Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Law and the Determinants of Property-Casualty Insurance

This article examines the importance of legal rights and enforcement in influencing property-casualty insurance (PCI) consumption. We extend the existing literature by examining the role of legal factors in determining insurance density across countries. Also, measures of risk aversion, loss probability, and price, which overcome limitations of proxies used in the existing literature on insurance demand, are analyzed. Using a panel data set, we apply a generalized methods of moments dynamic system estimator, which relaxes the assumption of strict exogeneity of the regressors and produces unbiased and efficient estimates. The results show a strong positive relationship between the protection of property rights and insurance consumption, which is robust to various model specifications and estimation techniques. Moreover, the results show the purchase of PCI is significantly and positively related to loss probability and income, as well as providing weaker evidence of a negative relationship with price.
ON THE RANDOMNESS OF EIGENVECTORS GENERATED FROM NETWORKS WITH RANDOM TOPOLOGIES

A model for the generation of neural connections at birth led to the study of W, a random, symmetric, nonnegative definite linear operator defined on a finite, but very large, dimensional Euclidean space [1]. A limit law, as the dimension increases, on the eigenvalue spectrum of W was proven, implying that realizations of W (being identified with organisms in a species) appear totally different on the microscopic level and yet have almost identical spectral densities.The present paper considers the eigenvectors of W. Evidence is given to support the conjecture that, contrary to the deterministic aspect of the eigenvalues, the eigenvectors behave in a completely chaotic manner, which is described in terms of the normalized uniform (Haar) measure on the group of orthogonal transformations on a finite dimensional space. The validity of the conjecture would imply a tabula rasa property on the ensemble (“species”) of all realizations of W.
REEB FOLIATIONS ON S 5 AND CONTACT 5-MANIFOLDS VIOLATING THE THURSTON-BENNEQUIN INEQUALITY

This article describes the following results; i) convergence of high dimensional contact structure to codimension one foliation with Reeb compo- nent, ii) relation between Nil-type and Sol-type contact submanifolds of S 5 , iii) denition of convex Thurston-Bennequin inequality and iv) generalization of Lutz twist via convex hypersurface theory. We perform Lutz twists along Sol-type submanifolds of S 5 to obtain exotic contact structures violating the inequality. We also describe the corresponding modication of foliation.
Testing the Maximum Entropy Principle for Information Retrieval

A probabilistic information retrieval method using the Maximum Entropy Principle (MEP) was proposed by Cooper and Huizinga (1982). Several refinements of the MEP for information retrieval have been proposed by Kantor and Lee (1986, 1991), but the MEP has not been evaluated in any large database. This article examines the MEP retrieval method using the TREC5 database. The MEP is evaluated by several tests and compared with a naive ordering method and lexicographic ordering method. The MEP does not provide any startling improvement, and it works reasonably well only in the case of a small number of keys and a relatively small collection.
The SHARE frailty instrument for primary care predicts incident disability in a European population-based sample.

BACKGROUND The adoption of a frailty paradigm in primary care would be helpful to identify adults who need priority access to specialised resources. The frailty phenotype by Fried et al is a popular operationalisation of frailty, but it is not easily applicable in routine primary care practice. We recently created and validated a frailty instrument based on the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE-FI), in order to provide primary care practitioners with an easy, reliable and freely accessible tool for the assessment and monitoring of frailty in community dwelling adults over the age of 50 years (www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2318/10/57). AIM To provide further prospective validation of SHARE-FI, with a focus on disability. METHODS DESIGN longitudinal study (wave 1: 2004-2006; mean follow-up: 2.4 years). SETTING European population-based survey (12 countries). SUBJECTS 17 567 community dwelling participants (mean age 63.3 years), of whom 13 378 (76.2%) were non-frail, 3438 (19.6%) pre-frail and 751 (4.3%) frail. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES number of difficulties with basic (ADL) and instrumental (IADL) activities of daily living. STATISTICAL ANALYSES repeated measures ANOVA with adjustment for baseline age. RESULTS By wave 2, 3.6% of the non-frail, 12.2% of the pre-frail and 30.4% of the frail had increased their number of ADL difficulties by at least one. Likewise, 6.6% of the non-frail, 20.4% of the prefrail and 36.6% of the frail had, by wave 2, increased their number of IADL difficulties by at least one. Table 1 shows the repeated measures ANOVA suggested. CONCLUSION SHARE-FI may contribute to quality in primary care by offering a quick and reliable way to assess and monitor frailty in community dwelling individuals over the age of 50 and prioritize their access to resources, and it serves as a novel tool for audit and research.
The Role of S100A12 as a Systemic Marker of Inflammation

