Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chief Economists’ Workshop: State-of-The-Art Modelling for Central Banks

Since 2004 the Bank’s Centre for Central Banking Studies has organised an annual Chief Economists’ Workshop to provide a forum for leading central bank practitioners and academic thinkers to exchange views. The recent financial crisis has put many aspects of central banks’ activities under the spotlight, and this year’s Workshop offered a critical appraisal of the economic modelling frameworks used by central banks. Efforts are under way to build upon advances in research and improve those frameworks. But, at the same time, economists will need to remain humble about the inevitable limitations of their models, which will continue to be just one of many inputs to the policymaking process.
Ontology‐based retrieval of geographic information

Discovering and accessing suitable geographic information (GI) in the open and distributed environments of current Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) is a crucial task. Catalogues provide searchable repositories of information descriptions, but the mechanisms to support GI retrieval are still insufficient. Problems of semantic heterogeneity caused by the ambiguity of natural language can arise during keyword‐based search in catalogues and when formulating a query to access the discovered data. In this paper, we present an approach to ontology‐based GI retrieval that contributes to solving existing problems of semantic heterogeneity and hides most of the complexity of the required procedure from the requester. A query language and graphical user interface allow a requester to intuitively formulate a query using a well‐known domain vocabulary. From this query, an ontology concept is derived, which is then used to search a catalogue for a data source that provides all the information required to answer the requester's query. If a suitable data source is discovered, the relevant data are accessed through a standardized interface. The approach is implemented through several components that can be used as an extension to standard SDIs.
Immunoblotting Studies of Coagulation Factor XII, Plasma Prekallikrein, and High Molecular Weight Kininogen

Immunoblotting techniques for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of FXII, PK, and HMWK in whole plasma are presented. Sensitive, specific, and quantitative immunodetection of FXII and PK can be achieved by developing the blots with polyclonal antiserum followed by radiolabeled FXII or PK, respectively. This approach is based on the assumption that bivalent antibodies bind monovalently to the NC-bound antigen and have available binding sites to bind radiolabeled antigen derived from the fluid phase. This radiolabeled antigen overlay principle may be generally useful for immunodetection of any trace protein in complex mixtures, provided that the radiolabeled purified antigen is available. Immunoblotting may also be helpful for the partial characterization of the structural or functional abnormalities of CRM-positive variant molecules. For example, earlier studies of a FXII-variant molecule that had been purified and characterized were supported by immunoblotting studies of the CRM-positive deficient plasma. Quantitative measurement of HMWK is possible using a monoclonal antibody directed against the light chain of HMWK followed by radiolabeled secondary antibody. Quantitation of cleaved and single-chain HMWK is possible using dilutions of dextran sulfate-activated NHP on unreduced SDS-PAGE and dilutions of unactivated NHP with reduced SDS-PAGE as standards. These assays allow assessment of the degree of in vivo activation of the contact system in various disease states.
Efficiency of Educational Production: An Analysis of New York School Districts

Theoretical consideration of technical efficiency has existed since Tjalling C. Koopmans (1951), which defined technical efficiency for production possibilities for which it is impossible to increase any output without simultaneously increasing any input. The nonparametric approach to efficiency estimation is based not on this definition but rather on Michael J. Farrell's (1957) index. Even after Farrell efficiency is achieved, there may exist additional slack in individual inputs, implying that Farrell efficiency doesn't measure inefficiency. To solve this problem, this paper suggests incorporating programming results into a second-stage multivariate regression analysis. For illustrative purposes, this technique is applied to analyze New York State school districts. Copyright 1996 by MIT Press.
Group C Orthobunyavirus Genomic Sequences Require Validation

