Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NON-NESTED SPECIFICATION TESTS AND THE INTERMEDIATE TARGET FOR MONETARY POLICY

This paper deals with the problem of choosing an intermediate target for monetary policy. The proposed alternative targets are related to economic activity in non-nested models. The choice among the various alternatives is reduced to a series of tests among non-nested models. The test statistics are constructed by creating an artificial nest in an exponentially weighted combination of the null and the alternative hypotheses. Of the monetary aggregates examined in this paper, M-1 was unambiguously the aggregate most closely related to economic activity for the period 1961 through 1980.
Signal processing with higher-order spectra

The strengths and limitations of correlation-based signal processing methods are discussed. The definitions, properties, and computation of higher-order statistics and spectra, with emphasis on the bispectrum and trispectrum are presented. Parametric and nonparametric expressions for polyspectra of linear and nonlinear processes are described. The applications of higher-order spectra in signal processing are discussed. <<ETX>>
The Natural Real Rate of Interest in the Euro Area

In this paper, we discuss the consequences of taking inot account the variations of the natural real interest rate (rt*) in simple monetary policy rules. We also provide one possible model-based analysis of the level of rt* that has prevailed in the euro area since the early 1970s, and present the implied 'real rate rate gap' as a possible additional indicator to assess the stance of monetary policy. JEL Classification: E4, E5
Market Orientation, Competitive Strategy and Firm Performance

Abstract In this paper, we investigate the mediating effects of a firm's competitive strategy in the market orientation-performance relationship. Based on a sample of 371 manufacturing firms in China, evidence was found that the three dimensions of market orientation exert different effects on competitive strategy and performance. Among them, customer orientation has the strongest association with competitive strategy and market performance. This lends credence to a componentwise approach on the study of the relationship between market orientation and performance. The results of structural equation analyses indicate that the mediating effect of competitive strategy is mainly revealed in innovation strategy, the most vital factor in creating superior value for the company in the emerging market. Limitations of this study and implications for future studies are discussed.
Global ProSPEctS and PoliciES

The world economy is now entering a major downturn in the face of the most dangerous shock in mature financial markets since the 1930s. Against an exceptionally uncertain background, global growth projections for 2009 have been marked down to 3 percent, the slowest pace since 2002, and the outlook is subject to considerable downside risks. The major advanced economies are already in or close to recession, and, although a recovery is projected to take hold progressively in 2009, the pickup is likely to be unusually gradual, held back by continued financial market deleveraging. In this context, elevated rates of headline inflation should recede quickly, provided oil prices stay at or below current levels. The emerging and developing economies are also slowing, in many cases to rates well below trend, although some still face significant inflation pressure even with more stable commodity prices. The immediate policy challenge is to stabilize global financial markets, while nursing economies through a global downturn and keeping inflation under control. Over a longer horizon, policymakers will be looking to rebuild firm underpinnings for financial intermediation and will be considering how to reduce procyclical tendencies in the global economy and strengthen supplydemand responses in commodity markets.
Intracellular Correlates of Acquisition and Long-Term Memory of Classical Conditioning in Purkinje Cell Dendrites in Slices of Rabbit Cerebellar Lobule HVI

Intradendritic recordings in Purkinje cells from a defined area in parasaggital slices of cerebellar lobule HVI, obtained after rabbits were given either paired (classical conditioning) or explicitly unpaired (control) presentations of tone and periorbital electrical stimulation, were used to assess the nature and duration of conditioning-specific changes in Purkinje cell dendritic membrane excitability. We found a strong relationship between the level of conditioning and Purkinje cell dendritic membrane excitability after initial acquisition of the conditioned response. Moreover, conditioning-specific increases in Purkinje cell excitability were still present 1 month after classical conditioning. Although dendritically recorded membrane potential, input resistance, and amplitude of somatic and dendritic spikes were not different in cells from paired or control animals, the size of a potassium channel-mediated transient hyperpolarization was significantly smaller in cells from animals that received classical conditioning. In slices of lobule HVI obtained from naive rabbits, the conditioning-related increases in membrane excitability could be mimicked by application of potassium channel antagonist tetraethylammonium chloride, iberiotoxin, or 4-aminopyridine. However, only 4-aminopyridine was able to reduce the transient hyperpolarization. The pharmacological data suggest a role for potassium channels and, possibly, channels mediating an IA-like current, in learning-specific changes in membrane excitability. The conditioning-specific increase in Purkinje cell dendritic excitability produces an afterhyperpolarization, which is hypothesized to release the cerebellar deep nuclei from inhibition, allowing conditioned responses to be elicited via the red nucleus and accessory abducens motorneurons.
An approach for component testing and its empirical validation

