Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fepstrum representation of speech signal

Pole-zero spectral models in the frequency domain have been well studied and understood in the past several decades. Exploiting the duality between the temporal domain and the frequency domain, Kumaresan et al (R. Kumaresan, et al., March 1999), (R. Kumaresan, October 1998) have shown that the pole-zero model of the analytic speech signal in the temporal domain leads to its characterization in terms of the positive amplitude modulation (AM) and positive instantaneous frequency (PIF). In this paper, we carefully define AM and frequency modulation (FM) signals in the context of ASR. We show that for a theoretically meaningful estimation of the AM signal, it is necessary to decompose the speech signal into several narrow spectral bands as opposed to the previous use of the speech modulation spectrum (V. Tyagi, et al., 2003), (M. Athineos and D. Ellis, 2003), (M. Athineos, et al., April 2004), (Q. Zhu, and A. Alwan, 2000), (B. E. D. Kingsbury, et al., Aug. 1998), which was derived by decomposing the speech signal into increasingly wider spectral bands (such as critical, Bark or Mel). The estimated AM message signals are downsampled and their lower DCT coefficients are retained as speech features. These features carry information that is complementary to the MFCCs. A Tandem (H. Hermansky, 2003), (D. P. W. Ellis, et al., May 2001) combination of these two features is shown to improve recognition accuracy
Voluntary Affiliation to Peru's Individual Accounts Pension System

One important aspect in the design of social protection is coverage. In Peru, as in most Latin American countries, social security coverage is mandatory only for workers in the formal sector. This article investigates the determinants of voluntary affiliation to Peru's individual accounts pension system. It is found that married males with more than high-school level education living in high income households and with other family members already affiliated to the individual accounts pension system have a higher likelihood of voluntary affiliation. Although the results suggest that family-based safety nets might be substitutes for voluntary participation in the individual accounts pension system, nonetheless, extending pension coverage and addressing poverty remain as challenges for government involvement.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Not Associated With Increased Intimal Media Thickening

OBJECTIVES:Several studies have suggested that chronic inflammatory diseases might be associated with an acceleration of the atherosclerotic process. There is little information on the effect of chronic inflammation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on the presence of increased intimal media thickening (IMT), a surrogate marker for atherosclerotic diseases. In this work our aim was to determine whether IBD is a risk factor for increased IMT.METHODS:IMT was measured by ultrasound of the carotid arteries; a computer software program was used to analyze 80–100 independent IMT samples from each carotid artery segment in 61 patients with IBD (45 with Crohn's disease and 16 with ulcerative colitis) and in 61 controls matched for age (±2 yr), sex, body mass index (BMI, ±2 kg/m2), and smoking status.RESULTS:Inflammatory markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, fibrinogen, high−sensitive C-reactive protein) were significantly (P < 0.001) elevated in IBD patients compared with controls. Even though there was a disease duration of 8.7 ± 8.5 yr, the mean IMT of IBD patients was similar to that of the control group (0.66 ± 0.09 vs 0.64 ± 0.07 mm; P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Despite chronic inflammation, IBD patients had IMT values similar to those of the controls. Thus, unlike other inflammatory diseases, IBD appears not to be a risk factor for accelerated atherosclerosis.
Fixing Risk Neutral Risk Measures

In line with regulations and common risk management practice, the credit risk of a portfolio is managed via its potential future exposures (PFEs), expected exposures (EEs), and related measures, the expected positive exposure (EPE), effective expected exposure (EEE), and the effective expected positive exposure (EEPE). Notably, firms use these exposures to set economic and regulatory capital levels. Their values have a big impact on the capital that firms need to hold to manage their risks.Due to the growth of credit valuation adjustment (CVA) computations, and the similarity of CVA computations to exposure computations, firms find it expedient to compute these exposures under the risk neutral measure.Here, we show that exposures computed under the risk neutral measure are essentially arbitrary. They depend on the choice of numeraire, and can be manipulated by choosing a different numeraire. The numeraire can even be chosen in such a way as to pass backtests. Even when restricting attention to commonly used numeraires, exposures can vary by a factor of two or more. As such, it is critical that these calculations be carried out under the real world measure, not the risk neutral measure. To help rectify the situation, we show how to exploit measure changes to efficiently compute real world exposures in a risk neutral framework, even when there is no change of measure from the risk neutral measure to the real world measure. We also develop a canonical risk neutral measure that can be used as an alternative approach to risk calculations.
Institutional Ownership Composition and Earnings Management

