Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Cyclical Volatility of Labor Markets under Frictional …nancial Markets

This paper shows the important role of …nancial imperfections in amplifying the volatility of labor markets. Our …ndings are the following : i) Financial imperfections raise the calibrated elasticity of labor market tightness to productivity shocks by a factor M f called the …nancial multiplier, which is an increasing function of total …nancial costs in the economy. ii) Under a Hosios-Pissarides rule in the credit market — the bargaining power of …rms vis-à-vis banks is equal, at the social optimum, to the elasticity of the …nding rate of banks with respect to credit market tightness— , the total search costs in the credit market are minimized, and so is M f. iii) Relaxing that condition leads to larger …nancial accelerators, which can match or even overshoot the steady-state value of the elasticity of market tightness in the data. iv) In particular, away from the Hosios rule, four situations generate a large or very large volatility. 1. When the matching function in the credit market is "balanced", e.g. a Cobb-Douglas with elasticity around half each for each segment of the market (banks and …rms) and when …rms have a very low bargaining power in the bargaining relation with the bank. 2. In the symmetrical case with balanced matching in the credit market but when …rms have a very high bargaining power in the bargaining relation with the bank also generate large volatility of labor markets. 3. When instead the matching function is unbalanced, corresponding to a situation in which credit creation is limited by "ideas of entrepreneurs", that is an excess of liquidity ; 4. When the matching function is unbalanced on the other side, corresponding to situation in which credit creation is limited by "supply of liquidity" , that is a scarcity of liquidity. 1 v) These results hold under endogenous or exogenous wages and in a static or dynamic setup : one can obtain any high elasticity of labor market volatility to productivity shocks in each of the four cases identi…ed above.
REVIEW Approaches to removing trans fats from the food supply in industrialized and developing countries

A number of approaches have been initiated by governmental and public health organizations in different countries to reduce trans-fatty acid (TFA) intakes. These have included nutrition recommendations with regard to TFAs and general nutrition recommendations regarding the selection of healthy fats, programmes to raise awareness about the adverse effects of TFAs through nutrition and health claims, voluntary or mandatory labelling of the trans content of foods, voluntary or legislated programmes to encourage or force industry to reformulate food products to remove TFAs, the promotion of health and agricultural policies that encourage the production of healthy alternatives to trans fat and finally, mandatory regulation of food standards to remove or reduce the TFA content. This paper reviews a number of initiatives to reduce the intake of TFAs underway in selected industrialized and developing countries, which serves to illustrate the merits and limitations of the available options and how the approaches that have been taken reflect local conditions.
Effects of Sugar-sweetened Beverages on plasma Acylation Stimulating Protein, Leptin & Adiponectin and Metabolic Parameters

Objective— We determined the effects of fructose and glucose consumption on plasma acylation stimulating protein (ASP), adiponectin, and leptin concentrations relative to energy intake, body weight, adiposity, circulating triglycerides, and insulin sensitivity. Design and Methods— 32 overweight/obese adults consumed glucose- or fructose-sweetened beverages (25% energy requirement) with their ad libitum diets for 8 weeks, followed by sweetened beverage consumption for 2 weeks with a standardized, energy-balanced diet. Plasma variables were measured at baseline, 2, 8 and 10 weeks, and body adiposity and insulin sensitivity at baseline and 10 weeks. Results— Fasting and postprandial ASP concentrations increased at 2 and/or 8 weeks. ASP increases correlated with changes in late-evening triglyceride concentrations. At 10 weeks, fasting adiponectin levels decreased in both groups, and decreases were inversely associated with baseline intra-abdominal fat volume. Sugar consumption increased fasting leptin concentrations; increases were associated with body weight changes. 24-h leptin profiles increased during glucose consumption and decreased during fructose consumption. These changes correlated with changes of 24-h insulin levels. Conclusions— The consumption of fructose and glucose beverages induced changes in plasma concentrations of ASP, adiponectin and leptin. Further study is required to determine if these changes contribute to the metabolic dysfunction observed during fructose consumption.
Deep Learning for Chatter Detection in Machining

