Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The relationship between alcohol use and earnings

AALTO UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS November 1, 2011 Department of Economics Master’s Thesis Henri Syvanen THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALCOHOL USE AND EARNINGS The link between individual earnings and alcohol use has never been investigated in Finland. The aim of this thesis is to add a missing piece into the existing alcohol use literature by providing the first study on this matter. The study is based on an empirical analysis that utilizes data from the Finnish Drinking Habits Survey 2008. Individual earnings information has been connected to the survey data from the national taxation register. The empirical analysis is conducted using multiple separate OLS-models to account for different aspects of the alcohol-earnings relationship. According to the results of the analysis, alcohol use is strongly correlated with earnings and several interesting findings were made. First, drinkers earn more than abstainers. Second, the relationship between alcohol use and earnings follows an inverse u-shaped path, with peak earnings taking place at 2.6 drinks per day for men and at 1.2 drinks per day for women. In addition, the number of intoxication is negatively correlated with earnings for men, but the same correlation does not exist for women. The results revealed that alcohol-earnings relationship also differs between socioeconomic positions and different drinker types. Wine drinkers earn 5 percent more than beer drinkers and 15 percent more of generic drinkers and some indication about the beneficial effects of drinking in a social manner was also found. Overall, the results indicate that those who drink moderately earn the most.
Effect of delivery method and timing of breastfeeding initiation on breastfeeding outcomes in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND Few studies have examined the independent effect of delivery method and timing of breastfeeding initiation on the prevalence of breastfeeding. The objectives of this study were to examine the effect of method of delivery and timing of breastfeeding initiation on the prevalence of breastfeeding at 1 and 3 months after delivery using a national sample from Taiwan. METHODS The study population of 2,064 women who gave birth to infants without congenital anomalies at hospitals in Taiwan from June through October 2003, inclusively, participated in a postal questionnaire survey. RESULTS Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that women with cesarean delivery had a lower odds of breastfeeding at 1 and 3 months after delivery. Women with assisted vaginal delivery had lower odds of breastfeeding at 3 months after delivery compared with women with unassisted vaginal delivery. Initiation of breastfeeding within 30 minutes of delivery was associated with higher odds of breastfeeding at 1 and 3 months after delivery. Women who did not initiate breastfeeding during hospital stay but breastfed at 1 month after delivery had lower odds of breastfeeding at 3 months after delivery. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest the importance of conservative use of operative obstetrical intervention due to its negative impact on breastfeeding. Health professionals need to support mothers who have experienced cesarean and assisted vaginal delivery to increase their breastfeeding. Hospital staff should improve practice with respect to early initiation of breastfeeding.
Indication and practical use of intensive insulin therapy in the critically ill

Purpose of reviewTwo large randomized studies demonstrated that maintenance of normoglycemia with intensive insulin therapy for at least a few days decreases morbidity and mortality of critically ill patients. This review gives an overview of the benefits associated with this therapy and highlights the importance of achieving optimal blood glucose levels. It discusses the indications for this therapy and the fear for potential harm. Recent findingsA pooled analysis of the two Leuven studies (n = 2748) revealed a significantly reduced morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients for all subgroups, except those with a prior history of diabetes. An absolute reduction in risk of hospital death of 3–4% is to be expected from this therapy in an intention-to-treat analysis. When patients are treated for more than 3 days, the absolute reduction in risk of death increases to approximately 8%. The available data indicate that strict normoglycemia is required to obtain optimal clinical benefit. This increases the risk of hypoglycemia, but it remains unclear whether this is truly harmful in the setting of critical care. SummaryMaintaining strict normoglycemia by the use of intensive insulin therapy improves outcome of critically ill patients.
Robust Rauch–Tung–Striebel Smoothing Framework for Heavy-Tailed and/or Skew Noises

A novel robust Rauch–Tung–Striebel smoothing framework is proposed based on a generalized Gaussian scale mixture (GGScM) distribution for a linear state-space model with heavy-tailed and/or skew noises. The state trajectory, mixing parameters, and unknown distribution parameters are jointly inferred using the variational Bayesian approach. As such, a major contribution of this paper is unifying results within the GGScM distribution framework. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed smoother has better accuracy than existing smoothers.
Child Behavior Problems: Role of Cocaine Use, Parenting and Child Exposure to Violence.

