Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distributed LPV state-feedback control with application to motorway ramp metering

In this paper, we develop a distributed state-feedback controller synthesis algorithm for a discrete-time LPV system that is composed of the interconnection of several sub-systems each scheduled by its own parameters. A set of LMI conditions are derived for robust ℒ2-gain performance of such a system in the framework of multiplier-based LPV synthesis. The results have been oriented to be applied in traffic flow control in motorways by ramp metering. First, with the use of a proper transformation, the nonlinear traffic flow model has been represented as the interconnection of LPV subsystems. Then the developed synthesis results have been used to design a gain-scheduled distributed state-feedback controller that keeps the density of all segments around a desired value by the use of ramp metering.
Disagreement, Portfolio Optimization, and Excess Volatility

Abstract Disagreement, a key factor inducing trading, has been receiving ever increasing attention in recent years. Most research has focused on disagreement about the expected returns. Several authors have shown that if the average belief coincides with the true expected return, in the portfolio context prices are unaffected by disagreement. In this paper we study the pricing effects of disagreement about return variances. We show that i) disagreement about variances has systematic and significant pricing effects—more disagreement leads to higher prices, and ii) prices are very sensitive to the degree of disagreement: Even if the average belief about the variance is constant, tiny fluctuations in the disagreement about the variance lead to substantial price fluctuations. This second result may offer an explanation for the excess volatility puzzle: When small changes in the degree of disagreement occur, they induce relatively large price changes. Yet, the changes in disagreement may be hard to directly detect empirically, leading to apparent “excess volatility. ”
Quantitative Characterization of the Hemodynamic Environment in Ruptured and Unruptured Brain Aneurysms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hemodynamics are thought to play an important role in the mechanisms of aneurysm pathogenesis, progression, and rupture. The purpose of this study was to define quantitative measures related to qualitative flow characteristics previously analyzed and to investigate their relationship to aneurysm rupture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The hemodynamic environments in 210 cerebral aneurysms were analyzed by using image-based CFD under different flow conditions. Quantitative hemodynamic variables were defined and extracted from the simulation results. A statistical analysis of the relationship to the previous history of aneurysm rupture was performed, and the variability with flow conditions was assessed. RESULTS: Ruptured aneurysms were more likely to have larger inflow concentrations, larger MWSS, larger shear concentrations, and lower viscous dissipation ratios than unruptured aneurysms. Areas under low WSS and measures of abnormally low shear force distributions of ruptured and unruptured aneurysms were not statistically different. Although the values of hemodynamic quantities changed with different flow conditions, the statistical differences or ratios between their mean values over the ruptured and unruptured groups were maintained, for both pulsatile and steady flows. CONCLUSIONS: Concentrated inflow streams and WSS distributions with elevated levels of MWSS and low aneurysmal viscous dissipation are statistically associated with a clinical history of prior aneurysm rupture. In contrast, the area and total viscous shear force applied in the aneurysm region subjected to abnormally low WSS levels are not. This study highlights the potential for image-based CFD for investigating aneurysm-evolution mechanisms and for clinical assessment of aneurysm risks.
Trigger Tools for Monitoring and Reporting of Adverse Drug Reactions A Scientific Tool for Efficient Reporting

The mishaps like medication error occurs frequently and portrays a real image of adverse effects at a rate comparative to the growing population of India [9,10]. Along with multiple uses of drugs or multiple complications; inappropriateness in the dosage or dose interval makes patient care contraindicated in all way around. The National Coordinating Council for Medication error Reporting and Prevention (NCCMERP) defines medication error as “any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professionals, patient or consumer” [11-14].
27.4 A 0.8mm3 ±0.68psi single-chip wireless pressure sensor for TPMS applications

This work presents a single-chip sub-mm3 wireless pressure sensor suitable for tire pressure monitoring. The dynamic behavior and safety of an automobile tire is closely dependent on its inflation pressure: maintaining the manufacturer-recommended pressure is essential to prevent tire failure, provide stability, improve fuel efficiency and tire-life, and to reduce C02 emissions [1]. Thus, Tire-Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) have become an essential component in modern vehicles, as stipulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2006. State-of-the-art TPMS systems currently require a pressure sensor, multiple ICs, several external components, and a crystal on a PCB allowing wireless transmission of tire pressure [2] [3]. In this work, we describe a sub-mm3 fully integrated wireless pressure sensor including a pressure transducer, interface circuitry, integrated timing reference, and a wireless transmitter integrated into a single die.
The Role of Awareness and Familiarity with a Destination: The Central Florida Case

