Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Discrete Affine Term Structure Models Applied to the Government Debt and Fiscal Imbalances

This paper discusses the relationship between government deficits and changes in total debt outstanding as well as the relationship between yields and real interest rates, inflation expectations and credit spreads using inflation linked swap data. This study also shows how affine term structure models (ATSMs) can be used to link the theory of the price level to term structure dynamics. When central banks are independent, increases in government deficits result in increases in the credit spreads and not necessarily in increases in the price level. Empirical results show that when modelling Spanish and Greek government yields fitted values improve significantly when credit spreads are included in the state vector. Most importantly, this study shows how affine term structure models can be used for the analysis of the time path of changes in government debt, government primary surplus and credit spreads. Finally, another novelty of this work is to apply the ATSM methodology to describe, for instance, how EU-governments’ deficits deteriorate as a consequence of the time path of shocks in macroeconomic variables such as unemployment, as unemployment shocks can have widening effects on governments’ fiscal imbalances and this will vary depending on the governments’ risk profile.
Information Aggregation in DSGE Models

We solve and quantitatively analyze a canonical noisy rational expectations model (Hellwig, 1980) within the framework of a conventional real business cycle model. Each household receives a private signal about future productivity. In equilibrium, the stock price serves to aggregate and transmit this information. We nd that dispersed information about future productivity aects the quantitative properties of our real business cycle model in three
BSnort IPS Better Snort Intrusion Detection / Prevention System

With the advent of a range of intrusion detection and prevention systems out in the market and Snort IPS standing out from others, always there have been efforts to improve upon the current scenario. Here, a novel technique that can curb many of the current Denial-of-Service attacks which usually disrupts the network connectivity by consuming a large amount of bandwidth is discussed. The Better Snort Intrusion Detection/Prevention System (BSnort) uses Aho-Corasick automaton for the deep packet inspection and makes use of the modified Snort signatures which utilizes minimum amount of CPU and memory. The BSnort stands out from other Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDSs) in its integrated use of anomaly detection approach to find out novel attacks using the packet header along with the use of known attack signatures for the payload to pin-point intrusions.
From intuition to measure: Styles of use in Alice: Identifying patterns of use by observing participants in workshops with Alice

After several rounds of workshops on Computer Animation with Alice, a free platform for three dimensional computer animation created by Carnegie Mellon University, a pattern of styles of use was observed. Some attendants seemed to try to follow the instructions given and attempt to reproduce exactly the animation the instructor was creating. A second group concentrated on creating visually attractive scenes; a third one on inventing stories and putting models in the scene to talk to each other according to those stories. In the fourth group participants wanted to go well beyond the instructor explanations and explored features and functions of Alice by their own creating complex and action-rich animations. At some point the consistency of those observations lead us to attempt a systematic study by crafting a description of the styles and designing observation tools to detect them and measure the frequency of each one. In this showpiece we will recount the experience, describe in detail the styles observed and present the results of the systematic observation in order to receive suggestions for improvement. We hope to reflect with viewers on why the study of styles of use in Alice could be important for visual languages and computer science education.
Output feedback controllers for disturbance attenuation with actuator amplitude and rate saturation

Output feedback controllers for disturbance attenuation of linear systems with constraints on input amplitudes and rates are studied. The main features include guaranteed performance levels that depend on both actuator magnitude and rate limits, and controllers that operate at, or close to, maximum actuator capacity. The controllers have a structure similar to those used in the LPV approach.
Arrestin/Clathrin Interaction

We have recently demonstrated that the nonvisual arrestins, β-arrestin and arrestin3, interact with high affinity and stoichiometrically with clathrin, and we postulated that this interaction mediates internalization of G protein-coupled receptors (Goodman, O. B., Jr., Krupnick, J. G., Santini, F., Gurevich, V. V., Penn, R. B., Gagnon, A. W., Keen, J. H., and Benovic, J. L. (1996)Nature 383, 447–450). In this study, we localized the clathrin binding domain of arrestin3 using a variety of approaches. Truncation mutagenesis demonstrated that the COOH-terminal half of arrestin3 is required for clathrin interaction. Assessment of the clathrin binding properties of various glutathione S-transferase-arrestin3 fusion proteins indicated that the predominant clathrin binding domain is contained within residues 367–385. Alanine scanning mutagenesis further localized this domain to residues 371–379, and site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated the critical importance of both hydrophobic (Leu-373, Ile-374, and Phe-376) and acidic (Glu-375 and Glu-377) residues in the arrestin3/clathrin interaction. These results are complementary to the observation that hydrophobic and basic residues in clathrin are critical for its interaction with nonvisual arrestins (Goodman, O. B., Jr., Krupnick, J. G., Gurevich, V. V., Benovic, J. L., and Keen, J. H. (1997)J. Biol. Chem. 272, 15017–15022). Lastly, an arrestin3 mutant in which Leu-373, Ile-374, and Phe-376 were mutated to Ala was significantly defective in its ability to promote β2-adrenergic receptor internalization in COS-1 cells when compared with wild-type arrestin3. Taken together, these results implicate a discrete region of arrestin3 in high affinity binding to clathrin, an interaction critical for agonist-promoted internalization of the β2-adrenergic receptor.
Health promotion in hospitals: Evidence and quality Management

Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Monaco Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Republic of Moldova Romania Russian Federation San Marino Serbia and Montenegro Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Tajikistan The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Turkey Turkmenistan Ukraine United Kingdom Uzbekistan
Viscoelastic Properties of Rodent Mammary Tumors Using Ultrasonic Shear-Wave Imaging

Images of tumor mechanical properties provide important insights into malignant-cell processes manifest by extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffening and remodeling. This article presents a pilot study measuring in vivo mechanical-property characteristics of rodent mammary tumors using an ultrasonic shear-wave imaging technique. Shear waves are generated by a needle inserted into the tumor of anesthetized rodents that is vibrated harmonically between 50 and 450 Hz. Particle motion in the tumor associated with the radiation of cylindrical shear waves is imaged using pulsed-Doppler ultrasound techniques. Estimating the spatial gradient of shear-wave phase along the direction of propagation at frequencies in the measurement range yields shear-speed dispersion curves. Measured dispersion curves were fit to those predicted by three different rheological models to estimate the elastic and viscous coefficients of the complex shear modulus. The investigation was performed in vivo on four rat-mammary fibroadenoma tumors and five xenograft mouse-mammary carcinoma tumors. Each tumor was subsequently excised for histological imaging and composition analysis. Collagen composition was measured using hydroxyproline assays that were then correlated with mechanical measurements. The goal was to relate soft-tissue mechanical behavior to biological characteristics of tumor structures, specifically the collagenous ECM protein content. The choice of rheological model and the effects of artifacts induced by shear-wave reflections at internal tissue boundaries are carefully examined in this article. Addressing these issues is of great importance when selecting force-excitation methods and modulus estimation method to assess intrinsic tissue properties responsible for disease-specific elastographic contrast.
The city of one hundred souvenir shops: authenticity of souvenirs in Prague

ABSTRACT Souvenirs are one of the symbols of destination. The method of sale and the range available to tourist are also of significant interest. Tourists take souvenirs home as memories of their trip. The question is whether souvenirs use the local potential of a destination. This article investigates the relationship between souvenirs and local culture and heritage, in a case study of Prague’s historic centre, and thus reveals the causes for introducing ‘falsely authentic’ and ‘geographically displaced’ souvenirs into a particular tourist destination. Prague as a post-socialist urban destination represents a unique case in tourism studies. The survey comprises an analysis of shops and the products offered on the ‘Royal Way’, the most visited part of Prague. This is supplemented by a structured interview with sellers in selected establishments and a questionnaire survey of tourists in this area. The results show that, although there are a number of locally specific souvenirs, the wide range of ‘banal’, ‘globalized’, ‘geographically displaced’ or ‘falsely authentic’ souvenirs reduces the quality of Prague’s souvenirs in general. The reasons for this can be found in the combination of communist heritage and the transformation processes of 1990s.
Substantial Intentional Weight Loss and Mortality in the Severely Obese

Objective:To compare all-cause mortality in a surgical weight loss cohort with a similarly aged, obese population-based cohort. Summary Background Data:Significant weight loss following bariatric surgery improves the comorbidities associated with obesity. Improved survival as a result of surgical weight loss has yet to be clearly demonstrated using clinical data. Methods:The surgical weight loss cohort was a series of consecutive patients treated with a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band in Melbourne between June 1994 and April 2005. The Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study (MCCS) provided a community control cohort, recruited between 1992 and 1994 and followed to June 2005 to determine vital status. Height and weight were recorded at baseline in both studies. Subjects between 37 and 70 years and with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥35 were included. Vital status was determined by follow-up and searching of death registries. Survival time was compared using Kaplan-Meier estimates, and hazard of death was determined using Cox regression, adjusting for sex, age at baseline, and BMI at baseline. Results:Of 966 weight loss patients (mean age 47 years, mean BMI 45 kg/m2), the median follow-up time was 4 years. Mean weight loss after 2 years was 22.8% ± 9% (58% of excess weight). The MCCS cohort included 2119 severely obese members (mean age, 55 years; mean BMI, 38 kg/m2; median follow-up time, 12 years). There were 4 deaths in the weight loss cohort and 225 deaths in the MCCS cohort. Weight loss patients had 72% lower hazard of death than the community control cohort (hazard ratio, 0.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.10–0.85). Conclusions:Substantial surgical weight loss in a morbidly obese population was associated with a significant survival advantage.
Why Do Firms Hire on a Fixed-Term Basis? Evidence from Longitudinal Data

