Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transmission Lags of Monetary Policy: A Meta-Analysis

The transmission of monetary policy to the economy is generally thought to have long and variable lags. In this paper we quantitatively review the modern literature on monetary transmission to provide stylized facts on the average lag length and the sources of variability. We collect sixty-seven published studies and examine when prices bottom out after a monetary contraction. The average transmission lag is twenty-nine months, and the maximum decrease in prices reaches 0.9 percent on average after a 1-percentage-point hike in the policy rate. Transmission lags are longer in developed economies (twenty-five to fifty months) than in post-transition economies (ten to twenty months). We find that the factor most effective in explaining this heterogeneity is financial development: greater financial development is associated with slower transmission.
A Review on Music Emotion Recognition Devangi Doshi

Music is a form of art and cultural activity that has an ability to make us feel in a certain way. Music Emotion Recognition is an upcoming area of research in Music Information Retrieval community. The paper describes a short review on how emotion recognition can implemented. The collection of emotion datasets along with music datasets are used to determine an emotion for a particular music piece using certain Artificial Intelligence algorithms. Representation methods for music files and emotions have been described for algorithm implementation. A case study gives an insight of suitable algorithms.
Australian Firearm Related Deaths: New Findings and Implications for Crime Prevention and Health Policies following revisions to Official Death Count Data

Legislative interventions to address firearms misuse have received international attention in both crime prevention and public health and safety discourse. In 1996, Australian firearms legislation was tightened significantly, providing a 'natural experimental design'. Since that time, a series of studies have evaluated impacts of the legislative changes, with varying results. However, additional years of data have become available and official death count data have been substantially revised since those studies were published. The current study considered whether these new data may lead to novel findings and insights, relative to earlier studies. Time series analyses were used to evaluate firearm and non-firearm deaths. Observed and predicted firearm homicide trends did not differ significantly post-legislative reforms, while firearm suicide, non-firearm suicide and non-firearm homicide were all significantly lower than predicted. Broader social, cultural, and economic factors may have influenced both firearm and non-firearm injury in Australia. This has implications for crime prevention and public health and safety policies internationally.
A Technology Overview and Applications of Bio-MEMS

Miniaturization of conventional technologies has long been understood to have many benefits, like: lower cost of production, lower form factor leading to portable applications, and lower power consumption. Micro/Nano fabrication has seen tremendous research and commercial activity in the past few decades buoyed by the silicon revolution. As an offset of the same fabrication platform, the Micro-electro-mechanicalsystems (MEMS) technology was conceived to fabricate complex mechanical structures on a micro level. MEMS technology has generated considerable research interest recently, and has even led to some commercially successful applications. Almost every smart phone is now equipped with a MEMS accelerometer-gyroscope system. MEMS technology is now being used for realizing devices having biomedical applications. Such devices can be placed under a subset of MEMS called the Bio-MEMS (Biological MEMS). In this paper, a brief introduction to the Bio-MEMS technology and the current state of art applications is discussed.
Correlation between Ki-67 and telomerase expression with in situ hybridization for high-risk human papillomavirus

The objective of this research was to evaluate the relationship of Ki-67 and telomerase expression with the progression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and the physical state of the DNA of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) types. A comparative study was done on 80 biopsies of human (female) cervical tissue, distributed in the following manner: 20 CIN-negative biopsies and 60 CIN-positive biopsies of varying grades. The detection of the proteins Ki-67 and telomerase was performed through immunohistochemistry; the detection of HR-HPV, by in situ hybridization. The expression of Ki-67 and telomerase increased with the progression of the CIN lesion (p <0.001). The HR-HPV genome was detected in 75% of the cases with CIN, as well as in 20% of the tissues without histological lesions (p=0.001). A significant association was found between the increase in telomerase and Ki-67 expression and the integration of the DNA of HR-HPV. The overexpression of Ki-67, telomerase and the presence the integration of the DNA of HR-HPV are evidenced by more aggressive lesions that may progress to invasive carcinoma.
Behavioral Phenotyping of Digital Health Tracker Data

With the surge in popularity of wearable technologies a large percentage of the US population is now tracking activities such as sleep, diet and physical exercise. In this study we empirically evaluate the ability to predict metrics (e.g., weekly alcohol consumption) directly related to health outcomes from densely sampled, multi-variate time series of behavioral data. Our predictive models are based on temporal convolutional neural networks and take as input the raw historical time series of daily step counts, sleep duration, and weight scale usage sourced from an online population of thousands of digital trackers. The prediction accuracy achieved outperforms several strong baselines that use hand-engineered features and indicates that tracker data contains valuable information on individuals’ lifestyles even for behavioral aspects seemingly unrelated to the measured quantities. We believe that this insight can be applied to the design of new digital interventions and enable future largescale preventive care strategies.
Precommercial Thinning Reduces Snowshoe Hare Abundance in the Short Term

