Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of Household and Community Socioeconomic Position and Urbanicity with Underweight and Overweight among Women in Pakistan

Background Similar to other developing countries, Pakistan is going through a rapid nutrition transition where shift from underweight to overweight and obesity is occurring. In this paper, we report on the relationship of household socioeconomic position (SEP), community SEP and urbanicity with under- and over-weight categories of BMI among Pakistani women. Methods We analyzed data on 4,767 women ages 15-49 years enrolled in a nationally representative Pakistan Demographic Health Survey (PDHS) conducted in 2012-13 that employed a multistage, stratified cluster sampling design. We assessed the association of urbanicity, household and community SEP derived from household assets and utilities, with categories of body mass index (BMI) using multinomial regression analysis where normal weight (BMI 18.6-22.5) was the reference category. Results Thirteen percent of women were underweight (BMI <18.5), 15% pre-overweight (BMI: 22.6-24.9), 25% overweight (BMI: 25.0–29.9) and 14% were obese (BMI≥30). Pre-overweight, overweight and obesity among women increased across household wealth quintiles (HWQs) in a graded fashion whereas there was no significant difference in underweight by household wealth. Women in urban areas were more likely to be obese. There was a pronounced increase in adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for overweight/obesity across HWQs within urban areas compared to rural areas. There was a steeper gradient in aORs for obesity from 1st to 5th HWQs in high income communities compared to the middle- and low income communities. In community-level analyses, communities in urban areas were more likely to have higher levels of obesity while in rural areas, especially in Sindh, more communities were more likely to have a higher level of underweight. Conclusion A shift to higher overweight and obesity than underweight in Pakistan is associated with high household and community wealth as well as living in urban areas. Clustering of obesity and underweight in distinct communities afford opportunity for tailored intervention programs.
Exploiting mobility for quality-maximized data collection in energy harvesting sensor networks

With the advance of energy harvesting technology, more and more sensors now are powered by ambient energy. Energy harvesting sensor networks are a key step in paving the way for truly green systems that can operate `perpetually' and do not adversely impact on the environment. In this paper we consider quality data collection in an energy harvesting sensor network by exploring sink mobility. That is, we consider a mobile sink traveling along a to-be-found trajectory for data collection, subject to a specified tolerant delay constraint. We first formulate this optimization problem as a data quality maximization problem. Since the problem is NP-hard, we then devise a scalable heuristic solution. Also, a distributed implementation of the proposed algorithm is developed too. We finally conduct extensive experiments by simulation to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithms. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithms are promising and very efficient.
The robustness of LISREL modeling revisted.

Some robustness questions in structural equation modeling (SEM) are introduced. Factors that affect the occurrence of nonconvergence and improper solutions are reviewed in detail. Recent research on the behaviour of estimators for parameters, standard errors and model fit, under conditions of (non)normality, is summarized. It is emphasized that both model and sample data characteristics affect the statistical behaviour of these estimators. This knowledge may be used to set guidelines for a combined choice of sample size and estimation method. It is concluded that for large models, under a variety of nonnormal conditions, (robust) maximum likelihood estimators have relatively good statistical properties compared to other estimators (GLS, ERLS, ADF or WLS). The cumulative theoretical knowledge about robust (asymptotic) estimators and corrective statistics and the availability of practical guidelines from robustness research together, may enhance statistical practice in SEM and hence lead to more sensible and solid applied research.
Optimal Portfolios with Bounded Capital at Risk

We consider some continuous‐time Markowitz type portfolio problems that consist of maximizing expected terminal wealth under the constraint of an upper bound for the capital at risk. In a Black–Scholes setting we obtain closed‐form explicit solutions and compare their form and implications to those of the classical continuous‐time mean‐variance problem. We also consider more general price processes that allow for larger fluctuations in the returns.
Energy Link Optimization in a Wireless Power Transfer Grid under Energy Autonomy Based on the Improved Genetic Algorithm

In this paper, an optimization method is proposed for the energy link in a wireless power transfer grid, which is a regional smart microgrid comprised of distributed devices equipped with wireless power transfer technology in a certain area. The relevant optimization model of the energy link is established by considering the wireless power transfer characteristics and the grid characteristics brought in by the device repeaters. Then, a concentration adaptive genetic algorithm (CAGA) is proposed to optimize the energy link. The algorithm avoided the unification trend by introducing the concentration mechanism and a new crossover method named forward order crossover, as well as the adaptive parameter mechanism, which are utilized together to keep the diversity of the optimization solution groups. The results show that CAGA is feasible and competitive for the energy link optimization in different situations. This proposed algorithm performs better than its counterparts in the global convergence ability and the algorithm robustness.
On the real-time modelling of a robotic scene perception and estimation system

In this paper a real-time machine vision system for robotic scene perception and estimation is proposed. Its goal is to determine the 3D structure of the imaged scene together with the relative position and orientation of the robot with respect to the environment. Mainly, the vision system is composed of two basic elements: a 3D camera-scene depth computation method and a camera egomotion estimator. The image processing operations have been implemented into a sequential machine vision pipeline. A performance evaluation of the proposed approach is given through experimental results within an indoor environment.
Antibacterial activity of some medicinal plants used by tribals against UTI causing pathogens.

