Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Ins and Outs of Labor Market Forecasting

Barnichon and Nekarda (2012) have brought attention to forecasting the labor market using the bathtub model. In addition Diebold and Yilmaz (2009) have made substantial advances to the spillover literature by introducing connectedness tables and plots. We blend the two works to answer two interrelated questions: Are measures of steady-state relationships as implied by gross flows data "connected" to their stock-based counterparts? And second, if the measures are related, how can we produce reliable forecasts with gross flows data? We propose a new method to exploit information embedded in labor flows data to forecast the unemployment rate, labor force participation rate and employment-to-population ratio. The forecast evaluation suggests that understanding flow-based methods pays off. In particular, we find forecasting performance to be superior at longer-horizons and conclude that some measures of the labor market become more connected at longer horizons.
South Africa economic update : promoting faster growth and poverty alleviation through competition

Promoting faster growth and poverty alleviation through competition is particularly important for South Africa, which is facing weak economic growth and limited fiscal resources and has to look to avenues outside the fiscal space to stimulate faster sustainable growth and progress towards its ultimate goal of eliminating poverty, outlined in the 2030 National Development Plan (NDP). The update presents a candid assessment of South Africa’s economic prospects. With growth declining in per capita terms the NDP goals are moving further out of reach. South Africa urgently needs fundamental reforms to kick start growth and promote job creation. Advancing with reforms to improve the lives of South Africans is particularly attractive, since they hold the potential to boost growth and speed up poverty alleviation. Competition policy demonstrates the power of bold reform to ease pressures in times of a tight public purse. The report is organized as follows: section one presents economic developments and prospects, and section two presents promoting faster growth and poverty alleviation through effective competition policy.
Radio frequency energy harvesting using circular spiral inductor antenna

The design of radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting using planar circular spiral inductor antenna is proposed. The purpose is to determine the feasibility to harvest power density produced by the proposed antenna. A single element circular spiral antenna was designed, and subsequently, a 2 × 1 array to enhance the gain. Being a circular spiral inductor, it has a good Q-factor, higher inductance per unit area, and compact capability. The entire structure was investigated using numerical solver such as finite integration technique (FIT) method and Agilent advance design system (ADS) software. Results show that 3.22 dBi gain for single antenna and 5.14 dBi gain for antenna array was achieved at a centre frequency of 520 MHz. The gain of the 2 × 1 antenna array increased to about 37.3% over the single element. There are noticed reasonable agreements between the simulated and measured result.
Effect of drought and heat stresses on plant growth and yield: a review

Abstract Drought and heat stresses are important threat limitations to plant growth and sustainable agriculture worldwide. Our objective is to provide a review of plant responses and adaptations to drought and elevated temperature including roots, shoots, and final yield and management approaches for alleviating adverse effects of the stresses based mostly on recent literature. The sections of the paper deal with plant responses including root growth, transpiration, photosynthesis, water use efficiency, phenotypic flexibility, accumulation of compounds of low molecular mass (eg proline and gibberellins), and expression of some genes and proteins for increasing the tolerance to the abiotic stresses. Soil and crop management practices to alleviate negative effects of drought and heat stresses are also discussed. Investigations involving determination of plant assimilate partitioning, phenotypic plasticity, and identification of most stress-tolerant plant genotypes are essential for understanding the complexity of the responses and for future plant breeding. The adverse effects of drought and heat stress can be mitigated by soil management practices, crop establishment, and foliar application of growth regulators by maintaining an appropriate level of water in the leaves due to osmotic adjustment and stomatal performance.
Does Ap Economics Improve Student Achievement?

We employ an empirical approach designed to control for selection issues to estimate the effect of taking Advanced Placement (AP) Economics in high school on student performance on a high-stakes, statewide End-of-Course Test (EOCT). Using data on all Georgia students who took economics from 2006 to 2008, we use propensity score matching to control for the selection of students into AP Economics. Our most conservative estimate makes an adjustment for teacher effects and suggests that students who take high school economics in an AP class score 0.283 standard deviations higher on the economics EOCT than “matched” students who are in high schools that do not offer AP Economics. We find large differences in “AP effects” across subpopulations—in particular, students from low income backgrounds, African Americans, and students who performed poorly in prior mathematics courses benefit the most from AP Economics. All estimates of AP effects are substantially below OLS estimates, suggesting positive selection into AP Economics. The results are robust to different matching techniques for the full sample and all large and medium sized subpopulations. After controlling for teacher effects, the choice of schools as to whether or not to offer AP Economics does not appear to impact estimates of AP effects.
Maraviroc: in vitro assessment of drug-drug interaction potential.