Abstract Management of young forests is not often considered in conservation plans, but young forests provide habitat for some species of conservation concern. Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus), critical prey of forest carnivores including the United States federally threatened Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), can be abundant in young montane and subalpine forests with densely spaced saplings and shrub cover. Precommercial thinning (PCT) is a silvicultural technique that reduces sapling and shrub density on young forest stands. We tested for effects of PCT on snowshoe hare abundance for 2 years after experimental treatment at 3 replicate study areas. We also tested the effectiveness of a precommercial thinning with reserves (PCT-R) prescription, where 20% of the total stand was retained in uncut quarter-hectare patches. All stands were in montane–subalpine coniferous forests of western Montana, USA, where there is a persistent population of Canada lynx. Posttreatment changes in abundance were strongly negative on stands treated with standard PCT prescriptions (100% of the stand was treated), relative to both controls and stands treated with PCT-R. Trapping, snowtrack, and winter fecal-pellet indices indicated that snowshoe hares used the quarter-ha retention patches more than thinned portions of the PCT-R-treated stands in winter. We suggest that managing forest landscapes for high snowshoe hare abundance will require adoption of silvicultural techniques like PCT-R for stands that will be thinned, in addition to conservation of structurally valuable early and late-successional forest stands.
A Single Input Single Output Formulation for Yaw Rate and Sideslip Angle Control via Torque-Vectoring

Many torque-vectoring controllers are based on the concurrent control of yaw rate and sideslip angle through complex multi-variable control structures. In general, the target is to continuously track a reference yaw rate, and constrain the sideslip angle to remain within thresholds that are critical for vehicle stability. To achieve this objective, this paper presents a single input single output (SISO) formulation, which varies the reference yaw rate to constrain sideslip angle. The performance of the controller is successfully validated through simulations and experimental tests on an electric vehicle prototype with four drivetrains
Cognitive Features of Vascular Dementia

A lot of studies have focused on cerebrovascular disease as an independent cause of dementia. In a study with consecutive stroke patients aged sixty and older, 26.3% of patients were demented three months after the stroke (Desmond et al., 2000). Within the demented patients, 57.1% had dementia directly related with stroke and 38.7% had dementia due to the combined effects of stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. Considering high prevalence of stroke, the prevalence of vascular dementia should be substantially high. Therefore early accurate diagnosis is crucial to the effective management of patients with vascular dementia. Recognizing a specific pattern of neuropsychological impairment could be a good diagnostic tool of vascular dementia. However, Cognitive features of vascular dementia are not homogenous because of various features, pathophysiology, and location of cerebrovascular diseases. Adopting the cognitive criteria of Alzheimer’s disease, which requires early prominent memory impairment, for use in vascular dementia could be erroneous in many cases of vascular dementia. Memory impairment has been an essential component of the operational criteria of dementia such as Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) and even in National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the Association Internationale pour La Recherche et l’Enseignement en Neuroscienes (NINDS-AIREN) criteria (McKhann G et al., 1994). On the other hand, in the Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Center (ADDTC) criteria (Chui et al., 1992) they do not require memory impairment as crucial element but need deterioration of intellectual function sufficient to interfere with customary affairs of life. Until now, many reports showed that frontal executive dysfunction is a prominent symptom of vascular dementia as well as less prominent memory impairment (Bowler et al., 1994, Tatemichi et al., 1992). It could be more appropriate omitting memory impairment as an essential component of the criteria of vascular dementia because of various locations of cerebrovascular lesion and of specified functional areas of human brain. In accordance with such ideas, impairment of two or more cognitive domains, not essentially include memory Impairment, was suggested as the diagnostic requirement of vascular dementia (Bowler & Hachinski, 2003). In this chapter we will focus on subcortical mild cognitive impairment and subcortical ischemic vascular dementia because of the relative homogeneity, higher prevalence (Roman et al., 2002; Erkinjuntti et al., 2000), and distinctive clinical features similar to Alzheimer’s disease.
Contra QPI- Continuous Functions in Ideal Bitopological Spaces

In this paper, we apply the notion of qpI-open sets and qpI-continuous functions to present and study a new class of functions called contra qpI-continuous functions in ideal bitopological spaces. Keywords: Ideal bitopological space, qpI-open sets, qpI-continuous functions, qpI -irresolute functions.
Differentiating emotion elicited and deliberate emotional facial expressions

