Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Working Paper 199 - Microcredit for the Development of the Bottom of the Pyramid Segment: Impact of Access to Financial Services on Microcredit Clients, Institutions and Urban Sustainability

The focus of microcredit for the bottomof the pyramid segment in urban areas isincreasingly becoming an area of focus asdevelopment policy-makers worktowards improving the lifestyles of urbanpoor. Previous research has had a keenfocus on the impacts of financial servicesto business outcomes,leaving behindother equally vital aspects ofdevelopment. In addition, very little ofthis research has focused on socio-economic and sustainability outcomes inurban areas. Using randomizedcontrolled trials, this paper measures theimpacts of microcredit to selected groupsof people in Kibera slum in Nairobi city,using a combination of double differenceand propensity score matchingtechniques to evaluate the impacts ofthese financial services on businesses,households, microfinance institutionsand urban sustainability outcomes.Whilethe paper finds little evidence on urbansustainability outcomes,there is asignificant,althoughsmall,improvementon business and households outcomes.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Serum Parathyroid Hormone Levels in Kidney Transplant Recipients with Moderate-to-Advanced CKD

Background/Aims: Elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) is used to diagnose high turnover bone disease in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The diagnostic accuracy of PTH in kidney transplant recipients with CKD is unknown. Methods: We examined kidney transplant recipients with CKD stages 3 (n = 498) and 4 (n = 141) to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Kidney/Dialysis Outcome Quality Initiative (K/DOQI)-recommended PTH levels in detecting elevated serum β-CrossLaps (CTX) or osteocalcin (OC) levels. We performed receiver-operator curve analyses to determine CKD stage-specific PTH levels that provide optimal diagnostic accuracy. Results: PTH below the lower limits of the K/DOQI ranges (35 and 70 pg/ml in CKD stages 3 and 4, respectively) showed sensitivity of >90% in diagnosing increases in biochemical markers. The upper limits (70 and 110 pg/ml), however, showed poor specificity. A specificity of >90% for detecting increased biochemical markers was seen with PTH of >140 and >240 pg/ml in CKD stages 3 and 4, respectively. Conclusion: Currently applied cutoffs for PTH in kidney transplant recipients with CKD stages 3 and 4 do not appear to adequately detect increased biochemical markers of bone turnover. Diagnostic uncertainty exists in patients with CKD stage 3 and PTH between 35 and 140 pg/ml, and CKD stage 4 and PTH between 70 and 240 pg/ml.
Board Composition and Corporate Investment in Interest Rate Derivatives

In recent years, boards of directors have been called upon to take a more active role in affecting policy for corporate derivative investments. This study provides new evidence on the motives for corporate hedging with interest rate derivatives by examining the relation between the quality of the firms' monitoring mechanisms and the quantity of their investments in interest rate derivatives. Since the capital structure decision and hedging decision are considered to be endogenous, the firm's capital structure and their interest rate derivative decisions are modeled simultaneously. There is a positive relation between the relative influence of outside directors and the quantity of interest rate derivatives used by firms. This evidence is consistent with boards of directors who take active roles in the determination of derivatives use. If outside directors effectively monitor management, this evidence is also consistent with corporate interest rate hedging in the interests of shareholders.
Trust, Organizational Controls, Knowledge Acquisition from the Foreign Parents, and Performance in Vietnamese International Joint Ventures

Successful adaptation in strategic alliances "calls for a delicate balance between the twin virtues of reliability and flexibility" [Parkhe 1998]. On one hand, the joint venture must be flexible enough to respond to the uncertainties of competitive business environments because it is not feasible to plan for every possible contingency. Yet, on the other hand, unfettered flexibility invites dysfunctional behavior, such as opportunism and complacency. This delicate balance accompanies a parallel balance between trust and control of the joint venture. The primary goal of this study is to empirically examine this relationship in the context of Vietnamese international joint ventures (IJVs) by building on the model of knowledge acquisition and performance in IJVs established by Lyles and Salk [1996]. This study makes three major contributions to the literature. First it confirms several findings of the original Lyles and Salk study [1996]. Second, we strengthen Lyles and Salk's original model by incorporating multiple measures of both interorganizational trust and control as independent variables. Finally, this study represents one of the first in-depth examinations of business in the emerging Vietnamese economy.
Concurrent programming in ERLANG

Preface. I Programming1. An ERLANG Tutorial2. Sequential Programming. 3. Programming with Lists. 4. Programming with Tuples. 5. Concurrent Programming. 6. Distributed Programming. 7. Error Handling. 8. Programming Robust Applications. 9. Miscellaneous Items. II Applications10. Databases. 11. Distributed Programming Techniques. 12. Distributed Data. 13. Operating Systems. 14. Real Time Control. 15. Telephony. 16. An ASN l Compiler: 17. Graphics. 18. Object-Oriented Programming.
Kinetics of allantoin metabolism in sheep

