Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Feeding habits and oral hygiene practices as determinants of early childhood caries in 3- to 5-year-old children of Belgaum City, India.

PURPOSE To investigate whether feeding and oral hygiene practices of preschool children are associated with the risk and prevalence of Early Childhood Caries (EC). MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study comprising 1250 children aged 3 to 5 years from Belgaum was designed. On the first day, validated questionnaires along with parental informed consent forms were distributed to the children and were collected after a week. Validated questionnaires consisted of 20 close-ended questions pertaining to feeding and oral hygiene practices. Consent was obtained from parents of the 1116 children who were examined for EC. Data analysis included correlation coefficients and logistic regressions. RESULTS Among the children studied, 97.3% were breastfed, of which 41.25% were breastfed until 2 years of age. Seventy- five percent of children who were breastfed beyond 2 years were affected by EC. Exclusive bottle feeding was practiced in 46.15%; 64.85% of them suffered from EC. Burping was not practiced in 25.18%, and 68.68% of these were affected by EC. EC was more prevalent in 89% of children who were weaned later than 12 months of age. Parental assistance for oral hygiene was not seen in 37.27% and 67.22% of these suffered from EC. Overall, 63.17% of the children were affected by EC. CONCLUSION Prolonged breastfeeding, absence of burping the child, delay in starting oral hygiene practices and lack of parental assistance with the same were shown to be significant determining factors for EC. Health education and proper guidelines on feeding and oral hygiene practices can substantially reduce the risk and prevalence of EC.
Influence of Corporate Governance on the Extent of Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Reporting

This study examines the influence of corporate governance on the extent of corporate social responsibility and environmental reporting (CSER) in Libyan companies according to legitimacy theory, using quantitative and qualitative methods. The variables used in this study are government ownership, chief executive officer duality, board independence, and board size. The study was conducted in Libya because this country has a unique political and economic system. Moreover, the regime in Libya has influenced the nature of CSER, as has Islamic factor. The quantitative data consist of 162 annual reports derived from 42 Libyan companies. The qualitative data are obtained from 31 financial and information managers from the largest Libyan companies, who expressed their perceptions regarding the influence of the study variables on the extent of CSER. Results confirm that corporate governance generally has no influence on the extent of CSER in Libyan companies, with the exception of board size.
A Meta-Analysis of General and Partial Equilibrium Simulations of Trade Liberalization under the Doha Development Agenda

Model-based simulation of welfare effects is commonly used to make a case for trade liberalisation and to inform participants and stakeholders in trade negotiations. However, the simulated welfare effects of trade liberalisation vary greatly, even across studies that model similar liberalisation scenarios. This undermines confidence in the reliability of model-based simulations. A meta-analysis of over 100 studies that model WTO Doha Development Agenda trade negotiation outcomes is employed to identify characteristics of models, databases and liberalisation experiments that influence simulated welfare effects. Meta-regressions produce plausible results and explain a significant proportion of the variation in simulated welfare effects in a representative sample of Doha Development Agenda trade liberalisation studies. Results also reveal that many quantitative trade policy simulation studies fail to adequately document the assumptions and data on which they are based. Copyright 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Identifying Emotional Support in Online Health Communities

Extracting emotional support in Online Health Communities provides insightful information about patients’ emotional states. Current computational approaches to identifying emotional messages, i.e., messages that contain emotional support, are typically based on a set of handcrafted features. In this paper, we show that high-level and abstract features derived from a combination of convolutional neural networks (CNN) with Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) networks can be successfully employed for emotional message identification and can obviate the need for handcrafted features.
Quality of life among pulmonary hypertension patients in Finland