The lack of information limits component consumers to understand candidate components sufficiently in a way they can check if a given component fulfills its goal. Thus, this paper presents an approach to support component testing aiming to reduce the lack of information between component producers and component consumers. Additionally, the approach is covered by a CASE tool integrated in the development environment. An experimental study was performed in order to evaluate its efficiency and difficulties of its use. The experimental study indicates that the approach is viable and the tool support provides effort reduction to component producers and component consumers.
DYNAMICS IN DISCRETE MODELS OF NEURONAL NETWORKS

It has recently been shown that discrete-time finite-state models can reliably reproduce the ordinary differential equation (ODE) dynamics of certain neuronal networks. We study which dynamics are possible in these discrete models for certain types of network connectivities. In particular we are interested in the number of different attractors and bounds on the lengths of attractors and transients. We completely characterize these properties for cyclic connectivities and derive additional results on the lengths of attractors in more general classes of networks.
Alexithymia in parents and adolescent anorexic daughters: comparing the responses to TSIA and TAS-20 scales

Background A growing body of literature has been focusing on individual alexithymia in anorexia nervosa, while there are only scarce and conflicting studies on alexithymia in the families of anorexic patients, despite the important role played by family dynamics in the development of the anorexic disorder, especially in adolescent patients. The aim of this study is to assess alexithymia in anorexic adolescent patients and in their parents using a multimethod measurement to gain more direct, in-depth knowledge of the problem. Methods Forty-six subjects, anorexic adolescent patients and their parents, underwent the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) along with the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia (TSIA), which represents the first comprehensive clinically structured interview focused specifically on assessing alexithymia. The use of latent trait Rasch analysis allowed a comparison of the two instruments’ sensitivity and ability to detect the presence and intensity of alexithymic components in patients and parents. Results Significant discordance was found between the two measures. The clinical instrument allowed detection of a greater level of alexithymia compared with the self-report, in particular in our adult parent sample. Moreover, a significant alexithymic gap emerged within families, particularly within parental couples, with noticeably more alexithymic fathers compared with the mothers. Conclusion The TSIA clinical interview may be a more sensitive instrument in detecting alexithymia, minimizing parents’ negation tendency. Clinical questions have arisen on how useful it would be to give greater weight to family functioning (ie, alexithymic gap) in order to predict the possibility of establishing a therapeutic alliance, and thus the outcome of the anorexic adolescent.
Regulatory T Cells Negatively Affect IL-2 Production of Effector T Cells through CD39/Adenosine Pathway in HIV Infection

The mechanisms by which Regulatory T cells suppress IL-2 production of effector CD4+ T cells in pathological conditions are unclear. A subpopulation of human Treg expresses the ectoenzyme CD39, which in association with CD73 converts ATP/ADP/AMP to adenosine. We show here that Treg/CD39+ suppress IL-2 expression of activated CD4+ T-cells more efficiently than Treg/CD39−. This inhibition is due to the demethylation of an essential CpG site of the il-2 gene promoter, which was reversed by an anti-CD39 mAb. By recapitulating the events downstream CD39/adenosine receptor (A2AR) axis, we show that A2AR agonist and soluble cAMP inhibit CpG site demethylation of the il-2 gene promoter. A high frequency of Treg/CD39+ is associated with a low clinical outcome in HIV infection. We show here that CD4+ T-cells from HIV-1 infected individuals express high levels of A2AR and intracellular cAMP. Following in vitro stimulation, these cells exhibit a lower degree of demethylation of il-2 gene promoter associated with a lower expression of IL-2, compared to healthy individuals. These results extend previous data on the role of Treg in HIV infection by filling the gap between expansion of Treg/CD39+ in HIV infection and the suppression of CD4+ T-cell function through inhibition of IL-2 production.
Protracted Postnatal Development of Sparse, Specific Dentate Granule Cell Activation in the Mouse Hippocampus

The dentate gyrus (DG) is a critical entry point regulating function of the hippocampus. Integral to this role are the sparse, selective activation characteristics of the principal cells of the DG, dentate granule cells (DGCs). This sparse activation is important both in cognitive processing and in regulation of pathological activity in disease states. Using a novel, combined dynamic imaging approach capable of resolving sequentially both synaptic potentials and action potential firing in large populations of DGCs, we characterized the postnatal development of firing properties of DG neurons in response to afferent activation in mouse hippocampal-entorhinal cortical slices. During postnatal development, there was a protracted, progressive sparsification of responses, accompanied by increased temporal precision of activation. Both of these phenomena were primarily mediated by changes in local circuit inhibition, and not by alterations in afferent innervation of DGCs because GABAA antagonists normalized developmental differences. There was significant θ and γ frequency-dependent synaptic recruitment of DGC activation in adult, but not developing, animals. Finally, we found that the decision to fire or not fire by individual DGCs was robust and repeatable at all stages of development. The protracted postnatal development of sparse, selective firing properties, increased temporal precision and frequency dependence of activation, and the fidelity with which the decision to fire is made are all fundamental circuit determinants of DGC excitation, critical in both normal and pathological function of the DG.
Previously Published Works Ucla Title: the Effects of Naltrexone on Subjective Response to Methamphetamine in a Clinical Sample: a Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Laboratory Study the Effects of Naltrexone on Subjective Response to Methamphetamine in a Clinical Sample: a Double-blind, Placebo-contr

