Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oral health care activities performed by caregivers for institutionalized elderly in Barcelona-Spain

Objectives: To describe the frequency of brushing teeth and cleaning of dentures, performed by caregivers, for institutionalized elderly people. Methods: A cross-sectional study in a sample of 196 caregivers of 31 health centers in Barcelona. The dependent variables were frequency of dental brushing and frequency of cleaning of dentures of the elderly by caregivers. The independent variables were characteristics of caregivers and institutions. We performed bivariate and multivariate descriptive analyses. Robust Poisson regression models were fitted to determine factors associated with the dependent variables and to assess the strength of the association. Results: 83% of caregivers were women, 79% worked on more than one shift, 42% worked only out of necessity, 92% were trained to care for elderly persons, 67% were trained in oral hygiene care for the elderly, and 73% recognized the existence of institutional protocols on oral health among residents. The variables explaining the lower frequency of brushing teeth by caregivers for the elderly, adjusted for the workload, were: no training in the care of elderly persons (PRa 1.7 CI95%: 1.6-1.8), not fully agreeing with the importance of oral health care of the elderly (PRa 2.5 CI95%: 1.5-4.1) and not knowing of the existence of oral health protocols (PRa 1.8 CI95%: 1.2-2.6). The variables that explain the lower frequency of cleaning dentures, adjusted for the workload, were lack of training in elderly care (PRa 1.7 CI95%: 1.3-1.9) and not knowing of the existence of protocols (PRa 3.7 CI95%: 1.6-8.7). Conclusion: The majority of caregivers perform activities of oral health care for the elderly at least once per day. The frequency of this care depends mainly on whether caregivers are trained to perform these activities, the importance given to oral health, the workload of caregivers and the existence of institutional protocols on oral health of institutionalized elderly persons. Key words:Institutionalized elderly, caregivers, oral hygiene, long-term care, oral health.
Automatic Identification of Important Clones for Refactoring and Tracking

Code cloning is a controversial software engineering practice due to contradictory claims regarding its impacts on software evolution and maintenance. While a number of studies identify some positive aspects of code clones, there is strong empirical evidence of some negative impacts of clones too. Focusing on the issues related to clones researchers suggest to manage code clones through detection, refactoring, and tracking. However, all clones in a software system are not suitable for refactoring or tracking. Thus, it is important to identify which clones we should consider for refactoring and which clones should be considered for tracking. In this research work we apply the concept of evolutionary coupling to identify clones that are important for refactoring or tracking. By mining software evolution history, we determine and analyze constrained association rules of clone fragments that evolved following a particular change pattern called Similarity Preserving Change Pattern and are important from the perspective of refactoring and tracking. According to our investigation with rigorous manual analysis on thousands of revisions of six diverse subject systems covering two programming languages, overall 13.20% of all clones in a software system are important candidates for refactoring, and overall 10.27% of all clones are important candidates for tracking. Our implemented system can automatically identify these important candidates and thus, can help us in better maintenance of code clones in terms of refactoring and tracking.
Unveiling the X-ray/TeV engine in Mkn 421

Aims. Our goal was to find important clues concerning particle acceleration in relativistic jets through the analysis of multi-wavelength observations of TeV blazars. Methods. Simultaneous observations of Mkn 421 were taken in very high energy γ-rays (>200 GeV, CAT experiment), X-rays (RXTE), and optical (KVA). Multi-day RXTE observations are also presented, allowing for detailed modelling of the spectral variability. Results. Short timescale (≈30 mn) variations in VHE γ-rays are found, correlated with X-rays, but not with the optical. The X-ray spectrum hardens with flux until the photon indices saturate above a threshold flux ≈10 −9 erg s −1 cm −2 . The fractional variability decreases from X-rays to optical as a power law with Fvar ∝ E 0.24±0.01 . The full spectral energy distribution is well-fitted by synchrotron self-Compton emission from cooling electrons injected with a Maxwellian distribution of characteristic energy γb. Fluctuations in the injected power with Pinj ∝ γ 4 explain the observed variability. Conclusions. The spectral saturation and the power-law dependence of the fractional variability are novel results that may extend to other TeV blazars. The ability of Maxwellian injections to reproduce the observed features suggest second-order Fermi acceleration or magnetic reconnection may play the dominant role in particle acceleration.
Metallicity gradients in local field star-forming galaxies: insights on inflows, outflows, and the coevolution of gas, stars and metals

