Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Technology Shocks and Aggregate Fluctuations

We report estimates of the dynamic effects of a technology shock, and then use these to estimate the parameters of a dynamic general equilibrium model with money. We find: (i) a positive technology shock drives up hours worked, consumption, investment and output; (ii) the positive response of hours worked reflects that the Fed has in practice accommodated technology shocks; (iii) model parameter values and functional forms that match the response of macroeconomic variables to monetary policy shocks also work well for technology shocks; (iv) while technology shocks account for a large fraction of the lower frequency component of economic fluctuations, they account for only a small part of the business cycle component of fluctuations. ∗Christiano and Eichenbaum are grateful for the financial support of a National Science Foundation grant to the National Bureau of Economic Research. We are grateful for helpful comments from Susanto Basu, Adrian Pagan, Valerie Ramey and Harald Uhlig. We particularly want to thank Eduard Pelz for excellent research assistance. This paper does not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, or the Riksbank. †Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland ‡Northwestern University, National Bureau of Economic Research, and Federal Reserve Banks of Chicago and Cleveland. §Northwestern University, National Bureau of Economic Research, and Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. ¶Sverigse Riksbank
Disocclusion using depth reliability map for view synthesis

In this paper, a novel disocclusion scheme is proposed based on the depth reliability maps for virtual view synthesis. One important aspect of the developed method is that the occlusion map is estimated with the depth reliability maps. Therefore, the holes in a virtual view image can be filled in by blending the two predict images based on the occlusion map. The experimental results demonstrate that the addressed method has better performance for view synthesis than the other three conventional methods through the assessment of image quality and algorithm cost.
Comparison of parameters estimation methods based on the systems biology model of breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common malignant disease in women. The kinase mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) have been generally demonstrated to play important roles in the proliferation of breast cancer. Therefore, this study constructed a systematic biology model based on the mTOR/MAPK pathway obtained from the canonical pathway database of ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) and built a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) based on the law of mass action to describe the temporal dynamics of concentration for each protein. However, the optimization of parameters for ODE models is generally essential and challenging. Here, three classical optimization methods, genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and simulated annealing (SA), are employed on the systematic model to optimize the key parameters of ODEs. Furthermore, we compared their optimization effects respectively. The results suggested that the performance of PSO algorithm is the best for optimize the key parameters of the model.
Contractions of graphs on surfaces in polynomial time

We prove that for every integer g 0 and graph H, there exists a polynomial-time algorithm deciding whether an input graph of Euler genus at most g can be contracted to H. We introduce surface contractions and surface topological minors of embedded graphs. We prove that an embedded graph H is a surface contraction of an embedded graph G if and only if the geometric dual of H is a surface topological minor of the geometric dual of G.
Low-Rank Variance Estimation in Large-Scale Gmrf Models

We consider the problem of variance estimation in large-scale Gauss-Markov random field (GMRF) models. While approximate mean estimates can be obtained efficiently for sparse GMRFs of very large size, computing the variances is a challenging problem. We propose a simple rank-reduced method which exploits the graph structure and the correlation length in the model to compute approximate variances with linear complexity in the number of nodes. The method has a separation length parameter trading off complexity versus estimation accuracy. For models with bounded correlation length, we efficiently compute provably accurate variance estimates
Combined inhibition of MEK and Aurora A kinase in KRAS/PIK3CA double-mutant colorectal cancer models

Aurora A kinase and MEK inhibitors induce different, and potentially complementary, effects on the cell cycle of malignant cells, suggesting a rational basis for utilizing these agents in combination. In this work, the combination of an Aurora A kinase and MEK inhibitor was evaluated in pre-clinical colorectal cancer models, with a focus on identifying a subpopulation in which it might be most effective. Increased synergistic activity of the drug combination was identified in colorectal cancer cell lines with concomitant KRAS and PIK3CA mutations. Anti-proliferative effects were observed upon treatment of these double-mutant cell lines with the drug combination, and tumor growth inhibition was observed in double-mutant human tumor xenografts, though effects were variable within this subset. Additional evaluation suggests that degree of G2/M delay and p53 mutation status affect apoptotic activity induced by combination therapy with an Aurora A kinase and MEK inhibitor in KRAS and PIK3CA mutant colorectal cancer. Overall, in vitro and in vivo testing was unable to identify a subset of colorectal cancer that was consistently responsive to the combination of a MEK and Aurora A kinase inhibitor.
Conserving a Volatile Metabolite: a Role for Carboxysome-Like Organelles in Salmonella enterica

