Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measuring Poverty Changes with Bounded Equivalence Scales: Australia in the 1980s

When measuring poverty, an equivalence scale is used to take account of the different income needs of different family types. However, there is little consensus about the choice of scale. A method is presented here that permits general statements about changes in poverty to be made which will be true for a range of equivalence scales. The method is used to describe changes in poverty in Australia between 1981-82 and 1989-90. Different scales lead to estimates of the increase in the head count poverty rate between 1981-82 and 1989-90 of between +1.7 and -0.6 percentage points (at commonly chosen poverty thresholds). Copyright 1997 by The London School of Economics and Political Science
Distribution-Based Clustering: Using Ecology To Refine the Operational Taxonomic Unit

ABSTRACT 16S rRNA sequencing, commonly used to survey microbial communities, begins by grouping individual reads into operational taxonomic units (OTUs). There are two major challenges in calling OTUs: identifying bacterial population boundaries and differentiating true diversity from sequencing errors. Current approaches to identifying taxonomic groups or eliminating sequencing errors rely on sequence data alone, but both of these activities could be informed by the distribution of sequences across samples. Here, we show that using the distribution of sequences across samples can help identify population boundaries even in noisy sequence data. The logic underlying our approach is that bacteria in different populations will often be highly correlated in their abundance across different samples. Conversely, 16S rRNA sequences derived from the same population, whether slightly different copies in the same organism, variation of the 16S rRNA gene within a population, or sequences generated randomly in error, will have the same underlying distribution across sampled environments. We present a simple OTU-calling algorithm (distribution-based clustering) that uses both genetic distance and the distribution of sequences across samples and demonstrate that it is more accurate than other methods at grouping reads into OTUs in a mock community. Distribution-based clustering also performs well on environmental samples: it is sensitive enough to differentiate between OTUs that differ by a single base pair yet predicts fewer overall OTUs than most other methods. The program can decrease the total number of OTUs with redundant information and improve the power of many downstream analyses to describe biologically relevant trends.
A critical look at Lean Thinking in healthcare

Background: With healthcare, Lean Thinking encounters a world, not devoid of value, but awash with sophisticated and mutually unconnected concepts of value. Design: Given a shortage of systematic analysis in the literature, this paper provides a preliminary analysis of areas where the read-across from other sectors to healthcare is relatively well understood, based on a broad review of its impact on care delivery. It further proposes areas where conceptual development is needed. In particular, healthcare, with its many measures of value, presents an unusual challenge to the central Lean driver of value to the customer. Conclusion: We conclude that there is scope for methodological development, perhaps by defining three themes associated with value—the operational, the clinical and the experiential.
Balanced matrix structure and new product development process at Texas Instruments Materials and Controls Division

exas Instruments is a global player in thesemiconductor business. One of its divisions isMaterials and Controls (M&C), with European head-quarters in Almelo, the Netherlands. All the com-pany’s products are customer-specific. Productfunctionality and durability are qualifiers in the marketplace. Competition is mostly based on product price.Furthermore, delivery reliability is essential. Relativeto competition, the company is performing well on allthese indicators.Recently, product life cycles started to shorten. Thisrequired the company to look deeply into its time-to-market and, as its products are engineered to order,particularly new product development (NPD) leadtime. The company soon realised that its traditionalfunctional hierarchy would not allow a radical reduc-tion of time-to-market. In 1995 it was thereforedecided to change from the functional structure to aBalanced Matrix structure and to adopt a new projectmanagement procedure called the New Product Devel-opment Process – NPDP, in order to speed up NPDprojects by a factor two.The objective of the present paper is to describe andevaluate the design and implementation of, and thecompany’s experiences with, the new NPD organisa-tion and procedure and the contribution of the newsituation to the company’s performance in the marketplace. Based on that, lessons will be drawn for thetheory and practice of NPD management.
Sex, Hypermasculinity, and Hyperfemininity in Perception of Social Cues in Neutral Interactions