AIMS To characterize the cytochrome P450 enzyme(s) responsible for the N-dealkylation of maraviroc in vitro, and predict the extent of clinical drug-drug interactions (DDIs). METHODS Human liver and recombinant CYP microsomes were used to identify the CYP enzyme responsible for maraviroc N-dealkylation. Studies comprised enzyme kinetics and evaluation of the effects of specific CYP inhibitors. In vitro data were then used as inputs for simulation of DDIs with ketoconazole, ritonavir, saquinavir and atazanvir, using the Simcyptrade mark population-based absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination (ADME) simulator. Study designs for simulations mirrored those actually used in the clinic. RESULTS Maraviroc was metabolized to its N-dealkylated product via a single CYP enzyme characterized by a K(m) of 21 microM and V(max) of 0.45 pmol pmol(-1) min(-1) in human liver microsomes and was inhibited by ketoconazole (CYP3A4 inhibitor). In a panel of recombinant CYP enzymes, CYP3A4 was identified as the major CYP responsible for maraviroc metabolism. Using recombinant CYP3A4, N-dealkylation was characterized by a K(m) of 13 microM and a V(max) of 3 pmol pmol(-1) CYP min(-1). Simulations therefore focused on the effect of CYP3A4 inhibitors on maraviroc pharmacokinetics. The simulated median AUC ratios were in good agreement with observed clinical changes (within twofold in all cases), although, in general, there was a trend for overprediction in the magnitude of the DDI. CONCLUSION Maraviroc is a substrate for CYP3A4, and exposure will therefore be modulated by CYP3A4 inhibitors. Simcyptrade mark has successfully simulated the extent of clinical interactions with CYP3A4 inhibitors, further validating this software as a good predictor of CYP-based DDIs.
Prediabetes and lifestyle modification: time to prevent a preventable disease.

More than 100 million Americans have prediabetes or diabetes. Prediabetes is a condition in which individuals have blood glucose levels higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. People with prediabetes have an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes. An estimated 34% of adults have prediabetes. Prediabetes is now recognized as a reversible condition that increases an individual's risk for development of diabetes. Lifestyle risk factors for prediabetes include overweight and physical inactivity.Increasing awareness and risk stratification of individuals with prediabetes may help physicians understand potential interventions that may help decrease the percentage of patients in their panels in whom diabetes develops. If untreated, 37% of the individuals with prediabetes may have diabetes in 4 years. Lifestyle intervention may decrease the percentage of prediabetic patients in whom diabetes develops to 20%. Long-term data also suggest that lifestyle intervention may decrease the risk of prediabetes progressing to diabetes for as long as 10 years. To prevent 1 case of diabetes during a 3-year period, 6.9 persons would have to participate in the lifestyle intervention program. In addition, recent data suggest that the difference in direct and indirect costs to care for a patient with prediabetes vs a patient with diabetes may be as much as $7000 per year. Investment in a diabetes prevention program now may have a substantial return on investment in the future and help prevent a preventable disease.
Small format optical sensors for measuring vegetation indices in remote sensing applications: A comparative approach

In this paper we report the comparative study of two types of digital cameras to be used for vegetation index measurement. Using either a dedicated multispectral JAI AD-80-GE camera or a custom dual Canon S3IS camera system, we obtained RGB and NIR images and processed them to obtain vegetation indices (NDVI, EVI and two-band EVI). Since no radiometric calibration is available for both systems, normalized reflectance images are not available and we have to determine relative gain factors for the various bands in order to get likely vegetation indices. Moreover, the two camera system requires image registration. Experimental results are provided.
The Antisocial Process Screening Device

The clinical assessment of psychopathy in adulthood is well established via programmatic research. More recently, psychopathy has been extended to children and adolescents with correlates to maladaptive personality traits, violent behavior, and noncompliance with institutional rules. To screen for adolescent psychopathy, the Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD) was developed as a 20-item self-report measure of psychopathy. The original validation of the APSD was limited to samples of clinic-referred and community-based children. In extending this research to delinquent populations, the current article uses two separate samples of adolescent offenders incarcerated in a maximum security facility (n = 78) and a local juvenile detention facility (n = 77). As evidence of criterion-related validity, the APSD was compared with two versions of the Psychopathy Checklist that yielded mixed results. Construct validity was examined via a confirmatory factor analysis that provided support for a three-factor model of the APSD.
Adiponectin multimers in maternal plasma

