Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Labor Productivity And Social Policy In Latin America

Recent research has shown that labor productivity has fallen since 1975 in Latin American countries, a phenomenon that has taken place after countries undertook ambitious economic reforms and when the macro-economy has been stable. Decreasing productivity has adverse repercussions on competitiveness, export growth, salaries and income distribution. There is no consensus on the reasons behind the deterioration in productivity. For this reason, this paper investigates the determinants of labor productivity in a sample of six Latin American countries: Costa Rica, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Jamaica. The analysis rests on the estimation of a Var model with the variables: investment rate, human capital, public consumption, labor productivity, and social variables- self and quality employment, part time employment, and income distribution. The specific contributions of the paper are the inclusion of social variables in the Var estimations and the breakdown of labor market variables by gender. The Var was estimated with 1990-2012 data from the World Bank's World Development Indicators. The impulse response functions indicate that labor productivity increases with increasing physical and human capital, with government consumption, quality jobs, and equitable income distribution. The responses are more pronounced for women than for men. An interesting result is that the response of the percentage of national income that is invested by the richest decile of the population has a positive association with the respective country's average education attainment, indicating that human capital induces private investment. Labor productivity is not dependent on purely economic variables, such as physical capital and technology, but depends on equitable access to social services. When all population groups have access to social services, more individuals will have better skills and better jobs in the official economy, which contributes to increasing labor productivity. Achieving this requires a solid fiscal situation. In other words, increasing labor productivity demands adequate tax revenues to attend to social variables to promote a regimen of equality of opportunity.
A New PWM Strategy to Reduce the Inverter Input Current Ripples

This paper deals with an innovating pulsewidth modulation (PWM) strategy allowing reduction of the DC input current ripples in classical operating area of adjustable-speed drives, and also maintaining a good quality of AC current waveforms and limited switching losses in the inverter. Thus, such a strategy is an interesting solution within embedded systems. Theoretical principles of the proposed method are introduced. Then, simulation results highlight the benefits of this algorithm compared to classical PWM control. Finally, a DSP-base implementation has been performed, and effectiveness of this strategy is confirmed by experiments for a starter-generator application.
Beam–Wave Interaction in the Passbands and Stopbands of Periodic Slow-Wave Systems

A method of analysis of beam-wave interaction in passbands and stopbands of periodic slow-wave systems (SWSs), based on the use of the finite-difference equation of excitation of such systems by an electron beam, is presented. In contrast to equations of a well-known beam-wave interaction theory, it includes the local coupling impedance that characterizes the interaction of electrons with the total field of two waves (forward and counter propagating) of the SWS and does not tend to infinity at cutoff frequencies. It allowed to develop a general theory of interaction of electron beams and waves in passbands and stopbands of SWSs without using their equivalent circuits. A study of beam-wave interaction in the folded waveguide-type SWSs has been performed. An elementary analytical calculation of electrodynamic characteristics of such SWSs necessary to study the interaction is given. Specifies of interaction in passbands and near the cutoff frequencies of periodic SWSs are considered. Amplification conditions in stopbands of such SWSs are discovered. Properties of the beam-wave interaction at the cutoff frequency where the folded waveguide is an analog of multigap open resonators used in such electron devices, as an orotron, are examined.
The relative cost of children's physical play

There has been a long-standing debate regarding the functions of play during childhood. An important, but neglected, first step in this debate entails documenting the costs associated with play. In this study we analysed energetic costs (expressed in terms of caloric expenditure) associated with physical play in four field experiments of play in primary school children. Experiment 1 established the concurrent validity of an observational check list to estimate caloric expenditure of children's physical play. Experiment 2 compared caloric expenditure of the play (defined as all behaviour exhibited during play time) for two age groups of children during playtime outdoors and during indoor sedentary activity; caloric expenditure of outdoor activity was greater and was significantly correlated with ambient temperature. In experiment 3, children were observed during indoor play to control for the influence of ambient temperature. Outdoor physical play was more energetically costly than indoor physical play. In experiment 4, children's behaviour was observed outdoors and caloric expenditure for play, games and other activities was compared. Physical play was more costly than other forms of behaviour and games. Estimates of total energetic costs of play ranged from 6 to 15%. Results are discussed in terms of the relatively low caloric costs of play. Copyright 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Copyright 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Comparison of voltage control methods in distribution systems using Q-V based PI and droop controls of solar inverters