Deep learning unlike classical machine learning methods, automatically extracts features at a higher level and merges feature extraction and classi�cation into a single structure, so it does not require a large number of tests and errors. This work presents a deep learning approach for detecting the phenomenon of chatter in machining. To do this, it uses input images from the analysis of the fast Fourier transform on a vibratory signal of the machining of an industrial railway system. The FFT images are recalibrated by rescaling to the maximum signal and frequency between 0-2500Hz to reduce the image size. Deep learning was used to extract features from image data through pre-trained deep neural networks such as VGG16 and ResNet50. These pre-trained networks are adapted to our data to train a classi�cation or chatter detection model in the signal. Despite the existence of several tool rotation speeds in the machining that is not taken into account in the training, the model manages to show its generalization capacity. The results obtained show the good performance of the model with an accuracy of 99.71% using the VGG16. This generalization is observable, given that the amplitude of the signal is not transmitted to the network and that it has not been labeled that several rotation speeds have been considered. The model manages to see the information of the chatter in the spectrum, adapting to several speeds of rotation. Moreover, since part of the test data is similar to the training data, the robustness is proven with the addition of another more noisy and equivocal part and the model manages to detect the more di�cult cases from its learning of the easy cases.
A Longitudinal Analysis of Environmental Reporting Practices of Listed Manufacturing Firms in South Africa

Purpose: Environmental reporting has become a buzzword in the corporate reporting ecosystem, prompting questions about how firms practise it. This study aims to assess the environmental reporting practices of manufacturing firms listed on the JSE in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach: The data collection involved using a content analysis method to extract environmental information from the annual reports of 50 manufacturing firms from 2016 to 2020. Descriptive analysis and Wilcoxon signed ranked test were used to present the trend results and significance level in the changes of environmental reporting over the years. Findings: The results demonstrated an increasing trend in environmental reporting amongst the firms. Notably, the firms disclosed more information about their social and environmental activities, with little reporting emphasis on environmental degradation. The evidence further showed a significant increase in environmental reporting practices over the years. These findings complement the arguments of the legitimacy disclosure theory, suggesting that a quality environmental disclosure portrays firms as environmentally accountable and responsible, resulting in a competitive advantage and winning the trust of the public. Implications/ Originality/value: The study solidifies the existing definitions of legitimacy and stakeholder theory. It also provides consolidated evidence on the movements and trends amongst the social and environmental practices from JSE-listed manufacturing firms' perspectives.
Evaluation of the Reproductive Performances of local Sows in Southern Benin

Native sows contribute to a large extent to food security and poverty alleviation in Benin. However, their reproductive performances particularly under extensive systems are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to fill this knowledge gap by selecting 284 multiparous sows based on hair colour and some reproductive parameters. The results showed that native sows of Southern Benin can be clustered into three groups with group 3 showing the best reproductive performances - highest average litter size (10.31 piglets), live-born piglets (10.31 piglets), number of functional teats (10.94) and shorter average farrowing interval (6 months). The analysis of sows’ performances based on their origin revealed that sows from agro-ecological Zone 8 have the highest number of live-born piglets and the lowest age at first mating and first farrowing. The analysis of sows’ performances via to hair colour showed that those with black hair have the biggest litter size and the highest number of live-born piglets. This study showed that Benin’s native sows have good reproductive ability with enough variation to allow for their selection and conservation for sustainable use for protein food security and wealth creation.
EFFECTS OF CLOSED LOOP TRANSCRANIAL ALTERNATING EFFECTS OF CLOSED LOOP TRANSCRANIAL ALTERNATING CURRENT STIMULATION TARGETING SLOW OSCILLATION SLEEP CURRENT STIMULATION TARGETING SLOW OSCILLATION SLEEP ON POST-SLEEP OBJECT LOCATION LEARNING ON POST-SLEEP OBJECT LOCATION LEARNING

