Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Independence of the European System of Central Banks: A Commentary on Article 108 Tec

This contribution is a commentary on Article 108 European Community Treaty (TEC). This provision on the one hand prohibits the European Central Bank (ECB) and the national central banks (NCBs) to seek or take instructions, and on the other hand they prohibit the Community and national authorities to influence the ECB and the NCBs. The commentary discusses both the prohibition of instructions and the need for dialogue. It continues with an assessment of four features of central bank independence: functional, institutional, personal and financial independence. Lastly, the significance of Article 107(6) TEC for the ESCB's independence is dealt with. Pursuant to this provision the Council must adopt the provisions setting out the limits and conditions regarding a variety of central bank matters. The Council's legislative task laid down in Article 107(6) TEC affects the ESCB's independence.
Fractionally integrated processes and structural changes: Theoretical analyses and bootstrap methods

The first chapter considers the asymptotic validity of bootstrap methods in a linear trend model with a change in slope at an unknown time. Perron and Zhu (2005) analyzed the consistency, rate of convergence, and limiting distributions of the parameter estimates in this model. I provide theoretical results for the asymptotic validity of bootstrap methods related to forming confidence intervals for the break date. I consider two bootstrap schemes, the residual (for white noise errors) and the sieve bootstrap (for correlated errors). Simulation experiments confirm that confidence intervals obtained using bootstrap methods perform well in terms of exact coverage rate. The second chapter extends Perron and Zhu’s (2005) analysis to cover more general fractionally integrated errors with memory parameter d in the interval (−0.5, 1.5). My theoretical results uncover some interesting features. For example, with a concurrent level shift allowed, the rate of convergence of the estimate of the break date is the same for all values of d in the interval (−0.5, 0.5), a feature linked to the contamination induced by allowing a level shift. In all other cases, the rate of convergence is decreasing as d increases. I also provide results about the spurious break issue. The third chapter considers constructing confidence intervals for the break date in linear regressions. I compare the performance of various procedures in terms of the exact coverage rates and lengths: Bai’s (1997) based on the asymptotic distribution with shrinking shifts,
Village-led land development under state-led institutional arrangements in urbanising China: The case of Shenzhen

As a unique phenomenon of urbanisation in China, the emergence of urban villages has attracted considerable attention from the academic community. Adopting an institutional approach on land development, this study analyses how the land property rights regime affects village-led land development behaviours and spatial outcomes in urban villages. Using a set of reliable data from Shenzhen, the empirical study shows that, although unequal land rights under the current land property rights regime impose severe institutional constraints to the development of urban villages, they actually play a much more important and diversified role in China’s urbanisation than previously recognised. As the primary developers of urban villages, villagers have adopted various land development strategies in response to the changing market environment and internal economic conditions in the dynamic urbanisation process. These dynamic strategies have contributed to the coexistence of sub-optimal industrial development and high-quality housing development in urban villages.
Design of Digital Circuits Using Inverse-Mode Cascode SiGe HBTs for Single Event Upset Mitigation

We report on the design and measured results of a new SiGe HBT radiation hardening by design technique called the “inverse-mode cascode” (IMC). A third-generation SiGe HBT IMC device was tested in a time resolved ion beam induced charge collection (TRIBICC) system, and was found to have over a 75% reduction in peak current transients with the use of an n-Tiedown on the IMC sub-collector node. Digital shift registers in a 1st-generation SiGe HBT technology were designed and measured under a heavy-ion beam, and shown to increase the LET threshold over standard npn only shift registers. Using the CREME96 tool, the expected orbital bit-errors/day were simulated to be approximately 70% lower with the IMC shift register. These measured results help demonstrate the efficacy of using the IMC device as a low-cost means for improving the SEE radiation hardness of SiGe HBT technology without increasing area or power.
Genome‐wide scan in Portuguese Island families implicates multiple loci in bipolar disorder: Fine mapping adds support on chromosomes 6 and 11

