Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Disability--Global Trends and International Perspectives

Disability among populations is widespread and although many studies on disability exist worldwide there is a lack of comparability between countries and also between studies in the same country. Yet despite a lack of clarity, disability is an increasingly major issue in public policy terms from the standpoints of equal opportunities, the increasing burden of age-related disability, work participation, social security benefits and so forth. One of the main problems is that disability is defined differently for different purposes so that there is no consistent overview of disability among populations, or the implications for disability policies. The first part of this paper addresses these deficiencies by reviewing and analysing global data on disability and relating it to ageing, health status, and functional measures of disability. It finds that a major cause of disability in future years will be ageing but that the prevalence of disability will depend on socio-economic factors and trends in healthy life expectancy. The second part of the paper considers policies for tackling disability, particularly the financial aspects and the role of the public and private sectors, and finds a multiplicity of institutional arrangements in place. The paper concludes by identifying five major issues for public policy--economic development, ageing and long-term care, the importance of developing work potential, and the need for international standards in the area of disability data.
Estimating the posterior probability that genome-wide association findings are true or false

MOTIVATION A limitation of current methods used to declare significance in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) is that they do not provide clear information about the probability that GWAS findings are true of false. This lack of information increases the chance of false discoveries and may result in real effects being missed. RESULTS We propose a method to estimate the posterior probability that a marker has (no) effect given its test statistic value, also called the local false discovery rate (FDR), in the GWAS. A critical step involves the estimation the parameters of the distribution of the true alternative tests. For this, we derived and implemented the real maximum likelihood function, which turned out to provide us with significantly more accurate estimates than the widely used mixture model likelihood. Actual GWAS data are used to illustrate properties of the posterior probability estimates empirically. In addition to evaluating individual markers, a variety of applications are conceivable. For instance, posterior probability estimates can be used to control the FDR more precisely than Benjamini-Hochberg procedure. AVAILABILITY The codes are freely downloadable from the web site http://www.people. vcu.edu/~jbukszar.
The Predictive Performance of a System Model for Enflurane Closed‐circuit Inhalational Anesthesia

BackgroundPreviously, the authors described a system model for closed-circuit inhalational anesthesia, and demonstrated close agreement between end-tidal isoflurane concentrations measured in their clinical study and those predicted by the model. The predictive performance of their model has not, however, been tested for anesthetics featuring nonpulmonary elimination (NPE). MethodsThe authors quantified the predictive performance of two versions (A and C) of the model in 50 patients by comparing the predicted and the measured alveolar concentration-time profiles after bolus injections of liquid enflurane into the expiratory limb of the closed system. Version A did not incorporate NPE, but version C emulated NPE by adopting the irreversible loss of a fraction of the enflurane present in the arterial hepatic blood flow (0.131, derived from a mass balance study performed by others). For each concentration measured by mass spectrometry, the authors used computer simulations of version A and C to calculate a predicted concentration for both versions. For each patient, the authors calculated the bias (indicating systematic over-or underprediction) and the scatter of the prediction errors (indicating typical error size). ResultsThe authors administered a total of 379 ml of liquid enflurane via 466 injections. A total of 18,432 alveolar concentrations (one per 10-s period; average concentration = 0.96 vol%) were measured. The bias and the scatter, both given as mean (and SD), were 10.0 (13.1)% and 11.8 (3.9)% for version A and −0.8 (11.4)% and 11.4 (2.8)% for C. The bias for version C was closer to zero; the scatters were similar. ConclusionsVersion C incorporating NPE performs better than version A. The accuracy that was obtained should encourage the use of version C for clinical, teaching, research, economic, and ecologic purposes.
A Parametric n-Dimensional Markov-Functional Model in the Terminal Measure

Abstract This article develops and tests an n-dimensional Markov-functional interest rate model in the terminal measure based on parametric functional forms of exponential type. The parametric functional forms enable analytical expressions for forward discount bonds and forward LIBORs at all times and allows for calibration of the model to caplet prices given by a displaced diffusion Black model. The analytical expressions of the model provide a theoretical tool for understanding the structure of standard Markov-functional models (MFMs) as well as comparisons with the LIBOR market model (LMM). In particular, it is shown that for ‘typical’ market data the model is close enough to the LMM to be able to calibrate using the LMM calibration set-up and machinery. This provides further information about the similarities (as well as some of the differences) between MFM and LMM. The parametric n-dimensional MFM may be used for products that require high-dimensional models for appropriate pricing and risk management. When compared with an n-factor LMM, it has the virtue of being (much) faster for certain types of products.
A fast two dimensional image based grasp planner