The political and economic debate in Italy accompanying the labour market reforms of recent decades has often focused on the use of fixed-term contracts. Fears have frequently been raised about the possible use of temporary contracts not to satisfy short-term productive requirements (i? ½buffer-stocki? ½ motive) or to screen suitable candidates for permanent positions, but rather to manage worker turnover by avoiding the higher costs associated with open-ended contracts (especially those related to dismissals). While it is very difficult to separate out the various economic rationales for using fixed-term contracts, this paper aims to assess to what extent Italian firms use fixed-term contracts to meet monthly production needs. A simple correlation analysis shows that firms in sectors with the strongest variations in monthly production levels make more extensive use of temporary contracts: almost one third of fixed-term hiring is attributable to seasonality. Using two behavioural models where firms choose whether to hire and on what contract, it is estimated that monthly production peaks account for a non-negligible share (at least 25 per cent) of fixed-term hires.
Resource Allocation in Cooperative Networks With Wireless Information and Power Transfer

In this paper, we consider a cooperative network, where relays are capable of simultaneous wireless information and power transfer with a power splitting scheme, and study the optimal design for power splitting ratio at each relay, downlink power allocation, channel assignment, as well as relay association to maximize the weighted sum rate with both amplify-and-forward and decode-and-forward protocols. In essence, such a resource allocation problem is a mashup of continuous-variable optimization and combinatorial optimization. To solve such a challenging problem, we first investigate the optimal solution for power-split ratio in single-user cooperative communication, based on which we propose a dynamic programming solution by exploiting the optimal substructure property of the original problem. To further reduce computational complexity, we propose a polynomial-time heuristic algorithm by leveraging local search strategy, which decomposes the original problem into three subproblems (i.e., downlink power allocation, channel assignment, and relay association) and alternately solves each one given the other two such that the weighted sum rate can be iteratively improved. Simulation results show that the proposed resource allocation scheme outperforms a baseline scheme based on max-sum criterion. Moreover, the proposed local search solution is fairly close in performance to the dynamic programming solution under various parameter settings while the computational complexity is significantly reduced.
The Role of Sodium Channel Current in Modulating Transmural Dispersion of Repolarization and Arrhythmogenesis

Ventricular myocardium in larger mammals is composed of three distinct cell types: epicardial, M, and endocardial cells. Epicardial and M cell, but not endocardial cell, action potentials have a prominent Ito‐mediated notch. M cells are distinguished from the other cell types in that they display a smaller IKs, but a larger late INa and INa–Ca. These ionic differences may account for the longer action potential duration (APD) and steeper APD‐rate relationship of the M cell. The difference in the time course of repolarization of phase 1 and phase 3 contributes to the inscription of the electrocardiographic J wave and T wave, respectively. These repolarization gradients are modulated by electrotonic interactions, [K+]o, and agents or mutations that alter net repolarizing current. An increase in late INa, as occurring under a variety of pathophysiological states or in response to certain toxins, leads to a preferential prolongation of the M cell action potential, thus prolonging the QT interval and increasing transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR), which underlies the development of torsade de pointes (TdP) arrhythmias. Agents that reduce late INa are effective in reducing TDR and suppressing TdP. A reduction in peak INa or an increase in net repolarizing current in the early phases of the action potential can lead to a preferential abbreviation of the action potential of epicardium in the right ventricle, and thus the development of a large TDR, phase 2 reentry, and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia associated with the Brugada syndrome.
Spatial memory deficits in middle‐aged mice correlate with lower exploratory activity and a subordinate status: role of hippocampal neurotrophins

The aim of the present work was to relate age‐related individual differences in cognitive function with behavioural strategies employed in social and non‐social challenges. To this purpose, the behaviour of adult (5‐month‐old) and middle‐aged (13‐month‐old) CD‐1 mice was scored in the social interaction, plus‐maze, Morris water maze (MWM) and open‐field tests. In addition, brain levels of nerve growth factor and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were analysed and correlated with the behaviours scored. Compared to adults, middle‐aged mice showed greater anxiety in both non‐social and social situations, spending less time in the open arms of the plus‐maze and performing more freezing behaviour in response to aggression. Based upon their behaviour in the social interaction test, adult and middle‐aged subjects were classified as dominant or subordinate and their behaviour in the open field, plus‐maze and MWM tests subjected to factor analysis, taking into account age and social status. Results highlighted meaningful differences in exploratory strategies as a function of social status only in middle‐aged subjects. In particular, middle‐aged dominants were, overall, more explorative than same‐aged subordinates, spending less time in peripheral areas and approaching more readily a novel object. Interestingly, in middle‐aged mice, superior performance in the MWM task was associated with exploratory strategies exploited by dominants. At adulthood, BDNF hippocampal levels, but not specific behaviours, were positively correlated with the ability to learn a spatial task. Overall, data indicate that, in middle‐aged subjects individual differences in exploratory strategies, rather than neurotrophin levels, are able to predict the degree of impairment in a spatial learning task.
Adolescent asthma. Introduction.

