Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Note on zero lower bound worries

Although some authors have suggested that monetary expansion is still possible when the monetary policy interest rate cannot be reduced further, central banks tend to avoid interest rates close to the zero lower bound. Taking into account central banks.aversion to very low interest rates, we investigate optimal monetary policy in a New-Keynesian macro-economic model. Our analysis shows that appointing a central banker with a high aversion to low interest rate levels can mitigate the zero bound risk at the cost of persistent in.ation deviations from target. If fear of the zero lower bound is unfounded, it is better to appoint a central banker with no aversion to the zero lower bound, who will not shy away from unorthodox policies when the policy interest rate cannot be reduced further.
Recognition of Static Gestures Applied to Brazilian Sign Language (Libras)

This paper aims at describing an approach developed for the recognition of gestures on digital images. In this way, two shape descriptors were used: the histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) and Zernike invariant moments (ZIM). A feature vector composed by the information acquired with both descriptors was used to train and test a two stage Neural Network, which is responsible for performing the recognition. In order to evaluate the approach in a practical context, a dataset containing 9600 images representing 40 different gestures (signs) from Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) was composed. This approach showed high recognition rates (hit rates), reaching a final average of 96.77%.
Synaptophysin Is a Reliable Marker for Axonal Damage

Synaptophysin is an abundant membrane protein of synaptic vesicles. The objective of this study was to determine the utility of identifying synaptophysin accumulations (spheroids/ovoids/bulbs) in CNS white matter as an immunohistochemical marker of axonal damage in demyelinating and neuroinflammatory conditions. We studied the cuprizone toxicity and Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) infection models of demyelination and analyzed CNS tissue from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Synaptophysin colocalized with the amyloid precursor protein (APP), a well-known marker of axonal damage. In the cuprizone model, numerous pathological synaptophysin/APP-positive spheroids/ovoids were identified in the corpus callosum at the onset of demyelination; the extent of synaptophysin/APP-positive vesicle aggregates correlated with identified reactive microglia; during late and chronic demyelination, the majority of synaptophysin/APP-positive spheroids/ovoids resolved but a few remained, indicating persistent axonal damage; in the remyelination phase, scattered large synaptophysin/APP-positive bulbs persisted. In the TMEV model, only a few large- to medium-sized synaptophysin/APP-positive bulbs were found in demyelinated areas. In MS patient tissue samples, the bulbs appeared exclusively at the inflammatory edges of lesions. In conclusion, our data suggest that synaptophysin as a reliable marker of axonal damage in the CNS in inflammatory/demyelinating conditions.
Reduced susceptibility of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae to biocides: An emerging threat

Dealing with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-Kp) strains, which are generally pan-drug resistant, is an uphill task for health care professionals. Owing to limited therapeutic options and the possibility of development of resistance to commonly used biocides in hospital settings, CR-Kp infections pose a serious threat of emergence of a dreaded pandemic. The aim of the study was to highlight the possibility of emergence of biocide resistance among CR-Kp strains. A case study was conducted in a Super-specialty Hospital in September 2015. A 65-year-old female patient post-laparotomy was admitted to the General Intensive Care Unit of a Super-specialty Hospital. CR-Kp was isolated from the blood and mucus trap samples of this patient. Susceptibility testing of three commonly used biocides in our hospital, namely sodium hypochlorite (4% available chlorine), 5% w/v povidone iodine (0.5% w/v of available iodine) and absolute ethanol (99.9%), respectively, was carried out using K. pneumoniae ATCC 700603 as control. The test isolate showed reduced susceptibility to sodium hypochlorite in comparison to K. pneumoniae ATCC 700603. The possibility of emergence of biocide resistance among CR-Kp strains poses a threat of disrupting our ongoing efforts for implementation of effective infection control measures.
Shareholder activism among portfolio managers: rational decisions or 15 minutes of fame?