ABSTRACT Salmonellae can use ethanolamine (EA) as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen. This ability is encoded by an operon (eut) containing 17 genes, only 6 of which are required under standard conditions (37°C; pH 7.0). Five of the extra genes (eutM, -N, -L, -K, and -G) become necessary under conditions that favor loss of the volatile intermediate, acetaldehyde, which escapes as a gas during growth on EA and is lost at a higher rate from these mutants. The eutM, -N, -L, and -K genes encode homologues of shell proteins of the carboxysome, an organelle shown (in other organisms) to concentrate CO2. We propose that carboxysome-like organelles help bacteria conserve certain volatile metabolites—CO2 or acetaldehyde—perhaps by providing a low-pH compartment. The EutG enzyme converts acetaldehyde to ethanol, which may improve carbon retention by forming acetals; alternatively, EutG may recycle NADH within the carboxysome.
A COEL on C ORAL A COmponent Requirement and Abstraction Language An

C ORAL is a language for specifying propertiesof A COEL , a component-oriented extensional language. The design of C ORAL is based on input/output automata and type state. The properties of A COEL components that need to be veriﬁed are speciﬁed using C ORAL . A veriﬁcation engine will then crawl through C ORAL and verify whether A COEL can be safely executed or not. In this paper we focus on C ORAL , and show how to specify properties of A COEL . We will also brieﬂy discuss the concurrent mod-iﬁcation problem that is commonly encountered in the iterator design pattern.
Understanding Users' Continuance of Facebook: The Role of General and Specific Computer Self-Efficacy

Prior research has distinguished general computer self-efficacy (CSE) and application-specific computer self-efficacy, but few studies have investigated the relationship between the two levels of CSE as well as their antecedents and consequences. With the increasing popularity of social networking sites such as Facebook, we are interested in assessing the role of general and specific CSE in predicting users' continuance intention of these sites. An extended technology acceptance model with both cognitive and affective predictors is utilized to capture the decision process of Facebook users' continuance intention. The proposed research model examined antecedents as well as consequences of both general CSE and specific CSE in Facebook. A survey was conducted for data collection. The results show that general CSE and specific CSE are closely related but play different roles in predicting continuance intention in Facebook through cognition and affect, and are affected differently by general computer and Facebook-specific experience.
Origin of human bipedalism: The knuckle-walking hypothesis revisited.

Some of the most long-standing questions in paleoanthropology concern how and why human bipedalism evolved. Over the last century, many hypotheses have been offered on the mode of locomotion from which bipedalism originated. Candidate ancestral adaptations include monkey-like arboreal or terrestrial quadrupedalism, gibbon- or orangutan-like (or other forms of) climbing and suspension, and knuckle-walking. This paper reviews the history of these hypotheses, outlines their predictions, and assesses them in light of current phylogenetic, comparative anatomical, and fossil evidence. The functional significance of characteristics of the shoulder and arm, elbow, wrist, and hand shared by African apes and humans, including their fossil relatives, most strongly supports the knuckle-walking hypothesis, which reconstructs the ancestor as being adapted to knuckle-walking and arboreal climbing. Future fossil discoveries, and a clear understanding of anthropoid locomotor anatomy, are required to ultimately test these hypotheses. If knuckle-walking was an important component of the behavioral repertoire of the prebipedal human ancestor, then we can reject scenarios on the origin of bipedalism that rely on a strictly arboreal ancestor. Moreover, paleoenvironmental data associated with the earliest hominins, and their close relatives, contradict hypotheses that place the agents of selection for bipedality in open savanna habitats. Existing hypotheses must explain why bipedalism would evolve from an ancestor that was already partly terrestrial. Many food acquisition and carrying hypotheses remain tenable in light of current evidence.
Depth-image based view synthesis for threedimensional television

The trend in three-dimensional television (3DTV) applications demonstrates the interest in virtual view synthesis techniques. A depth-image based view synthesis method which utilizes a main color image with associated depth map and an assistant color image is presented in this paper. The depth-image based view synthesis method is performed through extracting essential information from an assistant color image to fill the exposed holes and wrongly mapped pixels in the image warped from a main color image on the basis of depth-image-based rendering (DIBR). During the synthesis, the main color image takes the leading position and a differential distance-and-depth weighted (DDW) algorithm is also proposed to improve the DIBR performance. Experiments results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method through assessment of image quality and algorithm cost.
On the merits of SVC-based HTTP Adaptive Streaming