The increasing penetration of photovoltaic power generation in distribution systems causes serious voltage management issues. To mitigate the voltage variations due to solar generation intermittency, this paper introduces a PI-based reactive power control method of PV inverters. The proposed PI controller adjusts the reactive power injection of the solar inverters dynamically to drive the voltage at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC) to a target value. The simulation studies are performed to evaluate the proposed PI-based reactive power control using the IEEE 34 test feeder for a 24-hour period in OpenDSS and Matlab. The performance of the proposed PI controller is compared to the conventional PV inverter controls with no reactive power generation and with the Q-V-based droop control at different penetration levels. The case studies demonstrate that the proposed PI-based voltage control method reduces effectively the voltage deviations at the PCC of the PV inverters. The voltage profiles under the proposed PI controller have narrower variation bands compared with the conventional PV reactive power control methods particularly at high penetration levels of solar generation.
Privacy in Pervasive Video Surveillance - Trust through Technology and Users Cooperation

During the last decades, video surveillance systems (VSS) have become popular and, nowadays, they can be found almost everywhere. When those systems were initially deployed, they were mainly used by authorities only and, people tend to accept to be surveilled for the sake of security. Currently, VSS are located in public places and controlled by governmental agencies, but some others are placed in private spaces and controlled by corporations, banks, and so on. In addition, VSS have gained computational capabilities and, nowadays, off-the-shelf cameras are able to record high quality digital video that can be easily shared by means of private networks or even the Internet. Trust is strictly related to the operators of those VSS and their behaviour. Hence, it is necessary to define a comprehensive model for trustworthy video surveillance, aiming at preserving the right to privacy of citizens. In this article we present a platform for trustworthy video surveillance. Our model is based on the use of real-time and accurate techniques, and the active cooperation of people using mobile
Employment Subsidies, Internationally Generated Shocks and Competitive Selection

High inter-country variability characterises the responsiveness of both output to (exogenous) shocks and employment to output contractions. We argue that inter- country differences in firm-size distributions contribute to explaining this variability. Within an open economy model, we show that competitive selection processes are an important channel through which a shock affects aggregate employment. Intra-industry selection is then shown to influence the effectiveness of active labour market policies in countering the employment and welfare effects of a negative shock.
An Innovative Approach to Clinical Communication in Schizophrenia: The Approaches to Schizophrenia Communication Checklists

ABSTRACT Side effects from antipsychotic medications can have a profound effect on patients' lives and may adversely affect their willingness to comply with treatment. Identification of side effects through improved communication between psychiatrists, other members of the healthcare team, and their patients might increase treatment compliance. The Approaches to Schizophrenia Communication (ASC) Steering Group developed two simple, practical checklists for use in the busy clinical setting. The ASC–Self-Report (ASC-SR) checklist is completed by the patient and comprises a list of the more common or clinically important side effects of antipsychotic treatment. The ASC-Clinic (ASC-C) checklist is completed by both clinician and patient together, being used as the basis for a semi-structured interview. In a multicenter pilot study set up to evaluate the utility of checklists, 86% of patients responding considered the ASC-SR to be useful in communicating their problems to psychiatrists and other members of the healthcare team. All healthcare team respondents found both checklists to be helpful when discussing side effect problems with their patients. Moreover, 41% and 47% of healthcare team respondents reported that the ASC-SR and ASC-C, respectively, had assisted them in identifying side-effect problems not previously acknowledged. Preliminary evaluation of the ASC-SR and ASC-C in this multicenter pilot study suggests that both tools were user-friendly, encouraged communication between patients and healthcare professionals about antipsychotic drug side effects, and could readily integrated into everyday clinical practice.
Targeted disruption of the mouse villin gene does not impair the morphogenesis of microvilli

The small intestine is functionally dependent on the presence of the brush border, a tightly packed array of microvilli that forms the amplified apical surface of absorptive cells. In the core of each microvillus, actin filaments are bundled by two proteins, villin and fimbrin. Previous in vitro studies using antisense approaches indicated that villin plays an important role in the morphogenesis of microvilli. To examine the in vivo consequences of villin deficiency, we disrupted the mouse villin gene by targeted recombination in mouse embryonic stem cells. A β‐galactosidase cDNA was also introduced into the villin locus by the targeting event. Homozygous villin‐deficient mice are viable, fertile, and display no gross abnormalities. Intact microvilli are present in the small intestine, colon, kidney proximal tubules, and liver bile canaliculi. Although subtle ultrastructural abnormalities can be detected in the actin cores of small intestinal microvilli, localization of sucrase isomaltase, brush border myosin I, and zonula occludens I to the microvillar surface of the small intestine is normal. Thus, in vivo, villin plays a minor or redundant role in the generation of microvilli in multiple absorptive tissues. Dev. Dyn. 1998;211:109–121. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of Superoxide Dismutase Gene Inactivation on Virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 toward the Silkworm, Bombyx mori