We present metallicity gradients in 49 local field star-form ing galaxies. We derive gas- phase oxygen abundances using two widely adopted metallicity calibrations based on the (O III)/H�, (N II)/Hand (N II)/(O II) line ratios. The two derived metallicity gradients are usually in good agreement within ±0.14 dex R −1 25 (R25 is the B-band iso-photoal radius), but the metallicity gradients can differ significantly when the ionisation parameters change systematically with radius. We investigate the metallicit y gradients as a function of stellar mass (8 MB > −22). When the metallicity gradients are expressed in dex kpc −1 , we show that galaxies with lower mass and luminosity, on average, have steeper metallicity gradients. When the metallicity gradients are expressed in dex R −1 25 , we find no correlation between the metallicity gradients, and stellar mass and luminosity. We provide a local benchmark metallicity gradient of field star-forming galaxies useful for comparison with studies at high redshifts. We investigate the origin of the local benchmark gradient using simple chemical evolution models and observed gas and stellar surface density profiles in nearby field spira l galaxies. Our models suggest that the local benchmark gradient is a direct result of the co evolution of gas and stellar disk under virtually closed-box chemical evolution when the stellar-to-gas mass ratio becomes high (≫ 0.3). These models imply low current mass accretion rates (. 0.3 × SFR), and low mass outflow rates ( . 3 × SFR) in local field star-forming galaxies.
Offline Arabic handwriting recognition system based on HMM

Great challenges are faced in the offline recognition of cursive Arabic handwriting. This paper presents a segmentation-free system based on Hidden Markov Model (HMM) to handle this problem, where character segmentation stage is avoided prior to recognition. The system first extracts a set of robust features on binary handwritten images by sliding windows. Then the proposed system builds character HMM models and learns word HMM models using embedded training. Finally, best word maximizing the a posteriori is located through Viterbi Algorithm. Experiments that have been implemented on the benchmark IFN/ENIT database show the average recognition rate of this system is 84.09%.
A Decision Support System for Technical Analysis of Financial Markets Based on the Moving Average Crossover

The Moving Average (MA) crossover technique is one of the popular technical analysis tools used by investors in financial markets. The technique depends on identifying the lengths of short and long time periods, type of MA model and type of price data on which the analysis is to be based. Unfortunately, most users base their selection of these parameters on recommendations which could be not suitable for a particular market or security. Also, technical analysis software do not provide a tool through which a search for the best (optimal) rule that generates the highest return could be reached. Technical analysts recommend that users fine tune these parameters according what they see suitable for their strategy. Accordingly a decision support system was developed based on the MA crossover technique that is capable of providing descriptive statistics for the time series data of market indices and securities, evaluating the statistical significance of returns generated by any MA rule, searching for the optimal MA rule that generates the highest significant returns and scan among a group of securities for the latest signals and highest returns. The system has the added of advantage of searching for the optimal MA rule among a large universe of MA rules. The DSS system was used to investigate the predictive capabilities of the MA crossover with respect to the Egyptian Exchange Stock market. The lengths of 1-20, 1-25 and 1-30 along with the closing price emerged as the most profitable for the rules. The exponential MA model dominated as the most profitable model for many securities, while the simple MA model was effective for a few securities. The results obtained provide strong evidence that the MA crossover technique can predict the Egyptian stock market index and its securities and reject the null hypothesis that the returns earned by the technique are equal to the unconditional buy-and-hold strategy. Therefore, there could be great opportunities from applying this technique to the Egyptian market for yield enhancement and portfolio diversification.
An analysis of latent sector errors in disk drives

The reliability measures in today's disk drive-based storage systems focus predominantly on protecting against complete disk failures. Previous disk reliability studies have analyzed empirical data in an attempt to better understand and predict disk failure rates. Yet, very little is known about the incidence of latent sector errors i.e., errors that go undetected until the corresponding disk sectors are accessed. Our study analyzes data collected from production storage systems over 32 months across 1.53 million disks (both nearline and enterprise class). We analyze factors that impact latent sector errors, observe trends, and explore their implications on the design of reliability mechanisms in storage systems. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of such large scale our sample size is at least anorder of magnitude larger than previously published studies and the first one to focus specifically on latent sector errors and their implications on the design and reliability of storage systems.
Executive functioning predicts academic achievement in middle school: A four-year longitudinal study

ABSTRACT Executive functioning (EF) is a strong predictor of children's and adolescents' academic performance. Although research indicates that EF can increase during childhood and adolescence, few studies have tracked the effect of EF on academic performance throughout the middle school grades. EF was measured at the end of Grades 6–9 through 21 teachers' and 22 teacher assistants' assessments of 322 adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds who attended an urban, chartered middle/high school. Assessment of EF was done through the completion of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). BRIEF global executive composite scores (GEC) predicted both current and future English/language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and Spanish annual grade point averages (GPAs). The effect of BRIEF GEC scores often overshadowed the effects of gender, poverty, and having an individual education plan; the other, non–BRIEF-related effects retained slightly more impact among teacher assistant–derived data than teacher-derived data. The strong relationships between BRIEF GEC scores and these GPAs also remained constant over these 4 years: There was little evidence that EF changed over the measured grades or that the relationship between EF and grades itself regularly changed. The findings indicate that EF scores during early middle grades can well predict academic performance in subsequent secondary-school grades. Although methodological constraints may have impeded the abilities of other factors (i.e., poverty) to be significantly related to GPAs, the effects of EF were strong and robust enough to prompt us to recommend its use to guide long-term, academic interventions.
An algorithm to verify asymptotic stability conditions of a certain family of systems of differential equations

