Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mining Health App Data to Find More and Less Successful Weight Loss Subgroups

Background More than half of all smartphone app downloads involve weight, diet, and exercise. If successful, these lifestyle apps may have far-reaching effects for disease prevention and health cost-savings, but few researchers have analyzed data from these apps. Objective The purposes of this study were to analyze data from a commercial health app (Lose It! ) in order to identify successful weight loss subgroups via exploratory analyses and to verify the stability of the results. Methods Cross-sectional, de-identified data from Lose It! were analyzed. This dataset (n=12,427,196) was randomly split into 24 subsamples, and this study used 3 subsamples (combined n=972,687). Classification and regression tree methods were used to explore groupings of weight loss with one subsample, with descriptive analyses to examine other group characteristics. Data mining validation methods were conducted with 2 additional subsamples. Results In subsample 1, 14.96% of users lost 5% or more of their starting body weight. Classification and regression tree analysis identified 3 distinct subgroups: “the occasional users” had the lowest proportion (4.87%) of individuals who successfully lost weight; “the basic users” had 37.61% weight loss success; and “the power users” achieved the highest percentage of weight loss success at 72.70%. Behavioral factors delineated the subgroups, though app-related behavioral characteristics further distinguished them. Results were replicated in further analyses with separate subsamples. Conclusions This study demonstrates that distinct subgroups can be identified in “messy” commercial app data and the identified subgroups can be replicated in independent samples. Behavioral factors and use of custom app features characterized the subgroups. Targeting and tailoring information to particular subgroups could enhance weight loss success. Future studies should replicate data mining analyses to increase methodology rigor.
Volkswagen Car Entertainment System Forensics

Vehicles are fast becoming another important source of digital evidence in a criminal investigation. Traditionally, when a vehicle is involved in a crime scene (e.g. drink driving), the investigators focus on the acquisition of DNA, fingerprints and other identifying materials, usually non digital in nature. However, modern day cars, particularly smart or driverless cars, store a wealth of digital information, such as recent destinations, favorite locations, routes, personal data such as call logs, contact lists, SMS messages, pictures, and videos. In this paper, we describe some challenges associated with vehicle data forensics, an understudied area. Next, we present our case study on forensic acquisition and data analysis of an entertainment system on a Volkswagen car.
A Biomechanical Analysis of Youth Pitching Mechanics

Background: It is estimated that nearly 6% of youth baseball participants seek medical attention for injuries sustained during play. Most injuries are overuse injuries, and 26% are to the shoulder or upper arm. By quantifying youth pitching biomechanics, knowledge can be gained concerning the manner in which these injuries are sustained during play. Methods: Sixteen healthy right hand-dominant baseball pitchers participated in this study. After digitization of 21 bony landmarks, kinematic calculations were conducted using the 3-dimensional coordinates from each video frame. Data were time normalized, forcing major temporal components of the movement to occur at specific intervals. Segment-based reference frames were established, and resultant joint kinetics were projected onto each reference frame. Kinetic data were normalized and calculated along or about the anterior/posterior, medial/lateral, and proximal/distal axes. Results: Maximum trunk rotation and external shoulder rotation were observed during arm cocking. Each of the remaining kinematic parameters peaked after ball release. All maximum values for joint kinetics were measured during arm cocking with the exception of compressive forces experienced at the shoulder and elbow, which peaked after the instant of ball release. Conclusions: Data produced in this study indicate that youth pitchers initiate trunk rotation early in the movement, which can lead to shoulder hyperangulation. Opposing torques at each end of the humerus also produce a large net torque about the longitudinal axis of the humerus during late arm cocking and may increase humeral retrotorsion in youth pitchers. Underdeveloped musculature in the rotator cuff may lead to difficulty controlling throwing-arm deceleration, causing an increase in horizontal adduction across the torso. Clinical Relevance: An improved understanding of youth pitching mechanics is gained from the data collected, analyzed, and discussed in this study. Through increases in the knowledge pertaining specifically to the mechanics of youth pitchers, the opportunity to develop pitching mechanics specifically designed for preventing injuries in little league pitchers arises. Level of Evidence: This study is a Level 4 study describing youth pitching biomechanics and how they relate to possible injuries.
An innovative multiphase PWM control strategy for a PMSM with segmented stator windings