HTTP Adaptive Streaming (HAS) is quickly becoming the dominant type of video streaming in Over-The-Top multimedia services. HAS content is temporally segmented and each segment is offered in different video qualities to the client. It enables a video client to dynamically adapt the consumed video quality to match with the capabilities of the network and/or the client's device. As such, the use of HAS allows a service provider to offer video streaming over heterogeneous networks and to heterogeneous devices. Traditionally, the H.264/AVC video codec is used for encoding the HAS content: for each offered video quality, a separate AVC video file is encoded. Obviously, this leads to a considerable storage redundancy at the video server as each video is available in a multitude of qualities. The recent Scalable Video Codec (SVC) extension of H.264/AVC allows encoding a video into different quality layers: by dowloading one or more additional layers, the video quality can be improved. While this leads to an immediate reduction of required storage at the video server, the impact of using SVC-based HAS on the network and perceived quality by the user are less obvious. In this article, we characterize the performance of AVC- and SVC-based HAS in terms of perceived video quality, network load and client characteristics, with the goal of identifying advantages and disadvantages of both options.
Large-Scale Deep Learning on the YFCC100M Dataset

We present a work-in-progress snapshot of learning with a 15 billion parameter deep learning network on HPC architectures applied to the largest publicly available natural image and video dataset released to-date. Recent advancements in unsupervised deep neural networks suggest that scaling up such networks in both model and training dataset size can yield significant improvements in the learning of concepts at the highest layers. We train our three-layer deep neural network on the Yahoo! Flickr Creative Commons 100M dataset. The dataset comprises approximately 99.2 million images and 800,000 user-created videos from Yahoo's Flickr image and video sharing platform. Training of our network takes eight days on 98 GPU nodes at the High Performance Computing Center at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Encouraging preliminary results and future research directions are presented and discussed.
Networked fault detection of nonlinear systems

This paper addresses Fault Detection (FD) problem of a class of nonlinear systems which are monitored via the communications networks. A sufficient condition is derived which guarantees exponential mean-square stability of the proposed nonlinear NFD systems in the presence of packet drop, quantization error and unwanted exogenous inputs such as disturbance and noise. A Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) is obtained for the design of the fault detection filter parameters. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed NFD technique is extensively assessed by using an experimental testbed that has been built for performance evaluation of such systems with the use of IEEE 802.15. 4 Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) technology. An algorithm is presented to handle floating point calculus when connecting the WSNs to the engineering design softwares such as Matlab.
Laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy: the four year Johns Hopkins University experience.

[1]. In the US, there is a growing disparity between The advantages of the laparoscopic live donor operathe organ supply and demand. This has resulted in tion arise from the ability to utilize small incisions and prolonged waiting times on the cadaveric renal transto place them at sites remote from the location of the plant waiting list [2]. Commensurate with the increased kidney, therefore avoiding a debilitating large flank waiting times has been an increase in the number of incision. Thus, a 5 cm lower midline or Pfannenstiel deaths of patients awaiting transplantation. Live incision suffices to deliver the kidney. The operation kidney donors have remained an under-utilized source can be performed by either a transperitoneal or of transplantable organs. retroperitoneal approach. We prefer the transperitoneal Live donor renal transplantation offers several approach because it affords more laparoscopic working advantages over cadaveric transplantation. First, the space. It also allows the kidney to be removed easily long waiting times are eliminated. Second, there is a from the abdomen through a relatively low pain, lower incidence of delayed function. Third, both midline incision. A pneumoperitoneum of 15 mmHg is patient and graft survival rates are significantly better created using CO2. Other centres have reported using with live donor transplantation [3]. Thus, not only are abdominal wall lifters. Dissection of vascular structures more organs made available, the need for repeat transis facilitated by the magnification achieved via the plantation is reduced. Also, live donor renal translaparoscope. The renal vasculature is divided using an plantation is more cost effective than cadaveric donor endo-GIA stapler. This device lays down two rows of transplantation [4]. However, despite these advantstaples and cuts between them simultaneously. On the ages, there exist significant disincentives to live kidney right side, use of this stapler results in loss of donation. 1.0–1.5 cm of vein, leaving the recipient surgeon with The long hospitalization and recuperation time assoa short thin vein to contend with. Therefore, the donor ciated with open nephrectomy via a flank approach operation is modified slightly for right kidneys. can pose significant financial and logistical problems However, because of technical considerations, we in terms of time out of work, lost income, job security prefer to utilize the left kidney, even if multiple left and inability to care for dependant children. Also, a renal arteries are present. The exception to this is if number of individuals express concerns about fear of there is a clear advantage to the donor by leaving the pain and the cosmetic results of major abdominal left kidney in situ. surgery. Thus, by reducing these disincentives, we
The Effects of Electromyostimulation Training and Basketball Practice on Muscle Strength and Jumping Ability