The aim of this paper is to implement an algorithm that facilitates the application of fundamental result obtained previously about the asymptotic stability of the solutions of a certain class of interconnected systems (switched linear systems). We also intend to reaffirm the possibility of finding new points of contact between the qualitative theory of ordinary differential equations and study electrical and mechanical properties of certain electrical machines. Mathematics Subject Classification: 34D20, 37C20, 34D10, 34D05, 93A30, 65C20
Being healthy: A Grounded Theory study of help seeking behaviour among Chinese elders living in the UK

The health of older people is a priority in many countries as the world's population ages. Attitudes towards help seeking behaviours in older people remain a largely unexplored field of research. This is particularly true for older minority groups where the place that they have migrated to presents both cultural and structural challenges. The UK, like other countries, has an increasingly aging Chinese population about who relatively little is known. This study used a qualitative grounded theory design following the approach of Glaser (1978). Qualitative data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 33 Chinese elders who were aged between 60 and 84, using purposive and theoretical sampling approaches. Data were analysed using the constant comparative method until data saturation occurred and a substantive theory was generated. “Being healthy” (the core category) with four interrelated categories: self-management, normalizing/minimizing, access to health services, and being cured form the theory. The theory was generated around the core explanations provided by participants and Chinese elders’ concerns about health issues they face in their daily life. We also present data about how they direct their health-related activities towards meeting their physical and psychological goals of being healthy. Their differential understanding of diseases and a lack of information about health services were potent predictors of non–help seeking and “self” rather than medical management of their illnesses. This study highlights the need for intervention and health support for Chinese elders.
Handwritten Digit Recognition by Combining SVM Classifiers

Recent results in pattern recognition have shown that SVM (support vector machine) classifiers often have superior recognition rates in comparison to other classification methods. In this paper, a cooperation of four SVM classifiers for handwritten digit recognition, each using different feature set is examined. We investigate the advantages and weaknesses of various cooperation schemes based on classifier decision fusion using statistical reasoning. The obtained results show that it is difficult to exceed the recognition rate of a single, well-tuned SVM classifier applied straightforwardly on all feature sets. In our experiments only one of the cooperation schemes exceeds the recognition rate of a single SVM classifier. However, the classifier cooperation reduces the classifier complexity and need for training samples, decreases classifier training time and sometimes improves the classifier performance
Law, Finance, and Economic Growth

This paper examines the question of how the legal environment affects financial development, and then asks how this in turn is linked to long-run economic growth. Financial intermediaries are better developed in countries with legal and regulatory systems that (1) give a high priority to creditors receiving the full present value of their claims on corporations, (2) enforce contracts effectively, and (3) promote comprehensive and accurate financial reporting by corporations. The data also indicate that the exogenous component of financial intermediary development--the component defined by the legal and regulatory environment--is positively associated with economic growth.
On the Reachability and Observability of Path and Cycle Graphs

In this technical note we investigate the reachability and observability properties of a network system, running a Laplacian based average consensus algorithm, when the communication graph is a path or a cycle. Specifically, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions, based on simple rules from number theory, to characterize all and only the nodes from which the network system is reachable (respectively observable). Interesting immediate corollaries of our results are: i) a path graph is reachable (observable) from any single node if and only if the number of nodes of the graph is a power of two,n = 2i ; i ∈N and ii) a cycle is reachable (observable) from any pair of nodes if and only if n is a prime number. For any set of control (observation) nodes, we provide a closed form expression for the (unreachable) unobservable eigenvalues and for the eigenvectors of the (unreachable) unobservable subsystem.
The Equivalence of WHOQOL-BREF among 13 Culture Versions