Group C orthobunyaviruses (family Bunyaviridae, genus Orthobunyavirus) are vector-borne viruses found in tropical and subtropical zones of the Western hemisphere and can be human pathogens (1). Despite their public health relevance, few studies have explored the genetic characteristics of group C orthobunyaviruses. In fact, the majority ( 90%) of genome sequences available in GenBank stems from a single study published by Nunes et al. in the Journal of Virology in 2005 (2). Unfortunately, we believe the sequence data (GenBank accession numbers DQ188946 to DQ188984) generated for that study to be suspect. Our objection stems from three main concerns. First, despite repeated attempts, our group has been unable to amplify the same virus strains using the primers and conditions published by Nunes et al. A similar inability to amplify group C orthobunyavirus sequences using these primers was reported by Lambert and Lanciotti at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (3). To our knowledge, no other group has reported successfully utilizing the primers listed by Nunes et al. to amplify group C orthobunyavirus sequences. Second, we designed novel primers based on conserved regions from the S and M genomic sequences published by Nunes et al., but these also failed to amplify target genomic RNA from the same viral strains used by Nunes et al. Similarly, Lambert and Lanciotti (3) reported that “multiple amplification attempts, using oligonucleotide primers designed to target previously published group C S and M segments, failed to generate DNA for sequencing. ” Third, the group C orthobunyavirus genomic sequences reported by Nunes et al. do not match those of any other study, including those recently generated by our laboratories (J. Hang, et al., GenBank accession numbers KF254770 to KF254795], and
The performance of steady-state harmonic magnetic resonance elastography when applied to viscoelastic materials.

PURPOSE The clinical efficacy of breast elastography may be limited when the authors employ the assumption that soft tissues exhibit linear, frequency-independent isotropic mechanical properties during the recovery of shear modulus. Thus, the purpose of this research was to evaluate the degradation in performance incurred when linear-elastic MR reconstruction methods are applied to phantoms that are fabricated using viscoelastic materials. METHODS To develop phantoms with frequency-dependent mechanical properties, the authors measured the complex modulus of two groups of cylindrical-shaped gelatin samples over a wide frequency range (up to 1 kHz) with the established principles of time-temperature superposition (TTS). In one group of samples, the authors added varying amounts of agar (1%-4%); in the other group, the authors added varying amounts of sucrose (2.5%-20%). To study how viscosity affected the performance of the linear-elastic reconstruction method, the authors constructed an elastically heterogeneous MR phantom to simulate the case where small viscoelastic lesions were surrounded by relatively nonviscous breast tissue. The breast phantom contained four linear, viscoelastic spherical inclusions (10 mm diameter) that were embedded in normal gelatin. The authors imaged the breast phantom with a clinical prototype of a MRE system and recovered the shear-modulus distribution using the overlapping-subzone-linear-elastic image-reconstruction method. The authors compared the recovered shear modulus to that measured using the TTS method. RESULTS The authors demonstrated that viscoelastic phantoms could be fabricated by including sucrose in the gelation process and that small viscoelastic inclusions were visible in MR elastograms recovered using a linear-elastic MR reconstruction process; however, artifacts that degraded contrast and spatial resolution were more prominent in highly viscoelastic inclusions. The authors also established that the accuracy of the MR elastograms depended on the degree of viscosity that the inclusion exhibited. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrated that reconstructing shear modulus from other constitutive laws, such as viscosity, should improve both the accuracy and quality of MR elastograms of the breast.
New NHLBI clinical guidelines for obesity and overweight: will they promote health?

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to assess the justification, on the basis of mortality, of the new National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) guidelines on obesity and overweight and to discuss the health implications of declaring all adults with a body mass index of 25 through 29 "overweight. " METHODS The relationships between NHLBI body mass index categories and mortality for individuals older than 31 years were analyzed for 6253 Alameda County Study respondents aged 21 through 75 years. Time-dependent proportional hazards models were used to adjust for changes in risk factors and weight during follow-up. RESULTS Adjusted relative risks of mortality for 4 NHLBI categories compared with the category "normal" indicated that only being underweight or moderately/extremely obese were associated with higher mortality. Specific risk varied significantly by sex. CONCLUSIONS Our results are consistent with other studies and fail to justify lowering the overweight threshold on the basis of mortality. Current interpretations of the revised guidelines stigmatize too many people as overweight; fail to account for sex, race/ethnicity, age, and other differences; and ignore the serious health risks associated with low weight and efforts to maintain an unrealistically lean body mass.
Nucleo-cytoplasmic Trafficking of Metal-regulatory Transcription Factor 1 Is Regulated by Diverse Stress Signals*