As part of an extensive study in the Portuguese Island population of families with multiple patients suffering from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, we performed an initial genome‐wide scan of 16 extended families with bipolar disorder that identified three regions on chromosomes 2, 11, and 19 with genome‐wide suggestive linkage and several other regions, including chromosome 6q, also approached suggestive levels of significance. Dick et al. [2003: Am J Hum Genet 73:107–114] recently reported in a study of 250 families with bipolar disorder a maxLOD score of 3.61 near marker D6S1021 on chromosome 6q. This study replicates this finding having detected a peak NPL = 2.02 (P = 0.025) with the same marker D6S1021(104.7 Mb). Higher‐density mapping provided additional support for loci on chromosome 6 including marker D6S1021 with an NPL = 2.59 (P = 0.0068) and peaking at marker D6S1639 (125 Mb) with an NPL = 3.06 (P = 0.0019). A similar pattern was detected with higher‐density mapping of chromosome 11 with an NPL = 3.15 (P = 0.0014) at marker D11S1883 (63.1 Mb). Simulations at the density of our fine mapping data indicate that less than 1 scan out of 10 would find two such scores genome‐wide in the same scan by chance. Our findings provide additional support for a susceptibility locus for bipolar disorder on 6q, as well as, suggesting the importance of denser scans. Published 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lead‐induced oxidative stress and hematological alterations and their response to combined administration of calcium disodium EDTA with a thiol chelator in rats

The therapeutic efficacy of calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetracetic acid (CaNa2EDTA) and the two thiol chelators, 2,3‐dimercaptopropane 1‐sulfonate (DMPS) and monoisoamyl dimercaptosuccinic acid (MiADMSA) was studied, both individually and in combination, in reducing lead concentration in blood and soft tissues and in restoring lead induced altered biochemical variables in rats. Exposure to subacute dose of lead implicated a critical role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress in altering the normal values of these variables. Exposure to lead caused a significant inhibition of blood δ‐aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD), an important enzyme in the haem synthesis pathway and glutathione (GSH) level. These changes were also accompanied by inhibition of ALAD activity in kidney, δ‐aminolevulinic acid synthase (ALAS) activities in liver and changes in platelet counts in whole blood suggesting disturbed haem synthesis pathway. Lead exposure also led to a pronounced depletion of brain GSH contents, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, an increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and activity of glutathione S‐transferase (GST). Specific activities of membrane‐bound enzymes, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and monoamine oxidase (MAO), were significantly inhibited on lead exposure. These biochemical changes were correlated with increased uptake of lead in blood and soft tissues. Post lead exposure treatment with MiADMSA in particular provided significant recovery in altered biochemical variables besides significant depletion of tissue lead burden. Treatment with CaNa2EDTA and DMPS individually had only moderate beneficial effects on tissue oxidative stress, although they were equally effective in the removal of tissue lead burden. Tissue zinc and copper levels did not depict any significant depletion, although changes like marked depletion of zinc following CaNa2EDTA and copper after MiADMSA administration were of some concern. Combined administration of CaNa2EDTA, particularly with MiADMSA, was the most effective treatment protocol compared to all other treatments. It can be concluded from our present results that combined therapy with CaNa2EDTA and MiADMSA proved significantly better in restoring biochemical and clinical variables over monotherapy with these chelating agents against subacute lead exposure in adult rats. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 18:221–233, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20027
Ultrasound imaging operation capture and image analysis for speckle noise reduction and detection of shadows

