructed conditional inference problems in which the minor premise was expanded with the negation of a strongly or weakly associated disabler. Results indicate that strength of association of the disabling conditions is affecting reasoning performance: Acceptance of Modus Tollens increased when there was no strongly associated disabler available.
Price Cap Regulation of Telecoms in Barbados: A Preliminary Investigation

Telecommunications reform in Barbados has opened up the market for new entrants in several areas of services that were previously monopolised as well as established a Price Cap on some of the services supplied by the dominant firm in the industry. This paper provides a review of Price Cap regulation and compares the Price Cap model in place in Barbados to those used by other countries. The study also presents an assessment of the performance of Cable and Wireless, in terms of changes in productivity, profitability and prices as well as a simulation of potential price changes for domestic and international services.
Premature ejaculation: do we have effective therapy?

Introduction Premature ejaculation (PE) is the most common sexual dysfunction, with the majority of PE patients remaining undiagnosed and undertreated. Despite its prevalence, there is a current paucity of data regarding available treatment options and mechanisms. The objective of the current investigation is to review and summarize pertinent literature on therapeutic options for the treatment of PE, including behavioral/psychologic, oral pharmacotherapy, and surgery. Methods A pubmed search was conducted on articles reporting data on available treatment options for PE. Articles describing potential mechanisms of action were additionally included for review. Preference was given towards randomized, controlled trials, when available. Results PE remains an underdiagnosed and undertreated disease process, with limited data available regarding potential underlying mechanisms and long-term outcomes of treatment options. Psychological/behavioral therapies, including the stop-start, squeeze, and pelvic floor rehabilitation techniques have demonstrated improvements in short-term series, with decreased efficacy with additional follow-up. Topical therapies, which are commonly utilized result in prolonged intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) at the expense of potential penile/vaginal Hypothesia. Oral therapies similarly demonstrate improved IELTs with variable side effect profiles and include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (daily or on demand), phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, alpha-1 adrenergic antagonists, and tramadol. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture have shown benefits in limited studies. Surgery is not commonly performed and is not recommended by available guidelines. Conclusions PE is a common condition, with limited data available regarding its underlying pathophysiology and treatment. Available therapies include topical, oral, behavioral/psychologic modification, or a combination thereof. Additional research is required to assess the optimal treatment strategies and algorithms as well as to better define the mechanisms for PE and its management.
Low Frequency Asymptotic Analysis of a String with Rapidly Oscillating Density

We consider the eigenvalue problem associated to the vibrations of a string with a rapidly oscillating bounded periodic density. It is well known that when the size of the microstructure $ \epsilon $ is small enough with respect to the wavelength of the eigenfunctions $ 1/\sqrt{\lambda^\epsilon},$ eigenvalues and eigenfunctions can be approximated by those of the limit system where the oscillating density is replaced by its average. On the other hand, it has been observed that when the size of the microstructure is of the order of the wavelength of the eigenfunctions ($ \epsilon \sim 1/\sqrt{\lambda^\epsilon} $), singular phenomena may occur.In this paper we study the behavior of the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions when $ 1/\sqrt{\lambda^\epsilon} $ approaches the critical size $ \epsilon $. To do this we use the WKB approximation which allows us to find an explicit formula for eigenvalues and eigenfunctions with respect to $ \epsilon $. In particular, our analysis provides all order correction formulas fo.
Review: Multiple sclerosis and physical exercise: recommendations for the application of resistance-, endurance- and combined training

This review summarizes the existing knowledge regarding the effects of physical exercise in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). Furthermore, recommendations are given regarding exercise prescription for MS patients and for future study directions. Previously, MS patients were advised not to participate in physical exercise. During recent years, it has been increasingly acknowledged that exercise benefits MS patients. The requirement for exercise in MS patients is emphasized by their physiological profile, which probably reflects both the effects of the disease per se and the reversible effects of an inactive lifestyle. To date the effects of exercise have only been studied in moderately impaired MS patients with an EDSS score of less than 7. Evidence exists for recommending participation in endurance training at low to moderate intensity, as the existing literature demonstrates that MS patients can both tolerate and benefit from this training modality. Also, resistance training of moderate intensity seems to be well tolerated and to have beneficial effects on MS patients, but the methodological quality of the existing evidence is in general low and the number of studies is limited. Only two studies have evaluated the effects of combined resistance- and endurance training, making solid conclusions regarding this training modality impossible. Multiple Sclerosis 2008; 14: 35—53. http://msj.sagepub. com
State-Dependent Realignments In Target Zone Currency Regimes