OBJECTIVE Studies examining the association between prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) and child behavior problems have yielded mixed results, suggesting a need to identify additional mediating and moderating influences. We hypothesized that the relation between PCE and behavior problems at kindergarten would be mediated/moderated by child exposure to violence; and that maternal warmth/sensitivity and harshness would moderate the association between violence exposure and behavior problems. METHODS Participants consisted of 216 (116 cocaine-exposed, 100 non-cocaine exposed (NCE) mother-child dyads participating in an ongoing longitudinal study of PCE. RESULTS Results yielded no direct or mediated/moderated association between PCE and child behavior problems, and no significant interaction effects between PCE and parenting quality. However, higher exposure to violence in kindergarten was significantly associated with higher child behavior problems. This association was moderated by maternal warmth/sensitivity and harshness. High maternal warmth/sensitivity buffered the association between violence exposure and behavior problems while high maternal harshness exacerbated this association. CONCLUSION This study highlights the role of violence exposure in the development of behavior problems among high-risk children, and emphasizes the significance of parenting quality in buffering or exacerbating this risk among these children. Implications for prevention include targeting the potential role of maternal warmth/sensitivity as a protective influence among children exposed to violence.
3D Tracking of Multiple Objects with Identical Appearance Using RGB-D Input

Most current approaches for 3D object tracking rely on distinctive object appearances. While several such trackers can be instantiated to track multiple objects independently, this not only neglects that objects should not occupy the same space in 3D, but also fails when objects have highly similar or identical appearances. In this paper we develop a probabilistic graphical model that accounts for similarity and proximity and leads to robust real-time tracking of multiple objects from RGB-D data, without recourse to bolton collision detection.
Vitamin D receptor, oestrogen receptor-alpha gene and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphisms in Hungarian patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

Background Genetic factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, a common disorder in primary biliary cirrhosis. Oestrogen receptor-alpha gene, vitamin D receptor gene and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene are all attractive candidates for osteoporosis susceptibility. We investigated the polymorphisms of the above genes and bone disease in Hungarian patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Patients and methods Thirty-three female patients with primary biliary cirrhosis were enrolled (age range, 39–72 years; anti-mitochondrial antibody M2 positive, stage II–IV). Eighty-four healthy and 76 osteoporotic age matched female subjects served as controls. Vitamin D receptor BsmI, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene variable- number tandem repeat and oestrogen receptor-alpha PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms were determined. Bone mineral density was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (XR26, Norland) in lumbar spine and femoral neck. Results The genotype frequency of vitamin D receptor BsmI (BB, 57.5%; Bb, 33.3%; bb, 9.1%) and oestrogen receptor-alpha PvuII (PP, 18.2%; Pp, 75.6%; pp, 6.2%) and XbaI (XX, 9.1%; Xx, 90.9%; xx, 0%) of the primary biliary cirrhosis patients was different from that of the healthy and osteoporotic control groups (P < 0.03 for each). Osteoporosis (t score < −2.5) was present in 42.4% of the patients. Osteoporotic primary biliary cirrhosis patients were older and had a longer disease history (P = 0.01 for both). No association was found between the polymorphisms and bone mineral density values at either position. Conclusions We confirmed previous findings concerning the higher frequency of vitamin D receptor BsmI BB genotype in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. The oestrogen receptor-alpha PvuII and XbaI Pp and Xx genotypes were more frequent in primary biliary cirrhosis patients, while interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene variable-number tandem repeat polymorphism was not different. Since none of the polymorphisms was associated with bone mineral density, it is unlikely that these polymorphisms are essential in predicting bone mineral density in primary biliary cirrhosis.
Supplementary Load Frequency Control by Use of a Number of Both Electric Vehicles and Heat Pump Water Heaters