This study is based on the theoretical background of the consumer's buying process incorporating product awareness, familiarity, interest, and purchase. Using a sample of 750 U.S. households, a series of hypotheses were tested to analyze whether consumer aware ness and familiarity with Central Florida as a vacation destination had an impact on the consumer's destination image and on the interest and likelihood to visit it. The results indicate that those who were familiar with Central Florida (i.e., had previously visited it) had a more positive image of the destination and were more interested in and likely to revisit it than those who were only aware of the destination. However, contrary to our expectations, interest or likelihood to visit Central Florida was not significantly higher among those who were aware of Central Florida as a tourist destination than those who were not aware of it. For this case, it is possible to conclude that as consumers move from the awareness stage to the familiarity stage their interest and likelihood to visit increase, although the same may not be true when consumers move from the nonawareness to the awareness stage.
Political opportunity structure and the institutionalisation of the environmental movement

During the last 15 years, environmental movements in many western countries have developed into highly institutionalised mass membership organisations (Conservation associations, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund). The degree of institutionalisation, however, differs from country to country and is largely determined by the political opportunity structure of a country. In this article, the different dimensions of political opportunity structure and institutionalisation are dealt with, and a number of hypotheses about the relations between these dimensions are developed and tested. A comparison of four countries reveals the differences between, on the one hand, the highly institutionalised environmental movements of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, and, on the other hand, the scarcely institutionalised French movement. Nevertheless, important differences can be found in the specific features of institutionalisation in the first three countries; these appear to be caused mainly b.
Are Engel Curve Estimates of CPI Bias Biased?

Recent literature has advanced the use of Engel curves to estimate overall consumer price index (CPI) bias. The author shows that this methodology is sensitive to the modeling of household demography. Existing estimates of CPI bias do not account for the changing effect of household size on the budget shares, which can lead to omitted variable bias. Because the effect of household size on demand changes over time, this effect partially explains the drift in Engel curves attributed to CPI bias. The author's estimates of the changing effect for household size alters the annual rate of CPI bias every year from 1888 to 1935 by at least 25 percent and usually more than 50 percent. These findings caution against the use of Engel curves to correct CPI bias in the past.
Artigo de Abertura Emprego e inserção social das pessoas com deficiência na sociedade do conhecimento: Contributo ao estudo da inserção social das pessoas com deficiência em Portugal

ocidentais, um dos mais relevantes desafios sociais. Tal importância, contudo, não se tem feito acompanhar da vontade política e dos estudos e investigações que garantam e sustentem a socialmente necessária, e frequentemente designada, urgente intervenção. Numa sociedade do conhecimento e num quadro de desenvolvimento económico, definido, pelo genérico dos discursos, como de globalização, e dos seus efeitos no emprego-inserção social em diferentes regiões, países, grupos e pessoas, a necessidade e importância de melhor conhecer, para melhor intervir, os contextos, os grupos e as pessoas com deficiência é social, ética e economicamente fundamental. Considerando-se, nesta abordagem, a deficiência como um conceito social e cultural, partilhamos, com outras investigações, a crença que o acesso ao emprego e a sua manutenção constituem um dos mais relevantes factores de inserção social duradoura. Com o presente estudo, que conta com colaboração de 1045 participantes, pretende-se estudar as percepções destas pessoas, acerca do emprego das pessoas com deficiência.
Clozapine-induced urinary incontinence: incidence and treatment with ephedrine.

BACKGROUND Treatment with the atypical antipsychotic drug clozapine appears to be associated with an increased incidence of urinary incontinence (UI). We posited that the potent anti-alpha-adrenergic effects of clozapine were involved, and hence that an alpha-adrenergic agonist would reduce UI. We tested this hypothesis by using ephedrine, an approved alpha-adrenergic agonist. METHOD Fifty-seven inpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (DSM-IV) who met the Kane criteria for being treatment refractory were treated with clozapine (75-900 mg/day). Patients who developed UI were then openly treated with ephedrine in increasing doses until UI was attenuated or a dose of 150 mg/day was attained. RESULTS Seventeen patients developed UI as evidenced by either urine-stained sheets/clothing or direct patient reports. In 2 cases, the UI was sufficiently severe that adult diapers had to be used. Comparison of patients who developed UI and those who did not showed that UI was associated with female gender and with concomitant treatment with typical antipsychotic drugs. One patient was treated with a behavioral program, but the remaining 16 patients were treated with ephedrine. Ephedrine treatment was very effective, with 15/16 patients showing improvement within 24 hours after reaching maximum ephedrine dosage. Twelve of 16 (including the 2 most severe) eventually had a complete remission of their UI. In the remaining 4 patients, 3 had a reduction in the frequency of UI and 1 showed no response. These benefits have been maintained over the course of 12 months of subsequent treatment for several patients. There were no side effects associated with the use of ephedrine nor were there any changes in neuropsychiatric status. CONCLUSION Ephedrine appears to be a safe and effective treatment clozapine-associated UI. By inference, it is likely that clozapine may cause UI via its anti-alpha-adrenergic properties.
Union Wage Practices and Wage Dispersion within Establishments

