Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Note on the Implementation of the Countercyclical Capital Buffer in Italy

This paper analyzes the challenges posed by the implementation of the countercyclical capital buffer framework in Italy and proposes ways of meeting them. In the first part of the analysis we review the limitations of the standardized Basel III credit-to-GDP gap; we then propose possible solutions, which while remaining in the spirit of Basel, can better capture the state of the credit cycle in real time. In the second part of the paper we propose a step by step approach for reducing the uncertainty that may arise when looking at the indicators which, in addition to the credit-to-GDP gap, are designed to help authorities take decisions about the buffer rate; we also analyze the relationship between the selected indicators and a continuous variable of banking system riskiness. While the analysis is conducted with reference to Italian data, the proposed analytical framework is applicable to any country.
An update of irbesartan and renin-angiotensin system blockade in diabetic nephropathy

Type 2 diabetes is a chief cause of pathologies such as cardiovascular disease, nephropathy and retinopathy, and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. Development of renal disease can be slowed by tight glycaemic control and treatment of associated hypertension with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, as The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial and the UK Prospective Diabetes Study have demonstrated. Recent clinical trials have supported the use of angiotensin II receptor antagonists in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy, resulting in the approval of new therapeutic indications in the US and Europe. The main goal of this review is to demonstrate how results from the Programme for Irbesartan Mortality and Morbidity Evaluation and other recent studies, based on the effects of renin-angiotensin system blockade, can be appropriate in clinical practice, thus displaying benefits of irbesartan therapy at any stage of renal disease in diabetics.
Release of Toll-Like Receptor-2-Activating Bacterial Lipoproteins in Shigella flexneri Culture Supernatants

ABSTRACT Shigella spp. cause dysentery, a severe form of bloody diarrhea. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is induced during Shigella infections and has been proposed to be a key event in the pathogenesis of dysentery. Here, we describe a novel cytotoxic activity in the sterile-culture supernatants of Shigella flexneri. An identical activity was identified in purified S. flexneri endotoxin, defined here as a mixture of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and endotoxin-associated proteins (EP). Separation of endotoxin into EP and LPS revealed the activity to partition exclusively to the EP fraction. Biochemical characterization of S. flexneri EP and culture supernatants, including enzymatic deactivation, reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography analysis, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and a Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2) activation assay, indicates that the cytotoxic component is a mixture of bacterial lipoproteins (BLP). We show that biologically active BLP are liberated into culture supernatants of actively growing S. flexneri. In addition, our data indicate that BLP, and not LPS, are the component of endotoxin of gram-negative organisms responsible for activating TLR2. The activation of apoptosis by BLP shed from S. flexneri is discussed as a novel aspect of the interaction of bacteria with the host.
Small Business Administration and Job Creation

The Small Business Administration (SBA) administers several programs to support small businesses, including loan guaranty programs, disaster loan programs, management and technical assistance training programs, and federal contracting programs. Congressional interest in these programs has increased in recent years, primarily because they are viewed as a means to stimulate economic activity, create jobs, and assist in the national economic recovery. This report examines the economic research on net job creation to identify the types of businesses that appear to create the most jobs.
Structure and Energetics of Allosteric Regulation of HCN2 Ion Channels by Cyclic Nucleotides*

Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) ion channels play an important role in regulating electrical activity in the heart and brain. They are gated by the binding of cyclic nucleotides to a conserved, intracellular cyclic nucleotide-binding domain (CNBD), which is connected to the channel pore by a C-linker region. Binding of cyclic nucleotides increases the rate and extent of channel activation and shifts it to less hyperpolarized voltages. We probed the allosteric mechanism of different cyclic nucleotides on the CNBD and on channel gating. Electrophysiology experiments showed that cAMP, cGMP, and cCMP were effective agonists of the channel and produced similar increases in the extent of channel activation. In contrast, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) on the isolated CNBD indicated that the induced conformational changes and the degrees of stabilization of the active conformation differed for the three cyclic nucleotides. We explain these results with a model where different allosteric mechanisms in the CNBD all converge to have the same effect on the C-linker and render all three cyclic nucleotides similarly potent activators of the channel.
A 10-bit 1-GS/s 2x-Interleaved Timing-Skew Calibration Free SAR ADC