We model the realignment risk in a two-factor exchange rate target zone model using a Cox process framework. The first factor is the current exchange rate evolving inside the target zone, and the second factor is a shadow exchange rate depicting the free floating exchange rate in the absence of a target zone. By using a Cox process, as opposed to a standard Poisson process, the realignment intensity may depend on the state variables. The intensity is specified such that the probability of a realignment increases the closer the exchange rate is to one of the boundaries of the target zone, and the further away it is from the shadow exchange rate. When a realignment occurs, the central parity of the target zone as well as the exchange rate jump to the shadow exchange rate. The tension between the exchange rate and the shadow exchange rate is used to model the interest rate differential between the two countries endogenously. Moreover, we show that the model can be re-parameterized to have the current exchange rate and the interest rate differential as the two readily observable state-variables. We use this stochastic model of arbitrage free exchange rate movements to price currency derivatives using an improved numerical method.
A population of murine hematopoietic progenitors expresses an endogenous retroviral gp70 linked to the Rmcf gene and associated with resistance to erythroleukemia

Multiple copies of retroviral sequences are stably integrated in the genomes of many higher organisms, and are thus transmitted vertically to offspring via the germline (1). Most of these heritable viral genes are not expressed, and expression, when observed, is commonly limited to envelope (env) genes as demonstrated by the presence of cell surface and serum envelope glycoprotein (gp70) in mice. Studies of the mouse have shown that certain tissues such as the reproductive tract and lymphoid organs are common sites for the expression of endogenous env genes, suggesting that the transcription of at least some endogenous sequences is tissue specific. The transcription of endogenous viral genes is regulated by both cis and trans mechanisms (2-5) and their expression can be temporally linked to differentiation and development (6-8). The consequences to the host of endogenous retroviral genes are varied. At one extreme, expression of endogenous virus can result in the development of leukemia and death. Another potentially detrimental effect is that of insertional mutagenesis, seen when the integration of retroviral sequences interrupts the functioning of a cellular gene (9, 10). However, it is now clear that expression of endogenous retroviral genes may also have a beneficial effect for the host: namely, mediating resistance to retroviral leukemias as has been demonstrated for the Fv-4 gene in mice (11) and some ea loci in chickens (12). This form of resistance is due to the blockage of cellular viral receptors by the expression of envelope glycoprotein on the cell surface. The Rmcf locus of the mouse is another resistance gene that may exert its effect by the expression of an endogenous env gene. A summary of our current state of knowledge concerning the Rmcf gene is shown in Table I. The Rmcf gene was originally described when it was observed that fibroblast cell cultures derived from certain strains of mice restricted the replication of recombinant mink cell focus-forming(MCF)1 viruses (13). As detailed in Table I, DBA/2 mice are the prototypic strain exhibiting the Rmcf resistance (Rmcf(r)) phenotype. Cell cultures from other strains, such as C57BL/6 and IRW, are permissive for MCF viral replication and are termed Rmcf sensitive (Rmcf(s)). Previously, we described two allelic forms of an endogenous env gene, whose expression is linked to the Rmcf gene (14). Cell cultures from Rmcf(r) mice express gp70 related to that of MCF viruses, whereas cultures derived from Rmcf(s) mice either express no gp70 (IRW) or express an endogenous xenotropic gp70 (C57BL/6). These two gp70 alleles are detectable by type-specific mAbs.
EXPRESSION OF SUICIDAL INTENT IN DEPRESSIVES

The study was undertaken to find out correlation, if any, between severity of depression and suicidal intent communication and its relation to age, marital status, duration of iilness, previous admission in a psychiatric hospital in patients of depression diagnosed using criteria of ICD-IX category codes F31.3, F31.4, F31.5, F32 and F33. Sample consisted of 30 patients from the OPD of Agra Mansik Arogyashala. The Hamilton Rating Scale for depression was used to measure severity of depression and suicidal intent questionnaire was used to assess suicidal intent communication. A positive correlation between severity of depression, being married, being male, being employed, being ex-mental hospital patient, duration of illness being more than one month and age being less than or equal to 35 years was found. Further research in this area is required.
Network Interactions Explain Sensitivity to Dynamic Faces in the Superior Temporal Sulcus

