Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between early motor milestones and severity of restricted and repetitive behaviors in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

This study explored the relationships between the later age of achievement of early motor milestones, current motor atypicalities (toe walking), and the severity of restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Parents of 147 children and adolescents with ASD (Mage = 8.09 years, SD = 4.28; 119 males) completed an early developmental milestones questionnaire and the Social Responsiveness Scale as a measure of Insistence on Sameness (IS) and Repetitive Mannerisms (RM). Two hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to test whether RM and IS behaviors were predicted by early motor milestones, or current toe walking. The final model predicting RM accounted for 15% of the variance (F = 3.02, p = .009), with toe walking as a unique and independent predictor of RM scores (t = 3.568, p = .001). The final model predicting IS accounted for 19.1% of variance in IS scores (F = 4.045, p = .001), with chronological age (CA) (t = 2.92, p = .004), age when first standing (t = 2.09, p = .038), and toe walking (t = 2.53, p = .013) as unique independent predictors. Toe walking (t = 2.4, p = .018) and age when first sitting (t = 2.08, p = .04) predicted the severity of RRBs on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (F = 2.334, p = .036). Our study replicates previous findings on the relationship between concurrent motor impairments and RRBs, and provides the first evidence for the association between RRBs and age of attainment of early motor milestones. Autism Res 2017. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Autism Res 2017, 10: 1163–1168. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Non-Parametric Analysis of Hedge Fund Returns: New Insights from High Frequency Data

The history of financial research often reflects the history of the changing nature of financial data. Simply put, one has a difficult time analyzing questions requiring empirical data that does not exist. In the area of hedge funds, currently-available databases provide only monthly returns. Moreover, various providers of hedge fund index data follow very different methodologies in structuring hedge fund indices. This article examines four daily hedge fund return indices: MSCI, FTSE, Dow Jones, and HFRX, all based on investable hedge funds, and three monthly hedge fund return indices: CSFB Tremont, CISDM, and HFR, which comprise both investable and non-investable hedge funds. This study, based on standard statistical analysis, non-parametric analysis of the return distribution, and non-parametric regressions with respect to the S&P500 index, shows that key biases like fund selection, asset liquidity,data frequency, sample period, and index construction methodologies are responsible for different statistical properties of hedge fund indices.One key variable that highly affects the statistical properties of hedge fund index returns is the “investability” of hedge fund indices.
On the origin of [Ne II] emission in young stars: mid-infrared and optical observations with the Very Large Telescope

Context. The [Ne II] line 12.81 μm was proposed to be a good tracer of gas in the environments of proto-planetary disks; its origin is explained by different mechanisms: jets in outflows, photo-evaporative disk winds driven by stellar X-rays/EUV or by the X-ray irradiated proto-planetary disk atmosphere. Previous Spitzer studies gave hints toward the neon emitting mechanism by exploring correlations between the line luminosity and properties of the star-disk system. These studies concluded that the origin of the emission is likely related to accretion and outflows, with some influence from X-rays. Aims. We provide direct constraints on the origin of the [Ne II] emission using high-spatial and spectral resolution observations that allow us to study the kinematics of the emitting gas. In addition we compare the [Ne II] line with optical forbidden lines. Methods. We obtained high-resolution ground-based observations with VISIR-VLT for 15 stars and UVES-VLT for three of them. The stars were chosen for having bright neon emission lines detected with Spitzer/IRS. The velocity shifts and profiles are used to disentangle the different emitting mechanisms producing the [Ne II] line. A comparison between results from this study and previous high-resolution studies is also presented. Results. The [Ne II] line was detected in seven stars, among them the first confirmed detection of [Ne II] in a Herbig Be star, V892 Tau. In four cases, the large blueshifted lines indicate an origin in a jet. In two stars, the small shifts and asymmetric profiles indicate an origin in a photo-evaporative wind. CoKu Tau 1, seen close to edge-on, shows a spatially unresolved line centered at the stellar rest velocity, although cross-dispersion centroids move within 10 AU from one side of the star to the other as a function of wavelength. The line profile is symmetric with wings extending up to ~±80 km s-1. The origin of the [Ne II] line is unclear and could either be due to the bipolar jet or to the disk. For the stars with VLT-UVES observations, in several cases, the optical forbidden line profiles and shifts are very similar to the profile of the [Ne II] line, suggesting that the lines are emitted in the same region. A general trend observed with VISIR is a lower line flux when compared with the fluxes obtained with Spitzer. We found no correlation between the line full-width at half maximum and the line peak velocity. The [Ne II] line remains undetected in a large part of the sample, an indication that the emission detected with Spitzer in those stars is likely extended.
Altered expression of transforming growth factor‐β ligands and receptors in primary and recurrent ovarian carcinoma

