Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exchange Rate Policy in Chile: the Abandonment of the Band and the Floating Experience

As many countries worldwide, Chile has experienced virtually all the menu of options of exchange rate policies in the last forty years—with the sole exception of giving up its national currency. The quest for a reasonable exchange rate policy has been inspired in part by the different goals that, throughout these four decades, policymakers have attempted to achieve with this policy. After almost a decade of inflation targeting coexisting with an exchange rate band, in 1999 the Central Bank of Chile gave up the band and replaced it with a policy of floating. This paper deals with two main questions: (a) Why was the band abandoned and, by the same token, why did it last so long? and (b) How has the floating regime worked so far? The latter question involves accounting for the possible appearance of “fear of floating” by macroeconomic authorities, as well as evaluating the regime in three issues highlighted by the critics of exchange rate floating: passthrough to domestic prices, exchange rate volatility and balance sheet effects.
Antigenic profile of heat-killed versus thimerosal-treated Leishmania major using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Background: Leishmania is a parasitic protozoan of trypanosomatidae family which causes a wide spectrum of diseases ranging from self-healing cutaneous lesions to deadly visceral forms. In endemic areas, field trials of different preparations of Leishmania total antigen were tested as leishmaniasis vaccine. Two preparations of killed Leishmania major were produced In Iran, which were heat-killed vaccine called autoclaved L. major (ALM) and thimerosal-treated freeze-thawed vaccine called killed L. major (KLM). In this study, the protein content of both ALM and KLM were compared with that of freshly harvested intact L. major promastigotes using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Materials and Methods: L. major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) from pre-infected Balb/c mice was isolated with modified Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle (NNN) medium and then subcultured in liquid RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with fetal calf serum (FCS) 20% for mass production. Two preparations of KLM and ALM were produced by Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Iran, under WHO/TDR supervision. Electrophoresis was performed by SDS-PAGE method and the gel was stained by Coomassie brilliant blue dye. The resultant unit bands were compared using standard molecular proteins. Results: Electrophoresis of the two preparations produced many bands from 10 kDa to 100 kDa. KLM bands were much like those of freshly harvested intact L. major. Conclusion: It is concluded that although there are similar bands in the three forms of Leishmania antigens, there are some variations which might be considered for identification and purification of protective immunogens in a total crude antigen, and detection of their stability is essential for the production and marketing of a putative vaccine.
Valuation by Simulation of Contingent Claims with Multiple Early Exercise Opportunities

This paper introduces the application of Monte Carlo simulation technology to the valuation of securities that contain many (buying or selling) rights, but for which a limited number can be exercised per period, and penalties if a minimum quantity is not exercised before maturity. These securities combine the characteristics of American options, with the additional constraint that only a few rights can be exercised per period and therefore their price depends also on the number of living rights (i.e., American‐Asian‐style payoffs), and forward securities. These securities give flexibility‐of‐delivery options and are common in energy markets (e.g., take‐or‐pay or swing options) and as real options (e.g., the development of a mine). First, we derive a series of properties for the price and the optimal exercise frontier of these securities. Second, we price them by simulation, extending the Ibáñez and Zapatero (2004) method to this problem.
The Welfare State in Britain since 1945

PART 1: - THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES - The Nature of the Welfare State - The Nature of Policy-making - PART 2: - THE CLASSIC WELFARE STATE 1945-75 - The Historical Context - Employment Policy - Social Security - Health Care - Education - Housing - The Personal Social Services - The Achievement - PART 3: - WELFARE POLICY SINCE 1976 - The Welfare State under Threat - Appendix I The Cost of Welfare
Measuring the Size of the Informal Economy: A Critical Review

There has been a burgeoning number of studies attempting to measure the size of the ‘black’ economy. These are based on a variety of methodologies and provide a range of estimates, not just across countries but also within the same countries and often by the same author(s). This raises a number of issues: What is meant by the term ‘black’ economy? Is it an appropriate description? What, if any, is the theory underlying the estimates of informal economic activity? This paper examines these and other issues, and concludes that whilst the existence of what we prefer to call the ‘informal’ or ‘grey’ economy in most countries is incontrovertible, there is a lack of consensus on the appropriate methodology for estimating its size. More importantly, the large number of studies so far are simply exercises in measurement without theory, though we are sceptical that even with strong theoretical underpinnings it is possible to provide accurate estimates of a complicated web of informal activities.
Hypotheses Concerning Market Effects On Neighborhood Development Programs