This paper proposes a multiphase converter topology with an innovative PWM strategy for the control of a PM synchronous motor with segmented stator windings to operate as an electronic geared motor. Simulation studies of the segmented PMSM with configurable stator windings have been carried out. Compared with conventional three-phase inverter topology, the proposed converter topology with associated PWM modulation strategy has advantages of reduced conduction loss, improved efficiency under light load condition, and expanded torque-speed operating ranges with a same dc-link voltage. The interleaved PWM strategy provides advantages of ripple current reduction and conduction losses reduction. Simulation results have been given to show advantages and flexibility of the proposed multi-phase PWM control scheme for a PMSM with segmented windings.
The industrial district: A stage of a diffuse industrialization process—the case of Roanne

Abstract The industrial district is an important element of the theoretical debates concerning the appearance of original features of regional development in Europe. Issuing from Marshallion theory, this concept was ‘reinvented’ in the late 1970s in order to interpret a series of ‘regional success stories’ of industrial development that occurred in middle Italy. Thus, for some economists and geographers, the industrial district has become a new ‘standard’ of regional development, appearing as an autonomous integrated system, whose functions are based on the principle of ‘automation’. This system represents an optimal structure in terms of economic efficiency and resource allocation, and owns its proper mechanisms of reproduction related to specific territorial regulations. A crisis for such a system can only be related to exogenous factors. Rejecting this static vision of economic structures, which reintroduces the ‘growth/crisis’ divide in the analysis of economic development, it seems necessary to promo.
Basel II and bank bankruptcy analysis

Due to keen competition, banks may increase their market share and profits by imposing price policies, such as raising deposit rates, lowering loan rates, or even worse by loaning to those with high risks, which all could increase the probability of bankruptcy. Under these circumstances, the literature has paid great attention to the topics of bankruptcy and risk management. We adopt a two-stage approach, the Super-SBM and logistic regression, to investigate a bank efficiency index and the bank bankruptcy effect from incorporating capital adequacy regulations and a supervisory review process. This study uses data on 36 Taiwanese commercial banks for the 3-year period from 2002 to 2004. This article's empirical results from the Super-SBM and logistic regression approach are summarized as follows: (1) The efficiency factor is proven to be influential in evaluating bank bankruptcy. (2) If certain prerequisites on capital adequacy are imposed on each bank, then it results in a lower risk to the bank and this reduces bank bankruptcy. (3) Corporate governance plays an important role in bank bankruptcy.
No place like home? Relocation, capabilities, and firm survival in the German machine tool industry after World War II

We explore the extent to which organizational capabilities are location-specific by studying the location choices and longevity of East German machine tool producers that relocated to West Germany after World War II. Relocating firms were similar in performance to experienced West German incumbents; they outperformed new entrants without prewar industry experience. This suggests they were able to build on capabilities acquired before the war. Even though relocating firms tended lo locate in industry agglomerations and in urbanized regions, we find no evidence suggesting that firm performance benefited from agglomeration economies. Copyright 2011 The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Associazione ICC. All rights reserved. , Oxford University Press.
Empirics on the Long Run Relationship Between Economic Growth and Happiness

The paper finds a statistically significant positive but very small long-run relationship between economic growth and happiness. Reading the evidence as such can mean a rejection of the Easterlin Paradox. The trivial size of the estimated relationship nonetheless indicates little economic significance, if at all. The paper, in turn, argues that using economic significance rather than statistical significance in the evaluation of the evidence can actually lead to a confirmation of the Easterlin Paradox.
Modern methods for genetic improvement of Trifolium pratense

This review focuses on trends in genetic improvement of a significant representative forage crop, Trifolium pratense (red clover) classified taxonomically into the agronomically outstanding family Fabaceae. Red clover breeding is aimed at improving traits like persistency, resistance to biotic and abiotic factors, forage yield and quality characteristics such as protein quality and stability. Isoflavone content in forage is important for cattle reproduction. Interspecific hybridization of red clover with the related wild species T. medium was used for the introgression of useful traits into red clover. The breeding strategy for the new variety Pramedi included hybrid plants with different DNA contents, repeated backcrosses with red clover, followed by family selection. New techniques of molecular genetics are becoming available to breeders for transferring key and complex traits into improved red clover varieties. Techniques such as marker-assisted selection and candidate gene identification can increase the speed and precision with which traits may be selected. Comparative sequence data analyses helped to identify genes for polyphenol oxidase enzymes and isoflavone synthase in red clover useful for DNA genotyping of individuals and breeding of improved high-quality red clover varieties.
Does public expenditure on education matter for growth in Europe? A comparison between old EU member states and post-communist economies