This paper examines the impact of outside block-holders on earnings management, using discretionary accounting accruals as the measure of earnings management. For the income-decreasing earnings management scenario, we do not find significant results. This may be attributable to the different natures and time horizons of outside block-holders. Since the majority of outside block-holders are institutional investors, we then investigate the relationship between ownership by institutional investors with different natures and earnings management. Specifically, we find a significant positive relationship between ownership by transient institutional investors (holding diversified portfolios with high turnover) and discretionary accounting accruals. However, we do not find a significant relationship between ownership by dedicated institutional investors (holding concentrated portfolios with low turnover) and discretionary accounting accruals. Therefore, due to the differing natures of institutional investors, we may not treat them as a homogeneous group.
The Interactive Effect of Remittances and Civil Liberties on Investment and Consumption

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the level of influence that civil liberties has on the marginal effect of remittances on gross domestic investment and consumption separately and measures it across all levels of civil liberties. Design/methodology/approach - The authors employ a two-stage system generalized method of moments procedure and the civil liberties subset of the Freedom in the World Index as a proxy for civil liberty. Findings - The findings indicate a substitution effect from investment to consumption as civil liberties deteriorate for developing south economies, though not for emerging economies. In addition, the marginal effect of remittances on investment diminishes less quickly as economies become less free than it increases for consumption indicating that the substitution is not quite one-for-one. Practical implications - Economies with low levels of civil liberties could benefit by improving them in ways that would encourage recipients to channel remittances into investment rather than consumption. Originality/value - This paper differs from previous research in that the authors evaluate investment and consumption separately rather than embedding these component parts within growth. In addition, when interactions are employed in existing literature, the inference drawn is static with regard to the varying degrees of institutional development. Third, none of the prior studies directly explores civil liberties proper; they usually aggregate civil liberties with other aspects of political or economic freedom.
A Dynamic Approach to the Modeling of Correlation Credit Derivatives Using Markov Chains

The modeling of credit events is in effect the modeling of the times to default of various names. The distribution of individual times to default can be calibrated from CDS quotes, but for more complicated instruments, such as CDOs, the joint law is needed. Industry practice is to model this correlation using a copula/base correlation approach, which suffers significant deficiencies. We present a new approach to default correlation modeling, where defaults of different names are driven by a common continuous-time Markov process. Individual default probabilities and default correlations can be calculated in closed form. We provide semi-analytic formulas for the pricing of CDO tranches via Laplace-transform techniques which are both fast and easy to implement. The model calibrates to quoted tranche prices with a high degree of precision and allows one to price non-standard tranches in a consistent and arbitrage-free manner. The number of parameters of the model is flexible and can be adjusted to adapt to the set of market data one is calibrating to. More importantly, the model is dynamically consistent and can be used to price options on tranches and other exotic path-dependent products.
A Self-optimizing Routing Algorithm using Local Information in a 3-dimensional Virtual Grid Network with Theoretical and Practical Analysis

In this paper, we present a self-optimizing routing algorithm using only local information, in a three-dimensional (3D) virtual grid network. A virtual grid network is a well-known network model for its ease of designing algorithms and saving energy consumption. We consider a 3D virtual grid network which is obtained by virtually dividing a network into a set of unit cubes called cell s. One specific node named a router is decided at each cell, and each router is connected with the routers at adjacent cells. This implies that each router can communicate with 6 routers. We consider the maintenance of an inter-cell communication path from a source node to a destination node and propose a distributed self-optimizing routing algorithm which transforms an arbitrary given path to an optimal (shortest) one from the source node to the destination node. Our algorithm is executed at each router and uses only local information (6 hops: 3 hops each back and forward along the given path). Our algorithm can work in asynchronous networks without any global coordination among routers. We present that our algorithm transform any arbitrary path to a shortest path in O (| P |) synchronous rounds, where | P | is the length of the initial path, when it works in synchronous networks. Moreover, our experiments show that our algorithm converges in about | P |/2 synchronous rounds and the ratio becomes lower as | P | becomes larger.
Determinants of occupational change and mobility in rural India