Modulating sleep architecture to augment memory performance can provide valuable insight into how sleep contributes to memory. Slow wave activity has been identified as an important contributor to sleeps impact on memory. While the beneficial role of SWS in offline consolidation is well established research investigating SWS’s role in post-sleep memory formation is limited. Here we investigated the relationship between SWS and post-sleep learning by modulating slow wave oscillations (SWO) with closed loop transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) with an aim toward enhancing learning capacity for object location associations. Thirty-six subjects were randomly assigned to either sham (21) or verum (15) tACS delivered to match the phase and frequency of the dominant slow-wave oscillation during sleep. Participants completed a novel object location memory task the following morning immediately after encoding as well as a delayed test the following evening. Results revealed a significant effect of stimulation condition where sham outperformed verum ( ƞ 2 = 0.135). Planned simple contrasts revealed that verum stimulation significantly reduced object location accuracy by 12.9% in the morning test with the delayed test trending in the same direction with a reduction of 17.8%. These data suggest a decrease in post sleep encoding capacity following a full night of SWS modulation. This result, along with reported benefits of stimulation during a 90-minute nap, suggest that limited augmentation of SWS
Inversion-Recovery MR Imaging Nigra in Parkinson Disease with Imaging Degeneration of the Substantia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Visualizing with MR imaging and obtaining quantitative indexes of degeneration of the substantia nigra in Parkinson disease have been long-sought goals. We investigated the potential role of area and T1 contrast measurements in differentiating patients from controls and their age-related changes. METHODS: Eight patients with Parkinson disease, 8 age-matched controls, and 8 young controls were imaged. We obtained the pixel-wise difference between 2 sets of inversion-recovery images, acquired parallel to the bicommissural plane, with different inversion times. Pixel-intensity ratios between lateral and medial nigral regions, and nigral area and substantia-nigra/midbrain area ratios were computed. RESULTS: Compared with that of controls, loss of substantia nigra was evident in patients, its borders taking a smoother and more irregular appearance. Patients were characterized by a lateral-to-medial gradient, due to reduced hypointensity of the lateral portion of the substantia nigra and relative sparing of its medial portion. The visible nigral area was significantly smaller in patients compared with matched controls ( P (cid:1) . 04). The substantia nigra/midbrain area ratio enabled considerably better separation ( P (cid:1) . 0001). The lateral/medial pixel-intensity ratio was significantly higher in patients compared with matched controls ( P (cid:1) . 01) and in young controls compared with age-matched controls ( P (cid:1) . 01). CONCLUSION: Inversion-recovery sequences may provide a convenient way to visualize nigral degeneration. Relative area and pixel-intensity measurements may integrate other techniques (such as diffusion-tensor imaging on nigrostriatal pathways) in the neuroradiologic diagnosis and follow-up of Parkinson disease by quantitatively assessing the degeneration of the substantia nigra.
Medicine Open Access book

Brain Computer Interface (BCI) technology provides a direct electronic interface and can convey messages and commands directly from the human brain to a computer. BCI technology involves monitoring conscious brain electrical activity via electroencephalogram (EEG) signals and detecting characteristics of EEG patterns via digital signal processing algorithms that the user generates to communicate. It has the potential to enable the physically disabled to perform many activities, thus improving their quality of life and productivity, allowing them more independence and reducing social costs. The challenge with BCI, however, is to extract the relevant patterns from the EEG signals produced by the brain each second. Recently, there has been a great progress in the development of novel paradigms for EEG signal recording, advanced methods for processing them, new applications for BCI systems and complete software and hardware packages used for BCI applications. In this book a few recent advances in these areas are discussed.
Antioxidant Adaptive Response of Malignant Glioma Related to Resistance to Antitumor Treatment

