Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Climatic factors influencing dengue cases in Dhaka city: A model for dengue prediction

Background & objectives: Transmission of dengue virus depends on the presence of Aedes mosquito. Mosquito generation and development is known to be influenced by the climate. This study was carried out to examine whether the climatic factors data can be used to predict yearly dengue cases of Dhaka city, Bangladesh. Methods: Monthly reported dengue cases and climate data for the years 2000–2008 were obtained from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and Meteorological Department of Dhaka, Bangladesh, respectively. Data for the period 2000 to 2007 were used for development of a model through multiple linear regressions. Retrospective validation of the model was done with 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2008 data. Log transformation of the dependent variable was done to normalize data for linear regression. Average monthly humidity, rainfall, minimum and maximum temperature were used as independent variables and number of dengue cases reported monthly was used as dependent variable. Accuracy of the model for predicting outbreak was assessed through receiver operative characteristics (ROC) curve. Results: Climatic factors, i.e. rainfall, maximum temperature and relative humidity were significantly correlated with monthly reported dengue cases. The model incorporating climatic data of two-lag month explained 61 per cent of variation in number of reported dengue cases and this model was found to predict dengue outbreak (≥ 200 cases) with considerable accuracy [area under ROC curve = 0.89, 95%CI = (0.89-0.98)]. Interpretation & conclusions: Our results showed that the climate had a major effect on the occurrence of dengue infection in Dhaka city. Though the prediction model had some limitations in predicting the monthly number of dengue cases, it could forecast possible outbreak two months in advance with considerable accuracy.
WRPN: Training and Inference using Wide Reduced-Precision Networks

For computer vision applications, prior works have shown the efficacy of reducing the numeric precision of model parameters (network weights) in deep neural networks but also that reducing the precision of activations hurts model accuracy much more than reducing the precision of model parameters. We study schemes to train networks from scratch using reduced-precision activations without hurting the model accuracy. We reduce the precision of activation maps (along with model parameters) using a novel quantization scheme and increase the number of filter maps in a layer, and find that this scheme compensates or surpasses the accuracy of the baseline full-precision network. As a result, one can significantly reduce the dynamic memory footprint, memory bandwidth, computational energy and speed up the training and inference process with appropriate hardware support. We call our scheme WRPN - wide reduced-precision networks. We report results using our proposed schemes and show that our results are better than previously reported accuracies on ILSVRC-12 dataset while being computationally less expensive compared to previously reported reduced-precision networks.
Using the Internet to Provide Information Prescriptions

Introduction. An information prescription is the provision of specific information to a patient on how to help manage a health problem. The Internet is being used increasingly as a source for information prescriptions, with clinicians directing patients to specific Web sites. As with any health care intervention, patients' lack of compliance is a barrier to the effectiveness of Web-based information prescriptions (WebIPs). WebIPs cannot be helpful if patients do not review the information prescribed for them. Objective. The main objective of this study was to quantify the percentage of families who visit a Web site that was specifically prescribed by their physician. In addition, the use of an e-mail reminder was used to determine if it increases the likelihood that families will visit the prescribed Web site. Finally, barriers to accessing the prescribed Web site were identified. Methods. Children were eligible if they presented to the pediatric gastroenterology clinic with chronic constipation and/or encopresis and their family had an active e-mail account and access to the Internet in their home. During their clinic visit, physicians instructed families to visit a Web site that provided educational information pertinent to their child's problem. Families were given a form with the Web-site address and a log-in identification number. Two days after their clinic visit, half of the families received an e-mail reminding them to visit the Web site. Families were contacted 1 week after their clinic visit to identify barriers to accessing the Web site. Results. Eighty-three families participated in the study. Of the 83 families, 54 (65%) visited the prescribed Web site within 1 week of their clinic visit. Families who received e-mail reminders were significantly more likely to visit the Web site than families who did not receive an e-mail reminder (77% vs 53%). This difference could not be explained by the type or speed of Internet connection or how frequently they accessed the Internet or e-mail. The most common reasons that families cited for not accessing the Web site were “I forgot” and “I didn't have time. ” Few families cited technical reasons for not accessing the Web site. Conclusions. Almost two thirds of the families given a WebIP logged on to the prescribed Web site. The probability that families would access the site was increased by 45% with an e-mail reminder. Clearly, e-mail prompts improve compliance to WebIPs. As content and treatment programs continue to proliferate on the Web, it is important to identify barriers and solutions to them to improve overall compliance.
Information Asymmetries in Common-Value Auctions with Discrete Signals

