Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CORe50: a New Dataset and Benchmark for Continuous Object Recognition

Continuous/Lifelong learning of high-dimensional data streams is a challenging research problem. In fact, fully retraining models each time new data become available is infeasible, due to computational and storage issues, while naive incremental strategies have been shown to suffer from catastrophic forgetting. In the context of real-world object recognition applications (e.g., robotic vision), where continuous learning is crucial, very few datasets and benchmarks are available to evaluate and compare emerging techniques. In this work we propose a new dataset and benchmark CORe50, specifically designed for continuous object recognition, and introduce baseline approaches for different continuous learning scenarios.
Inflammatory markers in gingival crevicular fluid of periodontitis patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus according to glycemic control: A pilot study

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and periodontitis are inflammatory conditions with a bidirectional association. This pilot study aimed to evaluate whether T2DM and glycemic control interfere in inflammatory markers profiles in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in periodontitis patients. Materials and Methods: Fourteen diabetic periodontitis patients were enrolled in this study, seven with adequate glycemic control (glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] <8.0%) (DMA + P) and seven with inadequate control (HbA1c ≥8.0%) (DMI + P). Seven chronic periodontitis patients without diabetes formed the control group (P). GCF was obtained from diseased sites (probing depth >6 mm) of an entirely hemiarch, pooled and cytokines levels determined using multiplex beads immunoassay. Clinical periodontal parameters were analyzed by Mann-Whitney test and levels of cytokines by Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's multiple comparison tests with confidence level of 95% (P < 0.05). Results: Cytokines profile of GCF obtained from deep periodontal pockets presented high levels of inflammatory cytokines, and there were no statistical differences between levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α according to presence of diabetes or percentage of HbA1c among the groups, despite groups with T2DM and periodontitis exhibit higher levels of PD. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, inflammatory mediators in GCF are dependent to the local response and do not correlate with the diabetic status.
Sound‐guided shaping of the receptive field in the mouse auditory cortex by basal forebrain activation

The mammalian auditory cortex undergoes continuous plasticity following auditory experience. This study demonstrates the instructive roles of sound frequency and amplitude in representational plasticity in the primary auditory cortex of the mouse. Electrical stimulation of the basal forebrain paired with a tone led to a pronounced shift in the receptive field of the cortical neurons in both frequency and amplitude domains, the shift being towards the frequency and amplitude of the tone. Importantly, the plasticity in the frequency tuning of cortical neurons appeared to be largely dependent upon frequency‐specific decreases in the response threshold. The minimum threshold of cortical neurons could be reduced only if the amplitude of the presented tone was lower than the minimum threshold. This finding suggests that training with low‐intensity sound can increase the sensitivity of cortical neurons. Furthermore, all of these effects evoked by basal forebrain activation could be eliminated by cortical application of atropine, the acetylcholine muscarinic receptor antagonist. The data suggest that cortical plasticity is guided by both sound frequency and amplitude. The basal forebrain promotes sound‐guided cortical plasticity by facilitating neural mechanisms intrinsic to the auditory system.
Effect of Cyclosporine on Lesion Growth and Infarct Size within the White and Gray Matter

Background In a recent trial, cyclosporine A (CsA) failed to reduce infarct size in acute stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis. White matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) may have distinct vulnerability to ischemia and response to therapy. Using final infarct size and lesion growth as endpoints, our objectives were to (1) investigate any tissue-specific effect of CsA and (2) compare WM and GM response to thrombolysis. Materials and methods We analyzed 84 patients from the randomized and placebo-controlled CsA-Stroke trial, who underwent MRI both on admission and at 1 month. Lesion growth was defined voxel-wise as infarcted tissue at 1 month with no visible lesion on baseline diffusion-weighted imaging. After automatic segmentation of GM/WM, final infarct size and lesion growth were compared within the GM and WM. Results Occlusion level was distal (>M1) in 51% of cases. No significant difference in GM/WM proportions was observed within final infarcts between treatment groups (P = 0.21). Infarct size within the GM or WM was similar between the CsA and control groups [GM: 9.2 (2.4; 22.8) with CsA vs 8.9 (3.7; 28.4) mL with placebo, P = 0.74; WM: 9.9 (4.7; 25.4) with CsA vs 14.1 (5.6; 34.1) mL with placebo, P = 0.26]. There was no significant effect of CsA on lesion growth in either the GM or WM. Pooling all patients, a trend for increased relative lesion growth in WM compared to GM was observed [49.0% (14.7; 185.7) vs 43.1% (15.4; 117.1), respectively; P = 0.12]. Conclusion No differential effect of CsA was observed between WM and GM. Pooling all patients, a trend toward greater lesion growth in WM was observed.
The Effects of Breastfeeding on Health and the Demand for Medical Assistance among Children in Brazil