This study examines the impact of education on growth in the EU. Public expenditure on education is used as a proxy for investment in human capital. The empirical model is based on the extended Cobb–Douglas production function with three inputs: labour, physical capital and human capital. The results imply that education spending is positively related to growth in the panel of 20 economies investigated. However, the estimated regression coefficient for the education indicator is both significant and robust to structural breaks in data or extreme observations only in the case of the advanced member states. Spending on R&D is also substantially linked to growth. In the case of post-communist countries, the relationship between education and growth is either statistically insignificant or unstable. The partial correlation analysis implies that the effect of education expenditure on growth is related to its impact on labour productivity.
Microfinance and poverty alleviation

Microfinance, which is one of the tools used in poverty alleviation, has been with us since time immemorial. In Nigeria it is traditionally rooted, while providing credit and financial services to the poor or low-income earners. There are people with self-help groups, rotating savings and associations with several activities aiding members to come out of poverty etc. Microfinance however, is been implemented to overcome the failure of the formal banking industry at offering small loans for the poor to enable them perform some income generating activities. The question of 'whom does the microfinance benefit', and how it affects the welfare of different groups of individuals and household was tackled in this study. This was achieved through studying the impact of micro financing on a group of women - Obazu Progressive Women Association, Mbieri, Owerri in Nigeria involved in poverty alleviating activities for their members. From the findings of this study, the microfinance intervention has a positive impact on alleviation of poverty among the women of this association. Interestingly, this study found that most women in this association experienced increased income and therefore improved their economic status, political and social conditions after receiving the loans. This result therefore further upholds the main purpose and objectives of microfinance in general.
Income inequality between skilled individuals

It is widely agreed that income inequality has increased in OECD countries over the past two decades. Most of the debate has focused on the distinction between skilled and unskilled workers. However inequality increased not only among those with different observable traits but also within groups of workers with the same characteristics such as gender, race, education and experience. This poses a challenge for theories that try to explain the rise in overall earnings inequality. Indeed, is income inequality within groups explained by the same reasons that have led to income inequality between groups? It appears that some reasons are specific to inequality within groups. For instance, greater access to education has led to some confusion about the standard associated with the same educational level. Consequently, innate ability plays an increasing part in the determination of workers’ rewards. Similarly, the reduction of the size of the public sector may have contributed to the rise of the variability of the demand for skills. However, the central reason – innovation, notably the introduction of new technologies – is common to both types of inequality but it acts on within‐group income inequality through specific channels. Among the latter are the role of innate ability, the shift toward a decentralised wage determination system, and the changes of the demand for skills. Therefore, the explanations of within‐group inequality are complementary to the ones associated with between‐group inequality and thus help to explain the rise in overall earnings inequality.
Liberalization and Financial Sector Competition: A Critical Contribution to the Empirics with an African Assessment

This paper investigates how financial, trade, institutional and political liberalization policies have affected financial sector competition in Africa using updated data to appraise second generation reforms. The ‘freedom to trade’ and ‘economic freedom’ indices are employed. Hitherto, unexplored financial sector concepts of formalization, semi-formalization, informalization and non-formalization are also introduced. The following findings are established. Firstly, relative to money supply: (1) with the exception of the economic freedom mechanism, liberalization policies have generally decreased the growth of the formal financial sector to the benefit of other financial sectors; (2) apart from the foreign direct investment and economic freedom channels, liberalization policies have been fruitful for semi-formal financial development at the cost of other financial sectors and; (3) with the exception of economic freedom, both the informal and non-formal sectors have developed owing to liberalization to the detriment of the formal financial sector. Secondly, relative to GDP, the semi-formal, informal and/or non-formal financial sectors have also generally improved as a result of liberalization. Policy implications are discussed.
Appropriate Use Criteria for 18F-FDG PET/CT in Restaging and Treatment Response Assessment of Malignant Disease