This research concerns a grasp-planning algorithm that is fast and capable of determining grasp points for planar nondegenerate objects. We use a novel representation of the target and a quadtree based sampling scheme to generate a set of candidate grasps which are evaluated using a cost function. This function returns the first acceptable grasp point it finds. The resulting system has an execution time of seconds and is suitable for a large number of planar grasp planning problems.
A Spectrum Approach to Active Risk Budgeting

Many institutional investors use a barbell strategy to invest their large-cap equity portfolios. This strategy mixes passive managers (who have no tracking error) with traditional concentrated active managers (who usually have high tracking errors) to moderate the total portfolio's active risk. The authors believe investors can achieve better results by including in the mix low-tracking error structured managers (also known as enhanced-index or benchmark-sensitive managers). They call this approach the spectrum strategy, because it allocates risk across the entire active risk spectrum. The historical analysis shows structured managers have generally achieved higher risk-adjusted returns (i.e., information ratios) than traditional managers. Their relative performance advantage is due to, first, structured managers' focus on risk management (i.e., less noise in the information ratio's denominator), and second, their relative freedom from the no-short constraint (i.e., the no-short constraint is less binding when managers target small active deviations). Perhaps surprisingly, given the expected information ratio advantage, allocations to structured managers should come primarily from the plan's passive allocation rather than from traditional active managers.
Linking Employee Assessments to Succession Planning

Due to widespread downsizing and an aging workforce, succession planning is rapidly becoming a key strategic planning tool for human resource management and for improving government performance and accountability. The purpose of this paper is to offer ideas on the connection between employee assessments and succession planning. After describing links between employee assessment and succession planning, the paper presents results from a survey designed to measure employee attitudes toward career development and perceptions of succession planning at the Nevada Operations Office of the Department of Energy. The paper analyzes how employee assessment procedures can take into account career development, training needs, retirement plans, workforce diversity, succession planning and mentoring programs. Last, the significance of employee assessment procedures for facilitating succession planning management decisions that comply with organizational objectives as well as strategic workforce plans is discussed.
Blockade of the L‐arginine/NO synthase pathway worsens hepatic apoptosis and liver transplant preservation injury

Organ graft preservation injury is a major problem complicating liver transplantation. The L‐arginine/nitric oxide pathway has protective effects in several models of liver injury. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of the L‐arginine/NO synthase (NOS) pathway on liver preservation injury and to characterize endogenous inducible NOS (iNOS) expression. Orthotopic liver transplantation was performed with 18‐hour University of Wisconsin preservation solution in syngeneic rats. Recipient rats were either untreated or treated with L‐arginine, D‐arginine, nonspecific NOS inhibitor NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME), or iNOS selective inhibitor L‐N6‐(1‐imino‐ethyl)lysine (L‐NIL) after revascularization. As early as 1 hour following reperfusion, circulating arginine levels decreased 10‐fold and ornithine levels increased 4‐fold. A corresponding increase in arginase I protein was detected in serum. To address the profound arginine deficiency, we supplemented recipients with arginine after transplantation. L‐arginine (but not D‐arginine) supplementation significantly reduced preservation injury 12 hours after reperfusion, suggesting that the protective effect of L‐arginine was mediated through the generation of NO. iNOS protein expression peaked in the liver 6 to 12 hours following reperfusion. Blockade of the L‐arginine/NO pathway with L‐NAME significantly increased necrotic and apoptotic cell death in the transplanted graft. Addition of the iNOS selective inhibitor L‐NIL mildly increased liver transaminase levels and also increased apoptosis in the liver graft. In conclusion, transplant recipients are profoundly arginine deficient postreperfusion due to arginase release. L‐Arginine supplementation and NO synthesis decrease necrotic and apoptotic cell death and ameliorate liver transplant preservation injury.
Full waveform inversion of reflection seismic data for ocean temperature profiles

We show that ocean temperature profiles can be accurately recovered using only acoustic methods employed at the sea surface. Using a towed air gun array and a hydrophone streamer, thermohaline boundaries are ensonified at a suite of frequencies and angles, yielding travel time trajectories and reflectivities. These data are inverted via full waveform inversion to estimate sound speed and, subsequently, a temperature profile. The high lateral data density of the seismic technique offers the potential of acoustically derived temperature profiles to be used to constrain models of ocean mixing and internal waves. Results on realistic synthetic data show that sound speed can be recovered with arbitrary accuracy when using broadband data, with known source function and recording geometry. Application to field seismic data (corroborated by expendable bathythermograph) shows that even with a seismic acquisition system not specifically calibrated for seismic oceanography, temperature contrasts within the ocean can be recovered to within one degree Celsius.
Mathematical Chemistry *