Background The purpose of the study was to examine pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients’ quality of life (QOL) for the first time in Finland. Methods This was a non-interventional, cross-sectional study. The SF-36v2 questionnaire was sent to the PH patients who had been referred to or followed up on at the Helsinki University Central Hospital's pulmonary clinic for idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (APAH), or chronic thromboembolic PH (CTEPH). The patients were on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) – specific drugs, were at least 18 years old, and had signed an informed consent. Results There were 62 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and 53% of respondents rated their health as moderate. Similarly, 55% of respondents rated their health status approximately the same compared to their situation 1 year ago. QOL was impaired in all other subscales, except for the mental health and mental component score. A majority of patients suffered from PH symptoms, which worsened their QOL. The greatest impact on their QOL was associated with a high World Health Organization (WHO) functional class (FC), poor performance in a 6-min walking test (6MWT), symptoms, oxygen therapy, elevated pro-brain natriuretic peptide, pericardial effusion, APAH etiology, and being retired from work. Conclusions The respondents had a reduced QOL, compared to the general population, in all other subscales, except for mental health. APAH patients had the worst QOL. Good results in functional capacity measures (WHO FC, 6MWT) were associated with a better QOL. Patients’ QOL can be improved by reducing the symptoms of PAH.
Risk, Policy Rules, and Noise: Rethinking Deviations from Uncovered Interest Parity

This paper investigates why the forward premium predicts the future depreciation with the `wrong' sign and why the unobserved deviation from rational uncovered interest parity is negatively correlated with and is more volatile than the rationally expected depreciation. We examine the ability of three models to account for the data. They are, (i) the standard representative-agent asset pricing model, (ii) a model of monetary-policy with exchange-rate feedback, and (iii) a model of noise trading. Although the noise-trader model is highly stylized, calibrating the model to estimates from the literature analyzing survey expectations produces fragmentary evidence in favor of this approach.
The Strategy-Performance Relationship Revisited: The Blessing and the Curse of the Combination Strategy

This study considers the viability of the combination strategy with regard to the Porter and Miles & Snow generic strategy typologies. Within each framework, it is possible to pursue a “combination strategy,” whereby dimensions of two or more pure strategies are incorporated simultaneously. The present study presents findings from a recent assessment of perceptions of 415 American and Mexican managers regarding their firms’ strategies and levels of performance. Data suggests that combination strategies can be associated with either inferior or superior performance. This paper also suggests that additional research should considerre‐visit the I/O versus resource‐based schism and seek to integrate the two schools of thought into a broader consensus.
An Assessment of the Agricultural Economics Profession

I' U I r. t DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND RESOURCE ECONOl\1ICS ~ . ----. DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES lE- NIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA . d-- 8CvlCeLtVC'J ' WORKING PAPER NO. 509 AN ASSESSMENT OF TIIE AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS PROFESSION by Richard E. Just and Gordon C. Rausser California Agricultural Experiment Station Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics August, 1989
Ultra-efficient processing in-memory for data intensive applications

Recent years have witnessed a rapid growth in the domain of Internet of Things (IoT). This network of billions of devices generates and exchanges huge amount of data. The limited cache capacity and memory bandwidth make transferring and processing such data on traditional CPUs and GPUs highly inefficient, both in terms of energy consumption and delay. However, many IoT applications are statistical at heart and can accept a part of inaccuracy in their computation. This enables the designers to reduce complexity of processing by approximating the results for a desired accuracy. In this paper, we propose an ultra-efficient approximate processing in-memory architecture, called APIM, which exploits the analog characteristics of non-volatile memories to support addition and multiplication inside the crossbar memory, while storing the data. The proposed design eliminates the overhead involved in transferring data to processor by virtually bringing the processor inside memory. APIM dynamically configures the precision of computation for each application in order to tune the level of accuracy during runtime. Our experimental evaluation running six general OpenCL applications shows that the proposed design achieves up to 20× performance improvement and provides 480× improvement in energy-delay product, ensuring acceptable quality of service. In exact mode, it achieves 28× energy savings and 4.8× speed up compared to the state-of-the-art GPU cores.
Size dependent oscillator strength of CdSe quantum dots determined by nanophotonic control