Resistance to the potent growth inhibitory effects of transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) is a characteristic of many malignancies. TGF‐β insensitivity has been attributed to alterations in the number and function of the TGF‐β receptors as well as disturbances of downstream signal transduction. Paradoxically, increased levels of TGF‐β ligand have been demonstrated in several types of malignant tumors. TGF‐β also may play a role in ovarian carcinogenesis; however, the nature of this interaction has yet to be defined completely.
Online voting system for India based on AADHAAR ID

An online voting system for Indian election is proposed for the first time in this paper. The proposed model has a greater security in the sense that voter high security password is confirmed before the vote is accepted in the main database of Election Commission of India. The additional feature of the model is that the voter can confirm if his/her vote has gone to correct candidate/party. In this model a person can also vote from outside of his/her allotted constituency or from his/her preferred location. In the proposed system the tallying of the votes will be done automatically, thus saving a huge time and enabling Election Commissioner of India to announce the result within a very short period.
The Noisy Monopolist: Imperfect Information, Price Dispersion and Price Discrimination

Although economists often assume that commodities form homogeneous categories with a single price, there are in fact heterogeneities within commodity groupings. Many markets for apparently identical commodities are characterized by dispersion in price and differences in durability and other quality measures. The information a buyer requires in order to obtain the lowest price or " best buy must be produced at a cost. For example, various activities for producing this information are reading magazines such as Consumer Reports, consultations with friends and sales personnel, scanning newspaper advertisements and directly sampling store prices. Consumers' search techniques and the efficiency with which they gather information varies. This heterogeneity leads to differences in optimal information-gathering strategies. Those consumers who are more efficient information-gatherers and searchers obtain better buys on average. Although there are clearly private returns to information-gathering, dispersion appears socially wasteful. If there were no dispersion, consumers would not need to engage in this costly learning activity. It is only the failure of the market to price correctly that allows the private returns to search. This waste leads to the suspicion that a monopolistically controlled market will be characterized by a smaller degree of dispersion than a more competitive one. Stigler [19, p. 223] argues that " From the manufacturer's viewpoint, uncertainty concerning his price is clearly disadvantageous, the cost of search is a cost of purchase, and consumption will be smaller the greater the dispersion of prices and the greater the optimum amount of search ". On the other hand, when consumers differ in their information-generating efficiencies and costs, dispersion serves as a device for splitting up the market to permit price discrimination. The basic idea is as follows. Suppose that demand conditions are such that the monopolist would like to price discriminate against the less efficient informationgatherers; that is, suppose the submarket consisting of inefficient consumers is more price inelastic. Given these potential gains from discrimination, the monopolist must also discover some method of identifying the inefficient, price inelastic consumers. Simply permitting dispersion is such a method since less-efficient information gatherers will search less and thus on average pay a higher price than will efficient searchers. The very presence of dispersion both splits the market and charges a higher purchase price to the submarket of inefficient searchers. Thus, dispersion acts as a costly device for sorting consumers into submarkets to permit price discrimination. If it is not too costly and demand elasticities vary in the " correct " direction so that the feasible price discrimination is profitable, then dispersion is more profitable than a single price.
Measuring and Analyzing the Effects of Short-term Volatility in Real Exchange Rates

This paper examines short-term volatility in the real effective exchange rates of industrial countries and its impact on their imports. It yields three conclusions. First, volatility has not diminished as markets have gained experience with floating exchange rates; the trend appears to be in the opposite direction for some countries. Second, exposure to short-term volatility has differed among countries; Japan and Sweden have experienced much more than most other industrial countries. Third, volatility appears to depress the volume of international trade. This third finding is consistent with results reported by Cushman and by Akhtar and Hilton and challenges earlier findings by Hooper and Kohlhagen.
Intralesional Cryotherapy for Treatment of Keloid Scars: A Prospective Study