The metal-regulatory transcription factor 1 (MTF-1) is a key regulator of heavy metal-induced transcription of metallothionein I and II and other genes in mammals and other metazoans. Transcriptional activation of genes by MTF-1 is mediated through binding to metal-responsive elements of consensus TGCRCNC in the target gene promoters. In an attempt to further clarify the mechanisms by which certain external signals activate MTF-1 and in turn modulate gene transcription, we show here that human MTF-1 has a dual nuclear and cytoplasmic localization in response to diverse stress stimuli. MTF-1 contains a consensus nuclear localization signal located just N-terminal to the first zinc finger that contributes to but is not essential for nuclear import. MTF-1 also harbors a leucine-rich, nuclear export signal. Under resting conditions, the nuclear export signal is required for cytoplasmic localization of MTF-1 as indicated by mutational analysis and transfer to the heterologous green fluorescent protein. Export from the nucleus was inhibited by leptomycin B, suggesting the involvement of the nuclear export protein CRM1. Our results further show that in addition to the heavy metals zinc and cadmium, heat shock, hydrogen peroxide, low extracellular pH (pH 6.0), inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide, and serum induce nuclear accumulation of MTF-1. However, heavy metals alone (and not the other stress conditions) induce a significant transcriptional response via metal-responsive element promoter sequences, implying that nuclear import of MTF-1 is necessary but not sufficient for transcriptional activation. Possible roles for nuclear import under non-metal stress conditions are discussed.
The Validity of Multifrequency Bioelectrical Impedance Measures to Detect Changes in the Hydration Status of Wrestlers During Acute Dehydration and Rehydration

Utter, AC, McAnulty, SR, Riha, BF, Pratt, BF, and Grose, JM. The validity of multifrequency bioelectrical impedance measures to detect changes in the hydration status of wrestlers during acute dehydration and rehydration. J Strength Cond Res 26(1): 9–15, 2012—The objective of this study was to examine the validity of multifrequency direct segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis (DSM-BIA) measures to detect changes in the hydration status of wrestlers after they underwent 3% acute dehydration and a 2-hour rehydration period. Fifty-six National Collegiate Athletic Association wrestlers: (mean ± SEM); age 19.5 ± 0.2 years, height 1.73 ± 0.01 m, and body mass (BM) 82.5 ± 2.3 kg were tested in euhydrated, dehydrated (−3.5%), and 2-hour rehydration conditions using DSM-BIA to detect the changes in hydration status. The hydration status was quantified by measuring the changes in plasma osmolality (Posm), urine osmolality (Uosm), urine specific gravity (Usg), BM, and weighted segmental impedance at frequencies of 5, 20, 50, 100, and 500 kHz. Weighted segmental impedance significantly increased after a 3.5% reduction in the body weight for all the 5 frequencies evaluated, but it did not return to baseline at 2-hour rehydration. Posm (303 ± 0.6 mOsm·L−1), Uosm (617 ± 47 mOsm·L−1), and Usg (1.017 ± 0.001) all significantly increased at postdehydration and returned to baseline at 2-hour rehydration. Estimations of extracellular water were significantly different throughout the trial, but there were no significant changes in the estimations of the total body water or intracellular water. The results of this study demonstrate the potential use of DSM-BIA as a field measure to assess the hydration status of wrestlers for the purpose of minimal weight certification before the competitive season. When employing DSM-BIA to assess the hydration status, the results indicated that the changes in weighted segmental impedance at the frequencies evaluated (5, 20, 50, 100, and 500 kHz) are sensitive to acute changes in dehydration but lag behind changes in the standard physiological (plasma and urinary) markers of hydration status after a 2-hour rehydration period.
A New Predictor of Local Financial Distress