A University of California author or department has made this article openly available. Thanks to the Academic Senate's Open Access Policy, a great many UC-authored scholarly publications will now be freely available on this site. Let us know how this access is important for you. We want to hear your story! Abstract: © 2015 American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Methamphetamine (MA) use disorder is a serious psychiatric condition for which there are no FDA-approved medications. Naltrexone eScholarship provides open access, scholarly publishing services to the University of California and delivers a dynamic research platform to scholars worldwide. (NTX) is an opioid receptor antagonist with demonstrated efficacy, albeit moderate, for the treatment of alcoholism and opioid dependence. Preclinical and clinical studies suggest that NTX may be useful for the treatment of MA use disorder. To inform treatment development, we conducted a double-blind, randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled human laboratory study of NTX. Non-treatment-seeking individuals meeting DSM-IV criteria for MA abuse or dependence (n=30) completed two separate 5-day inpatient stays. During each admission, participants completed testing sessions comprised of MA cue-reactivity and intravenous MA administration (30 mg) after receiving oral NTX (50 mg) or placebo for 4 days. This study tested the hypotheses that NTX would (a) attenuate cue-induced MA craving, and (b) reduce subjective responses to MA administration. Results largely supported the study hypotheses such that (a) NTX significantly blunted cue-induced craving for MA and (b) attenuated several of the hedonic subjective effects of MA, including craving, during controlled MA administration and as compared with placebo. NTX decreased overall subjective ratings of 'crave drug,' 'stimulated,' and 'would like drug access,' decreased the the post-MA administration timecourse of 'anxious' and increased ratings of 'bad drug effects,' as compared with placebo. These findings support a potential mechanism of action by showing that NTX reduced cue-induced craving and subjective responses to MA. This is consistent with positive treatment studies of NTX for amphetamine dependence, as well as ongoing clinical trials for MA. Methylphenidate modifies the motion of the circadian clock Lamotrigine in mood disorders and cocaine dependence Cortical glutamate in postpartum depression This is a PDF file of an unedited peer-reviewed manuscript that has been accepted for publication. NPG are providing this early version of the manuscript as a service to our customers. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting and a proof review before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production …
Stock Liquidity and Investment Opportunities: Evidence from Index Additions

We examine the relation between stock liquidity and investment opportunities in a sample of firms experiencing an exogenous liquidity shock. We find a positive relation between changes in capital expenditures and changes in stock liquidity, indicating that stock liquidity influences corporate investment decisions. This relation is robust to alternative measures of growth opportunities, and is consistent with a liquidity premium in equity returns. That is, an increase in liquidity effectively expands the set of positive NPV projects because it reduces the cost of capital. The results suggest that liquidity-enhancing events benefit shareholders by increasing the pool of viable growth opportunities.
Multiple Qubits as Symplectic Polar Spaces of Order Two

It is surmised that the algebra of the Pauli operators on the Hilbert space of N-qubits is embodied in the geometry of the symplectic polar space of rank N and order two, W_{2N - 1}(2). The operators (discarding the identity) answer to the points of W_{2N - 1}(2), their partitionings into maximally commuting subsets correspond to spreads of the space, a maximally commuting subset has its representative in a maximal totally isotropic subspace of W_{2N - 1}(2) and, finally, "commuting" translates into "collinear" (or "perpendicular").
Ultrastructural nuclear defects and increased chromosome aneuploidies in spermatozoa with elongated heads.