With a view to redress the dearth of economic analysis on occupational dynamics in rural household economies, this study examines the nature and characteristics of occupational change and mobility in rural India. Using the unique WIDER data-set from six villages in West Bengal, India the factors causing a change of primary occupation among those who tried to change occupation over a twelve-month recall period has been analysed. Bivariate probit estimates jointly determining the probability of trying to change occupation and having been successful suggest that success in changing occupation depends crucially on socially constructed ‘status’- being older, male, from larger farming families or having higher schooling experience. They also exemplify the effects of regional diversity, levels of prosperity and different patterns of employment between agricultural and non-agricultural activities.
Chronic care model and shared care in diabetes: randomized trial of an electronic decision support system.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of a specialist telemedicine intervention for improving diabetes care using the chronic care model (CCM). PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS As part of the CCM, 97 primary care physicians at 6 primary care practices in Rochester, MN, referred 639 patients to an on-site diabetes educator between July 1, 2001, and December 31, 2003. On first referral, physicians were centrally randomized to receive a telemedicine intervention (specialty advice and evidence-based messages regarding medication management for cardiovascular risk) or no intervention, keeping outcome assessors and data analysts blinded to group assignment. After each subsequent clinical encounter, endocrinologists reviewed an abstract from the patient's electronic medical record and provided management recommendations and supporting evidence to intervention physicians via e-mail. Control physicians received e-mail with periodic generic information about cardiovascular risk reduction in diabetes. Outcome measures included diabetes care processes (diabetes test completion), outcomes (metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors, estimated coronary artery disease risk), and patient costs (payer perspective). RESULTS During the intervention, 951 (70%) of the 1361 endocrinology reviews detected performance gaps and resulted in a message; primary care physicians reported using 49% of messages in patient care. With a mean of 21 months' follow-up, the intervention, compared with control, did not significantly enhance metabolic outcomes or reduce estimated risk of coronary artery disease (adjusted mean difference, -1%; 95% confidence interval, -19% to 17%). The intervention group incurred lower costs (P=.02) but not in diabetes-related costs. CONCLUSION Specialty telemedicine did not significantly enhance the value of CCM in primary care.
Fiscal Consolidations and Economic Growth

The aim of this paper is to deepen the understanding of the macroeconomic consequences of fiscal consolidations. In particular, there is evidence in the literature of fiscal consolidation episodes producing (non-Keynesian) expansionary effects in the short run. We replicate this result for a panel of OECD countries under exogeneity of the fiscal consolidation. However, we provide some evidence that output growth might affect the fiscal tightening process so that fiscal consolidations are not exogenous to economic growth. Once we allow for feedback effects from economic growth to fiscal adjustments, we find that expansionary effects disappear and recover the typical Keynesian effect of fiscal adjustments. This finding points to the need to take these short-term negative implications into account in the design of fiscal consolidations.
Glucosamine for pain in osteoarthritis: why do trial results differ?

OBJECTIVE Investigators in trials of glucosamine report a range of estimates for efficacy, making conclusions difficult. We undertook this study to identify factors that explain heterogeneity in trials of glucosamine. METHODS We searched for reports of trial results in Ovid Medline, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and proceedings of scientific conferences. We selected reports of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of glucosamine for pain from osteoarthritis of the knee or hip. We extracted data regarding features of design, subjects, and markers of industry involvement, including industry funding, whether a drug was supplied by industry, industry participation, and industry-affiliated authorship. We examined which factors best accounted for differences in the effect sizes of studies grouped by these characteristics, and we examined changes in I(2), a measure of heterogeneity. RESULTS Fifteen trials met our inclusion criteria. The summary effect size was 0.35 (95% confidence interval 0.14, 0.56). I(2) was 0.80. Except for allocation concealment, no feature of study design explained this substantial heterogeneity. Summary effect sizes ranged from 0.05 to 0.16 in trials without industry involvement, but the range was 0.47-0.55 in trials with industry involvement. The effect size was 0.06 for trials using glucosamine hydrochloride and 0.44 for trials using glucosamine sulfate. Trials using Rottapharm products had an effect size of 0.55, compared with 0.11 for the rest. CONCLUSION Heterogeneity among trials of glucosamine is larger than would be expected by chance. Glucosamine hydrochloride is not effective. Among trials with industry involvement, effect sizes were consistently higher. Potential explanations include different glucosamine preparations, inadequate allocation concealment, and industry bias.
Recipient survival and graft survival are not diminished by simultaneous liver‐kidney transplantation: An analysis of the united network for organ sharing database