This paper investigates shareholder activism by observing Swedish portfolio managers’ behavior at firms’ annual general meetings. Institutional shareholders’ voting behavior and tendencies for raising opinions at the general meetings are related to firm characteristics, suggested by both agency theory and institutional perspectives. The results show that institutional shareholders are more likely to be active in large firms, which appear a lot in media, and have a large proportion of institutional ownership. Portfolio managers appear not to consider bad firm performance as a reason for targeting firms. Instead, managers’ behavior is consistent with the institutional notion that they benefit from the activism themselves, without trying to improve target firms’ performance. In view of this notion, it is rational for managers to be active in large firms, with large media coverage, achieving their 15 minutes of fame at the general meetings.
Saccadic trajectory in Huntington's disease

Trajectories of saccadic eye movements can be modulated by the presence of a competing visual distractor. It is proposed that the superior colliculus (SC) controls the initial deviation through competitive lateral interactions. Given the ramifications of connections between basal ganglia (BG) thalamo-cortical circuitry and the SC, it was anticipated that this modulation would be differentially effected in those with Huntington's disease, which in its early stages is primarily a disorder of the BG. Horizontal deviation was determined for exogenously driven and endogenously driven vertical saccades in the presence of peripheral distractors. For neurologically healthy participants, the initial trajectories of both saccade types curved away from distractor locations, as predicted. However, for HD participants exogenous saccades consistently deviated leftwards, irrespective of distractor location. Endogenous saccades also revealed anomalous horizontal deviation, with significant leftward deviation evident for saccades directed upward and significant rightward deviation for saccades directed downward. Further, both groups generated a comparable proportion of erroneous responses to distractor stimuli, but only neurologically healthy participants demonstrated a response time advantage for compatible target/distractor presentation. These results suggest anomalous regulation of distractor-related activity in HD. (JINS, 2006, 12, 455–464.)
Corporate diversification and firm value: evidence from emerging markets

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of corporate diversification on firm value in a sample of nine emerging markets including Brazil, Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Thailand, and Turkey. For the purpose of this study, a company is classified as diversified when it is operating in two or more lines of business defined by the two-digit SIC codes. Design/methodology/approach – Employing panel data from 1,568 companies for the period 2005-2010, this paper estimates both a fixed effects model and a dynamic generalized method of moments model. Data are collected both at company level and segment level within each firm. Findings – Overall, analysis results suggest that, for the period from 2005 to 2010, diversified firms in emerging markets are valued more compared to single-segment firms operating in similar industries, providing support for diversification premium. Originality/value – The effect of diversification on company value in emerging markets.
Inside the Visible: Arts-Based Educational Research as Excess

8 envision a socially responsible agency for public education in a democratic, pluralistic society To promote non-traditional research ideology and methods that hold profound capacities for uncovering unknown voices and realities in curriculum construction and pedagogical practices To provide disempowered scholars and researchers outside the dominant social order with a forum for advancement of ideology of socio-political constructs in diverse cultural contexts
High Mobility Wireless Communications With Doppler Diversity: Fundamental Performance Limits

The objective of this paper is to quantify the fundamental tradeoff between Doppler diversity and channel estimation errors in high mobility systems. Fast fading variation in high mobility systems introduces Doppler diversity that can benefit system performance. On the other hand, it is more difficult to estimate and track a fast changing channel, thus channel estimation errors are non-negligible and they may seriously degrade system performance. Such a tradeoff relationship is studied by identifying the exact analytical expressions of two performance metrics: the maximum Doppler diversity order achievable with imperfect channel state information (CSI), and the loss in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) caused by channel estimation errors. The analytical study is enabled by a simple repetition code at the transmitter, and a new optimum diversity receiver developed by analyzing the statistical properties of channel estimation errors. With the analytical results, the optimum allocation of transmission energy between pilot symbols and data symbols are obtained to simultaneously maximize the Doppler diversity order and minimize the SNR loss, thus achieve the optimum tradeoff between the two. The results reveal the fundamental performance limits of Doppler diversity systems operating in the presence of imperfect CSI, and they can be used to guide the design of practical systems.
Low complexity DOA estimation for co-prime array based on fast Bayesian compressive sensing

In this paper, we propose a low complexity DOA estimation algorithm based on fast Bayesian compressive sensing for co-prime array with compressed inter-element spacing structure. Firstly, we prove that cross-correlation matrix of the two subarrays have already contained all the virtual array elements. Then the virtual array is built only based on the cross-correlation matrix of the two subarrays instead of the traditional covariance matrix to reduce the computational complexity. Secondly we conduct sparse representation and real-valued extension of the array output for fast Bayesian compressive sensing algorithm. Then two kinds of fast Bayesian compressive sensing methods are introduced to deal with the DOA estimation problem. Finally, we conduct some simulation experiments to verify superiority of the proposed method with the state-of-the-art methods in terms of computational complexity and DOA estimation accuracy.
Robust output-feedback control for container-slosh system using Variable Gain Super-twisting Algorithm