This study contains several unique features that add to the literature documenting the health benefits of breastfeeding. The underlying theoretical framework for this study is the household economics model of Gary Becker. In particular, health production functions are specified and estimated. Data from the 1989 Brazilian National Health and Nutrition Survey are used to analyze the effects of breastfeeding on child morbidity (the absence of health). Binomial probit equations are estimated in which the dependent variable is whether the child required medical assistance during the previous two weeks for any of eight illness symptoms: fever, sore throat, loss of appetite, stomach ache, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory problem, or a problem sleeping. The analysis is structured to be consistent with the WHO breastfeeding recommendations. For children 0-23 months, the impact of current breastfeeding on the need for medical care is analyzed and for infants 0-5 months, the effect of exclusive breastfeeding. Although the focus is on the impact of breastfeeding, the analysis is multivariate. Other possible determinants, which if excluded could bias the results, are included as additional explanatory variables. Several of the explanatory variables, including breastfeeding, are appropriately treated as endogenously determined and estimated with instrumental variables. Many studies end with a discussion of the econometric results. In this paper, the results of the probit analysis are used to simulate the possible reduction in the need for medical care if all children in Brazil were breastfed according to the WHO recommendations.
Corporate social responsibility: an avenue for sustainable benefit for society and the firm?

Purpose – The objective of this paper is to investigate the benefits arising from various corporate social responsibility (CSR) approaches, to determine which approach generated the most sustainable mutual benefit accruing both to the focal firm, as well as to society and the firm's stakeholders.Design/methodology/approach – The ethnographic case studies are based on interviews with senior managers from six companies which are members of Business in the Community Ireland, a not‐for‐profit organization comprised of companies which are active about CSR initiatives.Findings – Results show that for the companies interviewed, CSR initiatives that are voluntary and strategic, as opposed to coerced and/or non‐strategic, generate the most sustainable mutual benefit to the firm itself and its social beneficiaries.Originality/value – The paper presents a framework to analyze approaches to CSR, using the dimensions of strategic/non‐strategic, voluntary/coerced. The study discovers ways to reconcile the conventionall.
Identifying credit procyclicality processes and the impact of statistical provision in Spain: analysis of bank financial statements

This paper considers credit procyclicality processes for Spanish deposit institutions using the macro- and micro-prudential methods for the period from 1984 to 2009. The macro-prudential method proposed by Basel III is applied first in order to identify credit cycles and act as a criterion for establishing counter-cyclical capital buffer requirements. Two expansive credit cycles are thus detected, both of which are indeed followed by financial instability problems. In addition, a micro-prudential approach is applied to analyse the effects of the credit policy of banks on the results obtained during each of the two credit cycles. Processes of procyclicality at the level of financial institutions are detected for the first credit cycle, while for the second evidence is presented to support the idea that statistical provision proved effective in the early years of the crisis. These findings are important for designing prudential policies aimed at preventively monitoring and fostering stability in the banking sector.
Public and Private Management: What's the Difference?

Critics of New Public Management argue that differences between public and private organizations are so great that business practices should not be transferred to the public sector. In this paper the theoretical arguments on the differences between private firms and public agencies are reviewed, and 13 hypotheses are identified on the impact of publicness on organizational environments, goals, structures and managerial values. Evidence from 34 empirical studies of differences between public agencies and private firms is critically evaluated. Only three of the publicness hypotheses are supported by a majority of the empirical studies: public organizations are more bureaucratic, and public managers are less materialistic and have weaker organizational commitment than their private sector counterparts. However, most of the statistical evidence is derived from studies that use narrow measures of publicness and fail to control for other relevant explanatory variables. Whether the existing evidence understates or overstates the distinctiveness of public agencies is therefore unclear. A research agenda and methods are identified for better comparisons of management in public and private organizations.
Institutional Reforms, EU Accession, and Bank Efficiency in Transition Economies: Evidence from Bulgaria

This paper examines the efficiency of Bulgarian banks and its determinants over the period 1999-2007. The levels of technical, allocative, and cost efficiency are estimated using a nonparametric methodology and then regressed on a number of bankspecific, institutional, and EU-related factors. The findings indicate that foreign banks were more efficient than domestic private banks, although the gap between them narrowed over time. State-owned banks ranked last, but their privatization resulted in efficiency gains. Capitalization, liquidity, and enterprise restructuring enhanced bank efficiency, whereas banking reforms had an adverse effect. The Treaty of Accession and EU membership were associated with significant efficiency improvements.
BUILDING CONSENSUS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AQUACULTURE: A DELPHI STUDY OF BETTER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR SHRIMP FARMING IN INDIA