Recipients of solitary liver and kidney transplants are living longer, and this increases their risk of long‐term complications such as recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) and drug‐induced nephrotoxicity. These complications may require retransplantation. Since the adoption of the Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease, the number of simultaneous liver‐kidney transplantation (SLK) procedures has increased. However, there are no standardized criteria for organ allocation to SLK candidates. The aims of this study were to retrospectively compare recipient and graft survival with liver transplantation alone (LTA), SLK, kidney after liver transplantation (KALT), and liver after kidney transplantation (LAKT) and to identify independent risk factors affecting recipient and graft survival. The United Network for Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database (1988‐2007) was queried for adult LTA (66,026), SLK (2327), KALT (1738), and LAKT procedures (242). After adjustments for potential confounding demographic and clinical variables, there was no difference in recipient mortality rates with LTA and SLK (P = 0.02). However, there was a 15% decreased risk of graft loss with SLK versus LTA (hazard ratio = 0.85, P < 0.001). The recipient and graft survival rates with SLK were higher than the rates with both KALT (P <0.001 and P <0.001) and LAKT (P = 0.003 and P < 0.001). The following were all identified as independent negative predictors of recipient mortality and graft loss: recipient age ≥ 65 years, male sex, black race, HCV/diabetes mellitus status, donor age ≥ 60 years, serum creatinine level ≥2.0 mg/dL, cold ischemia time > 12 hours, and warm ischemia time > 60 minutes. Although the recent increase in the number of SLK procedures performed each year has effectively decreased the number of potential donor kidneys available to patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) awaiting kidney transplantation, SLK in patients with end‐stage liver disease and ESRD is justified because of the lower risk of graft loss with SLK versus LTA as well as the superior recipient and graft survival with SLK versus serial liver‐kidney transplantation. Liver Transpl, 2012. © 2012 AASLD.
Religious Charities and Government Funding

The government has the responsibility of providing a social service to its citizens. It decides whether to award funds to a religious nonprofit, secular nonprofit, or to produce the service itself. Religious charities are willing to provide the service at lower costs if they can use the funds as an opportunity to proselytize their doctrine. This proselytizing alters the religious preferences of believers in society. In a situation of equal grants to religious charities, this has the consequence of reducing the number of extremists. Furthermore, conservative religious denominations may discriminate against non-religious individuals in the provision of the social service.
Natural history of Diagnostic Interview Schedule/DSM-IV major depression. The Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area follow-up.

BACKGROUND Natural history can be characterized by incidence, recurrence, and duration of episodes. Research on the incidence of major depression is rare; studies of recurrence and duration are limited to clinical samples. METHODS The Baltimore, Md, site of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program followed up its 1981 baseline cohort of 3481 respondents with an additional assessment in 1993 to 1996. Interviews were obtained from 1920 respondents (73% of the survivors). The Diagnostic Interview Schedule and the same survey procedures as in 1981 were used, augmented with a Life Chart Interview for dating the onset and duration of syndromes. RESULTS There were 71 new cases of Diagnostic interview Schedule/DSM-IV major depression and 23,698 person-years of exposure, generating an estimated incidence of 3.0 per 1000 per year. Incidence peaked while subjects were in their 30s, with a smaller peak when they were in their 50s. Prodromal symptoms often occurred many years before the full criteria for diagnosis were met. Women were at higher risk for becoming new cases but had neither higher risk for recurrence nor longer episodes than men. Episodes of depression lasted for 12 weeks. The duration of an episode, and time to an episode-free year, was longer in the first episode than in recurrent episodes. CONCLUSIONS The incidence estimated in this study is consistent with that found in the few other similar studies performed. The bimodality of onset suggests the value of further exploring the heterogeneity of depression via its natural history. Reported differences in prevalence between men and women seem to be due to differences in incidence, not chronicity.
A Framework for the Comparative Assessment of Neuronal Spike Sorting Algorithms towards More Accurate Off-Line and On-Line Microelectrode Arrays Data Analysis

Neuronal spike sorting algorithms are designed to retrieve neuronal network activity on a single-cell level from extracellular multiunit recordings with Microelectrode Arrays (MEAs). In typical analysis of MEA data, one spike sorting algorithm is applied indiscriminately to all electrode signals. However, this approach neglects the dependency of algorithms' performances on the neuronal signals properties at each channel, which require data-centric methods. Moreover, sorting is commonly performed off-line, which is time and memory consuming and prevents researchers from having an immediate glance at ongoing experiments. The aim of this work is to provide a versatile framework to support the evaluation and comparison of different spike classification algorithms suitable for both off-line and on-line analysis. We incorporated different spike sorting “building blocks” into a Matlab-based software, including 4 feature extraction methods, 3 feature clustering methods, and 1 template matching classifier. The framework was validated by applying different algorithms on simulated and real signals from neuronal cultures coupled to MEAs. Moreover, the system has been proven effective in running on-line analysis on a standard desktop computer, after the selection of the most suitable sorting methods. This work provides a useful and versatile instrument for a supported comparison of different options for spike sorting towards more accurate off-line and on-line MEA data analysis.