Sexual coercion is a prevalent problem on U.S. college campuses. One potential avenue by which it may occur is the misinterpretation of social cues, and such misperception may be mediated by extreme sex role adherence, i.e., hypermasculinity and hyperfemininity. 62 undergraduate students viewed a film of a neutral interaction between a college-aged man and woman. Subsequently, participants indicated which behaviors they remembered the opposite-sex actor performing, offered a prediction as to the outcome of the scenario and what they would do had they been in a similar situation, and then completed either the Hypermasculinity Inventory or the Hyperfemininity Scale. Scores on the former correlated negatively with recall accuracy, and men indicated that they were more likely to date and have sex with the actress than women reported being likely to date or have sex with the actor. Women reported a high perceived likelihood of dating the actor coupled with the expectation that he would have sex with the actress. Likewise, women expected to be sexually coerced by the actor had they been in a similar situation. Social implications of these findings and possible research are discussed.
Firm heterogeneity and calendar anomalies

While the calendar anomalies and financial market relationship is one of the oldest relationships in financial economics, we treat this relationship differently by addressing two unknown issues: (a) Do calendar anomalies have a heterogeneous effect on firm returns and firm volatility depending on the sectoral location of firms? and (b) Do calendar anomalies affect firm returns and firm volatility differently depending on firm size? Unlike the assumption in this literature that firms are homogeneous, we show that they are in fact heterogeneous. Using 560 firms listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) over the period 5 January 2000 to 31 December 2008, we find fresh results, previously undocumented in this literature. We find evidence of calendar anomalies affecting returns and return volatility of firms differently depending on their sectoral locations and size.
Signaling pathway of MAPK/ERK in cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, senescence and apoptosis

Abstract The generic mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway is shared by four distinct cascades, including the extracellular signal-related kinases (ERK1/2), Jun amino-terminal kinases (JNK1/2/3), p38-MAPK and ERK5. Mitogen-activated protein kinases/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathway is reported to be associated with the cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, senescence and apoptosis. The literatures were searched extensively and this review was performed to review the role of MAPK/ERK signaling pathway in cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, senescence and apoptosis.
Market direction and moment seasonality: evidence from Irish equities

The first four moments of four indices of equity returns produced by the Irish Stock Exchange are examined across different market directions. Using standard F, Kruskal-Wallis and Levene tests daily seasonality is confirmed in all, although in a pattern different to that found elsewhere. In particular, there appears to be a Wednesday effect in mean returns and, counter to evidence elsewhere, daily seasonality appears stronger in rising than falling markets. In addition, this note applies a method introduced by Tang (Journal of Economics and Business, 21(1), 1997) in finding a daily seasonal in skewness and kurtosis.
The Effects of Quality and Satisfaction on Awareness and Behavioral Intentions: Exploring the Role of a Wine Festival

This study examines how festivals can promote wine products and wineries and influence customer behavioral intentions. Specifically, this research proposes a theoretical model, focusing on the relationships among (1) perceived festival quality, (2) satisfaction with the wine festival, (3) subsequent awareness of local wines and wineries, and (4) future intentions to buy local wine products and to visit wineries. A structural equation modeling analysis reveals that attendee evaluation of festival quality positively influences satisfaction with the festival, and that satisfaction exerts a positive and direct influence on awareness of local wines and wineries. Festival quality appears not to directly affect behavioral intentions, whereas satisfaction and awareness have positive and direct relationships with intentions. Mediator functions of satisfaction and awareness are also discussed. This study extends previous research by specifically considering ways in which service quality and satisfaction with a wine festival bring about product awareness and behavioral intentions.
Earnings Surprises in Analysts' Forecasts, Mandatory Disclosure, and Share Repurchases

This paper examines the impact of forecast errors and the mandatory disclosure of repurchase transactions required by 2003 Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations on share repurchases. We define forecast errors as the difference between analysts' forecasted earnings and actual earnings. We argue that firms with positive forecast errors imply greater information asymmetry, which may induce them to signal through share repurchases. We show that both the repurchase target and analysts' forecast revision are positively related to forecast errors. Furthermore, these associations are more pronounced in the low disclosure period (1989–2003) where greater information asymmetry between managers and outside investors is found, while increased transparency in the high disclosure period (2004–2006) leads to more significant improvement in long-term performances for firms with positive forecast errors. The results are consistent with our expectations that the information asymmetry implied in forecast errors, along with a shock change from the introduction of the 2003 SEC regulation, affect both corporate and analysts' behaviour.
Low-Power, End-to-End Reliable Collection Using Glossy for Wireless Sensor Networks