This paper presents a 2x-interleaved 10-bit successive-approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that performs 9.73 ENOB under 1-GS/s in 40nm with post-layout simulation. A bootstrapped switch circuit is proposed for 2x-interleaved structure using global master clock without any timing-skew calibration. In each channel, a sub-range SAR ADC sharing a common coarse SAR ADC with loop-unrolling technique is proposed to enhance speed. This ADC consumes 9.02mW with a figure of merit (FoM) of 10.6fJ/conv-step in post-layout simulation and only covers an area of 0.096mm2.
Thriving, Managing, and Struggling: A Mixed Methods Study of Adolescent African Refugees' Psychosocial Adjustment.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this mixed method study was to characterize the patterns of psychosocial adjustment among adolescent African refugees in U.S. resettlement. METHODS A purposive sample of 73 recently resettled refugee adolescents from Burundi and Liberia were followed for two years and qualitative and quantitative data was analyzed using a mixed methods exploratory design. RESULTS Protective resources identified were the family and community capacities that can promote youth psychosocial adjustment through: 1) Finances for necessities; 2) English proficiency; 3) Social support networks; 4) Engaged parenting; 5) Family cohesion; 6) Cultural adherence and guidance; 7) Educational support; and, 8) Faith and religious involvement. The researchers first inductively identified 19 thriving, 29 managing, and 25 struggling youths based on review of cases. Univariate analyses then indicated significant associations with country of origin, parental education, and parental employment. Multiple regressions indicated that better psychosocial adjustment was associated with Liberians and living with both parents. Logistic regressions showed that thriving was associated with Liberians and higher parental education, managing with more parental education, and struggling with Burundians and living parents. Qualitative analysis identified how these factors were proxy indicators for protective resources in families and communities. CONCLUSION These three trajectories of psychosocial adjustment and six domains of protective resources could assist in developing targeted prevention programs and policies for refugee youth. Further rigorous longitudinal mixed-methods study of adolescent refugees in U.S. resettlement are needed.
Wind turbine modeling, LVRT field test and certification

The need to validate wind turbine models for the use in grid integration studies is addressed in an increasing number of grid codes. In several countries (Spain, Australia, UK, Germany) requirements for simulation models are now required for the grid access of wind turbines. In Germany, triggered by the new renewable energy law (EEG), a guideline for validating electrical simulation models of wind turbines has been designed. The model validation approach chosen will be described. The aim of this validation approach is to quantify the error between measurement and simulation. This is necessary in order to give a reliable figure for the model uncertainty for the use of the model in studies. Results of FRT-measurements with balanced and unbalanced faults will be compared to the results of an RMS DFIG model. It can be shown that the validation approach can be applied with success both to balanced and unbalanced faults.
Purification, Characterization, and Cloning of Enamel Matrix Serine Proteinase 1