Recent research suggests the potential importance of dynamic aspects (e.g. speed of onset and ofset and degree of irregularity) of facial movement for the encoding of spontaneous versus deliberate emotional facial expressions. The present studies were conducted to investigate whether emotion elicited and deliberate facial expressions of happiness and disgust difer regarding their dynamic features. Two experiments were designed to elicit spontaneous and deliberate facial expressions of happiness and disgust. The experiments difered regarding the deliberate facial expressions, which were either poses (Experiment I) or masking deceptions (Experiment 2). Experiment 2 confirmed Ekman and Friesen S (1982) notion, that spontaneous expressions have slower onsets and ofsets than do deliberate expressions. The data show that dynamic aspects of the facial expressions diferentiate between elicitation conditions. However, the evidence was more consistently found for the degree of irregularity of the expression than for the speed of onset and ofset.
Localization of a novel 252-kDa plasma membrane protein that binds Cry1A toxins in the midgut epithelia of Bombyx mori

We previously demonstrated that a novel 252-kDa protein (P252) isolated from brush border membranes (BBM) of Bombyx mori, hybrid Shurei×Shogetsu, specifically bound Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac toxins with a Kd of 29, 179 and 20 nM, respectively. P252 was found in a Triton X-100–soluble fraction of BBM from first, third and fifth instar larvae, suggesting that it may be an important element of midgut epithelial cell membranes. P252 was not partitioned into a Triton X-100–insoluble BBM fraction and nearly identical partitioning of P252 was observed using detergents CHAPS and Igepal. These results suggested that P252 localized in non-raft regions of BBM. Immunofluorescence analysis using anti-P252 antiserum demonstrated the existence of P252 in BBMV. Cy3-labeled Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac were shown to bind to BBMV, and the addition of anti-P252 antiserum reduced the number of BBMV showing Cy3 fluorescence by 30%. This clearly suggested an important role for P252 in Cry1A binding to BBMV. CD spectra of a mixture of purified P252 with either Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab or Cry1Ac were compared with those of respective free Cry1A toxins and only one of the mixtures (Cry1Aa/P252) was shown to be significantly changed compared to that of native Cry1Aa.
An IWRM approach in western Ukraine : Integrated eco-hydrological modeling and diffuse pollution simulation strategies

INTRODUCTION The aim of the Water Framework Directive is to achieve clean water across the European Union. Under this directive, water management is based on river basins. Some of these basins cross from the European Union to neighboring countries. The Western Bug basin is an example of it. This basin is situated in the north-west part of Ukraine, south-western Belarus and the central eastern part of Poland. The Western Bug is the second largest tributary of the Vistula which drains into the Baltic Sea. This watershed stands representative for many catchments in Central and East Europe which have gone through a political turnover. After the independence of Ukraine in 1991 the catchment experienced large societal changes (Schanze et al., 2012). Due to out-of-date sewage treatment infrastructure as well as diffuse sources from agricultural activities the water resources of the Bug are currently characterized by water scarcity and remarkable water pollution (cf. Ertel et al., 2012). Therefore, there is a need to adapt land management to minimize leaching of nutrients and other chemicals while taking into account the complexity of the economic, social, and ecological processes. The integrated project IWAS “International Water Research Alliance of Saxony – Water Research in the Ukraine” aims to contribute to an Integrated Water Resources Management in hydrological sensitive regions by developing specific system solutions as a response to some of the most pressing water-related problems of our time. Within the IWAS Framework the overall aim of our working group was to assess how severe the diffused pollution has impacted the Western Bug catchment by means of spatially distributed water and matter modeling. The objective of this study was to assess to applicability of the eco-hydrological SWAT model to reproduce the water balance and nitrate flux under scarce availability of input and calibration data. Subsequently, the methodology is presented as it is currently being applied to our study site.
Effects of uniaxial pressure on polar whispering gallery modes in microspheres

We investigate the detuning of whispering gallery modes (WGMs) in solid polystyrene microspheres (PM) as a function of axisymmetric stress applied to two antipodal points of the microsphere we call poles. We specifically investigate WGMs passing close to these poles, so-called polar WGMs. The applied uniaxial pressure reduces the geometrical circumference of the PM but also increases locally the refractive index at the flattened poles. Our experiments show that the WGMs shift to higher frequencies with increasing pressure and that the magnitude of the strain-induced shift depends on the radial mode number n. Furthermore an energy splitting between azimuthal modes linearly increasing with the pressure is observed. A theoretical model based on a classical ray optics approach is presented which reproduces the main results of our experimental observations.
Casting the lean spell: The promotion, dilution and erosion of lean management in the NHS