Ultrasound is becoming increasingly important in medicine, both as a diagnostic tool and as a therapeutic modality. At present, experienced sonographers observe trainees as they generate hundreds of images, constantly providing them feedback and eventually deciding if they have the appropriate skills and knowledge to perform ultrasound independently. This research seeks to advance towards developing an automated system capable of assessing the motion of an ultrasound transducer and differentiate between a novice, an intermediate and an expert sonographer. The research in this thesis synchronizes the ultrasound images with three depth sensors (Microsoft Kinect) placed on the top, left and right side of the patient to ensure the visibility of the ultrasound probe. Videos obtained from the three categories of sonographers are manually labeled and compared using Studiocode Development Environment to complete the items on the medical form checklist. Next, this thesis investigates and applies well known techniques used to smooth and suppress speckle noise in ultrasound images by using quality metrics to test their performance and show the benefits each one can contribute. Finally, this thesis investigates the problem of shadow detection in ultrasound imaging and proposes to detect shadows automatically with an ultrasound confidence map using a random walks algorithm. The results show that the proposed algorithm achieves an accuracy of automatic detection of up to 85%, based on both the expert and manual segmentation.
Targeting of phospholamban by peroxynitrite decreases beta-adrenergic stimulation in cardiomyocytes.

AIMS Peroxynitrite production increases during the pathogenesis of numerous cardiac disorders (e.g. heart failure). However, limited studies have investigated the mechanism through which peroxynitrite exerts anti-adrenergic effects. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate the contribution of phospholamban (PLB), a critical excitation-contraction coupling protein, to the peroxynitrite-induced dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS Isolated myocytes from wild-type (WT, CF-1) and PLB knockout (PLB(-/-)) mice were stimulated at 1 Hz, and myocyte shortening and Ca(2+) transients were simultaneously recorded. PLB phosphorylation was measured via western blot. Myocytes were superfused with isoproterenol, a beta-adrenergic agonist, and SIN-1, a peroxynitrite donor. SIN-1 superfusion dramatically decreased isoproterenol-stimulated Ca(2+) transients and myocyte shortening in WT myocytes. These effects were inhibited upon addition of the peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst, FeTPPS. Surprisingly, SIN-1 had no functional effect on beta-adrenergic-stimulated PLB(-/-) myocytes. Western blot analyses revealed that SIN-1 significantly decreased isoproterenol-stimulated PLB(Ser16) phosphorylation. Experiments with the protein phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid, alleviated the SIN-1-induced functional effects and the decrease in PLB phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS The peroxynitrite donor SIN-1 decreases beta-adrenergic stimulation by reducing PLB(Ser16) phosphorylation via protein phosphatase activation. This peroxynitrite-induced decrease in PLB phosphorylation may be a key mechanism in the beta-adrenergic dysfunction observed in many cardiomyopathies.
Outdoor Channel Characterization of MIMO-LTE Antenna Configurations through Measurements

In this paper different MIMO-antenna configurations are tested in a real outdoor MIMO-LTE environment. The outdoor investigations took place in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Germany, where Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) provided an LTE base station for the measurements. The various MIMO-antennas were mounted in different positions on a BMW 525d station wagon. The measurements were performed in the upper LTE frequency band at 2.6 GHz. Here, the results of the yielded data throughput as well as an analysis of the variations of the modulation technique depending on the received SNR will be presented and some preliminary conclusions will be discussed.
Semi-Supervised SVM With Extended Hidden Features

Many traditional semi-supervised learning algorithms not only train on the labeled samples but also incorporate the unlabeled samples in the training sets through an automated labeling process such as manifold preserving. If some labeled samples are falsely labeled, the automated labeling process will generally propagate negative impact on the classifier in quite a serious manner. In order to avoid such an error propagating effect, the unlabeled samples should not be directly incorporated into the training sets during the automated labeling strategy. In this paper, a new semi-supervised support vector machine with extended hidden features (SSVM-EHF) is presented to address this issue. According to the maximum margin principle and the minimum integrated squared error between the probability distributions of the labeled and unlabeled samples, the dimensionality of the labeled and unlabeled samples is extended through an orthonormal transformation to generate the corresponding hidden features shared by the labeled and unlabeled samples. After doing so, the last step in the process of training of SSVM-EHF is done only on the labeled samples with their original and hidden features, and the unlabeled samples are no longer explicitly used. Experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Age at drinking onset, alcohol dependence, and their relation to drug use and dependence, driving under the influence of drugs, and motor-vehicle crash involvement because of drugs.