ABSTRACT To investigate the role of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in virulence against the silkworm, Bombyx mori, mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 lacking manganese-SOD (PAO1sodM), iron-SOD (PAO1sodB), or both (PAO1sodMB) were generated. The mutants were injected into the hemocoel of B. mori. The virulence decreased in the order PAO1 = PAO1sodM > PAO1sodB > PAO1sodMB. In particular, PAO1sodMB was avirulent at a dose of 105 cells or less. The sod double mutant PAO1sodMB was then complemented with either pSodM or pSodB in trans. In both the complemented strains, the virulence was partially restored. Of the two plasmids, pSodB contributed more to the virulence of P. aeruginosa against B. mori. The results of growth in B. mori hemolymph broth and microscopic analysis suggested that a longer lag phase and superoxide sensitivity correlated with decreased virulence in sod mutants. In conclusion, the SODs are required for full virulence of P. aeruginosa against B. mori and Fe-SOD is more important than Mn-SOD in the infection process.
Localization of active promoters for eucaryotic RNA polymerase II in the long terminal repeat of avian sarcoma virus DNA

The nucleotide sequences in the long terminal repeat of avian sarcoma virus that are recognized in vitro by HeLa cell RNA polymerase II have been identified. For this purpose, various 5' and 3' deletions were introduced into a cloned long terminal repeat fragment. The effects of these deletions on transcription initiation in HeLa whole-cell extracts were then studied. Three specific transcripts have been identified. The major transcript is initiated at nucleotide +1 (relative to the cap site). Deletion of the upstream sequence between -299 and -55 has no effect on the level of transcription from this start site, whereas deletion of the sequence downstream of -14 drastically reduces the levels of transcription. In contrast, deletion of the sequence downstream from the TATA box has no effect on the initiation or efficiency of synthesis of the two minor RNA species, which are initiated at around nucleotides -260 and -105. The transcription of these RNA products, however, is abolished by an upstream deletion between -299 and -55. These results suggest that HeLa cell RNA polymerase II recognizes in vitro more than one promoter site present in the long terminal repeat of the avian sarcoma virus genome and defines the sequences required for initiation of the major transcript.
Proteomic analysis of Vibrio cholerae outer membrane vesicles

Significance Identifying proteins localized on the surface and envelope of Gram-negative bacterial cells is an important problem in vaccine development and antibiotic target discovery. We show that the characterization of proteins associated with outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) released by Gram-negative cells provides a solution in that contamination with abundant cytoplasmic proteins (caused by cell lysis) can be avoided. Integrated at a systems level with other transcription and proteomic data sets, our research provides a view of the surface architecture of a pathogen undergoing host-programmed changes in gene expression. Also provided is the first evidence to our knowledge that secreted protein-folding quality control (a property of the DegP protease) influences the composition of OMVs and bacterial virulence, validating DegP as a target for virulence-blocking drugs. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) produced by Gram-negative bacteria provide an interesting research material for defining cell-envelope proteins without experimental cell disruption. OMVs are also promising immunogenic platforms and may play important roles in bacterial survival and pathogenesis. We used in-solution trypsin digestion coupled to mass spectrometry to identify 90 proteins present in OMVs of Vibrio cholerae when grown under conditions that activate the TCP pilus virulence regulatory protein (ToxT) virulence regulon. The ToxT expression profile and potential contribution to virulence of these proteins were assessed using ToxT and in vivo RNA-seq, Tn-seq, and cholera stool proteomic and other genome-wide data sets. Thirteen OMV-associated proteins appear to be essential for cell growth, and therefore may represent antibacterial drug targets. Another 12 nonessential OMV proteins, including DegP protease, were required for intestinal colonization in rabbits. Comparative proteomics of a degP mutant revealed the importance of DegP in the incorporation of nine proteins into OMVs, including ones involved in biofilm matrix formation and various substrates of the type II secretion system. Taken together, these results suggest that DegP plays an important role in determining the content of OMVs and also affects phenotypes such as intestinal colonization, proper function of the type II secretion system, and formation of biofilm matrix.
Reduction of Second-Order Network Systems With Structure Preservation

This paper proposes a general framework for structure-preserving model reduction of a second-order network system based on graph clustering. In this approach, vertex dynamics are captured by the transfer functions from inputs to individual states, and the dissimilarities of vertices are quantified by the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mathcal {H}_2$</tex-math></inline-formula>-norms of the transfer function discrepancies. A greedy hierarchical clustering algorithm is proposed to place those vertices with similar dynamics into same clusters. Then, the reduced-order model is generated by the Petrov–Galerkin method, where the projection is formed by the characteristic matrix of the resulting network clustering. It is shown that the simplified system preserves an interconnection structure, i.e., it can be again interpreted as a second-order system evolving over a reduced graph. Furthermore, this paper generalizes the definition of network controllability Gramian to second-order network systems. Based on it, we develop an efficient method to compute <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mathcal {H}_2$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-norms and derive the approximation error between the full-order and reduced-order models. Finally, the approach is illustrated by the example of a small-world network.
Virtual reality exposure therapy for Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