This study analyzes establishment-level data primarily to examine the effect of unionism on the wage structure within establishments. The major finding is that within-establishment dispersion of wages is significantly narrower in unionized than in nonunionized establishments, a pattern the author attributes in large part to unions' wage practices, such as single rate or automatic-progression modes of wage payment as opposed to merit reviews and individual wage determination. The data also show that dispersion in average wages is narrower among organized plants, but by more modest amounts than the within-establishment differential. Overall, the evidence suggests a major role for explicit union wage policies in explaining the dispersion of wages within firms and in the economy as a whole.
Helicobacter pylori causes hyperproliferation of the gastric epithelium: pre- and post-eradication indices of proliferating cell nuclear antigen.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of Helicobacter pylori (HP) eradication on the proliferation of the gastric epithelium by the expression of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). METHODS Alcohol-fixed gastric biopsies taken before and after treatment for HP were immunostained with the PC-10 anti-PCNA monoclonal antibody and the labeling index was determined with an image analysis system. RESULTS The mean PCNA-labeling index (LI) of 16 patients who remained HP positive did not change significantly (18.95 +/- 1.71 on first visit vs. 17.96 +/- 1.91 on second visit, mean +/- SEM). The mean PCNA LI of 31 patients who cleared HP was reduced significantly (19.95 +/- 1.77 on first visit vs. 14.13 +/- 1.29 on second visit, p < 0.001). Patients who were positive for HP at both first and second visit showed a significantly higher PCNA LI than normal control biopsies (13.05 +/- 1.70) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that the gastric mucosa infected with HP is in a state of hyperproliferation. Patients who cleared HP showed a significant histopathological improvement, reflected in the reduction in number of polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cell infiltrates, and a reduction in the amount of superficial mucosa damage. Prolonged hyperproliferation of the gastric epithelium exerted by HP infection could be a major factor for human gastric carcinogenesis.
Dissection of septin actin interactions using actin overexpression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Although many proteins can be overexpressed several fold without much effect on cell viability and morphology, some become toxic upon a slight increase in their intracellular level. This is particularly true for cytoskeletal proteins and has proven useful in the past for studying the cytoskeleton. In yeast, actin and tubulin are examples of proteins that cannot be overexpressed without affecting cell viability. Here, we have analysed the effect of actin overexpression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We show that actin overexpression interferes differently with distinct aspects of actin function. For example, two‐ to fourfold overexpression of actin did not affect the establishment of actin polarity, whereas it abrogated its maintenance. Also, actin structures that are barely visible in wild‐type cells could be observed upon actin overexpression. This allowed us to identify a new ring‐like actin structure genetically distinguishable from the actomyosin contractile ring. Formation of this actin structure upon actin overexpression was dependent on the septin cytoskeleton, the poorly understood cytokinetic protein Hof1 and the Arp2/3 complex. In contrast to the actomyosin ring, the ring formed upon actin overexpression required neither Myo1 nor formins for assembly. Therefore, we propose that Hof1 acts as a linker between actin and septins. Furthermore, we found that, in the absence of actin overexpression, a novel, Hof1‐dependent actin belt is formed at the bud neck of anaphase cells. The physiological role of this belt might be related to that of the similar structure observed in dividing fission yeast.
A Capability Study of Portfolio Insurance Strategies for ABS Funds and CDS Total Return Indices during the Subprime Crisis

Classic portfolio insurance theory analyzes combinations of one risky asset and one risk-free asset under a certain rule of trading. Due to a specified investment horizon an investor has the choice between static strategies on the one hand and dynamic insurance strategies on the other hand. Motivated by the downturn movement of the asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities markets and the rise of credit spreads during the subprime crisis starting in 2007, the authors focus on constant mix and stop-loss strategies as well as on constant-proportion portfolio insurance and its derivative time-invariant proportion portfolio, which are well accepted in theory and practice. The authors benchmark these strategies against a standard buy-and-hold portfolio and provide information on the capability of these strategies when managing European ABS, CDS total return index, and equity indices with respect to an investor's risk appetite and risk awareness. The results support the conclusion that managing these asset classes and treating them as risky assets within active portfolio management strategies could have led to a significantly and nonrandom higher terminal portfolio wealth, allowing institutional investors to benefit from dynamic strategies even if they incorporate aggressive leverages.
The rule 10b5-1 loophole: an empirical study