In the making of urban policy, important aspects of human behavior are often ignored. In particular, many attempts to increase opportunity or the delivery of services ignore the economic processes by which opportunity and services, like other goods, are distributed. The now classic example of an urban policy which disregards market distribution processes is rent controls for housing. Rent controls were imposed during both world wars to reduce inflation. They were retained after World War II on existing housing in New York City and elsewhere, the assumed rationale being to not place the hardship of increased payments on current residents. Rents on new housing, though, were not controlled. The effects of such a policy are now well known. With increasing disparity in prices between controlled and uncon-
A Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of In Vitro Assembled Chromatin*

The structure of chromatin is critical for many aspects of cellular physiology and is considered to be the primary medium to store epigenetic information. It is defined by the histone molecules that constitute the nucleosome, the positioning of the nucleosomes along the DNA and the non-histone proteins that associate with it. These factors help to establish and maintain a largely DNA sequence-independent but surprisingly stable structure. Chromatin is extensively disassembled and reassembled during DNA replication, repair, recombination or transcription in order to allow the necessary factors to gain access to their substrate. Despite such constant interference with chromatin structure, the epigenetic information is generally well maintained. Surprisingly, the mechanisms that coordinate chromatin assembly and ensure proper assembly are not particularly well understood. Here, we use label free quantitative mass spectrometry to describe the kinetics of in vitro assembled chromatin supported by an embryo extract prepared from preblastoderm Drosophila melanogaster embryos. The use of a data independent acquisition method for proteome wide quantitation allows a time resolved comparison of in vitro chromatin assembly. A comparison of our in vitro data with proteomic studies of replicative chromatin assembly in vivo reveals an extensive overlap showing that the in vitro system can be used for investigating the kinetics of chromatin assembly in a proteome-wide manner.
A More Effective Use of Time

Here is first aid for that paramount problem of the average executive, how to manage time so that he is no longer clobbered by too-imminent deadlines, senseless interruptions, and homework. It presents a way to analyze job activities, delegate secondary tasks, and get first things done first so that there can actually be time left over in which to think and plan. Included also are hints on how to lock the door against the biggest business time thieves of all, an overactive telephone and that unscheduled caller who drops in just to “renew contacts. ”
Remodelers Organize Cellular Chromatin by Counteracting Intrinsic Histone-DNA Sequence Preferences in a Class-Specific Manner

ABSTRACT The nucleosome is the fundamental repeating unit of eukaryotic chromatin. Here, we assessed the interplay between DNA sequence and ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling factors (remodelers) in the nucleosomal organization of a eukaryotic genome. We compared the genome-wide distribution of Drosophila NURD, (P)BAP, INO80, and ISWI, representing the four major remodeler families. Each remodeler has a unique set of genomic targets and generates distinct chromatin signatures. Remodeler loci have characteristic DNA sequence features, predicted to influence nucleosome formation. Strikingly, remodelers counteract DNA sequence-driven nucleosome distribution in two distinct ways. NURD, (P)BAP, and INO80 increase histone density at their target sequences, which intrinsically disfavor positioned nucleosome formation. In contrast, ISWI promotes open chromatin at sites that are propitious for precise nucleosome placement. Remodelers influence nucleosome organization genome-wide, reflecting their high genomic density and the propagation of nucleosome redistribution beyond remodeler binding sites. In transcriptionally silent early embryos, nucleosome organization correlates with intrinsic histone-DNA sequence preferences. Following differential expression of the genome, however, this relationship diminishes and eventually disappears. We conclude that the cellular nucleosome landscape is the result of the balance between DNA sequence-driven nucleosome placement and active nucleosome repositioning by remodelers and the transcription machinery.
Thrombus aspiration during primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

To the Editor: I do not agree with Svilaas and colleagues (Feb. 7 issue)1 that thrombus aspira­ tion during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients who have myocardial infarction with ST­segment elevation improves clinical out­ comes. In their intention­to­treat analysis, neither the incidence of death, reinfarction, or target­ vessel revascularization nor a combination of these events was significantly different between the group with and the group without aspiration. The authors’ implication that aspiration throm­ bectomy is applicable “in a large majority” of patients who have myocardial infarction with ST­segment elevation is misleading. They sug­ gest that since material was aspirated in almost three fourths of the patients, the myocardial blush grade and clinical outcomes were corre­ lated across groups, and the blush grade was higher in the aspiration group than in the con­ ventional­PCI group, then, ipso facto, aspiration is widely applicable for the improvement of clini­ cal outcomes. A recent meta­analysis of random­ ized trials showed that distal­protection devices with PCI in patients who have myocardial infarc­ tion with ST­segment elevation improved the blush grade without improving the rate of death at 30 days.2 The current study results are consis­ tent with these data. Thus, I would suggest cau­ tion in recommending the use of aspiration thrombectomy without first showing improve­ ment in clinical outcomes.
Nitrous oxide in emergency medicine

