Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Monetary Analysis of the Liquidity Trap with an Application to the USA

Keynes emphasized a specific situation in which the liquidity preference becomes absolute, leading to monetary policy ineffectiveness when nominal interest approaches the zero-bound rate. This situation was termed a liquidity trap (LT) by Robertson and was popularized by the Hicks- Hansen framework (IS-LM). Early macroeconomic textbooks characterized the LT as the Keynesian case against the classical one. The “lowflation” environment experienced in the USA and Europe again brought the LT to the forefront. The quantitative easing monetary policy was introduced in Japan and better applied in the USA and EMU as a solution to overcome the LT. The macroeconomic mainstream contends that the LT is essentially a money demand problem, whereas we propose another interpretation; the current situation should be interpreted as a “banking problem” that impedes the transformation of the monetary base into money supply. To prove our thesis, we study the behavior of the USA money multiplier and the income velocity of money by comparing an earlier period with the 2007-2008 crisis period. Using a VAR and a VECM model, we compare the normal situation of monetary policy efficiency with the situation of LT monetary policy inefficiency. We prove that the LT focus should not be placed on the demand for money but rather on the behavior of the money supply – more specifically, on banks’ behavior leading to the transformation of the monetary base into the money supply.
Management Patterns and Outcomes of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer in Ontario: A Population-based Study

The incidence of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is rising, but controversy exists in many aspects of its treatment. This study described the change in incidence of DTC in Ontario, variations in management including extent of thyroidectomy and the influence of provider volume, and the impact of these parameters on recurrence and thyroid cancer-specific death (TCSD). A population-based study identified all new cases of DTC between 1992-2007. The incidence of DTC increased dramatically (annual percentage change 7.6%). Linkage to administrative databases revealed that extent of thyroidectomy is influenced by various factors including patient gender, age, year of diagnosis, surgeon specialty, and hospital setting, but not provider volume. Total thyroidectomy is associated with a lower recurrence rate. There is a significant association between provider volume and recurrence, with lower volume surgeons having a higher recurrence risk. Extent of thyroidectomy and provider volume did not influence TCSD. Such variations in management may lead to disparities in health outcomes.
Comparación de parámetros de valor extremo de la distribución generalizada asociada a eventos de precipitación extrema en América Central

espanolSe utilizo la distribucion de valor extremo generalizada (DVEG) para modelar los eventos de lluvia extrema en America Central, durante 30 anos, a partir de 1971. Los datos consistieron en registros de precipitaciones diarias en 103 estaciones meteorologicas localizadas en todo el istmo. El area de America Central se dividio en 3 regiones: el Pacifico, el Caribe y la zona intermedia. Con el objetivo de comparar los parametros de ubicacion, escala y forma de la DVEG de esas 3 localidades, se utilizo la prueba de hipotesis Bootstrap. Los resultados del estudio muestran diferencias significativas, especialmente en los parametros de ubicacion y escala entre las 3 regiones. EnglishThe generalized extreme value distribution (GEVD) was used to model extreme rainfall events in Central America for a period of 30 years, beginning in 1971. Data consisted of daily rainfall records of 103 meteorological stations located throughout the isthmus. Central America was divided into 3 regions: Pacific, Caribbean and an intermediate zone. A bootstrap hypothesis test was used to compare the parameters of location, scale and form of the 3 regions. The results of the study showed significant differences between the 3 regions, mainly in terms of location and scale parameters.
2016 European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice

Authors/Task Force Members: Massimo F. Piepoli* (Chairperson) (Italy), Arno W. Hoes* (Co-Chairperson) (The Netherlands), Stefan Agewall (Norway)1, Christian Albus (Germany)9, Carlos Brotons (Spain)10, Alberico L. Catapano (Italy)3, Marie-Therese Cooney (Ireland)1, Ugo Corrà (Italy)1, Bernard Cosyns (Belgium)1, Christi Deaton (UK)1, Ian Graham (Ireland)1, Michael Stephen Hall (UK)7, F. D. Richard Hobbs (UK)10, Maja-Lisa Løchen (Norway)1, Herbert Löllgen (Germany)8, Pedro Marques-Vidal (Switzerland)1, Joep Perk (Sweden)1, Eva Prescott (Denmark)1, Josep Redon (Spain)5, Dimitrios J. Richter (Greece)1, Naveed Sattar (UK)2, Yvo Smulders (The Netherlands)1, Monica Tiberi (Italy)1, H. Bart van der Worp (The Netherlands)6, Ineke van Dis (The Netherlands)4, W. M. Monique Verschuren (The Netherlands)1
Pseudo-linear-array analysis of passive surface waves based on beamforming