Objective: To test the equivalence of WHOQOL-BREF among 13 country versions. Methods: Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the equivalence of WHOQOL-BREF across 13 centers. The data used to test the equivalence of WHOQOL-BREF was collected by 13 centers in their own studies.Results: All of the Cronbach alpha values for the domains of physical, psychological, and environmental in each center were above 0.7, ranging from 0.7 to 0.88. Most of the Cronbach alpha values for the social relationship domain were above 0.65 except that of the United Kingdom and Norway centers, which were 0.39 and 0.51 respectively. A four-domain structure was constructed according to the WHOQOL publications. The model was fitted for the 13 centers' data, respectively. The CFI (the comparative fit index) was well above 0.8. Germany, Spain and United States were the centers where the CFI was above 0.9. Multi-sample analyses were then carried out. The CFI was 0.88 and the results indicated that not all the corresponding loadings were equal across the 13 centers but the differences were small and the factor loadings' profiles were similar. Conclusions: WHOQOL-BREF is equivalent across the 13 different centers and the outcome assessed by it is comparable.
Emerging roles for semaphorins and VEGFs in synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity

Synapse formation, maintenance and plasticity are critical for the correct function of the nervous system and its target organs. During development, these processes enable the establishment of appropriate neural circuits. During adulthood, they allow adaptation to both physiological and environmental changes. In this review, we discuss emerging roles for two families of classical axon and vascular guidance cues in synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity, the semaphorins and the vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs). Their contribution to synapse formation and function add a new facet to the spectrum of overlapping and complementary roles for these molecules in development, adulthood and disease.
Thermodynamic Optimization of Block Placement

This paper presents the results of a systematic investigation of the thermodynamic ("simulated annealing") method applied to the placement of rectangular blocks on a chip. A new presentation of the fundamental ideas underlying this technique is proposed. It is shown that the analogies with physics, which have been at the origin of the method, may be partially forgotten, but that they are still useful to understand some results. Several simple examples are investigated, and the influence of various parameters is studied. Typical complex industrial applications are subsequently presented. Finally, an interactive implementation of the thermodynamic optimization algorithm, based on the results of the present investigation, is proposed.
Cardiomyocyte-Specific Endothelin A Receptor Knockout Mice Have Normal Cardiac Function and an Unaltered Hypertrophic Response to Angiotensin II and Isoproterenol

ABSTRACT Even though endothelin is recognized as an important vasoregulatory molecule, the roles of endothelin receptors in specific cell types are not yet fully understood. Mice with a null mutation in endothelin A receptor gene (ETA ) or in the gene of its ligand (endothelin 1) die neonatally due to craniofacial and cardiac abnormalities. This early lethality has in the past hindered studies on the role of endothelin in cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology. To overcome this obstacle, we utilized the cre/loxP technology to generate mice in which the ETA gene could be deleted specifically in cardiomyocytes. The cre recombinase transgene driven by the α-myosin heavy-chain promoter deleted the floxed ETA allele specifically in the hearts of these mice, resulting in a 78% reduction in cardiac ETA mRNA level compared to wild-type controls. Cardiomyocyte-specific ETA knockout animals are viable and exhibit normal growth, cardiac anatomy, and cardiac contractility, as assessed by echocardiography. In addition, these animals exhibit hypertrophic and contractile responses to 10-day infusion of angiotensin II or isoproterenol similar to those observed in control animals. These results indicate that in adult mice cardiac ETA receptors are not necessary for either baseline cardiac function or stress-induced response to angiotensin II or isoproterenol.
An Insulin Infusion Advisory System Based on Autotuning Nonlinear Model-Predictive Control

This paper aims at the development and evaluation of a personalized insulin infusion advisory system (IIAS), able to provide real-time estimations of the appropriate insulin infusion rate for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients using continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps. The system is based on a nonlinear model-predictive controller (NMPC) that uses a personalized glucose-insulin metabolism model, consisting of two compartmental models and a recurrent neural network. The model takes as input patient's information regarding meal intake, glucose measurements, and insulin infusion rates, and provides glucose predictions. The predictions are fed to the NMPC, in order for the latter to estimate the optimum insulin infusion rates. An algorithm based on fuzzy logic has been developed for the on-line adaptation of the NMPC control parameters. The IIAS has been in silico evaluated using an appropriate simulation environment (UVa T1DM simulator). The IIAS was able to handle various meal profiles, fasting conditions, interpatient variability, intraday variation in physiological parameters, and errors in meal amount estimations.
Efficiency and marginal cost pricing in dynamic competitive markets with friction

This paper examines market models with supply friction. We examine a competitive equilibrium model, and a monopolistic model in which a single firm determines the market price. The following conclusions are obtained: (i) if friction is present, no matter how small, then the market prices fluctuate between zero and the "choke-up" price, without any tendency to converge to the marginal production cost, exhibiting considerable volatility. This conclusion holds for both the competitive equilibrium market model, and the monopolistic market model. (ii) The long-run average price in the competitive model is always greater than the marginal cost, but less than the long-run average cost in the monopolistic model. (iii) In the competitive model the consumer obtains social surplus, while in the monopolistic model the supplier extracts the entire surplus from the market.