Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the impact of Distance-based Relative Competence Weighting approach in One-vs-One classification for Evolutionary Fuzzy Systems: DRCW-FH-GBML algorithm

The advantages of multi-classification schemes based on decomposition strategies, and especially the One-vs-One framework, have been stressed even for those algorithms that can address multiple classes. However, there is an inherent hitch for the One-vs-One learning scheme related to the decision process: the non-competent classifier problem. This issue refers to the case where a binary classifier outputs a score degree for a couple of classes that are not related with the input example, thus including “noise” in the score-matrix and degrading the final accuracy. For this reason, several approaches have been developed in order to address the influence of the non-competence. Among them, the distance-based combination strategy has excelled as a very robust solution. In this contribution, we aim at investigating the behaviour of this approach using Evolutionary Fuzzy Systems as baseline classifiers. We will show that the synergy between both methodologies allows a significant improvement of the results to be obtained in contrast to the standard classifier and the classical One-vs-One scheme.
The Effectiveness of Capital Regulation on Bank Behavior in China

This paper examines the impact that ownership and governance structures have on how Chinese banks react to regulatory pressure. We find that the current regulatory regime induces banks to increase their capital, but its effectiveness in doing so varies based on whether the bank is listed or not, and also who is the majority shareholder. We also find that the degree of central government ownership and the political ties the chief executive officer of the bank has play an important role in the risk-taking behavior of banks. Overall, our results have a number of policy implications supporting the need to further reduce state ownership of banks in China to mitigate the prevailing moral hazard and dual-agency problems that arise from the government being both the regulator and the majority shareholder.
Climate change and the Ethiopian economy: a CGE analysis

Abstract The paper analyzes the economic impacts of climate change-induced fluctuations on the performance of Ethiopia's agriculture, using a countrywide computable general equilibrium (CGE) model. We model the impacts on agriculture using a Ricardian model, where current agricultural production is modelled as a function of temperature and precipitation, among other things, and where future agriculture is assumed to follow the same climate function. The effect of overall climate change is projected to be relatively benign until approximately 2030, but will become considerably worse thereafter. Our simulation results indicate that, over a 50-year period, the projected reduction in agricultural productivity may lead to reductions in average income of some 20 per cent compared with the outcome that would have prevailed in the absence of climate change. This indicates that adaptation policies – both government planned and those that ease autonomous adaptation by farmers – will be crucial for Ethiopia's future development.
A Systematic Mapping Study on Legacy System Modernization

Legacy system modernization has gained increasing attention from both researchers and practitioners, mainly due to the need of maintaining legacy systems towards business needs and technology advances. In this way, a set of techniques, tools and terms related to software modernization have been proposed— although they have not been consolidated yet. This hinders the characterization of real modernization scenarios according to the existing literature. This paper synthesize the existing contributions related to software modernization by means of a mapping study that characterizes the main results in terms of proposed processes, techniques, and tools. As one of our main findings, we report a lack of empirical studies trying to understand the benefits of using the existing approaches for software mod-
Longitudinal Study of Visual Discomfort Symptoms in College Students

Purpose. To determine the variation of visual discomfort symptom reporting in a group of college students over a 1 year period. Methods. Subjects were screened for visual acuity and uncorrected refractive error before participating in the study. A survey of visual discomfort developed by Conlon et al., Vis Cogn 1999;6:637–666, and the Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey (CISS) were administered to a group of 23 college students twice with approximately 1 year between administrations. All subjects also completed two clinical assessments of accommodation and vergence. Results. The mean time between administrations of the symptom surveys was 13 months. There was no clinically significant mean difference between the first and second administration of both visual discomfort surveys. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.82 for the Conlon et al., Vis Cogn 1999;6:637–666 survey and 0.85 for the CISS. The 95% limits of agreement for the Conlon et al., Vis Cogn 1999;6:637–666 survey was −18.44, 17.92 and for the CISS was −14.36, 13.36. The intraclass correlation coefficient values for the optometric tests ranged from 0.38 to 0.83. Conclusions. Visual discomfort symptoms were found to be stable in the majority of young college students over a 1 year period. However, a minority of students showed large variability between the two administrations of the surveys.
Competition and Efficiency of National Banks in the United Arab Emirates

This paper examined the degree of competition and efficiency of publicly listed national banks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between 2003 and 2011. We calculated the Lerner Index to measure the degree of monopoly power for each bank in the loan market. In addition, we used a translog cost function to evaluate the efficiency of the UAE banking sector. Finally, we tested the causality between competition and efficiency and determined the direction of causality.
Mechanical fatigue properties of heavy aluminium wire bonds for power applications