This paper seeks to empirically examine the market effects of a loophole in insider trading law that allows insiders to cancel supposedly irrevocable pre-planned trades under SEC Rule 10b5-1 based on inside information. Based on an econometric analysis of a dataset of 81 NASDAQ-listed companies from 2004 to 2006, the paper concludes that: (1) the trading public attaches primary significance to the announcement of a 10b5-1 plan rather than the specified start date of that plan; (2) insiders make above-market profits using 10b5-1 plans but do not appear to arbitrarily or continually create such plans; (3) 10b5-1 plans have a significant negative effect on the liquidity of a firm’s shares, and therefore the firm’s cost of capital; and (4) insiders do not appear to increase the volatility of their own firms’ shares in order to profit by trading on the basis of material nonpublic information under the protection of the 10b5-1 safe harbor.
The natural history of hepatitis C cirrhosis after liver transplantation

Hepatitis C after liver transplantation leads to graft cirrhosis in up to 30% of patients within 5 years, but limited data exist regarding the clinical course of cirrhosis after transplantation. The aims of this study were to report the natural history of hepatitis C cirrhosis after liver transplantation and to identify risk factors for decompensation and survival. Hepatitis C patients underwent protocol liver biopsies yearly after liver transplantation. After cirrhosis was identified by biopsy, the outcomes of interest were the development of decompensation, death, or retransplantation for hepatitis C. Kaplan‐Meier and Cox regression analysis was used to determine survival and risk factors for decompensation and mortality. Out of 502 liver transplants performed for hepatitis C, 88 patients (18%) had cirrhosis within 3.7 years. Seventy‐one patients were compensated at diagnosis. The cumulative probability of decompensation 1 year after cirrhosis was 30%. A Model for End‐Stage Liver disease score ≥ 16 was predictive of decompensation and poor survival, whereas successful interferon treatment was found to reduce this risk (relative risk = 0.05). Once decompensation occurred, 1‐year survival was 46%. In conclusion, the results confirm an accelerated natural history of hepatitis C cirrhosis after liver transplantation and demonstrate poor survival after decompensation. The Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease can stratify risk for decompensation and survival, whereas successful antiviral therapy may be protective. Liver Transpl 15:1063–1071, 2009. © 2009 AASLD.
A noninvasive anthropometric technique for measuring kyphosis and lordosis: an application for idiopathic scoliosis.

STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional measurement of the sagittal geometry of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the accuracy of a noninvasive anthropometric approach for the measurement of kyphosis and lordosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Noninvasive approaches were developed to estimate the sagittal curvatures of the spine. However, the magnitude of the estimation error could be high for an important proportion of patients, which leads to a difficult clinical application. METHODS The group was composed of 124 female patients with a mean age of 13.5 years (SD 2. 7 years) with Cobb angles ranging from 4 degrees to 66 degrees. Kyphosis and lordosis were measured on the lateral radiograph. The spine sagittal curvature of the same patients was also estimated using the spatial localization of skin markers placed overlying the spinous processes. These coordinates served as input into a simple trigonometric model. Data were collected by means of a stereovideographic technique (Motion Analysis Corp., Santa Rosa, CA). RESULTS The intraclass correlation coefficient between both approaches was 0.94 for kyphosis and 0.91 for lordosis; the mean absolute differences were 5 degrees (SD 4 degrees ) and 6 degrees (SD 6 degrees ), respectively. The difference was less than 10 degrees in 91% of the patients for kyphosis, and in 79% for lordosis. CONCLUSIONS The proposed technique appears to give more representative results than those presented in the literature. It has the advantage of being part of a global noninvasive postural evaluation. Using this approach in a systematic manner could help reduce radiograph exposure while keeping track of the spine sagittal curvatures.
An open study of modafinil for the treatment of daytime somnolence and fatigue in primary biliary cirrhosis

Fatigue is a debilitating symptom which frequently impairs the quality of life of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Although the mechanisms underpinning fatigue in PBC remain unclear, there is an emerging consensus that CNS mechanisms play a key role. It has recently been shown that there is a strong association between abnormalities in sleep regulation, in particular excessive daytime somnolence, and fatigue severity in PBC. The CNS‐acting drug modafinil has an established role in the treatment of excessive daytime somnolence in non‐liver disease states.
The Impact of Academic Patenting on (Public) Research Output

We examine the influence of university-employed scientists’ transitions to patenting on the rate of publication and of obtaining NIH grants in a panel dataset spanning the careers of 4,270 academic life scientists. Using inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTW) to account for the dynamics of self-selection into patenting, we find that patenting has a positive eect on the rate of publication of journal articles, and a much smaller — though still positive — eect on NIH grant awards. We also find that patenters may be shifting their research focus to questions of commercial interest, as evidenced by a positive eect of patenting in regressions of the rate of publication of papers that are coauthored with researchers in industry. We conclude that the often-voiced concern that patenting in academe has a nefarious eect of on public research output is, at least in its simplest form, misplaced.