The maturation of dental enamel succeeds the degradation of organic matrix. Inhibition studies have shown that this degradation is accomplished by a serine-type proteinase. To isolate and characterize cDNA clones encoding this proteinase, we used two degenerate primer approaches to amplify part of the coding region using polymerase chain-reaction (PCR). First, we purified the proteinase from porcine transition-stage enamel matrix and characterized it by partial protein sequencing. The enzyme was isolated from the neutral soluble enamel extract by successive ammonium sulfate precipitations, hydroxyapatite HPLC, reverse-phase HPLC, DEAE ion exchange, and affinity chromatography with a Benzamidine Sepharose 6B column. The intact protein and lysylendopeptidase-generated cleavage products were characterized by amino acid sequence analyses. Degenerate oligonucleotide primers encoding two of the polypeptide sequences were synthesized. In a complementary strategy, degenerate oligonucleotide primers were designed against highly conserved active-site regions of chymotrypsin-like proteinases. Both approaches yielded PCR amplification products that served as probes for screening a porcine enamel organ epithelia-specific cDNA library. The longest full-length clone is 1133 nucleotides and encodes a preproprotein of 254 amino acids. We designate this protein enamel matrix serine proteinase 1 or EMSP1. The active protein has 224 amino acids, an isotope-averaged molecular mass of 24.1 kDa, and an isoelectric point of 6.0. Multiple-tissue Northern analysis indicates that EMSP1 is a tooth-specific protein. Gelatin enzymography shows a dramatic increase in EMSP1 activity in the transition-stage enamel matrix. EMSP1 is most homologous to kallikriens and trypsins.
Multi-site Videoconferencing as a Public Sphere in First Nation Communities: A Case Study

The paper examines multi-site videoconferencing as a public sphere. The theory of the public highlights the political effects of multi-site videoconferencing and how the technology contributes to the well-being of the community. To analyze the political effects of videoconferencing, the paper describes a case of community use of multi-site videoconferencing based on video analysis and semi-structured interviews. The case occurred in 2007 and connected a number of First Nation communities across Canada for simultaneous audio-visual exchange. K-Net Services in Ontario hosted the meeting to gauge the feasibility of public meetings through videoconferencing and to document an example of community uses of the technology. K-Net Services works to develop their videoconferencing infrastructure as a public space. Our findings suggest K-Net’s activities have developed a media institution best understood as a counter-public sphere for their service region. The case meeting shows a potential new opportunity to further integrate videoconferencing into community development.
Figure 1 Main concept behind statistical emotion development . The robot takes the place of the infant , and emotional

In this chapter, we explore social constructivist theories of emotion, which suggest that emotional behaviors are developed through experience, rather than innate. Our approach to artificial emotions follows this paradigm, stemming from a relatively young field called developmental or ‘epigenetic’ robotics. We describe the design and implementation of a robot called MEI (multimodal emotional intelligence) with an emotion development system. MEI synchronizes to humans through voice and movement dynamics, based on mirror mechanism-like entrainment. Via typical caregiver interactions, MEI associates these dynamics with its physical feeling, e.g. distress (low battery or excessive motor heat) or flourishing (homeostasis). Our experimental results show that emotion clusters developed through robot-directed motherese (“baby talk”) are similar to adult happiness and sadness, giving evidence to constructivist theories.
Succession of Phenotypic, Genotypic, and Metabolic Community Characteristics during In Vitro Bioslurry Treatment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Sediments

ABSTRACT Dredged harbor sediment contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was removed from the Milwaukee Confined Disposal Facility and examined for in situ biodegradative capacity. Molecular techniques were used to determine the successional characteristics of the indigenous microbiota during a 4-month bioslurry evaluation. Ester-linked phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), multiplex PCR of targeted genes, and radiorespirometry techniques were used to define in situ microbial phenotypic, genotypic, and metabolic responses, respectively. Soxhlet extractions revealed a loss in total PAH concentrations of 52%. Individual PAHs showed reductions as great as 75% (i.e., acenapthene and fluorene). Rates of 14C-PAH mineralization (percent/day) were greatest for phenanthrene, followed by pyrene and then chrysene. There was no mineralization capacity for benzo[a]pyrene. Ester-linked phospholipid fatty acid analysis revealed a threefold increase in total microbial biomass and a dynamic microbial community composition that showed a strong correlation with observed changes in the PAH chemistry (canonicalr2 of 0.999). Nucleic acid analyses showed copies of genes encoding PAH-degrading enzymes (extradiol dioxygenases, hydroxylases, and meta-cleavage enzymes) to increase by as much as 4 orders of magnitude. Shifts in gene copy numbers showed strong correlations with shifts in specific subsets of the extant microbial community. Specifically, declines in the concentrations of three-ring PAH moieties (i.e., phenanthrene) correlated with PLFA indicative of certain gram-negative bacteria (i.e., Rhodococcus spp. and/or actinomycetes) and genes encoding for naphthalene-, biphenyl-, and catechol-2,3-dioxygenase degradative enzymes. The results of this study suggest that the intrinsic biodegradative potential of an environmental site can be derived from the polyphasic characterization of the in situ microbial community.
Recognizing and supporting working children through microfinance programming