S100A12 is a member of the S100 family of calcium-binding proteins with important extracellular activities. In recent years, investigators across a number of fields have delineated the patterns of S100A12 expression in a variety of conditions. These data suggest that S100A12 can be used as a valuable serum inflammatory marker.
Planet formation in α Centauri A revisited: not so accretion friendly after all

We numerically explore planet formation aroundα Centauri A by focusing on the crucial planetesimals-to-embryos phase. Our approach is significa ntly improved with respect to the earlier work of Marzari & Scholl (2000), since our determini stic N-body code computing the relative velocities between test planetesimals handles bo dies with different size. Due to this step up, we can derive the accretion vs. fragmentation trend of a planetesimal population having any given size distribution. This is a critical aspec t of planet formation in binaries since the pericenter alignment of planetesimal orbits due t o the gravitational perturbations of the companion star and to gas friction strongly depends on size. Contrary to Marzari & Scholl (2000), we find that, for the nominal case of a Minimum Mass Sol ar Nebula gas disc, the region beyond∼ 0.5 AU from the primary is strongly hostile to planetesimal accretion. In this area, impact velocities between different-size bodies are increased, by the differential orbital phasing, to values too high to allow mutual accretion. For any realistic size distribution for the planetesimal population, this accretion-inhibiting effect is the dominant collision outcome and the accretion process is halted. Results are relatively robust with respect to the profile and density of the gas disc. Except for an unrealistic almost gas -free case, the inner ”accretionsafe” area never extends beyond 0.75AU. We conclude that planet formation is very diffi cult in the terrestrial region around α Centauri A, unless it started from fast-formed very large (>30km) planetesimals. Notwithstanding these unlikely initial conditions, the only possible explanation for the presence of planets around 1 AU from the star would be the hypothetical outward migration of planets formed closer to the star or a different orbital configuration in the binary’s early history. Our conclusions di ffer from those of several studies focusing on the later embryos-to-planets stage, confirming that the planet esimals-to-embryos phase is more affected by binary perturbations.
Plasmablastic Lymphoma of Gingiva Mimicking a Reactive Lesion: A Case Report

Oral plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare malignancy, associated with HIV or other immunocompromised conditions. The lesion constituted a new subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and proposed a distinct entity based on its basic morphology, its clinical behaviour involving predominantly extramedullary sites (particularly oral cavity), and its limited antigenic phenotype data suggesting plasmacytic differentiation. Authors here report a case of apparently healthy individual aged 35 years, presenting one-month history of swelling associated with loosened teeth around upper anteriors. Following incisional biopsy, routine histopathologic and immunohistochemical studies, the diagnosis of plasmablastic lymphoma was given.
The Susceptibility of Candida albicans to Gamma-Radiations and Ketoco-nazole Depends on Transitional Filamentation