The development of predictive models for financial distress is a recurring topic in both private and public contexts, although currently its repercussions are greater in the public sphere, where efforts are being made to define new warning systems for fiscal crises. The present study thus aims first to show the similarities and differences between the absolute and relative models based on a 10-point scale, in order to subsequently combine the positive aspects of both proposals to find a system that can determine local fiscal distress in a more robust way. The results obtained show that the optimum predictive system is a slight variant of the model proposed by Kloha et al. (2005). This variant consists of the inclusion of two indicators of financial independence proposed by Zafra-Gómez et al. (2009a) for which an alert threshold has been empirically determined.
Horizontal Merger with an Inefficient Leader

In this paper we analyze two-firm horizontal mergers between an inefficient leader and an efficient follower. The merger is profitable and may decrease price (increase welfare) if the market size is large enough. Furthermore, a merger involving a leader which decreases price hurts outsider firms and therefore resolves the free-rider component of the merger paradox. Finally, it is shown that, when the market is large, these mergers always increase welfare regardless of the size of the cost asymmetry between leader and follower.
Isolation , Identification and Germplasm Preservation of Different Native Spirulina Species from Western Mexico Rout

Spirulina is an edible algae and has a wide range of pharmaceutical applications in addition to its nutritional value. Isolation and identification of several Spirulina species were conducted in the western part of Mexico especially in the state of Jalisco. The purification strategy consisted of five optimized processing steps: 1) washing and centrifugation, 2) chemical treatment, 3) micromanipulation, 4) serial dilution, and 5) plating. Four species were isolated from different locations and two out of these four species were identified taxonomically up to the species level: Spirulina subsalsa and S. major. For short term conservation (30 days), the strains were maintained in liquid and solid agar medium at 10 ̊C and 4 ̊C. For medium term (few months), they were preserved in solid medium under a dried condition as agar flakes and for long term, cryopreservation was employed by using 5% and 10% DMSO, glycerol and methanol as osmoprotectants in liquid nitrogen. For short term preservation nearly 90% liquid and 100% agar recovered strains were viable after one month at both temperatures. In the case of the agar flakes, cells were viable after three months of conservation at room temperature. Cryopreservation did not give any suitable results after three months of conservation. Variable and two-step improved cryopreservation processes are now in progress for conservation.
Fractional exhaled nitric oxide for the management of asthma in adults: a systematic review

The aim of this review was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measured in a clinical setting for the management of asthma in adults. 13 electronic databases were searched and studies were selected against predefined inclusion criteria. Quality assessment was conducted using QUADAS-2. Class effect meta-analyses were performed. Six studies were included. Despite high levels of heterogeneity in multiple study characteristics, exploratory class effect meta-analyses were conducted. Four studies reported a wider definition of exacerbation rates (major or severe exacerbation) with a pooled rate ratio of 0.80 (95% CI 0.63–1.02). Two studies reported rates of severe exacerbations (requiring oral corticosteroid use) with a pooled rate ratio of 0.89 (95% CI 0.43–1.72). Inhaled corticosteroid use was reported by four studies, with a pooled standardised mean difference of −0.24 (95% CI −0.56–0.07). No statistically significant differences for health-related quality of life or asthma control were found. FeNO guided management showed no statistically significant benefit in terms of severe exacerbations or inhaled corticosteroid use, but showed a statistically significant reduction in exacerbations of any severity. However, further research is warranted to clearly define which management protocols (including cut-off points) offer best efficacy and which patient groups would benefit the most. FeNO testing for adult asthma management may confer clinical benefit, but research is needed to establish its role http://ow.ly/WGWkx
Sme E-Business Development: an Interaction based Approach

E-business stage/maturity models for SMEs have been criticized for their predominantly technocentric and rather mechanistic character, not suited for this kind of firms. Based on a conceptual and qualitative research, the paper proposes an e-business development model to factor in the interaction sparked by the coming together of technology and organization. Given that e-business is distinguished by different levels of supplier/customer information exchanges, the model (tested in three small firms) envisages five digital and non digital interaction levels so that small business owners can better understand and evaluate the interplay of organization and technology in relation to business opportunities.
The Good Citizen: How a Younger Generation Is Reshaping American Politics