Microfinance programmes can help low-income and poor families improve their earnings and begin the process of moving out of poverty, but young children often join the workforce of these microenterprises as credit becomes available. Experiences gained from Egypt and several other countries have shown that children from as young as six years of age can play an important role in helping their families meet the initial increase in labour demands of their growing business. This paper points out that microfinance institutions are well-placed to support working children within their client businesses and help these children improve their lives both within and outside of their work. By drawing on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, microfinance practitioners in Egypt were able to improve children’s working conditions and learning opportunities through a series of nine intervention tools that could be integrated into standard microfinance programmes. The paper describes the tools and explains how they were developed and implemented in collaboration with working children themselves, their families, and business owners. The paper also describes some of the opportunities and challenges that would face those intending to replicate this type of programming from the perspective of both microfinance institutions and children’s rights/child protection agencies.
C1–C2 Transarticular Screw Fixation: Technical Aspects

OBJECTIVEI review posterior atlantoaxial fusion with transarticular screw fixation, including indications, complications, and operative technique, emphasizing my experience. METHODSThe indications for C1–C2 transarticular screw fixation include traumatic injuries to the atlantoaxial complex, instability resulting from inflammatory disease (rheumatoid arthritis), and congenital abnormalities (os odontoideum). All patients underwent stabilization using cannulated C1–C2 transfacetal screws by the method described by Magerl. Supplemental interspinous fusion with bicortical autologous iliac crest graft and titanium cable was used to restore the posterior tension band by use of the method described by Sonntag’s group. Preoperatively, all patients underwent imaging with plain radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, and axial computed tomography. Patients were maintained in a rigid cervical orthosis postoperatively. RESULTSMeasures used to improve safety and efficacy include patient positioning, fluoroscopic guidance, preoperative magnetic resonance imaging, axial computed tomography, and open reduction of C1–C2 subluxation before screw passage. In this series of 75 patients, fusion was obtained in 72 patients (96%). There were no instances of vertebral artery injury, errant screw placement, instrumentation failure, dural laceration, spinal cord injury, or hypoglossal nerve injury. CONCLUSIONC1–C2 transarticular screw fixation with a posterior tension band construct provides excellent fusion rates with few perioperative complications. Preoperative imaging and meticulous surgical technique improve outcomes.
Cryptic host-specific diversity among western hemisphere broomrapes (Orobanche s.l., Orobanchaceae).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The broomrapes, Orobanche sensu lato (Orobanchaceae), are common root parasites found across Eurasia, Africa and the Americas. All species native to the western hemisphere, recognized as Orobanche sections Gymnocaulis and Nothaphyllon, form a clade that has a centre of diversity in western North America, but also includes four disjunct species in central and southern South America. The wide ecological distribution coupled with moderate taxonomic diversity make this clade a valuable model system for studying the role, if any, of host-switching in driving the diversification of plant parasites. METHODS Two spacer regions of ribosomal nuclear DNA (ITS + ETS), three plastid regions and one low-copy nuclear gene were sampled from 163 exemplars of Orobanche from across the native geographic range in order to infer a detailed phylogeny. Together with comprehensive data on the parasites' native host ranges, associations between phylogenetic lineages and host specificity are tested. KEY RESULTS Within the two currently recognized species of O. sect. Gymnocaulis, seven strongly supported clades were found. While commonly sympatric, members of these clades each had unique host associations. Strong support for cryptic host-specific diversity was also found in sect. Nothaphyllon, while other taxonomic species were well supported. We also find strong evidence for multiple amphitropical dispersals from central North America into South America. CONCLUSIONS Host-switching is an important driver of diversification in western hemisphere broomrapes, where host specificity has been grossly underestimated. More broadly, host specificity and host-switching probably play fundamental roles in the speciation of parasitic plants.
[Changes in heart rate and blood pressure under push pull maneuver simulated on a tilt table].