We present a design and evaluation of Choco, a low-power, end- to-end reliable collection protocol for wireless sensor networks. We construct Choco on Glossy, which is a recently presented efficient flooding scheme exploiting constructive-interference phenomena. Although Glossy is originally developed for flooding, it can be regarded as a networking primitive which provides low-power, low- delay, any-to-any communication reachability. In Choco, all packet transmissions are based on Glossy. A sink node explicitly schedules each node operation in a centralized and fine-grained manner with Glossy, and controls retransmission and power saving mode of each node. Each sensor node transmits data packets to the sink node with Glossy according to the request from the sink node. Although Choco is very simple mechanism, we reveal that Choco has considerable merits over current data collection protocols through two different testbed evaluations. Testbed evaluations demonstrate that Choco provides 14.7 times more energy-efficient collection than the state-of-the-art, while achieving end-to-end reliability for every node.
Utility of Substance Stock and Flow Studies

Despite phase‐out policies, regulations, planning, and systematic thinking, diffuse emissions of hazardous substances from goods and materials accumulate in society. This is most pronounced in urban areas, since such emissions are related to high densities of people, services, and goods. In this study of Stockholm, Sweden, the aim is to discuss the utility of substance flow analyses (SFAs) for the urban management of hazardous substances. Several SFAs in Stockholm have been conducted during the period from 1995–2007. Eleven case studies were selected and were related to utility aspects to discover specific factors involved in the practical application of SFA. As far as ongoing environmental management is concerned, it can be stated that the SFAs’ results have been implemented in several local environmental objectives. Citations and use of the SFAs show that the studies, which focus on diffuse emissions, have had a strong influence on local policy. The application of SFA in Stockholm reveals that methodology factors, type of information, local context, and method of communication may be important in the utilization of SFA in policy. In the implementation of the results of Stockholm studies, it has been a strength to have both the environmental monitoring, which indicates the existence of hazardous substances in different environmental compartments, and SFAs that map and monitor sources of emissions.
Affinity Maturation of a Cyclic Peptide Handle for Therapeutic Antibodies Using Deep Mutational Scanning*

Meditopes are cyclic peptides that bind in a specific pocket in the antigen-binding fragment of a therapeutic antibody such as cetuximab. Provided their moderate affinity can be enhanced, meditope peptides could be used as specific non-covalent and paratope-independent handles in targeted drug delivery, molecular imaging, and therapeutic drug monitoring. Here we show that the affinity of a recently reported meditope for cetuximab can be substantially enhanced using a combination of yeast display and deep mutational scanning. Deep sequencing was used to construct a fitness landscape of this protein-peptide interaction, and four mutations were identified that together improved the affinity for cetuximab 10-fold to 15 nm. Importantly, the increased affinity translated into enhanced cetuximab-mediated recruitment to EGF receptor-overexpressing cancer cells. Although in silico Rosetta simulations correctly identified positions that were tolerant to mutation, modeling did not accurately predict the affinity-enhancing mutations. The experimental approach reported here should be generally applicable and could be used to develop meditope peptides with low nanomolar affinity for other therapeutic antibodies.
Technical Report on Methodology: Cost Benefit Analysis and Policy Responses

The economic assessment of priorities for a European environmental policy plan focuses on twelve identified Prominent European Environmental Problems such as climate change, chemical risks and biodiversity. The study, commissioned by the European Commission (DG Environment) to a European consortium led by RIVM, provides a basis for priority setting for European environmental policy planning in support of the sixth Environmental Action Programme as follow-up of the current fifth Environmental Action Plan called 'Towards Sustainability'. The analysis is based on an examination of the cost of avoided damage, environmental expenditures, risk assessment, public opinion, social incidence and sustainability. The study incorporates information on targets, scenario results, and policy options and measures including their costs and benefits. Main findings of the study are the following. Current trends show that if all existing policies are fully implemented and enforced, the European Union will be successful in reducing pressures on the environment. However, damage to human health and ecosystems can be substantially reduced with accelerated policies. The implementation costs of these additional policies will not exceed the environmental benefits and the impact on the economy is manageable. This requires future policies to focus on least-cost solutions and follow an integrated approach. Nevertheless, these policies will not be adequate for achieving all policy objectives. Remaining major problems are the excess load of nitrogen in the ecosystem, exceedance of air quality guidelines (especially particulate matter), noise nuisance and biodiversity loss. This report is one of a series supporting the main report: European Environmental Priorities: an Integrated Economic and Environmental Assessment. The areas discussed in the main report are fully documented in the various Technical reports. A background report is presented for each environmental issue giving an outline of the problem and its relationship to economic sectors and other issues; the benefits and the cost-benefit analysis; and the policy responses. Additional reports outline the benefits methodology, the EU enlargement issue and the macro-economic consequences of the scenarios. This report documents Methodology Cost Benefit Analysis and Policy Responses.
A memory-based realization of a binarized deep convolutional neural network