BACKGROUND Cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to elongated sperm heads are not known. We have analysed the nuclear status of spermatozoa with elongated heads. METHODS Fourteen men with at least 30% of spermatozoa with an elongated nucleus were studied and compared with five fertile men as controls. Sperm morphology was analysed by a quantitative ultrastructural analysis. Sperm chromosomal content was assessed by three-colour fluorescence in-situ hybridization (chromosomes X, Y, 18). Y chromosome microdeletion and karyotype were analysed. RESULTS Elongated sperm head rates of the patients were 46.9% (30-75 versus 0-2% in the control group) by light microscopy and 34.4% by electron microscopy. In all patients, the chromatin was poorly condensed in elongated sperm heads (50% of elongated nuclei). No anomalies of sperm biochemical markers were found. All the men showed normal karyotype (46,XY) and absence of Y chromosome microdeletion. Aneuploidy rates of gonosomes and chromosome 18 were significantly increased in patients (1.64- and 3.6-fold, P = 0.006 and 0.026, respectively). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that impaired chromatin compaction and slightly increased chromosome aneuploidies are found in spermatozoa with an elongated head, suggesting possible mechanisms such as meiotic non-disjunctions or spermiogenesis anomalies.
Strategic device-to-device communications in backhaul-constrained wireless small cell networks

Wireless small cell networks and device-to-device (D2D) communications are seen as two major features of next-generation wireless networks. In this paper, a novel approach for enabling D2D communication underlaid on a wireless small cell network is proposed. Unlike existing works which focus on network performance analysis given a chosen communication mode, in this paper, the strategic selection of a desired wireless communication mode between pairs of users is studied. On the one hand, communication using the small cells can provide reliable transmission but is limited by interference and backhaul constraints. On the other hand, D2D communication can provide high capacity due to devices' proximity but is limited by increased interference. To capture these properties, the problem is modeled as a noncooperative game in which pairs of communicating users can strategically decide on whether to communicate with one another via the small cell infrastructure or via direct D2D communication. In this proposed game, each device selects its preferred communication mode while optimizing a utility function that captures the various involved tradeoffs between communication performance and associated costs. For solving this game, a distributed best response-based approach is proposed using which the users can reach a Nash equilibrium. Simulation results show that the resulting network at the equilibrium is composed of a mixture of D2D and small cell communication links. The results also show that the proposed approach yields a significant improvement in terms of the average utility per communicating pair when compared with the cases in which the users communicate via only the small cells or via only D2D.
Blindsight Mediated by an S-Cone-independent Collicular Pathway: An fMRI Study in Hemispherectomized Subjects

The purpose of our study was to investigate the ability to process achromatic and short-wavelength-sensitive cone (S-cone)-isolating (blue–yellow) stimuli in the blind visual field of hemispherectomized subjects and to demonstrate that blindsight is mediated by a collicular pathway that is independent of S-cone inputs. Blindsight has been described as the ability to respond to visual stimuli in the blind visual field without conscious awareness [Weiskrantz, L. , Warrington, E. K. , Sanders, M. D. , & Marshall, J. Visual capacity in the hemianopic field following a restricted occipital ablation. Brain, 97, 709–728, 1974]. The roles of the subcortical neural structures in blindsight, such as the pulvinar and the superior colliculus, have been debated and an underlying neural correlate has yet to be confirmed. Using fMRI, we tested the ability to process visual stimuli that isolated the achromatic and short-wavelength-sensitive (S-)-cone pathways in three subjects: one control subject, one hemispherectomized subject with blindsight, and one hemispherectomized subject without blindsight. We demonstrated that (1) achromatic and S-cone-isolating stimuli presented to the normal visual hemifield of hemispherectomized subjects and to both visual hemifields of the control subject activated contralateral visual areas (V1/V2), as expected; (2) achromatic stimulus presentation but not S-cone-isolating stimulus presentation to the blind hemifield of the subject with blindsight activated visual areas FEF/V5; (3) whereas the cortical activation of the control subject was enhanced by an additional stimulus (achromatic and S-cone isolating) presented in the contralateral visual field, activation pattern of the subject with blindsight was enhanced by achromatic stimuli only. We conclude that the human superior colliculus is blind to the S-cone-isolating stimuli, and blindsight is mediated by an S-cone-independent collicular pathway.
Homeownership and America's Financial Underclass: Flawed Premises, Broken Promises, New Prescriptions

1. Chasing the American dream 2. The happy homeownership narrative 3. US support for homeowners 4. The homeownership crisis 5. Homeowner harm and the blame game 6. Flawed premises 7. The burden of home buying while black or Latino 8. The benefits of home buying while black or Latino 9. Homeownership: demographic disparities 10. Outlook and prescription for the future.
A Network Model of Price Dispersion

We analyze a model of price competition ? la Bertrand in a network environment. Firms only have a limited information on the structure of network: they know the number of potential customers they can attract and the degree distribution of customers. This incomplete information framework stimulates the use of Bayesian-Nash equilibrium. We find that, if there are customers only linked to one firm, but not all of them are, then an equilibrium in randomized strategies fails to exist. Instead, we find a symmetric equilibrium in randomized strategies. Finally, we test our results on US gasoline data. We find empirical evidence consistent with firms playing random strategies.