Glioblastomas are the most frequent and most malignant nervous system tumors [Stewart & Kleihues, 2003]. Despite technological advances in surgical treatment and new regimens of radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy, the median survival of patients with these tumors is approximately 1 year, and only 3% of patients survive more than 3 years [Stupp et al., 2005]. Glioblastomas have been traditionally defined as two clinically and cytogenetically distinct diseases: the primary or de novo glioblastomas and the secondary glioblastomas. The latter commonly appear in younger people (median age at onset ~45 years) as low-grade gliomas and possess aberrations in genes encoding platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) and TP53 [Stewart & Kleihues, 2003]. Primary glioblastomas occur more frequently (>80% of cases) and develop rapidly in older people (median age at onset ~60 years); survival of patients with such tumors is short, less than 3 months [Stewart & Kleihues, 2003]. The genetic profile of primary glioblastomas includes amplification and overexpression of the gene encoding epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mutations of the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) gene, p16INK4A deletions, and loss of chromosome 10 [Stewart & Kleihues, 2003]. Several inhibitors that target EGFR or its downstream signaling cascade including Akt and mTOR have been evaluated for potential application in glioblastoma treatment [Krakstad & Chekenya, 2010]. Recent clinical trials of EGFR inhibitors, however, showed no therapeutic benefit [Prados et al., 2006; Rich et al., 2004].
Neural stem cell transplantation rescues cortical damage in rhesus monkey models of traumatic brain injury

Background Cortical traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of cognitive impairment accompanied by motor and behavioural de�cits. Cell transplantation is the most promising treatment, and how to keep the transplanted cells are not removed via cerebrospinal �uid (CSF) is the key problem. Methods In this study, we transplanted neural stem cells (NSCs) and simultaneously injected bFGF/EGF into the cortex (visual and sensory cortices) of rhesus monkeys with super�cial TBI. Results The results showed that the transplanted NSCs did not enter the CSF and were con�ned to the transplantation site for at least one year. The transplanted NSCs differentiated into mature neurons that formed synaptic connections with host neurons, but glial scar formation between the graft and the host tissue did not occur.
Hemato-Protective Effects Of Ocimum Gratissimum Leaves Aqueous Extract In Adult Male Wistar Rats

The Lamiaceae family includes Ocimum gratissimum. It's known as 'alfavaca' because of its medicinal and culinary properties, and it's grown in countless farms throughout Nigeria's villages and huts. The hemato-protective effects of O. gratissimum leaf extract (aqueous) were examined in adult male wistar rats in this study. Thirty-five (35) adult male wistar rats weighing 150–200 g were obtained, acclimatized for two weeks, and then divided into seven (7) groups of five (5) rats each (n = 5). Groups II–IV received phenylhydrazine (hemolytic anemia induced, untreated – negative control), 100 mg/kg body weight (BW) of O. Gratissimum aqueous crude extract (after generating hemolytic anemia), and 5-Flou-rourasilday intraperitoneal injection for one week (Leucocytope-nia induced, untreated), respectively. Leucocytopenia (fed with O. Gratissimum aqueous leaf extract), Thrombocytopenia (untreated), and Thrombocytopenia (treated) were elicited in groups V-VII, re - spectively (extract treated). Blood samples were taken from animals (using a 2ml syringe) after two weeks of test chemical administration, preserved in EDTA, and sent to the lab for analysis. The results of group mean comparisons (using ANOVA) demonstrate that the extract treated group had a statistically significant increase (p 0.05) in RBC, PCV, and haemoglobin (HGB) concentration when compared to the control and untreated (but anemic) groups. Furthermore, neutrophil and WBC counts increased significantly (p 0.05) in extract-treated rats compared to control and leucocy-topenia-induced
Removal e�ciencies of emissions of volatile organic compounds by adsorption systems installed in small-scale auto-repair painting operations