The superior temporal sulcus (STS) in the human and monkey is sensitive to the motion of complex forms such as facial and bodily actions. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore network-level explanations for how the form and motion information in dynamic facial expressions might be combined in the human STS. Ventral occipitotemporal areas selective for facial form were localized in occipital and fusiform face areas (OFA and FFA), and motion sensitivity was localized in the more dorsal temporal area V5. We then tested various connectivity models that modeled communication between the ventral form and dorsal motion pathways. We show that facial form information modulated transmission of motion information from V5 to the STS, and that this face-selective modulation likely originated in OFA. This finding shows that form-selective motion sensitivity in the STS can be explained in terms of modulation of gain control on information flow in the motion pathway, and provides a substantial constraint for theories of the perception of faces and biological motion.
Evaluation of the Task Compliance of Medical Education Development Centers from the Viewpoint of the Managers of the Centers

Background: Medicaleducationdevelopment(MED)centersareestablishedinordertoimprovethequalityof medicaleducation. It seems that after more than two decades since the establishment, the centers still have diﬃculties to perform some tasks. Objectives: Accordingtotheimportantroleof MEDcenters,thecurrentstudyaimedatadaptingtheperformancesof suchcenters with their assigned tasks. Methods: The current qualitative applied study was conducted in 2013. The statistical population of the study included managers of MED centers in Iran. Data were collected through a questionnaire containing open questions. During a national meeting the questionnaire distributed among 40 managers of MED centers and then analyzed using content analysis. Results: More than half of the major functions that the managers stated, were referred to the ﬁrst, second, and fourth tasks of the centers, and only 18% of the major functions were related to other tasks (11 cases). About 28% of the functions performed in such centers had no direct correlation with any of the 14 tasks. Conclusions: Despite the history of MED centers for several decades, they are not justiﬁed in respect to their duties. It is recommended that guidelines be developed to address all duties and adequately monitor their implementation.
The parameterized complexity of counting problems

We develop a parameterized complexity theory for counting problems. As the basis of this theory, we introduce a hierarchy of parameterized counting complexity classes #W[t], for t/spl ges/1, that corresponds to Downey and Fellows' (1999) W-hierarchy and show that a few central W-completeness results for decision problems translate to #W-completeness results for the corresponding counting problems. Counting complexity gets interesting with problems whose decision version is tractable, but whose counting version is hard. Our main result states that counting cycles and paths of length k in both directed and undirected graphs, parameterized by k, are #W[1]-complete. This makes it highly unlikely that any of these problems is fixed-parameter tractable, even though their decision versions are. More explicitly, our result shows that most likely there is no f(k)/spl middot/n/sup c/-algorithm for counting cycles or paths of length k in a graph of size n for any computable function f:/spl Nopf//spl rarr//spl Nopf/ and constant c, even though there is a 2/sup O(k)//spl middot/n/sup 2.376/ algorithm for finding a cycle or path of length k (2).
Bimodal speech perception in infant hearing aid and cochlear implant users.

OBJECTIVES To determine the feasibility of replicating prior bimodal perception findings with hearing-impaired infants during their preimplant, hearing aid trial, and postimplant experiences; secondarily, to determine the point in development at which these infants were able to match phonetic information in the lips and voice for the vowels /a/ and /i/. METHODS A total of 10 infants with hearing loss, aged 4 to 24 months, were assessed at least once prior to cochlear implantation and previous to implant stimulation. The Split-Screen Preferential Looking Procedure was used to evaluate the bimodal perception skills of these infants. RESULTS Examples of individual bimodal perception data and preliminary group data are presented. A difference in performance across preimplant and postimplant test sessions was noted for the individuals and the group. CONCLUSION These data provide evidence that the infants' audibility levels were improved by their cochlear implants, which may have contributed to their evolving ability to match phonetic information in the lips and voice.