Bacterial pathogens have evolved numerous defense mechanisms against antimicrobial agents; hence resistance to old and newly produced drugs is on the rise. The phenomenon of antibiotic resistance exhibited by the pathogenic microorganisms have led to the need for screening of several medicinal plants for their potential antimicrobial activity. Thus the present study was undertaken to investigate the antibacterial activity of 15 medicinal plants used by tribals against UTI causing isolates. The antibacterial activity of aqueous, ethanol and acetone extracts of Corriander sativum, Abutilon indicum, Boerhavia diffusa andrographis paniculata, Plantago ovata, Bacopa monnieri, Bauhinia variegata, Flacouratia ramontchi, Embelia tfgerium, Euphorbia ligularia, Zinziber officinale, Terminalia chebula, Azadirachta indica, Ocimum sanctum and Cinnamomum cassia was determined against 33 UTI isolates i.e. Proteus mirabilis (10), Escherichia coli (6), Proteus vulgaris (6), Klebsiella pneumoniae (5), Enterobacter cloacae (2), Providencia pseudomallei (2), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1) and Klebsiella oxytoca (1) by disc diffusion method. Our studies concluded that crude extracts of the selected plants especially the acetone and ethanol extracts exhibited significant activity against UTI pathogens. It can be concluded that these plants can be used to discover natural products that may serve as lead for the development of new pharmaceuticals addressing the major therapeutic needs.
Contextualization- Emotionalization Interface: A Case of Teacher Effectiveness

Given the prominence of cognitive and affective factors in teacher effectiveness, this study intends to look at the issue from a different perspective and examine the roles of contextualization and emotionalization in teacher success. In so doing, 305 English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners rated their English teachers to determine the extent to which they contextualize and emotionalize their instructions. During the first phase of the study, a pair of scales were constructed and substantiated via Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to serve the abovementioned purpose. As for the second phase, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilized to shed light on any probable relationships among the independent variables and teacher success. The results indicated that, teachers who contextualize and emotionalize their instructional practices, enjoy an enhanced level of success. Moreover, it was revealed that, in the close competition between contextualization and emotionalization, contextualization was identified as a slightly better predictor of teacher success. Building upon the rather strong links between the sub-construct of contextualization and emotionalization, it was further inferred that, mutual juxtaposition of the two concepts contribute to teacher success. In the end, the results were discussed in the realm of English language education.
Algorithmic construction of optimal and load balanced clusters in Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper proposes a clustering algorithm - Balanced Minimum Radius Clustering (BMRC) - for use in large scale, distributed Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN). Cluster balancing is an intractable problem to solve in a distributed manner, and distribution is important, by reason of both avoiding specialised node vulnerability and minimising message overhead. The BMRC algorithm described here distributes several of the cluster balancing functions to the cluster-heads. In proposing this algorithm, several tentative claims have been made for it, namely that it is suitable for arbitrary number of cluster heads; that it specifies a way to elect cluster heads and use them to create the local models; that it accomplishes optimal balanced clusters in distributed manner; that it is scalable and it uses the number-of-hops as a clustering parameter; that it is energy efficient. These claims were studied and verified by simulation.
Are Older Adults Physically Active Enough – A Matter of Assessment Method? The Generation 100 Study

Introduction Physical activity (PA) is beneficial for general health. As a result, adults around the world are recommended to undertake regular PA of either absolute or relative intensity. Traditionally, adherence to PA recommendation is assessed by accelerometers that record absolute intensity thresholds. Since ageing often results in a decrease in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), older adults (aged > 65 years) might be more susceptible to not meeting the PA recommendation when measured in absolute terms. The aim of the present study was to compare the adherence to the PA recommendation using both absolute and relative thresholds. Additionally, we aimed to report the reference values for overall PA in a large sample of Norwegian older adults. Methods PA was assessed for 7 days using the Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer in 1219 older adults (624 females) aged 70–77 years. Overall PA was measured as counts per minute (CPM) and steps. Absolute and relative moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) thresholds were applied to quantify adherence to PA recommendation. The relative MVPA thresholds were developed specifically for the Generation 100 population sample. CRF was directly measured as peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). Results Proportions meeting PA recommendation were 29% and 71% when utilizing absolute and relative MVPA, respectively. More females met the relative PA recommendation compared to males. Overall PA was higher among the youngest age group. Older adults with medium- and high levels of CRF were more physically active, compared to those with the lowest levels of CRF. Conclusion This is the first study to compare adherence to PA recommendation, using absolute and relative intensity thresholds among older adults. The present study clearly illustrates the consequences of using different methodological approaches to surveillance of PA across age, gender and CRF in a population of older adults.
European Union Migration Strategy towards West Africa: the Origin and Outlook of ‘Mobility Partnerships’ with Cape Verde and Senegal