Over the last decade research into asthma has grown and given rise to remarkable breakthroughs in the understanding of its epidemiology, molecular and cellular biology, and its overall effect on the quality oflife ofpatients. This, in turn, has led to improvements in the treatment of asthma. National and international guidelines on the management and treatment of asthma have multiplied. '2 Several therapeutic strategies and management disciplines have been agreed and established for both adults and children. Interesting research has also been undertaken into asthma in infancy, which suggests a close relationship between decreased lung function, wheezing, and the development of asthma at a later stage. ' However, there is a group of asthmatic patients who have somehow been neglected these are adolescents. This lack of attention may not have a single cause but may have occurred as a result of a combination of factors.
Inactivation of yeast glutathione reductase by Fenton systems: effect of metal chelators, catecholamines and thiol compounds.

Oxygen radical generating systems, namely, Cu(II)/ H2O2, Cu(II)/ascorbate, Cu(II)/NAD(P)H, Cu(II)/ H2O2/catecholamine and Cu(II)/H2O2/SH-compounds irreversibly inhibited yeast glutathione reductase (GR) but Cu(II)/H2O2 enhanced the enzyme diaphorase activity. The time course of GR inactivation by Cu(II)/H2O2 dependent on Cu(II) and H2O2 concentrations and was relatively slow, as compared with the effect of Cu(II)/ascorbate. The fluorescence of the enzyme Tyr and Trp residues was modified as a result of oxidative damage. Copper chelators, catalase, bovine serum albumin and HO. scavengers prevented GR inactivation by Cu(II)/H2O2 and related systems. Cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, N-(2-dimercaptopropionylglycine and penicillamine enhanced the effect of Cu(II)/H2O2 in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. GSH, Captopril, dihydrolipoic acid and dithiotreitol also enhanced the Cu(II)/H2O2 effect, their actions involving the simultaneous operation of pro-oxidant and antioxidant reactions. GSSG and trypanothione disulfide effectively protected GR against Cu(II)/H2O2 inactivation. Thiol compounds prevented GR inactivation by the radical cation ABTS. +. GR inactivation by the systems assayed correlated with their capability for HO. radical generation. The role of amino acid residues at GR active site as targets for oxygen radicals is discussed.
Definitive identification of Bacillus anthracis—a review

The word ‘problem’ is seen with some frequency in relation to clear differentiation between Bacillus anthracis and B. cereus. In fact, although the close relationship of these two species is undisputed, it is only in the case of a few borderline isolates, rarely encountered in practice, that any sort of identification problem exists. Until recently this was only important to the taxonomist who found it unsatisfactory not to be able to identify definitively such isolates. To most others, if the isolate was unable to produce anthrax in a laboratory animal, it was discarded as irrelevant without being named, or it was called B. cereus or given a name such as B. anthracis similis, or even a totally unrelated name. More recently, in view of the new light in which B. anthracis is increasingly seen, resulting from its putative association with bioaggression, clear identification has become a more critical issue. This paper reviews the current state of the art and suggests the way forward for the future.
Phelan–McDermid syndrome: Clinical report of a 70‐year‐old woman

Phelan–McDermid or 22q13.3 deletion syndrome is characterized by global intellectual disability, childhood hypotonia, severely delayed or absent speech, features of autism spectrum disorder, without any major dysmorphisms or somatic anomalies. It is typically diagnosed before adolescence and data about adult patients are virtually absent. The expression of its phenotypical characteristics appears to be linearly related to the deletion size. Here, an intellectually disabled geriatric female patient is described with a long history of challenging behaviors in whom Phelan–McDermid syndrome was demonstrated. Detailed analysis of the patient's history and functioning resulted in a psychiatric diagnosis of atypical bipolar disorder and her behavior significantly improved upon maintenance treatment with a mood stabilizing agent. The present article confirms recent findings that atypical bipolar disorder may be part of the psychopathological phenotype of Phelan–McDermid syndrome, reason why careful etiological search is warranted, also in the geriatric population. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.