Precision medicine is evolving to include a variety of data to optimize patient care and improve outcome. Multimodality imaging is paving the way toward this goal. PET/CT with 18F-FDG is now established as an important imaging modality in many clinical conditions, particularly in oncology (1,2). Many tumors demonstrate high glucose metabolism as one of the hallmarks of cancer (3). PET/CT provides combined anatomic and physiologic (glucose metabolism) information that may be used for initial diagnosis, staging, restaging, treatment response assessment, and prognosis in patients with cancer. Moreover, PET information can contribute significantly when other imaging modalities are equivocal. This document describes the appropriate use of PET/CT* in the response assessment and restaging of patients with cancer. Our focus is on common cancers in which the use of PET/CT has been most relevant for clinical practice. Restaging is broadly defined to include the phase of the disease after initial diagnosis and treatment, which may entail local recurrence, distant metastatic disease, and assessment of response to treatments after disease recurrence. The goal of these recommendations is to guide the appropriate use of PET/CT in assessing treatment response after therapy and in evaluating imaging of patients with suspected recurrent cancer. Although the terms response assessment and restaging are frequently used in the discussion of cancer treatment, no consensus definition exists regarding the time frame that differentiates these 2 terms. Indeed, the time interval at which a patient transitions from response assessment to restaging likely varies in relation to tumor biology, therapeutic regimen, and other factors. In this work, the term assessment of response is taken to mean the period in which the intended target of the therapeutic regimen is being evaluated, whereas the term restaging of disease is taken to mean the period in which there is concern for new or progressive disease after completion of prior therapy. This document excludes “initial staging” and “surveillance. ” These appropriate use criteria (AUC) are intended to aid referring medical practitioners in the appropriate use of PET/CT for restaging of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lymphoma, lung cancer, melanoma, sarcoma, and head and neck cancer. Note: The full version of this document, including information on methodology, conflicts of interest, benefits and harms, definition of terms, list of external reviewers, and additional special commentary, is available at http://snmmi.files. cms-plus.com/Quality/ jnm197988_v1. pdf.
A Time-Series Analysis of U.S. Petroleum Industry Inventory Behavior

This paper examines inventory behavior in the U.S. petroleum industry. Inventories of crude oil and its three major products-gasoline, distillate and residual fuel oil-are studied. Earlier empirical studies of inventory behavior have been unable to provide evidence of the production smoothing role of inventories emphasized in the theoretical literature (see Blinder, 1984). We suggest that these results are due to a tradition of relying on a partial-adjustment model to explain inventory behavior. We feel that the partial-adjustment model ignores potentially significant relationships between lagged values of explanatory variables and inventories implied by dynamic analysis. This leads us to investigate the time-series properties of petroleum inventories using the vector autoregression (VAR) methodology developed by Sims (1980).
The Perception and Management of Risk in UK Office Property Development

Risk is an ever‐present aspect of business, and risk taking is necessary for profit and economic progress. Speculative property development is popularly perceived as a ‘risky business’ yet, like other entrepreneurs, developers have opportunities to manage the risks they face; techniques include phasing and joint ventures. The associated areas of investment portfolio risk, development risk analysis and construction risk management have all been addressed by research. This article presents new knowledge about how developers perceive risks and the means they subsequently adopt to manage them. The developers of office projects across the UK were sent questionnaires by post. Respondents were asked about their perceptions of risks at the first appraisal stage and currently and about the risk management techniques that they had adopted. In‐depth interviews with a selection of respondents were then used to discuss and augment the findings. Developers were most concerned about market‐based risks at both stages. Concern about production‐orientated risks was lower and fell significantly between the two stages. A fixed price contract was the most common risk management technique. Risk management techniques were used more often outside London and the South East. Developer type affects both the perception and management of risk. While developers do manage risk, decisions are made on the basis of professional and business experience. These findings should help development companies manage risk in a more objective and analytical way.
Exact and bootstrap distributions of a unit root test

Using Imhof's method, the exact distribution of a unit root test is evaluated and detailed critical values are given of the unit root test when the sample size is small and moderate. Then, the bootstrap critical values are generated by Monte Carlo experiments, and compared with the exact ones. The Monte Carlo results show that the bootstrap critical values are reasonably precise. It is also shown that the parametric bootstrap tends to yield more precise estimates of the percentiles than the nonparametric bootstrap.
International Franchise Expansion: Does Market Propinquity Matter?

Consistent with traditional internationalization theory, we argue that, when a firm chooses franchising to achieve market penetration, market propinquity/similarity matters. Using a modified gravity model, we examine six country characteristics believed to enhance the flow of franchise activity among 39 nations. Our findings support the notion that market propinquity facilitates the flow of franchises between nations. Franchise expansion is greatest when the home and host nations are similar in terms of geography, culture, media availability, and political risk. The management implications of these findings are discussed in detail.
Monotone Optimal Control of Permutable GSMPs

We consider Markovian GSMPs (generalized semi-Markov processes) in which the rates of events are subject to control. A control is monotone if the rate of one event is increasing or decreasing in the number of occurrences of other events. We give general conditions for the existence of monotone optimal controls. The conditions are functional properties for the one-step cost functions and, more importantly, structural properties for the GSMP. The main conditions on costs are submodularity or supermodularity with respect to pairs of events. The key structural condition is strong permutability , requiring that the state at any time be determined by the number of events of each type that have occurred, regardless of their order. This permits a reformulation of the original control problem into one based only on event counting processes. This reformulation leads to a unified treatment of a broad class of models and to meaningful generality beyond existing results.