West African countries have recently emerged as key players in the formation of a common European Union migration policy. As important source and transit countries for some of the current migratory flows into Western Europe, the EU and its member states have engaged their assistance, or are in the process of initiating the cooperation, in returning unauthorised migrants to their countries or regions of origin. This paper examines these developments within the framework of „mobility partnerships‟ between the Union and two West African countries: Cape Verde and Senegal. The aim of these „mobility partnerships‟ is to facilitate circular migration whereby nationals of the signatory states are encouraged to use authorised routes as entry for studying, professional or technical training and employment. I will show that the decision by the member states to enter into these „mobility partnerships‟ was driven by the convergence of two interlinking concerns: EU‟s internal security and stability in West Africa; these concerns were then channelled into the broadly-defined task of „migration management‟. The paper illustrates that, however, the convergence in goals did not result in the adoption of a single approach for addressing these concerns. Rather, it will be shown that European migration strategy towards Cape Verde and Senegal is defined by two competing components – „repressive‟ and „progressive‟ – that instrumentalise very different policy tools (i.e. security and development). Whilst currently the repressive instruments are utilised, I will argue that the „mobility partnerships‟ possess the potential to increase the leverage EU could exercise vis-a-vis third countries and, thus, adds value to its existing foreign policy toolbox.
Can Programming Be Liberated from the von N e u m a n n Style ? A Funct ional Style and Its Algebra of Programs

The 1977 A C M Taring Award was presented to John Backus at the A C M Annual Conference in Seattle, October 17. In introducing the recipient, Jean E. Sammet, Chairman of the Awards Committee, made the following comments and read a portion of the final citation. The full announcement is in the September 1977 issue of C o m m u n i c a t i o n s , page 681. "Probably there is nobody in the room who has not heard of Fortran and most of you have probably used it at least Once, or at least looked over the shoulder of someone who was writing a Fortran program. There are probably almost as many people who have heard the letters BNF but don't necessarily know what they stand for. Well, the B is for Backus, and the other letters are explained in the formal citation. These two contributions, in my opinion, are among the half dozen most important technical contributions to the computer field and both were made by John Backus [which in the Fortran case also involved some colleagues]. It is for these contributions that he is receiving this year's Taring award.
Combining Temporal Logic Systems

This paper investigates modular combinations of temporal logic systems. Four combination methods are described and studied with respect to the transfer of logical properties from the component one-dimensional temporal logics to the resulting combined two-dimensional temporal logic. Three basic logical properties are analyzed, namely soundness, completeness, and decidability. Each combination method comprises three submethods that combine the languages, the inference systems, and the semantics of two onedimensional temporal logic systems, generating families of two-dimensional temporal languages with varying expressivity and varying degrees of transfer of logical properties. The temporalization method and the independent combination method are shown to transfer all three basic logical properties. The method of full join of logic systems generates a considerably more expressive language but fails to transfer completeness and decidability in several cases. So a weaker method of restricted join is proposed and shown to transfer all three basic logical properties.
Working Memory and Articulation Rate in Children With Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

A. D. Baddeley, N. Thomson, and M. Buchanan (1975) suggested that articulatory rehearsal rate determines the amount of verbal material that can be maintained in working memory. In the current study, 12 children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (SDCP) and 38 normal children were tested on measures of articulation rate and memory span for one-, two- and three-syllable words. Across all conditions, articulation rate for the SDCP group was significantly slower than for the normal group; nonetheless, memory span was equivalent for both groups. This finding implies that covert rehearsal proceeded normally for the SDCP group, in spite of decrements in speech rate. Thus, the relationship between overt and covert rehearsal rates differs for children with SDCP compared with normal children. Findings from the current study further suggest that normal speech rates are not necessary for development of normal covert rehearsal rates.
NHDP and OLSRv2 for community networks