Objective. Push-pull maneuver (PPM) was simulated using a tilt table to assess detailed cardiovascular responses and the simulation model. Method. Ten healthy fighter pilots were exposed to 3 times transition of body position of head-up tilt (HUT) for 1 min-->head-down tilt (HDT) for 10 s, 15 s and 20 s respectively-->HUT for 1 min in randomized sequences. The rate of tilt table rotation was 45 degrees /s. Heart-level arterial blood pressure was monitored with 4 s intervals, and HR was continuously monitored by ECG. Result. HR and BP fell significantly during HDT compared with those during HUT; upon subsequent HUT, HR and BP were significantly less than those during previous HUT, except BP at 11-15 s. Conclusion. Cardiovascular responses to PPM can be simulated with a tilt table. It is suggested that the tilt table model is valid in simulating the PPM.
Common Stochastic Trends and the Ricardian Equivalence in the OECD

The recent ceiling of U.S. federal debt and the European sovereign debt crises raised once again the interest upon balanced government budgets. The Ricardian Equivalence proposition appears as an attractive alternative for policy makers, since postponing taxes to be paid once growth is restored seems a very efficient scheme that relieves public discomfort. This paper attempts to investigate the long-run relationship between public debt and private consumption in order to test for the potential validity of the Ricardian equivalence proposition. We use a wide dataset of fifteen OECD countries using annual and quarterly data for the period 1980-2010. For the empirical estimation we employ both a univariate time series and a panel cointegration approach. Our empirical findings fail to provide empirical evidence in support of the Ricardian equivalence proposition for all countries of the sample, since the assumptions proposed by theory cannot be fulfilled.
Australian Federalism and School Funding Arrangements: An Examination of Competing Models and Recurrent Critiques

Australian federalism and school funding arrangements have transformed significantly over the last 30 years. There is now an unprecedented level of federal activity in state policy domains, especially education, resulting in highly complex and contested intergovernmental relations. Yet, there has been no rigorous academic analysis of federalism in relation to school funding arrangements, either from a political science or education perspective, and consequently, the nature and influence of federalism on school funding and policymaking is not understood. This paper draws together these disparate debates and examines how federalism affects school funding policies, reform and processes at the subnational level. It is based on a detailed study of the Victorian government’s ‘Schools of the Future’ reforms (1992-1999), which devolved 93 per cent of the state government’s public education budget to individual schools, effectively allowing schools to govern themselves within a state accountability framework. These reforms are described by supporters and detractors alike as the most radical Australian education reform in the last century. This paper explores the policy making process with reference to commonwealth and intergovernmental influences. It challenges recurrent critiques of Australian federalism, finding that SOTF best corresponds with the coordinate view of federalism, driven first and foremost by the Victorian government’s immediate political objectives and ideological principles, with minimal attention to federal processes, other Australian governments or intergovernmental agreements; and that institutional and fiscal arranges facilitated – rather than obstructed - policy innovation and transfer. It argues that federalism should be understood as a complex and dynamic system of processes and institutions, embedded in, and interacting with society. The study was based upon original data and documents from government and non-government bodies, complemented by interviews with key policy actors, triangulated against secondary literature, and analyzed qualitatively in conceptual frame drawing upon variants of institutionalism and Kingdon’s policy streams framework.