In this study, a technology-oriented simplified mechanical fatigue testing approach for aluminium heavy wire bonds as well as first experimental results are presented. In the test setup, bonding wires were displacement-controlled loaded with different amplitudes at room temperature and the corresponding cycles to failure were experimentally determined. Loop geometries were varied in a technological meaningful range. The experimentally determined endurance curves show a strong influence of the bonding geometry on the lifetime of the bonding wires. In addition to testing, a three dimensional finite element model of the different bonding wire geometries was developed in order to quantify the local deformation situation at the failure site in terms of equivalent strain. The global mechanical properties used for the simulations were determined by tensile tests of unprocessed bonding wires. The experimental results in terms of number of cycles to failure could be represented as a function of the change in equivalent strain at the heel for the different bond loop geometries. Using a common double-logarithmic endurance plot, the results for the different bond loop geometries could be approximated by a linear dependency. This result is in accordance with the expectation that a Coffin-Manson approach can be applied to predict the life time of the aluminium wire bonds. From these results, it can be concluded that the experimental testing approach and the applied simulation model is applicable to understand the effect of different bonding loop geometries on the number of cycle to failure. For a more generalized understanding, it has to be taken into consideration that the mechanical properties close to the heel were affected by the bonding process prior to fatigue loading. In form of a preliminary study, it is shown that spherical indentation testing on cross sections of the bonded wires provides a useful methodical approach to characterize these variations and to extract the local material properties for further expanded modelling.
Predicting Early Rapid Response Team Activation in Patients Admitted From the Emergency Department: The PeRRT Score

OBJECTIVES Rapid response teams (RRTs) respond to signs of deterioration to avoid morbidity and mortality. Early RRT activation (eRRT) in patients admitted from the emergency department (ED) is associated with significantly increased mortality. Predicting these events may represent an opportunity to identify patients who would benefit from further resuscitation, aid disposition decision-making, or improve communication between ED and inpatient providers. We aimed to create a clinical prediction instrument to quantify the risk of eRRT. METHODS We performed an observational cohort study of patients admitted to a non-intensive care unit (ICU) setting who triggered eRRT from January 2009 to December of 2012 compared to those who did not trigger eRRT. Age, sex, ED vital sign measurements, and final ED diagnosis by ICD-9 code were evaluated in a multivariable logistic regression model. The performance of prediction models was assessed using discrimination summarized by area under a receiver operating curve (AUC) and calibration with the Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. The final model was used to create a simplified scoring system. RESULTS The eRRT group consisted of 474 patients who were compared to 2,575 patients in the reference group. Age and sex did not add significant discrimination to the model and were eliminated from the simplified, final model. This model, which included vital signs and diagnosis category, was found to have an AUC of 0.754 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.730 to 0.778) and was used to create a simplified scoring system. The odds ratio for the association of a 1-unit increase in risk score with eRRT was 1.37 (95% CI = 1.32 to 1.41; p < 0.001). When internally validated, the score was found to have an AUC of 0.759 (95% CI = 0.735 to 0.753). Calculated scores ranged from -3 to 18, which corresponded to predicted probabilities of eRRT ranging from 5.1% to 72.2%. CONCLUSIONS In summary, the PeRRT score is a simple tool that can be referenced by emergency providers at the bedside to quantify the risk of early RRT activation and potential deterioration, helping to answer the question, "How likely is my patient to trigger an RRT activation in the next twelve hours? " Given that patients who trigger eRRT have an elevated risk of morbidity and mortality, higher scores should result in resuscitative intervention, further observation in the ED, consideration of ICU admission, or direct enhanced communication between ED and inpatient providers. A prospective multicenter study is required to further validate this instrument.
In Vivo Imaging of Reactive Oxygen Species Specifically Associated with Thioflavine S-Positive Amyloid Plaques by Multiphoton Microscopy

Amyloid-β, the primary constituent of senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease, is hypothesized to cause neuronal damage and cognitive failure, but the mechanisms are unknown. Using multiphoton imaging, we show a direct association between amyloid-β deposits and free radical production in vivo in live, transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease and in analogous ex vivo experiments in human Alzheimer tissue. We applied two fluorogenic compounds, which become fluorescent only after oxidation, before imaging with a near infrared laser. We observed fluorescence associated with dense core plaques, but not diffuse plaques, as determined by subsequent addition of thioflavine S and immunohistochemistry for amyloid-β. Systemic administration ofN-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone, a free radical spin trap, greatly reduced oxidation of the probes. These data show directly that a subset of amyloid plaques produces free radicals in living, Alzheimer's models and in human Alzheimer tissue. Antioxidant therapy neutralizes these highly reactive molecules and may therefore be of therapeutic value in Alzheimer's disease.
Self-similarity of strangeness production in pp collisions at RHIC