The virulence of C. albicans is associated with the transitional evolution from yeast to filamentous forms. We were interested in the effects amphotericin B (AMB), ketoconazole (KTC) and γ-radiations might have on these broadly defined phenotypes as determined by the CFU procedure. By using collagen gel as the 3-dimensional support of cell culture, diverse experimental conditions were contemplated in order to modulate the differentiation of Candida during sessile and planktonic growth. These conditions included the co-culture with human epithelial and endothelial cells and treatment with farnesol, tyrosol and conditioned medium from P. aeruginosa. The overall results were as follows: 1) The survival of Candida was inhibited by the exposure to γ-radiations, but only after the organism was induced to progress into excess filamentation, while in normal growth conditions it proved to be radioresistant; 2) AMB inhibited the growth of yeast forms, while KTC was specifically toxic to filamentous forms and 3) the combined treatment of filamentous Candida with KTC and γ-radiations resulted in the synergistic inhibition of the organism. These findings indicate that both the radiosensitivity of C. albicans and its response to the synergistic effects of γ-radiations and KTC are filamentation-dependent pharmacological processes.
Lighting the Universe with Filaments

The first stars in the universe form when chemically pristine gas heats as it falls into dark-matter potential wells, cools radiatively because of the formation of molecular hydrogen, and becomes self-gravitating. Using supercomputer simulations, we demonstrated that the stars' properties depend critically on the currently unknown nature of the dark matter. If the dark-matter particles have intrinsic velocities that wipe out small-scale structure, then the first stars form in filaments with lengths on the order of the free-streaming scale, which can be ∼1020 meters (∼3 kiloparsecs, corresponding to a baryonic mass of ∼107 solar masses) for realistic “warm dark matter” candidates. Fragmentation of the filaments forms stars with a range of masses, which may explain the observed peculiar element abundance pattern of extremely metal-poor stars, whereas coalescence of fragments and stars during the filament's ultimate collapse may seed the supermassive black holes that lurk in the centers of most massive galaxies.
Complete Killing of Caenorhabditis elegans by Burkholderia pseudomallei Is Dependent on Prolonged Direct Association with the Viable Pathogen

Background Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, a disease of significant morbidity and mortality in both human and animals in endemic areas. Much remains to be known about the contributions of genotypic variations within the bacteria and the host, and environmental factors that lead to the manifestation of the clinical symptoms of melioidosis. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study, we showed that different isolates of B. pseudomallei have divergent ability to kill the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The rate of nematode killing was also dependent on growth media: B. pseudomallei grown on peptone-glucose media killed C. elegans more rapidly than bacteria grown on the nematode growth media. Filter and bacteria cell-free culture filtrate assays demonstrated that the extent of killing observed is significantly less than that observed in the direct killing assay. Additionally, we showed that B. pseudomallei does not persistently accumulate within the C. elegans gut as brief exposure to B. pseudomallei is not sufficient for C. elegans infection. Conclusions/Significance A combination of genetic and environmental factors affects virulence. In addition, we have also demonstrated that a Burkholderia-specific mechanism mediating the pathogenic effect in C. elegans requires proliferating B. pseudomallei to continuously produce toxins to mediate complete killing.
Differentiation of dendritic cells in cultures of rat bone marrow cells

Although dendritic cells (DC) originate from bone marrow, they were not observed in fresh preparations of bone marrow cells (BMC). Likewise, accessory activity was barely measurable in a sensitive assay for this potent function of DC. However, both DC and accessory activity developed when BMC were cultured for 5 d. Based on fractionation before culture, nearly all of the accessory activity could be attributed to only 5% of the total BMC recovered in a low-density (LD) fraction. The LD-DC precursors differed from mature DC in a number of important respects. Removal of Ia+ cells from the LD fraction by panning did not decrease the production of DC when the nonadherent cells were cultured. Thus, the cell from which the DC is derived does not express or minimally expresses Ia antigens, in contrast to the strongly Ia+ DC that is produced in bone marrow cultures. Irradiation of LD cells before culture prevented the development of DC. When irradiation was delayed by daily intervals, progressive increases in the number of DC resulted, up to the fifth day. These findings, together with preliminary autoradiographic data, indicate that cell division has occurred, in contrast to the DC, which does not divide. We conclude that bone marrow-derived DC arise in culture from the division of LD, Ia- precursors.
Governance and Economic Development

The main theme of this study is the political economy of policy reform in less developed countries and post-socialist countries. Given the complexity of economic development and transition, Joachim Ahrens views failures in policy reform, poor public sector management, rent-seeking, corruption, and over-centralization as systematic, though not exclusive, instances of institutional failure.
New and old tools in psychotherapy: The use of technology for the integration of the traditional clinical treatments.