The OLSR.org implementation of OLSRv1 (olsrd) is one of the most widely deployed open source mesh routing daemons. The extensive use of olsrd in community networks provided valuable insights leading to the design of OLSRv2 and the development of the OLSR.org network framework (OONF). In this paper, we describe this evolutionary process and our OLSRv2 implementation based on OONF which also supports embedded platforms. In addition, we present some enhanced features unique to our implementation. These features include means to increase the self-configuration capabilities also in mixed setups of IPv4-only, IPv6-only and dual-stack configurations. The implementation process and the protocol evaluation have been supported by the Virtual Confine Testbed, extended by a Rician fading model. This allows for bug identification in the code and for a first but realistic performance comparison between OLSRv1 and OLSRv2 for wireless links. These results will also allow for targeted extensions of OLSRv2 for a better trade-off between the new flexibility of the type-length-value-based packet format RFC5444 and the efficiency of a binary format like the one OLSRv1 uses.
LDOC1 silenced by cigarette exposure and involved in oral neoplastic transformation

Previously, we identified global epigenetic aberrations in smoking-associated oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We hypothesized that cigarette exposure triggers OSCC through alteration of the methylome of oral cells. Here we report that cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) significantly changes the genomic 5-methyldeoxycytidine content and nuclear accumulation of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and DNMT3A in human untransformed oral cells. By using integrated analysis of cDNA and methylation arrays of the smoking-associated dysplastic oral cell line and OSCC tumors, respectively, we identified four epigenetic targets—UCHL1, GPX3, LXN, and LDOC1—which may be silenced by cigarette. Results of quantitative methylation-specific PCR showed that among these four genes, LDOC1 promoter was the most sensitive to CSC. LDOC1 promoter hypermethylation and gene silencing followed 3 weeks of CSC treatment. LDOC1 knockdown led to a proliferative response and acquired clonogenicity of untransformed oral cells. Immunohistochemistry showed that LDOC1 was downregulated in 53.3% (8/15) and 57.1% (20/35) of premalignant oral tissues and early stage OSCCs, respectively, whereas 76.5% (13/17) of normal oral tissues showed high LDOC1 expression. Furthermore, the microarray data showed that LDOC1 expression had decreased in the lung tissues of current smokers compared with that in those of never smokers and had significantly decreased in the lung tumors of smokers compared with that in normal lung tissues. Our data suggest that CSC-induced promoter methylation may contribute to LDOC1 downregulation, thereby conferring oncogenic features to oral cells. These findings also imply a tumor suppressor role of LDOC1 in smoking-related malignancies such as OSCC and lung cancer.
Investigating the Relationship between Personality Traits and Behavioral Inhibition-Activation System and Tendency to Consume Alcoholic Beverages in the City of Bandar Abbas in 2014-15

The present study aims to investigate the relationship between personality traits and Behavioral inhibition-activation system and tendency to consume alcoholic beverages in the city of Bandar Abbas in 2014-15. The results showed that among the variables of personality traits, neurosis and desire for new experiences were of the factors of tendency to alcohol abuse. Alcohol consumption damages are not only restricted to the soul and the body of the individual but also they threaten the family unity and society and create numerous normative problems in the relationship of the family and society members. Key word: Personality Traits, Behavioral Inhibition-Activation System, Consume Alcoholic Beverages
The Causal Relationship between Inflation and Inflation Expectations in the United Kingdom

Two major events have affected the monetary regime in the United Kingdom in recent years, namely the introduction of inflation targeting, and the granting of operational independence to the Bank of England. In this paper we examine what impact, if any, these events have had on inflation expectations. A series of Granger causality tests are used in order to examine the causal relationship between a measure of prices and inflation expectations. We find evidence that the introduction of inflation targeting caused both the general public and professionals to anchor their expectations, rather than basing them on current RPI inflation.
A cost-effective self-sensing biosensor for detection of biological species at ultralow concentrations

Detection of ultrasmall masses and identification of biological molecules have been made possible as a result of advances in nanotechnology. Development of biosensing tools has significantly contributed to high-throughput diagnosis and analytical sensing exploiting high affinity of biomolecules. MicroCantilever (MC)-based detection has emerged as a promising biosensing tool for offering label-free and cost-effective sensing capabilities. One of the main criteria determining the success of each biosensor is the capability of the sensing platform to operate in aqueous media. Although being characterized with high sensitivity and simplicity, MCs do not provide an effective tool for measurement of marker proteins in liquid media due to large hydrodynamic damping and losses in the surrounding liquid. In this study, we describe two approaches to high sensitivity biomolecular detection using piezoelectric microcantilevers. (i) Immobilized Mass Detection in Air using electro-mechanical resonance: a unique self-se.