Safe and predictable analgesia is required for the potentially painful or uncomfortable procedures often undertaken in an emergency department. The characteristics of an ideal analgesic agent are safety, predictability, non-invasive delivery, freedom from side effects, simplicity of use, and a rapid onset and offset. Newer approaches have threatened the widespread use of nitrous oxide, but despite its long history this simple gas still has much to offer. “I am sure the air in heaven must be this wonder-working gas of delight”. Robert Southey, Poet (1774 to 1843)
A hemorrhagic transformation model of mechanical stroke therapy with acute hyperglycemia in mice

Clinical benefit for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in stroke was recently demonstrated in multiple large prospective studies. Acute hyperglycemia (HG) is an important risk factor of poor outcome in stroke patients, including those that underwent MT. The aim of this therapy is to achieve a complete reperfusion in a short time, given that reperfusion damage is dependent on the duration of ischemia. Here, we investigated the effects of acute HG in a mouse model of ischemic stroke induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Hyperglycemic (intraperitoneal [ip] injection of glucose) and control (ip saline injection) 10‐week male C57BL6 mice were subjected to MCAO (30, 90, and 180 min) followed by reperfusion obtained by withdrawal of the monofilament. Infarct volume, hemorrhagic transformation (HT), neutrophil infiltration, and neurological scores were assessed at 24 hr by performing vital staining, ELISA immunofluorescence, and behavioral test, respectively. Glucose injection led to transient HG (blood glucose = 250–390 mg/dL) that significantly increased infarct volume, HT, and worsened neurological outcome. In addition, we report that HG promoted blood‐brain barrier disruption as shown by hemoglobin accumulation in the brain parenchyma and tended to increase neutrophil extravasation within the infarcted area. Acute HG increased neurovascular damage for all MCAO durations tested. HTs were observed as early as 90 min after ischemia under hyperglycemic conditions. This model mimics MT ischemia/reperfusion and allows the exploration of brain injury in hyperglycemic conditions.
Weak instruments in estimating business cycle effects on banks' interest income

This article explores the link between the real business cycle and core bank earnings. Using bank-level data and an estimation technique which corrects for weak instruments, evidence confirms that pre-provision Net Interest Income (NII) is determined by the term structure of interest rates rather than output fluctuations. Output growth is only found to be significant when Loan-Loss Provisions (LLP) are taken into account.
Energy-efficient high-performance SAR image geocoding with NVIDIA CARMA and its application in stereo radargrammetry

Energy is the major limiting factor for high-performance computing. Nowadays, modern Graphics Processing Units (GPU) use less power per floating-point operation. With the CUDA on ARM architecture, a low-power high performance architecture is available and we present first results on using this architecture for fast SAR geocoding and demonstrate the use of fast SAR geo-coding on GPU for a flexible SAR stereo-radargrammetry approach. We demonstrate the speed-up of SAR geo-coding with GPU implementations on an NVIDIA Tesla C2070 and the CARMA DevKit.
Qualifications frameworks and learning outcomes: challenges for Europe’s lifelong learning area

Qualifications frameworks are political instruments that are supposed to facilitate the assessment of learning outcomes. They are hoped to be drivers for change since they are meant to provide the impetus for a number of fundamental reforms required in education and training systems. These considerations frame the design and implementation of coherent reforms, strategies and instruments. Thus, there are conceptual, political and procedural issues which are equally worthy of attention. Focusing on the European area, this paper addresses the question of whether the development of qualifications frameworks yields the anticipated benefits of the ‘shift to learning outcomes’. The aim of the contribution is to review previous experience with learning outcomes and its links with qualifications frameworks as well as to analyse the current trends and challenges within the European countries.
Major injuries of the talus.

1. Fifty-eight major injuries in the region of the talus were reviewed regarding treatment, incidence of complications and long-term results. 2. The prognosis for simple fractures of the head, neck or body was good, as was that for dislocations of the midtarsal and peritalar joints. 3. The prognosis for fracture-dislocations of the neck and body was better than has been frequently reported. It was related to the degree of initial trauma. A good result occurs only if accurate reduction is effected and maintained. Fixation with a Kirschner wire is a useful method of maintaining the reduction after unstable fracture-dislocations. 4. Avascular necrosis occurred only in the more severe injuries and its incidence was related to the degree of initial displacement. The late results were better than have been previously described. The condition is best treated conservatively by protection from weight-bearing until revascularisation is well advanced. 5. A case with an unusual pattern of fracture of the neck of the talus is described following a plantar-flexion inversion injury.
Dependency of NAND flash memory cells on random dopant fluctuation (RDF) effects