A brief description is given of the historical development of mathematics and chemistry. A path leading to the meeting of these two sciences is described. An attempt is made to define mathematical chemistry, and journals containing the term mathematical chemistry in their titles are noted. In conclusion, the statement is made that although chemistry is an experimental science aimed at preparing new compounds and materials, mathematics is very useful in chemistry, among other things, to produce models that can guide experimental work to a target by the shortest possible route.
Genetic Structure and Gene Flow Among Brazilian Populations of Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

ABSTRACT Population genetic studies are essential to the better application of pest management strategies, including the monitoring of the evolution of resistance to insecticides and genetically modified plants. Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) crops have been instrumental in controlling tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a pest that has developed resistance to many common insecticides once used for its management. In our study, microsatellite markers were applied to investigate the genetic structure and patterns of gene flow among Brazilian populations of H. virescens from cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. , and soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. , fields, aiming to propose means to improve its management in the field. In total, 127 alleles were found across nine microsatellites loci for 205 individuals from 12 localities. Low levels of gene flow and moderate to great genetic structure were found for these populations. Host plant association, crop growing season, and geographic origin were not responsible for the genetic structuring among Brazilian populations of H. virescens. Other factors, such as demographic history and seasonal variability of intrapopulation genetic variation, were suggested to be molding the current pattern of genetic variability distribution.
Real Options: A Practitioner's Guide

Part I 1. Getting started 2. The change process 3. Net present value 4. Comparing net present value, decision trees and real options Part II 5. Numerical methods for simple options 6. Compound and switching options 7. Going from one step per time period to many 8. A four-step process for valuing real options 9. Estimating volatility: Consolidated approach 10. Keeping uncertainties separate 11. Case examples 12. Final thoughts and unfinished business
Clomiphene Citrate Treatment Cycle Outcomes of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients Based on Basal High Sensitive C-Reactive Protein Levels: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is highly associated with an ovulatory infertility, features of the metabolic syndrome, including obesity, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. Serum concentrations of high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were significantly higher in obese than in non-obese PCOS patients at baseline, suggesting a relationship between elevated hs-CRP levels and obesity. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether cycle day 3 hs-CRP levels before clomiphene citrate (CC) treatment would predict cycle outcomes in women with PCOS. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among 84 infertile women with PCOS who were treated with CC at Zekai Tahir Burak Women’s Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, between January 2014 and January 2015. Based on the exclusion criteria, cycle outcomes of remaining 66 infertile women with PCOS treated with CC were analyzed. The hs-CRP levels and insulin resistance indexes were evaluated on day 3 of the CC treatment cycle. The primary outcome measures were number of preovulatory follicles measuring≥17 mm and pregnancy rates. Results The mean ± SD age of the patients was 24.0 ± 3.8 years (range 18-36). The mean ± SD body mass index (BMI) of the patients was 25.7 ± 4.9 (range 17-43). Fifty patients developed dominant follicle (75%) and 5 patients established clinical pregnancy during the study (clinical pregnancy rate: 7%). The mean ± SD baseline hs-CRP, fasting insulin and Homeostasis Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) values of the patients with and without dominant follicle generation during treatment cycle were 6.42 ± 7.05 and 4.41 ± 2.95 (P=0.27), 11.61 ± 6.94 and 10.95 ± 5.65 (P=0.73), 2.68 ± 1.79 and 2.41 ± 1.30 (P=0.58), respectively. The mean ± SD baseline hs-CRP, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR values of the patients with and without clinical pregnancy establishment following treatment cycle were 6.30 ± 2.56 and 5.90 ± 6.57 (P=0.89), 11.60 ± 7.54 and 11.44 ± 6.61 (P=0.95), 2.42 ± 1.51 and 2.63 ± 1.70 (P=0.79), respectively. Conclusion In this study, we did not observe a predictive value of cycle day 3 hs-CRP levels on preovulatory follicle development and pregnancy rates among infertile PCOS patients treated with CC. Also, no relationship between HOMA-IR values and dominant follicle generation or clinical pregnancy establishment was demonstrated in our study, confirming the previous studies emphasizing the neutral effect of metformin utilization before and/or during ovulation induction to pregnancy rates.
Infrequency of Purchase, Individual Heterogeneity an and Rational Addiction in Single Households’ Estimates of Alcohol Consumption