Control over spontaneous emission of quantum dots is important for many applications, especially as light sources in photonic materials and nanostructures[1–3]. Colloidal CdSe quantum dots have recently generated enormous interest because of the tunability of their emission energy with particle diameter over the entire visible range. The strength of the interaction of a quantum dot with the light field is determined by the oscillator strength, making the oscillator strength a crucial parameter for successful inhibition and enhancement of spontaneous emission.
Chapter 2 Aerobic Metabolism and the Steady-State Concept

This chapter contains an analysis of the steady-state concept, as it is applied during light exercise. In this case, oxygen consumption increases upon exercise onset to attain a steady level, which can be maintained for a long period of time. The steady-state oxygen consumption is proportional to the exerted mechanical power. Under these circumstances, there is neither accumulation of lactate in blood nor changes in muscle phosphocreatine concentration: aerobic metabolism sustains the entire energy requirement of the exercising body. Once the steady state has been attained, the flow of oxygen is the same at all levels along the respiratory system. The quantitative relations determining the flow of oxygen across the alveoli and in blood are discussed. Special attention is given to the effects of ventilation—perfusion inequality and to the diffusion—perfusion interaction equations. The cardiovascular responses at exercise steady state are analysed in the context of the equilibrium between systemic oxygen delivery and systemic oxygen return. The relationship between oxygen consumption and power is discussed, along with the distinction between external and internal work during cycling. The concepts of mechanical efficiency of exercise and energy cost of locomotion are analysed. Concerning the latter, the distinction between aerodynamic work and frictional work is introduced. The roles of the cross-sectional surface area on the frontal plane and of air density in aerodynamic work are discussed. To end with, an equation linking ventilation, circulation and metabolism at exercise in a tight manner is developed, around the notion that the homeostasis of the respiratory system at exercise is maintained around given values of the constant oxygen return. This equation tells that, as long as we are during steady-state exercise in normoxia, any increase in the exercise metabolic rate requires an increase in ventilation that is proportional to that in oxygen consumption only if the pulmonary respiratory quotient stays invariant does not change, and an increase in cardiac output that is not proportional to the corresponding increase in oxygen consumption. At intense exercise, when lactate accumulation also occurs and hyperventilation superimposes, a new steady state would be attained only at PACO2 values lower than 40 mmHg: the homeostasis of the respiratory system would be modified. This new steady state, however, is never attained in fact, for reasons that are discussed in Chap. 3. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015 G. Ferretti, Energetics of Muscular Exercise, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-05636-4_2 29
An Information Statistical Approach to the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem in Incidence Rate Maps

The modifiable areal unit problem becomes apparent when incidence rates are mapped on the basis of areal units. Although small units with high spatial accuracy can present unreliable rates, large spatial units may remove relevant geographical variation. Regarding mapping as a kind of statistical modelling, this author proposes a new methodology to select appropriate areal units using the Akaike information criterion and two search methods for an informative geographical aggregation in map construction. The optimal zoning of similarity is suitable for finding spatial anomalies but presents a biased overall pattern. An alternative approach is to cluster areal units according to explanatory variables: this shows clear spatial patterns of elderly men's mortality matching the ecological structure in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
What is European Economic and Monetary Union Telling Us About the Properties of Optimum Currency Areas?