The proliferation of computer-mediatedcommunication has led to theexperimentation with these tools inpsychotherapy. This article examinesthe possible integration betweentraditional and new tools inpsychotherapy, showing pros and consof the use of technology. In particular,the article focuses on the concept ofe-therapy and the technology itrequires. An analysis of the mostfunctional tools and software nowavailable is also presented, with aparticular focus on shared hypermedia,new Internet tools in which differentusers who are simultaneously browsingthe Web can communicate and surftogether.
An Ebit-Based Model of Dynamic Capital Structure

A model of dynamic capital structure is proposed. Even though the optimal strategy is implemented over an arbitrarily large number of restructuring-periods, a scaling feature inherent in the framework permits simple closed-form expressions to be obtained for equity and debt prices. When a firm has the option to increase future debt levels, tax advantages to debt increase significantly, and both the optimal leverage ratio range and predicted credit spreads are more in line with what is observed in practice. Copyright 2001 by University of Chicago Press.
Human Rights and Private Wrongs: Constructing Global Civil Society

1. Introduction: Globalization and private wrongs 2. Norm Change in Global Civil Society 3. New Subjects: Children across borders 4. New Strategies: "Follow the money" 5. New Rights: "Our bodies, ourselves" 6. Conclusion: Private authority and global governance References Index
Deterioration of the auditory brainstem response in children with type 3 Gaucher disease

Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) has improved the quality of life in patients with Gaucher disease (GD). An emerging concern is whether ERT can also halt the neurologic progression in type 3 GD. The authors examined the auditory brainstem response (ABR) in eight children with type 3 GD undergoing high-dose ERT and found a consistent deterioration in ABR response. They conclude that ERT does not halt brainstem degeneration and that alternative therapies must be sought.
Prognostic Analysis for Cardiogenic Shock in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction Receiving Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is uncommon in patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Long-term outcome and adverse predictors for outcomes in AMI patients with CS receiving percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) are unclear. A total of 482 AMI patients who received PCI were collected, including 53 CS and 429 non-CS. Predictors for AMI patients with CS including recurrent MI, cardiovascular (CV) mortality, all-cause mortality, and repeated-PCI were analyzed. The CS group had a lower central systolic pressure and central diastolic pressure (both P < 0.001). AMI patients with hypertension history were less prone to develop CS (P < 0.001). Calcium channel blockers and statins were less frequently used by the CS group than the non-CS group (both P < 0.05) after discharge. Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score, CV mortality, and all-cause mortality were higher in the CS group than the non-CS group (all P < 0.005). For patients with CS, stroke history was a predictor of recurrent MI (P = 0.036). CS, age, SYNTAX score, and diabetes were predictors of CV mortality (all P < 0.05). CS, age, SYNTAX score, and stroke history were predictors for all-cause mortality (all P < 0.05). CS, age, and current smoking were predictors for repeated-PCI (all P < 0.05).
Resource Convergence and Intra-industry Trade

Models of international trade based on desire for variety, increasing returns and monopolistic competition predict that the more similar are nations’ resource endowments the more important should be intra-industry trade. This prediction is tested using resource data for 22 OECD nations over the period 1965 to 1985. The results provide strong support for the theory. In the time domain they suggest that resource convergence has been responsible for the growth in the importance of intra-industry trade and in cross sections they suggest that the more similar are two countries’ resource endowments the more extensive is bilateral intra-industry trade.
Who produced this video, amateur or professional?