We consider common-value hybrid auctions among two asymmetrically informed bidders, where the winning bidder pays his bid with some positive probability k and the losing bid otherwise. Under the assumption of discrete and affiliated signals, we give an explicit characterization of the (unique) equilibrium, based on a simple recurrence relation, which gives rise to a linear-time algorithm for explicitly computing the equilibrium. By analyzing the execution of the algorithm, we derive several insights about the equilibrium structure. First, we show that equilibrium revenue is decreasing in k, and that the limit second-price equilibrium selected as k->0 has highest revenue, in stark contrast to the revenue collapse of the second-price auction predicted by the trembling-hand equilibrium selection of Abraham et al. We further show that the Linkage Principle can fail to hold even in a pure first-price auction with binary signals: public revelation of a signal to both bidders may decrease the auctioneer's revenue. Lastly, we analyze the effects of public acquisition of additional information on bidder utilities and exhibit cases in which both bidders strictly prefer for a specific bidder to receive additional information.
Effective Potentials and the Vacuum Structure of Quantum Field Theories

I review some older work on the effective potentials of quantum field theories, in particular the use of anomalous symmetries to constrain the form of the effective potential, and the background field method for evaluating it perturbatively. Similar techniques have recently been used to great success in studying the effective superpotentials of supersymmetric gauge theories, and one of my motivations is to present some of the older work on non-supersymmetric theories to a new audience. The Gross-Neveu model exhibits the essential features of the techniques. In particular, we see how rewriting the Lagrangian in terms of an appropriate composite background field and performing a perturbative loop expansion gives non-perturbative information about the vacuum of the theory (the fermion condensate). The effective potential for QED in a constant electromagnetic background field strength is derived, and compared to the analogous calculation in non-Abelian Yang-Mills theory. The Yang-Mills effective potential shows that the ``perturbative'' vacuum of Yang-Mills theory is unstable, and the true vacuum has a non-trivial gauge field background. Finally, I describe how some of the limitations seen in the non-supersymmetric theories are removed by supersymmetry, which allows for exact computation of the effective superpotential in many cases.
UV- and Midwave-Sensitive Cone-Driven Retinal Responses of the Mouse: A Possible Phenotype for Coexpression of Cone Photopigments

Molecular biological, histological and flicker electroretinographic results have established that mice have two cone photopigments, one peaking near 350 nm (UV-cone pigment) and a second near 510 nm [midwave (M)-cone pigment]. The goal of this investigation was to measure the action spectra and absolute sensitivities of the UV-cone- and M-cone-driven b-wave responses of C57BL/6 mice. To achieve this goal, we suppressed rod-driven signals with steady or flashed backgrounds and obtained intensity–response relations for cone-driven b-waves elicited by narrowband flashes between 340 and 600 nm. The derived cone action spectra can be described as retinal1pigments with peaks at 355 and 508 nm. The UV peak had an absolute sensitivity of ∼8 nV/(photon μm2) at the cornea, approximately fourfold higher than the M peak. In an attempt to isolate UV-cone-driven responses, it was discovered that an orange conditioning flash (λ > 530 nm) completely suppressed ERG signals driven by both M pigment- and UV pigment-containing cones. Analysis showed that the orange flash could not have produced a detectable response in the UV-cone pathway were their no linkage between M pigment- and UV pigment-generated signals. Because cones containing predominantly the UV and M pigments have been shown to be located largely in separate parts of the mouse retina (Szel et al., 1992), the most probable linkage is coexpression of M pigment in cones primarily expressing UV pigment. New histological evidence supports this interpretation (Gloesman and Ahnelt, 1998). Our data are consistent with an upper bound of ∼3% coexpression of M pigment in the cones that express mostly the UV pigment.
AGN UV and X-ray luminosities in clumpy accretion flows

We consider the fuelling of the central massive black hole in active galactic nuclei (AGN), through an inhomogeneous accretion flow. Performing simple analytical treatments, we show that shocks between elements (clumps) forming the accretion flow may account for the UV and X-ray emission in AGNs. In this picture, a cascade of shocks is expected, where optically thick shocks give rise to optical/UV emission, while optically thin shocks give rise to X-ray emission. The resulting blue bump temperature is found to be quite similar in different AGNs. We obtain that the ratio of X-ray luminosity to UV luminosity is smaller than unity, and that this ratio is smaller in massive objects compared to less massive sources. This is in agreement with the observed LX/LUV ratio and suggests a possible interpretation of the αOX − lUV anticorrelation.
Behavioral effects of a federal minimum wage and income inequality in Germany