Lean thinking has recently re-emerged as a fashionable management philosophy, especially in public services. A prescriptive or mainstream literature suggests that lean is rapidly diffusing into public sector environments, providing a much-needed rethink of traditional ways of working and stimulating performance improvements. Our study of the introduction of lean in a large UK public sector hospital challenges this argument. Based on a three-year ethnographic study of how employees make sense of lean ‘adoption’, we describe a process in which lean ideas were initially championed, later diluted and ultimately eroded. While initially functioning as a ‘mechanism of hope’ (Brunsson, 2006) around which legitimacy could be generated for tackling longstanding work problems, over time both ‘sellers’ and ‘buyers’ of the concept mobilized lean in ambiguous ways, to the extent that the notion was rendered somewhat meaningless. Ultimately, our analysis rejects current prescriptive or managerialist discourses on lean while offering support for prior positions that would explain such management fashions in terms of the ‘life cycle of a fad’.
Stereoscopic Rendering with Artistic Styles

We present a stereoscopic rendering scheme of 3D models with artistic styles including cartoon rendering contour drawing. Our scheme design separate projection matrices for both eyes and apply them to generate two images. After that, we apply artistic styles for the images. To preserve the coherence of the images, we design an image space algorithm that modifies the artistic effects of both images to reduce the difference of the artistic styles.
FORMULATION DESIGN AND OPTIMIZATION OF HERBAL GEL CONTAINING ALBIZIA LEBBECK BARK EXTRACT

Objective: Herbal gels are having a lot of advantages over conventional gels in minimizing side effects and increasing the therapeutic efficacy. The objective of the study is to formulate and evaluate topical gel formulations containing methanolic and Ethyl acetate (EA) extracts of Albizia lebbeck (common name: Dirsina) bark which has been identified to have anti-inflammatory activity. Methods: The gel formulations were fabricated using bark extracts with different solvents like (Methanol and Ethyl acetate). The different polymers like carbopol, sodium CMC, sodium alginate in different ratios were used in formulating the gels. Dibutyl pthalate is used as permeation enhancer; Methyl paraben and propyl paraben are used as preservatives; glycerin is used as a humectant. The p H of the gel is maintained in the range of 6.8 -7 by using triethanolamine to prevent itching and irritation of the skin. The physicochemical parameters like pH, viscosity, spreadability, etc., have been studied. Diffusion studies have been carried out using Franz Diffusion cell. Stability studies and FTIR studies showed compatibility between polymer and extracts. Results: It is observed that all the formulations showed good viscosity and spreadability. The formulation containing Sodium CMC+Sodium alginate of methanolic extract and Sodium CMC of E.A extract has showed better viscosity and spreadability compared to other formulations. The diffusion studies carried out for all the formulations shows satisfactory diffusion. Conclusion: As the formulations contains the natural product as API it has very less side effects compared to other products and it is also very economical due to the wide spread availability of the plant.
Performance Characteristics of Rectangular Patch Antenna

Micro strip antennas are among the most widely used types of antennas in the microwave frequency range, and they are often used in the millimeter-wave frequency range as well (Below approximately 1 GHz, the size of a micro strip antenna is usually too large to be practical, and other types of antennas such as wire antennas dominate). Also called patch antennas, micro strip patch antennas consist of a metallic patch of metal that is on top of a grounded dielectric substrate of thickness h, with relative permittivity and permeability εr and μr. Here we have generated simulations using HFSS software to know the performance characteristics of rectangular patch antenna. The design parameters are also discussed along with simulations. We observed performances of return loss, directivity, radiation boundaries, excitations and gain over its operating frequency.
Modern active filters and traditional passive filters

Unlike traditional passive filters, modern active filters have the following multiple functions; harmonic filtering, damping, isolation and termination, reactive-power control for power factor correction and voltage regulation, load balancing, voltage-flicker reduction, and/or their combinations. Significant cost reductions in both power semiconductor devices and signal-processing devices have inspired manufactures to put active filters on the market. This paper deals with general pure active filters for power conditioning, and specific hybrid active filters for harmonic filtering of three-phase diode rectifiers, as well as traditional passive filters.
The high strain compression of micro- and nano-sized random irregular honeycombs

This paper investigates the effects of cell wall thickness, initial stress/strain, and cell regularity on the high strain compressive responses of micro- and nano-sized low density random irregular honeycombs. The strain gradient effects at the micrometer scale, and the surface elasticity and initial stress effects at the nanometer scale are incorporated into the dominant deformation mechanisms in finite element simulations. It is found that the dimensionless compressive stress strain relation strongly depends on the thickness of the cell walls at the micron scale, and at the nano-meter scale, this relation is not only size-dependent, but are also tunable and controllable over a large range. It is also found that under high strain compression, the Poisson’s ratios of micro- and nano-sized low density random irregular honeycombs strongly depend on the cell regularity, but are almost independent of the cell wall thickness and the amplitudes of the initial stress or strain.