The kinetics of allantoin metabolism were studied in rumen-cannulated sheep by means of a single intravenous injection of [4,5-14C]allantoin. The decline in the specific radioactivity of allantoin in plasma following the injection of tracer was best described by a double exponential function, indicating that allantoin moves in and out of two or more kinetically distinct compartments. Sequestering of tracer in secondary or tertiary compartments in the body water appears likely to have resulted in overestimation of net flux of allantoin through the blood in the present study. In future studies, sampling of blood for several days after administration of tracer should alleviate this problem. About 80 % of the [14C]allantoin injected was recovered as [14C]allantoin in urine during the 12 h after tracer injection, increasing to 94 % after 4 d. Allantoin-C also passed through the blood bicarbonate pool, suggesting that allantoin is degraded in the gastrointestinal tract. A small amount of allantoin-C (4 % of the net flux of allantoin through the blood pool) was apparently degraded to form bicarbonate-C in the rumen and postruminally, and subsequently appeared in blood bicarbonate-C. Transfer of allantoin-C into the rumen via saliva was insignificant. In view of these findings, the net flux of allantoin through the blood should be a better predictor of rumen microbial outflow than urinary allantoin excretion, because urinary excretion of purine derivatives must be adjusted for conversion of allantoin-C to blood bicarbonate when used to predict the flow of microbial protein from the rumen.
Bargaining with a Shared Interest: The Impact of Employee Stock Ownership Plans on Labor Disputes

Bargaining often occurs between parties with some shared interest. Partnerships, joint ventures, and cross ownership are examples. We extend standard bargaining models to allow for joint ownership. Joint ownership reduces costly bargaining disputes, as bargainers’ interests are more aligned. We then test the theory with collective bargaining data, where employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) are the source of joint ownership. The theory predicts that ESOPs will lead to a reduction in strike incidence and the fraction of labor disputes that involve a strike. We examine these predictions using U.S. bargaining data from 1970-1995. The data suggest that ESOPs do increase the efficiency of labor negotiations by shifting the composition of disputes away from costly strikes. Consistent with improved bargaining efficiency, we find that the announcement of a union ESOP leads to a 50% larger stock market reaction as compared to the announcement of a nonunion ESOP.
Operation and Control of a Nine-Level Modified ANPC Inverter Topology With Reduced Part Count for Grid-Connected Applications

This paper presents a nine-level active-neutral-point-clamped (ANPC) based multilevel inverter (MLI) topology for grid-connected applications requiring only ten switches. The envisaged structure comprises two parts, namely five-level ANPC unit, and a two-level converter leg whose midpoint is used as another ac terminal. An ad hoc switching state redundancy based modulation strategy is used to ensure that the voltage across the flying capacitor is tightly balanced and is implemented using a look-up table further simplifies the control complexity. The performance and effectiveness of the proposed topology with its control scheme are validated through simulations and experimental tests. Comparison with other MLIs is included to highlight the merits of the proposed topology. From the results, it will be shown that the proposed inverter requires the least part count as compared to other topologies with the same performance and output quality.
Secure Power Systems Against Malicious Cyber-Physical Data Attacks: Protection and Identification

The security of power systems against malicious cyberphysical data attacks becomes an important issue. The adversary always attempts to manipulate the information structure of the power system and inject malicious data to deviate state variables while evading the existing detection techniques based on residual test. The solutions proposed in the literature are capable of immunizing the power system against false data injection but they might be too costly and physically not practical in the expansive distribution network. To this end, we define an algebraic condition for trustworthy power system to evade malicious data injection. The proposed protection scheme secures the power system by deterministically reconfiguring the information structure and corresponding residual test. More importantly, it does not require any physical effort in either microgrid or network level. The identification scheme of finding meters being attacked is proposed as well. Eventually, a well-known IEEE 30-bus system is adopted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed schemes. Keywords—Algebraic Criterion, Malicious Cyber-Physical Data Injection, Protection and Identification, Trustworthy Power System.
The effects of simulation aided learning with various multimedia instructional message strategies on polytechnic Malaysia students' achievement