Our understanding of optimum currency area (OCA) properties has changed over time. While all properties can now be discussed in detail, the challenge of weighing and reconciling them remains. Looking ahead, we may be confronted with two distinct paradigms: specialization versus 'endogeneity of OCA' that may give rise to a paradox if taken to the extreme. The merits of OCA theory as an organizing device and a research catalyst are underlined, but its limitations are also revealed. Also noted here is the complementarity between empirical studies of OCA properties and progress toward EMU. Copyright 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Developmentally regulated synthesis of an unusually small, basic peptide by Coxiella burnetii

Coxiella burnetii undergoes a poorly defined developmental cycle within phagolysosomes of eukaryotic host cells. Two distinct developmental forms are part of this cycle: a small‐cell variant (SCV) and large‐cell variant (LCV). Ultrastructurally, the SCV is distinguished from the LCV by its smaller size and condensed chromatin. At a molecular level, little is known about morphogenesis in C. burnetii, and no proteins specific to the SCV have been identified. Preparative isoelectric focusing was conducted to purify basic proteins possibly involved in SCV chromatin structure. A predominant protein of low Mr was present in the most basic fraction, eluting with a pH of approx. 11. Degenerate deoxyoligonucleotides corresponding to the N‐terminal sequence of this protein were used to recover a cosmid clone from a C. burnetii genomic library. Nucleotide sequencing of insert DNA revealed an open reading frame designated scvA (small‐cell‐variant protein A) with coding potential for a 30 amino acid protein (ScvA) with a predicted Mr of 3610. ScvA is 46% arginine plus 46% glutamine with a predicted pi of 12.6. SDS‐PAGE and silver staining of lysates of SCV and LCV purified by caesium chloride‐equilibrium density centrifugation revealed a number of proteins unique to each cell type. Immunoblot analysis with ScvA antiserum demonstrated the presence of ScvA only in the SCV. By immunoelectron microscopy, ScvA antiserum labelled only the SCV, with the label concentrated on the condensed nucleoid. In addition, ScvA bound double‐stranded DNA in gel mobility‐shift assays. A 66% reduction in the mean number of gold particles per Coxiella cell was observed at 12 h post‐infection when compared with the starting inoculum. Collectively, these data suggest that synthesis of ScvA is developmentally regulated, and that the protein may serve a structural or functional role as an integral component of the SCV chromatin. Moreover, degradation of this protein may be a necessary prerequisite for morphogenesis from SCV to LCV.
Rediscussing Anticoagulation in Distal Deep Venous Thrombosis

Background: Distal deep venous thrombosis (DVT) accounts for approximately half of all the cases of lower limb thrombosis. The impact and management of this condition is still controversial. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with distal DVT in comparison to proximal DVT and evaluate the correlation between DVT and PE extension. Methods: 100 patients with acute lower limb DVT diagnosed with whole leg Doppler ultrasound from January 2006 to December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Active investigation for PE was carried out in all patients using multislice computed tomography angiography. Classification of DVT and PE was based on the proximal extension of the thrombus. Results: The overall incidence of PE in our sample patients was 72%. In the subgroup analysis, incidence of PE was equal in both the proximal and distal DVT groups (77%, p > 0.99). PE was detected in 43% of the patients with isolated calf vein thrombosis (ICVT). No statistical difference was observed between the distribution of lobar, segmental and subsegmental PE in the 3 DVT subgroups (p = 0.665); however, truncular PE was only observed in the proximal DVT group. Conclusion: Distal DVT is associated with a high incidence of PE compared to proximal DVT. Distal DVT and ICVT can provoke PE with involvement of proximal vessels in the pulmonary arterial tree, even in asymptomatic patients. Our study arises discussion in the controversial debate regarding the need for routine anticoagulation in distal DVT.
The Anomaly That Isn't There: A Comment on Friday the Thirteenth

Mean (%) 0.1035 0.3141 0.2603 0.1821 -0.4848 0.1934 Standard Deviation (%) 0.7012 0.6480 0.4510 0.4132 0.6516 0.9699 Observations 82 16 19 16 16 15 Other Fridays Mean (%) 0.0726 -0.0472 0.1720 0.0955 0.0742 0.0656 Standard Deviation (%) 0.7506 0.8465 0.6157 0.5391 0.8143 0.8881 Observations 2,318 484 477 483 490 384 t-Statistica 0.39 2.17b 0.82 0.82 3.35b 0.50
Transradial percutaneous coronary intervention in acute ST elevation myocardial infarction and high-risk patients : experience in a single centre without cardiothoracic surgical backup