A panel of Italian single households is used to test for rational addiction in alcohol consumption. These monthly consumption data raise problems of measurement errors and unobservable heterogeneity. To deal with the zeros in the dependent variable we adopt a specification based on infrequency of purchase. GMM estimators are used to deal with errors in variables and unobserved heterogeneity. There is evidence that alcohol consumers are actually forward-looking. Past consumption is also significant in explaining current consumption thus detecting the addictive nature of alcohol. Discount rates, the strength of addiction, short and long run price and income elasticities are significant and in line with the theoretical predictions. These results and the inclusion of a number of demographic and geographic characters deliver valuable information for public policy purposes and suggest significant differences driven by individual heterogeneity.
Beliefs and Community Responses to Mental Illness in Ghana: The Experiences of Family Carers

Background: There is often a lack of agreement on how to understand mental illness in low-income countries and support those experiencing it. This article explores the debate on beliefs and the implications for how society responds. Material: Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 80 family carers across four sites in Ghana to explore the themes of beliefs, attitudes, carer burden and support. Discussion and conclusions: There appears to be greater reliance on culturally specific explanations of mental illness in rural areas, combined with more acceptance and support, particularly in one rural area with strong traditional belief systems. This suggests the need to develop integrated mental health services, which reflect these differing beliefs.
Effects of Pogostemon cablin Blanco extract on hypoxia induced rabbit cardiomyocyte injury

Background: Pogostemonis Herba, the dried aerial part of Pogostemon cablin Blanco, is a well-known materia medica in Asia that is widely used for syndrome of gastrointestinal dysfunctions. Objective: This study was undertaken to examine whether Pogostemon cablin extract (PCe) might have any beneficial effect on hypoxia induced rabbit cardiomyocyte injury. Materials and Methods: Isolated cardiomyocytes were divided into three groups and the changes of cell viability in cardiomyocytes of hypoxic and hypoxia/reoxygenation group were determined. The effect of PCe on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, intracellular formation of ROS was also measured by monitoring the 2’,7’-dichlorofluorescein fluorescence. Results: PCe effectively protected the cells against both the hypoxia and reoxygenation induced injury, and the protective effect of PCe is not mediated by interaction with adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K+ channels. In the presence of PCe, production of ROS under chemical hypoxia was remarkably reduced which suggests that PCe might exert its effect as a ROS scavenger. Conclusion: The present study provides clear evidence for the beneficial effect of PCe on cardiomyocyte injury during hypoxia or reoxygenation following prolonged hypoxia.
BiNoC: A bidirectional NoC architecture with dynamic self-reconfigurable channel

A Bidirectional channel Network-on-Chip (BiNoC) architecture is proposed to enhance the performance of on-chip communication. The BiNoC allows each communication channel to be dynamically self-configured to transmit flits in either direction in order to better utilize on-chip hardware resources. This added flexibility promises better bandwidth utilization, lower packet delivery latency, and higher packet consumption rate at each on-chip router. In this paper, a novel on-chip router architecture supporting the sel-fconfiguring bidirectional channel mechanism is presented. It is shown that the associated hardware overhead is negligible. Cycle-accurate simulation runs on this BiNoC network under synthetic and real-world traffic patterns demonstrate consistent and significant performance advantage over conventional mesh grid NoC architecture equipped with hard-wired unidirectional channels.
Decomposing the Increase in Timss Scores in Ghana: 2003-2007

This paper attempts to explore certain aspects underlying the substantial improvement in 8th grade student performance in Ghana on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study from2003 to 2007. The improvement was largely heterogeneous; in mathematics, performance improved more for students already performing well, while the opposite was the case for science, where students at the bottom of the score distribution experienced a spectacular increase in science scores. Most of the increase in scores for both mathematics and science is explained by over-time changes in coefficients (and a smaller part by improvements in characteristics). Contributors not accounted for (and therefore captured by changes in the constant) dominate the effects of the coefficients. One potentially important piece of information missing from the Ghana data is whether a school is private or public; this could potentially explain part of the over-time improvement. This is because over the short period between the two surveys, there was a large increase in the number of private schools in Ghana (by 36 percent between 2005/6 and 2007/8). Finally, an analysis of the over-time change in the test score gap by location (between large and small communities) revealed that the gap became more heterogeneous, narrowing for worse performing students and widening for better performing students.
Adjustment Asymmetries and Hysteresis in Simple Dynamic Models

The author considers the formal modeling of hysteresis in light of the notion that this process is a special case, contingent on the existence of unit roots in first order difference equations. It is argued that variables displaying adjustment asymmetries along disequilibrium time paths can generate hysteresis, irrespective of the existence of unit roots. Examples of adjustment asymmetries and hysteresis in investment and in the Phillips curve are provided. Copyright 1998 by Blackwell Publishers Ltd and The Victoria University of Manchester