The objective of this research is to examine simulation effects aided learning with various Multimedia Instructional Message (MIM) strategies on the students achievement with different prior knowledge. The three MIM strategies were static printed images (ISB), static computer display images (ISD) and dynamic images in animated form (IDA). The research design was in the quasi-experimental form and the research data were analyzed quantitatively with ANCOVA to test the research hypotheses. The sample size of 293 students in the third semester pursuing Diploma in Computer Technology and Diploma in Information Technology (Networking) from three polytechnics were involved in the study. The research findings indicated that significant differences are exist in students' performance with different previous understanding on learning with various MIM strategies. In conclusion, this study suggests that ISB strategy proves to be an adequate strategy for simulation-aided learning, specifically in learning abstract contents, for both novice and knowledgeable students.
A little trick to make inside out vein graft technique easier in experimental animal models

Inside out vein graft is a well described method to create, in experimental setting, a biologic conduit for nerve regeneration studies. It consists in pulling the vein through itself to invert the normal orientation and place the intima outside and the adventitial layer within the lumen of the conduit. The reason for employing this technique is a presumed role of adventitial layer in helping nerve regeneration by providing an environment rich in collagen, laminin, and Schwann cells and promoting vascularization and a lower risk of conduit collapse during nerve regeneration. Other studies support the idea that there is no difference between standard vein graft or inside-out vein graft in terms of nerve regeneration, but anyway, in case of studies with cells addition in the conduit, there is less risk of leakage through side branches of the vein, that collapses in case of inside out. Even the risk of axonal sprouting in side branches of the vein, during nerve regeneration, is reduced. Pulling the vein through itself is not always easy, particularly when dealing with small veins such as external jugular vein of the rat. We have contrived a little trick to make this procedure very fast and easy. We put the vein on a 24G Abbocath, in which we have realized a little beveled incision on the proximal side (Fig. 1A). Then we move the vein on the proximal side of the incision (Fig. 1B). At this point we make the distal end of the vein lean on the abbocath incision. With a single movement we pull away the proximal end of the vein which goes over the distal end, that is kept fixed by the incision, inverting the conduit surfaces (Fig. 1C). Then, it is possible to unthread the vein from the abbocath and use it as a conduit for nerve bridging. With this little trick pulling the vein inside out takes about 30 seconds and doesn’t create any damage on the vessel.
Analytical and numerical analysis of human dental occlusal contact

The knowledge of contact forces in teeth surfaces during mastication or para-functional movements can help to understand processes related to friction and wear of human dental enamel. The development of a numerical model for analysis of the occlusal contact between two antagonistic teeth is proposed, which includes three basic steps: the characterisation of the surface roughness, its homogenisation using an assumed distribution function and the numerical determination of the resulting forces. Finite element strain results for the main different asperities are statistically combined, deriving the predicted macroscopic behaviour of the interface. Axisymmetric and 3D numerical models with an elasto-plastic constitutive law are used to simulate micro-indentations and micro-contacts, respectively. The contact is allowed to occur locally in planes not necessarily parallel to the surface's mean plane, a problem for which there is no analytical solution. The three identified parameters, homogenised surface hardness (3.68 GPa), surface yield stress (3.08 GPa) and static friction coefficient (0.23), agree with the experimental values reported in the literature.
Detecting dopaminergic neuronal degeneration using diffusion tensor imaging in a rotenone-induced rat model of Parkinson's disease: fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity values

Dopamine content in the basal ganglia is strongly associated with the degree of dopaminergic neuron loss in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Symptoms of Parkinson's disease might not arise until more than 50% of the substantia nigra pars compacta is lost and the dopamine content in the basal ganglia is reduced by more than 80%. Greater diagnostic sensitivity and specificity would allow earlier detection of Parkinson's disease. Diffusion tensor imaging is a recently developed magnetic resonance imaging technique that measures mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy, and responds to changes in brain microstructure. When the microscopic barrier (including cell membranes, microtubules and other structures that interfere with the free diffusion of water) is destroyed and extracellular fluid volume accumulates, the mean diffusivity value increases; when the integrity of the microstructure (such as myelin) is destroyed, fractional anisotropy value decreases. However, there is no consensus as to whether these changes can reflect the early pathological alterations in Parkinson's disease. Here, we established a rat model of Parkinson's disease by injecting rotenone (or sunflower oil in controls) into the right substantia nigra. Diffusion tensor imaging results revealed that in the stages of disease, at 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks after rotenone injection, fractional anisotropy value decreased, but mean diffusivity values increased in the right substantia nigra in the experimental group. Fractional anisotropy values were lower at 4 weeks than at 6 weeks in the right substantia nigra of rats from the experimental group. Mean diffusivity values were markedly greater at 1 week than at 6 weeks in the right corpus striatum of rats from the experimental group. These findings suggest that mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy values in the brain of rat models of Parkinson's disease 4 weeks after model establishment can reflect early degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. The change in fractional anisotropy values after destruction of myelin integrity is likely to be of greater early diagnostic significance than the change in mean diffusivity values.
Context-modulation of hippocampal dynamics and deep convolutional networks