Linear arrays are usually deployed for passive surface-wave investigations because of their high efficiency and convenience. In populated urban areas, it is almost impossible to set up a 2-D array in terms of the restriction from the existing infrastructures. The limited azimuthal coverage, however, lacks the ability to attenuate velocity overestimation caused by directional noise sources. We came up with a novel idea to compensate the azimuthal coverage by adding two more offline receivers to a conventional linear array, which is called pseudo-linear-array analysis of passive surface waves (PLAS). We used a beamforming algorithm to capture noise sources distribution and extract accurate dispersion curves. We used array response function to explain the superiority of the pseudo-linear array over the linear array and present the basic workflow of PLAS. Synthetic tests and field examples demonstrated the feasibility of PLAS to measure unbiased dispersion image. Comparison with mostly used passive surface wave methods (refraction microtremor, multichannel analysis of passive surface waves, spatial autocorrelation method, frequency–wavenumber analysis) suggested that PLAS can serve as an alternative passive surface wave method, especially in urban areas with restricted land accessibility and short-time acquisition demands.
Effect of Auditory Stimulation by Family Voices and Recitation of Prayers on Hemodynamic Changes in Comatose Patients: A Clinical Trial With Control Group

Objective: Coma stimulation has been a method that is proposed to improve the results of the coma. In this way, planned and purposeful, the stimulation of a sensory system is multidimensional. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the auditory stimulation by family voices and recitation of prayers on hemodynamic changes of comatose patients. Materials and Methods: This study was a clinical trial. Fifty-one brain injury traumatized patients (including 18 patients in the familiar voice group, 18 patients in recitation of prayer group and 15 patients in the control group) were divided into experimental and control groups. The first group was tested for 14 days, twice a day and received family voices through headphones at noon and evening prayer time. The second group was tested under similar condition and received the Azan sound. Immediately hemodynamic changes before and after each intervention were recorded. The average duration of voice in the two groups was 4 minutes. The control group received no intervention and hemodynamic status was recorded twice a day at noon and evening prayer time. The data was analyzed by using SPSS and chi-square test, ANOVA and repeated measures. Results: The age range was 14 to 68 years. Azan group had the highest average age (41.2 ± 18.5 years). The highest initial consciousness level was in the control group (7.6 ± 3.5). Azan group before the intervention had the longest duration of coma (8 ± 4.7 days). The experimental group showed a significant correlation with the number of days and in some variables to the baseline, but did not show the uniformity trend in hemodynamics variables. Followed by post hoc test there was a significant increase in levels of hemodynamic parameters’ (systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, mean arterial pressure and breathing), especially after the Azan sound. Conclusion: Auditory stimulation by family voices and recitation of prayers or Azan sound cannot increase or decrease the uniform trend in hemodynamics variables in comatose patients.
Supplementary material to "Predicting wildfire burned area in South Central US using integrated machine learning techniques"

Abstract. Occurrences of devastating wildfires have been on the rise in the United States for the past decades. While the environmental controls, including weather, climate, and fuels, are known to play important roles in controlling wildfires, the interrelationships between fires and the environmental controls are highly complex and may not be well represented by traditional parametric regressions. Here we develop a model integrating multiple machine learning algorithms to predict gridded monthly wildfire burned area during 2002–2015 over the South Central United States and identify the relative importance of the environmental drivers on the burned area for both the winter-spring and summer fire seasons of that region. The developed model is able to alleviate the issue of unevenly-distributed burned area data and achieve a cross-validation (CV) R2 value of 0.42 and 0.40 for the two fire seasons. For the total burned area over the study domain, the model can explain 50 % and 79 % of interannual total burned area for the winter-spring and summer fire season, respectively. The prediction model ranks relative humidity (RH) anomalies and preceding months’ drought severity as the top two most important predictors on the gridded burned area for both fire seasons. Sensitivity experiments with the model show that the effect of climate change represented by a group of climate-anomaly variables contributes the most to the burned area for both fire seasons. Antecedent fuel amount and conditions are found to outweigh weather effects for the burned area in the winter-spring fire season, while the current-month fire weather is more important for the summer fire season likely due to the controlling effect of weather on fuel moisture in this season. This developed model allows us to predict gridded burned area and to access specific fire management strategies for different fire mechanisms in the two seasons.
Bio-inspired techniques for pattern recognition