Empirical studies on minimum wages are primarily concerned with employment while their effects on income inequality receive less attention. Yet, a popular argument for a federal minimum wage in Germany is that it will prevent in-work poverty and reduce income inequality. We examine this assertion for different minimum wage levels on the basis of a microsimulation model that accounts for the interactions between wages, the tax-benefit system and net incomes at the household level. The methodological approach of an earlier study is extended by incorporating behavioral adjustments at different margins (labor supply and demand, consumption) for the first time into a microsimulation framework at the household level. We use data from the SOEP, the IABS, and the Continuous Household Budget Survey. We show that even a high federal minimum wage will only have a minor impact on inequality among households with at least one minimum-wage worker. Low wage earners are not not concentrated in the lower parts but rather scattered over the income distribution. Wage increases often substitute welfare transfers and are subject to high marginal tax rates. A decline in labor demand could diminish the gains in net incomes up to 50% and higher product prices further reduce these gains even after consumption adjusts. Although it might decrease wage inequality substantially, the distributive impact of a minimum wage on disposable incomes is thus very limited.
LASER SCANNING AND ITS POTENTIAL TO SUPPORT 3D PANORAMIC RECORDING

Today very fast terrestrial laser scanners are available which can be very well combined with panoramic cameras to make 3Dpanoramic recording possible. Due to the very precise depth information of the laser scanner and the high resolved color information provided by the CCD sensor of the panoramic camera 3D-panoramic images of high quality can be obtained. In order to assess the performance of such integrated systems, this presentation gives a short introduction in the ranging principles applied in terrestrial laser scanning. Commercially available terrestrial laser scanners using the measurement principles applicable for panoramic mapping will be presented. Their technical parameters will be discussed with regard to range, angular and depth resolution. Also the problem of moving panoramic mapping will be addressed.
Identifying coronary artery disease from photoplethysmogram

This paper presents the idea of a non invasive screening system for identifying Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) patients from fingertip Photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal. A combined feature set, related to heart rate variability (HRV) as well as shapes of PPG waveform has been defined for distinguishing CAD and non CAD subjects. Support Vector Machine (SVM) is used for classification. Our methodology yields sensitivity and specificity scores of 0.82 and 0.88 respectively in identifying CAD patients on a corpus of 112 subjects, selected from MIMIC II dataset. Further, we achieved sensitivity and specificity scores of of 0.73 and 0.87 on another dataset of 30 subjects, collected from an urban hospital using commercial oximeter device.
Please Scroll down for Article Journal of Peasant Studies Livelihoods Perspectives and Rural Development Livelihoods Perspectives and Rural Development

This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution , reselling , loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. Livelihoods perspectives have been central to rural development thinking and practice in the past decade. But where do such perspectives come from, what are their conceptual roots, and what influences have shaped the way they have emerged? This paper offers an historical review of key moments in debates about rural livelihoods, identifying the tensions, ambiguities and challenges of such approaches. A number of core challenges are identified, centred on the need to inject a more thorough-going political analysis into the centre of livelihoods perspectives. This will enhance the capacity of livelihoods perspectives to address key lacunae in recent discussions, including questions of knowledge, politics, scale and dynamics. Introduction Livelihoods perspectives have been central to rural development thinking and practice in the past decade. But where do such perspectives come from, what are their conceptual roots, and what influences have shaped the way they have emerged? This paper responds to these questions with an historical review of key moments in debates about rural livelihoods, identifying the tensions, ambiguities and challenges of such approaches. A complex archaeology of ideas and practices is revealed which demonstrates the hybrid nature of such concepts, bridging perspectives across different fields of rural development scholarship and practice. Yet, in arguing that livelihoods perspectives are important for integrating insights and interventions beyond disciplinary or sectoral boundaries, the paper also touches on some of the limitations, dangers and challenges. In particular, the paper highlights the problems arising from a simplistic application of synthetic frameworks which have come to dominate certain aspects of applied development discussion and practice over the past decade. Looking to the future the paper identifies a number of core challenges, centred on the need to inject a more thorough-going political analysis …
A General Theory of Competition: Resources, Competences, Productivity, Economic Growth

Introduction Antecedents and Affinities Evolutionary and 'Austrian' Economics Antecedents and Affinities Heterogeneous Demand and Differential Advantage Antecedents and Affinities Business Strategy and Institutional Theory Resource-Advantage Theory Foundational Premises Resource-Advantage Theory An Evolutionary Theory of Competition Productivity, Efficiency and Effectiveness Endogeneous Economic Growth The Wealth of Nations Conclusion
Where Do Creative Interactions Come From? The Role of Tie Content and Social Networks