Background: Intralesional cryotherapy is a novel treatment for keloid scars in which the scar is frozen from inside. Published results are promising, but the treatment has only been tested in a Caucasian patient population. Therefore, the authors evaluated intralesional cryotherapy in a patient population including different Fitzpatrick skin types (I through VI). Methods: This prospective multicenter study with a 1-year follow-up included 27 patients with 29 keloid scars. Intralesional cryotherapy was administered with a disposable liquid nitrogen–based device called CryoShape. Scar assessment was performed using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale and four objective devices to determine scar color, scar elasticity, scar volume, and patient skin type. Results: Keloid scars showed an average volume decrease of 63 percent (range, 16 to 100 percent) after 12 months, compared with baseline (p < 0.01). Recurrence was seen in seven keloids (24 percent) and hypopigmentation recovered in 69 percent of all keloid scars within 12 months. Scar assessment with the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale showed an overall improvement according to both doctors and patients. In addition, complaints of pain and itching were reduced. When analyzing the results per Fitzpatrick skin type, African American patients showed a higher incidence of persistent hypopigmentation (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Intralesional cryotherapy for the treatment of keloid scars shows favorable results in terms of reduction of volume and complaints of pain and pruritus. However, no complete eradication was obtained in some cases and recurring scars were seen. In addition, persistent hypopigmentation proved a problem in non-Caucasian patients. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.
Real Interest Rate and Labor Market Performance around the World

This article studies the effects of the real interest rate on labor market performance. Using a much larger sample of countries and more indicators of labor market performance than have been used in previous articles, it finds that a rise in the real interest rate increases the unemployment rate, raises the share of long-term unemployed, and reduces the employment rate. The magnitude of these effects is very small in the short run but much more pronounced—though still fairly small—in the long run. Young people are disproportionately affected. The results are robust to variations in specification.
Optimal Capital Structure with Scale Effects under Spectrally Negative Levy Models

The optimal capital structure model with endogenous bankruptcy was first studied by Leland (1994) and Leland & Toft (1996), and was later extended to the spectrally negative Levy model by Hilberink Rogers (2002) and Kyprianou Surya (2007). This paper incorporates scale effects by allowing the values of bankruptcy costs and tax benefits to be dependent on the firm's asset value. By using the fluctuation identities for the spectrally negative Levy process, we obtain a candidate bankruptcy level as well as a sufficient condition for optimality. The optimality holds in particular when, monotonically in the asset value, the value of tax benefits is increasing, the loss amount at bankruptcy is increasing, and its proportion relative to the asset value is decreasing. The solution admits a semi-explicit form in terms of the scale function. A series of numerical studies are given to analyze the impacts of scale effects on the bankruptcy strategy and the optimal capital structure.
Analysing distributed processes of provision and innovation

The vast majority of products (i.e. goods and services) are provided to the consumer through several co? ordinated and contributing agents acting together. This paper is concerned with improving our understanding of processes of provision and innovation that involve several contributing and co? ordinated agents (firms or organizations). The distributedness of provision and innovation varies in scale and takes a variety of (dynamic) forms (or modes), and their analysis brings to the fore the significance of dependency and asymmetric power relations between classes of economic agent. The approach thereby opens up considerations on ? distributed innovation? beyond those addressed by the ? systems of innovation? perspectives.
Perceptions of Teaching Ability during the Student Teaching Experience in Agricultural Education.

The purpose of this study was to describe the views student teachers in agricultural education at Oklahoma State University had regarding their 12–week student teaching internship. Using Q– methodology as a research approach, 28 interns rank–ordered a Q–set of 36 statements describing various aspects of teacher responsibilities and performance. The completed Q–sorts were factor analyzed resulting in three distinct teaching views found in the sample: Emerging Teacher, Self–Assured Teacher, and Determined Teacher. The Emerging Teacher view recognized areas needed for growth and development but also recognized their progress toward becoming a professional. The Self–Assured Teacher view had a high level of comfort and confidence in their teaching ability, which extended to their views on developing lessons and teaching across the agricultural education curriculum. The Determined Teacher view recognized confidence but not comfort in their teaching ability. Teaching did not always come easy for them, but they recognized they were getting better. Study results suggested all three groups attained their views from different sources of self–efficacy. Recommendations were made to provide continued training and/or professional development tailored to each view, as well as, to seek the viewpoints of the cooperating teachers.
Modeling of possible subunit arrangements in the eukaryotic chaperonin TRiC

The eukaryotic cytosolic chaperonin TRiC (TCP‐1 Ring Complex), also known as CCT (Cytosolic Chaperonin containing TCP‐1), is a hetero‐oligomeric complex consisting of two back‐to‐back rings of eight different subunits each. The general architecture of the complex has been determined, but the arrangement of the subunits within the complex remains an open question. By assuming that the subunits have a defined arrangement within each ring, we constructed a simple model of TRiC that analyzes the possible arrangements of individual subunits in the complex. By applying the model to existing data, we find that there are only four subunit arrangements consistent with previous observations. Our analysis provides a framework for the interpretation and design of experiments to elucidate the quaternary structure of TRiC/CCT. This in turn will aid in the understanding of substrate binding and allosteric properties of this chaperonin.
Total removal of the posterior mediastinal gastric conduit due to gastric cancer after esophagectomy