OBJECTIVE We explored among people who ever consumed alcohol whether early age at drinking onset and alcohol dependence predicted drug use and dependence. We also examined among drinkers who have used drugs whether they also predict driving under the influence of drugs and motor-vehicle crash involvement because of drugs. METHOD A U.S. national sample of 42,867 persons age 18 and older was surveyed in 1991-1992 (response rate = 90%). Logistic regression examined these potential associations among 27,616 respondents who ever drank alcohol, controlling for numerous demographic and personal characteristics. RESULTS Among "ever" drinkers, 22% used drugs, 10% had driven under the influence of drugs, and nearly 1% was in a motor-vehicle crash because of drug use, the equivalent of 1 million people. The younger the age of respondents when they first began drinking and whether they ever experienced alcohol dependence were independently associated with greater odds of ever using drugs and experiencing drug dependence. Among persons who consumed alcohol and drugs, having ever experienced drug dependence was the strongest predictor of driving under the influence of drugs and motor-vehicle crash involvement because of drug use. After controlling for drug dependence and age at first drug use, having experienced alcohol dependence was also independently associated with both outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Efforts to prevent drug-related crashes should include drug use prevention and treatment, as well as prevention of early alcohol use and treatment of alcohol dependence.
EuroQol EQ-5D may not adequately describe the health of people with disabilities.

PURPOSE To assess whether life-circumstances and factors other than those described in the EuroQol EQ-5D instrument have a systematic influence on how the same EuroQol health-state is valued. METHOD A simulation exercise whereby health professionals were asked to rate the health-state of 16 case-scenarios. Each case-scenario was designed to describe the same EuroQol health-state but was varied systematically using a 4 by 2 factorial design, in terms of ability to work, ability to perform usual leisure activity, age and type of disability. A convenience sample of 41 health professionals studying towards a postgraduate Diploma in Rehabilitation formed the study group. RESULTS The average valuation was significantly higher than that derived from a social tariff model. The following factors contributed to a model which explained 10% of the variability in valuation scores: characteristics of the assessor--years of experience, experience with musculoskeletal disorders, and characteristics of the scenario--disability type, ability to work and ability to perform usual leisure activities (beta weights ranged from 0.093 to 0.253). Ability to perform usual leisure activities was associated with the greatest influence on the valuation rating. Additionally, professional type had a significant influence on rating with general practitioners giving significantly lower valuations. CONCLUSIONS The same health-state, as defined by EuroQol EQ-5D cannot be regarded as describing similar life-circumstances, sufficient to be valued in the same way. Factors specific to the 'valuer' (experience and professional type) and specific to the 'valuee' (disability type, ability to work or perform usual leisure activities) that are not included in the EQ-5D description are significantly associated with different valuation scores. Caution should be used in applying valuations obtained from social tariff models to a disabled population.
Screening of potentially crucial genes and regulatory factors involved in epithelial ovarian cancer using microarray analysis