A large integration of renewable energy sources such as wind power generation and photovoltaic generation causes some problems in power systems, e.g., distribution voltage rise and frequency fluctuation. Battery energy storage system (BESS) is one of the effective solutions to these problems. Due to a high cost of the BESS, an application of controllable loads such as electric vehicle (EV) and heat pump water heater (HPWH) to the power system control is considered in this paper for reduction of the required capacity of the BESS. This paper proposes a new supplementary load frequency control (LFC) method by use of a number of both the EVs and the HPWHs as controllable loads. The effectiveness of the proposed LFC method is shown by numerical simulations conducted on the power system model with a large integration of wind power generation and photovoltaic generation.
Monoclonal B lymphocytosis versus chronic lymphocytic leukemia: Factors affecting implementation of an absolute threshold

Laboratories utilize diverse methods to determine the absolute count used to distinguish chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) from monoclonal B lymphocytosis, with many using dual platform (DP) methods (flow cytometric percent of CLL‐like B cells × hematology analyzer white blood cell count). However, flow cytometric tube‐to‐tube variation may make interpretation difficult, particularly when the CLL‐like B‐cell count straddles the recommended threshold. This study investigates the extent, and potential sources, of this variability.
General Concept of Repairing CAD-Models

The presented work is related to the problem of repairing incomplete reconstructed (damaged) CAD-models. To solute this problem, a general concept of the repairing, that uses various types of mathematical fields, is proposed. This concept provides an open framework to use together various methods of missing surface estimation. Many of existing ones can be embedded in this framework by defining the corresponding fields. The concept provides that during the repairing process the embedded methods supplement each other to achieve the best result. Ability of the concept to be effectively used to repair even heavy damaged CAD-models has been proved.
Incorporation and harvest management of hairy vetch-based green manure influence nitrous oxide emissions

Abstract In this study, we measured nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from plots of fall-planted hairy vetch (HV, Vicia villosa) grown as a green nitrogen (N) source for following summer forage crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis). Two treatments were compared: (i) HV grown solely as green manure where all biomass was incorporated by tillage, and (ii) harvesting of aboveground HV biomass prior to planting of crabgrass. Fluxes of N2O were measured with closed chamber systems on 27 dates during a 2-month growth period of crabgrass after the termination of HV in early May. At termination, the average aboveground biomass yield of HV was 4.6 Mg ha−1 with 146 kg N ha−1 content. The N2O emissions were as high as 66 g N2O-N ha−1 day−1 on day 1 after HV incorporation, but reached close to zero within a week. Emissions of N2O increased with subsequent rainfall and irrigation events from both treatments but emission peaks were not observed during the rapid growth of crabgrass. Two-month cumulative emission of N2O (mean ± s.e., n = 4) from HV incorporated plots (921 ± 120 g N2O-N ha−1) was three times (P < 0.05) of HV harvested plots (326 ± 30 g N2O-N ha−1). However, crabgrass biomass yields, N concentrations and total biomass N uptake were decreased significantly by harvesting HV. In conclusion, the results suggested that whereas removal of HV biomass for use as forage may significantly reduce N2O emissions, quantity and quality of the following recipient crops may be constrained.
Myofibrillar muscle protein synthesis rates subsequent to a meal in response to increasing doses of whey protein at rest and after resistance exercise.