Objective. Adiponectin is an anti-diabetic, anti-atherogenic, anti-inflammatory, and angiogenic adipokine that circulates in oligomeric complexes including: low molecular weight (LMW) trimers, medium molecular weight (MMW) hexamers, and high molecular weight (HMW) isoforms. The aim of this study was to determine whether there are changes in adiponectin multimers in pregnancy and as a function of maternal weight. Study design. In this cross-sectional study, plasma concentrations of total, HMW, MMW, and LMW adiponectin were determined in women included in three groups: (1) normal pregnant women of normal body mass index (BMI) (n = 466), (2) overweight pregnant women (BMI ≥25; n = 257), and (3) non-pregnant women of normal weight (n = 40). Blood samples were collected once from each woman between 11 and 42 weeks of gestation. Plasma adiponectin multimer concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Non-parametric statistics were used for analysis. Results. (1) The median HMW adiponectin concentration and the median HMW/total adiponectin ratio were significantly higher, and the median LMW adiponectin concentration was significantly lower in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women. (2) Among pregnant women, the median plasma concentration of total, HMW, and MMW adiponectin was significantly higher in normal weight women than in overweight patients. (3) Maternal HMW was the most prevalent adiponectin multimer regardless of gestational age or BMI status. (4) There were no significant differences in the median concentration of total, MMW, and LMW adiponectin and their relative distribution with advancing gestation. Conclusion. Human pregnancy is characterized by quantitative and qualitative changes in adiponectin multimers, especially the most active isoform, HMW adiponectin.
The Comparative Method: Moving Beyond Qualitative and Quantitative Strategies.

technique of qualitative, holistic comparison, social and political science researchers encounter considerable frustrations and difficulties in terms of undergoing comparative work. In cases of crossnational data sets, which are relatively small in size, conventional quantitative techniques, such as multivariate statistical analysis cannot maintain patterns of statistical interaction. Moreover, if researchers want to compare different countries, statistical methods encourage them to increase sample size and ignore or at least skip other issues of comparability like historical, cultural or geographical aspects of the social phenomenon in the study. Charles Ragin tries to move beyond qualitative and quantitative strategies in comparative social research. His first book, The Comparative Method: Moving Beyond Qualitative and Quantitative Strategies (1989), continues to represent the leading methodological work in comparative social science. It represents a significant attempt to step back from traditional statistical techniques, particularly in comparative social and political science, and explore alternative ways of linking theory and evidence. Ragin proposes a synthetic new strategy, based on an application of ‘Boolean Algebra’, in order to simplify complex data structures in a logical and holistic manner. The strengths of both quantitative and qualitative social science methods are, therefore, deliberately combined with some sophistication, in order to get to the task of comparing cases. Before starting a more in-depth review of the book, it would be imperative to underline Charles Ragin’s major contribution to Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). The School of Comparative Social Research had its earlier roots in substantive social research, especially Theda Skocpol’s substantial studies of comparative historical trajectories and J.S Mill’s comparative methods (the methods of agreement and difference). However, It is indisputable that Ragin’s book stands out as the most representative work on comparative social research. In the book, he tries to reveal the epistemological vigour of combining qualitative and quantitative methods in comparative research. Charles Ragin is Professor of Sociology and Political Science at the University of Arizona; he has developed his contribution in the area of comparative methods and their role in advancing systematic cross-case analysis and small-n studies. Thus, books like the edited collections of essays Issues and Alternatives in Comparative Social Research (1991), What Is a Case? Exploring the Foundations of Social Inquiry (1992), the short introductory methodology text Constructing Social Research. The Unity and Diversity of Method (1994), and the edited collection Formal Methods of Qualitative Analysis (1994), deal with issues such as the balancing emphasis on cases and on variables in good comparative social science; ‘configurational’ comparative research as a middle path between the very small-n and the very large-n approaches; the nature of the case and the Ressenyes Papers 80, 2006 299
Low complexity and near-optimal beam selection for millimeter wave MIMO systems

Millimeter wave MIMO systems have been proposed to achieve higher spectral efficiency via the hybrid beamforming structure, which consists of analog beamforming and digital beamforming. In analog beamforming, each antenna subarray generates a codebook based directional beam, which determines the equivalent MIMO channel. Then digital beamforming can be applied to fully exploit the spatial multiplexing gain of MIMO channels. In this paper, we propose a low complexity analog beam selection scheme to achieve near-optimal spectral efficiency. The core of our scheme is the beam selection criterion, which is derived from capacity analysis. Through simulations under different channel conditions, the near-optimal performance of our scheme is demonstrated, and our scheme is able to achieve good enough performance with a small number of candidate beam combinations.
Wide-band aero-acoustic microphone with improved low-frequency characteristics

A wide-band aero-acoustic microphone was realized using a bulk micro-machining process based on the deep reactive-ion etching of silicon. Compared to the previously reported surface micromachined microphone, the sensing diaphragm is completely sealed, thus eliminating the loss of low-frequency response associated with the release holes. A dynamic sensitivity of ~0.33 μV/V/Pa was measured using optically calibrated acoustic shockwaves (“N-wave”) generated using a high-voltage electrical spark-discharge system. This value is comparable to the ~0.28 μV/V/Pa static sensitivity, measured using a nano-indentation technique. The response of the microphone is relatively flat from 6 kHz to 500kHz, with a resonant frequency of ~715 kHz.
Protein–ligand docking: Current status and future challenges