Intelligence as it occurs in nature demands a level of energy efficiency, speed, accuracy, and generalisability that current algorithms are not readily capable of emulating independently. There are also application areas such as swarm robotics or wireless sensor networks that rely upon relatively simple computational units to carry out complex tasks. Such applications operate under similar constraints (energy efficiency, speed, accuracy and generalisability) to biological organisms and can thus benefit from the computational strategies employed by nature. This thesis addresses the problems outlined above by focusing on information from neuroscience and existing bio-inspired approaches.
Isolation of Bifidobacterium from Infant’s Feces and Its Antimicrobial Activity

Bifidobacterium is a group of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) that commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract and vagina. LAB has many health benefits, such as produce an antimicrobial substance against a pathogen. This research aims to isolate Bifidobacterium from an infant’s feces and know its antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. A total of 5 isolates Bifidobacterium spp. were isolated from the sample. The largest inhibitory activity against E. coli was shown by isolate Bb3F, with the inhibitory zone of 10.80 mm. While the largest inhibition activity against C. albicans was shown by isolate Bb1B and Bb3F with the inhibitory zone of 9.70 mm.
Siber Zorbalık ve Siber Mağduriyetin Sosyal Uyuma ve Bazı Demografik Değişkenlere Göre İncelenmesi

Bu calismada, siber zorbalik ve siber magduriyet duzeyleri sosyal uyum ve bazi degiskenlere gore incelenmistir. Arastirma, betimsel bir calismadir. Arastirmada sosyal uyum ve alt boyutlari bagimsiz degisken, siber zorbalik ve siber magduriyet degiskenleri ise bagimli degiskendir. Arastirmanin orneklemini, Yildiz Teknik Universitesi Elektrik-Elektronik Fakultesi, Egitim Fakultesi ve Sanat ve Tasarim fakultesinde okumakta olan ve kume orneklem yontemiyle secilen 476 ogrenciyi kapsamaktadir. Calismaya katilanlarin siber zorbalik ve siber magduriyet duzeylerini tespit etmek icin “Siber Zorbalik ve Siber Magduriyet Olcegi”, sosyal uyum duzeylerini tespit etmek icin “Hacettepe Kisilik Envanteri Sosyal Uyum Alt Boyutu” ve uygulayici tarafindan hazirlanan “Demografik Bilgi Formu” kullanilmistir. Verilerin analizinde SPSS programi kullanilmistir. Mann Whitney U ve Kruskal-Wallis analizi yapilmistir. Arastirma sonuclarina bakildiginda, siber zorbalik ve siber magduriyet duzeylerinin sosyal uyuma gore anlamli bir farklilik gosterdigi gozlenmistir. Sosyal uyum duzeyi arttikca siber zorbalik ve siber magduriyet duzeylerinin azaldigi soylenebilir. Ayrica, siber zorbalik ve siber magduriyet duzeyleri gelir, anne-baba egitim durumu ve ebeveyn birliktelik durumuna gore anlamli farklilik gostermezken cinsiyet, online ortamda kimligini gizleme durumu, anne-baba tutumu ve okudugu fakulteye gore anlamli farklilik gosterdigi tespit edilmistir.
Influência da política de investimentos no desempenho econômico de empresas industriais brasileiras em períodos pré-crise e crise econômica