BACKGROUND The intake of whey, compared with casein and soy protein intakes, stimulates a greater acute response of muscle protein synthesis (MPS) to protein ingestion in rested and exercised muscle. OBJECTIVE We characterized the dose-response relation of postabsorptive rates of myofibrillar MPS to increasing amounts of whey protein at rest and after exercise in resistance-trained, young men. DESIGN Volunteers (n = 48) consumed a standardized, high-protein (0.54 g/kg body mass) breakfast. Three hours later, a bout of unilateral exercise (8 × 10 leg presses and leg extensions; 80% one-repetition maximum) was performed. Volunteers ingested 0, 10, 20, or 40 g whey protein isolate immediately (~10 min) after exercise. Postabsorptive rates of myofibrillar MPS and whole-body rates of phenylalanine oxidation and urea production were measured over a 4-h postdrink period by continuous tracer infusion of labeled [(13)C6] phenylalanine and [(15)N2] urea. RESULTS Myofibrillar MPS (mean ± SD) increased (P < 0.05) above 0 g whey protein (0.041 ± 0.015%/h) by 49% and 56% with the ingestion of 20 and 40 g whey protein, respectively, whereas no additional stimulation was observed with 10 g whey protein (P > 0.05). Rates of phenylalanine oxidation and urea production increased with the ingestion of 40 g whey protein. CONCLUSIONS A 20-g dose of whey protein is sufficient for the maximal stimulation of postabsorptive rates of myofibrillar MPS in rested and exercised muscle of ~80-kg resistance-trained, young men. A dose of whey protein >20 g stimulates amino acid oxidation and ureagenesis. This trial was registered at http://www.isrctn. org/ as ISRCTN92528122.
Investigation of the survival characteristics of Rhodococcus coprophilus and certain fecal indicator bacteria

Rhodococcus coprophilus and Clostridium perfringens survived in fresh water samples held at 5, 20, and 30 degrees C for over 17 weeks, whereas Escherichia coli and fecal streptococci disappeared after 5 weeks at all three temperatures. R. coprophilus survived for more than 8 months in sterilized sewage and deionized water at all three temperatures, whereas in normal sewage held at 20 degrees C, the survival time was 12 to 26 weeks. In samples held at 30 degrees C, survival times were shorter, probably because of interbacterial competition or protozoal predation. The results indicate that R. coprophilus may be a useful indicator of the presence of remote fecal pollution of farm animal origin, but not of recent pollution, when enumerated alone in polluted waters or wastewaters.
Selecting the Best Project Using the Fuzzy ELECTRE Method

Selecting projects is often a difficult task. It is complicated because there is usually more than one dimension for measuring the impact of each project, especially when there is more than one decision maker. This paper is aimed to present the fuzzy ELECTRE approach for prioritizing the most effective projects to improve decision making. To begin with, the ELECTRE is one of most extensively used methods to solve multicriteria decision making (MCDM) problems. The ELECTRE evaluation method is widely recognized for high-performance policy analysis involving both qualitative and quantitative criteria. In this paper, we consider a real application of project selection using the opinion of experts to be applied into a model by one of the group decision makers, called the fuzzy ELECTRE method. A numerical example for project selection is given to clarify the main developed result in this paper.
A web based tool for integration of molecular pathway models

Developing complex models of cellular function requires the collaboration of multiple teams of researchers remotely distributed worldwide. A challenge of computational systems biology is to find easy and accessible mechanisms to enable such collaboration to construct higher level models of cellular function. This paper presents the development of an on-line Web portal for enabling open access to Cytosolve, an existing, proven and scalable computational architecture for integrating quantitative molecular pathways. The developed graphical user interface allows ease-of-use for developers of quantitative molecular pathway models to remotely collaborate to build larger and more complex models using the Cytosolve infrastructure. The on-line Web portal will be accessible and it will allow users to remotely collaborate with the existing Cytosolve computational environment that supports integration of models in a parallel manner without geographical restrictions. A creator of a model will be able to integrate their model from their local location to an ensemble of distributed models through this on-line Web portal.
Novel Dual-Frequency Microstrip Antenna With Narrow Half-Ring and Half-Circular Patch