Understanding the determinants of creativity at the individual and organizational level has been the focus of a long history of research in various disciplines from the social sciences, but little attention has been devoted to studying creativity at the dyadic level. Why are some dyadic interactions more likely than others to trigger the generation of novel and useful ideas in organizations? As dyads conduit both knowledge and social forces, they offer an ideal setting to disentangle the effects of knowledge diversity, tie strength, and network structure on the generation of creative thoughts. This paper not only challenges the current belief that sporadic and distant dyadic relationships (weak ties) foster individual creativity but also argues that diverse and strong ties facilitate the generation of creative ideas. From a knowledge viewpoint, our results suggest that ties that transmit a wide (rather than narrow) set of knowledge domains (within the same tie) favor creative idea generation if exchanges occur with sufficient frequency. From a social perspective, we find that strong ties serve as effective catalysts for the generation of creative ideas when they link actors who are intrinsically motivated to work closely together. Finally, this paper also shows that dyadic network cohesion (i.e., the connections from the focal dyad to common contacts) does not always hinder the generation of creative ideas. Our empirical evidence suggests that when cohesion exceeds its average levels, it becomes detrimental to creative idea generation. Hypotheses are tested in a sociometric study conducted within the development department of a software firm.
Return to activity after concussion affects dual-task gait balance control recovery.

BACKGROUND Recent work has identified deficits in dual-task gait balance control for up to 2 months after adolescent concussion; however, how resumption of preinjury physical activities affects recovery is unknown. PURPOSE The objective of this study is to examine how return to activity (RTA) affects recovery from concussion on measures of symptom severity, cognition, and balance control during single-task and dual-task walking. METHODS Nineteen adolescents with concussion who returned to preinjury activity within 2 months after injury and 19 uninjured, matched controls completed symptom inventories, computerized cognitive testing, and single-task and dual-task gait analyses. Concussion participants were assessed at five time points: within 72 h, 1 wk, 2 wk, 1 month, and 2 months postinjury. Control participants were assessed at the same time points as their matched concussion counterparts. RTA day was documented as the postinjury day in which physical activity participation was allowed. The effect of returning to physical activity was assessed by examining the percent change on each dependent variable across time before and directly after the RTA. Data were analyzed by two-way mixed effects ANOVAs. RESULTS After the RTA day, concussion participants significantly increased their total center-of-mass medial/lateral displacement (P = 0.009, ηp = .175) and peak velocity (P = 0.048, ηp = 0.104) during dual-task walking when compared with pre-RTA data, whereas no changes for the concussion group or between groups were detected on measures of single-task walking, forward movement, or cognition. CONCLUSIONS Adolescents with concussion displayed increased center-of-mass medial/lateral displacement and velocity during dual-task walking after RTA, suggesting a regression of recovery in gait balance control. This study reinforces the need for a multifaceted approach to concussion management and continued monitoring beyond the point of clinical recovery.
Role of the Histone-Like Nucleoid Structuring Protein in the Regulation of rpoS and RpoS-Dependent Genes in Vibrio cholerae

ABSTRACT Production of the Zn-metalloprotease hemagglutinin (HA)/protease by Vibrio cholerae has been reported to enhance enterotoxicity in rabbit ileal loops and the reactogenicity of live cholera vaccine candidates. Expression of HA/protease requires the alternate sigma factor σS (RpoS), encoded by rpoS. The histone-like nucleoid structuring protein (H-NS) has been shown to repress rpoS expression in Escherichia coli. In V. cholerae strains of the classical biotype, H-NS has been reported to silence virulence gene expression. In this study we examined the role of H-NS in the expression of HA/protease and motility in an El Tor biotype strain by constructing a Δhns mutant. The Δhns mutant exhibited multiple phenotypes, such as production of cholera toxin in nonpermissive LB medium, reduced resistance to high osmolarity, enhanced resistance to low pH and hydrogen peroxide, and reduced motility. Depletion of H-NS by overexpression of a dominant-negative allele or by deletion of hns resulted in diminished expression of HA/protease. Epistasis analysis of HA/protease expression in Δhns, ΔrpoS, and Δhns ΔrpoS mutants, analysis of RpoS reporter fusions, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR measurements, and ectopic expression of RpoS in ΔrpoS and ΔrpoS Δhns mutants showed that H-NS posttranscriptionally enhances RpoS expression. The Δhns mutant exhibited a lower degree of motility and lower levels of expression of flaA, flaC, cheR-2, and motX mRNAs than the wild type. Comparison of the mRNA abundances of these genes in wild-type, Δhns, ΔrpoS, and Δhns ΔrpoS strains revealed that deletion of rpoS had a more severe negative effect on their expression. Interestingly, deletion of hns in the rpoS background resulted in higher expression levels of flaA, flaC, and motX, suggesting that H-NS represses the expression of these genes in the absence of σS. Finally, we show that the cyclic AMP receptor protein and H-NS act along the same pathway to positively affect RpoS expression.