Chapter 1: Citizenship and the Transformation of American Society The Social Transformation of America The Plot of This Book Conclusion DEFINING THE NORMS OF CITIZENSHIP Chapter 2: The Meaning and Measurement of Citizenship Citizenship in Theory What Is a "Good" Citizen? The Two Faces of Citizenship The Distribution of Citizenship Norms What Kind of Citizenship? Appendix Chapter 3: Forming Citizenship Norms A Generational Gap? The Rising Tide of Social Status Gender and Ethnicity Patterns Citizenship and Religion Partisan Differences in Citizenship Bringing the Pieces Together The Social Roots of Citizenship THE CONSEQUENCES OF CITIZENSHIP Chapter 4: Bowling Alone or Protesting with a Group? The Repertoire of Political Action Voting in Elections Campaign Activity Contacting Government Collective Group Activity Protest and Contentious Actions Online Participation Old Repertoires and New Repertoires Citizenship Norms and Participation Engaged Democrats Appendix Chapter 5: Free Speech for Everyone? How to Measure Political Tolerance The Unconventional Evidence: Rising Political Tolerance Who Is Tolerant and Who Is Not Citizenship and Tolerance Implications of Citizenship and Tolerance Chapter 6: Is the Government the Problem or Solution? What Should Government Do? We Want Government to Be a Big Spender Public Policy Preferences Are Citizenship Norms another Term for Partisanship? Citizenship and Public Policy Chapter 7: Is a Good Citizen Trustful or Skeptical of Government? Changing Images of Government Trusting Political Institutions America, Right or Wrong Appendix - Multivariate Analysis Chapter 8: In Tcoqueville's Footsteps The Norms of Citizenship Comparing the Consequences of Citizenship Citizenship in Comparative Perspective CONCLUSION Chapter 9: The Two Faces of Citizenship Balancing the American Political Culture Understanding Millennials Tocqueville Revisited Norm Shift and American Democracy
[Effects of Nursing Interventions for Fall Prevention in Hospitalized Patients: A Meta-analysis].

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to identify which nursing interventions are the most effective in fall prevention for hospitalized patients. METHODS From 3,675 papers searched, 34 were selected for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Number of fallers, falls, falls per 1,000 hospital-days, and injurious falls, fall protection activity, knowledge related to falls, and self-efficacy about falls were evaluated as outcome variables. Data were analyzed using the Comprehensive Meta Analysis (CMA) 2.2 Version program and the effect sizes were shown as the Odd Ratio (OR) and Hedges's g. RESULTS Overall effect size of nursing interventions for fall prevention was OR=0.64 (95% CI: 0.57~0.73, p<.05) and Hedges's g=-0.24. The effect sizes (OR) of each intervention ranged from 0.34 to 0.93, and the most effective nursing intervention was the education & environment intervention (OR=0.34, 95% CI: 0.28~0.42, p<.001), followed by education intervention (OR=0.57, 95% CI: 0.50~0.67, p=.001). Subgroup analyses showed that multifaceted interventions (OR=0.76, 95% CI: 0.73~0.79, p<.001) were more effective than unifactorial interventions, and that activities for prevention of falls (OR=0.08, 95% CI: 0.05~0.15, p<.001) showed the largest effect size among outcome variables. CONCLUSION Falls in hospitalized patients can be effectively prevented using the nursing interventions identified in this study. These findings provide scientific evidence for developing and using effective nursing interventions to improve the safety of hospitalized patients.
Accounting for the Economic Growth of Firms in UK Manufacturing since 1973

The dual relationship between the growth of total factor productivity and the growth of the price differential between inputs and outputs is used to decompose productivity changes since 1973. The decline in total factor productivity, 1973-79, is best explained by the dual increase in the average output-price/input-price differential resulting from the squeeze in profit rates. In 1979-86, the average increase in total factor productivity was not significantly different from zero: there was no Thatcher productivity miracle. Growth of output is determined primarily by growth of inputs and not by general increases in efficiency. (c) 1996 Academic Press Limited Copyright 1996 by Oxford University Press.