The present study aimed to screen potential genes implicated in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and to further understand the molecular pathogenesis of EOC. In order to do this, datasets GSE14407 (containing 12 human ovarian cancer epithelia samples and 12 normal epithelia samples) and GSE29220 (containing 11 salivary transcriptomes from ovarian cancer patients with serous papillary adenocarcinoma and 11 matched controls) were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) within these datasets were screened using the Linear Models for Microarray Data package, and potential gene functions were predicted by functional and pathway enrichment analyses. Additionally, module analysis of protein-protein interaction networks was performed using MCODE software in Cytoscape. The potential microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) and transcription factors (TFs) regulating DEGs were also analyzed, and the integrated TF-DEG and miRNA-DEG regulatory networks were visualized with Cytoscape. In total, 31 upregulated DEGs and 64 downregulated DEGs were screened. The upregulated DEGs, such as centromere protein F (CENPF) and ubiquitin like with PHD and ring finger domains 1 (UHRF1), were significantly associated with the cell cycle and were regulated by the TF nuclear transcription factor Y (NF-Y). CENPF was modulated by miR-373, and UHRF1 was regulated by miR-146a. The downregulated DEGs, such as aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A2 (ALDH1A2), were distinctly involved in the response to estrogen stimulus and modulated by tumor protein 53 (TP53); protocadherin 9 (PCDH9) was regulated by TP53, miR-92b-3p and miR-137. The DEGs, including CENPF, UHRF1, ALDH1A2 and PCDH9, and a set of gene regulators, including all NFY genes, TP53, miR-373, miR-146a, miR-92b-3p and miR-137, may be involved in the pathogenesis of EOC.
Compact and Wideband Directional Circularly Polarized Distributed Patch Antenna With High Efficiency

A compact and wideband directional circularly polarized (CP) antenna is presented in this paper. The antenna adopts four distributed micropatches as the radiation structure to realize directional radiation and wideband potential, and a low-loss sequentially rotated feeding network is utilized to provide CP excitation. Because of the good impedance matching between the proposed radiation structure and the feeding network, the antenna obtains wide bandwidths in both impedance and axial ratio (AR), and high efficiency is also achieved in the wide band. A prototype of the antenna is fabricated to validate the proposed method. The antenna’s dimensions are <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$0.418\lambda _{{{0}}} \,\, \times \,\, 0.418\lambda _{{{0}}} \,\, \times \,\, 0.064\lambda _{{{0}}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\lambda _{{{0}}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is the free-space wavelength at the center frequency of operating band). The impedance bandwidth for VSWR ≤ 2 reaches 42.9% (1.457 ~ 2.253 GHz), and the CP bandwidth for AR ≤ 3 dB reaches 22.8% (1.67 ~ 2.10 GHz). In the overlapped band, the radiation efficiency is more than 96.5%, and the gains are greater than 4.8 dBic.
Interferon Alfa-2b for Recurrent and Metastatic Giant Cell Tumor of the Spine: Report of Two Cases

Study Design. Case report. Objective. To demonstrate that interferon alfa-2b is a therapeutic option for obtaining long-term control of recurrent and metastatic giant cell tumor of spine. Summary of Background Data. Interferon alfa served as angiogenesis inhibitor and has been successfully used to treat giant cell tumor of long bones and facial bones. Up to date, no report is found with regard to the use of interferon as a stand-alone treatment for unresectable, recurrent, and metastatic giant cell tumor originated from the spine. Methods. A 29-year-old woman with C1 and C2 giant cell tumor was treated by radiotherapy, intralesional curet, and chemotherapy orderly. Tumor recurred after 2 years. A second curet was undertaken. Tumor recurred second time and caused severe spinal cord compression. Lung metastasis was diagnosed simultaneously. A 24-year-old man with recurrent giant cell tumor of T5 and T6 was treated by spondylectomy of T5 and T6. Six months later, a giant metastatic lesion was found in sacrococcygeal region, which was excised and proved to be giant cell tumor of bone. Four months later, 2 recurrent lesions were found beside the rectum. Interferon alfa-2b at a dose of 3,000,000 U/m2 was then administered subcutaneously everyday for both patients for 3.5 and 3 years, respectively. Results. No major complications related to the use of interferon occurred. The lesion in C1-C2 of the first patient regressed steadily and was restricted and encircled within the lateral mass. The metastatic lesions in the lungs also significantly reduced. The pararectal lesions of the second patient disappeared completely. Conclusion. Interferon therapy may be an effective and safe treatment for spine giant cell tumor recurrence and metastasis in soft tissue. The effectiveness may be time and dosage dependent.