As the increasing affordability for capturing and storing video and the proliferation of Web 2.0 applications, video content is no longer necessarily created and supplied by a limited number of professional producers; any amateur can produce and publish his/her video quickly. Therefore, the amount of both professional-produced as well as amateur-produced video on the web is ever increasing. In this work, we propose a question; whether we can automatically classify an Internet video clip as being either professional-produced or amateur-produced? Hence, we investigate features and classification methods to answer this question. Based on the differences in the production processes of these two video categories, four features including camera motion, structure, audio feature and combined feature are adopted and studied along with with four popular classifiers KNN, SVM GMM and C4.5. Extensive experiments over representative datasets, evaluate these features and classifiers under different settings and compare to existing techniques. Experimental results demonstrate that SVMs with multimodal features from multi-sources are more effective at classifying video type. Finally, for answering the proposed question, results also show that automatically classifying a clip as professional-produced video or amateur-produced video can be achieved with good accuracy.
Induction experiences of newly qualified primary school teachers in Zimbabwe

iii Chapter 1: Introducing the problem 1.1 Background to the problem 1 1.2 Statement of the problem 6 1.3 Research questions 8 1.4 Aim of the study 8 1.5 Significance of the study 9 1.6 Research methodology overview 10 1.7 Delimitations of the study 11 1.8 Limitations of the study 11 1.9 Assumptions of the study 12 1.10 Definition of terms 12 1.11 Structure of the thesis 13 Chapter 2: Review of related literature 2.
On the Relative Utility of 3D Interfaces

Three-dimensional (3D) interfaces are made with the ambition to reinvent traditional two-dimensional (2D) displays into intuitive 3D environments that allow natural interactions and guarantee users’ satisfaction. However, reality is far from the expectations and 3D interfaces remain experimental. The results of empirical studies comparing 2D and 3D interfaces are incoherent and do not indisputably endorse the development of 3D applications. The reason behind this incoherency is that empirical comparisons often discard several factors that go beyond the specific style of the interface itself although they play a major role in human performance. Specifically: perceptual factors, factors related to semantics, contextual factors.The identification of these factors was carried out through a set of empirical studies tackling two applications domains: information management (namely, the retrieval of data and on spatial memory tasks) and Air Traffic Control. Concerning the first domain, the results suggest that 3D interfaces can support spatial memory if the 3D interface is provided with a spatial structure that has also a semantic function. Also, the specific content of the objects disseminated in the 3D structure seem to affect performance. It is argued that when there is a strategic coupling of the semantics of the spatial structure with the meanings of the objects, 3D interfaces could enhance spatial memory. Concerning the second domain, the results indicate that 3D interfaces could support controllers’ tasks only for a limited set of activities. These do not include standard monitoring tasks where the presence of 3D would actually cause detriment to the performance due to perceptual biases. Finally, it is claimed that the idea of familiarity with an interface style can affect the way people interact with it and, despite the fuzziness of the concept, familiarity may represent a real challenge in users’ acceptance of 3D interfaces.
Multiple Feature-Sets Method for Dependency Parsing

This paper presents a simple and effective approach to improve dependency parsing by exploiting multiple feature-sets. Traditionally, features are extracted by applying the feature templates to all the word pairs(first-order features)and word tuples(second-order features). In this pa per, we show that exploiting different feature templates for different word pairs and word tuples achieves significant improvement overbaseline parsers. First, we train a text chunker using a freely available implementation of the first-order linear conditional random fields model. Then we build a clause-chunk tree for a given sentence based on chunking information and punctuation marks. Finally, we extract features for dependency parsing according to multiple feature-sets. We extend the projective parsing algorithms of McDonald[20] and Carreras[1] for our case, experimental results show that our approach significantly outperform the baseline systems without increasing complexity. Given correct chunking information, we improve from baseline accuracies of 91.36% and 92.20% to 93.19% and 93.89%, respectively.