New experimental data on transverse momentum spectra of strange particles (K0S,K–, K*, ϕ, …) produced in pp collisions at √s = 200 GeV obtained by the STAR and PHENIX collaborations at RHIC are analysed in the framework of z-scaling approach. Scaling properties of the data z-presentation are illustrated. Self-similarity of strange particle production is discussed. A microscopic scenario of constituent interactions developed within the z-scaling approach is used to study constituent energy loss, proton momentum fraction and recoil mass in dependence on the transverse momentum, strangeness, and mass of the inclusive particle. The obtained results can be useful for understanding strangeness origin, for searching for new physics with strange probes and can serve as a benchmark for complex analyses of self-similar features of strange production in heavy ion collisions.
Business Excellence Model: An overarching framework for managing and aligning multiple organisational improvement initiatives

Business Excellence Models (BEMs) are used by organisations to assess and improve their work practices and performance. The authors’ research identified that there are currently 94 national Quality/Business Excellence (BE) Awards used in 83 countries. While the use of BEMs is widespread, it was identified that many organisations wanted guidance in terms of which improvement initiatives to implement to assist them on their BE journey. This paper discusses how the BEM can be used as an overarching framework for managing and/or aligning multiple improvement initiatives within the organisation. A new model is developed showing some of the main improvement initiatives that can be adopted towards achieving BE, which are arranged according to the common enabling criteria of BEMs and levels of BE maturity. This proposed model can be used as a pathway/roadmap to BE. In developing this model, a literature review, a document review and several semi-structured interviews were conducted. Sixteen quality and BE experts were interviewed in New Zealand, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Bone resorption in syndromes of the Ras/MAPK pathway

Stevenson DA, Schwarz EL, Carey JC, Viskochil DH, Hanson H, Bauer S, Cindy Weng H‐Y, Greene T, Reinker K, Swensen J, Chan RJ, Yang F‐C, Senbanjo L, Yang Z, Mao R, Pasquali M. Bone resorption in syndromes of the Ras/MAPK pathway.
The quality of dietary intake methodology and reporting in child and adolescent obesity intervention trials: a systematic review

Assessing dietary intake is important in evaluating childhood obesity intervention effectiveness. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the dietary intake methods and reporting in intervention studies that included a dietary component to treat overweight or obese children. A systematic review of studies published in the English language, between 1985 and August 2010 in health databases. The search identified 2,295 papers, of which 335 were retrieved and 31 met the inclusion criteria. Twenty‐three studies reported energy intake as an outcome measure, 20 reported macronutrient intakes and 10 studies reported food intake outcomes. The most common dietary method employed was the food diary (n = 13), followed by 24‐h recall (n = 5), food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) (n = 4) and dietary questionnaire (n = 4). The quality of the dietary intake methods reporting was rated as ‘poor’ in 15 studies (52%) and only 3 were rated as ‘excellent’. The reporting quality of FFQs tended to be higher than food diaries/recalls. Deficiencies in the quality of dietary intake methods reporting in child obesity studies were identified. Use of a dietary intake methods reporting checklist is recommended. This will enable the quality of dietary intake results to be evaluated, and an increased ability to replicate study methodology by other researchers.
Longitudinal Associations Between Substance Use and Violence in Adolescence Through Adulthood

Substance use and violence are interrelated behaviors during adolescence and early adulthood. Using National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health data, this study examined the longitudinal relationships between (a) alcohol and violence perpetration, (b) marijuana and perpetration, (c) alcohol and victimization, and (d) marijuana and victimization. Cross-lagged structural equation models showed that longitudinal patterns of violence and substance use vary somewhat and that the ways preceding stages of violence and substance use are associated with subsequent violence, and substance use differ by violence, substance type, and transitional stage. Our findings call for primary and secondary prevention strategies targeting early adulthood.
From microcredit to microfinance: evolution of savings products by MFIs in Bangladesh