Complex architectures of biological neural circuits, such as parallel processing pathways, has been behaviorally implicated in many cognitive studies. However, the theoretical consequences of circuit complexity on neural computation have only been explored in limited cases. Here, we introduce a mechanism by which direct and indirect pathways from cortex to the CA3 region of the hippocampus can balance both contextual gating of memory formation and driving network activity. We implement this concept in a deep artificial neural network by enabling a context-sensitive bias. The motivation for this is to improve performance of a size-constrained network. Using direct knowledge of the superclass information in the CIFAR-100 and Fashion-MNIST datasets, we show a dramatic increase in performance without an increase in network size.
Influence of Early Dysnatremia Correction on Survival of Critically Ill Patients

ABSTRACT Increasing evidence suggests that dysnatremia at intensive care unit (ICU) admission may predict mortality. Little information is available, however, on the potential effect of dysnatremia correction. This is an observational multicenter cohort study in patients admitted between 2005 and 2012 to 18 French ICUs. Hyponatremia and hypernatremia were defined as serum sodium concentration less than 135 and more than 145 mmol/L, respectively. We assessed the influence on day 28 mortality of dysnatremia correction by day 3 and of the dysnatremia correction rate. Of 7,067 included patients, 1,830 (25.9%) had hyponatremia and 634 (9.0%) had hypernatremia at ICU admission (day 1). By day 3, hyponatremia had been corrected in 1,019 (1,019/1,830; 55.7%) and hypernatremia in 393 (393/634; 62.0%) patients. After adjustment for confounders, persistent hyponatremia or hypernatremia on day 3 was independently associated with higher day 28 mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.31; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.06 – 1.61; and OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.37 – 2.54; respectively). Hyponatremia corrected by day 3, hypernatremia corrected by day 3, and ICU-acquired hyponatremia were not associated with day 28 mortality. Median correction rate from days 1 to 3 was 2.58 mmol/L per day (interquartile range, 0.67 – 4.55). Higher natremia correction rate was associated with lower crude and adjusted day 28 mortality rates (OR per mmol/L per day, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.94 – 1.00; P = 0.04; and OR per mmol/L per day, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.90 – 0.97; P = 0.0003, respectively). Our results indicate that dysnatremia correction is independently associated with survival, with the effect being greater with faster correction rates of up to 12 mmol/L per day.
Dislocations in the FX swap and money markets in Hong Kong SAR during the global credit crisis of 2007-08

The subprime crisis emerged in the United States in mid-2007 and spilled over to other economies. From mid-2007 to mid-2008, the spillovers were relatively modest, but the situation began to change in mid-2008. Following the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers in midSeptember 2008, developments took a dramatic turn. One channel for those spillovers was severe disruptions in international money markets. Uncertainty about losses incurred by banks increased banks’ liquidity needs as well as their reluctance to lend to each other in money markets. Reflecting these, and possibly other, factors, interbank short-term interest rates surged substantially after the failure of Lehman Brothers and persisted at high levels, prompting central banks around the world to adopt unprecedented policy measures to supply funds to banks. The Hong Kong dollar (HKD) money market was also hit hard by the liquidity squeeze. The turbulence in the global interbank markets also spilled over to the foreign exchange (FX) swap markets, including in Hong Kong SAR. In response to the stress in the local financial markets, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Hong Kong SAR Government announced a series of measures to help contain the global stresses from spilling over to the domestic banking system.
The Evaluation of the Finnish National Innovation System - Full Report

The Finnish National Innovation System has been evaluated by international experts. Its starting point was the Government´s Communication on Finland´s National Innovation Strategy to the Parliament, which included the policy guidelines with respect to the development and renewal of Finnish innovation policy. The aim of the evaluation was to provide insights into how the National Innovation System, its structure and organizations can respond to the changes in the global environment and to the challenges these changes pose. The international evaluation experts have identified modes of operation, processes and tools, that the Finnish innovation policy can be designed and implemented with. The grass-root level evaluation provides means of generating better innovations and facilitating their adoption and diffusion. A specific challenge in the promotion of innovative activities is the inclusion of the creativity and expertise of individuals and communities. The new demand- and user-driven innovation policy emphasizes the needs of customers in developing products and services, the systematic use of economic incentives and the participation of end-users in the innovation process. The future challenges – such as the globalizing economy and its first global recession, the structural change of Finnish industries, aging of population, and climate change – can be addressed by facilitating interaction between different ministries and other actors, and by introducing a broad-based and efficient public innovation policy.