This paper presents robust control of container-slosh coupled dynamical system. Variable Gain Super-twisting Algorithm (VGSTA) is used to synthesize an output-feedback control. The surface used is finite time converging. The detailed stability proof is presented. The proposed controller is compared with classical PID. The proposed method is verified via rigorous simulations. The robustness analysis is also validated in simulations.
A reconfigurable inverse transform architecture design for HEVC decoder

In this paper, we present a reconfigurable hardware design which can support the inverse transform size from 4×4 to 32×32 in HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding). We explore the coefficient properties of various inverse transforms such that a base inverse transform unit can be reconfigured or refined to generate other size of inverse transform. The implementation in 90nm technology can support 3840×2160@30fps processing and only needs about 133.8K gate count, which can save 53% of gate count when compared with previous work.
Fostering Collaboration and Self-Motivated Learning: Best Practices in a One-Semester Visualization Course

There's not enough time in a computer science curriculum to teach soft skills, such as interdisciplinary collaboration or self-motivated learning, although employers demand these skills in the workplace. The author discusses a master's-level course in Data and Information Visualization, in which she adopted three structures-transdisciplinary collaboration, breadth-first teaching, and long-tail education-to help students develop these soft skills.
A comparison of research and production architectures for check reading systems

We have developed research and production architectures for the automatic processing of checks. The research architecture is flexible and allows rapid prototyping of image preprocessing, document analysis, recognition, and combination algorithms. The production architecture features high throughput, scalability, robustness, high availability, and low cost. Each architecture has features that make it attractive for its particular use. Results obtained using the production architecture in a live environment are shown. The benefits and drawbacks of both architectures are discussed.
Response of mitochondrial antioxidant system and respiratory pathways to reactive nitrogen species in pea leaves.

Nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as an important signaling molecule in plants, but little is known about the effects of reactive nitrogen species in plant mitochondria. In this study, the effects of DETA-NONOate, a pure NO slow generator, and of SIN-1 (3-morpholinosydnonimine), a peroxynitrite producer, on the activities of respiratory pathways, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants have been investigated in isolated mitochondria from pea leaves. No significant changes in lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation or in ascorbate and glutathione redox state were observed after DETA-NONOate treatments whereas cytochrome pathway (CP) respiration was reversibly inhibited and alternative pathway (AP) respiration showed little inhibition. On the other hand, NO did not affect neither activities of Mn superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) nor enzymes involved in the ascorbate and glutathione regeneration in mitochondria except for ascorbate peroxidase (APX), which was reversely inhibited depending on ascorbate concentration. Finally, SIN-1 treatment of mitochondria produced a decrease in CP respiration, an increase in protein oxidation and strongly inhibited APX activity (90%), with glutathione reductase and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) being moderately inhibited (30 and 20%, respectively). This treatment did not affect monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) and Mn-SOD activities. Results showed that mitochondrial nitrosative stress was not necessarily accompanied by oxidative stress. We suggest that NO-resistant AP and mitochondrial APX may be important components of the H(2) O(2) -signaling pathways under nitrosative stress induced by NO in this organelle. Also, MDHAR and DHAR, via ascorbate regeneration, could constitute an essential antioxidant defense together with Mn-SOD, against NO and ONOO(-) stress in plant mitochondria.
Unionised employee's reactions to the introduction of a goal‐based performance appraisal system1

While performance appraisal research has a rich history, we sought to address a long-noted void in the human resource management (HRM) literature, namely an investigation of employees' reactions to a newly introduced performance appraisal. Specifically, we examined the reaction of 408 unionised employees to a newly introduced performance appraisal system. Reactions examined included appraisal satisfaction, job satisfaction, appraisal fairness, goal setting and the perceived purpose of the system. Satisfaction with the appraisal system was higher when (a) employees perceived it as being fair, (b) it was used primarily for developmental purposes and (c) it allowed them to participate in goal setting. Of additional importance, perception of a developmental focus in the appraisal partially mediated the relationship between appraisal satisfaction, and each of job satisfaction, appraisal fairness and goal setting.
An Empirical Investigation into Factors Relating to the Adoption of Executive Information Systems: An Analysis of EIS for Collaboration and Decision Support*