As decisões de investimento estão entre as mais importantes inseridas na teoria de finanças e, devido sua complexidade, permanecem como foco de estudo em todo o mundo. Neste sentido, visando contribuir para a formação do conhecimento acerca do tema, que carece de evidências comparativas entre períodos de recessão e prosperidade, este estudo tem por objetivo verificar a influência da política de investimentos no desempenho econômico de empresas industriais brasileiras em períodos pré-crise e crise econômica. Para tanto, realizou-se pesquisa descritiva, de procedimento documental e abordagem quantitativa dos dados. A amostra de pesquisa corresponde a 123 organizações industriais brasileiras listadas na B3, sendo o período de análise de 2010 a 2015 e as informações derivadas da base de dados Economática®. Os resultados confirmam que as empresas vêm perdendo desempenho no período de crise econômica (2014 e 2015) e que as aquisições de imobilizado, vinculadas à política de investimentos, são significativamente menores nos referidos anos de recessão econômica. Quanto à influência de tais investimentos no desempenho econômico, tem-se que em períodos de prosperidade econômica as aquisições de ativos fixos proporcionam maior resultado, o que não foi confirmado estatisticamente em períodos de crise. Além disso, investimentos passados também não apresentam relação com a performance corporativa em períodos turbulentos. Conclui-se que decisões de investimentos são mais complexas e suscetíveis a não resultarem no desempenho planejado em períodos de crise, o que deve demandar, portanto, tomada de decisão ainda mais acurada por gestores para a correta efetivação dos investimentos realizados.
Complex Varieties as Minima

Finding sequences of points that rapidly converge to a solution of a given polynomial equation or a system of polynomial equations with complex coefficients (i.e. approximating points on complex varieties) is one of the fundamental questions in mathematics and its applications. We will present three new methods of constructing such sequences. We firstly create a surface in a 3-dimensional real vector space whose minima are located exactly at the solutions of our equation. Each of these methods finds a sequence that converges to a minimum point on such a surface. Two of the methods belong to the class of gradient descent methods, and the third method uses osculating circles. One of the two gradient descent methods will be applied to solving systems of polynomial equations with complex coefficients. There will be examples, code snippets, and outputs of programs to illustrate all of these methods.
What are the associations between extroversion, enjoyment, and wellness in group vs non-group physical activity? A pilot study.

Objectives: One issue regarding prescription of physical activity (PA) is adherence, with enjoyment being shown to be a factor, and extroversion being associated with enjoyment. Furthermore, anecdotal evidence suggests that PA as part of a group yields superior levels of enjoyment than non-groups, however this has not been explored to date. It is the purpose of this study to explore associations between enjoyment and extroversion in group vs non-group PA. Methods: 17 subjects were recruited and randomised into two groups: ‘group’ and ‘non-group’. ‘Group’ subjects walked for 30-minutes for 5 consecutive days as part of a pair, and ‘non-group’ subjects doing the same intervention alone. All subjects completed two surveys, one pre-intervention measuring extroversion using the Goldberg Transparent Bi-Polar Inventory and wellness using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale. The post-intervention survey measured wellness and enjoyment of the intervention using the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale. A pedometer was also worn. Findings: The multiple regression model statistically predicted enjoyment (F(7,7) = 15.168, p=<0.001,adj.R2=0.876), with only sub-group type and wellness levels adding significantly to the prediction (p=<0.05). Moreover, the ‘group’ sub-group took significantly more steps than the ‘non-group’ sub-group (18,395 vs 13,168; p=<0.001). Conclusions: Wellbeing and sub-group type were predictors of enjoyment. Furthermore, subjects who walked in pairs took more steps than subjects who walked alone. Practitioners should consider prescribing PA as part of a group to yield higher enjoyment levels and higher levels of activity. Due to the small sample size, further study is needed with more subjects.
Cultural centres: a future for cultural Arctic tourism?