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a 4-week electromyostimulation training program on the strength of the knee extensors and the vertical jump performance of 10 basketball players. Electromyostimulation sessions were carried out 3 times weekly; each session consisted of 48 contractions. Testing was carried out before and after the electromyostimulation training program (week 4) and once more after 4 weeks of normal basketball training (week 8). At week 4, isokinetic strength increased significantly (p < 0.05) at eccentric and high concentric velocities (between 180 and 360 x s(-1)); this was not the case for low concentric velocities (60 and 120 degrees x s(-1)). Electromyostimulation training increased also isometric strength at the two angles adjacent to the training angle (p < 0.01). Squat jump increased significantly by 14% at week 4 (p < 0.01), whereas counter movement-jump showed no change. At week 8, gains in isokinetic, isometric strength and squat-jump performance were maintained and the counter movement jump performance increased significantly by 17% (p<0.01). Electromyostimulation as part of a short strength-training program enhanced knee extensor strength and squat jump performance of basketball players.
Self-organization of spinal reflexes through soft musculoskeletal interactions

There has been a long-standing debate on the question of how basic reflexive behaviours in mammals come about. Recently, it has been hypothesized that soft musculoskeletal interactions, such as intrinsic passive dynamics, might play a crucial role in the development of motor control at an early developmental stage. Inspired by the developmental processes, this paper explores a learning framework that enables us to systematically investigate the sensorimotor activity induced in soft musculoskeletal systems, as well as to self-organize a set of decentralized controllers analogue to spinal reflexes in mammals. This paper particularly focuses on three reflexes: the Myotatic reflex, the Reciprocal Inhibition reflex and the Reverse Myotatic reflex. We tested our framework in a simulated pair of soft muscles assembled in an agonist-antagonist arrangement. Our results show that the reflex circuitry as well as the reflex behaviour obtained are consistent with those observed in the mammal spinal cord.
From government to e-government: a transition model

Purpose – To develop a model that can explain the “government to e‐government” transition process.Design/methodology/approach – Reviews the literature on and practice of e‐government, as well as the related literature of strategic alignment and maturity models for technology adoption. Offers evidence for the model's validity through case‐type material from the web sites of e‐governments worldwide.Findings – Six transition paths can be identified, four of which are more likely to result in effective e‐government transition.Research limitations/implications – Further work is needed to test the validity of the model. This could involve historical and longitudinal studies of the government to e‐government transition process in different governments around the world.Practical implications – The transition model should be of value to e‐government strategic planners who are seeking possible transition paths towards the effective development of e‐government.Originality/value – The paper tackles the little investi.
Getting the most out of pharmaceutical expenditures

This paper reviews the major policies that countries employ to rationalize drug expenditures in terms of their impact, administrative costs, and relevance to different types of health care systems and levels of development. There is a remarkable convergence in pharmaceutical expenditure policies across countries, whatever their level of income and industrialization, although policy emphasis and application vary in different settings. The paper concludes that developing countries have considerable opportunities to increase the efficiency of pharmaceutical expenditure. Savings from efficiency gains could be used to increase the population's access to essential drugs.
Does classroom-based Crew Resource Management training improve patient safety culture? A systematic review

Aim: To evaluate the evidence of the effectiveness of classroom-based Crew Resource Management training on safety culture by a systematic review of literature. Methods: Studies were identified in PubMed, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and Educational Resources Information Center up to 19 December 2012. The Methods Guide for Comparative Effectiveness Reviews was used to assess the risk of bias in the individual studies. Results: In total, 22 manuscripts were included for review. Training settings, study designs, and evaluation methods varied widely. Most studies reporting only a selection of culture dimensions found mainly positive results, whereas studies reporting all safety culture dimensions of the particular survey found mixed results. On average, studies were at moderate risk of bias. Conclusion: Evidence of the effectiveness of Crew Resource Management training in health care on safety culture is scarce and the validity of most studies is limited. The results underline the necessity of more valid study designs, preferably using triangulation methods.