A novel dual-frequency microstrip antenna is presented. The dual-frequency is generated through a half-ring structure and a half-circular patch element. The half-ring is narrower than the conventional ring antenna, and the parameters that decide the resonant frequency of the antenna are studied. Simulation and measurement results show that the proposed antenna works at 0.9 and 1.8 GHz.
Treatment of chronic or recurrent proximal suspensory desmitis using radial pressure wave therapy in the horse.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Proximal suspensory desmitis (PSD) is diagnosed with increasing frequency in horses and radial pressure wave therapy (RPWT) is a widely used therapy for painful orthopaedic conditions in man and dogs. There are, however, few published data as to the outcome of its use in PSD. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the use of RPWT in the treatment of chronic or recurrent PSD in the horse, an injury which carries a poor prognosis for return to athletic function with conservative management alone. HYPOTHESIS RPWT and controlled exercise improves the prognosis of chronic or recurrent PSD in the horse when compared to previously published results of controlled exercise alone. METHODS The use of RPWT in the management of chronic or recurrent proximal suspensory desmitis (PSD) was evaluated in 65 horses. Diagnosis was based on response to local analgesia, ultrasonography and radiography. Horses were classified according to severity of ultrasonographic lesions, whether fore- or hindlimbs were affected, and duration of lameness prior to diagnosis. Horses were treated 3 times at 2-week intervals and followed a controlled exercise programme; they were reassessed clinically and ultrasonographically 10-12 weeks after diagnosis, when further exercise recommendations were made dependent upon the animal's progress. RESULTS Forty-one percent of horses with hindlimb lameness and 53% with forelimb lameness were nonlame and returned to full work 6 months after diagnosis. The prognosis was significantly affected by the ultrasonographic grade at the time of diagnosis and by ultrasonographic evidence of resolution of the lesion in hindlimb cases. CONCLUSIONS These findings, when compared to previously published results of treatment using controlled exercise alone, suggest that RPWT improves the prognosis for PSD in the hindlimb. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE RPWT is a useful treatment modality for chronic or recurrent PSD when combined with controlled exercise. Further studies are required on the effect of RPWT employing histology and biomechanics in order to fully evaluate its use on equine tissues.
Users’ perspectives on the provision of assistive technologies in Bangladesh: awareness, providers, costs and barriers

Abstracts Purpose: The purpose of this work was to contribute to a better understanding of challenges and solutions to equitable provision of assistive technologies in resource limited environments by (i) describing sources of awareness, types of providers and costs of assistive technologies; (ii) describing common reasons for not possessing assistive technologies; and (iii) comparing these sources, providers, costs and reasons among younger and older men and women living in urban and rural settings. Methods: Descriptive and analytic statistics were used to analyze cross-sectional data from a total sample of 581 hearing aid users, wheelchair users, individuals with hearing impairments not using hearing aids and individuals with ambulatory impairments not using wheelchairs living in eight districts of Bangladesh. Results: Major sources of awareness, types of providers and costs paid varied between users of different types of assistive technology. Lack of affordability was the main reason for not possessing assistive technology. Outcome differences were found between younger and older groups, men and women, and literate and illiterate respondents, while no differences related to place of living were identified. Conclusions: Age, gender, type of impairment and socioeconomic status need to be considered when planning and implementing equitable provision of assistive technologies. Implications for Rehabilitation Provision of assistive technologies needs to be made affordable as lack of affordability was the major reason for not possessing such technologies. To ensure equitable provision of assistive technology, services ought to consider age, gender, impairment and socioeconomic status of their target groups. This includes offering a range of products of different sizes provided by culturally appropriate personnel at affordable cost, which to many may be at no or reduced cost. To cater to the assistive technology needs among the most vulnerable groups, assistive technology providers may learn from CBR strategies, such as, awareness raising and service delivery at community level, the use of local resources, collaboration and coordination, and the consideration of cultural factors.