BACKGROUND Virtual reality (VR) integrates real-time computer graphics, body-tracking devices, visual displays, and other sensory input devices to immerse a participant in a computer-generated virtual environment that changes in a natural way with head and body motion. VR exposure (VRE) is proposed as an alternative to typical imaginal exposure treatment for Vietnam combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHOD This report presents the results of an open clinical trial using VRE to treat Vietnam combat veterans who have DSM-IV PTSD. In 8 to 16 sessions, 10 male patients were exposed to 2 virtual environments: a virtual Huey helicopter flying over a virtual Vietnam and a clearing surrounded by jungle. RESULTS Clinician-rated PTSD symptoms as measured by the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale, the primary outcome measure, at 6-month follow-up indicated an overall statistically significant reduction from baseline (p = .0021) in symptoms associated with specific reported traumatic experiences. All 8 participants interviewed at the 6-month follow-up reported reductions in PTSD symptoms ranging from 15% to 67%. Significant decreases were seen in all 3 symptom clusters (p < .02). Patient self-reported intrusion symptoms as measured by the Impact of Event Scale were significantly lower (p < .05) at 3 months than at baseline but not at 6 months, although there was a clear trend toward fewer intrusive thoughts and somewhat less avoidance. CONCLUSION Virtual reality exposure therapy holds promise for treating PTSD in Vietnam veterans.
Is Ethiopia’s productive safety net program enhancing dependency?

Although development intervention programs can have far-reaching impacts beyond their stated objective, there have been few careful studies of unintended outcomes of such programs. This study assesses the impact of Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) on household size and dependency ratio using the difference in differences method based on a panel data of four rounds over 12 years. Results show that member households in the PSNP have built a larger household size and dependency ratio than non-member households. These results are not only unintended by program designers but also worrisome as they potentially jeopardize the viability of the program in achieving its stated objective of enabling member households come out of poverty.
A model for a simulation-based shipbuilding system in a shipyard manufacturing process

This paper is concerned with simulation-based approaches in the shipbuilding industry such as digital shipbuilding, simulation-based design (SBD), and a virtual shipyard. A simulation-based shipbuilding model based on the function model of ship design and the process model of ship manufacturing is suggested. For application and implementation of the proposed model, the process model for block erection processes is designed using IDEF0 and UML methodologies. In addition, an application is developed to evaluate the validity of simulation-based shipbuilding models. This application is called the virtual assembly simulation system for shipbuilding (VASSS), which can simulate crane operation and block erection in a virtual dock.
Design of H-inf channel estimation in multi-cell MU-MIMO OFDM systems

This paper investigates the uplink transmission in multi-cell multi-user multiple input multiple output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. The system model considers imperfect channel estimation, pilot contamination (PC), multiple sub-carriers and multi-path channels. We propose a simple H-inf channel estimation that achieves good suppression to PC. The approach exploits the space-alternating generalized EM (SAGE) iterative process to decompose multi-cell multi-user MIMO problem into a series of single-cell single-user SISO problems, which reduces the complexity drastically. Analysis on mean square error (MSE) of H-inf in the presence of PC is also presented. The numerical results show that increasing the number of pilot subcarriers cannot mitigate PC, and a clue for relieving PC can be obtained. The H-inf realizes better suppression to PC than the LS and ML algorithms. Its performance is close to the optimal MMSE algorithm and can be improved as the increase in the length of channel impulse response (CIR). By using the SAGE process, the performance of the H-inf does not degrade in case of a large number of antennas at base station (BS).
Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes/Graphene Oxide Composites for Humidity Sensing

Based on good dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in graphene oxide (GO) solution, MWCNTs/GO composite film was fabricated on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) by a simple drop-casting method. The composite responds quickly to relative humidity changes. The QCM with MWCNTs/GO coating showed the highest sensitivity among the QCMs coated with different films (MWCNTs, GO, and MWCNTs/GO). By monitoring changes in both the resonant frequency and impedance of the QCM sensors, it is found that the motional resistance and the quality factor (Q) of the QCM with MWCNTs/GO film have remarkable changes as compared with the QCM with GO film, which is suspected to be related with the viscosity of the sensing film. Meanwhile, the addition of MWCNTs may enlarge the distance between the GO sheets in composites and might be beneficial to the diffusion of water molecules. This study demonstrates that the MWCNTs/GO composite could be used for high sensitive humidity detection.