Correspondence to: Dr Tan Chong Hiok Tel: (65) 6850 3562 Fax: (65) 6260 9173 Email: chong_hiok_ tan@cgh.com. sg ABSTRACT Introduction: Primary transradial percutaneous coronary intervention (TRI) is shown to be eff icacious in stable patients with acute coronary syndrome. We aimed to evaluate the application of primary TRI for acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), including among high-risk patients from our registry.
Averting expenditures and valuation of damages: two methods for assessing the benefits of water filtration in Israel

This paper presents an economic benefit analysis of constructing a filtration plant to serve the Israeli National Water Carrier. The main focus of the paper is a comparison of two methods for evaluating the benefits of the filtration plant: direct valuation of damages caused by consumption of unfiltered water, and assessment of consumers9 willingness to pay for high quality water by analysis of averting expenditures. We also compare the benefit estimates, as derived by the two methods, with the costs of constructing and operating the filtration plant. The central result is that according to both methods of benefit analysis, the benefits of filtration significantly outweigh costs. Another important result is that total public willingness to pay (WTP) for improved water quality is higher than the total damage costs of consumption of unfiltered water. In the last section of the paper, a proposal for dividing the financial burden of constructing and operating the plant between relevant parties is presented.
Private Family Ownership and the Agency Costs of Debt

This article presents empirical evidence on the agency costs of debt in private family firms by examining the explicit (interest rate) as well as implicit (business and personal collateral) bank loan price simultaneously. Using a cross sectional sample of lines-of-credit of the NSSBF database, family firms appear to be more likely to pledge personal collateral which suggests that agency costs of debt are higher in family firms. Hence, personal collateral seems to be a better instrument than interest rates or business collateral for financial institutions to cope with the specific agency problems (e.g. self-control problems and negative effects of parental altruism) in family firms.
A two-stage account of computing and binding occluded and visible contours: Evidence from visual agnosia and effects of lorazepam

Previous work has shown that HJA, a patient suffering from visual agnosia, can complete occluded contours whilst being impaired at assigning contours to foreground and background figures (Giersch, Humphreys, Boucart, & Kovács, 2000). Here we tested whether completed contours are automatically bound with visible contours, after being derived from them. HJA, lorazepam-treated and nontreated healthy participants were asked to match a first reference line with an equal or longer line of identical orientation included in one of two lateral figures. The target line was in the foreground or the background of the figures. The distractor picture included two short collinear line-segments belonging to two different figures, so that participants had to process the occluded parts to discriminate the target from the distractor line. When the target line was in the background, both HJA and lorazepam-treated participants were faster when the length of the reference line corresponded to the length of the occluded part of the target line, relative to when it corresponded to the length of the occluded part plus a visible contour. In contrast, control participants tended to show an advantage for matching a reference line whose length was the same as the visible contours plus the occluded part. However, when the stimuli were displayed for 50 ms only and then masked, controls showed the same results as HJA. These results suggest that responses in the matching tasks are biased by the existence of an early completed occluded line that remains isolated from real contours.
Geometric Homogeneity and Configuration Controllability of Nonlinear Systems

This paper exploits notions of geometric homogeneity to show that (configuration) controllability results for a large class of mechanical systems with drift can be recovered by investigating a class of nonlinear dynamical systems satisfying certain homogeneity conditions. This broad class of mechanical systems, called 1-homogeneous systems, is defined to satisfy certain geometric homogeneous conditions. The properties of geometric homogeneity for vector bundles is developed for application to the analysis of systems with drift, followed by their control theoretic implications within this context. These theorems found in this paper generalize the configuration controllability results for simple mechanical control systems found in Lewis and Murray [34]. We also show how nonlinear controllability results for other classes of mechanical systems may be obtained with these methods.