A pre-trained deep convolutional neural network (CNN) is a feed-forward computation perspective, which is widely used for the embedded systems, requires high power-and-area efficiency. This paper realizes a binarized CNN which treats only binary 2-values (+1/−1) for the inputs and the weights. In this case, the multiplier is replaced with an EX-NOR circuit. To reduce both power and area, we realize the 2-valued CNN by off- and on-chip memories. Since our 2D convolution operations are realized by the on-chip memory, our implementation consumes lower power than the DSP block. We decompose the memory part, and realize them by a cascade of memories (LUT cascade). By introducing a batch normalization technique, the classification error for the binarized CNN can be improved. We implemented the CIFAR-10 benchmark on the NetFPGA-SUME board, which has the Xilinx Inc. Virtex 7 FPGA and three on-chip QDR II+ Synchronous SRAMs. Compared with the conventional FPGA realizations, the performance is 2.82 times faster, the power efficiency is 1.76 times, and the area efficiency is 29.13 times better.
Gujarat Elections: The Sub-Text of Modi’s ‘Hattrick’—High Tech Populism and the ‘Neo-middle Class’

This article, while it will pay attention to the opposition parties—the Congress and the GPP—intends, in its first part, to scrutinize the mainstays of Narendra Modi’s election campaign with special references to high tech populism, his banalization of Hindutva, his notion of Gujarati patriotism and his defence of what he calls the ‘neo-middle class’. The second part that deals with the electoral results and the citizens’ voting behaviour, will show that Modi’s constituency is a by-product of an increasingly polarized pattern of social change and economic growth, the BJP receiving stronger support from urban dwellers, whatever their caste, gender and level of education may be.
Parallel Prefix Algorithm on BSN-Mesh

A parallel algorithm for prefix computation of N=2n4 elements on a Biswapped network (BSN) whose basis network is n×n mesh network is presented. BSN is a recently proposed network model of parallel computing, which is built of 2n copies of an n-node basis network and its basic network may be Hypercube, Mesh and other networks, BSN-Mesh is Biswapped network whose basis network is Mesh network. In this paper, the parallel prefix algorithm proposed takes time on N processors N communication steps.
Overview of Enhancements to RSVP-TE to Increase Control Plane Resilience

The resource reservation protocol (RSVP) was originally proposed as a signaling protocol to be used within a QoS architecture for IP networks. However, the modularity and extensibility of the protocol has led to its adoption as a generic signaling protocol that may be used to deliver control plane information to nodes in an IP network. RSVP with traffic engineering (TE) extensions, RSVP-TE, is used for signaling in multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) networks initially and, more recently, in generalized MPLS (GMPLS) networks. GMPLS typically necessitates a separation of the control plane and the data plane, hence control plane resiliency is a key issue. This paper discusses the manner in which the standardised enhancements to RSVP-TE may be used to increase the resilience of the GMPLS control plane.
Immunotherapy with autologous white cell infusions (“lymphocytes”) in the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. A preliminary report

Autologous leukocytes (107 to 109), obtained with the Haemonetics's Leukaphoresis apparatus, were inoculated directly into recurrent glioblastoma tumors via indwelling catheters or by direct intratumoral injection through existing craniotomy openings. The rational use for autologous leukocyte (lymphocyte) infusions was based on in vitro autologous lymphocyte cytotoxicity to glioblastoma cells in the absence of serum inhibitory factors. Seven of 17 patients treated had life expectancy under 1 month; all patients had received definitive surgery, and all but two received radiation, nitrosourea chemotherapy and/or dexamethasone, and showed evidence of clinically recurrent disease. Following autologous leukocyte infusion (lymphocyte/granulocyte ratio 1:1), eight patients sustained clinical improvement and were alive up to 17 months later. No neurotoxicity ascribable to the procedure has been observed. One patient, who was comatose at the time of single leukocyte infusion, returned to full activity and lived for 17 months without an increase in tumor mass by brain scan. These results suggest that infusions of autologous leukocytes (lymphocyte‐monocytes) directly into glioblastoma may be a viable additional treatment for glioblastoma and certainly warrants further evaluation.