Shrimp farming in India has developed at an uneven pace since export-oriented production began in the early 1990s. The introduction of Penaeus vannamei in 2009 along with disease-related production declines in competing Asian nations has led to a remarkable expansion in recent years. It is clear that the long-term success of Indian shrimp farming will continue to rely on the widespread adoption of Better Management Practices (BMPs). A two-round stakeholder Delphi survey was conducted in 2012 to elicit views and build consensus on the relative importance of a comprehensive set of BMPs covering most aspects of shrimp farming production. While the vast majority of BMPs were considered important, respondents placed greater emphasis on those BMPs aimed at improving production efficiency. Also, BMPs focused on overall outcomes were ranked higher than those placing specific restrictions on input usage. Results also yielded interesting policy implications on BMPs that are yet to be widely adopted such as distance between farms and construction of effluent treatment systems.
Follow-Up of Osteochondral Plug Transfers in a Goat Model

Background Osteochondral transfer procedures are increasingly used to resurface full-thickness articular cartilage defects. There has not been long-term assessment/description of autogenous donor and recipient sites. Hypothesis The healing process occurs at the donor/host cartilage and bone interfaces. Study Design Histologic, biochemical, and biomechanical changes were assessed 6 months after an osteochondral transfer in a goat model. Methods Eight adult goats were studied. In the 6 osteochondral transfer goats, 2 autogenous plugs were transferred from the femoral trochlea to defects in the weightbearing portion of the medial femoral condyle. The goats were allowed free range for 6 months. Randomly assigned plugs were assessed. Results Knees of the sacrificed animals had preservation of the joint space with mild chondromalacic changes in both transfer and contralateral control groups. Histologically, no evidence of cartilage (host/donor) healing was seen. Subchondral bone of the plug was contiguous with the surrounding recipient bone. Cellular viability in the autogenous osteochondral plug was seen, and 35SO4 uptake of the articular cartilage was not statistically different from the contralateral control condyle. The indentation stiffness of the transfer plug (mosaicplasty) and the contralateral donor site were similar—much stiffer than normal cartilage including surrounding condylar cartilage. Large structural stiffness of transferred cores and donor sites appeared to be related to their thinner cartilage layer. Conclusions At 6-month follow-up, a cleft between host and transferred articular regions remained, with no integration between the two. Clinical Relevance Autogenous transplantation of osteochondral plugs is possible with integration of subchondral bone and preservation of chondral viability.
THE SEED INDUSTRY IN U.S. AGRICULTURE: AN EXPLORATION OF DATA AND INFORMATION ON CROP SEED MARKETS, REGULATION, INDUSTRY STRUCTURE, AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

The unprecedented growth in crop yields and agricultural total factor productivity over the past 70 years owes much to a series of biological innovations embodied in seeds, beginning with the development of hybrid crops in the United States in the early part of the 20 th century, continuing with the adoption of high-yielding varieties during the Green Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, and more recently, modern biotechnology. Throughout this period, the seed industry evolved, as small businesses gave way to larger enterprises that integrated plant breeding, production, conditioning, and marketing functions. The industry was further shaped by widespread mergers and acquisitions in the latter part of the century, rapid growth in private research and development (R&D), shifting roles of public and private R&D, and a “coming of age” of agricultural biotechnology.
Klinefelter syndrome: Expanding the phenotype and identifying new research directions

Purpose The purpose of this study is to summarize new data on etiology and clinical features of Klinefelter syndrome in order to derive research priorities.Methods This study was conducted using critical reviews of selective topics, emphasizing less well-recognized clinical findings.Results And Conclusions The phenotype of the prototypic 47,XXY case is well recognized: seminiferous tubule dysgenesis and androgen deficiency. Less well appreciated is the varied expressivity of 47,XXY Klinefelter syndrome, in particular neurological/cognitive perturbations like language and behavioral problems. Effective therapies are available. Reproductive technologies allow 47,XXY men to sire offspring through intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI); however, genetic counseling is complex and success is low. Behavioral and expressive language difficulties are amenable to treatment by androgen therapy and psychological help. Early treatment may be imperative for optimal outcome.
Neural plasticity and the development of attention: Intrinsic and extrinsic influences