This study focuses on the organizational adoption of Executive Information Systems (EIS). A distinction is made between two related, complementary EIS capabilities—EIS for collaboration support (EISc) and EIS for decision support (EISd). EISc is relatively standardized and replicable, while EISd has to be developed in situ given the specific characteristics of the user and task. The adoption process is conceptualized as an initial transition from a state of nonadoption to adoption (adoption status) and subsequent internal propagation of the technology (adoption level). Data collected from a national survey are used to test hypotheses between identified contextual variables and the adoption status and adoption level of EISc and EISd. Adopters and nonadopters of both EISc and EISd do not differ in their organization size, suggesting that the traditional paradigm of “EIS as a technology for large firms” is no longer true. Environmental uncertainty is found to promote the transition from a state of nonadoption to adoption of both EISc and EISd while continuing to catalyze the internal propagation of EISd. While no differences are observed in IS department size between adopters and nonadopters of EISc, our results suggest that larger IS departments provide the resource base to explore the less standardized of the two capabilities, EISd. IS support is also found to be critical for the subsequent internal propagation of EISd. Furthermore, the adoption level of both EISc and EISd are found to be promoted by top management support. Implications of these results are discussed for the organizational adoption of EIS.
Macroeconomic determinants of the world trade disputes

This article is whether and how the world macroeconomic environments influence the world trade disputes. We use two-pronged approach. First, we try to answer the question whether and how global macroeconomic environments are attached to the count of the world trade disputes. Even if the traditional literature captures it at the national-level, global picture needs to be completed. The second question we address is that given the set of trade dispute initiating countries, whether and how differently high-, middle- and low-income countries respond to their macroeconomic environments in their decision-makings of trade disputes initiations. The universe in the second question is a selected set of the filing countries only, not all countries on this planet. One can capture the behaviours of the countries involved in the trade disputes under certain macroeconomic circumstances. The period is from 1995 to 2008, covering all records of trade disputes since the birth of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Unbiased cell quantification reveals a continued increase in the number of neocortical neurones during early post‐natal development in mice

The post‐natal growth spurt of the mammalian neocortex has been attributed to maturation of dendritic arborizations, growth and myelination of axons, and addition of glia. It is unclear whether this growth may also involve recruitment of additional neurones. Using stereological methods, we analysed the number of neurones and glia in the neocortex during post‐natal development in two separate strains of mice. Cell counting by the optical fractionator revealed that the number of neurones increased 80–100% from the time of birth to post‐natal day (P)16, followed by a reduction by approximately 25% in the young adult mouse at P50–55. Unexpectedly, at the time of birth less than half of the neurones and at P8 only 65% of the neurones expressed neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN), a marker of mature post‐migratory neurones. In accordance with these observations, NeuN acquisition by neurones in layer VIa was delayed until P16. The number of glia reached its maximum at P16, whereas the number of oligodendroglia, identified using a transgenic marker, increased until P55, the latest time of observation. Neurones continued to accumulate in the developing neocortex during the first 2 weeks of post‐natal development, underscoring fundamental differences in brain development in the mouse compared with human and non‐human primates. Further, delayed acquisition of NeuN by neurones in the deepest neocortical layers and continued addition of oligodendroglia to the neocortex suggested that neocortical maturation should be regarded as an ongoing process continuing into the young adult mouse.
Transaction Cost Economics in International Marketing: A Review and Suggestions for the Future

Transaction cost economics (TCE) has received much attention in the international marketing literature over the past 25 years. Many key issues in international marketing have been examined through the lens of TCE, including entry mode choice, the governance of international distribution channels, propensity to franchise, international pricing control, and the governance of international buyer–supplier relationships. The author presents a review and analysis of 43 empirical TCE international marketing studies from 1987 to the present day. The results from this review and analysis indicate that the extant international marketing TCE studies demonstrate some support for the TCE propositions. In addition to these findings, the author also notes some key measurement issues, issues involving the dominance of U.S.-based studies, and some data equivalence issues. He builds on the results of the analysis to lay out important future research directions in the TCE international marketing domain.
Entrepreneurship, Reforms, and Development: Empirical Evidence

We examine how entrepreneurship and institutional and policy reforms affect development (proxied by the rate of growth in per–capita income). We do so by performing Arellano-Bond GMM estimations on annual data for a large group of developing and developed countries, and covering the period 1990-2002. We focus in particular on the interplay of trade and institutional reforms and entrepreneurship. The empirical results indicate that the interplay of entrepreneurship and institutions, and the interplay of entrepreneurship and policy reforms, influence the growth effects of entrepreneurship. However, the effects are strikingly different. The impact of institutional reform is positive when the level of entrepreneurship is low and negative when it is high. On the other hand, the effect of policy reform is negative when entrepreneurial activity is weak and positive when it is strong. These results are robust to the inclusion of other control variables.