This paper chronicles how the microfinance industry in Bangladesh has evolved from its initial focus on credit, disbursing standardized loan products and collecting obligatory savings to the development of flexible savings products. We describe the process through which the industry gradually moved away from compulsory savings and introduce flexible savings. We provide detailed descriptions of various savings related products used by MFIs in Bangladesh. We point out the numerous problems that can arise when MFIs collects savings especially from non-members without a proper legal framework. We conclude the paper by suggesting prudent regulation of MFIs to ensure the security of the meager savings of the poor. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Discretionary Acquisition of Firm-Specific Human Capital under Non-verifiable Performance

Abstract In this paper we develop a model of discretionary employee investment in firm-specific human capital. When a firm has full bargaining power, the non-contractibility of this investment completely undermines the employee’s incentives. However, the incumbent firm’s inability to observe competing wage offers at the interim stage prevents it from completely expropriating the surplus, thereby creating incentives for the employee to invest. We demonstrate that commitment to a wage floor for the second period destroys the worker’s incentives to acquire human capital, but makes turnover efficient. Therefore, such a commitment has value only if the return on the employee’s deliberate investment in human capital acquisition is sufficiently low. When firms are privately informed about the productivity of their human capital acquisition technology, more productive firms offer higher entry wages to separate themselves from less productive firms. Furthermore, in contrast to the case of symmetric information about human capital acquisition technology, the commitment opportunity now has value for firms with higher return on investment: commitment to a wage floor acts as a substitute for raising the entry wage.
B2B e-marketplace adoption in South African agriculture

The Internet has made significant inroads in industrialized, developed countries. However, since developing countries tend to have a limited history of trade, the marginal impact of the Internet on these countries' economies is considerably greater. With specific reference to the field of export development, e-commerce offers the possibility of accessing markets in a relatively low-risk, low-cost manner. These virtual marketplaces, in turn, connect multiple enterprises, each with their own characteristics and business processes, resulting in a need for smooth communications with various information systems. This research project attempts to gauge the current state of e-marketplace adoption in South African agriculture, an industry identified as the most complex and most critical in employment and export growth. A qualitative research approach was used to investigate the current experience with e-marketplace adoption or, in case of non-adoption, the factors that hold them from adoption. The results of this study conclude that the majority of key decision makers in the agricultural industry are already participating in e-commerce of some form, and that South African agricultural concerns are keen to get more involved in e-markets as ICT improve in the immediate future. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Work motivation in the Hellenic extended public sector: an empirical investigation

Individual differences and work-context characteristics may lead to differences in employees' motivation, job satisfaction and performance. In an era when public organizations seek to attract and retain highly qualified employees, managers and designers of motivation systems should carefully scrutinize and evaluate the reward preferences of their personnel. Using descriptive statistics and ordered probit regression models on data from a unique questionnaire-based survey, we explore how individuals' demographic characteristics and organizational work environments influence work motivation in the extended public sector of Greece. Literature on work motivation has long been focused into two major approaches: the organizational economic approach – focusing on extrinsic rewards; and the organizational behaviour approach – emphasizing intrinsic motivation. Accordingly, the motivators addressed in this study are presented in the form of extrinsic and intrinsic incentives. Our findings show that the expected work outcome of public employees is directly influenced by a multifaceted context of motivators; however extrinsic rewards seem to exert stronger influence on employees' preferences than intrinsic motives, including those related to public and altruistic service. In addition, econometric results indicate that individual characteristics comprise a more decisive set of factors in determining the motivation patterns of public employees compared to work-related influences.
The Georgia Lottery: Assessing Its Administrative, Economic, and Political Effects

This article examines the Georgia lottery as a "policy laboratory" and its potential effect on state-level policy diffusion. The authors summarize an extensive research project they directed that included a survey of every state that offers a lottery, a general population survey of Georgia citizen attitudes toward the lottery, and results from an economic model summarizing the economic effects of the lottery. The analysis reveals that the Georgia lottery has been a significant source of revenue for the state's budget and operates in an administratively cost-effective manner. The analysis also confirms the conventional wisdom that lower-income households spend a greater proportionate share of their income on the lottery and that African Americans are more frequent players than whites. Furthermore, the Georgia lottery enjoys broad public support, the key to which appears to be the earmarking of lottery funds to specific, new, popular education programs. However, the data reveal that those educational programs promulgated by the Georgia lottery benefit citizens from both high and low socioeconomic status. Finally, the article suggests that lottery-generated funds may reach a plateau or peak during the first decade of implementation and that state policymakers should design lottery-funded programs accordingly. Copyright 2003 by The Policy Studies Organization.