Abstract The development of attention has been strongly linked to the regulation of emotion and behavior and has therefore been of particular interest to researchers aiming to better understand precursors to behavioral maladjustment. In the current paper, we utilize a developmental psychopathology and neural plasticity framework to highlight the importance of both intrinsic (i.e., infant neural functioning) and extrinsic (i.e., caregiver behavior) factors for the development of attentional control across the first year. We begin by highlighting the importance of attention for children's emotion regulation abilities and mental health. We then review the development of attention behavior and underscore the importance of neural development and caregiver behavior for shaping attentional control. Finally, we posit that neural activation associated with the development of the executive attention network may be one mechanism through which maternal caregiving behavior influences the development of infants’ attentional control and subsequent emotion regulation abilities known to be influential to childhood psychopathology.
The Value of Gifts to College Students

The purpose of this study was to examine inefficiency in gift giving, and in particular, the "deadweight loss" that results from giving apparel gifts to college students. Deadweight losses from gift giving were calculated using gift recipients' estimates of gift cost and gift valuations, for both December holiday and Valentine's Day gifts. Probit models were used to estimate the likelihood of receiving apparel gifts and the likelihood of receiving cash gifts. OLS regression was used to investigate the impact of gift cost, gift type, gift occasion and giver's relationship to recipient on gift value. Findings suggest that deadweight loss is a function of giver's relationship to recipient and gift type. Gifts received from parents, siblings, significant others and friends were shown to be more efficient than gifts received from aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. The deadweight loss resulting from apparel gifts was shown to be significantly greater than the deadweight loss resulting from cash gifts and all other types of gifts, except perfume.
The Question of Roles and Identities in Public Administration

The article argues that one needs to open up the question of what it means to be a civil servant today in order to understand the key characteristics of public administration in contemporary Western democracies. The role of the civil servant is characterised by a multitude of expectations deriving from old and new role demands that exist side by side. In this sense, the role is constituted of different archaeological layers. Which layers become the dominant ones are not given, but widely depend on the context within which the role is enacted and on the civil servant's individual role interpretation. The article presents the results of a case study carried out within three Danish government ministries on the role of the civil servant. It is shown how differently the role is interpreted in the Danish state administration depending on which of the archaeological layers are activated, and how these different interpretations all lead to role conflicts for the individual civil servant.
Risk Factors of Infection After ORIF of Bicondylar Tibial Plateau Fractures

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate risk factors of infection after bicondylar tibial plateau fractures. We hypothesized that open fractures and smoking would be associated with deep infection requiring reoperation. Design: We retrospectively identified all bicondylar (AO/OTA 41-C) tibial plateau fractures treated operatively over an 8-year period from 2002 to 2010. Setting: Single, high-volume, level 1 trauma center. Patients/Participants: A total of 302 patients aged 18 years and older were identified as undergoing operative fixation of bicondylar (AO/OTA 41-C) tibial plateau fractures during this time period. Intervention: Open reduction internal fixation of bicondylar (AO/OTA 41-C) tibial plateau fractures. Main Outcome Measurements: Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between patient demographics and clinical characteristics and deep infection requiring reoperation. Variables that were significant at P < 0.05 in bivariate analyses were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: Forty-three (14.2%) of 302 patients developed deep infection requiring reoperation. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was cultured in 20 (46.5%) of 43 patients with deep infections. An external fixator was initially placed before definitive fixation in 81.4% of patients and definitive surgical treatment was delayed by an average of 17.5 days. Eighty-five (28.1%) patients required a reoperation after definitive fixation. Open fracture (OR, 3.44; P = 0.003), smoking (OR, 2.40; P = 0.02), compartment syndrome requiring fasciotomies (OR, 3.81; P = 0.01), and fractures requiring 2 incisions and 2 plates (OR, 3.19; P = 0.01) were all risk factors for deep infection requiring reoperation. Conclusions: In spite of a staged protocol with temporizing external fixation and delayed fixation, deep infection rate remained high. A disproportionate amount of MRSA (47%) was cultured from deep infections in this population, and MRSA prophylaxis may be considered. Smoking was the only patient modifiable predictor identified of deep infection, and patients should be informed of the increased risk of deep infection associated with their choice to continue smoking. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Financing: A Signaling Perspective

We analyze an entrepreneur’s choice between angel and venture capital (VC) financing in a competitive investment market, where the entrepreneur seeks to maintain his ownership share as well as equity value. The key to our analysis is the idea that a negative signal is inferred by the market if an inside investor chooses not to follow on a subsequent investment. We first show that when ventures are ex-ante identical, entrepreneurs retain higher ownership shares by financing with angel investors who commit to not participate in a future round. When entrepreneurs are ex-ante heterogeneous, there is a separating equilibrium where entrepreneurs with higher (lower) likelihoods of success choose VC financing (angel financing) in the first round.