Total hydrocarbon (THC), including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), is emitted during the operations of an auto-repair painting workshop. VOCs are especially hazardous pollutants because of their impacts on ozone formation and human health. To reduce the THC generated from small auto-repair painting shops, the Korean government conducts a support program to enable them to shift from an old to a new adsorption system. Although lab-scale evaluations of the pollutant reduction e�ciencies of some adsorption devices have been carried out, actual �eld evaluations are lacking. In this study, three auto-repair shops (one with an old and two with new air pollutant adsorption systems) in Seoul were selected to evaluate their removal e�ciencies with respect to THC and VOCs during painting and drying operations. Results show that the THC removal e�ciencies were − 41.3–35.4% and 17.2 − 59.2% for the old and new adsorption systems, respectively. The removal e�ciencies of the top �ve VOC species such as butyl acetate, toluene, 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene, m,p-xylene, and ethylbenzene were positive (+) and negative (−) for the new and old adsorption systems, respectively. These results provide a theoretical basis that endorses the government support policy for the removal of air pollutants from the emissions of small businesses that are not well managed, such as auto-repair painting, printing, and dry cleaning.
Foundering of the Cambro-Ordovician Shelf Margin: Onset of Taconian Orogenesis or Eustatic Drowning

Onset of the Taconic Orogeny is generally dated by the age of the last shelf strata beneath Ordovician pelitic sequences. Recent stratigraphic analysis of the shelf sequence in the Champlain Valley, however, suggests that timing of the end of shelf sedimentation in a given area was controlled by eustasy as well as tectonics. Following major eustatic lowstands in Cambrian and Early-Middle Ordovician time, the shelf margin abruptly jumped cratonward and large areas of outer shelf foundered. Only by analyzing subsidence (stratigraphic accumulation) rates can the timing of the orogenic event be determined. Analysis of subsidence rates indicate a simultaneous start of the initial phase of orogenic subsidence in late Early Ordovician time for the entire shelf from Newfoundland to Pennsylvania. Arrival of the orogenic wedge varied from Middle Ordovician (Newfoundland) to early Late Ordovician (Champlain Valley) time.
DNA methylation regulates Vip3Aa resistance in fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)

Vegetative insecticidal proteins (Vips) are widely used in pest management, but Vip resistance is a big threat. DNA methylation plays important roles in regulating the response of biological organisms to environmental stress. In this study, DNA methylation map was developed for fall armyworm (FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda), and its function in regulating FAW Vip3Aa resistance was explored. FAW was screened by Vip3Aa for 10 generations, and bioassays indicated that Vip3Aa resistance increased trans-generationally. Based on the comparison of DNA methylation maps between Vip3Aa-resistant and - susceptible strains showed that gene body methylation was positively correlated with its expression. Moreover, the study demonstrated that a reduction in the methylation density within the gene body of a 3'5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase gene resulted in decreased expression and increased resistance of FAW to Vip3Aa, which was validated through RNAi experiments. The mechanism of Vip3Aa resistance will improve the understanding of DNA methylation and its function in lepidoptera and provide a new perspective for making strategies to pest management.
Female sexual response to audiovisual stimuli in 2D/3D modality and �rst/third person perspective stance

The study investigates the effect of sexually explicit video stimuli displayed in a different modality (3D vs. 2D) and perspective (�rst vs. third person) on female sexual arousal, both subjective and genital, valence ratings, and sexual and general presence. We exposed 47 heterosexual female participants to four stimuli, two displayed on a �at screen and two using a VR headset. We used almost identical videos in both modalities and perspectives, thus eliminating any confounding variables caused by using different videos. We measured genital arousal via vaginal photoplethysmography (VPG) and subjective responses using questionnaires. We did not �nd any differences in modality or perspective in genital arousal. 2D videos were considered more subjectively arousing than the 3D videos (d = 0.33, p = 0.02). 2D videos and third-person perspective videos elicited stronger feelings of sexual (2D/3D: d = 0.86, p < 0.001; �rst/third person: d = 0.50, p < 0.001) and general presence (2D/3D: d = 1.09, p < 0.001; �rst/third person: d = 0.75, p < 0.001 ) than 3D videos and rst-person perspective videos. Our �ndings are in discord with the previous studies. We discuss the possible causes of the observed differences.