The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential of cultural centres to be spaces that foster interaction between tourists and locals, and thereby meet the demands of new cultural tourists. This is done through conducting a case study of Katuaq Cultural Centre in Nuuk, Greenland. Combining theories of cultural contact and placemaking, the paper analyses how locals and tourists make use of and experience the centre. The paper then goes on to conduct a broader discussion about how future placemaking in tourism can respond to the emerging demands of cultural Arctic tourists, and to suggest ways to encourage positive interaction on both a local community level and a resident-visitor level. ,A series of anthropological research methods were used, including participant observation in the cultural centre itself, and informal and semi-structured interviews with relevant stakeholders. ,Concluding that, from multiple perspectives, Katuaq fails to perform as a “centre of culture”, the study offers innovative insights into how cultural centres can be operated more inclusively in the future, as spaces in which members of different cultural groups can achieve positive interaction. It is argued that the future of successful and fulfilling cultural tourism offerings in the Arctic lies at the intersection of tourism and leisure studies. ,The originality of this paper lies first in its deepening of the academic discussion of cultural centres. Second, and on a broader level, the paper identifies an emerging trend of “community–tourism spaces” as cultural tourism offerings, and provides some insights into the conflicts experienced in these kinds of spaces, as well as some suggestions as to how further research on these spaces should continue.
Uso de Totaltrack®, nuevo dispositivo para vía aérea en México

Introduction: Complications related to airway management represent from 1 to 18%. Totaltrack ® is a laryngeal video-mask device with, that allows intubate and ventilate patients with indirect vision through a camera, also have a port to introduce an esophagogastric aspiration probe. Material and methods: The device was evaluated in 57 ASA I-III patients from 18 to 65 years of age undergoing balanced general anesthesia, with and without predictors of difficult airway, without neuromuscular block, it has been made the difficult intubation predictor index before each procedure. During the direct laryngoscopy due to incidental extubation, the Cormack-Lehane assessment was performed. Once the results were obtained, an analysis was made of the use of Totaltrack ® in the sealing pressures of the laryngeal mask and the success of tracheal intubation through the device. Results: Of the total number of patients analyzed. The insertion and ventilation were successful in all cases, the static leak and the maximum inflation pressures of the laryngeal mask component were 30 cm of air respectively. The tracheal intubation through the device was successful in all cases, with a mean intubation time of 4.5 ± 0.58 seconds. Gastric insufflation was not observed. The hemodynamic variability was not clinically significant. No significant side effects were reported, the Cormack-Lehane of the two patients incidentally extubated was III in both cases. Conclusions: Yes, the use of Totaltrack ® was found useful in all cases. The use of Totaltrack ® allows an optimal visualization of the airway, the intubation is not complicated and can be performed with rapid sequence, independently of the difficult intubation predictor index and the Cormack Lehane. clave: Video-máscara laríngea, aérea,
Japanese Perspectives on Pharmaceutical Product Release Rate Testing

The current recommendations for dissolution testing in the Japanese Pharmacopeia are discussed. The use of dissolution tests and bioequivalence studies in the Japanese drug regulatory process is also briefly introduced. The Japanese Pharmacopeia is unique in stating that a major purpose of dissolution testing is to prevent significant bioinequivalence. To achieve this, and to allow for the high incidence of achlorhydria in Japan, the Japanese Pharmacopeia recommends testing in a buffer solution at pH 6.8 or in water, especially for sugar-coated and film-coated tablets. These are often tested in 0.1 M HCl in the United States Pharmacopeia. Parallel dissolution and disintegration tests using pH 1.2 and pH 6.8 solutions are also recommended by the Japanese Pharmacopeia for enteric-coated tablets due to the high in vitro-in vivo correlation compared with sequential tests. Adopting rational acceptance criteria, developing calibrators, and the application of release testing to semi-solid nonoral dosage forms are future issues for the Japanese Pharmacopeia
Parkinson’s Disease-linked LRRK2 structure and model for microtubule interaction

Leucine Rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2) is the most commonly mutated gene in familial Parkinson’s disease. LRRK2 is proposed to function in membrane trafficking and co-localizes with microtubules. We report the 3. 5Å structure of the catalytic half of LRRK2, and an atomic model of microtubule-associated LRRK2 built using a reported 14Å cryo-electron tomography in situ structure. We propose that the conformation of LRRK2’s kinase domain regulates its microtubule interaction, with a closed conformation favoring binding. We show that the catalytic half of LRRK2 is sufficient for microtubule binding and blocks the motility of the microtubule-based motors kinesin and dynein in vitro. Kinase inhibitors that stabilize an open conformation relieve this interference and reduce LRRK2 filament formation in cells, while those that stabilize a closed conformation do not. Our findings suggest that LRRK2 is a roadblock for microtubule-based motors and have implications for the design of therapeutic LRRK2 kinase inhibitors.