Understanding the ruling principles whereby protein receptors recognize, interact, and associate with molecular substrates and inhibitors is of paramount importance in drug discovery efforts. Protein–ligand docking aims to predict and rank the structure(s) arising from the association between a given ligand and a target protein of known 3D structure. Despite the breathtaking advances in the field over the last decades and the widespread application of docking methods, several downsides still exist. In particular, protein flexibility—a critical aspect for a thorough understanding of the principles that guide ligand binding in proteins—is a major hurdle in current protein–ligand docking efforts that needs to be more efficiently accounted for. In this review the key concepts of protein–ligand docking methods are outlined, with major emphasis being given to the general strengths and weaknesses that presently characterize this methodology. Despite the size of the field, the principal types of search algorithms and scoring functions are reviewed and the most popular docking tools are briefly depicted. Recent advances that aim to address some of the traditional limitations associated with molecular docking are also described. A selection of hand‐picked examples is used to illustrate these features. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nanowire conductance biosensor by spacer patterning lithography technique for DNA hybridization detection: Design and fabrication method

The use of Silicon nanowires has allowed the introduction of many new signal transduction technologies in biosensors. The sensitivity and performance of biosensors is being improved by using doping process for their construction. This research presents the design and fabrication of a Silicon nanowire for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) hybridization detection using electrodes made of nanowires whose width is comparable to the size of a DNA molecule. During hybridization, DNA change from single stranded DNA (ssDNA) to double stranded DNA (dsDNA) cause the change of charge density of molecules structure. Fabrication of a Silicon nanowire (NW) using spacer patterning lithography (SPL) techniques is addressed and characterization of its conductivity altogether with capacitance effect is discussed in this research.
Networked on-line audio dilation

Audio Dilation is a technique that slows down the tempo of audio signals without changing the pitch or otherwise distorting the sounds. Networked On-line Audio Dilation is an Android application that allows users to dilate audio while engaged in a full-duplex networked conversation. The capability can potentially be used to improve comprehension for hearing or cognitively impaired individuals, or for non-native speakers of foreign languages.
Study for electromagnetic inference under construction in boosting transformer feeding system

In the area of Tohoku Japan, Boosting Transformer (BT) feeding system is widely used at the main conventional railway lines such as Tohoku line. In general, BT feeding system consists of two aerial wires, Overhead Contact line (OC) and Negative Feeder (NF). NF has the role of denying the inductive obstacles which are occurred from OC. Typically, under construction (ex. station reform, over bridge construction), NF have to be replaced for ground cable temporarily by construct obstruction. It is necessary to consider influences of inductive obstacles for the lines of communication before NF moving establishment. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the phenomena of inductive obstacles from replaced NF by measuring the voltage of communication cable. In this paper, we show a calculation result of the inductive voltage influences by the replaced NF, and we define clearly effective measures of future construct plans.
Performance Evaluation of Electroabsorption Modulators as Optical Transceivers in Radio-Over-Fiber Systems By FDTD Method

In this paper, the limitations of the performance of electroabsorption modulators (EAMs) as optical transceivers in passive picocell systems by using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method are theoretically investigated. EAMs with no bias voltage are modeled by the FDTD method with consideration of the interaction between electromagnetic fields and optical powers in optical waveguides. Transmission and responsivity of EAMs according to various optical input powers and chip lengths are calculated. Then, power margins of the downlink and uplink paths are estimated to define the service ranges of the passive picocell systems. In addition, EAMs with biased voltage are characterized for comparison. The results suggest that the service range of the passive picocell system using a no-biased EAM can be extended up to 20 m with a chip length of 400 mum and an optical input power larger than 10 dBm
1,15:21,35-Bis(oxydiethylene)-5,8,11,18,25,28,31,38-octaoxa-1,15,21,35-tetraazacyclotetradecane-16,20,36,40-tetraone–benzene (1/2): a macrotricyclic tetralactam

The macrotricyclic title compound, C36H64N4O14·2C6H6, is located on a crystallographic center of symmetry. The molecule has four tertiary amide bridgehead atoms and consists of two unsymmetrical 20-membered diazatetraoxamacrocycles (N2O4 donor atom set) connected through the N atoms by two lateral oxydiethylene bridges. The bridging subunits, together with the short bridging strand (NCCOCCN) from each monocycle, define a 24-membered ring (N4O4 donor atom set) that forms a central cavity.