Dependency of random-dopant-fluctuation (RDF) on NAND flash memory cells has been simulated. It has been shown that the RDF effects are more serious in NAND flash memory cells than in CMOS devices. The simulation results show the variation of threshold voltage, on- and off-current depending on the doping concentration. Also, the program and erase characteristics of NAND flash memory cells have been evaluated depending on the RDF effects.
Enhancement of radiation pattern for linear antenna array using Flower Pollination Algorithm

This paper presents the application of ecology based Flower Pollination Algorithms (FPA) on the antenna array. Ecology based FPA method applied on linear antenna array. The design of linear antenna array consider the optimization of amplitude excitation of each element for the desired pattern in elevation plane 0° to 180°to achieve better directivity , good half power beam width (HPBW) and reduced side lobe level (SLL). Finally, FPA is compared with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). Simulation Results portrait that the proposed optimization technique proved its superiority over PSO.
DISCLOSURE IN PUBLISHED ANNUAL REPORTS

Published annual reports are extremely important sources of corporate information. The focus of this research is on the annual report disclosure practices of large industrial companies. Specifically, this study seeks to accomplish three interrelated objectives. The first is to assess the annual report information needs of informed report users. The second is to evaluate the disclosure practices of large industrial firms in relation to user information needs. The final objective is to examine the influence of corporate size and industry variables in explaining annual report disclosure differences among large industrial firms. To accomplish the first objective, a disclosure model was developed using questionnaire responses from 275 Chartered Financial Analysts (CFAs). For the second objective, the disclosure model was applied using a sample of companies from the "Fortune 1,000. " The analysis of covariance was then used to test for the influence of size and industry variables on disclosure. Major conclusions drawn from the study are summarized in the final section.
Experimental studies of the origin and expression of metameric pattern in the chick embryo.

On either side of Hensen's node of the fully extended primitive streak of the chick embryo (stage 4) the mesoderm is already organized into circular domains called somitomeres. As Hensen's node regresses, paraxial somitomeres are added in tandem and are early morphological representatives of metameric pattern in the mesoderm. These organized circular domains of mesenchyme cells are best visualized with stereo pair scanning electron microscopy. Experiments suggested that a prepattern of segmentation exists in and around the fully extended primitive streak. Streaks divested of Hensen's node can generate some paraxial somites, but only if surgically split down the midline. We assessed metameric pattern formation in nodeless streaks, both severed and unsevered down the midline. Operated blastoderms were cultured 15 hours, fixed, dissected, processed for scanning electron microscopy, and photographed in stereo. Split nodeless streaks produced a cranial to caudal sequence of somitomeric development. This sequence is similar to the sequential maturational events seen in the segmental plate of older embryos. The least mature somitomeres, toward the posterior end of the severed edge, appear as circular domains of radially oriented cells, looking much like the first somitomeres to emerge near Hensen's node of the stage 4 streak. More cranially along the severed edge, somitomeres are morphologically more mature, being more condensed, with cells oriented about a central myocoele. At the most cranial end of the severed piece, somitomeres are the most mature, having contracted about their centers to create intersomitomeric gaps that permit their identification with light microscopy as individual "somites. " Embryos from which the node was removed, but the streak left intact, generated only the most primitive somitomeric pattern repetitively along either side of the primitive groove. We conclude that regression of Hensen's node provides for the timely initiation of morphogenesis of somitomeres from a prepattern of segmentation that already exists.
Distribution of Androgen Receptor‐Like Immunoreactivity in the Brains of Cynomolgus Monkeys

A polyclonal antibody, PA1, raised in a rabbit against fusion proteins containing fragments of the human prostatic androgen receptor (AR) was used to map the distribution of AR‐like immunoreactivity in the brains of adult male and female cynomolgus monkeys. PA1 AR‐immunoreactive (ARir) labeling occurred in the cell nuclei and, more weakly, in the cytoplasm of brain cells. The PA1 ARir labeling occurred primarily in brain regions previously shown on the basis of gonadal steroid autoradiography to contain androgen receptors. However, the distribution of PA1 ARir staining was substantially more restricted than that of autoradiographic labeling using 3H‐androgens. The pattern of PA1 ARir labeling was closely similar between animals and occurred in the lateral septum, medial preoptic area, bed nucleus of stria terminalis, anterior, cortical, accessory basal and medial amygdala, several hypothalamic nuclei including the supraoptic, anterior, paraventricular, ventromedial and arcuate nuclei, and the premammillary nucleus. No significant sex differences were observed. With the exception of the supraoptic nucleus, reported not to be labeled by autoradiography, earlier autoradiographic findings and the current immunocytochemical results, although not congruent, have noteworthy similarities.