Total removal of the gastric conduit (TRGC) due to gastric cancer after esophagectomy often results in high operative morbidity and mortality rates, especially when done in the posterior mediastinum. This is one of the reasons for the retro‐sternal or subcutaneous route being preferred for gastric conduit replacement in esophageal cancer operation.
Systemic Safety of High-Dose Antibiotic-Loaded Cement Spacers after Resection of an Infected Total Knee Arthroplasty

The purpose of this study was to assess the systemic safety and potential adverse effects of using a high-dose antibiotic-impregnated cement spacer after resection arthroplasty of an infected total knee replacement. Between October 2000 and December 2002, 36 knees (34 patients) had a resection arthroplasty of an infected total knee prosthesis with placement of a high-dose antibiotic impregnated cement spacer. There were 24 men and 10 women with a mean age of 66.5 years (range, 48–84 years). All spacers placed contained an average of 3.4 batches of cement with an average total dose of 10.5 g of vancomycin (range, 3–16 g) and 12.5 g of gentamicin (range, 3.6–19.2 g). All patients were followed up postoperatively until reimplantation for evidence of renal failure. The preoperative creatinine ranged from 0.7 to 1.8 mg/dL. All patients were concomitantly treated with 6 weeks of intravenous organism-specific antibiotics. One patient with normal preoperative renal function (Cr 0.7 mg/dL) had a perioperative 1-day transient rise in serum creatinine (1.7 mg/dL) postoperatively that subsequently normalized. No patients showed any clinical evidence of acute renal insufficiency, failure, or other systemic side effects of the antibiotics. Treatment of patients with an infected total knee arthroplasty with high-dose vancomycin and gentamicin antibiotic spacers seems to be clinically safe.
A Targeted and Tailored eHealth Weight Loss Program for Young Women: The Be Positive Be Healthe Randomized Controlled Trial

Young women are gaining weight rapidly. Evidence for effective weight loss interventions targeting young women is lacking. This randomized controlled trial assessed the efficacy and acceptability of a six-month targeted and tailored eHealth weight loss program for young women (Be Positive Be Healthe (BPBH)). Women aged 18–35 years were randomized to BPBH (n = 29) or control (n = 28). BPBH supported participants to modify diet and physical activity behaviours using evidenced-based strategies (e.g., self-monitoring) tailored for young women and delivered using e-health (website, social media, smartphone application, email, text messages). The primary outcome was a change in weight (kg) at six months. Acceptability was assessed via a process evaluation survey and usage of intervention components. No significant between-group differences were observed for weight, with significant mean differences favouring the intervention group observed for body fat (kg) (−3.10 (−5.69, 0.52), p = 0.019) and intakes of alcohol (g) (−0.69 (−1.33, 0.04), p = 0.037), vegetables (% energy/day) (4.71 (−2.20, 7.22), p < 0.001) and energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods (% energy/day) (−9.23 (−16.94, 1.52), p = 0.018). Retention, intervention usage and satisfaction were moderate. BPBH facilitated positive improvements in body fat and dietary intake, but not weight. Intervention acceptability findings support the use of some intervention components (e.g., Facebook, Smartphone app) with young women.
Impact of Environmental Justice on Transportation

Presidential Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice (EJ) was signed in 1994, and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued regulatory guidelines for addressing EJ in transportation in 1997. Transportation agencies have since adopted a range of policies, programs, and activities to identify and address disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects of their policies, programs, and activities on minority and low-income populations. On the basis of the relevant literature and structured interviews, this paper assesses how state DOTs are addressing EJ issues in their decision-making processes and identifies common and effective practices. The results show that several state DOTs have implemented public involvement programs and other procedures to assess the burdens of transportation investment. However, fewer agencies assess the equity of benefits, fewer assess outcomes of EJ actions, and fewer still link EJ analysis outcomes with future funding and policy decisions. On the basis of existing practices and regulatory guidelines, the researchers formulated a performance-based, maturity-scale model that agencies can use to benchmark the effectiveness of their external and internal EJ activities in achieving EJ outcomes in transportation. The model was applied anonymously to selected agencies to demonstrate different maturity levels in addressing EJ.